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COMMEMORATIVE 


BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


-OF- 


DUTCHESS  COUNTY, 


NEW^    VORK, 


CONTAINING 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES   OF   PROMINENT   AND   REPRESENTATIVE 
CITIZENS,  AND  OF   MANY   OF   THE   EARLY  SETTLED  FAMILIES. 


-ILLUSTRATED- 


CHICAGO: 

J.  H.  BEEKS  &  CO. 
1897. 


FROM  THE  I'KESS  OF  WILSON,  HUMPHREYS  A:  CO.. 
FOURTH  ST.,  LOGANSI'ORT,  IND. 


F 

\n 

610133 


F»F«iE:i^ACE:. 


THE  importance  of    placing    in  book  form    biographical  history  of   representative   citi- 
zens— both  for  its  immediate  worth  and  for  its  value  to  coming  generations — is  ad- 
mitted by  all    thinking  people;    and  within  the  past  decade   there  has  been  a  grow- 
ing interest  in    this   commendable  means  of    perpetuating    biography  and   family  genealogy. 

That  the  public  is  entitled  to  the  privileges  afforded  by  a  work  of  this  nature  needs 
no  assertion  at  our  hands;  for  one  of  our  greatest  Americans  has  said  that  the  history  of 
any  country  resolves  itself  into  the  biographies  of  its  stout,  earnest  and  representative  citi- 
zens. This  medium,  then,  serves  more  than  a  single  purpose;  while  it  perpetuates  biogra- 
phy and  family  genealogy,  it  records  history,  much  of  which  would  be  preserved  in  no 
other    way. 

In  presenting  the  Commemorative  Biographical  Record  to  its  patrons,  the  pub- 
lishers have  to  acknowledge,  with  gratitude,  the  encouragement  and  support  their  enter- 
prise has  received,  and  the  willing  assistance  rendered  in  enabling  them  to  surmount  the 
many  unforeseen  obstacles  to  be  met  with  in  the  production  of  a  work  of  this  character. 
In  nearly  every  instance  the  material  composing  the  sketches  was  gathered  from  those  im- 
mediately interested,  and  then  submitted  in  type-written  form  for  correction  and  revision. 
The  volume,  which  is  one  of  generous  amplitude,  is  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  public  with 
the  belief  that  it  will  be  found  a  valuable  addition  to  the  library,  as  well  as  an  invaluable 
contribution  to  the  historical  literature  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

THE   PUBLISHERS. 


I 


^•^•^^' 


I 


JOSEPH  F.  BARHARD. 


I 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


ARNARD,  HON.  JOSEPH  F. 
The  family  of  this  distin- 
guished citizen  of  Poughkeep- 
sie,  Dutchess  county,  is  of 
English  origin. 

In  very  early  times  two 
brothers  by  the  name  of  Bar- 
nard received  a  patent  from 
the  king  of  Great  Britain  of  a  considerable 
tract  of  land  upon  the  island  of  Nantucket, 
and  there  they  and  their  descendants  made 
their  home  until  about  the  year  1818.  The 
father  of  Joseph  was  born  upon  that  island,  as 
was  his  father  and  his  father's  father,  and  his 
father's  grandfather  also. 

This  makes  quite  a  long  line  of  American 
citizenship.  By  birthright  the  Judge  must  be 
an  American  of  Americans.  '  The  business  of  all 
upon  this  island  from  time  immemorial  was  to 
"go  down  to  the  seas  in  ships,"  a  life  of  trial, 
adventure  and  profit,  in  pursuit  of  the  whale, 
principally,  but  sometimes  chartered  for  com- 
mercial ventures  the  world  over.  At  about  the 
age  of  twenty  years  Frederic  Barnard,  the  fa- 
ther of  Joseph,  came  to  the  fore  arid  took 
command  of  a  ship  sailing  in  all  the  seas  where 
the  whale  was  to  be  found.  He  seems  to  have 
been  the  last  male  representative  of  the  name 
and  fortunes  of  the  Barnards  at  Nantucket. 
About  this  time  he  married  a  Miss  Margaret 
Allen,  a  native  of  Millford  Haven,  on  the  bor- 
der of  Wales  and  the  kingdom  of  Great  Britain. 
William  and  Thomas  were  born  there.  Re- 
maining there  a  few  years,  Frederic  brought 
his  family  to  Nantucket,  and  having  accumu- 
lated a  fair  competence  he  migrated  with  his 
family  of  two  children  and  wife  to  the  east 
bank  of  the  Hudson  river  about  two  miles  north 
of  the  then  village  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  settled 

upon  an  estate  of  about  100  acres  of  farm  and 
1 


wood  lands.  It  is  said  that  he  was  attracted 
to  this  location  partly  by  the  fact  that  there 
was  a  company  here  engaged  in  sending  out  a 
fleet  of  whalers  to  search  the  seas  for  whales, 
then  valuable  for  oil  and  bone.  But  the  father 
of  Joseph  engaged  in  no  further  business  ven- 
tures. He  lived  quietly  upon  his  lands,  doing 
not  much  more  farming  than  seafaring  men 
are  accustomed  to  do  when  upon  the  seas. 
Here  were  born  to  this  father  and  mother  eight 
additional  children,  six  sons — Thomas,  Henry, 
Joseph  F. ,  John,  Frederic,  George — and  two 
daughters — Margaret  and  Martha.  Each  of 
these  lived  to  adult  age  except  Henry,  who 
from  some  child's  sickness  died  as  a  little  one 
of  some  half  dozen  years. 

Capt.  Frederic  Barnard  used  his  time  and 
resources  most  faithfully  and  wisely  for  the 
profit  of  his  numerous  family,  for  every  child, 
nine  in  number,  both  girls  and  boys,  were  as 
thoroughly  educated  as  was  possible  in  this 
country.  William,  Thomas,  Robert  and  Fred- 
eric were  each  graduates  from  Union  College, 
while  John,  Joseph  F.  and  George  G.  were 
graduated  from  Yale.  This  shows  remark- 
able fixedness  of  purpose  in  a  parent,  and 
shows  also  that  there  were  no  idle  ones  in 
that  family.  Capt.  Barnard  seems  to  have 
taken  the  bearings  of  life  early  and  to  have 
sailed  the  ship  without  variation  from  the  true 
course.  In  that  day  the  funds  and  opportuni- 
ties for  education  were  far  more  difficult  of 
attainment  than  now  since  the  cities  and  State 
almost  fill  one  with  learning  with  but  one 
price — the  boy  must  be  diligent.  In  1836 
Frederic  Barnard  parted  with  the  lands  upon 
the  Hyde  Park  road  and  purchased  of  Walter 
Cunningham  the  premises  known  as  47  Can- 
non street,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years.     The  house   is  still  owned  within  the 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


family,  and  Margaret  Barnard,  and  Martha  B. 
Jones,  widow  of  Judge  Samuel  Jones,  now  re- 
side there  during  a  portion  of  each  year.  All 
of  the  brothers  of  Joseph  F.  Barnard  are  now 
deceased.  William,  Thomas  and  Henry  died 
at  Poughkeepsie,  and  John  at  Santiago,  in  the 
Republic  of  Chili,  where  he  acted  most  suc- 
cessfully and  with  uncommon  skill  in  behalf  of 
the  government  as  a  civil  engineer.  He  was 
said  to  be  one  of  the  ablest  in  his  profession. 
Frederic  and  Robert  practiced  law  in  Califor- 
nia and  died  there.  George  G.  was  a  lawyer, 
recorder,  and  judge  in  New  York  City  and  died 
there.  Every  member  of  this  large  family 
who  lived  to  manhood  or  womanhood,  was 
known  for  quick  abilities,  thoughtful  also,  and 
won  to  themselves  the  firmest  personal  friend- 
ships and  regard  from  others. 

On  December  31,  1893,  our  subject  laid  off 
the  robes  as  presiding  justice  of  the  supreme 
court,  he  having  then  reached  the  age  of  sev- 
enty years — the  constitutional  limit.  On  this 
occasion  the  story  of  his  life  as  here  given  ap- 
peared in  the  Poughkeepsie  News-Telegraph 
of  about  that  date: 

"Joseph  F.  Barnard  was  prepared  for  col- 
lege at  the  Dutchess  County  Academy  in  the 
village  of  Poughkeepsie  and  finished  the  course 
at  Yale,  graduating  in  1841.  He  returned  to 
Poughkeepsie  and  resided  at  the  Barnard  house 
on  Cannon  street.  He  entered  the  law  office 
of  Stephen  Cleveland,  then  that  of  Henry 
Swift,  each  most  able  lawyers  of  that  day 
here.  He  was  admitted  to  practice  about  the 
year  1845.  He  began  his  career  as  a  lawyer 
at  Poughkeepsie  alone.  He  was  tall,  thih 
.and  pale,  but  athletic,  given  to  rowing,  swim- 
ming, and  keeping  out  of  doors  a  good  share 
of  the  day,  although  he  attended  carefully  to 
his  little  business.  He  was  alert,  independent, 
not  at  all  given  to  oratory,  but  his  work  was 
done  and  the  matter  was  either  won  or  lost, 
and  no  one  found  fault  with  him  or  his  effort. 
It  seemed  to  be  from  the  time  of  his  first  efforts 
that  the  work  was  thought  to  be  well  done  if 
he  did  it.  He  used  his  time  upon  a  wise  plan, 
such  as  to  be  sure  of  having  what  he  wanted 
of  it  for  his  business.  He  arose  early,  and 
the  office  work,  drawing  of  papers,  writing 
letters,  and  hunting  law,  was  done  at  once. 
Much  was  added  to  his  knowledge  of  law,  and 
his  clients'  business  was  attended  to,  and  then 
he  had  more  leisure  time  for  recreation,  and 
had  done  as  much  work  as  any  man  on  the 
street.      He    had  no   influences   of  family,   or 


corporation  to  help  him.  He  got  clients, 
poor  ones  with  small  business  at  first, 
but  the  people  began  to  discover  that  there 
was  something  to  get  in  his  office;  and  the 
farmers  and  able  people  of  the  county  who 
wanted  a  militant  lawyer,  and  did  not  ex- 
pect to  be  fawned  over  in  a  law  office,  began 
to  be  seen  there  early  in  the  morning.  He 
had  them,  after  a  few  years,  sufficient  for  full 
employment;  he  was  earnest  in  whatsoever  he 
took  hold  of ;  if  he  was  not  to  be,  he  let  go  of 
it  very  quickly — the  dawdling  client's  money 
had  no  place  in  his  pockets,  and  this  quick- 
brained,  truthful  lawyer  had  no  use  for  any 
part  or  parcel  of  such  case  or  man.  He  won 
the  cases  in  court  that  work,  ingenuity  and 
law  would  win;  fair  charges  were  made,  col- 
lected, and  business  closed.  Next  morning  he 
was  early  at  the  office  ready  for  a  new  invest- 
ment in  himself.  The  clients  came  more  and 
more  plentifully  until  his  time  was  used  fully, 
and  if  there  was  a  tough,  hard  job  of  litigation 
or  a  close  legal  question,  and  people  wanted 
sure  work,  and  answers  to  live  and  die  by  to 
questions  of  law,  the  hard-headed  working  and 
business  men  stated  their  cases  to  him,  and 
sometimes  the  statements  had  to  be  shortened, 
too,  for  he  was  ready  to  answer,  and  it  may  be 
that  he  wanted  the  question  or  statement  to 
be  lively  in  its  delivery  also.  At  any  rate  he 
got  a  place  as  lawyer  at  the  Poughkeepsie  bar, 
wherein  he  had  more  real  clients  than  any 
other  lawyer  here.'  No  large  corporations — 
but  suits  for  all  the  people  everywhere,  suits 
about  little  things  and  big.  People  who  want- 
ed right  protected  or  a  wrong  stopped  took 
him  for  lawyer  quickly.  The  trials,  as  to  all 
the  various  businesses  of  men,  in  which  he  put 
his  fervid,  his  best,  efforts,  it  was  always  one 
thing  with  him,  the  best  he  could  do;  they 
were  all  the  time  going  on  and  covered  our 
county  completely,  until  he  was  the  head  of 
the  profession  here,  and  people  commonly 
said  if  he  said  a  thing  it  must  be  so.  He  was 
careful  of  money,  but  obliging  with  it  in  all 
proper  situations,  often  helping  the  needy  client 
with  aid  to  tide  him  over  troubles.  He  did 
not  appear  to  think  life  was  all  on  one  side, 
and  that  side  for  himself. 

"In  1863  there  was  an  opening  for  some 
Democratic  lawyer  in  this  judicial  district  to 
be  elected  as  justice  of  the  supreme  court. 
Joseph  F.  Barnard  was  the  choice  of  the  pro- 
fession and  people  in  Dutchess  county.  There 
was  no  question  made  as  to  that  here,  and, 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


8 


after  some  little  struggle  at  Brooklyn,  he  was 
nominated  and  elected  for  eight  years  at  a 
salary  of  $2,500  per  year;  after  serving  this 
term  he  was  again  elected,  in  1871,  for  the 
term  of  fourteen  years,  at  a  salary  of  $8,  500 
per  year;  this  term  he  served  in  full,  and  was 
again  re-elected  in  1885,  for  the  term  of  four- 
teen years;  for  each  of  these  two  latter  terms 
he  was  renominated  by  both  political  parties, 
and  with  the  expiration  of  this  year  (1893)  the 
eighth  year  of  the  present  term,  his  offiical 
duties  end  as  judge. 

"  Judge  Barnard  began  the  discharge  of  his 
official  duties  with  the  same  earnestness  with 
which  he  had  acted  as  advocate  or  counsel. 
He  was  the  servant  of  the  people  and  did  their 
work  only,  and  this  was  first  with  him,  above 
all  things,  during  these  whole  thirty  years. 
He  was  early  at  his  post — indeed,  his  life  work 
thus  far  has  been  largely  done  by  noon  of  each 
succeeding  day,  and  it  has  been  an  exceedingly 
active  lawyer  who  has  been  able  to  be  at  the 
court  room  before  him  with  business  for  the 
judge,  or  order,  or  paper  for  him  to  sign. 
This  has  enabled  him  to  dispose  of  the  busi- 
ness, and  to  take  upon  himself  to  personally 
see  to  many  things,  in  the  administration  of 
the  law,  that  are  usually  disposed  of  otherwise. 
This  has  been  largely  to  the  benefit  of  the 
people  in  money,  and  in  the  saving  of  their 
time.  There  is  a  vast  amount  of  work  for  the 
judiciary  of  the  district  of  which  J)utchess 
county  is  a  part  to  do,  it  being  a  district  with 
as  great  a  population  as  any  in  the  State.  But 
the  appeal  calendar  under  Judge  Barnard  was 
clear  each  term,  the  special  and  regular  court 
terms  for  trials  are  made  to  move  with  vigor, 
lawyers,  jurymen  and  all  are  kept  busy  with 
this  system  of  going  ahead  with  business. 
When  the  court  house  bell  is  ringing  the 
judge  is  on  the  bench  ready,  with  gavel  in 
hand,  to  begin  the  duty  of  the  day.  This 
place,  he  considered,  was  as  important  as  a 
railroad  train,  and  why  delay  and  use  up  the 
people's  money  in  idle  court  hours  when  just  a 
little  pains  on  the  part  of  each  would  bring  all 
of  them  along  in  time .'  At  any  rate  the  sys- 
tem of  this  judge  has  kept  our  calendars  clear 
of  stale  suits,  and  there  is  no  long  deferred 
litigation  to  worry  and  perplex  litigants. 

"  In  the  work  of  Judge  Barnard  as  a  trial 
judge  a  great  benefit  has  been  conferred. 
The  case,  and  nothing  else,  was  to  be  heard. 
The  attorney  who  wandered,  as  many  are 
prone  to  do,  into  illogical  paths,  was  suddenly 


brought  up  with  an  admonitory  word,  and 
things  moved  on  apace.  There  has  been  no 
known  delay  of  this  judge  to  administer  the 
word,  and  the  ways  were  made  plain,  kindly 
but  firmly.  How  is  it.'  It  is  often  asked, 
'  Does  the  judge  try  cases  all  the  time  .''  It  has 
come  about  in  Dutchess  county,  that  almost 
all  the  law  cases  are  left  to  arbitrament  by 
Judge  Barnard  without  a  jury,  and  thus,  day 
by  day,  the  weeks,  months  and  years  have  been 
going  away — the  judge  constantly  trying  cases, 
as  it  makes  so  much  less  trouble  to  the  litigants 
and  less  expense  in  all  ways.  The  practice  in 
this  respect  has  brought  cases  to  a  conclusion, 
and  prompt  justice  is  had. 

' '  What  scenes  of  legal  work  have  transpired 
in  those  plain  rooms  wherein  our  special  terms 
are  held!  The  judge  has  sat  there  as  any 
other  occupant  of  the  room,  near  the  table, 
surrounded  by  the  counsel  for  the  parties, 
with  nothing  in  seat  or  station  to  indicate  his 
rank  in  the  assembly.  At  times  the  room  is 
filled  with  the  leading  lights  of  the  profession 
from  New  York  and  Brooklyn,  and  some  great 
case  is  heard,  involving  millions  of  property 
rights,  perhaps;  the  arguments  are  varied,  op- 
posing and  masterly;  but  almost  invariably  as 
soon  as  the  argument  is  ended,  if  there  is  need 
of  decision,  it  is  rendered  at  once,  orally — in  a 
few  plain  words,  directly  to  the  point,  and  de- 
cisive of  the  subject  matter.  This  quickness 
of  decision  has  been  of  great  value  to  both 
lawyers  and  their  clients. 

' '  Sometimes  it  has  seemed  that  the  case  has 
been  by  him  rolled  up  and  handed  over  in  a 
very  small  parcel,  and  just  a  little  warm  from 
the  mental  forging,  but  it  has  had  the  thing  in  it 
that  has  satisfied  the  people,  for  it  was  right 
and  men  could  see  it.  It  is  a  great  thing  for  a 
man  to  have  so  satisfied  the  conscience  of  all 
the  people  through  thirty  years  of  living  under 
their  gaze,  and  administering  their  affairs. 
Of  friends  the  judge  has  many,  but  some  of 
those,  with  whom  youth  and  manhood  were 
passed,  have  gone  from  earth.  Other  lawj'ers 
were  here  to  strive  and  work  with  him.  Judge 
Charles  Wheaton,  Horner  A.  Nelson,  John 
Thompson,  Edward  Crummey,  Cyrus  Swan,  E. 
Q.  Eldridge,  L.  B.  Sackett,  and  others;  with 
them,  as  a  lawyer,  he  had  his  struggles,  but 
he  was  just  as  ready  to  help  them  to  win  their 
cases  when  he  was  not  engaged  against  them, 
as  he  had  been  to  win  his  own.  He  has 
greatly  enjoyed  the  society  of  his  legal  breth- 
ren, and  jokes  and  pleasant  talks  were  a  daily 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPEICAL  RECORD. 


repast;  indeed,  the  writer  has  often,  in  the 
early  days,  found  great  pleasure  in  the  talks 
of  Judge  Charles  Wheaton,  and  those  other  gen- 
tlemen of  the  law.  Sometimes  the  joke  would 
be  upon  Judge  Barnard — often  this  way  when 
Judge  Wheaton  was  to  the  fore — and  the 
Judge  has  not  failed  since  his  accession  to  the 
bench  to  use  and  fully  enjoy  these  kindly  and 
and  familiar  social  habits.  But,  in  passing,  a 
word  must  be  in  justice  said,  that  many  a  hard 
knock-down  has  come  to  many  of  us  when  our 
cases  did  not  upon  e.xamination  bear  his  acute 
inspection.  What  a  legal  fight  there  was 
about  the  building  of  the  reservoir,  about  the 
walling  in  of  the  Fallkill  and  the  Quicksilver 
Mining  Company  case;  and  cases  without 
number  could  be  mentioned,  especially  remark- 
able, from  the  public  interest  as  to  their  de- 
cision, and  by  reason  of  the  eminence  of  the 
counsel  engaged — but  why  particularize  when 
it  has  been  every-day  business  for  him  for 
thirty  years  full  of  work. 

"The  father  of  Judge  Barnard  and  his  an- 
cestors for  many  generations  were  of  the  sect 
known  as  Quakers,  bringing  with  them  to  Nan- 
tucket this  religious  faith  and  practice.  The 
mother  was  of  the  Church  of  England,  and" 
Joseph  and  the  other  children  were,  through 
her  influence,  brought  up  in  the  American  rep- 
resentative of  her  faith,  the  Episcopal  Church. 
The  Judge  is  a  most  faithful  reader  of  the  Bi- 
ble and  a  firm  believer  in  the  doctrines  it  sets 
forth,  and  it  is  often  that  he  speaks  with  won- 
der of  the  wealth  of  wisdom  in  the  book. 

"Judge  Barnard  has  become  the  owner  of 
many  farms  in  the  county  of  Dutchess,  and 
also  of  a  number  in  other  counties.  He  has 
taken  much  care  of  these  possessions,  and  has 
put  the  buildings  and  the  farm  appurtenances 
in  first-class  order;  indeed,  nearly  all  of  them 
have  new  sets  of  buildings  upon  them,  and, 
perhaps,  in  this  opening  for  personal  attention 
to  the  management  of  lands,  crops  and  nice 
stock  of  farm  animals,  he  may  find  a  charming 
employment,  in  out-door  life,,  in  his  days  of 
leisure  to  come.  It  has  been  his  constant 
pleasure  to  walk  over  the  roads  and  fields, 
taking  close  note  of  all  that  there  is  in  Nature 
— getting  health,  rest  and  amusement.  All 
the  roads  and  ways  upon  each  side  of  the  river 
for  miles  around  have  been  well  and  frequently 
traveled  by  him.  He  continues  to  practice,  as 
a  means  of  throwing  off  the  burdens  of  in-door 
life.  Judge  Barnard  has  always  been  a  Dem- 
ocrat, and  a  man  in  sympathy  with  the  people. 


In  1861  he  was  married  to  Miss  Emily  B.  Has- 
brouck,  of  Kingston,  Ulster  county.  They 
have  two  children — Frederic  Barnard,  yet  re- 
siding with  his  parents  in  their  beautiful  home 
in  Poughkeepsie,  and  a  daughter  named  Maud, 
who  is  now  Mrs.  James  Leno.x  Banks,  of  New 
York  City;  each  of  these,  the  son  and  son-in- 
law,  are  graduates  of  Yale  College,  and  are 
each  lawyers  working  in  the  profession  for  its 
emoluments  and  honors.  A  young  lawyer  bids 
us  say,  and  we  cannot  refrain  from  so  doing, 
since  we  think  it  a  sure  mark  of  greatness  and 
broadness  of  thought  in  a  man  who  has  won 
high  position  by  dint  of  merit,  to  remember 
how  weak  and  timid  Joseph  F.  Barnard  once 
was  as  a  lawyer;  and  so  we  must  say  that,  to 
the  young  lawyer,  diffident,  strange  in  the 
place,  poor,  usually,  and  needing  help  just 
then  with  his  case,  no  parent  with  his  child 
could  have  been  more  considerate  than  Judge 
Barnard  was  with  him.  No  attempt  at  praise 
in  this  article  has  been  intended,  and  only  the 
facts  of  this  useful  service  to  us  all  has  been 
the  purpose  of  this  story  to  plainly  and  truth- 
fully give. " 


JUDGE  CHARLES  WHEATON  (deceased). 
The  subject  of  this  sketch,  one  of  the  most 
talented  and  distinguished  members  of  the 
Dutchess  County  Bar,  was  born  May  21,  1834, 
at  Lithgoyv,  in  the  town  of  Washington, 
Dutchess  county. 

He  was  connected  by  marriage  and  blood 
with  many  well-known  residents  of  this  region, 
the  Bockee,  the  Carpenter,  the  Barculo,  the 
Smith  and  the  Thompson  families,  and  his 
ancestors  in  the  direct  line  were  among  the 
most  prominent  citizens  of  their  day.  His 
(Charles  Wheaton's)  great-grandfather  Whea- 
ton died  during  _the  Revolution,  in  the  city  of 
New  York.  His  grandfather  Augustus  (born 
in  1774  in  New  Milford,  or  town  of  Washing- 
ton, Conn.,  and  died  in  185 1  in  New  Milford) 
was  married,  about  1796,  to  Hannah  Givan, 
of  the  town  of  Washington,  Conn.;  she  was 
born  in  1776,  and  died  in  1825  in  Pompey, 
N.  Y.  In  about  1802  Augustus  Wheaton 
came  to  the  town  of  Northeast,  Dutchess 
county,  where  he  remained  till  18 10,  managing 
one  of  Judge  Isaac  Smith's  farms.  In  18  to 
he  moved  to  Pompey,  N.  Y. ,  with  his  family, 
where  he  bought  a  farm  and  lived  till  about 
1840.  In  1833  or  1834  he  was  appointed  by 
the  Governor  as  inspector  of  salt,  which  posi- 


(3  ^^^^-^C^^^^^c/tL,^^.^^^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tion  he  held  for  about  five  years.  Later  he 
removed  to  his  former  home,  New  Milford, 
Conn.,  where  he  married  Miss  Bestwick.  He 
died  in  1851. 

On  December  15,  1804,  Charles  Wheaton's 
father.  Homer,  was  born  about  three-quarters 
of  a  mile  north  of  the  Square.      He  commenced 
his  school   life   at    Pompey,  where  he  entered 
the  academy  at  ei<^ht  years  of  age.      His  pre- 
cocity is  evidenced  by  his  being  already  engaged 
in  translating  Xenophon  when  nine  years  old. 
He  entered   Hamilton  College  in   1819,  being 
graduated  in  1822,  and  delivering  the  English 
oration.      He  studied  law,  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,   and  began  to  practice  in  Syracuse.     On 
June    23,     1830,    he    mafried    Louisa    Smith, 
daughter  of  Judge  Isaac  Smith,  a  well-known 
jurist  and  large  land-owner  of  Dutchess  county, 
and  as  she  preferred  to  live  near  her  old  home 
he  gave  up  his  profession  and  came  to  Lithgow, 
where  his  time  was  largel}'  occupied  in  manag- 
ing the  estates  of  his  wife.      He  prepared  for 
the  ministry  of   the    Episcopal   Church,    was 
ordained    in    1841,    and    in    1842    was   made 
assistant    rector    of    Christ    Church,    Pough- 
keepsie,  and  in  1846  was  chosen  rector,  serv- 
ing one  year,  when  he  resigned  and  returned 
to  Lithgow.      Here  he  acted  as  rector  of  St. 
Peter's  Church,   building  Episcopal    churches 
in    Amenia    Union    and    Beekman  during  his 
ministry.      In  1854  he  was  urged  by  a  number 
of  the  clergy  for  the  bishopric  then  vacant  by 
the  death  of  Bishop  Wainwright,  but  his  relig- 
ious views  were  undergoing  a  change,  and  he 
discouraged  the  movement.      In    1855  he  be- 
came a  Roman  Catholic,  and  thereafter  resided 
at  his  beautiful  country  home  till  within  a  few 
years  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  his  nine- 
tieth year.      He  had   become   quite  deaf,  and 
was   accidentally   killed   by   the   cars  at   Mill- 
brook,  on  November  12,   1894. 

As  to  the  maternal  ancestry  of  Charles 
Wheaton:  His  mother,  Louisa  Smith,  was 
born  March  29,  1805,  and  died  May  2i,  1863. 
Her  father,  Isaac  Smith,  was  born  at  the 
Square,  July  25,  1767,  and  died  at  Lithgow  in 
1825.  Early  in  the  century  he  held  the  office 
of  county  judge,  and  served  also  as  member  of 
the  Assembly  of  the  State.  For  the  earlier 
history  of  the  Smith  family  we  copy  the  follow- 
ing from  an  old  record:  "  William  Smith  came 
from  Gloucestershire,  in  England,  in  or  about 
the  year  1635  or  1636,  unto  Boston,  where  he 
was  persecuted  for  his  religious  principles.  He 
left  Boston  and  came  to  Hempstead,  on  Long 


Island,  in  the  year  1639,  where  about  forty 
families  that  had  left  Boston  on  the  same  ac- 
count had  settled  about  two  years  before,  under 
the  States  of  Holland.  He  was  killed  a  few 
years  after  by  the  Indians.  He  left  several 
sons:  John,  Abraham  and  Morris.  Abraham 
had  two  sons^ — Isaac  and  Abraham;  the  young- 
est removed  to  Cape  May,  in  New  Jersey. 
Abraham  died,  aged  eighty-six  years.  Isaac 
Smith,  he  settled  on  the  side  of  Hempstead 
Plains.  He  was  born  about  the  year  1657  or 
'8,  and  died  in  the  year  1746.  He  left  two 
sons — Jacob  and  Micah.  Jacob  was  born  De- 
cember, 1690;  Micah  was  born  1703.  Jacob 
died  in  the  year  1757.  He  left  two  sons — 
Thomas,  born  9th  of  August,  1720;  Jacob  was 
one  of  the  judges  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  when  he  died.  Isaac  Smith  was  born 
the  9th  day  of  September,  1722,  and  moved 
from  Hempstead,  in  Queens  county,  where  his 
ancestors  had  resided  nearly  a  century  before, 
to  the  town  of  Amenia,  in  Dutchess  county, 
•the  year  1769" — and  from  another  section: 
"Isaac  Smith  was  born  September  9,  1722; 
Margaret  Piatt  was  born  August  16,  1728. 
They  were  married  January  2,  1743  or  '4.  Of 
eleven  children  born  to  them,  Isaac  Smith  was 
the  tenth,  born  July  25,  1767,"  the  grand- 
father of  Charles  Wheaton,  subject  of  this 
sketch. 

Of  the  two  sons  of  Homer  Wheaton,  the 
elder,  Isaac  Smith,  died  in  November,  1872; 
Charles,  the  younger  son,  was  a  graduate  of 
the  College  of  St.  James  at  Hagerstown,  Md., 
and  a  tutor  there  for  two  years.  He  then 
studied  law  in  the  office  of  Thompson  & 
Weeks,  of  Poughkeepsie,  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  and  entering  the  office  of  Silas  Wodell, 
then  district  attorney,  he  became  assistant 
district  attorney.  In  1863  he  was  elected 
county  judge,  and  on  the  resignation  of  Judge 
Homer  A.  Nelson,  who  had  been  elected  to 
Congress,  he  was  appointed  to  fill  his  un- 
expired term  in  addition  to  that  for  which  he 
had  been  chosen.  He  declined  a  renomina- 
tion,  and  never  again  held  a  public  office,  al- 
though as  an  ardent  believer  in  the  principles 
of  the  Democratic  party  he  valiantly  led  a 
"forlorn  hope"  several  times  against  the 
overwhelming  Republican  majority  of  his  dis- 
trict. He  seemed  to  care  nothing  for  defeat; 
the  cause  was  all  that  he  considered;  the 
principles  which  he  held  dear  filled  him  with 
enthusiasm,  in  which  the  thought  of  self  had 
no  place.      He  was  candidate  for  Congress  in 


6 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1866,  for  the  U.  S.  Senate  in  1873  (against 
Roscoe  Conkling),  and  for  State  Senator  in 
1877,  bearing  the  party  standard  as  gallantly 
as  if  success  instead  of  defeat  were  assured. 
He  was  frequently  a  delegate  to  State  Conven- 
tions, and  on  several  occasions  was  chairman, 
his  clearness  of  intellect  and  judicial  fairness 
making  him  an  ideal  presiding  officer.  He 
held  minor  offices  of  public  trust,  fulfilling 
their  duties  with  scrupulous  care,  serving  on 
the  board  of  education,  and  on  the  board  of 
managers  of  the  Hudson  River  State  Hospital 
for  many  years.  With  his  high  intellectual 
endowments,  and  a  manner  which  never  failed 
to  establish  a  spirit  of  good-fellowship,  it  has 
been  a  matter  of  surprise  to  many  that  he  did 
not  make  use  of  opportunities  for  distinction 
in  public  life  which  arose  from  time  to  time. 
But  he  was  genuinely  indifferent  to  official 
honors  for  himself,  and  preferred  rather 
to  help  his  friends,  when  victory  was 
probable,  than  to  enter  into  competition 
with  them.  Again,  his  high  sense  of 
honor  has  stood  in  his  way  on  more  than 
one  occasion,  and  the  story  is  told  that 
in  1879,  during  the  preliminary  campaign  for 
the  nomination  of  a  governor,  a  friend  asked 
his  support  for  the  State  Treasurership.  Judge 
Wheaton's  promise  was  readily  given,  and 
when  he  was  afterward  notified  by  several 
delegations  that  he  could  be  named  for  gover- 
nor if  he  so  desired  he  informed  them  that  he 
could  not'accept  the  nomination  as  his  promise 
had  been  given  to  support  a  Dutchess  county 
man  for  the  Treasurership,  and  two  could  not 
be  chosen  from  that  county.  Had  he  been 
nominated,  he  could  certainly  have  been 
elected,  as  he  would  have  reconciled  all  fac- 
tions. Public  opinion  is  united  in  the  belief 
that  had  he  possessed  greater  ambition,  and  a 
less  scrupulous  sense  of  honor,  he  would  have 
filled  a  larger  place  in  the  public  eye.  This  is 
doubtless  true,  but  one  may  well  question 
whether  he  would  have  found  in  official  place 
and  power  the  satisfaction  which  private  life 
afforded  one  of  his  temperament.  A  lover  of 
books  and  travel,  of  home  and  all  the  refine- 
ments of  cultured  society,  it  is  no  wonder  that 
he  turned  from  the  turmoil  of  political  life 
with  perfect  contentment.  He  died  Tuesday, 
May  II,  1886,  at  the  early  age  of  fifty-two, 
after  a  brief  illness.  The  funeral  services  were 
held  in  St.  Paul's  Church  at  eleven  o'clock, 
Friday,  May  14,  and  the  sad  event  was  marked 
by  sincere  grief  among  all  classes.     The  mem- 


bers of  the  Dutchess  County  Bar,  who  attend- 
ed the  funeral  in  a  body,  passed  the  following 
resolutions  of  condolence  and  respect: 

WHEKEA.S,  The  members  of  the  bar  of  the  County  of 
Dutchess  have  learned,  with  great  sorrow,  of  the  death 
of  the  Hon.  Charles  Wheaton,  and  have  met  in  council  to 
publicly  express  their  appreciation  of  the  man  and  their 
sympathy  with  his  family: 

Resoked,  That  in  the  loss  of  our  well-beloved  associate 
and  friend,  ever  upright,  courteous  and  generous,  pure  of 
character,  honest  of  purpose,  filling  every  position  with 
sagacity  and  courage,  never  faltering  or  hesitating  in  fol- 
lowing his  convictions  of  duty,  a  profound  lawyer  and 
learned  man,  an  impartial  and  clear-minded  judge  and  a 
wise  counsellor,  always  ready  to  aid  the  younger  and  less 
experienced  of  his  associates,  and  a  firm  and  steady 
friend,  we  desire  to  place  on  record  an  expression  of  our 
common  loss,  and  to  his  family  our  condolence  and  our 
sympathy  in  their  bereavement. 

On  further  motion  it  was  resolved  that,  out 
of  respect  for  the  deceased  brother,  the  mem- 
bers of  the  bar  attend  the  funeral. 

Judge  Wheaton  was  married  in  Pough- 
keepsie,  October  26,  1859,  to  Miss  Caroline 
Barculo,  who  survives  him.  They  had  five 
children:  Barculo,  born  September  24,  1861, 
died  at  the  age  of  thirteen;  Louisa,  born  Au- 
gust 6,  1863,  is  a  sister  in  the  order  of  The 
S.  H.  C.  J.  at  the  convent  at  Sharon  Hill, 
Penn.,  near  Philadelphia;  Isaac  Smith,  born 
December  13,  1864,  resides  at  Lithgow,  and 
is  married  to  Helen  Marguerite  Fairchild,  of 
New  York;  Frank  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen 
months;  and  Agnes,  born  January  19,  1870,  is 
in  the  convent  at  Sharon  Hill.  A  few  years 
after  his  marriage  Judge  Wheaton  built  the 
brick  mansion  in  North  Hamilton  street,  which 
faces  Mansion  square  near  the  intersection  of 
Mansion  street.  There  his  children  were  born, 
and  there  he  accumulated  his  library.  He 
was  rarely  absent  from  home,  and  never  for  a 
long  period  of  time.  He  made  an  extended 
trip  through  Europe  in  1880  in  company  with 
his  family,  and  returned  with  probably  acuter 
and  more  appreciative  knowledge  of  what  he 
had  seen  than  most  travelers  gain.  Extensive 
reading  had  prepared  his  mind  for  the  scenes 
and  objects  he  was  to  visit;  therefore,  sight  of 
them  was  had  with  a  relish  that  was  keen  and 
intelligent.  He  loved  to  talk  of  his  experi- 
ences; those  that  were  vital  with  humor  or 
exhibited  striking  phases  of  human  nature  were 
narrated  by  him  with  bright  phrases  and  a 
verbal  coloring  that  indicated  his  many-sided 
apprehension.  His  amusements  were  all  of 
an  intellectual  character;  outdoor  diversions 
seemed  to  have  but  little  attraction  for  him. 
In    his   younger    manhood    his    physique  was 


COMMEMORATIVE   BIOGRAPUWAL   RECORD. 


f almost  perfect,  his  sound  health  imparting  a 
ruddiness  to  his  skin  and  a  brightness  to  his 
eyes  that  set  him  forth  one  of  the  handsomest 
of  men.  These  qualities,  added  to  his  native 
bonhomie,  made  him  especially  attractive.  His 
courtesy  toward  women,  and  good  fellowship 
with  men,  assured  him  a  lasting  popularity.  It 
can  be  said  with  literal  truth  that  Charles 
Wheaton  was  one  of  Nature's  noblemen.  His 
intellect  was  a  noble  gift;  his  perceptions  were 
of  the  keenest,  his  powers  of  expression  supe- 
rior; he  apparently  lacked  nothing  of  a  thor- 
.  oughly-equipped  mind.  His  knowledge  of  his- 
Itory  was  wide  and  exact;  perhaps  few  men  in 
this  State  exceeded  him  in  the  wealth  of  mid- 
dle-age and  modern  history.  Polite  literature 
was  a  favorite  study  in  his  younger  years,  and 
as  he  approached  the  end  of  half  a  century  of 
life  his  literary  tastes  and  reading  were  una- 
bated. He  was  especially  informed  concern- 
ing the  literature  of  the  Elizabethan,  the  Queen 
Anne  and  the  Georgian  eras  of  EngJish  drama, 
oratory  and  belles  lettres.  The  law  seemed  to 
possess  more  attractions  for  him  in  his  early 
manhood  than  in  his  later  years,  and  while 
such  attractions  receded  from  him,  the  allure- 
ments of  modern  and  coetaneous  literature 
exerted  their  spell  upon  his  receptive  mind. 

Hon.  Seward  Barculo,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Charles  Wheaton,  was  the  son  of  Rev.  George 
Barculo,  who,  at  the  time  of  his  son's  birth, 
September  22,  1808,  was  pastor  of  the  two 
churches  at  Hopewell  and  New  Hackensack, 
Dutchess  county.  Seward  was  a  favorite  of 
his  uncle.  Jacobus  Swarthout,  with  whom  he 
spent  much  of  his  time  in  boyhood,  and  who 
adopted  him  and  provided  for  his  education. 
As  a  boy  he  was  remarkable  for  the  active  and 
mischievous  turn  of  his  mind,  while  he  was  at 
the  same  time  truthful,  generous,  fearless,  and 
firm.  He  began  his  academic  course  in  De- 
cember, 1826,  at  the  academy  in  Fishkill  vil- 
lage, then  under  the  charge  of  Rev.  Cor- 
nelius D.  Westbrook.  He  prepared  for  col- 
lege at  Cornwall,  Conn. ,  and  entered  the 
freshman  class  at  Yale  in  September,  1828, 
remaining  until  August,  1830,  when  owing  to 
some  difficulty  with  the  Faculty  he  received 
an  honorable  discharge  and  went  to  Rutgers 
College,  N.  J.  He  was  a  year  in  advance  of 
his  class  there,  and  after  three  months  he  re- 
turned home;  the  Faculty  being  displeased  at 
this  step,  expelled  him,  and  this  ended  his 
college  course.  He  commenced  the  study  of 
law  with  S.  Cleveland,  Esq.,  of  Poughkeepsie, 


and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  spring  of 
1834.  He  then  began  to  practice  under  cir- 
cumstances which,  though  generally  deemed 
favorable,  are  in  reality  a  disadvantage  to  a 
young  man  anxious  to  commence  the  trial  of 
causes  at  nisi  prius.  He  entered  into  part- 
nership with  Mr.  Cleveland,  whose  many  cli- 
ents were  always  desirous  that  he  should  per- 
sonally conduct  their  cases.  The  junior  part- 
ner rapidly  acquired  confidence,  and  began  to 
try  his  skill  unaided  by  senior  counsel,  and  as 
Mr.  Cleveland  was  in  New  York  much  of  the 
time,  the  young  man  gradually  assumed  the 
business  of  the  office  with  credit  to  himself 
and  satisfaction  to  his  clients.  He  was  ap- 
pointed judge  of  the  county  court  in  April, 
1845,  by  Gov.  Wright,  on  the  unanimous 
recommendation  of  the  Dutchess  County  Bar, 
and  in  1846  was  appointed  circuit  judge  by 
Gov.  Wright.  In  1847  he  was  elected  one  of 
the  justices  of  the  supreme  court  for  the  Sec- 
ond District,  and  drew  the  longest  term,  serv- 
ing six  years  and  a  half. 

Judge  Barculo  had  no  negative  character- 
istics; none  of  the  easy  and  facile  utterance  of 
non-committal  expressions  which  mark  the 
weak  and  mediocre  man  who  aims  at  political 
"availability."  He  was  an  extensive  reader, 
possessed  of  fine  literary  taste,  and  he  took 
great  interest  in  the  public  library  of  the  city 
of  Poughkeepsie.  Horticulture  was  a  favorite 
pursuit  with  him,  and  his  varieties  of  straw- 
berries, peaches,  pears  and  other  fruits  became 
quite  celebrated  in  his  section.  To  the  cul- 
ture of  the  grape  he  paid  especial  attention, 
and  the  manufacture  of  wine,  of  which  he  left 
some  fine  varieties.  Some  valuable  papers 
were  written  by  him  for  the  "Horticulturist," 
on  the  varieties  and  management  of  fruit. 

In  1846,  1850  and  1854,  he  visited  Europe, 
as  much  for  the  sake  of  being  on  the  ocean  as 
to  observe  for  himself  the  manners  and  cus- 
toms of  foreign  society,  and  the  machinery  of 
their  social  and  political  life.  His  fondness 
for  the  water  amounted  to  a  passion.  He 
owned  a  sail  boat,  and  would  occasionally  hoist 
sail  and  pass  down  the  river  to  New  York  City, 
across  the  bay,  and  up  the  Shrewsbury  river, 
where  he  would  spend  weeks  in  sailing  and 
bathing.  During  his  last  trip  to  Europe  his 
health  failed  perceptibly  while  he  was  in  Lon- 
don and  Paris,  but  he  never  complained.  Al- 
ways kind  and  considerate  to  those  about  him, 
he  would  insist  upon  going  with  his  youngfriends 
to  places  of  interest,  that  their  visit  might  not  be 


8 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHWAL  RECORD. 


marred  by  his  afflictions.  Finding  himself 
growing  feebler,  in  June,  1854,  he  turned  his 
face  homeward,  his  one  wish  being  to  die  in 
his  own  home,  surrounded  by  those  who  were 
near  and  dear  to  him.  But  that  home  he 
never  reached,  for  on  June  20,  1854,  he  died 
in  New  York  City.  His  unconscious  dust,  re- 
posed  for  a  while   in   its  desolate  halls,   and 

then — 

Gently  we  laid  him  down  to  rest, 
With  his  own  white  roses  upon  his  breast. 

He  was  buried  with  the  solemn  ritual  of  the 
Episcopal  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  member, 
on  June  22,  1854,  in  the  cemetery  which, 
shortly  before  his  departure  for  Europe,  he 
was  most  active  in  procuring,  as  if  in  prophetic 
knowledge  that  he  would  soon  occupy  it. 
Eleven  weeks  later,  September  4,  1854,  in 
Poughkeepsie,  his  only  son,  Sidney,  was  killed 
by  an  accidental  fall,  and  their  remains  rest 
side  by  side. 

On  May  12,  1834,  Judge  Barculo  was  mar- 
ried to  Cornelia,  daughter  of  John  H.  and 
Sarah  (Somerindyke)  Talman,  of  New  York 
City.  His  wife  survives  him  with  two  daugh- 
ters— Caroline  T.,  born  March  i,  1835,  ^nd 
Marion,  born  June  5,  1836;  Cornelia  P.,  born 
March  31,  1851,  died  August  6,  1881. 

It  is  one  of  the  consolations  of  a  good  man 
that  his  memory  shall  not  die;  that  the  re- 
membrance of  his  services  and  virtues  shall  be 
preserved  as  an  inheritance  to  his  children, 
and  as  an  incentive  to  others  who  may  be 
treading  the  arduous  path  of  public  life.  The 
sentiment,  which  seeks  its  gratification  in  the 
desire  for  honest  fame  while  we  live,  may 
legitimately  be  extended  to  posthumous  re- 
nown. It  is  a  premonition  and  prophecy  that 
we  are  not  all  mortal,  but  that  something  sur- 
vives and  claims  a  consciousness  of  the  char- 
acter it  leaves  behind.  Judge  Barculo  well 
merited  the  epitaph  inscribed  upon  his  monu- 
ment: 

In  Society,  an  Ornament; 
In  the  State,  a  Judge,  fearless,  dignified  and  incorruptible; 

in  habit,  simple  and  pure. 

He  died  young,  but  mature 

In  usefulness  and  fame, 
Adorning  Jurisprudence  by  the  clearness  of  his  decisions, 

And  illustrating  Religion  by 

The  Strength  of  his  Faith. 


M 


OMER  AUGUSTUS  NELSON  (de- 
^31  ceased).  The  subject  of  this  memoir,  a 
native  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  born 
August  31,   1829,  was  at  the  time  of  his  death 


characterized  by  one  of  the  Poughkeepsie 
journals  as  "the  first  citizen  of  this  city  and 
county."  This  unusual  tribute  was  deserved. 
The  son  of  John  M.  Nelson,  a  Dutchess  county 
farmer,  Judge  Nelson  achieved  a  prominent 
place  in  State  and  National  affairs,  solely  by 
virtue  of  his  inherent  abilities.  He  was  edu- 
cated at  the  Dutchess  County  Academy,  and 
afterward  studied  law  in  the  offices  of  Tallman 
&  Dean,  Varick  &  Eldridge,  and  Hon.  Charles 
H.  Ruggles,  all  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  at  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 

He  at  once  began  to  attract  attention  as  a 
lawyer  by  his  keen  analysis  of  legal  questions, 
while  in  politics  he  was  speedily  recognized  as 
a  leader  of  the  local  Democratic  party.  In 
1855,  when  but  twenty-six  years  old,  he  was 
elected  judge  of  Dutchess  county,  being  the 
youngest  man  ever  chosen  to  that  ofKice.  He 
served  upon  this  bench  with  distinction  for  two 
terms.  In  1859  he  was  renominated  unani- 
mously, and  re-elected  by  a  large  majority, 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  all  the  other 
candidates  on  the  Democratic  ticket  were  de- 
feated. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion  he  was  made  colonel  of  the  167th 
Regiment,  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  and  would  have 
accompanied  his  command  to  the  front  but  for 
the  urgent  pleading  of  his  numerous  friends, 
who  prevailed  on  him  to  take  his  seat  in  Con- 
gress, where  they  considered  his  services  would 
be  of  more  value  to  the  country  at  large.  In 
the  fall  of  1862  he  was  elected  to  Congress, 
and  in  the  following  year  entered  upon  his 
duties  there,  having,  at  the  special  solicitation 
of  his  bosom  friend,  Mr.  Kelly,  of  Rhinebeck, 
resigned  his  commission  in  the  army.  It  may 
be  here  mentioned  that  Col.  Nelson's  regiment 
was  among  those  that  suffered  most  in  the 
great  struggle,  a  large  proportion  of  its  officers 
and  men  having  been  numbered  among  the 
killed  and  wounded.  In  December,  1863,  he 
proceeded  to  Washington,  and  on  New  Year's 
Day,  1864,  he  was  present  at  a  reception  held 
at  the  White  House,  to  which  all  the  generals 
in  the  army  were  invited,  the  first  and  only 
occasion  of  the  kind  during  the  war. 

During  his  entire  Congressional  term  Judge 
Nelson  warmly  advocated  and  supported  all 
measures  for  the  vigorous  prosecution  of  the 
war,  and  the  suppression  of  the  Rebellion.  The 
adoption  of  the  Constitutional  Amendments  for 
the  Abolition  of  Slavery  was  doubtless  due  in  a 
large  measure  to  his   efforts,   for  he  was  not 


MA-^ 


C^C^i-^v^^^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


9 


only  one  of  the  few  Democrats  to  vote  for 
them,  but  he  also  exerted  his  influence  to  in- 
duce others  of  his  party  to  support  them  at  a 
time  when  they  could  not  have  been  secured 
without  a  partition  of  the  Democratic  vote  in 
the  House  of  Representatives. 

In  1867  he  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the 
Constitutional  Convention  of  New  York  State, 
where  he  rendered  conspicuous  service,  leading 
to  his  nomination  and  election  the  same  year 
as  Secretary  of  State.  He  was  re-elected  two 
years  later  by  a  majority  which  at  that  time 
was  the  largest  ever  given  to  a  Democratic 
candidate  in  the  State.  His  success  in  this  po- 
sition was  acknowledged  even  by  party  oppo- 
nents; but  he  generously  declined  a  re-nomina- 
tion  for  a  third  term  in  favor  of  a  friend,  Died- 
rich  Willers,  who  was  his  deputy. 

After  his  retirement  in  1871  from  the  office 
of  Secretary  of  State,  Judge  Nelson  removed 
his  law  office  to  New  York  City,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  litigations  of  the  greatest  impor- 
tance. He  retained  his  residence  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  however,  and  in  1881  was  elected 
State  Senator  from  Dutchess  county,  serving 
as  chairman  of  the  Judiciary  Committee,  in 
which  capacity  his  services  were  invaluable  in 
the  revision  of  the  penal  code.  His  appoint- 
ment by  the  Governor,  in  1890,  as  a  member 
of  the  commission  to  prepare  and  propose  to  the 
Legislature  amendments  to  the  judiciary  article 
of  the  Constitution,  was  a  recognition  of  his 
distinguished  services,  and  of  his  learning, 
ability,  and  experience  as  a  lawyer.  Alto- 
gether he  was  one  of  the  most  prominent,  act- 
ive, and  influential  members,  and  during  his 
career  in  the  House  served  as  chairman  of 
three  committees.  As  a  member  of  the  legal 
profession,  he  was  highly  popular,  not  only 
with  his  colleagues,  but  among  all  classes,  and 
was  universally  respected.  At  the  bar  he  was 
as  distinguished  as  when  he  sat  in  both  Con- 
gress and  Senate,  and  in  1857  Rutgers  College, 
New  Jersey,  conferred  upon  him  the  honorary 
degree  of  Master  of  Arts,  in  token  of  the  es- 
teem in  which  his  abilities  had  thus  early  won 
him. 

With  the  young  men  of  his  time,  and  es- 
pecially with  the  then  struggling  law  student,  or 
newly-fledged  attorney.  Judge  Nelson's  mem- 
ory will  be  ever  held  in  kindly  reverence.  To 
these  he  was  always  considerate  and  helpful, 
encouraging  and  affable,  and  none  ever  came 
to  him  for  advice  or  counsel  that  was  not 
cheerfully    given.      On    one    occasion,    having 


delivered  an  address  in  the  Opera  House,  a 
reporter  waited  on  him  with  the  request  that 
he,  the  Judge,  would  repeat  certain  points  in 
his  address.  The  Judge  not  only  immediately 
acceded  to  this,  but  cheerfully  repeated  the 
whole  of  the  address  to  the  reporter.  In  fact, 
Judge  Nelson  was  one  of  the  most  urbane  and 
courteous  of  men,  and  possessed  the  faculty 
of  putting  at  ease  all  who  approached  him. 
He  was  also  possessed  of  an  extremely  gen- 
erous heart,  was  charitable  to  all  deserving 
causes,  and  the  poor  at  all  times  had  his  coun- 
sel "without  money  and  without  price."  All 
these  characteristics,  and  more,  the  outcome 
of  genuine  kindliness  of  heart,  were  the  com- 
pletion of  his  well-rounded  character.  Physic- 
ally he  was  a  man  of  fine  presence,  handsome, 
standing  six  feet  in  height,  and  well  built  in 
proportion.  He  was  fond  of  sport,  even  boy- 
ish in  his  tastes  and  enjoyments,  and  de- 
lighted to  join  with  children  in  their  games 
and  sports. 

The  Judge  was  married  in  September, 
1855,  to  Miss  Helen  J.  Stearns,  daughter  of  a 
well-known  attorney,  John  M.  Stearns,  of 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  Judge  Nelson  departed  this 
life  at  Poughkeepsie,  April  25,  1891,  the  cause 
of  his  death  being  heart  trouble,  and  on  the 
day  of  his  funeral,  out  of  respect  to  his  mem- 
ory, the  entire  business  in  town  was  suspended. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  State  Bar  Associa- 
tion, and  was  a  Freemason. 


rrON.  LEVI  PARSONS  MORTON,  ex- 
Vice-President  of  the  United  States,  and 
ex-Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York,  claims 
descent  from  an  old  French  family,  one  mem- 
ber of  which  (supposed  to  have  been  Robert 
Comte  de  Mortain)  joined  WiUiam  the  Con- 
queror, in  Normandy,  in  his  famous  expedition 
to  England.  This  Count  Robert  had  a  son, 
William,  Earl  of  Moriton  and  Cornwall,  and 
from  these  first  of  the  name  in  England 
sprang  many  men  of  renown  both  in  Church 
and  State. 

Prominent  among  the  English  Mortons 
who  early  came  to  America  were  Thomas 
Morton,  Esq.,  Rev.  Charles  Morton,  Land- 
grave Joseph  Morton,  and  fl)  George  Morton, 
the  ancestor  of  our  subject.  He  was  born 
about  1585,  at  Austerfield,  Yorkshire,  Eng- 
land, and  about  1622,  accompanied  by  his 
wife  and  five  children,  he  set  sail  for  America, 
as    one    of    the    "Pilgrims,"    in    the   "Ann," 


10 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


reaching  Plymouth  in  June,  1623.  He  did 
not  long,  however,  survive  his  arrival,  dying 
in  June  of  the  following  year.  He  married 
Juliana  Carpenter,  and  by  her  had  live  chil- 
dren: Nathaniel,  Patience,  John,  Sarah  and 
Ephriam.  The  mother  married  a  second  time, 
and  died  at  Plymouth,  February,  18,  1665. 

(H)  Hon.  John  Morton,  second  son  of 
George  and  Juliana  Morton,  was  born  in 
1616-17,  and  came  with  his  parents  in  the 
"Ann."  From  Plymouth  he  removed  to  Mid- 
dleboro,  in  the  same  county,  and  there  died, 

October  3,  1673.      He  married  Lettice  , 

who  married  again,  and  died,  February  22, 
1 69 1. 

(HI)  John  Morton,  eldest  surviving  child 
of  Hon.  John  and  Lettice  Morton,  was  born 
at  Plymouth,  December  21,  1650,  and  died  at 
Middleboro  in  171 7.    He  married,  about  1680, 

Phoebe  ,    and    after    her   death    wedded, 

about  1687,  Mary  Ring. 

(IV)  Capt.  Ebenezer  Morton,  fourth  child 
of  John  and  Mary  Morton,  was  born  at  Mid- 
dleboro, October  19,  1696,  and  died  there  in 
1750.  He  married,  in  1720,  Mercy  Foster, 
born  1698,  died  April  4,  1782. 

(V)  Ebenezer  Morton,  fourth  child  of  Capt. 
Ebenezer  and  Mercy  Morton,  was  born  at 
Middleboro,  August  27,  1726,  and  married 
there,  July  23,  1753,  Mrs.  Sarah  Cobb. 

(VI)  Livy  Morton,  fourth  child  of  Ebe- 
nenzer  and  Sarah  Morton,  was  born  at  Mid- 
dleboro, February  4,  1760;  removed  to  Win- 
throp,  Maine,  where  his  children  were  born, 
but  subsequently  returned  to  Middleboro,  where 
he  died  July  19,  1838.  He  married  (first) 
March  13,  1788,  Hannah  Dailey,  born  No- 
vember 15,  1760,  died  in  1807;  married  (sec- 
ond) in  1808,  Catherine  Richmond,  who  died 
in   1849. 

(VII)  Rev.  Daniel  Oliver  Morton.  A.  M., 
eldestson  of  Livy  and  Hannah  Morton,  wasborn 
at  Winthrop,  Maine,  December  21,  1788,  and 
died  at  Bristol,  N.  H.,  March  25,  1852.  At 
Pittsfield,  Vt.,  August  30,  18 14,  he  married 
Lucretia  Parsons,  daughter  of  Rev.  Justin  and 
Electa  (Frary)  Parsons;  she  was  born  at 
Goshen,  July  26,  1789.  died  at  Philadelphia, 
January  11,  1862.  Children  of  Rev.  Daniel 
Oliver,  and  Lucretia  Morton,  all  born  at  Shore- 
ham,  Vt. ,  were  Daniel  Oliver,  Lucretia  Par- 
sons, Electa  Frary,  Levi  Parsons,  Mary  and 
Martha. 

(VIII)  Hon.  Levi  Parsons  Morton,  fourth 
child  of  Rev.  Daniel  Oliver  and  Lucretia  (Par- 


sons) Morton,  was  born  May  16,  1824.  Early 
in  life  he  became  a  merchant's  clerk,  and  later 
was  a  merchant  in  Hanover,  N.  H.,  where  he 
continued  until  1850,  in  which  year  he  entered 
the  firm  of  Beebe,  Morgan  &  Co.,  then  one  of 
the  leading  dry-goods  houses  in  Boston.  In 
the  following  year  the  firm  opened  a  branch 
house  in  New  York,  to  which  Mr.  Morton  was 
detailed  as  resident  partner  and  manager.  On 
January  i,  1854,  he  withdrew  from  the  firm 
to  form  the  dry-goods  commission  house  of 
Morton  &  Grinnell.  In  1863  he  established 
the  banking  houses  of  L.  P.  Morton  & 
Co.,  in  New  York,  and  L.  P.  Morton,  Burns 
&  Co.,  in  London.  In  1869  the  firm  be- 
came Morton,  Bliss  &  Co.,  in  New  York, 
and  Morton,  Rose  &  Co.,  in  London,  where 
his  principal  partner  was  Sir  John  Rose, 
formerly  Minister  of  Finance,  Canada.  It 
was  through  this  house  that  the  United  States 
Government  paid  Great  Britain  the  Halifax 
fishing  award  of  five  million  five  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars.  Mr.  Morton  was  one  of  the 
noted  American  bankers  whose  advice  and  as- 
sistance were  sought  by  the  Treasury  Depart- 
ment in  the  movements  of  specie  payments. 

Early  in  his  business  career  in  New  York 
Mr.  Morton  evinced  an  interest  in  public  affairs, 
and  his  counsel  was  frequently  solicited  in  the 
political  concern  of  the  Republican  party, 
especially  of  New  York,  but  not  till  1876  did 
he  enter  actively  into  political  life.  In  this 
year  he  was,  without  his  knowledge,  nomi- 
nated for  Congress  by  the  Republican  party  in 
the  Eleventh  District,  and,  although  unsuccess- 
ful, he  nevertheless  materially  reduced  the 
usual  Democratic  majority.  In  1878  he  was 
appointed  by  President  Hayes  honorary  com- 
missioner to  the  Paris  E.xposition,  and  in  the 
autumn  of  the  same  year  he  was  again  nomi- 
nated for  Congress,  and  after  a  vigorous  can- 
vass was  elected  by  6,000  majority,  which 
majority  was  larger  than  the  number  of  all  the 
votes  of  his  opponent.  This  was  the  first  time 
the  district  had  been  carried  by  the  Repub- 
licans. 

Mr.  Morton  took  his  seat  in  Congress  (the 
Forty-sixth)  March  18,  1879,  and  he  imme- 
diately secured  a  high  position  in  the  legisla- 
tive councils.  On  April  21,  1879,  he  was  ap- 
pointed on  the  Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs, 
where  he  served  acceptably  and  with  distinc- 
tion. In  1880  he  was  again  elected  to  Con- 
gress from  the  same  district,  by  an  increased 
majority. 


VOMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  liECORD. 


11 


When  the  Convention  of  1880  had  nomi- 
nated Mr.  Garfield  for  President  of  the  United 
States,  it  turned  to  New  York  to  find  a  candi- 
date for  Vice-President,  and  Mr.  Morton  was 
urged  to  permit  the  use  of  his  name.  He, 
however,  dechned  the  honor,  and  the  choice 
then  fell  upon  Mr.  Arthur.  Mr.  Garfield  of- 
fered Mr.  Morton  the  choice  of  the  Secretary- 
ship of  the  Navy,  or  the  position  of  Minister 
Plenipotentiary  and  Envoy  E.xtraordinary  to 
France.  The  latter  office  he  accepted,  and  in 
the  summer  of  1881  sailed  with  his  family  for 
the  French  capital. 

The  pre-eminent  fitness  of  the  new  envoy 
at  once  became  apparent,  and  the  success  of 
his  diplomatic  career  has  probably  never  been 
surpassed,  if  equalled,  by  any  American  repre- 
sentative to  a  foreign  court.  Shortly  after 
President  Cleveland  entered  upon  the  duties 
of  his  office  Mr.  Morton  resigned,  and  May  14, 
1885,  the  retiring  minister  presented  his  letter 
of  recall  to  the  President  of  the  Republic. 

In  January,  1885,  while  he  was  yet  in 
France,  Mr.  ^^o^ton's  name  was  brought  be- 
fore the  Republican  caucus  of  the  New  York 
Legislature  as  a  candidate  for  the  Senate  of 
the  United  States,  the  vote  being:  William 
M.  Evarts,  61;  Levi  P.  Morton,  28;  Chauncey 
M.  Depew,  3.  Two  years  later  his  name  was 
used  in  the  same  connection,  but  after  the  first 
ballot  in  the  Legislature  Mr.  Morton  withdrew 
in  favor  of  Mr.  Hiscock,  who  was  elected. 

Early  in  the  Presidential  campaign  of  1888, 
when  Gen.  Harrison. was  nominated  for  Presi- 
dent. Mr.  Morton  was  nominated  for  Vice- 
President,  and  both  candidates  were  elected, 
after  a  most  hotly  contested  campaign.  The 
successful  vote  in  New  York  was  universally 
conceded  to  have  been  largely  due  to  Mr. 
Morton's  strength  and  popularity  in  that  State. 
On  March  4,  1889,  he  entered  upon  the  duties 
of  the  Vice-Presidential  office,  and  discharged 
the  same  during  his  four-year  term  with  marked 
ability;  and  it  may  not  be  too  much  to  say  that 
the  United  States  Senate  has  never  been  pre- 
sided over  with  greater  courtesy,  dignity  and 

[efficiency.  In  1894  Mr.  Morton  was  nomi- 
nated for  and  elected    governor  of  the  State 

I  of  New  York,  his  term  of  office  expiring  Janu- 

|ary  i,  1897. 

Mr.  Morton  has  not  only  achieved  distinc- 

'  tion  in  financial  and  political  circles,  but  in 
charitable  deeds  as  well,  as  witness  his  munifi- 
cent donation  to  the  Irish  poor  during  the 
great  famine  in  Ireland,  of   1888,  and  his  gen- 


erosity on  several  other  occasions.  A  park  to 
the  city  of  Newport;  a  house  and  lot  in  Han- 
over to  Dartmouth  College,  that  the  College 
might  be  enabled  to  erect  an  art  gallery  and 
museum;  $i 0,000  toward  the  foundation  of  a 
professorship  of  Latin  and  French  in  Middle- 
burg  College;  $75,000  to  Grace  Church,  New 
York,  to  provide  a  building  for  a  day  nursery, 
as  a  tribute  to  the  memory  of  his  first  wife, 
Mrs.  Lucy  Kimball  Morton,  and  her  interest  in 
the  children  of  the  poor — all  these  stand  out 
from  the  list  of  Mr.  Morton's  public  and  private 
benevolences. 

From  Middleburg  College,  in  1881,  he  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  LL.  D. ,  also  from  Dart- 
mouth College  in  1882.  Socially,  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Union,  Union  League,  Metro- 
politan, Century,  and  Lawyers  Clubs  of  New 
York;  the  Metropolitan  Club  of  Washington, 
D.  C. ;  the  Historical  and  American  Geo- 
graphical Societies  of  New  York,  and  the  New 
England  Historic  Genealogical  Society. 

On  October  15,  1856,  Mr.  Morton  was 
married  at  Flatlands,  Long  Island,  to  Lucy 
Kimball  (born  July  22,  1836,  died  July  11, 
1871),  daughter  of  Elijah  H.  and  Sarah  Wet- 
more  (Hinsdale)  Kimball,  of  Flatlands,  Long 
Island.  On  February  12,  1873,  Mr.  Morton, 
for  his  second  wife,  married  Anna  Livingston 
Reade  Street,  born  May  18,  1846,  daughter  of 
William  Ingraham  Street,  Esq.,  and  Susan 
Kearney,  his  wife.  The  following  children 
have  been  born  to  Levi  Parsons  and  Anna 
(Street)  Morton:  Edith  Livingston,  born  at 
Newport,  R.  I.,  June  20,  1874;  Lena  Kear- 
ney, born  at  Newport,  May  20,  1875;  Helen 
Stuyvesant,  born  at  Newport,  August  2,  1876; 
Lewis  Parsons,  born  at  London,  England, 
September  21,  1877,  and  died  there  January 
10,  1878;  Alice,  born  at  New  York,  March  23, 
1879;  and  Mary,  born  at  New  York,  June  1 1, 
1881. 

Among  the  finest  country  seats  of  America 
is  Mr.  Morton's  "Ellerslie,"  at  Rhinecliff- 
on-the-Hudson,  beautifully  laid  out  and 
adorned,  a  spot  that  Rhinebeck  is  justly 
proud  of. 


WALLACE  SMITH   has  the  reputa- 

tion  of   a    strictly    first-class    business 

man,  reliable  and  energetic,  and  is  a  citizen  of 
whom  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  may 
be  justly  proud.  He  is  an  offspring  of  excel- 
lent   stock    of    stanch    Scotch    ancestry,    his 


12 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


grandfather  having  come  from  Scotland  to  the 
New  World,  becoming  a  cabinet-maker  of 
New  York  City.  Politicall}',  he  was  an  Old- 
line  Whig,  and  in  religious  faith  was  a  member 
of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church. 

William  Smith,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  New  York  City,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood  and  followed  cabinet-mak- 
ing. There  he  was  married  to  Miss  Jemima 
Horn,  who  was  born  in  that  city,  and  was  de- 
scended from  Mathew  Van  Horn,  who,  with 
his  brother  James,  came  from  Holland  and 
located  in  New  York  City,  where  their  de- 
scendants now  live.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Mathew  and  Margaret  (Hagerman)  Horn, 
who  were  born,  reared  and  died  in  that 
city,  where  her  father  engaged  in  the  real- 
estate  business,  owning  a  large  amount  of 
property.  In  the  metropolis  five  children 
were  born  to  the  parents  of  our  subject:  John 
H.,  who  was  one  of  the  valiant  soldiers  of  the 
Civil  war,  and  died  of  starvation  in  Salisbury 
(N.  C.)  prison;  W.  Wallace,  the  subject  of 
this  review;  George  E.,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
trunk  business  in  New  York  City;  Margaret, 
who  died  unmarried;  and  Sarah  H.  Smith. 
For  twenty  years  after  his  marriage  the  father 
continued  to  reside  in  New  York  City,  and 
then  went  to  Baltimore,  Md.,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  trunk  business  for  five  years. 
His  death,  however,  occurred  in  Poughkeep- 
sie,  in  1864,  where  he  had  removed  in  1859. 
His  wife  died  in  1889.  In  politics  he  loyally 
adhered  to  the  Republican  party. 

The  birth  of  W.  Wallace  Smith  occurred 
in  New  York  City,  September  20,  1834,  and 
there  he  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth,  attending  the  city  schools  and  learning 
the  bookbinding  business  with  A.  Appleton  & 
Co.,  with  whom  he  remained  until  the  panic  of 
1857.  He  then  shipped  on  board  the  "Ni- 
agara" to  help  lay  one  of  the  Atlantic  cables, 
which  they  commenced  to  lower  on  reaching 
England;  but  after  it  broke  he  returned  to  that 
country,  though  the  "Niagara"  came  on  to 
the  United  States.  He  next  boarded  the  '  'Sus- 
quehanna,"  making  a  trip  up  the  Mediterranean 
Sea.  In  1858  the  vessel  was  ordered  home; 
but  during  the  passage  the  yellow  fever  broke 
out,  and  only  eighty-seven  of  the  three  hundred 
and  fifty  on  board  reached  America.  Mr.  Smith 
then  followed  his  trade  of  bookbinding  in  New 
York  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war, 
when  he  joined  Company  L,  Ninth  N.  Y.  State 
Militia,    and  remained  with   the  reginient   for 


two  years,  during  which  time  he  participated 
in  several  battles,  but  while  on  picket  duty 
just  before  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  he  caught  a 
cold  which  caused  the  loss  of  one  eye.  Re- 
turning to  New  York,  he  was  with  D.  Appleton 
&  Co.,  until  1870,  when  he  came  to  Pough- 
keepsie  and  purchased  the  Poughkeepsie  Book 
Bindery,  of  Gidley  &  De  Garmo,  at  No.  258 
Main  street,  and  has  conducted  a  very  success- 
ful business  there  ever  since,  doing  all  kinds  of 
bookbinding. 

In  1 869  Mr.  Smith  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Martha  W.  Avery,  a  native  of  West 
Point,  N.  Y.,  and  a  daughter  of  Josiah  Avery, 
who  was  of  Holland  descent.  Four  children 
were  born  of  this  union,  two  of  whom  died  in 
infancy.  Those  living  are  William  Wallace, 
Jr.,  and  Franklin  A.,  who  are  with  their  fa- 
ther. In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Smith  coin- 
cides with  the  Republican  party;  was  elected 
alderman  of  the  Fifth  ward  of  Poughkeepsie, 
January  i,  1887,  serving  four  terms,  and  in 
1893  was  elected  supervisor  of  the  Seventh 
ward.  Socially,  he  is  an  honored  member  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  is  highly 
respected  and  esteemed  by  the  entire  popula- 
tion of  the  city,  and  looked  up  to  as  a  man 
truly  honorable  and  upright  in  all  things,  and 
one  whom  they  can  depend  upon  as  a  friend. 


^    ON.   HARVEY  G.   EASTMAN,  LL.  D., 

KL  founder  of  Eastman  Business  College, 
Poughkeepsie,  and  one  .of  the  most  remark- 
able men  of  his  time,  was  born  October  16, 
1832,  in  Marshall,  Oneida:  county,  New  York. 
The  earlier  years  of  our  subject  were  passed 
upon  the  farm  which  his  father  owned  and  cul- 
tivated, receiving  as  he  grew  up  an  academical 
education,  and  while  still  very  young  he  became 
a  pupil  and  afterward  a  teacher  in  a  commer- 
cial school  in  Rochester,  N.  Y. ,  taught  by  an 
uncle  of  his.  It  was  while  engaged  in  this 
school  that  Mr.  Eastman  conceived  the  idea 
of  a  Commercial  or  Business  College,  and,  as 
the  plan  took  definite  form,  he  put  it  into  prac- 
tice by  founding,  December  19,  1855  (when  he 
was  but  twenty-three  years  of  age),  the  first 
school  of  any  prominence  of  that  class  in  Os- 
wego, N.  Y.  In  the  spring  of  1858  he  opened 
a  Commercial  College  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  in  one 
of  the  finest  buildings  in  the  city,  equipped 
with  all  the  appointments  for  his  method  of  in- 
struction, and,  by  judicious  management  and 
systematic  advertising,  it  at  the  end  of  the  year 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


18 


had  become  the  largest  and  most  popular  pri- 
vate school  in  the  West.  Owing,  however,  to 
some  differences  existing  among  a  certain  class 
as  to  the  political  status  of  some  of  the  lectur- 
ers brought  to  this  institution  by  Mr.  Eastman, 
he  sold  his  good  will  in  the  College  and  turned 
his  eye  eastward  for  a  new  and  permanent 
location. 

In  1859  Mr.  Eastman  came  to  Poughkeep- 
sie — a  place  he  had  never  visited  before,  but 
where  his  name  and  his  College  had  by  skill- 
ful advertising  already  become  "familiar  as 
household  words  " — and  here  founded  the  pres- 
ent Eastman  National  Business  College,  which 
at  once  became  famed  for  its  practicability  and 
usefulness,  and  has  for  many  years  now  been 
the  recognized  leader  in  business  education 
throughout  the  United  States.  He  rented  his 
first  room  in  the  old  Library  building  for  sev- 
enty-five cents  a  week,  and  with  temporary 
desks  started  his  school,  November  3,  1859, 
with  three  students  in  attendance.  The  be- 
ginning of  the  second  week  showed  an  attend- 
ance of  sixteen,  and  before  the  end  of  the 
month  this  new  school — started  by  a  stranger 
at  a  few  days'  notice,  and  without  friends  or 
capital,  and  with  no  small  degree  of  opposition 
from  a  large  body  of  citizens — had  outnum- 
bered in  patronage  other  institutions  many 
years  its  senior.  By  1861  the  attendance  had 
increased  to  500;  in  1863  to  1,200,  every  State, 
Territory  and  several  foreign  countries  being 
represented;  while  in  1864-65  the  daily  attend- 
ance had  reached  the  extraordinary  number  of 
more  than  1,700  students.  By  1864  the  col- 
lege proper  had  increased  from  one  room  to 
five  distinct  buildings,  used  for  instruction 
alone,  and  sixty-four  teachers  were  employed, 
beside  numerous  assistants.  A  secretary  and 
six  assistants  were  required  to  attend  to  the 
official  correspondence,  which,  it  may  be  in- 
ferred, was  one  of  no  small  magnitude.  Each 
building  was  supplied  with  a  stationery  store 
to  supply  students,  and  a  bindery  belonging  to 
the  college  was  devoted  exclusively  to  ruling, 
making  and  binding  the  blank  books  used.  In 
1S7G  the  building  was  considerably  enlarged 
to  meet  the  phenomenal  growth  of  the  busi- 
ness which  seventeen  years  before  had  been 
established  by  Mr.  Eastman  without  the  aid  of 
an  endowment  to  the  amount  of  a  dollar,  or 
,  subscription  to  the  extent  of  a  penny. 

Mr.  Eastman  died  of  pneumonia  in  the 
prime  of  early  manhood,  July  13,  1878,  at 
Denver,  Colo.,  whither  he  had  gone   for  the 


benefit  of  his  health.  He  was  a  man  of  inde- 
fatigable energy,  and  through  his  enterprise 
became  one  of  Poughkeepsie's  most  prominent 
citizens.  In  1867,.  and  again  in  1873,  he  was 
appointed  a  commissioner  of  charities  for  the 
Second  district;  in  1872,  and  again  in  1874, 
he  represented  the  Second  district  of  Dutchess 
county  in  the  Assembly;  in  1871,  and  again  in 
1876,  he  was  elected  mayor  of  Poughkeepsie. 
The  degree  of  LL.  D.  had  been  conferred  on 
him,  and  he  was  repeatedly  urged  to  accept 
positions  of  greater  public  trust.  Personally, 
he  was  one  of  the  most  genial,  whole-souled 
men,  a  polished  and  accomplished  gentleman; 
socially,  he  was  a  man  of  exemplary  virtues,  a 
true  and  valued  friend;  in  business  he  was 
prompt  and  reliable.  Physically,  Mr.  East- 
man was  a  tall,  slim,  winning  man,  with  keen, 
flashing  eyes  that  lit  up  when  engaged,  indi- 
cating a  soaring,  restless  ambition;  he  was 
compactly  built,  apparently  of  an  iron  consti- 
tution, with  a  vast  amount  of  the  go-ahead  ele- 
ment in  his  nature. 

Mr.  Eastman  was  the  owner  of  a  valuable 
property  of  twenty-seven  acres,  known  as 
"  Eastman  Park,"  situated  almost  in  the  heart 
of  the  city,  and  celebrated  as  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  and  valuable  private  estates  in  the 
country.  On  the  purchase  and  the  elaborate 
preparation  of  the  grounds  he  invested  upward 
of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  the  en- 
trances were  always  wide  open,  inviting  citi- 
zens and  strangers  alike  to  enter.  In  the  midst 
of  this  grand  park  he  erected  his  own  resi- 
dence, a  castellated  building  of  much  attract- 
iveness. On  an  eminence,  known  as  Eastman 
Terrace,  he  also  erected  two  blocks  of  houses 
— twenty-four  in  number — which  have  lawns, 
gardens,  etc.,  and  command  an  extended  view 
up  and  down  the  Hudson. 

In  1857  Mr.  Eastman  was  married  to  Miss 
Minerva  M.  Clark,  of  Canastota,  N.  Y. ,  and 
children  as  follows  were  born  to  them,  three 
daughters — Cora  C,  Charlotte  C.  and  Min- 
erva; Minerva  died  in  infancy.  In  October, 
1884,  Mrs.  H.  G.  Eastman  was  married  to 
Clement  C.  Gaines,  president  of  Eastman 
Business  College,  Poughkeepsie,  and  of  the 
New  York  Business'College,  New  York  City,  a 
sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere. 

In  his  political  preferences  Mr.  Eastman 
was  a  stanch  Republican;  socially,  he  was  a 
member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M.  and  K.  of  P.,  and 
he  was  vice-president  of  the  Poughkeepsie 
Bridge  Company. 


14 


COMMEMORA  TIVE  BIOORAPUICAL  RECORD. 


The  founder  and  genius  of  Eastman  Busi- 
ness College  is  no  more,  but  the  name  of  Har- 
vey G.  Eastman  is  held  in  loving  remem- 
brance by  the  friends  who  knew  him,  the  stu- 
dents who  revered  him,  and  the  city  which 
honored  him.  Other  hands  picked  up  the 
dropped  threads,  and  continued  the  work 
which  his  hands  had  laid  aside,  and  Eastman 
Business  College  remains  a  lasting  monument 
to  his  memory.  His  motto  throughout  life 
was — "  Peace  and  good  will  toward  all;"  and 
his  last  words  were — "  I  have  tried  to  so  live 
as  to  do  no  man  injustice." 


fOHN  DONALD  (deceased).  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Donald,  Converse  &  Maynard,  one  of  the 
largest  dry-goods  houses  in  this  section  of  the 
country.  He  was  born  in  Lanfine,  Scotland, 
August  17,  1844. 

In  early  life  our  subject  learned  the  dry- 
goods  trade  in  Scotland,  and  with  his  brother 
William  went  to  Aberdeen,  where  they  formed 
a  partnership  in  that  business,  continuing  it  for 
four  years.  In  1869  John  came  to  America 
and  located  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  where  he  had 
charge  of  one  of  the  departments  in  a  dry- 
goods  store.  He  remained  there  about  five 
years,  and  in  1874  returned  to  Scotland  and 
married  Miss  Jessie  Frew,  a  native  of  that 
country,  and  a  daughter  of  Alexander  Frew,  a 
tile  manufacturer.  Mr.  Frew  married  Miss 
Mary  Douglas,  and  they  had  two  children: 
Jessie  and  William,  the  latter  a  physician  in 
Scotland.  Mr.  Frew  and  his  wife  died  in 
Scotland. 

In  1875  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Donald  came  to 
Poughkeepsie,  and  he.  formed  a  partnership 
with  C.  E.  Converse  and  R.  L.  Maynard,  the 
firm  name  being  as  above.  Two  children  were 
born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife:  William  A. 
who  is  in  the  store  at  Poughkeepsie,  and 
Douglas,  who  is  at  school.  Mr.  Donald  died 
November  20,  1894.  Politically  he  was  a  Re- 
publican, and  fraternally  a  Mason.  He  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  and  took  a  deep  interest  in  all  Church 
affairs.  He  was  an  elder  and  deacon,  and  su- 
perintendent of  the  Sunday-school  at  the  time 
of  his  death.  He  was  a  merchant  of  high 
standing,  and  greatly  respected  by  all.  His 
place  in  the  store  has  been  taken  by  his  son 
William. 

William  Donald,   the  father,   was  born  in 


Lanfine  also,  where  he  married  Janet  Kay  Mc- 
Whirter,  and  they  brought  up  a  large  family  of 
children,  the  youngest  of  whom  was  our  sub- 
ject.    William  spent  all  his  life  on  a  farm. 


QEORGE  H.  WILLIAMS,  the  son  of  Ge- 
_  rome  and  Catherine  Williams,  was  born 
at  Chestnut  Ridge,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  Sep- 
tember 16,  1844.  and  resided  there  until  i860, 
when  he  removed  to  Poughkeepsie,  where  he 
has  since  resided. 

During  his  residence  in  the  country  he  at- 
tended the  district  school,  and  one  year  in  a 
private  school  in  the  Clove  kept  by  George 
Draper,  later  school  commissioner  of  Dutchess 
county.  After  removing  to  Pougnkeepsie  he 
took  a  course  at  Eastman  Business  College, 
and  then  commenced  studying  under  a  private 
tutor  for  the  purpose  of  taking  an  examination 
for  admission  ro  Yale  College;  but  the  wave  of 
war  fever  then  extending  over  the  country  was 
too  much  for  him,  so,  leaving  thought  of  col- 
lege behind,  he,  on  September  22,  1862,  joined 
Company  G,  150th  regiment,  N.  Y.  S.  V.,  and 
on  October  1 1  left  with  the  regiment  for  the 
front,  and  continued  to  serve  with  it  until  it 
was  mustered  out  at  the  end  of  the  war,  June 
8,  1 865.  During  the  time  of  his  service  in  the 
army  he  was  engaged  in  the  battle  at  Gettys- 
burg, Penn. ,  in  the  campaign  from  Chatta- 
nooga, Tenn.,  to  Atlanta,  Ga. ,  in  Sherman's 
march  to  the  sea,  in  the  campaign  from  Sa- 
vannah, Ga.,  to  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  and  the  sur- 
render of  Johnston's  army;  was  wounded  in 
the  arm  and  hand  at  New  Hope  Church,  Ga. ; 
marched  in  the  grand  review  at  Washington, 
D.  C.  May  24,  1865. 

After  his  return  home  he  studied  law  with 
his  father  at  Poughkeepsie,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  May  18,  1866,  and  has  ever  since 
practiced  law  there.  He  has  since  been  ad- 
mitted to  practice  in  the  U.  S.  Courts. 

In  1865  he  joined  the  21st  regiment,  N.  G. 
S.  N.  Y. ,  and  continued  a  member  until  it  was 
mustered  out,  he  being  at  that  time  its  lieuten- 
ant-colonel. 

Mr.  Williams  was  city  chamberlain  of 
Poughkeepsie  in  1875  ^"^  1876,  and  Deputy 
Collector  of  U.  S.  Internal  Revenue  during  part 
of  President  Cleveland's  first  administration. 
He  is  a  Knight  of  Pythias  and  a  P.  C.  of  Ar- 
mor Lodge  107;  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R., 
and  P.  C.  of  D.  B.  Sleight  Post  331;  belongs 
to  the  Masonic  order,  and   is  captain-general 


COMMEMORATIVE  DIOGItAPHICAL  RECORD. 


15 


of  Poiifjhkeepsie  Commandery  No.  43,  K.  T., 
and  a  member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine;  and  sec- 
retary of  the  Veterans  Association  of  the  150th 
regiment,  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers. 

Our  subject  is  descended  on  the  side  of  his 
father  from  a  brother  of  Roger  Williams,  who 
settled  in  Rhode  Island,  and  comes  from  a  line 
of  soldiers,  his  grandfather  serving  in  the  war 
of  1 8 12,  and  his  great-grandfather  during  most 
of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  his  great-great- 
grandfather being  in  the  French  and  Indian 
war.  On  his  mother's  side  he  is  descended 
from  Henry  Emigh,  who  came  to  this  country 
from  Holland  about  1696  and  settled  in  Clove, 
Dutchess  county,  building  a  stone  house  which 
is  still  standing  and  inhabited. 


AMES  SPENCER  VAN  CLEEF,  one  of 
the  most  prominent  and  successful  lawyers 
of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  was 
born  August  i,  1831,  at  Athens,  Greene  Co., 
N.  Y.  He  is  descended  from  one  of  the  old 
Knickerbocker  families,  the  first  American  an- 
cestor being  Jans  Van  Cleef,  who  came  from 
the  town  of  Cleve  or  Cleef,  HoUand,  as  early 
as  1659,  settling  in  New  Utrecht,  L.  I.  He 
was  probably  a  descendant  of  the  old  Dukes  of 
Cleve,  whose  inheritance,  now  vested  in  the 
Emperor  of  Germany,  was  the  immediate 
cause  of  the  Thirty-years  War.  There  is  also 
a  legend  that  Lohengrin  was  a  Van  Cleef. 

Jans  Van  Cleef  represented  Berwick  (now 
Bushwick)  in  the  General  Provincial  Assembly 
at  New  Amsterdam,  April  10,  1664,  under 
Peter  Stuyvesant,  Director  General,  in  rela- 
tion to  the  "protection  of  the  inhabitants 
against  the  malignant  English."  He  married 
Enjeltje  Lowerons  Preterse  prior  to  1661,  and 
had  eight  children,  among  whom  was  Ben- 
jamin, the  third  child  and  first  son,  born  No- 
vember 25,  1683.  He  married  Hendriks 
Supten  as  early  as  171 1,  and  settled  in  New 
Jersey,  where  they  reared  a  family  of  twelve 
children.  One  son,  Laurens,  married  Jen- 
netje  Loan,  and  had  five  children,  among 
whom  was  Isaac,  our  subject's  great-grand- 
father, who  was  born  October  24,  1742.  He 
married  Dorcas  Pumyea  in  1769,  and  had 
eleven  children.  Their  son,  Cornelius,  our 
subject's  grandfather,  was  born  January  2, 
777,  and  died  July  10,  1855.  He  became  a 
leading  farmer  at  Harlingen,  N.  J.,  and  an 
active  supporter  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
.Church  there.      He  married  Margaret  Kershau, 


granddaughter  of  Lucas  Kevius,  who  was  a 
grandson  of  the  Johannes  Nevius  who  was 
clerk  of  the  city  council.  They  had  four  chil- 
dren, namely:  Cornelius,  Isaac,  George,  and 
Matilda,  who  married  Garrett  Hegeman.  The 
family  have  generally  been  engaged  in  agricult- 
ural pursuits,  the  majority  living  in  New 
Jersey,  but  one  branch  residing  on  Staten 
Island  has  engaged  in  commercial  pursuits. 
They  have  always  been  adherents  of  the  Re- 
formed Dutch  Church,  and  many  have  been 
ministers.  Rev.  Paul  D.  Van  Cleef,  D.  D., 
of  Jersey  City,  is  a  member  of  the  family. 

Our  subject's  father,  Rev.  Cornelius  Van- 
Cleef,  was  educated  at  Dickinson  College, 
Carlisle,  Penn.,  with  a  view  to  entering  the 
ministry.  Soon  after  entering  college  he 
joined  with  a  fellow  student  in  establishing 
the  first  students'  prayer  meeting  ever  held 
there,  meeting  once  a  week  in  their  several 
rooms.  For  more  than  a  year  this  faithfully- 
conducted  exercise  was  treated  with  ridicule 
by  the  other  students,  but  during  the  second 
year,  on  the  occasion  of  the  death  of  Rev. 
John  M.  Mason,  D.  D. ,  a  son  of  President 
Mason,  of  the  college,  the  attendance  at  the 
prayer  meeting  became  very  large  and  nearly 
every  student  was  converted,  including  all  but 
one  in  Cornelius  Van  Cleef's  class.  All  but 
two  of  his  class  entered  the  ministry,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  George  W.  Bethune,  of  Brooklyn,  being 
one  of  the  most  successful.  After  leaving 
college  Cornelius  Van  Cleef  studied  in  the 
Theological  Seminary  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church,  then  located  at  New  Brunswick,  N.  J., 
and  on  graduating,  in  1823,  he  immediately 
offered  his  services  to  the  Board  of  Domestic 
Missions,  or  what  was  then  called  the  Board 
of  Managers  of  the  Missionary  Society  of  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church.  He  was  sent  to 
Palatine,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  remained  six  or 
eight  months,  and  as  a  result  of  his  labors  the 
foundation  was  laid  for  the  now  flourishing 
Church  at  Fort  Plain.  He  was  then  trans- 
ferred to  Manayunk,  near  Philadelphia,  where 
he  remained  two  years,  and  there  also  was 
successful  in  establishing  a  Church,  now  known 
as  the  Fourth  Church  of  Philadelphia.  From 
the  missionary  field  he  was  called  to  the  Church 
at  Athens,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  was  installed  as  a 
settled  pastor.  He  remained  there  five  years, 
and  during  that  time  the  country  was  visited 
by  its  first  scourge  of  cholera,  Athens  being 
especially  afflicted  and  losing  many  of  its  in- 
habitants.      Mr.    Van    Cleef    remained    there 


16 


aOMMEMOBATirS  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


throughout  the  plague,  ministering  to  the  sick 
and  the  dying,  and  so  generally  beloved  did  he 
become  that  when  he  returned  years  afterward 
to  visit  his  old  charge  all  the  other  churches 
closed  their  doors  for  the  purpose  of  hearing 
him.  His  pastorate  there  was  very  successful, 
the  membership  increasing  from  forty  to  about 
one  hundred  and  sixty.  In  1833  Mr.  Van- 
Cleef  accepted  a  call  to  the  Church  at  New 
Hackensack,  and  remained  there  thirty-three 
years,  when,  because  of  advancing  age,  he 
moved  to  Poughkeepsie.  Here  he  held  no 
stated  charges,  but  preached  as  opportunity 
offered,  and  we  may  without  impropriety  call 
him  the  honorary  pastor,  indeed,  almost  the 
apostle,  of  many  of  the  Churches  in  this  vicin- 
ity. It  was  largely  through  his  efforts  that 
the  Second  Reformed  Dutch  Church  was  es- 
tablished in  Poughkeepsie  in  1848,  and  the 
Church  at  Millbrook  about  1870.  During  his 
active  ministry  he  was  once  appointed  presi- 
dent of  the  General  Synod  of  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church,  which  position  he  filled  with 
great  ability  and  dignity.  As  a  speaker  he 
was  faithful,  earnest  and  impressive,  and  be- 
ing more  solicitous  concerning  truthfulness  and 
clearness  than  grace  and  embellishment,  his 
discourses  were  marked  by  simplicity  and 
Godly  sincerity.  As  a  pastor  he  had  in  rare 
measure  the  one  qualification  which  is  first  of 
all  in  importance,  and  without  which  all  others 
are  of  little  avail — a  hearty  love  for  his  people. 

It  has  been  said  of  him  by  one  who  knew 
him  well,  "As  a  Christian  man  his  character 
was  so  exquisitely  beautiful  that  I  know  not 
in  what  character  to  describe  it.  "  He  passed 
the  borders  of  the  unseen  on  Sunday  morning, 
June  13,  1875,  in  his  sixty-seventh  year,  leav- 
ing two  children,  James  Spencer  and  Sophia 
Somers  Van  Cleef. 

James  Spencer  Van  Cleef  was  educated  at 
College  Hill,  Poughkeepsie,  and  Rutgers  Col- 
lege, New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  graduating  in 
1852  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.,  to  whcih  was 
added  later  that  of  A.  M.  He  entered  the 
office  of  Holden  &  Thayer,  of  New  York  City, 
as  a  law  student,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
there  in  1855.  In  1858  he  began  the  practice 
of  his  profession  at  Poughkeepsie,  and  in  the 
following  year  formed  a  partnership  with  Hon. 
Mark  D.  Wilbur,  which  continued  until  the 
close  of  the  Civil  war.  During  this  time  Mr. 
Van  Cleef  had  almost  exclusive  charge  of  the 
business,  Mr.  Wilbur  being  in  the  army.  About 
1870  Mr.  Van  Cleef  entered   into  partnership 


with  Prof.  Samuel  W.  Buck,  of  Lyndon  Hall; 
but  two  or  three  years  later  this  was  dissolved, 
and  for  twenty  years  he  has  practiced  alone. 
He  has  been  very  successful  especially  in  cases 
connected  with  the  Surrogate's  court,  in  which 
he  has  for  many  years  ranked  among  the  lead- 
ing practitioners.  He  was  married  in  1862  to 
Harriet  Mulford  Howell,  daughter  of  Capt. 
George  Howell,  a  prominent  resident  of  Sag 
Harbor,  N.  Y.,  and  has  had  three  children: 
Elizabeth  Howell,  who  married  Dr.  B.  C. 
Kinnear,  then  of  Boston,  and  died  in  1886, 
leaving  no  children;  Ellen  Shepard,  who  mar- 
ried Walter  M.  Jones,  of  the  Atlantic  Mutual 
Insurance  Co.,  of  New  York,  and  has  four 
children;  and  Henry  Howell,  now  a  student  in 
his  father's  office. 

Mr.  Van  Cleef  was  originally  a  Whig  in 
political  faith,  but  in  1856  he  became  an  ardent 
supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party.  Prior  to  the  Civil  war  he  took  an 
active  part  in  the  politics  of  Dutchess  county, 
and  he  has  now  been  a  member  of  the  board 
of  education  in  Poughkeepsie  for  twenty  years, 
being  the  oldest  continuous  member  of  same. 
During  this  t^me  he  has  been  largely  instru- 
mental in  bringing  the  schools  of  the  city  into 
their  present  satisfactory  condition.  In  any 
movement  for  the  public  welfare  he  has  taken 
a  prompt  and  hearty  interest,  and  one  of  the 
largest  industries  in  the  city  was  located  there 
a  few  years  ago  mainly  through  his  influence. 
For  many  years  he  has  been  an  active  member 
of  the  Second  Reformed  Dutch  Church. 

Mr.  Van  Cleef  is  known  as  a  very  success- 
ful angler;  is  one  of  the  leading  members  of 
the  State  Association  for  the  Protection  of  Fish 
and  Game,  and  since  its  organization  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Law  and 
Legislation.  In  the  fall  of  1894  he  was  re- 
tained as  counsel  for  the  Senate  Committee 
on  Game  and  Fish,  and  at  their  request  drew 
up  the  new  fish  and  game  law,  which  was 
passed  substantially  as  the  original  draft  made 
by  him. 


GEN.  ALFRED  B.  SMITH  (deceased;. 
_  Among  the  leading  citizens  of  Pough- 
keepsie none  holds  a  higher  place  in  the  esti- 
mation of  his  fellow  men,  or  has  taken  a  more 
active  part  in  the  development  and  growth  of 
all  those  enterprises  which  go  to  make  up  a 
flourishing  city  than  did  the  gentleman  whose 
name  introduces    this    sketch.      As  a  man  of 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


17 


business;  as  a  member  of  the  legal  fraternity; 
as  an  honored  veteran  of  the  Civil  war;  as  a 
worker  in  Church  and  philanthropic  matters; 
as  a  friend  of  education  and  as  a  public  official, 
he  always  commanded  the  respect  and  ad- 
miration of  those  more  intimately  connected 
with  him. 

Stephen  Smith,  the  great-great-grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  a  farmer  in  Massachusetts 
in  the  early  Colonial  days.  He  married  Doro- 
thea Matton,  a  sister  of  Gen.  Matton,  of  Massa- 
chusetts, who  was  a  major  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  Three  brothers  of  Stephen 
Smith  also  served  throughout  that  war.  Arad, 
a  son  of  Stephen,  and  our  subject's  great- 
grandfather, was  born  in  Salem,  Massachusetts. 

The  grandfather,  also  named  Arad,  was 
born  at  Amherst,  Mass.,  and  married  Salome 
Elmer,  by  whom  he  had  fourteen  children,  of 
whom  Adolphus  H.  was  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject. In  1808  Arad  Smith  moved  with  his 
numerous  family  to  St.  Lawrence  county, 
N.  Y. ,  and  settled  on  a  one-square  mile  tract  of 
land  in  the  primeval  forest.  There  he  made  his 
home  until  1833,  when  he  removed  to  Elyria, 
Ohio,  where  he  died  about  the  year  1865. 
Politically  he  was  a  Whig,  and  in  religious 
belief  he  was  a  Congregationalist. 

Adolphus  G.  Smith,  our  subject's  father, 
born  August  22,  1800,  at  Amherst,  Mass.,  was 
married  on  July  4,  1824,  to  Miss  Nancy  Dodge, 
who  was  born  in  Addison,  Vt.,  a  daughter  of 
Major  Thomas  Dodge.  Her  father  was  of 
English  descent,  and  was  one  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, of  whom  several  sons  served  in  the  war 
of  the  Revolution,  in  the  war  of  1812,  and 
in  the  Mexican  war.  After  their  marriage 
Adolphus  G.  Smith  and  his  wife  settled  on  a 
farm  in  St.  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y. ,  where 
they  reared  a  family  of  eleven  children,  of 
whom  the  following  record  is  given:  Alfred 
Baker,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the 
eldest;  Selome  E.  married  Newcomb  Perkins, 
a  farmer  of  Augusta,  Wis. ;  Clarissa  C.  died  in 
1850;  Hannah  D.  is  the  widow  of  Harvey  D. 
Hyde,  who  was  a  farmer  in  St.  Lawrence 
county,  N.  Y. ;  Thomas  D.  is  a  farmer  in 
RoUa,  Mo. ;  Martin  M.  is  farming  at  Massena, 
Cass  Co. ,  Iowa;  Wallace  H.  was  a  clerk  in 
the  post  office  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  and 
died  in  1875;  Silas  C.  was  a  carpenter  by 
trade,  and  died  in  1880,  near  Rochester,  N.  Y; 
Dorothy  became  the  second  wife  of  Newcomb 
Perkins,  and  died  in  1870;  Lepha  E.  is  the 
wife  of  Emmett  Russell,  a  carpenter  in  Mas- 


sena, Iowa;  and  Gustavus  A.  is  farming  at  the 
old  homestead.  The  father  always  followed 
the  occupation  of  a  farmer,  and  in  politics  was 
originally  an  Old-line  Whig,  in  later  years  be- 
coming a  member  of  the  Republican  party. 
He  died  August  26,  1879,  his  wife  passing 
away  in  January,  1894,  at  the  good  old  age  of 
ninety  years. 

Alfred  B.  Smith  was  born  November  17, 
1825,  in  Massena,  St.  Lawrence  Co.,  N.  Y. , 
spent  his  boyhood  days  on  his  father's  farm, 
and  received  his  early  education  in  the  district 
school.  When  seventeen  years  old  he  began 
teaching,  spending  his  vacations  in  work  in  the 
fields  and  other  farm  duties.  In  the  fall  of 
1 848  he  entered  Union  College,  at  Schenectady, 
N.  Y. ,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  the 
class  of  '51.  Shortly  afterward  he  came  to 
Poughkeepsie,  and  became  teacher  of  mathe- 
matics in  the  school  of  Charles  Bartlett,  on 
College  Hill,  which  position  he  filled  some 
four  years,  during  that  time  devoting  his  lei- 
sure hours  to  the  study  of  law  under  Judge 
James  Emott.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1855,  and  for  three  years  was  a  partner  of 
Mathew  Hale;  then  formed  a  partnership  with 
Charles  Williams,  with  whom  he  practiced  until 
the  spring  of  1862. 

In  the  meantime  the  Civil  war  had  broken 
out,  and  the  fighting  spirit  inherited  from  his 
martial  ancestors  on  both  sides  proved  stronger 
than  all  other  incentives.  Our  subject  was 
among  the  first  to  raise  a  regiment  in  Dutchess 
county,  which  became  the  150th  N.  Y.  V.  I., 
and  of  which  he  was  made  major.  His  first 
commission  was  that  of  lieutenant-colonel; 
later  he  was  promoted  to  major,  and  when  he 
became  colonel  he  was  made  brevet  brigadier- 
general  for  gallant  and  meritorious  service 
under  Sherman,  in  Georgia  and  the  Carolinas. 
At  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  Gen.  Smith's  regi- 
ment (mustering  about  500  men)  formed  part 
of  the  Corps  No.  8,  No.  12,  No.  20  and  No. 
28,  and  was  on  the  celebrated  march  to  the  sea. 
The  General  served  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  was  mustered  out  with  his  regiment  June 
8,  1865. 

When  peace  was  again  restored  Gen.  Smith 
returned  to  Poughkeepsie,  and  resumed  his 
practice  of  law  in  partnership  with  L.  B. 
Sackett,  which  connection  lasted  some  twenty 
years,  after  which  he  practiced  alone.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  he  was  the  only  one  living 
of  the  twelve  men  who  were  the  first  members 
of  the  Republican  party  in   Dutchess  county. 


18 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  he  always  took  an  active  part  in  politics. 
Cien.  Smith  held  various  responsible  public  of- 
fices, and  always  fulfilled  his  duties  with  faith- 
fulness and  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 
For  thirty-three  years  he  was  a  member  of  the 
board  of  education;  was  president  during  eight 
years  of  that  time,  and  also  for  some  years 
was  chairman  of  the  building  committee,  all 
of  the  school  houses  in  the  district  having 
been  erected  under  his  supervision.  In  1892, 
after  being  elected  city  recorder,  he  resigned 
from  the  board. 

Just  after  the  war  Gen.  Smith  served  as 
deputy  collector  of  internal  revenue.  In  1867 
he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Poughkeepsie, 
by  President  Johnson,  and  was  reappointed  by 
President  Grant,  holding  the  office  for  eight 
years.  He  also  served  two  terms  as  supervi- 
sor of  the  Fifth  ward  of  the  city,  and  did 
much  to  establish  the  Hudson  River  State 
Hospital.  He  always  took  a  leading  part  not 
only  in  political  and  public  affairs  but  also  in 
Church  matters,  and,  indeed,  to  quote  from 
an  article  printed  during  his  lifetime,  in  one 
of  the  city  newspapers,  "one  cannot  men- 
tion a  good  cause  in  which  Gen.  Smith 
has  not  taken  a  part."  He  had  been  an 
elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday-school  for  many 
years,  and  was  sent  as  delegate  to  three  of  its 
General  Assemblies  which  met  at  Madison, 
Wis.,  Philadelphia,  ^nd  Washington,  D.  C, 
respectively.  He  was  instrumental  in  the 
formation  of  what  is  known  as  "the  Pough- 
keepsie Plan,"  which  has  for  its  object  the 
breaking  down  of  the  barriers  between  the 
Catholics  and  Protestants,  and  which  is  rec- 
ognized not  only  in  the  United  States,  but 
also  in  Europe.  Gen.  Smith  was  connected 
with  the  Electric  Light  Co. ;  was  a  member  of 
the  State  Bar  Association;  of  the  Loyal  Le- 
gion; of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  was  a 
Knight  Templar  and  chief  counsel  of  King 
Solomon's  Temple.  In  1867  he  organized  the 
first  G.  A.  R.  Post  in  Poughkeepsie,  now 
know  as  Hamilton  Post  No.  20. 

On  June  20,  1854,  Gen.  Smith  was  mar- 
ried to  Ann  Eliza  Mitchell,  who  was  born  at 
Jewett  Heights,  Lexington,  Greene  Co.,  N.  Y., 
a  daughter  of  David  and  Leah  (Dunham) 
Mitchell.  Her  parents  were  of  English  ex- 
traction, and  her  father  was  a  merchant 
tailor.  Two  children — one  daughter  and  one 
son — were  born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife, 
to  wit:     Margaret  J.,  born  September  2,  1855, 


died  May  3,  1875;  anc'  Matthew  J.,  born  April 
21,  i860.  Mrs.  Smith  died  January  5,  1894; 
she  was  a  most  estimable  woman,  affection- 
ately remembered  by  a  large  circle  of  warm 
friends.  Gen.  A.  B.  Smith  departed  this  life 
at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  January  28,  1896. 


Ik 


NDREW  JACKSON  KETCHAM,  of 
_  %,  Poughkeepsie,  one  of  the  oldest  and 
ablest  financiers  in  this  section,  was  identified 
with  various  banking  institutions  in  Dutchess 
county  for  half  a  century  previous  to  his  retire- 
ment, in  1890,  from  the  position  of  president 
of  the  Poughkeepsie  National  Bank. 

His  family  originated  in  England,  and  his 
grandfather,  Solomon  Ketcham,  who  was 
born  there  April  6,  1757,  was  the  first  of  the 
line  to  come  to  America.  He  located  at  Hun- 
tington, L.  I.,  where  he  followed  agricultural 
pursuits  throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  entered  heartily  into  the  struggles  of  the 
Colonies  for  freedom,  and  in  a  speech  by  Hon. 
Henry  C.  Piatt,  on  "  Old  Times  in  Hunting- 
ton, L.  I.,"  this  account  appears:  ''He  lent 
his  energies  to  the  battle-field,  and  fought  for 
the  birthright  of  freedom  when  the  storm- 
cloud  of  Revolution  burst  upon  the  infant 
America  and  threatened  to  overwhelm  the  Na- 
tion in  its  fiery  torrent."  ^  *  *  "Among 
the  prisoners  taken  by  the  British  during  the 
Revolutionary  war  we  find  the  name  of  Solo- 
mon Ketcham,  and  they  were  carried  aboard 
the  'Swan'  in  1777.  Solomon  Ketcham 
lived  on  Main  street.  He  got  into  difficulty 
with  the  British  soldiers,  and  snatching  a 
picket  from  a  fence  offered  to  fight  three  or 
four  officers.  He  was  afterward  confined  in 
the  fort  on  Burying  Hill,  and  kept  on  a  diet  of 
bread  and  water.  He  never  forgot  his  impris- 
onment nor  forgave  his  enemies,  and  when  the 
British  fleet  dropped  anchor  in  Huntington 
Bay  during  the  war  of  1812,  the  old  man 
might  have  been  seen  prowling  around  the 
shores  of  Lloyd's  Neck  and  Bay,  gun  in  hand, 
and  woe  to  the  son  of  Britain  who  came  within 
his  reach."  He  married  -Rebecca  Piatt,  who 
died  April  17,  1834,  and  he  survived  until  Feb- 
ruary 19,  1851.  They  had  seven  children, 
whose  names  with  dates  of  birth  and  death  are 
as  follows:  Jonas,  December  4,  1779,  died 
October  31,  1842;  Hannah,  born  March  29. 
1782;  Solomon,  Jr.,  December  12,  1784,  died 
March  28,  1852;  Oliver,  October  11,  1788, 
died   August    5,    1792;   Amos   Piatt,    May    12, 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHWAL  RECORD. 


19 


1791,  died  October  19,  1825;  Conklin,  Octo- 
ber 22,  1794,  died  December  16,  182 1  (lost  at 
sea);  John,  September  2,  1797. 

Amos  P.  Ketcham,  our  subject's  father, 
left  the  old  home  in  Huntington,  and  moved  to 
the  town  of  Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  where 
he  ran  a  flouring-mill  and  engaged  in  farming 
in  a  small  way.  In  1 82 1  he  removed  to  Pough- 
keepsie  and  established  the  first  steam-boat 
house  in  the  city,  about  300  yards  from  the 
dock  at  the  foot  of  Main  street.  Later  he 
moved  into  a  house  on  the  dock  which  was 
known  as  "The  Exchange,"  and  was  for  some 
time  the  leading  hotel  of  the  city.  He  was 
married  September  9,  181 1,  to  Miss  Anna 
Rogers  Piatt,  who  was  born  November  26, 
1793,  and  died  at  Poughkeepsie,  October  31, 
1 86 1.  After  his  death  she  conducted  the  hotel 
alone  until  her  marriage  February  2,  1832,  to 
Warren  Skinner,  who  took  charge  of  it.  By 
the  first  marriage  she  had  five  children:  Es- 
ther Emily,  Alonzo  R.,  Zephar  Piatt,  Andrew 
J.  and  Rebecca,  of  whom,  the  last  two  are  the 
only  survivors.  Two  children  by  the  second 
marriage  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Ketcham  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Amenia,  March  18,  1819,  but  with  the  excep- 
tion of  two  years  in  a  select  school  there  he 
was  educated  in  Poughkeepsie  at  the  Dutchess 
County  Academy,  which  stood  in  his  early 
years  on  the  corner  of  Cannon  and  Academy 
streets,  but  afterward  was  moved  to  the  upper 
part  of  the  city.  His  education  was  practical 
and  quite  extensive  for  the  times,  and  his  wide 
reading  has  kept  him  well  abreast  of  the  world's 
progress.  In  early  manhood  he  became  a  part- 
ner in  a  grocery  business  in  upper  Main  street, 
he  firm  name  being  Gale  &  Ketcham.  After 
few  years  there  he  began  his  successful  ca- 
reer in  finance  as  clerk  in  the  Farmers  &  Manu- 
facturers Bank,  under  Frederick  W.  Davis,  and 
few  years  later  was  appointed  teller.  In 
852  he  was  appointed  cashier  of  the  First  Na- 
ional  Bank  of  Saugerties,  N.  Y.,  which  he  had 
elped  to  organize.  In  1861  he  started  the 
augerties  Bank,  and  in  1865  he  went  to  Dover 
Plains,  N.  Y. ,  as  cashier  of  the  Dover  Plains 
National  Bank,  and  held  that  position  nineteen 
years.     He  retired  in  1 884  and  moved  to  Pough- 

Ikeepsie;  but  in  1886  he  was  made  president  of 
the  Poughkeepsie  National  Bank,  and  was  in 
charge  of  that  institution  for  four  years. 
Throughout  these  years  of  service  he  has  per- 
formed the  duties  of  every  position  with  marked 
r    


Pr 

^^re 
.     fa( 

I 


management  he  has  not  only  won  success  for 
himself  but  has  satisfactorily  cared  for  the  in- 
terests of  others. 

Mr.  Ketcham  was  married  first,  in  1842,  to 
Sarah  Anderson,  daughter  of  Nathan  Ander- 
son, a  well-known  resident  of  Rondout,  N.  Y. 
They  had  six  children:  Richard  Piatt  is  cash- 
ier of  the  Dover  Plains  National  Bank;  Annie 
married  Arthur  Bangs,  of  Dover  Plains;  and 
Gaston  is  secretary  of  the  Borden  Con- 
densed Milk  Co.,  of  Wassaic,  N.  Y.  Of  the 
others,  Andrew  Golding  died  at  the  age  of  nine 
years,  Golding  at  the  age  of  six,  and  John  at 
one  year.  Mr.  Ketcham  formed  a  second 
matrimonial  union,  with  Mary  Frances  Cowles, 
daughter  of  a  leading  citizen  of  Stamford, 
N.  Y.,  Jessee  F.  Cowles.  They  have  one  son, 
Charles  Andrew,  now  a  clerk  in  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank,  Poughkeepsie.  Mr.  Ketcham 
and  his  wife  are  prominent  members  of  the 
Second  Reformed  Church,  in  which  he  has 
been  an  elder  for  ten  years.  He  takes  great 
interest  in  public  affairs,  and  while  he  has 
never  sought  political  office,  has  given  strong 
support  to  the  party  which  represents  his  con- 
victions. Originally  a  Democrat,  he  adhered 
to  that  party  until  the  Civil  war  broke  out, 
and  since  that  time  he  has  been  a  Republican. 


JAMES  E.  DUTCHER,  president  of  the 
board  of  public  works  of  Poughkeepsie,  is 
one  of  the  best-known  and  most  prominent 
men  in  Dutchess  county,  having  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  State  Legislature,  twice  elected  sher- 
iff, and  chairman  of  the  Republican  ■  County 
Committee,  besides  holding  minor  offices. 

The  Dutcher  family  is  of  Holland  descent, 
and  Abraham,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  Dutch- 
ess county,  where  he  died.  He  had  a  family 
of  eleven  children,  of  whom,  Abraham,  Jr. 
(the  father  of  our  subject),  was  born  in  La- 
grange, Dutchess  county,  and  married  Miss 
Gertrude,  daughter  of  Stephen  Van  Vores, 
who  was  of  Dutch  descent.  They  settled  on 
•  a  farm  in  Lagrange,  but  afterward  removed  to 
the  town  of  Beekman,  where  the  father  died 
in  1869;  he  followed  farming  all  his  life.  In 
his  early  days  he  was  a  Whig,  afterward  be- 
coming a  Republican.  The  mother  died  in 
1892.  Their  family  consisted  of  five  children, 
as  follows:  Daniel  V.  is  a  resident  of  Mattea- 
wan,  Dutchess  county;  James  E.  comes  next; 
William  H.  is  a  farmer  in   the  town  of  Beek- 


20 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


man;  Mary  F.  is  unmarried,  and  resides  in 
Beekman;  and  Allison  died  in  1882. 

James  E.  Dutcher  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Lagrange,  January  21,  1838.  He  was  twelve 
years  old  when  his  parents  removed  to  Beek- 
man, and  after  completing  his  education  worked 
upon  his  father's  farm  until  his  marriage,  in 
February,  1869,  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Flagler. 
She  was  born  and  reared  in  the  town  of  Beek- 
man, and  is  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  F.  Flag- 
ler, a  farmer  of  that  town.  In  1876  Mr. 
Dutcher  was  elected  sheriff  of  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, and  was  re-elected  in  1882,  which  office  he 
filled  three  years  longer.  During  this  time  he 
also  served  as  chairman  of  the  Republican 
County  Committee.  In  all  these  responsible 
positions  he  won  the  confidence  and  esteem 
of  the  people  by  the  faithful  and  impartial  dis- 
charge of  his  duties,  and  proved  himself  a 
man  of  more  than  usual  ability  and  progressive 
ideas.  During  his  term  as  sheriff,  a  house  on 
Pawling  hill  was  blown  up  with  dynamite,  one 
man  being  killed,  and  for  this  offense  three 
men  were  tried,  convicted  and  sentenced  to 
Sing  Sing  for  life.  After  retiring  from  the 
shrievalty  Mr.  Dutcher  engaged  in  the  coal 
business,  which  he  successfully  carried  on  until 
1894,  when  he  retired  from  that.  He  is  at 
present  serving  as  president  of  the  board  of 
public  works  of  Poughkeepsie,  having  been 
elected  to  that  office  in  May,  1896. 

Socially,  our  subject  is  a  member  of  the 
F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  public-spirited,  always 
ready  to  assist  in  matters  relating  to  the  wel- 
fare of  his  city  or  county,  and  is  held  in  high 
esteem  by  his  fellow-citizens.  The  family  are 
identified  with  the  Congregational  Church,  of 
which  Mrs.  Dutcher  is  an  active  member. 


JrON.  JOHN  THOMPSON  (deceased)  was 
_3[  a  native  of  Dutchess  county  N.  Y. ,  born 
in  the  town  of  Rhinebeck  July  4,  1809,  a  son 
of  Robert  Thompson,  a  farmer  of  near  the 
village  of  Rhinebeck,  and  his  wife,  a  Miss 
Scott,  the  daughter  of  Rev.  Robert  Scott, 
who  for  many  years  kept  a  boarding  school 
for  boys.  At  this  institution  our  subject  re- 
ceived the  rudiments  of  his  education,  up  to 
the  age  of  thirteen  years,  when,  the  school 
being  discontinued,  he  for  the  next  four  years 
spent  the  most  of  his  time  in  establishing  his 
always  extensively  delicate  health  in  the  light 
work  about  the  farm,  also  in  reading  and 
study. 


On  October  26,  1826,  Mr.  Thompson  en- 
tered the  office  of  Francis  A.  Livingston,  then 
district  attorney  of  Dutchess  county,  and  at 
once  began  the  study  not  only  of  law,  but  of 
general  literature.  Within  the  first  year  of 
his  clerkship  he  acquired  a  perfect  knowledge 
of  the  routine  of  the  duties  of  the  district 
attorney's  office,  and  in  many  ways  soon  made 
himself  an  indispensable  acquisition  to  Mr. 
Livingston,  attending  court  with  him,  etc.,  at 
the  same  time  pursuing  his  studies  in  English 
literature  and  philosophy. 

On  the  removal  of  Mr.  Livingston  to  New 
York,  in  1829,  Mr.  Thompson  went  into  the 
office  of  Hooker  &  Tallmadge,  in  the  then 
village  of  Poughkeepsie,  and,  upon  receiving 
his  license  as  an  attorney,  was  taken  into 
partnership  by  James  Hooker,  then  surrogate 
of  the  county. 

In  1834  Mr.  Thompson  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Smith,  youngest  daughter  of  Judge 
Isaac  Smith,  of  Lithgow,  in  the  town  of  Wash- 
ington, Dutchess  county,  and,  she  owning  a 
farm  received  from  her  father's  estate,  much 
of  her  husband's  time  was  taken  up  in  its 
management.  In  1840,  however,  he  gave  this 
up  and  devoted  himself  exclusively  to  his  pro- 
fession. He  was  cotemporary  with  some  of 
the  most  learned  of  the  old  school  of  lawyers, 
with  whom  it  is  but  just  to  say  that  he  "  held 
his  own,"  and  was  engaged  in  the  trial  of 
every  important  case  from  1845  till  his  retire- 
ment. Not  the  least  of  his  labors  was  his 
acquisition  for  the  Hudson  River  Railroad  Co. 
of  ihe  title  of  much  of  the  lands  needed  for 
the  use  of  the  road  from  Poughkeepsie  to 
Albany.  Mr.  Thompson  was  for  many  years 
connected  in  business  with  James  H.  Weeks, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Thompson  &  Weeks, 
which  firm,  by  the  admission  of  Frank  B. 
Lown,  in  1878,  became  Thompson,  Weeks  & 
Lown.  Mr.  Weeks  died  in  1887,  and  the 
firm  then  remained  as  Thompson  &  Lown, 
which  partnership  continued  untilMr.  Thomp- 
son's death. 

In  the  summer  of  1856  Mr.  Thompson 
was  asked  to  represent  Columbia  and  Dutchess 
counties  in  Congress,  and  induced  to  accept 
the  nomination,  though  the  result  seemed 
dubious,  considering  the  heavy  and  influ- 
ential Democratic  majority  in  the  district. 
However,  he  at  once  organized  a  series  'of 
meetings  in  the  two  counties,  and  by  a 
thorough  discussion  of  the  momentous  issues 
then    pending,   so   aroused    public    sentiment. 


/^ 


S^^Z/iiiJj^U^ 


2f» 


COMMMMOBATIVK  BTOOnwri"/ L   ftf^rr,,r: 


in  in  the  town  of 


inari.aH' 


with   M 


ler.   a  fanner  of    that   town.      In    i 

T^nt"^ ^1  ..•.-._ t  .- 1... .-.ft    ^  i    Vy^.t  -\- 

County  Committee.     In  all  these  ir 


charge    oi   his 

man  of  more  tha     . . . -.     -    .-,.  — .  -  ,.  — 

ideas.     During  his  term  an  sberifF,  a  house  on  \ 


men   were  tried,  co- 
Sing  Sing   (or   life, 
shrievalty   Mr.    Di:tcher 


preseni  ■serving 

public    works    i 


.  Mr.  Thompson  en- 
.\.  Livingston,  then 
ney  of   Dutchess  county,   and  at 
'  '        >t  only  of  law,  but  of 

.hin  the  first  year  of 
:ie  acquired  a  perfect  knowledge 
le  of  the  duties  of  the  district 
ce.  and  in  many  ways  soon  made 

■    to    Mr. 

.  etc.,  at 

lime  pursumg  his  stucies  in  English 

..  >.iuio  and  philosophy. 

On  the  removal  of  Mr.  Livingston  to  New 

,  in   1839,    Mr.  The:-  >  the 

of    Hooker    &   Tri  then 

,'e  of  Poughkeepsie,   and,   upon  receiving 

—  ;se    as    an    attorney,   was  taken   into 

lip  by  James  Hooker,  then  surrogate 

ibc  county. 

'n    1S34    Mr.  Thompson  was   married   to 

y  Smith,  youni^est  daughter  of  Judge 

'  "•    ■'  in  the  town  of  Wash- 

and,   she  owning  a 

1  truin  her  father's  estate,  much 

and's   time   was   taken  up  in  its 

In  1840.  however,  he  gave  this 

'  '  '  isivcly  to  his  pro- 

:  y   with  some  of 

:  lied  of  the  old  school  of  lawyers, 

•  .  it  is  but  just  to  say  that  he  "  held 

'  and    was    engaged    in    the    trial   of 

1  1845  till  his  retire- 

!   his  labors  was  his 

■n  for  the  Hudson  River  Railroad  Co. 

ude  of  much  of  the  lands   needed   for 

ise    of    the    road    from    Prm^hkeepsie   to 

Mr.  Ti  many  \ 

--_ij  in  bus..  .        .  .:  j-i.jjH.  We 

r  the  firm  name  of  Thompson  &  Weeks, 


fi 


ON 


FHOMP^^f^N  He--er  w-dt  „-< 


!i,  a  fai 


rsh'p  c( 


18H7,    and    the 

<"^r,n   Sc    Lown, 

Mr.  Thomp- 


^>t  a  b< 


:mrner   of 


iiompson 

nied 


at   once 

.  I,  .     i. ..  . 


u\     a 
is   issue? 
!.;,  vo  Moused    public    aentiment. 


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ty 


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^S/ari^LJ'a^^^''^\^ 


Xtiiit^'tryS:BMiJlS'S9n.t:Q£ar(P'af  Stu7T 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


21 


that  he  was  elected  by  over  1,200  majority  on 
the  side  of  the  Republican  ticket.  During 
the  sessions  of  '57-58  Mr.  Thompson  entered 
into  the  debates  on  the  floor  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  and  a  number  of  his  speeches 
were  circulated  throughout  the  district  and 
country.  One  upon  the  exciting  topic  of  the 
hour,  "The  Admission  of  Kansas,"  and  an- 
other on  the  "Mormon  Question"  were 
warmly  received,  thousands  of  copies  being 
circulated  by  members  all  over  the  Southern 
as  well  as  the  Northern  States. 

A  second  nomination  was  tendered  Mr. 
Thompson,  but  declined  by  him  on  account  of 
pressing  business  duties.  After  his  Congres- 
sional career,  he  held  no  public  office  of  a 
political  nature,  but  beside  his  professional 
duties,  gave  his  efforts  to  benevolent  and  phil- 
anthropic movements  of  society  and  in  the 
Church,  with  which  he  was  united  while  a 
student  at  law.  For  some  ten  years  in  the 
earlier  history  of  the  organizations  of  Lyceums 
and  Young  Men's  Associations,  he  lectured  in 
their  aid.  He  twice  delivered  the  oration  be- 
fore the  literary  societies  at  Union  College  on 
commencement  day — at  New  Brunswick  and 
at  Williamstown;  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  at  Union,  and  received 
the  degree  of  A.  M.  from  Union  and  Yale.  He 
was  a  lifelong  student,  devoting  his  leisure  to 
the  cultivation  of  general  literature,  especially 
of  theology,  delivered  many  Sunday  evening 
lectures,  and  also  published  numerous  essays 
— one  on  "Inspiration,"  one  on  the  "Atone- 
ment," and  another  on  the  "Inner  Kingdom." 
He  also  published  an  article  vindicating  the 
miracles  of  the  New  Testament.  When 
Matthew  Vassar  had  settled  upon  devoting  his 
wealth  toward  the  founding  of  Vassar  College, 
Mr.  Thompson  was  among  the  first  persons 
consulted  by  him,  and  was  chosen  one  of  the 
trustees  of  that  institution.  For  many  years 
he  was  vice-president  of  the  Fallkill  National 
Bank,  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  was  president  of  that  institution. 

Mr.  Thompson,  in  1835,  built  his  residence 
at  the  corner  of  Market  and  Church  streets, 
and  passed  the  rest  of  his  life  there,  except 
some  four  or  five  summers  spent  by  the  family 
at  a  cottage  owned  by  Mrs.  Thompson,  in 
New  Hamburg,  on  Wappingers  creek.  In  1 87 1 
Mr.  Thompson  spent  a  year  in  Europe,  both 
for  his  health  and  mental  improvement. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  possessed  of  rare  for- 
ensic and  rhetorical  gifts,  which  gave  grace  to 


his  pen,  and  beauty  and  strength  to  his  utter- 
ances. His  style  was  ornate,  without  weak- 
ness, and  philosophical  without  obscurity;  on 
the  platform  or  at  the  bar,  he  was  one  of  the 
most  effective  speakers  in  the  land.  His  kind- 
ness of  heart,  cheerful  temperament,  abundant 
humor  and  quick  repartee,  made  him  an  agree- 
able companion  and  the  best  of  friends.  The 
weight  of  his  character  from  early  manhood 
had  been  on  the  side  of  Christian  principle,  in 
which  regard  he  was  of  vast  benefit  to  the 
moral  and  philanthropic  movements  of  his 
times. 

Mr.  Thompson  died  June  i,  1890,  leaving 
surviving  him  his  second  wife,  Caroline  (a 
daughter  of  the  late  James  Bailey,  of  Pratts- 
burg,  N.  Y.J,  and  several  children. 


H 


ON.  ISAAC  S.  CARPENTER,  one  of 
the  most  prominent  citizens  of  Dutchess 
county,  is  a  worthy  representative  of  an  old 
and  honored  family.  He  is  the  eighth  gen- 
eration in  direct  descent  from  William  Car- 
penter, who  was  born  in  England  in  1576, 
and  came  to  America  in  1638  in  the  ship 
"  Bevis,"  landing  at  Weymouth,  Mass.  His 
son,  William  (2),  born  in  England  in  1605, 
accompanied  him,  bringing  also  his  wife, 
yVbigail.  In  1643  the  family  moved  from  Wey- 
mouth to  Rehoboth,  Mass.  William  and  Abi- 
gail Carpenter  had  seven  children  :  William, 
Samuel,  Joseph,  John,  Abiah,  Hannah  and 
Abraham — the  last  three  born  in  America. 
John  Carpenter  came  to  Long  Island  in  early 
manhood,  and  in  1663  was  chosen  townsman 
of  Hempstead;  later  his  name  is  on  the  records 
as  captain  of  fusiliers  in  the  Narragansett 
expedition.  He  was  married  in  1665  to 
Hannah  Baright,  and  made  his  home  at 
Jamaica,  where  he  died  May  23,  1695.  He 
and  his  wife  had  five  children:  John,  William, 
Samuel,  Hope  and  Hannah.  William  (3),  our 
subject's  great -great-grandfather,  was  born  at 
Hempstead,  and  after  his  father's  death  he 
bought  his  mother's  right  in  the  estate  there, 
and  moved  from  Jamaica  with  his  wife,  Eliza. 
They  had  three  children:  Daniel,  John  and 
Elizabeth.  Daniel  Carpenter,  our  subject's 
great-grandfather,  was  born  in  Hempstead, 
and  in  1752  came  to  Dutchess  county,  where 
he  bought  a  farm  at  Crum  Elbow,  Hyde  Park, 
and  there  died  in  1777.  On  February  4, 
1729,  he  married  Sarah  Hall,  of  Hempstead, 
by  whom  he  had    six    children:     (i)  Joseph, 


22 


UOMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  BE  CORD 


who  was  a  merchant  of  Bangall,  and  a  justice 
of  the  peace  of  the  town  of  Stanford,  married 
Dorcas  Smith,  whose  father  was  an  officer  in 
the  British  army  during  the  Revolutionary 
war;  they  had  five  children:  John  and  Smith 
(who  both  entered  the  naval  service),  Joseph, 
Benjamin  and  Dorcas.  (2)  Daniel,  who  was 
a  resident  of  Fishkill.  (3)  William.  (4) 
Joseph.  (5)  Benjamin.  (6)  Mary,  Mrs.  John 
Carpenter. 

Benjamin  Carpenter,  our  subject's  grand- 
father, was  born  at  Hempstead  July  11,  1749, 
and  lived  for  many  years  at  Crum  Elbow  on 
land  given  him  by  his  father.  He  was  perse- 
cuted during  the  Revolution  by  the  Tories  of 
his  locality  for  raising  a  company  for  the  Colo- 
nial army,  having  his  home  robbed  three  times; 
on  other  occasions  he  was  saved  by  his  immense 
greyhound.  He  bought  land  of  Job  Swift  in 
1782,  and  of  Samuel  Pugsley  in  1796,  and  in 
1798  he  purchased  from  John  Miller  a  farm  on 
"Carpenter  Hill,"  where,  in  1804,  he  built 
the  house  now  occupied  by  our  subject.  On 
September  9,  1773,  he  married  Mary  Pugsley, 
who  was  born  March  25,  1756,  the  daughter  of 
Samuel  Pugsley,  of  Westchester.  She  died 
November  16,  1821,  he  surviving  until  January 
^7<  '837.  Eight  children  were  born  of  this 
union,  whose  names,  with  dates  of  birth  and 
death  are  as  follows:  (i)  Sarah,  August  6, 
1774,  died  November  30,  1852  (she  married 
George  Ferris,  of  Peekskill).  (2)  Hannah, 
February  25,  1776,  died  in  1845  (she  married 
Noah  Tabor  and  had  two  children — Benjamin 
and  Maria).  (3)  Maria,  April  14,  1778,  died 
September  2,  1839  (she  married  Bernard 
Matthewson).  (4)  Daniel,  October  29,  1785, 
died  May  3,  1853  (he  was  a  resident  of 
Amenia,  and  was  married  to  Zayde  Perlee, 
and  had  four  children — Hannah,  Benjamin 
(who  married  Tamma  Hunting),  Edmund  P. 
(who  married  Frances  Hoag)  and  Tazde. 
(5)  Cornelia,  November  6,  1789,  died  March 
12,  1840  (she  never  married).  (6)  Elizabeth, 
April  26,  1 791,  died  young.  (7)  Samuel  P., 
March  8,  1780',  died  January  30,  1814.  (8) 
Morgan,  November  4,  1795,  died  November 
14,  1 87 1,  our  subject's  father. 

Morgan  Carpenter  received  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools  near  his  home, 
and  in  a  private  school  near  Peekskill.  He 
was  for  some  years  associate  county  judge, 
under  appointment  from  Gov.  Seward.  On 
February  3,  18 19,  he  was  married  to  Maria 
Bockee,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of  North- 


east, Dutchess  county,  January  3,  1794,  the 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Catherine  (Smith) 
Bockee.  In  1852  they  moved  to  No.  333  Mill 
street,  Poughkeepsie,  where  they  spent  their 
later  years,  his  wife  dying  January  29,  1871, 
less  than  a  year  from  the  time  of  his  own 
death.  Nine  children  were  born  of  this  union: 
(i)  Catherine,  born  November  23,  1819,  died 
February  2,  1820.  (2)  Benjamin  Piatt,  born 
November  25,  1821,  died  December  30,  1836. 
(3)  Catharine  Bockee,  born  June  24,  1823, 
married  George  B.  Lent,  of  Poughkeepsie, 
October  28,  1847,  and  died  September  17, 
1879.  (4)  Mary  M.,  born  February  i,  1825, 
married  Edward  G.  Tyler,  October  i,  1844 
(he  died  April  21,  1891),  and  has  three  chil- 
dren— Maria  Seymour  (born  February  3,  1846), 
Morgan  Carpenter  (born  December  22,  1847), 
and  Mary  Catharine  (born  December  31, 
1856).  (5)  Jacob  Bockee,  born  July  16,  1826, 
was  a  leading  resident  of  this  locality,  and  was 
chosen  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Stanford  in 

1855,  member  of  the  Assembly  in  1856,  Presi- 
dential elector  in  i860,  supervisor  of  the  Fifth 
ward  of  Poughkeepsie  in  1870,  and  mayor  of 
Poughkeepsie  in  1875-76.  He  lived  in  Stan- 
ford and  Northeast  until  1861,  and  then  moved 
to  Poughkeepsie,  later  to  Little  Rest,  where 
he  died  April  9,  1894.  On  January  28,  i860, 
he  was  married  to  Sarah  E.  Thorne,  and  had 
three  children,  whose  names,  with  dates  of 
birth,  are  here  given:  Mary  Thorne,  March 
18,  1 861;  Jacob  B.,  September  17,  1863  (died 
December  15,  1874);  and  Maria  B.,  October 
12,  1865,  who  was  married  June  5,  1890,  to 
Joseph  S.  Tower.  (6)  Isaac  Smith,  June  24, 
1828,  was  twice  married,  first  on  August  28, 
185  I,  to  Julia  Willson,  who  died  May  22,  1858, 
and  second  on  September  5;  i860,  to  Sarah 
Rebecca  Willsoh.  .Three  children  were  born 
of  the  first  marriage:  Eliza,  September  19, 
1852;  Morgan,  June  7,  1854,  was  married  De- 
cember 14,  1876,  to  Virginia  A.  Bartlett,  of 
Hampton,  Va.,  and  has  two  children,  Maria 
V.  and  Miriam;   Maria  Bockee,  November  21, 

1856,  was  married,  October  17,  1888,  to 
Thomas  C.  Clark,  of  Grand  Island,  Neb.,  and 
has  two  sons — Henry  C.  and  Isaac  C.  Of  the 
second  marriage  three  children  were  born: 
Willson,  October  7,  1861,  graduated  from 
Yale  in  1884;  Tulia,  March  25,  1864;  and  Sarah 
Louisa,  December  6,  1865.  (7)  Louisa  S., 
November  26,  1830,  was  married  July  21, 
185 1,  to  Abram  Staats,  of  Red  Hook,  and  had 
one  daughter,  Catherine  Eliza,  born  May  23, 


■ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


28 


1852,  died  in  1890.  (8)  Sara  Maria,  March 
25,  1832,  took  a  prominent  part  in  reform 
movements,  and  was  a  member  of  the  State 
Board  of  Charities.  She  died  March  22,  1894. 
(9)  Benjamin  P.,  May  14,  1837,  was  a  lawyer 
and  a  prominent  politician.  He  was  a  super- 
visor of  Amenia  in  1861,  district  attorney  of 
Poughkeepsie  in  1858,  member  of  the  Consti- 
tutional Convention,  State  senator  in  1875, 
county  judge  from  1877  to  1883,  delegate  to 
the  National  Republican  Convention  in  1884, 
governor  of  Montana  in  the  year  1884, 
and  member  of  the  Code  Commission.  He 
was  married  in  i860  to  Esther  Thorne,  who 
was  born  July  3,  1840,  daughter  of  Stephen 
Thorne,  of  Poughkeepsie.  Four  children  were 
born  to  them:  Estelle,  June  5,  1861  (died 
January  9,  1863);  Nina,  August  26,  1863,  was 
married  April  8,  1885,  to  Albert  E.  Tower, 
and  has  one  son  —  Albert,  born  November, 
1887;  Kate,  October  12,  1866;  and  Stephen, 
June  14,  1869,  is  now  the  city  attorney  of  Hel- 
ena, Mont.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  Decem- 
ber 3,  1890,  appointed  United  States  Commis- 
sioner in  March,  1892,  and  elected  Assembly- 
man in  1892. 

Isaac  Smith  Carpenter,  the  subject  proper 
of  this  sketch,  received  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Stanford,  the  Amenia 
Seminary,  Pittsfield  Gymnasium,  Warren  In- 
stitute, in  Connecticut,  and  College  Hill, 
Poughkeepsie.  He  has  always  lived  at  the  old 
homestead  in  Stanford.  His  distinguished 
abilities  and  high  character  have  enabled  him 
to  sustain  well  the  position  in  the  community 
which  was  his  by  family  inheritance,  and  he  is 
foremost  among  the  supporters  of  any  worthy 
public  movement.  He  was  supervisor  of  the 
town  of  Stanford  four  terms,  and  was  elected 
to  the  Assembly  from  the  First  district  in  1879, 
and  again  in  1880,  serving  each  term  as  a 
member  of  the  Ways  and  Means  committee. 


rON.  JOHN  BOWDISH  DUTCHER,  one 

of  the  ablest  and  most  distinguished  sons 
of  Dutchess  county,  is  noted  for  his  ability  as 
a  financier  and  as  an  organizer  and  manager 
of  large  corporate  interests,  as  well  as  for  his 
effective  work  in  political  lines.  The  simplest 
summary  of  the  various  positions  of  trust  and 
honor  which  he  holds,  or  has  held,  would  cover 
widely  different  phases  of  political,  social  and 
business  life. 


Mathew  Dutcher,  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, came  from  Holland,  and  settled  in  what 
is  now  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county, 
where  he  probably  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
life  as  a  farmer.  He  died  at  a  comparatively 
early  age,  but  his  wife,  Sarah  Dutcher,  sur- 
vived him  many  years,  dying  in  her  ninety- 
first  year.  They  had  five  children:  Harry, 
who  located  in  Ontario  county,  N.  Y.;  David, 
our  subject's  father;  Phoebe,  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam Kronkright;  Clarissa,  who  married  Eph- 
raim  Kronkright;  and  Pattie,  the  wife  of  Fer- 
ris Carey.  David  Dutcher  was  born  in  the 
to.wn  of  Dover  in  1796,  and  lived  all  his  life 
near  South  Dover.  He  was  a  man  of  strong 
character  and  great  energy,  wielding  great  in- 
fluence in  local  affairs,  and  making  a  success 
of  his  business  as  an  agriculturist  and  dealer  in 
live  stock.  In  the  latter  branch  he  had  an  ex- 
tensive trade,  supplying  the  local  and  New 
York  City  markets.  He  commenced  life  poor, 
but  at  his  death,  which  occurred  June  9,  1853, 
he  owned  about  si.\  hundred  acres  of  land.  He 
married  Amy  Bowdish,  daughter  of  Asa  Bow- 
dish,  and  a  descendant  of  an  old  Quaker  fam- 
ily, which  had  settled  at  an  early  period  near 
New  Bedford,  Mass.  She  was  born  in  1799, 
and  died  June  5,  1875.  Eight  children  were 
born  of  this  union:  Albro,  who  was  quarter- 
master in  the  21st  Missouri  Regiment  during 
the  Civil  war,  and  died  in  the  service;  Asa,  a 
resident  of  Sharon,  Conn.;  John  B.,  our  sub- 
ject; Jane  Ann.  who  married  Frederick  Cole- 
man, of  Warren,  Conn.;  Julia,  the  wife  of 
Baldwin  Stevens;  DeWitt  C,  who  enlisted  in 
the  army  and  was  drowned  while  serving  on 
the  staff  of  Gen.  Viele;  and  Charles  (deceased), 
who  was  a  paymaster  in  the  navy  during  the 
Civil  war,  and  later  resided  at  White  Plains. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  the  town  of  Dover, 
February  13,  1830,  was  reared  as  a  farmer 
boy,  and  obtained  his  education  chiefly  in  the 
common  schools.  He  has  always  been  en- 
gaged in  agriculture,  at  first  in  his  native  town, 
and  later  in  the  adjoining  town  of  Pawling. 
In  i860  he  married  Miss  Christina  Dodge, 
daughter  of  the  late  Daniel  Dodge,  of  Pawling, 
'  and  in  April,  1 861,  he  located  upon  his  pres- 
ent homestead  in  that  town.  He  owns  1,600 
acres  of  fine  grazing  land  in  Dutchess  county, 
stocked  with  thoroughbred  horses  and  250 
cows.  His  agricultural  interests  are  now  man- 
aged by  his  son,  J.  Gerow  Dutcher  (the  only 
offspring  of  his  marriage),  who  was  united  in 
wedlock  in  April,  1894,  with  Miss  Helen  Titus 


24 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Willetts,    daughter   of    Edward    Willetts,    of 
Roslyn,  Long  Island. 

Possessing  sound  judgment,  Hon.  J.  B. 
Dutcher  has  gained  and  kept  the  confidence  of 
the  people  at  large  in  an  unusual  degree.  He 
was  made  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Dover  in 
1857,  and  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  following 
year.  A  Whig  in  early  years,  he  became  a 
Republican  on  the  organization  of  that  party, 
and  is  still  an  ardent  advocate  of  its  principles. 
An  injury  prevented  him  from  going  to  the 
front  during  the  Civil  war,  but  he  was  active 
and  zealous  in  recruiting  and  equipping  troops. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  State  Assembly  \n 
1 86 1  and  1862,  and  of  the  State  Senate  in 
1864  and  1865.  In  the  Assembly  he  was 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  Internal  Affairs 
and  a  member  of  the  committee  on  Railroads; 
in  the  Senate  was  a  member  of  the  committee 
on  Cities,  and  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
Internal  Affairs.  For  several  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  State  Republican  Committee. 
In  1864  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  National 
Convention  which  nominated  Lincoln,  and  in 
1880  he  was  sent  in  the  same  capacity  to  the 
convention  that  placed  Garfield  at  the  head 
of  the  National  ticket.  He  keeps  closely  in 
touch  with  all  the  questions  of  the  day,  and  is 
strongly  in  favor  of  the  curtailment  of  the 
liquor  traffic  as  far  as  possible. 

In  1864  Mr.  Dutcher  became  a  director  of 
the  New  York  &  Harlem  railroad,  and  in  1865 
he  took  charge  of  the  department  of  live-stock 
transportation  on  the  New  York  Central  &  Har- 
lem railroads,  and  has  ever  since  held  this  re- 
sponsible position,  to  which  has  been  added 
the  West  Shore  railroad  and  the  Rome  & 
Watertown  railroad.  He  is  also  prominently 
identified  with  other  lines,  being  a  director  of 
the  Spuyton  Duyval  railroad,  the  Poughkeepsie 
&  Eastern  railroad,  and  the  New  York  &  Put- 
nam railroad.  His  other  business  interests  are 
legion.  He  is.  president  of  the  Union  Stock 
Yards  &  Market  Co.,  of  New  York  City,  and 
was  one  of  its  incorporators;  president  of  the 
National  Bank  at  Pawling,  succeeding  Albert 
J.  Akin;  director  of  the  American  Safe  Deposit 
Company;  director  of  the  Fifth  Avenue  Bank; 
and  one  of  the  original  stockholders  in  its  in- 
corporation in  1875;  director  of  the  Mizzentop 
Hotel  Company  at  Quaker  Hill,  and  formerly 
its  president;  member  of  the  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce and  the  Produce  Exchange;  and  for 
many  years  before  its  sale  was  president  of  the 
St.  Louis  National  Stock   Yards,  of   which  he 


was  one  of  the  founders.  Not  the  least  of  his 
labors  have  been  his  successful  efforts  for  the 
improvement  of  the  village  of  Pawling,  where 
he  has  built  a  fine  block  containing  a  hotel  and 
number  of  stores.  He  is  now  the  president  of 
the  village,  and  to  his  efforts  the  village  is 
largely  indebted  for  one  of  the  best  water-sup- 
ply systems  in  the  State;  and  he  is  president 
of  the  board  of  water  commissioners.  In  his 
agricultural  matters  he  is  regarded  as  a  leader; 
he  was  president  of  the  New  York  State  Agri- 
cultural Society  for  two  years,  and  has  been 
president  of  the  Holstein  Friesian  Association 
of  America.  Socially  he  is  no  less  prominent; 
he  is  one  of  the  oldest  members  of  the  Union 
League  Club,  and  a  member  of  the  St.  Nicho- 
las Society  of  New  York  City. 


JAMES  HENRY  WEEKS.  Among  the  in- 
fluential and  leading  citizens  of  Poughkeep- 
sie, none  was  held  in  higher  esteem,  or  was 
more  worthy  a  place  in  the  records  of  her  his- 
tory than  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  is  held 
in  kindly  remembrance  by  all  who  knew  him. 
In  all  the  relations  of  life — as  a  lawyer,  a  law- 
maker, a  citizen,  and  a  tender  and  devoted  hus- 
band and  father — he  fulfilled  his  duties  with 
faithfulness  and  discretion,  and  left  to  his  chil- 
dren the  best  of  all  legacies,  ' '  a  good  name . " 

The  Weeks  family  was  of  old  English  ori- 
gin, the  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject 
having  emigrated  to  America  in  an  early  day. 
Thomas  Weeks,  our  subject's  father,  was  born 
in  Connecticut,  where  he  followed  farming. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Bogardus,  a  daughter  of 
James  Cornelius  Bogardus,  and  they  came  to 
Dutchess  county,  settling  on  a  farm  and  reac- 
ing  a  family  of  children,  as  follows:  Elizabeth, 
who  died  in  1892,  unmarried;  Emily,  who  mar- 
ried Isaac  S.  Vary,  at  one  time  teller  of  the 
Farmers'  &  Manufacturers'  Bank,  Poughkeep- 
sie; Ann,  married  to  John  DePew,  of  Dutchess 
county;  Eloise,  who  became  the  wife  of  Charles 
Barrett,  a  farmer  of  Putnam  county,  N.  Y.; 
and  James  Henry. 

James  H.  Weeks,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  December  21,  1822,  in  N. 
Hackensack,  N.  Y.  He  attended  the  district 
school  of  his  locality  in  early  boyhood,  continu- 
ing his  education  at  the  Dutchess  County  Acad- 
emy, subsequently  reading  law  with  Alexander 
Forbes.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Pough- 
keepsie, May  16,  1845,  and  shortly  afterward 
formed  a  partnership  with  Hon.  John  Thomp- 


I 


{24^.^^  Jrf6-c^^ 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


25 


son,  which  continued  for  nearly  thirty  years, 
until  the  time  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Weeks. 
This  firm  was  then  the  oldest  law  firm  in  the 
State.  In  1878  Frank  B.  Lown  was  taken 
into  partnership,  the  firm  name  at  Mr.  Weeks' 
decease  being  Thompson,  Weeks  &  Lown. 

Mr.  W^eeks  was  married  June  28,  1866,  to 
Harriet  S.  Babcock,  a  native  of  Salem,  Mass., 
and  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Rufus  Babcock.  Her 
father  was  born  in  Colebrook,  Conn.,  and  was 
pastor  of  a  Baptist  Church  in  Salem,  Mass., 
and  of  one  in  Poughkeepsie;  was  also  president 
of  Colby  University,  at  Waterville,  Maine.  He 
married  Olivia  Smith,  a  native  of  Barring- 
ton,  R.  I. ,  born  of  English  descent,  and  three 
children  were  the  result  of  this  union:  Caro- 
line, who  married  Horatio  G.  Jones,  a  lawyer 
of  Philadelphia;  Emily,  the  wife  of  George  H. 
Swift,  a  lawyer  of  Poughkeepsie,  but  residing 
in  Amenia;  and  Harriet  (Mrs.  Weeks). 

Mr.  Weeks  died  November  28,  1887,  in 
Poughkeepsie,  which  had  always  been  his  home. 
He  was  closely  identified  with  the  interests  of 
the  city,  and  took  an  active  part  in  all  public 
enterprises.  In  his  early  years  he  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat in  his  political  views,  afterward,  however, 
becoming  associated  with  the  Republican  party, 
he  was  a  leading  spirit  in  its  councils.  He 
held  several  town  offices,  and  in  the  winter  of 
1853-54  was  a  member  of  the  Assembly  at 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  during  which  incumbency  he 
was  chairman  of  the  judiciary  committee,  and 
won  the  esteem  of  his  constituency  for  his 
careful  and  untiring  devotion  to  their  interests. 
As  a  lawyer  he  was  well  known  for  his  keen 
insight  into  human  nature,  his  correct  judgment 
on  intricate  questions,  and  his  thorough  knowl- 
ledge  of  law  in  all  its  bearings.  Personally  he 
was  a  man  of  genial  manners,  generous  and 
charitable  in  his  disposition,  and  greatly  beloved 
in  his  home.  He  was  an  able  financier,  and  left 
some  valuable  property  in  Dutchess  county 
and  also  in  Rhode  Island.  He  was  a  liberal 
supporter  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  to  which 
his  family  belong.  Mrs.  Weeks  and  her  daugh- 
ters— Caroline  Babcock  and  Elizabeth  Mauran 
— are  widely  known  and  highly  esteemed  in 
the  community,  and  are  women  of  culture  and 
refinement. 


I  ON.  JOHN  A.  HANNA,  of  Dover  Plains, 
Dutchess  county,  member  of  the  New 
York  State  Assembly  from  the  First  District, 
is  one  of  the  most  distinguished  citizens,  and 


has  made  his  way  to  the  front  in  business  and 
political  life  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  he 
is  still  young  in  years.  He  was  born  in  Will- 
iamsbridge,  near  New  York  City,  on  October 
8,  1859,  and  received  a  good  education,  at- 
tending first  the  schools  of  his  native  place, 
and  later  a  private  seminary  at  Dover.  After 
his  graduation  he  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness, and  in  1875  he  established  a  general 
store  in  Dover  Plains,  which  at  once  became 
a  prominent  factor  in  the  commercial  life  of 
the  town.  His  father-in-law,  H.  W.  Preston, 
is  associated  with  him  under  the  firm  name  of 
J.  A.  Hanna  &  Co. 

Mr.  Hanna  possesses  the  admirable  traits 
of  character  which  mark  the  leader  in  public 
affairs,  and  has  been  prominent  in  the  councils 
of  the  Republican  party  from  his  first  entrance 
into  politics,  being  elected  to  various  town 
offices  at  different  times — including  that  of 
supervisor  in  1890,  for  one  year,  and  in  1893, 
for  two  years.  May  20,  1889,  he  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster  of  Dover  Plains,  under 
President  Harrison,  and  held  that  position  un- 
til a  short  time  ago,  and  in  1895  he  was 
elected  to  the  State  Legislature,  where  he  has 
served  his  constituency  ably  and  faithfully. 
He  belongs  to  the  Royal  Arcanum  at  Wassaic, 
N.  Y.,  and  is  a  leading  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  at  Dover  Plains,  taking  great  interest 
in  the  prosperity  and  growth  of  that  body. 
His  wife,  formerly  Miss  Ada  Preston,  is  a  de- 
scendant of  one  of  the  oldest  families.  They 
have  one  daughter — Julia  E.  Hanna. 

The  Hanna  family  originated  in  Mayha- 
land,  County  Londonderry,  Ireland,  and  Mr. 
Hanna  has  made  a  visit  to  the  old  home  of 
his  ancestors  while  taking  an  extended  Europ- 
ean tour.  Samuel  Hanna,  his  grandfather, 
was  born  in  Mayhaland,  County  Londonderry, 
Ireland,  and  was  there  reared  and  educated. 
He  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer  and 
also  engaged  in  the  operation  of  a  flax  and 
grist  mill  at  that  place.  He  married  Matilda 
Furgeson,  and  to  their  union  were  born  thir- 
teen children,  namely:  Jane,  who  married 
James  Sergent;  Thomas,  who  married  Mar- 
garet Hutchinson;  James  and  John,  who  died 
in  infancy;  Isabella,  who  married  James 
Hutchinson;  Nancy,  who  married  William 
Hanna;  John,  who  remained  single;  Robert, 
who  married  Matilda  Dixon;  Eliza,  who  died 
in  girlhood;  Peggy,  who  died  in  infancy; 
David,  our  subject's  father;  Sarah,  who  mar- 
ried a  Mr.  Livingston;  and  Alex. 


26 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


David  Hanna,  our  subject's  father,  during 
his  boyhood  attended  the  schools  of  his  native 
land,  and  assisted  his  father  in  the  work  of  the 
mills.  On  March  15,  1852,  he  married  Miss 
Eliza  Hutchinson,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Arabella  (Greer)  Hutchinson,  who  lived  on  a 
farm  in  County  Londonderry.  Her  father  was 
one  of  the  seven  children  born  to  Robert  and 
Nancy  (Patterson)  Hutchinson,  who  were  also 
agriculturists  of  the  same  locality,  the  others 
being:  John,  William,  James,  Bettie,  Alex  and 
Thomas.  Shortly  after  his  marriage  David 
Hanna  and  his  wife  sailed  from  the  Emerald 
Isle  for  the  New  Worlds  and  made  their  first 
location  at  Paterson,  N.  J.,  where  they  re- 
mained for  some  time.  On  leaving  that  city 
they  went  to  New  York,  and  for  forty-three 
years  Mr.  Hanna  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Har- 
lem road,  being  fireman  for  seven  years  and 
five  months,  and  was  then  given  a  position  as 
watchman,  which  he  held  until  his  resignation 
a  short  time  ago,  owing  to  his  age.  His  long 
continued  service  well  indicates  his  faithful 
discharge  of  duty,  and  the  implicit  confidence 
placed  in  him  by  his  employers.  He  had  a 
family  of  seven  children,  namely:  Arabella; 
Samuel,  a  conductor  on  the  Harlem  railroad, 
married  Minnie  McGlasson,  and  they  have  one 
child — Herbert  J. ;  Matilda  is  now  deceased; 
John  is  our  subject;  David,  a  conductor  on  the 
Harlem  railroad,  married  Mary  Hutchinson; 
Dorley  is  deceased;  and  Lizza  A. 

The  ancestors  of  Mrs.  John  A.  Hanna  were 
early  settlers  in  Rhode  Island,  where  her  great- 
great-grandfather,  Ebenezer  Preston,  was  born 
and  educated.  He  was  the  first  of  the  family 
to  come  to  Dutchess  county,  and  he  became  a 
successful  farmer  in  the  town  of  Dover.  His 
wife  was  a  Miss  White,  and  they  had  five  chil- 
dren: Bijah  married  Betsey  Ross;  Smith  mar- 
ried Phoebe  Eazener;  John  married  Amy  Wing; 
Ebenezer  remained  in  single  blessedness;  and 
Hannah  married  Jackson  Wing.  John  Pres- 
ton, Mrs.  Hanna's  great-grandfather,  was  born 
in  Dover  Plains,  and  aftet  attending  the  com- 
mon schools  for  some  years  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. He  purchased  a  tract  of  land  on  the  old 
post  road  near  Dover  Plains,  upon  which  stood 
a  house  that  was  one  of  the  historic  land-marks 
of  the  locality,  having  been  used  for  many 
years  as  a  tavern.  The  days  of  the  stage 
coach  not  yet  being  ended,  he  maintained  it  in 
that  capacity  for  some  years.  He  married 
Miss  Amy  Wing,  daughter  of  Thomas  Wing, 
a  well-known  farmer  of  Dover,  and  they  had 


eight  children,  whose  names  with  those  of  their 
husbands  and  wives  are  as  follows:  Myron  mar- 
ried Sarah  Ward;  Shandinett  married  Sal- 
lie  A.  Sheldon;  Harvey  married  Emeline  Ta- 
ber;  Uriah,  no  record;  George  married  Mary 
Germond;  John  married  Sallie  Thomas;  Han- 
nah married  Oscar  Taber;  and  Phoebe  married 
David  Vincent.  The  two  younger  daughters 
were  twins. 

Myron  Preston,  Mrs.  Hanna's  grandfather, 
was  born  in  1804,  and  after  a  course  in  the 
common  schools  in  the  town  of  Dover  engaged 
in  farming  there.  He  was  greatly  interested 
in  local  politics,  and  held  a  number  of  offices. 
His  wife  was  Miss  Sarah  Wood,  daughter  of 
Paltira  and  Anna  Wood,  who  owned  a  fine 
farm  near  Dover  Plains.  Of  the  two  children 
of  this  union  the  younger,  Anna,  married 
Abram  Denton.  The  elder,  Henry  W.  Pres- 
ton, Mrs.  Hanna's  father,  was  born  in  1830, 
and  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Dover  Plains 
and  at  the  Amenia  Seminary.  After  graduat- 
ing from  the  latter  institution  he  engaged  in 
farming  for  a  time,  but  later  became  connected 
with  a  mercantile  firm  in  Dover  Plains  as  a 
clerk.  In  1875  he  formed  the  present  part- 
nership with  his  son-in-law,  which  has  proved 
mutually  advantageous.  He  married  Miss 
Julia  M.  Pierce,  the  daughter  of  a  prosperous 
saddle  and  harness  maker  of  Salisbury,  Conn., 
and  Mrs.  Hanna  is  their  only  child. 


H 


rON.  ALFRED  BONNEY.  As  one  of  the 
youngest  and  ablest  members  of  the 
State  Assembly  of  1882,  the  subject  of  this  re- 
view rendered  good  service  to  his  constituency 
of  the  First  District  of  Dutchess  County,  and 
proved  himself  a  worthy  descendant  of  an  an- 
cestry which  has  numbered  more  than  one  man 
of  ability  and  note. 

The  Bonney  family  is  of  Anglo-Norman 
stock,  and  the  head  of  the  American  line  came 
from  Dover,  England,  about  1604.  For  sev- 
eral generations  the  home  of  the  family  was  in 
Massachusetts;  but  the  numerous  descendants 
have  since  become  widely  dispersed.  Peter 
Bonney,  our  subject's  grandfather,  was  born 
May  18.  1773,  at  Charlestown,  N.  H.,  and 
April  7,  1800,  was  married  to  Eleanor  Savage, 
who  was  born  November  16,  1781.  Shortly 
after  his  marriage  he  settled  at  Littleton,  N. 
H.,  and  engaged  in  business  as  a  tanner,  and 
dealer  in  wild  lands.  He  was  a  man  of  much 
intiuence,    and    in    18 10    represented    Grafton 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHWAL  RECORD. 


27 


county,  N.  H.,  in  the  State  Legislature.  His 
death  occurred  December  15,  1836,  his  wife 
surviving  him  many  years,  dying  at  Jamaica 
Plains,  Mass.,  October  7,  1873.  They  had 
eight  children,  all  of  whom  (except  the  young- 
est) are  now  deceased,  their  names  with  dates 
of   birth,  &c. ,  being  as   follows:     Emily,  May 

30,  1801;  Benjamin  West,  February  2,  1803; 
Elvira,  March  14,  1805,  married  and  settled 
near  Boston;  Almeria,  September  9,  1807,  also 
married  and  lived  in  New  Hampshire;  Frank- 
lin R. ,  December  6,  18 10;  Elizabeth  M.,  Oc- 
tober 12,  181 5,  married  and  resided  in  San 
Francisco,  Cal. ;  Alfred  P.,  August  29,  1820, 
was  married,  and  left  a  widow  and  four  chil- 
dren, who  now  reside  in  Waterford,  Caledonia 
Co.,  Vt.,  about  fourteen  miles  from  St.  Johns- 
bury;  and  Ellen,  April  2,  1825,  widow  of  the 
late  Rev.  Oliver  S.  St.  John,  a  Congregational 
minister. 

Judge  Benjamin  West  Bonney,  our  sub- 
ject's father,  received  an  elementary  education 
in  the  common  schools  at  Littleton,  N.  H., 
and  then  taught  school  in  order  to  obtain 
funds  for  further  study.  Later  he  entered 
Dartmouth  College,  from  which  he  graduated 
valedictorian  of  his  class  in  1824,  and  subse- 
quently settled  in  New  York  City,  where  he 
began  the  study  of  law.  In  1827  he  was  ap- 
pointed commissioner  of  deeds;  February  29, 
1828,  was  admitted  to  practice  as  attorney  in 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas;  on  October  29, 
1830,  received  his  license  as  counsellor,  and  on 
the  following  day  was  licensed  as  counsellor  at 
law  in  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.     On  May 

31.  1 83 1,  he  became  a  licensed  counsellor  in 
all  the  courts  of  the  State.  He  practiced 
his  profession  continuously  in  New  York  City 
until  his  death,  except  while  serving  as  justice 

If  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  of  New 
Pork;  and  was  widely  influential  in  public  af* 
lirs,  religious,  educational  and  political.  He 
^as  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Republican 
arty,  from  its  formation.  He  was  president 
(  the  New  England  Society  in  the  City  of 
lew  York;  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Audits; 
nd  one  of  the  earliest  members  of  the  Union 
League  Club;  a  director  in  the  Washington 
Life  Insurance  Co.;  general  counsel  of  the 
Merchants  Bank,  and  counsel  for  many  years 
of  Madame  Jumel. 

On  April  28,  1848,  he  was  married  by  Rev. 
Mancius  S.  Hutton,  D.  D.,  to  Adriana  Rapalje, 
daughter  of  Sylvanus  Rapalje,  who  was  born 
July  3.  '795.  and  died  November  12,  1883;  he 


was  a  prominent  man  of  his  day,  in  various 
lines  of  effort;  he  was  twice  married,  first  on 
June  II,  1823,  to  Susan  Roe  Van  Voorhis, 
who  was  born  April  14,  1805,  and  died  Janu- 
ary 26,  1832.  To  their  union  were  born  three 
children:  Adelaide,  August  7,  1824;  Jeromus, 
February  25,  1826;  and  Adriana,  our  subject's 
mother,  November  11,  1827.     On  November 

16,  1833,  he  married,  for  his  second  wife, 
Rachel  Ann  Van  Voorhis,  a  native  of  Fishkill, 
Dutchess  county,  and  a  sister  of  his  first  wife. 
She  died  March  23,  1877.  They  had  three 
children,  viz.:  William,  born  August  20,  1834; 
Susan  Augusta,  widow  of  the  late  Rev.  Lester 
M.  Dorman  (Yale  '54),  January  21,  1839;  and 
Stewart,  September  6,  1843. 

Our  subject's  parents  made  their  home  in 
New  York  City,  where  the  father  died  August 
18,  1868,  and  the  mother  on  August  15,  1891. 
They  reared  a  family  of  seven  children,  to  all 
of  whom  were  given  unusually  good  educa- 
tional advantages.  Their  names,  with  dates  of 
birth,  etc.,  are  here  given:  Eleanor,  March  2, 
1849,  married  Edward  F.  Brown,  a  lawyer  of 
New  York  City;  Adriana  R.,  March  30,  1850, 
is  the  widow  of  Dr.  Weber- Liel,  late  of  Bonn, 
Germany,  where  she  now  resides;  and  Benja- 
min W. ,  April  2,  1852,  is  a  farmer  at  Fishkill 
Plains;  Susan  R.,  May  20.  1854,  married  Major 
of  Cavalry  Carl  Emil  Schultz-Schulzenstein, 
of  Berlin,  Germany,  and  died  in  Charlotten- 
burg,  Germany,  September  26,  1895;  Alfred, 
our  subject;  Jeromus  R.,  May  6,  1859,  who 
has  never  married,  is  a  civil  engineer;  Elvira 
B.,  July  5,  1863,  married  Anton  L.  Bamber- 
ger, who  died  in  London,  England. 

Hon.   Alfred   Bonney  was    born  February 

17.  1857,  at  No.  18  West  14th  street.  New 
York  City,  where  his  education  was  begun  in 
its  schools,  and  in  1869  he,  in  company  with 
his  mother,  brothers  and  sisters,  went  to  Ger- 
many to  study.  He  spent  one  year  at  DusseU 
dorf-on-the-Rhine,  and  two  years  at  BerHn, 
and  then  returned  to  the  United  States.  He 
attended  the  Brooklyn  Polytechnic  and  Col- 
legiate Institute  for  a  time,  and  later  entered 
Cornell  University,  where  he  remained  three 
years,  making  a  special  study  of  agriculture; 
In  1878  he  settled  in  the  town  of  East  Fish- 
kill, Dutchess  county,  purchasing  his  present 
estate  of  151  acres,  then  known  as  the  "old 
Rapalje  farm,"  but  now  re-christened  the 
"Green  Meadow  farm.  "  Here  his  thorough 
scientific  training  for  his  calling  has  been  put 
to  a  successful   test   in   the  raising  of  general 


28 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


crops,  and  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  lead- 
ing farmers  of  that  section.  His  activities  are 
not  confined  to  agricultural  work,  however, 
and  he  has  been  prominent  in  the  Republican 
party,  being  chosen,  as  has  been  said,  to  rep- 
resent the  Assembly  District  in  the  Legislature 
at  Albany. 

On  April  30,  1889,  Mr.  Bonney  married 
Miss  Sarah  A.  Luyster,  daughter  of  the  late 
Peter  Luyster,  and  they  have  one  son,  Alfred, 
Jr.,  born  April  20,  1890.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bon- 
ney are  members  of  the  Reformed  Church  at 
Hopewell,  in  which  he  has  held  office  as  dea- 
con. He  is  a  member  of  the  Alpha  Delta  Phi 
fraternity,  Cornell  Branch,  and  is  a  life  mem- 
ber of  the  New  England  Society. 


^ISBEE  FAMILY,  THE,  of  which  Joseph 
B.  Bisbee,  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 
county,  is  a  worthy  and  respected  representa- 
tive, is  of  English  origin,  and  the  progenitorof 
the  American  line  came  to  this  country  in  1734, 
the  name  appearing  in  the  early  records  as 
"  Besbedge."  He  settled  at  Plymouth,  Mass., 
but  his  descendants  located  at  various  points, 
being  named  among  the  first  settlers  at  Mans- 
field, Pembroke  and  Scituate,  Mass.  Gideon 
Bisbee  located  at  Chesterfiefd,  Hampshire  Co. , 
Mass.,  and  was  the  father  of  two  sons,  Jotham 
and  Gideon.  Jotham  had  ten  children:  Jon- 
athan, Asenath,  Elisha,  Lucy,  Rebecca,  Lydia, 
Rachel,  Jotham,  Job  and  Ashael. 

Job  was  born  in  1797,  and  during  his  early 
manhood  was  a  farmer  at  Worthington,  Mass. 
In  1819  he  married  Miss  Susan  Buck,  who  was 
born  in  1800,  and  was  of  the  sixth  generation 
in  descent  from  James  Buck,  of  Hingham, 
Mass..  who  at  one  time  was  town  clerk  of 
Scituate.     He   died   in    1695.      His  son   Isaac 

married  Frances ,  and  had  a  son  Matthew, 

born  in  1724,  who  married  Elizabeth  Howard. 
Their  son  Thomas  married  Silence  Brett,  and 
had  a  son  Cyrus  (Mrs.  Bisbee's  father),  who 
was  born  in  1775  and  died  in  i860.  About 
1830  Job  Bisbee  removed  to  Ellicottville,  Cat- 
taraugus Co.,  N.  Y.,  with  his  family,  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  1864,  when  he  went  to 
Poughkeepsie  to  reside.  His  death  occurred 
there  March  11,  1866,  his  wife  surviving  him 
until  April,  1881.  Job  Bisbee  was  a  man  of 
strong  character  and  fine  mental  ability,  and 
held  a  high  place  in  the  esteem  of  his  asso- 
ciates. He  was  well  read,  much  noted  as  a 
mathematician,  and  taught  with  great  success 


in  Worthington,  Mass.,  and  in  Cattaraugus 
county,  N.  Y.  Although  he  was  not  a  mem- 
ber of  any  Church,  he  was  of  unblemished 
Christian  character,  and  his  influence  was  al- 
ways powerful  for  good.  He  was  especially 
pronounced  in  his  views  upon  public  questions. 
He  and  his  wife  reared  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren, to  whose  education  he  gave  careful  at- 
tention: Otis,  Alvin  (a  resident  of  Nebraska) 
and  George  (deceased)  were  born  at  the  old 
home  in  Massachusetts;  the  others  were  na- 
tives of  Cattaraugus  county.  Jane  married 
Manley  Fuller,  and  lives  at  Rochester,  Minn. ; 
Mary  married  Dr.  Edwin  Kimball,  of  Hay- 
wards,  Cal. ;  Samantha  married  Dr.  John 
Veach  (now  deceased),  formerly  of  Kentucky, 
but  later  of  Portland,  Oregon;  Susan  never 
married;  Adelia  is  the  wife  of  Oren  Cobb,  of 
Winthrop,  Maine;  and  Anna  married  George 
Gifford,  Esq.,  of  Jamestown,  New  York. 

Otis  Bisbee,  one  of  the  most  successful 
educators  of  the  State,  and  the  founder  and 
principal  of  Riverview  Academy,  was  born 
February  14,  1822,  in  the  town  of  Chester- 
field, Hampshire  Co.,  Mass.,  and  came  with 
his  parents  to  New  York  State  during  boy- 
hood. Until  he  was  fifteen  years  old  his 
schooling  was  limited  to  two  or  three  months' 
attendance  each  year  at  the  district  school,  his 
help  being  needed  on  the  farm  at  other  sea- 
sons. The  country  was  new,  much  rough 
work  having  to  be  done,  and  in  that  he  rapidly 
developed  the  independent  spirit  and  indus- 
trious habit  which  carried  him  through  the  ex- 
acting duties  of  later  years.  At  the  age  of 
thirteen  he  showed  these  traits  by  undertaking 
to  make  maple  sugar  by  himself,  and  so  thor- 
oughly in  earnest  was  he  that  he  made  from 
sixty-five  trees  a  larger  proportionate  amount 
than  any  one  else  in  the  neighborhood.  One 
evening  he  remained  at  the  camp  until  about 
ten  o'clock,  and  the  next  morning  traces  of 
wolves  following  a  deer  were  found  near  the 
place.  His  father  was  a  well-informed  man, 
and  encouraged  discussion  while  they  were 
working  about  the  farm,  and  thus  the  boy's 
mind  was  early  stimulated  to  thought,  and  a 
keen  desire  awakened  to  learn  the  answers  to 
the  questions  which  remained  unsolved  in  their 
often-interrupted  conversations,  while  his  read- 
ing in  biography  and  history  helped  him  to 
form  a  determination  to  leave  his  narrow  life. 
An  accident  in  his  seventeenth  year  confined 
him  to  the  house,  thereby  giving  him  leisure 
for  study;  so  he  availed  himself  of  the  oppor- 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


29 


tunity  by  preparing  himself  for  the  teacher's 
examination,  and  subsequently  secured  a  school 
in  a  backwoods  district.  Then  followed  three 
years  of  work  among  strangers,  in  which  the 
sorrow  of  being  parted  from  the  old  home  was 
only  relieved  by  the  thought  that  he  was  help- 
ing to  pay  off  a  debt  which  lay  heavily  upon 
his  father.  He  succeeded  in  this,  and  in  se- 
curing a  small  fund  for  himself.  The  next 
four  years  were  spent  with  his  uncles  in  Herki- 
mer county  in  dairy  farming,  and  the  last 
three  of  these  were  passed  in  the  town  of 
Fairfield,  where  a  celebrated  academy  and 
medical  college  were  located.  While  there  he 
taught  for  several  winters,  and  studied  as  he 
could  at  Fairfield  Academy. 

In  1847  he  entered  the  sophomore  class  of 
Union  College,  of  which  Dr.  Nott  was  then 
the  head;  but  young  Bisbee  was  not  inclined  to 
play  any  pranks,  he  did  not  become  as  well 
acquainted  with  that  noted  educator  as  some  of 
his  less  steady-going  companions.  In  1848  he 
was  president  of  the  Adelphi  Literary  Society, 
and  during  his  term  the  society  held  its  semi- 
centennial celebration,  imposing  upon  him  the 
duty  of  welcoming  back  to  the  old  walls  the 
Alumni  who  gathered  on  that  happy  occasion. 
Mr.  Bisbee  left  college  in  1849,  to  teach  in 
Mr.  Charles  Bartlett's  school  in  Poughkeepsie, 
and  on  the  graduation  of  his  class  he  was 
elected  to  membership  in  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa 
Society.  In  1850  he  married  Miss  Frances  C. 
Bartlett,  and  two  years  later  built  a  house  for 
a  dwelling  and  school  on  the  southwest  corner 
of  Mill  and.  Hamilton  streets,  Poughkeepsie. 
[The  house  standing  just  south  on  Hamilton 
street,  of  the  present  building,  was  the  school 
room  and  dormitory.]  On  the  death  of  Mr. 
Bartlett  in  1857  he  became,  in  company  with 
Mr.  Charles  B.  Warring  (later  the  principal  of 
Poughkeepsie  Military  Institute),  an  associ- 
ate principal  of  the  Poughkeepsie  Collegiate 
School.  Mr.  Warring  retiring  in  1862,  Mr. 
Bisbee  introduced  some  changes  in  the  school, 
notably  the  military  character  which  it  after- 
ward retained.  In  1866  he  erected  the  build- 
ing known  as  Riverview  Academy,  which  under 
his  able  management  became  one  of  the  best 
institutions  of  its  grade  in  the  State.  In  1885 
Mr.  Bisbee  passed  away,  and  his  mantle  fell 
upon  his  son,  Joseph  Bartlett  Bisbee. 

Joseph  Bartlett  Bisbee,  principal  and 
proprietor  of  Riverview  Military  Academy,  was 
born  in  1853  in  the  building  now  standing  on 
the  southwest  corner  of    Mill    and    Hamilton 


streets.  In  1857,  with  his  father,  he  moved 
to  College  Hill,  and  then  began  his  studies 
and  received  his  military  instruction,  which 
has  been  of  untold  value  to  him  in  his  career 
as  a  teacher.  In  1867  his  father  moved  the 
school  to  its  present  quarter  at  Riverview.  In 
1876  Joseph  B.  Bisbee  entered  Amherst  Col- 
lege, where  he  remained  three  years,  till  called 
h*ome  to  assist  in  the  school.  In  1 884  Amherst 
College  recognized  his  work  and  conferred  upon 
him  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts. 

In  1880  Mr.  Bisbee  married  Miss  Sarah  M. 
Pangburn,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.  They  had  one 
child,  Elsie  P.  Mrs.  Bisbee  died  March  3, 
1884.  In  December,  1885,  Mr.  Bisbee  mar- 
ried Miss  Winifred  Dana  Wheeler,  daughter 
of  the  late  Francis  B.  Wheeler,  D.  D.,  who 
was  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Poughkeepsie  for  nearly  forty  years.  They 
have  had  three  children:  Francis  Wheeler, 
who  died  in  1888;  Joseph  Bartlett  Bisbee,  Jr.; 
and  Eleanor  Dana.  Mr.  Bisbee  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  order,  and  an  eider  in  the  Pres- 
byterian Church. 


JOSEPH  E.  ODELL,  M.  A.  The  first 
Baron  Odell  was  a  count  of  Flanders,  and 
Matilda,  the  wife  of  William  the  Con- 
queror, was  a  daughter  of  one  of  these  counts, 
and  presumably  the  sister  of  the  first  Baron 
Odell,  whose  title  and  estates  were  bestowed 
by  William.  These  honors  were  conferred  for 
distinguished  military  services  in  the  conquest 
of  England.  The  estate  consisted  of,  perhaps, 
twenty  thousand  acres  of  land,  and  extended 
into  two  counties,  containing  within  its  bound- 
aries upward  of  twenty  villages  or  small  towns. 
The  head  of  the  Baroncy  was  at  Odell,  Bed- 
fordshire, England,  where  Odell  Church  and 
Odell  Castle  still  stand,  both  of  which  have 
been  erected  within  recent  times,  but  are  near 
or  upon  the  site  of  the  ancient  fortress.  Here 
the  church  and  town  records  disclose  vast 
numbers  of  inhabitants  of  that  name  from  re- 
mote times  to  the  present. 

The  direct  descendants  of  the  first  Baron 
Odell  were  closely  related  to  at  least  four 
Kings  of  England:  William  the  Norman,  Al- 
fred the  Great,  Edward  the  Second  and  Henry 
the  Eighth.  They  were  also  related  by  blood 
or  marriage  to  upward  of  fifty  families  entitled 
to  bear  arms,  that  is,  those  belonging  to  the 
gentry  and  nobility  of  England.  The  title 
from   which    the  name  was    derived  was    be- 


30 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


stowed  in  1066,  and  from  about  795  to  the  pres- 
ent time  the  line  from  father  to  son  is  unbroken, 
the  name  of  not  a  single  individual  being 
wanting.  There  were  many  obstacles  to  the 
completion  of  the  early  part  of  this  record, 
but  diligent  and  patient  research  overcame 
them.  Previous  to  795,  however,  no  record 
of  the  family  line  has  been  found,  and  reliance 
must  be  placed  upon  general  historical  state* 
ments  discovered  here  and  there,  often  in  rare 
and  curious  forms  of  ancient  record.  Assum- 
ing the  correctness  of  such  authorities,  there 
existed  in  the  possession  of  the  Counts  of 
Flanders  a  complete  and  unbroken  record, 
traced  back,  step  by  step,  to  Priam,  King  of 
Troy,  or  to  about  1200  B.  C. 

No  remnant  of  this  alleged  record  has  been 
discovered.  But  as  such  a  record  would  nat- 
urally be  in  some  French  repository  of  ancient 
learning,  and  therefore  difficult  of  access,  it  is 
scarcely  surprising  that  the  discovery  has  not 
been  made.  It  is  known,  howevei:,  that  through- 
out a  long  period  the  Counts  of  Flanders  were 
almost  or  quite  equal  in  power  to  the  Kings  of 
France,  and  that  in  the  turbulent  times  of  the 
Dark  Ages  they  were  practically  kings,  with  a 
horde  of  dependents  to  do  their  bidding.  Such 
families  make  history,  and,  doubtless,  there 
were  always  at  hand  persons  able  and  willing 
to  write  it  as  fast  as  it  was  ready  for  the  pen. 
And  astonishing  as  the  statement,  of  an  un- 
broken record  back  to  Priam,  appears  at  first 
glance;  on  mature  reflection,  there  should  ap- 
pear nothing  in  it  more  surprising  than  that 
the  record  should  stand  unbroken,  as  it  un- 
questionably does,  from  1066  to  the  present 
time.  The  keeping  of  a  family  history  could 
not  have  been  more  difficult  than  it  has  been 
subsequently. 

The  line  as  traced  downward  includes  about 
thirty  generations  from  the  first  Baron  Odell 
until  the  present  time.  His  direct  descendants 
of  the  same  name  are  now  very  numerous,  and 
of  these  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  represent- 
ative. To  his  efforts  are  due  in  a  great  degree 
the  discovery  and  arrangement  of  the  facts 
necessary  to  furnish  proof  of  the  connection 
with  the  ancient  baronial  family,  and  he  has 
laid  under  contribution  legal  documents, 
church,  immigration  and  shipping  records, 
public  speeches  and  prints,  and  many  volumes, 
ancient  and  modern.  The  result  of  these  labors 
is  a  host  of  facts,  sufficient,  probably,  for  a 
large  volume.  As  an  example  of  the  exhaust- 
iveness  of  the  investigation,  it  has  been  found 


that  the  name,  during  a  period  of  about  800 
years,  has  been  authentically  used  under  no 
less  than  forty  different  spellings,  ^^^ahul  pre- 
dominating at  first,  and  Odell  now.  To  sum 
up,  here  is  a  lineage  covering  3,000  years,  or 
about  ninety  generations,  carrying  us  back  to 
what  it  pleases  us  to  call  the  infancy  of  the 
world.  During  this  time  nations  have  gone  to 
decay,  languages  have  perished,  a  new  world 
has  been  discovered,  time  and  space  have  been 
annihilated  by  inventions,  the  Iliad  and  Bible 
have  been  written,  and  Christ  and  His  religion 
have  illumined  the  world!  .It  would  scarcely 
seem  presumptuous  were  the  Odells  of  this 
line  to  issue  a  challenge  to  the  world  to  pro- 
duce a  more  ancient  family  record. 

William  Odell,  the  first  of  the  family  in 
this  country,  settled  in  Concord,  Mass.,  about 
1639,  'ind  his  descendants  have  since  occupied 
a  prominent  place  in  the  annals  of  this  country, 
three  of  them  having  been  Congressmen  from 
this  State,  Moses  F.  Odell  and  N.  Holmes 
Odell,  from  Brooklyn,  and  Benjamin  Odell, 
from  Newburg.  The  minor  posts  of  honor  held 
by  members  of  the  family  have  been  number- 
less. The  descendants  are  widely  scattered, 
being  found  in  Massachusetts,  Connecticut, 
New  York,  New  Jersey,  Nebraska,  Illinois, 
Alabama,  Minnesota,  and  also  in  Nova  Scotia. 
They  are  very  numerous  in  eastern  Massachu- 
setts, southern  Connecticut,  Long  Island  and 
Westchester,  Orange,  and  Dutchess  counties, 
those  of  the  latter  locality  being  mainly  off- 
shoots from  the  Odells  of  Westchester  county. 
At  an  early  date  an  intermarriage  took  place 
with  the  Bolton  family,  a  branch  of  which  has 
long  been  resident  in  Dutchess  county.  The 
Boltons  worthily  boast  a  noble  and  honored 
lineage,  stretching  back  in  unbroken  line  far 
within  the  luminous  mists  of  the  ancient  no- 
bility of  England.  At  the  same  time  that  Will- 
iam Odell  settled  at  Concord  there  came  also 
the  Rev.  Peter  Bulkeley,  who  had  been  a  cler- 
gyman in  the  Odell  Church  in  England,  and 
had  married  a  near  relative  of  the  Odells  there. 
Having  been  silenced  for  non-conformity,  he 
came  to  a  freer  land,  and  his  descendants  have 
made  the  family  name  widely  known  and  greatly 
honored,  especially  in  the  eastern  States. 

In  1639,  ^^  Concord,  Mass.,  now  a  suburb 
of  Boston,  came  William: — then  in  direct  line 
William;  then  Isaac;  then  Joshua;  then  John; 
then  Daniel,  whose  son  was  Joseph  E.  Odell, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  John  Odell  came 
to  Dutchess  county  from   \\'estchester  about 


COMMEMORATIVE   BIOORAPHICAL   RECORD. 


81 


1795.  He  settled  at  Pleasant  Plains,  where 
for  many  years  he  was  the  proprietor  of  a  coun- 
try store,  but  later  removed  to  Beekman,  where 
he  had  purchased  a  large  farm,  to  which  his  son 
Daniel  succeeded  and  where  Joseph  E.  Odell 
was  born  April  5,  1848,  the  third  in  a  family 
of  four  sons,  the  others  being  Eliphalet  P., 
John  D.,  and  Caspar  L. ,  whose  biography  ap- 
pears elsewhere.  His  mother  was  Malinda, 
daughter  of  John  LeRoy,  who  for  a  long  time 
was  proprietor  of  the  store,  flourmill,  sawmill, 
shops  of  various  kinds,  and  farm,  where  Frost's 
Mills  now  stand.  The  church  at  Pleasant  Plains 
probably  owes  its  existence  to  his  liberality, 
and  its  later  prosperity  to  the  generous  support 
of  his  children. 

In  1856  Prof.  Odell's  parents  moved  to  the 
town  of  Hyde  Park,  a  mile  south  of  Pleasant 
Plains  church,  and  in  1868  to  Schenectady. 
He  attended  the  common  schools  of  Beekman 
and  Hyde  Park  during  boyhood,  and  in  1867- 
68  studied  in  the  High  School  at  Poughkeepsie 
under  Prof.  John  M.  Clarke.  He  was  grad- 
uated from  the  Union  Classical  Institute  at 
Schenectady  in  1870,  and  from  Union  College 
in  1874,  standing  first  in  his  class  in  both  in- 
stitutions and  taking  the  Nott  Scholarship 
Prize  of  $150  offered  yearly  in  the  college  to 
the  one  who  should  stand  at  the  head  of  his 
class,  not  in  one  but  in  all  studies.  He  re- 
ceived the  degrees  of  A.  B.  and  A.  M.  from 
Union  College.  While  a  student  in  the  In- 
stitute he  originated  the  A.  Z.  fraternity,  of 
which  He  was  the  first  president,  and  he -was 
a  member  of  the  Psi  Upsilon  Society  at  col- 
lege. After  graduating,  he  engaged  in  teach- 
ing, and  was  principal  of  the  schools  at  Fish- 
kill  Landing,  and  Scotia.  N.  Y.,  and  Storm 
Lake,  Iowa.  He  studied  law,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  while  at  Storm  Lake,  and 
returning  to  the  East  he  taught  at  Berwick 
and  Academia,  Penn.,  as  principal  of  the 
academies  there.  In  1879  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ,  and  practiced 
for  a  short  time.  He  then  resumed  teaching, 
and  was  principal  of  the  schools  at  Greenville, 
N.  Y.,  and  Monroe,  La.,  and  of  Leslie 
Academy,  in  Poughkeepsie.  For  the  last  ten 
years  he  has  been  a  successsful  private  tutor 
at  Poughkeepsie,  giving  thorough  preparation 
for  college  to  a  large  number  of  students. 

Prof.  Odell  was  married  in  November, 
1875,  to  Miss  Clara  A.  Page,  of  Schenectady. 
They  have  no  children.  He  has  done  some 
valuable  literary  work,  having  been  a   regular 


contributor  to  the  Poughkeepsie  Ea^/c,  and  in 
former  years  having  furnished  numerous  ar- 
ticles on  various  topics  to  other  papers  and 
periodicals. 

He  is  also  the  author  of  a  work  on  English 
Grammar,  and  one  on  Geometry  as  applied  to 
surveying.  His  learned  acquirements  include 
many  languages,  ancient  and  modern;  and,  as 
to  proficiency  in  matters  purely  scholastic,  he 
has  few  superiors.  He  is  remarkably  efficient 
as  a  teacher,  and  many  now  successful  young 
men  can  gratefully  attribute  the  beginning  of 
their  ascent  to  his  wise  and  helpful  instruction 
and  advice. 

Prominent  among  those  who  have  rendered 
assistance  in  collecting  the  above  facts  con- 
cerning the  Odell  family,  is  Mr.  Rufus  King, 
of  Yonkers,  N.  Y. ,  who  is  an  experienced 
genealogist,  whose  mother  was  an  Odell,  and 
whose  father's  family,  for  several  generations, 
has  taken  a  leading  place  in  State  and  National 
politics.  There  are  numerous  Odells  whose 
connection  with  this  family  cannot  be  estab- 
lished with  the  facts  at  hand.  Whether  they 
are  of  a  different  origin,  or  are  offshoots  who 
have  lost  the  proofs  of  connection  with  this 
line,  seems  difficult  of  determination. 


HON.  STORM  EMANS.     Among  the  early 
comers    from    Holland    to   this    country 

were  the  ancestors  of  the  Emans  family,  so 
well  and  favorably  known  in  this  section. 
They  came  about  the  time  of  the  Huguenot 
immigration,  and  located  for  the  most  part  in 
New  England,  some  of  their  descendants,  how- 
ever, becoming  pioneer  settlers  in  Dutchess 
county. 

There  is  ground  for  belief  that  James 
Emans,  our  subject's  great-grandfather,  was 
born  in  Dutchess  county,  and  it  is  at  least 
certain  that  he  spent  the  greater  part  of  his 
life  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  East  Fishkill, 
where  he  obtained  a  grant  of  137  acres  of  land 
from  Madame  Brett,  which  tract  is  still  in  the 
possession  of  the  family,  having  never  been 
alienated.  Here  James  Emans  followed  farm- 
ing until  his  death.  He  and  his  wife  reared 
a  family  of  eight  children,  of  whom  the  four 
sons — Cornelius  (who  died  in  1849),  James, 
John  and  Hendrick — all  engaged  in  farming. 
Of  the  daughters,  Elizabeth  and  Catherine 
never  married;  Ann  was  the  wife  jf  Samuel 
Betty,  a  farmer,  and  Margaret  married  John 
Miller,  also  a  farmer.     John  Emans,  our  sub- 


82 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ject's  grandfather,  married  Abby  Way,  and 
settled  at  the  old  homestead  where  he  passed 
his  life.  Five  children  were  born  to  him: 
Albert,  who  died  in  1895,  was  a  farmer  in  the 
town  of  Lagrange,  and  also  engaged  in  freight- 
ing and  speculating;  James  C.  is  a  farmer  in 
East  Fishkill;  John  S.  is  mentioned  more  fully 
below;  George  (deceased)  was  a  prominent 
farmer  in  Lagrange;  and  Charles  W.  is  also 
an  agriculturist  in  East  Fishkill. 

John  S.  Emans,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  1824,  and  grew  to  manhood  at 
the  old  homestead.  He  engaged  in  agricult- 
ure there,  taking  also  a  keen  interest  in  public 
affairs  and  holding  a  prominent  place  in  that 
locality.  Although  he  was  not  a  lawyer,  his 
mind  was  of  a  judicial  cast,  and  he  was  very 
often  called  upon  to  try  cases  and  advise  in 
legal  controversies.  He  was  a  justice  of  ses- 
sions for  some  time,  represented  his  town  re- 
peatedly on  the  county  board  of  supervisors, 
and  was  one  of  the  three  excise  commissioners 
of  Dutchess  county.  In  his  political  views  he 
was  a  Democrat,  and  he  was  elected  many 
years  ago  on  that  ticket  to  the  State  Legisla- 
ture. A  man  of  commanding  influence,  he 
left  a  memory  which  is  a  cherished  legacy 
among  his  descendants.  He  married  Eliza 
Storm,  a  member  of  an  old  and  highly  re- 
spected family,  and  a  daughter  of  Garret 
Storm,  of  East  Fishkill.  The  Emans  family 
have  been  members  of  the  Reformed  Church 
from  a  very  early  period,  and  our  subject's 
parents  were  both  active  and  faithful  adher- 
ents. The  father  died  September  i,  1877, 
the  mother  on  May  26,  1882.  Of  their  five 
children,  the  first  and  third,  Catherine  and 
Abby  C,  died  in  early  youth;  Albert  S.  is  a 
merchant  at  Gayhead,  in  the  town  of  East 
Fishkill;  and  Lillian  married  Dr.  Leslie  A. 
Sutton. 

Storm  Emans,  the  fourth  member  of  this 
family,  was  born  at  the  old  homestead,  June 
12,  1856,  and  after  attending  the  neighboring 
district  schools  for  some  years  went  to  Pough- 
keepsie  for  a  course  in  Bishop's  Select  School, 
but  ill  health  compelled  him  to  give  up  his 
studies  sooner  than  he  intended.  After  leav- 
ing this  school  he  learned  telegraphy,  and  fol- 
lowed it  five  years  at  Matteawan,  Millerton 
and  Millbrook,  operating  a  private  line  for  the 
president  of  the  Dutchess  &  Columbia  rail- 
road. He  then  went  to  Saratoga  Springs, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  met  the  president  of  the  At- 
lantic &   Pacific  Telegraph   Co.,  and  was  ap- 


pointed to  open  and  take  charge  of  the  office 
at  Newburgh;  but  he  remained  in  that  position 
only  a  short  time,  owing  to  the  death  of  his 
father.  Returning  to  his  old  home,  he  was 
chosen,  in  1877,  to  fill  his  father's  unexpired 
term  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  in  1881-82- 
86-87  hfi  served  on  the  board  of  supervisors, 
and  was  chairman  of  various  committees.  In 
1883  he  was  a  member  of  the  State  Assembly, 
having  been  elected  to  the  office  in  the  First 
Assembly  District  of  Dutchess  county,  and  in 
1890  he  was  appointed  index  clerk  of  that 
body;  from  1891  to  1894  he  held  the  office  of 
clerk  of  Dutchess  county.  At  present  he  is 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Mitchell  Heater 
Co.,  and  his  time  is  devoted  to  that  business 
and  the  management  of  his  farms. 

On  January  26,  1881,  Mr.  Emans  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Alice  A.  Water- 
bury,  daughter  of  William  Waterbury,  a  promi- 
nent hardware  merchant  of  Saratoga  Springs, 
and  they  have  one  son.  Storm  Waterbury,  born 
May  22,  1883. 


v\DWARD  HAZEN  PARKER,  son  of  Hon. 
Isaac  and  Sarah  (Ainsworth)  Parker,  was 
born  in  the  city  of  Boston,  Mass.,  in  1823. 

Dr.  Parker  graduated  from  Dartmouth 
College  in  1846,  and  received  his  medical 
degree  from  Jefferson  Medical  College  in  1848. 
In  the  same  year  he  was  appointed  lecturer 
on  Anatomy  and  Physiology  at  Bowdojn  Med- 
ical "College,  and  for  the  following  nine  years 
was  editor  of  the  "New  Hampshire  Medical 
Journal."  In  1853  Dr.  Parker  was  called  to 
the  chair  of  Physiology  and  Pathology  in  the 
New  York  Medical  College,  and  associated 
himself  in  practice  with  Dr.  Fordyce  Barker 
in  New  York  City.  He 
lished  the  "New  York 
which  he  continued  to 
many  years  with  great 
In  1854  he  received  the  degree  of  A. 
Trinity    College.      In    1858,    as   the 


at  this  time   estab- 

Medical    Monthly," 

edit    personally    for 

ability   and  success. 

M.  from 

result   of 


overwork.  Dr.  Parker  had  serious  trouble  with 
his  eyes,  necessitating  his  removal  from  the 
city,  and  in  the  out-door  life  of  a  country 
practice  to  seek  the  recovery  of  his  health. 
He  came  to  Poughkeepsie,  where,  as  a  general 
practitioner  and  consultant,  he  practiced  his 
profession  for  nearly  forty  years.  He  was 
elected  president  of  the  New  York  State  Med- 
ical Society  in  1862,  and  in  the  same  year, 
and  in  the  succeeding  one,  went  to  the  front 


<^^'?».^^c. 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


m 


as  a  volunteer  surgeon  in  the  service  o{  New 
York  State. 

The  Doctor  was  one  of  the  trustees  of,  and 
visiting  surgeon  to,  St.  Barnabas  Hospital 
from  its  opening,  until  it  was  closed  in  1887. 
In  1887  he  was  appointed  visiting  surgeon  to 
Vassar  Brothers'  Hospital,  and  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  medical  board.  Dr.  Parker  died 
November  10,  1896.  He  was  twice  married. 
His  first  wife,  Sarah  (Heyderk),  died  in  1880, 
leaving  three  daughters  and  one  son,  Dr. 
Harry  Parker,  all  of  whom  are  living.  In 
1883  he  married  Jeannie  C.  Wright,  who  with 
one  son  survives  her  husband. 

Dr.  Parker  was  a  physician  of  signal  com- 
petency and  skill,  and  as  a  surgeon  he  had  few 
superiors.  He  was  a  man  of  very  fine  fibre, 
of  unusual  cultivation,  and  of  high  scholarly 
attainments.  His  classical  education  was 
sound  and  liberal,  his  sympathies  most  acute, 
and  he  was  also  possessed  of  a  fine  poetical 
talent,  which  in  his  busy  life,  were  less  fre- 
quently e.xercised  than  his  friends  could  have 
desired.  The  poem,  a  single  verse  of  which  is 
given  below,  was  composed  by  Dr.  Parker  in 
1 879.  It  applies  most  fittingly  to  his  life,  which 
was  marked  through  the  long  years  of  his  de- 
votion to  his  work  by  a  conspicuous  purity  of 
character,  great  unselfishness  and  self  sacrifice. 

"Life's  race  well  run; 
Life's  work  all  done; 
Life's  victory  won; 

Now  Cometh  rest." 


CHARLES  WALSH,  the  well-known  editor 
of  the  Amenia  Times,  is  conducting  this 
paper  with  signal  ability  and  success,  and 
holds  a  prominent  position  among  the  jour- 
nalists of  Dutchess  county. 

Mr.  Walsh  was  born  at  Futtegarh,  India, 
March  14,  1854,  but  is  descended  from  a  well- 
known  New  York  family  of  Irish  ancestry. 
William  Walsh,  his  paternal  grandfather,  was 
a  native  of  Newburgh,  N.  Y. ,  and  in  later 
years  was  president  of  the  Bank  of  Newburgh; 
he  died  there  in  1847. 

Rev.  John  Johnston  Walsh,  the  father  of 
our  subject,  was  born  at  Newburgh,  Orange 
county,  in  1820,  received  his  classical  educa- 
tion at  Union  College,  class  of  '39,  and  later 
graduated  at  the  Princeton  Theological  Semi- 
nary. At  the  age  of  twenty-one,  he  went  to 
India  as  a  Presbyterian  missionary,  and  there 
faithfully  served  for  twenty-eight  years.  On 
account  of  cataract  of  the  eye,  he  returned  to 
3 


America,  where  he  found  that  it  was  incur- 
able, and  subsequently  for  three  years  was 
pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Miller- 
ton,  N.  Y.  He  wrote  and  published  the 
"Martyred  Missionaries,"  a  memorial  to  those 
massacred  during  the  Sepoy  rebellion  in  1857, 
at  which  time  he  was  on  a  trip  to  the  United 
States  to  leave  his  children  to  be  educated. 

At  Fishkill,  N.  Y.,  in  1841,  Rev.  Mr. 
Walsh  was  married  to  Miss  Emma  Brett,  a 
daughter  of  Henry  Brett;  she  is  still  living, 
making  her  home  at  Newburgh,  N.  Y.,  but 
her  husband  died  at  Amenia  in  1884.  Henry 
Brett  was  a  direct  descendant  of  Francis  Rom- 
bout,  proprietor  of  the  famous  Rombout  Pat- 
ent. The  only  child  and  heiress  of  Francis 
Rombout  was  Katrina,  who  married  Lieut. 
Roger  Brett,  of  the  English  navy.  Lieut. 
Brett,  dying  in  early  manhood,  left  his  wife 
with  the  management  of  a  large  estate,  which 
she  conducted  with  marked  ability.  The 
name  of  Madame  Brett  is  a  noted  one  in  the 
early  annals  of  Dutchess  county  history;  she 
died  at  an  advanced  age,  leaving  a  goodly 
number  of  descendants. 

Although  born  in  India,  our  subject  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  New- 
burgh, and  at  the  Newburgh  Academy,  pre- 
paring for  college  at  Cornwall-on-the-Hud- 
son.  For  four  years  he  was  then  engaged 
in  the  drug  business  at  Newburgh  and  New 
York  City.  In  1876  he  purchased  a  half 
interest  in  the  Amenia  Times,  which  was 
established  in  1852,  and  in  1878  bought  out 
his  partner,  William  L.  De  Lacey.  He  then 
conducted  the  paper  alone  until  1888,  when 
he  sold  a  fourth  interest  to  Theron  Griffin,  who 
has  been  connected  with  the  office  for  thirty 
years.  It  is  a  bright,  spicy  paper,  well  edited 
and  non-partisan  in  politics.  On  July  i, 
1895,  Mr.  Walsh  also  purchased  the  Pawling 
Chrotiicle,  which  he  has  since  greatly  enlarged 
and  improved. 

On  April  8,  1890,  at  Amenia,  Mr.  Walsh 
was  married  to  Miss  Georgia  .\.  Thompson, 
daughter  of  Hon.  George  Thompson,  Judge  of 
the  City  Court  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ,  and  they 
now  reside  at  their  pleasant  home  in  Amenia. 
Mrs.  Walsh  belongs  to  the  old  Dutchess  coun- 
ty family  of  Thompsons,  who  migrated  from 
Connecticut  in  1750. 

Mr.  Walsh  has  always  been  an  ardent 
Democrat  in  politics,  and  was  appointed  post- 
master at  Amenia  in  August,  1893.  He  has 
proved  a  popular  and  capable  official,  and  sue- 


u 


COMMEMORATTVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ceeded  in  having  the  office  changed  to  the 
third  class  December  27,  1894.  Socially,  he 
belongs  to  Amenia  Lodge  No.  672,  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  to  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  Poiighkeepsie, 
and  the  Royal  Arcanum.  He  is  also  con- 
nected with  Amenia  Grange.  He  takes  an 
active  part  in  the  work  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Amenia,  of  which  he  is  a  consistent 
member,  and  is  at  present  serving  as  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday-school. 


JEREMIAH  S.  PEARCE,  the  present  sher- 
iff of  Dutchess  county,  and  a  well-known 
citizen  of  Poughkeepsie,  was  born  August 
28,  1837,  in  the  town  of  Pawling,  Dutchess 
county.  The  Pearce  family  is  of  Welsh  ex- 
traction, and  the  father  and  grandfather  of 
our  subject  were  of  the  same  nativity  as 
himself. 

Henry  Pearce,  the  grandfather,  married 
Miss  Rebecca  Birdsill,  who  was  born  in  Dutch- 
ess county,  and  they  settled  on  a  farm  in  the 
town  of  Pawling.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig, 
and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  Five  children  were  born 
to  them:  Nathaniel  (who  was  made  assessor 
of  his  township),  Sally,  Rebecca,  Amie  and 
Benoni. 

Benoni  Pearce,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  reared  on  the  old  home  farm,  and  married 
Miss  Mary  Ann  Stark,  who  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  a  daughter 
of  Benoni  Stark,  a  farmer  of  that  town.  After 
their  marriage  they  settled  on  a  farm,  and 
there  reared  a  family  of  seven  children,  as 
follows:  Henry  is  a  physician  in  Pawling; 
Lillius  H.  married  A.  J.  Brown,  a  farmer  in 
Yates  county,  N.  Y. ;  Jeremiah  S.  is  our  sub- 
ject; James  S.  is  a  druggist  and  undertaker  in 
Pawling;  Charles  W.  resides  in  New  York 
City;  Elizabeth  married  John  Gelder,  a  farmer 
in  Yates  county,  N.  Y. ;  and  Edwin  died  in 
1877.  In  1849  the  family  removed  to  Yates 
county,  where  the  father  carried  on  farming 
until  his  death  in  1893.  He  was  a  Whig,  later 
a  Republican,  and  at  one  time  was  captain  in 
the  State  militia.  Both  parents  were  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Jeremiah  S.  Pearce,  whose  name  opens 
this  sketch,  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  the 
farm  in  Pawling,  attending  the  district  school 
until  about  fourteen  years  of  age,  when  the 
parents  removed  to  Yates  county.  He  was 
twenty-two    years    old    when    the    Civil    war 


broke  out,  and  the  same  year,  1861,  he  en- 
listed in  Company  I,  33d  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  and 
was  sent  to  Washington.  Being  taken  ill, 
however,  he  was  discharged.  This  did  not 
dampen  his  ardor,  and  as  soon  as  convalescent 
and  able  for  duty,  he  re-enlisted,  in  the  spring 
of  1862,  this  time  in  the  128th  N.  Y.  V.  I.', 
being  commissioned  second  lieutenant.  In 
1863  he  was  made  first  lieutenant,  and  the 
following  year  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
captain  of  Company  B.  He  served  throughout 
the  entire  war,  and  was  mustered  out  July  12, 
1865,  during  which  time  he  participated  in 
many  important  battles,  among  them  those  of 
Cedar  Creek,  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill,  and 
was  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  with  Gen. 
Sheridan,  besides  taking  part  in  minor  skir- 
mishes, etc.  In  all  these  years  of  fighting  he 
was  so  fortunate  as  to  escape  without  a  wound. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Pearce  returned 
to  Pawling,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  en- 
gaged in  various  occupations.  On  September 
8,  1875,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Chase,  who  was  born  in  Pawling,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Darius  Chase,  a  station  agent  on 
the  Harlem  Road  railway.  They  have  two 
children,  Carrie  L.  and  Charles  D.  Mr. 
Pearce  is  a  Republican  and  prominent  in  his 
party;  served  several  terms  as  supervisor  of 
Pawling,  and  twelve  terms  as  assessor.  In 
1894  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  Dutchess  county, 
in  which  office  he  is  giving  satisfaction  to  the 
public  by  the  faithful  and  judicious  discharge 
of  its  responsible  duties.  He  is  a  public- 
spirited  man,  believes  in  progress,  and  is  inter- 
ested in  all  projects  for  the  growth  and  devel- 
opment of  the  county  and  State.  He  and  his 
wife  are  liberal  supporters  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  are  highly  esteemed 
citizens. 


fFELLINGTON  C.  LANSING,  secretary 
'M.  and  city  editor  of  the  Poughkeepsie 
Enterprise,  is  a  native  of  New  York  City, 
where  he  was  born  June  20,  1855. 

Richard  E.  Lansing,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Hyde  Park,  Dutchess 
Co.,  N.  Y. ,  January  30,  1830,  and  there  spent 
his  early  boyhood,  going  to  school  and  work- 
ing upon  the  farm.  Later  he  moved  to  Prince- 
ton, N.  J.,  and  clerked  in  a  store,  from  there, 
after  his  first  marriage,  removing  to  New  York 
City,  where  he  clerked  in  a  dry-goods  store. 
In  1859  he  came  to  Poughkeepsie,  and  for  ten 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


85 


years  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  at 
No.  1 6  Washington  street,  being  the  leading 
grocer  of  his  time.  He  is  now,  and  has  been 
for  the  past  twenty  years,  in  the  real-estate 
and  insurance  businesses  at  the  same  location. 
In  religious  circles  he  is  quite  prominent,  and 
has  been  a  director  and  vice-president  of  the 
Y.  M.  C.  A. ;  is  a  trustee  of  the  Old  Ladies' 
Home  and  of  the  Old  Men's  home;  is  one  of 
the  organizers  and  the  first  superintendent  of 
Cherry  Street  Chapel,  and  is  a  deacon  and 
trustee  of  the  Baptist  Church;  is  also  a  director 
of  the  Poughkeepsie  Lyceum.  Politically,  he 
is  a  Republican,  and  has  served  as  city  treas- 
urer of  Poughkeepsie,  also  alderman  of  the 
Third  ward,  and  was  a  candidate  for  mayor. 

Richard  E.  Lansing  has  been  twice  mar- 
ried, first  time  in  1851  to  Miss  Emily  Welling, 
by  whom  there  was  one  child,  Wellington  C. , 
our  subject.  This  wife  was  afflicted  with  heart 
disease,  and  thrice  before  she  was  five  years 
old  was  laid  out  for  burial,  her  death  finally 
occurring  May  17,  1863,  when  she  was  thirty- 
one  years  old.  Her  mother  is  still  living  at 
the  advanced  age  of  ninety-five  years.  In 
September,  1876,  Mr.  Lansing,  for  his  second 
wife,  married  Miss  Sarah  Hull,  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  Hull,  by  which  union  there  is  no  issue. 

Garrett  P.  Lansing,  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Hyde  Park,  Dutchess 
county,  in  1790,  a  son  of  Peter  Lansing,  who 
died  at  Hyde  Park  at  the  age  of  ninety-eight 
years.  Garrett  P.  was  married  to  Miss  Melinda 
G.  Husted,  by  whom  he  had  fourteen  children, 
seven  of  whom  are  living,  all  now  over  fifty 
.  years  old.  They  are:  William  H.,  of  Troy, 
N.  Y.;  George  E. ;  Lewis  L. ,  of  Minneapolis; 
James  F. ,  Richard  E.,  Garrett  P.,  Jr.,  and 
Margaret  J.,  of  Poughkeepsie.  Mr.  Lansing 
was  a  cabinet  maker  by  trade,  and  also  carried 
on  farming.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat, 
and  at  one  time  was  collector  of  the  town  of 
Hyde   Park.      He  served  in  the  war  of  1812. 

Iiis  death  occurred  January  7,   1847. 
The  maternal  great-grandfather  of  Welling- 
m  C.  Lansing  was  one  of  the  original  Nine 
artners,  who  at  one  time  owned  nearly  all  of 
Dutchess  county. 

Wellington  C.  Lansing,  our  subject,  spent 
his  early  life  in  the  public  schools  of  Pough- 
keepsie, and  later  attended  the  Classical  and 
Scientific  Institute  of  Hightstown,  N.  J.  He 
was  married  in  Catskill,  N.  Y.,  May  17,  1877, 
to  Miss  Mary  D.  Bogardus,  who  is  a  lineal 
descendant,  like  himself,  of  Anneke  Jans,  who 


owned  the  Trinity  Church  property  in  New 
York  City.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lansing  the  fol- 
lowing children  have  been  born:  Sarah  Emily, 
who  died  when  eight  years  old;  Charles  A., 
born  November  7,  1879;  Irene  E. ,  born  Feb- 
ruary 19,  1 881;  Bertha  D. ,  born  August  12, 
1882;  May  B.,  born  May  11,  1886. 

Mr.  Lansing  was  employed  in  the  Eagle 
office  until  1882,  when  he  and  Edward  Van- 
Keuren  bought  the  paper  called  the  Dutchess 
Fanner,  an  agricultural  weekly,  which  they 
conducted  until  June,  1883,  at  which  time 
they  formed  a  partnership  with  Derrick  Brown, 
who  was  then  editor  of  the  Poughkeepsie  N'ezvs, 
and  they  formed  a  new  company,  Mr.  Brown 
becoming  editor-in-chief,  and  Mr.  Lansing 
city  editor,  while  the  name  of  the  paper  was 
changed  to  the  Evening  and  Weekly  Enter- 
prise. In  1892  the  paper  was  bought  by  a 
company  of  Cleveland  Democrats,  and  the 
above  firm  runs  the  paper  for  it.  Mr.  Brown 
is  now  business  manager  and  treasurer,  and 
editor-in-chief,  and  Mr.  Lansing  is  secretary 
and  city  editor. 

Our  subject  at  one  time  was  prominent  in 
firemen's  circles,  and  was  president  of  Davy 
Crockett  Hook  and  Ladder  Co.  No.  i.  He  is 
past  chancellor  of  Armor  Lodge,  K.  of  P.,  of 
Poughkeepsie,  and  past  district  deputy  of  the 
same  order;  was  vice-president  of  the  Y.  M. 
C.  A.,  which  office  he  has  held  two  terms; 
has  been  superintendent  of  the  Baptist  Sun- 
day-school; president  of  the  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E. ; 
president  of  the  Baptist  Boys  Brigade,  and 
president  of  the  Young  Men's  Mutual  Improve- 
ment Association.  In  principle  he  is  a  Prohi- 
bitionist, but  votes  independently. 


C\OLVIN  CARD,  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 
_'  Millerton  Telegram,  the  leading  paper  of 
the  northeastern  portion  of  Dutchess  county, 
is  one  of  the  most  prominent  of  the  younger 
men  of  that  region,  and  one  who  has  without 
doubt  a  fine  future  before  him.  His  grand- 
father, Eason  Card,  was  an  early  settler  upon 
the  Livingston  estate  in  the  town  of  Ancram, 
Columbia  county,  and  his  father,  Eason  H. 
Card,  was  born  there  in  1826,  in  early  life 
coming  to  Dutchess  county  and  engaging  in 
farming  in  the  town  of  Northeast.  In  1863 
he  returned  to  his  native  county,  and  for  eight 
years  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business  and 
farming  at  Scotchtown  Mills.  In  1872  he 
purchased   a   farm  of   500  acres   of  land  near 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Boston  Corners,  and  has  since  resided  there, 
being  one  of  the  principal  farmers  of  that 
vicinity.  In  public  affairs  he  is  prominent 
also,  taking  an  active  part  in  the  work  of  the 
Democratic  organization,  and  serving  for  many 
years  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He  is  a  leading 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Ancram 
Lead  Mines.  In  1856  he  married  Dorcas 
Decker,  a  daughter  of  Everett  Decker,  -and 
they  have  two  children:  Adelbert,  born  August 
28,  1858;  and  Colvin,  oursubject.  The  mother 
died  in  1892;  the  father  is  still  living  on  the 
old  farm. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  July 
20,  1866,  in  the  town  of  Northeast,  on  a  farm 
near  Boston  Corners,  and  he  was  educated 
mainly  in  the  common  schools,  with  some  ex- 
cellent practical  finishing  touches  in  the  office 
of  the  Millerton  Telegram.  At  the  age  of 
nineteen  years  he  left  the  home  farm  and 
taught  school  for  ten  years,  being  principal  of 
the  Millerton  public  schools  for  four  years. 
After  two  years  at  Irondale  he  returned  to  Mil- 
lerton for  one  year,  and  in  March,  1889,  he 
bought  the  Van  Scriver  interest  in  The  Tele- 
gram, and  continued  the  paper  under  the  firm 
name  of  Deacon  &  Card  until  February  15, 
1 89 1,  when  he  became  the  sole  proprietor. 
Since  his  connection  with  the  paper  it  has  in- 
creased in  circulation  from  480  subscribers  to 
1,108,  and  has  become  the  principal  paper  in 
the  locality.  In  politics  Mr.  Card  himself  is 
a  Democrat,  but  his  paper  is  independent. 
He  is  an  energetic,  enterprising  young  man, 
and  finds  time  to  conduct  some  profitable  real 
estate  transactions,  and  to  carry  on  a  success- 
ful auction  business  in  partnership  with  W.  D. 
McArthur.  Always  loyal  to  the  interests  of 
the  village,  he  is  active  and  influential  in  local 
politics;  has  been  town  clerk  for  two  terms, 
and  is  now  a  member  of  the  board  of  educa- 
tion. Socially  he  is  also  prominent,  being  an 
active  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  a  leader  in  the  choir,  and  he  also 
belongs  to  Webatuck  Lodge  No.  480,  F.  &  A. 
M.,  of  Millerton,  and  to  Millerton  Lodge  No. 
383,  I.  O.  O.  F. 


C CHARLES  P.  LUCKEY  (deceased),  the 
_^  founder  and,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  the 
senior  partner  in  the  well-known  firm  of 
Luckey,  Piatt  &  Co.,  the  leading  dry-goods 
merchants  in  Poughkeepsie,  was  born  May  30, 


1832,  near  Ithaca,  N.  Y.  His  ancestors  set- 
tled in  Dutchess  county  in  early  times. 

Thomas  P.  I.  Luckey,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie  in 
1803,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  In 
early  manhood  he  removed  to  Ithaca,  later  to 
Chautauqua  county,  but  he  and  his  wife  returned 
to  Poughkeepsie  to  spend  their  declining  3'ears. 
On  April  28,  1824,  he  was  married  to  Jane 
Ann  Hoffman,  daughter  of  Loderwick  Hoff- 
man, and  they  had  five  children:  John, 
Theodore  H.,  Catherine,  Charles  Pinckney 
and  Francis  Drake,  all  now  deceased.  The 
father  died  in  Poughkeepsie,  September  16, 
1868,  the  mother  on  March  19,   1879. 

Charles  P.  Luckey,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  review,  shortly  after  the  return  to  Dutchess 
county,  began  his  business  career  as  a  clerk 
for  W.  H.  Nase,  Dover  Plains,  and  for  some 
years  he  was  employed  in  that  capacity  in 
Hustonville  and  New  Hamburg.  In  18 — he 
became  a  clerk  in  the  dry-goods  store  of  Rob- 
ert Slee,  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  in  February, 
1866,  he  was  admitted  to  partnership  in  the 
firm.  In  18 —  he  established,  at  No.  328  Main 
street,  the  firm  of  Luckey,  Vail  &  Mandeville, 
which  existed  a  year  and  a  half,  when  Mr. 
Vail  withdrew,  and  about  eighteen  months 
afterward,  or  in  1869,  the  firm  became  Luckey 
&  Piatt.  Later  it  became  Luckey,  Piatt  & 
Co.,  S.  L.  De  Garmo  being  the  third  member. 
They  owned  the  largest  dry-goods  store  in  the 
city,  with  a  trade  which  extended  through  sev- 
eral counties,  and  their  name  became  a  syno- 
nym for  enterprise  and  sound  methods. 

Mr.  Luckey  was  twice  married,  the  first 
time  in  New  York  City  to  Miss  Annie  E.  Brush, 
a  daughter  of  Alfred  Brush;  she  died  in  1867, 
leaving  one  son,  Frank  M.  R.  Luckey,  now  a 
Congregational  minister  at  New  Haven,  Conn.; 
he  is  remarkably  gifted  as  an  orator,  in  early 
life  had  an  inclination  for  the  stage,  and  spent 
three  years  in  the  company  of  William  Flor- 
ence. His  education  was  thorough,  and  he 
was  a  graduate  of  both  Cornell  and  Yale;  his 
wife  was  Miss  Lettie  A.  Rensley,  of  Pough- 
keepsie. For  his  second  wife,  Charles  P. 
Luckey  was  married,  on  April  6,  1 871,  to  Miss 
Cecelia  Reed,  a  daughter  of  John  Reed,  of 
Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  by  which  marriage  there  were 
no  children.  Mr.  Luckey  died  January  30, 
1896,  of  heart  failure,  having  been  afflicted  for 
some  considerable  time;  his  widow  is  now  liv- 
ing in  Poughkeepsie. 

Mr.    Luckey    held    high    rank  among   the 


..-^^^li-^4^..^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


87 


business  men  in  this  region,  and  took  part  in 
various  enterprises.  He  was  director  and 
vice-president  of  the  First  National  Bank,  and 
president  of  the  Retail  Merchants  Association 
in  the  city.  He  never  engaged  in  politics, 
and  was  not  a  member  of  any  club  or  secret 
organization;  a  thorough  home  man,  he  was 
ever  happiest  there.  He  was  a  man  of  large 
heart,  generous  and  charitable  in  all  his  acts, 
and  possessed  of  a  well-balanced  mind.  As 
far  as  his  boyhood  educational  advantages 
were  concerned,  they  were  limited,  but  he 
was  fond  of  reading,  and  he  was  twelve  years 
old  when  he  entered  the  arena  of  business. 
For  several  years  he  lived  in  Eastman  Terrace, 
in  1893  removing  to  his  late  residence  on 
Gartield  Place,  Poughkeepsie. 


THEODORE  ADDISON  HOFFMAN, 
__  county  clerk  of  Dutchess  county,  is  a 
native  of  the  county,  having  been  born  in  the 
town  of  Red  Hook,  May  23,  1844.  Theodore 
Hoffman,  his  father,  was  a  son  of  Zacharias 
Hoffman,  who  owned  a  tract  of  land  near 
Tivoli,  along  the  Hudson  river. 

Our  subject  is  a  member  of  that  steady  and 
worthy  class  whose  ancestors  were  among  the 
first  settlers  of  Dutchess  county.  He  received 
his  early  training  at  the  public  schools  and  at 
Trinity  School,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
at  the  age  of  fifteen  years.  After  leaving 
school  he  was  employed  as  clerk  in  a  general 
store,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  he 
embarked  in  mercantile  business  at  Tivoli, 
N.  Y.  When  twenty-three  years  old  he  was 
appointed  postmaster  at  Tivoli,  N.  Y.,  which 
office  he  held  for  eighteen  years,  and  the  office 
has  been  in  his  store  for  some  thirty  years. 
He  was  elected  president  of  the  village  of 
Tivoli.  In  1888  he  was  elected  county  clerk 
of  Dutchess  county  on  the  Republican  ticket, 
and  in  1891  he  was  removed  from  office  by 
Governor  Hill  for  refusing,  as  he  says,  to  sign 
^what  was  known  as  the  Mylod  return  of  the 
_  junty  canvassers.  In  1894,  however,  he  was 
re-elected  county  clerk,  which  office  he  now 
holds. 

In  1866,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  Theo- 
dore A.  Hoffman  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Harriet  Saulpaugh,  daughter  of  Augustus  Saul- 
paugh,  a  well-known  farmer,  and  seven  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  this  union — three  sons 
and  four  daughters  :  John  T. ,  Harry,  Fred- 
erick, Helen,    Maud,  Florence  and   May.      In 


politics  Mr.  Hoffman  is  a  stanch  Republican; 
in  religious  faith  an  Episcopalian;  and  socially 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Freemasons,  and  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen. 


J^ 


^  secretary  and  manager  of  the  Eastman 
Business  College,  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 
county,  and  one  of  the  prominent  financiers 
of  that  city,  was  born  August  27,  1850,  in 
Elkhart  county,  Indiana. 

The  family  is  of  English  origin  with  a  strain 
of  Scotch  blood,  and  the  first  ancestor  of  the 
American  line  was  an  early  settler  in  Vermont, 
his  descendants  branching  out  in  later  years  to 
all  parts  of  the  country.  Samuel  Haskin,  our 
subject's  grandfather,  was  for  a  time  a  resident 
of  Ticonderoga,  N.  Y. ,  where  his  son,  Caleb 
Almon  (our  subject's  father),  was  born  in  1826. 
When  the  latter  was  six  years  old  the  family 
moved  to  Addison  county,  Vt.,  later  to  Lock- 
port,  N.  Y. ,  and  still  later  to  Dowagiac,  Mich., 
and  then  to  Elkhart,  Ind.  He  became  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  and  in  1855  went  to 
Marshall  county,  Iowa,  where  he  entered  200 
acres  of  government  land,  of  which  he  has 
made  a  fine  farm.  He  is  a  leader  in  the  com- 
munity, in  both  business  and  political  affairs, 
has  been  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  supervisor 
of  his  town  for  many  years,  and  has  been 
urged  to  become  the  Republican  candidate  for 
Congress.  In  school  matters  he  has  taken 
more  than  ordinary  interest,  and  he  is  also 
active  in  the  work  of  the  Baptist  Church,  of 
which  he  is  a  prominent  member. 

On  May  27,  1849,  Caleb  A.  Haskin  was 
married  in  Indiana  to  Miss  Rebecca  Lacy, 
daughter  of  Laban  Lacy,  a  leading  citizen  of 
Elkhart  county,  Ind.,  and  a  descendant  of  an 
old  Virginia  family.  Seven  children  were  born 
of  this  union,  of  whom  four  lived  to  maturity 
— one  son  (our  subject)  and  three  daughters, 
namely:  Anna  C,  who  married  Adam  Grimes, 
and  died  in  1893;  Melissa  J.,  the  wife  of 
Charles  F.  Ricker,  a  hardware  merchant  in 
Grundy  Center,  Iowa;  and  Hattie,  who  mar- 
ried Edward  Shelton,  of  Michigan.  The 
mother  of  this  family  died  in  1884,  and  in 
1887  the  father  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Bibb, 
his  present  wife. 

Albert  R.  Haskin,  our  subject,  attended 
the  district  schools  near  his  father's  farm,  and 
after  acquiring  an  elementary  education  there 
he  entered   Iowa   College,  at   Grinnell,  Iowa, 


88 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  for  four  years,  from  1868  to  1872,  pursued 
an  elective  course.  In  June,  1872,  he  came 
to  Poughkeepsie  and  took  a  course  in  the  East- 
man Business  College,  graduating  September 
2  of  the  same  year.  His  work  as  a  pupil  had 
been  so  satisfactory  that  he  was  appointed 
superintendent  of  the  Banking  Office  depart- 
ment in  the  school,  a  position  which  he  filled 
with  marked  ability  for  some  years.  He  then 
became  principal  of  the  Theory  department,  and 
in  1885  was  made  principal  of  the  school,  which 
has  prospered  greatly  under  his  able  manage- 
ment. In  November,  1896,  he  was  appointed 
secretary  and  manager. 

On  December  31,  1874,  Mr.  Haskin 
married  Miss  Mary  A.  Cline,  a  daughter 
of  Henry  Cline,  a  prominent  resident  of 
Dutchess  county,  and  late  of  Saratoga,  N.  Y. 
They  have  had  three  children,  of  whom  two, 
Albert  C.  and  Minerva  M.,  are  living.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Haskin  are  leading  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  in  which  he  has  held  many 
official  positions,  and  is  now  trustee  and 
deacon.  He  is  also  a  director  of  the  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  He  is  an  ardent  Republican,  taking  an 
active  share  in  local  politics,  and  in  any  enter- 
prise for  the  public  benefit.  For  thirteen 
years  he  has  labored  for  the  interests  of  the 
public  schools  as  a  member  of  the  board  of 
education,  and  he  is  now  president  of  that  body. 
His  rare  business  abilities  have  won  him  the 
esteem  and  confidence  of  financial  leaders, 
and  he  has  become  interested  in  a  number  of 
important  business  operations,  being  a  di- 
rector of  the  Poughkeepsie  National  Bank,  of 
the  Home  Building  &  Loan  Association,  and 
of  the  Masonic  Mutual  Benefit  Association  of 
Dutchess  county.  He  belongs  to  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  Fallkill  Lodge  No.  297,  and  has  passed 
the  chairs;  is  also  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A. 
M.,  Poughkeepsie  Lodge  No.  266,  of  which  he 
is  past  master;  of  Poughkeepsie  Chapter  No. 
172,  R.  A.  M.,  of  which  body  he  is  high  priest; 
and  of  Commandery  No.  43,  K.  T.,  also  of 
Mecca  Temple,  of  New  York  City. 


S\AMUEL  MANSFIELD.  No  citizen  of 
._j  Wappingers  Falls  is  better  known,  or 
stands  higher  in  the  estimation  of  his  fellow- 
men,  than  does  this  gentleman,  who  for  many 
years  has  stood  in  the  front  rank  of  the  edu- 
cators of  Dutchess  county. 

Prof.  Mansfield  was  born  in  New  Baltimore, 
N.  Y.,  July  14,  1834,  his  family  being  of  Eng- 


lish descent.  His  grandfather,  Samuel  Mans- 
field, was  born  in  Greene  county,  N.  Y. ,  and 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  18 12.  He  married 
Hannah  Hallenbeck,  who  was  of  Dutch  stock, 
and  they  reared  a  family  of  five  children, 
namely:  William;  Jehoiakim,  who  became  a 
ship  carpenter;  Hannah,  who  married  Peter 
Doty,  a  farmer  of  Saratoga  county,  N.  Y. ; 
Margaret,  who  married  James  Reed,  superin- 
tendent of  a  paper  factory  at  Saugerties,  N.  Y. ; 
and  Sarah,  who  became  the  wife  of  Sylvanus 
Rutan,  a  market  man  of  New  Jersey. 

William  Mansfield,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, turned  his  attention  to  farming.  He  mar- 
ried Nancy  Kelsey,  who  was  born  in  western 
New  York,  and  they  settled  in  New  Baltimore, 
where  the  following  children  were  born  to 
them:  Samuel;  Silas  Wiltsey,  who  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Civil  war,  and  is  now  deceased; 
James  Reed,  a  farmer  in  Greene  county,  N.  Y. ; 
Sarah  Amelia  and  Hannah  Margaret,  both  de- 
ceased, and  William  Brooks,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. The  parents  both  died  in  Greene 
county.  They  were  originally  members  of 
the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  afterward  unit- 
ing with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
The  father  in  his  early  life  was  a  Whig,  later 
joining  the  Republican  party. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boy- 
hood on  his  father's  farm,  and  attended  the 
common  schools  of  his  vicinity  until  he  was 
seventeen  years  old,  when  he  entered  the  sem- 
inary at  Charlotteville,  N.  Y.  Afterward  he 
taught  school,  and  thus  assisted  in  defraying 
his  expenses  while  obtaining  an  education. 
He  entered  the  Sophomore  class  of  Union  Col- 
lege in  1857,  and  was  graduated  in  i860,  being 
chosen  class  poet.  In  1862  he  went  to  Wap- 
pingers Falls,  and  was  appointed  principal  of 
the  Union  Free  School,  which  he  taught  until 
1878,  resigning  to  accept  the  principalship  of 
the  Wappingers  Falls  Graded  School,  which 
position  he  is  filling  at  the  present  time.  Dur- 
ing these  long  years  of  service  in  this  responsi- 
ble position,  Prof.  Mansfield  has  succeeded  in 
securing  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  not  only 
those  under  his  immediate  supervision,  but  of 
all  those  with  whom  he  has  been  brought  into 
business  and  social  relations.  As  a  teacher  he 
has  the  best  interests  of  his  pupils  at  heart, 
and  spares  no  pains  in  their  training.  He  is 
firm  in  his  government,  yet  so  genial  and  com- 
panionable that  he  holds  a  warm  place  in  the 
affections  of  all  who  have  ever  been  under  his 
care.      He  is  a  man  of  fine  tastes  and  scholarly 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


89 


habits,  and  is  a  student  and  ardent  lover  of 
nature,  as  well  as  of  books.  Although  popu- 
lar in  social  circles,  Prof.  Mansfield  has  never 
been  married,  his  whole  life  having  been  de- 
voted to  his  vocation. 

In  addition  to  his  school  duties.  Prof.  Mans- 
field has  always  taken  a  lively  interest  in  mat- 
ters relating  to  the  progress  and  welfare  of  the 
village,  and  has  done  much  to  aid  in  its  devel- 
opment. He  has  been  a  member  of  the  board 
of  trustees  of  the  village  for  many  years,  and 
was  its  president  for  four  years.  In  1882  he 
was  made  a  trustee  of  the  Wappingers  Savings 
Bank,  and  in  1884  elected  its  president,  which 
office  he  still  holds.  He  is  president  of  the 
board  of  Park  commissioners,  to  which  posi- 
tion he  was  elected  in  1892.  He  is  also  one 
of  the  original  trustees  of  the  Grinnell  Library, 
and  chairman  of  the  library  committee.  In 
politics,  he  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  has  al- 
ways taken  a  lively  interest  in  the  success  of 
his  party  and  the  principles  for  which  it  stands. 
Although  not  a  member  of  any  Church,  he  is  a 
regular  attendant  at  Zion  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church,  of  Wappingers  Falls.  He  ranks 
among  the  best  citizens  of  Wappingers  Falls, 
and  has  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  classes 
of  people. 


LUKE  D.  WYMBS,  the  present  school 
commissioner  for  the  First  District  of 
Dutchess  county,  has  been  recognized  for  many 
years  as  one  of  the  leading  educators  of  this 
section. 

Born  in  Livingston,  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y., 
August  21,  1845,  he  passed  his  youth  at  that 
place,  attending  the  public  schools,  and  mak- 
ing such  good  use  of  his  advantages  that  at 
sixteen  years  of  age  he  was  qualified  to  teach. 
He  began  his  professional  career  February  23, 
1862,  and  among  the  schools  over  which  he 
presided  were  those  of  Germantown,  Living- 
ston, Glencoe  Mills,  Pine  Plains  and  Glenham. 
In  1864  he  enlisted  in  Battery  M,  3d  New 
York  Light  Artillery,  assigned  to  the  army  of 
the  James,  and  his  battery  was  in  service 
against  the  fortifications  around  Petersburg 
and  Richmond.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he 
returned  home  and  again  engaged  in  teaching, 
spending  nineteen  years  in  the  Glenham  school. 
In  the  fall  of  1893  he  was  elected  on  the  Re- 
publican ticket  to  his  present  position,  where 
his  superior  talents  and  wide  e.xperience  enable 
him  to  benefit  the  cause  of  education  through- 


out a  larger  field.  He  has  always  been  promi- 
nent in  teachers' associations,  both  in  Dutchess 
and  Columbia  counties.  On  November  3,  1896, 
he  was  re-elected  school  commissioner  by  a 
majority  of  2.600,  being  the  largest  majority 
ever  given  a  .school  commissioner  in  his  district. 

In  early  manhood  Prof.  Wymbs  married 
Miss  Mary  E.  Simmons,  of  Taghkanick,  daugh- 
ter of  Jeremiah  and  Almah  (Tanner)  Simmons. 
She  died  May  2,  1873,  leaving  one  daughter. 
Tola  M.,  now  the  wife  of  Bertrand  J.  Harder, 
of  Mechanicsville,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.  On 
October  21,  1874,  Prof.  Wymbs  was  united  in 
marriage  with  his  present  wife,  M§ry  A.  De- 
Lamater,  daughter  of  Osterhoudt  and  Mary 
(Decker)  De  Lamater.  The  Professor  has 
always  taken  keen  interest  in  public  questions 
and  in  local  affairs.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
G.  A.  R. ,  and  is  past  commander  of  Howland 
Post  No.  48,  Department  of  New  York.  He 
and  his  wife  attend  the  Reformed  Church  at 
Glenham. 

The  Wymbs  family  originated  in  Scotland, 
and  at  the  time  of  religious  persecution  in  that 
country  moved  to  the  North  of  Ireland.  Our 
subject's  grandparents,  Luke  and  Mary  Wymbs, 
were  residents  of  New  York  City,  where  the 
grandfather  was  a  merchant  in  the  early  part 
of  this  century.  During  the  war  of  1812  he 
was  making  a  voyage  to  Ireland  with  a  cargo 
of  linseed,  accompaniec^  by  his  wife  and  son, 
Luke  D.,  when  the  vessel  was  captured  by  a 
British  man-of-war,  and  Mr.  Wymbs  and  his 
family  were  taken  to  Cadiz,  and  held  as  pris- 
oners for  five  or  six  months.  Luke  D.  Wymbs, 
the  Professor's  father,  was  then  a  mere  boy. 
He  was  born  in  1805,  and  on  attaining  man- 
hood became  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Taghka- 
nick, Columbia  county.  In  1840  he  married 
Margaret  Ferris,  and  our  subject  was  their 
only  son.  Both  parents  passed  from  earth  in 
1886,  the  mother  on  February  13,  the  father 
on  April  25.  The  mother  was  born  in  1807, 
one  of  the  fourteen  children  of  her  parents, 
William  Ferris  and  his  wife,  Jane  (Warren). 


v\DWARD  BROWN  DU  MOND,  principal 
of  the  Union  Free  School,  in  the  village 
of  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  is  one  of  the 
leading  educators  of  this  section,  his  profes- 
sional labors  covering  a  period  of  nearly  thirty 
years,  twenty  of  them  in  his  present  position. 
His  family,  which  is  of  Huguenot  extrac- 
tion, has  been  a  resident  in  this  State  since  an 


40 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


early  period,  and  his  great-grandfather,  Johan- 
nes Philip  Du  Mond,  was  an  ensign  and  lieu- 
tenant in  the  American  army  during  the  Revo- 
lution, in  the  regiment  of  Col.  Johannes  Sny- 
der, and  the  company  of  Capt.  Evert  Bogar- 
dus.  His  commission,  which  is  dated  October 
23.  1779.  and  signed  by  George  Clinton,  is 
now  in  the  possession  of  our  subject.  He 
married  Sarah  Elmendorf,  and  their  son  Con- 
rad (Prof.  Du  Mond's  grandfather)  married 
Catherine  Copp.  Philip  Du  Mond  (our  sub- 
ject's father)  was  born  May  28,  1817,  and  fol- 
lowed agricultural  pursuits,  first  in  West  Hur- 
ley, N.  Y.«  and  later  (in  the  "sixties")  near 
Kingston,  N.  Y.,  where  he  lived  several  years, 
finally  purchasing  a  farm  at  Accord,  N.  Y. , 
spendingtheremainderof  hisactive  years  there. 
He  died  at  Fishkill,  February  10,  1892,  leaving 
a  widow,  Mrs.  Cornelia  Catherine  (Brown)  Du- 
Mond,  and  six  children,  of  whom  our  subject 
is  the  eldest.  Mary  Catherine  is  the  wife  of 
John  H.  Davis,  a  paper  manufacturer  of  Mill- 
hook,  Accord,  N.  Y. ;  Martha  Antoinette  lives  in 
New  Jersey  with  her  sister  Frances;  John  Cal- 
vin resides  at  the  old  homestead  at  Accord; 
Philip  Nelson  married  Miss  Kate  Davis,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  and  Charity  Davis,  and  lives  at 
Los  Angeles,  Cal. ;  and  Frances  Augusta 
married  Joachim  H.  Davis,  with  the  New  York 
Mail  and  Express,  and  lives  in  New  Jersey. 
The  mother  of  this  faniily,  who  was  born  June 
28,  1817,  now  makes  her  home  with  our 
subject.  She  is  a  descendant  of  a  well-known 
family,  a  daughter  of  Matthias  and  Mary 
(Copp)  Brown,  and  granddaughter  of  Silas 
and  Martha  (Robinson)  Brown,  of  whom  the 
last  named  lived  to  the  age  of  102  years. 

Prof.  Du  Mond  was  born  in  West  Hurley, 
July  9,  1843,  t^nd  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  at  Kingston,  and  in  the  State 
Normal  School  at  Albany,  where  he  was  grad- 
uated in  1 867.  His  first  professional  work  was  at 
Stuyvesant  Falls,  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  where 
he  remained  a  year  and  a  half,  and  then 
taught  the  same  length  of  time  at  Schodack 
Landing,  Rensselaer  county.  In  1870  he  be- 
came principal  of  the  Fishkill  school,  and 
after  twelve  years  of  effective  work  went  to 
Pelham  Manor,  N.  Y.,  where  he  filled  a  similar 
position  for  six  years.  In  1888  he  returned 
to  his  former  place  in  Fishkill,  and  since  the 
Union  School  came  under  the  control  of  the 
Regents  in  1894,  he  has  also  had  charge  of  the 
academic  department,  which  was  then  added. 

Prof.  Du  Mond  is  one  of  the  honored  vet- 


erans of  the  Civil  war,  and  his  entrance  into 
the    service    August    6,    1862.   interrupted   his 


studies. 
Y.  V.  I. 
through 
wounded. 


He  was  a  member  of  the  120th  N. 
and  participated  in  all  the  battles 
which  his  regiment  passed,  until 
viz. :  Fredericksburg,  Chancellors- 
ville,  Gettysburg,  Mine  Run,  Wilderness,  Spott- 
sylvania.  North  Anna,  Tolopotomy,  Cold  Har- 
bor, Strawberry  Plains,  and  the  siege  of  Peters- 
burg, where  his  left  hand  was  shot  off  by  a 
shell.  He  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. ,  and 
in  1890  was  a  delegate  to  the  National  En- 
campment at  Boston,  where  45.000  men  took 
part  in  the  parade.  In  politics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican. 

On  March  10,  1870,  Prof.  Du  Mond  mar- 
ried Miss  Ellen  L.  Mathewson,  daughter  of 
Sylvanus  and  Adelia  (Cleveland)  Mathewson, 
of  Oneida,  N.  Y.  Three  children  were  born 
of  this  union:  Grace  Lavina,  Edna  Brown 
and  Marcia  Adelle.  The  Professor  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church  at  Fishkill.  Their  home  is  a  beauti- 
ful estate  comprising  two  acres — ^the  old  Oppie 
homestead.  Mrs.  Du  Mond  owns  desirable 
village  property  at  Pelham  Manor,  N.  Y.;  she 
is  also  a  graduate  of  the  Albany  State  Normal 
School. 

Mrs.  Du  Mond's  grandfather,  Winchester 
Mathewson,  married  Abagail  Swift,  and  lived 
in  Smithfield,  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  where  they 
both  died.  Their  family  consisted  of  fifteen 
children — seven  sons  and  eight  daughters. 
Mrs.  Du  Mond's  father,  Sylvanus,  who  was 
the  eldest,  about  the  year  1830  married  Ade- 
lia Cleveland,  and  their  family  consisted  of  ten 
children — five  sons  and  five  daughters — Mrs. 
Du  Mond  being  the  sixth  child;  at  the  time  of 
her  marriage  she  was  living  in  Oneida  Castle, 
Madison  Co. ,  New  York. 


J^OHN  PETER  NELSON  (deceased).  The 
subject  of  this  sketch,  who  in  his  day  was 
was  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  of 
Dutchess  county,  was  born  July  29,  18 10,  in 
the  house  now  occupied  by  his  widow,  at  the 
corner  of  Cannon  and  Liberty  streets,  Pough- 
keepsie. 

Francis  Nelson,  the  first  ancestor  of  the 
Nelson  family,  emigrated  from  England  to 
America  about  the  year  1647,  he  himself  set- 
tling at  Mamaroneck,  Westchester  county, 
while  part  of  his  family  came  to  Poughkeepsie 
and  part  remained  in  Peekskill.      Col.  Joseph 


.crT^^Xi^   (ye.^^^^  vYe-<^^^r>^_^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


41 


Nelson,  born  April  i,  1786,  at  Clinton,  Dutch- 
ess county,  a  descendant  of  this  Francis  Nel- 
son, was  an  editor  in  Poughkeepsie,  and  in  1806 
published  a  paper  known  as  the  Political  Bar- 
ometer^ and  was  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
his  locality.  He  knew  Washington,  Hamil- 
ton, Burr  and  other  prominent  men  of  that 
time.  He  was  a  colonel  in  the  war  of  18 12, 
and  during  his  service  contracted  typhoid 
fever,  from  which  he  died  in  New  York  City, 
November  3,  1812.  Col.  Nelson  married 
Hannah  Fort,  a  daughter  of  Maj.  Abram  Fort, 
who  fought  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  was 
well-known  in  his  day.  To  Col.  and  Mrs. 
Nelson  were  born  the  following  children:  Jane 
Ann,  who  married  Henry  F.  Granger,  son  of 
Judge  Granger,  of  Grangerville;  John  Peter, 
our  subject;  and  James  Fort.  Maj.  Abram 
Fort  was  the  father  of  the  following  children: 
Col.  John  A.  Fort,  who  was  one  of  Gen.  Jack- 
son's aides  in  the  war  of  18 12;  Peter  Fort,  also 
an  aide  on  Gen.  Jackson's  staff,  who  each 
year,  on  January  8,  hoisted  the  stars  and 
stripes  in  honor  of  the  battle  of  New  Orleans; 
James  Fort;  Mrs.  Pierson;Mrs.  Abram  Thomp- 
son; Alida;  Sarah;  Catharine;  Mrs.  Susan 
Haviland;  Mrs.  Maria  Granger,  and  Mrs.  Han- 
nah Nelson. 

John  Peter  Nelson,  our  subject,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  private  schools  of  New  Orleans, 
where  he  spent  the  most  of  his  boyhood.  He 
also  had  a  private  tutor,  and  spoke  several 
languages.  After  reaching  his  majority,  he 
became  a  commission  merchant,  and  owned 
several  vessels  which  plied  between  New  Or- 
leans and  England.  Some  years  prior  to  1 845, 
he  became  interested  in  cotton  growing  in 
Louisiana,  where  he  had  a  plantation  of  1,400 
acres,  and  owned  900  slaves  who  were  freed  by 
the  Emancipation  Proclamation.  At  one 
time,  prior  to  the  war,  he  was  the  richest 
planter  in  the  State  of  Louisiana.  He  con- 
tinued in  business  until  1874,  when  on  account 
of  ill  health  he  retired,  and  in  1876  went  to 
Europe,  returning  in  the  fall  of  1877.  His 
death  occurred  March  26,  1878.  He  was  a 
remarkable  man  in  many  ways,  was  possessed 
of  great  firmness  of  character,  a  kind  heart, 
great  generosity — in  fact,  he  was  one  of  nature's 
noblemen.  He  was  a  kind  father  and  a  good 
husband.  On  December  5,  1839,  he  married 
Julia  Ann  Keese,  who  died  May  23,  1841, 
leaving  one  child,  Julia  Keese  Nelson,  who 
trtarried  George  Wetmore  Colles,  of  New  York 
City. 


Mr.  Nelson  was  married,  the  second  time, 
in  1845,  to  Miss  Cornelia  Mandeville  Nelson, 
and  the  following  children  were  born  to  them: 
Peter  Fort,  who  died  of  yellow  fever  at  New 
Orleans  in  1873;  William  James;  Elizabeth 
Parker;  Edward  Beverly,  principal  of  the 
New  York  Central  Institution  for  Deaf  Mutes, 
at  Rome,  N.  Y. ;  Walter  Huntington,  in  busi- 
ness in  Washington,  but  living  in  Virginia; 
Thomas  Grant;  and  Cornelia  Mandeville. 

Mr.  Nelson  was  a  stanch  Democrat,  a 
strong  Union  man,  and  did  all  he  could  to  de- 
feat the  ordinance  of  Secession.  He  was  a 
member  of  Christ's  Episcopal  Church,  New 
Orleans,  and  contributed  liberally  to  its  sup- 
port. In  all  matters  he  was  a  public-spirited 
man,  much  admired  by  all  who  knew  him. 

William  Nelson,  the  father  of  Mrs.  John 
Peter  Nelson,  widow  of  our  subject,  was  born 
June  29,  1784,  in  Clinton  (now  Hyde  Park), 
Dutchess  county,  and  was  the  son  of  Thomas 
Nelson,  an  old  citizen  and  native  of  the  county, 
born  in  Clinton  March  17,  1744,  and  died  in 
Poughkeepsie,  November  i,  1823.  He  mar- 
ried (first)  Sarah  Wright,  of  Somers,  West- 
chester county,  April  11,  1769,  and  (second) 
Maiy  Delavan.  William  Nelson  attended  the 
Dutchess  County  Academy,  and  received  his 
legal  education  also  in  Poughkeepsie.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  soon  after  reaching  his 
majority,  and  went  to  Buffalo  with  a  view  to 
opening  ah  office  in  that  city.  He  spent  a 
short  time  there,  however,  moving  to  Peeks- 
kill.  He  also  practiced  in  the  counties  of 
Rockland,  Putnam  and  Westchester.  In  the 
year  18 12  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate, 
and  took  his  seat  there  some  two  or  three  ses- 
sions. In  1848-49,  and  1850-51,  he  was  sent 
to  Congress  and  was  urged  for  re-election,  but 
declined  to  accept.  He  was  district  attorney 
some  thirty  years,  a  remarkable  length  of  time 
in  that  office.  He  was  a  man  of  great  energy 
and  will  power,  an  extensive  reader,  and  one 
of  the  foremost  men  of  his  community. 

William  Nelson  was  married  to  Miss  Cor- 
nelia Mandeville  Hardman,  daughter  of  John 
Hardman,  a  West  India  merchant,  of  New 
York  City,  whose  other  children  were:  Sarah 
Ann,  who  married  Dr.  Thomas  Mower,  a  sur- 
geon in  the  army;  and  Eliza,  wife  of  Henry 
Starr,  of  New  York  City.  The  children  of 
William  Nelson  were:  Joseph,  living  in  Mil- 
waukee; Dorinda,  deceased  wife  of  John  Ar- 
thur, of  San  Francisco,  Cal. ;  George  P.,  a 
lawyer  in  New  York  City;  Thomas,  also  a  law- 


42 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


yer  in  New  York  City;  William  Rufus  (de- 
ceased), who  was  a  lawyer  in  Peekskill;  Sarah 
A.,  who  became  the  wife  of  J.  Henry  Ferris,  a 
lawyer  in  Peekskill;  Elizabeth,  now  the  widow 
of  Rev.  John  Johnson,  of  Upper  Red  Hook; 
Robert  Dean  (deceased);  and  Cornelia  Man- 
deville,  the  wife  of  our  subject.  Mr.  Nelson 
was  an  Old-time  Henry  Clay  Whig,  and  per- 
sonal friend  of  Daniel  Webster,  Abraham 
Lincoln  and  Henry  Clay.  He  was  a  public- 
spirited  man,  and  took  great  interest  in  all 
matters  pertaining  to  his  community.  He  died 
in  October,  1869,  aged  eighty-five  years;  Mrs. 
Nelson  passed  away  August  28,  same  year,  five 
weeks  before  her  husband. 


lEV.  BENJAMIN  E.  DICKHAUT,  A.  M. 
As  pastor,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is 
one  of  a  long  line  of  able  and  eloquent  work- 
ers in  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  his  labors  have 
shown  him  to  be  well-worthy  of  a  place  in 
that  illustrious  company. 

His  father,  Rev.  J.  Conrad  Dickhaut.  was 
a  zealous  clergyman  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church.  He  was  born  in  Germany,  February 
17.  1 81 5,  and  ordained  in  New  York  City,  at 
the  church  in  N.  Williams  street,  by  the  Classis 
of  New  York.  He  at  once  organized  the  Ger- 
man Mission  in  Greenwich  street,  New  York, 
but  remained  only  a  short  time,  as  he  took  a 
settled  charge  at  New  Brooklyn,  where  he  of- 
ficiated twelve  years,  building  meantime  a  new 
church  edifice.  His  next  pastorate  was  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  East  Williamsburg, 
N.  Y.,  and  after  four  years  of  faithful  toil 
there,  sickness  compelled  him  to  suspend  his 
labors  for  two  years.  On  resuming,  he  or- 
ganized the  Reformed  Church  at  Canarsie  and 
served  as  its  pastor  until  April,  1887,  when 
failing  health  again  caused  him  to  retire,  it  be- 
ing in  fact  his  last  illness,  as  his  death  occurred 
December  30,  1887.  In  early  manhood  he 
married  Miss  Eva  Ruby,  'who  survives  him. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Michael  Ruby,  and  his 
wife,  Margaret,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Martin 
Leyenberger.  The  following  children  were 
born  to  them:  Conrad,  Amelia,  William, 
John,  Sophia,  Benjamin  E. ,  Timothy,  Sam- 
uel and  David.  Of  these,  only  three  are  now 
living:     Sophia,  Benjamin  E.  and  Samuel. 

Benjamin  E.  Dickhaut,  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ,  April  29,  1863,  and 
attended  the  public  schools  of  the  city,  and 
then    the    Polytechnic    Institute,     graduating 


from  the  latter  in  1880.  In  1884  he  was 
graduated  from  Rutgers  College  with  the  de- 
gree of  A.  B.,  and  in  1887  he  completed  his 
course  in  the  New  Brunswick  Theological 
Seminary,  receiving  in  the  same  year  the  de- 
gree of  A.  M.  from  Rutgers.  At  the  begin- 
ning of  his  theological  course  at  New  Bruns- 
wick he  was  chosen  for  missionary  work  at 
the  Middle  Collegiate  Church,  New  York  City, 
and  spent  his  vacation  in  this  field.  In  the 
summer  of  1885  he  was  engaged  by  the  Colle- 
giate Church  to  do  missionary  work  in  con- 
nection with  DeWitt  Chapel, _  and  during  the 
remainder  of  his  seminary  course  he  continued 
working  there.  On  graduating  from  the  semi- 
nary, he  was  ordained  by  the  Classis  of  New 
York  to  do  missionary  work  under  the  super- 
vision of  the  Collegiate  Church.  In  October, 
1889,  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  First  Reformed 
Church  of  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  which 
was  his  first  independent  charge.  There  he 
made  his  influence  felt  for  good  in  many  lines 
of  effort.  He  was  president  of  the  Law  and 
Order  League  of  the  village,  and  was  on  the 
executive  committee  of  the  county  organization 
for  good  citizenship.  On  September  i,  1896, 
he  accepted  the  call  of  the  South  Reformed 
Church,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  the  same  ag- 
gressive methods  employed  by  him  at  Fishkill 
have  been  productive  of  very  encouraging  re- 
sults in  his  new  field  of  labor.  He  is  a  most 
decided  temperance  advocate,  and  is  frequently 
engaged  on  the  platform  in  this  cause.  On 
March  17,  1888,  he  was  married  at  New 
Brunswick  to  Miss  Margaret  P.  Maddock, 
daughter  of  Rev.  George  C.  and  Mary  (Price) 
Maddock.  Her  father  is  a  minister  for  the 
M.  E.  Church,  New  Jersey  Conference,  and 
at  present  is  chaplain  of  the  New  Jersey  State 
Prison,  at  Trenton,  N.  J.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dickhaut  have  two  children,  viz. :  Margaret 
Maddock  and  Dorothy. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  pastors  of  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  Fishkill  since  its 
organization  in  17 16  by  Rev.  Petrus  Vas: 
Rev.  Cornelius  Van  Schie,  1 731-1738;  Rev. 
Benjamin  Meynema,  1745-175 5;  Rev.  Jacob 
Vannist,  served  two  and  one-half  years 
when  he  died,  1761;  Rev.  Henricus  Schoon- 
maker,  1 763-1 772;  also  Isaac  Rysdyck,  jointly 
with  Rev.  Schoonmaker,  1765  to  1772,  and 
alone  until  1790;  Rev.  Isaac  Blanvelt,  1783- 
1790;  Rev.  Nicholas  Van  Vranken,  1791-1804; 
Rev.  Cornelius  D.  Westbrook,  1806-1830; 
Rev.  Geo.  H.  Fisher,   1830-1835;  Rev.   Fran- 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


43 


cis  M.  Kip,  1836-1870;  Rev.  Peter  E.  Kipp, 
1870-1875;  Rev.  Asher  Anderson,  1875-1880; 
Rev.  M.  Bross  Thomas,  1 881-1888;  Rev.  Ben- 
jamin E.  Dickhaut,  1889-1896;  Rev.  Abel 
Huizinga,  1896,  present  pastor. 

In  the  old  Reformed  Dutch  church  the 
Tory  and  other  prisoners  were  confined,  and 
from  this  building  tradition  teaches  us  that 
"Harvey  Birch"  (Enoch  Crosby),  havingbeen 
arrested  as  a  spy,  effected  his  escape.  During 
the  Revolutionary  war  a  part  of  the  army  was 
located  in  Fishkill,  and  their  barracks  extended 
from  the  Van  Wyck  place  to  the  foot  of  the 
mountain.  The  officers'  headquarters  were  in 
the  dwelling  well-known  to  the  readers  of  the 
"Spy"  as  the  "Wharton  House"  (occupied  in 
1866  by  Sidney  E.  Van  Wyck,  and  now  (1896) 
by  Miss  Nettie  Hustis);  near  the  residence,  by 
the  large  black  walnut  trees,  south  of  the  road 
and  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  was  the  burial 
ground  of  the  soldiers.  The  Episcopal  church 
was  used  as  a  hospital,  as  was  afterward  the 
Presbyterian  church  at  Brinckerhoff,  about  one 
and  one-half  miles  north  of  the  village. 


EDWARD  ELSWORTH,  president  of  the 
,    Fallkill  National  Bank,  and  who  has  held 

various  honorable  and  important  offices  in  the 
city  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  in  the  county,  was 
born  January  6,  1840,  in  New  York  City.  His 
parents  were  John  and  Martha  (Van  Varick) 
Elsworth,  both  natives  of  New  York  City,  the 
former  born  in  1802.  The  father  was  a  de- 
scendant of  Christoffel  Elswart,  who  was  a 
free  holder  in  New  York  in  1655,  and  the 
mother  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Van  Varick, 
who  was  a  merchant  of  that  city. 

In  1848  the  parents  of  our  subject  removed 
to  Poughkeepsie,  where  the  father  died  in 
May,  1873,  the  mother  surviving  him  until 
1880.  Mr.  Elsworth  was  a  Democrat,  and 
both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Re- 
formed Dutch  Church.  He  was  a  school  trus- 
tee of  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  a  mem- 
ber and  trustee  of  the  Mechanic  Society,  of 
New  York  City.  Their  family  consisted  of 
four  children:  Two  died  in  infancy;  John  K. 
was  a  merchant  in  New  York  City;  and  Ed- 
ward, the  sole  survivor,  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch. 

Edward  Elsworth  was  eight  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  took  up  their  residence  in 
Poughkeepsie,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was 
a  pupil    in    the    Dutchess    County    Academy. 


His  legal  education  was  acquired  in  the  State 
and  National  Law  School,  Poughkeepsie,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  '58. 
For  the  following  two  years  he  was  in  the  law 
office  of  Thompson  &  Weeks,  and  also  in  that 
of  Judge  Nelson.  He  then  went  to  New  York 
City,  and  for  two  years  was  in  the  law  prac- 
tice with  Bernard  Roelker,  and  later  practiced 
in  Rockland  county.  In  1866,  he  returned  to 
Poughkeepsie,  and,  after  practicing  his  profes- 
sion for  a  time,  entered  into  the  hardware 
business  in  partnership  with  Guilford  Dudley. 
During  this  time  he  was  made  director  and 
also  vice-president  of  the  Fallkill  National 
Bank,  and  in  1891  was  elected  its  president; 
he  is  also  vice-president  of  the  Poughkeepsie 
Savings  Bank.  • 

On  November  26,  1867,  Mr.  Elsworth  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  Johnston.  The  John- 
ston family  are  of  Scotch  extraction,  and  Mrs. 
Elsworth's  father,  Samuel  B.  Johnston,  a  des- 
cendant of  Capt.  Archibald  Johnston,  a  Rev- 
olutionary soldier,  was  a  cousin  of  Gen.  Al- 
bert Sidney  Johnston.  He  was  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  but  for  many  years  a  resident  of 
Poughkeepsie,  where  he  was  a  banker,  and  for 
a  long  period  was  vice-president  of  the  Fall- 
kill  Bank.  Four  children  have  been  born  to 
our  subject  and  his  wife,  namely:  Grace 
Varick,  Mary  Johnston,  Ethel  Hinton  and 
Edward  Wead,  all  of  whom  are  at  home.  Mr. 
Elsworth  is  a  stanch  Democrat,  and  has  al- 
ways been  prominent  in  his  party.  In  1874  he 
was  elected  supervisor  of  the  Third  ward  of 
Poughkeepsie,  and  served  one  term.  In  1880 
he  was  made  school  commissioner,  which  of- 
fice he  filled  for  seven  years.  In  November, 
1886,  he  was  elected  mayor  of  Poughkeepsie, 
served  one  term,  and  in  1891  was  re-elected  to 
the  same  honorable  position.  He  was  elected 
a  trustee  of  Vassar  College  in  1892,  and  is  still 
serving  as  such.  Mr.  Elsworth  also  holds  the 
following  offices:  Trustee  and  treasurer  of 
Vassar  Brothers'  Institute;  and  vice-president 
for  Dutchess  county  of  the  Holland  Society  of 
New  York.  He. is  also  a  member  of  the  Sons 
of  the  Revolution.  For  several  years  he  was 
judge  advocate  of  the  Eighth  Brigade  of  the 
National  Guard  S.  N.  Y.,  and  served  in  other 
offices  in  that  organization.  In  1 891,  he  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  A.  M.  from  Rutgers  Col- 
lege. The  family  are  members  and  liberal 
supporters  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church, 
and  stand  high  in  social   and  religious  circles. 

From   the  foregoing  facts  it  will  be  seen 


44 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


that  Mr.  Elsworth  is  a  man  of  more  than  us- 
ual ability,  and  business  qualifications,  and 
that  his  many  sterling  qualities  are  appreciated 
by  his  fellow  citizens.  In  the  numerous  re- 
sponsible positions  in  which  he  has  been 
placed,  he  has  fully  merited  their  confidence 
and  esteem,  and  no  man  occupies  a  higher 
place  in  the  regard  of  the  public,  or  in  the 
friendship  of  his  more  intimate  associates. 


0 


LIVER  H.  BOOTH  (deceased)  was  born 
in  1823  upon  a  farm  within  the  present 
limits  of  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 
county,  and  died  March  13,  1896,  after  an  ill- 
ness of  twenty-two  days — the  first  sickness  he 
ever  experienced.  During  his  Mfe  of  well  nigh 
three-quarters  of  a  century,  he  saw  a  marvel- 
ous transformation,  not  only  in  the  outward 
appearance  of  that  locality,  but  in  all  phases 
of  our  complex  and  constantly  progressing 
civilization.  His  early  home  was  on  the  south 
side  of  Fallkill  creek,  opposite  the  present  lo- 
cation of  Pelton's  factory,  and  his  father, 
George  Booth,  a  prominent  citizen  of  that  day, 
had  a  woolen-mill  for  manufacturing  cloth,  the 
first  of  the  kind  run  by  machinery  in  the  coun- 
ty. This  was  before  the  days  of  pins,  and 
old  citizens  remember  the  large  thorn  bushes 
in  the  neighborhood  from  which  Mr.  Booth 
obtained  thorns  to  fasten  his  bundles  with.  In 
the  field  north  of  the  church  of  the  Holy  Com- 
forter, he  raised  teazles,  which  were  used  in 
"  g'&g'n?  "  the  cloth. 

During  his  early  boyhood  our  subject  at- 
tended a  school  that  was  kept  in  a  small  build- 
ing which  is  yet  standing  in  the  rear  of  No. 
120  Main  street,  Poughkeepsie,  the  teacher  be- 
ing Aunt  Anna  Haight,  and  he  was  proud  of 
being  able  to  say  that  he  also,  when  a  young 
boy,  attended  the  old  school  at  Pawling  kept 
by  Jacob  Willets  and  his  wife.  It  is  said  that 
this  Jacob  Willets  was  the  author  of  the  well- 
known  rhyme  about  months  "Thirty  days 
hath  September  "  etc.. — which  he  introduced 
into  his  arithmetic.  Later,  Mr.  Booth  studied 
at  the  academy  in  Poughkeepsie,  after  which 
he  was  employed  in  his  brother's  (Alfred)  store 
in  Boston,  Mass.,  but  at  the  age  of  fourteen 
ran  away,  joining  a  sea- going  vessel  as  cabin 
boy,  and  for  four  yfears  he  sailed  the  ocean. 
We  next  find  him  in  a  bank  at  Detroit,  Mich., 
where  he  remained  some  time,  then  returning 
to  Poughkeepsie,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one, 
became  bookkeeper  in   the  Vassar  Brewery,  of 


which  he  ultimately  was  the  owner.  His 
mother  was  a  sister  of  Matthew  Vassar,  Sr., 
and  he  became  more  or  less  identified  with 
many  of  the  extensive  interests  of  that  dis- 
tinguished family.  He  was  named  as  executor 
in  the  will  of  Matthew  Vassar,  Jr.,  and  John 
Guy  Vassar,  and  he  was  treasurer  of  Vassar 
Hospital,  in  which  he  took  much  pride,  per- 
sonally superintending  the  extensive  improve- 
ments recently  made  in  the  grounds.  As  a 
financier  his  ability  was  acknowledged,  and 
he  was  a  director  in  several  of  the  banks  of 
Poughkeepsie,  also  vice-president  of  the  City 
Bank.    He  left  a  large  estate. 

He  was  always  fond  of  the  sea  and  of  ship- 
ping, and  he  found  time  in  the  midst  of  his 
extensive  business  dealing  to  indulge  this  taste, 
having  been  the  owner  or  part  owner  of  more 
vessels  than  any  other  resident  of  the  city. 
In  sailing  vessels,  he  was  interested  in  the 
sloops  "Surprise"  (formerly the  "Revenge"), 
"Index,"  "Comet,"  "Agent,"  and  "Timo- 
thy Wood;"  also  in  the  schooners  "  Matthew 
Vassar,  Jr.,"  "  Oliver  H.  Booth,"  and  another 
which  he  bought  in  Wilmington,  on  which  to 
bring  the  machiner}'  for  the  "Underwriter" 
up  the  river.  He  built  the  steamer  "  Joseph 
F.  Barnard,"  then  the  finest  tug  ever  seen  on 
the  Hudson,  and  whose  history  has  a  tinge  of 
romance.  During  the  trouble  in  Cuba,  in  the 
"  sixties,"  he  sold  her  to  the  Cubans,  but  in 
1867  she  disappeared,  supposed  to  have  been 
burnt  at  sea.  Mr.  Booth  owned  the  news- 
yacht,  "  Herald,"  which  he  rebuilt  and  named 
the  "  Commodore,"  and  then  sold  to  parties  in 
Norfolk.  Va. ;  he  also  purchased  and  re-built 
the  "  O.  M.  Freleigh  "  and  the  "Idlewild," 
the  latter  being  bought  afterward  by  New 
Haven  parties.  The  last  boat  that  he  built 
was  the  speedy  steam  yacht  "No.  83."  He 
owned  the  four-oared  gig  "Stranger,"  which 
was  manned  by  workmen  from  the  brewery, 
who  were  considered  remarkably  fast  rowers 
in  their  day.  He  was  also  commodore  of  the 
old  Poughkeepsie  Ice  Yacht  Club,  and  the 
owner  of  the  ice  yacht   "  Restless." 

The  only  political  office  that  Mr.  Booth 
ever  held  was  that  of  member  of  the  village 
board  of  trustees,  of  which  he  was  elected 
clerk  in  1843,  and  he  held  that  incumbency 
until  April  18,  1854,  when  the  books  were 
turned  over  to  the  new  city  government. 
Very  early  in  life  he  became  an  active  worker 
in  the  Fire  Department,  and  June  18,  1844. 
he    by  request    organized    the    Phoenix    Hose 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


45 


Company  of  Poughkeepsie.  About  the  year 
1850  he  resigned  as  an  active  member,  but 
was  on  the  honorary  hst  up  to  his  death.  In 
185  I  he  was  elected  chief  engineer  of  the  Fire 
Department,  and  held  the  office  three  years, 
during  which  time  the  Booth  Hose  Company 
was  named  for  him.  At  the  time  of  his  death 
he  owned  one  of  the  old  "goose-neck  "  en- 
gines "No.  7,"  and  m  1886  he  paraded  with 
her  as  foreman.  In  that  year  the  Veteran 
Firemen's  Association  was  formed,  of  which 
he  was  chosen  president,  and  he  held  that 
office  several  years,  at  last  refusing  a  re-election, 
at  which  time  his  comrades  desiring  to  signify 
their  high  regard  for  him,  presented  nim  with 
a  costly  loving  cup  on  his  retirement.  Socially 
he  was  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M.,  Pough- 
keepsie Lodge  No.  266. 

Mr.  Booth  married  Miss  Ferris,  daughter 
of  Mr.  John  Ferris,  of  Milan,  Dutchess  county. 
She  died  in  March,  1893,  leaving  but  one 
child,  a  son,  William  F.  Booth,  who  now 
resides  at  the  old  homestead.  The  family 
residence  on  Market  street  was  the  scene  of  a 
solemn  and  affecting  service  at  the  funeral  of 
Mr.  Oliver  H.  Booth,  which  took  place  March 
16,  1896,  and  a  large  gathering  of  the  prom- 
inent citizens  of  the  city  and  vicinity  showed 
the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held,  while  many 
beautiful  floral  tributes  offered  their  silent 
benediction. 


JAMES  L.  WILLIAMS,  one  of  the  distin- 
guished members  of  the  Dutchess  county 
-  bar,  was  born  December  12.  1846,  in  the 
city  of  Poughkeepsie,  with  whose  interests  his 
entire  life  has  been  identified. 

When  a  boy  our  subject  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  Dutchess  County  Academy,  and 
after  studying  law  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1S67,  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion there.  His  first  partner  was  Hon.  Peter 
jDorland,  ex-surrogate  of  Dutchess  county,  the 
jfirm  of  Dorland  &  Williams  continuing  until 
1873,  when  Mr.  Dorland  was  elected  to  a  third 
term  as  surrogate.  In  1873  Mr.  Williams  was 
(elected  district  attorney,  being  the  first  Demo- 
""  t  elected  to  that  position  in  twenty-five 
:  5;  but  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  he  de- 
:lined  a  renomination.  In  1884  he  became  a 
member  of  the  widely-known  firm  of  Hackett 
)&.  Williams,  the  senior  member  being  John 
[Hackett,  who  has  since  been  twice  elected  dis- 


trict attorney.  In  1883,  without  his  solicita- 
tion, and  even  without  his  knowledge  until  the 
announcement  was  made,  Mr.  Williams  was 
appointed  State  assessor  by  Grover  Cleveland, 
then  governor.  This  office  he  held  until  his 
resignation  in  1892,  serving  with  marked  ability 
and  success,  and  several  important  amendments 
to  the  tax  laws  were  adopted  by  the  Legisla- 
ture at  his  suggestion.  He  holds  a  prominent 
place  in  business  circles  as  well  as  in  profes- 
sional life,  and  is  a  director  of  the  City  National 
Bank,  and  other  corporations.  He  organized 
and  was  first  president  of  the  Poughkeepsie 
News  Company,  publishers  of  the  Nezvs  Press 
and  A't'tt'i-  Telegraph,  the  leading  Democratic 
journals  in  the  Hudson  Valley,  and  until  1894 
was  very  active  in  State  and  local  politics,  after 
which  time  till  the  Presidential  campaign  of 
1896  he  devoted  his  attention  to  legal  business. 

Mr.  Williams  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Democratic  State  Committee;  in  1887  was 
chairman  of  the  State  Executive  Committee, 
and  met  and  solved  with  rare  courage  and  skill 
the  intricate  problems  of  the  campaign  of  that 
year,  complicated  as  it  was  with  the  Henry 
George  and  Labor  movements.  In  1894  he 
again  served  as  a  member  of  the  Democratic 
State  Executive  Committee.  In  the  fall  of 
1893  the  delegations  from  Dutchess  and  other 
counties  of  the  Second  Department  presented 
his  name  at  the  judicial  convention  held  in 
Brooklyn  as  their  candidate  for  justice  of  the 
supreme  court  to  succeed  Hon.  Joseph  F.  Bar- 
nard, whose  term  expired  that  fall;  but  Mr. 
Pearsall,  of  Brooklyn,  received  the  Democratic 
nomination,  and  was  defeated  by  Hon.  William 
J.  Gaynor,  the  Reform  and  Republican  candi- 
date. Early  in  1896  he  protested  against  the 
proposed  departure  of  the  Democratic  party 
from  what  he  regarded  as  the  ancient  standards 
of  his  party,  and  on  the  adoption  of  the  Chi- 
cago platform  and  the  nomination  of  Mr.  Bryan 
he  formerly  severed  his  connection  with  that 
party,  and  entered  actively  into  the  campaign 
for  the  Republican  candidates.  On  January 
I,  1897,  he  was  appointed  corporation  counsel 
of  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie. 

Mr.  Williams  is  a  member  of  many  fraternal 
organizations,  including  the  Freemasons,  Odd 
Fellows  and  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  he  organ- 
ized the  Odd  Fellows  Mutual  Benefit  Associa- 
tion of  Dutchess  county  with  five  members, 
the  membership  now  being  increased  to  nearly 
one  thousand.  He  is  president  of  the  leading 
social  organization  of  Poughkeepsie,  the  Dutch- 


46 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPEICAL  RECORD. 


ess  Club,  having  succeeded  Hon.  Homer  A. 
Nelson,  its  first  president,  and  is  a  member  of 
several  clubs  in  New  York  and  other  cities. 


m  NTHONY    UNDERHILL,    M.    D.    (de- 


M.    D. 

.^^_  ceased).  Among  the  talented  men  who 
have  done  honor  to  the  medical  profession  in 
Dutchess  county,  the  subject  of  this  brief 
memoir  held  a  worthy  rank.  The  son  of  a 
prominent  physician,  his  natural  aptitude  for 
the  calling  had  unusual  opportunities  for 
development,  and  application  in  early  life,  and 
his  later  years  of  effort  were  rewarded  with 
well-deserved  success. 

His  family  was  of  English  origin,  and  his 
father.  Dr.  Joshua  B.  Underbill,  was  a  life- 
long resident  of  Westchester  county,  N.  Y. , 
where  our  subject  was  born  in  1818.  The 
common  schools  of  that  locality  furnished  him 
his  academic  education,  and  he  then  began  the 
study  of  medicine  with  his  father,  and  later 
attended  lectures  at  the  College  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons  in  New  York  City.  He  opened 
a  drug  store  in  that  city,  which  he  carried  on 
for  some  years  previous  to  entering  the  medical 
department  of  Bowdoin  College,  at  Brunswick, 
Me.,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1845.  Lo- 
cating at  New  Hackensack,  Dutchess  county, 
he  engaged  in  the  active  work  of  his  profession, 
and  continued  for  about  forty  years,  buildmg 
up  an  extensive  practice  and  enjoying  the  con- 
fidence of  the  people  throughout  a  large  circuit. 
In  1852  he  married  Miss  Charlotte  A.  Mar- 
vine,  who  was  born  in  1S32,  in  Wilton,  Conn., 
the  daughter  of  William  M.  Marvine.  They 
made  their  home  on  a  farm  near  New  Hacken- 
sack, and  reared  a  family  of  six  children: 
(i)  Charles  married  Miss  Annie  M.  Rapelje, 
and  lives  at  Hopewell  Junction,  Dutchess 
county,  where  he  is  the  agent  for  the  N.  Y.  & 
N.  E.  and  the  D.  &  C.  railroads.  (2)  George 
resides  at  the  old  homestead.  (3)  William 
married  Miss  Mary  E.  Griffin,  and  lives  at 
Fishkill,  where  he  is  employed  as  general  pas- 
senger agent  for  the  N.  D.  &  C.  R.  R.  (4) 
Frank  is  a  farmer  at  home.  (5)  Lottie  mar- 
ried Dr.  R.  C.  Van  Wyck,  of  Hopewell  Junc- 
tion, who  was  thrown  from  his  buggy  and 
killed  in  February,  1896.  (6j  Edward  A.  mar- 
ried Miss  Jeannette  E.  Schubert,  and  resides 
in  Glenham,  where  he  is  employed  as  depot 
agent  and  telegraph  operator. 

Dr.  Underbill  was  prominent  not  only  in 
professional  circles,  but  in  local  political  affairs. 


and  took  great  interest  also  in  educational 
matters,  and  in  various  movements  for  the 
public  benefit.  His  death,  which  occurred 
September  4,  1889,  caused  a  loss  which  was 
deeply  and  sincerely  mourned  among  all  classes 
of  people.  One  of  his  sons,  Frank,  conducts 
the  farm,  a  fine  tract  of  one  hundred  acres, 
with  a  handsome  residence  and  other  improve- 
ments. 


C\HARLES  F.  COSSUM,  of  the  well-known 
,_i  law  firm  of  Wilkinson  &  Cossum,  of 
Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  in 
New  York  City,  April  17,  1859.  His  father, 
Charles  Cossum,  was  born  in  Hastings,  Eng- 
land, in  1826. 

Richard  Cossum,  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  also  born  at  Hastings,  and  was  the 
last  male  of  his  name  of  that  generation.  He 
was  educated  in  England,  and  by  occupation 
was  a  draper,  or  dry-goods  merchant.  In 
1 841  he  moved  with  his  family  to  the  United 
States  and  settled  in  Oswego  county,  N.  Y. , 
where  he  retired  from  active  life.  In  181 5  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Caroline  Foster,  and  they 
had  twelve  children,  of  whom,  Charles,  Edwin, 
Fannie,  Decimus,  Elizabeth  and  Caroline  are 
still  living. 

Charles  Cossum,  Sr. ,  spent  his  boyhood 
days  in  Oswego  county,  N.  Y.,  and  at  the  age 
of  thirteen  years  he  started  out  on  his  own  ac- 
count. When  twenty-five  years  old  he  was 
employed  by  the  Hudson  River  R.  R.  Co.  as  a 
brakeman,  from  which  he  was  promoted 
through  the  various  positions  to  assistant  su- 
perintendent and  train  master.  He  has  a 
record  of  forty-two  years  with  this  road,  and  is 
still  in  the  company's  employ,  stationed  at 
Poughkeepsie.  In  1858  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Sarah  Wood,  who  was  born  in  New  York 
City,  and  who  is  a  daughter  of  Peter  Wood. 
They  have  four  children:  Charles  F.,  our 
subject;  Oscar,  now  living  in  Stamford,  Conn., 
William  H.,  a  missionary  in  China,  and  Car- 
oline. 

Charles  F.  Cossum  attended  the  schools  of 
Peekskill,  N.  Y. ,  from  1865  to  1872,  at  which 
time  he  went  to  New  York  City,  and  in  1873 
was  graduated  from  the  Thirteenth  Street 
Grammar  School.  He  was  then  admitted 
to  the  College  of  New  York  City,  but  did 
not  attend  as  he  preferred  to  work.  In  1875 
he  began  the  study  of  law  with  Homer  A. 
Nelson,   at  Poughkeepsie,   N.   Y.,   and  subse- 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


47 


quently  entered  the  office  of  Robert  F.  Wilkin- 
son, and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1880.  In 
that  year  he  was  appointed  deputy  county 
clerk,  and  filled  that  incumbency  five  years. 
In  1886  he  went  on  a  business  trip  to  England, 
which  occupied  him  for  a  year,  and  upon  his 
return  he  opened  an  office  in  New  York  City. 
In  1888  he  returned  to  Poughkeepsie  and 
formed  a  partnership  with  Robert  F.  Wilkin- 
son, with  whom  he  is  still  associated.  For 
five  years  he  was  the  attorney  (or  the  League 
of  American  Wheelmen,  and  was  first  vice- 
president  of  the  organization  during  1896. 
He  is  president  of  the  Amrita  Club  and  Apo- 
keepsing  Boat  Club;  secretary  and  treasurer  of 
the  Poughkeepsie  Society  for  the  Prevention  of 
Cruelty  to  Animals,  and  president  of  the  Mitch- 
ell Heater  Co.  Mr.  Cossum  has  not  held  any 
public  office  except  that  of  deputy  county 
clerk.  Cossum  is  an  unusual  family  name, 
there  being  but  few  persons  in  the  world  who 
bear  it,  and  all  of  them  are  descendants  of  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject. 


AMES  C.  McCARTY,  one  of  the  most  able 
I  lawyers  of  Dutchess  county,  has  for  many 
years  successfully  engaged  in  practice  at 
Rhinebeck.  He  traces  his  ancestry  back  to 
Daniel  McCarty,  who  was  born  February  22, 
1754,  in  Charlestown,  then  a  suburb  of  Bos- 
ton, Mass.  His  father  was  a  Scotchman,  who 
owned  and  sailed  a  schooner  plying  between 
New  London,  Conn.,  and  Boston,  and  during 
the  Revolutionary  war  he  sailed  with  a  full 
cargo  and  crew  from  the  latter  place,  and.  as 
they  never  returned  or  were  heard  from,  it  is 
supposed  they  were  captured  by  the  British 
privateers,  being  killed  or  taken  prisoners,  and 
the  vessel  and  cargo  confiscated.  At  the  age 
of  twenty-one  Daniel  joined  the  minute  men 
in  defense  of  the  country  against  British  ag- 
gression, and  April  19,  1775,  participated  in 
the  battle  of  Lexington,  after  which  he  en- 
listed for  nine  months  in  the  company  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Josiah  Harris.  On  June 
'7>  '775.  he  was  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill, 
and  soon  after  with  his  old  captain  he  joined 
the  Continental  service,  belonging  to  the  regi- 
ment commanded  by  Col.  Bond.  After  six 
months  spent  in  New  York  the  regiment  was 
ordered  to  Fort  Edwa«rd,  Canada,  where  they 
joined  Gen.  Schuyler  about  December  i,  1776. 
Later  a  thousand  troops,  including  his  com- 
pany, were  ordered  to  New  Jersey  to  join  the 


army  under  Washington,  where  they  arrived 
prior  to  the  battle  of  Trenton,  and  took  charge 
of  the  prisoners  captured  there. 

Although  his  term  of  service  had  expired, 
Daniel  McCarty  remained  with  his  command 
until  January,  1777,  when  the  army  was  en- 
camped at  Morristown,  where  he  was  dis- 
charged, but  could  not  return  home,  as  he  had 
no  money,  so  re-enlisted  for  three  years,  re- 
ceiving $20  bounty,  and  liberty  to  go  to  his 
home  in  Boston  and  report  for  duty  when  or- 
dered. In  the  spring  of  1777  his  regiment  was 
reorganized  under  Col.  Grayton,  Col.  Bond 
havingdied,  and  he  was  appointed  sergeant,  and 
afterward  served  in  that  capacity.  They  were 
again  ordered  to  Fort  Edward,  Canada,  where 
they  met  Gen.  Schuyler's  army  retreating  be- 
fore Burgoyne,  but  soon  after  readvanced 
against  that  general,  and  engaged  in  all  the 
battles  that  ended  in  the  surrender  of  Bur- 
goyne at  Saratoga.  The  troops  made  a  forced 
march  from  Albany  to  Kingston  in  one  day,  a 
distance  of  sixty  miles,  hoping  to  prevent  the 
British  from  burning  the  latter  place,  but  ar- 
rived just  in  time  to  see  them  escaping  in  their 
boats,  after  its  destruction,  October  16,  1777. 

Soon  after  Mr.  McCarty  accompanied  Gen. 
Gates  to  Yorktown,  Va. ,  as  one  of  his  body 
guards  and  was  employed  as  messenger  to  and 
from  Lancaster,  Baltimore,  and  other  places. 
In  May,  1778,  \fe  returned  north  with  that 
general,  serving  under  him  until  the  following 
December,  after  which  he  remained  with  his 
old  company  and  regiment  until  honorably  dis- 
charged December  I,  1779,  atPeekskill,  N.  Y. 
When  his  enlistment  expired  he  served  as  a 
substitute  for  Lieut.  Young  in  Capt.  Brown's 
company,  Col.  Mead's  regiment  of  Connecti- 
cut State  troops,  employed  chiefly  in  guarding 
the  lines  from  Horseneck  to  Norwalk.  About 
May  I,  1 78 1,  Gen.  Waterbury  took  command 
of  the  Connecticut  State  troops,  and  gave  Mr. 
McCarty  a  regular  commission  as  lieutenant, 
in  which  capacity  he  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war  in  1783. 

For  a  time  Daniel  McCarty  made  his  horne 
in  Stamford,  Conn.,  where  his  son  Stephen 
was  born  February  14,  17S3,  but  about  1790, 
he  came  to  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  became  head  miller  at  Schuyler's  Mills 
(now  destroyed)  two  miles  east  of  the  village, 
on  the  place  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Dr. 
George  N.  Miller.  In  1794,  while  living  there, 
his  first  wife  died  and  was  buried  in  the  ceme- 
tery connected  with  the  little  Methodist  chapel 


48 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


near  their  home.  The  children  of  this  mar- 
riage were:  Stephen,  Robert,  Tolbert,  Daniel 
and  Katy.  He  later  married  a  Mrs.  Jay,  by 
whom  he  had  three  children:  William,  an 
Episcopal  minister,  who  lived  and  died  in 
Canada;  Eliza;  and  Rev.  Dr.  John  McCarty, 
also  an  Episcopal  minister,  who  was  chaplain 
in  the  United  States  army,  and  was  known  as 
the  fighting  priest  during  the  Mexican  war. 
The  father  later  removed  to  the  village  of 
Rhinebeck,  where  his  youngest  son  was  born 
in  the  old  stone  house  now  standing  on  the 
Huntington  place.  He  and  his  wife  spent 
their  last  days  on  the  old  homestead  of  Stephen 
McCarty,  father  of  our  subject. 

On  that  place  the  birth  of  James  C.  Mc- 
Carty occurred  May  7,  1824,  and  at  Rhinebeck 
he  was  educated  by  Messrs.  Bell  and  Marcy, 
taking  what  constituted  a  full  academic  course, 
with  the  exception  of  Greek.  On  leaving 
school  in  1843  he  was  made  deputy  clerk  under 
his  brother,  Andrew  Z.,  who  was  then  county 
clerk  for  Oswego  county,  having  been  elected 
in  the  fall  of  1840  for  three  years,  and  served 
as  a  member  of  the  34th  Congress  for  Oswego 
and  Madison  counties,  N.  Y.  For  two  years 
our  subject  filled  that  position,  and  while 
searching  the  records  of  that  county  for  Peter 
Chandler,  conceived  the  idea  of  studying  law. 
As  his  term  of  service  expired  on  January  i, 
1844,  he  returned  to  Rhinelieck  the  following 
February  and  entered  the  law  office  of  Ambrose 
Wager,  with  whom  he  remained  for  twelve 
years.  In  January,  1847,  he  was  admitted  to 
practice  as  attorney  at  law,  being  admitted  at 
the  supreme  court  at  Albany,  and  his  diploma 
signed  by  Green  C.  Bronson,  and  by  the  con- 
stitution of  1846  was  counsellor  at  law  and 
solicitor  in  chancery.  •  While  still  with  Mr. 
Wager  he  engaged  in  general  practice,  but  in 
the  fall  of  1856  he  was  appointed  superintend- 
ent of  document  room  under  President  Pierce's 
administration,  holding  the  position  until  the 
following  fall,  during  which  time  the  34th  Con- 
gress held  both  its  first  and  second   sessions. 

Returning  to  Rhinebeck,  Mr.  McCarty 
opened  an  office  of  his  own,  where  he  contin- 
ued practice  until  1861,  when  he  was  appointed 
assistant  assessor  of  internal  revenue  for  the 
district  of  Dutchess  county,  and  during  that 
year  and  the  two  years  following  was  with 
Jacob  W.  Elsifer,  at  Red  Hook.  In  1864, 
however,  he  again  resumed  practice  at  Rhine- 
beck, although  he  still  continued  to  be  revenue 
collector.      Up  to   1872  he  had  been  alone  in 


business,  but  at  that  time  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  George  Esselstyn,  which  connection 
still  continues,  theirs  being  the  oldest  law  firm 
in  Dutchess  county.  He  takes  rank  among 
the  successful  and  prominent  lawyers  of  the 
county,  and  is  one  of  the  most  highly  respected 
legal  practitioners  in  the  community. 

Mr.  McCarty  was  married  in  August,  1847, 
the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Louisa  I. 
Cross,  daughter  of  Moulton  Cross,  of  Pulaski, 
Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  two  sons  were  born 
to  them:  J.  Canfield,  who  died  of  heart  dis- 
ease at  the  age  of  seventeen  years;  and  Charles 
E. ,  an  attorney  and  counsellor  at  law,  who  is 
also  engaged  in  the  insurance  business  at 
Rhinebeck. 

Mr.  McCarty  is  an  earnest  defender  of  Re- 
publican principles,  and  is  a  man  whose  opin- 
ions are  invariably  held  in  respect.  He  has 
ever  taken  an  active  part  in  political  affairs,  in 
the  years  1852,  i860  and  1861  served  as 
supervisor  of  his  town,  and  for  several  years 
has  been  clerk  of  the  village,  which  office  he  is 
still  holding  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 
He  has  been  quite  prominently  identified  with 
civic  societies,  being  the  oldest  living  member 
of  Rhinebeck  Lodge  No.  162,  I.  O.  O.  F. ; 
belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity; 
and  in  i860  joined  the  Masonic  order,  of  which 
he  is  now  an  honorary  member.  In  earlier 
years  he  took  an  active  part  in  fraternal  work, 
and  passed  through  all  the  chairs  of  the  lodges 
to  which  he  belongs.  For  twenty  years  he 
has  served  as  vestryman  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  of  which  he  is  a  faithful  and  consistent 
member. 


HON.  JOHN  P.  H.  TALLMAN,  the  subject 
of  this  biographical  sketch,  was  born  in 

the  town  of  Washington,  Duchess  county, 
March  19,  1820.  His  ancestry  for  several 
generations  had  been  residents  of  that  county. 
Darius  Tallman,  his  great-grandfather,  emi- 
grated from  Nantucket,  married  Miss  South- 
worth,  and  settled  on  Chestnut  Ridge,  near 
the  place  where  in  later  years  Mr.  Benson  J. 
Lossing,  the  historian,  lived.  His  father's  ma- 
ternal grandfather  was  Capt.  Harris,  of  the 
British  army  during  the  Revolutionary  war, 
whose  wife  was  a  Miss  Velie,  of  Lagrange. 
Deacon  Benham,  of  New  Haven,  a  Revolu- 
tionary soldier,  was  his  maternal  grandfather; 
he  lived  in  the  town  of  Washington,  and  mar- 
ried Miss  Comstock. 


I 


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I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


49 


Mr.  Tallman's  father.  Darius  Tallman,  Jr., 
married  Almira  Benham  in  1817.  Both  lived 
to  be  over  eighty  years  of  age. 

John  P.  H.  Tallman,  the  eldest  son  of 
these  parents,  worked  upon  his  father's  farm 
until  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age,  when,  being 
desirous  of  securing  an  education  which  would 
enable  him  to  fill  a  position  of  usefulness  in 
life,  he  entered  the  Amenia  Seminary  as  a 
student,  and  remained  at  that  institution  for 
the  three  years  required  to  complete  the  course 
of  study.  During  that  period  he  supported 
himself  chiefly  upon  money  borrowed  for  the 
purpose,  and  these  loans  were  repaid  out  of  his 
first  earnings  after  entering  upon  the  practice 
of  his  profession. 

On  leaving  the  Seminary  he  began  reading 
Law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  James  Hooker,  then 
Surrogate  of  the  County,  and  Hon.  Virgil  D. 
Bonesteel,  in  Poughkeepsie.  While  still  a 
student  his  industry  was  rewarded  by  his  pro- 
motion to  the  position  of  first  clerk  to  the  Sur- 
rogate; and  upon  the  appointment  of  Hon. 
Robert  Wilkinson  to  the  surrogateship  in  1840, 
Mr.  Tallman  became  his  managing  clerk.  In 
1843,  at  the  General  Term  in  Utica,  he  was 
admitted  to  practice  in  the  State  Courts,  and 
also  in  the  District  and  Circuit  Courts  of  the 
United  States.  The  next  year  he  was  ap- 
pointed Master  in  Chancery  for  Duchess  Coun- 
ty by  the  Governor,  on  the  recommendation 
of  a  County  Convention  of  Delegates,  Mr. 
Owen  T.  Coffin  and  Hon.  Gilbert  Dean  being 
his  competitors. 

In  1847  Mr.  Tallman  received  the  unan- 
imous nomination  of  the  Democratic  party  for 
the  office  of  Surrogate  for  Duchess  County. 
His  opponent  was  the  Hon.  John  Thompson, 
the  nominee  of  the  Whig  party.  In  this  con- 
test he  was  successful;  but  before  the  election, 
and  especially  during  the  first  term  of  his  serv- 
ice, he  was  so  violently  and  persistently  assailed 
by  the  local  organ  of  the  Whigs  that  he  deemed 
it  necessary  that  he  should  lay  before  his  fel- 
low-citizens a  defence  of  his  conduct.  This 
presentation  of  his  case  attracted  much  atten- 
tion by  its  clear  and  convincing  argument. 
Among  those  who  read  this  paper,  and  were 
impressed  by  the  evidence  of  intellectual  vigor 
it  displayed,  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stephen  Olin, 
then  President  of  Wesleyan  University.  Short- 
ly afterward  that  institution  conferred  upon 
Mr.  Tallman  the  honorary  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts. 

Mr.  Tallman's  friends  insisted  upon  his  be- 


coming a  candidate  for  re-election  to  the  posi- 
tion of  Surrogate.  To  this  he  consented,  and 
he  was  re-elected  by  an  increased  majority. 
At  the  expiration  of  his  second  term,  he  de- 
clined to  be  again  a  candidate. 

An  interesting  reminiscence  of  this  period  is 
a  document  to  which  Mr.  Tallman  attached 
high  value.  His  political  and  personal  adver- 
saries carried  their  opposition  so  far  as  to  pre- 
sent to  the  Governor  of  the  State,  Hon.  Ham- 
ilton Fish,  a  petition  for  his  impeachment. 
The  petitioners,  who  belonged  to  the  same 
political  party  as  the  Governor,  naturally  hoped 
that  their  request  would  prevail  with  him. 
The  Governor,  after  carefully  considering  the 
arguments  and  evidence  on  both  sides,  wrote 
on  the  back  of  the  paper:  "I  see  nothing  in 
the  course  of  the  officer  complained  of  but 
what  is  commendable.      H.  Fish." 

After  the  conclusion  of  his  second  term  as 
Surrogate  he  never  again  held  a  political  office. 
He  was,  however,  for  many  years  interested  in 
local  and  State  politics,  and  for  a  long  time 
was  chairman  of  the  County  Central  Com- 
mittee. His  tact  in  management  and  his  rare 
gift  of  personal  influence  over  men  fitted  him 
for  success  in  political  life,  had  he  chosen  to 
pursue  that  course.  But  although  tempting 
offers  of  preferment  were  held  out  to  him,  he 
concluded  to  devote  himself  to  the  practice  of 
his  profession. 

His  first  partnership  was  with  Hon.  Gilbert 
Dean,  afterward  judge.  Subsequently  he  was 
connected  with  Mr.  Charles  Powers,  Mr. 
George  W.  Payne,  Mr.  George  W.  Lord  and 
in  later  years  with  Mr.  Walter  Farrington, 
Capt.  Pelatiah  Ward,  who  fell  in  one  of  the 
battles  of  the  Civil  war;  Hon.  William  I. 
Thorn,  Hon.  Homer  A.  Nelson,  and  Hon.  A. 
M.  Card  were  students  in  his  office. 

As  a  lawyer,  Mr.  Tallman's  chief  strength 
was  in  his  comprehensive  grasp  of  any  matter 
which  he  took  in  hand,  and  in  the  cool  and 
clear  estimate  which  he  formed  of  its  bearings 
both  near  and  remote.  His  familiarity  with 
legal  points  was  clear  and  accurate,  so  that  he 
was  eminently  wise  in  counsel.  His  great  in- 
dustry and  unfailing  interest  in  his  client's  case, 
left  nothing  to  the  uncertainties  of  chance. 
His  cases  were  carefully  prepared,  and  the  evi- 
dence was  presented  with  convincing  effect. 
Much  of  his  practice  was  in  the  Surrogate's 
Court,  for  which  the  training  and  experience 
of  his  earlier  professional  life  specially  fitted 
him.      He  was  retained  in  connection  with  sev- 


50 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


eral  important  and  well-known  cases,  involving 
large  interests. 

In  addition  to  his  general  law  business,  he 
had  a  special  practice  in  the  United  States 
District  and  Circuit  Courts.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  New  York  State  Bar  Association, 
and  for  some  years  was  on  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee. 

During  the  earlier  years  of  his  practice  and 
prior  to  the  period  when  that  class  of  invest- 
ments was  taken  up  by  insurance  and  other 
financial  institutions,  large  transactions  in  real 
estate,  bonds  and  mortgages  were  arranged  for 
m  his  office.  A  wide  acquaintance  with  in- 
vestors was  thus  formed,  which  resulted  in  his 
being  called  to  fill  various  positions  of  reponsi- 
bility  and  trust. 

In  1856  Mr.  Tallman  was  offered  the  posi- 
tion of  Treasurer  of  the  Iowa  Central  Railroad 
Company.  This  road  was  projected  from  a 
point  on  the  Mississippi  river,  where  the  City 
of  Clinton  now  stands,  to  Cedar  Rapids. 
Under  another  name  it  now  forms  part  of  the 
great  line  to  California.  He  declined  the 
office,  but  yielded  to  the  request  of  the  officers 
to  accompany  the  reconnoitering  party  over 
the  territory.  He  drew  the  report  of  the 
commission  as  to  the  feasibility  of  the  project 
and  the  route  which  the  road  should  take. 

In  1855  he  established  a  banking  house  in 
Davenport,  Iowa,  under  the  name  of  Tallman, 
Powers  &  McLean.  The  resident  partner  was 
Mr.  Powers,  who  had  been  his  clerk  when  he 
was  Surrogate.  The  direction  of  the  business 
of  the  firm  was  necessarily  left  chiefly  in  the 
hands  of  Mr.  Powers.  Though  at  first  this 
business  enterprise  met  with  much  encourage- 
ment, it  was  ultimately  unsuccessful  and  in- 
volved Mr.  Tallman  in  pecuniary  losses  which 
seriously  embarrassed  him  for  several  years. 

In  1859  Mr.  Tallman  was  active  in  the 
effort  to  establish  the  City  Bank  of  Pough- 
keepsie,  and  was  chosen  its  first  President. 
He  did  not  accept  the  office,  but  favored  in 
his  stead  the  Hon.  Joseph  F.  Barnard,  who 
retained  that  .position  for  upward  of  twenty 
years.  Mr.  Tallman,  however,  was  appointed 
attorney  to  the  Bank,  and  continued  to  act  in 
that  capacity  for  nearly  thirty  years. 

Early  in  his  career  he  favored  the  building 
of  the  Hudson  River  railroad.  He  gave  his 
earnest  assistance  to  the  establishment  of  the 
Poughkeepsie  and  Eastern  railroad,  and  of  the 
Poughkeepsie  City  railroad,  of  which  he  was 
one  of  the  mcorporators.      In  1853  he  aided  in 


establishing  the  Poughkeepsie  Rural  Cemetery; 
he  was  appointed  a  Trustee  and  continued  to 
hold  that  position  until  his  death.  He  vyas 
instrumental  in  having  the  Hudson  River  Hos- 
pital for  the  Insane  located  at  Poughkeepsie, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  first  Board  of  Trus- 
tees. In  1852  he  helped  to  organize  the  Home 
for  the  Friendless;  he  prepared  its  Act  of  In- 
corporation and  was  one  of  the  first  Board  of 
Counsellors.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was 
one  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Vassar  Brothers' 
Home  for  Aged  Men. 

He  was  interested  in  every  plan  to  beautify 
the  City  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  to  make  it  pleas- 
ant and  inviting  to  all  who  should  seek  a  place 
for  elegant  and  refined  homes. 

From  his  youth  Mr.  Tallman  was  one  in- 
terested in  the  cause  of  temperance,  having 
when  nine  years  of  age  signed  what  was  then 
known  as  the  partial  pledge.  At  the  age  of 
twenty  he  became  an  ofificer  in  the  Young 
Men's  Temperance  Society,  and  soon  after 
signed  the  total  abstinence  pledge.  Later  he 
was  an  officer  in  the  Duchess  County  Tem- 
perance Society,  and  occasionally  delivered 
addresses  before  that  and  similar  organiza- 
tions. He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
State  Inebriate  Asylum  at  Binghampton,  of 
which  for  several  years  he  was  a  Trustee. 

Mr.  Tallman  united  with  the  Methodist 
Church  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  while  a  student 
at  Amenia  Seminary,  then  under  the  super- 
vision of  Dr.  Merrick,  later  of  the  Ohio  Uni- 
versity, afterward  Bishop,  and  Dr.  Davis  W. 
Clark.  In  1840  he  helped  to  found  the  Sec- 
ond Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Pough- 
keepsie, located  in  Cannon  street.  In  1842 
he  became  a  Trustee  of  that  Society,  and  con- 
tinued to  hold  that  position  and  to  maintain 
other  official  relations  until  his  death.  He 
was  the  representative  of  this  Society  to  the 
first  Electoral  Conference  of  Laymen  of  the 
New  York  Conference  in  1872,  and  was  its 
presiding  officer.  For  several  years  he  was  an 
officer  of  the  Duchess  County  Bible  Society. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  first  and  only  State 
Council  of  Methodists  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  which  met  at  Syracuse,  February,  1870, 
and  was  composed  of  about  600  representatives 
from  most  of  the  churches  of  the  denomina- 
tion in  the  State.  This  Council  voted  to 
raise  about  $200,000  for  the  Syracuse  Univer- 
sity and  favored  various  reforms  for  Church 
and  State.  One  of  these  was  the  establish- 
ment of  the  State  Council  of  Political  Reform, 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQBAPEIOAL  RECORD. 

c 


51 


which  was  a  potent  factor  in  the  overthrow  of 
the  Tweed  Ring.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
State  Executive  Committee,  and,  although  a 
lifelong  Democrat,  he  disregarded  any  action 
inconsistent  with  the  platform  of  the  Council, 
which  declared:  "We  leave  the  party  relations 
of  every  man  undisturbed,  but  when  parties 
command  the  support  of  bad  principles,  bad 
measures,  or  bad  men,  we  must  refuse  to  obey." 

In  1884  he  was  chosen  a  Lay  Delegate 
from  the  New  York  Conference  to  the  General 
Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
which  met  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia.  In 
the  assemblage  of  representative  men  of  Ameri- 
can Methodism  he  filled  a  place  of  marked 
importance.  Although  his  voice  was  seldom 
heard  on  the  floor  in  the  debates,  his  wise  and 
judicious  counsels  had  weight  in  the  delibera- 
tions of  the  Committees. 

For  many  years  it  had  been  his  hope  that 
the  Society  with  which  he  worshiped  in  the 
Cannon  Street  church  should  have  a  new  and 
more  eligibly  located  edifice,  and  to  this  sub- 
ject he  gave  much  thought.  In  the  year  1892 
circumstances  seemed  to  favor  the  consumma- 
tion of  the  plan.  With  characteristic  earnest- 
ness Mr.  Tallmangave  himself  to  this  welcome 
work.  He  encouraged  the  timid,  admonished 
the  faltering,  guided  the  sanguine,  and  used  his 
rare  personal  influence  to  create  and  mould  a 
united  sentiment  which  should  make  the  move- 
ment for  a  new  church  a  success.  Largely 
through  his  efforts  the  site  was  selected,  the 
ground  purchased  and  prepared  for  building, 
the  plans  drawn,  the  mechanics  set  to  work, 
the  old  property  disposed  of,  the  subscriptions 
obtained,  the  enterprise  brought  to  a  happy 
conclusion,  and  the  Society  put  into  the  pos- 
session of  its  present  beautiful  and  commodious 
place  of  worship.  His  whole  heart  was  in  the 
work,  and  his  cheerful  spirit  and  stimulating 
faith  made  him  a  leader  whom  it  was  a  delight 
^^{ollow. 

^fln  his  home  relations  Mr.  Tallman  was 
seen  at  his  best.  If  the  work  of  the  day  had 
been  severe  and  its  results  disappointing,  no 
trace  of  this  appeared  upon  his  face  or  in  his 
demeanor  when  he  cros.sed  the  threshold  of 
his  home.  His  personal  friendships  were 
many,  and  he  delighted  to  entertain  his  friends 
in  his  own  house.  Over  those  with  whom  he 
was  brought  in  contact  his  influence  was  mor- 
ally bracing.  He  never  disguised  or  com- 
promised his  principle.  Although  far  from  ob- 
trusive of  his  religious  experiences,  he   never 


allowed  himself  to  occupy  a  questionable  atti- 
tude in  that  important  relation. 

Perhaps  the  most  pronounced  characteris- 
tic of  Mr.  Tallman  was  his  hopefulness.  No 
situation  was  so  full  of  danger  or  doubt  that 
he  could  not  see  a  happy  outcome.  When 
others  faltered,  he  smiled  and  pursued  hiy  way. 
And  this  did  not  result  from  insensibility  or 
indifference,  but  was  the  endowment  of  his  na- 
ture and  the  charm  of  his  character.  It  was 
this  that  made  him  a  cheerful  companion  and 
an  enthusiastic  guide. 

Mr.  Tallman  married  Miss  Mary  New- 
man, of  South  Egremont,  Mass.,  in  1840;  she 
died  in  1850.  In  1851  he  married  Miss  Sarah 
J.  Anderson,  of  New  York,  a  lady  of  rare  in- 
tellectual endowments 

It  was  permitted  Mr.  Tallman  to  enjoy  a 
cheerful  and  healthful  old  age.  He  was  able 
to  attend  the  business  of  his  office  until  within 
a  few  days  of  his  death.  His  last  professional 
service  was  in  the  Surrogate's  Court  on  March 
16,  1895.  A  few  days  afterward  he  was  taken 
ill  and  his  disease  rapidly  assumed  a  threaten- 
ing character.  After  a  week  of  great  suffering 
he  passed  away,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five 
years  and  four  days.  His  funeral  was  attend- 
ed by  a  large  circle  of  friends  in  the  Trinity 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  Revs.  Doc- 
tors Osbon,  Gregory  and  Stobridge,  whe  had 
been  his  pastors,  conducted  the  service,  which 
was  marked  by  the  evidence  of  sympathetic 
feeling.  Dr.  Gregory,  in  the  course  of  his  re- 
marks, said:  "He  was  a  manly  man,  with 
strength  of  principle  and  great  force  of  char- 
acter, possessed  of  refined  sentiment  and  re- 
ligious feeling,  with  clear  convictions  of  truth 
and  duty,  which  were  freely  expressed,  but 
never  ostentatiously  obtruded.  He  was  tol- 
erant of  the  opinions  of  others  who  differed 
from  him.  He  was  not  a  pessimist,  but  had 
great  faith  in  God,  his  fellow-men  and  in  the 
future." 

Mr.  Tallman  left  four  children:  Mary  E., 
wife  of  Theodore  W.  Davis,  of  New  York; 
Augusta  C,  wife  of  John  F.  Phayre,  of  New 
York;  John  Francis,  the  General  Agent  in 
Brooklyn  of  the  New  York  Life  Insurance 
Company;  and  Katharine  Eliot,  wife  of  Rev. 
Dr.  Maltbie  D.  Babcock,  of  Baltimore. 

In  the  Trinity  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
in  Poughkeepsie,  in  the  erection  of  which  he 
had  labored  with  such  joyous  earnestness,  the 
loving  hands  of  his  son  have  placed  a  tablet  to 
his  memory,  bearing  as  its  inscription   the  fol- 


62 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


lowing    words  from    the    Book  which  he  had 
made  the  guide  of  his  Hfe: 

"  He  that  overcometh  I  will  make 
"him  a  pillar  in  the  temple  of  God." 


LEWIS  TOMPKINS  (deceased).  Few  citi- 
'  zens  of  Dutchess  county  have  done  more 

to  advance  her  interests  than  did  the  late 
Lewis  Tompkins,  of  Fishkill-on-the-Hudson, 
who  was  for  many  years  the  acknowledged 
head  of  the  wool-hat  industry  in  the  United 
States,  and  whose  extensive  factories  have  fur- 
nished a  well-earned  livelihood  to  hundreds  of 
workmen  whose  homes  have  sprung  up  in  the 
neighboring  towns.  He  was  himself  familiar 
with  the  trials  of  honest  poverty,  though  hap- 
pily his  later  years  were  blessed  with  every 
comfort,  and  doubtless  his  well-known  sympa- 
thy with  the  needy  had  its  origin  in  a  remem- 
brance of  his  own  early  struggles. 

Mr.  Tompkins  was  descended  from  an  old 
English  family,  and  the  first  of  the  American 
line  was  Stephen  Tompkins,  who  it  is  believed 
located  first  in  Connecticut  and  from  there 
moved  to  Westchester  county,  N.  Y. ,  where 
his  later  years  were  passed  in  cultivating  the 
soil.  He  was  the  father  of  sixteen  children, 
among  whom  were  James,  the  great-grandfa- 
ther of  our  subject,  and  Jonathan  Griffin,  both 
of  whom  rendered  gallant  service  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war  on  the  patriot  side.  James 
served  in  the  Seventh  Dutchess  county  regi- 
ment under  Col.  Henry  Luddington,  and  in 
company  commanded  by  Capt.  George  Lane. 
This  showed  high  courage,  as  Westchester 
county  had  a  large  Tory  population,  and  neigh- 
bor was  arrayed  against  neighbor,  and  friend 
against  friend.  Much  of  it  was  neutral  ground, 
but  spies  were  busy  on  both  sides  and  perils 
abounded.  The  story  of  Enoch  Crosby,  the 
Harvey  Birch  of  J.  Fenimore  Cooper's  "Spy," 
is  familiar  to  all,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that 
many  another  such  romantic  history  might 
have  been  told.  Jonathan  Griffin  Tompkins 
was  the  father  of  Daniel  D.  Tompkins,  vice- 
president  of  the  United  States  from  1816  to 
1820.  His  was  a  notable  career.  He  was 
graduated  from  college,  read  law  and  practiced 
with  distinguished  success,  was  a  member  of 
Congress,  judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  New 
York,  and  governor  of  the  same  State,  his  last 
act  in  that  office  being  to  recommend  the  abo- 
lition of  slavery. 

Solomon  Tompkins,  a  son   of  James,  had 


a  son  Solomon  (2),  our  subject's  father,  and 
the  two  left  the  old  home  to  locate  in  the 
wilds  of  Greene  county,  near  the  present  vil- 
lage of  Ashland,  in  which  region  settlers  were 
then  few  and  far  between.  Although  Mr. 
Tompkins'  father  had  only  limited  educational 
advantages,  he  was  not  lacking  in  good  judg- 
ment and  practical  ability,  and  he  took  a  lead- 
ing place  among  his  associates.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Randall,  daughter  of  Timothy  Ran- 
dall, a  citizen  of  Delaware  county,  but  a  native 
of  Connecticut;  she  is  still  living,  in  a  hale  and 
beautiful  old  age,  with  a  married  daughter  at 
Matteawan. 

Lewis  Tompkins,  the  eldest  son  of  this 
worthy  couple,  was  born  at  the  old  farm  near 
Ashland,  August  5,  1836,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  district  schools  of  the  vicinity, 
working  upon  the  farm  in  summer  and  attend- 
ing school  for  a  few  months  each  winter  until 
he  was  about  seventeen,  when  he  began  to 
learn  the  trade  of  hat  finishing  with  Strong  & 
Ruggles,  of  Ashland.  After  serving  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  three  3'ears,  he  established  a 
new  hat  factory  at  Ashland  in  1852,  in  part- 
nership with  Leveritt  Conine;  but  this  venture 
ended  two  years  later  in  a  complete  failure. 
With  characteristic  integrity  Mr.  Tompkins 
gave  up  everything  to  the  creditors,  even  part- 
ing with  his  watch.  Soon  after  he  turned  his 
face  westward  with  just  enough  money  in  his 
pocket  to  carry  him  to  Chicago,  and  from 
that  point  he  made  his  way  on  foot  to  Kansas, 
seldom  getting  a  ride,  and  often  passing  the 
night  upon  the  open  prairie.  He  finally 
reached  Manhattan,  Kans. ,  and  located  upon 
a  government  claim  on  Blue  river.  That  was 
a  memorable  period.  The  fiery  discussion  of 
a  few  years  before  on  the  Kansas-Nebraska 
bill  had  stirred  the  whole  nation,  and  those 
territories  were  being  rapidly  settled.  Young 
Tompkins  was,  of  course,  a  Free-Soiler,  and 
was  early  drawn  into  the  struggle  between 
the  opposing  factions,  being  appointed  deputy 
sheriff  and,  later,  a  delegate  to  the  Constitu- 
tional Convention  at  Topeka.  He  remained 
in  the  West  about  two  years,  returning  home 
in  November,  1859,  for  a  brief  visit,  which 
lengthened  into  a  permanent  stay.  At  Middle- 
town,  Orange  county,  he  accepted  a  position 
with  Wilcox  &  Draper,  which  he  held  for  a 
few  months,  and  in  the  summer  of  i860  he 
went  to  Matteawan,  where  he  was  employed 
for  several  years  with  the  Seamless  Clothing 
Manufacturing  Co.,  and  later  he  was  in  busi- 


^ih^ 


^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


58 


ness  as  a  clothier  at  Fishkill-on-the-Hudson; 
also  at  Matteawan.  He  wisely  invested  his 
gains  in  real  estate,  buying  and  subdividing  a 
large  tract.  Succeeding  in  this,  he  bought 
other  tracts  of  land  and  built  a  number  of  sub- 
stantial dwellings,  adding  to  his  own  prosperity 
and  that  of  the  town.  In  1872  he  sold  out 
his  business  interests  and  made  a  trip  to 
Europe,  where  he  remained  a  year  studying 
European  industries  and  business  methods. 
On  coming  home  a  new  enterprise  was  begun 
— the  building  of  a  large  hat  factory  near  the 
river  at  Fishkill-on-the-Hudson,  and  notwith- 
standing the  "hard  times"  of  1873,  the 
Dutchess  Hat  Works  was  put  into  successful 
operation.  The  business  grew  from  year  to 
year,  and  additions  were  made  to  the  works  as 
needed;  but  it  was  soon  deemed  advisable  to 
establish  a  branch  at  Tioronda,  a  mile  away, 
and  later  another  branch  was  opened  at  Mid- 
dletown.  The  efficient  hand  of  the  founder  of 
the  business  was  on  it  all,  mastering  every  de- 
tail; but  he  had  capable  coadjutors  in  his 
brothers,  E.  Lakin  Tompkins,  at  Fishkill-on- 
the-Hudson,  and  Edward  D.  Tompkins,  and 
Frank  O.  Tompkins,  at  Middletown.  He  be- 
came the  leading  manufacturer  of  wool  hats  in 
the  United  States,  and  at  his  death  his  fortune 
amounted  to  several  hundred  thousand  dollars. 
One  feature  of  his  enterprise  was  the  erection 
of  comfortable  homes  for  his  employes,  which 
proved  a  benefit  to  all  concerned. 

He  was  greatly  interested  in  local  progress, 
and  especially  in  educational  matters.  A  stu- 
dent of  men  and  affairs  rather  than  of  books, 
he  still  appreciated  to  the  full  the  advantages 
of  a  thorough  system  of  popular  education,  and 
it  was  largely  through  his  endeavors  that  Mat- 
teawan and  Fishkill-on-the-Hudson  secured 
their  new  and  commodious  school  buildings. 
The  building  of  the  handsome  hose  house  of 
the  Lewis  Tompkins  Hose  Co.,  at  the  latter 
place,  was  chiefly  due  to  him,  and  he  was  a 
constant  and  liberal  giver  to  the  Churches  of 
both  towns.  The  Highland  Hospital  was  a 
charity  which  found  him  a  steadfast  friend, 
and  his  purse  was  ever  open  to  sustain  or  en- 
large its  usefulness.  Many  of  his  beneficences 
will  never  be  known,  as  he  could  never  withhold 
his  help  when  his  sympathies  were  touched, 
and  his  senre  of  justice  wounded  by  the  sight 
of  suffering.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  an  influential  one,  but  sought  no  office. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  education  at 
Matteawan,    and    was  at  one  time    president 


of  the  village  of  Fishkill-on-the-Hudson.  For 
more  than  thirty  years  he  belonged  to  Beacon 
Lodge  No.  283,  F.  &  A.  M. 

In  1862  Mr.  Tompkins  married  Miss  Van- 
Voorhis,  who  did  not  long  survive  to  bless  his 
life.  One  son  was  born  of  their  union,  Charles 
Randall  Tompkins,  who  died  in  1892  in  early 
manhood.  A  second  happy  matrimonial  union 
was  formed  on  January  3,  1868,  with  Miss 
Helen  E.  Mather,  of  Wellsboro,  Penn.  Her 
father  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  Cotton 
Mather,  of  New  England,  and  her  mother, 
whose  name  was  Beecher,  was  collaterally 
connected  with  the  Lyman  Beecher  family. 
The  three  children  of  the  second  marriage  are 
all  living:  Jennie,  Helen  M.  and  Ralph  S. 
The  family  residence  is  a  beautiful  place.  It 
is  appropriately  named  "  Edgewater, "  being 
situated  on  the  bank  of  the  Hudson  opposite 
Newburgh,  and  it  commands  a  lovely  view  up 
and  down  the  river.  Here  Mr.  Tompkins 
proved  himself  a  genial  host  and  generous  en- 
tertainer. He  traveled  extensively  both  in 
this  country  and  in  Europe,  spending  several 
winters  in  Paris,  Nice,  Algiers,  Mentone-on-the- 
Mediterranean,  Davos  Platz,  and  other  places 
rich  in  associations  and  delightful  for  situation. 
Mr.  Tompkins  had  fine  taste  in  art,  and  en- 
joyed visiting  the  celebrated  galleries  in  which 
the  chief  works  of  the  gifted  artists  of  the  past 
are  preserved  on  canvas  or  in  chiseled  marble. 

In  the  prime  of  his  manhood,  while  the 
past  was  a  pleasant  memory  and  the  future  a 
delightful  anticipation,  this  manly,  generous, 
upright  citizen  passed  from  earth,  breathing  his 
last  at  his  home  on  the  9th  day  of  January, 
1894.  It  is  by  his  deeds  alone  that  his  merit 
was  manifested,  and  the  simple  record  of  these 
shows  him  worthy  ot  honor  in  every  relation  in 
life. 


CHARLES  E.  SEGER,  M.  D.  (deceased). 
_'  The  expulsion  of  the  Huguenots  from 
France,  however  it  may  have  been  regarded  by 
the  unhappy  exiles  at  the  time,  resulted  in  un- 
mixed good  to  this  country,  bringing  into  its 
rapidly  developing  civilization  a  large  body  of 
high-spirited,  courageous,  intelligent  and  God- 
fearing people,  whose  influence  at  that  critical 
period  of  our  history  can  scarcely  be  estimated. 
Among  these  early  emigrants  were  the  ances- 
tors of  the  subject  of  this  biography.  They 
settled  near  Kingston,  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y..  about 
1640,  and  some  time  afterward  two  brothers 


54 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  the  name  moved  to  New  Salem,  Albany  Co. . 
N.  Y. ,  where  the  home  of  this  branch  of  the 
family  has  ever  since  remained.  Garret  I. 
Seger,  our  subject's  great-grandfather,  was 
born  there  January  4,  1753,  the  son  of  one  of 
the  brothers  alluded  to.  He  became  a  farmer 
there,  married  and  reared  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren: John,  Magdalene,  Frederick,  Henry, 
Mary,  David  G.,  Frances,  Polly,  Francis  and 
Michael.  They  located  in  various  places  as 
they  settled  in  life.  Francis  was  a  judge  in 
Lewis  county,  New  York. 

David  G.  Seger,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
was  born  January  31,  1794,  and  remained  at 
the  old  homestead,  farming  and  conducting  a 
hotel  until  his  death,  March  31,  1859.  He 
married  Mary  Stajker,  who  died  leaving  six 
children,  of  whom  Garret  D.,  our  subject's 
father,  was  the  eldest;  John  A.  is  a  resident 
of  Schoharie  county,  N.  Y. ;  Catherine  married 
Andrew  Allen,  a  farmer  at  New  Salem;  Mar- 
garet, the  wife  of  William  McMillen,  formerly 
a  farmer,  is  now  living  in  Albany;  Laura  mar- 
ried (first)  John  Van  Der  Zee,  now  deceased, 
and  (second)  George  Strevell,  a  carpenter;  Ly- 
man, deceased,  was  a  farmer. 

Garret  D.  Seger  was  born  October  31,  1 8 1 6, 
and  also  settled  near  the  old  home.  He  has 
been  engaged  in  farming  and  mercantile  busi- 
ness, and  has  taken  a  leading  part  in  various 
local  movements.  In  politics  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat, and  he  belongs  to  the  Christian  Church; 
but  his  wife,  formerly  Miss  Mary  Shafer,  is  a 
Presbyterian.  She  is  a  descendant  of  a  Ger- 
man family  which  has  long  been  prominent  in 
the  town  of  Bern,  Albany  county.  Her  father, 
John  Shafer,  an  agriculturist,  was  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  1812.  Our  subject  is  the  elder  of 
two  children.  The  younger,  Florence,  mar- 
ried Charles  Wolf,  of  Albany,  a  bookkeeper 
for  a  tire  insurance  company. 

On  April  8,  1842,  Dr.  Seger  entered  upon 
his  life's  journey.  He  received  his  literary  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools  at  New  Salem 
and  at  Fort  Edward  Collegiate  Institute,  and 
then  began  his  medical  studies  in  the  office  of 
Drs.  Fredenburgh  &  Mosher,  of  Coeymans. 
He  remained  with  them  four  years,  in  the 
meantime  attending  Albany  Medical  College, 
and  graduating  in  the  class  of  1863.  For  two 
years  following  he  was  in  partnership  with  his 
former  preceptors;  but  in  1865  he  moved  to 
Stockbridge,  where  he  practiced  successfully 
for  nine  years.  From  1874  to  1885  he  con- 
tinued  his  professional    work   in   Albany,    but 


after  that  time  he  resided  at  New  Hackensack. 
His  ability  and  skill  were  widely  recognized, 
and  he  had  a  fine  practice. 

On  January  20,  1864,  Dr.  Seger  was  united 
in  matrimony  with  Miss  Agnes  Schoonmaker, 
a  native  of  Bayonne,  N.  J.  Her  father.  John  J. 
Schoonmaker,  a  shipping  merchant  of  the  firm 
of  Schoonmaker  &  Johnson,  and  his  wife, 
Jane  Ann  Van  Buskirk,  were  both  descended 
from  old  families  of  that  place.  Three  chil- 
dren were  born  of  this  union:  Mary  L. ,  Grace 
A.  and  Garretta  K.,  who  are  all  at  home. 
The  Doctor  was  identified  with  many  progress- 
ive movements  in  his  locality,  and  was  health 
officer  of  the  town  of  Wappinger  for  ten  years. 
In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat;  he  belonged  to 
the  F.  &  A.  M.,  Albany  Lodge  No.  452,  and 
to  the  Dutchess-  Medical  Society.  A  victim  of 
typhoid  fever.  Dr.  Seger  passed  to  his  final 
rest  December  10,  1896.  Of  him  the  Wap- 
pinger Chronicle  says:  "  Dr.  Seger  was  a 
man  of  mild  and  genial  demeanor,  quiet  in 
manner,  always  the  gentleman,  and  had  a 
kind  word  for  everybody.  He  was  conscien- 
tious and  punctilious  to  every  duty,  and  this, 
added  to  his  advanced  medical  experience, 
made  him  one,  if  not  the  best  Health  Officer 
Wappinger  town  ever  had. 

"  He  leaves  a  widow  and  three  daughters, 
to  whom  the  sympathy  of  the  community  is 
generally  extended." 


EV.  ROBERT  FULTON  CRARY.  D.  D. 

To  the  American  born,  the  story  of  Rob- 
ert Fulton  and  the  steamboat  are  matters  of 
fatniliar  interest,  though  it  is  difficult  to  realize 
that  he  lived  but  such  a  short  time  ago,  and 
we  here  present  a  brief  review  of  the  life  of 
his  grandson,  Rev.  Robert  Fulton  Crary,  D.  D., 
rector  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Comforter, 
Poughkeepsie,  New  York. 

The  Crary  family  have  been  known  in 
America  for  over  two  centuries.  Peter  (I) 
Crary  was  a  native  of  Groton,  Conn.,  and 
signer  of  the  Patent  of  New  London  October 
14,  1704.  In  1677  he  married  Christobel 
Gallup,  daughter  of  Capt.  John  Gallup,  one 
of  the  Crown  captains  who  fell  in  the  Narra- 
gansett  Swamp  fight,  in  1675.  In  those  days 
Groton  was  known  as  New  Lucien.  His  son, 
Peter  (II),  married  Anne  Culver  on  January 
II,  1709,  and  his  son,  Peter  (III),  had  a  son, 
Peter  (IV),  who  married  Lucretia  Palmer  De- 
cember 8,  1 77 1,  and  their  son,  Peter   (V),  a 


'yi>^^t>i^^^ 


V&^^^^^i- 


VOMMEMOBATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  liKCORD. 


55 


native  of  New  York  City  and  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  married  Elizabeth  Denison,  a 
descendant  of  Maj.  George  Denison,  of  Ston- 
ington,  Connecticut. 

Edward  Charles  Crary,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  the  only  son  of  Peter  (V)  Crary, 
of  the  well-known  firm  of  Peter  &  John  S. 
Crary,  wholesale  dry-goods  importers,  the 
largest  firm  of  the  kind  in  New  York  City  at 
that  day.  Edward  C.  was  born  in  New  York 
City,  and  spent  his  early  days  there,  attending 
school  for  a  time,  but  completed  his  education 
from  Columbia  College,  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated with  the  class  of  1824.  In  New  York, 
on  June  20,  183 1,  he  was  married  to  Cornelia 
Livingston  Fulton,  second  daughter  of  Robert 
Fulton.  After  his  marriage  Edward  C.  Crary 
assumed  control  of  the  English  branch  of  the 
house,  and  he  and  his  bride  made  their  home 
in  Liverpool,  where  their  eldest  son,  Robert 
Fulton,  our  subject,  was  born.  Their  other  chil- 
dren were  Edward  Francis  (deceased);  Charles 
Franklin;  Ella  Cornelia,  who  married  Her- 
man H.  Cammann,  of  New  York  City,  and 
Lena,  who  died  in  infancy.  The  family,  return- 
ing to  this  country  about  the  j'ear  1837,  made 
their  home  in  New  York.  Cornelia  L.  (Ful- 
ton) Crary  was  born  August  6,  18 12,  at  Rose 
Hill,  which  is  now  about  Nineteenth  street, 
New  York  City,  but  which  then  was  a  suburban 
place  where  Robert  Fulton  was  spending  the 
summer  and  proceeding  with  his  inventions. 
She  died  October  6,  1893. 

Robert  Fulton  Crary  spent  his  boyhood  in 
New  York  City,  and  in  June,  1861,  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  General  Theological  Seminary. 
His  first  charge  was  as  a  missionary  in  Warren 
county,  N.  Y.,  where  for  six  years  he  labored 
for  the  upbuilding  of  the  Church.  As  lasting 
monuments  to  his  work  for  these  years  are 
three  stone  churches,  which  were  erected 
through  his  energies.  In  1867  he  accepted  a 
call  to  become  rector  of  the  Church  of  the 
Holy  Comforter  at  Poughkeepsie.  This  Church 
was  dedicated  in  i860,  and  our  subject  was 
its  second  rector.  His  long  term  as  priest  in 
charge  has  given  him  an  intimate  acquaintance 
with  his  parishioners,  and  he  is  now  baptizing 
the  children  of  those  little  ones  whom  he  bap- 
tized in  the  early  days  of  his  pastorate. 

On  September  11,  1862,  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Hawkes,  Dr.  Crary  was  married  at  Trinity 
Chapel,  New  York  City,  to  Agnes  Boyd  Van- 
Kleeck,  daughter  of  Rev.  Robert  B.  Van- 
Kleeck,  D.  D.,  and  Margaret  Schenck  (Teller) 


Van  Kleeck.  Mrs.  Crary  now  owns  the  old 
Teller  homestead  at  Matteawan,  Dutchess 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  said  to  be  the  oldest  house  in  the 
county,  having  been  erected  in  1709  by  Lieut. 
Roger  Brett,  of  the  Royal  Navy,  who  married 
Katharine  Rombout,  only  child  and  heir  of 
Francis  Rombout,  a  famous  and  influential 
citizen  of  New  Amsterdam,  who  in  1682,  with 
Gulian  Ver  Planck,  was  granted,  by  King 
James  II,  the  large  tract  of  land  on  the  Hudson 
river,  known  as  the  Rombout  Precinct.  The 
union  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Crary  has  been  blessed 
with  six  children — five  daughters  and  one  son: 
Amy;  Cornelia  Fulton;  Alice;  Ella  (deceased); 
Edith  Livingston,  who  married  Charles  H. 
van  Braam  Roberts,  June  3,  1896;   and  Fulton. 

Believing  that  before  God  the  souls  of  men 
stand  stripped  of  all  temporal  guises,  and 
whether  high  or  low,  rich  or  poor,  each  one 
alike  meets  that  same  justice  tempered  with 
mercy.  Dr.  Crary  has  always  had  a  free  church, 
never  having  any  charge  for  pew  rent.  The 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  on 
him  by  St.  Stephen's  College,  Annandale, 
Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1892.  Mrs.  Crary  is 
a  worthy  helpmeet  of  the  Doctor,  and  nobly 
typifies  "the  mission  of  woman  on  earth! 
Born  to  nurse  and  to  soothe,  to  solace  and  to 
heal  the  sick  world  that  leans  on  her."  She 
is  a  member  of  the  Daughters  of  the  Revolu- 
tion and  of  the  Colonial  Dames. 

Of  Robert  Fulton,  the  grandfather  of  Dr. 
Crary,  we  will  give  but  few  words.  His  life 
and  works  speak  so  well  for  themselves,  and 
have  been  so  exhaustively  treated  by  our  most 
able  writers,  that  nothing  more  remains  to  be 
said.  He  was  married  in  1806  to  Harriet 
Livingston,  daughter  of  Walter  and  Cornelia 
(Schuyler)  Livingston,  the  latter  an  intimate 
friend  of  George  Washington.  Harriet  Liv- 
ingston Fulton  was  a  niece  of  Chancellor  Liv- 
ingston, and  doubly  connected  with  him  by 
the  marriage  of  her  brother  to  his  daughter. 


JAMES  C.  GRIGGS,  the  popular  proprietor 
of  the  "Morgan  House,"  Poughkeepsie, 
was  born  at  Milton,  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y. , 
October  10,  1847,  and  is  the  son  of  Lewis  and 
Eliza  (Harcourt)  Griggs.  The  maternal  grand- 
father, Benjamin  Harcourt,  was  also  born  at 
Milton,  where  his  father,  who  came  to  this 
country  from  England  and  located  in  Ulster 
county,  secured  a  large  tract  of  land.  On 
attaining  man's  estate  Benjamin  Harcourt  was 


56 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eleanor  Wygant, 
a  native  of  Ulster  county,  and  took  his  bride 
to  his  extensive  farm  in  that  county,  where 
their  seven  children  were  born  :  James  C. , 
Charles  A.,  Eli,  Eliza,  Althea,  Deborah  A. 
and  Sarah.  The  grandfather  was  a  prominent 
Democrat  of  Ulster  county,  and  filled  the  office 
of  sheriff  for  some  time. 

The  birth  of  the  father  of  our  subject  oc- 
curred at  Cornwall,  Orange  Co. ,  N.  Y. ,  but  he 
was  reared  at  Milton,  Ulster  county,  where  he 
afterward  taught  school.  He  there  married 
Miss  Harcourt,  and  the  only  child  born  to  them 
was  our  subject.  Shortly  after  their  marriage 
they  located  upon  a  farm  in  Orange  county, 
to  the  cultivation  of  which  the  father  devoted 
his  time  and  attention  until  his  death  in  1850. 
He  supported  the  Whig  party  in  politics,  and 
in  his  religious  views  was  a  Presbyterian.  His 
widow  later  married  his  brother,  Henry  Griggs, 
and  they  now  make  their  home  in  Washington- 
ville,  Orange  county. 

Mr.  Griggs,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  spent  his  boyhood  upon  the  farm  of 
his  grandfather  Harcourt  in  Ulster  county,  and 
attended  the  district  schools  of  that  locality, 
but  completed  his  education  at  Newburg,  N.  Y. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen  years  he  entered  the 
hardware  store  of  J.  C.  Hardenbergh,  of  New- 
burg, N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  as  clerk  for 
about  four  years,  and  for  the  following  six 
years  was  engaged  in  the  crockery  business  for 
himself  in  that  city.  He  then  began  the  manu- 
facture of  brick  at  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county; 
but  after  carrying  on  that  occupation  for  one 
year  he  leased  the  "Orange  Hotel"  at  New- 
burg, which  he  conducted  for  five  years.  Dur- 
ing the  next  year  he  carried  on  a  summer  hotel 
at  Delaware  Gap,  after  which  he  becamiC  the 
proprietor  of  the  "United  States  Hotel  "  at 
Newburg,  where  he  remained  for  seven  years. 
In  November,  1883,  Mr.  Griggs  came  to 
Poughkeepsie  and  purchased  the  "Morgan 
House,"  situated  on  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Catherine  streets,  which  he  has  since  success- 
fully conducted.  There  are  found  all  modern 
improvements,  including  hot  and  cold  water, 
electricity,  etc. ;  it  is  convenient  and  comforta- 
ble, while  the  cuisine  is  unexceptionable.  The 
hotel  will  accommodate  one  hundred  and  fifty 
guests,  whose  interests  and  comfort  are  well 
looked  after  by  the  genial  and  pleasant  land- 
lord. 

On  the  loth  of  October,  1869,  Mr.  Griggs 
was  married   to  Miss  Josephine   Cammack,  a 


native  of  Orange  county,  and  a  daughter  of 
Robert  Cammack,  who  was  of  Scotch  descent, 
and  a  leading  stove  dealer  and  plumber  of 
Newburg,  N.  Y.  Three  children  were  born  of 
this  union:  Lilly,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
eleven  years;  Harry  E.,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty  years,  and  Fred  R.,  who  is  with  his 
father.  Mr.  Griggs  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  October  7,  1893. 
In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  adherent  of  the  prin- 
ciples formulated  by  the  Republican  party,  while 
socially  he  is  connected  with  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, the  Order  of  Friends  and  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.  He  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in 
public  affairs,  always  lending  his  influence  to 
promote  the  best  interests  of  the  community, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  highly-esteemed  citi- 
zens of  Poughkeepsie. 


C\APTAIN  CHARLES  W.  BRUNDAGE 
_'  (deceased),  late  a  well-known  forwarding 
and  freighting  merchant  and  coal  dealer  at 
Fishkill  Landing,  was  born  January  16,  1830, 
at  Gay  Head,  Dutchess  county. 

Alton  Brundage,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
a  native  of  East  Fishkill,  born  April  30,  1805, 
and  during  his  active  life  was  a  shoemaker  at 
Stormville,  and  a  steadfast  supporter  of  the 
Democratic  party.  He  married  Lucy  Ann 
Burrus,  who  was  born  in  1800,  at  Hopewell 
Junction,  the  daughter  of  Joseph  Burrus,  a 
prosperous  merchant  of  New  York  City.  Of 
the  six  children  of  this  union,  Charles  W.  was 
the  eldest,  the  others  being:  James,  Alonzo, 
Melissa,  Catherine  and  Mary. 

Captain  Charles  W.  Brundage  attended  the 
district  school  of  Stormville  until  he  was  thir- 
teen years  old,  when  he  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  Francis  H.  Bowne  as  clerk  in  his  dry- 
goods  and  grocery  store.  Two  years  later  he 
went  to  Fishkill  Landing  to  clerk  for  Charles 
B.  Pugsley  in  the  same  business,  and  remained 
with  him  a  year.  He  then  became  clerk  of 
the  "  Mansion  House  "  at  Fishkill  village,  con- 
ducted by  Mr.  Lampson;  but  after  a  few 
months  he  left  to  take  a  position  as  clerk  on 
the  steamer  "William  Young,"  running  be- 
tween Low  Point  and  New  York  City.  On 
this  boat  he  spent  two  years,  and  one  on  the 
steamer  "Caledonia"  with  Captain  Wardrop, 
of  the  firm  of  Wardrop,  Smith  &  Co.,  of  New- 
burgh.  Afterward  he  became  a  clerk  for 
Brett  &  Cromwell,  forwarding  and  freighting 
merchants  at   Long  Dock,    Fishkill   Landing, 


-^.^^  A^T^*^^^^^*?^:^^^-^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHWAL  RECORD. 


57 


and  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  he  had  ever 
since  been  connected  with  that  business,  being 
at  that  time  the  sole  proprietor.  At  Mr. 
Cromwell's  death  in  1869  the  firm  was 
changed  to  Brett  &  Matthews,  and  two  years 
later  it  became  Walter  Brett  &  Co.,  composed 
of  Mr.  Brett,  John  Place  (now  treasurer  of  the 
Mechanics'  Savings  Bank  at  Fishkill-on-Hud- 
son)  and  Captain  Brundage.  In  1874  Mr. 
Brett  withdrew  from  the  firm  of  Walter  Brett  & 
Co.,  and  the  firm  became  Brundage  &  Place 
until  1885,  when  Captain  Brundage  bought 
Mr.  Place's  interest,  and  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death  conducted  the  business  alone.  In  Au- 
gust, 1895,  he  purchased  the  coal  and  mer- 
chandise business  of  Aldridge  &  Dorland  on 
Main  street,  which  he  added  to  his  own  exten- 
sive coal  trade  that  was  established  over  twenty- 
five  years  ago,  selling  in  recent  years  about  ten 
thousand  tons  a  year.  He  ran  a  daily  transpor- 
tation line  from  Fishkill  to  New  York,  trans- 
ferring all  kinds  of  freight  to  the  Ransdell 
Transportation  Co.  Line  of  Newburgh.  Cap- 
tain Brundage  was  for  many  years  captain  of 
the  "Walter  Brett"  and  the  "Independence," 
both  of  which  ran  from  Fishkill  to  New  York 
City. 

On  August  2,  1853,  Captain  Brundage  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  Boice,  daughter  of  Henry 
Boice,  a  citizen  of  Williamsburg,  N.  Y. ;  she 
•died  in  1873,  leaving  no  children.  His  second 
wife  was  formerly  Miss  Ella  E.  Murphy,  daugh- 
ter of  Prof.  John  G.  Murphy  and  his  wife, 
Sarah  C.  Myer.  Mrs.  Brundage  is  a  lineal  de- 
scendant of  Timothy  Murphy,  of  Revolution- 
ary fame,  who  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Bunker  Hill  and  Saratoga,  and  was  a  noted 
Indian  fighter,  the  scene  of  his  exploits  being 
largely  laid  in  Schoharie  county.  Mrs.  Brun- 
dage has  a  pleasant  home  on  Ferry  street, 
Fishkill-on-Hudson;  she  attends  the  Reformed 
Church  of  that  place.  In  politics  the  Captain 
was  a  Republican. 


GEORGE  ESSELSTYN.  a  prominent  at- 
torney of  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county,  is 
a  man  who  has  brought  his  keen  discrimina- 
tion and  thorough  wisdom  not  alone  in  pro- 
fessional paths,  but  also  for  the  benefit  of  the 
community  where  he  has  so  long  resided,  and 
with  whose  interests  he  has  been  so  closely 
identified.  He  holds  and  merits  a  place 
among  the  representative  legal  practitioners 
of  Dutchess  county. 


Mr.  Esselstyn  was  born  in  Claverack, 
Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  on  September  27,  1841, 
and  can  trace  his  ancestry  back  to  Martin 
Esselstyn,  who  arrived  in  America  about  1640. 
He  had  two  sons,  Jacob  and  Cornelius,  the 
latter  of  whom  married  Cornelia  Vreden- 
burg,  of  Kingston,  N.  Y.,  and  among  their 
seven  sons  were  Jacob  and  Gabriel,  who 
removed  to  Claverack  in  17 10.  Jacob  wedd- 
ed Magdalen  Brodhead,  of  Ulster  county, 
and  to  them  were  born  five  daughters 
and  two  sons,  the  latter  being  Richard  and 
Cornelius.  Among  the  children  of  Cornelius 
was  Richard,  who  was  born  in  1 731  and  died 
in  1783,  the  year  in  which  peace  with  Eng- 
land was  declared.  He  was  a  patriot  and 
soldier,  holding  the  rank  of  major  in  a  regi- 
ment of  militia  raised  in  Claverack  to  resist 
the  northern  encroachments  of  the  British 
troops.  He  had  two  sons — Jacob,  born  in 
1762;  and  Cornelius,  born  in  1765,  who  were 
the  more  immediate  ancestors  of  the  branch 
of  the  family  now  residing  in  Rhinebeck  town- 
ship, Duichess  county.  From  Jacob  have 
descended  Tobias,  who  occiipies  the  very  soil 
which  has  been  transmitted  down  to  the  sixth 
generation  in  the  same  family;  Jacob,  a  resi- 
dent of  Wisconsin;  and  John,  of  Mellenville, 
Columbia  county. 

Cornelius  Esselstyn,  who  was  also  born 
at  Claverack,  was  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject. He  was  a  large  land  owner  of  that 
locality,  and  one  of  the  leading  citizens.  By 
his  marriage  with  Clarissa  Vonsburgh,  he  be- 
came the  father  of  the  following  sons:  Rich- 
ard; Jacob,  who  during  his  lifetime  occupied 
the  place  of  the  former  patroon;  Charles,  a 
distinguished  member  of  the  bar;  Isaac;  Will- 
iam; Robert,  the  father  of  our  subject;  and 
Martin;  all  of  whom  were  well-known  citizens, 
worthy  of  their  ancestry. 

The  birth  of  the  father  also  occurred  at 
Claverack,  about  1807,  and  his  entire  life  was 
devoted  to  the  occupation  of  farming.  He 
was  an  intelligent,  well-read  man,  of  high  so- 
cial ideas  and  great  natural  ability,  and  was 
one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  Columbia 
county.  In  early  life  he  supported  the  Whig 
party,  and  was  a  great  admirer  of  Henry  Clay, 
later  joining  the  Republican  party.  Deeply  in- 
terested in  educational  matters,  he  served  for 
many  years  as  trustee  of  the  Claverack  Acad- 
emy, tilling  that  position  most  of  his  life.  He 
was  married  to  Miss  Catherine  Vedder,  daugh- 
ter of    Rev.    Herman  Vedder,   who  made  his 


58 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPEICAL  RECORD. 


home  near  Mt.  Ross,  in  Gallatin,  Columbia 
count)',  and  for  sixty  years  served  as  minister 
of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church.  After  many 
years  of  usefulness  he  died  at  the  ripe  old  age 
of  ninety-six  years.  The  Vedder  family,  as 
well  as  the  Esselst'yn,  was  of  Holland-Dutch 
origin.  Two  children  were  born  to  Robert 
Esselstyn  and  his  worthy  wife:  George,  sub- 
ject of  this  review;  and  Henry,  who  died  in 
1883. 

The  preparatory  education  of  our  subject 
was  received  at  Claverack  Academy,  where  he 
took  the  regularly  prescribed  course,  and  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  entered  Rutgers  College,  taking 
the  full  classical  course  there,  and  graduating 
in  the  class  of  '61.  He  took  up  the  study  of 
law  in  the  office  of  Gaul  &  Esselstyn  (the  latter 
being  a  cousin),  and  was  admitted  to  practice 
December  10,  1863,  before  the  supreme  court. 
He  remained  with  his  old  instructors  until 
March  20.  1865,  when  he  opened  an  office  at 
Rhinebeck,  where  he  conducted  business  alone 
for  seven  years.  In  1872  he  formed  the  part- 
nership with  Mr.  McCarty,  which  has  con- 
tinued from  that  time,  and  is  now  the  oldest 
law  firm  in  Dutchess  county.  He  is  a  man  of 
imposing  presence,  and  is  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful attorneys  of  the  community. 

On  June  17,  1868,  was  celebrated  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Esselstyn  and  Miss  Florence 
Cowles,  who  belongs  to  one  of  the  old  and 
prominent  families  of  Rhinebeck,  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  S.  Cowles,  of  that  village,  where 
for  years  he  has  carried  on  merchandising. 
Seven  children  grace  this  union — two  sons  and 
five  daughters:  Louise,  at  home;  Catherine, 
wife  of  Rev.  William  H.  Morrison,  an  Episco- 
pal clergyman  of  Stafford  Spring,  Conn. ; 
Florence  E. ,  wife  of  Charles  L.  Brooke,  son 
of  Charfes  W.  Brooke,  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent criminal  lawyers  of  New  York  City; 
Henry,  of  Stafford  Spring,  Conn. ;  Clara  Perle 
and  Mabel  at  home;  and  Robert,  who  is  at- 
tending school  at  Sing  Sing,  New  York. 

For  thirty-one  years  Mr.  Esselstyn  has 
served  as  attorney  for  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Rhinebeck.  He  is  a  stanch  Republican  in 
politics,  working  hard  for  the  interests  of  his 
party;  in  1872  was  candidate  for  the  Assembly, 
and  in  1882  candidate  for  district  attorney. 
For  two  terms  he  served  as  supervisor,  being 
chairman  of  the  board  half  of  the  time,  and 
was  also  president  of  the  village  for  two  terms, 
while  he  is  one  of  its  oldest  directors  in  point 
of  time.      For  twenty-five  years  he  has  beeij 


one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Starr  Institute,  of 
Rhinebeck,  and  has  served  as  secretary  of  the 
board  the  greater  part  of  that  time.  He  takes 
a  prominent  part  in  the  Masonic  order,  being 
a  Knight  Templar,  and  for  several  terms  has 
been  master  of  the  lodge,  and  past  chancellor 
commander  of  the  order  of  K.  of  T.  Relig- 
iously, he  belongs  to  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church,  but  most  of  his  family  are  Episco- 
palians. 


M 


j-ENRY  H.  HUSTIS  (deceased),  late  attor- 
i  ney  and  counsellor  at  law,  Fishkill-on- 
Hudson,  and  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  promi- 
nent members  of  the  Dutchess  County  Bar,  was 
born  March  9,  1829,  at  North  Highlands,  town 
of  Phillipstown,  Putnam  county,  N.  Y.,  and 
died  at  Fishkill-on-Hudson  December  14,  1896. 
His  family  is  of  English  origin,  and  the  first 
of  the  American  line  came  to  New  England 
about  1630.  He  was  of  the  sixth  generation 
from  Robert,  who  came  from  Fairfield  county, 
Conn.,  about  the  year  1664,  and  settled  at 
Westchester,  Westchester  county,  N.  Y.,  where 
David  Hustis,  our  subject's  great-great-grand- 
father, was  born.  He  was  a  captain  in  the 
Revolutionary  army  in  Col.  Van  Rensselaer's 
regiment,  and  must  have  been  over  sixty  years 
of  age  at  that  time.  In  1730  he  bought  from 
the  Indians  several  hundred  acres  of  land  in 
Putnam  county,  three  miles  from  the  present 
village  of  Cold  Springs,  and  this  estate  has 
since  been  owned  and  occupied  continuously 
by  the  family,  a  portion  of  it,  120  acres,  being 
now  owned  by  our  subject.  A  part  of  the  old 
house  built  by  Capt.  David  Hustis  is  still  stand- 
ing as  it  was  during  the  Colonial  period,  addi- 
tions have  been  made  to  it  from  time  to  time. 
The  farm  adjoining  is  now  owned  by  Samuel 
D.  Hustis,  whose  great-grandfather  was  a 
brother  of  our  subject's  grandfather.  The  house 
upon  that  estate  was  also  built  in  Colonial 
times,  and  Gen.  Washington  and  his  staff 
stopped  there  on  their  way  to  West  Point  from 
Connecticut,  and  were  met  by  a  messenger 
who  told  them  of  the  treason  of  Benedict  Ar- 
nold. Capt.  David  Hustis  had  a  son  Joseph, 
who  married  Mary  Hunt,  and  had  three  sons: 
Robert,  Joseph  and  David.  Robert  Hustis 
married  Tainar  Budd,  and  had  a  son  Nicholas, 
who  was  born  at  the  old  homestead  in  1803, 
and  was  a  farmer  there  all  his  life.  He  mar- 
ried Martha  Haight,  who  was  born  in  1804, 
and  they  reared  a  family  of  nine  children.     The 


1_ 


UOMMKMOltATlVBl  HlOOHAl'HWAL  IlEOORD. 


69 


father  died  in  1866,  and  the  mother  passed 
away  in  1886. 

IlcMiry  11.  lliistis  attciuicd  the  district 
sch(j()l.s  near  ihc  old  home  for  some  time  in 
boyhood,  and  later  studied  for  two  years  in 
a  (Quaker  school,  finishing  his  academic  educa- 
tion at  Amenia  Seminary.  He  l)ef,'an  the 
study  of  law  in  Newburi,'  with  Jud^'e  William 
Fnllerton,  the  great  criminal  lawyer  of  New 
York  ('ity,  and  afterward  spent  one  year  in  the 
office  of  Judge  Monell;  and  one  year  with 
Judge  (ieorge.  In  September,  1852,  he  was 
admitted  at  Poughkeepsie  to  the  bar  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  and  June  3,  1853,  he  opened 
his  office  at  Fishkill-on-Hudson,  taking  the 
practice  of  John  Owens.  For  forty-three 
years  he  was  continuously  engaged  in  profes- 
sional work,  and  won  a  high  reputation  as  a 
practitioner.  He  took  an  active  interest  in 
local  politics,  and  was  an  able  worker  in  the 
Republican  party.      In    1866,  1868,  1870  and 

1873  he  was   president  of  the  village,  and  in 

1874  he  was  elected  supervisor  of  the  town, 
and  was  chairman  of  the  board  of  supervisors 
of  Dutchess  county  in  that  year.  The  family 
have  a  pleasant  home  on  South  avenue.  His 
wife  was  Miss  Elizabeth  V.  W.  Anthony, 
daughter  of  Nicholas  and  Maria  (Knapp)  An- 
thony.    They  had  five  children. 


JOHN    P.   ATWATER.   M.    D.     This  well- 
known    and    highly   respected    citizen    of 
Foughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  is  a  native 
of  (Carlisle,  Fenn.,  where  he  was  born   March 
1813,  and   where   his  early  life  was  spent. 
ke  rudiments  of  his  education  were  obtained 
Hopkins'  Grammar  School,  in  New  Haven, 
onn.,  then,  in  1830.  he  entered  Yale  College, 
td  was  graduated  with   the  class  of  '34,  after 
lich  he  attended  the  medical  college  in  New 
iven,  where  he  secured  a  practical  knowl- 
%t  of  medicine. 

In  1836  Dr.  Atwater  went  to  Cincinnati 
hd  practiced  medicine  there  for  a  few  years, 
Ben  he  retired,  and  returned  to  New  Haven, 
liere  he  lived  quietly.  In  1870  the  Doctor 
jved  to  Foughkeepsie  and  took  up  his  resi- 
ice  there.  On  July  27,  t845,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Lucy  J,  Fhelps,  who  wa.s  from 
West  Townshend,  Vt. ,  where  she  was  born 
January  14,  1828.  Her  father,  Charles 
I'heips,  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  a  son 
of  Timothy  Fhelps,  whose  ancestors  were 
I'^nglish.     To  our  subject   and  his  wife  were 


born  the  following  children:  Edward  S.  and 
Lucy.  The  Doctor  is  a  Kepiihlicaii  and,  with 
his  wife,  contributes  to  the  support  of  the  l'"irst 
Reformed  ("hurcOi.  They  have  a  beautiful 
home,  surrounded  by  spacious  drives  and 
walks,  well-kept  lawns,  co.sy  nooks  within  the 
sliadf)W  of  stately  oak  trees,  and  charming 
siimtncr  houses. 

I'  I'  iiii:ih  Atwater,  father  of  our  subject, 
wa.s  l)(jiii  in  New  Haven.  Conn.,  October  i, 
1774,  where  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  was 
gradii.'ited  from  Yale  College.  He  organized 
Middlebury  College,  and  was  selected  as  its 
first  president;  in  1809  he  held  the  same  office 
of  Dickenson  College,  Carlisle,  Fenn.  After 
moving  to  New  Haven  he  lived  a  retired  life. 
He  married  Miss  Clarissa  Storrs,  a  native  of 
Sandisfield,  Mass.,  where  she  was  born  Janu- 
ary 7,  1776.  Her  father,  Eleazer  Storrs,  was 
born  in  Mansfield,  Conn.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  At- 
water had  threi;  children:  John  F.,  our  sub- 
ject; William,  formerly  a  druggist  in  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.,  who  died  April  20,  1873;  Clarissa, 
born  in  1803,  who  became  the  wife  of  Kev. 
Oliver  Butterficld,  and  died  January  16,  1871; 
and  William,  bf>rn  in  1806. 

Jeremiah  Atwater,  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  New  Haven,  Conn.  He 
married  Miss  Lois  Hurd,  and  they  settled  in 
New  Haven,  where  he  followed  the  occupation 
of  a  merchant.  Their  children  were  as  fol- 
lows: Jeremiah;  John,  a  carriage  maker; 
Charles,  who  settled  in  North  Hranford,  Conn. ; 
Lewis,  who  was  a  carp<;nter  and  house  builder; 
I'armie,  who  married  /ebul  Bradley,  a  jeweler; 
Nancy,  who  died  unmarried.  Jeremiah  died 
in  1835.  His  son,  Jeremiah,  died  July  29, 
1858. 

Edward  Storrs  Atwater,  a  son  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  April  10,  1853,  at  Cincinnati. 
He  took  a  preparatory  course  at  Phillips  Acad- 
emy, Andover,  Mass.,  and  was  graduated  at 
YaleC'ollege,  in  1875,  from  the  classical  course. 
After  leaving  college  he  studied  law  in  Fough- 
keepsie with  Judge  H.  M.  Taylor,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1880.  He  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  law  in  office  work  until  i8g(,  when 
he  was  elected  jjresident  of  the  Fartners'&  Man- 
ufacturers' National  Bank,  of  Foughkeepsie, 
which  position  he  has  held  ever  since,  In 
1880  he  was  married  to  Miss  (Caroline  P.  Swift, 
a  daughter  of  ("harles  W.  Swift,  and  a  gradu- 
ate of  Vassar  College  in  the  class  of  'jj.  The 
following  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs, 
Atwater:  Morton,  Lucy,  Eliot  and  Evelyn,  all 


P 


60 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


living  at  home.  Mr.  Atwater  was  formerly  a 
Republican,  but  is  now  a  Democrat,  although 
he  does  not  take  an  active  part  in  politics. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  First  Reformed  Church, 
and  of  the  Dutchess  Club  and  Amrita  Club,  of 
Poughkeepsie.  In  public  matters  he  is  one  of 
the  leading  men  of  the  city,  and  is  a  director 
of  the  Poughkeepsie  Iron  Co.  and  of  the  For- 
est of  Dean  Iron  Co.,  and  a  trustee  of  the 
Savings  Bank.  [Since  the  above  was  written 
Dr.  Atwater  died  in  May,  1897.] 


EV.   ACMON  P.  VAN  GIESON.  D.  D., 

pastor  of  the  First  Reformed  Church  of 
Poughkeepsie,  is  now  in  the  thirtieth  year  of 
his  beneficent  service  at  that  charge.  He  be- 
longs to  one  of  the  old  Holland-Dutch  families, 
the  first  ancestor  to  cross  the  ocean  having 
been  Reynier  Bastiansen  Van  Gieson,  who 
settled  in  New  Amsterdam  prior  to  1660,  and 
later  made  his  home  in  New  Jersey,  where 
many  of  the  name  now  live. 

A  majority  of  the  early  members  of  the 
family  were  agriculturists,  and  our  subject's 
grandfather,  Reynier  Van  Gieson,  followed 
that  occupation  all  his  life.  He  married 
Sarah  Kent,  daughter  of  Jacob  Kent,  who 
entered  the  Colonial  army  as  a  volunteer 
at  the  opening  of  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  served  until  peace  was  declared.  Ira 
Van  Gieson,  the  Doctor's  father,  was  reared 
upon  a  farm,  but  engaged  in  business  as  a 
manufacturer,  being  one  of  the  original 
members  of  the  Newark  (N.  J.)  Lime  &  Ce- 
ment Company.  His  wife,  Sarah  Thompson, 
was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  J.  Thompson.  Both  parents 
died  at  their  home  in  Newark,  N.  J.  Of  their 
five  children,  the  Doctor  was  the  eldest. 
Another  son,  Ransford  E.  Van  Gieson,  M.  D. , 
of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ,  was  a  surgeon  in  the  navy 
during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  and  has  a 
son,  Ira  Van  Gieson,  M.  D. ,  who  is  a  member 
of  the  staff  of  instructors  in  the  New  York 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  New  York 
City,  and  chief  of  the  Commission  on  Path- 
ology of  Insanity  for   the   State  of   New  York. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  Janu- 
ary 13,.  1830,  in  West  Bloomfield,  Essex 
Co.,  N.  J.,  and  at  four  years  of  age  was  taken 
by  his  parents  to  Newark,  N.  J.,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood.  Love  of  study  was  a  marked 
characteristic  even  in  youth,  but  previous  to 
entering  college  he  taught   school   and  clerked 


in  a  grocery  for  a  time.  He  took  a  course  in 
the  University  of  New  York,  graduating  in 
1849,  and  in  1852  he  completed  his  prepara- 
tion for  the  fninistry  in  the  Theological  Semi- 
nary of  the  Reformed  Church,  located  in  New 
Brunswick.  He  took  charge  of  the  Reformed 
Church  at  Catskill,  N.  Y. ,  in  the  same  year, 
and  was  ordained  as  its  pastor  in  1853.  In 
1855  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  First  Reformed 
Church  in  Brooklyn,  where  he  remained  until 
1859.  For  rhe  six  years  following  he  was 
stationed  at  Claverack,  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  in  1865  a  call  was  accepted  from  the 
Church  of  Greenpoint  (Brooklyn),  his  ministra- 
tions there  being  continued  until  September, 
1867,  when  he  assumed  the  pastorate  of  the 
First  Church  of  Poughkeepsie,  one  of  the 
principal  congregations  in  the  city.  This  so- 
ciety was  organized  in  17 16,  being  the  oldest 
in  Dutchess  county. 

Dr.  Van  Gieson  has  added  to  his  cares  as 
a  pastor  much  literary  work,  chiefly  on  theo- 
logical lines,  and  the  value  of  his  effort  has 
been  recognized  without  as  well  as  within  the 
Church.  In  1872  he  received  the  degree  of 
D.  D.,  from  Rutgers  College,  and  in  1873  he 
was  president  of  the  Synod.  Among  his  books 
are  a  history  of  the  Poughkeepsie  Church, 
published  in  1892,  an  address  on  the  "Type 
of  Doctrine  of  the  Reformed  Church,"  pub- 
lished in  1876,  as  one  of  the  Centennial  publi- 
cations, and  a  history  of  the  Ratification  of 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  by  the 
State  of  New  York,  published  in  1895.  He 
has  urged  effectively  the  erection  of  a  monu- 
ment in  Poughkeepsie,  to  commemorate  that 
important  historical  event,  and  this  will  un- 
doubtedly be  done  by  the  Daughters  of  the 
Revolution,  who  have  taken  the  project  in 
hand. 

On  July  9,  1857,  Dr.  Van  Gieson  was 
married  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  to  his  first  wife, 
Miss  Anna  Skillman,  daughter  of  John  Skill- 
man,  a  well-known  resident  of  the  "City  of 
Churches,"  and  a  descendant  of  the  first  white 
child  born  on  Long  Island.  Of  the  three 
children  of  this  union  one  died  in  infancy. 
The  others  are:  Mrs.  D.  Crosby  Foster,  of 
Poughkeepsie;  and  Mrs.  Cecil  W.  H.  Jones, 
of  Bermuda.  The  mother  died  February  22, 
1865,  and  December  11,  1878,  the  Doctor 
formed  a  second  union,  with  Miss  Maria  Swift, 
who  is  still  living.  Hale  and  hearty  in  ap- 
pearance. Dr.  Van  Gieson  bears  his  years 
lightly,  his   tall   form   being  full   of  the  vigor 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPEWAL  RECORD. 


61 


which  comes  from  outdoor  exercise,  while  his 
kindly,  pleasant  face  has  a  youthful  look  in 
-ontrast  with  his  snow-white  hair.  As  a  citizen 
le  has  always  taken  keen  interest  in  public 
;ffairs.  Early  in  life  he  was  a  pronounced 
pponent  of  slavery,  and  he  has  been  a  mem- 
iier  of  the  Republican  party  since  its  organiza- 
tion. In  all  matters  that  pertain  to  the  prog- 
ress of  the  city  where  he  has  made  his  home, 
his  influence  is  a  recognized  power  for  good. 


GEORGE  W.  INGRAHAM,  an  attorney  at 
_  law  of  Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  is  de- 
scended from  Timothy  and  Sarah  (Cowell) 
Ingraham,  who  were  residents  of  Boston,  and 
later  lived  at  Bristol,  R.  I.  John  Ingraham, 
their  fourth  son,  was  born  December  8,  1701, 
and  was  married  December  12,  1723,  to  Miss 
Mary  Fry.  Jeremiah  Ingraham,  their  fourth 
child,  was  born  December  8,  1731,  married  Re- 
becca Monroe,  a  cousin  of  President  James  Mon- 
le,  and  died  at  an  advanced  age  in  the  faith 
if  the  Episcopal  Church.  Thomas  Ingraham, 
the  third  son  of  Jeremiah,  was  born  Novem- 
ber 8,  1773,  and  in  1792  wedded  Margaret 
W'ardwell.  They  were  the  parents  of  our 
subject.  George  Ingraham,  an  uncle,  was  the 
first  of  the  family  to  locate  in  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, coming  from  Bristol,  R.  I.,  to   Amenia  in 

1785- 

In  1795  the  parents  of  our  subject  be- 
came residents  of  Dutchess  county,  arriving 
in  Amenia  on  the  3d  of  July,  that  year,  with 
their  two  children.  They  had  made  the  jour- 
ney from  Bristol  by  water  to  Poughkeepsie, 
then  overland  to  Amenia.  Here  the  father 
engaged  in  farming  until  his  death,  and  was 
also  a  stockholder  in  the  woolen-mill  at  Leeds- 
ville,  Dutchess  county,  during  the  war  of  18 12. 
He  was  a  Federalist  in  politics,  and  a  con- 
icuous  character  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
urch.  For  years  he  held  the  office  of  com- 
lissioner  of  highways,  and  was  also  overseer 
the  poor.  He  died  May  r2,  1841,  and  his 
lithful  wife  was  called  to  her  final  rest  April 
1855.  In  their  family  were  eleven  chil- 
'en:  Mary,  Samuel,  Nathaniel,  Allen,  Han- 
h,  Thomas  Swan,  Abigail,  Josiah,  John, 
orge  W.  and  Sally  Ann,  all  of  whom  are 
w  deceased  with  the  exception  of  our  sub- 
let, and  his  brother  John,  of  Poughkeepsie. 
George  Whitfield  Ingraham  was  born  No- 
mber2  5,  181 1,  in  the  tcwn  of  Amenia,  where 
boyhood  days  were  passed.      His  literary 


education  was  received  in  the  district  schools 
and  by  one  winter's  attendance  at  a  select 
school.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he  be- 
gan reading  law  under  the  direction  of  Robert 
Wilkinson,  of  Poughkeepsie,  but  did  not  apply 
for  a  diploma  until  the  close  of  the  Civil  war. 
For  twenty  years  he  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace,  five  terms  in  succession,  and  his  wise 
rulings  ever  showed  thought  and  deliberation. 
His  practice  has  been  mostly  confined  to  real- 
estate  law,  and  he  has  also  engaged  in  survey- 
ing and  engineering,  helping  to  lay  out  the 
New  York  &  Harlem  railroad.  He  has  ever 
taken  a  commendable  interest  in  the  cause  of 
education,  and  has  been  inspector  and  com- 
missioner of  schools. 

On  October  22,  1834,  at  Sharon,  Conn., 
Mr.  Ingraham  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Electa  Hunt,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Aaron  Hunt, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  four  children, 
as  follows:  Sarah  J.,  who  married  Samuel  R. 
Free,  of  Willimantic,  Conn.;  Aaron  Hunt,  who 
during  the  dark  days  of  the  Rebellion  enlisted 
in  the  48th  N.  Y.  S.  V.,  was  killed  while  lead- 
ing a  charge  at  Cold  Harbor,  June  i,  1864, 
and  his  body  was  there  interred;  Phebe  H.  is 
the  next  in  order  of  birth;  and  George  Irving 
(deceased),  who  had  married  Fannie  B.  Payne, 
and  had  one  daughter,  Margery  Starr.  Mr. 
Ingraham  has  been  called  upon  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  his  excellent  wife,  who  died  October 
10,  1889.  Our  subject  cast  his  first  vote  in 
support  of  the  Whig  party,  and  since  its  disso- 
lution has  been  an  ardent  Republican;  in  re- 
ligious faith  he  is  a  faithful  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  for  the 
long  period  of  forty  years  he  has  served  as 
clerk,  and  for  many  years  was  trustee,  steward 
and  class  leader.  He  is  the  originator  of  the 
law  in  the  State  of  New  York  which  gives  a  mar- 
ried woman  the  right  to  hold  real  and  personal 
property  independent  of  her  husband,  which 
took  him  eight  years  to  get  passed;  but  he 
never  gave  up  until  his  object  was  accomplished. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-five  years  he  conceived 
the  idea  that  the  changes  of  the  weather,  in- 
cluding sunshine  and  clouds,  winds  and  storms, 
could  be  reduced  to  a  science,  and  at  once  be- 
gan to  evolve  a  theory.  After  close  study  for 
many  years  he  decided  that  his  theory  was 
correct,  and  then  made  known  his  conclusions 
to  some  of  his  friends  and  neighbors.  One  of 
those  men  is  now  living  in  the  City  of  New  York. 
This  company  ridiculed  his  position.  Nothing 
daunted,  he  put  his  ideas  with  his  observations 


62 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  a  letter  and  sent  the  same  to  Washington, 
D.  C,  in  charge  of  the  then  member  of  Congress 
from  his  district.  That  formed  the  nucleus 
of  the  present  Government  weather  bureau. 

Mr.  Ingraham  has  always  made  his  home 
upon  his  farm  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  and  is 
widely  and  favorably  known  throughout  the 
community,  being  held  in  the  highest  regard 
by  all  with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact. 


C*>HARLES  W.  H.  ARNOLD.  Among  the 
'I  leading  lights  of  the  legal  fraternity  of 
Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  is  Charles  W. 
H.  Arnold,  who  was  born  in  New  York  City 
May  5,  i860.  Though  born  in  the  city  his 
boyhood  was  passed  on  the  farms  in  the  towns 
of  Hyde  Park  and  Milan,  in  Dutchess  county, 
and  here  in  the  district  schools  he  received  his 
common-school  education.  To  an  active  mind 
the  law  furnished  many  attractions,  as  it  is  a 
study  never  completed,  but  whose  scope  is 
ever  widening  and  changing.  Our  subject, 
when  just  out  of  the  school  room,  followed 
various  pursuits,  but,  when  twenty,  determined 
to  enter  the  legal  profession,  and,  accordingly, 
entered  the  office  of  J.  S.  Van  Cleef,  as  a  stu- 
dent, and  in  December,  1883,  was  admitted 
to  the  bar.  He  has  made  a  specialty  of  cor- 
poration law,  and  holds  the  office  of  attorney 
for  the  Poughkeepsie  National  Bank  (in  which 
he  is  also  one  of  the  directors);  is  attorney  for 
the  Fallkill  Knitting  Company,  of  which  he  is 
also  treasurer  and  general  manager,  and  attor- 
ney for  the  New  Paltz  and  Wallkill  Valley 
R.  R.  In  1894  he  was  a  member  of  the  Con- 
stitutional Convention. 

On  October  1 1,  1892,  Mr.  Arnold  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Alice  Schouten,  daughter  of  Rich- 
ard A.  Schotiten,  and  two  interesting  children 
have  come  to  brighten  their  home,  namely: 
Richard  Henry  and  Alice  Margaret.  Socially 
Mr.  Arnold  is  a  member  of  Triune  Lodge, 
Masonic  order,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  also  of 
the  Dutchess  Club  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  he  is 
at  present  president  of  the  Staatsburgh  Fire 
Company.  Religiously  he  is  an  active  worker 
in  St.  Margaret's  Episcopal  Church  at  Staats- 
burgh, in  which  he  is  vestryman,  and  is  serving 
as  clerk  of  the  vestry. 

Henry  Arnold,  father  of  our  subject,  was  a 
native  of  Saxony,  Germany,  and  came  to  this 
country  at  the  age  of  fourteen.  In  Schoharie 
county,  N.  Y.,  he  was  married  to  Margaret 
Hemstreet,   and  the    following   children  were 


born  to  them:  Elda,  who  married  Q.  F.  Shaf- 
ford,  of  the  town  of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess 
county;  Charles  W.  H.,  our  subject;  Florence, 
who  married  Frederick  Wheaton,  of  Yonkers, 
N.  Y. ;  George  and  Henry.  The  father  of  this 
family  was  river  superintendent  of  the  National 
Ice  Company. 


WALTER  D.   O.   K.   STRONG,   M.    D. 
Despite  the  salubrious  air    and  other 

advantages  of  this  favored  region,  its  inhab- 
itants have  occasional  need  for  the  care  of  a 
physician.  Among  the  ablest  of  the  practi- 
tioners who  minister  to  the  many  ills  that  flesh 
is  heir  to,  even  under  the  best  conditions,  is 
Dr.  Strong,  of  Fishkill  Landing,  Dutchess 
county,  whose  history  is  well  worthy  of  a 
permanent  record  among  those  of  the  leading _ 
workers  in  professional  and  other  lines. 

Dr.  Strong  was  born  August  10,  1823,  at 
Owasco,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  and  is  remotely 
of  English  descent,  his  ancestors  having  crossed 
the  Atlantic  at  a  very  early  date.  His  great- 
grandfather, Asher  Strong,  had  his  home  in 
youth  in  eastern  New  York,  but  later  settled  at 
Cooperstovvn,  Otsegocounty.  Isaac  Strong,  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  moved  to  Owasco, 
Cayuga  county,  about  the  year  1800,  and 
engaged  in  farming  and  the  hotel  business. 
He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Waterman,  of 
Cooperstown,  and  had  two  daughters  and  one 
son  :  Walter,  the  youngest  of  the  trio;  Nancy, 
the  eldest,  married  Thaddeus  Thompson,  a 
wool  dresser  and  the  owner  of  a  mill;  Eliza- 
beth married  E.  Clark,  a  cabinet  maker. 

Walter  Strong,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  at  Cooperstown,  but  when  one  year 
old  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Cayuga  county, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  naturally  be- 
came familiar  with  the  details  of  hotel  manage- 
ment. For  a  time  he  followed  the  business; 
but,  choosing  the  independence  of  agricultural 
life,  he  located  later  upon  a  large  farm.  In 
1833  he  traded  this  for  one  of  400  acres  in 
Crawford  county,  Penn.,  where  he  spent  about 
fifteen  years,  and  then  made  an  exchange  for 
a  hotel  and  a  farm  of  100  acres  at  Jefferson, 
Ohio.  He  died  in  1862,  and  his  wife,  Sarah 
(De  Voe),  passed  away  in  1878.  She  was  of 
French  descent,  and  was  born  in  the  south- 
eastern part  of  New  York,  the  daughter  of  Hon. 
Elijah  De  Voe,  who  was  elected  to  the  Legis- 
lature in  1819,  and  again  in  1825.  Waiter 
and  Sarah  Strong  had  eight  children:     Elijah,- 


OOMMEMOBATIVE  BIOOEAPHWAL  RECOBD. 


68 


the  eldest,  is  a  prominent  resident  of  Plymouth, 
Ohio,  and  has  been  maj'or  of  the  town,  and 
has  also  served  for  years  as  justice  of  the 
peace;  Malvina,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  S.  C. 
Stratton,  of  Linesville,  Penn.,  a  tanner  and 
currier;  W.  U.  O.  K.  is  our  subject;  Sarah  E. 
married  Horatio  Shattuck,  who  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Civil  war,  and  is  now  deceased;  Edwin 
T.  is  a  farmer  at  Jefferson,  Ohio;  Isaac  M., 
who  died  in  1888,  was  first  a  merchant  and 
later  a  banker  at  Bancroft,  Mich. ;  Cornelia  M., 
an  artist  of  note  and  the  painter  of  the  ' '  Elec- 
trical Commission"  (which  was  purchased  for 
$7,000,  and  is  now  in  the  Capitol  at  Washing- 
ton, D.  C. ),  married  Samuel  Fassett,  a  pho- 
tographer, and  resides  in  Washington;  Nancy  J. 
married  John  A.  Harvey,  of  Ashtabula,  Ohio. 
Dr.  Strong's  boyhood  was  spent  at  his  na- 
tive place,  where  he  received  his  elementary 
education  from  his  grandfather,  who  was  a 
teacher.  At  nineteen  he  began  a  business 
career  as  a  clerk  in  a  store,  but  after  three 
years  he  engaged  in  teaching,  and  gave  all  his 
spare  time  to  the  study  of  medicine.  Desiring 
further  literary  education,  he  attended  school 
at  Ivingsville,  Ohio,  taking  an  academic  course, 
and  later  studied  at  Auburn,  N.  Y.  He  then 
taught  for  a  few  months,  and  in  1846  he  en- 
tered the  office  of  Dr.  Benjamin  De  Voe,  an 
uncle,  to  prepare  for  entrance  to  the  medical 
department  of  Buffalo  University,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  April  19,  1849.  For  one 
year  he  practiced  with  his  uncle,  and  then,  in 
1850,  located  at  Sennett,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y., 
being  accompanied  to  this  place  by  his  bride. 
Miss  Maria  Rosa,  daughter  of  Jacob  Rosa, 
formerly  of  Hurley,  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.  Five 
years  were  spent  at  Sennett  in  successful  prac- 
tice. Dr.  Strong  serving  also  as  superintendent 
©f  the  local  schools  for  two  terms.  In  1856 
returned  to  his  old  home  at  Owasco,  and 
|iring  the  winters  of  1856  and  '57  he  attended 
course  of  lectures  upon  homeopathy  in  Phila- 
felphia.  Resuming  his  practice  at  home,  he 
^ntinued  until  1870,  when  he  moved  to  Mil- 
)rd,  Del.,  and  followed  his  profession  for  ten 
jars.  Since  1880  he  has  been  established  at 
pshkill  Landing,  where  he  enjoys  a  large  and 
:rative  practice,  his  abilities,  developed  by 
Sde  experience,  gaining  the  confidence  of  the 
^mmunity  to  a  marked  degree. 

The  Doctor  is  a  firm  adherent  of  the  Re- 

ilblican  party,  and  is  interested,  as  every  in- 

jlligent  citizen  should  be,  in  the  various  pro- 

ssive   movements  of    the  time.      His  only 


son  now  living,  Edwin  E.,  holds  a  responsible 
position  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Fishkill 
Landing,  with  which  he  has  been  connected 
for  thirteen  years.  An  elder  son,  Jacob  R., 
began  practice  as  a  physicia«n  in  the  same  town, 
but  his  death  in  1892  cut  short  a  most  prom- 
ising career. 


MOOSEVELT.  The  first  of  the  name  to 
come  to  this  country  was  Claas  Marten- 
son  Van  Roosevelt,  who  emigrated  from  Hol- 
land to  New  York  in  1647. 

The  various  members  of  the  family  held 
prominent  positions  in  New  York,  and  Isaac 
Roosevelt  was  one  of  the  first  senators  from 
that  city;  one  of  the  framers  of  the  first  consti- 
tution of  the  State  of  New  York,  when  the 
Constitutional  Convention  sat  at  Poughkeep- 
sie;  one  of  the  founders  and  president  of  the 
New  York  Hospital;  the  bank  of  New  York, 
and  various  charitable  institutions. 

James  Roosevelt,  son  of  Isaac  Roosevelt, 
settled  at  Mount  Hope,  a  country  place  near 
Poughkeepsie,  and  his  descendants  have  had 
homes  in  the  neighborhood  of  Poughkeepsie 
and  Hyde  Park  ever  since. 

The  present  James  Roosevelt  of  Pough- 
keepsie and  Hyde  Park,  Dutchess  county,  was 
born  at  New  York  City,  and  has  interested  him- 
self in  railways,  etc;  was  one  of  the  Govern- 
ment Commissioners  for  the  World's  Fair  held 
at  Chicago  in  1893;  is  vice  president  of  the 
Delaware  &  Hudson  Canal  Co. ;  and  holds 
various  positions  of  trust. 


ENRY  PEARCE,  M.  D.,  a  leading  phy- 
sician and  surgeon  of  Pawling,  Dutchess 
county,  is  one  of  the  best  known  practitioners 
of  that  locality.  As  a  surgeon  he  has  won  an 
enviable  reputation,  and  his  practice  extends 
over  a  wide  radius,  including  the  northern  por- 
tion of  Putnam  county.  His  family  is  on::  of 
the  oldest  in  the  town  of  Pawling,  his  great- 
grandfather, Col.  William  Pearce,  of  Revolu- 
tionary fame,  having  come  from  Rhode  Island 
during  the  Colonial  period.  He  must  have 
been  acquainted  with  Gen.  Washington,  as  the 
latter  had  his  headquarters  for  some  time  at 
the  foot  of  Quaker  Hill.  Col.  Pearce  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  and  owned  a  tract  of  land 
west  of  the  village  of  Pawling,  now  occupied 
by  Charles  Hoag.  This  has  been  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the   family   for   more  than   a  hundred 


64 


COMMEMORA  TIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


years.  By  his  first  wife  Col.  Pearce  had  four 
children:  Henry,  Benoni,  Roxana  and  Mary. 
Roxana  married  Mr.  Howland,  and  went  to 
Canada,  and  became  the  mother  of  Sir  Will- 
iam Howland.  Mary  also  married.  Col. 
Pearce  had  two  sons,  William  and  John,  by  a 
second  marriage. 

Henry  Pearce,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
was  also  a  farmer,  and  lived  about  three  miles 
north  of  Pawling.  He  married  Rebecca  Bird- 
sell,  and  reared  a  family  of  five  children,  of 
whom  our  subject's  father,  Benoni  Pearce, 
was  the  eldest.  (2)  Nathaniel  spent  his  life 
at  the  old  homestead,  and  his  excellent  natural 
abilities  made  him  a  leader  in  the  community, 
where  for  many  years  he  held  the  office  of 
assessor.  He  married  Julia  Ferris,  but  had 
no  children.  (3)  Roxana  married  Henry  Stark, 
and  lived  in  Penn  Yan,  N.  Y.  (4)  Amy  mar- 
ried Jaleel  Billings  Stark,  a  leading  merchant 
of  Pawling.  (5)  Rebecca  married  Daniel 
Shove,  and  lived  at  Wellsburg,  New  York. 

Benoni  Pearce  was  born  in  1808,  and  fol- 
lowed farming  at  Pawling  until  185 1,  when  he 
moved  to  a  farm  of  200  acres  at  Penn  Yan, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days,  his 
death  occurring  there  in  1895.  Although  he 
was  never  an  office  holder,  he  took  a  keen  in- 
terest in  political  questions,  being  a  Whig  in 
early  life  and  afterward  a  Republican.  He 
was  a  devout  Methodist,  and  for  many  years 
was  an  official  in  the  Church.  His  first  wife 
was  Mary  Ann  Stark,  a  daughter  of  Benoni 
Stark,  and  after  her  death,  in  1853,  he  mar- 
ried her  sister,  Rachel.  By  his  first  marriage 
he  had  seven  children,  of  whom  the  Doctor  is 
the  eldest.  The  others  were  Lillius  H.,  wife 
of  A.  J.  Brown,  of  Yates  county,  N.  Y. ; 
Jeremiah  S.,  sheriff  of  Dutchess  county; 
James  S.,  who  lives  in  Pawling,  N.  Y.; 
Charles  W. ,  who  lives  in  New  York  City;  Ed- 
win M.  (deceased);  and  Elizabeth  M. ,  who 
married  John  Gelder,  a  farmer  and  grape 
grower  of  Yates  county. 

Dr.  Pearce  was  born  in  Pawling,  March  i, 
1833,  and  received  his  academic  education 
there  and  in  the  schools  of  Yates  county.  In 
1853  he  entered  the  Medical  Department  of 
the  University  of  Michigan,  and  was  graduated 
with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  in  1857.  He  began 
his  professional  career  at  Ulysses,  Potter  Co. , 
Penn.,  but  after  two  years  there  he  came  to 
Pawling  to  practice.  In  1862  he  entered  the 
army  as  assistant  surgeon  of  the  i  50th  N.  Y. 
V.    I.,    with    C.    M.    Campbell.      During   the 


march  to  Lookout  Mountain  his  horse  fell,  and 
the  Doctor  was  so  injured  that  his  left  leg  had 
to  be  amputated  above  the  knee;  although  he 
was  obliged  to  resign  his  former  position  in 
the  regiment,  he  remained  in  the  department 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  spent  three 
years  practicing  at  Carmel,  Putnam  county, 
but  finally  settled  at  Pawling,  where  he  has 
now  been  successfully  engaged  in  practice  for 
nearly  thirty  years,  his  business  covering  a 
larger  territory  than  that  of  any  other  phy- 
sician in  that  locality.  He  is  also  the  senior 
partner  in  the  firm  of  Dr.  H.  Pearce  &  Co., 
the  leading  druggists  of  Pawling. 

The  Doctor  has  been  three  times  married. 
His  first  wife  was  Sarah  Hall,  of  Pawling. 
His  second  wife,  Augusta  M.  (Stark),  daughter 
of  J.  W.  Stark,  died  in  1878,  leaving  one  son, 
George  Stark  Pearce,  now  a  successful  phy- 
sician at  Dover  Plains;  a  daughter,  Bessie, 
died  at  the  age  of  four  years.  In  1888  Dr. 
Pearce  married  his  third  wife,  Julia  (Travis), 
of  Carmel,  Putnam  county.  The  Doctor  is  an 
ardent  Republican,  and,  like  all  of  his  family, 
is  very  patriotic  and  public-spirited.  He  is  a 
member  of  C.  W.  Campbell  Post,  G.  A.  R. , 
and  also  of  the  medical  societies  of  Putnam 
and  Dutchess  counties. 


♦ 


ON.  JOHN  H.  KETCHAM.  Dutchess 
JI^  county  has  possessed  and  possesses  many 
prominent  citizens  ;  but  in  all  their  number 
can  be  found  no  one  more  truly  representative, 
more  widely  or  actively  awake  to  the  interests 
of  the  community  at  large,  than  the  subject  of 
this  article. 

A  native  of  the  county,  Mr.  Ketcham  was 
born  December  21,  1832,  in  Dover,  and  is  a 
representative  of  one  of  the  oldest  families  in 
eastern  New  York,  being  the  second  son  and 
child  of  John  M.  and  Eliza  A.  Ketcham,  of 
Dover.  His  education  was  received  in  part  at 
Suffield,  Conn.,  in  part  at  Worcester,  Mass., 
where  he  was  graduated  in  185 1.  At  the  con- 
clusion of  his  studies,  and  on  his  return  to  his 
native  town,  he,  in  partnership  with  his  older 
brother,  William  S.,  commenced  farming,  and 
the  conducting  of  an  extensive  marble  busi- 
ness, which  they  successfully  continued  several 
years.  During  this  period  his  fellow  citizens, 
justly  recognizing  his  ability,  which  was  devel- 
oped in  an  active  business  life,  soon  called 
upon  him  to  represent  his  township  on  the 
board  of  supervisors,  and  he  served  two  terms, 


^s'^^^^^^^^^..*^ 


II 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAFmUAL  RECORD. 


65 


after  which  he  was  then  sent  to  the  Assembly 
for  two  terms,  from  which  he  passed  into  the 
State  Senate — his  entire  career  in  each  of  these 
responsibilities  proving  him  to  be  a  man  worthy 
to  represent  his  constituents. 

In  1 86 1,  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion,  Mr.  Ketcham  was  appointed,  by 
Gov.  Morgan,  a  member  of  the  war  commit- 
tee for  Dutchess  and  Columbia  counties,  and 
later  was  commissioned  to  raise  a  regiment, 
which  he  did  with  characteristic  zeal  and  energy, 
rapidly  filling  out  his  quota  with  picked  men 
of  Dutchess  county,  representing  for  the  most 
part  the  best  and  most  intelligent  families. 
His  regiment,  the  150th  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  proceeded 
first  to  Baltimore,  afterward  participating  in 
the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  where  it  suffered 
severely.  After  recruiting  his  regiment,  and 
filling  up  its  sadly  depleted  ranks.  Col.  Ketcham 
moved  his  command  southwest,  joining  Sher- 
man, and  was  with  him  in  the  memorable 
•  March  to  the  Sea."  While  on  duty  on  Ar- 
gyle  Island,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Savannah 
river,  our  subject  received  a  wound,  from  the 
effects  of  which  he  has  never  fully  recovered. 
At  Atlanta,  for  meritorius  conduct,  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general  by  bre- 
vet, afterward  to  brigadier-general,  and  subse- 
quently to  major-general  by  brevet.  While 
with  his  command  in  Georgia,  he  was  nomi- 
nated for  member  of  Congress  from  his  Dis- 
trict, and  was  elected  by  a  large  majority.  He 
has  since  served  eleven  terms  in  that  office,  on 
each  occasion  being  nominated  by  acclamation, 
and  receiving  the  support  of  the  people  of  his 
District,  irrespective  of  party,  his  majorities 
being  unprecedented  in  that  county.  At  the 
termination  of  his  twelfth  term  he  was  tendered 
a  unanimous  renomination,  but  owing  to  im- 
paired health  he  respectfully  declined  further 
service. 

The  great  secret  of  Gen.  Ketcham's  popu- 
larity has  always  been  his  untiring  and  unre- 
mitting efforts  to  promote  the  interests  of  his 
constituents,  irrespective  of  party.  During 
the  interval  of  three  years  when  he  was  not  in 
Congress,  the  General  was  appointed,  by  Presi- 
dent Grant,  a  commissioner  of  the  District  of 
Columbia,  ex-Gov.  Dennison,  of  Ohio,  and 
Hon.  H.  T.  Blow,  of  Missouri  fsince  deceased), 
being  his  associates,  in  which  incumbency  he 
served  with  his  usual  energy  and  fidelity  for  a 
period  of  nearly  three  years.  About  the  time 
of  his  retirement  from  the  office  of  District 
Commissioner,  in  1877,  he  received  letters 
5 


from  a  large  number  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
the  District  expressing  regret  at  his  resigna- 
tion, and  testifying  to  the  ability,  industry  and 
thoughtful  consideration  manifested  by  him  in 
the  faithful  discharge  of  his  onerous  duties. 

On  February  4,  1858,  Gen.  John  H. 
Ketcham  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Augusta  A.  Belden,  daughter  of  William  H. 
•and  Sarah  Belden,  of  Amenia,  Dutchess  county, 
who  were  among  the  earliest  and  representa- 
tive families  of  the  county.  Four  children 
were  born  of  this  marriage,  of  whom,  two 
sons,  Henry  and  Charles,  and  one  daughter, 
Ethel,  are  living. 

Gen.  Ketcham  is  a  man  of  warm  impulses, 
always  ready  to  help  a  friend  or  do  a  kind  act 
for  a  fellow  being,  and  is  known  and  recog- 
nized as  the  poor  man's  friend.  His  native 
State  honors  him,  and  with  good  reason,  for 
he  is  one  of  her  best  products — a  manly,  noble 
man  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  one  who  in  his 
remarkable  public  career  has  maintained  him- 
self with  dignity,  propriety  and  honor. 


€0L.  JAMES  VANDER  BURGH.  Among 
_ '  those  who  left  the  shores  of  the  Old  World 
for  those  of  the  New,  and  settled  very  early  in 
the  vicinity  of  Poughkeepsie,  was  a  family  of 
Vander  Burghs,  directly  from  Holland,  and  it  is 
to  James  Vander  Burgh,  one  of  the  descend- 
ants of  these  early  settlers,  that  this  sketch 
more  especially  refers.  Not  only  was  he  des- 
tined to  be  named  among  the  noted  men  of 
Dutchess  county,  but  he  proved  to  be  one  of 
the,country's  most  sturdy  patriots  and  defend- 
ers. Born  in  Poughkeepsie,  September  4, 
1729,  we  know  little  or  nothing  about  him  un- 
til his  marriage  to  Margaret  Noxon,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1853,  and  at  this  time  they  lived  near 
the  little  hamlet  of  Poughquag.  Seven  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them,  and  we  read  in  Van- 
der Burgh's  diary,  thirteen  years  later,  these 
words:  "  1776,  August  ye  9  day  my  wife  de- 
parted this  life.  Between  the  our  of  3  and  4 
in  the  morning.  Beaing  the  8  day  from  ye 
time  of  her  beaing  taken  sick. "  The  follow- 
ing year  he  married  Helena  Clark,  and  of  this 
union  eleven  children  were  born,  among  whom 
were  Federal  Vander  Burgh,  a  noted  homeo- 
pathic physician,  who  died  in  Rhinebeck  in 
1868;  Gabriel  Ludlow  (named  after  one  of  the 
first  vestrymen  of  Trinity  Church,  New  York), 
who  married  Margaret  Akin,  of  Quaker  Hill; 


I 


66 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  a  daughter,  Paulina,  who  married  Judge 
Albro  Akin,  of  the  same  place.  The  latter 
had  three  children:  (i)  Albert  J.,  born  August 
14,  1803,  still  living,  aged  ninety-three,  mar- 
ried Jane  Williams,  of  New  York  City  (no  chil- 
dren). (2)  Almira  Vander  Burgh  married 
(first)  to  Joshua  Leavitt  Jones,  and  had  two 
children;  married  (second)  to  John  Akin  Tib- 
bits  (no  children).  (3)  Helen  Maria  married 
to  John  W.  Taylor,  and  has  two  children. 

A  brief  genealogical  record  of  the  branch 
of  the  Akin  family  related  to  the  Vander 
Burghs  is  as  follows:  (I)  John  Akin,  born  in 
Scotland  in  1663,  emigrated  to  America  about 
1680,  and  settled  in  Dartmouth,  Mass.  There 
in  1687  he  married  (first)  Mary  Briggs,  who 
was  born  in  Portsmouth,  R.  I. ,  August  9, 
1 67 1,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Fisher) 
Briggs.  Children  of  this  union:  (II)  David, 
Judith,  Deborah,  Timothy,  Mary,  Hannah, 
Thomas,  Elizabeth  and  James.  The  mother 
of  these  died,  and  for  his  second  wife  John 
Akin  married  Hannah  Sherman,  who  bore  him 
six  children.  (I)  John  Akin  died  June  13, 
1746. 

(II)  David  Akin,  the  eldest  son  of  (I)  John 
Akin,  was  born  September  19,  1689,  in  Dart- 
mouth, Mass.,  and  was  there  married  in  171 1, 
to  Sarah  Allen,  also  a  native  of  that  locality, 
and  by  her  had  the  following  named  children: 
(III)  John,  Mary,  Elisha,  Josiah,  Abigail, 
Sarah,  Hannah,  James,  David  and  Jonathan. 
In  1741  the  father  of  this  family  moved  to 
Quaker  Hill  (formerly  called  Oblong),  where 
he  died  in  1779. 

(III)  John  Akin,  eldest  son  of  (II)  David, 
■was  born  September  15,  1718,  at  Portsmouth, 
R.  I.,  and  January  29,  1742,  married  Marga- 
ret Hicks,  of  Portsmouth,  R.  I.,  by  which 
union  children  as  follows  were  born:  Anna, 
Mary,  Abigail  and  (IV)  John.  The  father  of 
these  died  April  7,  1779,  the  mother  in  Octo- 
ber,  1803. 

(IV)  John,  the  only  son  of  (III)  John,  was 
born  November  11,  1753,  at  Quaker  Hill,  and 
December  27,  1775,  was  married  at  Pawling, 
N.  Y. ,  to  Molly  Ferris,  who  was  born  April 
20,  1759,  a  daughter  of  Reed  Ferris,  of  Pawl- 
ing. Children  as  follows  were  born  to  them: 
(V)  Albro,  Sarah,  Margaret,  Ann,  Daniel  and 
Amanda.  Of  these  (V)  Albro  married  (first) 
Paulina  Vander  Burgh,  of  Beekman  (three 
children);  (second)  married  Sarah  Merritt  (no 
children);  and  married  (third)  Jemima  Jacacks 
(seven  children).     Their  son  William  H.  Akin 


married  (first)  Martha  A.  Taber  (two  children); 
married  (second)  Sarah  Miller  (no  children). 
Albro  Akin,  son  of  WiHiam  H.  Akin,  married 
Emma  Reed  (two  children),  and  their  son, 
Albert  J.  Akin,  Jr.,  was  born  November  12, 
1882. 

A  brief  genealogical  record  of  the  branch 
of  the  Ferris  or  Ferriss  (anciently  written  Fer- 
rass)  family  related,  as  above,  to  the  Akin 
family,  is  as  follows: 

(I)  John  Ferriss,  a  native  of  Leicestershire, 
England,  a  holder  of  land  in  several  couhties 
of  England,  emigrated  with  his  family  to  Fair- 
field, Conn,  (there  are  records  showing  that 
the  Ferriss  family  were  in  America  in  1650), 
and  afterward,  about  1654,  removed  to  New 
York  State.  He  is  said  to  have  been  one  of 
five  brothers  who  emigrated  to  this  country 
with  their  families,  one  of  whom,  Jeffry,  lo- 
cated first,  in  1635,  in  Massachusetts,  later, 
in  1660,  settling  in  Fairfield,  Conn.  Another 
brother,  Benjamin,  settled  in  Massachusetts 
in  1640.  (I)  John  Ferriss  died  in  New  York 
State  in  1715. 

(II)  Samuel,  son  of  (I)  John,  came  from 
Reading,  England,  about  1658,  it  is  supposed, 
and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Groton, 
Mass. ,  whence  he  afterward  moved  to  Charles- 
town,  Mass.  He  married  Jerisha  Reed,  and 
had  one  son,  (III)  Zachariah. 

(IIIj  Zachariah  was  born,  it  is  supposed, 
at  Pequenock  (now  Bridgeport),  Conn.,  and 
was  a  Freeman  in  1676.  In  September,  1698 
or  1699,  he  was  married  to  Sarah  Reed,  of 
Stratford,  Conn.  About  the  year  17 10  they 
moved  to  New  Milford,  Conn.,  and  their  daugh- 
ter, Sarah,  was  the  first  female  white  child 
born  there.  The  children  born  to  (III)  Zach- 
ariah and  Sarah  (Reed)  Ferriss  were  as  fol- 
lows: David,  (IV)  Benjamin,  Hannah,  John, 
Zachariah,  Sarah  Ann,  Deborah  and  Joseph. 
From  (III)  Zachariah  are  descended  numerous 
persons  of  that  name  in  different  parts  of  the 
United  States. 

(IV)  Benjamin  Ferriss  was  born  Novem- 
ber 10,  1708;  in  1728  married  Elizabeth 
Beecher,  and  in  1730  they  moved  to  Oblong 
(now  Quaker  Hill).  Their  children  were  Zeb- 
ulon,  (V)  Reed,  Susannah,  Phebe,  Lillias, 
Benjamin,  Gilbert  and  Edmund. 

(V)  Reed  Ferriss  was  born  August  15, 
1730,  at  New  Milford,  and  died  at  Pawling, 
N.  Y.,  in  March,  1804.  He  married  Anne 
Tripp,  and  they  lived  in  Pawling.  Their 
house  was  occupied  by  Washington  when  the 


» 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


67 


American  troops  were  quartered  on  a  hill  near 
by.  The  children  born  to  Reed  and  Anne 
(Tripp)  Ferriss  were:  Edmund,  Benjamin, 
Lydia.  (VI)  Molly,  James,  Warren,  Pitt,  Mor- 
ris, Anne  and  Seneca. 

(\T)  Molly  Ferriss  was  born  April  20, 
1759,  and  married  December  27,  1775,  to  John 
Akin,  of  Quaker  Hill.  She  died  October  30, 
1 85 1,  aged  ninety-two  years.  They  had  chil- 
dren: (VII)  Albro,  Sarah,  Margaret.  Ann, 
Daniel  and  Amanda. 

(VII)  Albro  Akin  was  born  March  6,  1778, 
and  was  married  three  times,  as  above  related 
in  the  Akin  family  record. 

James  Vander  Burgh,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  review,  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  son  of 
John  and  Magdalen  Vander  Burgh,  of  Pough- 
keepsie.  From  a  deed  in  the  county  clerk's 
office  of  said  place,  he  is  given  land  in  Dutch- 
ess county,  in  1752,  when  his  father  died.  His 
mother  ami  ten  children  are  also  mentioned  in 
the  deed.  One  of  the  daughters,  Magdalen, 
named  for  her  mother,  married  Clear  Everitt! 
He  it  was,  no  doubt,  who  built  the  historic 
"Clear  Everitt  House,"  still  standing  on  the 
main  street  in  Poughkeepsie,  and  now  known 
as  "Washington  Hotel."  This  house,  evi- 
dently an  hostelry,  was  the  meeting  place  of 
the  leading  men  of  the  Revolution,  Governor 
Clinton,  Lafayette  and  Washington  being 
among  its  guests.  Everitt  was  at  one  time 
sheriff  of  the  county. 

From  James  Vander  Burgh  are  descended 
many  of  that  name,  as  well  as  others,  who  are 
scattered  in  various  parts  of  the  United  States. 
One  of  his  descendants,  Edgar  H.  Vander 
Burgh,  of  Lithgow,  Dutchess  county,  recently 
said  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  David  W.  Vander 
Burgh,  of  Fall  River,  Mass.:  "I  had  heard 
much  through  Judge  Coffin  of  Colonel  Vander 
Burgh,  of  his  residence  and  of  his  entertain- 
ment of  Washington  in  the  time  of  the  Revo- 
lution, that  he  (Washington )  frequently  stopped 
there  over  night  on  his  way  from  Fishkill  to 
Danbury  on  horseback.  He  used  to  stop  by 
the  road  side  near  Colonel  Vander  Burgh's, 
and  with  the  bridle  reins  over  his  shoulder 
draw  water  from  a  well  sweep  and  drink.  I 
'had  such  a  reverence  for  this  history  that  I 
went  to  Beekman  with  Judge  Coffin,  and  found 
the  very  well,  and  the  timbers  of  the  old  man- 
sion laid  on  the  wall.  We  took  pieces  of  it 
and  some  nails  with  which  it  was  made,  and 
have  them  as  sacred  relics."  Another  of  his 
great-grandchildren    remembers,     when    very 


young,  being  taken  by  an  old  colored  woman, 
formerly  a  slave  in  Colonel  Vander  Burgh's 
family,  to  see  the  old  house  in  ruins.  The 
woman  told  her  that  there  was  where  General 
Washington  used  to  visit,  and  that  she  remem- 
bered seeing  him.  James  Vander  Burgh  was 
commissioned  lieutenant-colonel  on  October 
17-  1775.  and  was  made  colonel  March  10 
1778. 

James    H.    Smith's    history    of    Dutchess 
county  says:     "A  short  distance  northeast  of 
the    hamlet   of    Poughquag   lived,    during   the 
Revolution,    Col.    James    Vander    Burgh,    an 
officer  of  some  prominence  in  that  struggle," 
and   from  the  same  source  we  learn  that  he 
was  appointed  assessor  of  the  town  of  Beek- 
man in  1772,  and,  in   1775,  supervisor,  which 
office  he   held   until  1779.     This   history   also 
says:     "In  the  New  York  Provincial  Congress 
and  Convention  from  1775  to  1779,  inclusive, 
when  a  State  government  was  formed,  Dutch- 
ess  was    represented    by   men    of    mark,   and 
among  them  is  the   name  of  Colonel   James 
Vander  Burgh."     From  Lossing's  Field  Book 
of  the  Revolution   we  glean  this  bit  of  knowl- 
edge, which  is  taken  from  Washington's  diary: 
"May  18.  1 78 1.      Set  out  this  day  for  an  in- 
terview at  Weathersfield   with  Count  de   Ro- 
chambeau  and  Admiral  Barras.    Reached  Mor- 
gan's  tavern,   forty-three   miles  from  Fishkill 
Landing,     after    dining    at    Colonel    Vander 
Burgh's."     A  few   days    later,    during  one   of 
Washington's  visits,  a  child  was  born,  and  in 
Vander  Burgh's   diary   it   says:    "May  ye    24. 
1 78 1,    on    Thursday,    about   eleven  o'clock  at 
night,  my  wife  was  delivered  of  her  fifth  son; 
we  call  his  name  George  Washington.      God 
send  him  his  blessing."     So  the  little  son  was 
evidently    named    after   their    honored  guest. 
Col.  Vander  Burgh  died  in  Beekman,  and  was 
buried  there  in  the  sixty-fourth  year  of  his  age. 
One  of  his  descendants.  Miss  H.  Pauline  Tay- 
lor, of  Quaker  Hiir.  has  a  copy  of  his  epitaph, 
his  will    and   his  diary,  all  very  quaint  and  in- 
teresting. 

Of  his  large  family  of  eighteen  children 
only  one  died  before  the  parents,  and  that  he 
was  able  to  support  his  large  family  and  give 
each  daughter  five  hundred  pounds,  and  to  his 
sons  either  money  or  a  prosperous  farm,  we 
learn  from  a  copy  of  his  will,  so  that  his  life 
stood  out  successfully  from  a  financial  point  of 
view.  But  that  is  not  all.  Col.  Vander  Burgh 
was  a  man  who  closely  watched  and  studied 
public  affairs,   he  was  eminently  patriotic,  and 


68 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


was  honored  and  trusted  in  civil  life  as  he  had 
been  on  the  field,  a  Christian  patriot  and  sol- 
dier, to  duty  ever  true,  to  his  posterity  his 
memory  is  a  rich  inheritance.  May  they  emu- 
late his  virtues. 


SMITEN  (more  generally  known  as  S.  VIN- 
CENT) TRIPP,  one  of  Dutchess  county's 
most  successful  business  men,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  August 
31,  1822,  being  one  of  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren, of  whom  there  is  oaly  one  surviving 
member,  Mrs.  Susan  Weed,  of  Clinton  Corners. 

Smiten  Tripp,  his  father,  who  was  also  a 
native  of  Dutchess  county,  during  his  early 
years  was  engaged  at  the  carpenter's  trade, 
and  later  purchased  the  farm  where  he  spent 
the  balance  of  his  life.  On  November  20, 
1806,  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Wickes,  in 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Cheesman  house, 
which  was  built  by  her  father,  Jacob  Wickes, 
in  1800.      Her  mother  was  a  Miss  Nancy  Carle. 

S.  Vincent  Tripp's  maternal  grandfather, 
Jacob  Wickes,  lived  during  the  Revolutionary 
war  on  the  Creek  road.  He  was  surprised  one 
night  by  the  English,  and  after  a  severe  strug- 
gle he  assumed  insensibility,  and  was  left  for 
dead.  One  of  the  bullets  fired  is  still  to  be 
seen  imbedded  in  the  wall  of  the  room  of  the 
conflict.  Vincent  was  the  name  of  our  sub- 
ject's paternal  grandmother,  she  being  Miss 
Hannah  Vincent. 

In  1848  Mr.  Tripp  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Catherine  Losee,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam Losee,  of  Dover.  She  was  a  woman  be- 
loved by  all  who  knew  her,  always  liberal  in 
her  charities,  and  it  was  greatly  by  her  en- 
couragement and  good  judgment  that  Mr. 
Tripp  made  his  business  career  so  successful. 
Two  children  were  born  to  them,  a  daughter, 
Priscilla,  and  a  son,  Alfred  Noxon,  the  former 
of  whom  died  at  four  years  of  age. 

In  1854  Mr.  Tripp  left  the  homestead,  and 
removed  to  New  York  City,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  carting  business  for  the  firm  of  Earle  & 
Co.  About  two  years  later  he  located  in 
Cohoes,  Albany  county,  where  he  entered  the 
grocery  and  feed  business,  with  David  Bedell. 
The  partnership  was  discontinued  after  some 
three  years,  and  Mr.  Tripp  removed  to  the 
city  of  Rochester,  from  which  time  he  was 
always  engaged  in  the  grain  business.  Toward 
the  close  of  the  Civil  war  the  sudden   decline 


in  grain  nearly  ruined  him,  he  losing  over 
thirty  thousand  dollars  within  a  few  days. 
Wheat  declined  one  dollar  per  bushel,  corn 
seventy  cents  and  oats  fifty  cents.  Oats  he 
had  been  offered  one  dollar  and  six  cents  per 
bushel  he  sold  for  fifty-five  cents,  and  wheat 
that  he  had  been  offered  two  dollars  and  sixty 
cents  he  sold  for  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per 
bushel.  Still  he  did  not  lose  courage,  'but, 
backed  by  his  banking  house,  he  looked  for 
his  money  where  he  had  lost  it,  and  in  1865 
returned  to  New  York  and  engaged  in  the 
grain  business,  until  1867,  at  Twenty-second 
street  and  East  river,  with  A.  P.  Clark,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Tripp  &  Clark.  During 
1867  and  1868  he  was  associated  with  Jacob 
Bogart  at  Thirty-fifth  street  and  East  river. 
From  the  fall  of  1868  until  November  i,  1875, 
Mr.  Tripp  continued  in  partnership  with 
George  E.  Ketcham,  at  Twenty-second  street 
and  North  river.  In  the  meantime  he  had 
built  the  "Tripp  Elevator"  at  Thirty-fourth 
street  and  North  river,  which  he  entered 
November  i,  1875,  with  George  Rogers  and 
Alexander  Bonnell  as  partners;  on  November 
I,  1879,  a  new  partnership  was  formed  under 
the  firm  name  of  S.  V.  Tripp  &  Co.,  com- 
posed of  Mr.  Tripp,  his  cousin,  Capt.  I.  C. 
Wickes,  and  Alexander  Bonnell.  Mr.  Bonnell 
retired  from  the  firm  November  i,  1881,  and 
since  that  time  the  grain  business  at  Thirty- 
fourth  street  and  North  river  has  remained 
under  the  firm  name  of  S.  V.  Tripp  &  Co., 
with  only  Capt.  I.  C.  Wickes  as  his  partner, 
until  Mr.  Tripp's  death  September  22,  1895. 
The  business  continued  until  May  i,  1896, 
when  Capt.  Wickes  bought  Mr.  Tripp's  interest 
in  the  business. 

Mr.  Tripp  was  engaged  in  many  other  en- 
terprises. He  was  a  director  of  the  Home 
Bank  of  New  York,  and  a  member  of  thirty 
years'  standing  of  the  Produce  Exchange. 
Through  all  his  prosperity  and  reverses,  he 
never  lost  courage  and  energy,  but  his  great 
success  was  the  Grain-elevator  business  at 
Thirty-fourth  street  and  North  river,  where  he 
made  a  large  fortune;  and  the  business  was 
unequalled  by  any  of  the  twelve  firms  engaged 
in  grain  business  in  New  York  and  Brooklyn. 
In  1886  he  removed  to  Poughkeepsie,  and 
purchased  the  attractive  residence  on  South 
Hamilton  street. 

Mr.  Tripp  was  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  died  in  1890,  and  three  years  later  he 
married    Mrs.     Jennie     Farrar,     daughter    of 


I 

I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Thomas  Milligan,  a  marble  dealer  of  Berkshire 
county,  Mass.  Rev.  F.  B.  Wheeler  officiated 
at  the  funeral  services  of  Mr.  Tripp  September 
25,  1895,  which  were  largely  attended.  Among 
those  present  were  the  officers  of  The  Pough- 
keepsie  National  Bank,  of  which  he  was  vice- 
president.;  four  of  his  business  partners;  a 
committee  of  ten  from  the  Produce  Exchange; 
and  twenty-three  employes  from  The  Elevator 
who  had  been  in  the  services  of  the  deceased 
from  ten  to  twenty-seven  years.  The  inter- 
ment was  in  the  Poughkeepsie  Rural  Cemetery. 
The  following  resolutions  in  handsome  binding 
were  presented  to  Alfred  N.  Tripp: 

Whereas  the  members  of  the  New  York  Produce  Ex- 
change have  learned  with  deep  sorrow  of  the  death  of  S. 
Vincent  Tripp,  for  many  years  a  member  of  this  Kx- 
change. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Mr.  Tripp  the  Exchange 
has  lost  a  valued  member,  who  by  his  long  career  as  an 
upright  and  public-spirited  merchant  has  won  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  his  fellow  members  and  endeared  himself 
to  all  his  associates; 

Resolved,  That  we  extend  to  his  family  our  sincere 
sympathy  in  their  great  loss,  and  that  a  copy  of  these 
resolutions  be  forwarded  to  them  by  the  Secretary; 

Resolved,  That  as  a  mark  of  respect  to  his  memory 
the  President  appoint  a  committee  to  attend  his  funeral. 

The  son,  Alfred  N.  Tripp,  after  leaving 
business  college  was  for  ten  or  more  years  as- 
sociated with  his  father  in  the  grain  business 
in  the  office  and  as  superintendent  of  the  ele- 
vating department.  He  was  held  in  great 
esteem  and  affection  by  the  employes,  who 
were  visibly  affected  on  learning  of  his  decease. 
In  1888  he  married  Miss  Carrie  Eliza  Butler, 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Egbert  C.  Butler, 
of  Clinton,  Dutchess  county.  After  the  family 
removed  to  Poughkeepsie  he  assisted  his  father 
in  his  private  business,  and  was  a  director  of 
the  Poughkeepsie  National  Bank.  He  died 
December  27,  1895,  ^^^  is  survived  by  Mrs. 
^ripp  and  a  little  daughter,  Katherine  Grace. 

lie  funeral  services,  conducted  by  Revs.  W. 

incroft  Hill  and  Edward  G.  Rawson,  assisted 
a  quartette  rendering  ' '  Lead  Kindly  Light " 

id  "Thy  Will  Be  Done,"  were  most  beauti- 
while  Mr.  Tripp,  looked  as  though  asleep 

long  the  many  flowers  he  so  greatly  loved. 

long  those  present  were  the  directors  of  the 

jughkeepsie  National  Bank  and  a  large  dele- 
gation from  The  Elevator.  The  interment  was 
in  the  Poughkeepsie  Rural  Cemetery.  The 
carriers  were  the  same  who  bore  to  their  last 
resting  place  the  father  and  mother  of  Mr. 
Tripp. 


BENJAMIN  HOPKINS.  To  have  held  for 
forty-two  consecutive  years  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace  among  intelligent,  discern- 
ing and  independent  people,  is  of  itself  con- 
vincing evidence  of  the  possession  of  mental 
ability  of  a  rare  order,  combined  with  the 
moral  qualities  which  inspire  and  firmly  retain 
public  esteem  and  confidence.  Since  1854 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  has  presided  over 
the  lower  tribunal,  aptly  termed  the  "  People's 
Court,"  in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  Dutchess 
county,  and  when  one  reflects  upon  the  law- 
less and  unsettled  conditions  which  prevailed 
here  in  the  earlier  days,  the  force  of  charac- 
ter, the  courage — moral  and  physical — and 
above  all  the  tact,  necessary  for  the  faithful, 
and  effective  discharge  of  his  duties  seems 
notable  indeed. 

Justice  Hopkins  comes  of  an  honored  ances- 
try, the  first  of  the  line  crossing  the  ocean 
from  England  with  the  first  settlers  in  Massa- 
chusetts. It  is  supposed  that  Edward  Hop- 
kins came  over  in  the  "Mayflower."  Stephen 
Hopkins,  one  of  the  patriots  who  signed  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  was  a  brother  of 
Benjamin's  great-grandfather.  The  branch  of 
the  family  to  which  our  subject  belongs  settled 
near  White  Plains,  in  the  town  of  North  Cas- 
tle, N.  Y. ,  in  Colonial  times,  and  his  grand- 
father, Benjamin  Hopkins,  removed  to  the 
town  of  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  during  the 
Revolutionary  war.  He  was  a  native  of 
Rhode  Island,  and  prior  to  his  marriage  sailed 
a  vessel  along  the  coast,  being  engaged  in 
freighting  and  trading.  He  married  Sarah 
Palmer,  about  which  time  his  property  was 
destroyed  by  the  British,  and  in  1779  he  came 
to  Dutchess  county,  as  already  noted,  where 
he  bought  a  tract  of  four  hundred  acres  of 
land,  and  where  he  passed  the  rest  of  his  life. 

John  Hopkins,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Fishkill  September  6, 
1779,  one  of  a  family  of  eight  children.  He 
early  became  familiar  with  agricultural  pur- 
suits upon  the  home  farm,  and  continued  to 
follow  that  occupation  as  a  lifework.  In  18 19 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
Brill,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Hannah  (Cor- 
nel!) Brill,  natives  of  Dutchess  county.  Her 
father  was  of  Holland  descent.  After  their 
marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Hopkins  located 
upon  the  farm  now  owned  by  our  subject,  and 
there  reared  their  four  children:  Benjamin, 
our  subject;  Gilbert  P.,  who  was  a  merchant 
of  Carthage  Landing,    Dutchess  county,  and 


I 


70 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


was  killed  on  a  boat  in  1846;  Solomon  P., 
who  was  a  freight  agent  in  early  life,  and  later 
engaged  in  the  cattle  business  in  Chicago;  and 
Sarah  P.,  married  to  S.  B.  Knox,  of  Carthage 
Landing.  The  father  belonged  to  the  Society 
of  Friends,  while  the  mother  was  a  member  of 
the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  and  both  were 
earnest,  conscientious  Christians.  In  politics 
he  was  a  Whig,  and  in  his  town  efficiently 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  overseer  of 
the  poor. 

Benjamin  Hopkins,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  April  18,  1820,  in  the  house 
which  is  still  his  home,  and  until  he  was  six- 
teen years  of  age  was  never  absent  from  the 
home  farm.  His  early  educational  advantages 
were  good,  and  he  took  a  complete  course  at 
the  old  Dutchess  County  Academy,  Pough- 
keepsie,  which  has  since  been  replaced  by  the 
Poughkeepsie  High  School.  In  1849  the  town 
of  East  Fishkill  was  carved  out  of  the  town  of 
Fishkill,  and  in  the  following  year  Mr.  Hop- 
kins was  elected  a  member  of  the  board  of 
supervisors,  to  which  office  he  has  been  re- 
elected at  intervals  for  ten  terms.  Since  his 
first  election  as  justice  of  the  peace  he  has 
been  re-nominated  on  the  Democratic  ticket 
at  the  expiration  of  each  term,  and  his  re-elec- 
tion has  never  been  seriously  opposed.  His 
present  term  will  not  expire  until  1901.  It  is 
a  fact  of  which  he  may  well  be  proud  that  he 
has  never  had  a  case  reversed  in  the  upper 
courts,  his  decisions  being  based  upon  that 
exact  and  impartial  justice  which,  when  once 
pointed  out,  commends  itself  to  every  honest 
man  as  sound  law.  So  popular  is  he  that  one 
year  (1859)  he  was  elected  supervisor  on  the 
Republican  ticket  by  200  majority,  while,  as 
justice  of  the  peace  on  the  Democratic  ticket, 
he  won  by  a  majority  of  sixty.  In  1862  he 
was  appointed  deputy  collector  of  Internal 
Revenue  for  the  towns  of  East  Fishkill,  Pawl- 
ing and  Dover,  and  served  three  years.  He 
has  twice  been  appointed  justice  of  sessions, 
and  since  the  passage  of  the  first  free-school 
act  of  1847  he  has  been  trustee  of  the  Storm- 
ville  school  district.  In  early  life  he  was  a 
Whig,  but  after  the  defeat  of  Gen.  Scott  in 
1852  he  became  a  Democrat,  and  has  sup- 
ported that  party  ever  since.  During  the  Civil 
war  he  was  active  in  raising  recruits  to  sup- 
press the  Rebellion. 

As  a  business  man  he  has  been  successful 
in  various  callings — farming,  clerking,  auction- 
eering and  school  teaching.      In  1842  he  began 


merchandising  at  Low  Point,  Dutchess  county, 
but  the  following  year  returned  to  the  old 
homestead,  purchasing  the  interests  of  the 
other  heirs,  and  has  since  engaged  in  its  care 
and  cultivation.  He  has  290  acres  of  rich  and 
productive  land,  on  which  he  has  mainly  car- 
ried on  general  farming. 

On  December  6,  1844,  Mr.  Hopkins  was 
married  to  Eliza  Montfort,  a  native  of  the 
town  of  Beekman,  Dutchess  county,  and  a 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Cornelia  (Flagler)  Mont- 
fort, both  of  whom  belonged  to  old  families  of 
the  county.  Five  children  were  born  of  this 
union:  Cornelia,  who  married  John  Taber,  of 
Dover,  Dutchess  county;  Phcebe,  who  died 
unmarried;  Sarah,  the  wife  of  William  H.  Og- 
den,  of  Kansas  City,  Mo.;  Lodo  V.,  wife  of 
John  Ogden,  also  of  Kansas  City;  and  John 
G.,  who  is  engaged  in  business  at  the  Exchange 
Building  at  Chicago.  The  wife  and  mother 
was  called  to  her  final  rest  in  October,  1859. 
Mr.  Hopkins  afterward  married  his  present 
wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Margaret 
Lasher.  She  is  a  native  of  Columbia  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Lasher.  Seven 
children  have  been  born  to  this  union:  Charles, 
a  promising  young  lawyer,  now  of  Poughkeep- 
sie; and  Benjamin,  Mary,  Harry  W.,  Bertha 
M.,  and  George  and  Edith  M.  (twins),  all  at 
home.  Mr.  Hopkins  is  one  of  the  most  highly 
respected  and  prominent  men  of  his  commu- 
nity, always  faithfully  discharging  every  trust 
reposed  in  him,  and  has  the  confidence  and  es- 
teem of  all  with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact. 


J  STERLING  BIRD,  M.  D.,  a  prominent 
member  of  the  medical  profession  of  Dutch- 
ess county,  with  residence  at  Hyde  Park, 
was  born  August  29,  1836,  at  Winchester, 
Conn.  He  is  descended  from  an  old  Connecti- 
cut family,  whose  founder  in  America,  Thomas 
Bird,  a  native  of  England,  located  at  Hartford 
about  1644,  some  ten  years  after  its  settle- 
ment, and  became  one  of  the  small  freehold- 
ers in  the  place.  His  son  James  was  the  fa- 
ther of  John  Bird,  who  was  born  in  1695,  and 
the  son  of  the  latter,  Ebenezer  Bird,  was  born 
in  1739.  The  next  in  direct  line  is  David 
Bird,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Bethlehem, 
Conn.,  in  1776.  About  1797  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Elizabeth  Church,  by  whom  he 
had  the  following  children:  Harmon,  Joshua, 
Susan,    David    (the    father    of    our   subject), 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


71 


Lucy,  Nancy,  Anna,  John,  Sterling,  Frederick 
and  Betsy. 

David  Bird,  Jr.,  was  also  a  native  of  Beth- 
lehem, Conn.,  born  March  ii,  1804,  and  was 
reared  upon  his  father's  farm.  On  reaching 
manhood  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
woolen  goods  on  a  small  scale,  at  Winchester, 
and  became  one  of  the  successful  and  prosper- 
ous men  of  his  community.  He  married 
Eunice  Phelps,  daughter  of  Wilcox  Phelps,  of 
Norfolk,  Conn.,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  two  children:  Sarah  and  J.  Sterling  (sub- 
ject of  this  review).  In  religious  belief  the  fa- 
ther was  a  Congregationalist,  taking  a  promi- 
nent part  in  the  work  of  that  Church,  in  which 
he  served  as  deacon.  'He  was  activel}'  inter- 
ested in  political  affairs,  an  unfaltering  Aboli- 
tionist, and  was  elected  to  the  State  Legisla- 
ture on  the  Whig  ticket.  His  death  occurred 
in  1863,  that  of  his  wife  in  1882. 

J.  Sterling  Bird  was  educated  at  Wilbra- 
ham,  Mass.,  taking  nearly  the  entire  course, 
and  completed  his  literary  training  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two.  About  i860  he  took  up  the 
study  of  medicine,  first  entering  the  Berkshire 
Medical  College,  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  which  he 
attended  for  one  term,  in  the  following  year 
entering  the  College  of  Physicians  &  Surgeons, 
New  York  City,  where  he  graduated  in  1863. 
He  then  took  some  special  courses,  though  it 
was  his  intention  to  engage  in  general  practice. 
During  his  four-months'  vacation  he  was  at 
the  United  States  Military  Hospital  at  Newark, 
N.  J.  After  his  graduation  he  was  for  a  year 
and  a  half  on  the  medical  staff  of  the  Bellevue 
Hospital,  New  York  City,  and  in  that  way  se- 
cured much  practical  knowledge.  On  April 
3,  1865,  he  arrived  in  Hyde  Park,  where  he 
immediately  opened  an  office,  and,  with  the 
e.xception  of  four  months  in  his  second  year, 
has  uninterruptedly  been  engaged  in  practice 
there.  The  Doctor  is  now  one  of  the  oldest 
practitioners  in  the  locality,  has  been  remark- 
ably successful  in  his  treatment  of  cases,  and 
not  only  does  he  rank  high  among  his  profes- 
sional brethren,  but  is  one  of  the  leading  and 
substantial  citizens  of  the  town. 

Dr.  Bird  was  married,  in  1 871,  to  Alice  E. 
Jones,  of  Hyde  Park,  daughter  of  Rev.  J.  W. 
Jones,  a  Baptist  minister,  and  to  them  were 
born  two  children:  John  Sterling,  at  home; 
and  Alice  E. ,  who  died  when  about  a  year  old. 
Although  the  Doctor  is  a  stalwart  Republican, 
he  has  taken  no  active  part  in  political  affairs; 
but  he  is  a  public -spirited  citizen,  at  all  times 


willing  to  aid  in  promoting  the  welfare  of  his 
adopted  county.  He  has  served  as  health 
officer,  and  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Dutchess  County  Medical  Society.  An  earnest, 
Christian  gentleman,  he  is  connected  with  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  Hyde  Park,  in 
which  he  has  served  as  one  of  the  officials. 
Though  of  a  retiring  disposition,  the  Doctor 
has  gained  many  warm  friends  in  his  locality, 
and  by  all  he  is  held  in  the  highest  regard. 


MENRY  A.   HOLMES,  a  prominent  busi- 
ness  man  of  Pawling,  Dutchess  county, 

is  the  treasurer  of  the  Pawling  Savings  Bank, 
and  the  sole  proprietor  of  one  of  tfie  oldest 
and  most  substantial  business  enterprises  of 
that  vicinity,  the  firm  having  been  founded 
by  the  well-known  pioneer  merchant,  J.  W. 
Stark. 

Mr.  Holmes  can  trace  his  descent  from 
two  patriots  of  Revolutionary  times,  one  being 
his  great-grandfather,  John  Holmes.  His 
paternal  ancestors  were  among  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Westchester  county,  N.  Y. ,  the  family 
homestead  being  at  Pound  Ridge,  where  our 
subject's  grandfather,  John  Holmes,  was  born 
during  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  followed 
farming  there  until  he  was  about  fifty  years 
old  when  he  came  to  the  town  of  Pawling, 
Dutchess  county,  accompanied  by  his  son 
Samuel,  our  subject's  father,  who  was  born  at 
Pound  Ridge  in  1808,  and  at  the  time  of  the 
removal  was  about  eighteen  years  old.  Sam- 
uel Holmes  remained  with  his  father,  who 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  until  1836,  when 
he  went  to  New  York  City,  and  was  for  twelve 
years  engaged  in  the  trunk  business,  in  which 
he  was  but  moderately  successful.  He  was 
married  in  1834,  to  Hannah  L.  Peck,  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Betsey  (Dean)  Peck,  grand- 
daughter in  the  maternal  line  of  Elijah  Dean, 
an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Of  their 
three  children,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
the  eldest;  Caroline  L.  married  J.  C.  Merritt, 
of  Putnam  county,  and  died  in  1868;  and 
James  G.  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two.  The 
mother  died  in  1854,  and  the  father,  soon 
afterward,  returned  to  Dutchess  county  and 
bought  a  farm  southwest  of  the  village  of 
Pawling.  He  met  with  success  as  a  farmer, 
and  was  accounted  a  man  of  good  business 
judgment.  In  later  years  he  was  extensively 
engaged  in  the  business  of  furnishing  lumber 


72 


COMMEMOBATTVE  BTOOBAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


and  ties  for  the  Harlem  railroad.  Although 
not  a  politician  he  was  always  a  Democrat  in 
principle,  and  took  an  interest  in  all  measures 
for  local  improvements.  He  was  reared  a 
Presbyterian,  and  contributed  generously  to 
that  Church  until  his  death  in  1885. 

Henry  A.  Holmes  first  saw  the  light  at  Pat- 
terson, Putnam  county,  February  13,  1836. 
His  education  was  obtained  in  Public  School 
No.  4,  Rivington  street.  New  York,  and  at 
Mr.  Benedict's  select  school  at  Patterson,  these 
advantages  and  his  subsequent  reading  giving 
him  a  good  store  of  knowledge.  On  enter- 
ing business  life  he  spent  one  year  as  a  clerk  in 
a  retail  feed  store  in  New  York,  and  a  year 
and  a  half  in  clerking  for  his  uncle,  R.  J. 
Dean,  of  Patterson.  He  then  went  home  and 
worked  upon  the  farm  for  a  year,  when  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  his  uncle  in  the 
lumber  and  feed  business  under  the  firm  name 
of  Dean  &  Holmes.  After  three  years  he  sold 
his  interest  to  Mr.  Dean,  and  February  i, 
1865,  he  bought  a  one-third  interest  in  the 
general  mercantile  store  of  J.  W.  Stark  & 
Co.,  the  firm  consisting  of  Mr.  Stark,  William 
J.  Merwin  and  Mr.  Holmes.  In  1877,  Mr. 
Stark  withdrew  and  the  firm  became  Merwin 
&  Holmes,  and  so  continued  until  the  death 
of  Mr.  Merwin  in  1892,  when  Mr.  Holmes 
purchased  his  interest.  This  business,  now 
one  of  the  largest  in  the  southeastern  part  of 
the  county,  had  its  origin  in  a  small  store 
opened  by  Mr.  Stark  in  1848,  near  the  railroad 
at  Pawling,  and  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
years  which  Mr.  Stark  spent  in  New  Milford 
it  has  been  continued  ever  since.  In  addition 
to  this  enterprise,  Mr.  Holmes  has  given 
much  attention  to  the  affairs  of  the  Pawling 
Savings  Bank,  which  was  organized  under  the 
act  of  May  7,  1870,  the  charter  being  accepted 
September  10,  1890.  This  is  one  of  the  most 
carefully  managed  banking  institutions  in  that 
locality,  J.  I.  Wanzer  being  the  president.  Mr. 
Holmes  is  one  of  the  trustees,  and  succeeded 
Mr.  Merwin  as  treasurer,  the  office  having 
been  held  by  him  from  the  first.  In  all  his 
enterprises,  Mr.  Holmes  has  displayed  con- 
servative judgment,  combined  with  energetic 
execution  of  plans  once  decided  upon,  and  to 
these  qualities  his  success  may  be  attributed. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  on  all 
national  issues  he  has  voted  for  the  candidates 
of  that  party  at  every  election,  since  his  first 
ballot  was  given  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  but  in 
local  affairs  he  is  independent.      He  has  held 


the  office  of  commissioner  of  highways  for  one 
term. 

In  1867,  Mr.  Holmes  was  united  in  matri- 
mony with  Ruth  A.  Shove,  a  native  of  the 
town  of  Pawling.  Her  father,  Daniel  Shove, 
a  carpenter  by  trade,  was  born  in  Dover,  but 
for  many  years  was  a  resident  of  Pawling,  and 
now  lives  at  Wellsboro,  Penn.  Three  sons 
were  born  of  this  marriage,  and  their  educa- 
tion has  been  carefully  conducted  at  Bisbee's 
Military  School,  at  Riverview.  George  S.  is 
now  assisting  his  father  in  the  store;  Frederick 
W.  has  just  completed  his  course  at  school; 
and  Henry  A.,  Jr.,  is  still  a  student.  The 
family  attend  the  Methodist  Church,  and  Mr. 
Holmes  is  a  generous  supporter  of  its  work. 


OBERTK.  TUTHILL,  M.  D.,  of  Pough- 
[^  keepsie,  Dutchess  county,  is  of  English 
ancestry.  His  great-grandfather,  Samuel  Tut- 
hill,  came  from  England,  and  settled  on  Long 
Island;  but  after  a  time  removed  to  Orange 
county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  the  rest  of 
his  life.  Our  subject's  father,  whose  name 
was  also  Samuel,  was  likewise  a  member  of 
the  medical  profession,  and  for  many  years 
was  a  leading  practitioner  in  Poughkeepsie, 
N.  Y. ,  to  which  place  he  came  in  1848. 

Dr.  Robert  K.  Tuthill  was  born  in  New- 
burgh,  N.  Y.,  January  18,  1835.  Early  in  life 
he  showed  an  inclination  to  follow  in  the  foot- 
steps of  his  father,  and  was  thoroughly  edu- 
cated, with  the  view  of  making  the  practice  of 
medicine  and  surgery  his  life  work,  graduating 
at  the  New  York  Medical  College  in  1859. 
After  receiving  his  degree,  he  began  his  pro- 
fessional career  in  Poughkeepsie,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  active  practice  there,  at  the  breaking 
out  of  the  Rebellion,  in  1861.  With  charac- 
teristic patriotism,  he  offered  his  services  to  his 
country,  and  was  appointed  assistant  surgeon 
of  the  Twentieth  N.  Y.  S.  M.  For  faithful- 
ness in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  in  this  ca- 
pacity he  was  in  April,  1863,  promoted  to  the 
position  of  regimental  surgeon  of  the  145th  In- 
fantry, and  in  June  of  the  same  year  was  made 
brigade  surgeon  of  the  First  Brigade,  First  Di- 
vision, Twelfth  Corps.  Early  in  1864,  he  was 
appointed  surgeon-in-chief  of  Division.  He 
had  charge  of  the  Fredericksburg  hospital  in 
1862,  was  in  all  the  chief  battles  of  the  "army 
of  the  Potomac,"  and  also  did  duty  in  the 
"army  of  the  Cumberland."       ^ 

After  this  service  to  his  country,  the  Doctor 


I 


I 


^47^.  ^.  %7r^  -^ 


T1 


72 


riuL'AL  ui.'JviiD. 


and  ties  lor  the  Harlem  railroad.     Although 

i  vs  a  D<  in 

vest  in  a  i  i  es 

5.     He   was   reared   a 

*-'—  -^    - •  •■  '■    •■ 

th 

Henry  A    ' 
terson     PntMan. 
Hib  etl 
No      4. 
Mr  B. 
ad' 
hi  I. 
im 


was  obt 


the  otfice  of  commissioner  of  highways  for  oi 
term 

In  TS67,  Mr.  Holmes  was  united  in  rnati 
mony  'h  A.  Shove,  a  native  of  tl 

'     ' -■■•■jii.      Her  father,  Daniel  Sho\ 

hv   irade.  was  born  in  Dover,  b. 
;it  of  Pn 
enn.     1  . 
were  born  of  this  ;  ,  and  their  > 

.  .  ,.   i,._  V,  . ..   rareiMuv  >..jiiducted  at  Bi.->i-v.> 
.   at    kiverview.     Georp;e  S. 
in  the  store;  Free 
\   his  course  at  s' 
and  Henry  A.,   Jr.,  is  still  a  student.     '1  !i 
'  'he  Methodist  Church,  and  Mr 

:nerous  supporter  of  its  worV 


'liui,  ana  sc 
Merwin   in 
purchased   his    interest. 


in  a  smal 


spent  in  Is 


act  of  May  7.  1S70,  thech<: 
S'=-'  ^ -'  •  -/->  Thi' 
ca;  ;  bankini: 

louaiity.  J.  I.  \ 
Hulme<^  is  one 
Mr.    Merwin    at   %• 
bf  'by  him  iroin   i: 

e;.,  .    Mr     H' Kmes 


with   energetic 
•  "    and  to 
tbuted. 


execution   -.   ^■. —  ^ 

these  qualitii.s  hrs 

In    politics    ho   is   a    :\ 

national  issues  he  has  v 

of  that  party  at  every  election,  since  his  tirsl 

b--t''         '--■  giveil  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  but  in 

lo  .s  he  is  independent.      He  has  held 


ryOBERTK.  TUTHILL,  M.  D.,  of  Poufjl 
'  /epsie,  D       '  county,  is  of  E:    ' 

y.      His  i.mdfather,  Samui 

I,  came  from  iingland,  and  settled  on  IjC.: 
"":  but  after  a  time  removed  to  OranL: 
,.  N.  Y. ,  where  he  remained  the  rest     1 
•^her,    whose    nai-it 
wise  a   member   '! 
and    for    many  year 
;  iiiioner  in  Poughkeepsn 
:  :e  he  came  in  1848. 
fjit    k     Tuthill  was  born  in   Nev. 
11.,  January  18,  1835.     Early  in  li 
ved  an  inclination  to  follow  in  the  fot 
ither,  and   was  thoroughly  edi; 
view  of  making  the  practice 
le  and  surgery  his  life  work,  graduatim: 
ti.s.    New   York    Medical  College    in  1850 
er  receiving  his  degree,  he  began  his  pn 
lal  career  in  Poughkeepsie,  and  • 
.  active  practice  there,  at  the  bi 
'    ot   the  Rebellion,  in  1861.     With  charar 
■■'■!   patriotism,  he  offered  his  services  '^     ' 
.  and  was  appointed  assistant  s 
^.  V.  S.  M.      For  f;. 
'^e  of  his  duties  in  ti 
iie  was  ia  April,  1863.  promoted  to  ll' 

'  —  ^on  of  the  14'*'"  ' 

:ime  year  wa 
i  o(  the  KiiSi  Brigade,  Fii 
.;:  Corps.     Iiarly  in  1864,  1 
surgcon-in-chief  of    Divisior 
of   the   Fredericksburg  hosi> 
m  all  the  chief  battles  of  the  ' 
of    the   Potomac, "  and   also  did   duty  in  \ 
•' army  of  the  Cumberland."       ^ 
I         .After  this  service  to  his  country,  the  Docv 


I 


u£^  ^.d£~dLP^i^Zi.*«uf  ^^rv  AO^ 


I 


4 


i 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPEIGAL  RECORD. 


78 


again  resumed  private  practice  in  Poughkeep- 
,  sie,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Surgical  Staff  of 
St.  Barnabas  Hospital,  from  the  time  it  was 
I   organized,  in  1870,  until  it  was  closed,  in  1887. 
He  was  then  selected  by  the  Founders  of  Vas- 
;  sar  Brothers'  Hospital  on  its  opening,  m  1887, 
I  to  be  one  of  its  surgeons,  which  position  he  is 
i  still   filling.      He   is  considered   a  skillful  sur- 
geon, his  experience  while  serving  his  country 
being    of    great    advantage    to    him.      He  has 
served  three  times  as  health  officer  of  Pough- 
keepsie;  for  two  terms  in  succession  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Dutchess  County  Medical  Society, 
and  has  been  a  permanent  member  of  the  New 
York  State  Medical  Society  since   1880.      He 
also  belongs  to  Hamilton  Post  No.  20,  G.  A. 
R. ,   Poughkeepsie,    and    is    a    member  of  the 
Loyal  Legion  of  America.     Dr.  Tuthill  is  also 
a  Knight  Templar.      Politically,  he  is  a  stanch 
Republican,  but  has   never  run  for  an  elective 
office.      In  the  year  1864  he  married  a  Pough- 
keepsie lady,  and  has  one  daughter. 

Constant,  untiring  work  in  his  profession 
.  has  made  periods  of  rest  and  recuperation  a 
necessity  to  him,  and  these  he  has  found  in 
quite  extensive  travel  in  this  and  other  coun- 
tries. Twice,  accompanied  by  his  family,  he 
has  spent  several  months  abroad  visiting  the 
principal  places  and  nearly  all  of  the  capitals 
of  Great  Britain  and  of  the  Continent.  And 
I  while  he  was  there  gaining  physical  strength, 
he  also  embraced  the  opportunity  of  visiting 
many  of  the  hospitals  and  attending  clinics  in 
the  Old  World,  thus  seeking  new  methods  and 
better  knowledge  for  his  great  work  at  home. 
His  residence  is  at  No.  313  Mill  street,  where 
he  has  a  capacious  office,  an  extensive  and 
well-selected  medical  and  general  library  and 
a  beautiful  home.  He  is  a  member  of  the  First 
Reformed  Church,  and  has  hosts  of  friends, 
who  believe  in  him,  because  he  has  proved 
himself  a  true  and  sincere  man  and  a  conscien- 
tious, faithful  and  vigilant  physician. 


REV.    FRANCIS  BROWN    WHEELER, 
D.  D.,  who  has  been  for  more  than  half 

a  century  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  and  for 
thirty-six  years  the  honored  pastor  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Poughkeepsie,  is  de- 
scended from  several  families  whose  names 
are  conspicuous  in  the  early  history  of  this 
country. 

The   ancestors  of  the  Wheeler  line   came 
'frpm  Wales  about  1650,  and  settled  at   Dun- 


barton,  N.  H.  William  Wheeler,  our  sub- 
ject's great-grandfather,  was  born  in  1728, 
probably  in  Salem,  N.  H.,  and  died  March  i, 
1804.  His  home  was  at  Dunbarton,  where  he 
was  a  prominent  citizen  in  his  day.  He  served 
through  the  French  and  Indian  war,  and 
throughout  the  Revolutionary  war,  being  mus- 
tered into  service  for  the  latter  struggle  by 
Gen.  Washington.  He  took  part  in  the  battle 
of  Bunker  Hill  under  Gen.  Stark.  In  the 
earlier  war  he  was  a  member  of  the  N.  H. 
Rangers  at  Fort  Ticonderoga,  in  1755,  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Robert  Rogers,  and  was 
captured  by  the  Indians,  but  escaped  by  his 
wit  and  agility  as  they  were  about  to  tom- 
ahawk    him.       His     wife,     Sarah    ,     was 

born  in  1735,  and  died  March  15,  1803. 
Their  son  William,  Jr.,  was  also  a  soldier  in 
the  Revolutionary  war,  taking  part  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Bennington,  Vt. ,  and  White  Plains, 
New  York. 

Their  son,  Daniel  Wheeler,  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Salem,  N. 
H.,  in  1763,  and  died  in  Warner,  N.  H.,  in 
1840.  He  suffered  imprisonment  at  one  time 
for  refusing  to  pay  the  ministerial  tax  at  Dun- 
barton.  He  married  Polly  Davis,  who  was 
born  in  Amesbury,  Mass.,  in  1772,  and  died 
in  Warner,  N.  H.,  in  1862.  She  was  a  lineal 
descendant  of  Hannah  Dustan,  of  historical 
fame. 

Hosea  Wheeler,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  March  8,  1791,  at  Dunbarton,  N.  H., 
and  died  January  27,  1823,  at  Eastport, 
Maine.  He  was  a  Baptist  minister,  and  for 
many  years  lived  at  Newburyport,  Mass.  He 
married  Sarah  Wines,  born  August  12,  1788, 
the  daughter  of  Rev.  Abijah  Wines,  an  emi- 
nent clergyman,  and  the  first  professor  of  the- 
ology in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Bangor, 
Maine.  Her  grandfather,  Hon.  Benjamin 
Giles,  was  prominent  in  our  Colonial  history, 
the  chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  at 
Newport,  N.  H.,  and  a  member  of  the  State 
Provincial  Congress.  To  the  union  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wheeler  the  following  children  were  born: 
Elizabeth,  Sarah  A.,  Francis  Brown,  Sarah 
and  Mary. 

Dr.  Francis  B.  Wheeler,  whose  long  serv- 
ice in  the  Christian  ministry  has  so  well  sus- 
tained the  honor  of  this  distinguished  ancestry, 
was  born  at  North  Adams,  Mass.,  September 
9,  181 8,  and  in  1842  was  graduated  from  the 
University  of  Vermont  with  a  number  of  class- 
mates who  have  since  attained  high  standing  in 


74 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


diplomatic  and  judicial  affairs;  amongthem  were 
ex-Vice-President  Wheeler,  Hon.  John  Kas- 
son,  Hon.  Robert  S.  Hale  and  Hon.  E.  J. 
Hamilton.  His  grandfather,  father  and  four 
uncles  had  been  clergymen,  and  from  boyhood 
he  had  been  filled  with  the  desire  to  follow  in 
their  footsteps.  After  studying  at  Andover 
Theological  Seminary,  and  with  Rev.  J.  W. 
Ward,  an  eminent  theologian  of  Massachu- 
setts, he  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor 
of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Jericho 
Centre,  Vt.,  January  22,  1845.  During  his 
five-years'  pastorate  there  he  was  for  two  years 
superintendent  of  the  common  schools  in  Chit- 
tenden county,  Vt.  On  May  29,  1850.  he  be- 
came pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  at 
Brandon,  Vt.,  and  while  there  was  appointed 
secretary  of  the  Vermont  Sabbath  School 
Union,  and  also  one  of  the  examining  commit- 
tee of  the  University  of  Vermont.  He  left 
Brandon  September  7,  1854,  and  removed  to 
Saco,  Maine,  where  he  assumed  charge  of  the 
First  Congregational  Church  December  6, 
1854.  His  work  there  was  attended  with 
marvelous  success,  the  great  revival  of  1857-58 
being  unprecedented  in  the  history  of  the 
State.  For  three  months  meetings  were  held 
every  day,  at  which  the  pastor  officiated, 
preaching  from  house  to  house,  and  many  prom- 
inent professional  and  business  men  with  their 
families  were  brought  into  the  Church.  The 
vigor  of  the  climate  there  endangered  the 
health  of  his  family,  and  Dr.  Wheeler  was 
compelled  to  relinquish  this  beloved  charge 
and  accept  a  call  from  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  was  in- 
stalled May  12,  1859.  It  is  interesting  to 
note  that  whenever  he  has  left  a  charge  the 
congregations  were  reluctant  to  sever  their  re- 
lations, protesting  by  unanimous  and  affection- 
ate remonstrance  against  his  removal.  Dur- 
ing his  pastorate  in  Poughkeepsie  the  Church 
has  grown  and  prospered  until  it  is  now  one  of 
the  largest  in  the  city. 

One  of  the  secrets  of  his  success  is  the  ab- 
sence of  cant  and  stock  phrases  so  often  found 
in  pulpit  oratory.  He  is  simple  and  practical 
in  his  statements  of  truth,  and  bases  his  ap- 
peals to  conscience  and  the  sense  of  duty  upon 
reason,  calmly  leaving  the  results  to  appear  in 
time  as  convictions  gradually  dawn  upon  the 
hearer.  He  is  faithful,  also,  in  the  discharge 
of  the  arduous  duty  of  pastoral  visitation, 
which  may  be  another  secret  of  his  helpfulness 
and  influence.      He  belongs  to  the  Calvinistic 


school,  but  his  sermons  are  never  dogmatic  in 
tone  or  controversial  in  manner,  dealing  rather 
with  the  practical  problems  of  spiritual  prog- 
ress. Many  valuable  treatises  from  his  pen 
have  appeared  in  the  religious  and  secular 
press,  and  he  is  the  author  of  several  Church 
hymns.  He  is  an  interesting  and  forcible 
speaker  upon  general  subjects,  and  has  made 
special  addresses  on  various  occasions.  Dr. 
Wheeler  is  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts 
Society  of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolu- 
tion, and  of  the  New  York  Society  of  Colonial 
Wars.  Many  honors  have  been  bestowed 
upon  him,  his  Alma  Mater  conferring  the  de- 
gree of  A.  M.  in  1845,  and  from  Hamilton 
College  he  received  the  honorary  degree  of 
S.  T.  D.  in  t868.  In  1888  the  University  of 
Vermont  conferred  upon  him  the  same  degree. 
In  1878  President  Hayes  appointed  him  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Visitors  at  West 
Point  Military  Academy. 

Dr.  Wheeler  has  been  married  three  times, 
first  on  September  16,  1843,  at  Williston,  Vt.. 
to  Charlotte  A.  Parmalee,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Simeon  Parmalee,  D.  D.,  for  many  years  a 
leading  clergyrpan  of  the  Congregational 
Church  in  Vermont.  She  died  March  i,  1853. 
leaving  no  children,  and  October  26,  1854. 
Dr.  Wheeler  was  married  to  Eliza  Dana, 
dauehter  of  Hon.  A.  G.  Dana.  M.  D.,  LL.  D., 
of  Brandon.  Vt.  Her  mother,  Eliza  Fuller, 
was  a  lineal  descendant  of  Samuel  Fuller,  who 
came  over  in  the  "Mayflower."  She  died 
September  i,  1865,  leaving  three  daughters: 
Winifred  Dana  (now  Mrs.  Joseph  B.  Bisbee), 
Emma  G.  and  Harriet  Wickes.  On  October 
25,  1876,  Dr.  Wheeler  married  his  present 
wife,  Charlotte  P.  Wickes,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Thomas  S.  Wickes.  and  his  wife.  Julia  Penni- 
man.  who  is  a  direct  descendant  of  Gov. 
Bradford,  of  "Mayflower"  fame.  One  daugh- 
ter was  born  of  this  union,  Julia  Wickes 
Wheeler,  born  March  27,  1878. 

On  January  23,  1895,  a  notable  anniver- 
sary was  held  in  Poughkeepsie  in  honor  of 
Dr.  Wheeler's  fifty  years  of  ministerial  labor. 
Denominational  lines  were  broken  down,  and 
representatives  of  all  creeds  joined  in  honoring 
a  career  in  which  the  love  for  and  faith  in  the 
Master  whom  all  aim  to  follow  has  been  so 
abundantly  shown.  In  the  afternoon  a  re- 
ception was  held  in  the  church,  followed  by  a 
collation  which  assumed  the  aspect  of  a  family 
Thanksgiving  Dinner.  Rev.  Father  Nilan.  of 
St.    Peter's  Catholic  Church,  was  among  the 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


75 


after-dinner  speakers,  and  said  that  in  eighteen 
years  of  his  life  in  Poughkeepsie  he  has  come 
to  look  upon  Dr.  Wheeler  as  a  friend.  They 
had  talked  together  and  fought  together — not 
very  bitterly  to  be  sure — and  it  was  evidence 
of  progress  that  one  of  their  discussions  had 
been  about  doctrines  which  in  former  times 
caused  men  to  burn  each  other,  yet  they  had 
not  lost  their  mutual  love  and  respect.  Other 
speakers  were  Rev.  Dr.  Van  Gieson,  of  Pough- 
keepsie,  and  Mr.  William  W.  Smith,  who 
spoke  for  the  trustees;  there  were  present  also 
Rev.  Dr.  D.  J.  McMillan,  secretary  of  the 
Presbyterian  Board  of  Home  Missions;  Rev. 
Dr.  T.  Ralston  Smith,  Stated  Clerk  of  the 
Synod  of  New  York;  Rev.  Duncan  C.  Niven 
and  wife,  of  Highland;  Rev.  Edgar  Beckwith 
and  wife,  of  Pleasant  Valley;  Rev.  James  Otis 
Denniston,  of  Cooperstown;  Rev.  C.  H.  Sne- 
deker;  Rev.  Wayland  Spaulding;  Rev.  Dr. 
Strobridge;  Rev.  Robert  Farrier;  Rev.  Fields 
Hermance;  Rev.  William  Bancroft  Hill;  and 
Mr.  Cartland,  representing  the  Society  of 
Friends.  In  the  evening  a  large  public  meet- 
ing was  held,  addressed  by  Dr.  McMillan  and 
Dr.  Smith,  which  closed  with  the  singing  of 
an  original  hymn  by  Rev.  John  McNaughton, 
D.  D.  Letters  were  read  from  friends  in  all 
parts  of  the  Union,  many  testifying  gratefully 
to  the  worth  and  effectiveness  of  Dr.  Wheeler's 
labors,  one  coming  from  a  successful  pastor  in 
Ohio,  who  had  been  influenced  by  him  to 
leave  the  carpenter's  bench  for  the  ministry. 

A  remarkable  fact  in  Dr.  Wheeler's  life  is 
that  in  his  half-century  of  work  he  has  never 
been  kept  from  ministerial  duty  by  sickness 
more  than  nine  days.  This  he  attributes  to  a 
od  constitution,  strengthened  by  the  simple 
Healthful  life  of  his  early  years  upon  the  farm, 
with  plenty  of  work,  relieved  by  wholesome 
diversions. 

On  Sabbath  morning,  September  22,  1895, 
owing  to  the  weight  of  increasing  years.  Rev. 
Dr.  Wheeler  presented  his  resignation,  as 
pastor  of  the  Church  to  which  he  had  so  faith- 
fully ministered  for  thirty-six  years.  He  was 
made  Pastor-Emeritus;  but  as  his  successor 
was  not  chosen,  up  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
but  a  few  months  later,  Dr.  Wheeler  remained 
to  the  end  the  pastor  of  the  Church.  Very 
suddenly  came  the  summons  for  him  to  enter 
into  life  everlasting.  "On  the  27th  of  De- 
,cember,  1895,  the  Angel  of  Death  entered 
into  the  household  of  a  beloved  disciple,  the 


Rev.  Dr.  F.  B.  Wheeler.  Scarcely  had  the 
air  ceased  to  vibrate  with  the  joyous  Christmas 
song  of  the  angelic  host,  when  he  who  has 
walked  in  white  for  thirty-six  years  through 
the  streets  of  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie,  an 
epistle  known  and  read  of  all  men,  passed 
into  his  dismantled  homQ  with  a  scholar's  love 
and  care  for  his  books,  to  arrange  for  their  re- 
moval to  a  new  habitation.  Soon  after,  the 
angel,  at  first  unrecognised,  touched  him; 
there  was  a  brief  season  of  helplessness,  in 
which  it  was  given  his  family  to  gather  around 
him,  a  quiet  child-like  sleep,  and  then  the 
angel  took  his  hand  and  led  him  through  the 
group  of  loving  and  sorrowing  ones,  and  in  a 
moment  his  oft-repeated  text  was  verified,  and 
his  eyes  beheld  '  the  King  in  His  beauty. ' 

"A  man  of  wonderful  poise,  of  encom- 
passing catholic  spirit,  of  broad  patriotic 
views,  commanding  the  respect  and  love  of 
all  classes  and  conditions  of  men,  he  so 
walked  with  God  in  the  presence  of  all  the 
people,  that  those  who  knew  him  feel  they  will 
never  look  upon  his  like  again,  while  all  feel 
the  whole  city  is  impoverished  because  this 
gentle  spirit  is  not,  for  his  Lord  has  taken  him." 


JOAQUIM  MARILL,  M.  D.,  a  prominent 
physician  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  coun- 
^  ty,  was  born  at  Havana,  Cuba,  December 
21,  1 84 1,  son  of  Joaquim  Marill  and  Eugenia 
Alvarez,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  wealthy 
planter  and  sugar  grower. 

Our  subject  was  educated  at  his  native 
place,  graduating  from  the  University  of  Ha- 
vana in  i860,  and  then  went  to  Paris  in  order 
to  study  medicine.  In  July,  1861,  he  came  to 
Philadelphia,  and  in  October  of  the  same  year 
he  joined  the  137th  Regiment,  P.  V.  I.,  as 
surgeon,  and  was  sent  to  the  front.  At  the 
second  battle  of  Bull  Run  he  was  taken  pris- 
oner, and  was  confined  in  Libby  prison  until 
September  24,  1864,  when  he  was  exchanged. 
On  reporting  for  duty,  he  was  ordered  to 
Sickleboro  Hospital,  at  Alexandria,  Va. ,  where 
he  remained  until  receiving  his  discharge  from 
the  service  in  July,  1865.  Returning  to  Ha- 
vana, he  in  1866,  before  the  Rebellion,  joined 
the  Spanish  army  as  surgeon,  remaining  until 
1870.  In  that  year,  on  account  of  his  politic- 
al views  being  in  sympathy  with  his  country- 
men, he  came  back  to  the  United  States,  and 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  High- 
land,   Ulster   county,    in     1874    removing  to 


I 


76 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  BEOOBD. 


Poughkeepsie,  where  he  has  practiced  ever 
since,  with  the  exception  of  eight  months  he 
spent  in  Vera  Cruz  during  the  yellow-fever 
epidemic  of  1886,  during  which  period  he  was 
commodore-surgeon  of  the  Alexandria  fleet. 
After  his  return  to  Poughkeepsie  he  resumed 
his  practice,  and  has  met  with  remarkable 
success. 

In  1874  Mr.  Marill  was  married,  at  High- 
land, N.  Y.,  to  Miss  Amanda  W.  Caire,  a 
daughter  of  Louis  Caire,  and  they  have  three 
children:  Minnie,  Maria  and  Pilar.  The 
Doctor  is  an  active  member  of  the  K.  of  P., 
American  Legion  of  Honor,  Knights  of  Honor, 
and  of  the  United  Friends,  while  politically,  he 
is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican  party. 

Our  subject's  father,  who  was  a  wealthy 
planter  and  broker,  was  descended  from  an 
old  titled  family,  known  until  his  death  as  the 
Marquez  and  Count  of  Palestine.  Our  sub- 
ject's mother,  Eugenia  Alvarez,  was  a  close 
descendant  of  the  house  of  Alva  and  Alvarez, 
one  of  the  older  Spanish  titles,  dating  back  to 
the  sixteenth  century,  in  the  reign  of  Philip  H. 


ISAAC  PLATT  came  of  pioneer  ancestry  in 
Dutchess  county,  all  of   the  name   in  this 

country  tracing  their  descent,  from  the  same 
source.  Eliphalet  Piatt,  his  grandfather,  came 
to  Dutchess  county  at  an  early  date,  and  set- 
tled northeast  of  the  site  of  Poughkeepsie, 
where  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits.  His 
death  occurred  in  Dutchess  county,  and  his 
remains  were  buried  at  Pleasant  Valley.  He 
married  Hannah  Causten,  and  reared  a  family 
of  children,  among  whom  was  a  son  Joseph, 
our  subject's  father,  who  also  engaged  in 
farming.  He  wielded  great  influence  in  his 
locality,  in  a  quiet  way,  and  was  a  leader  in 
political  and  religious  affairs.  He  and  his 
wife,  Hannah  Barnes,  had  three  children: 
Isaac,  Joseph  Causten,  and  Catharine,  who 
died  in  girlhood. 

Isaac  Piatt  was  born  in  1803,  in  Albany 
county,  N.  Y.,  where  his  parents  made  their 
home  for  a  short  time,  but  the  greater  part  of 
his  early  life  was  spent  in  the  town  of  Pough- 
keepsie, Dutchess  county.  He  attended 
school  there,  and  as  a  young  man  became  a 
member  of  a  debating  club  which  met  in  a 
little  school  house  near  his  home,  and  had  no 
small  influence  upon  his  education  and  his 
subsequent  career.  One  of  its  members, 
Horatio   Potter,    afterward  became   bishop  of 


New  York;  another,  Alonzo  Potter,  was 
bishop  of  Pennsylvania,  and  another,  John 
Kennedy,  became  prominent  in  the  M.  E. 
Church.  These  young  njen  were  then  appren- 
tices in  the  printing  office  and  book  store  kept 
by  Paraclete  Potter,  publisher  of  the  Pough- 
keepsie Journal,  and  being  warm  friends  of 
Mr.  Piatt,  influenced  him  to  enter  the  same 
employment.  He  served  an  apprenticeship  as 
a  printer,  and  then  began  teaching  school. 
About  the  year  1824  the  Democratic  party 
was  in  need  of  a  new  organ  in  Poughkeepsie, 
and  Isaac  Piatt  and  William  Sands  were  em- 
ployed to  publish  it  under  the  firm  name  of 
Sands  &  Piatt.  In  accordance  with  this  ar- 
rangement the  Poughkeepsie  Telegraph  was 
started,  the  first  issue  appearing  May  5,  1824. 
This  afterward  became  the  Neivs-7'elcgrapli, 
and  is  still  the  Democratic  organ  of  the 
county. 

During  the  political  discussions  of  1828  all 
the  papers  in  the  city  favored  Andrew  Jack- 
son, leaving  the  Whigs  with  no  mouthpiece, 
and  to  meet  this  need  the  Dtitchess  Intelli- 
gencer was  started.  It  failed,  however,  and  was 
purchased  by  Isaac  Piatt  and  Frederick  Par- 
sons, who  continued  it;  but  the  returns  were 
so  small  that  Mr.  Parsons  decided  to  abandon 
it.  Mr.  Piatt  wished  to  keep  on,  and  offered 
Mr.  Parsons  $7.00  per  week  to  remain  as  his 
assistant.  The  offer  was  accepted,  Mr.  Par- 
sons regarding  this  munificient  sum  as  better 
than  a  share  in  doubtful  profits,  and  gave  up 
his  interest  as  a  partner.  In  spite  of  discour- 
agements the  paper  began  to  prosper  under 
Mr.  Piatt's  management.  In  1833  it  was  con- 
solidated with  the  Dutchess  Republican,  which 
had  been  in  existence  for  some  time.  The 
new  name — The  Intelligencer  and  Republican 
— was  changed  during  the  following  year  to 
The  Eagle.  In  1843  Mr.  Piatt  bought  out  his 
partner,  Thomas  S.  Ranney,  who  went  to  In- 
dia under  the  auspices  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  in  1844  the  Eagle  was  united  with  the 
Journal,  William  Schram  joining  Mr.  Piatt  in 
the  new  firm  of  Piatt  &  Schram.  The  daily 
issue  was  started  December  4,  i860.  Mr. 
Piatt  was  a  fearless  champion  of  the  right  as 
he  saw  it,  and  the  Eagle  denounced  the  fugi- 
tive slave  law  during  Fillmore's  administra- 
tion, although  Mr.  Piatt  was  holding  office  at 
the  time  as  postmaster  of  Poughkeepsie,  hav- 
ing been  appointed  by  President  Taylor.  He 
was  the  chairman  of  the  boundary  commission 
that  established   the   line  between  New  York 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


7? 


and  Connecticut  in  i860,  and  during  the  Civil 
war  he  served  as  provost  marshal  of  the  Con- 
gressional district,  making  the  first  draft.  In 
local  afTairs  he  always  took  a  keen  interest;  he 
was  a  warm  friend  of  the  public-school  system, 
and  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  education 
helped  to  introduce  many  reforms  in  the  city 
schools.  He  was  a  pioneer  advocate  of  a  rail- 
road along  the  river  from  New  York  City  to 
Albany,  and  wrote  a  series  of  articles  in  the 
interests  of  that  project,  which  were  published 
in  a  New  York  paper,  signing  himself  "  Civil 
Engineer."'  All  phases  of  progress  command- 
ed his  sympathy,  and  he  was  a  leader  in  social 
life  and  in  religious  work  as  a  member  of  the 
Episcopal  Church.  He  died  June  5.  1872, 
leaving  a  widow,  Mrs.  Harriet  (Bowne)  Piatt, 
and  five  children:  John  I.,  James  Bowne, 
Edmund  Pendleton,  Henry  Barnes  (now  a 
resident  of  New  York  City)  and  Harriet 
Bowne.  Mrs.  Piatt,  to  whom  he  was  married 
in  1836,  was  born  in  1S04,  and  died  in  1892, 
aged  eighty-eight  years.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Obadiah  Bowne,  a  well-known  citizen  of 
Dutchess  county. 


Hon.  John  I.  Platt,  editor  of  the  Pough- 
keepsie  Eagle,  is  a  man  whose  work  inj:he  de- 
velopment of  this  section  has  won  for  him  a 
place  among  our  leading  citizens,  and  the  fol- 
lowing history,  in  its  brief  resume  of  his  useful 
career,  furnishes  an  example  which  is  well  wor- 
thy of  emulation. 

Mr.  Platt  is  a  native  of  Poughkeepsie,  born 
June  29,  1839  (his  father,  Isaac  Platt,  being 
referred  to  in  the  preceding  sketch).  He  ob- 
tained an  education  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
place,  and  as  a  young  man  learned  the  printer's 
trade  in  his  father's  office,  being  advanced  later 
to  responsible  positions  in  the  office  of  publi- 
cation. On  April  i,  1865,  he  purchased  Mr. 
Schram's  interest,  and  became  a  partner  in  the 
conduct  of  the  paper  with  his  father,  the  firm 
being  Isaac  Platt  &  Son.  In  1869  James  B. 
Platt,  another  son,  took  an  interest  in  the 
concern,  and  at  the  death  of  Isaac  Platt  the 
two  brothers  continued  the  business,  the  firm 
of  Platt  &  Piatt  being  founded.  The  Eagle  is 
still  published  under  this  firm  name,  though  in 
1893  our  subject's  son,  Edmund  Platt,  became 
a  member  of  it.  The  plant  was  moved  to  its 
present  quarters  in  1867.  At  the  time  the 
Daily  Eagle  was  started,  Mr.  Platt  was  tele- 
graph editor,  and  during  the  war  he  held  this 
«  position,  taking  charge  of  what  was  then  the 


most  important  news.  In  1865  he  became 
manager,  and  since  1872  he  has  been  the 
editor-in-chief. 

Political  questions  interested  Mr.  Platt 
from  an  early  age,  and  as  soon  as  he  attained 
his  majority  he  entered  into  active  work  as  a 
supporter  of  Republican  principles,  stumping 
the  county  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  makmg 
eight  or  ten  speeches.  He  is  a  talented  speaker, 
and  his  services  have  been  called  into  requisi- 
tion in  each  succeeding  Presidential  campaign. 
In  1865  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie  was  organ- 
ized in  four  independent  departments,  causing 
great  irregularities  in  administration,  and  a 
new  charter  being  desired  a  committee  of 
twelve  was  appointed  to  secure  it.  Mr.  Platt, 
as  a  member  of  this  body,  drew  up  the  char- 
ter as  it  was  presented  to  the  Legislature  and 
passed.  In  1895  he  was  among  the  commit- 
tee chosen  to  revise  the  charter;  but  as  the 
amendments  did  not  pass,  it  was  again  remod- 
eled, and  in  1896  received  legislative  sanction. 
Mr.  Platt  served  three  years  on  the  water 
board,  being  its  president  for  the  year  suc- 
ceeding the  completion  of  the  works,  and  he 
did  much  to  shape  the  action  of  the  board  on 
a  business  basis.  In  1886,  '87  and  '88  he  was 
a  member  of  the  State  Assembly,  but  declined 
to  run  for  another  term.  He  served  on  the 
committee  on  public  education,  and  for  two 
years  was  chairman  thereof.  For  three  years 
he  served  on  the  committee  on  appropriations, 
and  during  his  last  year  he  was  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  revision,  each  bill,  before  its 
third  reading,  being  sent  to  this  committee  for 
correction.  Mr.  Platt  did  much  effective  work 
while  in  the  legislature,  serving  ably  and  faith- 
fully his  constituency  and  the  interests  of  the 
State  at  large.  From  April,  1891,  to  April, 
1895,  he  was  postmaster  of  Poughkeepsie,  and 
for  eleven  years  he  was  one  of  the  board  of 
managers  of  the  Hudson  River  State  Hospi- 
tal, having  been  appointed  by  Gov.  Cornell. 

Mr.  Platt  is  connected  with  several  busi- 
ness enterprises.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
r.he  Poughkeepsie  Board  of  Trade  since  its  or- 
ganization, has  served  three  years  as  president, 
and  is  now  vice-president.  He  was  one  of  the 
incorporators  of  the  Poughkeepsie  City  Rail- 
way Co.  (horse-power),  and  was  president  for 
one  year.  His  earnest  advocacy  of  a  bridge 
across  the  Hudson  at  Poughkeepsie  was  a 
notable  service  to  that  section,  and  the  enter- 
prise will  always  reflect  honor  upon  him  as  the 
original  projector  and  active  promoter.      He 


I 


78 


OOMMEMORAnVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  BEOORD. 


assisted  H.  G.  Eastman  (then  a  member  of 
the  legislature)  and  P.  P.  Dickinson,  in  secur- 
ing the  charter  authorizing  its  erection,  and 
did  much  to  raise  the  money  needed.  Mr. 
Piatt  visited  Boston,  Philadelphia,  and  other 
cities  in  his  effort  to  interest  capitalists  and 
railroad  men,  and  through  A.  L.  Dennis,  then 
a  director  of  the  Pennsylvania  railroad,  secured 
a  large  subscription  from  the  directors  of  that 
company  toward  the  project.  The  panic  of 
1873  interferred  with  this  arrangement,  how- 
ever, and  some  time  elapsed  before  the  matter 
was  revived  with  a  promise  of  success.  The 
American  Bridge  Co.  undertook  it,  but  failed 
after  the  work  was  begun,  and  again  the  enter- 
prise was  halted.  In  1886  a  new  construction 
company,  composed  mainly  of  Philadelphia 
capitalists,  took  hold  of  it  and  carried  it  to 
completion.  In  1887  Mr.  Piatt  secured  an 
extension  of  the  charter,  after  a  bitter  struggle 
in  the  legislature,  and  then,  acting  upon  the 
well-proven  principle  that  "if  you  want  a  thing 
done  well  you  should  do  it  yourself,"  he  started 
the  construction  of  the  connecting  railroad  on 
the  west,  making  contracts  and  grading  several 
miles  on  his  own  responsibility,  before  the 
work  was  turned  over  to  the  company.  Mr. 
Piatt  is  president  and  treasurer  of  the  Chazy 
(N.  Y.)  Marble  Lime  Co.,  which  manufac- 
tures about  thirty-three  tons  of  lime  per  day. 

The  oratorical  gifts  which  have  made  Mr. 
Piatt's  services  sought  for  in  political  cam- 
paigns are  valued  in  other  fields,  and  he  was 
chosen  to  deliver  an  address  on  July  26,  1888, 
at  the  celebration  of  the  centennial  of  the 
Ratification  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  by  the  State  of  New  York. 

On  June  3,  1862,  Mr.  Piatt  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Susan  F.  Sherwood,  of 
Montgomery,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  daughter  of 
Benjamin  C.  and  Abbie  A.  (Strong)  Sherwood. 
Seven  children  have  brightened  their  home,  of 
whom  one  died  in  infancy;  Edmund  is  his  fa- 
ther's partner;  Eliza  S.  married  George  L. 
Hubbell,  of  Garden  City,  L.  I.;  Sarah  S.  is 
the  wife  of  G.  Arthur  Hadsell,  of  Plainville, 
Conn. ;  and  Isaac,  Francis  W.  and  Edith  M. 
are  at  home. 

Active  as  Mr.  Piatt  has  been  in  business 
and  political  lines,  religious  and  philanthropic 
work  has  found  in  him  a  generous  helper, 
while  socially  he  and  his  family  hold  a  high 
place.  For  many  }'ears  he  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  was  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  of  Pough- 


keepsie,  and  served  as  its  president  for  a  term. 
He  has  been  a  delegate  to  numerous  State  and 
National  conventions  of  the  associations,  and 
was  secretary  of  the  international  convention 
at  Washington,  D.  C.  At  the  State  conven- 
tion held  at  Lockport,  N.  Y. ,  he  was  the  presi- 
dent. He  was  also  first  chairman  of  the  State 
Executive  Committee,  and  served  in  that  ca- 
pacity for  several  years. 


Edmund  P.  Platt,  member  of  the  well- 
known  leading  dry-goods  firm  of  Luckey,  Platt 
&  Co.,  Poughkeepsie,  and  one  of  the  successful 
and  representative  citizens  of  the  county,  is  a 
native  of  Poughkeepsie,  born  December  2, 
1843,  to  Isaac  and  Harriet  (Bowne)  Platt. 

Our  subject  received  his  education  at  the 
Dutchess  County  Academy,  Poughkeepsie,  and 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  commenced  clerking  for 
W.  S.  &  W.  H.  Crosby,  a  well-known  dry- 
goods  firm  of  the  city,  with  whom  he  remained 
several  years,  or  until  they  sold  out  to  J.  N.  & 
G.  W.  Candee,  Mr.  Platt  then  continuing  with 
the  latter,  in  the  same  store,  until  1869.  On 
March  22,  of  that  year,  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  C.  P.  Luckey,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Luckey  &  Platt,  which  later  was  changed 
to  Luckey,  Platt  &  Co.,  by  the  association  of 
S.  L.  De  Garmo  into  the  business.  In  1896 
Mr.  Luckey  died,  and  Messrs.  Platt  and  De- 
Garmo  purchased  the  deceased's  interest,  still, 
however,  retaining  the  old  firm  name  The 
business,  which  was  con.paratively  small  at 
first,  has  steadily  grown  until  it  is  to-day  the 
largest  in  the  county,  in  the  dry-goods  line. 
The  premises  at  first  occupied  by  the  store  were 
at  No.  328  Main  street,  whence,  in  August, 
1874,  it  was  removed  to  the  present  site  No. 
332  Main  street;  since  occupying  which,  the 
firm  have  found  it  necessary  to  enlarge  the 
store  from  time  to  time,  as  business  increased, 
the  last  addition  being  made  in  1890,  and  it 
now  occupies  the  entire  building,  Nos.  332, 
334  and  336  Main  street. 

In  1870  Edmund  P.  Platt  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Emily  Bartlett, 
daughter  of  Charles  and  Emily  (Vedder)  Bart- 
lett. of  Poughkeepsie,  Mr.  Bartlett  being  the 
founder  and  owner  of  the  Poughkeepsie  Colle- 
giate School  on  College  Hill,  which  has  since 
been  merged  into  Riverview  Academy.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Platt  have  been  born  four  chil- 
dren, to  wit:  Emily,  Miriam,  Howard  and 
Alletta.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Platt  are  members  of 
the  First   Presbyterian  Church  of  Poughkeep- 


I 


W*«-^«^-<'  i^  j^ — 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


79 


sie,  in  which  he  is  an  elder,  and  of  the  Sunday- 
school  of  which  he  has  been  superintendent  for 
eighteen  years;  has  also  held  several  other 
joffices  in  connection  with  the  Church  and  Sun- 
I  day-school  in  the  county  and  State.  In  the 
lYoung  Men's  Christian  Association  he  has  been 
very  active,  holding  office  as  president,  treas- 
urer or  director  for  more  than  twenty  years. 
For  the  past  eighteen  years  Mr.  Piatt  has  been 
the  chairman  of  the  New  York  State  Executive 
Committee  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  As- 
sociation. He  is  also  actively  engaged  as  an 
officer  or  director  in  many  missionary  and  be- 
nevolent enterprises  both  at  home  and  in  for- 
eign lands.  He  is  one  of  the  trustees  of  the 
new  "  Rescue  Mission"  of  Poughkeepsie,  and 
chairman  of  its  executive  and  building  commit- 
tees. In  his  political  preferences  he  has  al- 
ways been  a  stanch  Republican,  and  at  the 
same  time  is  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  Tem- 
perance cause. 

All  in  all,  Mr.  Piatt  has  proved  himself  to 
be  one  of  the  most  useful  men  in  the  commu- 
nity, being  assisted  in  all  his  works  of  philan- 
thropy by  his  amiable  wife,  who  is  also  very 
active  in  works  of  charity.  Personally,  Mr. 
Piatt  is  a  gentleman  of  sterling  integrity,  inter- 
ested in  everything  that  is  for  the  good  of  the 
:ommunity  and  the  best  interests  of  mankind. 
His  friendships  are  of  that  lasting  nature  which 
:lose  only  with  the  final  summons. 


JOHN  CALHOUN  OTIS,  M.  D..  is  without 
doubt  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  suc- 
cessful physicians  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 
:ounty,  and  to  any  one  familiar  with  the  high 
:haracter  of  the  fraternity  in  that  city  this  will 
it  once  convey  an  idea  of  merit  far  beyond  the 
ordinary. 

Dr.  Otis  is  a  native  of  Dutchess  county, 
ing  been  born  in  the  town  of  Stanford,  Jan- 
lary  4,  1847.  He  is  descended  from  an  old 
English  family,  and  from  James  Otis,  of  Bos- 
a  noted  personage  in  the  early  days.  The 
i^'^ctor's  grandfather,  Henry  Otis,  was  born  in 
Vlassachusetts,  and  passed  the  greater  portion 
)f  his  active  business  life  as  a  contractor  in 
Boston,  where  he  died  in  18 12.  He  had  two 
sons  and  seven  daughters,  none  of  whom  are 
low  living. 

Hon.  John  H.  Otis,  our  subject's  father, 
.vas  born  in  1809  at  New  Brunswick.  N.  J., 
•vhere  the  family  resided  for  a  short  time.  He 
earned  the  carriage  maker's  trade,  and  at  eight- 


een years  of  age  went  to  Charleston,  S.  C,  to 
engage  in  business  in  the  firm  of  Otis  &  Rou- 
lane.  In  1846  he  disposed  of  his  interest  and 
came  to  Dutchess  county,  where  he  purchased 
about  700  acres  of  land  in  the  town  of  Stan- 
ford, three  miles  from  Bangall.  This  he  sold 
in  1855,  and  then  moved  to  Poughkeepsie, 
where  for  some  time  he  was  interested  with  E. 
B.  Osborne  in  the  Telegraph,  now  merged  into 
the  News  Press.  For  many  years  he  was  a  di- 
rector of  the  Merchants  Bank,  and  at  the  time 
of  his  death  was  the  oldest  member  of  the 
board.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  character  and 
positive  views,  an  Old-line  Democrat  in  poli- 
tics, and  an  active  participant  in  the  movements 
of  his  time.  During  the  Nullification  troubles 
of  1832  he  was  a  member  of  a  company  of 
"Northern  Volunteers  "  in  Charleston,  B.C., 
and  he  served  in  Florida  during  the  Seminole 
war,  as  a  sergeant  under  Andrew  Jackson. 
When  the  Civil  war  broke  out,  he  supported 
the  Union  cause,  and  raised  the  first  company 
of  soldiers  sent  from  Dutchess  county — Com- 
pany E,  30th  N.  Y.  V.  I.  He  had  expected 
to  go  to  the  front  as  their  captain,  but  gave 
way  to  Capt  Harrison  Holliday,  who  was  killed 
in  the  service.  This  regiment  saw  some  hard 
fighting,  and  made  an  honorable  record.  Later 
Mr.  Otis  was  offered  the  colonelcy  of  the  150th 
Reg.  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  but  declined  it;  he  went  to 
the  front,  however,  in  1863  as  captain  of  Com- 
pany K,  1 6th  Heavy  Artillery,  their  first  en- 
gagement being  at  Yorktown.  His  health 
failed  after  about  nine  months'  service  in  the 
field,  and  he  returned  home. 

As  a  citizen  he  possessed  great  popularity 
and  influence.  While  in  the  town  of  Stanford 
he  served  seven  terms  as  supervisor,  and  dur- 
ing the  war  he  once  came  within  seven  votes 
of  being  elected  mayor  of  Poughkeepsie,  then 
a  Republican  stronghold.  For  several  years 
he  served  on  the  board  of  health  and  the  board 
of  education,  and  in  1852-3  he  was  elected  to 
the  State  Senate,  but  after  one  term  of  two 
years  he  declined  a  re-nomination  on  account 
of  ill  health.  He  was  an  active  member  of 
St.  Paul's  Church,  and  for  twenty  years  held 
the  office  of  vestryman.  In  1842,  while  on  a 
visit  to  the  North  for  the  summer,  he  met  and 
married  Miss  Ann  B.  Buckman,  a  member 
of  a  prominent  family  of  Dutchess  county, 
daughter  of  Seneca  Buckman,  and  granddaugh- 
ter of  Dr.  Amasa  Buckman,  of  the  town  of 
Stanford,  a  graduate  of  Oxford  University,  En- 
gland.    She  died  in  Poughkeepsie,  in  i860,  at 


I 


80 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


the  age  of  thirty-seven,  from  pneumonia,  leav- 
ing two  children:  (i)  Mary,  wife  of  Dr.  W. 
R.  Case,  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  (2)  Dr.  J.  C. 
Otis,  of  this  sketch.  The  father  passed  away 
in  July,  1887,  aged  seventy-eight  years. 

Dr.  John  C.  Otis  was  about  eight  years  old 
when  his  parents  moved  to  Poughkeepsie, 
where,  in  the  Dutchess  Academy,  and  in  John 
R.  Leslie's  school  his  education  was  mainly  ac- 
quired. In  1863  and  1864  he  served  in  the 
quartermaster's  department  at  Milwaukee,  Wis. 
For  a  time  he  attended  the  University  of  Ver- 
mont, and  then,  in  1865,  he  began  his  profes- 
sional studies  in  Harts  Village,  with  Dr.  Case. 
In  March,  1868,  he  was  graduated  from  the 
New  York  Homeopathic  College,  and  in  June 
of  that  year  he  completed  the  medical  course 
at  the  University  of  Vermont  (Allopathic),  hav- 
ing carried  on  the  work  of  both  school^  at  the 
same  time.  Then  came  the  perplexing  ques- 
tion of  a  location,  and-  after  six  months  at 
Erie,  Penn.,  and  two  years  at  Millbrook,  Dutch- 
ess county,  he  finally  settled  at  Poughkeepsie, 
beginning  his  practice  there  January  i,  1872, 
with  Dr.  Hall,  an  old  practitioner.  Two  years 
later  Dr.  Otis  established  an  independent  office, 
and  in  1878  he  associated  with  him  Dr.  Taylor 
Lansing,  who  died  in  1883.  Dr.  Otis  then 
continued  alone  until  1884,  when  he  asked 
Dr.  Case  to  come  to  Poughkeepsie  as  his  part- 
ner, the  firm  dissolving  in  1888.  In  1892  Dr. 
Otis  again  took  a  partner.  Dr.  John  H.  Otis, 
his  son,  with  whom  he  is  still  sharing  his  large 
and  lucrative  business.  Dr.  Otis  has  a  general 
practice,  but  gives  especial  attention  to  the 
diseases  of  children.  On  settling  at  Pough- 
keepsie, he  for  two  years  occupied  the  house  in 
which  Dr.  Van  Gieson  now  resides,  but  since 
1874  he  has  made  his  home  at  the  pleasant 
residence  in  Cannon  street.  His  wife,  to  whom 
he  was  married  October  6,  1870,  in  Millbrook, 
was  formerly  Miss  Katherine  Haviland.  Her 
father,  Barclay  Haviland,  a  well-known  citizen, 
is  still  living  at  the  age  of  eighty-four.  Her 
mother,  Susan  (Tredway),  was  a  daughter  of 
Dr.  Alfred  Tredway,  and  granddaughter  of 
Philip  Hart,  in  whose  honor  Harts  Village  was 
named.  The  Doctor  and  his  wife  have  had 
two  children:  Dr.  John  H.  Otis,  mentioned 
above,  and  a  daughter,  Annie  S.,  who  died 
when  ten  years  old. 

Dr.  Otis  is  a  member  of  the  Dutchess 
County  Homeopathic  Medical  Society,  and 
was  its  president  for  twelve  years.  He  also 
belongs  to  the  New  York  State   Medical  Soci- 


ety, and  for  a  number  of  years  he  was  surgeon 
of  the  old  Twenty-first  Militia,  which  was  dis- 
banded when  the  Nineteenth  Separate  Com- 
pany was  organized.  Notwithstanding  his 
activity  in  professional  lines  he  is  connected 
with  several  business  enterprises,  and  is  the 
president  of  the  Delamater  Carriage  Company 
of  Poughkeepsie,  a  director  of  the  Farmers  & 
Manufacturers  Bank,  and  a  trustee  of  the 
Poughkeepsie  Cemetery  Association.  Politic- 
ally, he  is  a  Democrat;  for  ten  years  past  he 
has  served  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  health, 
and  for  seven  years  was  vice-president  of  that 
body.  Socially,  he  is  connected  with  the 
Amrita  and  Dutchess  Clubs,  the  K.  of  P., 
and  several  beneficiary  orders.  He  is  a  lead- 
ing member  of  Christ's  Church,  in  which  he 
is  a  vestryman,  and  also  one  of  the  trustees  of 
St.  Barnabus  Fund,  disbursing  the  income  of 
the  fund  in  behalf  of  the  committee. 


C:HARLES  E.  BOWNE,  a  leading  mer- 
,_'  chant  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  founder  of  the 
well-known  firm  of  C.  E.  Bowne  &  Son,  is  a 
representative  of  one  of  the  prominent  families 
of  Dutchess  county. 

His  ancestors  were  early  settlers  at  Flush- 
ing, Long  Island.  His  grandfather,  Gershom 
Bowne,  was  born  there,  and  about  the  year 
1776  he  and  two  brothers  left  the  old  home  to 
seek  their  fortunes  elsewhere,  one  settling  in 
New  York  City,  and  one  in  Westchester  county, 
while  Gershom  located  in  the  town  of  Fishkill, 
Dutchess  county.  He  married  Nancy  Bowne, 
and  to  their  union  were  born  five  children: 
Mary,  Elizabeth,  Gershom,  Samuel  and  James. 
Gershom  Bowne  (2),  our  subject's  father, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  and  passed 
his  entire  life  there,  receiving  his  education  in 
the  local  schools,  later  engaging  in  farming. 
He  was  a  leader  in  his  locality,  holding  many 
public  offices,  and  his  sound  judgment  and  up- 
right character  made  him  the  chosen  advisor 
of  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances.  He  was  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Brinkerville,  Dutchess  Co. ,  N.  Y.  He  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Hasbrouck,  of  Fishkill,  and  had 
three  children:  Charles  E. ,  our  subject;  and 
Francis  Hasbrouck  and  Ann  Elizabeth  (both 
deceased). 

Charles  E.  Bowne  was  born  at  the  old 
homestead  June  19,  1818.  His  father  dying 
five  years  later,  the  family  became  scattered, 
and  at  the  age   of  seven   our    subject  went  to 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


81 


Poughkeepsie  to  live  with  his  uncle,  James 
Bowne,  who  wa's  then  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Conklin  &  Bowne,  dealers  in  merchandise. 
After  acquiring  a  good  education  in  the  schools 
of  the  city,  and  in  a  boarding  school  at  Whites- 
boro,  near  Utica,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
in  1832,  Mr.  Bowne  entered  his  uncle's  store 
as  a  clerk,  and  there  remained  sometime  after 
the  change  in  the  firm  to  Bowne  &  Trow- 
bridge. In  order  to  perfect  his  knowledge  of 
the  business,  he  went  to  New  York  and  served 
two  years  in  the  wholesale  house  of  T.  B.  & 
J.  Odell,  No.  207  Pearl  street.  In  1844,  at 
the  strong  solicitation  of  the  firm,  he  returned 
to  Poughkeepsie  and  became  his  uncle's  part- 
ner, Mr.  Trowbridge  retiring.  The  partner- 
.  ship  then  formed  under  the  name  of  J.  Bowne 
&  Co.  lasted  thirty-five  years,  when  the  senior 
member  withdrew,  and  Mr.  Bowne  continued 
I  the  business  under  his  own  name.  About  five 
)  years  ago  the  firm  became  Bowne,  Valentine 
I  &  Bowne,  the  last  named  being  Frederick 
Bowne,  a  son  of  our  subject.  Mr.  Valentine 
has  since  retired  from  the  business,  and  Mr. 
Bowne  intends  to  give  less  of  his  personal  at- 
tention to  it  in  the  future,  as  a  stroke  of  par- 
alysis, in  the  spring  of  1895,  warned  him  to 
release  himself  from  care,  although  his  recov- 
ery has  been  rapid.  Fortunately  the  business 
is  in  capable  hands,  his  son  being  a  worthy 
successor.  Mr.  Bowne  has  been  in  business 
on  Main  street  for  more  than  fifty  years,  and 
has  seen  many  changes,  his  early  associates 
and  competitors  there  having  all  passed  away, 
their  places  being  filled  by  another  generation. 
On  December  23,  1846,  at  Staten  Island, 
.\Ir.  Bowne  married  Miss  Mary  Haggerty,  and 
of  this  union  five  children  were  born:  Emma, 
who  married  J.  A.  Piatt,  of  Providence,  R.  I.; 
Charles  S.,  a  prominent  druggist  at  Pough- 
keepsie; Henry  Haggerty,  a  leading  attorney 
at  Jacksonville,  Fla. ;  Frank,  a  commercial 
traveler;  and  Frederick,  junior  member  of  the 
firm  of  C.  E.  Bowne  &  Son.  On  February 
27,  1896,  the  mother  of  this  family  passed 
from  earth  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years,  after 
almost  half  a  century  of  married  life. 


FREDERICK  BOWNE,  junior  member  of 
_  the  firm  of  C.  E.  Bowne  &  Son,  of  Pough- 
keepsie, and  one  of  the  most  capable  and  en- 
terprising young  business  men  of  Dutchess 
county,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie, 
April  14,  1862. 
e 


He  was  educated  in  his  native  place,  and 
after  graduating  from  the  high  school  he  took 
a  responsible  position  in  the  office  of  a  large 
jewelry  factory  at  Providence,  R.  I. ,  where 
he  remained  three  years.  In  1887  he  re- 
turned to  Poughkeepsie  and  entered  his  father's 
store  as  clerk,  in  1890  becoming  a  partner. 
Owing  to  the  ill  health  of  his  father,  the  busi- 
ness has  devolved  mainly  upon  him  of  late, 
and  his  prudent  and  energetic  management 
gives  promise  of  the  continued  success  of  this 
long-established  house.  It  is  the  only  store 
in  the  city  which  is  devoted  strictly  to  the 
carpet  business,  and  the  firm  is  in  advance  of 
all  competitors  in  that  line,  holding  the  bulk 
of  the  trade. 

Mr.  Bowne  is  an  ardent  supporter  of  the 
doctrines  of  the  Republican  party,  and  is  a 
leader  among  the  younger  men  in  his  locality. 
In  social  life  he  holds  a  prominent  place,  is  a 
member  of  the  Order  of  Elks,  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Poughkeepsie  Bicycle  Club,  of  which  he  is  now 
president. 


CASPER  L.  ODELL,  a  prominent  attorney 
of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  and  a 
representative  of  an  ancient  and  honored  fam- 
ily, was  born  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  Dutch- 
ess Co.,  N.  Y.,  December  t6,  1850. 

Mr.  Odell 's  genealogical  tree  affords  an  in- 
teresting study,  the  line  reaching  back  to 
Saluart,  father  of  the  first  Count  of  Flanders. 
The  familv  name  is  variously  spelled  in  the  old 
records— bdell,  Woodhull,  Wodhull,  etc.  His 
descent  may  be  traced  by  two  lines  to  Edward 
II  of  England,  and  also  reaches  back  to  Alfred 
the  Great,  and  to  Charles  the  Bold  of  France, 
and  the  family  was  related  by  marriage  to 
William  the  Conquerer,  and  to  Catherine  Parr, 
Queen  of  Henry  VIII.  The  biography  of 
Joseph  E.  Odell,  a  brother  of  our  subject, 
contains  additional  information  as  to  the  re- 
mote history,  which,  it  is  alleged,  dates  back  to 
Priam,  King  of  Troy.  The  following  record, 
dating  back  to  795  A.  D.  is  correct  beyond 
question,  being  founded  upon  documentary 
evidence: 

Generation  I — Saluart,  who  married  Mac- 
larne  Eringarde.  II — Prince  Dijon,  first  Count 
of  Flanders.  Ill — Lideric  Le  Buc,  founder 
of  the  family  of  Foresters.  IV — Ingleram. 
V — Baldwin  I,  called  Audacer  and  Brasle  Fer, 


I 


82 


VOMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


who  married  Judith,  daughter  of  Charles  the 
Bold,  of  France.  VI— Baldwin  II,  the  Bold, 
married  Aelfthry,  daughter  of  Alfred,  King  of 
England.  VII — Arnulf,  who  married  Adelia, 
daughter  of  the  Count  of  Vermandois.  VIII — 
Baldwin  IV.  IX — Baldwin  V,  Le  Debonair. 
XI — Walter  Flandrensis,  the  last  Count  and 
the  first  Wodhull  or  Odell.  XII— Simon  De- 
WodhuU,  who  married  Sibill.  XIII— Walter 
de  Wodhull,  who  married  Roesia.  XIV — Wal- 
ter de  Wodhull.  XV.— Saher  Wodhull,  who 
married  Joan  or  Alice  Whelton.  XVI — Wal- 
ter de  Wodhull,  who  married  Helewyse  Senes- 
challe.  XVII — John  de  Wodhull,  Baron,  who 
married  Agnes  Pinkeney.  XVIII — Thomas 
de  Wodhull,  Baron,  who  married  Hawise  de 
Praers.  XIX — John  de  Wodhull.  Baron,  who 
married  Isabella .  XX — Nicholas  Wod- 
hull, Baron,  who  married  Margaret  Foxcote. 
XXI — Thomas  Wodhull,  Baron,  who  married 
Elizabeth  Chetwood.  XXII — Thomas  Wod- 
hull, Baron,  who  married  Isabella  Trussell, 
daughter  of  Sir  William  Trussell.  XXIII — 
John  Wodhull,  Baron,  whose  wife  was  Joan, 
daughter  of  Henry  Eastwell.  XXIV — Fulk 
Wodhull,  Baron,  who  married  Ann  Newen- 
ham.  XXV — Nicholas  Wodhull,  Baron,  sheriff 
of  Northumberland  county,  who  married  Eliz- 
abeth Parr,  daughter  of  Baron  William  Parr 
of  Horton.  XXVI— Fulk  Wodhull  of  Then- 
ford,  whose  wife  was  Alice  Colles  of  Leigh. 
XXVII— Nicholas  Wodhull  of  Thenford,  who 
married  Barbara  Hobby  of  Hales.  XXVIII — 
William  Odell,  born  at  Odell,  near  London, 
who  emigrated  to  America,  and  in  1639  was  at 
Concord,  Mass.  He  removed  to  Fairfield, 
Conn.,  about  1644,  where  his  will,  disposing 
of  .^447,  was  probated  June  12,  1676.  He  had 
three  children:  William,  John  and  Rebecca 
(Mrs.  Samuel  Moorehouse). 

XXIX — William  Odell,  who  was  born  about 
1634,  and  died  about  1700,  was  one  of  the 
first  settlers  at  Rye,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  owned  a 
large  estate.  In  1681  he  appears  on  the  Fair- 
field records  as  owning  362  acres  there,  and  in 
1684  he  deeded  some  land  at  Rye  to  a  "son 
Samuel  living  in  the  same  county."  Another 
deed  appears  in  1697,  as  resident  of  Rye,  and 
October  2,  1668,  he  signed  a  petition  there  as 
William  Woodhull.  Savage  mentions  him  as 
"William,  of  Greenwich,  Conn.,  in  1681, 
aged  forty-seven."  He  married  a  daughter  of 
Richard  Voles,  of  Fairfield,  a  freeholder  and 
representative  in  the  Colonial  government  in 
1665-68-69.     They  had  eight  children:  John, 


Samuel,  Isaac,  Jonathan,  Michael,  Hachalia, 
Stephen  and  Sarah. 

XXX — Isaac,  of  Eastchester,  N.  Y. ,  signed 
the  oath  of  allegiance  to  King  William  at 
White  Plains,  in  1699.  He  married  Anne 
Tompkins,  and  she  joined  in  a  deed  of  lands  at 
Rye  in  1705.  They  had  three  children:  Will- 
iam, Tompkins  and  Joshua. 

XXXI — Joshua  married  Sarah  Jones,  and 
had  three  children:  Joshua,  Joseph  and  John. 
XXXII — Joshua  married  Mary  Vincent,  and 
had  nine  children:  John,  Joseph,  Abraham, 
Daniel,  James,  Joshua,  Sarah,  Abigail  and 
Isaac.  XXXIII — John,  of  Dutchess  county, 
was  born  January  5,  1762,  and  died  January 
26,  1853,  He  married  Esther  Crawford,  and 
had  eight  children:  Peter,  Daniel,  James, 
Elizabeth,  Abigail,  Charlotte,  William  and 
Ann.  XXXIV — Daniel  was  born  in  Clinton 
township,  Dutchess  county,  April  15,  1805, 
and  died  October  22,  1875.  He  was  a  farmer: 
he  married  Malinda  LeRoy,  and  had  four  chil- 
dren: Eliphalet  P.,  of  Rowland;  John  D.,  of  Salt 
Point;  Joseph  E.,  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  Cas- 
per L.,  our  subject. 

The  thirty-fifth  generation  of  this  remark- 
able family  are  all  worthy  representatives,  in- 
telligent, progressive  and  prosperous.  Casper 
L.  Odell  attended  during  boyhood  the  public 
schools  of  Hyde  Park,  where  the  family  moved 
when  he  was  only  five  years  old.  He  entered 
Union  College  at  Schenectady,  but  while  in 
the  sophomore  year  his  father  died,  and  he 
was  obliged  to  leave  his  studies  and  solve  in  a 
practical  way  the  problem  of  self-support.  For 
a  year  he  was  a  clerk  in  the  law  office  of  Smith 
and  Jackson,  at  Schenectady,  N.  Y. ,  and  the 
next  year  taught  school  at  Scotia.  In  1876 
he  came  to  Poughkeepsie  and  studied  law  with 
J.  S.  Van  Cleef  and  William  M.  Lee,  and  was 
admitted  in  1879.  For  some  time  he  con- 
tinued with  Mr.  Lee,  and  then  clerked  in  the 
county  clerk's  office  under  William  A.  Fanning 
and  Wilson  B.  Sheldon.  He  is  an  influential 
worker  in  the  Republican  party,  and  has  never 
been  defeated  at  an  election.  He  was  chosen 
supervisor  of  the  Third  ward  in  18 — ,  serving 
two  terms,  justice  of  the  peace  in  1886,  and 
city  recorder  in  November,  1894.  In  1885  he 
opened  an  ofifice  and  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  in  which  he  has  been  unusually 
successful. 

On  December  16,  1879,  he  was  married, 
at  Lawyersville,  Schoharie  county,  to  Katha- 
rine T.  Davis,  born  December  16,  1854,  daugh- 


I 


COMMEMOBATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


83 


ter  of  Rev.  William  P.  Davis.  Their  children, 
the  thirty-sixth  generation  of  the  ancient  line, 
are  LeRoy  L.,  born  October  6,  1880;  Joseph 
D.,  May  22,  1882;  Lawrence  C,  January  31, 
1885;  Ralph  M.,  December  31,  1887;  Free- 
man Dewitt,  March  11,  1890;  and  William  D., 
March  22,  1893. 

Mr.  Odell  is  a  member  of  the  K.  of  P., 
Poughkeepsie  Lodge  No.  43,  and  of  the  F.  & 
A.  M.,  Triune  Lodge  No.  782,  Poughkeepsie 
Chapter  No.  172,  R.  A.  M..  King  Solomon's 
Council  No.  31,  R.  &  S.  M.,  Poughkeepsie 
Commandery  No.  43.  K.  T.,  Mecca  Temple 
^No.  I,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  and  Poughkeepsie 
)dge  B.  P.  O.  E. 


LLISON  BUTTS,  a  well-known  member 
of  the  Dutchess  County  Bar,  is  especially 
distinguished  for  his  knowledge  and  skill  in 
real-estate  law  and  the  different  questions  in- 
volved in  trusts.  He  is  descended  from  one  of 
the  old  pioneer  families  of  New  England.  The 
first  American  ancestor,  Thomas  Butts,  came 
from  Norfolk,  England,  May  18,  1660,  and 
settled  at  Little  Compton,  R.  L,  which  was 
then  a  part  of  the  Plymouth  Colony.  He  mar- 
ried, and  had  three  sons  and  one  daughter. 
One  of  the  sons,  Moses,  who  was  born  July 
30,  1673,  married,  and  had  seven  children, 
ong  whom  was  a  son  John,  born  August 
1707. 

John  Butts  married  Alice  Wodell,  October 
1727,  and  with  his  family  came  to  Dutch- 
county,  locating  on  the  "  Little  Nine  Part- 
5  Patent,"  in  the  town  of  Washington, 
ere  he  purchased  a  farm  of  200  acres  from 
ac  Thorn.  The  original  deed,  dated  Octo- 
r  4,  1748,  is  now  in  the  possession  of  J.  De- 
Witt  Butts,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.  John  Butts 
died  about  1797,  leaving  a  large  estate,  which 
was  distributed  in  accordance  with  his  Will, 
probated  in  the  office  of  the  Surrogate  of 
Dutchess  County,  July  25,  1797.  He  had  nine 
children,  of  whom  one,  Moses,  had  died  about 
1780,  leaving  two  young  children,  Daniel  and 
Hannah.  Daniel  Butts,  our  subject's  great- 
grandfather, was  born  in  1768,  and  died  in 
1817.  He  married  Isabella  Gardner,  and  about 
179-  moved  to  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Stanford, 
Dutchess  county,  where  he  built  a  large  and 
substantial  mansion,  which  is  still  standing. 
Daniel  and  Isabella  Butts  had  eleven  children, 
the  eldest  being  Moses  (our  subject's  grand- 
father),   who  was  born  December    16,    1786, 


and,  like  most  of  this  family,  passed  his  life 
in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  married, 
March  22.  1806,  to  Mary"  Waltermire,  of  the 
town  of  Stanford,  and  his  death  occurred  in 
the  same  township,  June  4,  185 1.  He  had 
eight  children:  David  W.,  William,  Hiram, 
Angeline,  Daniel,  Walter,  Alfred,  and  George 
F. ,  the  father  of  our  subject. 

The  late  George  F.  Butts  was  born  De- 
cember 13,  1823,  in  the  town  of  Stanford, 
Dutchess  county,  and  had  his  home  throughout 
his  life  near  Cold  Spring,  in  that  town.  On 
December  16,  1851,  he  married  his  first  wife, 
Eliza  D.  Case,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons: 
Allison,  our  subject,  born  October  2,  1852; 
Charles  H.,  born  February  5,  1855,  now  mar- 
ried and  living  on  the  old  homestead;  and 
Elias  N.,  born  August  10,  1865,  now  in  the 
Department  of  the  Interior  at  Washington, 
D.  C.  By  a  second  wife,  Cornelia  Ailing, 
there  were  no  children;  she  is  still  living  at  the 
homestead,  where  the  father  died,  September 

3.  1893- 

Allison  Butts  spent  his  boyhood  upon  the 
farm  occupied  by  his  father.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  and  academies  of 
Dutchess  county,  and  at  twenty  began  teach- 
ing, but  continued  for  a  short  time  only.  On 
January  i,  1874,  he  came  to  Poughkeepsie  as 
a  clerk  for  Andrew  C.  Warren,  then  county 
clerk,  and  soon  afterward  was  appointed  dep- 
uty county  clerk,  which  office  he  held  through 
both  Republican  and  Democratic  administra- 
tions, until  January  i,  1881,  when  he  re- 
signed. He  had  in  the  meantime  read  law  and 
been  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  the  large  circle 
of  friends  gained  during  his  long  term  in  the 
county  clerk's  office  made  his  entrance  upon 
his  chosen  profession  a  most  promising  ven- 
ture. He  immediately  began  a  general  prac- 
tice at  Poughkeepsie,  and  has  been  intimately 
associated  with  the  law  firm  of  Hackett  & 
Williams,  occupying  offices  in  connection  with 
them.  His  business  is  an  extensive  one,  trusts 
and  real-estate  practice  being  now  the  leading 
features.  He  is  often  appointed  by  the  courts 
to  administer  trusts,  and  has  frequently  served 
as  executor  and  attorney  for  large  estates. 
While  he  has  conducted  many  important  cases, 
his  office  practice  comprises  the  larger  portion 
of  his  work,  and  in  his  specialties  he  is  recog- 
nized as  an  authority  by  his  fellow  lawyers  as 
well  as  the  laity. 

His  genial  manners  make  him  popular  with 
all  classes.      In  municipal  affairs  he  is  active 


84 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  influential.  Politically,  he  is  a  stanch 
Democrat.  He  served  two  terms  as  police 
commissioner  of  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie,  and 
from  1887  to  1890  was  a  member  of  the  board 
of  education.  In  July,  i8go,  he  was  appointed 
by  the  board  of  managers  of  the  Hudson  River 
State  Hospital  to  the  office  of  treasurer  of  that 
in.stitution,  which  office  he  now  holds,  and  he 
has  discharged  the  duties  with  characteristic 
fidelity. 

Mr.  Butts  was  married  December  14,  1876, 
to  his  first  wife,  Miss  Phebe  D.  Mosher,  of  the 
town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess  county.  She  died 
December  15,  1882,  leaving  one  son,  Ralph 
F. ,  born  April  6,  1878,  who  is  now  a  student 
in  the  Sophomore  class  at  Harvard  College. 
Mr.  Butts'  second  wife.  Miss  Arrie  E.  Mosher, 
to  whom  he  was  married  September  16,  1885, 
was  cousin  to  his  first.  There  are  three  chil- 
dren by  this  union:  Norman  C. ,  born  August 
8,  1888;  Allison,  Jr.,  born  April  26,  1890,  and 
Wilbur  Kingsley,  born  September  7,  1895. 
Mr.  Butts  resides  in  a  handsome  home  on 
Academy  street,  Poughkeepsie,  erected  in  1895. 


JUDGE  D.  W.  GUERNSEY,  for  twelve 
years  past  the  judge  of  the  County  Court 
of  Dutchess  County,  is  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  members  of  the  legal  fraternity 
in  this  locality.  He  is  descended  from  an  old 
and  honored  pioneer  family,  one  of  the  early 
settlers  being  John  Guernsey,  his  great-great- 
grandfather, who  was  born  in  1 709  in  Con- 
necticut, either  at  New  Milford  or  Woodbury. 
He  had  a  son,  John  Guernsey  (2),  born  in 
Amenia  in  October,  1734,  who  had  a  son, 
Ezekial  H.  Guernsey,  born  in  the  same  town 
April  19,  1775,  who  had  a  son,  Stephen  G. 
Guernsey,  the  Judge's  father,  who  was  born 
September  8,  1798,  in  the  town  of  Stanford. 
Judge  D.  W.  Guernsey  entered  upon  his 
earthly  career  March  27,  1834,  in  the  town  of 
Stanford,  and  his  early  education  was  obtained 
in  the  district  schools  of  that  neighborhood, 
with  one  year  at  Rose  Hill  Academy  at  New- 
burg,  under  Rev.  Baynard  R.  Hall.  On 
leaving  school,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  he 
taught  for  two  years  in  Dutchess  county,  and 
then  began  the  study  of  law  with  George  W. 
Houghton,  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ,  who  was  a  judge 
in  the  superior  court,  and  a  member  of  the 
legal  firm  of  Houghton  &  Clark.  The  choice 
of  Buffalo  as  the  place  for  study  was  influenced 
by  the   fact  that  many  relatives  lived  there. 


and  a  cousin,  Guernsey  Sackett,  was  also 
pursuing  a  course  in  law.  In  March,  1856, 
our  subject  passed  his  examination,  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  and  in  1857  he  and  his 
cousin  went  to  Leavenworth,  Kans.,  and  en- 
gaged in  practice.  At  that  time  Gen.  Sher- 
man and  Gen.  Ewing  were  practicing  law 
there.  The  Kansas-Nebraska  bill  was  an  ex- 
ceedingly live  issue,  and  as  the  Judge  was  a 
Democrat  he  met  with  opposition  from  many 
people,  but,  notwithstanding,  he  had  a  good 
business,  consisting  mainly  of  cases  before  the 
land  commissioners,  involving  questions  of 
title.  He  argued  cases  before  E.  O.  Perrin, 
Shannon  and  Matthews,  of  the  Interior  De- 
partment. As  the  time  drew  near  when  the 
opposing  forces  of  the  Union  appealed  to  arms 
to  settle  their  differences,  the  place  became 
uncomfortable  for  a  man  of  the  Judge's  polit- 
ical views,  so  in  January,  i86r,  he  returned 
east.  During  that  year  he  was  managing 
clerk  for  Ira  O.  Miller,  of  New  York  City, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1862  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  Company  D,  47th  N.  Y.  V.  I., 
which  was  recruited  in  Stanford  and  Pine 
Plains.  The  47th  made  a  part  of  the  loth  and 
later  the  i8th  Corps,  and  was  assigned  to  the 
army  of  the  James.  The  Judge  took  part  in 
many  engagements,  and  was  at  the  seige  of 
Fort  Wagner,  at  Morris  Island  under  Gilmore, 
the  seige  of  Petersburg,  and  the  mine  explo- 
sion, Drury's  Bluff,  Chapin's  farm,  Chester 
Station,  Cold  Harbor,  Florida,  Fort  Fisher, 
Wilmington,  Bentonville,  and  Raleigh,  serv- 
ing until  mustered  out  at  Washington.  At 
Cold  Harbor,  .his  corps,  the  i8th,  lost  three 
thousand  men  in  two  hours.  The  Judge  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  commissary-sergeant, 
Col.  Allen  giving  him  his  commission,  and 
later  was  made  second  lieutenant,  his  com- 
mission being  given  by  Col.  Fenton,  then  pro- 
moted to  first  lieutenant,  and  finally  to  cap- 
tain. Gov.  Seymour  being  the  giver  of  the  last 
commission. 

On  his  return  in  1865,  Judge  Guernsey  be- 
gan the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Pough- 
keepsie as  a  general  practitioner,  and  has  con- 
tinued it  successfully  ever  since.  In  November, 
1893,  he  was  elected  judge  of  the  county  court 
for  six  years,  and  in  1889  was  re-elected  for 
another  term.  Some  time  ago  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  supreme  court  to  act  as  com- 
missioner for  the  City  of  New  York,  in  the 
matter  of  the  appraisement  of  the  value  of 
lands  taken  by  that  city. 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE   BIOORAPHICAL   RECORD. 


85 


The  Judge  has  always  maintained  his  home 
in  the  town  of  Stanford.  In  June,  1870,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Emily  Millard,  daughter 
of  Seneca  Millard,  a  well-known  resident  of 
Dutchess  county,  and  they  have  an  interesting 
family  of  seven  children:  Eleanor  G.,  at 
home;  William,  a  student  at  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity; Lydia,  studying  at  Vassar  College;  and 
Daniel  W.,  Millard,  H.  Newport  and  Ruth  are 
all  at  home.  In  matters  of  religion  the  family 
incline  to  the  Baptist  faith. 

Judge  Guernsey  has  shown  his  public  spirit 
in  many  ways,  being  always  ready  to  encourage 
a  forward  movement.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  also  belongs 
to  the  Sons  of  Temperance,  Division  No.  9. 


w 


ILLIAM  A.  BLISS,  M.  D.,  who  was 
for  many  years  a  leading  physician  and 
surgeon  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ,  is  now  living  in 
well-earned  leisure  at  his  beautiful  country 
seat  on  Spy  Hill,  near  Fishkill-on-Hudson, 
Dutchess  county,  his  residence  commanding  a 
charming  view  of  the  river  with  the  bay  and 
the  city  of  Newburg. 

The  Doctor  is  a  descendant  of  a  family 
which  has  long  been  distinguished  for  nobility 
of  character  and  devotion  to  principle,  and  is 
of  the  tenth  generation  in  direct  descent  from 
one  of  the  heroic  Non-conformists  of  England 
who  upheld  their  faith  in  the  face  of  the 
fiercest  persecution.  His  genealogy  is  of  great 
interest,  his  earliest  known  ancestor  being 
Thomas  Bliss,  of  Belstone  parish,  Devonshire, 
England.  It  is  recorded  of  him  that  he  was 
a  wealthy  land  owner,  and  belonged  to  the 
class  which  was  stigmatized  as  Puritans,  on 
account  of^the  purity  and  simplicity  ot  their 
forms  of  worship.  He  was  persecuted  by  the 
civil  and  religious  authorities  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Archbishop  Laud,  and  was  maltreated, 
impoverished,   imprisoned,    and  finally  ruined 

I  health  (as  well  as  in  finances)  by  the  many 
dignities  and  hardships  forced  upon  him  by 
e  intolerant  Church  party  in  power.  He 
is  born  about  1550  or  1560,  and  died  about 
135  or  1640. 
Second  Generatio7i:  Jonathan  Bliss,  son 
Thomas  Bliss,  was  born  at  Belstone  about 
'  '575  or  1580,  and  like  his  father  he  was 
doomed  to  bitter  persecution  on  account  of  his 
non-conformity  and  opposition  to  the  iniqui- 
tous practices  that  had  assumed  control  not 
only  of  the  government,  but  also  of  the  con- 


sciences of  the  people;  he  was  subjected  to 
heavy  fines,  much  ill-treatment,  and  a  long 
imprisonment,  during  which  he  contracted  a 
fever  from  which  he  never  recovered.  His 
death  occurred  about  1635  or  1636.  He  mar- 
ried, but  his  wife's  name  is  not  known. 

Third  Generation:  Thomas  Bliss,  of  Re- 
hoboth,  Mass.,  son  of  Jonathan,  was  born  at 
Belstone,  England,  and  on  the  death  of  his 
father  in  1636,  he  emigrated  to  America,  land- 
ing at  Boston,  whence  he  removed  to  Brain- 
tree,  Mass.,  thence  to  Hartford,  Conn.,  and 
from  there  back  to  Weymouth,  near  Braintree, 
from  which  place  he  removed  in  1643  with 
many  others,  and  commenced  a  new  settle- 
ment, which  they  called  Rehoboth.  He  died 
there  in  June,  1649. 

Fourth  Generation:  Jonathan  Bliss,  son 
of  Thomas  and  Mistress  Ide  (or  Hyde),  was 
born  in  England  about  1625,  was  married  about 
1648  to  Miriam  Harmon,  and  died  about  the 
beginning  of  the  year  1687.  He  followed  the 
occupation  of  a  blacksmith  at  Rehoboth. 

Fifth  Generation:  Samuel,  of  Rehoboth, 
Mass.  (son  of  Jonathan  Bliss  and  Miriam  Har- 
mon of  Rehoboth),  was  born  at  Rehoboth  June 
24,  1660,  and  married  April  15,  1686,  to  Mary 
Kendrick,  who  died  February  8,  1705-6.  He 
died  August  28,  1720.     They  had  nine  children. 

Sixth  Generation:  Abraham  Bliss,  son  of 
Samuel  and  Mary  Bliss,  was  born  October  28, 
1697,  at  Rehoboth,  and  on  July  11,  1728, 
married  Sarah  Ormsbee,  of  the  same  place. 
He  died  in  1787.  Twelve  children  were  born 
of  this  marriage. 

Seventh  Generation:  Abraham  Bliss,  Jr., 
our  subject's  great-grandfather,  was  born  April 
10.  '735.  in  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  and  was  a  lieu- 
tenant in  the  Revolutionary  army.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Polly  Scudder,  and  had  four  children: 
Abraham,  John,  Samuel,  Polly. 

Eighth  Generation:  Samuel  Bliss,  of 
Schodack,  N.  Y.,  farmer,  son  of  Abraham 
Bliss,  Jr.,  and  Polly  Scudder,  was  born  in 
Schodack,  August  19,  1771,  and  died  Decem- 
ber 14,  1846.  He  married  Elizabeth  Pem- 
broke, who  was  born  in  Schodack  August  26, 
1774,  and  died  there  April  16,  1852  or  '53. 
They  had  ten  children:  Polly,  Rebecca, 
Abraham,  Betsey  and  Anna  (twins),  Sandford, 
John  S.,  Sally,  Clarissa  and  Christina. 

Ninth  Generation:  John  S.  Bliss,  of 
Sand  Lake,  Rennselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  son  of 
Samuel  Bliss  and  Elizabeth  Pembroke,  and 
father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Schodack, 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


N.  Y. ,  May  3,  1809.  He  was  married  Janu- 
ary II,  1 83 1 ,  to  Polly  Hunt,  born  at  Sand  Lake 
January  11,  1810;  she  died  at  Sand  Lake  Jan- 
uary 8,  1863.  He  was  a  farmer  at  Sand  Lake, 
and  died  at  North  Nassau,  N.  Y.,  September 
15.  1873. 

In  the  Tftith  Generation  of  this  line  there 
were  six  children:  (i)  William  Anson,  born 
at  Schodack  March  14,  1833,  died  May  15, 
1835;  (2)Sophronia  F. ,  born  in  Schodack  Feb- 
ruary 17,  1836,  died  July  17,  1880;  (3)  La- 
rissa  C,  born  in  Summit,  N.  Y. ,  March  26, 
1838,  was  married  March  17,  1869,  to  George 
G.  Merrifield,  a  farmer  at  Nassau,  N.  Y. ,  who 
died  August  24,  1895;  (4)  William  A.,  our 
subject,  was  born  at  Nassau  May  5,  1841;  (5) 
Mary  Frances,  born  at  the  same  town  May  21, 
1846,  died  April  20,  1895  (she  was  married 
September  14,  1874,  to  Edward  T.  Norton,  of 
Greenbush,  N.  Y. ,  a  timekeeper  on  the  B.  & 
A.  R.).  (6)  Solon  F. ,  born  at  Sand  Lake  Sep- 
tember 7,  1849,  was  graduated  from  Albany 
Medical  College  in  1873,  and  after  spending 
two  years  at  Tung-Chou,  near  Ghee  Foo, 
China,  as  a  medical  missionary,  returned  to 
this  country,  took  up  his  practice  at  No.  646 
Herkimer  street,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  died 
here  July  24,  1896.      He  never  married. 

William  A.  Bliss  was  educated  at  Sand 
Lake,  attending  the  common  schools  for  some 
years,  and  later  taking  a  full  course  at  the 
Sand  Lake  Academy.  He  then  entered  Al- 
bany Medical  College,  and  while  there  he  had 
the  good  fortune  to  secure  a  position  in  the 
office  of  Dr.  Alden  March,  in  his  day  the 
greatest  surgeon  of  northern  New  York.  On 
graduating,  in  1866,  the  Doctor  began  his  pro- 
fessional career  in  Brooklyn,  and  continued 
for  twenty-eight  years,  building  up  a  large 
practice,  from  which  he  retired  in  1892,  re- 
moving to  Matteawan,  and  two  years  later  he 
built  his  present  residence,  which  can  hardly 
be  surpassed  for  beauty  of  situation.  His 
wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  March  28,  1866, 
was  formerly  Miss  Jennie  Jaques,  of  Albany, 
N.  Y.  She  was  born  in  the  village  of  Nassau, 
N.  Y.,  June  3,  1848,  daughter  of  Edward  and 
Emily  (Lewis)  Jaques,  and  she  is  now  the 
only  surviving  member  of  her  immediate 
family,  as  are  the  Doctor  and  his  sister  Larissa 
and  her  daughter  (Frances)  the  only  surviving 
members  of  their  immediate  family.  In  poli- 
tics Dr.  Bliss  is  a  Republican,  but  his  arduous 
professional  labors  have  prevented  him  from 
taking  an  active  part  in  public  affairs. 


Genealogy  of  Mrs.  Jennie  Jaques  Bliss,  be- 
ginning with  Henry  F'a.wVwg  {First  Ge/teration), 
said  to  have  been  an  officer  in  the  British  army. 
He  had  a  grant  of  five  thousand  acres  of  land 
in  Philadelphia,  Penn.,  from  William  Penn 
before  he  emigrated  to  .America.  He  was 
about  having  a  patent  of  Pawling's  purchase, 
now  Staatsburgh,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  when 
he  died.  This  patent  was  afterward  made  to 
his  widow  and  children.  He  settled  in  Ulster 
county,  and  died  in  Marbletown  about  1692, 
leaving  a  widow  and  seven  children  living,  one 
other  having  died.  His  will  dated  January  26, 
1 69 1  (1692  new  style),  and  proved  March  26, 
1695.  His  widow  was  living  as  late  as  1745. 
Henry  Pawling  married,  in  Kingston,  N.  Y. , 
Neeltje  Roosa,  daughter  of  Albert  Heymanse 
Roosa.  Children:  Jane,  married  Jan  Coh, 
Kingston;  Wyntie,  married  John  Brodhead; 
John,  baptized  -1681;  James,  baptized  1683, 
died  young;  Albert,  married  Catherine  Beek- 
man,  widow  of  John  Rutsen,  and  died  in  1745; 
Anne,  baptized  1687,  married  Tjerck  DeW'itt, 
Kingston;  Henry,  married  Jacomyntie  Kunst; 
Mary,  baptized  1692,  married  Thomas  Van- 
Keuren,  Marbletown. 

Second  Generation:  Henry  Pawling,  Jr., 
lived  in  Ulster  county,  N.  Y. ,  until  about  1720, 
when  he  removed  to  Philadelphia,  Penn.,  to 
lands  granted  to  his  late  father.  His  brother 
John  also  removed  to  the  same  place.  Henry 
Pawling,  Jr.,  married,  in  Kingston,  Jacomyn- 
tie, daughter  of  Cornelius  Barents  Kunst  and 
Jacomyntie  Sleight.  They  had  children  bap- 
tized in  Kingston:  Henry,  17 14;  Sara,  17 16; 
Elizabeth,  1719;  and  others  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, as  follows:  Levi,  afterward  of  Marble- 
town, colonel  in  the  army  of  the  Revolution; 
John  (Major),  afterward  of  Staatsturgh ;  and 
doubtless  others. 

Tliird  Generation:  Major  John  Pawling 
married  (first)  Neeltje  Van  Keuren  (a  cousin), 
daughter  of  Thomas  Van  Keuren  and  Mary 
Pawling.  Children:  Henry,  baptized  Novem- 
ber 30,  1755;  Cornelius,  baptized  January  27, 
1758;  John,  baptized  October  24,  1760;  Mary, 
baptized  November  11,  1764.  Major  Pawling 
married  (second)  Maria,  daughter  of  Jacob 
Van  Deusen  and  Alida  Ostrander.  Children: 
Levi  married  (first)  Gertrude  Knickerbocker, 
(second)  Hannah  Griffin;  Jesse  married  Leah 
Radcliff;  Jacob  married  Martha  Russell:  Elea- 
nor married  Peter  Brown;  Rachel  married 
Christopher  Hughes;  Alida  married  Peter  Os- 
trom;    Elizabeth     married    William    Stouten- 


COMMEMORA  TIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


87 


burgh ;  Jacomyntie  married  Wait  Jaques  (grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Jennie  J.  BHss);  Catharine  mar- 
ried Jacob  Conklin;  and  Rebecca  married  Fred- 
erick S.  Uhi. 

"  Major  John  Pawling  was  an  officer  in  the 
French  and  Indian  war,  also  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  and  was  a  leading  man  in  his  day. 
His  remains  lie  in  the  cemetery  of  the  Re- 
formed Dutch  Church  in  the  village  of  Rhine- 
beck,  N.  Y. "  [From  Smith's  History.]  "In 
1761  he  built  the  stone  house  on  the  post  road, 
now  owned  by  the  heirs  of  Edwin  Berg.  It 
bears  the  inscription  of  J.  P.  N.  P.  July  4, 
1761.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  Revolu- 
tion and  was  personally  acquainted  with  Wash- 
ington and  many  of  the  prominent  men  of  the 
time."  [From  History  of  Rhinebeck.]  This 
stone  house  is  on  the  post  road  between  Staats- 
burgh  and  Rhinebeck,  still  standing  in  nearly 
its  original  condition,  beautifully  located  with 
fine  river  views.  This  was  Jemima  Pawling's 
(grandmother  of  Mrs.  Jennie  J.  Bliss)  birth- 
place. 

"Levi  Pawling,  brother  of  Major  John 
Pawling,  was  a  delegate  from  Marbletown,  Ul- 
ster county,  to  the  provincial  convention  held 
in  the  City  of  New  York,  April  20,  1775,  to 
elect  delegates  to  the  Second  Continental  Con- 
gress of  the  Colonies,  and  on  October  25, 
1775,  was  commissioned  colonel  of  the  Third 
Regiment  of  Ulster  county  militia,  which  had 
an  excellent  record  in  the  war.  His  son.  Col. 
Albert  Pawling,  born  in  Dutchess  county  in 
1749,  was  the  first  mayor  of  Troy,  and  first 
sheriff  of  Rennselaer  county.  He  died  No- 
Tember  10,  1837,  and  was  buried  in  Mount 
Ida  Cemetery,  near  the  banks  of  the  Poesten- 
kill."  [Here  follows  the  inscription  on  the 
monument]: 

Albert  Pawling  joined  the  Revolutionary  army  as 
<jnd  lieutenant  June,  1775;  in  1776  he  received  the 
iiimission  of  brigade  major,  and  in  1779  that  of  lieu- 
tenant-colonel. Hetofjk  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  assault 
on  Quebec,  at  the  taking  of  St.  John's,  at  the  Battle  of 
White  Plains  and  Monmouth.  He  was  the  first  sheriff  of 
Rensselaer  county,  and  thefinst  mayor  of  the  city  of  Troy. 
In  1831  he  united  himself  to  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church,  laid  his  honors  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  gave  up  his 
earthly  in  hope  of  an  heavenly  inheritance.  Col.  Albert 
Pawling  died  November  10, 1837,  aged  eighty-seven  years. 

Fourth  Generation:  Jacomyntie  (Jemima) 
Pawling  (grandmother  of  Mrs.  Jennie  J.  Bliss), 
daughter  of  Major  John  Pawling  and  Maria 
Van  Deusen  Pawling,  was  born  in  Staatsburgh, 
Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  12,  1782,  and 
died  at  Nassau,  Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March 
1 22,  1867.     She  married  December   18,  1803, 


Wait  Jaques,  a  farmer,  born  at  Groton,  New 
London  Co.,  Conn.,  April  27,  1762,  and  died 
at  Nassau,  November  27,  1857.  He  was  of 
Huguenot  descent.  They  lived  in  Rhinebeck, 
Dutchess  county,  many  years,  where  four  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them:  William,  bbrn  De- 
cember 4,  1804,  died  October  26,  1871;  Ed- 
ward, born  December  12,  1809,  died  Novem- 
ber 4,  181 1 ;  Edward  (father  of  Mrs.  Jennie 
J.  Bliss),  born  June  12,  1813,  died  February 
19,  1886;  Janet  Montgomery,  born  November 
9,  1817,  died  February  27,  1839. 

Fifth  Generation:  Edward  Jaques,  son  of 
Wait  Jaques  and  Jacomyntie  (Jemima)  Pawl- 
ing, was  born  in  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county, 
N.  Y.,  June  12,  1813.  He  was  married  Jan- 
uary 2,  1840,  to  Emily  Lewis,  born  September 
22,  1820,  in  Schodack,  N.  Y. ,  daughter  of 
Jacob  Lewis  (who  was  of  Holland  descent) 
and  Abigail  Hughson.  For  some  twenty  years 
he  was  a  merchant  in  Nassau,  N.  Y. ,  and  ten 
years  in  Albany,  N.  Y. ,  passing  his  later  years 
in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  died  February 
19,  1886,  and  his  wife  on  June  21,  1888.  They 
had  five  children:  Janet  Montgomery,  born 
October  4,  1840,  died  October  30,  1861;  Ed- 
ward Pawling,  born  September  10,  1842,  died 
May  9,  1873;  Irving  Phillip,  born  March  6, 
1844,  died  July  2,  1863;  Jennie  (wife  of  Dr. 
W.  A.  Bliss),  born  June  3,  1848;  and  Willie 
Wait,  born  February  8,  i860,  died  January 
18,  1869. 

Sixth  Generation:  Edward  Pawling  Jaques, 
first  lieutenant  of  Company  E,  169th  Regiment 
N.  Y.  'V.  I.,  served  through  the  Rebellion, 
was  wounded  and  captured  May  10,  1864,  in 
the  battle  at  Chester  Station,  near  Richmond, 
and  confined  in  Libby  Prison  a  short  time. 
After  the  close  of  the  war  he  settled  in  Albany, 
N.  Y. ,  and  married,  February  28,  1867,  Laura 
D.  Bingham,  daughter  of  Anson  and  Laura 
McClellan  Bingham.  She  died  November  15, 
1867,  and  he  died  May  9,  1873.  Irving  Phillip 
Jaques  (brother  of  Edward)  was  sergeant-major 
in  the  iiith  Regiment,  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  and  was 
killed  July  2,  1863,  at  Gettysburg. 


B)URTON  GILBERT  (deceased)  was  born 
)  in  Warren,  Conn.,  in   1802,  and  received 

his  education  there.  The  Gilberts  were  of 
English  stock,  and  Ezra,  the  grandfather,  was 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Warren.  Capt. 
Samuel  Gilbert,  the  subject's  father,  was  a 
manufacturer  of  iron,  but    failed    in   business 


88 


COMMEMORA  TIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


when  his  son   was    a    mere    boy,  leaving  him 
penniless. 

Thrown  upon  the  world  at  the  early  age  of 
sixteen,  with  every  discouraging  influence 
around  him,  our  subject  soon  manifested  those 
traits  of  industry,  perseverance,  and  true 
Yankee  pluck,  which  attracted  the  attention 
of  business  men,  convincing  them  that  he  had 
within  him  the  promise  of  a  future.  He  made 
himself  wanted,  which  is  the  first  element  of 
success  in  a  young  .man.  From  the  humble 
position  of  a  boy,  hired  into  a  merchant's 
family  to  do  common  chores,  he  soon  found 
himself  behind  the  counter  as  clerk;  and  ere 
long  the  height  of  his  ambition  was  realized, 
as  he  often  remarked  in  after  life,  when  he 
caught  the  first  sight  of  the  sign  over  the  store 
door  of  "  Hartwell  &  Gilbert."  He  continued 
in  the  mercantile  business  almost  uninterrupt- 
edly to  the  close  of  life,  carrying  to  the  end 
that  same  energy,  industry  and  decision  of 
character  so  early  manifested  in  the  boy.  He 
died  in  1882,  aged  eighty  years.  A  short 
sketch,  written  by  a  friend  shortly  after  his 
death,  illustrates  his  life  and  character: 

"The  death  of  Mr.  Gilbert  removes  one 
of  the  most  familiar  landmarks,  known  to  our 
citizens.  For  more  than  half  a  century  he 
had  been  engaged  in  active  business,  and  pur- 
sued it  with  untiring  energy,  and  with  marked 
success.  Few  men  in  business  life  have  ap- 
parently loved  their  vocation  more  than  he,  or 
left  a  more  honorable  record  of  a  busy  and  act- 
ive career.  He  was  of  genial  temperament, 
and  always  had  a  pleasant  and  cordial  greet- 
ing to  extend  to  all  his  friends.  For  these  he 
will  long  be  affectionately  remembered  in  this 
and  other  communities.  He  had  a  wide  circle 
of  acquaintances,  extending  over  western  Con- 
necticut, Hartford  county,  etc.  He  was  also 
well-known  to  many  merchants  in  New  York, 
and  distinguished  for  his  high  commercial 
standing  and  credit.  He  cheerfully  bore  his 
share  of  taxation  for  civil  and  religious  pur- 
poses. He  was  a  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  of  Warren,  and  was  its  principal 
supporter.  He  was  three  times  married:  In 
1833  he  married  Maria  Carter,  of  Warren. 
Their  daughter  Maria  (now  deceased)  married 
Frederick  Whittlesey,  of  New  Britain,  Conn. 
His  second  wife  was  Maria  Stone,  of  New 
Preston,  Conn.  They  had  four  children: 
Two  are  now  living — Laura,  who  married 
George  S.  Humphrey,  of  New  Preston,  Conn., 
and  Lester  H.  Gilbert,  who  now  lives  in  Colo- 


rado. In  1848  he  married  Thalia  M.  Miles, 
of  New  Milford,  Conn.,  whose  ancestors  were 
prominent  among  the  original  settlers  of  that 
town.  Their  daughter  Emma  married  Henry 
R.  Hoyt,  of  Poughkeepsie,  New  York. 

"  This  brief  sketch  of  the  life  of  this,  in 
many  ways  remarkable,  man,  if  more  extended, 
might  give  many  an  object  lesson  for  the 
young  men  of  the  present  day." 


J\  ARON  INNIS.  Prominent  among  the 
_  ^  business  men  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 
county,  stands  this  gentleman,  whose  entire 
life  has  been  closely  identified  with  the  history 
of  the  city,  while  his  name  is  inseparably  con- 
nected with  its  financial  records.  For  many 
years  he  was  president  of  the  city  railroads, 
and  president  of  the  City  Bank  of  Pough- 
keepsie for  a  number  of  years.  He  is  pos- 
sessed of  keen  discrimination  and  sound  judg- 
ment, and  his  executive  ability  and  excellent 
management  brought  to  these  concerns  a  high 
degree  of  success. 

Mr.  Innis  comes  of  a  family  that  has  long 
been  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  city  of 
Poughkeepsie.  The  original  ancestor,  James 
Innis,  a  native  of  Scotland,  was  brought  to 
America  in  1737,  by  his  mother  and  sisters, 
who  located  at  Little  Britain,  Orange  Co., 
N.  Y. ,  where  he  was  educated  by  George  and 
James  Clinton.  He  married  Miss  Sybil  Ross, 
of  Morristown,  N.  J.,  and  they  became  resi- 
dents of  Newburg,  Orange  county,  in  1780. 
Ten  children  were  born  to  them:  James,  who 
during  the  Revolutionary  war  participated  in 
the  battle  of  Monmouth,  and  died  unmarried; 
Jane,  who  became  the  wife  of  William  Irwin, 
and  removed  to  Ohio;  Keziah,  who  married 
James  Owen;  Mrs.  Lj'dia  Hanmore;  Peter, 
who  died  unmarried;  Benjamin,  who  wedded 
Margaret  Denton;  Elsie,  wife  of  Thomas 
Aldrich;  Aaron,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject; 
Sarah,  who  became  the  wife  of  Anthony  Pres- 
lor;  and  William,  who  married  Eliza  Warring. 
Grandfather  Innis  was  a  native  of  Orange 
county,  where  he  followed  farming,  and  by  his 
marriage  with  Martha  Smith,  he  had  a  large 
family  of  children,  among  whom  was  Aaron. 

Aaron  Innis,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Ulster  county,  N.  Y. ,  and  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Martha  Smith,  daugh- 
ter of  Eliphalet  Smith  (who  was  of  English 
extraction),  and  a  leading  farmer  of  Ulster 
county.      After    their    marriage    this    worthy 


v/rCWirw  ''j^^/Xaaa^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHWAL  RECORD. 


89 


couple  located  at  Poughkeepsie,  where  Mr. 
Iniiis  engaged  in  the  freighting  business,  run- 
ning at  first  a  sloop  from  there  to  New  York 
City,  and  later  a  steamboat  named  "Em- 
erald." He  continued  this  business  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death  in  1838.  Politically  he  cast 
his  ballot  in  support  of  the  Whig  party,  and  in 
religious  faith  both  he  and  his  wife  were  faith- 
ful members  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church. 

Aaron  Innis,  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Poughkeepsie,  January 
^,  1834,  and  he  is  the  youngest  in  a  family  of 
>-.ght  children.  In  the  public  schools  of  that 
city  he  began  his  education,  and  was  grad- 
uated at  College  Hill,  on  the  completion  of 
the  course.  He  entered  upon  his  business 
career  as  general  manager  of  the  firm  of  Gif- 
ford,  Sherman  &  Co.,  owners  of  a  large  dye- 
wood  factory,  and  is  still  connected  with  that 
business,  which  has  proved  very  profitable. 

On  May  15,  1856,  Mr.  Innis  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Catherine  Reynolds,  a 
sister  of  William  T.  Reynolds,  of  Pough- 
keepsie, and  to  them  were  born  four  children: 
William  R.,  connected  with  Studebaker  & 
Co.,  of  New  York  City,  where  he  makes  his 
home,  and  also  has  an  interest  in  the  dye- 
wood  business  of  Poughkeepsie;  Catherine, 
the  wife  of  John  F.  O'Rourke,  a  civil  engineer, 
of  New  York  City;  Adele,  married  to  Edmund 
Piatt,  a  son  of  the  Hon.  John  I.  Piatt;  and 
Caroline,  who  died  at  the  age  of  si.x  years. 

The  several  business  concerns  which  have 
been  under  the  management  of  Mr.  Innis  at- 
test his  eminent  and  pronounced  ability  as  a 
financier,  and  he  is  equally  prominent  in  so- 
cial life.  Whether  in  public  or  private  life  his 
integrity  is  above  question,  and  his  honor 
above  reproach.  Poughkeepsie  owes  much  to 
him  and  numbers  him  among  her  valued  citi- 
zens, and  he  is  one  of  the  leading  Freemasons 
in  the  city.  He  is  an  earnest  supporter  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  has  been  a  member  of 
the  board  of  supervisors;  for  the  past  nine 
years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of 
health  of  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie;  became 
the  vice-president  under  the  administration  of 
Mayor  Arnold,  and  reappointed  vice-president 
under  Mayor  Hull. 


I/>E0RGE  W.  CHASE,  the  able  and  popu- 
\^  lar  cashier  of  the  National  Bank  of  Pawl- 
ing, Dutchess  county,  has  been  in  continuous 
service  in  that  institution  for  thirty-eight  years, 


a  record  probably  unequalled  by  any  contem- 
poraneous bank  officer  in  the  county.  His 
well-proven  ability  and  integrity,  and  his  untir- 
ing devotion  to  any  work  to  which  he  applies 
himself,  have  received  the  ample  recognition 
of  his  fellow  townsm.en  who  have  many  times 
shown  their  confidence  and  esteem  by  choos- 
ing him  for  some  of  the  most  important  posi- 
tions in  their  gift,  both  in  business  and  political 
life. 

The  Chase  family  is  of  English  origin,  and 
the  founder  of  the  branch  of  which  our  subject 
is  an  honored  member,  was  Isaac  Chase,  who 
settled  at  Cape  Cod  at  an  early  period.  His 
son  Obadiah  had  eleven  children,  who  settled 
chiefiy  in  New  York  State,  where  many  of 
their  descendants  still  live.  The  eldest  son, 
Isaac,  lived  in  Tompkins  county;  Alvin  in 
Dutchess  county;  Elmer  and  Ezra  in  Tomp- 
kins county;  John  and  Jesse  in  Westchester 
county;  Daniel  went  to  Michigan;  Hulday 
married  Edmond  Hopkins,  and  lived  in  Tomp- 
kins county;  Lydia  married  Judah  Baker,  of 
the  same  county;  Mary  married  Absalom  Col- 
well,  and  settled  in  Rensselaer  county;  and 
Catherine  married  Absalom  Caldwell,  also  of 
Rensselaer  county. 

Alvin  Chase,  our  subject's  grandfather,  was 
born  in  1778,  and  by  his  first  wife,  Ruth  Cole, 
he  had  twelve  children:  Cyrus,  a  merchant  at 
Croton  Falls;  Naomi,  who  married  a  Mr. 
Beardsley,  of  Kent,  Conn. ;  Darius,  our  sub- 
ject's father;  Susan,  the  wife  of  Joseph  Smith, 
of  Carmel,  Putnam  county';  Lyman,  who  was 
a  farmer  in  Iowa,  where  he  reared  a  large 
family,  of  whom  some  were  bankers  and  some 
ministers,  and  all  held  prominent  position  in 
the  community;  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Daniel 
Brown,  of  Republic,  Ohio;  Henry,  who  lived 
in  Erie  county,  Ohio,  near  Castalia;  Hiram, 
who  settled  in  Garden  Grove,  Iowa,  and  left 
descendant  there;  Cynthia,  the  wife  of  Gilbert 
Knapp,  a  wealthy  and  prominent  citizen  of 
Erie  county,  Ohio,  residing  near  Castalia; 
Mary,  the  wife  of  Stephen  Hawley,  of  Con- 
necticut; Frank,  a  farmer  of  Erie  county,  Ohio; 
and  John,  a  farmer  of  Kent,  Conn.,  where  his 
son  is  a  successful  merchant.  For  his  second 
wife  Alvin  Chase  wedded  Martha  Dingee,  by 
whom  he  had  three  children:  Alvin,  a  hotel 
keeper  of  Patterson  and  Brewster,  N.  Y. ;  Han- 
nah, who  married  Moses  Peck,  a  farmer  of 
Patterson,  N.  Y. ;  and  Elmer,  a  farmer  of  the 
town  of  Pawling. 

Darius  Chase,  the    father    of  our  subject. 


90 


COMMBMORATIYB  BIOORAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


was  born  November  i,  1807,  and  during  his 
earl}-  years  was  a  farmer,  first  in  Putnam 
county,  and  later  in  the  town  of  Pawling, 
Dutchess  county,  where  he  settled  in  1841. 
In  1853  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Harlem 
Railroad  Company,  as  station  agent  at  Paw- 
ling, and  held  the  position  some  twenty-seven 
years,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of  ill 
health.  He  is  still  living,  and  in  spite  of  his 
eighty-nine  years  is  in  the  full  possession  of 
his  faculties.  He  has  always  been  one  of  the 
substantial  citizens  of  the  town,  and  a  success- 
ful business  man,  being  noted  for  his  good 
judgment.  In  politics  he  has  been  a  steadfast 
Democrat,  and  he  has  held  the  offices  of  town 
clerk,  collector  of  taxes,  and  commissioner  of 
highways.  At  one  time  he  was  a  captain  in 
the  State  militia,  and  by  this  well-earned  title 
he  is  still  addressed  by  his  old  friends.  In 
early  manhood  he  was  married  to  Miss  Phoebe 
Smith,  who  after  many  years  of  wedded  life 
passed  away  in  1892,  in  her  eighty-first  year. 
Her  father.  Judge  Edward  Smith,  was  one  of 
the  leading  citizens  of  Putnam  county  in  his 
day,  a  judge  of  the  county  court,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  State  Assembly.  Our  subject  is 
one  of  seven  children:  Clara,  the  eldest; 
Emily,  who  married  Egbert  M.  Toffey,  of 
Pawling;  Ruth;  Susan,  the  wife  of  Squire  R. 
Barrett,  formerly  of  Sing  Sing,  later  of  New 
York  City;  Elizabeth,  who  married  Jerry  S. 
Pearce,  sheriff  of  Dutchess  county;  and 
Adelaide,  who  married  James  S.  Pearce. 

George  W.  Chase  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Kent,  Putnam  county,  July  i,  1840,  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in, the  district  schools  of 
Pawling,  Dutchess  county,  these  somewhat 
limited  advantages  giving  him  a  foundation  for 
his  subsequent  reading  by  which  he  has  ac- 
quired for  himself  a  wide  range  of  knowledge. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  engaged  in  clerking, 
and  spent  about  three  years  in  this  work  with 
Orwin  Theall  and  J.  W.  Stark.  His  prompt- 
ness and  close  application  to  business  attracted 
the  attention  of  J.  W.  Bowdish,  then  cashier 
of  the  National  Bank  of  Pawling,  and  he  se- 
cured him  a  position  in  the  bank  as  messenger, 
office  boy  and  assistant  bookkeeper.  At  this 
time  the  institution,  which  was  organized  in 
1849,  was  a  State  bank,  with  Albert  J.  Akin 
as  its  president.  In  1865  it  became  a  National 
bank,  and  in  the  same  year  Mr.  Chase  was 
appointed  assistant  cashier,  his  election  to  the 
office  of  cashier  following  in  1872.  He  is  in- 
terested   in    many    other    enterprises,    being 


treasurer  of  the  Eastern  Building  and  Loan 
Association;  treasurer  of  the  Harlem  Valley 
Agricultural  Association;  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  the  Pawling  Cemetery  Association;  sec- 
retary, treasurer  and  director  of  the  Mizzentop 
Hotel  Co. ;  treasurer  of  the  Akin  Hall  Library 
Association;  vice-president  of  the  Pawling  & 
Beekman  Turnpike  Co. ;  one  of  the  original 
incorporators  of  the  Pawling  Savings  Bank; 
and  president  of  the  Society  for  the  Detection 
of  Horse  Thieves.  He  has  always  been  a  firm 
Republican,  and  has  taken  much  interest  in 
town  and  county  politics.  In  1882  he  was 
appointed  county  treasurer  by  the  board  of  su- 
pervisors, in  place  of  Seneca  V.  Halloway,  and 
in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  was  elected  to  the 
office,  receiving  all  but  fifteen  votes  in  his 
own  town.  He  was  the  only  Republican  can- 
didate elected  that  year,  and  his  popularity 
was  again  demonstrated  by  his  re-election  in 
1885.  He  is  a  member  of  Dover  Lodge,  F. 
&  A.  M.,  and  of  the  Baptist  Church,  of  which 
he  is  treasurer.  In  1885,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Emma  M.  Chapman,  a  daughter  of  Rich- 
ard Chapman,  a  prominent  resident  of  Paw- 
ling, and  they  have  had  three  children:  Cor- 
nelia T.,  George  W.  and  Theodore  P.,  the 
latter  of  whom  died  at  about  the  age  of  seven 
months. 


W  LLAN  BARRINGER  HENDRICKS,  the 
jP^  efficient  bookkeeper  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess  county, 
is  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  leading  families 
of  this  region.  Lawrence  Hendricks,  his  great- 
grandfather, came  from  Rhinebeck  to  settle 
upon  a  farm  in  Red  Hook,  in  1802,  bringing 
with  him  a  family  of  four  children:  Samuel 
H.,  Jacob  L. ,  Johannes  and  Elizabeth. 

Jacob  L.  Hendricks,  our  subject's  grand- 
father, was  born  May  13,  1773,  and  followed 
farming  as  an  occupation.  He  married  Miss 
Anna  Moore,  a  native  of  Red  Hook,  born  May 
4,  1770,  and  reared  a  family  of  four  children, 
whose  names  with  dates  of  birth  are  as  fol- 
lows: Lawrence  Edmund,  July  12,  1809; 
Magdalene,  October  19,  181 1;  Jeremiah,  No- 
vember 2,  181  3;  and  Philip,  January  29,  1816. 
The  mother  of  this  family  died  April  17,  1825, 
the  father  on  May  24,  same  year. 

Jeremiah  Hendricks,  our  subject's  father, 
attended  the  district  schools  of  his  day,  and 
for  a  time  was  employed  in  a  store  as  clerk. 
In  1 83 1  he  engaged  in   the  manufacture  of  to- 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


91 


bacco  in  partnership  with  Albert  Near,  the 
firm  changing  later  to  Hendricks  &  Wells,  then 
to  J.  Hendricks  &  Co.,  then  to  J.  &  P.  Hend- 
ricks &  Co.,  the  members  at  that  time  being 
Jeremiah  and  Philip  Hendricks,  and  R.  L. 
Massoneau.  He  was  also  the  owner  of  a  flour- 
mill  at  Red  Hook,  and  was  interested  in  vari- 
ous other  lines  of  business.  He  was  married 
July  1 8,  1837,  to  Miss  Eliza  C.  Barringer,  of 
Red  Hook,  by  whom  he  had  three  children: 
.■\.llan  B.,  born  November  11,  i839;Hattie  E., 
August  24,  i84i;and  Robert  J.,  July  27,  1843. 
After  many  years  as  a  successful  manufacturer, 
Jeremiah  Hendricks  retired  to  spend  his  last 
days  in  leisure,  and  died  May  30,  1875;  his 
widow  is  still  living. 

Allan  B.  Hendricks  availed  himself  of  the 
educational  advantages  of  his  native  place,  and 
later  attended  the  Charlotteville  Seminary. 
After  leaving  school  he  entered  his  father's 
mill  as  bookkeeper,  but  left  this  position  in 
1 86 1,  to  engage  in  the  freighting  business  at 
Barrytown.  Six  years  later  he  and  his  brother 
Robert  took  charge  of  the  flouring-mill  at  Red 
Hook,  the  partnership  lasting  one  year,  after 
which  he  continued  in  the  business  alone  until 
1880.  After  a  short  period  of  leisure  Mr. 
Hendricks  was  tendered  the  position  of  book- 
par  in  the  First  National  Bank,  which  he 
Icepted,  and  has  filled  same  with  marked 
ility,  commanding  the  entire  confidence  and 
eem  of  the  stockholders  and  the  public  gen- 
lly. 

On  June  i,  1864,  Mr.  Hendricks  married 
iss  Anna  Rodgers,  of  Albany,  and  has  had 
r  children:  (i)  Louise  Rodgers,  born  July 
1865,  was  married  October  8,  1890,  to 
ank  B.  Shook,  and  has  one  child  Eleanor 
•arnum  Shook,  born  July  21,  1891.  (2) 
aurence  Hutton,  born  June  8,  1867,  was 
married  September  21,  1889,  to  Miss  Jennie 
H.  Wilson,  and  has  two  children:  Marian  Wil- 
n  Hendricks,  born  July  19,  1893,  and  Lau- 
ce  Hutton  Hendricks,  Jr.,  March  16,  1897. 
3)  Anna  R.  and  (4)  Allan  B.  (twins),  born 
January  28,  1874.  are  still  at  home.  Mr. 
Hendricks  has  been  superintendent  of  St. 
Paul's  Lutheran  Sabbath-school  continuously 
for  thirty  years. 


■f 


NEHEMIAH  HALSTED  (deceased).      As 
a  merchant  in  Clinton  Corners  and  Stan- 

fordville,    Dutchess    county,    during   nearly    a 
quarter  of  a  century,  the  subject  of  this  sketch 


became  well  known  and  highlj'  esteemed 
throughout  that  section,  and  although  his  later 
years  were  spent  in  retirement,  his  death, 
which  occurred  March  20,  1873,  caused  sin- 
cere grief  and  a  keen  sense  of  loss  among  a 
wide  circle  of  acquaintances. 

He  was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Clinton, 
Dutchess  county,  and  his  father,  Richard  Hal- 
sted,  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
and  who  was  born  in  Dutchess  county,  of  Eng- 
lish ancestry,  followed  farming  in  the  town  of 
Clinton  all  his  life.  He  married  Hannah  Grif- 
fin, and  reared  a  family  of  nine  children: 
Benjamin,  Stephen,  Richard,  Joseph,  Jona- 
than, Nehemiah,  Mary,  Anna  and  Hannah. 

Mr.  Halsted  grew  to  manhood  at  his  fa- 
ther's farm,  and  in  1836  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Julia  Sharpsteen,  a  native  of 
the  town  of  Washington,  and  a  descendant  of 
an  old  Dutch  family,  the  name  having  been 
originally  Von  Sharpstein.  The  early  genera- 
tions of  her  family  were  Presbyterians  in  re- 
ligion. Her  grandfather,  Peter  Sharpsteen, 
was  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Washington  and 
was  probably  born  there.  Her  father,  Will- 
iam Sharpsteen,  was  born,  resided  and  died 
in  that  town.  He  married  Sarah  Lawrence, 
a  native  of  Long  Island,  whose  father,  an 
Englishman,  was  a  descendant  of  Sir  Robert 
Laurens  (now  spelled  Lawrence),  of  Lanca- 
shire, England,  who  accompanied  Richard 
Cour  de  Lion  in  his  expedition  to  Palestine. 
In  the  siege  of  St.  Jean  d'  Acre,  in  1 191,  he 
was  the  first  to  plant  the  Banner  of  the  Cross 
on  the  battlements  of  the  town,  for  which  he 
received  the  honor  of  Knighthood  from  King 
Richard;  also,  at  the  same  time,  the  coat  of 
arms.  In  the  year  1635  William  Lawrence 
came  over  in  the  ship  "Planter,"  under  the 
care  of  Gov.  Clark,  appointed,  by  the  Queen, 
Governor  of  Long  Island.  The  Lawrences  in- 
termarried with  the  Washingtons,  and  the 
coat  of  arms  may  be  seen  at  Mount  Vernon. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William 
Sharpsteen  located  in  the  town  of  Washing- 
ton, where  he  carried  on  a  store  for  many 
years;  but  in  later  life  he  retired  to  a  farm  in 
the  same  town.  In  politics  he  was  a  Repub- 
lican, for  years  he  was  justice  of  the  peace, 
and  town  supervisor,  and  was  justly  regarded 
as  a  representative  citizen.  He  died  in  1878, 
aged  ninety-three  years.  He  had  six  children: 
Clark  Lawrence  was  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Arold  &  Constable,  in  New  York  City,  and 
lived  abroad,  in  Paris;  George  G.  was  a  dealer 


92 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  trotting  horses  in  the  town  of  Washington; 
James  and  William  H.  were  in  business  in  the 
South;  Julia,  married  Mr.  Halsted;  and  Debo- 
rah married  Louis  Hutchens. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Halsted  began  their  married 
life  at  Clinton  Corners,  where  Mr.  Halsted 
conducted  a  store  for  about  three  years,  when 
he  moved  to  Stanfordville  and  carried  on  his 
business  some  twenty  years.  He  then  retired 
to  a  small  farm  in  the  town  of  Washington, 
to  pass  his  remaining  days.  His  wife  and 
seven  children  survive  him.  Virginia  married 
Isaac  W.  Sherrill,  a  well-known  resident  of 
Poughkeepsie;  Ella,  Ida  and  Belle  are  at  home; 
Irving  is  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Clinton;  Wil- 
lis is  an  express  agent  in  New  York  City:  and 
Frank  conducts  the  "Dutchess  Restaurant" 
at  Poughkeepsie.  Mr.  Halsted  always  took  an 
ardent  interest  in  the  success  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  was  ready  to  encourage  any  worthy 
enterprise  in  his  locality.  In  religious  faith  he 
was  a  Quaker,  and  his  quiet,  unassuming  man- 
ners and  upright  life  gave  a  consistent  and 
effective  illustration  of  the  doctrines  which  he 
cherished. 


MEZEKIAH  ROGERS  COFFIN,  one  of 
the  oldest  pioneers  of  Dutchess  county, 

was  born  in  Mechanic,  town  of  Washington, 
April  23,  1807.  He  remained  on  his  father's 
farm  (with  the  exception  of  one  year,  which  he 
spent  with  Samuel  Thorne)  until  his  marriage 
March  22,  1832,  to  Miss  Myra  Barlow,  who 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  October  29, 
1811. 

In  1833  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coffin  moved  to  a 
farm  situated  where  the  county  house  now 
stands,  where  they  remained  one  year,  and 
then  came  to  their  present  farm,  sixty-four 
years  ago,  and  where  both  are  still  living, 
sound  in  mind  and  body  and  capable  of  enjoy- 
ing life  to  the  fullest  extent.  The  following 
children  were  born  to  them:  Robert,  who  is 
engaged  in  business  at  Brooklyn;  Lucy,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Newton  B.  Holbrook, 
formerly  a  merchant  of  the  town  of  Wash- 
ington, but  now  deceased;  Cora,  who  married 
Homer  Fitch,  a  farmer  in  Washington  town; 
Magdalene,  unmarried;  Zaide,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  seventeen,  and  Lilian,  deceased  at  the 
age  of  eight. 

Mr.  Coffin  has  a  farm  of  135  acres,  and 
still  does  general  farming.  He  has  always 
been  a  Democrat,  voting  in  1828  for  Jackson, 


and  ever  since  regularly  supporting  the  ticket 
of  his  party.  He  .takes  an  active  interest  in 
politics,  and  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  for 
thirty  years,  but  resigned  the  office  when  he 
reached  the  age  of  seventy  years.  He  has 
been  called  to  sit  on  the  bench  at  Poughkeep- 
sie many  times,  and  has  often  been  appointed 
foreman  of  the  grand  jury.  Although  past 
eighty-eight  years  he  talks,  acts  and  thinks  like 
a  patriot,  and  stands  like  a  sturdy  oak  in  the 
forest  of  humanity.  He  well  remembers  the 
transportation  of  the  cannon,  and  the  men 
marching  through  the  town  on  their  way  to 
defend  the  New  York  harbor  against  the  Brit- 
ish in  18 12.  The  younger  generation  looks 
up  to  him  with  wonder  and  admiration.  Our 
subject  has  contributed  to  the  local  paper  (Mill- 
brook  Round  Table)  articles  on  the  reminiscen- 
ces of  early  days,  which  were  highly  appreci- 
ated. His  wife  has  been  a  faithful,  loving 
helpmate  through  many  years  of  joys  and 
sorrows. 

Robert  Coffin,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  at  Little  Rest,  town  of  Washington,  Oc- 
tober 2,  1778,  and  died  November  28,  1842. 
He  was  apprenticed  to  James  Willitts  to  learn 
the  tanner's  and  shoemaker's  trade,  and  after 
serving  his  time,  he,  with  his  brother-in-law, 
Peter  Kipp,  bought  out  the  business,  which 
they  continued  in  partnership  for  a  year,  when 
our  subject  bought  out  Peter,  and  kept  at  it 
alone  until  1814.  He  then  bought  a  farm  of 
180  acres,  and  lived  there  until  his  death. 
He  married  Miss  Magdaline  Bentley,  a  grand- 
daughter of  Col.  James  Van  Deberg,  of  Beek- 
man,  with  whom  Washington  and  LaFayette 
often  stopped.  She  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Beekman  December  26,  1782,  and  died  August 
30,  1866.  Her  father  was  Taber  Bentley,  a 
farmer  in  the  town  of  Beekman.  To  our  sub- 
ject's parents  were  born  the  following  children: 
Jane  Ann,  who  married  Caleb  Morgan,  a  mer- 
chant of  Poughkeepsie;  Ale.xander  H.  was  a 
farmer  and  merchant  in  Unionvale;  Hezekiah 
R.  is  our  subject;  Charles  was  a  farmer  in  Union- 
vale;  Sarah  became  the  wife  of  Henry  M. 
Swift,  also  a  farmer  of  Unionvale;  Eliza  mar- 
ried George  B.  Caldwell,  a  merchant;  Owei: 
T.  was  surrogate  of  Westchester  county  foi 
many  years,  and  now  lives  in  Peekskill;  he  is  i 
graduate  of  Union  College;  George  is  in  th( 
real-estate  business  in  California;  Henry  was  ; 
farmer  and  a  railroad  man,  and  owned  mucl 
property  (he  is  deceased);  Robert  G.  is  : 
farmer  at  South  Millbrook.      Mr.  Coffin  was  ; 


1. 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


98 


Democrat,  and  represented  the  county  in  the 
Legislature.  He  was  a  prominent  man,  and 
settled  many  estates.  Religiously,  he  was  of 
the  Quaker  faith. 

Abishai  Coffin,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
was  born  in  Nantucket,  where  he  grew  up,  and 
later  went  to  sea  in  a  whaler,  wintering  three 
seasons  in  Greenland.  He  married  Sarah 
Long,  a  native  of  Nantucket,  in  1774,  and 
shortly  after  came  to  Dutchess  county  and  set- 
tled on  a  tract  of  land  in  the  town  of  Wash- 
ington. Their  children  were:  Sarah  married 
Peter  Kipp,  a  farmer  living  near  Hudson; 
Tristram  owned  a  farm  of  about  300  acres  in 
the  town  of  Washington;  Lois  died  unmarried; 
Robert  was  the  father  of  our  subject;  Jeme- 
miah  married  John  Rider,  a  farmer  in  Ulster 
county.  Mr.  Coffin  died  on  his  farm  in  18 19. 
He  was  a  Hicksite  Quaker,  and  overseer  of  the 
poor.  His  father's  name  was  Tristram.  The 
family  is  of  English  extraction. 

Thomas  Barlow,  father  of  Mrs.  Coffin,  was 
born  at  Cape  Cod,  and  was  a  son  of  Moses 
Barlow,  a  native  of  the  same  place.  Thomas 
married  Miss  Lucy  Alerton,  and  the  following 
children  were  born:  Sally  married  a  Mr. 
Crosby,  of  Massachusetts,  and  is  deceased; 
Jenett  also  became  the  wife  of  a  Mr.  Crosby, 
and  is  deceased;  Thomas  is  deceased;  Aurelia 
married  Barlow  Nye,  and  is  still  living;  Cath- 
erine married  Edward  Mills,  of  Connecticut, 
and  is  deceased;  Mary  became  the  wife  of  a  Mr. 
Bartow,  of  Brooklyn,  and  is  living;  B.  Frank- 
lin is  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Amenia.  Mr. 
Barlow  diecJ  in  1852,  and  his  wife  in  i860. 
They  were  both  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  took  an  active  interest  in  the 
work. 

Elisha  Barlow,  brother  of  Thomas,  was 
one  of  those  who  helped  to  frame  the  consti- 
tution of  the  State. 


JAMES  F.  GOODELL,  M.  D.  Among 
those  who  devote  their  time  and  energies 
to  the  practice  of  medicine,  and  have 
gained  a  leading  place  in  the  ranks  of  the  pro- 
fession is  this  gentleman,  who  is  located  at 
Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county.  He  is  a  native 
of  Rockville,  Conn.,  born  May  16,  1849.  and 
traces  his  ancestry  back  to  Robert  Goodell, 
who  was  one  of  the  Puritans  from  the  east  of 
England  who  settled  at  Salem,  Mass..  in  1634. 
From  him  in  direct  line  to  the  Doctor  is  Zach- 
ariah,  Thomas (i),  Thomas (2),  Titus,  Thomas 


(3)  and  Francis.  After  his  marriage  to  Miss 
Rhoda  Grant,  Titus  Goodell  located  in  New 
Hampshire,  where  he  owned  property;  but 
when  the  colonies  resolved  to  throw  ofT  the 
yoke  of  British  rule  he  took  up  arms,  joining 
the  Continental  army,  and  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Stillwater.  He  had  left  his  family 
with  his  father-in-law  in  Ellington,  Conn., 
and  as  he  never  came  back  the  farm  descend- 
ed to  his  children.  It  became  the  property  of 
Francis  Goodell,  father  of  our  subject,  and 
has  now  been  in  the  family  since  1776. 

The  father  was  a  man  of  unusual  natural 
ability,    and    possessed    a    mind    stored    with 
results  of  wide  jeading  and    extensive  obser- 
vation of  men  and  affairs.    He  married  Sophia 
Louisa   Burpee,  and  to   them   were  born  the 
following  children:    William,  who  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  war, 
and  was  killed  at  the   battle    of    Gettysburg; 
Ellen,  wife  of  Charles  Ames;  James  F. ,  subject 
of   this  review;    Edwin    Burpee,   a  lawyer  of 
New  York  City;  Thomas  Dwight,  who  studied 
in  Athens  and  in  the  East,  and  is  now  pro- 
fessor of  Greek  in  Yale  University;  and  Mary 
Evelyn,    wife    of    W.    H.    Trippett,    of    New 
Jersey.     The   father  passed  away  September 
16,  1896,  at  a  ripe   old   age,  as   he  was  born 
May  29,  1813;  his  wife  died  March  4,  1897. 
In  early  life   he  voted  the  Whig  ticket,  while 
in    later   years  he   was   a  strong  Republican; 
was  public-spirited  and  enterprising,  and  one 
of  the  prominent  citizens  of  his  locality.     A 
faithful  member  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
he   always  took   an   active  part   in   its   work, 
and   at   the  time  of   his  death  was  serving  as 
deacon. 

In  the  public  schools  of  Rockville  and 
Ellington,  Conn.,  our  subject  began  his  liter- 
ary education,  and  for  one  year  was  a  student 
in  Cornell  University.  When  about  twenty 
years  of  age  he  began  teaching,  being  princi- 
pal of  the  Union  School  at  Unionville,  Conn., 
for  two  years,  and  was  successful  in  that  line 
of  work.  In  1877  he  matriculated  at  the 
New  York  Homeopathic  Medical  College,  from 
which  he  graduated  two  years  later,  but  has 
ever  kept  up  his  investigations,  and  is  now  one 
of  themost  able  general  practitioners  in  Dutch- 
ess county.  Immediately  after  graduation  he 
began  practice  in  New  York  City,  remaining 
there  until  1881,  when  he  opened  an  office  in 
Millbrook,  Dutchess  county.  In  1887,  he 
went  to  Mont  Clair,  N.  J.,  but  in  February, 
1S89,  returned  to  Dutchess  county,  this  time 


94 


COMMEMORATIVE  BTOOBAPEICAL  RECORD. 


locating  at  Rhinebeck,  where  he  has  since  suc- 
cessfully prosecuted  his  profession.  He  has 
built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  practice,  but  has 
that  true  love  for  his  work,  without  which 
there  can  be  no  success. 

In  1885  Dr.  Goodell  was  married  to  Miss 
Fanny  Tripp,  of  Millbrook,  Dutchess  county. 
The  Doctor  is  inclined  to  be  independent  in 
political  matters,  but  usually  votes  with  the 
Democracy.  He  holds  membership  with  the 
Episcopal  Church,  of  which  he  is  now  serving 
as  warden,  and  wherever  he  goes  he  not  only 
wins  friends,  but  has  the  happy  faculty  of  being 
able  to  retain  them. 


F 


RANK  ENO,  a  well-known  and  successful 
^  lawyer  of  Pine  Plains,  Dutchess  county, 
was  born  in  1845,  in  that  village,  in  the  house 
he  is  now  occupying.  The  family  is  of  Eng- 
lish origin,  and  the  name  is  sometimes  spelled 
Enos. 

The    first    of    the    name   to   come   to   this 
country  was  James  Eno  (i),  who,  in  1648,  lo- 
cated   in    Windsor,    Conn.,    married    Hannah 
Bidwell    the    same    year,   and    had    one    son, 
James  (2),  who   was  born  in    165 1,  fought  in 
the   King  Philip's  war,  and  had  his  home  in 
Windsor.      He  married  Abigail  Bissel  in  1678, 
and  died  in  the  "Swamp  fight,"  17 14.     Their 
second  son,  William  (i),  wedded  Mary  North. 
The  next  couple  in  direct  descent  was  William 
(2)   and    Lillias   (Hicks)    Eno,   the    former  of 
whom   was  born   in   Simsbury,   Conn.,  about 
1726,  and  inherited  a  valuable  farm  from  his 
father,  William  ( i).      William  (2)  and  his  wife 
had  a  son,  Stephen,  who  was  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject.      He   was  born  at   Simsbury, 
Conn.,  October  4,  1764,  and  was  the  first  of 
the  family  to  come  to  Dutchess  county,  locat- 
ing at  Amenia.     Later  he   removed  to   Pine 
Plains,  there  building  the  office  which  is  now 
occupied    by   his  grandson,   Frank  Eno,   and 
which  has  always  been  used  as  a  law  office. 
He  remained  at  home  until    ten   years  of  age, 
being  taught  to  read  by  his  father,  and  never 
attended  school  more  than  two  months  during 
his  entire  life.     At  that  time  he  went  to  live 
with   an  aunt  at  Egremont,  Mass.,  where  he 
remained  for  about  five  years.      He  had  formed 
a  great  desire   for  study,  and  not  having  the 
opportunity  to  go  to  school,  he  taught  himself, 
slowly   acquiring    a    knowledge   of    arithmetic 
and  writing.      For  a  short  time  he  worked  at 
several  places  after  leaving  his  aunt's,  and  then 


entered  the  army  at  New  Haven,  Conn. 
Learning  the  shoemaker's  trade,  he  worked  at 
that  occupation  at  Salisbury,  that  State,  for 
six  months,  and  later  was  employed  by  a  Mr. 
Sanders  until  he  reached  his  majority. 

At  that  time  Stephen  Eno  began  teaching, 
while  his  vacations  were  spent  in  study.  After 
following  that  profession  for  about  six  years, 
he  began  looking  about  him  for  some  other 
employment,  and  began  the  study  of  law  in 
the  office  of  Philip  Spencer,  Jr.,  of  Amenia, 
where  he  had  been  engaged  in  teaching.  For 
a  while  he  taught  school  and  practiced  law  at 
the  same  time.  After  following  his  profession 
in  the  towns  of  Amenia,  Stanford  and  North- 
east, Dutchess  county,  he  purchased  a  house 
and  lot  in  Pine  Plains  for  $650,  paying  two- 
thirds  of  the  amount  down,  and  the  remainder 
in  one  year.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  attain- 
ments, and  became  one  of  the  most  able  law- 
yers of  his  time  in  the  county.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  Pine  Plains,  in  1854,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety  years.  He  continued  to  wear 
knee  trousers  and  his  hair  in  a  queue  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death.  He  was  twice  married,  his 
first  union  being  with  Mary  Denton,  by  whom 
he  had  three  children:  Henry,  who  went  to 
California,  and  there  became  a  judge;  William, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  and  Edward,  who 
became  a  resident  of  Springfield,  111.  His 
second  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Olive 
Shores,  and  to  them  was  born  a  son,  Rufus. 

On  April  21,  1800,  William  (3)  Eno  was 
born,  and,  like  his  father,  he  was  largely  self- 
educated.  In  the  office  of  the  latter  he  studied 
law,  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1823,  and  for 
forty  years  he  was  one  of  the  prominent  and 
leading  members  of  the  Dutchess  County  Bar, 
having  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  In  1836 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature  oo 
the  Democratic  ticket,  and  for  two  terms  served 
as  district  attorney  when  the  office  was  tilled 
by  appointment  of  the  supreme  court  justices. 
Soon  after  the  adoption  of  the  constitution  of 
1848  he  was  mentioned  as  judge  of  the  su- 
preme court;  but,  being  fond  of  agricultural 
pursuits,  he  retired,  spending  the  remainder  of 
his  life  at  Pine  Plains,  within  two  miles  of  his 
landed  estate.  He  was  a  contemporary  of 
Henry  Swift,  Charles  Johnson,  Stephen  Cleve- 
land, Seward  Barcolo,  Morton  Swift,  Elias 
Cole,  R.  D.  Davis,  John  V.  A.  Lyle,  John 
Armstrong  and  D.  V.  N.  Radcliff,  and  was  sec- 
ond to  none  of  them  in  point  of  ability  and  ex- 
tent of  his  practice.      He  was  a  man  of  great 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


95 


natural  ability,  and  became  exceedingly  promi- 
nent throughout  the  county.  He  always  sup- 
ported the  Democratic  party,  and  attended  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  He  died  November  17, 
1S74.  He  was  married  to  Eliza  A.  Stewart, 
daughter  of  William  Stewart,  of  Pine  Plains, 
and  to  them  were  born  four  children:  Will- 
I  iam  Stewart,  who  was  one  of  the  ablest  lajv- 
1  yers  of  Dutchess  county,  is  now  president  of 
the  Bunnell  &  Eno  Investment  Co.,  of  Phila- 
delphia, Penn. ;  Henry  W.,  who  died  Decem- 
ber 14,  1884;  Mary,  now  the  wife  of  Matthew 
Ellis,  who  is  also  connected  with  the  Bunnell 
&  Eno  Investment  Co.,  Philadelphia;  and 
Frank,  the  subject  proper  of  this  review.  The 
mother's  death  occurred  April  10,  1882. 

Frank  Eno  was  educated  at  College  Hill, 
der  Mr.  Bisbee,  where  he  took  the  four- 
years'  course.  After  leaving  school  he  began 
the  study  of  law  in  his  father's  office,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  May  13,  1868,  since 
which  time  he  has  successfully  engaged  in 
general  practice  in  the  surrogate  court,  and 
has  had  much  to  do  in  the  settlement  of 
estates.  He  has  one  of  the  finest  law  libraries 
in  the  county,  accumulated  through  three  gen- 
rations,  and  has  ever  been  a  thorough  stu- 
aent  of  his  profession,  possessing  many  of  the 
traits  that  distinguished  his  father  and  grand- 
father as  sound  advocates  and  able  lawyers. 
Mr.  Eno  is  also  interested  in  agriculture,  hav- 
ing a  fine  farm  of  between  500  and  600  acres, 
whereon  he  has  an  excellent  herd  of  Jersey 
cattle.  He  had  "Signal  Queen"  at  the 
World's  Fair,  and  took  a  medal  in  the  grand 
contest  for  cheese.  On  June  15,  i88i,  Mr. 
Eno  married  Miss  Rachel  Rudd,  daughter  of 
Charles  Rudd,  of  Gallatin,  Columbia  Co., 
\.  Y.,  and  of  this  union  have  been  born  five 
children:  William  Rudd,  Charles,  Fanny, 
Mary  and  Rachel. 

In  political  campaigns,  Mr.  Eno  has  long 
been  a  potent  factor  in  the  support  of  Demo- 
cratic principles,  and  during  President  Cleve- 
land's second  term  he  was  appointed  post- 
master at  Pine  Plains.  He  has  always  taken 
a  deep  interest  in  educational  matters,  is  presi- 
dent of /the  Seymour  Smith  Academy,  and 
established  the  Pine  Plains  Free  Library. 
With  Stissing  Lodge  No.  615,  F.  &  A.  M.,  he 
holds  membership,  of  which  for  fifteen  years 
he  has  been  master,  and  also  belongs  to  the 
Chapter  and  Commandery  in  Poughkeepsie. 
He  and  his  wife  attend  the  Meth  dist  Church. 
Socially,   he  is  deservedly   popular,    as  he   is 


affable  and  courteous  in  manner,  and  possesses 
the  essential  qualification  to  success  in  public 
life,  that  of  making  friends  readily  and  of 
strengthening  the  ties  of  all  friendships  as  time 
advances. 


WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS    DAVIES    (de- 
ceased )    was   born    in    Poughkeepsie, 

May  10,  1808.  His  great-great-grandfather, 
John  Davis,  of  Kington  Parish,  Hereford,  En- 
gland, was  of  a  distinguished  Welsh  family  de- 
riving an  unbroken  descent  from  the  famous 
Cymric  Efell,  Lord  of  Elwys  Eyle,  who  lived 
A.  D.  1200,  son  of  Madocap  Meredith,  Prince 
of  Powys  Fadoc,  sixth  in  descent  from  the  heir 
of  Merwyn,  King  of  Powis,  third  son  of  Rodic 
Maur. 

John  Davies  came  to  America  in  1735,  and 
settled  in  Litchfield  county.  Conn.,  where  he 
purchased  large  tracts  of  land,  and  where  his 
name  is  still  held  in  honored  remembrance  for 
his  good  works,  especially  for  his  generous 
gifts  toward  the  support  of  his  mother  Church 
of  England,  then  struggling  for  existence  in  the 
Colonies.  He  was  the  grandfather  of  Rev. 
Thomas  Davies,  missionary  of  the  Society  for 
the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts, 
who  was  ordained  to  the  priesthood  by  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  Dr.  Seeker,  in  Lam- 
beth Chapel  August  23,  1761.  The  ministry 
of  Rev.  Thomas  Davies,  though  brief,  was  ex- 
ceedingly useful.  He  had  charge  of  several 
parishes  in  Connecticut,  among  them  St.  Mich- 
ael's Church,  Litchfield,  of  which  his  grandfa- 
ther was  the  founder.  He  died  in  1766  at  the 
early  age  of  twenty-nine,  leaving  two  children 
— a  son  and  a  daughter,  the  former  being  Will- 
iam Davies,  who  settled  in  Poughkeepsie  early 
in  the  present  century.  William  Augustus 
Davies  was  the  youngest  of  William  Davies's 
seven  children,  and  was  born  in  his  father's 
house  at  the  foot  of  Main  street,  where  he  lived 
(except  during  the  time  he  was  at  school  and 
at  Trinity  College,  Hartford,  Conn.)  until 
1842.  He  devoted  himself  to  the  management 
of  his  property  in  Dutchess  and  Ulster  coun- 
ties, of  which  he  and  his  brother,  Thomas  L. 
Davies,  inherited  several  thousand  acres  from 
their  father;  and  was  one  of  the  original  Board 
of  Directors  of  the  Farmers'  and  Manufacturers' 
National  Bank  of  Poughkeepsie,  remaining  on 
the  board  till  his  death,  and  holding  the  office 
of  president  from  1843  until  1892. 

He    was    a    faithful    communicant    of    the 


96 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Church  of  which  his  grandfather  was  a  priest, 
and  for  many  years  represented  his  paiish  in 
the  conventions  of  the  Diocese  of  New  York, 
and  was  several  times  a  deputy  to  the  general 
convention  as  a  delegate  from  that  Diocese. 
His  greatest  work  among  his  many  works  for 
the  Church,  was  the  building,  entirely  at  his 
own  expense,  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Com- 
forter, which  stands  at  the  corner  of  Main 
street  and  Davies  place,  and  is  one  of  the 
younger  Upjohn's  best  designs.  In  the  noble 
work  it  has  done  and  is  still  doing,  it  is  a  wor- 
thy monument  of  his  generosity  and  benevo- 
lence. 

In  1842  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Van  Wag- 
enen  (daughter  of  Herbert  Van  Wagenen), 
who  died  in  1858,  leaving  no  children.  It  was 
in  her  memory  that  the  Church  of  the  Holy 
Comforter  was  built.  In  1861  he  married 
Miss  Frances  Mary  Barritt,  daughter  of  Josiah 
Barritt.  To  them  were  born  two  sons,  Will- 
iam and  Augustus,  the  first  of  whom  died  in 
infancy. 

Only  those  who  knew  Mr.  Davies  intimately 
could  fully  appreciate  the  beauty  of  his  char- 
acter, which  was  remarkable  from  his  earliest 
childhood  for  the  same  generosity,  unselfish- 
ness and  simplicity  which  distinguished  him 
through  life.  It  can  be  said  with  truth  that 
he  never  intentionally  hurt  anybody,  either  by 
word  or  deed,  but  was  ever  thoughtful  and 
considerate,  courteous  and  pitiful,  honoring  all 
men.  He  died  on  the  sixth  of  August,  1896, 
in  the  eighty-ninth  year  of  his  age. 


BARCLAY  HAVILAND,  a  well-known  cit- 
izen of  Millbrook,  Dutchess  county,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Dover,  December  18, 
1812.  The  first  of  the  name  to  come  to 
this  country  was  either  William  or  Benja- 
min Haviland,  who  emigrated  from  England 
and  settled  on  Long  Island  at  an  early  day  in 
the  history  of  the  Colonies.  From  him  in 
direct  descent  was  his  son  Benjamin  Haviland, 
who  was  born  on  Long  Island;  his  son,  Ben- 
jamin (2),  was  born  in  1698;  his  son,  Isaac 
Haviland,  was  born  in  August,  1751,  in  West- 
chester county,  N.  Y. ;  his  son,  Eleazer,  was 
born  May  27,  1777,  in  New  Fairfield,  Conn.; 
his  son,  Barclay,  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
Benjamin  Haviland,  our  subject's  great- 
grandfather, married  Charlotte  Park,  the 
daughter  of  a  French  Huguenot.  They  settled 
in  Westchester  county,    where  they  owned  a 


farm  of  400  acres,  and  there   reared   a   family 
of  thirteen  children. 

Isaac  Haviland,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county,  and 
after  his  marriage  to  Anna  Howland,  removed 
to  Fairfield  county,  Conn.,  where  he  owned 
and  carried  on  a  farm  of  800  acres  of  land, 
and  was  well-to-do.  Eleazer,  the  eldest  of 
his  five  children,  was  married  in  1798  to  Abi- 
gail Hiller,  daughter  of  Nathan  Hiller,  a  farmer 
in  the  town  of  Dover.  Like  his  ancestors, 
Eleazar  Haviland,  was  a  tiller  of  the  soil, 
which  occupation  he  followed  throughout  his 
life.  For  many  years  he  was  a  minister  in  the 
Hicksite  branch  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and 
made  frequent  journeys  to  the  different  States 
and  to  Canada  in  that  capacity,  which  journeys 
were  made  either  on  horseback  or  in  a  car- 
riage. He  died  December  27,  1863;  his  wife 
passed  away  March  4,  1848.  Five  children 
were  born  to  this  worthy  couple,  only  two  of 
whom  lived  to  maturity:  Isaac  E.,  the  elder 
of  the  two,  removed  to  Long  Island  in  1828, 
and  became  a  prominent  resident  of  Queens 
county,  where  he  died  in  1885;  our  subject  is 
the  younger. 

Barclay  Haviland  grew  to  manhood  on  his 
father's  farm  at  Chestnut  Ridge,  and  at  Me- 
chanic, town  of  Washington,  where  the  family 
moved  in  1826.  He  was  educated  at  the  Nine 
Partners  Boarding  School  at  Mechanic,  and 
later  at  the  Jacob  Willets  private  school.  On 
June  II,  1845,  he  was  married  to  Susan 
Hart  Tredway,  daughter  of  Dr.  Alfred  Tred- 
way,  of  the  town  of  Washington.  They  made 
their  first  home  on  the  farm  at  Mechanic,  re- 
maining in  that  place  until  1855,  when  they 
purchased  the  homestead  of  Mrs.  Haviland's 
grandfather,  Philip  Hart,  at  Hart's  Village,  « 
where  they  have  since  resided.  Five  children  j 
were  born  to  them,  three  of  whom  are  living: 
Katharine  A.  married  Dr.  John  C.  Otis,  of 
Poughkeepsie ;  Isaac  E.  is  a  resident  of  Toledo, 
Ohio;  and  Caroline  E.  resides  with  her 
parents. 

Mr.  Haviland  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  been 
justice  of  the  peace  two  terms.  He  was  pres- 
ent at  the  meeting  which  organized  the 
Dutchess  County  Agricultural  Society,  in  1841, 
and  of  this  society  he  was  treasurer  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  Long  one  of  the  leading  citizens 
of  Dutchess  county,  his  upright  life  and 
sterling  qualities  make  him  respected  and  es- 
teemed by  all  who  come  in  contact  with  him. 
He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Society  of 


i 


^Cc^v^Jx^  crcci^trr  ^ci/i^s-QW 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


97 


Friends,  and  is  always  ready  to  assist  in 
works  of  benevolence. 

Elijah  Tredway,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Haviland,  was  born  in  Connecticut,  and  from 
him  the  genealogy  is  traced  to  Nathaniel 
Tredway,  born  in  Sudbury,  England,  in  1637. 
Dr.  Alfred  Tredway,  his  son  (and  the  father 
of  Mrs.  Havilandj,  in  his  day  a  well-known 
physician,  merchant  and  land  owner  of  the 
town  of  Washington,  was  born  in  1782,  and 
died  in  1826.  He  married  Catherine  Hart, 
who  was  born  in  what  is  now  Millbrook,  but 
at  that  time  was  known  as  Hart's  Village,  be- 
ing so  named  for  her  father,  Philip  Hart,  who 
was  then  the  owner  of  nearly  all  the  land  in 
that  locality.  Philip  Hart  was  the  youngest 
son  of  Richard  Hart,  and  was  born  January 
12,  1749,  in  Little  Compton,  Rhode  Island, 
1 1  and  came  to  Dutchess  county  in  1767,  where 
on  December  18,  1774,  he  was  married  to 
Susanna  Akin,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Akin. 
He  was  a  prominent  business  man  in  his  local- 
ity, being  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cloth. 
His  death  occurred  August  31,   1837. 

Benjamin  Akin  came  to  Dutchess  county, 
between  1762  and  1765,  from  Rhode  Island; 
the  family  is  of  Scotch  extraction,  and  his 
father,  "  Squire  Benjamin  Akin,"  was  born  in 
Scotland  in  1663,  became  a  leading  citizen 
and  represented  his  district  in  public  matters. 
He  was  appointed  chairman  of  a  committee 
hich  was  formed  in    1774  to  oppose  English 

ation. 


AMES  H.  DUDLEY  (deceased)  was  a  na- 
tive of  Dutchess  county,  born  in  the  town 
^  of  Stanford,  July  14,  18 17,  and  was  de- 
scended from  worthy  New  England  ancestry. 
The  founder  of  the  family  in  America  was 
William  Dudley,  a  native  of  England,  where 
he  was  married,  August  24,  1636,  to  Jane 
Lutman,  and  on  coming  to  America  in  the 
spring  of  1639  located  at  Guilford,  Conn.,  on 
a  tract  of  1000  acres  of  land,  which  he  and 
his  neighbors  bought  of  the  Indians,  and  which 
was  divided  among  them.  They  gave  the 
town  the  name  of  Guilford,  and  there  Mr. 
Dadley  followed  farming.  He  was  one  of  the 
prominent  men  of  the  community,  and  died 
there  March  16,  1684.  In  his  family  were 
(our  children:  William,  Joseph,  Ruth  and 
Deborah.  Of  these,  Joseph  Dudley  was  born 
in  that  locality  in  1643,  and  on  reaching  man's 

estate  he  followed  coopering  in  Guilford,  where 
7 


he  died  June  3,  17 12.  He  married  Ann 
Robinson,  and  the  reared  a  family  of  nine 
children,  namely:  Joseph,  Benjamin,  Caleb, 
Joshua,  Miles,  William,  Mary,  Mercy  and 
Anna. 

Miles  Dudley,  the  next  in  a  direct  line  to 
our  subject,  was  born  at  Guilford,  Conn., 
December  17,  1676.  He  married  Rachel 
Strong,  by  whom  he  had  nine  children:  Miles, 
Timothy  (i),  Timothy  (2),  Stephen,  Selah, 
Beriah,  Rachel,  Mercy  and  Johft.  The  father 
of  this  family  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and 
followed  that  occupation  until  his  death,  August 
10,  1753.  His  son,  John  Dudley,  was  born  at 
Guilford,  October  16,  1721,  and  there  passed 
his  early  life.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Tryphena  Stone,  and  to  them  were  born 
eleven  children:  Timothy  (i),  William  (i),  Try- 
phena (i),  Ruth,  John,  Tryphena  (2),  William 
(2),  Polly,  Lois,  James  and  Timothy  (2).  With 
his  family  the  grandfather  removed  to  Berk- 
shire county,  Mass.,  where  he  purchased  a 
large  tract  of  land  on  the  day  the  battle  of 
Lexington  was  fought,  and  became  one  of  the 
best  farmers  and  most  prominent  citizens  of 
the  county.      He  died  there  in  1808. 

James  Dudley,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  November  19,  1772,  in  Guilford, 
Conn.,  and  was  a  child  of  three  years  when 
taken  by  his  parents  to  Massachusetts,  where 
he  married  Miss  Lydia  Leete,  a  descendant 
of  the  first  governor  of  Connecticut  Colony. 
Her  father  was  born  on  Leete's  Island,  in 
Connecticut,  January  16,  1746,  and  wedded 
Lydia  Leete,  by  whom  he  had  eleven  children: 
John,  Lydia,  Amie,  Lois,  Eber,  Olive,  Mina, 
Orrit  (i),  Orrit  (2),  Harvey  and  Eli.  In  April, 
1793,  he  moved  to  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ,  and 
in  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess  county, 
purchased  a  farm,  where  he  spent  his  remain- 
ing days,  dying  in  1822.  His  father,  Rowland 
Leete,  was  born  at  Guilford,  Conn.,  in  1708, 
and  by  his  marriage  with  Mercy  Dudley  had 
eleven  children:  Timothy,  Ruth,  Anna, 
Sarah  (i),  John,  Asahel,  Hannah,  Sarah  (2), 
Abner,  Miles  and  Rachel.  William  Leete, 
the  father  of  Rowland  Leete,  was  born  March 
24,  1 67 1,  and  by  his  marriage  with  Hannah 
Stone  had  seven  children:  Anna,  Elizabeth, 
Margery,  Rowland,  William,  Jordan  and  Sol- 
omon. He  was  a  son  of  Andrew  Leete,  who 
was  born  in  1643,  and  wedded  Elizabeth 
Jordan,  by  whom  he  had  six  children:  Will- 
iam, Caleb,  Samuel,  Dorothy,  Abigail  and 
Mercy.     The    father   of   Andrew    Leete    was 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


William  Leete,  who  emigrated  from  England 
in  1639,  on  the  vessel  on  which  our  subject's 
paternal  ancestors  came  to  these  shores.  He 
was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Anna  Rogers,  and 
to  them  were  born  nine  children:  John, 
Andrew,  William,  Caleb,  Gratiana,  Perigrine, 
Joshua,  Anna  and  Abigail.  Both  the  Leete 
and  the  Dudley  families  were  members  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  and  leading  citizens 
in  the  localities  where  they  made  their  homes. 

After  theif  marriage,  the  parents  of  our 
subject  remained  for  some  time  in  Massachu- 
setts, but  later  became  residents  of  the  town 
of  Stanford,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.  Four  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them:  Chester  L. ,  who 
was  born  July  4,  1806,  and  became  a  farmer 
of  Ulster  county,  removing  to  Memphis,  Mich., 
in  1855,  where  he  died  June  24,  1879;  George 
A.  (i),  who  died  in  infancy;  George  A.  (2), 
who  was  born  in  18 10,  and  became  a  banker 
of  Ellenville,  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  where  he 
died  March  3,  1886;  and  James  H.,  subject  of 
this  sketch.  The  father's  death  occurred  Jan- 
uary 26,  1835,  that  of  the  mother  on  August 
22,   1842. 

On  the  farm,  in  the  town  of  Stanford, 
James  H.  Dudley  spent  his  boyhood  until  fif- 
teen years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  Ulster 
county,  and  in  1835  he  located  in  Poughkeep- 
sie,  where  for  three  years  he  worked  for  others 
at  the  carpenter's  trade.  He  then  carried  on 
that  business  for  himself  until  1853,  during 
which  time  he  erected  many  houses  which  are 
still  standing.  In  that  year  he  began  dealing 
in  lumber  and  coal,  continuing  the  same  for 
sixteen  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time 
he  bought  the  Poughkeepsie  Foundry,  and 
continued  its  operation  until  1880,  when  he 
laid  aside  business  cares. 

On  January  4,  1842,  he  married  Miss  Char- 
lotte Wiltsie,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Lagrange,  Dutchess  county.  May  29,  18 19, 
and  died  at  Poughkeepsie,  September  4,  1895; 
she  was  of  Holland  extraction.  Her  father, 
John  C.  Wiltsie,  was  a  prominent  farmer  and 
justice  of  the  peace  of  that  locality.  Four 
children  were  born  of  this  union,  of  whom, 
Guilford,  a  hardware  merchant  of  Poughkeep- 
sie, is  the  only  one  now  living;  the  others  were 
Lavinia,  Jeromus  W.  and  Lydia  L. 

In  Mr.  Dudley  the  Republican  party  found 
an  earnest  supporter,  and  he  served  his  fellow 
citizens  as  supervisor  for  several  terms,  was 
alms  house  commissioner  one  term,  and'one  of 
the  original  trustees  of  the  Old  Ladies  Home. 


For  half  a  century  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Poughkeepsie  Lyceum,  was  actively  identified 
with  the  Tempferance  cause,  and  was  one  of 
the  leading  and  influential  men  of  the  city. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  were  consistent  members 
of  the  Congregational  Church,  of  which  he 
was  clerk  some  forty-four  years,  and  trustee 
for  many  years.  He  was  called  from  earth 
June  30,  1896. 


JOHN   H.   COTTER,    M.    D..   a  prominent 
Ij    physician  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  coun- 

ty,  whose  success  in  general  practice  has 
brought  him  speedy  recognition  as  a  profession- 
al worker,  has  given,  with  his  struggle  with  ad- 
verse circumstances  in  early  life,  a  proof  of  the 
truth  of  the  old  saying — "  Where  there's  a  will, 
there's  a  way." 

He  is  a  descendant  of  an  old  Irish  family, 
and  the  ancient  freehold  known  as  the  "  Mt. 
Katharine"  farm,  situated  in  the  parish  of  Wa- 
ter Grass  Hill,  County  Cork,  Ireland,  has 
been  in  the  possession  of  his  forefathers  con 
tinuously  for  many  generations,  and  is  stil 
owned  and  occupied  by  a  branch  of  the  family. 
James  Cotter,  the  Doctor's  grandfather, 
passed  his  life  there  as  a  farmer,  and  was  alsc 
interested  in  a  weaving-mill.  He  was  a  thrif- 
ty, prosperous  man,  of  unassuming  manners 
never  taking  any  part  in  public  affairs,  and  likt 
his  ancestors  and  descendants  was  a  devou 
Catholic.  He  and  his  wife  reared  a  family  o 
six  sons:  John,  Patrick,  James,  William 
Garrett  and  Cornelius.  James  came  t( 
America  and  settled  in  New  Orleans,  an( 
served  in  the  Confederate  army  as  a  menibe 
of  the  Engineer  corps. 

John  Cotter,  our  subject's  father,  was  bom 
in  the  old  home  in  December,  1805,  and  wa 
married  in  1840  to  Mary  Haggerty,  a  native  c 
the  same  county.      He   was  a  farmer  by  occu 
pation,  and  for   a  short  time  was  engaged  i 
business  as  a  miller;  but  in    1850  he  left 
native  land   owing  to   some   trouble   with  tl 
English    government    over    the    question 
gathering    tithes.       Naturally    he    turned 
America  as  a  place  of  refuge,  and  on  coming 
this  country  settled  in  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutc 
ess  county,  where  for  many  years  he  vvorl? 
as  a  farm  laborer;    but  gradually  he  accui 
lated  a  fund  of  money  which  enabled  him 
purchase,  in  1870,  a  farm  in  the  town  of  CliJ 
ton,  Dutchess  county.      His  wife  died  there  1 
1872,  and  there  his  own  remaining  years  wei 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPEICAL  RECORD. 


99 


spent,  his  death  occurring  in  1878.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Roman  CathoHc  Church  of 
Khinecliff  parish.  He  had  received  fair  edu- 
cational advantages  in  youth,  and  in  later 
\  cars  he  kept  well  posted  upon  the  topics  of 
the  day,  taking  especial  interest  in  political 
questions  and  in  the  success  of  the  Democratic 
party,  although  he  was  never  an  active  worker 
in  the  organization.  The  Doctor  was  the  fifth 
in  a  family  of  nine  children.  Of  the  others, 
Hannah  (Mrs.  Patrick  Coffey),  died  in  1877; 
James  lives  at  Clinton  Corners;  Lawrence  is  a 
resident  of  Rock  City;  Mary  married  John 
Flemming;  Catherine  died  in  infancy;  William 
lives  in  Dover,  N.  J. ;  Cornelius  is  a  farmer  in 
Schultzville,  and  Nora  Frances  married  John 
O'Neil. 

Dr.  Cotter  was  born  in  the  town  of  Pleas- 
ant Valley,   April  6,  1851,  and   owing  to   his 
father's  reduced  circumstances  he  was  obliged 
to  make  his  own  way  from  the  age  of  twelve 
\ears,  when  he  began  working  for  John  vVan- 
W'agenen,  of  East  Park,  with  whom  he  remained 
e  years,  attending  school    in  the  winter  and 
casionally  finding  a  chance   to  go  during  the 
:nmer  term.      He   was  employed    as  a  farm 
ad  until   the  age  of  twenty-three;  but  his 
at  desire  for  knowledge,  and  determination 
make  the  most  of  every  opportunity,  never 
led    him.       In    1868   and    '69    he    attended 
Dutchess   County    Academy   under   Prof.    Pel- 
am,  but  was  compelled  to  give  up  his  studies 
(J  month   before  graduation,  and   return  to 
us  labors  upon  the  farm.      In    1874  he  began 
lis  medical  studies  with  Dr.  Denny,  and  later 
continued  them  with  Dr.  Hoyt.      After  a  pre- 
iminary  course  of  reading  he  entered  the  Albany 
\Iedical  College,  a   branch    of   Union    Univer- 
ity,  and    his   vacations   were    also   devoted  to 
tudy  in  the  ofSce  of  his  preceptor.      On  Feb- 
Liary  3,  1878,  his  long  toil  was  rewarded  by 
he  bestowal  of  the   degree  of  M.  D.,  and  he 
inmediately    began   practicing   at    Mt.    Ross, 
)utchess  county,  where  he  remained  until  Au- 
ust,  1880,  when  he  moved  to  Jackson  Corners 
id  continued  his  professional  work.      In  May, 
-^94,    his   nephew  succeeded   him   there,  and 
e  moved  to  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  has  built 
p  a  flourishing  practice. 

In  August,  1880,  the  Doctor  married  Miss 

lary  Smith,  of  Gallatin,  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y., 

vwhom  he  had   two  children:     John    Isaac, 

rn  in    August,    188 1,    and    William    Henry, 

rn  in  June,   1885,  and   died  in  August  of  the 

:ne  year.      The  mother  passed  away  in  July, 


1885,  and  in  February,  1888,  the  Doctor 
formed  a  second  matrimonial  union,  this  time 
with  Miss  Mary  Frances  Calvey,  of  Gallatin. 
They  have  had  two  children:  Lawrence,  born 
in  September,  1891,  and  Mary  Alice,  born  in 
February,  1893.  The  Doctor  is  a  well-in- 
formed man  on  general  questions  as  well  as  on 
his  special  line  of  work,  and  he  is  interested  in 
politics  as  a  firm  upholder  of  Democratic  prin- 
ciples. He  was  health  officer  for  Milan  and 
Gallatin  for  several  years,  and  at  present  is 
postmaster  at  Jackson  Corners.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  St.  Peter's  Roman  Catholic  Church, 
and  of  the  Catholic  Benevolent  League;  he  also 
belongs  to  the  Order  of  Elks,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  St.  George. 


CWRENUS  P.  DORLAND,  surrogate  of 
_/  Dutchess  county,  and  a  prominent  lawyer 
of  Poughkeepsie,  was  born  February  28,  1848. 

The  first  of  the  Dorland  family  to  locate  in 
Dutchess  county  was  Enoch,  of  Holland  de- 
scent, who  came  from  Long  Island  and  bought 
a  farm  in  the  town  of  Lagrange.  He  had 
four  children,  viz.:  Gilbert  Dorland,  who  mar- 
ried Jennie  Hegeman,  of  Lagrange;  Dorcas, 
who  married  George  Congdon;  Anna,  who 
married  Treadwell  Townsend;  and  Phebe,  who 
married  Joseph  Irish.  Gilbert  Dorland,  who 
was  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  left  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Enoch  Dorland,  who  belonged 
to  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  who  for  a  long 
time  conducted  the  Nine  Partners  School  at 
Mechanic,  in  the  town  of  Washington,  in  this 
county;  Gilbert,  who  carried  on  agricultural 
pursuits  in  Dutchess  county;  John,  a  farmer 
of  Columbia  county;  Cynthia,  who  married 
Nemiah  Place,  who  for  many  years  was  post- 
master at  Fishkill  Landing;  James,  who  was 
a  lawyer,  and  who,  during  the  greater  part  of 
his  life,  lived  in  the  South;  Adrian,  who  in 
early  life  followed  farming;  Dorcas,  who  mar- 
ried Moses  Alley,  an  agriculturist;  Abby,  who 
married  John  Tripp,  a  farmer;  Peter,  the  fa- 
ther of  our  subject,  is  next  in  order  of  birth; 
Zachariah,  who  was  for  many  years  a  school 
teacher,  and  is  now  a  commercial  traveler; 
Philip,  a  Quaker  preacher;  and  Phebe,  who 
married  John  Nelson,  a  farmer.  The  father 
of  this  family  followed  farming  exclusively  as 
a  life  vocation,  and  in  religious  faith  he  was  an 
Orthodox  Friend. 

Peter  Dorland,  the  father  of-  our  subject, 
was  born  at  Fishkill   Plains,  in  the  year  181  5; 


II 


100 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


was  reared  upon  a  farm,  and  in  his  younger 
days  taught  school  in  his  home  neighborhood. 
He  married  Catherine  E.  Miller,  who  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  March  8,  1821,  a 
a  daughter  of  John  and  Margaret  Miller, 
farming  people  of  the  same  town;  the  former 
was  of  Holland  lineage,  and  a  native  of  West- 
chester county;  the  latter  was  a  native  of 
Fishkill,  Dutchess  county.  Shortly  after  their 
marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Dorland  removed 
to  Matteawan,  Dutchess  county,  and  he  there 
taught  school  for  some  time.  He  then  moved 
to  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  taught  school  a 
short  time,  also  studied  law,  and  then  returned 
to  Matteawan,  finished  his  studies  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar.  He  served  several  terms 
as  justice  of  the  peace  of  that  town.  In  the 
fall  of  1859  he  was  elected,  by  the  Republican 
party,  surrogate  of  the  county,  when  he  again 
moved  back  to  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  lived 
until  1890,  having  been  honored  by  his  party 
with  the  nomination  and  election  for  the  third 
time.  He  held  the  office  for  the  long  term  of 
fourteen  years.  He  and  his  wife  were  earnest 
workers  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Six  children  were  born  to  them  as  follows: 
Emma,  who  never  married;  Lettie  M.,  who  is 
now  deceased;  John  M.,  an  attorney  at  Pough- 
keepsie; Cyrenus  P.,  our  subject,  and  Myron 
and  Kate,  both  of  whom  are  dead. 

Cyrenus  P.,  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  of 
the  family,  spent  his  early  life  at  Fishkill 
Landing,  where  he  attended  the  district  school. 
After  his  parents  removed  to  Poughkeepsie  he 
attended  the  public  school  some  time,  and 
then  entered  the  Dutchess  County  Academy, 
where  he  pursued  his  studies  for  three  years. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  went  to  New  York 
City,  and  was  employed  for  some  time  in  the 
wholesale  cloth  house  of  S.  Hutchinson  &  Co.; 
then  returned  home  and  went  into  an  office 
with  his  father,  who  was  then  surrogate. 

Mr.  Dorland  studied  law,  and  was  admit- 
ted to  the  bar  in  1875.  ^^  has  always  been 
a  leading  Republican,  and  in  1879  was  elected 
by  that  party  a  justice  of  the  city,  in  which 
capacity  he  served  seven  years,  having  been 
elected  the  second  time.  In  1 886  he  was  nomi- 
nated and  elected  recorder  of  the  city,  and 
after  serving  his  term  was  nominated  and 
elected  surrogate  of  the  county,  serving  the 
term  of  six  years.  In  1896  he  was  again  nom- 
inated and  elected  by  the  same  party,  by  a 
very  large  majority,  leading  the  whole  ticket 
by  a  very  handsome  vote,  and  is  at   present 


holding  the  office.  He  has  discharged  its  re- 
sponsible duties  with  ability  and  faithfulness, 
and  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  people,  and  has 
now  the  reputation  of  a  man  of  integrity  and 
high  principle. 

In  1872  Mr.  Dorland  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Kate  S.  Cary,  who  was  born 
in  Poughkeepsie,  and  whose  father,  Gilbert 
Cary,  was  for  many  years  engaged  in  the 
freighting  business  in  that  city.  Three  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them:  LesHe  C,  Clarence 
(deceased)  and  Mary  W.  Mr.  Dorland  and 
his  family  attended  the  Washington  Street 
Methodist  Church.  He  is  a  public-spirited 
man,  and  is  interested  in  all  matters  pertaining 
to  the  public  welfare. 


CiAPT.  JAMES  E.  MUNGER,  a  leading 
_'  business  man  of  Fishkill-on-Hudson, 
Dutchess  county,  a  wholesale  and  retail  dealer 
in  lamber  and  building  materials,  also  well 
known  as  a  contractor  and  builder,  is  a  native 
of  New  York  City,  born  January  29,  1838,  the 
son  of  James  E.  and  Julia  A.  (Albee)  Munger. 

The  public  schools  of  his  native  city  af- 
forded him  excellent  opportunities  for  an  edu- 
cation, and  at  sixteen  he  began  to  learn  the 
milling  trade,  at  White  Lake,  N.  Y.,  with 
John  T.  Linson.  The  business  was  not  con- 
genial, but  he  completed  his  apprenticeship  of 
three  years,  and  then  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade,  and  engaged  in  contracting  and  building 
on  his  own  account  at  Fishkill,  N.  Y.  With 
the  exception  of  three  years  during  the  Civil 
war,  he  has  followed  this  ever  since,  in  con- 
nection with  other  enterprises.  For  eight 
years  of  the  time  he  owned  a  schooner,  of 
which  he  took  charge  as  captain,  carrying ; 
freight  on  the  Hudson  river,  and  Long  Island  1 
Sound,  and  for  the  last  twelve  years  he  has  < 
been  engaged  in  the  lumber  trade  at  Fishkill- 
on-Hudson,  having  purchased  the  business  of' 
Andrew  Barnes.  His  office  is  on  Main  street, 
while  his  yard  is  on  Elm  street,  in  rear  of  the 
"Holland  House,"  where  he  has  a  large  cov- 
ered yard  well  stored  with  all  kinds  of  builders' 
materials. 

Capt.  Munger  is  extremely  popular  through- 
out this  locality,  where  his  family  has  long 
been  well  and  favorably  known,  his  father 
having  been  a  native  of  Dutchess  county.  As 
a  leading  worker  in  the  Republican  party,  the 
Captain  has  been  tendered  nominations  for  the 
best  offices  in  the  county;  but  he  does  not  care 


^!^^L^C<^<.-€^    (C? 


1 


COMMEMORATIVE  DIOQBAPEIOAL  RECORD. 


101 


to  go  too  deepl}'  into  politics.  He  has,  how- 
ever, served  for  many  years  as  trustee  of  the 
village  of  Fishkill-on-Hudson;  since  the  spring 
of  1892  has  been  township  supervisor,  being 
re-elected  every  year;  in  1896  was  chosen  for 
a  term  of  two  years,  and  is  at  present  chair- 
man of  the  board.  His  war  record  is  an  hon- 
orable one.  He  enlisted  in  August,  1862,  in 
the  128th  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  and  was  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  commissary  sergeant,  and  was  also 
acting  quartermaster  for  eight  months  in 
the  absence  of  S.  H.  Mase.  Although  his  po- 
sition would  have  excused  him  from  active 
service  on  the  field,  he  voluntarily  took  part  in 
every  battle  in  which  his  regiment  engaged. 
He  rose  fiom  a  sick  bed  to  join  in  the  fight  at 
Port  Hudson,  was  in  the  engagement  at  Pearl 
River,  and  served  all  through  the  Red  River 
campaign,  while  later  he  was  in  the  battles  of 
Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill  and  Cedar  Creek. 
At  the  latter,  when  the  enemy  had  all  but  sur- 
rounded the  Federal  forces,  Capt.  Munger 
made  a  dash  to  secure  the  commissary  and 
quartermaster  records;  but  before  he  could 
reach  the  tent  a  shell  exploded,  overturning 
the  tent  and  scattering  its  contents  in  all 
directions.  While  gathering  up  some  of  the 
important  papers  and  placing  them  in  his  hav- 
ersack, another  shell  exploded  near  him,  a 
piece  striking  the  straps  of  the  haversack  and 
tearing  it  out  of  his  hand.  Even  at  that  mo- 
ment, with  the  death-dealing  shells  flying  and 
bursting  all  around  him,  his  sense  of  humor 
did  not  desert  him,  for  he  turned  to  his  com- 
rades and  exclaimed,  while  holding  up  the 
remnants  of  the  haversack:  "Look  at  that, 
boys;  pretty  hot,  ain't  it,.'"  He  was  at  all 
times  the  life  of  his  regiment,  full  of  fun  and 
ambition,  as  well  as  courage,  and  with  his  vio- 
lin he  cheered  many  a  despondent  and  home- 
sick comrade.  He  remained  in  the  army  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  in 
July,  1865.  He  is  a  member  of  several  fra- 
ternal orders:  Riverview  Lodge  No.  560,  L 
O.  O.  F. ;  Melzingale  Lodge  No.  304,  K.  of 
P. ;  Beacon  Lodge  No.  283,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  How- 
land  Post  No.  48,  G.  A.  R. ;  and  is  an  honor- 
ary member  of  the  Lewis  Tompkins  Hose 
Company. 


JfAMES  HERVEY  COOK,  of  Fishkill-on- 
the-Hudson,  Dutchess  county,  is  a  promi- 
nent member  of  the  legal  fraternity.      He 

is  one  of  the  busiest  of   men,  devoted  to  his 


i 


profession,  and  we  found  him  reluctant  to  give 
any  account  of  himself,  telling  us  he  had  not 
come  to  the  golden  middle  life  with  a  feeling 
that  he  wanted  in  any  way  to  become  his  own 
eulogist.  He  thought  bj'  such  a  time  a  man 
or  woman  became  known  to  those  around 
them,  and  to  those  with  whom  they  had  been 
brought  into  personal  friendships.  But  he 
consented  to  give  a  little  outline,  saying  that 
as  it  was  the  wish  of  the  publishers  of  this  en- 
terprising book  to  have  the  life  stories  in  brief 
of  many  for  useful  reference,  it  might  be  mis- 
construed were  he  to  decline  to  relate  some- 
thing of  the  way  along  which  he  had  come, 
when  he  had  so  much  to  be  thankful  for. 

He  told  us  that  he  was  a  native  of  John- 
sonburg,  Warren  Co.,  N.  J.,  a  few  miles  from 
the  birthplace  of  Benjamin  Lundy,  the  very 
first  of  all  the  great  leaders  in  emancipating 
the  slave,  of  whom  Horace  Greeley  gives  a 
full  sketch  in  the  first  volume  of  his  history  of 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  It  is  in  the  midst 
of  a  picturesque  region,  there  being  a  succes- 
sion of  hills  richly  cultivated,  extending  from 
the  AUamuchy  Mountain,  on  the  east,  to  the 
Blue  Mountain  range,  on  the  west,  and  in  full 
view  some  ten  miles  away,  is  Delaware  Water- 
Gap,  which  has  been  for  a  long  time  a  fashion- 
able resort,  being  surrounded  by  wild  and 
charming  scenery.  Johnsonburg  had  an  early 
significance,  and  was  known  as  Log  Gaol,  be- 
ing the  county  seat  of  Sussex  down  to  1745, 
and  taking  its  name  from  the  old  log  house 
that  served  jail  purposes.  Sussex  was  divided 
in  1824,  and  that  part  became  the  upper  por- 
tion of  Warren  county,  named  in  honor  of  the 
patriot  who  fell  at  Bunker  Hill,  and  rightly,  as 
the  majority  in  those  two  counties  were  active 
in  battling  for  freedom  in  the  Revolution. 

Mr.  Cook  is  of  Pihgrim  ancestry.  His 
great-grandfather,  Elisha Cooke,  migrated  from 
the  old  town  of  Plymouth,  in  Massachusetts, 
about  the  year  1745,  having  the  dauntless 
spirit  of  those  fathers  of  New  England,  locat- 
ing at  first  at  Mendhani,  near  Morristown. 
The  oldest  tombstone  in  the  old  Presbyterian 
churchyard  there  is  that  of  Daniel  Cooke,  who 
was  most  likely  a  relative.  A  little  later,  in 
1748,  Elisha  Cooke  became  one  of  the  first 
settlers  around  Johnsonburg,  N.  J.,  and  pur- 
chased some  five  hundred  acres  of  land,  which 
has  been  largely  occupied  by  his  numerous 
descendants.  He  was  of  sturdy  intellect,  in- 
flexible in  the  religious  faith  of  his  fathers,  and 
he  loved  to  tell  of  their  virtues.     He  was  the 


102 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


fourth  in  direct  descent  from  Francis  Cooke, 
who  came  with  Bradford  and  Brewster  in  the 
"Mayflower,"  and  was  one  of  that  historic 
company  who  went  with  them  for  conscience 
sake  to  Holland,  where  he  married  a  French 
Protestant,  a  Walloon,  a  people  that  had  suf- 
fered from  so-called  religious  persecutions.  He 
was  one  of  the  most  respected  members  of  that 
heroic  band.  He  felled  trees  in  their  first 
winter  alongside  of  Miles  Standish;  his  house 
was  among  the  first  seven  that  were  built,  and 
was  next  to  that  of  Edward  Winslow,  after- 
ward Governor;  as  a  surveyor  of  highways  he 
was  associated  with  Winslow  and  Bradford. 
It  is  said  that  he  did  much  to  advance  the 
growth  of  the  colony,  and  was  one  of  the  most 
thrifty  of  the  settlers.  He  was  on  intimate 
terms  with  those  leading  families,  his  children 
marrying  into  them.  One  son  married  a  daugh- 
ter of  Richard  Warren,  as  did  also  the  father 
of  the  famous  Capt.  Church,  and  another  son, 
in  direct  line  with  our  Mr.  Cook,  married  Da- 
maris  Hopkins,  whose  father  was  the  ancestor  of 
Stephen  Hopkins,  Governor  of  Rhode  Island, 
and  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence. A  daughter  married  a  Capt.  Thompson. 
Grandsons  were  with  Capt.  Church  in  the 
King  Philips  war,  and  their  families,  being 
connected,  were  brought  near  to  him,  and 
were  conspicuous  when  the  chieftain  fell,  one 
of  them  ordering  the  friendly  Indian  at  his  side 
to  fire  the  fatal  shot,  his  own  flint  missing  fire. 
Mr.  Cook's  birth  was  in  a  farm  home,  upon 
one  of  the  estates  of  his  grandfather,  James 
Cooke,  the  honored  head  of  a  large  family, 
with  the  strict  religious  views  of  his  New  Eng- 
land ancestry,  and  who  had  been  from  the 
first  establishment  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
a  revered  elder.  His  oldest  son,  Frederick 
S.,  the  father  of  him  whom  we  are  sketching, 
was  of  an  unusually  good  and  clear  under- 
standing, intelligent,  of  the  strictest  integrity, 
and  could  not  be  otherwise  than  religious. 
Living  a  quiet  life,  he  was  only  known  fully  by 
those  immediately  around  him.  He  thought 
the  letter  "e  "  in  the  Cooke  name  superfluous, 
and  dropped  its  use,  as  others  of  the  family 
have  done.  Edward  Cooke,  the  great  Eng- 
lish lawyer,  was  of  this  family,  and  struck  out 
one  "o"  (as we  are  told  by  his  biographer)  to 
please  his  second  wife.  In  the  earlier  days 
there  was  no  regularity  in  spelling,  and  in  that 
way  many  family  names  have  undergone 
changes  in  spelling.  Mr.  Cook's  father  died  in 
1867,  much  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 


His  grave  is  in  the  family  burial  plot  at  Succa- 
sunna,  N.  J.,  in  the  old  churchyard  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  Among  other  tombs, 
there  is  that  of  '  Mahlon  Dickerson,  who  was 
Governor,  United  States  Senator,  and  Secre- 
tary of  the  Navy  in   Jackson's  administration. 

Mr.  Cook  speaks  with  great  affection  of  his 
mother,  as  being  a  woman  of  very  superior 
mould,  and  as  directing  her  children  with  her 
wise  counsel.  She  was  endowed  with  the 
finest  qualities  of  a  Christian  mind  and  heart, 
and  was  always  an  inspiration  to  them.  She 
died  a  few  years  ago  deeply  mourned.  Her 
father  was  Gershom  Bartow,  a  leading  man  in 
northwestern  New  Jersey,  and  a  lineal  de- 
scendant of  Francois  Barteau,  a  Huguenot,  who 
came  with  other  Huguenots  to  Long  Island. 
Her  mother  was  an  Ogden,  a  name  conspicu- 
ous for  ability  and  patriotism  in  the  annals  of 
the  State.  A  noble  brother,  who  did  patriotic 
service  in  the  Civil  war,  died  in  1894.  Two 
sisters,  who  have  his  warm  affection,  are  in 
the  old  homestead. 

Mr.  Cook  was  taught  in  his  home  and  in 
the  neighboring  schools  in  early  boyhood.  He 
speaks  of  his  first  teachers  as  being  good  in- 
structors, and  says  that  he  had  a  love  for 
study.  His  thirst  for  learning  led  him  to  seek 
it  in  every  way,  and  the  home  had  often  late 
study  hours.  During  his  boyhood  his  father 
moved  to  the  site  of  Ledgewood,  a  mountain- 
encircled  plain,  near  Schooley's  Mountain,  and 
a  few  miles  to  the  southwest  are  the  famous 
Schooley's  Mountain  Springs.  The  Morris 
canal  runs  along  the  farm,  and  near  by  is  one 
of  its  locks,  and  a  short  distance  off  are  two  of 
the  famous  inclined  planes.  About  three 
miles  to  the  northwest  is  the  romantic  Lake 
Hopatcong,  visited  for  its  great  natural  beauty. 
Upon  the  farm  is  a  deposit  of  valuable  Infuso- 
rial Earth,  which  has  attracted  the  attention 
of  learned  scientists,  and  is  regarded  as  being 
in  quality  equal  to  the  best  German  beds,  ia 
which  he  is  interested. 

It  was  there  that  Mr.  Cook  grew  to  man- 
hood. The  public  schools  were  good,  and 
he  says  that  he  owes  much  to  one  of  those 
teachers  who  had  a  large  acquaintance  with 
literature,  aside  from  instructing  well  in  math- 
ematics and  introducing  them  to  the  study  of 
Latin.  He  was  a  superior  elocutionist,  and 
his  pupils  became  good  readers  and  declaimers, 
being  taught  to  read  effectively  the  best  liter- 
ary productions.  He  took  great  pains  to  have 
them  practice   in   composition   and   debating. 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  BEOOBD. 


103 


and  Mr.  Cook  says  he  has  never  known  better 
readers  and  declaimers  than  there  were  in  that 
country  school.  They  were  made  familiar 
with  the  writings  of  the  best  authors.  Not  in 
the  neighboring  academy  did  he  have  better 
teaching.  But  he  tells  most  proudly  of  his 
later  Principal  in  the  Chester  Institute,  Will- 
iam Rankin,  as  being  one  of  the  finest  scholars 
he  ever  knew.  Of  rich  natural  endowments, 
indeed  great,  he  was  richer  in  his  scholastic 
attainments,  being  a  rare  linguist,  a  scientist 
and  a  historian,  with  the  Master's  degree  from 
Yale.  He  was  a  born  teacher,  and  many  went 
out  from  his  school  into  advanced  college 
classes.  There  Mr.  Cook  read  both  Latin  and 
Greek,  and  made  himself  familiar  with  the 
classic  authors.  He  admires  Virgil,  Horace 
and  Cicero  greatly,  and  frequently  pores  over 
them,  and  studies  the  pages  of  Homer  and  De- 
mosthenes. That  Principal  was  his  most  inti- 
mate friend,  and  gave  him  every  encourage- 
ment. Another  close  friend  was  a  teacher  in 
that  school,  who  loved  to  argue  as  well  as  did 
Goldsmith's  schoolmaster,  and  who  became  a 
leading  legislator  in  New  Hampshire.  With 
him  he  had  many  friendly  contentions  in  de- 
bate. 

Mr.  Cook  was  early  interested  in  politics, 
and  listened  with  deep  and  even  passionate 
interest  to  political  discussions.  He  would  go 
far  and  near  to  listen  to  eloquent  speakers, 
and  heard  the  foremost  orators.  In  political 
meetings  he  would  frequently  take  part  in 
speaking,  and  would  report  speeches  for  his 
party  paper,  to  which  he  was  an  occasional  con- 
tributor. Those  political  contests  were  warm, 
just  preceding  the  Civil  war,  and  at  the  Insti- 
tute, and  later,  he  firmly  planted  himself  on 
the  side  of  the  old  flag,  and  offered  to  give  his 
services  in  the  great  struggle.  His  brother  en- 
listed, and  he  could  not  go,  but  the  whole 
family  contributed  largely  from  their  means  to 
give  aid.  About  that  time  he  began  reading 
law,  under  the  direction  of  Jacob  Vanatta,  a 
leading  lawyer  at  Morristown,  an  eloquent  ad- 
vocate, and  afterward  one  of  New  Jersey's 
ablest  attorney  generals.  In  the  fall  of  1865 
he  entered  the  Law  Department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Albany,  graduating  in  November, 
1866.  Two  of  those  professors  were  Ira 
Harris,  then  United  States  Senator,  and 
Amasa  J.  Parker,  both  distinguished  jurists. 
Judge  Parker  was  a  stanch  friend.  Among 
those  classmates  were  a  number  who  have 
risen   to  distinction,    William    McKinley,  now 


President,  being  the  most  widely  known.  Mr. 
Cook  was  a  member  of  two  classes,  which 
numbered  many  talented  young  men,  and  was 
chosen  President  of  the  Saturday  Evening 
Congress,  a  society  for  general  debate,  num- 
bering the  foremost  of  those  ambitious  law 
students,  although  a  majority  differed  from 
him  in  politics. 

After  graduating  at  the  Law  School,  Mr. 
Cook  was  urged  to  spend  the  winter  of  1866 
and  1867  at  Dover,  N.  J.,  to  attend  to  the  law 
practice  of  a  prominent  lawyer,  who  had  just 
been  elected  to  the  Legislature,  and  who  in- 
sisted on  his  remaining  v*  ith  him  as  a  partner; 
but  having  resolved  to  locate  along  the  Hud- 
son, Mr.  Cook  settled  in  May,  1867,  at  Fish- 
kill-on-the-Hudson,  where  he  has  since  been 
actively  engaged  in  all  the  courts.  He  is 
widely  known  in  the  profession.  He  is  both 
counsellor  and  advocate,  and  has  had  many 
cases  of  more  or  less  importance,  in  which  he 
has  met  with  a  marked  success.  He  has  al- 
ways been  painstaking  and  laborious  in  ob- 
taining fully  the  facts  from  his  clients,  and 
has  been  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  look  up  the 
law,  with  a  determination  to  state  his  cases  in 
clear  arguments  to  judge  and  jury. 

Mr.  Cook  has  been  deeply  interested  in  the 
duties  of  a  citizen,  and  is  pronounced  in  his 
political  views,  being  attached  firmly  to  the 
principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  which  he 
has  never  failed  to  urge  in  public  speech;  but 
he  has  never  allowed  political  questions  to  be 
discussed  in  his  office,  believing  that  those  who 
differ  from  him  politically  should  not  be  an- 
noyed by  fruitless  discussions,  when  business 
should  have  undivided  attention;  with  that 
reasonable  tolerance  for  the  opinions  of  others 
they  have  shown  a  like  generosity  and  the  re- 
sult has  been  that  he  has  as  many  clients  in 
the  opposite  party  as  in  his  own.  He  has 
never  held  public  office,  feeling  it  is  better  for 
a  lawyer  to  give  himself  wholly  to  his  profes- 
sional duties.  To  gratify  a  number  in  his 
party,  he  was  a  candidate,  in  1886,  for  the 
Legislature,  when  he  made  a  strong  canvass 
against  great  odds;  but  was  not  elected.  At 
that  time  he  had  a  warm  letter  from  George 
William  Curtis,  approving  of  his  independent 
course.  Mr.  Curtis  mentioned  him  very  hon- 
orably afterward  in  an  editorial  in  "Harper's 
Weekly,"  commending  him  to  the  whole  coun- 
try. He  has  not  clung  to  his  party  when  he 
has  been  satisfied  that  the  candidate  was  unfit 
for  office,  and  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  famous 


104 


COMMEltORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Syracuse  Convention,  when  independents  met 
in  opposition  to  leading  men  among  their  for- 
mer political  friends,  from  whom  they  differed 
in  regard  to  political  action  growing  out  of  the 
contest  which  resulted  in  seating  Senator  Os- 
borne after  the  miscount  in  Dutchess  county. 
Mr.  Cook  at  once  disapproved  of  that  course 
in  a  public  letter,  widely  published,  and  also, 
as  to  the  later  candidacy  of  Maynard  for  Judge 
of  the  Court  of  Appeals,  who  became  involved 
in  that  controversy,  and  who  was  overwhelm- 
ingly defeated.  In  1896  Mr.  Cook  was  again 
a  candidate  for  the  Assembly,  with  no  hope  of 
success,  being  among  those  in  his  party  who 
would  not  support  the  majority  in  his  party, 
on  account  of  the  financial  question,  and  the 
un-democratic  platform,  as  he  terms  it,  and 
independently  gave  aid  to  the  Republican  can- 
didate for  President,  as  Mr.  Cook  did  directly 
for  patriotic  motives. 

Mr.  Cook  has  always  been  interested  in 
historical  matters,  especially  those  relating  to 
our  Colonial  and  Constitutional  history,  has 
corresponded  with  leading  historical  scholars, 
and  given  many  historical  addresses  and  papers 
before  public  assemblies.  He  is  now  first 
vice-President  of  the  Historical  Society  of 
Newburgh  Bay  and  the  Highland,  is  a  member 
(or  fellow)  of  the  American  Geographical  So- 
ciety, and  has  been  connected  with  other  socie- 
ties. He  has  been  an  occasional  contributor 
to  the  press.  In  his  own  town  he  has  never 
failed  to  take  an  active  and  decided  part  in 
public  matters.  At  one  time  he  was  a  village 
trustee,  and  for  several  years  was  President  of 
the  Board  of  Education,  and  sought  most 
earnestly  to  have  the  course  of  study  enlarged, 
that  it  might  compare  favorably  with  the  best 
public-school  instruction  in  the  State,  and 
furnish  those  children,  who  could  not  attend 
academies  and  colleges  with  opportunities  to 
become  good  scholars,  if  so  inclined.  An  im- 
provement in  that  direction  is  now  seen.  He 
is  also  an  officer  of  the  Reformed  Church,  with 
which  he  has  long  been  connected. 

Mr.  Cook  was  married,  soon  after  coming 
to  Fishkill,  to  an  estimable  young  lady  in  New 
Jersey,  whom  he  had  known  from  boyhood. 
Her  father  was  a  bank  president,  and  his 
brother,  himself  and  two  sons  were  State  Sena- 
tors. She  died  some  twenty  years  ago,  leaving 
a  son,  Pierre  Frederic  Cook,  who  graduated  at 
Princeton  in  1 892 .  He  was  afterward  a  student 
in  the  New  York  Law  School,  and  under  his 
father's  direction  and  advice  read  law  in  the 


office  of  the  late  Governor  Bedle  of  Jersey 
City.  He  has  been  admitted  to  the  bar,  and 
has  before  him_  very  good  professional  pros- 
pects. 


E\LMER    DANIEL   GILDERSLEEVE,   a 
'I  leading  merchant  of    Poughkeepsie,  was 

born  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess  county, 
July  II,  1846,  son  of  Smith  J.  and  Rachel 
(Alger)  Gildersleeve,  and  is  of  Scottish  descent. 

Henry  Gildersleeve,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  February  13,  1765,  at 
Hempstead,  L.  I.,  and  after  his  marriage  with 
Eunice  Smith  (who  was  born  April  16,  1766) 
he  settled  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Clinton, 
Dutchess  county.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig, 
in  religious  faith  a  Quaker.  His  family  com- 
prised eight  children,  whose  names  and  dates 
of  birth  are  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  September 
5,  1788;  Mary,  October  5,  1790;  Phoebe,  Jan- 
uary 28,  1793;  Sarah,  September  30,  1795; 
Henry,  October  16,  1797;  Ruth,  August  27, 
1800;  Jane,  November  29,  1805;  and  Smith  J., 
August  21,  1809.  Of  these,  Phoebe  married  a 
Mr.  Gurney,  a  farmer  of  Saratoga  countj', 
N.  Y. ;  Sarah  became  the  wife  of  Edward 
White,  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Chatham, 
Columbia  county;  Henry  became  a  farmer  in 
the  town  of  Hillsdale,  Columbia  county;  Ruth, 
married  Leonard  Sackett,  a  farmer  of  Dutch- 
ess county;  and  Jane  married  and  went  west, 
where  she  died. 

Smith  J.  Gildersleeve,  the  youngest  in  the] 
above-named    family,    and   the   father   of  our 
subject,   was   born  August    21,    1809,    in    thei 
town  of  Clinton,    Dutchess  county,    and  was- 
reared  on  his  father's  farm.      He  married  Missi 
Rachel   Alger,  who  was  born  in  the  town  ofi 
Stanford,  Dutchess  county,  daughter  of  Daniel 
Alger  (born  July  26,  1773)  and  his  wife  Han-« 
nah  (born  March   5.,  1782).      Mr.  Alger  in  re- 
ligious faith  was  a  Universalist,  by  occupation 
a   hatter.      Four  children   were   born   to  hir 
and  his  wife,  their  names  and  dates  of  birtl 
being  as  follows:  Ann,  April  1 1,  1804;  Stepheni 
March  5,  1807;   Belinda,   June   13,  1810;  an( 
Rachel,    February    16,    1816.      To    Mr.    an< 
Mrs.  Smith  J.  Gildersleeve  were  born  five  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  (i)  Belinda,    born   in    1838, 
married  Robert  Halstead,  a  farmer  in  the  town 
of  Clinton,  and  died  in  1865;     (2)   Henry  C, 
born  in  1840,  died  in  infancy;    (3)   Henry  A. 
born    August    i,    1840,    resides   in   New   York 


i 


\l^i.ui^u  2>  yyA-toLoL 


COMMEMOBATTVE  BIOORAPHWAL  BE  CORD. 


105 


City,  and  is  a  judge  of  the  supreme  court, 
being  the  youngest  man  ever  elected  to  that 
office  in  the  city  [See  sketch  of  him  else- 
where]; (4)  Frank  Van  Buren,  born  in  1842, 
is  a  physician  in  New  York  City.  (These  two 
brothers,  Henry  A.  and  Frank  Van  B. ,  served 
in  the  Civil  war,  and  took  part  in  many  of  the 
important  battles,  including  that  of  Gettys- 
burg, Henry  returning  with  the  rank  of  major); 
and  (5)  Elmer  Daniel,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  memoir,  born  July  11,  1846. 

Smith  J.  Gildersleeve  followed  farming 
most  of  his  life.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  but  sympathized  strongly  with 
the  Prohibitionists  as  he  was  an  ardent  advo- 
cate of  temperance.  At  one  time  there  was  a 
combined  effort  of  the  "  Washingtonians"  (as 
the  temperance  people  were  called)  to  put 
their  men  into  office,  and  Mr.  Gildersleeve  being 
one  of  the  leaders  was  instrumental  in  electing 
their  ticket.  During  the  campaign  he  deliv- 
ered a  number  of  lectures  on  the  subject  of 
temperance  at  which  he  would  sing,  and  his 
sweet  notes  were  so  effective  that  many  signed 
the  pledge  under  the  influence  of  his  music. 
In  matters  of  religion  he  was  a  Quaker  by 
birth,  but  having  married  outside  the  Society 
he  was  "disowned,"  and  afterward  became  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Christian  denomina- 
tion at  Stanfordville,  during  which  time  he  was 
a  member  of  the  building  committee  of  a  new 
church  erected  at  Schultzville,  within  one  mile 
of  his  birthplace — the  only  church  in  that  lo- 
cality. After  coming  to  Poughkeepsie  he 
joined  the  M.  E.  Church;  but  all  along  he 
faithfully  held  to  the  faith  of  his  fathers,  at- 
tending the  Friends  meetings  during  the  later 
years  of  his  life.  He  died  in  1881,  in  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y. ;  his  wife  had  passed  away  in  1864. 

Elmer  D.  Gildersleeve,  whose  name  intro- 
iuces  this  sketch,  spent  his  boyhood  days  on 
the  home  farm  in  Clinton,  where  he  attended 
;he  district  school,  finishing  his  education  at 
he  Claverack  Institute,  in  Columbia  county, 
n  1866  he  came  to  Poughkeepsie,  and  was 
imployed  as  a  clerk  in  the  general  store  of 
Trowbridge  &  Co.,  remaining  with  them  for  a 
•ear.  He  was  next  employed  in  the  shoe  store 
if  Charles  Eastmead  for  a  year,  at  the  end  of 
vhich  time  he  went  into  the  shoe  business  with 
iiis  father  at  No.  361  Main  street.  This  they 
tarried  on  for  a  year  when  they  sold  out  to  D. 
-.  Heaton,  our  subject  taking  the  manage- 
nent  of  the  business  for  him,  and  remaining  in 
harge  of  it  for  twelve  years.      In   1886,  Mr. 


Gildersleeve  formed  a  partnership  with  Benson 
Van  Vliet  under  the  firm  nama  of  E.  D.  Gil- 
dersleeve &  Co.,  and  they  are  still  carrying  on 
the  shoe  business  at  No.  314  Main  street, 
where  they  have  the  largest  and  finest  estab- 
lishment of  the  kind  between  New  York  and 
Albany. 

Mr.  Gildersleeve  is  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Society  of  Friends,  or  Quakers,  in  which 
he  was  made  a  minister  June  22,  1879.  He 
has  preached  many  sermons,  and  is  always  in 
request  at  funeral  services,  and  in  many  ways 
takes  an  active  interest  in  religious  matters. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Representative  Meet- 
ing of  the  New  York  yearly  meeting  of  Friends, 
which  is  the  legislative  body  of  the  Church, 
and  one  of  the  oldest  members  of  the  Evange- 
listic Committee,  which  has  charge  of  the 
Evangelistic  work  of  the  Church.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  of  Poughkeep- 
sie, of  which  he  was  vice-president  for  four 
years,  and  one  of  the  board  of  directors  for 
twelve  years.  He  has  devoted  much  time  and 
labor  to  this  cause,  for  which  he  has  a  deep 
affection;  and  in  all  good  works  he  can  always 
be  relied  on  for  substantial  aid  and  sympathy, 
devoting:  as  he  does  a  great  deal  of  time  to  vis- 
iting the  sick  and  afflicted,  and  especially  the 
aged  and  infirm.  In  business  circles  he  holds 
high  rank  as  a  man  of  undoubted  integrity,  ex- 
cellent judgment  and  progressive  spirit,  and 
has  a  large  circle  of  warm  personal  friends. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  also  of 
the  Retail  Merchants  Association,  and  believes 
in  enterprise  and  progress.  On  September  i, 
1869,  Mr.  Gildersleeve  was  married  to  Miss 
Phcebe  Haviland,  who  was  born  at  Clinton 
Corners,  Dutchess  county,  and  eight  children 
have  been  born  to  them,  namely:  (i)  Frank 
(deceased);  (2)  Alexander  Haviland,  engaged 
in  manufacturing  business;  (3)  William  Dav- 
enport, an  invalid,  the  result  of  service  in  the 
U.  S.  Regular  Army,  being  one  of  the  young- 
est of  the  United  States  pensioners  (he  resides 
with  his  parents)-;  (4)  Virginia  Crocheron,  a 
graduate  of  the  Poughkeepsie  High  School, 
class  of  '95,  at  present  devoting  herself  to  the 
profession  of  voice  culture  (she  has  a  soprano 
voice  of  great  compass,  sweetness  and  expres- 
sion, and  takes  rank  as  one  of  the  leading  vo- 
calists of  the  county:  she  is  at  present  serving 
her  second  year  as  soloist  of  Christ  Church, 
Poughkeepsie);  (5)  Elmer  Daniel,  Jr.,  a  young 
man  of  much  promise,  who  is  now  preparing 
for  college  in  a  Friends  institute  at  Westtown, 


106 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Penn.,  near  Philadelphia;  (6)  Henry  Alger 
(deceased);  (7)  Edith  Haviland;  and  (8)  Roger 
Morton.  Mrs.  Gildersleeve,  one  of  the  most 
highly  educated  women  of  the  county,  and  a 
great  reader,  is  possessed  of  superior  mental 
caliber  and  conversational  powers  to  a  marked 
degree;  and  withal  is  a  most  devoted  wife  and 
mother,  her  first  thought  being  of  her  children 
and  the  welfare  of  her  family.  In  earlier  life 
she  possessed  more  than  ordinary  efficiency  as 
an  elocutionist,  having  completed  a  course  in 
that  art  at  Cook's  Institute,  Poughkeepsie. 

Isaac  Haviland,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Gildersleeve,  married  Miss  Lydia  Weaver,  and 
shortly  afterward  settled  on  a  farm  at  Quaker 
Hill,  Dutchess  county.  They  had  nine  chil- 
dren: Joseph,  Daniel  P.,  Isaac,  Alexander 
Y. ,  Jacob,  Abraham,  Charlotte,  Sarah  and 
Lydia  Ann.  The  Havilands  are  of  French- 
Huguenot  stock,  and  possess  a  family  crest; 
but  the  family  in  America  are  all  members  of 
the  Society  of  Friends.  Daniel,  the  second 
son  of  this  family,  married  Lilias  Aiken. 

Alexander  Y.  Haviland,  father  of  Mrs. 
Gildersleeve,  was  born  August  25,  18 14,  at 
Quaker  Hill,  Dutchess  county,  and  was  reared 
to  manhood  on  the  home  farm,  and  on  August 
8,  1844,  he  married  Judith  M.  Griffen,  who 
was  born  January  11,  18 14,  in  Westchester 
county,  N.  Y.,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Griffen 
(born  in  1790,  in  the  same  county),  and  Phcebe 
Davenport  Griffen.  They  settled  on  a  farm 
at  North  Castle,  where  they  reared  a  family 
of  nine  children:  Mary  D.,  Judith  M.  (mother 
of  Mrs.  Gildersleeve),  Abigail,  Esther  H., 
Elihu,  William  D.,  Jacob,  Catherine  E.  and 
Lydia  S.  About  1824,  Daniel  Griffen  removed 
to  Clinton  Corners  with  his  family,  and  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life  on  a  farm  at  that 
place.  He  died  August  26,  1858,  and  his  wife, 
on  June  11,  1874.  The  Griffen  family  is  of 
English  and  Welsh  descent,  and  the  great- 
great-grandfather.  Elihu  Griffen,  was  born  in 
Westchester  county,  N.  Y.  After  their  mar- 
riage Alexander  Haviland  and  his  wife  located 
on  a  farm  at  Clinton  Corners,  where  two  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them:  Lydia  P.,  who  died 
September  23,  i860,  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
years;  and  Phcebe,  wife  of  our  subject.  Mr. 
Haviland  followed  farming  until  his  death, 
which  took  place  May  29,  1853,  after  which 
his  wife  disposed  of  the  property  and  removed 
to  Poughkeepsie,  where  her  daughter  was  edu- 
.  cated  and  subsequently  married.  The  mother 
is  still  living  at  the  good  old   age   of  eighty- 


three  years,  and  she  and  her  brother  Jacob,  of 
Clinton  Corners,  are  the  only  two  survivors  of 
this  Griffen  family. 


CjOL.  HENRY  ALGER  GILDERSLEEVE 
__/  was  born  in  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y., 
August  I,  1840.  His  early  life  was  spent  on 
his  father's  farm  and  in  attendance  at  the  dis- 
trict school.  When  fifteen  years  of  age  he  at- 
tended boarding  school,  and  from  that  time 
up  to  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war  was 
either  at  school  or  engaged  in  teaching,  that 
he  might  acquire  funds  with  which  to  pursue 
his  studies.  He  recruited  for  the  1 50th  Regi- 
ment, N.  Y.  S.  V.  Infantry,  and  was  mustered 
in  as  captain  of  Company  C,  October  1 1,  1862. 
He  served  with  his  regiment  in  the  Middle 
Department,  under  Gen.  Wool,  and  subse- 
quently in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  in  which, 
with  his  regiment,  he  participated  in  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg  and  in  the  subsequent  campaigns 
in  Maryland  and  Virginia. 

After  several  months  of  special  duty,  Capt. 
Gildersleeve,  in  June,  1864,  rejoined  his  regi- 
ment at  Kenesaw  Mountain,  where  it  was  at- 
tached to  the  First  Division  of  the  Twentieth 
Army  Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland, 
at  that  time  commanded  by  Maj.-Gen.  Hooker, 
and  forming  a  part  of  the  command  of  Gen. 
Sherman,  then  engaged  in  fighting  its  way  to 
Atlanta.  He  served  in  Sherman's  army  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  participating  in  numerous 
battles  and  skirmishes,  and  making  the  famous 
march  with  Sherman  to  the  sea.  He  was 
made  provost  marshal  of  the  First  Division  of 
the  Twentieth  Army  Corps,  on  the  staff  of 
Gen.  Williams,  of  Michigan.  His  duties  as 
provost  marshal  were  delicate,  responsible  and 
arduous.  They  were  discharged,  however,  in 
a  manner  which  met  the  approval  of  his 
superior.  He  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
major  of  his  regiment,  and  brevetted  lieuten- 
ant-colonel U.  S.  v.,  by  President  Lincoln, 
"for  gallant  and  meritorious  service  in  the 
campaigns  of  Georgia  and  the  Carolinas." 
When  mustered  out  of  service,  in  June,  1865, 
he  chose  the  law  as  his  profession,  and  in  the 
autumn  of  that  year  entered  the  Columbia 
College  Law  School.  Prof.  Theodore  W. 
Dwight,  then  at  the  head  of  the  Law  School, 
in  a  letter  written  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land, referring  to  Col.  Gildersleeve,  who  had 
become  famous  as  a  rifleman,  through  the  suc- 
cessful   achievements    in    Great    Britain    and 


COMMEMORATIVE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


107 


Ireland,  in  1875,  of  the  American  rifle  team,  of 
which  he  was  captain,  used  the  following 
language:  "  In  Col.  Gildersleeve  I  feel  an  es- 
pecial interest,  as  I  had  the  honor  of  giving 
him  by  personal  attention  his  introduction  to 
the  science  of  law,  and  could  have  predicted 
the  precision  of  his  rifle  from  the  accuracy  and 
steadiness  of  his  aim  while  going  through  his 
legal  drill." 

Col.  Gildersleeve  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1866,  and  from  that  time  until  his  elevation 
to  the  bench,  in  1875,  he  was  a  hard-working 
and  successful  lawyer  in  the  City  of  New  York. 
The  duties  of  his  profession  did  not  wean  him 
entirely  from  his  fondness  for  military  life.  In 
1870  he  was  unanimously  chosen  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  the  i2th  Regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y., 
and  took  a  keen  interest  in  his  military  duties, 
and  in  promoting  the  success  of  the  regiment. 
He  subsequently  became  assistant  adjutant 
general  and  chief  of  staff  in  the  First  Division 
of  the  National  Guard  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  with  the  rank  of  colonel,  which  position 
he  held  for  more  than  twelve  years.  He  was 
honored  with  the  appointment,  by  Governor 
Dix,  of  General  Inspector  of  Rifle  Practice, 
and  was  once  elected  colonel  of  the  Ninth 
Regiment,  both  of  which  high  positions  he  de- 
clined in  order  that  he  might  remain  at  the 
ead  of  the  staff  of  the  First  Division.  In 
n\  life  he  attracted  considerable  favorable 
iment  as  a  lecturer  ?.nd  as  an  agreeable,  for- 
jle  and  interesting  speaker.  In  1875  he  was 
Bcted  judge  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions 
the  City  of  New  York,  and  for  fourteen 
bars  sat  upon  the  bench  of  that  court,  dispos- 
of  an  immense  number  of  criminal  cases  of 
^ery  kind  and  description.  He  always  tem- 
Bred  justice  with  mercy,  and  his  record  as  a 
criminal  judge  is  excellent.  He  is  now  in  his 
fourth  year  of  service  on  the  civil  bench,  as 
judge  of  the  Superior  Court  of  the  City  of  New 
York,  and  has  upward  of  eleven  years  of  serv- 
ice still  before  him.  Under  the  new  amend- 
ments to  the  constitution  he  will  become  judge 
Iji^  the  Supreme  Court,  January  i,  1896. 
H  Judge  Gildersleeve  is  now  (November, 
1894)  in  the  prime  of  life,  blessed  with  perfect 
health  and  iron  constitution.  With  a  past  so 
varied  and  eventful,  he  has  still  many  years  of 
usefulness  before  him.  He  is  a  tall,  strong 
and  heavily-built  man,  of  dignified  and  rather 
reserved  bearing,  but  with  manners  of  unvary- 
ing courtesy  and  kindness.  He  still  finds  some 
time  in  which  to  indulge  his  fondness  for  out- 


door sports,  and  is  frequently  seen  at  athletic 
games.  A  tramp  over  the  hills,  or  through  the 
swamps,  wherever  game  can  be  found,  with 
dog  and  gun,  is  his  favorite  pastime.  While 
he  has  no  longer  the  skill  with  the  rifle  that 
he  possessed  in  earlier  years,  he  is  still  a  mas- 
ter with  the  shotgun.  The  frequent  allusions 
to  the  fame  which  he  acquired  as  a  rifleman,  to 
which  he  is  called  upon  to  listen,  always  afford 
him  much  pleasure.  It  was  truly  said  by  a 
prominent  editorial  writer  that  though  Judge 
Gildersleeve  might  live  to  write  some  of  the 
best  judicial  opinions  reported,  they  would  drop 
into  insignificance  when  compared  with  his 
fame  as  a  rifleman.  A  prominent  man.  who 
had  been  a  political  opponent  of  Judge  Gilder- 
sleeve, once  said  of  him  that  his  principal  char- 
acteristics were  his  evenness  of  temper,  his 
kindness  of  heart  and  his  fidelity  to  his  friends. 
[From  Report  of  the  Annual  Reunion  and  Din- 
ner of  the  Old  Guard  Association  of  the  Twelfth 
Regiment  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y. ,  April  21,  1894.] 


With  a  debt  of 
young  man  started, 
the    aid  of  a    loving 


LEWIS    BAKER  (deceased).     Perhaps  no 
.'  man  was  ever  known  better,  or  known  for 

a  longer  term  of  years  in  one  community  than 
was  Lewis  Baker,  late  of  the  town  of  Beek- 
man,  Dutchess  county.  Born  in  that  town 
June  4,  1792,  he  grew  to  manhood  there,  and 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  married  Sarah 
Allen,  daughter  of  a  farmer  of  the  town  of 
Pawling,  and  began  farming  for  himself  by 
purchasing  forty-eight  acres  of  land,  where  he 
and  his  wife  lived,  in  the  same  house,  for  over 
fifty  years. 

$1,250.00  this  energetic 
having  good  health  and 
wife,  to  clear  himself  of 
this  incumbrance  through  his  own  hard  toil. 
Always  honest,  sober,  reliable  and  industrious, 
and  with  the  success  which  surely  accompanies 
a  disposition  like  his,  he  not  only  paid  for  his 
first  farm,  but  eventually  purchased  adjoining 
farms  until  he  had  a  solid  body  of  400  acres 
of  choice  farming  land,  which  was  all  paid 
for.  well  stocked  and  in  good  condition.  Every 
acre  was  paid  for  without  aid  from  outside 
source  of  any  nature,  but  from  the  fruits  of 
hard,  honest  labor  as  a  farmer,  having  never 
made  a  dollar  from  speculation  in  his  life. 
Although  he  lived  far  beyond  the  allotted  limits 
of  man's  life,  his  clear,  bright,  honest  eye  was 
undimmed,  and  his  wonted  expression  of  self- 
reliance  was  never  lost.     At  the  age  of  ninety- 


108 


COMMEMORATIVE!  BIOGBAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


three  years  he  could  take  his  "  section  "  after 
the  reaper,  and  bind  seventy  sheaves  of  rye  in 
one  hour — as  he  did  in  the  season  of  1885;  or 
he  could  walk  a  distance  of  five  or  ten  miles 
as  quickly  as  most  men  who  were  but  half  his 
age. 

Notwithstanding  the  lack  of  early  educa- 
tional advantages,  he  could  write  a  letter  which 
for  style  and  correctness  would  be  envied  by 
many  who  have  all  the  advantages  of  modern 
schools,  and  his  sterling  worth  and  good  judg- 
ment are  clearly  shown  by  the  high  esteem  in 
which  he  was  held  by  the  neighbors,  among 
whom  he  had  lived  all  his  life,  and  by  the  evi- 
dence that  the  people  of  his  town  called  upon 
him  to  serve  them  as  justice  of  the  peace  con- 
secutively for  over  a  quarter  of  a  century. 
He  was  their  steadfast  friend,  advisor  and 
counsellor  in  every  emergency.  As  the  Farm 
Journal,  in  its  June  issue,  1886,  says:  "He 
has  a  record  of  which  any  man  may  be  proud, 
and  we  are  proud  to  show  his  likeness  to  all 
our  one  million  readers." 

He  had  five  sons,  one  of  whom  died  young, 
and  another,  William,  who  died  in  1885  in 
Illinois,  where  he  had  become  a  prosperous 
farmer;  the  other  three,  Alexander  A.,  Cyrus 
and  Nicholas,  are  still  alive,  and  for  old  men 
are  remarkably  hale  and  hearty,  which  goes  to 
show  the  healthy  methods  which  our  old  friend 
instilled  in  the  minds  of  his  children.  Alex- 
ander A.  is  a  resident  of  Poughkeepsie,  and 
until  late  years  has  followed  the  vocation  of 
farming,  and  now  at  over  eighty  years  of  age 
is  still  vigorous  and  alert.  Nicholas  is  an  at- 
torney located  in  the  state  of  Connecticut,  and 
Cyrus  is  a  resident  of  Highland  Falls,  Orange 
county,  this  State. 

The  death  of  his  loving  wife,  after  fifty-five 
years  of  wedded  life,  made  Mr.  Baker's  home 
seem  desolate,  and  he  subsequently  divided 
his  property  among  his  children,  and  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life  with  them  alternately. 

Mr.  Baker's  ancestors  are  said,  on  good 
authority,  to  have  come  from  England  in  the 
"  Mayflower,"  and  settled  in  New  England, 
but  his  father  was  a  resident  of  the  old  town 
of  Beekman. 

Mr.  Baker  belonged  to  the  sect  of  Friends, 
and  his  Quaker  views  were  exemplified  in  his 
daily  life.  He  was  a  man  who  never  used  vile 
language,  was  at  all  times  kind  and  thought- 
ful for  others,  always  a  strong  advocate  for 
justice  and  peace  between  man  and  man. 
Honest  in  every  relation,  his  word  was  as  good 


anywhere  as  a  bond.  He  was,  indeed,  a  man 
whose  memory  should  be  honored,  and  this 
world  would  be  better  had  it  more  of  a  like 
character.  He  died  at  the  city  of  Poughkeep- 
sie January  12,  1894,  at  the  remarkable  age  of 
102  years,  and  was  buried  in  Rural  Cemetery, 
leaving  three  of  his  children,  many  grandchil- 
dren and  many  great-grandchildren  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  a  father  and  good  and  wise  coun- 
selor. Among  the  descendants  who  mourned 
his  loss  is  his  grandson  and  namesake,  Lewis 
Baker,  the  well-known  attorney  and  counselor 
of  Poughkeepsie. 


|irILLIAM     THACHER     REYNOLDS, 

J^JL  senior  member  of  the  well-known 
firm  of  Reynolds  &  Cramer,  Poughkeepsie, 
Dutchess  county,  is  a  descendant  in  the  ninth 
generation  of  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of 
Rhode  Island — William  Reynolds,  who  was  a 
signer  of  the  original  Providence  compact  in 
1637,  ^'^'^  ^^ho  there  is  every  reason  to  think 
was  an  offshoot  of  the  manorial  family  of 
Reignoldes  of  Suffolk. 

This  pioneer  had  a  son,  James,  who  was  a 
resident  of  Kingston,  R.  I.,  where  he  died  in 
1700.  He  and  his  wife,  Deborah,  had  a  son, 
Francis,  of  Kingston,  who  was  born  October 
22,  1633,  and  died  in  1722.  He  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth 
(Anthon}')  Greene,  and  granddaughter  of  John 
Greene,  M.  D.,  of  Salisbury,  Wiltshire,  Eng- 
land, whose  father  was  Richard  Greene,  Esq., 
of  Bowridge  Hall,  Gillingham,  Dorsetshire, 
England.  They  had  a  son,  Peter,  a  resident 
of  North  Kingston,  who  had  a  son,  John,  born 
in  1 72 1,  and  died  there  in  October,  1804.  He 
married  Anne,  daughter  of  William  and  Apne 
(Stone)  Utter,  and  widow  of  Benjamin  Greene. 
Their  son,  William,  of  North  Kingston,  who 
was  born  July  19,  1753,  died  October  4, 
1 84 1.  He  married  Easter  Reynolds,  his  sec- 
ond cousin,  through  John,  James  and  Francis. 
He  was  commissioned  ensign  of  the  First  com- 
pany of  North  Kingston  in  June,  1775,  and 
performed  about  two  years'  active  service  dur- 
ing the  Revolutionary  war,  for  which  he  was 
pensioned  in  1832.  His  son,  James,  our  sub- 
ject's grandfather,  born  in  North  Kingston, 
R.  I.,  April  7,  1777,  moved  to  Poughkeepsie 
about  1800,  and  followed  the  occupation  of 
ship  carpenter  until  he  established  a  store  at 
Upper  Landing,  which  formed  the  nucleus  of 
the  extensive  business  now  conducted  by  our 


<^l^U^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPnWAL  RECORD. 


109 


subject.  He  was  a  leading  citizen  of  his  time, 
and  was  instrumental  in  a  great  degree  in  the 
early  development  of  the  city,  then  a  mere 
village.  A  Quaker  in  religious  faith,  he  dis- 
played strong  moral  qualities  joined  to  perfect 
liberality  as  to  doctrinal  points.  His  strictly 
temperate  habits  have  been  followed  by  all  his 
descendants  without  exception,  and  the  family 
have  been  noted  for  the  qualities  which  consti- 
tute good  citizenship,  although  they  have  never 
taken  any  active  part  in  politics.  He  was 
married  February  22,  1803,  to  Elizabeth 
Winans,  daughter  of  James  and  Joanna  (De- 
Graff)  Winans,  and  granddaughter  of  James 
and  Sarah  Winans,  of  Pine  Plains,  and  John 
De  Graff,  of  Poughkeepsie,  who  was  a  de- 
scendant in  the  third  generation  of  Jean  and 
Mary  (Lawrence)  le  Comte,  of  Harlem,  1674, 
de  Graaf?  being  a  Dutch  corruption  of  the 
I'rench  le  Comte. 

Their  son,  William  Winans  Reynolds,  our 
subject's    father,    received    his    education    in 
Poughkeepsie,  and  at  an  early  age  engaged  in 
his    father's    business,    to    which    he    and    his 
brother   James   succeeded.      A  man  of    well- 
trained  intellect,  great  energy  and  sound  busi- 
ness judgment,  he  developed  the  trade  of  the 
Hteuse   extensively,  making   it   the  leading  one 
HB   its    line   along    the    river.      From    1840  to 
HB72  the  business  was  the  embodiment  of  his 
HBvn  ideas  and  abilities,  owing  to  his  brother's 
HH  health  and  distaste  for  commercial  life.    He 
■was  an  active   and   prominent  member  of  the 
■  Washington  Street  M.  E.  Church,  serving  many 
HBars  on   the  board   of  trustees,  to  which  his 
Vwother    also    belonged.      Mr.    Reynolds    was 
married     September     10,     1833,      to     Phebe 
Amanda  Thacher  (daughter  of   Rev.  William 
Thacher,   who    was    descended    from   Colonel 
and  Hon.  John  Thacher,  of  Yarmouth,  Mass., 
who  served  in  King  Philip's  war,  and  was  for 
many  years  a  member  of  the  Governor's  coun- 
cil.    Rev.  William  Thacher's  maternal  grand- 
father was  Thomas  Fitch,  Governor  and  Chief 
Justice  of  Connecticut),  by  whom  he  had  six 
children:     Martha   T.  (Mrs.  William  D.  Mur- 
phy), Catherine  R.  (Mrs.  Aaron  Innis),    Mary 
Louisa  (the  widow  of  Walter  C.  Allen),  Will- 
am  T.  (our  subject),  Hannah  M.,  and  Clarence 
fames  (now  a  partner  of  the  firm  of  Reynolds 
i  Cramer). 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  in 
'oughkeepsie,  December  20,  1838,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  there,  and  has 
ilways  been  identified  with  the  interests  of  the 


city.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  began  working 
in  his  father's  wholesale  store,  taking  a  place 
"at  the  foot  of  the  ladder,"  and  working  up 
by  degrees  until  he  had  familiarized  himself 
with  every  branch  of  the  business.  He  has 
inherited  the  excellent  qualities  which  made 
his  father  and  grandfather  useful  and  honored 
citizens,  and  he  has  well  maintained  the  credit 
of  the  Reynolds  name  in  religious,  social  and 
commercial  life. 

On  July  6,  1864,  William  T.  Reynolds 
was  married  to  Miss  Louise  Smith,  and  they 
have  two  children:  Harris  Smith  Reynolds, 
born  May  19,  1865,  also  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Reynolds  &  Cramer,  and  May  Louise  Rey- 
nolds, born  July  5,  1873.  Our  subject  being  a 
conservative  Republican,  has  never  taken  an 
active  part  in  politics,  but  is  possessed  of 
strong  convictions,  and  great  courage  and  in- 
dependence in  supporting  any  cause  he  be- 
lieves to  be  right.  He  holds  many  important 
positions  of  honor  and  trust  in  the  community, 
to  wit:  President  of  the  board  of  trustees  of 
the  Washington  Street  M.  E.  Church;  presi- 
dent of  the  Vassar  Brothers  Home  for  Aged 
Men;  trustee  of  the  Old  l^adies  Home;  trustee 
of  the  Poughkeepsie  Rural  Cemetery;  director 
of  the  Fallkill  National  Bank  and  the  Pough- 
keepsie Savings  Bank. 


[(3f  ALTER  C.  HULL,  well-known  in 
Dutchess  and  surrounding  counties  as 
a  prominent  and  highly  popular  attorney  at 
law,  with  offices  at  No.  52  Market  street, 
Poughkeepsie,  is  a  native  of  that  city,  born 
July  4,  1857. 

Mr.  Hull  was  educated  in  part  at  private 
schools  in  Poughkeepsie,  afterward  attending 
McGill  University,  Montreal,  Canada,  and 
Harvard,  his  law  studies  being  completed  in 
Columbia  College  Law  School,  from  which 
latter  institution  he  graduated  in  1880.  Such 
a  thorough  education  would  naturally  combine 
to  accelerate  the  development  of  his  character, 
and  the  furtherance  of  his  future  prospects. 
Since  1880  he  has  resided  and  practiced  his 
profession  in  Poughkeepsie,  his  specialty  being 
real-estate  law  and  surrogate  practice,  though 
he  has  taken  some  general  practice.  During 
the  years  1893-94  he  was  associated  with  Ira 
Shafer,  of  New  York,  but  with  this  exception 
he  has  had  no  office  partner. 

George  D.  Hull,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  February  6,  1821.      In   1850  he  married 


i 


110 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


Miss  Mary  E.  Cluett,  who  was  connected  with 
the  Adams  family,  of  Boston,  and  children  as 
follows  were  born  to  them:  Louise  M.  and 
Walter  C.  The  father  died  in  1886,  the  mother 
in  1883. 

Walter  C.  Hull  was  married,  in  1882,  to 
Adele  M.  Fonda,  who  died  April  5,  1893,  leav- 
ing two  children:  Crosby  Livingston,  and 
Carlton,  born  in  1885  and  1890  respectively. 
Mr.  Hull,  socially,  is  a  member  of  the  Amrita 
and  Dutchess  Clubs,  of  the  Veteran  Firemen's 
Association,  Poughkeepsie  Gun  Club,  and  of  the 
Royal  Arcanum.  In  politics  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  has  served  on  the  Civil  Service  Com- 
mission of  Poughkeepsie.  He  is  one  of  the 
most  prosperous  attorneys  in  his  native  city, 
and  his  fame  as  an  erudite  and  accomplished 
scholar,  a  ripe  lawyer  and  a  close  student  of 
political  economy  is  not  confined  to  Pough- 
keepsie and  Dutchess  county,  but  extends 
throughout  the  entire  State. 


C\HARLES  A.  HOPKINS,  an  able  young 
'  attorney  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  has  made 
unusually  rapid  advancement  in  his  profession, 
his  success  in  difficult  cases  having  already 
won  for  him  an  enviable  standing.  He  is  a 
native  of  Dutchess  county,  and  was  born  in 
Storm ville  October  20,  1864,  the  son  of  Ben- 
jamin Hopkins,  Esq.,  a  well-known  and  highly- 
respected  citizen  of  that  place,  whose  biogra- 
phy appears  elsewhere. 

Our  subject  attended  the  common  schools 
of  his  native  town  until  the  age  of  seventeen, 
when  he  entered  the  employ  of  Thomas  O'Don- 
nell,  a  contractor  in  the  construction  of  the 
New  York  &  New  England  railroad,  as  time- 
keeper; was  with  him  several  months  in  the 
summer  of  i88i,andin  the  following  winter 
entered  the  Eastman  National  Business  Col- 
lege at  Poughkeepsie,  graduating  May  2,  1882. 
On  the  31st  of  the  same  month  he  entered  the 
law  office  of  Hackett  &  Williams,  and  was  a 
student  there  until  he  passed  the  examination 
for  admission  to  the  bar  at  the  General  Term 
at  Brooklyn,  in  September,  1885,  about  one 
month  before  he  became  of  age.  After  his 
admission  to  the  bar  he  remained  with  Hackett 
&  Williams  as  managing  clerk  under  salary 
until  January  i,  1889,  when  he  commenced 
active  practice  of  law  at  Poughkeepsie  for  him- 
self at  No.  4  Garden  street,  corner  of  Main, 
and  he  has  continued  in  practice  at  that  place 
to  date.      Mr.  Hopkins  has  a  general  practice, 


and  is  attorney  for  several  estates.  Some  time 
ago  he  brought  an  action  to  compel  the  Pough- 
keepsie Bridge  Co.  to  open  up  the  bridge  for 
foot  passengers,  in  compliance  with  the  act 
creating  the  company,  and  defining  its  powers 
and  duties.  This  was  one  of  his  most  notable 
cases.  For  five  or  six  years  he  has  been  attor- 
ney for  the  State  Game  and  Fish  Protection 
Commission  for  the  Third  District  of  the  State 
of  New  York.  Mr.  Hopkins  was  elected  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace  for  the  City  of  Poughkeepsie 
in  November,  1890,  his  term  expiring  January 
I,  1895;  his  decisions  in  this  office  were  never 
reversed.  Mr.  Hopkins  is  a  Democrat  in  poli- 
tics, and  has  always  taken  quite  an  active  in- 
terest in  his  party.  In  1894  he  was  the  candi- 
date for  City  Recorder,  and  ran  about  300 
ahead  of  his  ticket;  but,  as  it  was  the  year  of 
the  Republican  tidal  wave,  he  was  not  elected. 
In  1895  he  was  candidate  for  the  Assem- 
bly in  the  Second  Assembly  District  of  Dutch- 
ess county,  and  again  ran  ahead  of  his  ticket. 
Socially,  he  is  a  niember  of  the  K.  of  P., 
Triumph  Lodge  No.  165,  and  of  the  Dutchess 
Social   Club.      He   was    married    October    18, 

1888,  to  Mary  Eno  Stewart,  daughter  of  Wal- 
ter Stewart,  a  leading  farmer  in  Clinton, 
Dutchess  county,  and  by  this  union  there  are 
two  sons:     Frank   Stewart,  born    August    18, 

1889,  and  Ralph  Adriance,  born  January  31, 
1892. 

The  Hopkins  family  is  of  English  origin, 
and  the  head  of  the  American  branch  came 
over  on  the  "Mayflower."  They  were  Hick- 
site  Quakers  in  religious  faith.  Benjamin 
Hopkins,  our  subject's  great-grandfather,  was 
a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  and  in  early  life  was 
engaged  in  the  coasting  trade;  but  after  his 
marriage  to  Sarah  Palmer  and  the  destruction 
of  his  property  by  the  British,  which  hap- 
pened soon  afterward,  he  came  to  Dutchess 
county  in  1779,  and  bought  400  acres  of  land 
in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  where  he  passed 
his  remaining  years  as  a  farmer.  He  had  eight 
children,  among  whom  was  John  Hopkins,  our 
subject's  grandfather,  who  was  born  at  the  old 
farfn  September  6,  1779,  and  also  became  a 
farmer.  In  18 19  he  married  Miss  Mary  Brill, 
daughter  of  John  and  Hannah  (Cornell)  Brill, 
both  natives  of  Dutchess  county.  Four  chil- 
dren were  born  of  this  union:  Benjamin,  Gil- 
bert P.,  Solomon  P.,  and  Sarah  P.  (Mrs.  S. 
B.  Knox).  John  Hopkins  was  prominent  as  a 
Whig,  and  served  the  public  interests  with 
great  credit  in  several  town  offices.      He  was  a 


( 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Ill 


Iriend,  but  his  wife  was   a  member  of  the  Re- 
rmed  Dutch  Church,   and    both   proved   the 
icerity  of  their  faith  by  their  devoted  Chris- 
nan  lives. 

Benjamin  Hopkins,  our  subject's  father,  re- 
mained at  home  until  the  age  of  sixteen,  when 
■       entered   school    at    Poughkeepsie.       After 
ir  years  of  study,  he   engaged   in  teaching, 
and  also  traveled  extensively  in  the  State.     In 
I S42  he  went  into  mercantile  business  at  Low 
I'oint,  Dutchess  county,  but  in  the  following 
year  he  became  the   owner  of  the  old  home- 
stead,  purchasing  the   interests  of  the  other 
irs.      He  has   290  acres  of   excellent  land, 
ad  has  been  mainly  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ng,  but  he  now  makes  a  specialty  of  the  dairy 
uisiness.      On  December  6,  1844,  ^^  married 
Miss  Eliza   Montfort,    a    native    of   Beekman 
■vnship,  Dutchess  county,  by  whom  he  had 
c  children:     Cornelia  (Mrs.  John  Taber),  of 
>ver  township,  Dutchess  county;  Phcebe,  de- 
cased,  who  never  married;  Sarah  (Mrs.  Will- 
an  H.    Ogden),    of   Kansas  City,   Mo. ;  Loda 
.  .  (Mrs.  John  Ogden),  of  the  same  city;  and 
hn   G. ,  a    business  man   of  Chicago.     The 
■  ther  of  the  family  died  October,  1859,  and 
ibsequentiy  Mr.  Hopkins  married   Miss  Mar- 
aret  Lasher,  a  native  of  Columbia  county,  N. 
.,    and  daughter   of  Jacob    Lasher.      Seven 
liiidren  were  born  of  this  union:     Charles  A. 
)ur  subject),    Benjamin,    Mary,    Harry    W., 
Sertha  M.,  and  George  and  Edith  M.  (twins), 
lenjamin    Hopkins    is    a    successful  auction- 
er,  and   has   followed   the  business  for  thirty 
ars  in   addition  to  his  other  pursuits.      In 
litics   he  was   a  Whig   in    early   years,    and 
iter  a  Democrat,  and  he   has  repeatedly  held 
le  highest  official  positions  in  his  township, 
is  faithful  discharge  oi  every  duty  deepening 
le  esteem  and  confidence  of  the  people. 


jtTTLLIAM  JAMES  CONKLIN,  M.  D.,  of 
alt  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  is  one  of  the 
)St  prominent  members  of  the  medical 
iternity  of  this  section,  more  than  a  quarter 
1  century  having  been  given  by  him  to  the 
essful  practice  of  this  noble  calling, 
he  Conklin  family  has  been  long  known 
e  vicinity  of  Cornwall,  N.  Y. ,  the  Doctor's 
dfather,  David  Conklin,  having  been  a 
ading  resident  there  for  many  years.  Be- 
ne the  days  of  railroads,  David  Conklin  re- 
oved  to  Elmira,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  spent  his 
stdays.     The  late  Dr.  Peter  Elting  Conklin, 


^HBtid 


our  subject's  father,  who  was  born  in  1809, 
followed  his  profession  at  Cornwall  for  thirty 
years,  and  had  an  extensive  practice.  He 
married  Miss  Sarah  M.  Slater  (whose  an- 
cestor in  the  country  was  one  of  the  "  May- 
flower's "  passengers),  a  native  of  Poughkeep- 
sie,  born  in  1 808,  and  had  six  children,  of  whom 
three  died  in  childhood;  the  eldest,  Cornelia  P., 
married  Henry  B.  Breed,  of  Cornwall;  and 
Sarah  Louise  resides  in  New  York  City.  Both 
parents  are  deceased,  the  father  dying  August 
17,  1867,  and  the  mother  on  April  3,  1886. 

Dr.  Conklin  was  born  at  Cornwall,  N.  Y. , 
January  28,  1846,  and  after  attending  the 
public  schools  there  for  some  time  spent  three 
years  in  the  Cornwall  Collegiate  Institute,  and 
two  years  in  Madison  (now  Colgate)  University, 
at  Hamilton,  N.  Y.  He  then  took  a  course 
in  the  Eastman  Business  College  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  and  followed  mercantile  pursuits  for  a 
time;  but  in  1867  he  began  the  study  of 
medicine,  and  in  1870  was  graduated  from 
the  medical  Department  of  the  University  of 
the  City  of  New  York.  On  March  17,  1870, 
he  opened  his  office  in  the  village  of  Fishkill, 
where  he  has  built  up  a  large  practice.  For 
five  years  he  was  health  officer  of  the  town, 
and  for  six  years  was  one  of  the  coroners  of 
the  county.  His  standing  among  his  profes- 
sional brethren  is  high;  he  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Dutchess  County  Medical  Society  for 
twenty-five  years,  and  a  permanent  member 
of  the  State  Medical  Society  for  ten  years. 

He  is  actively  interested  also  in  local  affairs 
of  a  non-professional  nature,  and  at  present  is 
a  director  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Fish- 
kill Landing,  and  a  trustee  of  the  Fishkill  Sav- 
ings Institute.  His  sympathies  are  always  on 
the  side  of  progress,  and  he  is  an  earnest  sup- 
porter of  the  free-school  system,  is  now,  and 
has  been  for  fourteen  consecutive  years,  a 
member  of  the  board  of  education  of  Fishkill, 
and  for  a  time  its  president.  He  is  a  member 
of  Beacon  Lodge  No.  283,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and 
of  Hudson  River  Lodge  No.  57,  K.  of  P.  On 
May  27,  1S75,  the  Doctor  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Barbra  E.  B.  Walcott,  daugh- 
ter of  Halsey  F.  and  Jane  H.  (Bogardus) 
Walcott,  prominent  residents  of  Fishkill,  of 
whom  further  mention  will  be  made.  Three 
children  were  born  to  them,  of  whom  one  died 
in  childhood;  William  E.  is  now  a  student  in 
Cornell  University,  at  Ithaca,  N.  Y. ;  and 
Clarence  J.  is  attending  school  at  Cazenovia 
Seminary,  Cazenovia,  New  York. 


:^- 


It 


112 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPEICAL  RECORD. 


Halsey  F.  Walcott  is  a  well-known  busi- 
ness man  of  Fishkill — one  of  the  oldest  now 
actively  engaged  in  commercial  life  in  Dutchess 
county.  His  well-preserved  energies  and 
ripened  judgment  make  him  a  valued  adviser, 
and  aside  from  the  management  of  his  hard- 
ware store  he  is  interested  in  some  of  the 
most  important  enterprises  in  his  town.  He 
was  born  May  i,  1817,  at  Cumberland,  R.  I., 
the  old  home  of  his  family.  His  grandfather. 
Dr.  Jabez  Walcott,  was  a  leading  physician 
and  surgeon  of  his  day  in  that  locality,  and 
his  son,  Abijah  Walcott  (father  of  Halsey  F. 
Walcott),  passed  an  honored  life  there,  dying 
at  the  age  of  sixty-seven.  He  married  Miss 
Sophia  Smith,  daughter  of  Rev.  Jonathan 
Smith,  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  army, 
and  a  pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church,  who 
preached  for  sixty  years,  his  life  being  pro- 
longed to  the  old  age  of  ninety-four  years. 
Halsey  F.  was  the  eldest  of  four  children,  the 
others  being:  Angeline,  the  wife  of  Rev.  T. 
W.  Clark,  a  Baptist  minister,  and  *  chaplain 
in  the  army  during  the  Civil  war,  now  residing 
in  Boston;  and  William  and  Sophia,  both  now 
deceased. 

Halsey  F.  Walcott  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Rhode  Island  and  Massachusetts. 
In  1846  he  married  Miss  Jane  Bogardus,  whose 
father,  the  late  Joseph  Bogardus,  owned  and 
conducted  the  "Union  Hotel"  at  Fishkill, 
which  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1872,  and  after 
his  death,  which  occurred  February  3,  1859, 
Mr.  Walcott  continued  the  business  until  1863. 
He  then  sold  the  hotel,  and  after  four  years  of 
retirement  from  business  life,  purchased  the 
hardware  store  of  Charles  Owen,  which  he 
has  ever  since  conducted.  He  was  a  director 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Fishkill,  and 
trustee  of  the  Savings  Bank  at  Fishkill,  and 
has  been  a  trustee  of  the  Fishkill  Cemetery 
Association  for  years,  and  is  now  its  president. 
As  a  progressive  citizen,  he  has  taken  great  in- 
terest in  educational  matters,  serving  as  a 
member  of  the  board  of  education  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  and  for  part  of  the  time  as'  its 
president.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican;  he 
was  town  clerk  for  two  years,  justice  of  the 
peace  some  twenty  years,  postmaster  for  four 
years,  and  has  held  many  minor  offices,  such 
as  town  auditor,  etc.  He  is  the  oldest  mem- 
ber of  Beacon  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  with  which 
he  united  forty-one  years  ago,  and  he  formerly 
belonged  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

Mrs.  Walcott's  father  was  a  direct  descend- 


ant of  Everardus  Bogardus,  the  first  clergy- 
man in  the  New  Netherlands.  Her  mother, 
whose  maiden-  name  was  Barbra  Moffat,  of 
Paterson,  N.  J.,  was  born  in  Glasgow,  Scot- 
land, the  granddaughter  of  Lady  Barbra  Gil- 
more.  Of  the  two  children  that  have  blessed 
the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walcott,  one  died 
in  youth,  and  the  other,  Barbra  Etta,  is  now 
the  wife  of  Dr.  W.  J.  Conklin,  of  Fishkill. 


WALTER  FERRIS  TABER,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  is  descended  from  an- 
cestry antedating  the  settlement  of  this  coun- 
try as  snown  by  the  family  Coat  of  Arms, 
whose  motto  "  Virtue  alone  ennobles  "  carried 
the  stamp  of  character. 

The  Tabers  were  among  the  early  settlers 
in  the  Massachusetts  Colony,  and  Thomas  Ta- 
ber  (great-grandfather  of  our  subject),  born  in 
New  Bedford,  Mass.,  in  1732,  a^jd  his  wife, 
Annetheresa,  came  on  horseback  from  Rhode 
Island  to  Dutchess  county,  in  1760,  and  located 
upon  a  grant  of  land  of  500  acres  obtained  from 
King  George  III,  on  Quaker  Hill  in  the  town  of 
Pawling,  a  tract  known  as  the  "Oblong." 
They  had  two  sons,  William  and  Jeremiah 
(and  several  daughters),  the  latter  son  remain- 
ing upon  the  farm  during  his  life.  [For  a  more 
extended  account  see  sketch  of  Geo.  K.  Taber.] 
He  married  Delilah  Russell,  a  native  of  the 
town  of  Dover,  and  had  six  children:  Russell, 
a  farmer  in  Dover;  Thomas,  a  farmer,  first  in 
Dutchess  county  and  later  in  Broome  county; 
John,  who  died  in  childhood;  William,  our 
subject's  father;  Harriet,  who  married  Jona- 
than Akin,  a  farmer  in  Pawling;  and  Eliza, 
who  married  Joseph  Carpenter,  a  farmer  in 
Westchester  county. 

William  Taber,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  at  the  old  homestead  December  10,  1796, 
and  always  resided  there  until  his  death  in 
1863.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and  a  birthright 
member  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  He  mar- 
ried Eliza  Sherman,  a  native  of  Quaker  Hill, 
born  March  19,  1803,  and  died  February  5, 
1 84 1,  a  daughter  of  Abiel  Sherman  (one  of  the 
stalwart  family  of  nine  sons  that  averaged  six 
feet  in  height,  and  were  the  terror  of  the  Tories 
in  the  Revolutionary  war),  whose  ancestry 
traces  back  on  the  same  lines  with  Gen.  T.  W. 
Sherman  and  Senator  John  Sherman  of  Ohio. 
He  was  a  prominent  man,  and  member  of  the 
State  Legislature.  Four  children  were  born 
of    this    union:  Eliza,    who    died    in    infancy; 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPUICAL  RECORD. 


118 


William  H.,  who  now  owns  and  occupies  the 
old  farm;  Walter  F.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 

^and   George  A.,  who   died   at  the   age  of   six 

!  years.     The  father  died  in  1863,  the  mother  on 
February  20,  1840. 

Walter  F.  Taber  was  born  October  29, 
1830,  and  attended  the  schools  of  his  native 
town  until  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age,  after 
which  he  attended  boarding  schools  during  the 
winter  terms  for  five  successive  years  in  Wash- 
ington, Dutchess  county,  and  in  Sherman  and 

,  Warren,  in  Connecticut,  afterward  teaching, 
one  winter,  a  public  school,  and  having  charge 
of  the  Willets  Boarding  School  in  Washington, 
Dutchess  county,  for  one  winter.  Having  a 
natural  taste  for  mechanics,  while  remaining 
upon  his  father's  farm,  he  made  and  repaired 
many  farm  implements,  and  after  using  one  of 
the  first  mowing  machines  that  was  invented, 
which  was  driven  by  one  wheel,  he  saw  the 
necessity  for  improvement,  and  after  much 
study  and  trial  devised  the  Jirst  mowing  ma- 
lt ine  that  zvas  ever  placed  upon  two  driving 
wheels  and  having  a  hinged  cutter  bar  that 
\ould  be  raised  or  lowered  by  a  lever  while 
riding  the  machine.  The  model  of  said  ma- 
:;hine  is  in  the  Patent  Office  at  Washington. 
This  was  when  Mr.  Taber  was  but  nineteen 
/ears  of  age.  Like  many  other  inventors,  he 
ailed  to  secure  the  benefits  of  his  invention, 
)ut  it  made  him  an  efficient  agent  for  the  well- 
;nown  Buckeye  mower,  which  he  sold  for  six- 
een  years  after  leaving  his  father's  farm,  which 
le  did  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years  to  en- 
;age  in  mercantile  business  with  his  brother, 
.Villiam   H.  Taber,  at  Pawling  Station,  where 

.   le  resided  for  about  sixteen  years. 

R)n  February  16,  1859,  Walter  F.  Taber 
married  to  Miss  Mary  Emma  Arnold, 
[bter  of  Dr.  Benjamin  F.  Arnold,  a  prom- 
t  physician  of  Pawlingand  a  descendant  of 
•neof  the  pioneer  settlers,  the  family  being,  like 
he  Tabers,  of  English  origin.     One  son  was 

■of  this  union,  Franklin  A.  Taber,  who  is 
jed  with  his  father  in  his  present  business. 
!r.  Taber  has  been  a  member  of  the  Soci- 
f  Friends  for  many  years;  is  treasurer  of 
le  Society,  and  was  superintendent  of  the 
abbath-school  for  a  number  of  years.  Polit- 
ally  he  was  formerly  a  Democrat,  but  for 
:veral  years  past  has  been  an  advocate  of 
rohibition  and  working  with  that  party,  and 
-  candidate  for  both  State  and  Congressional 
mors. 
On  June  27,   1870,  Mr.  Taber  moved  from 


Pawling  to  his  present  residence,  which  he 
had  previously  purchased,  one  of  the  old  land- 
marks, formerly  known  as  the  Judge  Sweet 
place,  now  known  as  "  Lakeview Fruit  Farm," 
a  short  distance  outside  the  limits  of  the 
city  of  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. For  nearly  twenty  years  he  has  been 
devoting  his  attention  to  the  cultivation  of 
all  kinds  of  fruits,  making  a  specialty  of 
small  fruits,  and  sparing  no  labor  or  ex- 
pense in  preparing  the  soil  and  producing 
fruits  of  high  quality  that  should  find  ready 
sale  in  both  home  and  distant  markets.  He  is 
an  authority  upon  his  specialty,  and  a  contrib- 
utor to  the  horticultural  papers.  He  has  given 
addresses  on  fruit  culture  at  many  of  the  State 
Farmers  Institutes,  and  at  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  Western  New  York  Horticultural  Soci- 
ety in  Rochester  in  February,  1895,  of  which 
Society  he  is  a  member.  He  is  also  one  of 
the  promoters  of  the  Eastern  New  York  Horti- 
cultural Society,  and  its  present  vice-president. 
For  nine  years  he  has  been  connected  with 
the  Dutchess  County  Farmers  Club,  and  its 
president  for  most  of  that  time.  With  a  desire 
to  contribute  something  to  help  mankind,  he  is 
ever  trying  some  experiment  or  making  some 
improvement  whereby  to  arrive  at  the  most 
successful  results  and  contribute  to  the  general 
good  by  freely  giving  of  such  knowledge  as  he 
may  have  acquired  in  his  particular  line  of 
horticulture. 


ISAAC  HAVILAND  (deceased).     The  sub- 
ject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  the  town  of 

Washington,  Dutchess  county,  February  28, 
1 8 12,  and  was  the  son  of  Isaac  and  Lydia 
(Weaver)  Haviland.  After  marrying,  Isaac 
Haviland,  Sr.,  settled  on  a  farm  on  Quaker 
Hill,  Dutchess  county,  where  he  followed  farm- 
ing and  reared  the  following  children:  Isaac 
our  subject;  Joseph,  a  farmer  in  Washington 
town;  Daniel,  who  was  a  farmer  and  minister; 
Jacob,  who  was  a  farmer  in  the  town  of 
Poughkeepsie;  Abram,  who  farmed  in  Paw- 
ling; Charlotte,  married  to  Alfred  Moore,  a 
farmer  and  Hicksite  (Quaker)  minister;  Sarah, 
who  died  unmarried;  Lydia  A.,  who  became 
the  wife  of  John  Martin,  a  farmer,  and  Alex- 
ander, who  was  a  farmer  at  Clinton  Corners. 
Mr.  Haviland  was  an  Orthodox  Quaker,  and 
died  on  Quaker  Hill. 

Our  subject  was  reared   on  the  farm,  and 
attended  the  district  school,  later  continuing 


114 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


his  Studies  at  the  Providence  school.  In  1835 
he  married  Miss  Maria  Ann  Swift,  who  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Washington,  June  6,  181 5. 
Lemuel  Swift,  her  father,  was  the  twin  brother 
of  Zebulon  Swift,  whose  sketch  appears  in 
that  of  Isaac  Swift.  Our  subject  and  wife 
went  to  live  on  the  farm  where  Mr.  Davidson 
now  resides,  near  South  Millbrook.  It  was 
in  an  uncultivated  state,  and  during  Mr.  Havi- 
land's  residence  of  thirty  years  he  much  im- 
proved it.  He  and  his  wife  moved  to  S.  Mill- 
brook  and  lived  a  retired  life  there  for  about 
twenty  years  and  then  came  to  Millbrook,  where 
he  died  March  31,  1894,  aged  eighty-two 
years.  No  children  were  born  to  our  subject 
and  his  wife.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Orthodox  Friends 
Church,  was  benevolent  and  greatly  respected, 
and  died  a  Christian,  with  a  prayer  on  his 
lips.  Mrs.  Haviland  is  still  a  member  of  the 
Friends  Church,  in  which  she  is  an  elder. 


SMITH  L.  De  GARMO,  member  of  the 
,_/  well-known  dry-goods  firm  of  Luckey, 
Piatt  &  Co.,  Poughkeepsie,  is  worthy  of  promi- 
nent mention  in  the  pages  of  this  volume. 

The  family  is  of  French  origin,  and  were 
among  the  early  settlers  of  the  country.  The 
first  of  whom  we  have  definite  mention  was 
Rowland  De  Garmo  (grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject), who  was  born  November  29,  1785,  and 
died  June  6,  1838.  By  occupation  he  was  a 
tanner,  carrying  on  business  near  New  Paltz, 
Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  married  Phebe  Sutton, 
born  March  12,  1791,  and  died  February  24, 
1875.  Their  children  were  David  S.,  Elias, 
William  Henry,  Mary,  Eliza  and  Daniel. 

David  S.  De  Garmo  (father  of  our  subject) 
was  born  March  6,  1813,  and  in  early  life  was 
a  tanner.  On  November  i,  1838,  he  married 
Phebe  H.  Lawrence,  and  turned  farmer,  pur- 
chasing a  farm  near  Highland.  In  1851  they 
removed  to  Hibernia,  Dutchess  county,  re- 
maining there  till  1866,  when  Mr.  De  Garmo 
built  a  new  house  in  Salt  Point,  where  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  days,  dying  of 
paralysis  of  the  throat  May  29,  1875.  His 
wife  survived  him  until  October,  1894,  when 
she,  too,  passed  away  at  the  age  of  eighty-two, 
after  five  years  of  much  physical  suffering, 
made  as  comfortable  as  po  ssiblein  the  care  of 
her  only  daughter,  Mrs.  William  E.  Smith,  in 
one   of  the    most  attractive  of   the    beautiful 


and  far-famed  homes  of  Millbrook,  provided  by 
her  son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Capt.  Jonalhan  Lawrence,  the  maternal 
great-grandfather,  served  as  a  captain  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  a  monument  to  his 
memory  stands  in  an  old  family  burying  ground 
at  Esopus,  Ulster  county.  Thomas,  his  son, 
was  a  Quaker  preacher. 

Smith  L.  De  Garmo  was  born  October  10, 
1842,  on  the  farm  above  mentioned,  at  High- 
land, and  as  will  be  seen  was  nine  years  old 
when  his  parents  moved  to  Dutchess  county. 
His  education  was  received  in  part  at  the 
common  schools,  partly  at  the  New  Paltz 
Academy,  and  later  at  a  private  school  kept  by 
Rev.  Sherman  Hoyt,  a  Presbyterian  minister. 
In  November,  1868,  Mr.  De  Garmo  came  to 
Poughkeepsie  as  clerk  in  the  fnrnishing-goods 
store  of  Thomas  A.  Lawrence.  In  the  follow- 
ing spring  he  entered  the  service  of  William 
H.  Broas,  and  got  his  first  experience  in  hand- 
ling dry  goods.  Here  he  found  a  congenial 
occupation,  and  his  marked  ability  brought 
him,  in  the  spring  of  1870,  to  the  notice  of 
Messrs.  Luckey  and  Piatt,  who  were  then 
doing  a  moderate  but  successful  dry-goods 
business.  It  was  early  manifest  to  his  employ- 
ers that  they  had  secured  a  valuable  factor, 
and  he  was  rapidly  promoted.  He  proved  a 
perfect  genius  in  salesmanship,  and  tireless  in 
his  efforts.  He  enjoyed  a  very  large  acquaint- 
ance, and  by  his  rare  magnetism  attracted 
them  as  customers.  Just  before  his  admission 
to  the  firm,  Mr.  Luckey  said  to  one  fmm  whom 
we  get  a  part  of  our  data  for  this  article: 
"We  have  been  paying  Mr.  De  Garmo  prob- 
ably the  largest  salary  received  by  any  clerk 
on  the  street,  and  we  are  satisfied  that  he 
fully  earns  it  by  the  new  business  alone  which 
he  brings  to  us."  Such  merit  had  its  natural 
reward,  and  February  i,  1872,  he  became  a 
partner  in  the  concern.  When  the  time  came 
for  Mr.  De  Garmo  to  show  his  capacity  as  a 
buyer,  he  was  found  equal  to  the  occasion, 
and  became  conspicuous  in  the  market  as  hav- 
ing in  a  large  degree  the  courage,  caution  and 
knowledge  of  men,  methods  and  conditions 
necessary  to  the  successful  buyer.  The  busi- 
ness of  the  firm  grew  rapidly  and  steadily, 
until  it  became,  probably,  the  largest  of  its  Kind 
in  any  place  of  the  size  in  this  country,  and  in 
many  respects  may  be  considered  the  model 
dry-goods  concern  in  this  section  of  the  State. 
They  were  among  the  first  in  their  line  to  in- 
troduce the  profit-sharing  plan  with  employees.' 


f^^i^^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


115 


In  the  year  1894  Mr.  De  Garmo  bought 
the  Taggart  place,  containing  the  largest  and 
most  beautifully  appointed  grounds  in  the  city, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  Socially, 
he  is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M.  Lodge,  No. 
266,  in  Poughkeepsie.  In  politics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican. 


OHN  P.  ADRIANCE  (deceased).  Among 
the  men  whose  enterprise  and  sound  judg- 
ment have  developed  the  industries,  and 
extended  the  commerce,  of  the  city  of  Pough- 
keepsie, the  subject  of  this  sketch  held  a  prom- 
inent place.  The  family  name  is  derived  from 
the  given  name  of  a  remote  ancestor,  Adriaen 
~  Reyersz,  son  of  Reyer  Elberts,  of  Utrecht, 
Holland,  whose  wife  was  the  mother  by  a 
former  husband  of  Goosen  Gerritse  van  Schaick, 
ancestor  of  the  Albany  van  Schaicks. 

Their  son,  Adriaen  Reyersz,  came  to  Amer- 
ica in    1646,    and  settled  at  Flatbush,    L.    I. 
He    was    married   July    29,     1659,    to   Anna, 
daughter    of    Martin    Schenck,     a    name    of 
:e!ebrity    in    Holland.       One    of     their    chil- 
Jren,  Elbert,  born  in   1663,  settled  in  Flush- 
ng,  and    was    married   in    1689    to    Catalina, 
daughter  of  Rem.  Vanderheeck,  the   ancestor 
jf  the    Remsens.     They   had   three  children. 
Rem,  Elbert  and  Anneke,  with  whom  the  use 
jf  the  present  surname  began.      Rem  married 
Sarah,  daughter  of  George   Brinckerhoff,  and 
lied  in    1730  at  the  age   of  forty.      His   sons 
vere    Elbert,    born    in    171 5;  George,    1716; 
\braham,    1720;  Isaac,    1722;    Jacob,    1727, 
ind  Rem,  1729;    of  whom,  George,  Abraham 
md  Isaac  settled  in  Dutchess  county.     Abra- 
lam  Adriaanse  married  Femmetje  Van  Kleef; 
heir    son  Abraham  Adriance,    born   in    1766, 
narried  Anna  Storm;  their  son  John  Adriance, 
)ur  subject's   father,    born    in    1795,   married 
iarah  Ely  Harris.     Their  home  was  in  Pough- 
keepsie, where  he  was  among  the  leading  busi- 
less  men  of  his  day,  and  one  of  the  first  man- 
ifacturers  of  harvesting  machinery. 
^      John  P.  Adriance  was  born  March  4,  1825, 
HH   after    acquiring   such    education    as    the 
^Hiools  of  the  city  afforded  at  that  time   he 
pent  three  years   and  a   half  as  clerk  in  the 
lardware   store  of  Storm    &    Uhl.     He    then 
vent  to  New  York  City,  and  took  a  similar  po- 
ition  with  Walsh  &  Mallory,  remaining  until 
845,  when  the  firm  placed    him  in  charge  of 
heir  store  in  Manchester,  N.  H.     He  eventu- 
lly  suceeded  to    the    business   there;  but   in 


1852  he  returned  to  New  York  and  went  into 
the  wholesale  hardware  trade  with  a  brother- 
in-law,  Samuel  R.  Piatt,  and  Samuel  W.  Sears, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Sears,  Adriance  &  Piatt. 
About  this  time  he  became  interested  in  some 
experiments  which  his  father  was  making  with 
the  Forbush  mower,  and  seeing  the  possibili- 
ties opening  up  in  this  branch  of  manufactur- 
ing he  decided  to  engage  in  it.  In  1854  the 
firm  purchased  the  patents  of  the  Manny 
mower  for  the  New  England  States,  and  began 
making  the  machines  at  Worcester,  Mass.,  the 
business  there  being  conducted  under  the  name 
of  Mr.  Adriance.  The  enterprise  wasnot  wholly 
successful,  but  in  1857,  at  a  great  field  trial  of 
mowers  and  reapers  held  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y. , 
under  the  auspicesof  the  United  States  Agricult- 
ural Society,  Mr.  Adriance  became  impressed 
with  the  merits  of  a  mower  patented  by  Aultman 
&  Miller,  of  Canton,  Ohio,  which  received  the 
first  premium.  Notwithstanding  the  opposi- 
tion of  his  partners  to  further  ventures  in  that 
line,  he  succeeded  in  overcoming  their  objec- 
tions, and  after  acquiring  the  patent  rights,  he 
began  the  manufacture  of  a  new  machine  in 
Worcester,  Mass.,  giving  it  the  name  "Buck- 
eye," because  of  its  Ohio  origin.  In  1859  the 
factory  was  transferred  to  the  old  ' '  Red  Mills  " 
at  Poughkeepsie;  but  the  business  increased  so 
rapidly  as  to  necessitate  the  building  of  more 
commodious  quarters,  in  1864,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Hudson,  extensive  additions  and  improve- 
ments having  since  been  made  from  time  to 
time.  In  1863  the  firm  of  Sears,  Adriance  & 
Piatt  was  dissolved,  Mr.  Sears  retaining  the 
hardware  business,  and  a  new  firm  for  the 
manufacture  of  mowers  and  reapers  was 
formed,  consisting  of  John  P.  Adriance,  Sam- 
uel R.  Piatt  and  Isaac  S.  Piatt,  and  known  as 
Adriance,  Piatt  &  Co.,  under  which  name  it 
was  incorporated  in  1882  as  a  stock  company, 
with  the  following  officers:  John  P.  Adriance, 
president;  S.  R.  Piatt,  vice-president;  and  I.  S. 
Piatt,  treasurer.  Mr.  Adriance  continued  his 
connection  with  the  business  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  June  18,  1891. 

Although  his  time  and  energy  were  so 
largely  spent  in  forwarding  his  business  inter- 
ests, Mr.  Adriance  was  much  more  than  a 
business  man,  taking  keen  interest  in  all  that 
concerned  the  welfare  of  his  fellows,  and 
he  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  promotion  of 
many  worthy  enterprises  which  might  have 
failed  but  for  his  ready  and  substantial  help. 
He  never  held  any  public  office  except  that  of 


116 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


alderman  for  one  year,  but  was  repeatedly 
urged  to  accept  the  nomination  for  mayor,  his 
election  being  considered  certain  if  he  con- 
sented to  become  a  candidate.  But,  unwilling 
as  he  was  to  hold  any  public  ofifice,  he  was 
warmly  interested  in  political  affairs,  and  was 
a  recognized  leader  in  the  local  Republican 
organization.  Possessing  pleasing  address, 
his  courtesy  readily  won  friends  whom  his 
sterling  virtues  retained.  He  was  married  in 
1848,  to  Mary  J.  R.  Piatt,  who  died  Decem- 
ber 24,  1895.  One  daughter  and  five  sons — 
three  of  whom  are  connected  with  the 
corporation  of  Adriance,  Piatt  &  Co. — survive 
him. 

John  Erskine  Adriance,  the  second  son, 
was  born  in  New  York  City,  December  23, 
1853,  and  received  his  education  at  the  Pough- 
keepsie  Military  Institute,  the  Churchill 
School  at  Sing  Sing,  and  Riverview  Military 
Academy.  In  1871  he  entered  the  arena  of 
business,  and  is  now  vice-president  of  the 
Adriance,  Piatt  &  Co.  On  April  27,  1882,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Hasbrouck,  of 
Poughkeepsie,  and  they  have  two  daughters: 
Jane  Hardenbergh  and  Marguerite  Piatt. 


FERDINAND  R.  BAIN,  a  prominent  real- 
estate  dealer,  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 

county,  is  among  the  youngest  of  the  enter- 
prising and  successful  business  men  of  his  city. 
He  was  born  in  Chatham,  N.  Y.,  May  3, 1861, 
the  third  son  of  Milton  and  Charlotte  (Nash) 
Bain,  the  others  being  Francis  M.,  proprietor 
of  the  "Palatine  Hotel  "  at  Newburgh,  N.  Y., 
and  Horatio  N.,  proprietor  of  the  "  Nelson 
House,"  Poughkeepsie. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  our  subject  left 
school  to  assist  his  brother  Horatio  N.  in  the 
"Poughkeepsie  Hotel,"  and  has  ever  since 
been  engaged  in  business,  but  he  has  supple- 
mented his  early  educational  acquirements  by 
reading  on  a  wide  range  of  subjects.  His  first 
instructor  was  Miss  Wood,  a  private  teacher 
from  the  Lebanon  Academy,  and  he  later  at- 
tended the  school  of  George  N.  Perry,  at 
Dover  Plains,  also  Bishop's  select  school  for 
boys.  No.  50  Academy  street,  Pougt)keepsie. 
In  1885,  after  eight  years  of  hotel  work,  he 
embarked  in  the  real-estate  and  insurance 
business,  and  has  built  up  one  of  the  most  ex- 
tensive enterprises  of  its  kind  in  the  city, 
having  platted  and  opened  up  several  import- 
ant additions,  among  them  Bain  avenue,  Tay- 


lor avenue,  a  portion  of  N.  Hamilton  street, 
the  Dean  property,  and  Livingston  Manor. 
He  has  also  been  influential  in  securing  new 
pavements  in  various  parts  of  the  city. 

Mr.  Bain  has  been  largely  interested  in 
street  railways,  and  for  some  time  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  syndicate  which  owned  the  Pough- 
keepsie City  Street  R.  R.  Selling  out  his 
stock,  however,  he  afterward  bought  a  one- 
half  interest,  and  in  1892  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  road.  Under  his  management 
and  upon  his  suggestion,  the  Vassar  College 
and  Driving  Park  line,  and  the  Wappinger 
Falls  line  have  been  added  to  the  system,  and 
made  electric  roads.  He  is  vice-president  and 
active  manager  of  the  West  Coast  Steam 
Line,  running  from  Port  Tampa  to  St.  Peters- 
burg. The  latter  was  anything  but  a  paying 
business  when  he  took  charge,  but  he  has 
placed  it  on  a  profitable  basis.  He  is  a  di- 
rector of  the  Farmers'  and  Manufacturers' 
Bank,  and  Poughkeepsie  Gas  Co.,  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Trade,  and  has  interested  him- 
self in  several  new  manufacturing  concerns,  to 
bring  them  to  Poughkeepsie.  As  secretary  of 
the  Dutchess  County  Agricultural  Society,  he 
was  successful  in  raising  an  incumbrance  of 
$9,500,  and  he  helped  to  incorporate  the 
organization  in  1S94;  also  was  instrumental  in 
securing  its  meeting  in  Poughkeepsie  in  1890. 
His  career  has  been  an  honorable  one,  and  his 
investments  have  so  far  invariably  proved  suc- 
cessful. Some  of  his  enterprises  give  em- 
ployment to  large  numbers  of  men. 

In  1885  Mr.  Bain  married  Hattie  I.  Ken- 
worthy,  a  daughter  of  Richard  Kenworthy,  who 
was  at  one  time  sheriff  of  Dutchess  county, 
and  treasurer  of  the  Hudson  River  State  Hos- 
pital. Three  children  were  born  to  this  union: 
Ethel  M.,  Mary  K.  and  Kathleen.  Mr.  Bain 
and  his  wife  are  prominent  members  of  the  Sec- 
ond Reformed  Church.  He  takes  an  active 
interest  in  the  work  of  the  Republican  party; 
was  elected  supervisor  from  the  Fourth  ward 
in  1888,  and  alderman  in  1890  and  1891;  and 
at  present  is  city  assessor.  Socially,  he  is  a 
member  of  Triune  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Knights 
of  Pythias,  and  of  the  Amrita,  Bicycle,  Driving 
and  Dutchess  Clubs. 


VAIUS  C.  BOLIN,  a  talented  and  enter- 
prising young  lawyer  of  Poughkeepbie, 
Dutchess  county,  was  born  in  that  city  Sep- 
tember 10,  1864. 


I 


OOMMEMOBATIVB  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


117 


tni 

It 


Abraham  Bolin,  his  father,  is  a  native  of 
Dutchess  county,  born  at  South  Dover,  Feb- 
ruary lo,  1830.  He  lived  upon  a  farm  until 
he  was  twenty-five  years  old,  having  begun  to 
make  his  way  in  the  world  at  the  early  age  of 
seven.  In  1855  he  moved  to  Poughkeepsie, 
where  he  married  Alice  Ann  Lawrence,  an 
educated  and  refined  woman  of  unusual  mental 
ability  and  foresight.  She  was  also  a  native  of 
Dutchess  county,  as  were  her  mother  and 
grandmother  before  her.  Her  father  having 
died  during  her  childhood,  leaving  his  widow 
with  a  large  family  of  children,  some  kind 
friends  in  New  York  City  took  the  bright  little 
girl  into  their  home  and  gave  her  an  excellent 
education  and  training. 

Abraham  Bolin  is  an  intelligent  and  suc- 
cessful business  man,  and  has  conducted  at 
different  times  a  meat  market,  a  grocery  store 
and  a  produce  commission  business,  and  has 
also  engaged  in  selling  live  stock.  In  every 
enterprise  his  wife  has  been  an  indispensable 
helper  and  adviser.  They  have  had  thirteen 
children  whose  careful  and  thorough  education 
has  been  their  main  object,  and  their  willing 
self-sacrifice  is  already  receiving  a  reward  in 
the  satisfaction  of  seeing  them  fitted  for  useful 
and  honorable  stations  in  life.  The  names  of 
their  children  living  are:  Mrs.  Alvaretta  Deyo, 
"eorge  W. ,  Gains  C.  (the  subject  of  this 
etch).  Livingsworth  W.,  Paul  C,  Rev.  Mrs. 
Blanche  Bolin  Crooke,  and  Miss  Oscafora  Stra- 
della  Bolin;  of  these  Paul  C.  Bolin  is  an  ad- 
vanced student  of  the  piano,  and  an  instructor 
on  that  instrument  at  the  National  Conserva- 
tory of  Music,  New  York  City.  For  more 
than  thirty-five  years  they  have  lived  at  their 
present  residence  on  North  Clinton  street. 

Gains  C.  Bolin  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Poughkeepsie  during  his  boyhood,  and  after 
graduating  from  the  high  school  in  1883,  he 
took  a  two-years  course  at  Prof.  John  R.  Les- 
lie's select  classical  school,  then  conducted  on 
Academy  street,  Poughkeepsie.  In  the  fall  of 
85  he  entered  the  freshman  class  of  Will- 
ms  College,  Williamstown,  Mass.,  and  was 
graduated  from  that  institution  in  June,  1889, 
being  the  first  colored  man  graduated  by  this 
historic  old  college.  For  a  year  after  leaving 
college  he  assisted  his  father  in  the  produce 
commission  business,  and  on  September  15, 
1890,  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Fred.  E. 
Ackerman,  Esq.,  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  as  a 
student.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  the 
General  Term  of  the  Supreme  Court,  held  in 


Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ,  and  presided  over  by  Hon. 
Joseph  F.  Barnard,  December  15,  1892,  but 
remained  in  Mr.  Ackerman's  employ,  extending 
his  knowledge  of  legal  principles  and  gaining 
experience  in  their  practical  application.  On 
May  23,  1895,  he  opened  an  office  of  his  own 
at  Nos.  46-48  Market  street.  His  watchful  de- 
votion to  the  interests  of  his  clients,  as  well  as 
his  upright  fair  dealing,  has  won  the  confidence 
of  the  public,  and  he  has  enjoyed  a  greater 
measure  of  success  than  falls  to  the  lot  of  some 
practitioners  who  have  no  connection  with  an 
established  business. 

A  dutiful  and  affectionate  son,  he  never 
fails  to  give  credit  for  his  success  to  the  advice, 
encouragement  and  Christian  example  of  his 
father  and  mother,  and  the  influence  of  a  home 
where  love  abounds. 


O^EORGE  B.  CHAPMAN,  M.  D.,  was  born 
_ '  May  20,  1849,  in  the  town  of  Dover, 
Dutchess  county,  and  received  his  academic 
education  there  and  in  Phillips  Academy  at 
Exeter,  N.  H.  He  afterward  entered  Bellevue 
Hospital  Medical  College  for  two  years,  then 
attended  the  Medical  Department  of  Yale  Col- 
lege for  one  year,  graduating  from  the  latter 
in  1875.  He  began  his  professional  career  in 
Amenia  Union,  N.  Y. ,  and  remained  there  for 
thirteen  years,  building  up  a  large  practice. 
In  1888,  on  account  of  the  overwork  and  ex- 
posure incident  to  his  profession,  his  health 
gave  out,  and  he  was  obliged  to  give  up  active 
practice,  and  spend  the  two  following  winters 
in  Virginia,  and  the  summers  in  Minnesota 
and  Dakota,  While  in  the  West  he  became 
much  interested  in  real-estate  investments, 
was  one  of  the  organizers,  and  the  first  presi- 
dent of  the  Webutuck  Investment  Co.  of 
Duluth,  Minn.,  and  a  director  in  the  Amenia 
and  Sharon  Land  Co.  of  North  Dakota. 

In  1890  he  located  at  Dover  Plains,  and 
became  interested  in  the  invention  of  Charles 
E.  Buckley,  since  known  as  the  Buckley 
Watering  Device,  an  automatic  arrangement 
for  securing  a  plentiful  supply  of  fresh  water  to 
cattle  and  horses  while  confined  in  the  stable, 
a  patent  being  secured  in  1891.  The  im- 
portance of  this  invention,  both  from  a  eco- 
nomic and  humanitarian  standpoint,  was  soon 
appreciated  by  all  intelligent  and  progressive 
stock-breeders  and  dairymen,  and  the  system 
is  now  in  general  use  throughout  the  country. 
Dr.  Chapman  has  made  many  improvements 


118 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


on  the  original  idea,  and  is  now  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  the  De- 
vice, having  bought  out  Mr.  Buckley's  interest 
in  1892. 

Dr.  Chapman  is  actively  interested  in  local 
affairs,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity. In  1874,  he  married  Miss  Martha 
Root  (daughter  of  Oliver  and  Mary  Root,  of 
Kent,  Conn.),  who  died  in  February,  1876, 
leaving  no  children.  'In  September,  1877,  he 
married  Sarah  Hitchcock,  daughter  of  Homer 
and  Rebecca  Hitchcock,  belonging  to  an  old 
and  well-known  family  of  Amenia,  N.  Y.  One 
child  blessed  this  union,  Rebecca,  born  July  3, 
1878. 

Israel  Chapman,  our  subject's  great-grand- 
father, was  born  at  Bethlehem,  Conn.,  and 
reared  a  family  of  sons,  among  whom  was 
William  Chapman,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject. He  was  educated  at  his  native  place, 
and  early  in  life  followed  the  carpenter's  trade, 
but  later  moved  to  South  Dover,  Dutchess 
county,  and  conducted  a  hotel  and  general 
store.  His  wife  was  Miss  Rachel  Cherrytree, 
and  their  seven  children  all  lived  to  maturity. 
They  were  Israel,  who  never  married;  Homer, 
who  married  (first)  Ann  Howard,  and  (second) 
Helen  Thompson;  Reuben  Wooster  married 
Marilla  Ward;  Lyman  married  Deborah  Sher- 
man; Alfred,  our  subject's  father,  in  1831 
married  Adaline  Mabbett;  Maria  became  the 
wife  of  Charles  Thomas;  and  Betsey  became 
the  wife  of  William  Tabor. 

Alfred  Chapman  was  born  in  South  Dover, 
Dutchess  county,  December  11,  1807,  and 
after  receiving  a  common-school  education 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  engaged  in 
the  business  of  contracting  and  building,  in 
which  he  was  successful,  the  high  order  of  his 
work  bringing  him  custom  from  an  extended 
territory. 

Dr.  Chapman  is  the  fifth  in  a  family  of 
seven  children:  (i)  Ann  E.,  born  in  1832, 
was  married  in  1854  to  William  Tabor,  a 
farmer.  They  have  had  eleven  children: 
John  and  Louisa  are  unmarried;  Florence 
married  Frank  Van  Auken;  Jennie  married 
William  Sebring;  Frank  and  Harriet  are  still 
unmarried;  and  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Everett 
Travis;  the  other  children  died  in  infancy.  (2) 
Benjamin  F.  was  born  in  1835,  educated  at 
Michigan  University  and  the  Albany  Law 
School.  On  graduating  in  i860  from  the  lat- 
ter institution,  he  began  the  practice  of  law  at 
Dover,  but    his    death    in    1870   cut    short    a 


promising  career.  He  married  Miss  Helen 
Reed,  and  left  one  son,  David  B.  R.  Chap- 
man, who  graduated  from  Columbia  College, 
and  is  now  in  the  coal  business  in  New  York 
City.  (3)  Mary  J.  was  born  in  1836,  and  in 
1865  married  Nicholas  Ryan,  now  residing  in 
Brewster,  N.  Y.  She  died  in  1867,  leaving 
two  children:  Minnie,  living  in  Petersburg, 
Va.,  and  George  B.,  now  living  in  Clove 
Valley,  N.  Y.  (4)  Sarah  M.,  born  in  1839, 
married  Peter  T.  Young,  a  live-stock  dealer 
in  Norfolk  and  Petersburg,  Va.  They  have 
two  children,  Hattie  C,  born  in  1876,  and 
Homer  T.,  born  in  1884.  (5)  Our  subject. 
(6)  William  and  (7)  Walter  died  in  infancy. 


JOHN  VAN  WYCK  (deceased).  The  family 
name  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  has  been 
held  in  high  esteem,  both  in  Holland,  the 
ancient  home  of  the  family,  and  in  this  coun- 
try, where  many  of  its  representatives  have 
held  positions  of  usefulness  and  honor. 

Dr.  Van  Wyck,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  owned  a  large 
tract  of  land  in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  which  he 
cultivated,  in  addition  to  his  extensive  labors 
as  a  medical  practitioner.  His  son,  Gen.  John 
B.  Van  Wyck,  our  subject's  father,  was  an 
officer  in  the  war  of  181 2.  He  married  Susan 
Schenk,  by  whom  he  had  nine  children:  Alfred, 
a  farmer  in  Fishkill;  John,  our  subject;  Jo- 
hanna, who  married  Mr.  Holmes,  a  merchant 
in  New  York  City;  Mary,  the  wife  of  Edward 
Remsen,  also  a  merchant  in  New  York  City; 
Catherine;  Susan,  who  married  O.  Holmes; 
Cornelia;  Jane,  the  second  wife  of  Mr.  Holmes; 
and  William. 

John  Van  Wyck,  our  subject,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  was  educated 
at  the  Dutchess  County  Academy.  On  leav- 
ing school  he  went  to  New  York  City,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  wholesale  dry-goods  business. 
He  married  Miss  Sarah  Mesier,  a  native  of  New> 
York  City,  born  in  18 10.  Her  father,  Peter  < 
A.  Mesier,  was  a  native  of  New  England,  and 
became  a  bank  stationer  in  New  York  City. 
He  was  a  Whig  in  politics,  and  he  and  his 
family  were  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 
His  wife  was  Catherine  Mesier,  a  first  cousin, 
and  they  reared  a  family  of  five  children:  Mary; 
Sarah  (Mrs.  Van  Wyck);  Peter,  a  merchant  in 
New  York;  Jane;  and  Margaret,  who  married 
James  Clonny,  an  artist  in  New  York.  Thfl 
Mesiers  are  of  French  Huguenot  ancestry,  and 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPEIOAL  RECORD. 


119 


their  coat  of  arms  bears  the  appropriate  motto, 
"Tiens  a  la  Foi," — Hold  to  thy  faith.  The 
Van  Wyck  family  also  possesses  a  coat  of  arms, 
the  nearest  description  of  which  in  the  absence 
of  any  work  on  heraldry,  is  as  follows:  Arms 
■ — A  cross  or,  in  each  quarter  two  tassels,  arg. , 
inverted,  crossed;  over  all  an  escutcheon 
charged  with  a  cart-wheel,  proper.  C>-csl — A 
crown,  arg.  (in  English  heraldry  this  would  be 
a  ducal  crown).  Supporters — Two  gryphons 
(or  griffins),  sal.,  regardant,  each  supporting  a 
banner,  the  dexter  banner  charged  with  a  cross, 
as  on  the  shield;  the  sinister  banner  charged 
with  a  cart-wheel,  as  on  the  escutcheon. 

Shortly  after  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Van  Wyck  settled  upon  a  farm  near  Manches- 
ter, and,  in  1835,  moved  to  the  present  home- 
stead near  New  Hamburg,  a  beautiful  estate 
overlooking  the  Hudson  river.  Here  they 
built  an  elegant  residence,  which  has  been  for 
sixty  years  one  of  the  most  charming  homes  of 
this  vicinity.  Eight  children  were  born  to 
them:  Kate,  Mesier  (deceased),  Sarah,  Henry, 
John,  Mary,  William,  and  Edmund  (deceased), 
who  was  a  physician  at  Wappingers  Falls. 
Mr.  Van  Wyck  died  September  18,  1878,  but 
his  widow  is  still  living,  blessed  with  unusual 
vigor,  both  physical  and  mental,  and  surrounded 
by  her  children  who  are  all  at  home.  The 
family  has  been  identified  with  the  Episcopal 
Church  of  Wappingers  Falls  for  more  than 
half  a  century,  and  is  well-known  in  the  most 
exclusive  circles  of  Poughkeepsie  society. 


1|j|jPILLIAM  LOUIS  De  LACY,  a  well- 
mlL  known  attorney  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. , 
is  recognized  as  the  leading  pension  lawyer  of 
that  city.  He  was  himself  a  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war,  enlisting  as  a  boy  of  sixteen  years, 
August  13,  i86r,  and  serving  until  mustered 
out  October  ji,  1865,  and  his  own  experiences 
on  the  battle  fields  and  in  the  prisons  of  the 
South  have  doubtless  turned  his  attention  to 
the  disabilities  that  the  hardships  of  that  long 
struggle  have  brought  upon  the  brave  "boys 
blue,"  and  certainly  his  record  as  a  soldier 
st  have  done  much  to  gain  for  him  the  con- 
ence  of  his  large  circle  of  clients. 
His  family  is  of  ancient  lineage,  and,  it  is 
thought,  originated  in  Lassy,  Normandy,  and 
was  transplanted  to  England  at  the  time  of 
the  Conquest.  The  progenitor  of  the  Amer- 
ican branch,  William  Lacy,  came  from  the 
Isle  ot  Wight  at  an  early  period,  and  settled  in 


.— iStn 

i 


Bucks  county,  Penn.,  where  many  of  his 
descendants  still  live.  The  family  is  one  of 
the  oldest  and  most  substantial  in  that  region, 
and  its  members  have  usually  been  engaged  in 
agriculture.  The  first  record  concerning  the 
family  is  that  of  a  marriage  which  occurred  in 
1718  in  the  Quaker  Church  at  Wrightstown, 
Bucks  Co.,  Penn.  Brigadier-General  John 
De  Lacy,  of  Revolutionary  fame,  was  a  mem- 
ber of  this  family.  William  De  Lacy  had  a 
son  William,  who  had  a  son  William,  who  had 
a  son  William,  our  subject's  grandfather. 
There  were  five  brothers  of  that  generation, 
and  while  William  remained  at  the  old  home, 
one  went  to  Michigan,  one  to  Mississippi,  one 
to  Ohio,  and  the  other  settled  west  of  the 
Mississippi.  William  married  Miss  Mary 
Chidester,  and  had  three  daughters — Mary, 
Ann  and  Jane — and  six  sons — Israel,  the  owner 
of  the  Trenton  Pottery  at  Trenton,  N.  J. ; 
Joseph,  a  confectioner;  Lafayette  and  Na- 
poleon Bonaparte,  who  were  on  the  police 
force  in  Philadelphia;  John  P.,  our  subject's 
father;  and  Aaron,  a  lumberman  of  Pike  coun- 
ty, Penn.  John  P.  De  Lacy  was  born  at  the 
old  homestead  January  27,  1814,  and  became 
a  prominent  citizen  there,  noted  for  his 
sterling  qualities  of  character.  By  trade  he 
was  a  carpenter,  and  he  was  active  in  local 
politics  as  a  Jacksonian  Democrat,  although 
he  never  sought  or  held  office.  He  was  a 
birthright  Quaker.  His  wife,  Caroline  Car- 
tier,  was  a  native  of  Bucks  county,  Penn.,  and 
a  daughter  of  Jacob  Cartier,  who  was  born  in 
Leipsic,  Saxony.  Six  children  were  born  to 
them:  Hester,  who  married  Richard  Parsons, 
of  Bucks  county,  Penn.;  Harriet,  deceased; 
William  L. ,  our  subject;  Jacob  Alfred,  a  resi- 
dent of  Lambertville,  N.  J. ;  John  Franklin,  a 
mining  prospector  in  the  West;  and  Charles 
Henry,  a  seaman. .  The  father  died  October 
8,  1878,  but  the  mother  is  still  living,  and  at 
the  age  of  seventy-six  has  not  a  gray  hair  in 
her  head. 

Mr.  De  Lacy  was  born  at  New  Hope,  Penn. , 
July  10,  1845.  His  opportunities  for  an  edu- 
cation were  meagre,  his  early  years  having 
been  spent  mainly  upon  the  Lehigh  canal.  He 
worke^  for  one  year  in  the  office  of  the  Peo- 
ple's  Beacon,  at  Lambertville,  N.  J.,  employed 
by  Clark  Pierson  for  a  time,  and  he  gained 
some  knowledge  of  reading,  both  in  script  and 
print,  but  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  when  he  was 
required  to  sign  the  pay  roll,  on  his  enlistment, 
he  could  only  make  his  mark.     He  soon  learned 


120 


COMMEMORAFIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


to  write,  however,  and  the  next  time  his  sig- 
nature was  wanted  he  was  prepared  to  write  it. 
He  was  a  member  of  Company  C,  4th  N.J. 
Inf.,  1st  N.  J.  Brigade,  of  which  Gen.  Phil 
Keartiy  was  the  original  commander.  He 
took  part  in  many  important  engagements, 
being  at  West  Point,  Va.,  May  7,  1862;  at 
White  House  Landing;  at  Mechanicsville, 
twice;  and  at  Gaines'  Hill,  June  27,  1862,  on 
the  second  day  of  the  Seven-Days'  fight,  near 
Richmond.  Here  he  was  wounded  and  capt- 
ured with  the  bulk  of  his  regiment,  and,  after 
being  confined  in  Libby  Prison  for  some  time, 
was  sent  to  Belle  Isle  with  the  first  detach- 
ment of  one  hundred  prisoners,  who  were  com- 
pelled to  put  up  the  first  tent  on  the  island, 
intended  for  prison  purposes;  he  spent  about 
seven  weeks  there,  and  on  being  exchanged, 
August  12,  1862,  rejoined  his  regiment  at  Har- 
rison's Landing.  Then  followed  the  Second 
Battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  the  engagements  at 
Crampton  Gap,  or  South  Mountain,  Septem- 
ber 14;  Antietam,  September  17,  and  Freder- 
icksburg, December  12,  1862.  He  was  de- 
tailed for  train  guard  duty  after  this,  and  his 
next  battle  was  at  Rappahannock  Station,  in 
October,  1863,  followed  by  that  of  Mine  Run, 
November  26,  after  which  the  regiment  went 
into  winter  quarters  until  May,  1864,  when 
Grant  took  command.  In  the  battle  of  the 
Wilderness  Mr.  De  Lacy  was  seriously  wound- 
ed, and,  as  he  could  not  take  his  place  in  the 
field  again,  he  remained  in  the  hospital  at 
Newark,  N.  J.,  until  he  was  mustered  out, 
October  11,  1865.  On  his  return  to  the  life 
of  a  civilian,  he  spent  eight  months  in  the 
Pennington  Xheological  Seminary,  and  this 
may  be  said  to  be  the  only  real  schooling  that 
he  ever  had.  He  left  this  institution,  reluc- 
tantly, to  enter  business  life,  taking  a  place  as 
clerk  for  James  E.  Goll,  an  insurance  agent  at 
Newark,  N.  J. ;  later  he  went  into  a  market  on 
Pac'fic  street.  In  October,  1866,  he  went  to 
Poughkeepsie  with  a  physician,  and,  being  left 
penniless,  he  worked  for  some  time  in  the 
offices  of  the  Press  and  Eagle.  On  Septem- 
ber I,  1873,  he  bought  the  Amenia  Times,  in 
partnership  with  William  Wiley,  the  firm  being 
at  first  De  Lacy  &  Wiley,  and  afterward  De- 
Lacy  &  Walsh.  Mr.  DeLacy  edited  the  paper 
until  1877,  when  he  sold  out  to  Mr.  Walsh, 
and  during  this  time  he  was  twice  elected  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  and  once  appointed  to  that 
office  to  fiU  a  vacancy.  He  had  also  been 
studying  law   in   private,   and  after  a  further 


course  with  Cyrus  Swan,  of  Poughkeepsie,  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  September,  1879, 
and  has  since  been  in  active  practice,  making 
a  specialty  of  pension  claims. 

In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  Democrat, 
and  formerly  he  was  quite  active  in  party  work. 
He  served  two  terms  as  police  commissioner 
under  Mayors  Rowley  and  Arnold.  Since  De- 
cember, 1872,  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  Fallkill  Lodge  No.  297,  and  he 
belongs  to  the  Order  of  Chosen  Friends, 
Dutchess  Council  No.  50;  the  Queen  City  As- 
sembly Royal  Society  of  Good  Fellows,  No. 
124,  and  is  an  honorary  member  of  Phoenix 
Hose  Company.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
Hamilton  Post  No.  20,  G.  A.  R. ,  in  which  he 
takes  great  interest,  and  has  been  a  delegate 
to  the  National  Encampments  at  San  Francis- 
co, Denver,  St.  Louis,  Indianapolis,  Boston, 
Washington  and  Baltimore.  In  1892  he  was 
senior  vice-commander  of  the  Department  of 
New  York. 

On  March  30,  1868,  Mr.  De  Lacy  married 
Weltha  A.  Wiley,  daughter  of  Clark  Wiley,  a 
prominent  resident  of  Poughkeepsie.  They 
have  two  sons:  George  W. ,  an  architect  and 
draughtsman,  and  Charles,  who  is  a  clerk  in 
the  office  with  his  father. 


SHERIDAN  SHOOK.  The  spirit  of  self- 
_)  help  is  the  source  of  all  genuine  worth 
in  the  individual,  and  is  the  means  of  bring- 
ing to  man  success  when  he  has  no  advantages 
of  wealth  or  influence  to  aid  him.  It  illus- 
trates in  no  uncertain  manner  what  is  possible 
to  accomplish  when  perseverance  and  deter- 
mination form  the  keynote  to  a  man's  life. 
Depending  on  his  own  resources,  looking  for 
no  outside  aid  or  support,  Mr.  Shook  has 
secured  a  handsome  property,  although  he 
started  out  in  life  with  naught  save  a  pair  of 
willing  hands  and  a  determination  to  succeed. 
Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Dutchess  county, 
born -February  19,  1828,  in  the  town  of  Red 
Hook,  and  is  a  son  of  George  Shook.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  at  Piermont  Academy,  and 
at  the  early  age  of  fourteen  years  went  to  New 
York  City,  "to  make  his  fortune,"  in  which 
he  certainly  succeeded.  For  ten  years  he 
clerked  for  John  Boyce,  a  dealer  in  butter  and 
cheese,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he  and 
Henry  N.  Morgan  took  charge  of  the  business, 
Mr.  Boyce  having  retired.  At  the  opening  of 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  our  subject  was  ap- 


% 


GOMMEMOBATIVE  BIOGBAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


121 


pointed  treasurer  of  the  "Relief  Fund,"  which 
had  been  raised  in  the  city  to  meet  the  needs 
of  the  families  of  those  who  had  gone  to  the 
front.  In  i  86 1  he  was  appointed  by  President 
Lincoln  to  the  position  of  Internal  Revenue 
Collector,  which  position  he  held  seven  years, 
and  about  the  same  time  he  was  elected  to  the 
board  of  supervisors  of  New  York  City.  In 
1865,  at  an  outlay  of  $40,000,  he  fitted  up 
"Gilmores  Garden,"  in  New  York,  which  he 
conducted  for  two  years.  In  1871  he  built  the 
Union  Square  Theatre,  corner  of  14th  street 
and  Broadway,  and  for  several  years  conducted 
same,  under  the  able  management  of  A.  M. 
Palmer.  Mr.  Shook  was  also  engaged  in  the 
brewery  business,  at  New  York,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Shook  &  Everhard,  and  was  also  pro- 
prietor of  the  "Morton  House,"  one  of  the 
leading  hotels  of  New  York,  which  he  carried 
on  until  1895. 

Mr.  Shook  has  been  twice  married,  his 
second  union  being  on  December  21,  1881, 
with  Miss  Ellen  M.  Gillespie,  a  native  of  Al- 
bany county,  N.  Y. ,  born  at  Greenbush,  in 
1846,  a  daughter  of  Charles  Gillespie,  of  Al- 
bany, N.  Y.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Lu- 
theran Church.  Mr.  Shook  in  his  political 
preferences  is  a  Republican.  He  is  the  father 
of  four  children:  Louise  Week  (Mrs.  H.  A. 
Hoffman);  Sheridan  Shook,  Jr.,  of  New  York; 
Lillie;  and  one  that  died  in  early  youth.  He 
still  has  business  interests  in  New  York  and 
Red  Hook,  but  is  not  personally  engaged  there- 
in. He  has  a  fine  farm  and  beautiful  residence 
situated  about  four  miles  from  his  birthplace. 
No  more  genial  man  can  be  found  than  Mr. 
Shook,  and  he  and  his  estimable  wife  have 
any  friends  to  whom  their  hospitality  is  ever 
ended.  They  hold  a  high  position  in  social 
ircles,  having  the  esteem  and  respect  of  all 
who  know  them. 


If 

arc 


DAVID  A.  KNAPP,  M.  D.,  an  eminent 
physician  and  surgeon  of  Dutchess  county, 

has  for  many  years  successfully  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  medicine  in  the  town  of  Unionvale. 
In  his  profession  he  takes  a  genuine  and  de- 
voted interest,  making  a  study  of  "the  ills  that 
flesh  is  heir  to, "  and  is  one  of  the  most  capable 
and  conscientious  men  in  bis  profession. 

His  father,  Isaac  Knapp,  also  a  medical 
practitioner,  was  a  native  of  Greenwich,  Conn., 
where  he  obtained  his  literary  education,  and 


later  began  the  study  of  medicine,  graduating 
at  the  New  York  Medical  Institute  in  1795. 
He  commenced  the  practice  of  his  chosen  pro- 
fession in  New  Fairfield,  near  Danbury,  Conn., 
and  also  conducted  a  select  school.  In  relig- 
ious belief  he  was  a  Presbyterian.  He  married 
Miss  Amy  Brush,  a  daughter  of  Squire  Brush, 
a  prosperous  farmer  of  New  Fairfield,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  eight  children,  one  of 
whom  died  in  infancy,  the  others  being  as  fol- 
lows: 

(i)  Theressa  Knapp  was  born  in  the  town 
of  New  Fairfield,  Fairfield  Co.,  Conn.,  and  se- 
cured a  common-school  education.  She  mar- 
ried Hubbel  Piatt,  but  had  no  children. 

(2)  Isaac  Knapp,  also  a  native  of  New 
Fairfield  town,  engaged  in  teaching  alter  the 
completion  of  his  own  education,  and  also  fol- 
lowed farming.  During  the  old  training  days 
he  held  the  commission  of  captain  in  the 
militia.  He  married  Miss  Maranda  Hall,  and 
they  had  one  son — Smith,  now  deceased,  who 
was  born  in  Connecticut,  and  for  a  time  was 
engaged  in  the  real-estate  business.  He  was 
twice  married,  the  first  time  to  a  Miss  Briggs, 
by  whom  he  had  two  children,  Lula  and 
George  F. ;  later  he  wedded  a  Miss  Taylor, 
and  they  had  three  children. 

(3)  Enoch  Knapp  was  born  and  educated  in 
Connecticut,  and  also  taught  school.  During 
the  training  days  he  served  as  major.  He 
married  Rachel  Barnum,  of  New  Fairfield, 
Conn.,  and  to  them  were  born  seven  children: 
Almira,  who  married  Daniel  Wood,  a  farmer 
of  Redding  Ridge,  Fairfield  Co.,  Conn.,  and 
has  five  children;  Sarah,  who  married  Waite 
Brush,  a  farmer  of  Rome.  N.  Y.,  and  has  three 
children;  Mary,  who  died  in  infancy;  Charlotte, 
an  artist  by  profession,  who  is  now  studying  in 
France  and  other  parts  of  the  Old  World; 
Isaac  S.,  an  agriculturist,  who  married  Lula 
Dayton;  Mary,  who  wedded  a  Mr.  Clegett,  and 
has  a  son,  Clifton;  and  Fred,  a  farmer,  who 
married  a  Miss  Howe. 

(4)  Sarah  Knapp,  who  was  born  in  the 
town  of  New  Fairfield,  married  Ephraim 
Leach,  a  farmer,  and  they  had  three  sons: 
David  (now  deceased),  a  machinist,  who  mar- 
ried a  Miss  Bennett;  Isaac,  an  engineer;  and 
Henry  O.,  who  married  a  Miss  Roberts,  of 
Peekskill,  N.  Y.,  and  has  six  children:  Fannie, 
Hannah,  Mabel,  Myra,  Clara  and  Theressa. 

(5)  Ezra  Knapp  (deceased)  was  born  in  the 
town  of  New  Fairfield,  received  a  common- 
school  education,  and  followed  the  pursuit  of 


122 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHWAL  RECORD. 


farming.      He  married  Miss  Rachel  Meade,  of 
Greenwich,  Conn. ;  they  had  no  children. 

(6)  Dr.  David  A.  Knapp,  of  this  review,  is 
next  in  order  of  birth,  and  like  the  other_ mem- 
bers of  the  family,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
New  Fairfield,  Fairfield  Co.,  Conn.  He  at- 
tended the  district  schools  near  his  home,  and 
later  pursued  his  studies  in  a  select  school  of 
that  township,  in  the  Danbury  Academy  and 
in  the  Middletown  Academy.  For  two  years 
he  was  then  a  student  at  Yale  College,  New 
Haven,  Conn.,  prior  to  which  he  engaged  in 
teaching  for  a  time.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  years  he  entered  the  University  of  New 
York,  graduating  from  the  medical  department 
in  the  spring  of  1845.  He  soon  after  began 
practice  in  the  town  of  Unionvale,  Dutchess 
county,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home  and 
has  met  with  excellent  results  along  his  chosen 
line  of  endeavor.  He  is  one  of  the  prominent 
as  well  as  original  members  of  the  Dutchess 
County  Medical  Society.  In  social  circle  he 
also  holds  a  leading  position,  and  has  been 
called  upon  to  serve  in  a  number  of  township 
offices. 

In  1846  the  Doctor  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Rebecca  Vincent,  who  was  born  in 
1827,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Jonathan  G.  and 
Loretta  (Williams)  Vincent,  prosperous  farm- 
ing people  of  the  town  of  Unionvale.  Two 
sons  bless  their  union:  (i)  David  Vincent, 
born  in  1863,  was  educated  at  Wilbraham, 
Mass.,  and  Hackettstown,  N.  J.,  and  also 
studied  medicine.  He  married  Miss  Anna 
Dean,  daughter  of  Cromaline  Dean,  of  the 
town  of  Lagrange,  Dutchess  county,  and  they 
had  one  child  that  died  in  infancy.  The  wife 
and  mother  is  also  now  deceased.  (2)  Ezra 
V.  M..  the  Doctor's  younger  son,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Unionvale,  February  14,  1875. 
He  also  attended  school  at  Wilbraham,  Mass., 
and  the  High  School  at  Meriden,  Conn.,  later 
taking  a  course  at  the  Eastman  Business  Col- 
lege, Poughkeepsie.  He  is  now  carrying  on 
farming  with  his  father.  In  1895  ^^  took  a 
trip  to  the  Pacific  coast,  remaining  there  six 
months. 

(7)  Euphemia  Knapp,  the  youngest  child 
of  Isaac  and  Amy  (Brush)  Knapp,  married 
William  H.  Morse,  an  agriculturist  of  Mass- 
achusetts; they  had  no  children. 

Gilbert  Vincent,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Dr.  Knapp,  was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Union- 
yale,  and  married  Miss  Phoebe  Vail.  In  their 
family  were  twelve  children,  namely:     Isaac, 


who  married  Martha  Duncan;  Absalom,  who 
married  Hannah  Duncan;  Jonathan  G. ,the 
father  of  Mrs.  Knapp;  Thomas,  who  married 
Eliza  Arnold;  Richard,  who  married  Helen 
Fowler;  Margaret,  who  married  John  T. 
Potter;  Betsy,  who  married  Jonathan  Hus- 
tead;  Rebecca  and  Levina,  who  never  mar- 
ried; Michael,  who  married  a  Miss  Carey; 
Phoebe  A.,  who  married  Morris  Germond;  and 
Hepsobeth,  who  married  Edward  Wheeler. 

Jonathan  C.  Vincent  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Unionvale,  and  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Loretta  Williams,  daughter  of 
Squire  Williams,  a  surveyor,  of  the  same  town- 
ship. Seven  children  were  born  to  them,  as 
follows:  (i)  Elizabeth  married  Reuben  L. 
Coe,  and  had  six  children.  (2)  Rebecca  is 
the  wife  of  Dr.  Knapp,  subject  of  this  sketch. 
(3)  John,  ex-county  clerk,  married  Rhoda 
Butler,  and  had  four  children — Ella,  who 
married  Obed  Vincent;  Minnie,  who  married 
Charles  Andrews;  Walter;  and  Elisha  B.  (4) 
Gilbert  married  Kate  Uhl,  by  whom  he  had  a 
son,  Ralph,  who  married  Hannah  T.  Under- 
bill; for  his  second  wife  Gilbert  wedded  Eliza 
Ham,  and  they  have  a  daughter,  Loretta.  (5) 
Lewis  never  married.  (6)  Michael  married 
Estella  O'Neil,  and  has  five  children — Nellie, 
Minnie,  Jonathan,  Thomas  and  Rebecca.  (7) 
Mary  A.  wedded  Orin  Able,  and  has  two  chil- 
dren— Elanita,  who  married  Oscar  Shaffer; 
and  Claude  O.  L. 


JAMES  G.  PORTEOUS,  M.  D.  (deceased). 
In  the  romantic  annals  of  Scottish  history, 
and  made  immortal  in  the  romances  of  Sir 
Walter  Scott,  is  the  name  of  Porteous,  ever 
linked  in  the  struggles  for  freedom,  and  worthy 
a  place  at  the  side  of  a  Forbes,  or  a  Mar,  fol- 
lowing under  the  leadership  of  the  matchless 
Wallace,  or  Bruce.  In  direct  line  of  descent 
from  Capt. Porteous,  famous  in  the  "Porteous 
mob"  at  Edinburgh,  comes  Andrew  Porteous, 
a  native  of  that  city,  born  in  1815  or  1816,  a 
son  of  Andrew  Porteous,  Sr. ;  he  emigrated  to 
this  country  in  1837  or  '38,  and  helped  to  lay 
out  Jersey  City.  He  later  went  to  Essex  county. 
New  York,  and  worked  in  the  mines  as  a  civil 
engineer,  afterward  going  to  Glens  Falls  where 
he  engaged  in  the  cement  business,  and  thence 
to  Luzerne  where  he  followed  agricultural  pur- 
suits. He  married  Jane  Blair,  also  of  an 
ancient  Scotch  family,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  as  follows:     James 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


128 


Helen,  Mary,  Jane,  Charles,  Maggie,  An- 
|ie   and  Scott,  only  two   of  whom — Jane  and 
cott — are  yet  living. 

James  G.  Porteous,  whose  name  opens  this 
fview,  was  born  at  Moriah,  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y., 
muary  3,  1839.  While  in  Essex  county  his 
"ducational  training  was  under  the  guidance  of 
a  private  tutor,  and  his  academic  education  was 
received  at  Glens  Falls.  In  1861  he  entered 
the  medical  department  of  Harvard  College, 
graduating  in  1865.  During  the  four  years  he 
was  enrolled  as  a  student  at  Harvard,  he  was 
absent  two  years  in  the  army.  Prompted  by 
the  same  spirit  that  animated  the  breasts  of  his 
ancestors  he  offered  his  services  to  his  country, 
to  do  his  part  that  no  star  might  be  missed 
from  the  field  9f  blue.  He  enlisted  as  first  as- 
sistant surgeon  of  the  11 8th  N.  Y.  V.  I., 
and  later  was  promoted  to  surgeon  of  the  46th 
N.  Y.  V.  I.,  where  he  served  during  the  bal- 
ance of  the  war.  After  being  mustered  out  he 
returned  to  college  and  passed  "perfect"  in 
all  of  his  examinations.  In  1865  he  began 
practice  at  Luzerne,  in  Warren  Co.,  N.  Y. , 
and  for  fifteen  years  he  successfully  followed 
his  chosen  calling — to  which  his  large  sympa- 
thies so  well  adapted  him — there;  but  May  i, 
1880,  he  bought  out  the  practice  of  Dr.  Carter, 
of  Poughkeepsie,  and  removed  to  that  city, 
greatly  to  the  regret  of  his  patients  at  Luzerne. 
His  career  as  a  physician  in  Poughkeepsie  was 
one  of  remarkable  success,  and  he  remained 
there  until  his  death,  one  of  the  best  known 
physicians  in  this  part  of  the  State. 

In  1865  Dr.  Porteous  was  married  to  Miss 
Sarah  F.  Wilbur,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Sarah  Wilbur,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  and  three 
children  were  the  result  of  this  union:  Eifle; 
Flora,  who  became  the  wife  of  Allen  H.  Craft, 
of  New  York  City;  and  Lizzie,  who  married 
Dr.  E.  E.  Hicks,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  Soci- 
ally, the  .Doctor  was  a  member  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine,  Knights  Templar,  and  of  the  Loyal 
Legion  and  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  was  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Dutchess  Club.  In  religious  belief 
he  and  his  wife  were  faithful  attendants  of  the 
Episcopal  Church.  The  Doctor  was  very 
strong  in  his  political  views,  and  was  an  active 
and  influential  worker  in  the  ranks  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  Though  for  seven  years  su- 
pervisor of  Luzerne,  and  a  member  of  the  As- 
sembly in  1873,  he  could  in  no  way  be  regarded 
as  an  office  seeker.  His  interest  was  only 
what  every  public-spirited  and  patriotic  citi- 
zen's  should    be — "to    promote   the   general 


welfare" — and  in  this  our  subject  did  not  fail 
to  do  his  duty,  for  he  was  in  the  fore  of  any 
movement  that  tended  toward  the  advance- 
ment of  the  community.  He  was  one  of  those 
typical  self-made  men,  whose  struggles  with 
adverse  circumstances  broadened  the  mind,  and 
his  natural  kind-hearted  and  unselfish  nature, 
together  with  his  sincere  regard  for  his  brother 
man,  made  him  a  man  among  men,  a  friend  to 
humanity.  His  heart  responded  to  every  call, 
and  he  could  laugh  with  them  that  laughed, 
and  mourn  with  them  that  mourned.  No  ap- 
peal to  his  aid  was  ever  made  in  vain,  and 
though  he  ranked  among  the  foremost  of  his 
profession  in  Poughkeepsie,  no  home  was  too 
humble  for  him  to  enter  if  thereby  he  could 
relieve  the  suffering  of  mind  and  body  of  some 
unfortunate  fellow-being.  In  proof  of  the  high 
regard  in  which  he  was  held,  his  patients  have 
collected  quite  a  sum  of  money  for  the  purpose 
of  erecting  a  monument  over  his  grave,  that 
there  might  be  in  chiseled  marble  a  fitting  tes- 
timonial of  the  life  and  character  of  one  of  na- 
ture's noblemen. 


JOHN  J.  BROOKS  (deceased)  was  born  in 
Haverstraw,  N.  Y. ,  April  i,  1821,  and  was 
the  son  of  Capt.  William  Brooks,  a  native 
of  Stony  Point,  New  York. 

John  Brooks  was  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
and  was  a  prosperous  man.  He  married  a 
Miss  Cooney,  and  their  children  were:  Oliver, 
Brewster  and  Samuel  (deceased);  Nathaniel, 
a  blacksmith  by  trade,  living  at  Stony  Point, 
N.  Y. ;  John,  William,  Lavinia,  and  Mary,  the 
latter  now  living  in  Marlborough. 

William,  or  "Capt.  Billy,"  as  he  was  gen- 
erally known,  by  trade  a  shipbuilder,  spent  his 
entire  life  in  Haverstraw,  where  he  was  well- 
known  and  highly  esteemed.  He  was  a  man 
of  unusual  ability,  and  was  prominent  in  all 
affairs  of  the  county.  He  was  a  brave  soldier 
in  the  war  of  18 12,  and  a  captain  in  the  State 
militia,  whence  he  obtained  his  title.  He  was 
a  Democrat  and  a  leading  man  in  political  cir- 
cles, as  well  as  in  the  Methodist  Church  to 
which  he  and  his  wife  belonged.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  the  summer  of  181 7  to  Miss  Nancy  De- 
Groot,  whose  father  was  a  large  land  owner  at 
Tompkin's  Cove.  Eight  children  were  born 
of  this  union,  as  follows:  William  D.  is  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Rochester,  now  retired 
from  business;  John  J.  comes  next;  Oliver  has 
resided    in    Detroit,  Mich.,   for    a    number    of 


124 


COMMEMORA  TIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


years;  Walter  was  a  sailor,  and  was  lost  at  sea; 
Sampson,  a  builder,  lives  at  Hyde  Park;  Ed- 
ward is  in  the  carriajje  business  in  Syracuse, 
N.  Y. ;  Sybil  died  July  3,  1890,  unmarried; 
and  Jane  M.  married  Hewlett  Baker,  a  promi- 
nent builder  in  New  York  City.  The  father 
of  this  family  died  at  Haverstraw  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1846;  the  mother  passed  away  in  Pough- 
keepsie,  in  November,   1881. 

John  J.  Brooks  was  reared  to  manhood  in 
Rockland  county,  obtaining  only  a  common- 
schoo)  education,  but  being  possessed  of  much 
natural  ability  and  a  retentive  memory  he  be- 
came a  well-informed  man.  He  was  very  fond 
of  reading,  and  was  one  of  the  best  mathema- 
ticians in  his  locality.  He  was  a  good  business 
man,  thorough  in  everything  he  undertook, 
and  became  a  leader  in  all  public  enterprises 
as  a  Republican. 

Mr.  Brooks  was  apprenticed  when  quite 
young  to  learn  the  carriage-trimming  business, 
and  worked  for  two  or  three  years  in  Rahway, 
N.  J.,  and  New  York  City,  then  when  he  was 
nineteen  years  old  he  bought  his  time,  and 
later  started  a  shop  of  his  own  on  the  corner 
of  Broadway  and  Walker  street.  New  York. 
After  moving  to  Poughkeepsie  he  started  on 
the  corner  of  Crannell  and  Main  streets,  soon 
afterward  opening  a  factory  at  Nos.  424-426- 
428,  on  Main  street,  which  he  carried  on  until 
about  1870.  His  first  partner  in  business  was 
Marshall,  and,  later,  Thomas  Wyatt.  This 
factory  employed  from  eighteen  to  twenty 
men,  and  was  the  largest  in  the  county.  In 
1870,  in  company  with  A.  T.  Kear,  Mr. 
Brooks  went  into  the  livery  business,  which 
he  carried  on  until  1876,  when  he  retired  from 
active  work.  In  1880  he  was  elected  chief  of 
police,  Poughkeepsie's  first  chief,  which  im- 
portant position  he  held  for  nine  years.  He  was 
also  at  one  time  alderman  for  the  Third  ward, 
and  again  for  the  Fifth  ward,  performing  the 
duties  connected  with  this  office  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  his  constituents.  He  was  su- 
pervisor one  term,  also  a  member  of  the  ex- 
cise board,  and  always  held  a  prominent  place 
among  the  public-spirited  men  of  the  city  of 
Poughkeepsie,  being  a  born  leader  and  full  of 
enterprise.  Religiously,  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Congregational  Church,  and  was  ever 
ready  to  assist  in  any  good  work.  In  his 
death,  which  occurred  July  17,  1891,  the  com- 
munity lost  one  of  its  best  citizens,  and  his 
family  a  tender,  loving  husband  and  father. 

Mr.  Brooks  was  married  June  18,  1845,  to 


Elsie  A.  Hermance,  daughter  of  John  Her- 
mance,  who  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade  and  a 
great  temperance  advocate.  Four  children 
were  born  of  this  marriage:  Herman  and  Char- 
lie, both  of  whom  died  young;  Norman  J.;  and 
Emma  C. ,  who  married  Charles  A.  Van  De- 
Water,  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  their  children  are 
Irving  B.,  Elsie  May  and  Lena  M. 

Norman  J.  Brooks,  only  surviving  son  of 
our  subject,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Poughkeepsie,  and  in  Dutchess  County 
Academy.  When  fourteen  years  of  age  he 
left  school  and  went  into  the  dry-goods  store 
of  William  Broas,  for  a  time.  He  then  was  in 
his  father's  office  for  awhile,  after  which  he 
learned  the  wagon-maker's  trade,  and  subse- 
quently engaged  in  the  livery  business  for  two 
years.  In  1874  he  was  employed  as  clerk  in 
the  New  York  post  office,  where  he  remained 
two  and  a  half  years.  For  several  years  after 
this  he  was  in  no  particular  business.  In  1877 
or  1878  he  was  appointed,  by  B.  Piatt  Car- 
penter, as  a  clerk  in  the  Custom  House, 
which  position  he  held  for  eight  years.  After  ■ 
this  he  became  salesman  in  the  clothing  house 
of  M.  Schwartz,  where  he  remained  four  or 
five  years,  and  then  went  into  the  grocery 
business,  the  firm  name  being  Brooks  &  Van 
De  Water.  In  1895  he  bought  out  his  part- 
ner, and  at  present  is  conducting  the  store 
himself.  He  has  been  successful  in  this  en- 
terprise, and  is  looked  upon  as  an  able  busi- 
ness man. 

Mr.  Brooks  was  married  September  25,, 
1872,  to  Hilah  A.  Burger,  daughter  of  W.  C. 
Burger,  of  Ulster  county,  and  four  children 
have  been  born  to  them:  Lulu  S.  (decease( 
when  si.\  months  old),  Arthur  N.,  Clarence  J 
and  Elmer  Frank.  Mr.  Brooks  is  a  Repub 
lican,  and  has  at  times  taken  quite  an  actiw 
part  in  politics,  although  he  has  never  bee 
willing  to  accept  office;  he  attends  the  service! 
of  the  Congregational  Church.  A  public-spir 
ited  citizen,  he  is  interested  in  any  movemen 
looking  to  the  growth  and  welfare  of  his  com 
munity. 


OBERT  G.  COFFIN,  the  subject  of  thii 

sketch,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Wash 

ington,  on  what  is  now  called  the  AltamoH' 
stock  farm,  February  12,  1823.  His  fathei 
was  Robert  Coffin,  of  whom  see  a  biographi 
in  the  sketch  of  Hezekiah  R.  Coffin. 

Our  subject  spent  his  boyhood  on  the  farm" 


VI 


COMMEMORATIVE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


125 


attending  the  Nine  Partners  Boarding  School, 
and  later  the  Dutchess  County  Academy.  After 
finishing  his  education  he  resumed  his  life  on 
the  farm  of  his  parents  where  he  resided  until 
,  1887,  when  he  sold  the  place  and  bought  his 
present  property  in  South  Millbrook. 

On  April  9,  185 1,  Mr.  Cofhn  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Eliza  Sackett,  who  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Washington,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Artemas  E.  Sackett,  a  farmer  in  that 
town.  The  Sackett  family  was  an  old  one  of 
the  town  of  Stanford,  where  the  father  of  Ar- 
temas E.  was  born.  Nine  children  were  born 
to  our  subject  and  his  wife,  namely:  Kate 
died  young;  Ida  L.  married  Dr.  J.  O.  Pingry; 
Clarence  died  at  an  early  age;  Laura  married 
Beverly  W.  Howard,  a  farmer  in  the  town  of 
Washington;  Edwin  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Tomlinson,  and  is  a  farmer  in  Stanford ;  Robert 
married  Miss  Elnora  Lattin,  and  lives  in  Ma- 
maroneck,  N.  Y. ;  Artemas  S.  married  Julia 
Lattin,  and  is  a  merchant  at  Oak  Summit; 
Helen  M.  became  the  wife  of  Dr.  D.  H.  Mac- 
Kenzie,  a  practicing  physician  at  Mabbetts- 
ville;  John  L.  married  Miss  Emily  Crossman, 
and  lives  in  Washington.  Mrs.  Coffin  died 
November  28,   1894. 

Mr.  Coffin  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  been 
quite  a  prominent  man  in  his  community.  He 
was  instrumental  in  building  the  church  in 
South  Millbrook;  was  also  an  active  promoter 
Df  the  building  of  the  Newburg,  Dutchess  & 
3olumbia  R.  R.  He  was  the  first  bona  fide  sub- 
jcriber  to  its  stock;  was  one  of  its  first  direct- 
ors, and  is  still  one,  having  served  as  such 
ibout  thirty  years.  He  suggested  calling  meet- 
ngs  along  the  entire  line,  at  which  he  and 
others  addressed  the  people  in  favor  of  its  con- 
itruction.  which  efforts  resulted  in  an  almost 
inanimous  subscription  to  its  stock.  After  much 
iiore  hard  work  the  road  was  completed,  and 
ts  benefits  secured  to  the  people.  Millbrook 
las  now  a  fine  church,  a  railroad,  and  has  de- 
eloped  into  a  beautiful  little  village.  Mr.  Cof- 
in  is  greatly  admired  for  his  public  spirit,  and 
)ossesses  the  esteem  and  respect  of  all  who 
;now  him. 


'^UY    CARLETON    BAYLEY,   M.    D.,   of 

^  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  second 
on  of  Richard  and  Mary  (Dietz)  Bayley, 
;randson  of  Dr.  Guy  Carleton  Bayley,  and 
;reat-grandson  of  Dr.  Richard  Bayley,  was 
)orn  at  Poughkeepsie,  October  16,  1850. 


Our  subject  was  educated  at  the  Dutchess 
County  Academy,  and  in  Mr.  Churchill's  school 
at  Sing  Sing,  N.  Y.  In  1867  he  entered  Dr. 
Jacob  Bockee's  office  as  a  student  of  medicine, 
and,  in  1869,  the  office  of  Dr.  Henry  B.  Sands, 
New  York  City,  by  whose  advice  he  took  three 
courses  of  lectures  at  the  College  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons,  in  the  City  of  New  York,  where 
he  graduated  in  1872.  In  the  same  year  he 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Poughkeepsie,  where  he  was  appointed  visit- 
ing physician  at  St.  Barnabas  Hospital,  and 
,physician-in-charge  of  the  Orphan  Home  and 
Home  for  the  Friendless.  In  1884  Dr.  Bay- 
ley  accepted  an  appointment  on  the  visiting 
surgical  staff  of  the  Womans  Hospital  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  New  York  City,  and  asso- 
ciated himself  in  business  with  Dr.  Nathan 
Bozeman,  in  that  city.  In  1887  Dr.  Bayley 
was  appointed  resident  medical  officer  of,  and 
visiting  surgeon  to,  Vassar  Brothers  Hospital 
at  Poughkeepsie,  and  was  given  charge  of  the 
details  of  the  organizing  and  carrying  on  the 
work  of  the  splendidly-equipped  and  richly-en- 
dowed institution.  Dr.  Bayley  is  an  original 
member  of  the  New  York  State  Medical  Asso- 
ciation, of  the  American  Medical  Association, 
and    of  the  New  York  State  Medical  Society. 

In  1875  the  Doctor  married  Angelica  Cros- 
by Wyckoff,  who  died  in  1876;  for  his  second 
wife  he,  in  1885,  married  Ellen  Lorraine 
Bulkeley,  of  New  York  City. 


LAWRENCE  C.  RAPALJE,  a  retired  agri- 
:  culturist  and  business  man  of  the  town  of 

East  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  has  been  for 
many  years  a  leading  citizen  of  that  locality, 
his  varied  interests  identifying  him  with  many 
of  the  most  important  progressive  measures 
there. 

In  his  veins  there  flows  the  blood  of  sev- 
eral of  the  oldest  families  of  the  count}',  mem- 
bers of  which  have  distinguished  themselves  in 
the  past  by  their  devotion  to  principle,  and  by 
their  work  in  public  lines.  On  the  paternal 
side,  the  first  ancestor  came  from  Holland 
about  1623,  and  located  near  Newtown,  Long 
Island,  where  some  of  his  descendants  still 
live.  Martin  Rapalje,  our  subject's  grand- 
father, was  a  farmer  there  throughout  his  life. 
He  married  Miss  Mary  Lawrence,  daughter  of 
Col.  William  Lawrence,  and  a  member  of  one 
of  the  most  prominent  families  in  New  York. 


126 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


They  reared  a  family  of  children,  among  whom 
was  Daniel  L. ,  our  subject's  father. 

Daniel  L.  Rapalje  was  born  in  January, 
1800,  spent  his  early  years  at  the  old  home- 
stead, and  then  engaged  in  the  wholesale  dry- 
goods  business  in  New  York  City,  where  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  in  Jtine, 
1850.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics.  His 
wife,  Phoebe  Cortelyou,  born  in  April,  1800, 
in  Long  Island,  was  a  daughter  of  Peter  Cor- 
telyou, and  is  also  deceased.  The  Cortelyou 
family  is  of  French- Huguenot  stock,  and  the 
first  of  the  American  branch  came  from  France 
during  the  religious  persecutions.  He  made 
the  first  map  of  New  York  City. 

Lawrence  C.  Rapalje  was  born  in  New 
York  City,  August  26,  1826,  the  elder  of  the 
two  sons  of  his  parents;  the  younger,  Adrian, 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one.  The  schools 
of  the  city  afforded  excellent  educational  ad- 
vantages, of  which  Mr.  Rapalje  availed  him- 
self, and  at  an  early  age  he  began  to  familiar- 
ize himself  with  business  methods  by  clerking 
in  his  father's  store.  In  1843  he  went  to  the 
town  of  East  Fishkill  to  reside,  and  October 
10,  1855,  he  was  married  there  to  Miss  Anna 
Horton,  a  native  of  the  town.  Her  family  is 
of  English  extraction,  and  her  father,  Maj. 
Coert  Horton,  was  a  native  of  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, and  a  well-known  farmer  and  merchant. 
Mr.  Rapalje  settled  upon  a  farm  of  250  acres, 
which  he  purchased  in  1857,  and  has  ever 
since  resided  there;  it  is  now  within  the  wid- 
ening limits  of  Hopewell  Junction.  Here  four 
children  were  born  to  them:  John,  who  was 
formerly  the  superintendent  of  a  railroad  in 
the  West,  is  now  a  civil  engineer  in  West  Vir- 
ginia, and  interested  in  the  development  of 
coal  lands;  Lawrence,  Jr.,  who  is  a  farmer 
at  the  homestead;  Adrian,  a  civil  engineer; 
and  Anna,  the  wife  of  Charles  Underbill,  the 
agent  for  the  railroads  running  into  Hopewell 
Junction.  The  mother  of  this  little  family 
passed  from  life  December  30,  1895. 

Mr.  Rapalje  has  not  only  given  much  at- 
tention to  agriculture,  but  he  has  been  a 
worker  in  finance  as  a  director  and  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Fishkill 
(now  defunct),  and  he  has  also  taken  an  act- 
ive part  in  railroading,  having  been  a  director 
and  organizer  of  the  Dutchess  and  Columbia 
railroad,  and  a  director  of  the  Poughkeepsie 
Bridge  Co.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the  board 
of  directors  of  the  Dutchess  Mutual  Life  In- 
surance Co.     In  local  politics  he  is  influential, 


and  has  been  a  favorite  candidate  on  the  Dem- 
ocratic ticket.  In  1861  he  was  elected  super- 
visor, in  which  office  he  has  served  eight  years, 
and  was  justice  of  the  peace  for  nearly  thirty 
years.  A  born  leader,  he  has  taken  a  promi- 
nent place  among  his  associates  and  co-labor- 
ers in  every  line  of  effort.  The  Rapalje  fam- 
ily adopted  the  faith  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church  at  a  very  early  period,  and  to  this  Mr. 
Rapalje  also  adheres. 


LEWIS  E.  WOOD,  of  the  well-known  firm 
:  of   Wood   Brothers,    leading  nurserymen 

and  florists  in  the  village  of  Fishkill,  Dutchess 
county,  N.  Y.,  has  shown  rare  skill  and  ability 
in  his  calling,  having  been  chosen  at  the  age  of 
twenty  to  superintend  the  extensive  green- 
houses of  Burrow  &  Wood  (who  established 
the  business  in  1866),  the  predecessors  of  the 
present  firm.  Hereditary  influences  have  doubt- 
less played  a  part  in  his  success,  as  he  may  be 
said  to  belong  to  a  family  of  gardeners,  his  fa- 
ther, uncle  and  two  brothers  having  engaged  in 
the  same  business. 

Mr.    Wood    is  a   great-grandson    of    Isaac 
Wood,  and  a  grandson  of  Joseph  W.  Wood, 
who  was  married  three  times,  first  to  Mariam  . 
Odel  (mother  of  Joseph  J.  Wood,  our  subject's 
father).     Joseph  J.   Wood  was  born   May  4, 
1828,  and  in  early  manhood  began  his  work  in 
the    nursery  business  in   the  employ  of  John 
Burrow,  with  whom  he  remained  about  sixteen 
years.      He  then  married  Rebecca  J.  Vernol, 
who  was  born  February  20,  1835,  a  daughter' 
of  Epenetus  and  Ann  (La  Due)  Vernol,  and 
five    children     were     born    of    this    marriage: 
Lewis  E.,  Eugene  V.,  Annie  J.,  Isaac  J.  and 
Howard  E.     The   parents  are  still   living  at 
Fishkill.     After  his  marriage  the  father  tooki 
charge   of   the   Rapalje   estate,    where   he   re- 
mained   some    eighteen    years.      In    1874    he^ 
bought  an  equal  interest  in  the  nursery  busi- 
ness of  Burrow  &  Wood,  the  junior  member  of  1 
the  firm  being   his  brother,    Isaac  C.    Wood 
On  September  6,   1876,  the  two  brothers  pur 
chased    Mr.  Burrow's  interest,  and  continue{ 
under  the  firm  name  of  I.  C.  Wood  &  Bro. 
the  partnership  lasting  until  July  i,  1889,  whet 
our  subject  and  his  brothers,   Eugene  V.  am 
Isaac  J.,  bought  the  entire  property  ahd  busi 
ness.     They  have  about  fifty  acres  of  land  un- 
der cultivation,  with   some  forty  greenhouses 
which  they  have  remodeled  from  time  to  time 
since  they  took  possession. 


V 


^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


127 


Lewis  E.  Wood  was  born  at  Fishkill,  No- 
vember 20,  1856,  and  was  educated  in  tiie 
Union  Free  School.  He  attended  school 
steadily,  winters  and  summers,  until  he  was 
^eighteen  years  old,  when  he  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  Burrow  &  Wood,  and  after  two  years 
of  work  in  the  greenhouses  he  was  placed  in 
charge.  This  responsible  position  he  held  up 
to  the  time  that  he  and  his  brothers  bought 
the  business,  with  the  exception  of  two  years 
(1879  and  1880)  when  he  conducted  a  branch 
of  the  business  at  Newburg. 

On  October  21,  1877,  Mr.  Wood  married 
Miss  Ada  Jackson,  daughter  of  Orry  and  Cor- 
nelia (Pink)  Jackson,  former  residents  of  Milan, 
Dutchess  county,  and  has  three  children: 
Eugene  Wesley,  Frederick  Morgan  and  Flor- 
ence Emily.  Mr.  Wood  emphatically  en- 
lorses  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party, 
lut  is  not  an  active  political  worker. 


f  r'ER  PLANCK.     The  first  member  of  this 

V     family,  of  whom  a   definite  account  has 

n   preserved,    was    Abraham    Ver  Planck, 

>  often  called  himself  Abraham  Isaacse  (or 

icsen),  meaning   thereby   that   he  was   the 

of  Isaac.      The  e.xact  date  of  his  arrival  in 

.  .lerica  is  not  known,  some  authorities  claim- 

:g  that  he   came    previous  to  his  marriage, 

hich  took  place  about  1635,  and  others  indi- 

atitig  that  he  accompanied  Governor  Kieft  in 

630.      His  name    appears    frequently    in  the 

jcords  of  the  early  Dutch  settlers,  notably  in 

onnection  with  the  purchase  of  large  tracts  of 

ind. 

This  Abraham   Ver  Planck  married  Maria 

inge  Ross,    and  by   her  had    a  son,  Gulian, 

rn  January  I,  1637,  who   married  Hendrika 

ssels;  their  son,    Samuel,   born   December 

1668,  married    Ariantje    Bayard;  their  son 

^uian,   born    May    31,    1698,    married    Mary 

imelin;  their  son,   Samuel,  born  Septem- 

'9.  1739.  niarried  Judith  Crommelin;  and 

son.    Daniel   C.    born    March   19,  1762, 

rried  Elizabeth  Johnson.     These  latter  were 

great-grandparents  of  Robert  Newlin  Ver- 

nck.  the  subject   proper  of  this  biography. 

Gulian  Crommelin.   son   of   Daniel  C.  and 

^abeth   (Johnson)  Ver   Planck,   and  grand- 

ner  of  Robert   Newlin.    was  born  August  6, 

6,  in  New  York.      His  mother  died  when 

was  three  years  old,  and   his  father  having 

rried  again,  he  was  brought  up  by  his  grand- 

ther,  Judith    Crommelin.     At    the    age    of 


iiian 

m 


eleven  years  he  entered  Columbia  College, 
and  graduated  in  the  class  of  1801.  Not  long 
after  he  studied  law,  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1807,  and  at  once  took  up  the  practice. 
As  his  leaning,  however,  was  rather  to  litera- 
ture and  politics,  he  devoted  himself  to  them, 
abandoning  the  practice  of  law.  In  181 1  he 
married  Eliza  Fenno,  and  in  18 16  they  took  a 
trip  to  Europe,  where,  in  Paris,  Mrs.  Ver- 
Planck  died  in  18 17.  He  subsequently  vis- 
ited Holland,  England,  Scotland,  etc.,  return- 
ing to  New  York  in  181 8.  After  this  he  took 
part  in  the  political  life  of  the  day,  and  con- 
tributed several  articles  to  its  literature,  as 
well  as  on  various  other  subjects,  all  his  efforts 
in  that  line  exhibiting  considerable  ability. 
He  was,  also,  a  lover  of  art,  and  made  a  col- 
lection of  several  good  paintings  and  engrav- 
ings. In  1825  he  was  sent  to  Congress  as  a 
representative  from  New  York  City,  there  re- 
maining through  four  successive  terms,  and 
from  1837  to  1 84 1  he  sa't  in  the  Senate  of  the 
State  of  New  York.  He  then  undertook  what 
may  be  considered  the  crowning  work  of  his 
literary  efforts — the  editing  of  Shakespere's 
plays  and  poems — -which  occupied  him  three 
years.  He  died  March  18,  1870,  at  his  town 
residence  in  New  York,  in  his  eighty-fourth 
year,  and  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  Trin- 
ity Church,  Fishkill  Village,  Dutchess  county. 
His  children  were  William  Samuel  (mentioned 
below),  and  Gulian,  born  April  29,  1815,  died 
November  19,  1845. 

William  Samuel,  father  of  Robert  Newlin 
Ver  Planck,  was  born  in  New  York  City,  Octo- 
ber 15.  1812.  After  graduating  at  Columbia 
College  in  1832,  he  commenced  studying  law, 
and  in  due  course  was  admitted  to  the  bar; 
but  he  practiced  only  a  short  time,  turning  his 
attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  taking 
charge  first  of  the  Mount  Gulian  farm,  and 
afterward  of  his  father's  farms  on  the  Fishkill 
Plains.  On  November  17,  1837,  he  married 
Anna  Biddle,  third  daughter  of  Robert  and 
Mary  (Brown)  Newlin,  and  eight  children  were 
born  to  them,  as  follows:  (i)  Eliza  Fenno, 
born  September  16,  1838,  married  Benjamin 
Richards,  of  New  York,  where  they  live;  (2) 
Mary  Newlin,  born  October  18,  1840,  married 
Samuel  W.  Johnson,  who  died  in  1881  (she  is 
now  living  in  New  York);  (3)  Robert  Newlin, 
asketch  of  whom  appears  presently;  (4)  Daniel 
Crommelin,  born  April  13,  1845,  died  April  8, 
1854;  (5)  Anna,  born  November  27,  1846, 
married  Samuel  H.  Clapp,  who  died  in    1891 


128 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIGAL  RECORD 


(she  is  now  living  in  Albany,  N.  Y.);  (6)  Jean- 
nette,  born  March  7,  1849,  married  Theodore 
M.  Etting,  of  Philadelphia,  where  they  are 
now  living;  (7)  Gelyna,  born  January  23,  1852, 
married  Brig. -Gen.  Louis  Fitzgerald,  of  New 
York,  where  they  are  now  living;  and  (8)  Will- 
iam Edward,  born  April  8,  1856,  married  Vir- 
ginia Eliza  Darby,  and  they  live  at  Mount  Gu- 
lian,  Fishkill-on-Hudson.  The  father  of  this 
family  died  December  23,  1885,  and  is  buried 
by  the  side  of  the  mother  (who  died  May  31, 
1883),  in  the  Rural  Cemetery,  Fishkill.  He 
inherited  his  father's  love  of  reading,  and  had 
a  very  retentive  memory;  was  a  good  farmer 
and  a  successful  one;  a  thorough  sportsman 
and  an  excellent  shot.  At  the  time  of  his  death 
he  was  president  of  the  Savings  Bank,  and 
vice-president  of  the  First  National  Bank. 

Robert  Newlin  Ver  Planck  was  born 
November  18.  1842,  ai  the  family  homestead 
one  and  one-half  miles  north  of  Fishkill-on- 
Hudson.  This  old  house  was  built  in  1730  or 
'40  by  Gulian  Ver  Planck,  the  grandson  of  the 
Gulian  Ver  Planck,  who  by  royal  charter  ob- 
tained from  the  Indians  one-third  of  the  famous 
Roinbout  Patent,  the  first  tract  of  land  granted 
within  the  limits  of  Dutchess  county.  It  em- 
braced the  present  towns  of  Fishkill,  East 
Fishkill,  and  Wappinger,  the  western  part  of 
Lagrange,  and  nine  thousand  acres  within  the 
southern  limits  of  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie. 
February  8,  1682,  Gulian  Ver  Planck  and 
Francis  Rombout  obtained  a  license  to  pur- 
chase this  tract  from  the  Aborigines,  the  grant 
making  the  issue  of  a  patent  conditional  upon 
a  prior  settlement  with  them,  and  the  require- 
ments being  met  the  deed  was  delivered,  and 
on  the  14th  day  of  August,  1683,  was  recorded 
among  the  State  papers  at  Albany.  The  Ver- 
Planck  homestead  was  one  of  the  principal 
landmarks  in  this  section  in  the  early  days, 
and  one  of  the  important  events  which  the 
walls  of  the  historic  mansion  have  witnessed 
was  the  organization  of  the  Society  of  the 
Cincinnati,  May  13,  1783,  when  Baron  Steuben, 
inspector-general  of  the  Continental  army,  oc- 
cupied the  house  for  his  headquarters,  the 
army  being  then  at  Newburg.  [See  Irving's 
"Life  of  Washington,"  Vol.  IV,  Page  392, 
ct  seq.'\ 

Our  subject  was  prepared  for  Harvard 
College  by  Otis  Bisbee,  of  Poughkeepsie,  and 
was  graduated  from  that  institution  in  1863, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  He  immedi- 
ately   joined    the    Twenty-second    Regiment 


N.  Y.  State  Militia,  then  stationed  at  Carlisle, 
Penn.,  and  on  the  return  of  the  regiment  went 
to  Washington.  On  September  15,  1863,  he 
was  made  second  lieutenant  of  U.  S.  Volun- 
teers, by  Gen.  Silas  Casey's  examining  board. 
He  served  as  provost  marshal  of  the  Third 
Division,  Eighteenth  Army  Corps,  Army  of  the 
James,  and  participated  in  all  the  battles  that 
were  fought  on  the  north  side  of  the  river.  In 
the  winter  of  1864-65  he  was  made  aid-de- 
camp to  Brig.-Gen.  Truman  Seymour,  Third 
Division,  Sixth  Army  Corps,  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac, and  received  brevet  for  gallant  and 
meritorious  services  on  April  2,  1865,  when 
the  line  was  broken  in  front  of  Petersburg.  He 
was  mustered  out  as  captain  June  21,  1865. 
On  his  return  from  the  army  he  engaged  in  re- 
fining petroleum  in  Jersey  City,  continuing  in 
this  business  from  September,  1865,  till  the 
spring  of  1871,  when  he  sold  out  to  the  Stand- 
ard Oil  Company,  and  took  charge  of  his 
father's  lands,  comprising  seven  farms  in  East 
Fishkill. 

On  February  24,  1876,  Mr.  Ver  Planck 
was  married  to  Katharine  Brinckerhoff,  daugh- 
ter of  Matthew  Van  Benschoten  and  Mary 
(Franklin)  Brinckerhoff,  and  they  have  five 
children,  viz.:  Gulian  Cromelin,  Judith Crome- 
lin,  Mary  Brinckerhoff,  William  Samuel  and 
Robert  St.  Clair. 


DAVID  E.  ACKERT,   a  leading  merchant 
^    of  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county,  the  senior 

partner  of  the  well-known  firm  of  Ackert  & 
Son,  is  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  old  Holland- 
Dutch  families  of  the  county,  his  great-grand- 
father, George  Ackert,  having  been  the  owner 
of  a  farm  three  miles  south  of  Rhinebeck. 
This  property  has  been  in  the  possession  of 
the  family  from  that  time  to  this,  and  is  at  pres- 
ent held  by  George  Ackert.  George  Ackert  (2), 
our  subject's  grandfather,  who  was  born  about 
1780.  was  a  farmer  also,  and  his  son,  William 
G.  Ackert,  born  about  1809,  was  engaged  in 
the  same  occupation  early  in  life.  His  later 
years  were  spent  in  Rhinebeck  in  the  employ 
of  W.  S.  Cowles  &  Co.,  dealers  in  dry  goods, 
groceries,  boots  and  shoes,  farm  implements 
and  other  commodities.  He  was  never  active 
in  political  or  religious  movements,  and  his  life 
passed  uneventfully  in  the  careful  performance 
of  his  duties.  He  died  in  1876,  and  his  wife, 
Permelia  Ackert,  daughter  of  George  Ackert, 
passed  away  about  1880. 


.  Q  ^jd'^A:.^^ 


fl 


COMMEMORATIVE  BtOGBAPEICAL  RECORD. 


120 


David  E.  Ackert,  their  only  son,  was  born 
September  20,  1832,  in  the  town  of  Rhinebeck, 
and  received  his  early  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  place.  At  the  age  of  fif- 
teen he  became  •  an  errand  boy  for  W.  S. 
Cowles  &  Co. ,  and  was  soon  promoted  to  a 
clerkship,  which  he  held  until  his  purchase  of 
the  business  in  1868.  For  the  last  twenty- 
seven  years  he  has  successfully  conducted  this 
store,  one  of  the  largest  in  the  town  dealing  in 
dry  goods,  groceries  and  crockery.  It  is  sel- 
dom that  one  finds  such  a  record  of  fifty  years 
of  continuous  effort  in  one  enterprise.  Of  late 
years  his  son,  Ernest  Cowles  Ackert,  has  been 
a  partner  in  the  firm. 

In  September,  1853,  Mr.  Ackert  married 
Miss  Mary  Worden,  of  Rhinebeck,  who  died 
n  1883,  leaving  two  children — the  son  men- 
:ioned  above  and  a  daughter,  Emma  K.,  the 
A'ife  of  Charles  E.  Worden,  of  Saratoga,  New 
fork. 

Mr.  Ackert  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 

\I.  E.  Church,   with    which    he    united  thirty 

•  ears  ago,  and  is   a  constant  and  devout  stu- 

ient  of   the    Bible.      He  has    been  a  Church 

irustee  for  many  years,  and  has  served  as  pres- 

dent  of  the  board.      He  upholds  the  principles 

i  the  Republican  party,  but  is  not  a  political 

/orker,  although  as  a  good  citizen  he  is  always 

eady  to  respond  to  any  call  to  duty,  and  has 

een  president   of  the   village  for  four  years, 

nd  chief  of  the  Fire  Department  for  five  years. 

le  is  a  member  of  the  fraternal  order  of  Odd 

"ellows. 


KIARLES  D.  SHERWOOD,  a  leading  ag- 
riculturist of  the  town  of  Fishkill,  Dutch- 
5o  county,  is  one  of   the  younger  workers  in 
■cal  affairs — religious,  political,  and  social. 

On  the  paternal  side  of  the  house,  he  is  of 
nglish  descent,  his  ancestors  coming  to  this 
luntry  some  time  during  the  seventeenth  cen- 
•  ry  and  locating  in  Connecticut.  He  is  of  the 
'?hth  generation  in  descent  from  Thomas 
ijrwood  and  Alice  Seabrook,  his  wife,  whose 
;n,  Matthew,  married  Mary  Fitch,  and  had 
iiue,  Samuel,  who  married  Rebecca  Burr, 
leir  son  Thomas  married  Anne  Burr,  and 
Ms  the  father  of  Joseph,  who  was  born  in 
teenfield  Hill,  Conn.,  January  15,  1754. 
h  served  for  some  time  as  corporal  and  was 
f  inmissioned,  by  Gov.  Jonathan  Trunr.bull,  a 
lutenant  in  the  Twelfth  Company  of  the 
iiurth  Regiment,  of  Connecticut  Militia,  May 


20,  1780.  As  corporal  he  served  during  the 
Revolution  in  the  force  detailed  to  reinforce 
Gen.  Putnam,  on  the  Hudson,  during  Bur- 
goyne's  expedition,  and  as  lieutenant  in  the  de- 
fense of  the  Connecticut  coast.  [Evidence 
found  in  "Connecticut  Men  in  the  Revolu- 
tion;" pp.  520,  521,  576.]  Mrs.  John  I. 
Piatt,  of  Poughkeepsie,  has  this  commission  in 
her  possession.  He  married  Sarah  Bradley, 
and  died  in  Chester,  N.  Y. ,  January  22,  1838. 
His  son  Samuel  settled  in  East  Fishkill,  and 
married  Ruth  Du  Bois.  They  had  nine  chil- 
dren; the  youngest,  Isaac,  born  March  25, 
1826,  married  Mary  Du  Bois,  June  24,  1851, 
and  had  one  son. 

The  Du  Bois  family,  from  whom  Mr.  Sher- 
wood's mother  descended,  is  of  French-Hu- 
guenot origin,  and  one  of  the  oldest  in  the 
State.  The  first  of  that  name  who  emigrated 
to  the  New  World  was  Jacques  Du  Bois,  who 
was  born  in  Leyden,  France,  and  married 
Pierromie  Bentyn,  of  the  same  place.  They 
reared  a  family  of  eight  children:  Marie, 
Jacques,  Marie,  Jean,  Anne,  Jehan,  Pierre  and 
Christian. 

Pierre  Du  Bois  came  with  the  family  to 
America  in  1675,  and  located  at  Esopus,  Ul- 
ster Co.,  N.  Y. ,  but  spent  most  of  his  early 
life  in  Kingston,  where  he  married  Jeannetje 
Burhans,  October  12,  1697.  In  1707  they 
came  to  Dutchess  county,  locating  in  the  town 
of  Fishkill,  about  three  and  one-half  miles 
east  of  the  village  of  that  name.  Here  he 
secured  a  tract  of  land,  and  lived  with  his 
family.  His  eldest  son  was  born  in  Kingston, 
the  other  children  after  he  had  moved  to 
Dutchess  county.  They  were  as  follows: 
Petronella  (i),  Johannes  (i).  Jacobus,  Chris- 
tiaan,  Jonathan,  Peter,  Abraham,  Johannes  (2), 
Helen,  Elizabeth  and  Petronella  (2).  The 
fourth  child,  Christiaan  Du  Bois,  married 
Nelltje  Van  Vliet,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  three  children:  Jannetje,  Elizabeth 
and  Christian.  The  last  named  was  born 
June  13,  1746,  and  was  married  in  1768  to 
Helena  Van  Voorhis,  by  whom  he  had  seven 
children:  Henry,  Abraham,  Garret,  John, 
Elizabeth,  Catherine  and  Coert. 

Garret  Du  Bois,  the  fourth  son,  was  the 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject.  He  married 
Hannah  Cooper,  and  located  upon  a  farm  near 
Johnsville  (now  the  town  of  East  Fishkill), 
where  they  reared  their  family  of  three  chil- 
dren: Maria,  who  married  Peter  S.  Montfort, 
father  of  Peter  V.  W.  Montfort,  of  the  town 


h 


180 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQBAPUIOAL  RECORD. 


i 


of  Wappinger,  Dutchess  county;  Eliza,  who 
married  Peter  Fowler,  a  farmer  of  Orange 
county,  N.  Y. ;  and  Charles  Lewis  Du  Bois. 

Charles  L.  Du  Bois  was  born  in  1799,  on 
the  home  farm  in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  married 
Catherine  Hasbrouck,  who  was  born  in  the 
same  township,  in  1800.  Her  father,  Tunis 
Hasbrouck,  belonged  to  the  same  family  as 
those  of  the  name  in  Ulster  county,  N.  Y. 
After  their  marriage  they  lived  on  the  farm 
near  Johnsville,  where  were  born  their  four 
children:  Jane  Eliza,  who  married  Augustus 
Bartow,  now  a  resident  of  Hackensack,  N.  J.; 
Mary,  wife  of  Isaac  Sherwood;  Garret,  who 
married  Mary  Ida  Van  Wyck;  and  Has- 
brouck, a  clergyman  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church  in  New  York  City,  who  married  Kate 
Schuyler  Anderson.  Throughout  life  the  fa- 
ther carried  on  farming,  and  he  died  in  Janu- 
ary, 1878,  while  his  wife  survived  hiin  about 
two  years.  She  was  a  sincere  member  of  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church. 

Charles  D.  Sherwood,  son  of  Isaac  and 
Mary  Du  Bois  Sherwood,  was  born  September 
18,  1854,  in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  where 
his  father  lived  for  many  years.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  schools  of  his  native  town.  New- 
burg,  and  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.  Failing 
health  obliged  him  to  abandon  his  prepara- 
tions for  a  collegiate  education,  and  he  after- 
ward engaged  in  farming  at  the  present  home- 
stead near  Brinckerhoff,  his  father  having 
moved  there  some  time  before.  In  1883  he 
married  Anne  R.  Cotheal,  daughter  of  Isaac 
E.  Cotheal  and  Catherine  Elizabeth  (Rapalje). 
Mr.  Sherwood  is  a  trustee  of  the  Fishkill  Rural 
Cemetery,  and  trustee  and  treasurer  of  the 
Rombout  Cemetery  at  Brinckerhoff.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  First  Reformed  Church  at  Fish- 
kill, and  one  of  its  Consistory. 

Mrs.  Sherwood  is  of  the  Set'ciith  Genera- 
tion in  descent  from  Jarvis  Jansen  de  Rapalje, 
one  of  the  proscribed  Huguenots  from  "  Ro- 
chelle  in  France,"  who  was  the  common  an- 
cestor of  all  the  American  families  of  this 
name.  He  came  to  this  country  with  other 
colonists  in  1623,  in  the  "Unity,"  a  ship  of 
the  West  India  Company,  and  settled  at  Fort 
Orange  (now  Albany),  where  he  remained  three 
years.  In  1626  he  removed  to  New  Amster- 
dam, and  resided  there  till  after  the  birth  of  his 
youngest  child.  On  June  16,  1637,  he  bought 
from  the  Indians  a  tract  of  land  computed  at 
335  acres,  called  Rennegaconck,  now  included 


within. the  city  of  Brooklyn  and  comprehend- 
ing the  lands  occupied  by  the  U.  S.  Marine 
Hospital.  Here  Mr.  Rapalje  finally  located, 
and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was 
a  leading  citizen,  acting  a  ^irominent  part  ir 
the  public  affairs  of  the  colony,  and  serving  ir 
the  magistracy  of  Brooklyn.  He  died  soon  af- 
ter the  close  of  the  Dutch  administration,  his 
widow,  Catalyntie,  daughter  of  Joris  Trico,  sur- 
viving him  many  years.  She  was  born  ir 
Paris,  and  died  September  11,  1689,  agec 
eighty-four.  The  original  family  record  pre- 
served in  the  library  of  the  New  York  Histor- 
ical Society  gives  the  names  and  dates  of  birtl 
of  their  children  as  follows:  Sarah,  June  9 
1625,  married  first  to  Hans  Hansse  Bergen 
and  then  to  Teunis  Gysberts  Bogart;  Marritie 
born  March  11,  1627,  married  Michael  Van 
dervoort;  Jannetie,  born  August  18,  1629 
married  Rem  Vanderbeeck;  Judith,  born  Jul 
5,  1635,  married  Pieter  Van  Nest;  Jan,  bor 
August  28,  1639,  was  killed  by  Indians;  Cata 
lyntie,  born  March  28,  1641,  married  Jere 
mias  Westerhout;  Jerominus,  born  June  2; 
1643;  Annetie,  born  February  8,  1646,  mar 
ried  (first)  Martin  Reyerse,  and  (second)  Joos 
Fransz;  Elizabeth,  born  March  28,  164S: 
married  Dirck  Hooglandt;  and  Daniel,  bon 
December  29,   1650. 

Second  Generation:  Jerominus  Rapalj 
became  a  man  of  some  prominence,  a  justic 
of  the  peace,  and  deacon  of  the  Brookly 
Church.  He  married  Anna,  daughter  c 
Teunis  Denys,  and  had  nine  children,  born  i 
follows:  Joris,  November  5,  1668;  Teuni: 
May  5,  1671;  Jan,  December  14,  1673;  Fen 
metie,  October  5,  1676,  married  Jan  BennJ 
Jacob,  June  25,  1679;  Jerominus,  born  Maifl 
31,  1682;  Catalina,  born  March  25,  168 
married  Peter  Dumond,  of  Raritan,  N. 
Sarah,  November,  1687,  married  HansBerge: 
and  Cornelius,  born  October  21,  1690. 

Third  Generation:     Jan   Rapalje,    son 
Jerominus,  married  Annettie,  daughter  of  Co 
Van  Voorhees,  and  was  a  farmer  on  a  port 
of  the  family  estate,   in  Brooklyn.     They  h 
three  children:     George,  Jeromus,   John. 

Fourth  Generation:  Jeromus  Rapalje,  1 
of  Jan,  inherited  a  farm  at  Flushing,  where 
died  in  1754.  He  was  twice  married,  andl' 
six  children:  John,  Richard,  Stephen,  Ad 
Ida,   Elizabeth. 

Fifth  Generation:     John   Rapalje,    soni 
Jeromus,    was    born     in    1722,    and    died 
Jamaica,  at  about  the  age  of  fifty  years. 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPEICAL  RECORD. 


181 


was  twice  married,  and  by  his  first  wife  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  Abram  Brintcerhoff,  had  five 
children:  Catherine,  who  married  Teunis 
Brinkerhoff;  Jeromus;  Abraham  Brinkerhoff; 
Aletta,  who  married  James  Debevoise;  Rich- 
ard. The  sons  settled  at  Fishkill,  N.  Y. , 
where  their  descendants  remain. 

Sixth  Generation:  Richard  Rapalje,  son 
of  John,  was  thrice  married,  and  had  eleyen 
children. 

Seventh  Generation:  Catharine  Elizabeth 
"Rapalje,  daughter  of  Richard,  married  Isaac 
E.  Cotheal,  of  New  York  City,  son  of  Henry 
md  Phebe  (Berrian  Warner)  Cotheal.  They 
;iad  three  children:  Elizabeth  M.,  the  wife  of 
Dr.  Howell  White;  Anne  Rapalje,  married  to 
Charles  D.  Sherwood;  and  Catharine  Eliza- 
beth, unmarried. 

On  the  paternal  side  Mrs.  Sherwood  is  de- 
scended from  William  Cotheal,  whose  father 
vas  a  practicing  physician  and  surgeon.  He 
ame  from  France  and  located  first  in  Con- 
lecticut,  afterward  going  to  the  City  of  New 
I'ork,  and  from  there  to  the  town  of  Wood- 
bridge,  Middlesex  county,  New  Jersey. 

William  Cotheal  married  Charlotte  Dove, 
nd  they  had  nine  children;  the  youngest, 
saac,  married  Elizabeth  Evans,  and  had  two 
ons,  Henry  and  David.  Henry  married  Phebe 
ierrian  Warner,  and  had  six  sons  and  four 
aughters.  The  youngest  son,  Isaac,  married 
'atharine  Elizabeth  Rapalje,  and  had  three 
aughters. 


Q,ANIEL  M.  SHEEDY,  M.  D.,  one  of  the 
_  successful  physicians  and  surgeons  of  the 
ity  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  is  a 
ative  of  Norwalk,  Conn.,  where  his  parents, 
lichael  and  Johanna  (Hanlon)  Sheedy,  were 
larried.  The  father,  who  was  born  in  Kil- 
enny,  Ireland,  was  a  stock  farmer  by  occupa- 
on,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  both  living.  In 
leir  family  were  the  following  children:  Dan- 
1  (deceased);  Mary  (deceased  wife  of  Dr. 
seney,  of  Newburgh,  N.  Y.);  Mary  Cather- 
a  Sister  of  Charity;  Kate,  wife  of  Law- 
Maguire;  Thomas  John  (deceased),  who 
a  stock  farmer;  Dr.  B.  D.  Sheedy,  of 
Report,  Conn.;  Daniel  M.,  subject  of  this 
ch,  and  Fannie,  wife  of  Dr.  Thomas 
«e,  of  Union  Hill,  New  Jersey. 
)ur  subject  attended  the  public  schools  of 
iralk.  Conn.,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
J8s.      He  then  began  the  study  of  medicine 


with  his  brother.  Dr.  B.  D.  Sheedy,  at  North- 
ampton, Mass.,  after  which  he  entered  the 
New  York  University,  graduating  from  the 
medical  department  with  the  class  of  1888. 
He  has  also  taken  special  courses  under  Prof. 
Loomis,  on  the  heart  and  lungs;  under  Prof. 
Harry  P.  Loomis,  on  pathology;  under  Prof. 
Whithouse,  on  chemistry;  and  under  Prof. 
Wright,  on  surgery.  After  his  graduation  he 
was  admitted  to  the  Massachusetts  Medical 
Society,  and  also  holds  membership  with  the 
Dutchess  County  Medical  Society.  At  the 
present  time  (spring  of  1897),  he  is  taking  spe- 
cial studies  at  the  Post-graduate  Hospital,  New 
York  City. 

On  August  6,  1888,  Dr.  Sheedy  arrived  in 
Poughkeepsie,  where  he  established  an  office  at 
his  present  place  of  business,  and  has  built  up 
a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  He  is  an  ex- 
tremely busy  and  successful  practitioner,  and 
stands  high  among  his  professional  brethren. 
In  1890  he  made  a  trip  to  Europe,  which  was 
mostly  for  pleasure,  though  he  gave  some  time 
to  study.  In  his  religious  views  the  Doctor  is 
a  Roman  Catholic,  belonging  to  St.  Mary's 
Church,  Poughkeepsie.  On  April  28,  1897,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Agnes  Kelly,  a  graduate 
of  Lyndon  Hall,  1896,  the  only  daughter  of 
Timothy  G.  Kelly,  a  successful  business  man  of 
Poughkeepsie,  New  York. 


m.  NNA  C.  HOWLAND,  M.  D.,  who  is  suc- 
./^  cessfully  engaged  in  the  practice  of  med- 
icine in  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  is  a 
native  of  the  Pine  Tree  State,  born  in  the  town 
of  Hallowell,  Kennebec  county,  where  she 
spent  her  girlhood,  and  in  the  public  schools 
and  seminaries  of  that  county  acquired  an  ex- 
cellent education.  Her  father,  Henry  Cole, 
who  was  born  at  Vassalboro,  was  a  well-edu- 
cated man,  a  county  squire  and  a  representa- 
tive to  the  State  Legislature  of  Maine.  He 
engaged  in  teaching  many  years,  then  in  the 
manufacture  of  blocks  for  stamping  oil  cloth. 
He  is  now  deceased,  and  his  widow  is  making 
her  home  with  her  daughter,  our  subject.  She 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Esther  Pope,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  Elijah  Pope,  a  native  of  Port- 
land, Maine,  and  an  architect  and  ship  carpen- 
ter by  occupation.  Our  subject  is  the  eldest 
of  three  children,  and  the  only  survivor,  her 
two  sisters,  Sarah  and  Mary,  being  now  de- 
ceased. 

While  attending  the  Quakers'  yearly  meet- 


182 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ing  school  at  Providence,  R.  I.,  Anna  Cole 
met  William  H.  Rowland,  who  was  there  at- 
tending school,  and  afterward  became  his  wife, 
their  wedding  being  celebrated  at  Hallowell, 
Maine,  in  1855.  At  that  time  he  was  engaged 
in  teaching  at  Nine  Partners  Boarding  School, 
near  Millbrook,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  where 
they  removed,  and  there  lived  for  about  six 
years.  Giving  up  that  profession,  Mr.  How- 
land  began  business  at  Highland,  Ulster  Co., 
N.  Y. ,  where  they  remained  for  four  years, 
coming,  in  1865,  to  Poughkeepsie.  The  fol- 
lowing year  the  wife  entered  the  New  York 
Medical  College  for  women,  from  which  she 
graduated  two  years  later.  As  Mr.  Howland 
died  in  1869,  she  at  once  began  practice  in 
order  to  educate  her  four  children:  Edward 
Cole,  who  is  now  the  Washington  correspond- 
ent of  the  New  York  Press ;  Katherine  Flint, 
who  makes  her  home  with  her  mother;  Henry 
Cole,  on  the  editorial  staff  of  the  Mail  and 
Express ;  and  Anna  In  man,  wife  of  William 
Chaning  Russel,  Jr.,  city  editor  of  the  Phila- 
delphia Record,  whose  father  was  vice-presi- 
dent of  Cornell  University. 

In  1868  Dr.  Howland  entered  upon  her 
career  as  a  physician  in  Poughkeepsie,  where 
she  remained  until  1886,  when  she  removed 
to  Philadelphia,  Penn.,  practicing  there  as  an 
examining  physician  for  five  years.  In  De- 
cember, 1 89 1,  however,  she  returned  to 
Poughkeepsie,  where  she  has  since  continued 
to  follow  her  chosen  profession,  and  has 
secured  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  She 
belongs  to  the  Homeopathic  school,  and  in 
connection  with  her  extensive  office  practice 
conducts  a  private  hospital  at  her  residence. 
For  many  years  she  has  been  secretary  of  the 
Dutchess  County  Homeopathic  Medical  Soci- 
ety, and  is  also  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Homeopathic  State  Medical  Society.  The 
place  she  has  won  in  the  medical  profession 
is  accorded  her  in  recognition  of  her  skill 
and  ability,  and  the  place  which  she  occupies 
in  the  social  world  is  due  to  her  many 
noble  traits  of  character,  and  the  love 
and  confidence  which  she  always  inspires. 
She  is  a  conscientious  and  earnest  Christian, 
a  faithful  member  of  Christ  Church. 


QEORGE  MORGAN  was  born  July  16, 
1816,  at  Chatham,  Columbia  county, 
N.  Y.  His  father,  William  Morgan,  a  farmer 
and  clothier   from   Hartford,   Conn.,   had  re- 


moved, in  1819,  to  Salisbury,  in  the  same 
State,  w'here  the  early  years  of  George  Mor- 
gan's life  were  passed,  working  on  the  farm  in 
summer,  and  improving  the  few  months  of 
schooling  during  the  winter  time. 

The  history  of  American  manhood  points 
unerringly  to  the  fact  that  while  an  education 
thus  obtained  is  usually  meager,  it  is  neverthe- 
less valuable;  for  while  he  who  obtains  it  may 
lack  the  exquisite  polish  which  much  learning 
is  supposed  to  give,  yet  he  is  often  better 
equipped  in  the  true  elements  of  knowledge 
than  are  they  who  enjoy  large  opportunities, 
but  are  devoid  of  the  industry  which  the  ab- 
sence of  wealth  enlivens. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen  the  subject  of  this 
notice,  with  the  money  earned  by  him  at  hard 
work  under  summer  sun  and  wintry  blasts, 
paid  his  tuition  and  board  for  three  months' 
attendance  at  Wilbraham  Academy,  Mass.; 
and  at  the  end  of  this  time,  by  sawing  wood 
and  doing  various  other  odd  items  of  work, 
he  actually  paid  his  way  for  another  term. 

What  a  commentary  we  find  here  on  the 
possibilities  which  surround  the  young  men 
and  women  of  this,  the  greatest  and  grandest 
government  on  earth,  where  it  is  decreed  that 
individual  merit  only  is  the  standard  of  per- 
sonal distinction.  The  corner  stone  of  the 
American  Republic  is  squared  and  cemented 
with  the  declaration  that  all  are  equal,  and 
that  there  is  no  royal  road  to  learning,  honor, 
or  success. 

His  school  days  ended,  Mr.  Morgan  came 
to  Pine  Plains,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  and  en- 
tered upon  a  clerkship  in  a  country  store,  re- 
ceiving for  his  services  the  munificent  sum  of 
forty  cents  per  day.  But  perseverance  and 
economy  overcome  all  obstacles  in  the  road  to 
success,  and  at  the  age  of  thirty  years  he  had 
accumulated  $20,000.  He  married  his  first 
wife  at  about  this  time,  and  engaged  in  busi- 
ness in  New  York  City,  only  to  realize  the  loss 
of  nearly  the  whole  of  his  fortune.  About 
the  year  1846  he  removed  to  Columbia  county, 
where  he  purchased  a  farm  and  again  went  to 
work.  In  1848  he  was  elected  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  holding  the  office  for  a  term  of  years. 
In  1857  he  leased  the  Dakin  ore  mine,  in 
Dutchess  county,  for  which  he  paid  a  heavy 
rent,  and  afterward  bought  the  property. 
Soon  afterward  he  sold  the  mine  to  C.  S. 
Maltby,  of  New  Haven,  Conn.,  for  $100,000. 

In  November,  1864,  he  removed  to  the  cit> 
of  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  invested  $40,ock: 


^u^ 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPEICAL  RECORD. 


133 


\ 


in  government  bonds.  Then  came  the  r'eal- 
, estate  wave,  and  he  was  carried  along  with  it, 
the  prices  running  high.  He  purchased  the 
"Morgan  House  "  and  the  College  Hill  prop- 
erty, for  which  latter  he  paid  $33,500.  He 
ialso  bought  the  Swift  farm.  In  looking  over 
his  farm  he  discovered  several  natural  springs, 
■and  concluded  by  excavating  the  ground  and 
idamming  it  a  lake  could  be  formed,  and  to-day 
"Morgan  lake,"  situated  in  the  suburbs  fur- 
nishes the  city  with  pure  spring  water  ice.  It 
might  appropriately  be  styled  a  sparkling 
monument  to  his  memory. 

On  September  21,  1879,  the  earthly  life  of 
Senator  George  Morgan  was  brought  to  a 
:lose.  To-day  he  sleeps  among  his  kindred  in 
:he  cemetery  at  Pine  Plains,  in  the  county  of 
lis  adoption,  and  for  whose  material  interests 
le  had  so  nobly  contended;  his  memory  cher- 
shed  by  a  grateful  people  whose  pride  is  cen- 
;ered  in  his  manliness,  honesty,  courage  and 
idelity. 

In  1869  Mr.  Morgan  was  chosen  by  the 
jeople  as  mayor  of  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie,  be- 
ng  the  first  Democrat  ever  called  to  that  posi- 
:ion;  and  at  the  general  election  in  November 
[f  that  year  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
S'ew  York  State  Senate  from  the  Eleventh 
)istrict,  including  Dutchess  county,  defeating 
as  Republican  opponent,  Jonathan  Rider,  by 
majority  of  1 87.  The  same  district  two  years 
efore  had  elected  a  Republican  by  over  700 
lajority. 

At  about  this  time  is  to  be  recorded  one  of 
le  grandest  achievements  in  the  life  of  George 
f organ.  The  question  of  locating  the  Hudson 
liver  Hospital  for  the  Insane  was  to  be  de- 
ided.  The  representative  men  of  the  coun- 
es  of  Orange,  Ulster  and  Columbia  were 
,  leaving  no  stone  unturned  "  to  secure  the  site 
br  their  respective  counties.  The  Dutchess 
bunty  board  of  supervisors  was  in  session,  and 
layer  Morgan  was  anxious  that  they  should 
fer  inducements  for  the  State  officers  to 
■cate  the  building  in  his  county.  Finally  a 
roper  sum  was  agreed  upon,  but  at  the  even- 
g  session  it  was  voted  down  by  one  majority. 
11  the  next  day  Senator  Morgan  and  others 
orked  hard  to  change  the  vote,  and  at  6:00 
.  M.  the  que.stion  once  more  came  before  the 
5ard,  and  was  carried  by  one  majority.  There 
as  no  time  to  lose.  The  State  commission- 
s  were  to  meet  at  Newburgh,  Orange  coun- 
■  that  very  night  to  settle  the  matter  of  loca- 
Jn.     With  a    party  of    friends   Mr.    Morgan 


drove  through  a  blinding  snow  storm,  and  at 
11:45  P- M.  they  walked  into  the  commissioners' 
room  at  "Orange  Hotel."  The  offer  of  the 
other  counties  had  already  been  made,  and  Mr. 
Morgan  stepped  forward  and  presented  Dutch- 
ess county's  offer,  and  the  location  was  awarded 
to  Dutchess.  For  the  success  of  the  enter- 
prise George  Morgan  never  received  the  full 
credit  to  which  he  was  entitled.  But  for  his 
prompt  and  energetic  action  the  splendid  build- 
ing would  not  to-day  grace  the  eminence  on 
the  eastern  banks  of  the  Hudson  just  beyond 
the  northerly  boundaries  of  the  City  of  Pough- 
keepsie. 


C CHARLES  W.  ARRAS  (deceased)  was 
'  among  the  more  prominent  and  enterpris- 
ing business  men  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 
county,  who  were  of  alien  birth.  Like  others 
of^  his  countrymen,  he  brought  to  the  New 
World  the  habits  of  economy  and  frugality, 
which  are  inherent  characteristics  of  his  native 
land,  and  the  exercise  of  which,  accompanied 
by  industry  and  good  management,  brought 
him  success  in  his  business. 

Mr.  Arras  was  born  at  Hessen-Darmstadt, 
Germany,  November  9,  1841,  and  was  the 
eldest  in  the  family  of  nine  children  of  Peter 
Arras,  a  linen  weaver  in  the  Fatherland,  who 
came  to  America  and  located  in  New  York 
City.  In  his  native  land  our  subject  learned 
the  baker's  trade,  and  on  coming  to  the  United 
States  when  eleven  years  of  age  he  followed 
that  trade  in  New  York  City  until  about  1866, 
at  which  time  he  located  at  Poughkeepsie.  For 
about  four  years  he  worked  for  George  Goep- 
fert  in  a  bakery,  and  then  bought  out  his  em- 
ployer, successfully  conducting  the  business 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  November  14, 
1885. 

On  October  7,  1866,  Mr.  Arras  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Emma  A.  Bieber,  who  was  born 
in  New  York  City,  in  1846,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  John  Bieber,  a  native  of  Bavaria,  Germany. 
In  his  native  land  her  father  had  learned  stone 
cutting,  but  after  his  arrival  in  New  York  City 
he  took  up  the  shoemaker's  trade,  which  he 
followed  there  until  1851,  when  he  came  to 
Poughkeepsie  and  carried  on  the  same  occupa- 
tion until  he  was  called  from  this  life,  April 
29,  1872.  He  had  married  Miss  Anna  Mary 
Smidt,  who  was  also  born  in  Germany,  Sep- 
tember 8,  1 82 1,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  five  children,  namely:    Emma  A.  (now  Mrs. 


184 


COMMEMORATIVB  BIOQBAPniGAL  RECORD. 


Arras);  Barbara,  wife  of  John  Haupt,  a  baker 
doing  business  on  Union  street,  Poughl<eepsie; 
Eliza,  wife  of  George  Bayers,  a  booklieeper  of 
the  same  city;  Mary  E. ,  wife  of  John  Bayer, 
a  cigar-maker;  and  Fred  S.,  a  saloon-keeper, 
of  Poughkeepsie.  Six  children  were  born  to 
our  subject  and  his  wife,  two  of  whom  died  in 
infancy.  Frederick  S.,  William  H.,  Albert  C. 
and  Carl  W.  are  still  with  their  mother,  who, 
since  her  husband's  death,  has  successfully  car- 
ried on  the  business,  and  displays  tact  and  en- 
ergy in  the  management  of  her  affairs. 

In  religious  matters  Mr.  Arras  belonged  to 
the  German  Lutheran  Church,  and  socially  he 
was  a  leading  member  of  the  Germania  Society. 
He  was  one  of  the  representative  business  men 
of  the  city,  wide-awake  and  energetic,  who 
dealt  squarely  and  liberally  with  his  patrons, 
and  merited  the  confidence  of  the  community. 


ISAAC   L.   VARIAN,    a  well-known   citizen 
of  Poughkeepsie,   Dutchess  county,    where 

he  has  resided  since  1879,  is  conducting  one  of 
the  leading  meat  markets  of  the  city.  For  a 
period  of  about  ten  years  he  carried  on  busi- 
ness at  Nos.  9,  II  and  13  Garden  street;  for 
three  years  afterward  he  was  at  No.  299  Main 
street;  thence  removing  to  No  357  on  the  same 
street,  where  he  has  since  been  located.  He 
makes  weekly  trips  to  New  York  City  in  order 
to  take  advantage  of  the  markets,  and  now 
has  one  of  the  largest  establishments  of  the 
kind  in  Poughkeepsie,  keeping  all  kinds  of 
meat,  as  well  as  fish  and  game,  and  he  has 
secured  a  large  and  lucrative  trade. 

Mr.  Varian  was  born  in  New  York,  August 
14,  1852,  of  which  city  his  father,  James  Va- 
rian, was  also  a  native.  Isaac  Varian,  his  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  was  born  in  Holland,  and 
on  coming  with  his  two  brothers  to  the  New 
World,  located  in  New  York  City,  where  he 
was  married,  and  reared  his  family  of  children, 
named  respectively:  Dorcas,  Michael,  Han- 
nah, Jane,  and  James,  father  of  Isaac  L.  In 
politics  he  was  an  unswerving  Democrat,  and 
he  was  a  faithful  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

James  Varian  was  reared  and  educated  in 
New  York  City,  where  he  also  learned  the 
butchering  business,  which  he  followed  all  his 
life.  He  married  Angeline  Stephenson,  a  na- 
tive of  Connecticut,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  thirteen  children,  as  follows:  James; 
William  H.,  a  farmer  of  Yonkers,   N.  Y. ;  Gil- 


bert and  Jacob  (both  deceased);  Carman,  a 
mason  by  trade;  Harriet,  wife  of  Frederick  W. 
Denton,  who  is  in  the  United  States  service; 
George,  a  carpenter  of  Kingsbridge,  N.  Y. ; 
Francis  L. ,  who  is  also  engaged  in  carpenter- 
ing there;  Huram  B.,  a  painter  at  Woodlawn, 
N.  Y. ;  Charles  A.  (deceased);  Isaac  L.,  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch;  Eugene,  a  carpenter  of 
Kingsbridge;  and  Angeline,  who  married  How- 
ard Carlough,  formerly  a  grocer  of  Kings- 
bridge  (both  now  deceased).  The  father  died 
in  Kingsbridge,  July  16,  1867;  the  widowed 
mother  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church,  to  which  her  husband 
also  belonged,  and  in  politics  his  support  was 
given  the  Republican  party. 

The  subject  of  this  narrative  remained  at 
home  with  his  parents,  who  during  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  lived  most  of  the  time  at 
Kingsbridge,  N.  Y.,  where  he  attended  the 
city  schools,  completing  his  education  at  In- 
wood,  Queens  Co.,  N.  Y.  When  his  school 
days  were  over  he  began  learning  the  carpen- 
ter's trade,  which  he  followed  for  three  years, 
and  then  took  up  butchering.  Shortly  after 
this  he  entered  into  a  co-partnership  with  his 
brother  Charles  in  the  butcher  business,  a  con- 
nection that  lasted  some  four  years.  He  then 
came  to  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  has  since  con- 
ducted a  market  with  most  excellent  success, 
and  as  a  loyal  citizen  he  feels  it  a  duty  as  well 
as  a  privilege  to  aid  in  all  matters  of  public 
interest. 

On  November  8,  1881,  Mr.  Varian  was 
married  to  Miss  Clara  Marshall,  a  native  of 
Poughkeepsie,  and  a  daughter  of  DeWitt  C. 
and  Harriet  G.  Marshall.  For  several  years 
her  father  was  cashier  of  the  Rhinebeck  Na- 
tional Bank.  Four  children  grace  this  union: 
Bessie  E.,  Eleanor  F.,  Harry  B.  and  Ruth 
B.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Varian  attend  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church,  and  in  social  circles 
they  occupy  a  prominent  position.  In  politics 
Mr.  Varian  is  a  firm  supporter  of  the  Republic- 
an party;  he  holds  membership  with  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity  and  the  Royal  Arcanum. 


JrOSEPH  H.  STORM,  a  representative  and 
prominent  citizen  of  the  town  of  Beekman, 
Dutchess  county,  was  born  March  25, 
1842,  in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  and  sprung 
from  a  good  old  Holland  family,  which  was 
established  on  the  shores  of  this  country  at  a 
very  early  day  in  its  history.     Derick  Storm 


^,^<% 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPniOAL  RECORD. 


185 


was  the  first  to  set  foot  on  American  soil, 
landing  here  in  1662  and  making  a  location  on 
Long  Island.  He  wedded  Maria  Picters,  by 
whom  he  had  four  children:  Coris,  Peter, 
David  and  Maria.  The  birth  of  the  eldest, 
Goris  Storm,  occurred  either  on  Long  Island 
or  before  the  emigration  of  his  parents.  He 
married  Engletie  Van  Lyck,  and  they  located 
at  Brooklyn,  where  their  two  sons  were  born 
—  Derick  in  1695,  and  Thomas  in  1697. 

Thomas  Storm  purchased  land  of  Col. 
Phillips,  in  the  manor  of  Phillipsburg,  Tarry- 
own,  N.  Y.  He  had  nine  children:  Thomas, 
facob.  Garret,  Goris,  Abraham,  John,  Isaac, 
ZzXhevme  and  Engletie.  When  well  advanced 
n  years  he  came  to  Dutchess  county,  where 
le  bought  about  406  acres  of  land  on  the  north 
;ide  of  the  Fishkill,  204  acres  of  which  he 
;ave  to  his  son  Goris,  and  the  remaining  202 
o  Abraham.  The  latter  received  the  land 
vhich  his  father  had  secured  by  a  second  pur- 
hase,  with  the  exception  of  ten  acres  on  the 
outh  side  of  the  Fishkill.  To  Isaac  he  gave 
lis  possessions  in  Tarrytown,  where  his  birth 
iccurred,  but  he  traded  these  with  his  brother 
ibraham,  and  came  to  Dutchess  county,  where 
e  was  married  and  reared  a  family  of  several 
hildren,  among  whom  was  Abraham,  the 
randfather  of  our  subject. 

Abraham  Storm  was  born  in  the  town  of 
last  Fishkill,  in  1771,  and  he  married  Sarah 
'incent,  of  the  town  of  Beekman.  They  lo- 
ated  upon  the  homestead,  and  there  reared 
leir  live  children:  Isaac  was  an  attorney  in 
arly  life,  but  later  turned  his  attention  to 
le  tobacco  business,  and  retired  at  the  age  of 
fty  with  a  capital  of  a  million  and  a  half; 
Viliiam  was  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Lagrange, 
)utchess  county;  John  V.  is  the  father  of  our 
ibject;  Charlotte  first  wedded  D.  E.  Renison, 
nd,  after  his  death,  married  Joseph  Genung, 
othof  whom  were  farmers;  and  Elizabeth  be- 
ime  the  wife  of  John  Humphrey. 

John  V.  Storm  was  born  on  the  home  farm 
I  the  town  of  East  Fishkill  in  1800,  and  there 
assed  his  boyhood  and  youth.  He  married 
jannette  E.  WooUey,  a  native  of  Beekman 
)wn,  and  a  daughter  of  William  and  Hester 
^ell)  Woolley,  farming  people.  Her  ancestors 
ere  English,  John  Woolley  having  come  from 
iHgland  and  located  on  Long  Island.  His  son 
)seph,  who  was  born  in  1 740,  was  the  grand- 
ther  of  Mrs.  Storm.  He  engaged  in  the  fur 
jsiness  with  the  Astors,  and  at  his  death  left 
large  estate.    After  their  marriage  the  parents 


of  our  subject  continued  to  live  upon  the  old 
Storm  homestead,  where  their  seven  children 
were  born:  Abraham,  Joseph,  William  J., 
Frances,  Elizabeth,  Cornelia  and  Helen. 
During  his  active  life  the  father  always  followed 
agricultural  pursuits,  but  is  at  present  living 
retired  in  the  village  of  Fishkill.  His  faithful 
wife  passed  away  June  22,  1886.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  political  sentiment,  and  has  been 
called  upon  to  fill  a  number  of  official  posi- 
tions, being  supervisor  of  East  Fishkill  town- 
ship several  terms,  and  also  justice  of  the 
peace.  The  Storm  family  have  mostly  been 
members  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church, 
while  the  Woolleys  were  Episcopalians. 

The  early  life  of  Joseph  H.  Storm,  subject 
of  this  review,  was  passed  in  the  usual  une- 
ventful manner  of  most  farmer  boys,  upon  the 
old  homestead  where  his  ancestors  had  long 
resided,  and  in  the  district  schools  obtained 
his  early  education.  Later  he  attended  an 
academy,  after  which  he  took  a  business  course 
in  the  Eastman  Business  College,  Poughkeep- 
sie,  and  then  returned  to  the  farm  where  he 
remained  until  his  marriage,  September  4, 
1867,  to  Miss  Sophia  D.  Sheldon,  daughter  of 
Wilson  B.  Sheldon,  a  prominent  agriculturist 
of  the  town  of  Beekman,  and  they  began  their 
domestic  life  upon  the  farm  in  the  same  town- 
ship which  is  still  their  home.  To  them  two 
children  have  been  born:  Wilson  B.,  who  is 
engaged  in  business  with  W.  J.  Storm;  and 
Jeannette,  wife  of  Frederick  Ryer,  Jr.,  of 
Mount  Vernon,  New  York. 

Upon  his  valuable  farm  of  120  acres  Mr. 
Storm  is  engaged  in  general  farming,  with  good 
success.  Being  a  popular  and  influential  citi- 
zen, he  has  been  called  upon  to  serve  in  sev- 
eral positions  of  honor  and  trust,  representing 
his  district  in  the  State  Legislature  in  1885 
and  1886,  and  holding  the  office  of  supervisor 
of  Beekman  town  in  1879  and  1880.  He  is 
an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  by  Secretary  Rusk  was  appointed  appraiser 
of  the  Bureau  of  Annual  Industry,  which  posi- 
tion he  capably  filled  for  two  years.  He  has 
been  vice-president  of  the  Dutchess  County 
Agricultural  Society  many  years;  vice-presi- 
dent (and  also  president  pro  tcvi)  of  the  New 
York  State  Agricultural  Society  for  some  time; 
and  at  Chicago  was  elected  vice-president  of 
the  Farmers  National  Congress  of  New  York. 
Socially  he  affiliates  with  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity. Upright  and  honorable  in  all  the  rela- 
tions of  life,  Mr.  Storm  holds  an  enviable  posi- 


186 


COMMEMORA  TIVE  BIOGRAPniCAL  RECORD. 


tion  in  the  estimation  of  his  fellow-citizens,  no 
man  in  Dutchess  county  being  held  in  higher 
regard . 


B 


ANIEL  WASHBURN.  In  every  agricult- 
ural community  there  will  fortunately  be 
found  men  whose  progressive  management 
serves  to  demonstrate  the  value  of  the  judi- 
cious application  of  modern  scientific  principles 
to  the  ancient  business  of  farming,  and  to  this 
worthy  class  belongs  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
who  is  a  successful  agriculturist  of  the  town  of 
Pawling,  Dutchess  county. 

Mr.  Washburn  is  a  native  of  the  county, 
born  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  November  29, 
1850,  and  his  education  was  obtained  in  the 
common  schools  near  his  home.  At  an  early 
age  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  which 
he  has  followed  ever  since  with  unusually  satis- 
factory results.  At  present  he  rents  the  Slocum 
farm  of  286  acres,  also  rents  the  William  Lud- 
dington  farm  of  176  acres,  upon  which  he  em- 
ploys many  assistants.  He  devotes  his  time 
to  the  raising  of  general  crops,  but  has  made  a 
success  of  tobacco  culture,  and  is  an  expert  in 
all  its  branches,  as  well  as  in  the  more  common 
details  of  farming.  His  business  cares  do  not 
prevent  him  from  taking  an  active  interest  in 
public  movements,  and  although  until  a  few 
years  ago  he  was  an  ardent  supporter  of  the 
principles  of  the  Democratic  party  he  is  now 
one  of  the  leading  Prohibitionists  of  his  town. 
He  has  held  the  office  of  excise  commissioner; 
belongs  to  Patterson  Lodge  No.  173,  I.  O.  O. 
F. ,  Pawling,  and  is  a  member  of  Christ  Church, 
Quaker  Hill.  His  first  wife,  Miss  Sarah  E. 
Roe,  was  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Maria  Roe, 
prominent  among  the  farmers  of  the  town  of 
Dover.  The  present  Mrs.  Washburn  was  for- 
merly Miss  Edith  Ette,  who  was  born  in  1856, 
in  New  Milford,  Conn.,  and  was  educated  in 
New  Fairfield,  Conn.  Of  the  three  children 
of  our  subject  by  his  first  wife,  Ella,  born  Jan- 
uary 9,  1874,  married  George  Ette,  a  farmer 
of  Patterson,  and  has  had  one  daughter,  Se- 
rena; Serena,  born  February  i,  1876,  married 
Charles  Lutz,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Pawl- 
ing, and  has  had  one  child,  Ethel;  and  Fannie 
B.,  born  May  18,  1879,  is  at  home. 

The  Washburn  family  has  been  prominent 
in  Putnam  county,  N.  Y. ,  from  early  times, 
and  Samuel  Washburn,  our  subject's  grand- 
father, was  born  and  reared  there,  becoming  a 
farmer  by  occupation.     He  was  a  soldier  in 


the  Revolutionary  war.  He  and  his  wife, 
Phebe  (Baker),  reared  a  family  of  six  children: 
Jonathan,  who  married  Naomi  Dykeman;  Levi, 
who  remained  single;  Absolom,  who  died  in 
boyhood;  Zebulum,  our  subject's  father;  Eliza, 
who  never  married;  and  Mrs.  Hannah  Rob- 
inson. 

Zebulum  Washburn  was  born  in  Carmel, 
Putnam  county,  in  1804,  and  his  education 
was  accjuired  there  in  the  district  schools.  He 
was  a  well-known  farmer,  and  was  prominent 
in  local  affairs  as  a  Democrat;  but,  although 
he  held  a  number  of  minor  town  offices,  he 
never  aspired  to  political  distinction.  His 
death  occurred  in  1862.  He  married  Miss 
Serena  Luddington,  daughter  of  Joseph  Lud- 
dington  (a  leading  blacksmith  of  Pawling)  and 
his  wife,  Susan  (Ferris).  Our  subject  was  the 
fourth  in  a  family  of  seven  children.  Of  the 
others  (i)  Susan  never  married.  (2)  George  H. 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Beekman  in  1840, 
was  educated  in  the  schools  there,  and  in  i860 
enlisted  in  Company  E,  19th  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  being 
the  first  man  from  the  town  of  Beekman  to 
respond  to  the  call  for  troops.  He  served 
three  years  and  then  re-enlisted,  and,  his  regi- 
ment having  moved  on,  he  was  transferred  to 
the  128th  N.  Y.  V.  I.  He  met  his  death  at 
the  battle  of  Shenandoah.  (3)  Samuel  was 
born  and  reared  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  and 
followed  farming  there.  He  married  (first) 
Miss  Hattie  Gregory,  and  had  three  children — 
William,  Walter  and  Louis;  for  his  second 
wife  he  married  Miss  Carrie  Mosier,  and  has 
had  one  daughter — Ella.  (5)  William  S.  was 
born  at  the  old  homestead  in  1853,  and  after 
attending  the  schools  of  Beekman  engaged  in 
business,  and  is  now  foreman  for  William  B. 
Wheeler,  taking  charge  of  the  Latta  estates. 
He  married  Miss  Lizzie  Lutz,  daughter  of 
Henry  Lutz,  a  well-known  gardener  of  the 
town  of  Pawling,  and  has  had  three  children — 
William,  Leo  and  Fredie.  (6)  Anna  A.,  born 
in  1856,  married  Horace  Orton,  a  farmer  of 
the  town  of  Dover,  and  has  had  four  children — 
Sarah,  Minnie,  George  and  Herbert;  of  these, 
Sarah  married  William  White,  also  a  farmer 
of  Dover,  and  they  have  one  child,  Jennie. 
(7)  Jane  died  in  infancy. 


LUDWIG  PETILLON  (deceased)  was  one 
I  of  the  best  known  citizens  of  the  county, 

of  later  years  as    a    wealthy,  retired  business 
man  residing  on   a   charming  estate  two  miles 


^a^  ^  ,^^Sw.^^^^^^^-^Kc 


iJ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


187 


from  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie.  He  came  of 
German  origin,  and  his  grandfather,  Isaac 
Petilion,  who  was  a  farmer  in  Bavaria,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  German  army  during  the  Napo- 
leonic wars.  He  reared  a  family  of  children, 
among  whom  was  a  son,  Jacob,  our  subject's 
father,  who  was  born  December  23,  181 3,  in 
Bavaria,  grew  to  manhood  there,  and  learned 
the  butcher's  trade. 

At  the  age  of  twenty  Jacob  Petilion  sailed 
for  America,  landing  in  New  York  July  4, 
1833.  Coming  to  Poughkeepsie,  he  found  em- 
ployment at  his  trade,  and  with  characteristic 
enterprise  and  good  management  he  made  his 
way  to  success,  continuing  in  the  same  busi- 
ness throughout  his  life.  He  was  a  Republic- 
an in  politics,  and  took  a  keen  interest  in  the 
questions  of  the  day.  He  married  Catherine 
Hey,  also  a  native  of  Bavaria,  born  March  28, 
181 1,  and  had  four  children:  CarolineC. ,  the 
wife  of  Charles  Kirchner,  a  well-known  resi- 
dent of  Poughkeepsie;  John  Jacob,  who  was 
born  January  16,  1840,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  May  22,  1884,  was  a  successful  business 
man  of  Poughkeepsie;  John,  now  a  resident  of 
that  city;  and  Ludwig,  our  subject.  The  fa- 
ther of  this  family  died  July  11,  1861,  the 
mother  surviving  him  until  January  7,  1885. 
Both  were  devout  members  of  the  German 
Lutheran  Church,  to  which  their  children  also 
belonged. 

Ludwig  Petilion  was  born  in  Poughkeepsie, 
September  20,  1845,  and  was  educated  in  the 
ublic   schools    of    that    city.     He    was   only 

rteen  years  old   when  the  death  of  his  fa- 

r  compelled  him  to  become  a  "bread  win- 
ner," and  he  and  his  brother,  John  Jacob,  con- 
ducted their  father's  business  from  that  time 
with  marked  success.  At  first  they  had  a 
wholesale  trade,  but  later  they  engaged  in  a 
retail  business  with  Charles  Kirchner,  contin- 
uing until  1889,  when  Mr.  Petilion  retired 
from  the  active  management. 

On  April  7,  1874,  Mr.  Petilion  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Catherine  Steitz,  a  native  of 
Poughkeepsie,  and  a  daughter  of  Philip  and 
Catherine  Steitz,  well-known  citizens  of  Ger- 
man birth.  They  had  no  children.  On  his 
retirement  from  business  Mr.  Petilion  pur- 
chased from  W.  S.  Johnson  a  beautiful  farm 
of  eighty  acres  near  the  city  on  the  electric- 
car  line,  which  he  improved  with  winding 
paths  and  drives,  and  a  residence  which  com- 
pares well  with  those  of  of  the  neighboring 
wealthy  New  Yorkers.     He  was  an  intelligent, 


H 


progressive  man,  highly  esteemed  among  all 
classes,  and  was  a  generous  supporter  of  local 
improvements.  In  politics,  he  was  a  Repub- 
lican, and  he  and  his  wife  were  prominent  ad- 
herents of  the  Lutheran  Church,  to  which  they 
contribute  liberally.  Mr.  Petilion  died  Feb- 
ruary 21,  1896. 


OHN  HACKETT.  of  the  well  and  favorably 
known  law  firm  of  Hackett  &  Williams,  of 
the  city  of  Poughkeepsie,  which  enjoys  an 
enviable  reputation  throughout  the  Valley  of 
the  Hudson,  for  the  success  each  member  has 
met  with  in  the  handling  of  the  extensive  legal 
business  that  for  years  has  been  entrusted  to 
their  care,  is  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  on  the 
farm    of    his    father,   near    Clonmell,  June  8, 

1845. 

His  father,  John  Hackett,  with  his  family, 
came  to  America  in  1852,  and  located  in  Hyde 
Park,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  where  John  Hack- 
ett was  reared,  and  where  he  was  given  the 
benefit  of  the  public  schools  of  the  village;  he 
also  attended  the  Eastman  Business  College, 
and  was  graduated  therefrom  in  1863.  Not 
content  with  the  idea  of  being  an  accountant 
through  life,  young  Hackett  determined  on  a 
professional  career,  and  began  the  study  of  • 
law,  pursuing  his  studies  in  the  office  and  un- 
der the  direction  of  Chester  Brundage,  at 
Poughkeepsie.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1866,  and  at  once  settled  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  the  city  of  his  adoption,  and 
where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  In  1873 
he  was  made  assistant  district  attorney  under 
James  L.  Williams,  and  served  as  such  until 
the  close  of  Mr.  Williams'  term  of  office.  In 
1884  he  was  the  Democratic  nominee  for  the 
same  office,  and  was  elected  over  George 
Esselstyn,  the  Republican  candidate;  on  the 
expiration  of  his  term  of  office  he  was  again 
the  nominee  for  district  attorney,  and  was  re- 
elected over  his  competitor,  W.  R.  Wooden, 
by  a  large  majority.  He  very  ably  and  suc- 
cessfully performed  the  duty  devolving  upon 
him  as  a  public  official,  in  a  position  of  so 
much  responsibility,  and  both  socially  and 
professionally  became  widely  and  favorably 
known.  In  1876  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  James  L.  Williams  (under  whom  he  had 
served  as  assistant  district  attorney),  which 
partnership  continues  to  exist.  They  have  an 
extensive  and  lucrative  practice,  and  are  men 
of  high  standing  and  position  in  the  community 


188 


COMMEMORATIVE  BlOQRAPmOAL  RECORD. 


in  which  they  have  so  long  resided.  The  firm 
is  recognized  as  one  of  the  strongest  in  that 
section  of  the  country. 

On  April  lo,  1880,  Mr.  Hackett  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Hattie  V.  MuHord,  daughter  of 
Hon.  David  H.  Mulford,  of  Hyde  Park,  who 
was  one  of  the  representatives  from  Dutchess 
county  in  the  Legislature  in  1870-71,  and  to 
their  marriage  the  following  children  have 
come:  John  M.  and  Henry  T.,  both  of 
whom  are  now  attending  the  Hisbee  Military 
School,  at  Poughkecpsie.  Mr.  Hackett  and 
family  reside  at  Hyde  Hark. 


Hudson  river.  He  was  very  highly  spoken  of 
in  Poughkecpsie,  and  his  career  was  an  exam- 
ple of  thrift  and  energy  to  others.  He  built 
the  opera  house  and  the  block  in  front  of  it,  in 
Poughkecpsie,  as  a  private  enterprise.  His 
death  occurred  May  16,  1874. 


JAMES   COLLINGWOOD    (deceased)   was 
born  in  Wigan,  England,  March   19,  1814, 
and  came  to  America  at  the  time  of  the 
first   cholera   epidemic,   being    then   eighteen 
years  old.     He  came  directly  to  the  city   of 
Newburg.  where  he  worked  at  the  shoemaker's 
trade  for  a  few  years,  and  then  moved  to  Fish- 
kill,  Dutchess  county,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
shoe   trade,  and   built  several   houses.      Prom 
Eishkill  he  went  to  a  farm  near  West  Park, 
Ulster  county,  and  there  engaged  in  farming. 
Mr.   Collingwood    came    to    Poughkecpsie 
and  started  in  the  lumber  business,  buying  a 
residence  on  the  river  a  short  distance  from 
the  city.      He  was  first  married  at  Newburg  to 
Hannah  P'rost,  who  died  in  Poughkecpsie  dur- 
ing the  second  year  of  the  cholera  scourge  in 
New  York,  leaving  four  children:     Jennie  S., 
who  married  G.  W.  Millard,  and  is  now  de- 
ceased; William  A.  and   James   H.,  both  also 
deceased;  and  Eugenia  Elizabeth,  who  married 
E.  B.  Taylor,   and    is    now    deceased.      After 
the  death  of  his  first  wife,  our  subject  married 
Miss    Mary    E.  Clark,  a  daughter   of    George 
Clark,   who    was   born   in   Poughkecpsie.      Of 
this  marriage  five  children  were  born,  namely: 
(ij   Sarah,  who   married   Charles  A.  Brooks; 
(2)  John  G.,  who  married  Josepha  Chichester, 
and    they    have    two    children — John    C.   and 
Fannie  M. ;  (3)  George  married  Mary  E.  Carey; 
(4)  p-annie  married  G.  W.  Millard,  and  is  de- 
ceased; and  (5)  Edwin  James  married  Cora  L. 
Schicklc,    a    daughter    of    John    Schickel,    of 
Poughkecpsie. 

Our,  subject's  parents  were  William  and 
Jane  Collingwood,  the  former  of  whom  started 
out  for  himself  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years. 
He  was  a  self-made  man,  and  became  one  of 
the  largest  coal  and  lumber  dealers  along  the 


E^DWARD  CRUMMEY  (deceased).  To  in- 
11  tellcctual  gifts  and  training  which  fitted 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  to  take  rank  among 
the  leaders  of  the  legal  profession,  there  was 
added  the  ardent  heart  of  a  reformer,  and  a 
steadfast  faith  in  human  nature  that  made  him 
an  inspiration  for  good  in  every  life  that  came 
in  contact  with  his  own.  His  sympathy  and 
help  have  lifted  more  than  one  degraded  drunk- 
ard to  renewed  self-respect  and  determination, 
while  his  influence  among  his  associates  brought 
to  the  various  temperance  organizations  large 
numbers  of  able  and  cultured  workers  who  in 
their  turn  have  carried  on  the  noble  work. 

Mr.  Crummey  was  born  in  New  York  City 
in  August,  1827,  and  after   the   early  death  of 
his  parents,  James  and  Sarah   Crummey,  he 
was  brought  at  the  age  of  fifteen  to  live  in  the 
family  of  Smiten  Vincent  Tripp,  near  Clinton 
Corners,    Dutchess  Co.,   N.  Y.      He  attended 
the  district   school  there  for  some  years,  and 
pursued  a  higher  course  of  study  in  the  school 
on  College  Hill,  then   conducted  by   Charles 
Bartlett,  Bisbee  and  Warring.      He  taught  at 
Stanford  and  Schultzville,  and  then  went  to 
California  in  1849,  and  engaged  in   gold  min- 
ing with  the  late  Hon.  A.  P.  K.  Safford,  then 
a  prominent  resident  there,  and  later  on  Gov- 
ernor of  Arizona.     They  were  successful,  and 
Mr.  Crummey  returned  home  with  the  means 
to  carry  out  a  cherished  wish  to  become  a  law- 
yer.     He  prepared  for  the  bar  at  Prof.  Fow- 
ler's  Law    School,   Poughkecpsie,  N.  Y.,  and 
at   Poland.  Ohio,  in    1856,   was    admitted   to 
practice,  and  he  at  once  opened  an  office  in  the 
city  of  Poughkeepsie,  where   for  nearly   forty 
years  he  carried  on  his  professional  work.     In 
1857,  when  a  County  Board  of  Excise  was  ap- 
pointed under  the  new  law,  Mr.  Crummey  be- 
came clerk  and  attorney  for  that  body,  serving 
with  marked  ability  for  several  years.      At  the 
time  that  the  1  50th  Regiment  N.  Y.  Volunteers 
was  raised  in  Dutchess  county,  Mr.  Crummey 
opened    a    recruiting   oflicc    in   Poughkecpsie, 
and  succeeded   in  raising  an  entire  company; 
but  as  he  had  no  liking  for  military  life  he 


I'. 


COMMEMORATIVE  DIOGRAPniCAL  RECORD. 


189 


"  never  asked  for  the  commission  as  captain  to 
which  he  was  entitled,  but  gave  it  to  the  late 
U.  S.  Capt.  Piatt  Thorn. 

In  1865  he  became  interested  in  the  tem- 
i  perance  cause,  and  united  with  the  Sons  of 
Temperance,  his  zeal  and  influence  bringing 
large  accessions  to  the  organization.  He  was 
j  also  instrumental  in  founding  a  Father  Mat- 
thew Society  in  Poughkeepsie,  and  in  starting 
a  series  of  public  meetings  in  the  court  house 
and  in  Old  Pine  Hall,  which  aroused  and  main- 
tained for  several  years  wide-spread  interest  in 
the  total-abstinence  movement.  To  Mr.  Crurn- 
mey,  more  than  to  any  other  one  person,  the 
success  of  these  several  enterprises  was  due. 
He  was  a  fine  extemporaneous  speaker,  and 
an  able  and  dignified  presiding  officer.  In  the 
Sons  of  Temperance  he  seven  times  held  the 
office  of  Grand  Worthy  Patriarch  of  Eastern 
New  York,  and  later  was  made  Most  Worthy 
Patriarch  of  the  United  States  and  Canada. 
In  the  formation  of  the  Prohibition  party  he 
gave  it  his  allegiance.  He  was  always  a  ready 
friend  to  any  man,  no  matter  how  low  and  de- 
graded, who  attempted  to  reform,  and  he  gave 
freely  of  both  time  and  money  to  secure  them 
employment,  and  to  establish  them  in  an  hon- 
orable mode  of  life.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
.Masonic  fraternity. 

On  November  10,  1857,  Mr.  Crummey  was 
married  in  the  town  of  Stanford  to  Miss  Ger- 
aldine  B.  Arnold,  a  descendant  of  a  pioneer 
family;  her  great-grandfather,  Ahab  Arnold, 
her  grandfather.  Welcome  Arnold,  and  her  fa- 
ther, Archibald  H.  K.  Arnold,  were  all  promi- 
nent residents  there.  Two  sons  were  born  of 
this  union,  Safford  Arnold  and  Edward 
Daly,  both  of  whom,  with  their  mother,  sur- 
vive the  beloved  father  and  husband,  who 
passed  beyond  the  gates  that  separate  the  seen 
from  the   unseen,  July  20,  1894.     Surely  he 

v^^ath  done  what  he  could." 

B^EORGE  HUNTINGTON,  M.  D.  The 
H^B  life  of  a  country  physician,  who  labors 
TOy  and  night  through  all  seasons  for  the  alle- 
viation of  human  suffering,  lacks  the  spectac- 
ular features  which  bring  some  men,  in  far  less 
useful  callings,  into  public  prominence,  but  no 
one  will  deny  or  even  question  the  superior 
value  of  the  work  done  by  the  unassuming 
medical  practitioner. 

Dr.  Huntington  is  a  descendant  of  an  old 
New  England  family,  and  several  of  his  an- 


cestors were  physicians  of  note.  Simon  Hunt- 
ington, the  head  of  this  branch  of  the  family, 
came  from  England  with  three  sons  soon  after 
the  settlement  by  the  Pilgrim  Fathers.  Our 
subject's  great-grandfather  and  grandfather 
were  natives  of  Norwich,  Conn.,  but  the  latter, 
Dr.  Abel  Huntington,  moved  to  East  Hamp- 
ton, L.  I.,  when  a  young  man,  and  began  the 
practice  of  medicine.  He  was  a  leader  among 
his  associates,  and  served  two  terms  in  Con- 
gress under  Jackson's  administration.  His 
wife  was  Miss  Frances  Lee,  daughter  of  Col. 
Lee,  of  Lyme,  Conn.,  and  they  had  four  chil- 
dren: Marrietta,  the  wife  of  Dr.  David  Gar- 
diner; Cornelia,  a  well-known  writer  of  prose 
and  poetry;  Abbie  L. ;  and  George  Lee  Hunt- 
ington, our  subject's  father,  who  also  became 
an  able  and  successful  physician.  He  passed 
his  youth  at  East  Hampton,  and  studied  medi- 
cine with  his  father  for  some  time,  continuing 
his  course  later  with  Dr.  Valentine  Mott,  of 
New  York  City.  He  took  charge  of  his  father's 
practice  when  the  latter  was  elected  to  Con- 
gress, and  then  for  some  time  followed  his 
profession  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  Hoogland,  a  member  of  an  old 
Knickerbocker  family.  Soon  afterward  he  re- 
sumed his  practice  at  East  Hampton,  contin- 
uing until  his  death  in  1884.  Of  his  four  chil- 
dren the  eldest,  Benjamin  H.,  is  president  of 
the  Dime  Savings  Bank  of  Brooklyn.  (2)  Abel 
Huntington,  M.  D.,  is  medical  director  of  the 
New  York  Life  Insurance  Co.,  of  New  York 
City,  and  Mary  E.,  now  a  resident  of  Brook- 
lyn, is  the  widow  of  the  late  Frederick  Bridge, 
who  was  engaged  in  trade  with  China  and 
Japan,  and  who  for  several  years  was  a  resi- 
dent in  those  countries. 

George  Huntington,  the  third  child  of  this 
family,  was  born  in  East  Hampton,  April  9, 
1850,  and  received  his  literary  education  mainly 
at  Clinton  Academy,  at  that  place,  studying 
the  classics  under  the  tuition  of  John  Wallace. 
In  the  fall  of  1868  he  began  the  study  of  medi- 
cine with  his  father  as  preceptor,  and  later  at- 
tended three  courses  of  lectures  at  the  College 
of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  in  New  York  City, 
graduating  in  187 1.  In  the  following  year  he 
located  in  Pomeroy,  Ohio,  but  after  a  few 
months  returned  home  and  united  with  his  fa- 
ther in  practice,  remaining  there  until  1874, 
when  he  established  himself  at  Lagrangeville, 
Dutchess  county.  There  he  has  met  with  the 
appreciation  which  his  thorough  mastery  of  his 
profession  deserves. 


140 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


In  1874  the  Doctor  married  Miss  Mary  E. 
Heckard,  daughter  of  Judge  Martin  Heckard, 
of  Pomeroy,  Ohio,  a  well-known  mining  engi- 
neer, and  for  some  years  the  judge  of  the  pro- 
bate court  there.  Six  children  were  born  of 
this  marriage:  Katharine,  Charles  Gardiner, 
Abel  (deceased),  Elizabeth,  Edwin  Horton  and 
Eleanor.  The  Doctor  holds  a  high  place  in 
the  esteem  of  his  professional  brethren,  as  well 
as  with  the  public  generally.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Medical  Society  of  Dutchess  county,  and 
was  its  president  in  1887-88;  in  April,  1894, 
he  was  made  an  honorary  member  of  the 
Brooklyn  Society  for  the  study  of  Neurology. 
He  also  belongs  to  the  Audubon  Society  of  New 
York  City,  and  he  achieved  world-wide  recog- 
nition as  a  scientific  observer  by  a  paper  on 
"Chorea,"  read  before  the  Meigs  and  Mason 
Academy  of  Medicine,  in  1872,  and  published 
in  the  ' '  Medical  and  Surgical  Reporter. "  This 
paper  describes  a  peculiar  form  of  hereditary 
chorea  existing  in  Long  Island,  N.  Y. ,  which  has 
since  attracted  much  attention  both  at  home  and 
abroad,  and  which  has  been  designated  "Hunt- 
ington's Chorea."  We  quote  the  following 
from  an  article  by  William  Osier,  M.  D.,  pro- 
fessor of  medicine  in  John  Hopkins  University, 
Baltimore.  "Twenty  years  have  passed  since 
Huntington,  in  a  postscript  to  an  everyday  sort 
of  article  on  chorea  minor,  sketched  most 
graphically,  in  three  or  four  paragraphs,  the 
characters  of  a  chronic  and  hereditary  form 
which  he,  his  father  and  grandfather  had  ob- 
served in  Long  Island.  In  the  whole  range  of 
descriptive  nosology  there  is  not,  to  my  knowl- 
edge, an  instance  in  which  a  disease  has  been 
so  accurately  and  fully  delineated  in  so  few 
words.  No  details  were  given:  the  original 
cases  were  not  (nor  have  they  been)  described, 
but  to  Huntington's  account  of  the  sympto- 
matology no  essential  fact  has  been  added." 
In  1897  Dr.  Huntington  was  made  one  of  the 
auxiliary  staff  of  the  new  General  Hospital  at 
Fishkill-on-Hudson. 


LEWIS  FREDERICK  STREIT  (deceased), 
<i  a  former  well-known  carriage  manufac- 
turer of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  was 
born  at  Guilderland,  Albany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  De- 
cember 2,  1816. 

Frederick  Streit,  the  great-grandfather  of 
our  subject,  born  in  1709,  came  from  Bavaria, 
and  settled  at  a  place  called  Keskatomi  Nijse, 
northwest  of  Catskill,  N.  Y.,  owned  a  farm  on 


land  bought  by  Henry  Beekman  of  the  Indians 
about  1700;  he  afterward  sold  this  farm  and 
purchased  one  at  Rhinebeck,  N.  Y. ,  where  he 
passed  the  rest  of  his  days,  dying  February  8, 

1 78 1,  aged  seventy-two  years.  He  married 
Catharine  Mowel  (Moult  from  the  west  side  of 
the  river,  who  was  born  in  1702,  and  died 
February  23,  1785,  at  Rhinebeck.  They  had 
eight  children:  Christina,  born  February  27, 
1740,  married  Caspar  Ham;  Elizabeth  died  in 
1740;  Anna,  born  May  26,  1734,  died  May  27, 
1740;  Mariah,  born  March  8,  1742;  Frederick, 
born  March  8,  1742,  died  May  21,  1800; 
Lodowick,  born  April  12,  1745;  Catharine 
married  Frederick  Ham;  and  Anna  married 
John  Ackert. 

Frederick  Streit,  the  grandfather  of  Lewis 
Frederick,  was  born  March  8,  1742,  and  died 
May  21,  1800.  He  settled  at  Guilderland, 
N.  Y. ;  married  (first)  Catharine  Benner.  Feb- 
ruary 7,  1762,  daughter  of  Henrich  and  Cath- 
arine (Boetzer)  Benner  (they  had  one  daugh- 
ter, Catharine,  born  August  9,  1768);  and 
(second)  Elizabeth  Rauh,  and  to  the  latter 
marriage  were  born  four  children:  Hannah, 
born  November  14,  1770,  died  August  23, 
1776;  Mary,  born  July  14,  1773,  died  August 
16,  1776;  John,  born  November  2,  1775,  died 
August  21,  1776;  and  Lodowick,  born  Decem- 
ber 26,  1777,  died  July  9,  1783.  For  his  third 
wife  Frederick  Streit  married  on  February  18, 

1782,  Catharine  Moore,  born  June  8,  1752,  at 
Red  Hook,  N.  Y.,  died  March  16,  1843,  the 
only  daughter  of  Phillip  Hendricksen  (born 
December  28,  1713)  and  Engel  (Dederick) 
Moore;  they  had  four  children:  Frederick, 
born  May  2,  1780;  Phillip,  born  September 
21,  1783,  died  July  4,  1800,  married  Eliza- 
beth Cramer;  Lodowick,  born  February  26, 
1785,  went  to  Canada;  Hannah,  born  May  14, 
1789,  died  February  3,  1833,  married  John  M. 
Rowe,  November  5,  1809. 

Phillip  Streit,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
born  September  21,  1783,  died  July  4,  1867, 
at  Rhinebeck,  N.  Y.,  married  November  6, 
1803,  to  Elizabeth  Cramer,  born  August  24, 
1784,  died  November  25,  1861,  daughter  of 
John  Nicholas  and  Elizabeth  (Tipple)  Cramer, 
the  former  born  January  22,  1743,  died  Octo- 
ber 18,  1806,  and  the  latter  born  in  1752. 
They  had  five  children:  Caroline  Catharine, 
born  September  9,  1804,  at  Rhinebeck,  mar- 
ried (first)  Lemuel  Savage,  of  Granville,  N.  Y. , 
November  30,  1S02,  and  (second)  Seth  More- 
house; Anna  Maria,  born  December  20,  1807, 


o2i<i.^J-t>^    '^ ^ji^^M^^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHtCAL  RECORD. 


141 


at  Guilderland,  married  George  Lamoree,  of 
Staatsburg,  died  September  20.  1895;  Jane 
Elizabeth,  born  January  3,  1811,  married  Seth 
Morehouse,  died  January  4,  1862;  Lewis 
Frederick,  born  December  2,  1816,  died  March 
I,  1891;  Margaret  Ellen,  born  November  27, 
1 82 1,  married  David  Henry  Schryver,  of 
Rhinebeck,  New  York. 

There  is  a  legend  in  the  Cramer  family 
that  the  great-grandfather  of  Elizabeth  Cram- 
er was  one  of  the  Princes  of  a  small  division 
of  Germany.  They  lived  in  a  castle  supposed 
to  have  been  at  Baden-Baden;  her  grandfather 
married  a  daughter  of  a  family  with  whom  his 
father  was  at  feuds,  and  they  were  conse- 
quently disowned  by  both  families.  John 
Nicholas,  father  of  Elizabeth,  was  one  of 
three  sons  born  in  Baden  in  1743.  It  is 
said  the  children  went  to  their  grandfather's 
castle  gate,  and  repeated  the  Lord's  Prayer, 
according  to  an  old  German  custom  for  restor- 
ing peace,  but  it  was  unavailing,  so  the  father, 
his  wife  and  three  sons  sailed  for  America.  The 
passage  was  very  long  (three  months)  and 
stormy;  the  father  died  and  was  buried  in  the 
|deep,  and  the  children  were  sold,  according  to 
the  prevailing  custom  of  that  time,  to  pay  ex- 
jpenses;  the  wife  married  again  in  Virginia. 
|Two  sons,  John  N.  and  another  brother,  Jacob 
jor  Wendel,  settled  in  Rhinebeck.  They 
jbrought  with  them  an  old  German  Bible  print- 
ed in  1585,  which  is  now  in  the  possession  of 
jne  of  the  members  of  the  family. 

Lewis  Frederick  Streit  received  the    bene- 

its  of  a  common-school  education.      In   1830 

le  came  to  Poughkeepsie,  and   engaged  in  the 

■.arriage  and  sleigh-making  business  with  John 

r".  Myers,  afterward    carrying  it  on  on  his  own 

iccount     until    1853,   when    he    took    George 

-ockwood   into    partnership  with    him.     The 

irni  prospered,   and  in    1888  they  sold   their 

lusiness   and  retired.      Mr.  Streit  invested  in 

eal  estate  in  Poughkeepsie,  which  at  the  pres- 

nt  time  is  very  valuable.      In  politics,  he  was 

Republican,  although  he  never  sought  public 

ffice,   was  made  a  member  of  the  board  of 

illage  trustees  of  Poughkeepsie,    and    repre- 

ented  the  Fourth  ward  as  alderman  in  1854. 

n  early  manhood  he  became  connected  with 

he  Presbyterian  Church,  with  the  interests  of 

hich  he  was  associated  until  his  death.      He 

■as  twice  married;  by  his  first  wife,    Martha 

Vigg,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Elizabeth  (De 

iroffj  Wigg,   and    born   December   23,   181 1, 

.larried  January   31,    1838,  died   in   October, 


1 861,  two  children  were  born:  a  son  who  died 
in  infancy,  and  a  daughter,  now  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Raub,  of  Poughkeepsie.  By  his  second  wife, 
Rebecca  Matilda  Duncan,  he  had  one  child,  a 
son  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Streit  died 
March  i,  1891.  He  will  always  be  remem- 
bered as  an  honorable,  upright  man,  who 
gained  and  held  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his 
fellow  citizens.  He  was  identified  with  the 
industries  ol  the  city,  and  for  many  years  was 
a  director  in  the  Poughkeepsie  National  Bank. 
His  taste  and  enterprise,  courtesy  and  probity, 
were  noteworthy,  and  in  no  sphere  was  he  more 
honored  than  in  the  Church  where  his  name 
was  recorded  nearly  all  his  manhood.  His 
widow  is  living  at  the  old  home,  and  in  1886 
she  purchased  her  own  old  homestead  at 
Unionvale,  near  Millbrook,  New  York. 

Elizabeth  Streit  (the  daughter  of  oar 
subject  by  his  first  wife)  was  born  in  the  city 
of  Poughkeepsie,  married  James  M.  Raub,  of 
Raubsville,  Penn.,  who  died  July  20,  1872; 
they  had  two  daughters:  Alma,  now  Mrs. 
Halsey  Haines  Cheney,  and  Lena,  now  Mrs. 
John  Morton  Swift. 


BOBERT  FORSTER  (deceased)  was  born 
in   Canada  March    14,    182 1,  of  English 

and  French  ancestry.  The  father  died  when 
Robert  was  a  small  boy,  and  the  latter  went  to 
New  York  City,  where  he  received  his  early 
education. 

Mr.  Forster  learned  the  machinist's  trade 
with  John  Matthews,  with  whom  he  lived  for 
several  years.  While  in  Mr.  Matthews'  em- 
ploy as  foreman  of  the  factory,  our  subject  was 
married  June  6,  1843,  to  Emma  Manning.  In 
1846  he  came  to  Poughkeepsie,  and  followed 
his  trade,  that  of  a  machinist.  In  1847  he 
built  the  apparatus  for  the  manufacture  of  soda 
water,  and  engaged  in  the  bottling  business, 
in  which  he  was  the  pioneer  in  Poughkeepsie. 
He  first  started  in  the  retail  business,  which 
soon  rapidly  increased  to  wholesale,  and  he 
supplied  the  trade  of  Poughkeepsie  and  other 
cities.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the  fire 
department,  but  would  never  hold  a  political 
office.  His  business,  which  is  now  the  largest 
in  the  city,  is  carried  on  by  his  widow,  she  has 
an  adopted  son,  George,  who  assists  her.  He 
married  Miss  Emma  Louise  Hager,  and  they 
have  three  children:  Grace  T. ,  Emma  N. 
and  Robert.  Mrs.  Forster  also  has  in  her 
employ  James  Du  Bois,  who  has  been  with  her 


142 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


since  1855,  and  Robert  William  Polhemus,  a 
nephew,  who  has  been  with  her  since  1873. 
Mr.  Forster  died  in  Poughkeepsie  June  28, 
1863. 

Charles  Manning,  Jr.,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Forster,  was  born  at  Hyde  Park,  Dutchess 
county,  in  1795,  where  he  spent  his  boyhood 
attending  public  schools.  He  was  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  1812.  On  January  4,  1817,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Maria  Travis,  who  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  August 
16,  1795,  and  children  as  follows  were  born  to 
them:  Elizabeth  and  Hester  (both  deceased); 
Emma;  Sarah,  who  married  William  S.  Pol- 
hemus, of  Poughkeepsie;  James,  and  Charles, 
the  latter  being  deceased.  Mr.  Manning  was 
engaged  in  farming  in  Hyde  Park  until  1826, 
when  he  went  to  New  York  City  and  went  into 
business  there.  Later  he  returned  to  Dutch- 
ess county,  and  died  January  2,  1857. 

Charles  Manning,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Forster,  was  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Hyde 
Park,  where  he  was  born  July  17,  1771.  He 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Myer,  who  was  born 
April  20,  1772,  and  they  had  fourteen  chil- 
dren. Charles  Manning,  the  great-grand- 
father, was  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  the 
town  of  Hyde  Park.  Isaac  Travis,  the  ma- 
ternal grandfather,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Pleasant  Valley,  February  10,  1763,  and  was 
married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Conklin,  who  was 
born  June  3,  1760.  They  had  nine  children, 
of  whom,  Maria,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Forster, 
was  the  fifth. 


iT^EORGE  H.  CODDING,  M.  D..  a  leading 
\)^  physician  and  surgeon  of  Amenia,  Dutch- 
ess county,  was  born  at  Egremont,  Berkshire 
Co.,  Mass.,  August  i,  1854,  and  comes  of  a 
family  that  for  several  generations  have  been 
prominent  agriculturists  of  that  county.  His 
great-grandfather,  Cobb  Codding,  whose  birth 
occurred  at  Taunton,  Mass.,  in  1774,  became 
a  prosperous  farmer  and  lumberman  in  the 
town  of  Washington,  Berkshire  county. 

There,  Ephraim  Codding,  the  grandfather, 
was  born  February  20,  1800,  and  spent  his 
boyhood  days  upon  his  father's  farm.  At 
Colebrook,  Conn.,  he  married  Miss  Ann  Eliza 
Remington,  who  died  in  1872,  and  to  them 
were  born  three  children:  Henry  E.,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  and  Ann  Eliza  and  Sarah 
Philena,  both  deceased.  After  a  short  resi- 
dence at  Lenox,  Mass.,  he  in  March,  1845,  re- 


moved to  the  town  of  Egremont,  Berkshire 
county,'  where  he  carried  on  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  his  death,  which  occurred  August 
II,  1870. 

Henry  E.  Codding,  born  June  16,  1826, 
obtained  his  elementary  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Berkshire  county,  and  com- 
pleted his  literary  training  in  the  old  Lenox 
Academy.  His  active  business  life  was  all 
devoted  to  farming  in  the  town  of  Egremont, 
where  he  died  November  24,  1896.  A  con- 
scientious, earnest.  Christian  man,  for  several 
years  he  was  deacon  in  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  officially  served  as  justice  of  the  peace, 
being  appointed  by  the  governor  of  Massachu- 
setts. In  December,  1849,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Emeline,  daughter  of 
Stephen  Edgerley,  of  Glendale,  Berkshire  Co., 
Mass.,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  three 
children:  Marcia  R. ,  who  was  born  November 
9,  1850,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Alfred  J.  Hub- 
bard, of  LeRoy,  N.  Y. ;  Clara  G. ,  who  wasl 
born  May  11,  1852,  and  died  in  June,  1892;] 
and  George  H.,  of  this  review.  The  mother 
of  these  children  was  called  to  her  final  rest 
May  26,  i860,  and  Mr.  Codding  again  married, 
his  second  union  being  with  Cornelia  Eggles 
ton,  daughter  of  David  Eggleston,  of  the  town 
of  Northeast,  Dutchess  Co.,  New  York. 

Dr.    Codding  was  reared  upon  the  home 
farm  in  the  town  of  Egremont,  Berkshire  Co., 
Mass.,  and  attended  the  Egremont  Academy, 
after  which  he  taught  school  for  a  year  and  a 
half,  and  in  1878  took  up  the  study  of  medi-i 
cine  with  Dr.  Henry  M.  Knight,  of  Lakeville, 
Conn.     On  the  death  of    that  gentleman,  he 
continued  to  pursue  his  medical  studies  undei] 
the  instruction  of  Dr.  John  C.  Shaw,  at  tha* 
time  superintendent  of  the  Kings  County  In 
sane  Asylum  at  Flatbush,   Long  Island,  anc 
subsequently  graduated  at  the  College  of  Phyl 
sicians  and  Surgeons  in  New  York  City,  in  the 
class  of  '81. 

The  Doctor  then  entered  Kings  Count 
Hospital  at  Flatbush,  as  assistant  physician 
and  later  was  appointed  second  assistant  at  th 
Kings  County  Insane  Asylum,  thus  gainin 
much  practical  knowledge.  On  January 
1882,  he  arrived  in  Amenia,  where  for  threi 
years  he  was  in  partnership  with  Dr.  Desau 
Guernsey,  but  since  that  time  has  been  alone 
and  is  now  at  the  head  of  a  large  practice.  H 
is  a  member  of  the  Dutchess  County  Medic; 
Society,  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  th 
New  York  State  Medical  Association. 


COMMEMORATIVE   BIOORAPHICAL   RECORD. 


148 


On  March  28,  1883,  Dr.  Codding  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Irene  Hinman  Warner,  daughter 
of  Sherman  B.  Warner,  of  Southbury,  Conn., 
and  to  them  were  born  two  children — Joel 
Hinman,  born  May  29,  1884;  and  Desault 
Guernsey,  born  September  28,  1886,  and  died 
July  23.  1887. 


CHARLES  BROWN  HERRICK(de- 
'  ceased).  Among  the  prominent  citizens  of 
Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  who  have 
passed  to  the  unseen  world  in  recent  years, 
the  late  Charles  B.  Herrick  held  an  honor- 
able place,  and  the  announcement  of  his 
death  at  Haines'  Falls,  in  the  Catskills, 
July  29,  1S96,  caused  sincere  and  wide-spread 
grief  among  all  classes  in  the  city  where  the 
best  of  his  years  had  been  spent.  Although 
it  was  well-known  that  he  was  stricken 
with  a  serious  ailment — locomotor  ataxia  — 
his  unvarying  composure  under  suffering  had 
led  many  of  his  friends  to  hope  that  the 
disease  would  not  prove  fatal.  In  the  prime 
|of  life,  having  just  crossed  the  half  cen- 
tury line  (for  he  was  born  August  15,  1845), 
he  had  scarcely  begun  to  reap  the  rewards  and 
honors  due  to  his  able  and  conscientious  work 
in  the  legal  profession,  while  the  community 
which  he  had  faithfully  served  in  the  various 
'jfficial  capacities  has  lost  an  untiring  supporter 
)f  its  best  interests. 

Like  many  of  the  foremost  citizens  of  the 

;ountry,  he  was  born  and  reared  upon  a  farm, 

ind  his  father,   William   Herrick,   still  resides 

;it  the  old  home  at  Salt  Point,  Dutchess  coun- 

,y.     Our  subject  prepared  for  college   at  East 

Banipton,    Mass.,    and   was   graduated    from 

ifale  College  in  1869.      His  legal  studies  were 

prosecuted  in  the  office  of  Thompson  &  Weeks, 

md  in  1870  he   began  to  practice,    his  office 

•leing  located  in  the  old  "  Lawyers'  Row,"  on 

vlarket  street  at  the  site  of  the  present  post 

'ffice.     In  1876  he  formed  a  partnership  with 

^ol.  Henry  E.   Losey,   which  continued   until 

iiis  death.     Mr.    Herrick's  interest   in  educa- 

ional  and  literary  pursuits  was  shown  in  many 

/ays;  he  was  a  trustee  of  Vassar  Institute,  and 

Iso  served  three  years  as  a  member  of  the 

oard  of  education.    In  politics  he  was  an  act- 

■  e  worker,   and  for  a   number  of  years  pre- 

ious  to  his  death  he  was   chairman  of  the 

)einocratic    City      Committee.       When    the 

ater  board  was  organized  he  was  appointed 

jerk,  which  office  he   held  for  several   years, 


and  his  work  as  city  attorney  under  the  ad- 
ministration of  Mayor  Elsworth  and  of  Mayor 
Ketcham  reflected  great  credit  upon  him,  and 
was  satisfactory  in  the  highest  degree  to  the 
people.  The  Poughkeepsie  Courier  said  at 
the  time  of  his  retirement  from  office: 

During  Mr.  Herrick's  incumbency,  suits  aggregating 
between  $150,000  and  $200,000,  have  been  brought  against 
the  city,  and  the  total  recovery  has  only  been  §3,700. 
This  is  quite  a  remarkable  record,  most  of  the  actions 
for  damages  resulting  from  slippery  sidewalks.  In  addi- 
tion to  defending  all  suits  against  the  city,  Mr.  Herrick 
has  been  the  right  hand  man  and  confidential  adviser  of 
two  mayors,  and  the  official  adviser  for  six  years  of  all 
the  city  boards,  at  the  same  time  has  attended  to  a  large 
private  practice.  Very  little  business,  however,  will  re- 
main uncompleted  at  the  close  of  his  term.  Only  one 
suit  is  pending  against  the  city. 

In  all  relations  of  life,  Mr.  Herrick  was  a 
typical  American  gentleman.  Dignified  in  ap- 
pearance, at  the  same  time  he  was  pleasing  in 
manners,  and  he  fully  appreciated  the  value  of 
the  friendship  and  esteem  of  his  associates. 
Although  he  was  always  earnest  in  the  support 
of  any  cause  which  he  espoused,  he  never 
made  use  of  any  methods  that  were  not  hon- 
orable and  straightforward,  and  neither  in 
public  or  private  life  was  he  ever  swerved  by 
criticism,  ridicule,  or  invective  from  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duty  as  he  saw  it.  His  innate 
kindness  and  justice  were  displayed  in  his 
characteristic  reluctance  to  express  an  opinion 
where  character  or  reputation  was  involved. 
His  legal  brethren  held  him  in  the  highest 
esteem,  and  a  meeting  of  the  Bar  Association 
of  Dutchess  County,  held  shortly  after  his 
death,  was  largely  attended,  and  eloquent 
tributes  of  respect  were  paid  by  Messrs.  Frank 
Hasbrouck,  ex-Judge  Henry  M.  Taylor,  Frank 
B.  Lown,  Gifford  Wilkinson,  J.  Hervey  Cook, 
Safford  Crummey,  Martin  Heermance,  and 
others.  Resolutions  of  condolence  with  the 
sorrowing  relatives  were  adopted,  and  the 
words  of  praise  of  the  life  so  prematurely 
ended  voiced  the  feelings  of  all  present. 

Mr.  Herrick  left  a  widow,  formerly  Miss 
Ada  Van  Benschoten,  daughter  of  Philip  and 
Jane  Ann  (O'Dell)  Van  Benschoten,  of  the 
town  of  Lagrange,  and  three  sisters  and  a 
brother  also  survive  him.  The  funeral  serv- 
ices were  held  at  the  home  of  the  deceased  on 
Hooker  avenue,  and  his  remains  were  interred 
in  the  Poughkeepsie  Rural  Cemetery,  a  large 
company  of  friends  gathering  to  pay  the  last 
token  of  affection.  For  several  years  the  de- 
ceased was  a  member  of  the  University  Club 
of  New  York  City. 


144 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


JOHN  WATTS  DE  PEYSTER,  Brevet  Ma- 
jor-General,  New  York,  "with  Rank  from 
20th  April,  1862,"  ("for  Meritorious  Serv- 
ices rendered  to  the  National  Guard  and  to 
the  United  States  prior  to  and  during  the  Re- 
bellion "),  by  ' '  Concurrent  Resolution  "  or  Spe- 
cial Law,  New  York  State  Legislature,  25th 
April,    1866. 

M.  A.  Columbia  College,  1872;  LL.  D. 
Nebraska  College,  1870;  Litt.  D.  1892  and 
LL.  D.  1896  Franklin  and  Marshall  College; 
Life  Member  ot  the  Royal  Historical  Society 
of  Great  Britain;  Honorary  Fellow  of  the 
Society  of  Science,  Letters  and  Arts  of  Lon- 
don, 1893,  and  awarded  their  Gold  Medal  for 
1 894 ' '  for  Scientific  and  Literary  Attainments;  " 
*  Member  of  the  Maatschappij  der  Ned- 
erlandische  Letterkunde,  Leyden,  Holland,  &c. 

Although  the  seventh  generation  resident 
in  the  First  Ward  of  the  City  of  New  Amster- 
dam, afterward  New  York,  and  the  sixth  born 
therein  :  that  is,  through  the  course  of  two 
centuries  and  a  half.  Gen.  De  Peyster's  con- 
nection with  Duchess  county  has  been  just 
about  as  long,  seven  generations.**  He  still 
holds  over  1,000  acres  of  the  thousands  which 
were  in  the  possession  of  his  ancestors,  besides 
what  he  donated  for  benevolent  purposes  to 
the  Order  of  the  Brothers  of  Nazareth  to  ena- 
ble them  to  establish  their  hospitals  and  other 
institutions.  He  himself  built  the  first  Hos- 
pital for  Consumptives  (since  bifrned  down), 
and  a  magnificent  Training  School  on  a  plateau 
latterly  known  as  Prospect  Hill,  but  in  times 
gone  by  as  Guinea  Hillt,  965  to  1160  feet 
above  the  sea-level,  in  such  a  health-giving  and 
health-restoring  air  that  it  was  recognized  as 
the  most  salubrious  locality  in  the  Thirteen 
Colonies. 

On  the  summit  ridge  of  the  West  Moun- 
tain, overlooking  the  valley  threaded  by  the 
Harlem  railroad,  partly  in  the  town  of  Union- 
vale  and  partly  in  that  of  Dover,  is  a  tract  of 
between  400  and  500  acres  known  as  the  "  de 
Peyster  Ranch,"  now  almost  a  dense  forest 
wherein  apple  trees  have  shot  up  to  as  lofty 

•Gen  de  Peyster's  medals  and  decorations  are  mentioned  at 
8  No.  1312  (r)60)  F.  W.  E.  Gnecchi's  "Guida  Niimisonatica  Uni- 
versale," Milano,  1894. 

*»General  de  Peyster  was  born  March  9,  1821.  at  the  house  of  his 
mother's  father,  Hon,  John  Watts,  Jr„  No.  3  Broadway,  New  York 

tThis  nomenclature,  Guinea  Hill,  was  doubtless  attributable 
to  the  number  of  black  slaves  employed  as  farm  hands  and  laborers 
in  a  region  which,  within  seventy-years,  was  a  great  wheat-produc- 
ing country,  although  latterly  unproductive  through  the  exhaustion 
of  the  soil,  and  in  many  places  overgrown  with  a  young  forest. 
Africa  was  scarcely  known  at  all  at  that  time,  and  black  slaves  as  a 
rule  were  supposed  to  come  from  the  Coast  of  Guinea.  "Guinea 
Niggers"  was  the  term  generally  applied  to  negroes  of  every  shape 
and  shade  of  color.  Even  to-day  the  traveler  remarks  with  surprise 
the  number  ot  colored  people  to  be  found  in  this  neighborhood. 


heights. as  the  forest  trees  surrounding  them. 
A  recent  survey  revealed  the  ruins  of  five  or 
six  or  more  homesteads  which  were  once  occu- 
pied by  thrifty  farmers.  A  tourist  through 
this  region,  who,  sixty  years  ago  had  visited 
these  homes  and  had  not  returned  to  the  local- 
ity for  about  that  period,  discovered  that  the 
only  relic  of  the  former  care  and  horticulture 
which  he  had  once  beheld  was  a  cultivated 
rose  bush  in  flower  within  what  seemed  to  be 
a  ruined  door-yard. 

These  farms  were  once  a  portion  of  one  of 
the  patents  of  the  famous  Col.  Henry  Beek- 
man,  whose  landed  possessions  were  so  ex- 
tensive that  when  the  question  arose  whether 
or  not  there  was  any  land  in  the  moon,  an  old 
farmer  in  Dover  township*  remarked,  that  "if 
any  human  being  could  tell,  it  would  be  Col. 
Beekman;  for  he  was  sure  that  if  there  was 
any  land  in  the  moon,  the  Colonel  must  have 
a  patent  for  a  large  share  in  it."  The  burial 
place  of  this  wealthy  proprietor,  to  the  shame, 
be  it  said,  of  his  immediate  descendants  and 
heirs,  was  so  neglected  that  the  spot  where  his 
remains  repose  is  now  unknown.  When  Gen. 
de  Peyster,  who  has  a  Chinese  reverence  for" 
his  forefathers,  sought  to  discover  the  location 
he  could  get  no  clue.  All  he  could  learn  was 
that  Col.  Beekman's  remains  were  most  likely 
interred  under  the  chancel  of  a  church  which 
once  stood  at  Pink's  Corners,  about  three  miles 
south  of  Red  Hook.  Not  the  slightest  vestige 
of  this  sacred  building  remains,  and  the  fact 
that  a  church  once  stood  there  is  only  known 
through  tradition. 

Gen.  de  Peyster's  great-great-great-grand- 
mother was  Cornelia,  born  1690,  the  sister  of 
this  Col.  Henry  Beekman,  who  married  Guis- 
bert  (or  Gilbert),  second  son  of  the  first  Liv- 
ingston in  this  country.  This  branch  of  the 
Livingston   family  never  assumed   the  aristo 

*  When  the  "  History  of  Duchess  County,  N.  Y.,"  published  ii 
1882  by  D,  Mason  &  Co..  Syracuse,  N.  Y„  was  in  process  of  prepsra 
tion.  the  town  of  Red  Hook  was  written  up  by  Mr.  Hume  H.  Gale  u 
the  library  of  Gen.  de  Peyster,  and  it  was  said  that  it  was  the  mcs 
thoroughly  digested  account  of  any  township  in  the  county,  in 
difficulty  of  obtaining  authentic  information  in  regard  to  past  event 
determined  Gen.  de  Peyster  to  keep  notes  ot  all  the  trips  he  maJ 
to  and  fro  through  the  county;  and  they  constitute  a  collection  o 
records  which  will  be  very  valuable  for  reference  in  any  other  (otur 
historical  works  on  the  counties  of  Duchess  and  Columbia,  parnt 
ularlv  the  lower  portion  of  the  latter. 

Doubtless  this  conversation  about  •  land  in  the  moon  '  occurre 
in  the  public  house  referred  to  in  the  following  sentence,  and  n 
landlord  was  the  speaker.  "  One  of  the  eccentric  characters  ol  tli 
earlier  days  was  John  Preston,  who  kept  a  tavern  in  the  to« 
I  Dover)  somewhere  about  the  year  1810.  His  place  was  a  great  r( 
sort,  and  he,  with  his  fund  of  humor,  was  widely   known,  '-vol. 

'"'^°"  It'does  not  appear  that  the  slightest  reference  is  made  to  tb 
settlementof  the  town  [Dover],  except  that  the  first  settlers  wei 
Dutch  who  came  from  the  vicinity  of  the  Hudson  River,  —/Ota.  v 
Is  it  possible  that  they  were  brought  there  by  Mac  Pheadris  tosupe 
intend  his  iron  works?  The  hard  labor  at  that  lime  was  general 
done  by  slaves 


i 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


146 


;ratic  airs  of  the  other  lines,  calhng  their  home- 
steads after  different  castles  of  the  local  Lord 
^ivingstons   in  Scotland,  to  whom,  according 

0  the  investigation  published  in  the  "  Curio," 
/ol.  I.,  1887-1888,  pages  45  and  46,  theycan- 
lot  trace  their  connection.  Burke  says  as 
nuchinhis  "  Lost  Peerages."  Even  E.  Brock- 
lolst  Livingston,  F.  S.  A.:  Scot.,  who  has 
vritten  so  largely  on  the  subject,  admits  he 
annot  supply  "  the  missing  link  "  ("Curio," 
.,  46).  There  were  almost  as  many  so-styled 
'Livingston  Manor  houses"  as  there  were 
ell-to-do  heads  of  families  of  that  name. 
Nevertheless,  there  was  only  one  real  "manor 
ouse,"  situated  on  the  north  shore  of  the  Roe- 
ff  Jansen  Kill,  near  the  railroad  station,  just 
)  the  north  of  its  junction  with  the  Hudson 
ver,  which  was  burned  down  in  the  preced- 
ig  century,  never  rebuilt,  and  the  possession 
f  its  site  has  passed  into  other  hands. 

Like  the  Hapsburg  family,  who  boasted  of 
le  growth  of  their  possessions  by  marrying 
iiresses,  the  first  Livingston  laid  the  founda- 
on  of  his  fortune  in  his  union  with  the  widow 
a  Van  Renssalaer.  Mrs.  Martha  J.  Lamb, 
j  her  "  History  of  the  City  of  New  York," 
lol.  I.,  pp.  275  and  276,  furnishes  a  pen  pic- 
tre  of  him,  moral  and  physical,  and  his  de- 
iendants  have  not  lost  his  peculiar  character- 
i  ics  to  this  day. 

1  The  different  scions  of  the  Watts  family, 
nved  by  affectionate  recollections  of  the  old 
I'me  in  Scotland — once  just  without,  now 
^thin  the  city  limits  of  Edinburgh — called  all 
teir  rural  residences  in  the  Province  and  State 
(  New  York,  "Rose  Hill,"  the  title  borne  by 
tsir  forefathers'  mansion  for  several  hundred 
>ars.  The  simple  appellation  "  Rose  Hill  " 
ViS  a  common  weal.  They  did  not  arrogate 
t  their  homes  the  titles  of  different  castles  of 
I.rlsand  Lords  in  Scotland,  scattered  through- 
ct  the  realm,  not  aggregated,  as  here,  in  a 
sail  district. 

I  Guisbert,  or  Gilbert,  who  married  Cornelia 
Eekman,  had  Mills  near  Rock  City,  in  the 
t<vn  of  Milan,  and  they  were  still  in  existence 
al  known  by  his  name  until  recent  date,  if 
n|:  still  in  use.  His  eldest  son,  Robert  Gil- 
b:t  Livingston,  married  Catherine,  daughter 
Ola  wealthy  man,  John  Mac  Pheadris,  who 
w»3  the  first  to  introduce  the  mining  and 
stelting  of  iron  in  Dover  Valley  in  Duchess 
ccnty.  The  brother  of  this  Jolin,  known  as 
Cjt.  Mac  Pheadris,  afterward  resided  in  Ports- 
rr'uth,  N.    H.,  and   built — 1718  to    1723 — a 

10 


famous  mansion,  described  at  length  by  Brew- 
ster in  his  "Rambles  about  Portsmouth,"  ist 
ed.,  pp.  138-140  inclusive.  It  cost  ^6,000, 
equivalent  to  $30,000  Colonial  coinage,  pos- 
sessing at  that  time  a  purchasing  power  equal 
to  $1  50,000  to-day. 

Helen,  eldest  daughter  of  Robert  Gilbert 
Livingston  and  Catherine  MacPheadris,  mar- 
ried Samuel  Hake,  a  commissary  general  in 
the  British  army,  whose  only  daughter,  again 
Helen,  married  Frederic  de  Peyster,  grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Catherine, 
another  daughter,  married  John  Reade,  of 
Poughkeepsie,  who  was  the  brother  of  Sarah 
Reade,  daughter  of  Hon.  Joseph  Reade,  mem- 
ber of  the  King's  Council,  etc.  This  Sarah 
married  James  de  Peyster,  father  of  the  Fred- 
eric above  mentioned.  Samuel,  only  son  of 
Gen.  Hake,  having  lost  all  his  children,  left 
all  his  landed  property  in  Duchess  county  to 
the  sons  of  his  sister,  Mrs.  de  Peyster,  whence 
(through  his  honored  father,  Frederic  de  Pey- 
ster) it  came  into  possession  of  her  grand- 
child, the  General.  The  Century  for  Decem- 
ber, 1896,  in  the  article  "A  Group  of  Amer- 
ican Girls,"  alludes  to  these  ladies.* 

Helen  Hake  had  for  guardians  Nicholas 
William  Stuyvesant  and  Vice-President  Aaron 
Burr,  one  of  the  most  malignantly  misrepre- 
sented of  mortals.  She  was  married  to  Fred- 
eric de  Peyster,  from  the  house  of  her  great 
uncle,  Gilbert  Robert  Livingston,  at  Upper 
Red  Hook  Landing,  now  Tivoli.  This  gentle- 
man had  been  an  officer  in  the  British  service, 
and  this  fact  saved  his  mansion,  known  as 
"  Green  Hill,"  on  the  high  ground  overlooking 
the  river,  between  the  Upper  and  Lower 
Landings  of  the  two  freighting  establishments 
which  are  now  embraced  within  the  village  of 
Tivoli.  This  title  was  derived  from  the  resi- 
dence built  by  an  old  French  gentleman,  M. 
Delabegarre,  and  by  him  styled  the  "  Chateau 
of  Tivoli,"  of  which  the  part  of  the  original 
walls  of  the  "  enciente"  were  standing  until 
within  the  year,  and  the  postern  gate  still  re- 
mains. M.  Delabegarre  was  a  visionary,  and 
among  his  other  wild  plans  he  laid  out,  "for  a 
grand  city,  a  large  portion  of  the  domain, 
Rose  Hill,  now  belonging  to  Gen.  de  Peyster, 
as  well, as  the  "  Chateau  "  at  first  given  to  his 
second  son,  Frederic.  The  plotting  and  plan 
of  this  city,  a  perfect  "  Chateau  en  Espagne," 
was  drawn  and  engraved  by  the  famous  Saint 

♦Perhaps  the  best  succinct  or  properly  digested  genealogical 
statement  of  Gen.  de  Peyster's  family  is  to  be  fonnd  in  Munsell's 
"  American  Ancestry,"  Vol.  1.,  Part  3,  18S8.  Pages  83-86. 


h 


146 


COmfK.VORATrVE  BIOORAPmCAL  RECORD. 


Memin,  the  artist  who  took  and  engraved  so 
many  portraits  of  distinguished  people  about 
1796,  the  same  time  that  he  laid  out  the  pros- 
pective city  of  Tivoli,  in  which  not  a  spade 
has  turned  a  sod  for  any  improvement,  or  any 
structure  great  or  small  undertaken.  On  these 
grounds  the  first — or  at  all  events  one  of  the 
first — silk-worm  mulberry  groves  was  planted 
in  the  United  States.  By  the  way,  tradition 
holds  that  Delabegarre  was  an  Americanism 
for  L'Abbe  de  Seguard,  which,  if  true,  would 
indicate  that  he  was  a  waif  of  the  French 
Revolution  who,  like  so  many  thousands  of 
others,  drifted  to  the  United  States. 

General  de  Peyster's  residence  and  asso- 
ciations with  Duchess  county  have  been  con- 
tinuous since  1841.  He  was  an  early  contrib- 
utor to  the  Poughkeepsie  Eagle,  in  the  office 
of  which  a  number  of  his  works  were  printed 
that  won  him  high  distinction  at  home  and 
abroad.  One,  "The  Life  of  Torstenson,"  re- 
ceived an  honorable  acknowledgment  from 
His  Majesty,  Oscar  I.,  the  king  of  Sweden, 
accompanied  by  three  exquisite  silver  portrait 
medals.  Several  of  his  subsequent  works 
were  reprinted  in  Europe,  and  one  of  them, 
the  "New  American  Tactics,"  was  followed  by 
the  inauguration  of  the  ' '  New  Method  of  Fight- 
ing Infantry;"  just  as  his  "Winter  Cam- 
paigns," according  to  the  opinion  of  Gen. 
Wm.  P.  Wainwright,  was  succeeded  by  activ- 
ity at  a  season  m  which,  previously,  armies 
had  rested  or  remained  inactive.  It  is  some- 
what curious  that  his  want  of  recognition  has 
been  due  to  his  having  always  been  ahead  of 
his  times.  Just  as  he  was  the  first  to  report 
in  favor  of  the  mobilized  twelve-pounder,  or 
Napoleon  gun,  which  did  so  much  service 
during  the  "Slaveholders'  Rebellion,"  just  so 
his  indications  were  remarkable  for  their  fore- 
sight and  his  predictions  for  their  fulfillment, 
as  in  succession  he  wrote  and  published  on 
various  military  subjects.  That  these  claims 
are  not  an  afterthought  or  unfounded  is  sus- 
ceptible of  immediate' and  the  fullest  proof, 
because  his  opinions  and  suggestions  were  all 
in  prfnt  or  preserved  in  manuscript  written  long 
previous  to  the  events  to  which  they  referred. 
To  the  case  of  General  de  Peyster  most  appro- 
priately apply  the  lines: 

"  The  man  is  thought  a  knave  or  fool 
Or  bigot  plotting  crime, 
Who  for  the  advancement  of  his  age 
Is  wiser  than  his  time." 

In  1844  he  was  a  staff  officer  in  an  Infantry 


Brigade  of  the  Northern  Districts  of  Duchess 
county;  and  next  year  colonel  of  the  iiith 
Regiment  N.  Y.  S.  Infantry,  recruited  in  the 
towns  of  Red  Hook,  Milan  and  Rhinebeck. 
Rendered  a  Supernumerary  officer  by  the  Act  of 
1845,  although  the  youngest  colonel  in  the 
new  22d  Regimental  District  N.  Y.  —  which 
comprised  the  northern  towns  of  Duchess 
county  and  those  in  the  southern  half  of  Colum- 
bia county,  including  the  City  of  Hudson  —  he 
was  assigned,  as  a  necessity  for  the  complete 
organization  of  the  force,  to  its  command  over 
the  heads  of  a  number  of  officers  of  his  rank 
holding  older  commissions.  Within  one  year 
the  adjutant-general  of  the  State  complimented 
him  with  the  decision  that  Col.  Willard,  of 
Troy,  an  old  army  officer,  and  himself,  were 
the  only  two  who  had  completely  enforced  the 
law  in  their  districts,  of  which  the  population 
were  considered  the  most  difficult  to  handle 
and  the  most  unruly  at  that  date  in  the  whole 
State.  In  1851,  when  the  militia  law  was 
again  changed,  and  anything  but  for  the  better, 
Col.  de  Peyster  was  the  first  officer  selected  by 
Gov.  Washington  Hunt  for  promotion  as  brig- 
adier-general ,  and  his  was  the  first  such  appoint 
ment  to  a  rank  hitherto  elective  made  by  the 
chief  executive,  independently,  in    this  State. ^ 

Just  as  he  had  been  assigned  in  1849  for 
"  meritorious  conduct  ",  he  was  made  brigadier- 
general   for   "important    service".       On   thi 
occasion  Gov.  Washington  Hunt  wrote,  in  thi 
summer  of  1850,  to  Hon.  George  Cornell,  wh 
ran    for    lieutenant-governor    in    1850  on  tht 
same  ticket  with  him,  but  was  defeated,  thai 
"if   he   had    an  army  of    30,000  regulars  h( 
knew  no  officer   to   whom    he    would  entrus 
their  command  with  such    perfect    confidenct 
as  he  would  to  his  friend   General  de  Peyster 
but  he  was  not  so   sure  that  he   was  as  fit  t( 
command   militia  and   what  was  then  stylei 
volunteers."     His  meaning  was  that  the  Gen 
eral    simply    understood    the    application    c 
"must",    implying   the    enforcement    of   th 
strictest  discipline;  whereas  militia  and  volun 
teers  —  which  latter  did  not  signify  at  the  tim 
—  as    afterwards  —  troops    subjected    to   th 
sternest    articles  of    war — had   to    be  coaxco 
which  is  something  that  the  General  could  nc 
understand. 

Sent  out  to  Europe  in  185 1  as  militar 
agent  of  the  State  of  New  York,  confirmed  ar 
endorsed  in  the  strongest  manner  by  the  gei 
eral  government,  the  young  Brigadier,  althoug; 
a  great  invalid,  made  such   a  thorough  exani 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


147 


ination  into  subjects  in  which  he  was  expected 
to  take  interest,  that  on  his  return  he  handed 
in  a  report  which  has  stood  the  test  of  time  as 
to  its  merits,  as  will  be  shown.  One  of  the 
results  of  his  observation  and  influence  was  the 
establishment  of  a  paid  fire  department  with 
steam  fire  engines,  and  the  present  municipal 
police  of  New  York  City,  to  which  fact  letters 
br  certificates  and  testimonials  exist.  For 
his  reports  Gov.  Hunt  presented  to  him  a  gold 
medal  with  a  most  flattering  inscription,  and 
his  officers  gave  him  another  gold  medal, 
equally  complimentary  for  his  efforts  in  elevat- 
ng  and  disciplining  his  brigade. 

When   Myron  H.   Clark  was  elected  Gov- 
;rnor  of  the  State  of  New  York   in    1854,   he 
endered  the  position  of  Adjutant-General  to 
jeneral  de  Peyster  in  the  most  flattering  terms, 
rrespective  of  political  opinions;  andon  various 
jccasions,  when  the  exigencies  of  the  time  re- 
juired,   conferred  on  his  Chief  of  Staff  all  the 
50wers  which  the  Chief  Executive  himself  pos- 
sessed,  to  meet  and  suppress  riot  and  other 
^reaches   of   the   peace.      Although  Governor 
Clark  put  such  implicit  confidence  in  his  Adju- 
fant-General,   he  was  surrounded  by  men  who 
I'ere  laboring  solely  for  their  own   interests, 
without  regard   to  the  interests  of  the  service, 
nrj  did  all  they  could  to  neutralize  General  de 
.  ster's  labors.      By  the  advice  of  such  gen- 
emen  as  Ogden  Hoffman,   Attorney-General, 
e  determined  to  resign,  but  the  result  of  his 
onest  labors  in  office    manifested  itself,    and 
on  for  him  the  most  flattering  attests  from 
Eficials  most  worthy  of  confidence,    and  the 
est    military    judges.      Perhaps    the    highest 
impliment  to  his   fidelity  and   judgment  was 
le  privilege  of  selecting  his  successor,  and  he 
lose  Robert  H.   Pruyn,   at  one   time   United 
tales  Minister  to  Japan,  as  one  whose  astute- 
-s  in  politics  fitted   him  to  grapple  with  the 
ious  elements   which   environed    the    Gov- 
nor.     General  de  Peyster  had  been  selected 
;  an  educated  soldier,   and  did  not  profess  to 
iderstand  the  underhand  workings  of  politi- 
ans.      He  would  not   submit  to  men  who  in- 
iced  the  Governor  to  do  many  things  in  his 
lilelessness  which  his  Adjutant-General  could 
)t  endorse,  and  would  not  enforce,    as  con- 
ary  to  right  and  propriety.      On  taking  leave 
him,   the  Governor  gave  him  the  strongest 
imonials  of  his  esteem  and  confidence,  and 
in  and  again,  at  a  later  date,  expressed  his 
ret  that    he   had  not  listened  to  the  advice 
warnings  of  his  Chief  of  Staff. 


In  1 861,  when  the  Rebellion  broke  out, 
General  de  Peyster,  in  spite  of  the  advice  of 
his  physicians  and  medical  friends,  proceeded 
to  Washington  to  offer  his  services  as  Briga- 
dier-General with  three  regiments.  He  had  a 
long  and  very  extraordinary  interview  with 
President  Lincoln,  and  it  is  greatly  to  be  re- 
gretted that  all  who  were  cognizant  of  the  facts, 
as  well  as  Senator  Harris,  who  introduced  the 
General  to  the  President,  and  was  present 
throughout  the  interview,  are  dead.  President 
Lincoln  had  just  called  out  75,000  volunteers, 
and  said  he  did  not  want  anymore  troops,  but 
offered  to  take  into  consideration  the  General's 
offer  of  his  personal  services.  The  only  testi- 
mony of  what  followed  is  the  memorandum 
left  by  Mr.  Halstead,  of  New  Jersey,  whose  in- 
timate relations  with  the  White  House  were 
well  known  at  the  time. 

According  to  that  President  Lincoln  in- 
tended to  take  General  de  Peyster  as  Chief  of 
his  Personal  Staff,  which  he  purposed  to  or- 
ganize; but  he  was  induced  to  give  up  this 
idea,  as  it  was  urged  that  the  influence  thus 
brought  immediately  to  bear  upon  him  might 
contravene  and  subvert  the  plans  and  interested 
projects  and  arrangements  of  other  parties. 

Perhaps  it  is  sufficient  proof  of  the  confi- 
dence placed  in  General  de  Peyster's  military 
judgment,  that  Gen.  Kearny  wanted  his  cousin 
(whose  eldest  son  and  namesake  was  a  volun- 
teer and  aide-de-camp  on  his  staff),  to  come  on 
to  Washington  and  draw  up  a  plan  for  the  en- 
suing campaign.  General  de  Peyster  answered 
that  a  fixed  plan  would  not  be  capable  of  suc- 
cessful execution;  because  with  the  number  of 
traitors  and  spies  at  headquarters,  it  would  be 
betrayed  to  the  enemy,  who  would  be  thus  en- 
abled to  meet,  anticipate  and  defeat  it. 

Curious  to  say,  it  was  only  while  this 
sketch  was  being  written,  that  it  was  discov- 
ered that  this  was  exactly  the  reply  of  the 
famous  Suworrow  to  a  similar  proposition. 
He  said  "that  the  best  conceived  plans  are 
exposed  to  the  gravest  difficulties  or  disadvan- 
tages, because  it  is  impossible  to  calculate  in 
advance  the  modifications  which  the  resistance 
of  the  enemy  or  his  counter  projects,  knowing 
the  fixed  plan,  may  bring  to  bear  in  opposition; 
secondly,  that  plans  digested  and  committed 
to  paper,  and  thus  known  to  different  indi- 
viduals on  whom  it  was  necessary  to  rely,  in- 
evitably would  be  betrayed  to  the  enemy,  who 
would  at  once  take  measures  to  meet  and  de- 
feat the  movements   which  had  been  divulged 


148 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


by  some  traitor  or  spy."  [See  "  Thiebault's 
Memoirs, "  II.,  14310177 — same  idea,  "a  fixed 
plan  always  betrayed."] 

After  General  de  Peyster's  return  from 
Washington,  the  haemorrhages  from  which  he 
had  long  suffered  became  so  profuse,  that  he 
could  scarcely  make  up  each  day,  by  the  aid  of 
devoted  physicians  and  remedies  and  food,  for 
the  daily  loss  of  blood.  This  condition  lasted 
for  many  years,  and  has  not  been  entirely  over- 
come. 

Notwithstanding  the  miserable  condition 
of  his  health.  Gen.  de  Peyster  returned  to 
Washington  late  in  the  fall  of  1861,  to  offer 
to  the  Government  two  regiments,  instead  of 
the  three  at  first  proposed,  which  he  could 
still  raise  in  Duchess  and  Columbia  counties, 
provided  he  was  appointed  to  command  them, 
with  the  rank  of  brigadier-general.  He  was 
well-acquainted  with  Mr.  Thomas  Scott — 
afterward  president  of  the  Pennsylvania  rail- 
road— then  assistant  secretary  of  war,  who  re- 
ceived him  very  kindly.  The  General  was 
offered  by  Senator  Harris  the  command  of  the 
First  Regiment  of  cavalry,  which  bore  that 
gentleman's  name,  and  also  a  regiment  of  light 
infantry  by  Edwin  D.  Morgan,  the  governor  of 
New  York,  with  the  rank  of  colonel;  but  he 
told  them  that  he  was  not  in  a  condition  of 
health  to  discharge  the  duties  of  such  a  posi- 
tion, recalling  the  remark  of  the  famous  Gen. 
Wolfe,  "that  he  was  grateful  for  promotion  to 
the  rank  of  major-general*  (equivalent  to  brig- 
adier-general), because  it  enabled  him  to  com- 
mand those  comforts  and  resources  without 
which,  in  his  feeble  state  of  health,  he  could 
not  undergo  the  hardships  of  active  service, 
and  do  his  duty  thoroughly." 

As  in  his  previous  interview  with  President 
Lincoln,  he  was  told  that  the  Government  did 
not  want  any  more  troops  nor  general  officers. 
He  afterward  learned  that  at  this  time,  the  Gov- 
ernment, with  a  want  of  foresight  incomprehen- 
sible, were  actually  disbanding  regiments  which 
had  cost  so  much  to  raise,  and  could  not  be 
replaced  without  far  greater  expense  and  irre- 
parable loss  of  time  when  fresh  calls  were 
made  for  troops.  He  also  had  an  interview 
with  Gen.  McClellan,  who  told  him  "they 
had  no  need  of  testimonials;  that  his  reputa- 
tion was  sufficient. "  On  returning  to  the  War 
Department  Gen.  de  Peyster  saw  the  Sec- 
retary,   Simon  Cameron,   who    was    very  po- 

*  **  Thiebault's  Memoirs,"  U  .  232.  Major-General  under  Na- 
poleon, equivalent  to  General  of  Brigade. 


lite,  but  assured  his  visitor  that  his  proposi- 
tion was  altogether  inadmissable,  because  the 
Government  had  no  need  of  more  troops  or 
officers.  This  decision  was  confirmed  by  Mr. 
Scott. 

It  is  needless  to  proceed  further  with  such 
reminiscences;  and  refusing  to  make  further 
visits  to  officials.  General  de  Peyster  re- 
turned home,  repeating  the  remarks  of  Maj.- 
Gen.  Mansfield,  U.  S.  A.,  that  "if  such  was 
the  course  pursued  towards  men  worthy  of 
attention,  Jefferson  Davis  would  some  day  be 
warming  President  Lincoln's  chair." 

In  1863  Gen.  de  Peyster  was  invited  by  the 
Historical  Society  of  Vermont  to  deliver  a  War 
speech  in  the  State  Capitol  of  Montpelier,  the 
Capital  of  that  State.  He  chose  for  his  sub- 
ject, "The  Sonderbund;  or.  Secession  War  in 
Switzerland  in  1846,"  a  perfect  parallel  to  the 
American  Slaveholders'  Rebellion  down  to  the 
smallest  details,  its  genesis  and  termination, 
with  this  difference:  the  Swiss  loyal  States 
appreciated  the  incalculable  value  of  time,  and 
the  necessity  of  determined  action,  which  ours 
did  not.  They  called  out  the  whole  available 
force  of  the  loyal  Cantons  or  States,  and  over- 
whelmed the  revolution  before  the  neighboriri 
monarchs,  anxious  to  interfere  on  behalf  of  th 
rebels,  had  time  or  opportunity  to  interpose. 
The  whole  affair  was  over  in  thirty-two  days, 
about  one-third  of  the  term  Secretary  Seward 
erroneously  declared  from  time  to  time  that 
our  rebels  would  be  crushed,  whereas,  hostili- 
ties lasted  over  four  years.  The  conclusion  ol 
Gen.  de  Peyster's  oration  was  a  perfect  pro- 
phecy, fulfilled  to  the  letter.  These  are  Ihf 
exact  words  spoken: 

Here  we  should  observe  a  few  facts  extremely  pern 
nent  to  our  own  situation.     Xotwithstanding  the  extreni' 
defensibleness  of  the  mountains  of  Switzerland— particu 
larly   those   of    the   original    Fore-it    Cantotm,   embrace 
within  the  limits  of  the  Sdnderbu.ND— assoon  as  Liicern 
(corresponding  to   the   Richmond   of  the   United  State 
Rebels)  had  yielded,  the  Rebel  leaders,  at  once,  acknow 
edged  that  the  fate  of  the  Swiss  secession  depended  upo 
the    possession   of  the  large   fortified  towns  and  upo 
the  maintenance  of  the  masses  about  them.    This  shoul 
be  a  consolation  to  those  who  fear  that  a  guerilla  war  i 
the  South  can  lead  to  any  successful  result   or  defer  fi 
more  than  a   short   period  its  entire   subjugation.    Th 
Sonderbund  generals  saw  at  a  glance  the  game  was  u| 
after  their  armies  had  been  dissipated  and  the  princip. 
places  taken.     So  it  will  be  with  our  Southern  secessio 
It  will  collapse  at  once  when  the  armies  of  Lee,  Brair 
Beauregard,    Johnson    and     Magruder     are    destroye 
[Page  68  of  "  Secession  in  Switzerland  and  in  the  Unitt 
States  Compared  ;"  being  the  .Annual  Address  deliver( 
20th  October,  186:^,  before  the  Vermont  State  Historic 
Society  in  the  Hall  of  Representatives,  Montpelier.  by 
Watts  de  Peyster.    Catskill  :     Joseph  Joesbury,  Printt 
Journal  office,  1864.] 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


149 


Nevertheless,  General  de  Peyster  was  not 
inactive,  and  his  support   of   the  Government 
was  so    influential   that    his   efforts   were  ac- 
knowledged in  the  most  striking  manner  by  the 
Legislature  of  his  native  State,  in  1866.     Since 
he  could  not  be  brevetted  by  any  existing  law, 
by  "Special  Act,"  or  Concurrent  Resolution 
pf  the  New  York  State  Legislature,  the  brevet 
of  Major-General,  after  investigation  and  de- 
bate, was  conferred  upon  him.      In  this,  Sec- 
etary  Folger   (afterward   U.   S.   Secretary  of 
he  Treasury,  and  so  cruelly  slaughtered  at  the 
jolls  when  running  for  Governor  of  the  State 
if  New  York  against  Grover  Cleveland  in  1 88 1 ), 
hen  a  stranger  to  the  recipient  of  the  honor, 
nade  an  address  which  was  conclusive. 

There  is  no  instance  in  the  history  of  this 
ountry  of  such  an  honor  having  been  con- 
erred  upon  any  citizen  by  the  Legislature  of 
ny  State.  Only  one  case  resembles  it  in  de- 
ree;  and  that  was  far  less  complimentary  in 
he  manner,  and  a  general's  commission  con- 
erred  under  a  totally  different  condition  of 
lircumstances. 

I     The  General's    gifts    and    benefactions    to 
ublic  institutions,  or  to  found  public  institu- 
,ons,    have  been  a  characteristic  and  notable 
feature  of  his  life.      He  has  given  a  number  of 
:)ecial  libraries  to  educational  institutions  or 
brary  associations — special  libraries  e.\haust- 
|e  of  the  subjects   which  they  present,   and 
hich    were    gathered    together    by    him    in 
rtherance  of  the  laborious  investigation  which 
IS  always  preceded  his  published  works  on  the 
irious  themes  which  he  has  elaborated.     Fol- 
wing  his  published  studies  of  the  characters 
Mary,  Queen  of  Scots,  and  the  Earl  of  Both- 
iell  (which  studies  included  a  drama  inspired 
■  this  theme  which  elicited  the  highest  enco- 
iums,  in  addition  to  the  five  well-known  his- 
rical  analyses  of  character  and  of  the  times), 
!  gave  the  library  which  he  had  collected  on 
is  subject   to  Columbia   College.      Some  of 
s  other  gifts  to  this  university  have  already 
:en  mentioned.     To  the  New  York  Historical 
jciety,    in    addition    to   the    invaluable    "de 
vster  family  papers,"  he  gave  special  libra- 
collected  during  his  studies  upon  many  in- 
Uesting  and  little-known  phases  of  Dutch  his- 
<ry  (of  which  a  partial    catalogue,    Part    i, 
Inuary,  1868,  constitutes  a  pamphlet  of  24 
iges),  together  with  a  library  on  Napoleon  and 
te  campaign  culminating    at  Waterloo.     Of 
jis  society  his  father  was  long  the  honored 

tt,  as  he  was   also  its  generous  bene- 


factor. The  special  libraries  donated  to  the 
New  York  Society  Library*  and  to  Franklin  and 
Marshall  College  have  been  referred  to.  Thou- 
sands of  volumes  have  also  been  distributed 
miscellaneously  in  various  directions,  including 
many  valuable  books  given  to  the  Cazenovia 
Lyceum  and  to  the  Order  of  the  Brothers  of 
Nazareth  of  Unionvale,  Duchess  county, 
which  books  were  destroyed  in  the  conflagra- 
tion which  consumed  the  original  institution, 
and  valuable  volumes  donated  to  the  College  of 
St.  Stephens,  also  of  Duchess  county. 

General  de  Peyster  has  given  a  number  of 
works  of  art,  of  superior  excellence  and  repre- 
senting the  expenditure  of  large  sums  of  money, 
to  New  York  City,  the  City  of  Hudson,  and 
various  public  institutions.  Several  of  these 
are  statues  of  heroic  size  in  commemoration  of 
historic  members  of  his  own  family.  The  most 
striking  object  which  salutes  the  eye  of  the 
visitor  to  the  famous  Trinity  Churchyard,  on 
lower  Broadway,  New  York  City,  is  the  bronze 
statue,  heroic  size,  of  the  General's  eminent 
grandfather,  Hon.  John  Watts,  Jr.  This 
notable  statue  has  been  characterized  as  one 
of  the  most  artistic  of  the  monuments  which 
adorn  the  various  parks,  squares,  and  public 
places  in  New  York.  It  is  the  work  of  George 
E.  Bissell,  the  well-known  sculptor  of  Pough- 
keepsie.  Duchess  county,  N.  Y.  The  "Year 
Book  and  Register  of  the  Parish  of  Trinity 
Church  in  the  City  of  New  York,"  for  1893, 
contains  the  following,    as  introduction  to  an 


*New  York  Historical  Society. 

Al  a  Stated  Meeting  of  the  Society,  held  on  Tuesday  evening 
May  3.  1892.  the  President  submitted  and  read  a  letter  from  Gen.  J. 
Watts  de  Peyster,  presenting  to  the  Society  a  collection  of  Family 
Papers. 

The  following  Resolutions  presented  by  Mr.  Edward  F.  de 
Lancey  were  unanimously  adopted  : 

Renolved  :  That  the  thanks  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society 
be  and  herebv  are  given  to  Gen.  John  Watts  de  Pevster  for 
the  rinique  and  most  valitabie  gift  of  the  ancient  historical  manu- 
scripts, documents,  maps  and  deeds,  so  long  in  the  possession  of 
this  distinguished  New  York  family,  of  which  he  is  a  well-known 
representative;  a  gift  which  illustrates  in  the  clearest  and  strongest 
manner  New  York  as  a  Dutch  Colony,  an  English  Province,  an  Inde- 
pendent Sovereignty,  and  the  greatest  member  of  the  Republic  of 
the  United  States  of  North  America. 

Henoli'ed :  That  this  collection  be  added  to  that  formerly  given 
to  this  Society  by  the  donor's  hoBOred  father  [Frederic  de  Peyster], 
one  of  its  Presidents,  and  that  in  honor  both  of  the  father  and  the 
son,  the  joint  collection  be  denominated  "  The  de  Peyster  Papers." 

Extract  from  the  Minutes.      (Signed)      ANDREW  WARNER, 

Recording  Secretary. 

Came  early,  hoping  to  see  you  and  to  thank  you  in  person  for 
your  most  generous  and  acceptable  gift.  It  was  highly  appreciated  by 
the  Society.  [Card]  JOHN  A.  KING, 

[4th  May,  1892.]  •  [President  N.  Y.  H.  5.] 

My  dear  General :  4th  May.  1892. 

I  had  hoped  to  see  you  this  morning, but  you  were  an  earlier  bird 
than  myself,  and  were  already  on  the  wing.  I  wanted  to  tell  you 
how  gratified  the  Society  was  with  your  generous  and  noble  gift,  and 
of  your  still  continuing  remembrance  and  friendship.  De  Lancey 
wrote  the  Resolutions  at  my  request,  and  the  Society  welcomed  the 
gift  with  universal  applause.  Again  thanking,  and  hoping  we  may 
always  remain  fresh  in  your  memory,  I  am,  Very  truly  yours. 
[Signed,]  JOHN  A.  KING, 

Gen.  J.  Watts  de  Peyster.  [President  N.  Y.  H.  a.\ 


160 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


account  of  the  family  and  public  career  of  John 
Watts.* 

Another  munificent  gift  to  the  city  of  New 
York  is  the  bronze  statue,  also  heroic  size,  of 
Gen.  de  Peyster's  famous  ancestor.  Col.  Abra- 
ham de  Peyster,  who  was  one  of  the  most 
eminent  and  public-spirited  citizens  during  the 
Colonial  period  of  the  history  of  the  city  and 
State  of  New  York.  This  gentleman  was  a 
friend  of  William  Penn,  the  most  intimate 
friend  and  adviser  of  the  Earl  of  Bellemont, 
perhaps  the  best  of  the  Colonial  governors, 
was  mayor  of  New  York  City  from  1691  to 
1695;  colonel,  commanding  the  city  troops  in 
1700;  Chief-Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  the 
same  year;  president  of  the  Council  and  acting 
Governor  of  the  Province  of  New  York  in 
1701,  and  was  Treasurer  of  the  Provinces  of 
New  York  and  New  Jersey  from  1706  to  1721, 
holding  this  trust  until  his  death.  The  beau- 
tiful statue  of  this  notable  benefactor  of  early 
New  York  is  likewise  the  work  of  Mr.  Bissell, 
and  comprises  the  chief  decoration  of  the 
famous  square  on  lower  Broadway,  "Bowling 
Green. "  Opposite  this  square  Gen.  de  Peyster 
was  himself  born,  in  the  handsome  old  resi- 
dence, No.  3  Broadway,  of  his  grandfather 
Watts. 

To  the  city  of  Hudson  the  General  also 
gave  the  beautiful  bronze  statue  of  "  St.  Win- 
efride  Evoking  the  Fountain  Which  Feeds  the 

*The  Bronze  Statue  of  John  Watts. 
During  the  past  year  there  has  been  erected  in  Trinity  Church- 
yard, by  Gen.  John  Watts  de  Peyster,  a  statue  of  his  distinguished 
ancestor.  John  Watts,  the  last  Royal  Recorder  of  the  City  of  New 
York.  This  fine  work  of  art  stands  to  the  south  of  the  churchyard, 
nearly  on  a  line  with  the  porch  toward  Broadway.  The  statue  and 
pedestal  are  together  about  fifteen  feet  high.  The  inscription  on  the 
base  runs  as  follows: 

VIR  ^EQUANIMITATIS. 

JOIIN  WATTS. 

Born  is  the  City  ok  Nkw  York.  August  2V,  1749  (O.  S.)  and  Died 

THERE  SeI'TE.VIBEH  3,  183ti  (N.  S.) 

Ljvst  Royal  Recokdeh  of  the  City  ok  New  York,  1774-1777— No 
Records  during  the  Revolution;  Speaker  ok  Asse.mblv 
OK  THE  State  ok  New   York,  .January  5,    1791,    to 
January  7,  1791;  Memher  ok  Co.xgress,   1793-1795; 
First  Judge  ok  Westchester  Co.,  ISOii;  Foun- 
der AND   EXDOWER  OK    LeAKE    AND    \V.\TTS 

Orphan  House    in  the  City  ok  New 

York;   one  ok  the  Founijeks  and 

Akterwards  President  ok  the 

New  York  Dispensary,  1821- 

1S3(1.  Ac,  Ac. 

His    Remains    lie  in   His    Adjacent  Family   Vaui.t  in  this 

(■Trinity]  Churchyard. 

Erected  in  Grateful  Re.me.mbraxce   by   His  Grandson,  only 

CHILD  OK  His  Youngest  [Child  andJ  Daughter, 

Mary  Jistina  Watts  [de  Pey.ster], 

John  Watts  i>e  Peyster. 

Gen.  de  Peyster's  idea  in  erecting  this  statue  was.  as  staled  to 
the  writer,  that  thereinight  still  be  in  this  city,  as  there  had  been  for 
many  years,  a  visible  memorial  of  his  grandfather.  His  name  has 
long  been  connected  with  the  well-known  charity,  "  The  Leake  and 
Watts  Orphan  House,"  which  was  a  noble  and  sufficient  monument 
to  him;  but  wlien  that  building,  with  the  site,  was  sold  to  the  trus- 
tees of  the  Cathedral  of  St.  John  the  Divine,  the  memorial  disap- 
peared through  the  removal  of  the  institution  to  Vonkers.  Therefore 
his  descendant  conceived  the  idea  of  erecting  a  statue  of  imperish- 
able bronze,  and  placin^  it  in  some  position  in  which  it  might  stand 
for  ages,  keeping  the  name  and  good  deeds  of  an  eminent  citizen  in 
view  of  the  public. 


Holy  Healing  Well."  This  exquisite  work  of 
art  (the  adjective  is  well-deserved)  was  origi- 
nally intended  for  a  site  in  Duchess  county, 
the  "  pinetum  "  surrounding  Gen.  de  Peyster's 
new  Home  for  Consumptives,  in  the  town  of 
Unionvale.  But  the  methods  of  those  for 
whom  the  gift  was  designed,  and  who  had 
been  the  recipients  of  numerous  and  extensive 
benefactions,  changed  the  destination  of  the 
donation.  It  now  adorns  the  beautiful  foun- 
•tain  in  the  city  of  Hudson  which  issues  out  of  its 
rock  pedestal.  The  pedestal  itself  is  a  mass  of 
natural,  moss-grown  rocks  taken  from  Beacraft 
Mountain,  in  the  Lower  Claverack  Manor,  near 
the  city  of  Hudson,  of  which  Gen.  de  Peyster 
was  the  last  patroon. 

Another  statue,  also  of  the  distinguished 
mayor  of  New  York  (executed  in  Paris,  and 
pronounced  even  finer  than  that  which  stands 
in  Bowling  Green),  has  been  completed  and 
but  awaits  the  selection  of  the  proper  site  for 
its  reception.  If  it  can  be  said,  on  the  one 
hand,  that  few  Americans  can  boast  an  ances- 
try so  illustrious  and  so  upright,  concededly, 
in  public  estimation,  as  that  of  Gen.  de  Pey- 
ster, it  is  equally  certain  that  no  one  could  be 
found  who  more  truly  appreciates  his  ancestral 
heritage  and  venerates  the  memories  of  thos! 
who  have  preceded  him  and  rendered  the  fam 
ily  name  so  notable.  The  philanthropic  spirit 
of  his  ancestors  he  has  likewise  emulated  by 
linking  their  names  with  memorials  which  are 
lasting  public  benefactions. 

The  Home  for  Consumptives  in  Unionvales 
before  referred  to  (a  donation  to  the  Methodisf 
American  University),  was  conceived  as  a 
monument  to  the  virtues  and  gentleness  of 
those  whose  memories  are  dear  to  the  General, 
as  the  following  tablet  for  the  Home  testifies: 

Erected  by 
GEN.  JOHN  WATTS  DE  PEYSTER. 

AS  A  ME.MORIAI.  ok 

Three  E.xempi.ary  Wo-MEN. 
Hts  Grandmother, 
Jane  de  Laxcey, 

WIFE  ok 

Hon.  John  WattS; 

His  .\u.nt, 

Elizabeth  Watts, 

Married 

Henry  I.aight; 

His  Mother. 

Mary  Justina  Watts, 

Married 
Frederic  de  Peyster. 

The  General's  donation  of  the  extensive 
lands  occupied  by  the  Brothers  of  Nazareth 
of  Unionvale,  has  been  already  mentioned 
More  than  130  acres  of  his  ancestral  domain 
besides  an  adjoining  farm,  a  purchase,  war 
given    for    this    purpose,    while    the    Trainin 


\ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


151 


School  represents  a  still  more  generous  outlay. 
This  school  is  one  of  the  landmarks  of  that  sec- 
tion of  the  county,  and  is  a  model,  both  for 
architectural  beauty  and  in  respect  to  its  ar- 
rangements and  appointments.  The  inscrip- 
tion above  the  exquisite  marble  mantel  in  the 
hall  of  the  Training  School  is  as  follows: 

This  Bi'ili>i.n'g. 
St.  I*Ari."s  Thaixixg  School  kok  Boys, 

WAS  ErECTEO  HkkK  ON    PKtfSPECT   FaKM  OK  HiLI,.  WHICH 
HAD  BEEN  I-N  HIS  Fa.MII.V  FI>K  SEVEN  GENERATIONS.  BV 

JOHN  WATTS  DE  PEYSTEU, 

AS  A  Memoki.\l  OF  His  Father. 

FREDERIC  DE  PEYSTER. 

AND  OP  His  Mateknai,  Grandfathek. 

.KJH.N  WATTS, 

Fol'NOER  AXO  EXOOWEH  OF  THE 

Leake  ani>  Watts  orph.\n  HorsE  in  New  York. 
Mr.  (ri'oNxoK.  HrnsoN,  Architect. 

It  is  not  generally  known  that  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  Order  and  institutions  of  the 
Brothers  of  Nazareth  within  the  borders  of 
Duchess  county  was  entirely  due  to  the  gen- 
erous gift  of  land  by  the  General,  at  a  time 
when  the  thought  of  location  in  this  county  was 
so  far  from  the  mind  of  the  authorities  of  the 
Order  as  even  to  be  deemed  at  first  utterly  im- 
practicable, the  county  being  rejected  as  too 
remote  from  New  York  City. 

To  Gen.  de  Peyster,  Duchess  county,  and  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  denomination  in  particu- 
lar, is  indebted  for  the  handsome  church-build- 
ing erected  in  the  village  of  Madalin.*  This 
gift  called  forth  the  following  resolutions  from 
the  Methodist  Conference: 

This  beautiful  edifice  the  General  built  as  a 
memorial  of  his  daughters.  Upon  the  outside  of 
the  church  is  a  tablet  containing  the  following: 


H^k'His 


WX*. 

'HiJ*  Methodist  Episcopal  (,'HrKCH.  uedicated  to  Ooi>, 

THE  SavIOK.  AX1»  THE   Hoi-V  SPIHIT.  THE  Co.MKOIlTEH. 

IS  Ekecteii  by 

JOHN   WATTS  DE  PEYSTER. 

AS  A  Memorial  ok  His  Dai'Ghtkks, 

EsTELi.E  Elizabeth  PitroEXCE 

AMI 

Maria  Heata. 


•The  New  York  Annual  Conference 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  assembled  at  Tarrytown.  N.  Y., 
April  8.  1863,  ordered   the  following  minute  to  be  entered  upon  its 
Journal : 

Whtreatt,  Gen.  de  Peyster  has  presented  to  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  at  Madalin  a  church  edifice,  as  a  tribute  to  the  mem- 
,ory  ot  his  dautjhters.  free  from  debt,  beautiful  in  architectural 
desiRn  and  wisely  adapted  in  all  its  appointments  for  church  work; 
and, 

Whereas.  Gen.  de  Peyster,  with  a  benevolence  not  prompted  by 
a  deootninaiioniil  relation  with  Methodism,  as  he  is  not  a  member  of 
our  Church,  has  not  only  presented  this  well-equipped  Christian 
temple  to  Methodism,  but  has  also  built  and  paid  for,  and  presented 
lo  the  Church  at  Madalin  a  parsonage;  therefore, 

RtHolreil,  That  this  Conference  extends  to  Gen,  de  Peyster  its 

1  cere  gratitude  for  his  large  and  generous  benefactions,  and  assures 

[1  of  iis  earnest  prayers  that  he  may  share  in  time  and  in  eternity 

'  blessings  of  the  Christian  faith  which  his  dedicated  gifts  will 

;erpeiuate  on  earth,  and  that  the  memory  of  his  beloved  daughters 

ly  always  be  associated  in  his  and  in  our  memory  with  the  preach- 

iiij  of  that  Gospel  which  comforts  the  sorrowful  and  pardons  the 

;  -nitent. 

R^Kolr.ed,  That  the  Secretary  of  this  Conference  be  instructed  to 
■pare  two  engrossed  copies  of  this  action,  signed  by  the  presiding 
•hop  and  the  Secretary,  one  to  be  presented  to  Gen.  de  Peyster, 
i  the  ether  to  the  guarterly  Conference  of  the  Church  at  Madalin. 
'^nedl  tSigned] 

C.  W.  Millard.  John  M.  Walden. 

Secretary.  Presiding  Bishop. 


Upon  a  tablet  within  the  church  appears 
the  inscription  appended: 

This  Chirch  was  Designed  by  John  Watts  de  Pevstkr. 
Embodying    Suggestions    by    its    Pastor.   Hev. 
Tho.mas  Elliot.    The  Plans    were  drawn 
by  Henry  Di'dley.  Ahcht..  N.  Y.  and 
the   work   Carried  oit  and  Com- 
pleted     IN      Act'ORDAXCE    WITH 

Specifications    and  rNDEH 

the  srpehintendence  of 

Mr.  O'Connor,  Arct. 

This  church  has  been  the  object  of  much 
admiration  as  one  of  the  most  picturesque 
country  church  buildings  to  be  found  anywhere. 
Another  notable  example  of  important  benefac- 
tions in  Duchess  county  is  the  General's  gift 
to  the  Methodist  denomination  of  the  large 
home  for  friendless  girls,  known  as  the  * '  Watts 
de  Peyster  Missionary  Home  ",  with  its  build- 
ings and  extensive  grounds  at  Madalin.  This 
gift  inspired  the  following  acknowledgments.* 

Important  gifts  by  the  General  have  also 
been  made  in  other  parts  of  the  country,  in- 
cluding many  States.  To  the  city  of  Kearney, 
Neb.,  he  presented  a  handsome  bronze  bust 
of  his  distinguished  cousin,  Maj.  Gen.  Philip 
Kearny,  the  typical  captain  of  the  Civil  war, 
in  memory  of  whom  that  municipality  was 
named.  In  acknowledgment  of  this  gift,  the 
General  received  ahandsome  set  of  resolutions 
of  thanks  from  the  Mayor  and  a  committee  of 
the  Board  of  Aldermen  of  the  city  of  Kearney, 
dated  January  27,  1892.  The  General  also 
donated  valuable  books  to  the  public  library  of 
Kearney.  The  State  of  Nebraska  was  likewise 
indebted  to  General  de  Peyster  for  a  handsome 
chapel,  erected  by  him  at  Nebraska  City,  a  gift 
through  the  very  Rev.  Robert  W.  Oliver,  dean 

•Watts  de  Peyster  Missionary  Home, 

Kingston.  N.  Y.,  June  12,  1894. 
Rev.  A.  M.  Griffin,  Madalin,  N.  K,  Paator  of  dt-  Peyster  Memorial 
Metfiodist  Church: 

Dear  Bro. — At  the  Distrjct  Convention  of  the  W.  H.  M.  Society. 
of  the  Kingston  District,  recently  held  in  the  St.  James  Church, 
Kingston,  N.  Y.,  Mrs.  Mary  Fish  Park  read  a  communication  from 
Mrs.  Dr.  James  M.  King,  staling  that  Gen.  de  Peyster  had  donated  a 
fine  property  within  the  bounds  of  your  charge  to  the  W.  H.  M. 
Society,  of  the  New  York  Conference,  to  be  used  as  an  Italian  Home. 
And,  on  motion,  it  resolved  by  a  unanimous  raising  vote  that  the 
thanks  of  the  Convention  be  tendered  General  de  Peyster  for  his 
magnificent  gift  through  the  Rev.  A.  M.  Griffin,  Pastor  at  Madalin, 
N.  Y. 

We  shall  esteem  it  a  favor  i!  you  will  kindly  inform  the  GeneraL 
of  the  action  of  the  Convention.    Yours  Truly, 

Mrs.  O.  a.  Merchant,  Mrs.  E.  S.  Osbon, 

Recording  Secretary.  President. 

Dear  General — I  take  pleasure  in  presenting  this  to  yon, 
which  explains  itself.     Yours,  Etc., 

Arthur  M.  Grifmn. 

144  W.  122d  Street,  New  York,  Jnne  7,  IH94. 
Gen.  de  Peyster: 

Dear  Sir— The  ladies  of  the  Committee  on  Italian  Girls  Indus- 
trial Home,  at  their  monthly  meeting,  held  at  the  residence  of  Mrs. 
King,  on  Tuesday  last,  passed  a  hearty  and  unanimous  vote  of 
thanks  to  you  for  your  noble  and  munificent  gift  to  their  work,  which 
I  was  authorized  to  convey  to  you  by  letter. 

Trusting  that  you  may  be  blessed  in  the  gift,  and  that  the  Watts 
de  Peyster  Home  may  be  the  means  of  lightening  the  burdens  from 
many  lives  for  years  to  come,  and  that  our  Society  may  prove  wise 
almoners  of  your  bounty,  I  am,  in  behalf  of  the  Committee, 
Gratefully  Yours. 

Martha  Griffin,  Secretary. 


152 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPUICAL  RECORD. 


of  Nebraska,  and  in  memory  of  the  General's 
dead  soldier  sons.  This  building  was  afterward 
taken  down,  and  its  materials — at  all  events, 
its  tablets  in  memory  of  his  sons — was  re- 
moved to  Kearney. 

Something  of  the  same  kind  occurred  to  a 
church  v/hich  the  General  finished  in  Altoona, 
Penn.,  as  a  memorial  of  his  youngest  daughter, 
Maria  Beata,  which  church,  contrary  to  orig- 
inal understanding,  was  torn  down  and  rebuilt. 
Nevertheless,  the  Memorial  Parish  School  and 
Parsonage  which  he  erected  were  allowed  to 
stand  unchanged. 

Another  gift  of  note  by  the  General  will  be 
the  handsome  library  building  which  is  being 
erected  at  Lancaster,  Penn.,  a  donation  to 
Franklin  and  Marshall  College.*  The  com- 
memorative character  of  this  noble  benefaction 
will  be  made  known  in  the  following  simple 
and  modest  tablet,  which  has  been  very  much 
admired: 

This  Libkahv  ih  EuErTEii 

AS    A 

ME.MOK1A1. 

OF 

JOHN  WATT8, 

"  VlK  i^gilANIMITATIS," 
AND  Of 

FREDERIC  Dk  PEY8TEK, 

"  ViB  ArCTOKlTATIS," 

BY  A 
GBANnsON  AND  SoN, 

Who.  Bkarin'o  both  Names.  Seeks  to  Coxti.vie  in*  their 

HoNUK.  THE  (iOOIi  THEY  Dill  AM)  TaI'OHT  IIIM. 

To  General  de  Peyster  must  likewise  be 
credited  the  notable  gift  of  the  ' '  Annex ' '  to  the 
Leake  and  Watts  Orphan  House,  of  which 
great  charity  his  grandfather,  Hon.  John 
Watts,  Jr.,  was  the  founder,  relinquishing  an 
immense  inheritance  that  it  might  be  devoted 
to  the  establishment  of  this  splendid  institu- 
tion. The  inscription  upon  the  Annex,  built 
by  General  de  Peyster,  is  as  follows: 


*Franklik  AMD  Marshall  College. 

Lancaster,  Pa.,  July  6,  1894. 
General ./.  Wat/.«  de  Peyster: 

Dear  Sir— I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  the  Board  of 
Trustees  at  its  annual  meeting,  held  on  the  17th  ult..  was  officially  in- 
formed  that,  during  the  past  year,  "General  John  Watts  de  Peyster, 
Litt.  D..  of  Tivoli,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  presented  to  the  library  of 
the  College  nine  hundred  and  twenty  volumes  (he  had  previously 
presented  three  hundred  and  twenty  volumes),  many  of  whicli  are 
quite  valuable."  iln  all  some  seventy  boxes  of  books  have  been 
presented.)  The  corresponding  secretary  was.  therefore,  directed  to 
convey  to  General  de  Peyster  the  hearty  thanks  of  the  Board  for  his 
great  kindness;  and  it  was  further  ordered  that  this  action  be  spread 
upon  the  minutes. 

Permit  me  to  say  that  it  aftords  me  pleasure  to  be  the  medium 
of  this  communication,  and  to  assure  you  that  your  fj;enerosity  is 
gratefully  appreciated  by  all  the  friends  of  the  Franklin  and  Mar- 
shall college.     Yours  very  truly, 

Jos.  H.  DuBBS,  Corresponding  Secretary. 


This  An.nex  to  the 
Leake  and  Watts  Ohphan  Hoise, 

UKI01NAI.lv  KolXDEI)  AND  EXIIDWED  BV 

.lOIIN  WAITS, 

WAS  Ebe(^ku  as  a  Memouial  ok  His  Youkoest  Child, 

.Mv  Moth  eh. 

.IfSTlXA  Mahv. 

BOKX  2(1th  Octohek.  IHOl;  Died  2hth  .Ji-ly,  1821, 

Wife  of  Fuedeuic  de  Pevstek, 

FOB  50  YEAKS  C'LEKK  of  the  BoaHII  of  TKfSTEES.    L.   A    W.    ().    H., 

and  of  hek  mothek, 
Jane  de  Lancev  Watts. 

BOKN  &TH  SeI'TE.VBEH.     IT.'itl;    DiED  2ND  MaBCH.  180». 
"I    TALI.    TO    Ke.VIEMBKANCE      THE    rNFEIONED    FaITH    WHICB 

Dwelt  Fihst  in  thy  Ghand.motheh.   Lois  [FA.«ofs  Holiness], 
AND  Thy  Motuek,  Ef-VICE  (happy  victoky]."     (2  Timothy  i.  5.) 

BV 

John  Watts  dk  Peystek. 

The   following  letter  from   the   late  Gov- 
ernor Abbott,  of  New  Jersey,  explains  itself: 


Gr«at  Seal 
of  the 


State  of  New  Jersey, 
Executive  Department, 

Trenton,  February  9,  1891. 
General  J.  Watts  de  Peyster, 
:  state  of  New  Jersey:  59  East  21st  St. 

i •  New  York  City,  N.  Y. 

Dear  Sir:  It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  transmit 
to  you  to-day  the  thanks  of  the  legislature  of  New  Jersey 
for  your  gift  to  this  State  of  an  equestrian  portrait  of  your 
kinsman,  the  gallant  General  Kearny. 

In  forwarding  to  you  this  certified  copy  of  their  ac- 
tion, please  let  me  express  my  thanks  officially  for  this 
generous  act  on  your  part,  and  believe  me. 
Yours  very  truly, 
(Signed  Leon  Abbott,  Governor. 

Commonwealth  of  New  Jersey. 

Whereas,  Gen.  J.  Watts  de  Peyster,  of  New  York 
City,  has  presented  to  this  State  a  large  eouestrain  por- 
trait of  the  late  Major-Gen.  Philip  Kearny;  therefore, 

RtMlred  (the  House  of  Assembly  concurring),  That 
the  thanks  of  the  Legislature  of  this  State  are  hereby 
given  to  Gen.  de  Peyster  for  his  generous  gift  of  the 
picture  of  one  of  New  Jersey's  most  gallant  soldiers  of  tht 
late  Civil  war. 

Resolved,  That  his  ExceUency  the  Governor  be  re- 
quested to  forward  a  certified  copy  of  this  Resolution  to 
Gen.  de  Peyster. 

I  hereby  certify  that  the  foregoing  resolution  is  a  true 
copy  of  the  original  as  passed  bv  the  Senate,  February 
2,  189L  John  Carpenter,  Jr. 

Secretary  of  Senate. 

I  hereby  certify  that  the  foregoing  resolution  is  a  true 
copy  of  the  original  as  passed  by  the  House  of  Assembly, 
February  3,  189L  Thomas  F.  Noonan,  Jr. 

Clerk  of  the  House  of  Assembly. 

59  East  Twenty-first  Street.  New  York, 
11-2-9L 
His  Excellency  Leon  Abbott, 

Governor  State  of  New  Jersey. 
Dear  Sir:     I  desire  to  acknowledge  in  fitting  man- 
ner the  receipt  of  the  concurrent  Resolutions  of  the  Hon- 
orable Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey  in  regard  to 
my  gift  of  the   equestrian   portrait   of   Maj-Gen.  Philip 
Kearny,  my  only  male  cousin  on  my  mother's  side,  with 
whom  I  was  brought  up  in  the  house  of  our  dear  grand- 
father, Hon.  John  Watts,  and  to  whom  my  eldest  son  and 
namesake  was  Aide-de-Camp,  and  while  doing  so  I  desire 
to  emphasize  my  appreciation  of  the  handsome  manner 
in  which  you  transmitted  to  me  the  resolution. 
Yours  Yery  Truly, 
[Signed]  J.  Watts  De  Peyster. 

Brev:  Maj-Gen.,  S.  N.  Y. 

Similarly,   the  following  official  communi- 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


153 


Ication  from  the  government  of  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania  requires  no  comment  : 

IN  THE   NAME  AND   BY  AUTHORITY  OF   THE 
COMMONWEALTH   OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 


GREAT  SEAL 

or    THK 

COMMONWEALTH 

OF 
PESN8VI.VANIA. 


PENNSYLVANIA. 

OFFICE  OF  THE 


I  Secretary  of  the  Co.m.vion wealth, 

^K  Harrisburg. 

^H  Executive  Department, 

^V  In  the  Senate,  March  SGt/i,  1891. 

B^hereas,  Brevet  Maj.-Gen.  J.  WATTS  de  PEY- 
iTER,  of  No.  59  East  Twenty-first  street,  New  York 
Jity,  author,  soldier  and  public-spirited  citizen,  from  his 
jrivate  collection  of  paintings,  has  presented  to  the  State 
if  Pennsylvania  an  Equestrian  Portrait  of  one  of  Penn- 
ylvania's  most  gallant  sons:  Maj.-Gen.  SAMUEL 
'ETER  HEINTZELMAN,  who  was  born  in  Manheim, 
.ancaster  county,  September  30, 180.7,  and  whose  service 
1  the  Army  from  his  graduation  at  West  Point  Military 
icademy  in  1826,  until  his  death.  May  1,  1880,  is  the 
Ipecial  pride  of  his  native  State  :  therefore,  be  it 

Renohed,  By  the  Senate  (the  House  of  Representa- 

'ves  concurring).  That,  as  evidence  of  the  appreciation 

f  this  generous  and  valued  gift,  the  thanks  of  the  people 

"  untyhania  be,  and  they  are  hereby  extended  to  Bre- 

laj.-Gen.  J.  WATTS  DE  PEYSTER. 

Remihed,  That  the  portrait  of  General  HEINTZEL- 

(AN  be  appropriately  marked  and  placed  in  the  State 


I 


E.  W.  Smile V, 

Chief  Clerk  of  the  Senate. 
John  W.  Morrison, 
Chief  Clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
pproved  the  "th  day  of  April,  Anno  Domino  one 
^and  eight  hundred  and  ninety-one. 

I  Robert  E.  Pattison, 

Governor. 
it  m 
STAT 


AT  HEAI.  or  THIS 

8TATK  OP 
HX.NttrLVA.MA. 


Penniylzania,  s»: 

WiLLIA.M  F.  HaRRITY, 

Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth. 


59  East  Twenty-first  Street, 
New  York,  April  18th,  1891. 
-  ErcelUucy,  Robert  R.  Pattison,  Ooternor  of  the  Com- 

itirealth  of  Penn»yhania  : 

3IR:— Accept  this  efifort  inadequately  to  express  my 
^preciation  of  the  exquisite  manner  in  which  the  vote  of 
tinks  for  the    Eouestrian    Portrait   of    Major-General 
I-.INTZELMAN  has  been  transmitted  to. 
Very  respectfully  and  gratefully, 

J.  Watts  de  Pevster. 


The  documents  subjoined,  from  Gov.Werts, 
<ew  Jersey,  and  the  Clerk  of  the  House  of 
/sembly  of  that  State,  record  another  hand- 
sjne  gift  to  that  Commonwealth  of  two  paint- 
il,'s  of  Gen.  then  Capt.  Kearny's  famous 
Carge  up  to  the  very  gate  of  Mexico,  and  a 
hmzt  medallion  of  the  General. 


Executive  Depart.vient,  State  of  New  Jersey. 

Trenton,  June  9,  1894. 
Gen.  J.  Watts  de  Peyster,  Tivoli,  N.  Y. 

Dear  Sir  :   It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  enclose  you 
a  properly^  authenticated  copy  of  the  resolution  passed 
by  the  legislature  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey  at  its  last 
session  in  reference  to  gifts  made  by  you  to  this  State. 
Very  truly  yours, 
George  T.  Werts,  Governor. 

The  State  of  New  Jersey. 

Whereas,  Gen.  J.  Watts  de  Peyster,  of  New  York 
City,  has  presented  to  this  State  two  beautiful  paintings 
of  the  charge  made  by  Gen.  Philip  Kearny,  of  New  Jer- 
sey, in  the  Mexican  war,  and  a  bronze  medallion  of  Brevet 
Maj.-Gen.  Robert  McAllister,  of  the  New  Jersey  Volun- 
teers; therefore, 

Renolved  (the  Senate  concurring).  That  the  thanks  of 
the  Legislature  of  this  State  are  hereby  given  to  Gen.  de 
Peyster  for  his  generous  gift  of  pictures  of  a  spirited 
charge  in  battle  made  by  New  Jersey's  most  gallant 
leader,  and  the  bronze  relief  of  one  of  her  truest  heroes 
in  the  Civil  war. 

Resolved,  That  his  excellency,  the  Governor,  be  re- 
quested to  forward  a  certified  copy  of  this  resolution  to 
Gen.  de  Peyster. 

I  certify  that  the  above  is  a  true  copy  of  a  resolution 
offered  in  the  House  of  Assembly  of  New  Jersey  by  Mr. 
Olcott,  of  Essex,  on  April  17,  1894;  duly  adopted  by  said 
Assembly  on  said  day,  and  returned  by  message  from  the 
Senate,  April  18,  1894,  as  having  been  duly  concurred  in 
by  the  Senate.  J.  Herbert  Potts, 

Clerk  of  the  House  of  Assembly,  Session  of  1894. 

Similarly,  by  a  resolution  adopted  in  the 
New  York  Assembly  March  20,  1894,  and  by 
the  Senate  March  31,  1894,  "Brevet  Maj.- 
Gen.  J.  Watts  de  Peyster,  a  public-spirited 
citizen  of  this  State,"  was  tendered  "the 
thanks  of  the  people  of  the  State  of  New 
York  "  for  the  gift  of  a  bronze  bas-relief  repre- 
senting a  notable  Revolutionary  scene  at  West 
Point.    The  text  of  the  resolution  is  as  follows: 

ASSE.VIBLV   CHA.MBER,   STATE   OF    NEW    YORK. 

By  unanimous  consent,  Mr.  Gray  ofifered  for  the  con- 
sideration of  the  House  a  resolution  in  the  words  fol- 
lowing. 

Whereas,  Brevet  Major-General  J.  Watts  de  Peys- 
ter, a  public-spirited  citizen  of  this  State,  has  presented  to 
the  State  a  bronze  bas-relief  representing  the  "  Encamp- 
ment of  the  Continental  Troops  at  West  Point  on  the 
Hudson,  during  the  Revolution;"  therefore, 

Resolred  (if  the  Senate  concur).  That,  as  an  evi- 
dence of  the  high  appreciation  of  this  generous  and  valued 
gift,  the  thanks  of  the  people  of  the  State  of  New  York 
be,  and  they  are  hereby  extended  to  Brevet  Major-General 
J.  Watts  de  Peyster. 

Resolved,  That  the  bronze  bas-relief,  representing 
the  "  Encampment  of  the  Continental  Troops  at  West 
Point  on  the  Hudson,  during  the  Revolution,"  presented 
by  Major-General  J.  Watts  de  Pevster,  be  appropriately 
marked  and  placed  in  the  Capitol  by  the  trustees. 

The  Speaker  put  the  question  whether  the  House 
would  agree  to  said  resolution,  and  it  was  determined  in 
the  affirmative. 

Ordered,  That  the  Clerk  deliver  said  resolution  to 
the  Senate  and  request  their  concurrence  therein.  I 
certify  that  the  above  is  a  true  copy  of  the  resolution  of- 
fered in  the  House  of  Assembly  of  New  York,  by  Mr. 
Gray,  of  Dutchess,  on  March  20,  1894,  duly  adopted  by 


164 


COM^fEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


said  Assembly,  on  said  day,  and  returned  by  message 
from  the  Senate,  March  31,  1894,  as  having  been  duly  con- 
curred in  by  said  Senate. 

G.  W.  Dunn. 
Clerk  of  the  House  of  Assembly, 
Session  of  1894. 

Gen.  de  Peyster  has  been  a  very  prolific 
writer,  and  has  published  avast  amount  in  the 
daily  press,  weeklies,  monthlies  and  pamph- 
lets and  monographs  on  the  two  "Wars  for  In- 
dependence "  and  the  "Slaveholders'  Rebel- 
lion." The  aggregate,  if  collected  in  book 
form,  would  fill  many  volumes.  A  partial  list 
of  his  volumes,  monographs,  etc.,  etc.,  are  ap- 
pended. 

With  his  military  information,  derived  from 
distinguished  soldiers,  and  a  multitude  of  the 
best  works  on  War,  those  with  whom  he  con- 
sulted were  of  the  opinion  that  no  one  could 
write  a  history  of  the  Rebellion  better  than 
himself.  He  was  the  intimate  friend  of  a 
number  of  our  most  distinguished  generals  of 
the  highest  rank,  also  of  some  of  our  grandest 
admirals. 

Gen.  George  H.  Thomas,  "our  greatest 
and  our  best, "talked  to  him  with  a  confidence 
which,  it  is  said,  he  seldom  showed.  Gen.  A. 
A.  Humphreys,  it  is  likely  our  most  scientific 
major-general,  was  his  most  intimate  friend. 
To  cite  all  with  whom  he  was  in  the  closest 
relations  would  fill  pages:  McDowell,  Heint- 
zleman,  Wright,  Rosecrans,  Gordon-Granger, 
Cullum,  Vogdes,  Butler,  Fry,  Hancock,  Hook- 
er, Warren,  and  a  host  of  others  whose  names, 
after  the  war,  were  in  everyone's  mind  and 
mouth;  among  the  admirals,  Farragut,  Alden, 
Nicholson,  Baldwin  (one  of  the  most  lovable 
and  charming  of  men).  Flag,  Capt.  Percival 
Drayton,  and  in  Europe  the  Count  of  Paris, 
besides  many  foreign  celebrities. 

His  works  on  the  war  have  been  constantly 
and  copiously  quoted,  without  giving  him  the 
credit  to  which  he  is  entitled,  and  often  no 
credit  at  all  for  wholesale  thefts. 

With  these  opportunities  of  learning  the 
inner  working  of  operations,  his  prodigious 
memory,  industry  and  capability,  he  has  been 
constantly  urged  and  begged  to  write  and  pub- 
lish, or,  at  all  events,  to  leave  behind  him 
memoranda  to  enable  a  future  historian  to 
prepare  a  more  authentic  story. 

On  the  other  hand  his  most  intimate  friends 
have  advised  him  not  to  reveal  facts — precious, 
indeed,  but  which  might  occasion  bitter  ani- 
mosities and  open  wounds  which  it  would  be 
difficult  to  heal.      Perhaps  he  is  the  only  man 


living,  at  all  events  one  of  very  few,  who  are 
aware  of  several  of  the  "Little  Reasons" 
which  occasioned  momentous  results  —  pre- 
venting successes  and  causing  disasters  — 
timidities  or  selfishness,  jealousies  and  rivalries 
such  as  influenced  Buonaparte's  marshals,  es- 
pecially in  Spain,  which  were  "the  beginning 
of  the  end "  of  the  Corsican's  extraordinary 
career. 

Disgusted  at  the  reception  of  his  articles, 
which  proved  that  Truth  was  the  last  thing 
desired,  the  General  refused  to  have  anything 
more  to  do  with  writing  upon  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion,  and  turned  to  other  subjects,  in 
which  he  would  not  make  enemies  among  those 
with  whom  he  was  brought  into  daily  contact 
and  forced  to  associate. 

In   preparing    for   the    different    historical 
works  which  General  de  Peyster  wrote  as  they 
appear  in  the  list   of  his  publications,  in  each 
different  case  he  collected  a  library  of  authori- 
ties.    Those  on  Holland,  of  which  the  names 
alone  fill  a  pamphlet  Part   I.,  of  twenty-four 
pages,  besides  subsequent  additions  even  more 
numerous.    He  gave  a  most  valuable  collection 
of  works  on  the  Thirty  Years'  War,  and  Seces- 
sion in  Switzerland,  to  the  New  York  Societv 
Library,  to  fill  an  alcove  to  bear  the  name  of  h 
father  (who  died  while  president  of  thatinstiti; 
tion)  and  himself.      Disgusted  at  the  manner  i: 
which  this  library,  to  his  mind,  was  conducted 
he  ceased   donating;    and   books  intended  t' 
complete    the   sets    he    had  given    have  beei 
transferred   to   other    societies,  particularly! 
Franklin  and  Marshall   College  in  Lancaster 
Penn.      He  likewise   donated   a  valuable  col 
lecton  of  rare  old  law   books  which   belonge. 
to  his   grandfather,  John    Watts,    last    Roya 
Recorder  of  the  city  of  New  York,  and  to  hi 
great-grandfather  of  the  same  name,  who  wa 
President  of  the   King's   Council   prior  to  th 
Revolution,  to  the  New  York  State   Library 
For  this  it  is  doubtful  if  the  donor  ever  receive 
the  slightest  acknowledgment  from  a  State  a 
ways  ungrateful  to  her  citizens  for  generatioi 
' '  native  here  and  to  the  manner  born. "     But 
must  be  remembered  no  State  is  so  thorough 
in  the  possession  of  aliens  to  its  blood,  reli 
ious  interests  and  antecedents  as  New  York. 
While  producing  his  si.x  Studies  upon  Ma 
Stuart,  Queen  of  Scots,  and  James    Hepbur 
Earl  of  Bothwell,  he  gathered  a  large  numb 
of  works  and  portraits  all  across  Europe,  ev^ 
to  St.    Petersburg.       This   collection,    whi 
may  be   considered   unique,  with   two  mart 


COMMEMORA  TIVE  BIOQRAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


155 


busts  of  Washington,  one  by  Greenough  and 
one  by  Crawford,  both  originals,  and  the  first 
most  likely  without  a  duplicate;  also  a  beauti- 
ful bust  of  his  grandfather,  John  Watts,  and 
of  his  father,  Frederic  de  Peyster;  likewise  a 
miniature  fac-simile  of  George  A.  Bissell's 
statue  of  Lincoln,  of  which  the  original  was 
erected  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  and  paid  for 
by  subscribers  in  this  country,  of  whom  the 
General  was  one;  and  a  medallion  in  bronze  of 
his  cousin,  Maj.-Gen.  Phil  Kearny,  were  pre- 
sented to  Columbia  College  (now  Universitj'). 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  publications 
of  General  de  Peyster  was  a  series  of  articles 
on  the  Medical  Organization  of  the  Roman  and 
other  Ancient  Armies,  published  in  the  Army 
and  Navy  Journal  in  1864. 

The  famous  Professor  Charles  Anthon,  of 
Columbia  College,  who  could  not  be  charged 
with  the  crime  of  being  ever  complimentary 
to  pretenders,  who  had  styled  General  de 
Peyster  "the  Tyrtaeus  of  the  War"  on  ac- 
Icount  of  some  stirring  pieces  of  military  poetry 
,he  had  written,  when  applied  to  to  assist 
[further  investigation  on  this  interesting  subject, 
Ireplied  finally  that  he  could  not  offer  the 
islightest  assistance,  since  the  General  had  ex- 
hausted all  available  authorities.* 

General  de  Peyster  has  also  won  reputation 
as  a  poet.  A  number  of  his  published  poems  are 
characterized  by  a  deeply  poetical  spirit,  and 
slicited  the  admiration  and  praise  of  the  famous 
author  of  "  Thanatopsis, "  William  Cullen 
Bryant,  who  was  also  one  of  the  ablest  of  crit- 
cs.  Bryant  declared  that  the  General's  poems 
"had  the  true  ring."  His  poem  on  "  Oris- 
•:any"  was  translated  into  German,  while  he 

•The  author  notes  in  corroboration  what  justifyinK  or  justifica- 
-  vouchers  or  evidence  he  has  examined  : 

New  Yokk,  October  5,  18114. 

Dear  Sir: — The  information  which  you  seek   is  scattered  over 

iiany  ancient  writers.     1  think,  however,    that  one   of  thenj.  Vege- 

jius,  will  ans- er  your  purpose.     His  work  is  entitled  "Rei    .Militaris 

'nslituta."  and  may  be  found.  I   suppose,  in   the  Astor   Library.     If 

py  is  at  your  service.     You  will  find  in  one  part  an  account 

es  of  the  Prefect  of  the  camp,  among  which  is  thesuper- 

■   of  the  camp  "'  Medici."  physicians  who  were  probably 

*  etiimen.    This  alone  would  prove  the  existence  of  a  Medical 

irtment  in   the   Roman    armies.      In   another  part   (Book   III., 

\'  'l\.  there  is  a  particular  chapter  entitled  "  yuemadmodum  San- 

Gubernattire  Exercitus."  embraciUK  plans  of  encampment,  water, 

-^oos  medicinal  exercise,  etc. 

You  will  hnd  som«  good  information  also  in  Le  Clerc's  "His- 
f  de  la  Medicine"  and  "  Sprangell's  Histoire  de  Medicine  par 
dan."  There  is  also  a  "Sketcli  of  the  History  of  .Medicine." 
:ided  originally  by  IJockbock.  of  which  I  have  a  copy.  If  I  can 
f  any  further  aid  to  you,  you  may  command  my  services  without 
nation.  Very  truly  vours,  CHARLES  ANTHOX. 

Mr.  ur.  Pevster,  Tivoli.  N.  Y. 

New  York.  October  8,  18130. 

Dear  Sir:— Many  thanks  for  the   two   articles  from   the   Army 

.\arij  Journal,  which  I   herewith   return.     They  do   you   a   very 

It  deal  of  credit.     My   reference  to   Vegetius  was  like   carrying 

1?  to  Newcastle.    The  poetry  is  capital,  and   I   have  shown   it  to 

'  ral  of  my  friends — one  of  whom  wants  to  rechristen  you  "The 

rican  Tyrla;us."    1  handed  the  two   photographs  to   rny   sister, 

0  baa  placed  them,  as  great  prizes,  in  her  album. 

Very  truly  yours.  CHARLES  ANTHON. 

General  De  Pevster,  Tivoli. 


himself  made  a  translation  of  Korner's  famous 
"  My  Fatherland,"  which  is  remarkable  for  its 
vigor  and  fidelity  to  the  original,  both  in  re- 
spect to  the  warrior  rythm  and  inspiring  lan- 
guage of  the  notable  patriot  appeal.  This  stir- 
ring battle  hymn  was  one  of  those  trumpet- 
blasts  of  patriotic  genius  which  aroused  Prussia 
to  arms,  and  led  to  the  subsequent  overthrow 
of  Napoleon. 

On  a  certain  occasion  in  1864,  General  de- 
Peyster  paid  a  visit  to  the  office  of  the  chief 
editor  of  the  New  York  Tiincs,  who  seemed 
lost  in  thought.  This  gentleman  had  previously 
observed  that  he  considered  his  visitor  was  one 
of  the  very  few  (about  a  dozen)  original  think- 
ers he  had  ever  met.  "  What  are  you  think- 
ing about  so  intensely.'"  "That  the  ancients, 
especially  the  Romans,  should  have  had  no 
Medical  Administration  connected  with  their 
armies."      "  Nonsense;  they  had.      Who  told 

you  they  did  not  have.'"      "Professor  . " 

Now  Professor  was  considered  a  judge  of 

last  appeal  on  all  questions  upon  which  he 
elected  to  sit  in  judgment.  "The  Professor 
manifests  his  ignorance  in  talking  so.  What 
reason  does  he  give  for  such  an  opinion.'"  "He 
says  Cccsar  makes  no  mention  of  t/iein  [Medical 
Men  or  Medical  and  Surgical  Corps]  in  his 
Commentaries."  "A  very  poor  argument. 
Does  Casar  mention  camp-diseases  among  his 
troops.'  Do  you  suppose  that  his  camps  were 
any  more  free  from  disease  than  any  camps 
have  ever  been.'  To  prove  that  the  great  au- 
thority. Professor  ,   does  not  know  what 

he  is  talking  about  I  will  demonstrate  the  con- 
trary to  be  the  fact." 

The  result  was  Gen.  de  Peyster  wrote  a 
series  of  articles  for  the  Anny  and  Navy  Jour- 
nal, in  which  he  showed  that  the  ancients  had 
far  better  medical  arrangements  than  media;val 
troops  possessed,  and  far  better  than  most  of 
the  European  armies  enjoyed  down  to  within 
one  hundred  and  fifty  years. 

He  was  proceeding  to  produce  additional 
confirmatory  testimony  when  the  editor  refused 
to  print  any  more,  remarking,  "  Are  you  not 
satisfied.'  You  have  got  your  opponent  down, 
and  I  will  not  let  you  kick  him  or  grind  his  face 
in  the  dust." 

So  the  balance  of  the  matter  remains  in 
manuscript  to  this  day. 

A writerhas  characterized  Generalde  Peyster 
as  "an  author  of  extraordinary  fertility  and 
unlimited  scope,  the  omnivorous  character  of 
whose  studies  is  displayed  on  every  page  of  his 


156 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


I 


writings;  an  author  whose  works  comprise 
scores  of  volumes,  with  hundreds  of  smaller 
works,  treatises  and  pamphlets,  of  which  the 
entire  amount  would  be  doubled  by  the  addi- 
tion of  innumerable  articles  and  series  of  papers 
published  in  magazines  and  newspapers,  and 
never  yet  collected  together;  the  author  of 
poetry  and  drama  of  an  unusual  excellence, 
and  an  endless  miscellany  on  almost  every 
conceivable  subject,  and  who  yet,  in  his  own 
peculiarly  pre-eminent  field  as  a  military  biog- 
rapher, military  historian  and  military  critic, 
has  no  peer  in  America."*  Some  indication 
(though  merely  that)  of  his  miscellaneous 
authorship  has  been  given  in  the  preceding 
pages.  But  his  special  place  as  a  military 
critic — and  it  is  not  an  exaggeration  to  say 
that  he  "has  no  peer  in  America"  in  this  ca- 
pacity— can  be  readily  shown  by  the  citation 
of  a  few  characterizations  of  him  by  persons 
competent  to  pronounce  judgment. 

The  late  Lieut.  (Brevet  Capt.)  Frederick 
Whittaker,  author  of  "Volunteer  Cavalry," 
etc.,  after  asserting  that  "  until  the  close  of 
the  [Civil]  war"  we  Americans  "had  been  ac- 
customed to  look  to  Europe,  and  especially  to 
France,  for  our  military  historians,"  adds, 
emphatically:  "But  we  are  glad  to  say  that 
we  have  changed  all  that,  and  now  possess  in 
America  a  military  historian  of  the  first  rank." 
It  is,  of  course.  General  de  Peyster  whom  he 
thus  eulogizes,  and  whom  he  describes  as  the 
"  author  of  the  best  military  writing  our  coun- 
try has  yet  produced."  It  was  of  de  Peyster 
also  that  Gen.  Barnard,  brother  of  the  former 
President  of  Columbia  College,  exclaimed: 
"  His  judgment  of  military  matters  is  almost 
infallible  !  "  It  was,  again,  de  Peyster's  ex- 
haustive methods  of  research  and  indefatiga- 
ble energy  in  collecting  authorities  to  which 
Gen.  Adam  Badeau  bore  witness  when  he 
wrote  to  a  friend:  "  He  has  accumulated  a 
wonderful  amount  of  original  matter,  some  of 
which  is  absolutely  invaluable,  and  I  expect  to 
avail  myself  of  it."  It  was  de  Peyster,  like- 
wise, of  whom  Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman,  in  con- 
junction with  Maj.-Gen.  H.  W.  Slocum,  wrote: 
"  He  is  thoroughly  conversant  with  all  the 
military  operations  of  both  armies  during  the 
late  war.  He  has  written  considerably  on  this 
subject,  and  his  writings  have  attracted  much 
attention."  General  de  Peyster,  also  it  was, 
whom    Brev.    Brig. -Gen.    William    P.    Wain- 

*"Gen.  J.  Watts  de  Peyster,  Author,  Soldier,  Historiao,  Military 
Biographer  and  Critic,"  New  York,  1894,  p.  3. 


Wright  thus  characterized:  "His  keen  ej'e 
for  topography,  his  long  and  still  unceasing 
military  education,  his  uncommon  memory, 
his  powers  of  description,  and  his  opportuni- 
ties for  using  his  abilities,  constitute  him  the 
only,  as  well  as  the  first,  military  critic  in 
America."  When  Maj.-Gen.  A.  Pleasanton 
penned  the  words:  "His  great  acquaintance 
with  military  matters,  his  long  and  faithful  re- 
search into  the  military  histories  of  modern 
nations,  his  correct  comprehension  of  our  own 
late  war,  and  his  intimacy  with  many  of  our 
leading  generals  and  statesmen  during  the 
period  of  its  continuance,  with  his  tried  and 
devoted  loyalty  and  patriotism," — it  was  of 
General  de  Peyster  of  whom  he  wrote,  while 
Gen.  Grant  endorsed  this  characterization  in 
writing.  Of  de  Peyster,  also,  Maj.-Gen.  A.  A. 
Humphreys  wrote: 

Washington,  May  30,  1872. 

My  Dear  General: — I  fully  appreciate  your  labors, 
which  I  am  conscious  have  brought  into  clear  relief  what 
was  before  obscure  and  ill-defined.  Let  me  for  a  moment 
suppose  I  am  writing  to  a  friend,  not  yourself,  for  you  are 
one  of  the  few  persons  to  whom  one  may  write,  as  it  wen^ 
impersonally,  and  that  implies  a  very  high  tribute  toyout 
sense  of  the  just. 

Your  industry  in  collecting  facts  upon  any  subject 
you  treat  of,  is  literally  untiring.  In  a  long  experience 
among  the  working  men  of  the  country,  1  have  rarel; 
found  your  equal,  never,  I  think,  your  superior;  and 
may  pay  the  same  tribute  to  your  conscientious  labor,  in 
the  task  of  evolving  the  truth  from  the  mass  of  mattei 
collected,  much  of  it  contradictory  and  apparently  irrecoH' 
cilable  with  any  known  truths.  Possessing  a  clear  appre- 
ciation of  the  great  fundamental  principles  which  should 
govern  military  operations  and  battles,  you  are  quick  to 
perceive  adherence  to,  or  departure  from,  them,  and  a& 
the  extended  study  of  the  great  military  writers  and  his- 
torians has  imbued  your  mind  with  just  military  views, 
so  has  it  richly  stored  your  memory  with  a  redundant 
supply  of  apt  illustrative  examples  for  every  importani 
event  or  incident  of  our  war. 

To  all  these  qualifications  as  a  military  critic,  yot 
have  added  a  ready,  rapid,  courageous  pen,  and  a  powei 
of  application,  that  physical  ailments,  growing  out  of  i 
delicate  physique,  have  not  impaired,  though  they  have 
sorelv  tried  it  *  *  *  Sincerely  Yours, 
(Signed)  A.  A.  Humphreys. 

To  Maj.-Gen.  J.  Watts  de  Peyster. 

Washington,  Sunday,  September  29,  1872. 
My  Dear  General  (de  Peyster):— I  returned  t( 
Washington,  *  *  found  a  letter  for  me  from  Gen.  Ba 
deau,  *  *  intending  to  send  you  extracts  from  Ba 
deau's  letter,  in  which  he  speaks  so  highly  (and  justly)  o 
your  labors  and  papers.  *  *  *  He  says,  "  yoi' 
have  accumulated  a  wonderful  amount  of  original  mattei 
some  of  which  is  absolutely  invaluable,  and  I  expect  t 
avail  myself  of  it,  etc.,  etc."  You  would  not  think  I  ha' 
lost  interest  in  the  subject  of  your  labors,  had  you  heap 
me  talk  to  some  Philadelphians  about  the  pursuit  of  Le( 
I  learnt  only  this  summer  of  the  effect  of  Stanton's  teli 
gram  on  the  6th  or  7th  of  April,  giving  the  whole  cred 
of  overtaking  and  attacking  Lee,  on  the  6th  of  April,  t 
Sheridan.  "There,"  they  said  in  Philadelphia,  (I  at 
told,) "  the  generals  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  are  las 
gards;  it  required  Sheridan  and  Grant  to  overtake  an 
beat  Lee."     What  an  outrage  on  Wright  and  myself  th; 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


157 


itelegram  wasi    We  laggards!   The  impression  thus  made 

!on  the  public  in  this  movement  of  succes*,  has  never  been 

leffaced;  it  remains  to  this  day.     To  you,  I   am  indebted, 

!v  dear  general,  for  the  first  presentation  of  the  subject 

the  public,  that  will  tend  to  efface  this  impression. 

Sincerely  Yours, 
^rned)  A.  A.  Hu.mphreys, 

.Major-General  U.  S.  V. ;  Chief  of  Staff,  -\rmy  of  the  Potomac,13(i3-'4 ; 
Brig.-Gen. :  Brev.  Maj-Gen.;  Chief  of  EnKineers,  U.  S.  A. 

Still  more  significant  was  the  testimony  of 
Sir  Edward  Cust,  General,  and  author  of  the 
nine  volumes  of   "Annals  of  the  Wars"  and 
'six  volumes  of   "Lives  of  the  Warriors,"  in 
dedicating  his  second  series  to  Gen.  de  Pey- 
ster,  whom  he  only  knew  through  the  latter's 
writings.     From  this  dedication  of  twenty-eight 
pages  the  following  sentences  have  been  extract- 
ed: "I  am  desirous  of  marking  my  deep  obliga- 
tions to  you  by  requesting  permission  to  dedi- 
cate my  concluding  volume  to  you  and  to  your 
militarj-  brethren.     We  appear  to  be  men  of 
Tiuch  the  same  mind,  and  of  common  sympa- 
;hies,  desirous  alike  of  employing  our  common 
language  for   a    common  object— that  of  en- 
lightening our  comrades  of  a  common  profes- 
;ion  with   the   necessity  of    applying  the  pre- 
pepts  of  military  history  to  the  useful  compre- 
lension  of  their  calling.      Both  of  us  agreeing 
hat  the  best  instruction  for  all  officers  is  to  be 
icquired  from  the  deeds  of  the  old  masters  in 
he  art  of  war     *     *     *     The  United  States 
vere  on  the  eve  of  a  melancholy  crisis  of  in- 
ernational  conflict,  when  you  naturally  wished 
.nd  you  very  reasonably  desired  to  show,  by 
he   introduction    of  a  better  system  of  war, 
low  to  stay  the   waste   of  blood  among  your 
ountrymen    in  a    strife    which    made    every 
rother  on  either  side  a  soldier.      *     *     *     I, 
n  the  other  hand,  had  fallen   '  upon  the  sere 
nd  yellow  leaf      *      *      *      and      <f     *     * 
ad      *      *      *      as  an    old    stager,    become 
isturbed  by  the   intrusion  of    a  new    school 
t  our  military  colleges,  pre-eminently  among 
le  instructors  of  military  history,  who  were 
Peking  to  introduce  a  theory  of  war,  against 
■hich  I  sought  to  recommend  a   knowledge  of 
le  past,    or,    as  you  put  it,  '  practical  strat- 
jy '      *      *      *     I  do    not  claim    the    merit 
f  originality.      *      *      *      My    works    were 
ritten    by   me   for  the    use    of   youths    who 
ave  already  entered   the  service  of  arms,  and 
hose  career  has  commenced,  but  whose  pro- 
ssion  has  yet  to  be  learned.     *     *     *     You 
Idress  the  higher  ranks  of  the  army,  and  ap- 
•ar  to  seek  to  philosophize  the  art  of  war  by 
lowing  it  to  be  capable,  under  its  most  scien- 
fic  phases,    of    being    less    lavish  of  human 


blood.  *  *  *  Xo  both  our  grievances  the 
remedy  is  the  same — practical  strategy.  I 
readily  accept  from  you  this  expression.  It 
comprises  all  that  be  said  or  written  upon 
skill  in  war,  and  while  I  agree  with  you  that 
this  is  best  evinced  by  sparing  the  lives  of  its 
instruments  as  much  as  possible,  I  hold  that 
this  is  in  fact  the  whole  art  of  war." 

Reference  has  already  been  made  to  a  re- 
mark of  Gen.  Adam  Badeau,  in  a  letter  to  a 
friend,  in  view  of  the  help  he  expected  to 
receive  from  Gen.  de  Peyster's  resources  in 
connection  with  an  important  military  work  on 
which  he  was  engaged  at  the  time.  "He," 
(de  Peyster),  wrote  Badeau,  "has  accumulated 
a  wonderful  amount  of  original  matter,  some 
of  which  is  absolutely  invaluable,  and  I  expect 
to  avail  myself  of  it."  Not  a  few  have  been 
under  the  deepest  obligation  to  Gen.  de  Peys- 
ter in  this  way,  although  he  has  not  always 
received  the  credit  which  is,  one  would  think, 
the  very  least  which  a  service  of  this  character 
deserves.  The  most  astonishing  case  of  this 
kind  is  to  be  credited  to  the  late  Comte  de 
Paris,  who,  in  spite  of  the  greatest  obligation 
to  General  de  Peyster,  made  not  the  slightest 
acknowledgment  in  his  work  on  our  Civil  War. 
When  the  Count  was  preparing  the  volume  of 
his  history,  embracing  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg, he  enlisted  the  assistance  of  General  de 
Peyster,  who  himself,  or  through  his  friend, 
Major-General  A.  A.  Humphreys,  U.  S.  A., 
must  have  furnished  the  Count  information, 
including  statistics  and  opinions  founded  on 
thorough  examination,  equivalent  to  hundreds 
of  pages  of  paper.  The  Count  acknowledged 
the  correctness  of  his  correspondents'  judg- 
ment, and  his  American  editor  or  translator, 
after  applying  to  the  General  for  the  trans- 
lation of  a  passage  which  no  one  else  could 
explain,  wrote  that  he  recognized  the  influence 
of  the  General  throughout  the  Gettysburg 
pages. 

Although  the  Count  remained  in  the  most 
intimate  correspondence  with  the  General — a 
correspondence  which  has  been  preserved — 
writing  continually  from  whatever  spots  the 
General's  letters  reached  him,  even  from  the 
Escurial  in  Spain,  he  did  not  acknowledge  in 
his  introduction  to  the  Gettysburg  volume  his 
indebtedness  to  his  American  correspondent; 
most  likely  because  General  de  Peyster  was 
not  a  regular  army  officer;  consequently,  the 
General  refused  to  meet  him  when  he  came  to 
the  United  States,  although  he  admitted  to  a 


158 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  HE  CORD 


relative  how  much  assistance  the  General  had 
afforded. 

So  astounding  was  the  Comte's  conduct  in 
this  matter  that  mutual  friends  in  America, 
cognizant  of  all  the  facts,  did  not  scruple  to 
express  in  writing  their  disapproval  of  what 
he  had  done.  Thus  in  a  letter  to  General  de 
Peyster,  dated  at  Philadelphia,  June  29,  1893, 
soon  after  the  appearance  of  the  Comte's 
book,  his  American  editor  wrote:  "In  place 
of  writing  letters  he  (Comte  de  Paris)  had  bet- 
ter have  done  you  justice.  If  ever  I  have  a 
chance  I  shall  say  so  to  him  in  pretty  strong 
language." 

The  same  writer,  in  a  letter  to  General  de 
Peyster  dated  at  Philadelphia  June  23,  1883, 
says: 

It  was  the  Comte's  duty,  after  having  used  your 
pamphlets  and  reviews  to  the  extent  that  he  did,  and  an 
n/imcn  by  the  text,  to  have  at  least  expressed  his  obliga- 
tion. And  the  biographical  portion  appears  in  some  cases 
to  be  a  reprint.  That  is  rather  strong,  but  1  mean  what 
I  write. 

It  may  have  been  the  unusual  method  of 
appropriating  General  de  Peyster's  materials, 
alluded  to  here,  which  made  the  Comte  so 
reluctant  to  give  him  credit,  very  prudently 
deeming  it  unwise  to  advertise  the  source  of 
matter  thus  laid  hold  of.  The  editor's  sugges- 
tion that  the  Comte  should  have  "done  justice" 
in  "place  of  writing  letters,"  is  in  allusion  to 
the  Comte's  prolonged  correspondence  with  de 
Peyster.  Indeed,  the  Comte  seemed  to  over- 
look the  fact  that  in  this  correspondence  he 
had  left  behind  him  the  most  indubitable  proofs 
of  the  obligation  which  he  was  so  loth  to  con- 
fess. Such  "royal"  injustice  is  of  curious  in- 
terest, and  some  passages  from  the  Comte's 
letters  to  General  de  Peyster  will  be  given  here. 
Lest  the  charge  of  a  deviation  from  exact  lit- 
eralness  might  be  made,  the  precise  phrase- 
ology and  spelling  of  the  Comte  will  also  be 
preserved.  His  command  of  English  was  won- 
derfully direct  for  a  foreigner,  but  not  abso- 
lutely perfect.  In  a  long  letter  to  the  General, 
dated  November  23,  1877,  he  wrote: 

I  must  a])ologize  for  having  been  so  long  before  re- 
turning to  you  my  best  thanks  for  the  ealiiable  informu- 
tinn  concerning  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  which  you  were 
kind  enough  to  furnish  me  with,  both  in  your  letter  and  in 
the  notes  which  you  forwarded  to  me  as  a  kind  of  appendix 
to  your-pamplet  on  that  battle.  1  was  so  busy  upon  all 
these  materials  that  I  had  no  time  to  write.  I  have  now 
to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letters  dated  the  21st 
of  September,  the  fith,  1.5th  and  22nd  of  October,  and  the 
first  of  November.  I  really  feel  quite  ashamed  to  have 
left  unanswered  until  now  so  many  and  such  interesting 
letters,  but  if  I  did  not  write  to  you  I  worked  hard  on  these 
letters  as  well  as  on  the  notes  from  your  "  Decisive  Con- 


flicts," which  go  as  far  as  No.  68.  I  dare  say  I  k,ni)>r  the 
whole  set  by  hearty  It  is  full  of  varied  information  of  rinct 
w/iich  throie  a  great  and  often  a  neu>  light  upon  themnts 
and  of  incidents  ithich  the  historian  carefully  picks  up  to 
relieve  the  barrenness  of  his  narrative.  *  *  *  Such  are 
the  main  points  upon  which  I  think  it  necessary  to  tell 
you  my  opinion  in  answer  to  the  remarks  contained  io 
your  letters.  Wlienerer  I  hare  only  to  say  amen  and  fully 
agree  with  you,  I  do  not  insist.  I  shall  avail  myself  of  your 
kind  permission  to  put  you  frankly  any  question  which  my 
future  readings  may  suggest. 

He  writes  to  the  same,  under  date  Decem- 
ber 18,  1877: 

Receive  my  best  thanks  for  your  two  letters  of  No- 
vember 21st  and  December  1st,  as  well  as  for  the  notes 
which  you  did  send  me  under  the  same  seal  as  a  continu- 
ation of  those  previously  received  by  me.  *  *  *  1 
knew  of  the  existence  of  the  maps  which  you  mention  of 
Adams  county,  Pa.,  and  Frederick  county,  Md.,  but  I 
have  not  yet  been  able  to  get  a  copy  of  these  through  the 
American  agency  of  Stevens  in  London.  Where  could  I 
apply  to  get  these? 

On  January  29,  1878,  he  writes  again  (in  a 
letter  of  very  great  length): 

1  avail  myself  of  the  opportunity  to  acknowledge  the 
receipt  of  your  letters  of  December  19th,  29th,  .30th  an 
of  January  1st,  as  well  as  of  Gen.   Whipple's  report  wit 
your  postscript.    You  seem  to  think  that  some  of  your  Id 
ters  addressed  to  me  last  summer  have  been  lost.   It  wofA 
be  indeed  very  unjortunateand  I  hope  it  is  not  the  case;  butj 
order  to  ascertain  the  fact,  as  1  keep  all  those  letters  to; 
gether,  so  as  to  he  able  to  consult  them  as  often  as  I  wttgit, 
as  soon  as  I  return  home  I  shall  send  you  a  list  of  evw 
letter  received  from  you   last  year.      You  may  be  assun 
that  1  shall  carefully  weight  the  information  which  you  gin 
vie  concerning  the  n  umbers  engaged  at  Oettysburg.    *   *  * 
/  gtiite  agree  irith   you   and   my    excellent   friend,    Qm, 
Humphreys,  when  you  assert  that  the  Army  of  the   Poto 
mac  did  qot  number  as  many  men  on  the  field  of  battless 
would  appear  from  the  field  returns  prepared  some  dajrl 
before.     *     *     *     You  see  by  the  length  of  my  answer  Jtw 
fully  I  valve  your  letters  and  my  gratitude  for  the  trolHU 
you  take  in  giving  me  every  information  leithin  your  retth, 

On  March  6,  1878,  he  wrote:  t 

I  thank  you  very  much  for  your  letter  of  January  29tll 
and  February  16th,  the  last  received  yesterday,  with  th( 
photographs  which  you  were  kind  enough  to  send  me 
*  *  *  I  shall  gratefully  accept  any  papers  concerning 
reliable  and  unpublished  information  on  the  Civil  war 
posterior  to  July  4,  1863.  What  you  tell  me  of  Sickl'> 
coolness  when  wounded  is  very  striking.  *  *  *  fu, 
plan  and  pamphlet  on  Gettysburg  are  also  received. 

Again  (March  23,  1878): 

I  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt   of   your  letv  : 
dated  February  23rd  and    March  1st  and  4th,  and  tl' 
you  most  heartily  for   the   varied  information   which  I'  - 
contain.     *    *    *     j  received   Ditterline's   pamphlt-t. 
which  I  thank  you  very  much.     *    *     *     If  there  is  •:  ■ 
thing  which  seems  to   me   still  doubtful  f  shall  not  fn- 
apply  to  you. 

Again,     writing    of    Chancellorsville    an 
Gettysburg,  he  says  (April  19,  1878): 

1  had  not  the  letters  for  the  20th  of  June.     I  ib.' 
you  very  much  for  the  whole.     *     *     *     Thanks  for ; 
very  full  explanation  given  first  by  Gen.  Humphrey?  •! 
then  by  yourself.     *     *     *     I   thank   you   for  Fitz  L' 
answer  to  Longstreet,  which  you  took  the  trouble  to  f '  ■■ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


159 


*     *     *     i  am  always  grateful   for  the  sincere  ex- 
->ion  of  your  opinion  on   things   and   men.     *     *     * 
or  your  judgments  on  men  you  may   rely  on   my 
etion. 

The  long  letter  of  May  12,  1878,  contained 
he  following  acknowledgments: 

1  have  to  acknowledge   the    receipt  of  your   letter 

'  April  10th  and  20th,  as  well  as  of  the  copy  of  Gen. 

hreys'  letter,  his  endorsement  of  a  paper  from  the 

ffice,  your  Inaugural  Address,  as  well  as  the  num- 

the  Hiiiti/rical  Maguzim    containing   Maj.  Kearny's 

I  thought  I   had   already   mentioned  to  you  the 

as  I  read  these  letters  with  great  pleasure.     I  beg 

believe,  my  dear  General,  that  I  am  always  ready 

ise  the  conclusions  to  which  I  may  have  come  when- 

get  hold  of  documents  or  facts  which  throw  a  new 

pen  the   questions  which  I   have   already  studied. 

*     I  quite  agree   with  you  that  Meade  did  not 

ly  fight  the  whole  of  his  men    present  for  duty.     I 

not  think  that  he  can  be  blamed  for  it.     In  the  after- 

m  of  July  '2nd  he  collected  on  the   threatened  flank 

I-  troops   than  he  could  have  fought    with    on    that 

nd.     On  the  3rd,  Lee's  attack  was  so  quickly  and  de- 

ely  repulsed   that   Meade  could   not  before  4  p.  M. 

engaged  more  men  than  he  did.     A  great  general 

il  no  doubt  have  seized  at   once   the   opportunity  of 

i-tt's  repulse  and  taken  the  offensive.   A  direct  attack 

le  front  of    Lee,  covered  as    it   was   by  the  artillery, 

d  in  all  probability  have  failed;  but  the  counterpart 

ngslreet's  move  the  day  before  ought  to  have  been 

iipted.     Meade  ought  to  have  thrown  forward  from 

l\ound  Tops  the  oth  and  the  6th   Corps  at  once,  so  as 

T:ke  the  Emmetsburg  road  south  of  Peach  Orchard. 

umld  no  doubt  have  achieved  a  great  success.     Still, 

•  is  some  excuse  for  a  commander  so   new  for  not 

iig  adopted  this  bold  design.     But  inhere  I  entirely 

.  with  you,  my  dear  Oeneral,  it  ig  in  the  judgment  you 

■  m  Me'ide'n  conduct  from  thr.  Jfth  to   the  IJfth  of  July. 

1  if  Lee's  army  had  been  as   strong  as   he  believed, 

nnduct  would  be  below  criticism:  but  if  he  was  not 

re  of  its  weakness  it    is  his  fault,  he  should   have 

i\  it.     He  positively  acted  during  these  ten  days  as  if 

,id  no  other  object  than  to  facilitate  Lee's  retreat  into 

inia.     I  have  come  to  that  conclusion  by  the  careful 

f  Meade's  dispatches;  but   as  these  papers  were 

tU  to  me,  most  kindly   by  his   own   son,  Col.  Meade, 

rott  to  keep  that  opinion  quite  for  yourself;  it  will  be 

utter  it  lehen  1  publish  my  account.     My  deliberate 

is  that  Meade,  under  the   impression  of  the  Con- 

te  repulse   at  Gettysburg,  had   made  up  his  mind 

tr  to  attack,  and  to  let  Lee  have  his  own  ways,  rather 

to  take  the  offensive  on  the  field  of  battle. 

On  May  22,   1878,  he  wrote: 

1  hasten  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter 

May  5th,  and  to  assure  you  that  I   received  some 

go  the  Inaugural  address  mentioned  in  that  letter. 

that  address  with  great  profit  and  pleasure.    *     *     * 

you   say  about   Crawford    is   very   striking.     It  is 

that  his  forward  move   was   made   late  in  the 

*    *    *     Whenever  there  is  something  which 

loubtful  to  me,  I  shall  take   the   liberty  of  asking 

advice. 

On  June  24,  1878,  he  says: 

I  beg  to  ackncnvledge  the  receipt  of  your  letters  dated 
ijf  May  and  June  Srd,  as  well  as  the  pamphlets 
tioned  in  these  letters.  *  *  *  The  limits  which 
,'ive  me  concerning  the  real  causes  of  the  failure  of 
lie's  "campaign  ofmanrevres,"  are  very  interesting, 
that  failure  cannot  be  understood  otherwise  than  by 
•at  jealousy  between  his  subordinates. 


Under  date  of  August  18,  1878,  he  writes  : 

Various  occupations  have  prevented  me  from  ac- 
knowledging sooner  the  receipt  of  your  interesting  letters, 
dated  June  20th  and  July  4th  and  8th.  *  *  *  [  quite 
agree  in  your  judgment  upon  Rosecrans.  He  was  not 
a  brilliant,  perhaps,  but  certainly  a  very  able  leader.  He 
had  the  qualities  most  important  in  an  army  of  volunteers, 
firmness  of  purpose  and  that  obstinacy  which  springs 
from  an  indomitable  will.  Very  few  generals  who  have 
stood  as  he  did  at  Murfreesboro,  very  few,  indeed,  (that) 
would  not  have  given  up  the  game  and  thrown  victory 
into  their  opponent's  arms.  He  snatched  victory  by  his 
stubbornness.  *  *  *  Any  new  information  concerning 
Chickamauga  would  at  present  be  very  useful  to  me. 
*  *  *  I  received  and  read  with  interest  the  papers  you 
did  send  me  concerning  the  American  War  of  Independ- 
ence. Receive  my  best  thanks  for  that  communication. 
Your  views  on  the  present  situation  and  the  prospects  of 
the  socialists  in  America  are  very  striking  and  valuable. 

On  September  21,  1878,  the  Count  wrote: 

I  have  to  thank  you  for  your  letters,  dated  August 
21st  and  31st,  as  well  as  for  the  number  of  the  Atlantic 
Monthly,  containing  an  article  by  General  Lippitt  on 
Pope's  campaign  in  V^irginia.  *  *  *  My  subject  now 
is  Chickamauga  and  Missionary  Ridge.  I  have  not  a 
great  deal  of  information  on  that  subject. 

October  13,  1878,  he  writes: 

I  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  three 
letters,  dated  Se])tember  15th  and  '24th,  containing  the 
manuscript  paper  on  the  campaign  of  Chickamauga,  and 
the  newspaper  articles  on  the  yellow  fever  and  the  Peters- 
burg crater.  I  beg  you  to  receive  my  best  thanks  as  well 
for  the  pamphlets  mentioned  in  the  first  letter,  and  duly 
received  shortly  afterwards.  I  have  found  a  special 
interest  in  the  particulars  which  you  give  me  of  your  talk 
with  Gen.  Humphreys  about  the  operation  of  Grant  in 
May,  1864,  and  his  supposed  plan  of  turning  the  left  of 
Lee. 

Again  he  says,  October  20,  1878  : 

I  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letters  of 
September  28th  and  of  October  2d,  6th  and  7th.  I  thank  you 
very  much  for  the  trouble  you  take  in  supplying  me  with 
whatever  kind  of  information  you  think  may  be  useful  to 
me,  and  still  more  in  giring  me  your  own  views  on  the  military 
(/uestions  which  that  information  may  raise.  The  papers 
of  Col.  Crane,  which  I  duly  received,  will  no  doubt  be  of 
great  value  to  me.  I  already  advised  you  of  the  receipt 
of  the  Legend  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  The  two 
other  papers,  viz..  Col.  Coburn's  report  of  the  fight  at 
Thompson's  Station,  and  the  extracts  of  the  Life  of  For- 
rest concerning  the  same  fight,  reached  me  at  the  same 
time.  I  have  only  rapidly  perused  the  documents,  but  I 
have  seen  enough  to  appreciate  their  importance.  The 
promised  statement  of  Col.  Crane  of  his  treatment  as  a 
prisoner  will  be  very  interesting.  *  *  *  Thank  you 
for  the  information  you  give  me  concerning  Col.  Goddard. 

On  November  9,  1878,  he  writes: 

I  punctually  received  your  two  letters,  dated  Oc- 
tober 9th  and  23rd,  as  well  as  the  book  manuscript  you 
mention,  viz.,  the  Legend  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland, 
and  the  papers  relating  to  the  fight  at  Thompson's  Sta- 
tion, including  the  statement  of  Col.  Baxter  Crane's  life 
after  his  capture  with  Coburn's  command.  These  docu- 
ments are  rery  useful  for  the  study  1  am  noic  engaged  in. 
I  thank  you  once  more  for  the  valuable  assistance  which 
you  give  me  in  my  arduous  task,  and  I  fully  appreciate  the 
pains  which  you  lake  to  furnish  me  with  the  unpublished 
documents.     As  for  reading  bad  handwriting  I  can  man- 


160 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


age  to  do  it,  but  I  hate  to  work  on  manuscripts  hard  to 
deciper,  and  therefore  am  very  grateful  to  your  copyist  for 
his  clear  hand.  *  *  *  f  thank  you  for  the  notice 
concerning  Rosecrans. 

Again  (December  3,   1878): 

Col.  Crane's  statement  of  the  battle  of  Thompson's 
Hill  is  so  plain,  so  natural,  and  describes  so  well  what  one 
feels  and  sees  in  his  first  fight,  that  it  carries  conviction 
into  the  reader's  mind.  It  has  been  of  great  use  to  me,  as 
well  asColburn's  reports.  The  narrative  of  his  prison  life 
is  of  the  same  character.  I  keep  it  for  the  future,  as  I  in- 
tend to  discuss  the  whole  question  of  the  treatment  of  the 
prisoners  on  both  sides  quite  to  the  end  of  my  work.  I 
received  the  pamphlet  on  that  subject  mentioned  in  your 
letter  of  the  4th.  In  that  of  the  6th  you  mention  the  bal- 
ance of  the  Legend  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and 
the  copy  of  the  ofificial  notice  of  the  commencement  and 
termination  of  the  Slaveholders'  Rebellion  as  being  dis- 
patched at  the  same  time;  these  papers  have  reached  me 
safely.  I  shall  look  for  Gen.  T.  Oliver's  letter  on  the  sup- 
ercedure  of  Rosecrans  by  Gen,  Thomas  in  the  first  pack- 
age sent  by  you  through  Humphreys.  At  the  time  I  re- 
ceived it  I  picked  out  only  what  was  for  my  immediate 
use,  and  the  remainder  was  put  aside  for  future  ex- 
amination. *  *  *  Van  Home's  book  is  very  use- 
ful to  me.  *  *  *  In  answer  to  your  letter  of  the 
11th  I  shall  first  thank  you  for  having  found  out  the 
maps  which  you  had  mentioned  to  me,  and  could  best 
procure,  but  1  am  really  sorry  and  ashamed  to  see  what 
amount  of  trouble  it  gave  you. 

His  acknowledgment  December  21,  1878, 
is  as  follows  : 

Receive  my  best  thanks  for  your  three  letters,  dated 
November  19th  and  23d,  and  December  5th,  which  have 
reached  me,  as  well  as  the  papers  mentioned  in  these 
letters.  I  thank  you  especially  for  the  copy  of  Gen. 
Paine's  memorandum  or  private  diary.  *  *  *  I  thank 
you  for  the  very  remarkable  articles  which  you  did  send 
me  concerning  the  battle  of  Monmouth  in  \11%,  and  which 
I  read  with  the  greatest  pleasure  and  interest.  The 
report  of  Gen.  Carr,  a  manuscript,  reached  me  at  the 
same  time  as  your  last  letter.  I  have  no  doubt  that  will 
prove  very  useful  to  me.  As  you  say,  sometimes  an  inci- 
dental remark  made  without  premeditation  by  an  eye- 
witness may  give  the  long-sought-for  solution  of  some  of 
the  most  difficult  problems  of  history.  I  quite  agree  with 
you  about  Warren  in  regard  to  his  action  at  Mine  Run. 

Again  (January  i,  1879): 

I  received  your  slips  concerning  the  death  of  Reno. 

*  *  *  I  thank  you  for  sending  me  the  part  of  the 
Legend  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  which  explains 
the  strange  blank  in  Van  Home's  returns. 

On  January  17,  1879,  he  writes  : 

I  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letters, 
dated  December  21st,  27th  and  31st,  the  two  last  named 
ones  adorned  with  the  most  picturesque  engravings.     * 

*  *  What  you  say  in  your  letter  of  the  21st  concerning 
the  place  where  the  Federal  line  was  broken  at  Gettys- 
burg, viz.,  near  the  Peach  Orchard,  about  Birney's  right, 
is  in  accordance  with  all  the  best  accounts  of  the  battle. 

*  *  *  I  received  the  installment  of  Paine's  diary  men- 
tioned in  your  letter  of  the  27th.  It  will  be  very  useful  to 
me,  especially  on  account  of  its  accuracy  about  the  dates. 

*  *  *  I  thank  you  very  much  for  having  at  last  fur- 
nished me  with  the  half  page  which  Dr.  Van  Home's 
printer  had  left  in  blank. 

Again  (February  lo,   1879): 

I  received  a  few  days  ago  a  letter  from  Gen.  Hum- 
phreys informing  me  that  according  to  your  wish  he  had 


sent  me  a  set  of  maps  completed  by  Gen.  Warren,  of  the 
country  of  the  Rapidan  and  Centreville.  *  *  *  j 
thank  you  very  much  for  mentioning  the  pamphlet  of 
Col.  Brooke  Rawle  on  the  operations  of  thie  United  States 
cavalry  on  the  right  flank  at  Gettysburg.  *  *  *  As  you 
say,  the  maps  are  very  valuable.  *  *  *  I  received 
to-day  the  copy  of  the  narrative  of  the  part  taken  by  the 
11th  N.  J.  in  the  Mine  Run  campaign,  by  Col.  McAllister, 
and  I  shall  certainly  make  use  of  it  when  I  review  my 
account  already  written  of  that  campaign. 

On  March  30,  1879,  he  wrote: 

I  avail  myself  of  the  said  leisure  I  can  find  between 
two  visits  to  the  sick  room,  to  answer  your  letters  as  well 
as  I  can.  *  *  *  Nevertheless,  I  can  assure  you  that  I 
am  most  grateful  for  all  the  information  given  in  your 
letters,  as  well  as  for  the  documents  which  you  take  the 
trouble  to  furnish  me  with.  All  the  papers  mentioned  in 
your  letters  as  having  been  sent  to  me  separately  have 
reached  me  safely.  I  have  in  hand  the  regimental  re- 
port of  the  11th  New  Jersey,  and  the  narrative  of  events 
from  November  26th  to  December  3,  186.3,  which  will  be 
very  useful  for  the  correction  of  my  narrative  of  the  Mine 
Run  campaign,  as  well  as  the  "  preacher,"  as  you  call  it,  and 
I  quite  agree  with  you  in  your  judgment  on  Gen.  McAllis- 
ter. Your  conversation  with  Gen.  Palmer,  as  reported  in 
your  letter,  is  interesting.  *  *  *  Your  picture  of  the 
relations  between  Meade  and  Webb  is  very  striking,  and 
I  shall  keep  it  in  mind.  I  knew  personally  very  little  of 
Meade,  while  Webb  was  a  friend,  and  still  is,  and  I  had 
the  greatest  respect  for  his  military  character.  I  received 
also  all  the  papers  mentioned  in  your  letter  of  the  5th  of 
February,  viz.,  the  manuscript  copied  in  two  different 
inks,  which  is  very  good  concerning  the  fall  of  1863  in 
Virginia,  and  your  account  of  Gen.  John  Hartranft.  I 
thank  you  for  both,  as  well  as  for  the  picture  you  makeof 
Hartranft  in  that  letter.  The  balance  of  Gen.  McAllister's 
diary  which,  as  you  say,  will  merely  be  useful  to  me  by 
its  great  accuracy,  reached  me  at  the  same  time  as  your 
letter,  begun  on  the  8th  and  closed  on  the  14th  of  Febru- 
ary. It  gives  very  carefully  the  state  of  the  weather, 
which  is  an  important  element  of  military  operations  very 
often  overlooked  in  the  best  narratives.  *  *  *  The 
particulars  given  in  your  letters  of  February  24th  and  26th 
about  Thomas  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  are  very  in- 
teresting. I  received  the  manuscript  of  Van  Home's 
chapter  on  Chattanooga  from  his  Life  of  Thomas.  It  will 
no  doubt  prove  very  valuable,  but  I  cannot  use  it  before 
I  have  begun  myself  the  account  of  that  campaign,  which 
implies  that  I  should  have  ended  with  Chickamauga. 
Please  therefore  tell  me  whether  you  wish  it  to  be  re- 
turned, or  whether  I  may  keep  it  for  some  time.  *  *  * 
I  thank  you  very  much  for  remarks  on  Van  Home's  Chat- 
tanooga, which  will  be  very  useful  as  soon  as  I  reach  th.it 
period  of  the  campaign.  *  *  *  You  are  quite  rii;h; 
when  you  say  that  good  and  clear  maps  are  sadly  wantn: 
for  the  easy  intelligence  of  Van  Home's  Army  of  rh. 
Cumberland.  His  small  map  of  the  battle  of  Chickan::n 
ga  is  perfectly  wretched,  and  unfortunately  I  know  nf  ;i 
better  one. 

It  would  require  a  volume  to  record  the 
notable  literary  and  critical  achievements,  the 
remarkable  forecasts  of  political  and  militar} 
events,  the  practical  suggestions  which  havf 
been  adopted  and  found  to  be  of  great  publii 
utility,  and  the  solution  of  difficult  problem: 
in  medical  and  general  science  through  intui 
tion,  close  reasoning  and  the  application  0 
extensive  reading,  of  which  General  de  Peyste 
has  been  the  author.      A  few  examples,  whici 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


161 


fadily  occur  to  mind,  will  be  noted  miscel- 
oeously,  with  no  attempt  to  classify  them. 
Through  his  wide  reading,  giving  him  a 
knowledge  of  a  similar  phenomenon  following 
ancient  eruptions  of  volcanoes,  he  was  one  of 
the  first  to  give  an  account  of  the  pink  sunsets 
which  occurred  for  several  years  after  the  fa- 
mous eruption  of  the  Javanese  Krakatoa,  in 
August,  1883.  In  the  "Bulletin  of  the  Amer- 
ican Geographical  Society"  [Vol.  XXI,  No.  i, 
March  31,  1889,  p.  117,  note]  he  is  given 
credit  for  calling  the  attention  of  geographers 
to  a  notable  case  of  the  kind.  "Gen.  J.  Watts 
dePeyster,"  says  the  writer,  "has  found  *  *  * 
Berthelot's  account  of  the  strange  skies  seen 
after  the  eruption  of  Skaptar  Jokull  in  1783." 
General  de  Peyster  is  the  author  of  a  re- 
markable discussion  of  the  question,  "  Did  Our 
Blessed  Saviour  Speak  Greek  .' "  This  paper 
enjoyed  the  distinction  of  being  read  before 
the  Society  of  Literature,  Arts  and  Science  of 
London,  England. 

For  a  number  of  years  he  was  vice-presi- 

ient  of  the  Saratoga  Battlefield  Monument,  in 

:onnection  with  which  he  did  effective  work. 

He  resigned  when  he  found   his  efforts   were 

mavailingto  restrain  what  he  considered  waste 

md  innocent  misapplication  of  the  funds.     He 

ionated  an  historical  cannon  to  the  monument. 

In  addition  to  his  many  other  services,  and 

proffer  of  services   during  the    Civil    war,    it 

•hould  be   noted  that  the  General  offered  his 

extensive    new    buildings    near  the    corner  of 

Broadway    and    Thirty-sixth    street,    free    of 

;harge,  to  the  city  of  New  York,  to  the  Fed- 

ral   Government,  as  quarters   for  recruits  in 

861. 

Again,  General  de  Peyster  was  one  of  the 
rst  to  recognize  the  infectious  or  contagious 
ature  of  consumption.  His  notable  gifts  of 
ospitals  for  the  care  of  consumptives  has  been 
Iready  mentioned. 

The  General  defended  John  Brown,  in  his 
ssaults  on  slavery,  on  the  principle  that,  un- 
jstifiable  as  he  might  be  in  his  method  of  war- 
ire  upon  slavery,  he  was  surpassed  in  this 
■spect  by  the  slave-holders  in  their  attacks 
pen  freedom  in  the  North.  The  General 
■as  the  first  to  suggest  the  employment  of 
egroes  as  soldiers  in  the  Civil  war,  and  was 
:viled  by  his  Democratic  neighbors  on  account 
f  his  advocacy  of  views  so  radical.  At  the 
ose  of  the  war,  however,  he  protested  against 
le  indiscriminate  conferring  of  the  electoral 
anchise  upon  the  negroes    of  the  South.     It 


11 


was  not  alone  the  general  condition  of  illit- 
eracy which  influenced  his  judgment,  but  a 
clear  foresight  of  the  condition  of  things  (which 
he  prophesied)  which  resulted;  that  the  pro- 
posed measure  must  inevitably  defeat  the 
political  end  for  which  it  was  intended,  and 
only  give  the  South  increased  representation 
while  leaving  the  power  in  the  hands  of  the 
whites  as  securely  as  ever,  and  strengthening 
their  influence  materially  in  national  politics. 

General  de  Peyster  had  a  number  of  unique 
experiences  during  his  travels  in  Europe  as 
military  agent  of  the  State  of  New  York.  He 
saved  the  Italian  soldier,  Siro  Pesci,  a  fol- 
lower of  Mazzini,  from  condemnation  to  the 
salt  mines  at  Sardinia,  from  which  few  ever  re- 
turn alive,  after  long  terms  of  service.  He 
secured  passports  for  the  Italian  as  his  servant, 
and  carried  him  into  France  (and  subse- 
quently into  Switzerland),  to  the  chagrin  of 
the  Gendarmes,  who  had  an  inkling  of  what 
was  being  done,  but  could  not  go  behind  the 
passports. 

When  we  consider  General  de  Peyster's 
many  works  of  military  criticism  on  nearly  all 
the  famous  wars  of  Europe,  together  with  his 
contemporaneous  interpretation  of  the  Euro- 
pean wars  in  progress  during  his  own  lifetime, 
it  is  remarkable  that  he  wrote  so  little  on  the 
Crimean  war  of  1854-5.  But  this  explained 
by  the  fact  that  at  the  time  he  was  immersed 
in  his  historical  studies  of  the  Thirty  Years' 
War,  resulting  in  his  various  works  on  this 
theme,  and  notably  his  remarkable  "  Life  of 
Torstenson."  But  very  few  men,  historians 
or  military  critics,  have  mastered  the  facts  as 
to  this  prolonged  and  general  European  war, 
as  General  de  Peyster  mastered  them.  His 
astonishing  grasp  of  the  topography  of 
Europe,  and  of  the  military  situation  of  the 
European  States,  was  demonstrated  in  connec- 
tion with  the  wars  of  this  century  in  Europe, 
subsequent  to  that  of  the  Crimea,  he  being  able 
to  foretell  the  course  of  events  and  the  issues  of 
campaigns  with  an  accuracy  which  astounded 
the  best  military  critics.  With  the  outbreak 
of  the  Franco-Austrian  war  these  remarkable 
prophecies  began,  in  his  contemporaneous 
contributions  to  the  New  York  Express,  in 
which  he  followed  and  anticipated  the  military 
movements  with  analysis  and  forecast.  It 
chanced  that  in  1834  he  had  witnessed  just  such 
a  flood  in  Lombardy  as  that  of  1859,  which 
hindered  and  thwarted  the  combatants,  and 
particularly  the  Austrians.      Again,  in  the  case 


162 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  the  Austro-Prussian  war  of  1866,  he  was 
completely  at  home,  being  well-nigh  as  famil- 
iar with  the  scene  of  the  operations  as  with  his 
own  farm.  He  foretold  the  results  of -this 
struggle,  and  put  his  finger  upon  the  decisive 
locality.  The  same  thing  was  true  of  the 
Franco- Prussian  war  of  1 870-1.  He  prophe- 
sied the  Prussian  movement  upon  Sedan,  and 
its  results,  in  such  detail,  it  was  almost  an 
exact  prophecy  of  the  genesis  and  exodus  or 
result.  The  contribution  of  his  critical  pen 
toward  the  success  of  the  Federal  cause  in  our 
own  Civil  war  is  little  understood.  One  can 
only  say  that  it  would  be  almost  impossible  to 
overestimate  his  services. 

It  would,  indeed,  be  a  "  work  of  superero- 
gation "  to  add  anything  to  such  estimates  of 
General  de  Peyster's  remarkable  abilities  and 
phenomenal  labors  as  those  which  have  been 
quoted,  and  it  certainly  will  not  be  attempted 
here.  One  might  say  in  passing,  however, 
that  if  it  be  true  that  ' '  a  prophet  is  not  with- 
out honor  save  in  his  own  country, "  in  this  case, 
honor  and  recognition  abroad,  at  least,  there 
assuredly  is.  Perhaps  the  best  idea  of  the 
honors  which  have  been  won  by  the  General 
can  be  conveyed  by  subjoining  a  (partial)  list 
of  his  many  degrees,  and  memberships.  He 
would  be  entitled  to  write  after  his  name  sev- 
eral formidable  titles. 

The  reader  will  find  subjoined  a  partial  list 
of  the  published  works  of  General  de  Peyster. 
It  is  by  no  means  a  complete  list,  for  time  and 
circumstances  prevented  a  perfect  presentation, 
since  many  of  his  most  interesting  articles  on 
subjects  of  the  greatest  moment  and  widest 
range  are  scattered  in  magazines  and  news- 
papers. Were  these  collected  and  republished 
(which  their  merit  and  interest  assuredly  justi- 
fies), they  would  make  many  additional  vol- 
umes. But,  although  incomplete,  the  following 
list  will  suffice  to  give  some  idea  of  the  aston- 
ishing versatility  of  the  General's  authorship. 
The  immense  range  of  reading,  of  which  these 
works  show  themselves  to  be  the  fruit,  is 
also  evidenced  on  every  page  of  the  thou- 
sands of  books  to  be  found  in  the  General's 
large  library,  as  well  as  in  connection  with  the 
libraries  given  away.  There  probably  has 
never  been  a  private  library  of  such  size  brought 
together,  nor  10,000  to  15,000  volumes  given 
away,  which  through  marks  and  marginal  notes 
in  the  available  space  on  nearly  every  page 
afford  such  evidence  of  close,  thorough  and 
critical  reading.     These  notes  are  so  charac- 


teristic of  the  General's  entire  library  that  they 
enhance  the  value  of  these  volumes  for  a  stu- 
dent to  a  large  degree  which  none  but  the 
student,  capable  of  availing  himself  of  their 
help,  could  understand  or  appreciate.  If  books 
are  a  blessing  there  is  also  peril  connected  with 
their  use;  but  in  the  marginal  notes  of  these 
volumes  (the  rich  fruit  of  the  General's  enor- 
mous research,  astonishing  memory  and  critical 
judgment)  the  student  finds  that  commentary, 
or  citation  of  either  corroborative  or  adverse 
evidence  elsewhere,  which  only  the  painstak- 
ing investigation  of  innumerable  authorities 
could  supply — -and  some  of  them  so  rare  that 
the  chances  are  against  the  ordinary  student's 
having  the  knowledge  of  their  existence,  much 
less  suspecting  that  they  contain  anything  bear- 
ing -upon  the  subject. 

PARTIAL    LIST   OF     PUBLICATIONS. 

Reports — 1st.  On  the  Organizations  of  the  National  • 
Guards  and  the  Municipal  Mihtary  Institutions  of  Europe, 
and  the  Artillery  and  Arms  best  adapted  to  the  State 
Service,  1852.  (Reprinted  by  order  of  the  N.  Y.  St^ 
Legislature,  Senate  Documents,  No.  74,  March  26,  185S 
2d.  Organizations  of  the  English  and  the  Swiss  Miti^ 
the  French,  Swiss,  and  Prussian  Fire  Departments.  Sa 
gestions  for  the  Organization  of  the  N.  Y.  M  ilitia,  &c.   18! 

Life  of  (the  Swedish  Field  Marshal)  Leonard  Tori 
tenson  (rewarded  with  three  splendid  Silver  Medals,  &C^ 
by  H.  R.  M.  Oscar  L,  King  of  Sweden).  1855.— Thirt] 
Years  War,  and  Military  Services  of  Field-Marshal  Gen- 
eralissimo Leonard  Torstenson  (Series),  N.  Y.  Weekl; 
Mail,  1873  ;  A  Hero  of  the  XV^I  Century  (Torstenson).-i 
The  Volunteer,  Weekly  Mag.,  Vol.  1.,  No.  1.,  1869.— Tb 
Career  of  the  celebrated  Condottiere  Fra  Moreale,  Weekl 
Mail,  1873.— Frederic  the  Great.  (Series.)  Weekly  Mai 
1873. — Eulogy  of  Torstenson,  4to.,  1872. 

The  Dutch  at  the  North  Pole,  and  the  Dutch  io 
Maine.     1857.* 

Appendix  to  the  Dutch  at  the  North  Pole,  &c.    1858.' 

Ho,  for  the  North  Pole!  I860.— "  Little's  Livinj 
Age."— The  Dutch  Battle  of  the  Baltic,  1858. 

The  InvincibleArmada.  (Series.)  1860. — Example 
of  Intrepidity,  as  illustrated  by  the  Exploits  and  Death: 
of  the  Dutch  Admirals.  (Series.)  1860-1.  Militar) 
Gazette. 

Gems  from  Dutch  History.  (Series.)  1855. — A  TaU 
of  Leipsic,  Peabody's  Parlor  Mag.,  1832. 

Carausius,   the   Dutch   Augustus,   and   Emperor 
Britain  and  the  Menapii.     1858. 

The  Ancient,  Mediseval  and  Modern  Netherlandera 
1858. 

Address  to  the  officers  of  the  New  York  State  Troops 
1859. 

Life  of  Lieut. -Gen.  (famous  "  Dutch  Vauban" — style 
the  "Prince  of  Engineers")  Menno,  Baron  Conort 
(Series.)  I860.— Military  Lessons.  (Series.)  1861-3.- 
Winter  Campaigns.     1862. 

Practical  Strategy,  as  illustrated  by  the  Life  an 
Achievements  of  a  Master  of  the  Art,  the  Austrian  Fiek 
Marshal,  Traun.  1863.— Personal  and  Military  History  c 
Major-General  Philip  Kearny,  512  pp.,  8vo.  1869.- 
Secession  in  Switzerland  and  the  Uniteci  .States  compared 
being  the  Annual  Address,  delivered  20th  October,  18K 
before  the  Vermont  State  Historical  Society,  in  the  Ha 
of  Representatives,  Capitol,  Montpelier.     1864.* 

♦Noticed  as  well  as  others  in  Annual  Report  of  the  Americ: 
Historical  Association,  189.^. 


1 

I 


COMMEMORATIVE    BIOOBAPHICAL    RECORD. 


163 


Incidents  connected  with  the  War  in  Italy.     (Series.) 

MortaUtv    among    Generals.     (Series.)      1861. — The 

ale  of  King's  .Mountain.    (Series.)     1861-2,1880.     Oris- 

y,  1878— ^Ionmouth,  18T8— Rhode  Island,  1878. 

Facts  or  Ideas  Indispensible  to  the  Comprehension  of 

ir;  N'otions  on  Strategy  and  Tactics.    (Series.)    1861-2. 

aireur,  Military  Journal.     (Edited.)     1854-8.— In  Me- 

I  iam.     (Edited.)     1st,    18.57 ;  2d,    1862.     The  Bible   in 

iMjn.     1868. — -A   Discourse  on  the  Tendency  of   High 

lurch  Doctrines.     1855. 

.\  Night  with  Charles  XII.  of  Sweden.    A  Nice  Young 
m.     Parlor  Dramas.     1860-1. 
.\culco,  Oriskany,  and  Miscellaneous   Poems.     1860. 
Genealogical  References  of  Old  Colonial  Families, 
.     1851. 

Biographical  Notices  of  the  de  Peyster  Family,  in 

.nection   with    the   Colonial    History   of   New   York. 

1. — Biographies  of  the  Watts,  de  Peyster,  Reade  and 

ike   Families,  in  connection  with  Trinity  Churchyard. 

2.  — .Military  (1776-1779)  Transactions  of  Major,  after- 

ils  Colonel  Sth  or  King's  Foot,  B.  A.,  Arent  Schuyler 

I'eyster  and  Narrative  of  the  Maritime  Discoveries  of 

namesake  and    nephew,  Capt.    Arent    Schuyler   de 

vster,  N.  Y..  1870. — Local   Memorials  relating  to  the 

I'eyster  and  Watts  and  affiliated  families.     1881.     In 

nioriam,   Frederic  de  Peyster,  Esq.,  LL.D.,  Prest.  N. 

Historical   Society,  St.  Nicholas  Society,  St.  Nicholas 

;!,,  &c.,  &c.     1882. 

.A.KTICLES   published     in     United    Serrice  Magazine 

lal  in  matter  to  12mo.  volumes);  Torstenson  and  the 

■tie  of  Janikau,  July,   1879;  Joshua  and  the  Battle  of 

h-horon — Did  the  sun  and -moon  stand  still?     Febru- 

1880;  Hannibal,  July,  1880; GustavusAdolphus,  Sept., 

I;   Cavalry,  I.,   Sept.,   1880;  Cavalry,  II.,  Nov.,   1880; 

•  airy,  III.,  Dec,  1880;  Army  Catastrophes— Destruc- 

1  of  Pharaoh  and  his  host;  how  accomplished,  &c.,  &c. 

Tuary,   1881, — Hannibal's  Army  of   Italy,  Mar.,  1881; 

iinibal's  Last  Campaign,  May,  1881;  Infantry,  I.,  June, 

1;  Infantry,  1 1.,  Aug.,  1881;  Battle  of  Eutaw  Springs, 

1.  Sept.,  1881;  Siege  of  Yorktown,  1781,  Nov.,  1881; 

,i»ntry,  III.,  April,  1882;  Waterloo,  July,  1882;  Vindica- 

|of  James    Hepburn,   Earl  of  Bothwell,   Sept.,  1882, 

1882;    From  the   Rapidan    to    Appomattox    Court 

July,    1883. — Burgoyne's     Campaign,    July-Oct., 

land  Appendix,  pet.,  18'83.— Life  and  Achievements 

peld-.Marshal   Generalissimo  Suworrow,    November- 

nber,     1883. — Biographical     Sketch    of    Maj-Gen. 

rew  Atkinson  Humphreys,  U.  S.  A.,  .March,  1884.— 

fess,  Maj.-Gen.  A.  A.   Humphreys,  before  the  Third 

'  Corps  Union,  .5th  May,  1884.     Character  and  Serv- 

pl  Maj.-Gen.  A.  A.  Hurnphreys,  U.  S.  A.,  Manhattan, 

.,  Monthly  .Magazine,  .August,  1884. 

Suggestions  which  laid  the  basis  for  the  present  ad- 

ible  Paid  Fire  Department  in  the  City  of  New  York, 

ihich,  as  well  as  in  the  Organization  of  the  present 

licipal  Police  of  New  York  City,  Gen.  de  Peyster  was 

-laborer  with  the   Hon.  Jas.   W.  Gerard  and  G.  W. 

sell,   for   which  latter  Department  he  caused  to  be 

■_  |iared  and  presented  a  Fire  Escape,  a  model  of  sim- 

rcity  and  inestimable  utility.     Republished  in   the  New 

^rjc  Historical  Magazine.     Supplement,   Vol.   I.X,  1865. 

IwP.  Shea,  Editor  and  Proprietor. 

■    iTie  Pearl  of  Pearls,  or  the  "  Wild  Brunswicker  "  and 

'  Queen  of  Hearts,"  a  novel,  founded  on  facts,  1865. — 

y  Stuart,  a  Study,  1882;  James  Hepburn,  Earl  of  Both- 

I.  a  \'indication,  1882;  Bothwell  and  Mary  Stuart,  an 

luiry  and  a  Justification,  1883.— Bothwell,  an   Histori- 

IJrama,  1884.— The  Life  and  .Military  Services  of   Sir 

I  Johnson,  Bart.     1882. — Notices  and  Correspondence 

'1.  .A.  S.  de  Peyster  and  Brig. -Gen.  Sir  John  Johnson, 

■,  during  and   after  the  American    Revolution,  1776, 

1884. 

State  Sovereignty.     1861. — Life  and  Services  of  the 
it  Russian  Field-Marshal  Suworrow.   1882.— La  Roy- 


ale,  the  Grand  Hunt  [or  Last  Campaign  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac]  Nos.  I.,  II.,  HI.,  IV.,  V.,  VI.,  1872;  VII. 
1873;  VIII.,  1871.— Battles  of  Fredericksburg,  Chancel- 
lorsville  and  Gettysburg  in  Onward,  a  monthly.  1869-70. 
— And  Gettysburg  and  Williamsport,  in  the  Soldiers' 
Friend,  a  weekly,'  1870.— Col.  J.  Watts  de  Peyster,  Jr., 
U.  S.  V.  A.  Threnody.  1874.— Sir  John  Johnson,  Bart.: 
An  Address  delivered  before  the  N.  Y.  Historical  Society, 
6th  Jan.,  1880,  with  two  voluminous  Appendices  of  author- 
ities.— Address  before  the  Historical  Society  of  New 
Brunswick,  1883.* — Benjamin  Fletcher,  Colonial  Governor 
of  the  Province  of  New  York — Address  before  Oneida 
(N.  Y.)  Historical  Society.* 

Centennial  Sketches  of  the  American  Revolution, 
which  appeared  in  the  N.  Y.  Times,  and  especially  in  the 
N.  Y.  Evening  Mail  and  Mail  and  Express.  1776-82. — De- 
cisive Conflicts  of  the  late  Civil  War  or  "  Slaveholders' 
Rebellion:"  I.  Shiloh,  Antietam,  &.C.,  1867;  II.  Murfrees- 
boro  to  Chattanooga,  &c.,  1866;  III.  Gettysburg,  1867; 
IV.  Nashville,  1876. — Biographical  notices  of  Major-Gen- 
erals Philip  Schuyler — Address  delivered  before  the 
N.  Y.  Historical  Society,  2d  Jan.,  1877;  Geo.  H.  Thomas, 
(likewise  two  Addresses  delivered  upon  the  same  subject 
before  the  N.  Y.  Historical  Society,  Sth  Jan.,  1875,  and 
Jan.,  1876);  also  of  Bancroft,  Burnside,  Crawford,  Heint- 
zleman.  Hooker,  Humphreys,  McAllister,  Mahone, 
Meade,  Edwards  Pierrepont,  Pleasanton,  Sickles,  Tre- 
maine,  &c.,  &c. 

The  Battles  of  Monmouth  and  Capture  of  Stony 
Point;  a  series  of  voluminous  and  exhaustive  articles  pub- 
lished in  the  MonmouHi  Enquirer,  N.  J.,  1879. — Eclaireur 
(The),  a  Military  Journal,  Vols.  II.  and  III.,  edited  1854-5. 

History  of  the  Third  Corps,  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
1861-65.  This  title,  though  not  technically,  is  virtually 
correct,  for  in  a  series  of  elaborate  articles  in  dailies, 
weeklies,  monthlies,  monographs,  addresses,  &c.,  every- 
thing relating  to  this  Corps,  even  to  smallest  details,  from 
1861  to  1865,  was  prepared  with  care  and  put  in  print. 
These  articles  appeared  in  the  Citizen,  and  the  Citizen  and 
Round  2\ibk;  in  Foley's  Volunteer,  and  Soldiers'  and 
Sailors'  Half-Dime  Tales  of  the  late  Rebellion;  in  Mayne 
Reid's  magazine  Onward;  in  Chaplain  Bourne's  Soldiers' 
Friend;  in  "  La  Royale  or  Grand  Hunt  [or  the  last  cam- 
paign) "/  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  from  Petersburg  to 
Appomattox  Court  House,  April  2-9,  1865,"  illustrated 
with  engraved  likenesses  of  several  of  the  prominent 
Generals  belonging  to  the  corps,  and  careful  maps  and 
plans;  in  the  life  or  Major-General  Philip  Kearny;  in  the 
"Third  Corps  at  Gettysburg;  General  Sickles  vindicated" 
Vol.  I.,  Nos.  xi.,  xii,  xii.  The  Volunteer;  in  a  Speech  de- 
livered before  the  Third  Army  Corps  Union,  .5th  May, 
1875,  profusely  illustrated  with  portraits  of  Generals  who 
commanded  or  belonged  to  that  organization,  &c.  These 
arranged  and  condensed  would  constitute  a  work  of  five 
or  six  volumes  8vo.,  such  as  those  prepared  by  Prof.  John 
W.  Draper,  entitled  the  "Civil  War  in  America,"  but 
were  never  given  as  bound  volumes  to  the  public,  because 
the  expense  was  so  great  that  the  author,  who  merely 
writes  for  credit  and  amusement,  was  unwilling  to  assume 
the  larger  outlay,  in  addition  to  what  he  had  already  ex- 
pended on  the  purchase  of  authorities,  clerk -hire,  print- 
ing, &c.,  &c. 

A  complete  list,  comprising  almost  as  many 
more  titles,  not  included  in  the  foregoing 
presentation,  was  drawn  up  by  the  writer,  but 
mislaid,  and  was  omitted  for  want  of  time  and 
space. 

The  General's  latest  series  of  works  were  a 
succession    of    monographs    on    the    Wars    of 

^Noticed  in  Annual  Report  of  the  American  Historical  Associa- 
tion, 189S. 


164 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPUICAL  RECORD. 


I 


Buonaparte.  One,  a  translation  of  the  records 
of  Colonel  Pion  des  Loches  in  1812,  then  be- 
longing to  the  Artillery  of  the  Imperial  Guard, 
which  ran  through  five  numbers  of  The  Golden 
Maga:;ine  (January,  February,  March,  April 
and  May,  1895);  with  copious  notes  and  along 
commentary  upon  the  whole  campaign  and 
upon  Buonaparte  as  a  commander  by  the  Gen- 
eral himself. 

2 .  Waterloo,  '  'The  Campaign  and  Battle, ' ' 
a  bird's-eye  view.     (1893). 

3.  Waterloo.      (1894). 

4.  Prussians  in  the  Campaign  of  Water- 
loo; in  which  it  is  conclusively  shown  that, 
although  too  much  credit  cannot  be  conceded 
to  Wellington  and  his  Anglo-Allied  Army  for 
the  heroism  of  the  command  and  the  intrepid- 
ity of  the  commander,  the  rescue  of  Welling- 
ton from  defeat,  and  the  annihilating  victory 
over  the  French,  was  assuredly  due  to  Blucher 
and  his  Prussians.      (1895). 

5.  Authorities  treating  of  the  last  cam- 
paigns of  Buonaparte — 1812-13-14-1  5;  being 
critical  reviews  of  numerous  authorities  on  the 
Buonaparte  wars,  especially  of  18 14  and  1815. 

(1894-5)- 

6.  A  translation  of  Vermeil  de  Conchard's 

Life  of  Blucher,  from  his  correspondence;  with 
massive  notes  from  the  best  authorities,  in 
English,  German  and  French,  filling  double 
the  number  of  pages  occupied  by  the  transla- 
tion.     (1896). 

7.  The  Real  Napoleon  Buonaparte.  (1894- 

1895). 

8.  Napoleone  di  Buonaparte.  Two  series; 
a  sequel  to  No.  7,  which  the  noted  sportsman, 
writer,  lawyer  and  railroad  man,  Charles  E. 
Whitehead,  wrote,  "  read  like  volleys  of  mus- 
ketry," just  equivalent  in  force  of  expression 
to  Adj. -Gen.  Pruyn's  letter,  "the  courage  to 
divide  a  hornet's  nest.  " 

Frank  Allaben. 


JOHN  P.  RIDER  was  born  in  Rhinebeck, 
Dutchess  county,  N.  Y. ,  January  28,  1835. 
His  father,  Albert  A.  Rider,  was  born  in 
Rhinebeck  in  1807,  and  his  mother,  Caroline 
(Jennings),  was  born  in  the  same  town  in 
1808.  His  paternal  grandparents  were  Philip 
Rider,  born  at  Dartmouth,  Mass.,  in  1781, 
and  his  wife,  Catherine  (Van  Fredenburgh), 
born  at  Rhinebeck,  N.  Y.,  in  1786.  His  ma- 
ternal grandparents  were  John  Jennings,  born 


in  1773,  at  Windham,  Conn.,  and  Aurelia 
(Bard),  his  wife,  born  in  1778,  at  Sharon, 
Conn.  His  paternal  great-grandparents  were 
Thurston  Rider  and  Hannah  (Cummings), 
both  of  Dartmouth,  Massachusetts. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  our  subject  traces 
his  lineage  back  on  one  side  to  genuine  Yankee 
blood,  and  on  the  other  to  the  stalwart  Dutch 
of  New  York.  His  primary  education  was  re- 
ceived in  the  district  schools  of  his  native 
town,  and  later  he  attended  the  old  Rhinebeck 
Academy,  one  of  the  best  schools  of  that  day, 
where  he  easily  took  a  leading  position  among 
the  students  from  his  exceptional  ability.  His 
classmates  often  recalled,  in  later  years,  his 
quiet,  unobtrusive  ways,  his  sterling  qualities 
of  mind  and  character,  his  fine  progress  in  his 
studies,  and  his  clean,  manly  record  through 
his  school-days.  When  sixteen  years  old,  he 
took  a  clerkship  with  his  uncle,  John  F.  Jen- 
nings, at  Kingston,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  began  his 
successful  business  career.  He  remained  there 
two  years,  and  then  returned  to  Rhinebeck  to 
act  as  deputy  to  his  father,  who  had  been  ap- 
pointed postmaster  by  President  Pierce.  In 
1855  he  accepted  a  position  in  a  wholesale 
dry-goods  establishment  in  New  York  City,  and 
has,  therefore,  a  very  vivid  recollection  of  the 
great  financial  panic  of  1857,  for,  though  but 
just  of  age,  his  employers  furnished  abundant 
proof  of  his  ability  and  trustworthiness  by 
sending  him  on  a  collecting  tour  through  the 
far  Western  States. 

In  i860,  a  few  months  before  the  breaking 
out  of  the  Civil  war,  he  was  married  to  Cor- 
nelia A.  De  Forest,  who  is  a  lineal  descend- 
ant of  Col.  Johannis  Snyder,  of  the  First  Regi- 
ment of  Militia  in  Ulster  county,  which  was 
formed  at  New  Paltz  on  the  19th  of  January, 
1776. 

In  1863  he  was  appointed  secretary  of  the 
New  York  Rubber  Co.,  and  held  that  position 
in  New  York  City  until   1883,  when  the  com- 
pany expressed  their  further  confidence  in  hiir 
by  making  him  vice-president  of  the  company, 
and  putting  him  in  charge  of  their  affairs  ai 
Matteawan,  N.'Y.,  where  their  extensive  man 
ufacturing  works  are  situated.      He  then  be- 
came  a   resident   of   Fishkill-on-Hudson,  anc 
has  ever  since  been  identified  with  the  best  in 
terestsof  the  historic  town  of  Fishkill.    In  1886 
while  absent  on  a  visit  to  Florida,  the  peopli 
honored  him  with  an  election  as  supervisor  fo 
the  town,  and   the   following  year  he  was  re 
elected,  and  was,  moreover,  chosen  chairmai 


i 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


165 


of  the  board  of  supervisors  of  Dutchess  county. 
Here   he   displayed   the   same   marked    ability 
and  unswerving  integrity  in  presiding  over  their 
deliberations  that  he  had  shown  in  managing 
the  business  of  the  town.      He  was  subsequently 
elected  president  of  the  village  of  Fishkill  Land- 
ing, in  which  capacity  he  served  one  term  with 
signal  success.      He  was  afterward  Democratic 
candidate  for  member  of  the  Assembly  for  the 
First  District  of  Dutchess  County,  and  although 
there  was  a   Republican  majority  of   1,200  in 
;he  district,  his  popularity  brought  him  such  a 
lattering  vote  that  the  usual  majority  was  re- 
iuced  one  third.      But  Mr.  Rider  is  not  quite 
he  kind  of  a  man  to  make  an  all-round  poli- 
ician.      He  has  too  fine  a  sense  of  right;  too 
ceen    an    appreciation    of    his    duty    to    the 
)eople;  too  firm   a  determination  to  do  that 
lutyon  all  occasions;  and  too  much  self-respect 

0  make  him  a  subservient  tool  of  the  leaders 

1  practical  politics.  Whatever  political  offices 
e  held  came  to  him  unsought,  and  all  their 
bligations  were  faithfully  fulfilled.  His  sterl- 
|ig  worth,  his  business  integrity,  and  public 
onfidence  in  his  sound  judgment  caused  him 
>  be  elected  vice-president  of  the  recently  in- 
jrporated  Matteawan  National  Bank,  to  the 
iccess  of  which  he  has  largely  contributed. 

Mr.  Rider  is  a  Free  and  Accepted  Mason 
forty  years'  honorable  standing,  a  member 
Palestine  Commandery,  Knights  Templar,  of 
e  famous  Mecca  Temple  of  the  Mystic 
irine,  and  has  attained  the  exalted  position 
the  Thirty-second  degree  in  the  Ancient  Ac- 
pted  Scottish  Rite  Masonry  in  the  Valley  of 
ew  York,  Northern  Jurisdiction  of  America. 
nese  facts  serve  to  emphasize  the  esteem  in 
'lich  he  is  held  by  his  fellow-citizens  and  by 
le  Masonic  craft.  He  is  a  man  of  quiet,  un- 
<'trusive,  retiring  manners,  yet  always  a  pol- 
iied  gentleman  and  man  of  the  world,  apt  at 
1  siness,  cool,  calm  and  reticent,  yet  endowed 
Uh  a  cultivated  insight  into  men  and  business 
Mich  makes  him  a  wise  administrator  of  af- 
f  rs,  public  or  private,  a  successful  employer 
'-  labor,  and  a  valuable  citizen.  He  is  a  line 
sjcimen  of  such  as  carve  out  their  own  careers 
1  this  free  land.  Not  a  college  graduate,  he 
?till  a  well-read  man,  not  only  in  commercial 
fitters,  but  also  in  polite  and  elegant  litera- 
t  e,  and  in  the  various  departments  of  science. 
Cnial  and  entertaining  among  his  friends,  en- 
dwed  with  a  fund  of  wit  and  humor  always  at 
h  command,  he  is  respected  and  loved  most 
b  those  who  know  him  best. 


CLASSICS  M.  C.  SMITH,  the  enterprising 
^Ji  and  popular  proprietor  of  "The  Woron- 
ock, "  at  New  Hackensack.  Dutchess  county, 
one  of  the  best  hotels  in  this  region,  is  a  native 
of  Columbia  county,  but  his  family  has  been 
identified  with  Dutchess  county  for  several  gen- 
erations. 

David  Smith,  his  grandfather,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Clinton,  and  spent  his  life  there, 
following  agricultural  pursuits.  He  had  nine 
children:  Lewis,  Thomas,  Stephen,  Henry, 
Joseph,  Solomon.  Sarah,  Eliza  and  Carrie. 
Lewis  Smith,  our  subject's  father,  was  born 
March  14,  1818,  and  passed  his  early  years  at 
the  old  homestead.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Hicks,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  pioneer  fam- 
ilies of  the  town  of  Pleasant  'Valley,  where  her 
great-grandfather,  Joseph  Hicks,  and  his  wife, 
formerly  Miss  Filkins,  located  in  Colonial  times, 
obtaining  a  grant  of  land  from  Queen  Anne. 
Her  grandfather,  Samuel  Hicks,  a  prominent 
resident  of  that  locality,  married  Margaret  Doty, 
and  reared  a  family  of  three  children:  Ben- 
jamin, Mary  (Mrs.  Samuel  Halstead)  and  Sam- 
uel S.,  Mrs.  Smith's  father,  who  enjoyed  fine 
educational  privileges  owing  to  his  inability  to 
perform  the  hard  labors  of  the  farm.  He  be- 
came a  teacher  in  Poughkeepsie,  but  after  his 
marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Peters  returned  to  the 
old  home  to  reside.  Mrs.  Smith  was  one  of 
the  foUowipg  children:  Margaret,  who  mar- 
ried Thomas  Smith,  a  farmer  of  the  town 
of  Washington;  Hewlett  P.,  a  resident  of  the 
town  of  Clinton;  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Smith);  Ed- 
ward S.,  a  retired  farmer  of  Pleasant  Valley; 
Elias,  a  merchant  in  Rochester,  N.  Y. ;  Burtis, 
a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Clinton;  Hannah,  the 
widow  of  Asa  Smith;  and  Mary  (deceased), 
who  married  Solomon  Merritt,  a  carpenter  at 
Rochester. 

After  their  marriage  our  subject's  parents 
lived  upon  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Clinton  for  a 
short  time,  and  then  moved  to  Columbia  coun- 
ty, and  remained  twenty  years.  On  returning 
they  settled  at  Clinton  Corners,  where  Mr. 
Smith's  father  was  engaged  in  the  cattle  busi- 
ness. In  1859  he  bought  a  farm  in  the  town 
of  Lagrange,  where  he  died  June  12,  1884. 
He  was  a  Republican  politically,  and  he  and 
his  wife,  who  survived  him,  adhered  to  the 
Quaker  faith. 

Our  subject  was  born  February  6,  1848. 
He  was  only  seven  years  old  when  his  parents 
moved  to  Clinton  Corners,  and  ten,  when  they 
established  their  home  on  the  farm,  where  he 


166 


COMME.VORA  TIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


grew  to  manhood.  At  twenty-two  he  engaged 
in  the  butcher's  trade,  which  he  followed  twen- 
ty-three years.  In  April,  1892,  he  purchased 
"The  Woronock",  at  New  Hackensack,  a 
"landmark"  of  the  place,  formerly  known  as 
"Yates  Tavern  ",  and  moved  there  November 
I,  following.  Under  his  business-like  manage- 
ment steam-heat  and  other  modern  improve- 
ments have  been  added,  and  it  is  a  favorite 
resort  of  tourists.  It  will  accommodate  about 
forty  guests,  and  in  the  summer  season  it  is 
well  filled.  One  especially  pleasing  feature  is 
the  cuisine,  as  Mr.  Smith  keeps  a  farm  of  forty 
acres  to  supply  his  table. 

On  February  26,  1872,  he  married  Carrie 
A.  Dorland,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Edith 
C.  Mrs.  Smith's  ancestors  were  early  residents 
of  the  town  of  Lagrange,  and  her  father,  Sam- 
uel Dorland,  was  a  well-known  farmer  and 
blacksmith  there.  He  was  a  cousin  of  Peter 
Dorland,  father  of  Cyrenus  Dorland,  surrogate 
of  Dutchess  county.  Mr.  Smith  is  a  public- 
spirited,  influential  man,  his  circle  of  friends 
extending  far  beyond  local  limits.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Republican. 


WILLIAM  R.  MOORE.     The  subject  of 
this   personal   narrative,  now   residing 

at  Upper  Red  Hook,  N.  Y.,  was  born  at 
Barrytown,  N.  Y.,  in  a  house  standing  in  Revo- 
lutionary times.  His  present  residence  com- 
mands one  of  the  finest  views  of  the  Catskills 
from  any  inland  point,  its  surrounding  forty 
acres  combining  village  privileges  with  space 
and  comfort. 

Mr.  Moore's  family  record  runs  back  to  the 
time  when  New  York  State  was  but  a  Province. 
The  old  stone  house  still  standing  near  Barry- 
town  Corners  was  in  the  family  for  five  gener- 
ations. The  tract  of  land  coming  into  his 
possession  as  he  reached  his  majority,  and 
which  he  sold  in  later  years  to  John  Aspinwall, 
was  originally  a  portion  of  the  grant  of  Col. 
Peter  Schuyler,  and  deeded  to  Phillipus  Hen- 
drich  Mohr,  his  great-grandfather,  in  1771. 
He  died  in  1775,  before  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  was  declared.  Peterus  Moore, 
his  son,  served  in  the  Revolutionary  army, 
and  family  traditions  picture  his  wife  subjected 
to  the  depredations  of  the  British  soldiery  (as 
they  sailed  up  the  Hudson  in  their  sloops), 
hiding  her  food  and  begging  them  to  spare  her 
last  horse.  The  line  of  descent  is  as  follows: 
Phillipus   Hendrich   Mohr,   born   about    1723, 


died  in  1775,  married  Engel  Dederick.  Pe- 
terus Moore,  their  son,  born  November,  1743, 
died  May,  1833,  married  Christyna  Benner, 
December,  1770.  Garret  Moore,  their  son, 
born  March,  1793,  died  June,  1826,  married 
Lanah  Rowe,  January,  18 15.  William  R. 
Moore,  their  son,  was  born  August  22,  1826, 
and  was  united  in  marriage  with  Jane  .-^nn 
Ten  Broeck,'  who  was  born  on  the  old  Ten 
Broeck  homestead  in  Germantown,  Columbia 
Co.,  N.  Y. ,  April  27,  1830,  and  was  educated 
in  Hudson  Academy.  To  this  worthy  couple 
have  been  born  five  children,  namely:  Annii 
B.,  William  B.,  Helen  R.,  Hattie  E.  and 
Minnie.  Hattie  E.  died  when  she  arrived  at 
maturity.  Helen  R.  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  John 
Morrison,  of  Fishkill-on-Hudson,  by  whom 
she  has  two  children:  Stewart  Ten  Broeck 
and  Anna  Janette,  and  the  family  is  now  loca- 
ted at  Portland,  Ore.,  where  Mr.  Morrison  is 
pastor  of  a  flourishing  Presbyterian  Church. 
The  early  history  of  the  Ten  Broeck  family, 
to  which  Mrs.  Moore  belongs,  dates  back  to 
1626,  when  Wessel  Ten  Broeck,  a  merchai 
from  Munster,  Westphalia,  came  over  in  co 
pany  with  Peter  Minuit  (pronounced  Menewe), 
the  newly  appointed  director  of  New  NetheTj 
lands.  He  settled  in  New  Amsterdam  as 
merchant.  He  had  three  sons,  Derick  Wessel 
Hendrick  Wessel  and  Joachim  Wessel.  Deric 
Wessel,  the  eldest,  was  born  in  1639,  an' 
known  in  history  as  Maj.  Wessel.  As  earl 
as  1662  he  was  the  largest  fur-trader  at  Beavei 
Wyck  (now  Albany).  He  was  largely  engag;( 
in  Indian  and  other  public  affairs.  The  h-~ 
torical  records  of  New  York  show  that  in  : 
he  was  employed  by  Gov.  Dongan  as  amb;: 
dor  to  Canada  to  settle  matters  of  Provi: 
difficulty.  He  was  also  major  of  militia,  c 
missary  first  recorder  of  Albany  in  1686,  m 
of  Albany  in  1696,  and  Indian  commissii 
He  bought  of  the  heirs  of  Anneke  Jans,  1 
1662,  her  residence  on  the  east  corner  of  Stat 
and  James  streets,  .  which  became  his  c;; 
dwelling,  being  the  same  lot  now  occupied  ! 
the  Mechanical  &  Traders  Bank  and  ti 
Evening  Journal  buildings.  He  owned  miic 
real  estate,  and  Ten  Broeck  street  in  Aibar 
was  named  for  him.  By  deed  of  date  Octi 
ber  26,  1694,  Robert  Livingston  conveyed 
him  a  tract  of  land  on  both  sides  of  Reel 
Jansen's  Kill,  containing  about  1,200  acre 
also  a  tract  on  the  Hudson  river  of  600  acre 
situated  200  paces  south  of  the  old  Livings!' 
Manor  House. 


COMMEMOBATIVE  BIOORAPHWAL  RECORD. 


167 


In  1663,  he  married  Christyna  Van  Buren, 
who  died  November  23,  1729;  his  death   oc- 
curred September  18,  171 7.     Their  eldest  son, 
Wessel,  was  Indian   commissioner,  recorder  of 
Albany,  and  lieutenant  of  militia.       From  this_ 
line  descended  Gen.  Abraham  Ten  Broeck,  of 
Revolutionary    fame.      As    president    of    the 
committee  of  safety  of   New    York,  he  carried 
on  an  able  and   patriotic   correspondence  with 
Hon.   John   Hancock,  President   of  Congress. 
He  married  Elizabeth,  sister  of  Stephen  Van- 
Renssalaer,  the  fourth   Patroon  of  the  Manor 
of  Renssalaerwyck.     Their  son,    Derrick  Ten 
Broeck,  a   lawyer,  was  for  three  sessions  the 
eloquent  speaker  of  the  House  of  the  Assembly, 
New  York  State.     All  these  facts  are  proved 
true  in  histories  and   documents   in   the  State 
Library  at  Albany.      Up  to  the   present  date, 
the  tract  of  land  on  the  Hudson,  at  German- 
town,  deeded  by  Robert  Livingston  to  Derrick 
Wessel   Ten  Broeck,  in    1694,  has  descended 
from  eldest  son  to  eldest   son,  so  Jhat,   most 
iterally,  it  may  be  called    "old   homestead," 
laving  been   in   the  family  over  two  hundred 
ars.     There  is  preserved  the    oldest  known 
dmily  Bible  in  the   Ten  Broeck  line,  and  also 
1  portrait  of  an   ancestor,  Jacob  Ten  Broeck, 
)orn  in  1700,  son  of  the  above  Wessel.      This 
incestor  was  married   in    1725    to    Christyna 
.an  Alen,  who  died  July  28,  1758.      His  death 
)ccurred  September  14,  1774. 

From  the  founder  in  America  to  the  eldest 
irother  of  Mrs.  Moore,  this  branch  of  the  Ten 
jroeck  family  is  traceable   through  the  eldest 
ons.      (i)  Derrick  Wessel  married   Christyna 
'an    Buren     in    1663.       (2)    Wessel    married 
athryna  Loermans  in  1684.      (3)  Jacob  mar- 
led Christyna  Van  Alen,  September  29,  1725. 
4)  Wessel  married  Janetje   Person,  February 
,  1764.      (5)   Jacob  married  Christina  Schep- 
las.     (6)  Jacob  (the  father  of    Mrs.  Moore), 
■  ho    married    Anna    Benner,   is    the    next    in 
irect  descent.    (7)  Jacob  Wessel,  her  brother, 
Tarried  Sarah  Ann  Evarts,  May  24,  1848.    (8) 
.ndrew  J.,  his  son,  married  Julia  Winans,  Oc- 
jber  26,   1882. 
Hon.  Jacob  Ten  Broeck,   the  father  of  Mrs. 
loore,  was  born  on  the   Ten   Broeck  home- 
tead    at    Germantown,    May    13,     1800.      In 
S44  he  removed  to   Hudson,  leaving  his  son, 
icob  Wessel,  the  old  homestead;  was  made  a 
aarter  director  of  the  Farmers  National  Bank, 
f  Hudson,  at  its  organization  in  1839,  and  he 

«'  e  oldest  officer  of  that  institution  at  the 
f  his  death  in   1883.      During  the  troub- 


lous  times  of  the  Civil  war  he  efficiently  served 
as  mayor  of  Hudson,  and  was  also  a  member 
of  the  Assembly  from  Columbia  county  in  later 
years.  He  married  Anna  Benner,  who  was 
born  November  15,  1798,  and  was  a  daughter 
of  Hendrick  Benner,  of  the  town  of  Red  Hook, 
Dutchess  county.      She  died  March  26,   1879. 


RS.    CATHERINE    E.    TAYLOR,    the 

subject  of  this  sketch,  spent  her  early 
life  in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  Dutchess  county, 
attending  the  district  schools  and  Miss  Booth's 
boarding  school,  besides  a  private  school  at 
Fishkill.  She  met  Edward  Preston  Taylor  in 
Poughkeepsie,  where  they  were  married.  He 
was  born  in  Orange,  N.  J.,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Nelson  &  Taylor,  cabinet  makers, 
with  their  place  of  business  on  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Crannell  streets. 

After  their  marriage  our  subject  and  her 
husband  conducted  the  ' '  Forbus  House, "  which 
stood  where  the  "  Nelson  House  "  now  is,  and 
was  where  the  old  stage  house  was  located,  a 
very  historic  spot.  When  Mr.  Taylor  died, 
Mrs.  Taylor  continued  to  run  the  "Forbus 
House"  until  1875,  when  she  built  the  new 
"Nelson  House,  "  which  was  opened  April  i, 
1876.  The  house  was  named  in  honor  of  our 
subject's  brother,  Judge  Homer  A.  Nelson.  Two 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor: 
Ella  Kate,  and  Nelson  (deceased).  Ella  mar- 
ried F.  J.  Jewett,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  they 
have  two  children — Rev.  F.  G.  Jewett,  rector 
of  St.  Paul's  Church  at  Albany,  and  Edward 
Taylor  Jewett,  of  the  Albany  Engraving  Co. 
The  Rev.  F.  G.  Jewett  has  one  daughter, 
Catherine  Pauline,  and  a  son,  F.  G.  Jewett  (3). 

Reuben  Nelson,  the  great-grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Dutchess  county;  was 
drafted  for  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  served 
as  one  of  the  "  Minute  men,  "  receiving  a  pen- 
sion for  his  services.  He  married  Miss  Han- 
nah Morse,  a  native  of  Delaware  county,  N.  Y. 
Reuben  Nelson,  Jr. ,  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  where 
he  went  to  school,  and  later  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. He  married  Miss  Catherine  Garzee, 
whose  birth  took  place  in  Newport,  R.  I.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  a  French  sea  captain,  who 
owned  a  vessel  and  came  to  America  and  joined 
LaFayette's  army  in  the  cause  of  American 
Independence.  John  M.  Nelson,  the  only  child 
of  Reuben,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Lagrange,  where  his  early  education  was  ob- 


168 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tained,  and  where  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Eliza  Smith,  who  was  born  in  Boston  of  Eng- 
lish parents.  Their  children  were:  Catherine 
Eliza,  our  subject;  Laura,  Homer  A.,  Charles 
and  John,  of  l<ew  York  City;  and  Cora,  who 
married  Dr.  Vandenser. 


JOHN  W.  SPAIGHT,  a  prominent  resident 
of  Fishkill-on  Hudson,  Dutchess  county, 
whose  able  editorial  management  of  the 
Standard  has  made  that  paper  influential 
throughout  the  community,  is  one  of  the  men 
whose  energies  and  abilities  have  been  con- 
stantly and  consistently  devoted  to  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  town. 

He  is  a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  having 
first  seen  the  light  in  Poughkeepsie,  May  26, 
1833.  He  attended  the  common  schools  of 
that  city  until  the  age  of  fourteen,  and  in  1849 
entered  the  office  of  the  Poughkeepsie  Tele- 
graph as  an  apprentice,  remaining  five  years. 
On  attaining  his  majority  he  took  charge  of 
the  Highland  Eagle  at  Peekskill,  the  prede- 
cessor of  the  present  Highland  Democrat. 
The  following  year  he  purchased  the  paper, 
and  carried  it  on  successfully  for  three  years, 
when  he  sold  it  with  the  intention  of  going 
into  business  elsewhere;  but  his  plans  failing 
he  remained  in  charge  of  the  office  for  another 
year.  In  the  spring  of  1859  he  returned  to 
Poughkeepsie,  and  formed  a  partnership  with 
A.  S.  Pease  and  J.  G.  P.  Holden  for  the  pub- 
lication of  the  Daily  Press;  but  this  venture 
proved  a  failure,  and  he  lost  all  that  he  had 
made  while  in  Peekskill.  After  three  years  in 
Poughkeepsie  he  purchased  the  Fishkill  Stand- 
ard with  the  assistance  of  his  brother-in-law, 
James  E.  Member,  and  February  10.  1862,  he 
assumed  the  control  of  the  paper.  The  office 
was  a  very  small  one  and  the  paper  only  a 
seven-column  folio;  but  by  untiring  industry 
and  judicious  management  the  enterprise  has 
been  made  to  prosper,  and  the  Standard  has 
been  enlarged  from  time  to  time  until  it  is  now 
a  folio  of  nine  columns. 

Mr.  Spaight  was  married  January  i,  1856. 
at  Peekskill,  to  Miss  Eliza  J.  Diven,  of  that 
village,  and  they  have  four  children — three 
sons  and  one  daughter.  The  sons  are  all  con- 
nected with  the  Standard  office  in  various  ca- 
pacities, and  are  giving  evidence  of  the  same 
qualities  which  have  marked  their  father's  suc- 
cessful work  in  the  journalistic  field.  The 
family    are    identified    with    the     Methodist 


Church,  Mr.  Spaight  and  his  wife  having  be- 
come members  while  in  Peekskill,  and  he  has 
been  steward,  district  steward,  trustee  (for 
thirty-three  years),  and  president  of  the  board 
of  trustees.  In  the  Sunday-school  he  was  a 
leading  worker  for  twent3-five  years,  having 
been  a  teacher,  secretary,  treasurer,  and  super- 
intendent. He  resides  in  a  beautiful  part  of 
the  village,  on  high  ground  overlooking  the 
river  and  bay,  the  view  including  the  mount- 
ains and  city  of  Newburgh.  His  place  has 
been  named  "  The  Cedars,"  from  the  fact  that 
the  hill  was  formerly  covered  with  a  fine 
growth  of  cedar  trees,  only  a  few  of  which  now 
remain. 

As  a  public-spirited  citizen  Mr.  Spaight  has 
always  been  ready  to  encourage  any  worthy 
movement  and  to  assist  in  local  affairs.  He 
was  the  first  treasurer  of  the  village  of  Fish- 
kill  Landing;  holding  the  office  for  several 
years,  and  a  trustee  four  terms;  was  a  trustee 
of  the  pubyc  schools  for  about  sixteen  years, 
and  is  now  treasurer  of  the  school  district. 
He  has  been  connected  with  the  Howland  Cir- 
culating Library,  as  its  secretary,  since  its  or- 
ganization in  1872;  is  a  trustee  of  the  Mechan- 
ics Savings  Bank,  for  several  years  has  been 
a  member  of  the  funding  committee,  and  is 
now  its  second  vice-president.  He  is  affiliated 
with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  was  secretary  of 
Beacon  Lodge  No.  283,  F.  &  A.  M.,  for  some 
time,  and  for  the  last  seventeen  years  has  held 
the  office  of  treasurer. 


! 


[f^ILLIAM  B.  MILLARD,  for  many  years 

the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  W. 

Millard  Sons,  of  New  Hamburg,  Dutchess 
county,  now  the  Millard  Lumber  Co. ,  is  a 
worthy  representative  of  a  family  which  has 
been  distinguished  through  several  generations 
for  business  ability,  integrity,  public-spirit,  and 
all  those  admirable  qualities  of  character  which 
go  to  make  good  citizenship.  The  head  of  the 
American  branch  of  the  family  came  from 
France  at  an  early  date,  settling  in  New  Eng- 
land, and  John  Millard,  our  subject's  great- 
grandfather, lived  in  Cornwall,  Conn.,  where 
he  had  a  sawmill. 

Charles  Millard,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
was  born  in  Cornwall,  Conn.,  in  1763,  and  be- 
longed to  the  army  of  the  Revolution  in  1780, 
in  his  eighteenth  year.  His  first  wife  was 
Lydia  Pride,  a  native  of  Poughkeepsie.     He 


i  > 

I 


V 


X 


'■•■%-„ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPEICAL  RECORD. 


109 


settled  in  Marlboro,  Ulster  county,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  until  1824. 
when  he  moved  to  New  Hamburg  and  opened 
a  lumber  yard.  He  manufactured  his  lumber 
from  the  raw  material  and  had  an  extensive 
trade  for  that  early  day,  the  distance  from  our 
own  times  being  more  easily  realized  when  the 
fact  is  recalled  that  he  witnessed  the  trial  trip 
of  Robert  Fulton's  steamer  on  the  Hudson  in 
1807.  He  was  prominent  in  local  affairs  and  a 
leading  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
On  June  17,  1816,  his  first  wife  died,  leaving 
seven  children,  and  October  22,  1818,  he  mar- 
ried Sarah  Miller,  bj'  whom  he  had  two  chil- 
n.  His  own  death  occurred  April  30,  1827. 
if  the  first  family  the  eldest  son  (i)  John  was 
born  May  21,  1789;  (2)  Charles  Millard,  born 
September  15,  1792,  located  in  New  Orleans, 
where  he  acquired  a  large  fortune.  He  was  a 
man  of  unusual  energy  and  business  ability, 
and  took  a  prominent  part  in  affairs  in  his 
adopted  city.  (3)  James,  born  August  i  5  ,  1795, 
was  a  wholesale  dealer  in  lumber  and  coal  at 
Catskill.  (4)  Cornelia,  born  June  27,  1797, 
married  Hackaliah  Purdy,  of  Marlboro.  (5) 
William  fjorn  June  19,  1800,  settled  in 
Galena,  111.,  and  became  a  leading  business 
man  there,  holding  the  office  of  postmaster 
at  one  time.  His  later  years  were  spent 
in  traveling  in  Europe  and  the  United  States, 
and  he  died  while  in  Jacksonville,  Florida. 
(6)  Walter,  our  subject's  father,  is  men- 
tioned below.  (7)  Catherine,  born  August  21, 
1803,  married  Elem  Dunbar,  then  of  Pough- 
keepsie  and  later  of  Cortland  county.  The 
children  of  the  second  family  were  Margaret 
G..  born  May  24,  1820,  and  Franklin,  born 
February  26,  1824. 

Walter  Millard  was  born  in  Marlboro,  Feb- 
ruary 27,  1802,  and  remained  there   until  the 
■emoval  of  the  family  to  New  Hamburg.     Un- 
:il  1 834  he  was  engaged  in  the  lumber  business 
exclusively,  but  at  that  time  he  became  inter- 
;sted  in  the  freighting  business  and   built  the 
)arge   "  Lexington,"  which  ran  between  New 
ifork  and   New  Hamburg.     In    1844  he   pur- 
:hased  the  steamboat  "Splendid,"  which  car- 
ied  freight  from  New  Hamburg  and  Marlboro 
o  New  York  City.     About  1855  he  disposed  of 
his  line  of   business  to  give  his  attention  to 
ealing  in  lumber  and  coal,  which  he  continued 
ntil  his  death,  August   20,  1880.      He  was  a 
lan  of  remarkable  business   acumen  and  the 
nergy  and  enterprise  to  carry  his   projects  to 
ompletion.     A  strict  Presbyterian  in  religious 


faith,  his  life  was  marked  by  integrity  and  fair 
dealing.  In  politics  he  was  in  early  years  a 
Whig  and  later  a  Democrat.  He  was  mar- 
ried, November  14,  1834,  to  Martha  Hyer 
Bull,  a  native  of  New  York  City,  who  died 
June  14,  1896.  Her  father,  William  Bull, 
who  was  of  English  birth,  was  a  well-known 
saddle  and  harness  dealer  in  New  York,  and 
was  the  first  to  import  hame  collars  from  Eng- 
land. He  had  six  sons,  viz.:  William  B., 
Walter  P.,  Howard  C,  Charles,  I.  Edward 
and  Fenweck  T. ,  the  last  two  named  being 
now  deceased. 

William  B.  Millard  was  born  at  New  Ham- 
burg, June  10,  1836.  When  a  young  man  he 
began  clerking  in  his  father's  office,  and  in 
1863  became  a  partner  in  the  business,  the 
firm  name  being  W.  Millard  &  Son.  After  his 
father's  death  he  conducted  the  business  under 
the  same  name  until  1884,  when  his  brothers, 
Howard  C.  and  Charles,  entered  the  firm, 
which  became  known  as  W.  Millard  Sons. 
On  November  i,  1893,  a  corporation  was 
formed  under  the  present  title  of  the  Millard 
Lumber  Company.  They  employ  about  150 
men  in  the  various  departments  of  their  work, 
which  includes  the  manufacture  of  the  finished 
product  from  sawed  green  lumber,  their  mills 
and  factory  being  located  at  Rouse's  Point,  in 
the  Adirondack  region.  They  do  a  wholesale 
business  there,  while  their  retail  trade  is  sup- 
plied from  their  yards  at  New  Hamburg  and 
Marlboro. 

On  February  8,  i860,  Mr.  Millard  was 
married  to  Miss  Cordelia  A.  Lawson,  a  lady  of 
Dutch  descent,  and  daughter  of  William  I. 
and  Ann  (Smith)  Lawson,  of  New  Hamburg. 
Two  children  were  born  of  this  union:  Martha 
H.,  the  wife  of  Harris  S.  Reynolds,  of  Pough- 
keepsie,  and  William  I.,  who  is  not  married. 
Mr.  Millard  and  wife  are  prominent  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Churcfi,  and  he  has  taken 
an  active  interest  in  many  movements  tending 
to  promote  the  public  welfare,  being  especially 
devoted  to  the  temperance  reform  and  to  the 
improvement  of  the  schools.  He  has  been 
president  of  the  board  of  education,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  National  Division  of  the  Sons 
of  Temperance.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat, 
but  favors  a  liberal  tariff.  He  has.  at  times 
held  minor  offices,  declining,  however,  further 
honors,  although  as  one  of  the  leading  men 
in  southern  Dutchess  county,  he  has  more 
than  once  been  urged  to  enter  the  political 
arena. 


170 


COliMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


THOMAS  McWHINNIE,  a  well-known 
manufacturer,  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutch- 
ess county,  was  born  in  that  city,  March  20, 
1842,  and  is  the  son  of  James  and  Euphemia 
(Hall)  McWhinnie,  both  natives  of  Scotland, 
the  former  born  at  Glasgow  in  1807,  and  the 
latter  at  Paisley  in  18 19. 

Thomas  McWhinnie,  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  born  it  is  supposed  in  Edin- 
burgh, as  he  came  from  there,  and  was  a 
weaver  by  trade.  His  brother,  John,  up  to 
his  death,  was  keeper  of  Edinburgh  Castle, 
where  the  Scottish  regalia  are  kept.  Grand- 
father Thomas  McWhinnie  was  married  in 
1804  to  Janet  Crawford,  who  was  the  mother 
of  all  his  children.  She  died  in  1819,  and  in 
1828  he  married  Margaret  McAllister.  In 
May,  1829,  the  family  sailed  from  Greenock  in 
the  sailing  vessel  "Roger  Stewart,"  arriving, 
on  the  fourth  of  July  following,  in  New  York 
City,  where  they  made  their  first  home  in  the 
New  World  on  20th  street,  between  8th  and 
9th  avenues.  Grandfather  McWhinnie's  second 
wife  did  not  come  to  this  country*  with  him; 
but  after  a  year  or  two's  sojourn  here  he  went 
back  to  Scotland,  and  staid  there  until  her 
death,  when  he  again  came  to  the  United 
States,  and  died  in  New  York. 

Grandfather  McWhinnie  had  six  chil- 
dren, namely:  (i)  Margaret,  married  to  Alex- 
ander Cameron,  a  machinist;  (2)  Janet,  mar- 
ried at  West  Farms,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y. 
(now  a  part  of  New  York  City),  to  Robert  B. 
Wilson,  who  in  his  younger  days  was  captain 
of  a  sloop  running  on  the  North,  or  Hudson, 
river,  the  East  river  and  the  Bronx,  up  to 
West  Farms;  (3)  Elizabeth,  who  became  the 
wife  of  James  Reed,  who  was  in  the  Custom 
House  at  Glasgow  a  great  many  years  until 
pensioned  off;  (4)  Peter,  who  was  a  weaver  by 
trade;  (5)  John,  also  a  weaver,  who  died  in 
New  York  City;  and  James,  the  father  of 
Thomas.  Our  subject's  parents  came  to 
America  before  their  marriage,  and  resided  in 
New  York  City  and  other  places,  finally  mov- 
ing to  Poughkeepsie,  where  they  were  married. 
Here  the  father  followed  his  trade  as  a  weaver 
for  about  thirty-three  years.  He  then  re- 
moved to  New  York  City,  where  he  continued 
to  work  at  weaving  until  his  death  July  17, 
i866;  his  wife  died  September  11,  1851.  He 
was  originally  a  Whig,  later  a  Republican. 
They  had  four  children:  Catherine  and  James 
died  in  infancy;  Thomas  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  and  Archibald  is  a  farmer  in  Wisconsin. 


The  father  was  born  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  in 
1807,  and  reared  there,  being  twenty-two  years 
old  when  he  came  to  this  country  in  1829. 

Thomas  McWhinnie  attended  the  public 
schools  in  Poughkeepsie  until  he  was  twelve 
years  old,  when  he  went  to  Wappingers  Falls, 
where  he  worked  in  the  cotton  mills  for  nine 
months  at  two  dollars  a  week.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Poughkeepsie,  and  worked  for  two 
and  a  half  years  in  a  bakery  at  $25  a  year  and 
his  board,  the  first  year;  at  $30  a  year  and 
his  board,  the  second  year;  and  at  $35  a  year 
and  his  board  the  remainder  of  the  time,  leav- 
ing the  bakery  in  the  winter  of  1857,  the  year 
of  the  financial  panic.  In  the  spring  of  1858 
he  went  to  learn  the  tinner's  trade,  but  left  it 
after  serving  about  one  and  one-quarter  years, 
and  went  to  work  in  Chichester  &  Co. 's  chair 
factory,  which  stood  on  the  site  where  his  own 
factory  now  stands.  In  1863  he  was  employed 
for  a  few  months  in  repairing  railroad  bridges, 
afterward  going  to  New  York  City  and  work- 
ing in  a  chair  factory  for  four  years,  and  for 
about  one  year  more  was  a  partner  in  a  chair 
factory. 

In  1869  Mr.  McWhinnie  again  returned  to 
Poughkeepsie,  and  embarked  in  the  business 
in  which  he  has  since  been  successfully  en- 
gaged; manufacturing  all  kinds  of  wheelbar- 
rows— such  as  canal,  coal,  garden,  ore,  stone, 
brick  and  wood  barrows;  also  the  celebrated 
Dutchess  Bolted  Canal,  and  Dutchess  Bolted 
Garden  wheelbarrows.  His  first  location  was 
at  No:  25  N.  Water  street,  but  in  1883  he 
erected  the  large  brick  factory  in  which  he  is 
now  established,  at  Nos.  39  and  41  South 
Water  street,  and  31  and  33  South  Front 
street.  His  products  are  shipped  to  New 
York  City  and  other  points,  whence  they  are 
sent  all  over  the  world.  Mr.  McWhinnie  is  a 
man  of  progressive  ideas,  of  excellent  business 
ability  and  great  energy,  and  has  worked  his 
way  up  from  a  poor  boy  to  his  present  posi- 
tion. He  is  popular  with  his  associates,  and 
is  a  loyal  citizen  always  ready  to  assist  in  pub- 
lic enterprises. 

Mr.  McWhinnie  was  married  June  1,  1871, 
to  Miss  Fannie  Whitwell,  who  was  born  in 
Poughkeepsie.  Her  father,  Thomas  Whit- 
well, and  her  mother  Mary  (Arnold)  Whit- 
well, were  natives  of  Peterborough,  England. 
He  followed  farming  in  East  Park.  Three 
children  were  born  of  this  union:  Mary  E., 
who  was  married  to  Frank  Brooks  on  October 
7,  1896;  Fannie  J.  and  Roy  A. ;  the  last  named 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


171 


died  January  13,  1893.  Mr.  McWhinnie  is  a 
Republican,  and  in  1882  he  was  elected  alder- 
man of  the  Second  ward,  serving  some  two  and 
one-half  years;  in  1896  he  was  selected  by  his 
party  to  represent  them  on  the  board  of  super- 
visors, being  elected  for  two  years.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  and  has 
been  a  trustee  of  that  body  for  eight  years. 
Socially  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order  since  1864,  and  also  belongs  to  the 
.\ncient  Order  of  United  Workmen. 


I 


TAMES  STUART  CHAFFEE.  The  family 
|H|  to  which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  belongs 
V  is  of  good  old  Puritan  stock,  having  been 
■bunded  in  the  New  World  in  1635,  ^t  Hing- 
nam,  Mass.,  by  Thomas  Chaffee,  who  landed 
at  Boston  a  year  or  two  previous.  He  re- 
moved to  Hull,  where  he  died  in  1683.  His 
son,  Joseph  ChafTee,  married  Ann  Martin,  of 
Swansea,  Mass.,  and  died  in  that  town  in 
1689.  His  son.  John  Chaffee,  removed  to 
Woodstock,  where  Joel  Chaffee,  the  son  of 
John,  died.  Joshua,  the  youngest  son  of  Joel, 
was  born  in  Woodstock,  Conn.,  in  1733,  and 
in  1755  moved  to  Sharon,  Conn.  On  July 
22,  1755,  he  wedded  Mary  St.  John,  and  they 
continued  to  live  at  Sharon  until  1760,  when 
they  removed  to  Ellsworth,  Conn.,  where  his 
death  occurred  October  8,  1789,  and  she 
passed  away  August  28,  1824.  Their  son, 
Joshua  Bignall  Chaffee,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  at  Sharon,  Conn.,  March  8, 
1 78 1,  and  became  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
On  June  4,  1809,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Ann  Seymour,  a  daughter  of  Amos  and 
Sarah  (Cook)  Seymour,  of  Plymouth,  Conn. ; 
her  death  occurred  June  4,  18 19.  Later  he 
was  united  in  marriage  (December  25^  1820) 
with  Hannah  Birdsey,  who  was  born  at  Corn- 
wall, Conn.,  September  29,  1791.  At  the 
time  of  his  death,  the  grandfather  was  most 
icceptably  serving  as  one  of  the  magistrates  of 
^haron. 

The  birth  of  Jerome  Seymour  Chaffee,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  occurred  at  Ellsworth, 
Conn.,  December  14.  1814,  and  he  was  there 
educated  in  the  common  schools.  At  Kent, 
n  that  State,  on  October  24,  1839,  he  was 
narried  to  Miss  Aritta  Stuart,  daughter  of 
[ames  and  Melinda  Stuart.  She  was  born  De- 
;ember  15,  18 12,  and  was  called  to  her  final 
est  November  24,  1872.  Later,  the  father 
vas- married  (June  8,    1876),    at  Sharon,    to 


Adelia  Emma  Fuller,  who  was  born  March 
13,  1 841,  the  daughter  of  Cyrus  Sackett 
and  Harriet  Fuller.  Until  1855  Jerome  S. 
Chaffee  continued  to  reside  at  Sharon,  at 
which  time  he  came  to  the  town  of  Amenia, 
Dutchess  county,  where  he  has  since  engaged 
in  farming.  He  is  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Congregational  Church  at  Ellsworth,  Conn., 
and  politically  cast  his  first  vote  in  support  of 
the  Whig  party,  later  becoming  an  Abolitionist, 
and  since  its  organization  has  been  a  stalwart 
Republican.  By  his  fellow  citizens  he  has  been 
called  upon  to  serve  in  the  positions  of  high- 
way commissioner  and  assessor. 

James  Stuart  Chaffee,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review,  was  born  at  Sharon,  Conn., 
October  3,  I846,  and  was  educated  at  Wes- 
leyan  Academy,  Wilbraham,  Mass.  He  was 
married  at  Kent,  Conn.,  on  September  17, 
1872,  to  Miss  Lydia  A.  Judd,  who  was  born 
December  16.  1850.  and  is  a  daughter  of  Ed- 
ward Matthew  and  Laura  (Cartwright)  Judd. 
Of  their  union  there  are  five  children:  Jerome 
Stuart,  born  November  1 1,  1873,  is  a  graduate 
of  the  Yale  University,  and  expects  to  com- 
plete the  course  in  the  medical  department  of 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania  with  the  class  of 
'97;  Edward  Judd,  born  August  6,  1875,  mar- 
ried Celia  M.  Cline;  Aritta  L.,  born  August  22, 
1877,  graduated  at  Wesleyan  Academy  in 
1896;  Everitte  St.  John,  born  November  15, 
1879;  and  Rollo  N.,  born  February  28,  1882. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Chaffee  removed  to 
his  present  residence  in  the  town  of  Amenia, 
and  for  about  four  years  was  engaged  in  the 
flour,  feed,  grain  and  lumber  business  with 
William  H.  Tanner,  of  Wassaic,  but  with  that 
exception  his  entire  life  has  been  devoted  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  with  excellent  results, 
showing  that  he  thoroughly  understands  the 
occupation  which  he  has  chosen.  His  unwav- 
ering support  is  given  the  Republican  party, 
and  he  has  served  in  several  positions  of  honor 
and  trust,  such  as  highway  commissioner  and 
justice  of  the  peace  and  supervisor, 


C CHARLES  F.  HASBROOK,  a  leading  busi- 
Ji  ness  man  of  New  Hamburg,  Dutchess 
county,  the  senior  member  of  the  well-known 
firm  of  Capt.  Wm.  Hasbrook's  Sons,  forward- 
ing and  commission  merchants,  was  born  Jan- 
uary 2,  1845,  at  Cortlandville,  in  the  town  of 
East  Fishkill,  where  his  ancestors  were  among 
the  early  settlers.     The  family  originated  in 


172 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Holland,  and  its  representatives  in  this  locali- 
ty are  descended  from  three  brothers  who  came 
to  this  country  together,  two  settling  in  Ulster 
county,  and  one  in  Dutchess  county,  at  Fish- 
kill. 

Francis  Hasbrook,  our  subject's  grandfa- 
ther, was  born  there  August  5,  1789,  and  be- 
came a  merchant  at  Cortlandville,  where  he 
was  a  prominent  citizen,  an  active  supporter 
of  the  Whig  party  and  a  leading  member  of 
the  Reformed  Church,  with  which  most  of  his 
descendants  have  united.  He  married  Mar- 
garet Blatchly,  a  native  of  Fishkill,  who  died 
July  II,  1839,  and  he  survived  her  until 
March  8,  1854.  They  had  three  children,  of 
whom  William  Hasbrook.  our  subject's  father, 
was  the  eldest,  the  others  being:  Susan  H., 
born  July  25,  1824,  married  to  Albert  Emans, 
a  farmer  in  Fishkill,  and  Sarah  R. ,  born 
March  20,  1830,  married  to  John  P.  Storm,  a 
farmer  at  Stormville. 

William  Hasbrook  was  born  at  Cortland- 
ville November  12,  1822,  and  grew  to  man- 
hood there.  He  was  engaged  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  with  his  father  for  some  time, 
and  later  conducted  it  alone,  but  in  1857  he 
became  captain  of  the  steamer  "Wyoming," 
which  he  ran  for  twelve  years.  From  1869  to 
1872  he  followed  the  freighting  business  at 
New  Hamburg,  and  then  for  five  years  was 
captain  of  the  "Walter  Brett,"  a  steamboat 
running  between  New  Hamburg  and  New 
York,  and  on  leaving  this  he  resumed  the 
freighting  business  and  continued  it  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  December  18,  1893. 
He  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  promi- 
nent in  local  affairs,  serving  some  time  as  clerk 
of  the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  and  he  was  the 
first  postmaster  of  that  village.  On  August 
17,  1843,  he  married  Maria  Storm,  daughter 
of  Gory  and  Anna  (Boice)  Storm.  She  died 
June  28,  1874,  leaving  three  children,  of  whom 
our  subject,  Charles  F.,  was  the  eldest,  the 
others  being:  Emily,  born  December  11, 
1849,  died  April  9,  1852,  and  George  A., 
born  July  27,  1856,  is  a  member  of  the  firm. 

Charles  F.  Hasbrook  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  New  Hamburg  and  Hughsonville. 
On  leaving  school  he  clerked  for  four  years  in 
a  grocery  in  New  York  City,  and  then  came 
back  to  New  Hamburg,  where  he  was  engaged 
for  a  year  in  the  feed  business,  afterward  in  a 
grocery.  On  March  i,  1886,  he  became  inter- 
ested in  his  father's  business,  and  since  the 
latter's  death  the  two  sons  have  carried  it  on 


successfully.  On  January  13,  1869.  Mr.  Has- 
brook married  Miss  Jennie  E.  Van  Voorhis, 
who  was  born  September  10,  1845,  «^t  Brink- 
erhoflville.  Her  parents,  William  H.  and 
Elizabeth  (Haight)  Van  Voorhis,  were  both 
natives  of  Dutchess  county,  the  former  having 
been  born  at  Matteawan,  May  24,  1809.  Three 
children  were  the  result  of  this  marriage,  of 
whom  only  one  is  now  living,  Edward  G.,  born 
October  24,  1870. 

Mr.  Hasbrook,  as  one  of  the  leading  men 
of  southern  Dutchess  county,  has  been  influen- 
tial in  local  affairs,  and  is  prominent  in  the 
Republican  party,  although  he  has  never  held 
office,  with  the  exception  of  four  years  as 
justice  of  the  peace  of  the  town  of  Wappinger. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M. ,  Wappingers 
Falls  Lodge  No.  671,  of  Poughkeepsie  Chap- 
ter No.  172,  and  Poughkeepsie  Commandery 
No.  43. 


nr  EBULON  RUDD.  The  subject  of  this 
^Ji  sketch  was  born  in  the  town  of  North- 
east, Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  September  24, 
1823. 

The  family  for  a  long  time  had  been  one 
of  influence  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county, 
and  also  in  western  Connecticut,  from  which 
locality  Mr.  Rudd's  great-grandfather  came. 
The  following  is  a  brief  record  of  the  family: 

Lieut.  Jonathan  Rudd,  the  founder  of  the 
family  in  America,  came  to  New  England 
about  the  year  1637.  He  was  a  resident  of 
New  Haven,  Conn.,  in  1644,  when  he  took 
the  oath  of  fidelity  to  the  government.  He 
was  at  Saybrook  in  1646.  In  the  winter  of 
1646-47  he  was  married.  The  occasion  was 
a  romantic  one,  and  is  often  referred  to  in  the 
State  disputes  concerning  boundary  lines. 
The  magistrate,  who  had  been  engaged  to  per- 
form the  ceremony,  was  delayed  by  a  great  and 
sudden  snowfall,  and  application  was  at  once 
made  to  John  Winthrop,  then  acting  as  mag- 
istrate under  the  jurisdiction  of  Massachusetts. 
In  order  that  he  might  obviate  any  infringe- 
ment of  the  law,  the  parties  agreed  to  meet 
at  a  little  stream — to  this  day  known  as  Bride 
brook — which  served  as  a  boundary  between 
New  London  and  Lynn.  There,  in  the 
solemn  stillness  of  the  forest,  Winthrop,  stand- 
ing upon  one  bank,  joined  together  the  man 
and  woman  who  stood  upon  the  other. 

Jonathan  Rudd  was  a  settler  of   Norwich, 


c 


I 


^^^(uXr^cJ^c/X 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


178 


Conn.,    later    on,   and  died    in    1668,    leaving 
four    children.      His    eldest    son,    Jonathan, 

born  about    1650,    married   Mercy  in 

1678,  and  died  in  1689,  leaving  a  son  born  in 
1684,  who  afterward  became  Ensign  and  Cap- 
tain Nathaniel  Rudd.  He  moved  to  Wind- 
Kam,  Conn.,  where  he  was  a  highly  respected 
kember  of  society,  and  died  at  a  ripe  old  age 
february  20,  1760.  His  first  wife,  the  mother 
I  his  children,  was  Rebecca,  daughter  of 
ohn  Waldo,  of  Chelmsford,  Mass.,  and  his 
wife  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Samuel  Adams,  the 
progenitor  of  the  Adams  family  of  Massachu- 
setts. Nathaniel  and  Rebecca  Rudd  had  four 
children,  the  third  of  whom  was  Zebulon, 
born  at  Windham,  Conn.,  in  1717.  In  1742 
he  was  married  to  Jerusha  Brewster,  and 
about  1750  moved  to  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y. , 
and  resided  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  and  also 
in  Northeast.  He  died  in  1802.  His  family 
consisted  of  eight  children — six  daughters  and 
two  sons.  The  eldest  child,  Nathaniel,  born 
in  1742,  married  Naomi  St.  John,  in  1768, 
and  died  in  1774,  leaving  a  widow  and  three 
children.  He  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Rudds 
f  St.  Lawrence  and  Wayne  counties,  in  New 
1  ork,  and  of  Litchfield  county,  in  Connecticut. 
Zebulon's    other   son,    Bezaleel,     born    in 

1175 1,  survived  his  brother  seventy-two  years, 
pd  died  in  1846,  aged  ninety-five  years  and 
■e  month.  During  the  greater  part  of  his 
pe  he  resided  at  Northeast,  Dutchess  Co., 
ft.  Y.  He  served  faithfully  during  the  war  of 
Be  Revolution.  Having  signed  the  pledge 
toH  his  father,  Zebulon,  in  July,  1775,  he 
;erved  in  the  Continental  army  from  August, 
775,  to  February,  1777,  when  he  left  the 
trmy  with  the  rank  of  major.  That  same  year 
le  married  Ruth  Brush,  and  they  had  seven 
hildren,  of  whom  the  second  was  Reuben 
5rush.  Rudd,  born  in  1780.  He  lived  at  the 
'Id  place  at  the  northern  end  of  Rudd  Pond, 
v'ortheast,  N.  Y. ,  but  in  middle  life  spent 
lany  years  at  Poughkeepsie.  He  was  presi- 
ent  of  the  village  of  Poughkeepsie  in  18 14. 
fe  married  on  February  22,  1813,  Elizabeth, 
aughter  of  Capt.  Israel  Smith,  of  Newburg, 
..Y.,  and  his  wife,  Mary,  daughter  of  Col. 
pnathan  Hasbrouck. 

Elizabeth  Smith  was  born  September  3, 
83,  in  the  house  which  is  now  known  as 
Washington's  Headquarters",  Newburg,  but 
len  owned  by  Col.  Hasbrouck's  son  Isaac. 
r.  Rudd's  family  still  possess  a  brocaded  satin 
oak  given  by  Lady  Washington   as  a  baptis- 


mal robe  for  the  child  which  was  born  a  few 
days  after  Washington's  departure. 

Reuben  B.  Rudd  had  five  children:  Mary, 
born  November  25,  181 3,  married  Milton 
Smith,  and  died  February  14,  1895;  Sarah, 
born  October  29,  181 5,  and  married  to  Alex- 
ander W.  Trowbridge,  is  still  living  at  Ansonia, 
Conn.  John,  born  December  28,  1817,  died 
at  Mobile,  Ala.,  October  9,  1842.  Charles, 
born  March  17,  1820,  and  married  to  Frances 
E.  Folk,  is  still  living  at  Pine  Plains,  N.  Y. ; 
and  Zebulon,  the  present  representative  of  the 
family  in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  His  early  youth 
was  spent  upon  his  father's  farm.  Financial 
reverses,  however,  coming  upon  the  family, 
the  boys  were  early  compelled  to  seek  their 
own  livelihood. 

In  1842  Mr.  Rudd  came  to  Poughkeepsie 
to  take  a  position  as  clerk  in  the  dry-goods 
store  of  Joseph  Wright.  Here  he  remained 
two  years,  and  then  accepted  a  clerkship  with 
Bowne  &  Co. ,  where  he  remained  eight  years. 
He  was  then  appointed  teller  and  bookkeeper 
in  the  Fallkill  Bank,  remaining  there  six  years. 
Mr.  Rudd  was  next  offered  the  cashiership  of 
the  Dover  Plains  Bank.  Six  years  after  his 
going  to  Dover  Plains  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Poughkeepsie  was  organized,  and  the  direct- 
ors tendered  the  position  of  cashier  to  Mr. 
Rudd.  He  accepted  the  offer,  and  for  twen- 
ty-five years  held  the  position  until  his  resig- 
nation in  1889.  Since  then  he  has  been  en- 
gaged in  the  brokerage  and  investment  business 
in  Poughkeepsie. 

Mr.  Rudd  was  married  May  23,  1855,  to 
Blandina  V.  Adriance,  second  daughter  of 
John  Adriance,  the  founder  of  the  "Buckeye 
Manufacturing  Co."  Three  children  have 
been  born  to  them:  Charles  Adriance  (now 
deceased),  who  married  Ella  Robinson,  of 
Poughkeepsie;  John  Adriance,  who  married 
Bertha  Strawn  Morgan,  of  Trenton,  Neb., 
and  is  now  living  in  Poughkeepsie;  and  Ar- 
thur Belding,  who  at  the  present  time  is  study- 
ing in  New  York  City. 


.^_,  B.  STOCKHOLM,  a  prominent  resident 
%.  and  leading  business  man  of  Poughkeep- 
sie, Dutchess  county,  is  engaged  in  the  crock- 
ery and  glassware  business  at  No.  306  Main 
street,  where  he  has  carried  on  operations 
since  1885.  He  was  born  in  that  city  January 
6,  1849,  and  is  descended  from  Aaron  Stock- 
holm, whose   birth   occurred  on  Long  Island, 


174 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


but  who  early  came  to  Dutchess  county,  where 
he  located  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Hopewell, 
and  there  married,  reared  his  family  and  died. 
His  brother  located  in  St.  Lawrence  county, 
N.  Y.,  obtaining  about  one  thousand  acres  of 
wild  land  by  a  grant  from  King  George,  and 
there  are  now  four  villages  in  that  county 
named  in  honor  of  him. 

The  son  of  this  Aaron  Stockholm  (who  also 
bore  the  name  of  Aaron)  was  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject.  He  was  born  in  Hopewell, 
town  of  East  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  and 
after  his  marriage  with  Miss  Painter  continued 
to  reside  upon  the  old  homestead,  where  his 
death  occurred.  In  politics  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat, and  religiously  was  connected  with  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church.  His  family  included 
three  sons:  Aaron,  who  was  a  harness  dealer  at 
Peekskill,  N.  Y. ;  Richard,  who  went  west  to 
Illinois  and  became  a  general  merchant,  and 
Abram,  the  father  of  our  subject. 

On  April  2,  18 19,  Abram  Stockholm  was 
born  in  Hopewell,  town  of  East  Fishkill,  and 
upon  the  old  home  farm  spent  his  boyhood  and 
youth.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Antoinette  Lyon,  who  was  born  in  Westches- 
ter county,  N.  Y. ,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Wal- 
ter S.  Lyon,  a  retired  minister,  of  English  de- 
scent. In  1840  the  young  couple  located  at 
Poughkeepsie,  where  the  father  engaged  in  the 
furniture  business  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1872.  He  was  a  firm  supporter  of 
the  Democratic  party,  and  he  and  his  wife  con- 
tributed to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
She  is  still  living;  by  her  marriage  with  Mr. 
Stockholm  she  became  the  mother  of  three 
children:  Maria  L. ,  who  married  John  S. 
Gilbert,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Hyde  Park, 
Dutchess  county;  Helen  L. ,  who  married  W. 
H.  Haight,  a  brick  manufacturer  of  Pough- 
keepsie, and  A.  B.,  the  subject  of  this  review. 

When  A.  B.  Stockholm  had  reached  a 
sufficient  age  he  entered  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  city,  and  completed  his  literary 
training  in  the  old  Dutchess  County  Academy, 
in  1865,  after  which  he  entered  the  general 
store  of  Trowbridge  &  Co.,  remaining  with 
them  for  eleven  years.  He  then  clerked  for 
Robert  W.  Frost  for  three  years,  and  in  the 
fall  of  1877  began  the  retail  carpet  business  at 
No.  I  50  Main  street,  as  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Marshall  &  Stockholm,  which  partnership 
was  continued  until  March,  1885,  when  our 
subject  sold  out  his  interest,  and  has  since 
engaged  in  his  present  business. 


In  1874  Mr.  Stockholm  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Jennie  Ward,  a  native  of  the 
town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess  county,  and 
a  daughter  of  Daniel  I.  Ward,  a  farmer  of 
that  township,  whose  ancestors  came  from 
England.  One  daughter  has  been  born  of 
this  union,  named  Helen.  In  politics,  Mr. 
Stockholm  affiliates  with  the  Republican  party, 
being  an  earnest  advocate  of  its  principles, 
and  he  is  prominently  identified  with  the  Royal 
Arcanum,  of  which  for  three  years  he  served  as 
regent.  He  and  his  wife  are  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  Congregational  Church,  and  for 
eight  years  he  has  served  as  its  treasurer.  He 
is  a  highly  respected  and  esteemed  citizen  of 
Poughkeepsie,  and  as  a  merchant  bears  the 
reputation  of  an  honest,  upright  and  trust- 
worthy man. 


ARSHALL  HERRICK,  a  prominent 
^  merchant  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  one  of 
the  most  enterprising  and  prosperous  of  the 
business  men  of  that  city,  is  a  native  of  Dutch- 
ess county,  born  at  Salt  Point,  in  the  town  of ' 
Pleasant  Valley,  December  10,  1852,  the  son 
of  William  and  Catharine  Elizabeth  Herrick, 
whose  family  are  the  lineal  descendants  of  Sir 
Henry  Herrick,  of  England,  in  the  fifteenth 
century. 

Mr.  Herrick,  after  profiting  by  the  some- 
what limited  course    of  study  offered  by  the 
local  schools,  prepared  for  college  at  Amenia- 
Seminary.       He    entered    Cornell     University 
with  the  class  of  '74,  and  for  two  years  pur-^ 
sued  an  elective  course.      While  there  he  was 
a  member  of  the  Theta  Delta  Chi  fraternity 
At  the  close  of  the  Sophomore  year  he  return© 
home,  intending  to  take  up  scientific  farming 
but  circumstances  called  him  aside,  and  he  set 
tied  in    Poughkeepsie,    N.    Y. ,    in    1876.     Ii 
1882  he  and  Elmer  Van  Vliet  purchased  thi 
good  will  and  business  of  Crosby  &  Spaulding 
at  No.  395  Main  street,  Mr.  Herrick  being  th 
senior  member  of  the  new  firm.      In  1888  h 
bought  Mr.  Van  Vliet's  interest,  and  since  the 
has  carried  on  the  business  alone,  removing  it 
in  1890,  to  Nos.  375  and  377  Main  street,  it 
present  location.    He  has  from  time  to  time  ei 
larged,  and  taken  in  other  lines  of  goods,  an 
now  styles  himself  a  general  house  furnishei 
supplying   everything  needed   in  fitting    up 
house.      This  is  the  only  place  of  the  kind 
the  city,  and  the  largest  in  the  Hudson  Riv' 
Valley,  and  has  proved  a  profitable  venti:r 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


175 


Mr.  Herrick  has  shown  unusual  ability  as  a 
business  man,  learning  the  details  of  his  chosen 
line  of  work  by  practical  experience.  His 
judgment  has  always  balanced  his  spirit  of 
enterprise,  and  he  has  now  an  extensive  trade, 
with  a  prospect  of  even  greater  things  in  the 
near  future. 

In   1876  Mr.    Heirick   married   Miss  Julia 
.\llen,  a  daughter  of  James  M.  Allen,  a  leading 
citizen  cf  Salt  Point,  and  a  descendant  of  one 
of  the  old  families  of  Dutchess  county.     Their 
only  child  now  living,  Harold  Allen  Herrick,  is 
at  River   View    Academy    preparing  for  Yale 
College.      Politically,   our  subject  is  a  Demo- 
crat with  strong  Prohibition  tendencies,  and  of 
late  years   has  taken   an  influential  part  in  the 
local  work  of  the  latter  organization.      He  is  a 
,  man  of  high  moral  principle,  has  been  an  active 
member  of  the  Presbyterian   Church  since  he 
was  twelve  years  of  age,  and  is  now  a  deacon. 
He  has  done  a  large  amount  of  reading  for  a 
nan  absorbed  in  business  cares,  his  preference 
leing  for  writers  of  a   substantial  nature  and 
specially  those  on  history,  political  economy 
ind  the  topics  of  the  day. 


1: 


./  ILLIAM    J.     BROWN,     who    is    well 

known  in  connection  with  the  Frank- 

ndale  Company,  and  is  a  prominent  citizen 
f  Wappingers  Falls,  Dutchess  county,  was 
orn  in  the  latter  place,  January  10,   1844. 

Samuel  Brown,  the  father  of  our  subject, 

•as  a   native  of  County  Monaghan,   Ireland, 

nd  there  followed  the  occupation  of  folder. 

le  was  married  in  1831,  and  that  year  came 

J  the  United   States.      He  found  employment 

||iwhat  is  known  as  the  Dutchess  Print  Works, 

Wappingers  Falls,  and  followed  that  voca- 

on  until  1848,  when  he  went  into  the  mer- 

•ntile  business,  in  which  he  continued  until 

i  death,   January  22,    1876.      His  wife  sur- 

ved   him   until    1880.     Their  children  were 

ne  in  number,  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  Joseph, 

imuel   R. ,    John   H.,    William    J.,    Martha, 

enry,  and   two   who   died   in   infancy.      Mr. 

[town  was  originally   a  Whig,  but  later  be- 

.me  a  Democrat.      He  took  an  active  part  in 

litics,   and  held  a   number  of  local  offices. 

je  was  poor    master,    justice    of    the   peace 

d  collector   for  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie; 

s  one  of  the  first  board  of  trustees  of  Wap- 

gers  Falls,  and  was  a  trustee  of  the  Savings 

nk  of  that  village. 


William  J.  Brown  attended  the  district 
school  of  his  native  village  during  his  boyhood, 
and  in  186 1-62  was  a  student  at  Princeton,  N. 
J.,  afterward  attending  Williston  Seminary  at 
East  Hampton,  Mass.  Then  went  to  New 
York  City,  and  for  four  years  was  employed 
as  custom-house  clerk  for  the  large  importing 
house  of  Barclay  &  Livingston,  24  Beaver 
street.  On  January  4,  1871,  Mr.  Brown  was 
married  to  Miss  Esther,  daughter  of  George 
Warhurst,  of  Wappingers  Falls,  and  for  a  short 
time  was  a  clerk  in  his  father's  store.  On 
May  I,  1872,  he  was  made  bookkeeper  in  the 
Franklindale  office.  In  1881  he  was  made 
superintendent  of  the  Franklindale  cotton-mill, 
continuing  there  until  the  destruction  of  the 
mill  by  fire  in  October,  1885.  Mr.  Brown 
has  since  been  bookkeeper  for  the  Franklindale 
Company,  and  in  connection  with  that  position 
is  also  superintendent  of  the  outside  business 
of  the  Clinton  company,  under  William  Bogle, 
agent.  He  is  a  man  of  fine  business  ability, 
and  has  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  firm 
with  which  he  has  so  long  been  engaged.  He 
has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  public  af- 
fairs; has  been  the  village  treasurer  for  eighteen 
years,  and  is  still  holding  that  position.  He 
was  collector  for  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie  in 
1 87 1,  and  supervisor  for  the  town  of  Wappin- 
ger  in  1892.  He  has  been  a  trustee  of  the 
Savings  Bank  for  twenty-two  years,  since  1874; 
is  treasurer  of  Zion  Episcopal  Church,  and  a 
trustee  of  the  cemetery  association.  Socially, 
he  is  a  Knight  Templar,  and,  politically,  he 
belongs  to  the  Republican  party,  in  whose  in- 
terests he  is  an  active  worker.  He  is  popular 
with  all  classes  of  people,  and  a  good  citizen  of 
Wappingers  Falls. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  have  an  interesting 
family  of  six  children,  all  of  whom  are  at  home, 
namely:  Edward  McKinlay,  Mary  Louisa, 
Edith,  Violetta,  Alice  and  Clayton  W. 


CHARLES  I.  ROUND,  one  of  the  most 
_'  prominent  builders  and  contractors  of 
Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  Oc- 
tober 28, 1844,  in  Birmingham,  England,  where 
he  received  his  early  education  and  had  his 
home  until  he  was  twenty-two  years  old. 

In  his  twenty-second  year  Mr.  Round  came 
alone  to  America,  landing  at  New  York,  whence 
he  went  to  California,  where  he  remained  a 
year,  and  then  returned  to  New  York.      For 


I 


176 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


three  years  he  worked  for  Lyons  &  Bunn, 
builders,  during  which  time  he  built  the  East- 
man Terrace  High  School,  an  addition  to 
Vassar  College,  and  a  gas  tank  at  the  gas 
works.  He  then  returned  to  California,  re- 
maining there  for  a  few  months,  subsequently 
coming  to  Poughkeepsie  and  rebuilding  the 
rolling  mill.  In  1877  he  went  into  the  build- 
ing business  for  himself,  and  erected  the  Vas- 
sar Brothers  Institute,  the  Vassar  Brothers 
Hospital,  and  two  sections  of  the  State  Asylum, 
although  most  of  his  work  has  been  outside  of 
the  city.  He  built  the  Thorn  Memorial  Build- 
ing at  Millbank,  a  fine  building  for  Archibald 
Rogers  on  the  Hyde  Park  road,  and  at  the 
present  time  (spring  of  1897)  has  secured  the 
contract  for  the  building  of  the  New  Adriance 
Memorial  Library,  which  is  to  cost  $70,000, 
and  is  to  be  finished  in  November,  1897. 
Although  starting  at  the  bottom  he  has  worked 
his  way  up  to  the  top,  and  is  to-day  one  of  the 
most  successful  business  men  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Round  was  married  in  New  York  City 
June  20,  1870,  to  Miss  Mary  Seckerson,  a 
native  of  Dudley,  England,  and  five  children 
have  been  born  to  them,  three  of  whom  are 
now  living:  Maud  (who  married  Frank  Sco- 
field),  Bertha  and  Charles.  Our  subject  is  a 
member  of  Triune  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Pough- 
keepsie Chapter  R.  A.  M.,  and  of  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  Lodge  No.  21. 

Eli  Round,  father  of  our  subject,  was  a 
builder  by  trade,  which  the  Round  family  for 
four  generations  have  followed.  Eli  married 
Miss  Mary  Ann  Staley,  who  is  yet  living. 
They  had  seventeen  children,  six  of  whom  are 
living:  Staley,  Adelaide  and  Alfred  are  in 
England;  Charles  I.,  Eli  and  Herbert  are 
living  in  Poughkeepsie.  The  father  died  in 
England  in  November,  1896,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty  years. 


JrELSON  LOUIS  BOICE,  one  of  the  most 
,lL  energetic  and  industrious  men  of  Pough- 
keepsie, Dutchess  county,  was  born  in  Water- 
ford,  N.  Y.,  November  2,  1852,  and  is  a  son  of 
Benjamin  Boice,  whose  birth  occurred  in  1808, 
in  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  passed  his  early 
life,  receiving  his  education  in  its  public 
schools.  For  a  number  of  years  the  father 
conducted  a  hotel  at  Channingville,  Dutchess 
county,  and  for  several  years  was  engaged  in 
the  livery  business  on  Catherine  street,  Pough- 


keepsie. His  death,  however,  occurred  at 
Waterford,  N.  Y.  He  was  twice  married,  by 
the  first  union  having  one  son,  William,  of 
Worcester,  Mass.  At  Poughkeepsie  he  wed- 
ded Lettie  A.  Ostrander,  a  daughter  of  Peter 
M.  Ostrander,  and  to  them  were  born  three 
children:  Louisa,  wife  of  Franklin  S.  Haw- 
ley,  of  Broadalbin,  N.  Y. ;  Carrie,  wife  of  C. 
B.  Olmstead,  of  the  same  place;  and  Nelson 
Louis. 

Our  subject  was  only  a  year  old   when  his 
father  died,  and  by  his  mother  he  was  taken  to 
Fulton  county,  N.  Y.,  where  his  boyhood  days 
were   spent  upon   a  farm,  and  in  the  district 
schools   he    obtained    his    primary  education. 
This  he  supplemented  by  a  course  in  the  high 
school  at  Broadalbin.      His  mother  later  be- 
came the  wife  of  Giles  W.  Churchill,  a  farmer 
(now  deceased).     In  August,  1872,  Mr.  Boice 
came  to  Pouglikeepsie,  where  he  was  first  em- 
ployed by  Trowbridge  &  Co.,  with  whom  he 
remained  six  years,  and  for  the  following  two 
years  was  with  Joseph   G.    Frost,   an  under- 
taker.     He  then  returned   to  his  former  em- 
ployers, for  whom  he  worked  two  and  one-half 
years,  after  which  he  entered  the  grocery  store 
of  James  H.  Mills,  at  No.  282  Main  street.  At  1 
the  end  of  two  years  he  secured  a  situation  \ 
with  Willard   H.    Crosby,   an  undertaker,   by 
whom  he  was  employed  for  the  same  length 
of  time,  and   the  following  year  was  passed 
with  Leonard   Carpenter.      Returning  to  Mr. 
Mills,    he  remained  with   that    gentleman  for 
two  years,  and  then  formed  a  partnership  with 
W.  V.  Holmes,  under  the  firm  name  of  Holmes 
&  Boice,  grocers,  at  No.  364  Main  street.     At 
the  end  of  a  year  and  a  half  this  partnership 
was  dissolved,  and  Mr.    Boice   became  book- 
keeper for  Hull   &   Co.,   for  one   year.      He 
then  joined  Mr.  Selfridge,  and  they  conducted 
the    undertaking    business    for    Mrs.     W.    H. 
Crosby  for  a  year,  when  she  turned   the  busi- 
ness over  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Selfridge,  with  whom 
our  subject  remained  five  years.     On  March 
15,  1897,  he  started  in  the  undertaking  busi- 
ness for  himself  at  No.  395  Main  street. 

In  Poughkeepsie,  on  October  12,  1881. 
Mr.  Boice  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  ^\'. 
Brown,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  S.  Brown,  super- 
intendent of  the  Buckeye  Works.  They  are 
held  in  high  respect  by  all  who  know  them, 
and  are  sincere  Christian  people,  faithful  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Church.  Socially,  Mr 
Boice  holds  membership  with  the  Royal  Ar- 
canum Lodge. 


'  Jv  i^ii'ati  i   -r.' 


MX(_ 


J  H  BaBTB  ».  r,.3  Chicago.  [II 


COMMEMORATIVE  niOQRAPHlCAL  RKVOliD. 


}\\  LIAM  H.  BADEAU.    The  subject  of 

Mir  sketch  is  a  descendant  of  French 

fcots.     A  numerous  band  of  these,   in- 

the  names  of  Flandreau,  Coutant,  Ba- 

iml    many    others,    left    La    Rochelle, 

and  founded  New  Rochelle,  a  suburb 

I  York  City.     Elie  Badeau,  on  his  arrival 

•"'.  purchased  120  acres  of  land. 

rations  later,  and  before  Horace 

Young  Man,  go  West  "  was  given 

world,  John  Badeau,  of  New  Rochelle 

"lant  of  Elie)  went   north,  acquired  a 

»ct  of  land,  and  in  1775  located  at  Ma- 

''"alls,  in  Putnam  county,  N.Y.     One  of 

of  John  Badeau  was  Isaac  Badeau,  Sr. 

Isaac  Badeau.  Jr.,  married  Elizabeth 

^■o  of  Mahopac  Falls.     Their  children 

Piibert  H.  (deceased),  William  H.  (our 

I).  Matilda  S..  and  Joseph  N.   They  also 

St  North,"  locating  in  Dutchess  county  in 

restless  ambition  of  W.  H.   Badeau 

'  the  foregoing)  begat  aspirations  for 

beyond   the  field  of  possibilities  in 

him  in  Fishkill  surroundings,  and  he 

■"  -"pointment  in  a  wholesale  fancy 

!-•  in  the  down-town  section  of 

-ity.     The  proprietor,  G.  S.  Ely, 

ker-in-law  of  Col.  Richard  M.  and 

the  great  inventors  and  builders 

""""^' presses.    Mr.  Badeau  was 

!  many  young  men  resort- 

1  that  he  was  successful  in 

with  the  proprietor  in  his 

Brooklyn.     He  became  at  once 

'-"•nday-school,  choir  and 

on  Street  Presbyterian 

Its,  whose  pastor  was 

.--i,  D.  D.,  author  of  "A 

and   other  works.     After 

!  the  business  house,  and 

of  G.  S.  Ely,  Mr.  Badeau 

with  the  renowned  firm 

..■^uy  &  Co.,  No.  591  Broad- 

lork.    manufacturers,    importers, 

dealers  in  every  class 


tysburg,  and  at  the  same  time  he    . 

I  to  put  a  man  in  the  army  at  his  o> 

J  several  hundred  dollars. 

I         The  business  of    E.  &    H.  T.  Antliu.n    .a. 

I  Co.  became  a  rapidly  increasing  one,  and  had 

,  for  its  fi  '  '  ■;         ■      '     T-  ,,_ 

adas,  }.:  ,^ 

South  Americ.i,  Australia.  Europe,  and  even 
China.  At  this  juncture,  and  as  showing  the 
then  course  of  events,  we  copy  from  a  little 
historical  h  v  E.  &  H.  T.  An- 

thony &  C( 


•  n  found  it  imiiussible 

••' '  ^-^  '^    •     If. 


ro 


!)    of    a    mile    ui 


foe. 


\\ 


"After  a 
to  look  after   : 
Ba,i. 
for 
the  rtpr. 

Mr. 
water  both  before  and  a 
the  co-partn  --i    -        '• 
was  by  the 
ern,"    which    w 
length.     It  nri- 
hundred   ni 

It  so    ■:  J 

should  I 

e  by  turns  at 

I  ^ ~  ■•  ■' ■-  ■■'^- 

I  Pans  and    London 

thrrr    ■      •■    ■        • 

alsc: 

and  iti  I  creattor 

ney  and  ... 

Whilst  n  Auistrianrnpjtf,!,  ^f^,\ 

addressed    himseU    assiduously  to  the'  captur- 
ing,   in    that    international    cont 
"Medal   of   Progress."     There   \ 
i  of  this  rank,  and  that  was  to  be 

I  by  the  wide  world. 

Afterthecloseof  the  World's  Fairhe  shipped 
V"-'  '■•  'is  exhibit  from  Vienna  to  Lou  "  i 

at  the  annual   exhibition   t.; 
'  rth  the 

rs  at  Vi- 
'"'  lal  of  \. 


his  residence  to  the  Sev- 

■rk  City  (at  that  time  a 

I    making  as  his  Church 

'  vterian.  Rev.  W. 

- -r,    was    afterward 

oard  of  trustees.    Mr. 

T  of  the 

■rk    City, 

i>orary  service  in 

•he  battle  of  Get- 


firm 


skiUcii  woik  people  Bnd  forty  wareiiousemen.     VVp  an- 


/yAcltda^ 


^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Ill 


ijrrriLLIAM  H.  BADEAU.  The  subject  of 
_jjL  our  sketch  is  a  descendant  of  French 
Huguenots.  A  numerous  band  of  these,  in- 
cluding; the  names  of  Flandreau,  Coutant,  Ba- 
deau,  and  many  others,  left  La  Rochelle, 
I  France,  and  founded  New  Rochelle,  a  suburb 
of  New  York  City.  Elie  Badeau,  on  his  arrival 
there  in  1708,  purchased  120  acres  of  land. 

Two  generations  later,  and  before  Horace 
Greeley's  "  Young  Man,  go  West  "  was  given 
to  the  world,  John  Badeau,  of  New  Rochelle 
(descendant  of  Elie)  went  north,  acquired  a 
large  tract  of  land,  and  in  1775  located  at  Ma- 
hopac  Falls,  in  Putnam  county,  N.Y.  One  of 
the  sons  of  John  Badeau  was  Isaac  Badeau,  Sr. 
His  son,  Isaac  Badeau,  Jr..  married  Elizabeth 
Hart,  also  of  Mahopac  Falls.  Their  children 
were:  Gilbert  H.  (deceased),  William  H.  (our 
subject),  Matilda  S.,  and  Joseph  N.  They  also 
"went  N-orth,"  locating  in  Dutchess  county  in 
I1846. 

The  restless   ambition   of  W.  H.   Badeau 

second  of  the  foregoing)  begat  aspirations  for 

something  beyond   the  field  of  possibilities  in 

pight  to  him  in  Fishkill  surroundings,  and  he 

accepted  an  appointment  in  a  wholesale  fancy 

Iry-goods  house  in  the  down-town  section  of 

New  York  City.     The  proprietor,  G.  S.  Ely, 

.vas  a  brother-in-law  of  Col.  Richard  M.  and 

Robert  Hoe,  the  great  inventors  and  builders 

)f  lightning  printing  presses.    Mr.  Badeau  was 

nore  fortunate  than  many  young  men  resort- 

ng  to  great  cities,  in  that  he  was  successful  in 

irranging  residence  with  the  proprietor  in  his 

)wn  home  in  Brooklyn.      He  became  at  once 

ictively  interested  in  Sunday-school,  choir  and 

3hurch  work  at  the  Clinton  Street  Presbyterian 

!^hurch,  Brooklyn  Heights,  whose  pastor  was 

iev.  Ichabod  S.  Spencer,  D.  D.,  author  of  "A 

■"astor's  Sketches "   and   other   works.      After 

even  years  passed  in  the  business  house,  and 

cry  delightful  home  of  G.  S.  Ely,  Mr.  Badeau 

rranged  connection  with   the  renowned  firm 

f  E.  &  H.T.  Anthony  &  Co.,  No.  591  Broad- 

v'ay.    New    York,    manufacturers,    importers, 

'ublishers  and  wholesale  dealers  in  every  class 

f  photographic  requisites. 

Transferring  now  his  residence  to  the  Sev- 
nth  ward.  New  York  City  (at  that  time  a 
ieasant  quarter),  and  making  as  his  Church 
ome  the  Allen  Street  Presbyterian,  Rev.  W^. 
V.  Newell,  D.  D.,  pastor,  was  afterward 
lected  a  member  of  its  board  of  trustees.  Mr. 
iadeau  was  at  this  time  a  member  of  the 
wenty-second  Regiment,  New  York  City, 
'hich   was   ordered   to   temporary  service  in 

'  nnsylvania,  at  the  time  of  the  battle  of  Get- 
12 


tysburg,  and  at  the  same  time  he  volunteered 
to  put  a  man  in  the  army  at  his  own  cost  of 
several  hundred  dollars. 

The  business  of  E.  &  H.  T.  Anthony  & 
Co.  became  a  rapidly  increasing  one,  and  had 
for  its  field  every  State  in  the  Union,  the  Can- 
adas,  Mexico,  West  Indies,  Central  America, 
South  America,  Australia,  Europe,  and  even 
China.  At  this  juncture,  and  as  showing  the 
then  course  of  events,  we  copy  from  a  little 
historical  brochure  issued  by  E.  &  H.  T.  An- 
thony &  Co.  not  long  since: 

"After  a  time  these  gentlemen  found  it  impossible 
to  look  after  all  the  interests  of  the  firm,  and  William  H. 
Badeau,  after  being  associated  with  the  Brothers  Anthony 
for  several  years,  was  admitted  to  the  firm,  and  became 
the  representative  of  the  house  in  Europe." 

Mr.  Badeau  made  many  voyages  across  the 
water  both  before  and  after  the  formation  of 
the  co-partnership.  By  the  way,  one  crossing 
was  by  the  monster  steamship  ' '  Great  East- 
ern," which  was  one-eighth  of  a  mile  in 
length.  It  was  a  smooth  August  trip,  eighteen 
hundred   merry-making  souls  being  on  board. 

It  soon  became  necessary  that  Mr.  Badeau 
should  remain  permanently  abroad,  and  he  ac- 
cordingly established  his  residence  by  turns  at 
the  capitals  of  the  Old  World — Vienna,  Berlin, 
Paris  and  London — making  occasional  tours 
through  Italy,  Austria,  Germany  and  France, 
also  through  all  parts  of  the  United  Kingdom; 
and  in  midsummer  (for  recreation)  to  the  Ork- 
ney and  Shetland  Islands. 

Whilst  residing  at  the  Austrian  capital,  and 
during  the  Vienna  Exhibition,  Mr.  Badeau 
(his  firm  co-operating)  set  his  heart  upon  and 
addressed  himself  assiduously  to  the  captur- 
ing, in  that  international  contest,  of  the 
"  Medal  of  Progress."  There  was  only  one 
prize  medal  of  this  rank,  and  that  was  to  be 
competed  for  by  the  wide  world. 

Afterthe  close  of  the  World's  Fair  he  shipped 
part  of  his  exhibit  from  Vienna  to  London,  and 
entered  it  at  the  annual  exhibition  of  British 
Photographers.  As  setting  forth  the  outcome 
of  his  efforts  to  carry  off  honors  at  Vienna,  we 
quote  from  the  "British  Journal  of  Photogra- 
phy" of  October  31,  1873,  a  part  of  its  serial 
critique  upon  that  autumn  exhibition,  viz. : 

"And  first  of  all  let  us  accord  a  hearty  welcome  to  a 
firm  as  well-nown  in  this  country  as  it  is  in  America; 
we  mean  that  of  Messrs.  E.  &  T.  H.  Anthony  &  Co.,  of 
New  York — a  firm  which,  although  young  so  far  as  mere 
years  are  concerned  (seeing  that  it  has  only  recently  en- 
tered upon  its  fourth  decade),  is  yet  as  old  as  it  can  pos- 
sibly be,  finding  as  we  do  that  it  dates  from  the  introduc- 
duction  of  Photography  in  1848.  This  establishment  is 
so  colossal  in  its  extent  and  ramifications  as  to  occupy 
40,000  square  feet  of  floor  room:  and  its  industries  are  so 
numerous  and  varied  as  to  necessitate  the  services  of  200 
skilled  work  people  and  forty  warehousemen.     We  are 


178 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


glad  to  see  so  eminent  a  firm  contributing  to  our  annual 
collection  of  pictures,  knowing  what  personal  power  they 
possess  in  securing  American  representation;  for  much 
IS  gained  in  many  ways  by  the  international  advances 
toward  each  other  of  two  great  nations  so  intimately 
connected  in  lineage  and  language,  thus  promoting  the 
mutual  interchange  of  whatever  is  exceptional  and  valu- 
able in  the  pursuit  of  our  art-science  as  practiced  in  both 
the  Old  and  New  Worlds.  Let  us  hope  that  through  the 
friendly  'agency  of  this,  the  largest  photographic  firm  in 
the  World,  and  through  the  cordial  services  of  Mr.  Will- 
iam H.  Badeau,  the  English  resident  partner,  American 
photography  will  henceforth  be  adetjuately  represented 
at  our  annual  exhibitions.  It  is  fitting  that  we  should 
here  remind  our  readers  that  the  senior  member  of  this 
great  firm,  Mr.  Edward  Anthony,  has  generously  offered 
§600  in  prizes  to  be  contested  for  in  February  next ;  and 
as  the  artistic  encounter  is  an  international  one,  we  urge 
upon  the  photographers  of  the  United  Kingdom  to  com- 
mence the  preparation  of  such  works  as  will  enable  our 
trans-Atlantic  brethren  to  see  that,  although  the  progress- 
ive proclivities  of  their  nation  have  secured  for  the  firm 
to  which  we  have  referred  the  only  and  much  valued 
'  Medal  of  Progress '  awarded  at  the  Vienna  Exhibition, 
yet,  that  Englishmen  will  retaliate  by  wresting  from  our 
American  friends,  if  they  can,  the  munificent  prizes  of- 
fered by  Mr.  Edward  Anthony.  We  should  have  been 
pleased  to  have  seen  the  'Medal  of  Progress'  sent  to 
England;  but  as  the  fates  or  jurors  otherwise  decided,  it 
only  remains  for  us  to  congratulate  the  fortunate  recipi- 
ents of  this  coveted  award." 

During  his  whole  stay  abroad,  whether  in 
visit  or  in  residence,  Mr.  Badeau  was  the  for- 
eign contributor  to  the  columns  of  "An- 
thony's Photographic  Bulletin"  over  the  nom- 
de-plume  "Viator." 

Fifteen  years  with  the  firm  of  E.  &  H.  T. 
Anthony  &  Co.,  he,  after  a  much  varied  and 
exceedingly  pleasant  experience,  and  having 
acquired  a  competency,  retired  from  the  firm 
(The  portrait  accompanying  this  sketch  is  a 
copy  of  the  photographic  souvenir  made  on 
that  occasion). 

Personally  Mr.  Badeau  is  a  gentleman  of 
simple  habits,  culture,  well  educated,  lover  of 
science,  research,  art.  To  his  tastes  the 
whole  co-partnership  career  was  contributive, 
bringing  him  into  hand  and  hand  intimacy 
with  Art  of  both  worlds. 

Relinquishment  of  the  bustling  activities 
found  installation  of  appreciations  for  the  frui- 
tions of  Post  Commercial  Relations.  Pleasure 
travel,  the  diversified  diversions  and  numerous 
private  affairs  have  made  his  life  (since  retir- 
ing) one  of  busy  leisure,  he  residing  by  turns  in 
Europe,  New  York  City,  State  of  Iowa,  and  the 
counties  of  Schoharie,  liockland  and  Dutchess 
in  New  York  State.  Mr.  Badeau  has  many  in- 
terests in  the  West.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
board  of  directors,  and  vice-president  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Glidden,  Iowa. 


BENJAMIN   H.   BREVOORT.     The  Bre- 
voorts  came  originally  from  Holland,  the 
first  of  this  family  known  in  this  country  being 


Hans,  who  settled  in  Putnam  county,  N.  Y. 
Of  his  history  not  much  is  known.  Dean,  the 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  at  one  time  was 
in  the  employ  of  Gov.  Kemble. 

Thomas  J.  Brevoort,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Putnam  county  about  1828; 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  but  for  many 
years  held  the  position  of  superintendent  of 
the  Mott  Haven  Ore  Company,  of  Ne'w  York 
City.  For  seventeen  years  he  was  a  justice  of 
the  peace  in  his  county,  and  was  a  leading  citi- 
zen, a  man  of  good  natural  ability,  and  suc- 
cessful in  whatever  he  undertook.  He  was 
well  acquainted  with  all  the  prominent  men  of 
the  county,  and  took  an  active  part  in  politics, 
being  a  strong  Democrat.  He  belonged  to  the 
Baptist  Church,  and  to  the  Masonic  Otder  at 
Cold  Spring,  and  in  all  the  relations  of  life 
was  well  thought  of  by  his  associates  and  a 
large  circle  of  warm  personal  friends. 

In  1846  Mr.  Brevoort  was  married  to 
Phoebe  White,  daughter  of  Joshua  White,  who 
for  many  years  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  in 
the  town  of  Pawling.  Her  mother  was  a  de- 
scendant of  the  Townsend  family.  Two  chil- 
dren were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brevoort: 
Benjamin  H.  (our  subject)  and  Jennie  (who 
married  C.  W.  Horton,  of  Stormville).  The 
father  died  in  1873,  and   the  mother  in  1886. 

Benjamin  H.  Brevoort,  our  subject,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  April  23, 
1847.  He  first  attended  school  at  the  Pough- 
keepsie  Collegiate  Institute,  College  Hill,  aft- 
erward entering  upon  his  profession  at  Boyds 
Corners,  in  Putnam  county,  which  public  works 
were  under  the  management  of  Gen.  George 
S.  Greene,  now  the  oldest  living  graduate  of 
West  Point.  In  1864  Mr.  Brevoort  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  city  engineer  of  St.  Paul, 
Minn.,  and  later  received  the  appointment  of 
civil  engineer  on  the  St.  Paul  &  Chicago  rail- 
road. He  was  then  recalled  to  New  York  and 
put  on  the  Canal  Department  at  White  Hall 
Harbor,,  under  the  supervision  of  the  State. 
He  was  assistant  engineer  in  this  work,  but 
later  was  put  in  charge  of  the  Topographical 
Department  for  the  enlargement  of  the  Cham- 
plain  canal.  He  was  afterward  assigned  to 
work  on  the  New  Croton  aqueduct,  where  he 
remained  until  that  great  undertaking  was  com- 
pleted. In  all  these  responsible  positions  he 
showed  great  ability,  and  secured  the  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  was 
associated.  He  has  been  in  close  intercourse 
with  all  the  leading  civil  engineers  of  the  State, 
and  has  had  valuable  and  extensive  experience 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


179 


in  fiis  line  of  work.      In   his  various  undertak- 
ings Mr.  Brevoort  has  been  uniformly  success- 
ful, and  is  now  following  his   profession  in  the 
city  of   Poughkeepsie.      He  was   also  at  otie 
time  a  clerk   under  William  C.  Whitney,  with 
whom  he  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  when  the  latter  was   corporation  counsel. 
Mr.  Brevoort  was  first  married  in  1873,  to 
jMiss  Fisher,  of  Danbury,  Conn.,  who  died  in 
1882,  leaving  two  children,  Thomas  and  Eva. 
The  daughter  resides  in  Buffalo.      In  1894  our 
subject    married,    for     his    second    wife.    Miss 
Kittie  Riley,  a  native  of  Walden,  Orange  Co., 
S.  Y.      For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Brevoort 
was  a  Democrat,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the 
convention    at    Rochester    which    ruled    Boss 
Tweed  out  of  power.     Soon  after  this  he  went 
jver  to   the   Republican   party,  and  has  been 
]uite  active  in  its  interests  ever  since.     Socially 
le  is  a   Royal  Arch   Mason,  and   in  all  public 
natters  is  a  generous  and   progressive  citizen, 
'ho  is  ever  ready  to  do  his  part. 


rjUFCUT  FAMILY.  In  early  times  a  set- 
I^L  tlement  was  made  along  what  is  now 
■own  as  the  Ten  Miles  river,  in  Dover,  in 
tern  Dutchess  county,  by  immigrants  from 
le  upper  Rhine  (now  Alsace)  and  from  Hol- 
md.  One  of  these  families  who  came  from 
igersheim,  in  Alsace,  was  named  Hoffgoot. 

John  Lodwick  Hoffgoot  is  the  first  of  which 

iiere  is  authentic  knowledge.      He  claimed  to 

Lutheran  minister.      Objection  was  made 

ev.  Christian    Knoll,  the   Lutheran  minis- 

of  the  Beekman's  Precinct,  to  his  officiating 

utchess  county,  and    he   was  ordered  by 

Consistory  not  to  preach.      He  appealed  to 

Colonial    Governor,    George    Clinton,    of 

i^w  York,  who,  after  investigating  the  matter, 

nted    him    on    the   24th  day  of  February, 

48,  a  license  as  a  minister  to  preach  the  Gos- 

He   is   said  to  have  had  a  son  Nicholas, 

1  that  Nicholas  was  the  father  of  John  (born 

1760),    who    spelled    his    name   Hoofcoot. 

in  could  speak  both  German  and  English, 

1  his  wife,  Jane  Koens,  who  was  of  Holland- 

litch  descent,  could  talk  the  Dutch  language. 

Jhn  and  Jane  were  the  parents  of  George, 

^:holas  and  others.     Of  these,  George,  who 

lied   his  namd   Hoofcut,    married    Hannah 

ison,  and  their  children  were:     John,  Car- 

le,  George,  Jane,    Henry,    Shadrach,  Will- 

1,  Betsey,   Obed  and    Perry.      All  of  these 

tand  left  issue,  except  lane  and  Shad- 


rach.  John  Hoofcoot,  the  father  of  Qeorge, 
Nicholas  and  others,  died  about  1848,  and  was 
buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Dover  Plains.  He 
was  called  "Captain  John  Hoofcoot  "  on  the 
tombstone.  George,  the  son  of  John,  was  a 
farmer  and  lawyer  at  Dover,  and  died  about 
•853.  aged  seventy-eight. 

George,  his  son,  married  Sarah  A.  Dennis. 
The  first  of  her  family  was  John  Dennis,  who, 
in  1647,  received  a  deed  of  land  at  Cape  May, 
in  Jersey,  from  an  Indian  chief  named  Pank- 
toe,  in  behalf  of  the  Indians.  While  the  Rev- 
olutionary war  in  America  was  in  progress 
Thomas   Dennis,  then  a  resident  of  New  Jer- 

I  sey,  was  captured  by  the  British,  carried  off  a 
prisoner  and  died.  His  two  children,  Joseph 
and  Sarah  Dennis,  being  left  without  any  one  to 
care  for  them,  a  relative  from  Beekman,  Dutchess 
county,  brought  them  from  New  Jersey  to  Beek- 
man, Dutchesscounty,  and  they  were  there  cared 
for.  This  Joseph  Dennis,  who  married  Re- 
becca Tanner,  was  the  father  of  Sarah  Dennis, 
whom  George  Hoofcut  married.  In  1827  this 
George  Hoofcut  changed  the  spelling  of  his 
name  to  Hufcut.  He  was  a  farmer  and  law- 
yer, owning  mills  and  quarries  at  Dover  Plains, 
and   carried    on    considerable   business    there. 

i   He   served    his  apprenticeship    in    one  of   the 

I  small  cloth  factories  which  were  in  almost 
every  town  throughout  Dutchess  county,  from 
1820  to  1835.  They  made  sattinet  (a  mixture 
of  cotton  and  wool),  and  also  dressed  and  col- 
ored the  homespun  woolen  cloths  made  by  the 

i  farmers'  wives;  carding  machines  were  also 
connected  with  these  establishments,  to  make 
the  rolls  of  wool  which  the  women  spun  at 
their  home.  He  never  engaged  in  the  busi- 
ness. All  the  Hufcuts  carried  on  farming  at 
Dover  except  John,  who  resided  in  Lewis 
county,  and  was  a  farmer  there.  George  and 
Sarah  Hufcut  were  the  parents  of  George, 
Horace  D.  and  Rachel.  George  Hufcut  died 
in  1 88 1,  aged  seventy-five;  Sarah,  his  widow, 
died  in  1885,  aged  seventy-nine.  He  was  ad- 
mitted as  an  attorney  and  counselor  in  1848. 
Horace  D.  Hufcut,  now  residing  at  Pough- 
keepsie, was  born  in  Dover,  Dutchess  Co., 
N.  Y. ,  October  12,  1837.  He  was  educated 
at  the  schools  of  Poughkeepsie  and  at  Amenia 
Seminary,  then  studied  law  with  George  Huf- 
cut, his  father,  at  Dover  Plains,  and  was  ad- 
mitted as  an  attorney  and  counsellor  in  i860. 
In  politics  Mr.  Hufcut  is  a  Democrat,  and 
as  such  ran  for  the  office  of  school  commis- 
sioner in  the  first   Lincoln   campaign,   in   the 


180 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD, 


First  Assembly  District  of  Dutchess  county. 
He  was  elected  and  served  as  town  clerk  and 
also  as  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Dover;  in 
1866  he  was  appointed  and  served  as  clerk  of 
the  board  of  supervisors.  In  1863  he  was  ap- 
pointed, by  Governor  Horatio  Seymour,  recruit- 
ing agent  for  the  First  Assembly  District  of 
Dutchess  county.  He  enlisted,  and  had  ac- 
cepted by  the  United  States  mustering  officer, 
150  men.  After  the  war  he  continued  to 
practice  his  profession  in  partnership  with  his 
father,  under  the  name  of  G.  &  H.  D.  Hufcut, 
until  January  i,  1884,  when,  having  been 
elected  surrogate  of  Dutchess  county,  he  re- 
moved to  Poughkeepsie  and  served  in  that  in- 
cumbency until  January  i,  i8qo.  In  1891  he 
was  elected  district  attorney  of  Dutchess  county, 
and  served  as  such  for  three  years.  In  1892 
he  associated  with  him  Everett  H.  Travis,  and 
since  that  time  has  practiced  his  profession, 
under  the  name  of  Hufcut  &  Travis,  at  No.  54 
Market  street,  Poughkeepsie.  In  the  election 
of  1896  he  supported  the  regular  Democratic 
ticket.  He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 
Mr.  Hufcut's  wife,  Alice  M.  (Glidden),  was 
a  daughter  of  Samuel  G.  and  Martha  A.  Glid- 
den, and  was  born  at  Damariscotta,  Maine. 
They  have  two  children:  Florence  G.  and 
Horace  G. 


COL.  ROBERT  F.  WILKINSON,  one  of 
_'  the  most  prominent  lawyers  of  Pough- 
keepsie, and  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  is  a 
member  of  one  of  the  most  distinguished  fam- 
ilies of  Dutchess  county. 

John  Wilkinson,  his  great-grandfather,  was 
a  well-known  citizen  of  his' day,  a  farmer  by 
occupation  and  the  father  of  a  large  family, 
among  whom  were  three  sons  (triplets) — Rob- 
ert, our  subject's  grandfather;  Gilbert;  and 
Livingston,  who  died  when  a  young  man. 
They  were  named  for  Robert  Gilbert  Living- 
ston, a  prominent  resident  of  Dutchess  county. 
John  Wilkinson  lost  his  life  by  the  fall  of  a 
bridge  over  the  Housatonic  river,  across  which 
he  was  driving  on  his  way  to  New  Haven  to 
place  his  son  Robert  in  college. 

Robert  Wilkinson,  our  subject's  grandfa- 
ther, was  born  in  1787,  and  in  1806  was  grad- 
uated from  Yale  College  as  the  valedictorian 
of  his  class.  He  married  Phoebe  Oakley, 
daughter  of  Jesse  -Oakley,  who  was  the  head 
of  a  large  family.  Another  of  his  daughters 
married  Judge  Abraham  Bockee,  a  member  of 


the  Court  of  Errors,  and  for  several  years  a 
representative  of  this  district  in  the  State  Sen- 
ate and  in  Congress,  while  still  another  daugh- 
ter married  Gilbert  Wilkinson,  one  of  the  trio 
above  named.  Robert  Wilkinson  moved  to 
Glens  Falls  in  18 12,  and  was  surrogate  of 
Warren  county  for  two  years,  but  returned  to 
Dutchess  county  to  practice  law  at  Dover 
Plains,  where  he  remained  until  the  election  of 
his  brother-in-law,  Judge  Thomas  J.  Oakley, 
to  Congress  in  1828,  when  he  moved  to  Pough- 
keepsie and  succeeded  to  a  considerable  part 
of  Judge  Oakley's  practice.  He  was  a  schol- 
arly man,  eloquent,  with  many  fine  natural 
gifts.  Holding  strong  convictions  upon  the 
reform  movements  of  his  time,  he  became 
widely  known  as  a  promoter  of  religion  and  of 
the  temperance  cause.  He  was  a  Whig,  and 
a  warm  personal  friend  of  Henry  Clay,  but  he 
never  held  any  official  position  except  that  of 
surrogate  of  Warren  county,  as  stated,  and 
surrogate  of  Dutchess  county,  by  appointment 
just  previous  to  the  adoption  of  the  Constitu- 
tion of  1846.  He  died  in  Poughkeepsie  m 
1849. 

His  son,  William  Wilkinson,  our  subject's 
father,  was  born  at  Poughkeepsie,  May  7,  18 10, 
and  after  receiving  a  common-school  and  aca- 
demic education,  he  attended  the  Rensselaer 
Polytechnic  Institute,  at  Troy,  N.  Y. ,  then 
under  the  control  of  the  celebrated  Prof.  Eaton. 
He  then  studied  law  and  practiced  with  his 
father,  and  later  with  the  late  William  I. 
Street.  He  was  a  leading  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  a  man  of  considerable 
literary  attainments,  being  a  frequent  writer 
upon  various  subjects.  In  1842  he  married 
Mary  E.  Trowbridge,  daughter  of  Stephen  B. 
Trowbridge  and  his  wife,  Eliza  Conklin,  both 
of  whom  were  members  of  well-known  families 
in  the  county.  He  died  December  12,  1864, 
leaving  five  children:  Robert  F. ,  our  subject; 
William;  Edward  T. ;  Eliza,  who  married  Au- 
gustus E.  Bachelder,  of  Boston,  Mass. ;  and 
Catherine,  who  married  Peter  French,  and 
died  in  1885,  leaving  two  children. 

Robert  F.  Wilkinson  was  born  at  Pough- 
keepsie June  10,  1843.  He  studied  at  the 
Dutchess  County  Academy,  and  under  a  priv- 
ate tutor,  and  then  spent  one  year  in  the  State 
and  National  Law  School  at  Poughkeepsie.  In 
1859  he  entered  Williams  College  with  the 
class  of  1863,  and  the  next  year  joined  the 
class  of  1 86 1.  He  left  college  in  1861  without 
graduating,  but    he   and    other   students   whc 


J^W- 


f^MiLtU-fJ^y 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPBWAL  RECORD. 


181 


entered  the  army  were  given  the  degree  of  A. 
B.  by  vote  of  the  trustees,  and  he  has  since 
received  from  Wilhams  College  the  honorary 
degree  of  A.  M.  Returning  home  he  spent 
some  time  as  a  student  in  his  father's  office, 
and  in  July,  1862,  he  became  captain  of  Com- 
pany I,  128th  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  raised  in  Dutchess 
and  Columbia  counties.  They  went  to  the 
front  in  September,  1862,  and  Mr.  Wilkinson, 
after  serving  with  his  regiment  through  the 
siege  of  Port  Hudson,  Louisiana,  was  assigned 
to  dut}'  as  judge  advocate  of  the  First  Division 
of  the  Nineteenth  Corps,  on  the  staff  of  Gen. 
W.  H.  Emory,  and  served  as  a  staff  officer 
until  the  end  of  the  war.  In  1865  he  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  major,  and  thereafter 
received  from  the  U.  S.  Government  a  brevet 
commission  as  lieutenant-colonel  for  distin- 
guished gallantry  at  the  battle  of  Winchester, 
September  19,  1864,  and  later  a  brevet  com- 
mission as  colonel  for  distinguished  gallantry 
at  Cedar  Creek,  October  19,  1864.  He  re- 
ceived several  severe  wounds  during  the  latter 
engagement,  and  after  some  weeks  spent  in 
the  hospital  he  returned  home,  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  recovery.  In  February,  1865, 
he  rejoined  the  army,  and  acted  as  inspector- 
general  and  adjutant-general  of  the  post  of 
...Savannah.  In  July,  1865,  he  was  mustered  out, 
iving  seen  service  in  the  departments  of  the 
alf,  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  under  Sheri- 
and  in  Georgia. 

Returning  home  to  Poughkeepsie  at  the 
3se  of  the  war,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
1866,  and  has  since  that  time  continued  to 
ictice  law.  He  has  conducted  several  of 
most  important  litigations  originating  in 
utchess  county,  has  a  large  equity  practice, 
bd  transacts  much  railroad  and  other  cor- 
bration  business.  Always  a  Republican,  and 
Srmerly  active  in  politics,  he  nevertheless  is 
independent  in  his  political  belief  and  conduct. 
He  has  never  held  office  except  the  recorder- 
ship  of  Poughkeepsie  for  four  years. 

In  1867,  Col.  Wilkinson  married  Julia 
Gifford,  daughter  of  Elihu  Gifford,  of  Hud- 
son, N.  Y. ,  and  they  have  four  children: 
Edith;  Gifford,  who  graduated  at  Williams 
College  in  1891,  and  is  now  a  lawyer  in  Pough- 
keepsie; Emily  C. ;  and  Robert,  a  graduate  of 
Yale  College  in  the  class  of  '95,  and  now  a 
member  of  the  Harvard  Law  School  at  Cam- 
bridge, Massachusetts. 

Being  fond  of  hunting,  fishing,  walking, 
and    all    out-door    e.xercises,    Mr.    Wilkinson 


spends  his  vacations  in  the  Adirondacks  and 
the  Catskills.  He  is  a  member  of  several 
noted  social  organizations — the  University,  the 
Century,  the  City,  and  the  Lawyers  Clubs  of 
New  York,  also  the  Adirondack  League  Club 
and  the  Sigma  Phi  (college)  Fraternity,  and 
to  the  Bar  Associations  of  the  State  and  City 
of  New  York.  He  is  a  warden  of  St.  Paul's 
Episcopal  Church  in  Poughkeepsie,  of  which 
his  family  have  long  been  members. 


C\HARLES  W.  PILGRIM,  M.  D.,  a  lead- 
_'  ing  physician  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  a  well- 
known  writer  on  medical  topics,  was  born  in 
Monroe,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  27,  1855, 
and  is  a  son  of  Roe  C.  Pilgrim,  a  native  of  the 
same  place. 

Morris  B. ,  the  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  a  native  of  Holland.  The  grand- 
father, also  named  Morris  B.,  was  born  in 
Orange  county.  He  married  Ann  Coleman,  a 
native  of  the  same  county,  and  settled  down 
to  farming,  which  occupation  was  interrupted 
by  service  in  the  war  of  18 12.  They  had  three 
children:  Aminda,  Susan  and  Roe  C. ;  of 
these,  Aminda  married  Phineas  B.  Thompson, 
of  Orange  county,  and  Susan  became  the  wife 
of  John  Knight,  a  farmer  and  miller  of  the 
same  county.  Roe  C,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  reared  upon  the  farm,  and  married 
Frances,  daughter  of  George  Wilkes,  of  Orange 
county.  The  latter  was  a  prominent  man  of 
the  county,  and  for  many  years  a  justice  of 
the  peace.  After  their  marriage  our  subject's 
parents  located  on  thfe  old  homestead,  where 
they  reared  a  family  of  six  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Augusta  A.  married  Henry  Ingram,  a 
merchant  in  New  York  City;  Morris  B.  is  a 
business  man  in  Jersey  City;  Mary  died  in  in- 
fancy; Charles  W.  is  our  subject;  Susan  M. 
died  when  eighteen  years  old;  Roetta  married 
Charles  Sumner,  an  official  of  the  Erie  Railway 
Company.  The  father  of  this  family  practiced 
law  in  Orange  county.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Episcopal  Church,  while  his  wife  was  a 
Presbyterian.  He  died  in  October,  1858,  and 
she  in  September,  1880. 

Our  subject's  early  schooling  was  obtained 
in  Monroe,  Orange  county,  and  when  ten 
years  of  age  he  went  to  Jersey  City,  where  he 
attended  the  city  and  private  schools.  In 
1876  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr. 
Herman  Canfield,  who  was  one  of  the  physi- 
cians  in  the  Bellevue  Hospital  at  New  York 


182 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  BE  COBB. 


City,  and  was  graduated  from  Bellevue  Hospi- 
tal Medical  College  in  the  class  of  '80.  He 
then  became  house  physician  to  the  hospital, 
in  which  position  he  remained  for  a  year  and  a 
half,  when  he  went  to  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  as  as- 
sistant physician  in  the  Asylum  for  Insane 
Criminals.  There  he  remained  about  ten 
months,  and  then  went  to  Utica,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  the  State  Hospital  as  fourth 
assistant,  a  year  later  becoming  first  assistant 
physician.  Dr.  John  P.  Gray  was  head  phy- 
sician at  that  time.  Dr.  Pilgrim  remained  in 
this  institution  about  five  years,  and  in  the 
early  part  of  1885  entered  the  University  of 
Vienna,  Austria,  afterward  becoming  a  volun- 
teer physician  in  the  Woman's  Hospital  at 
Munich.  In  1886  he  returned  to  Utica,  and 
on  June  12,  1889,  was  married  to  Miss  Flor- 
ence Middleton.  Her  father,  Robert  Middle- 
ton,  who  was  born  in  Aberdeen,  Scotland,  is 
president  of  the  Globe  Woolen  Co.,  at  Utica. 

After  their  marriage  Dr.  Pilgrim  and  his 
wife  went  abroad,  and  were  absent  about  five 
months.  On  his  return  the  Doctor  was  of- 
fered the  superintendency  of  the  Willard  State 
Hospital,  and  began  his  duties  as  such  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1890.  In  that  office  he  remained  about 
three  years,  at  the  end  of  that  time  becoming, 
on  May  i,  1893.  the  successor  of  Dr.  Cleve- 
land as  superintendent  of  the  Huson  River 
State  Hospital  at  Poughkeepsie,  which  posi- 
tion he  is  now  occupying.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Pil- 
grim have  one  child,  Florence  M. 

Dr.  Pilgrim  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
Fraternity,  and  of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Physicians'  Mutual 
Benefit  Association,  the  New  York  State  Medi- 
cal Association,  the  Bellevue  Alumni  Society, 
and  the  County  Medical  Society  of  Dutchess 
county.  From  1882  to  1890  he  was  associate 
editor  of  the  "American  Journal  of  Insanity," 
and,  among  other  valuable  contributions  to 
medical  science,  is  the  author  of  the  following 
papers:  "Acute  Lober  Pneumonia  with  Car- 
diac Failure"  —  Independent  Practitioner; 
"The  Advantages  and  Dangers  of  Intra-Ute- 
rine  Injections" — idem  ]u\y,  1882;  "A  Case 
of  Epileptic  Insanity  with  the  Echo  Sign  Well 
Marked" — American  Journal  of  Insanity, 
April,  1884;  ''A  Case  of  Spontaneous  Rupt- 
ure of  the  Heart," — idem,  January,  1885; 
"Pyro-Mania  (so  called)  with  Report  of  a 
Casq"  —  idem,  1885;  "  A  Visit  to  Gheel  "  — 
idem;  "A  Study  of  Suicide" — Popular  Science 
Monthly;      "Genius     and     Suicide"  —  idem; 


"Schools    for    the    Insane" — idem;     "Com- 
municated Insanity" — idem. 

Dr.  Pilgrim  is  a  man  of  much  intellectual 
ability  and  mental  culture,  a  deep  student  and 
thoroughly  interested  in  all  matters  pertaining 
to  his  profession,  especially  in  cases  involving 
brain  diseases.  He  is  popular,  not  onlj-  with 
his  patients,  but  with  the  public  at  large. 


JOHN  POWELL  WILSON,  M.  D.,  a  prom- 
inent physician  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 
county,    was  born  January    27,    1845,    at 
Hobart,  Delaware  County,  New  York. 

Dr.  Wilson's  family  is  of  Scotch  origm. 
John  Wilson  went  from  Scotland  to  the  North 
of  Ireland  at  the  time  of  the  Reformation,  and 
bought  two  towns  of  land  in  Armagh  which  he 
entailed  to  pass  to  the  John  Wilsons  in  a 
direct  line  of  descent.      He  was  a  Covenanter. 

John  Wilson,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
sold  his  birthright  in  Ireland,  and  came  to 
America  in  1795,  locating  first  in  New  York 
City  and  later  in  Harpersville,  Delaware  coun- 
ty. He  sailed  from  Warrenpoint,  Ireland,  on 
the  ship  "American  Hero,"  May  12,  1795. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  and 
by  occupation  was  a  farmer  and  mason.  He 
married  Ann  Tate,  and  their  son,  Robert  Wil- 
son, our  subject's  father,  was  born  in  Harpers- 
ville, Delaware  county,  in  18 18.  He  was  in 
the  iron  business,  and  was  a  man  of  promi- 
nence in  his  locality.  He  married  Polly  Ann 
Powell,  and  had  six  children,  our  subject  being 
the  eldest.  Calista  married  William  S.  Bon- 
ton,  of  Nebraska;  Mary  married  Charles  L. 
Hicks,  of  Roxbury,  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y. ; 
Charles  lives  in  Nebraska;  Frank  is  a  success- 
ful physician  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  and  Egbej 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years. 

His  mother's  great-grandfather  was  Joh 
McKeel,  who  was  a  first  lieutenant  in  Co 
Sam  Drake's  regiment  of  Westchester  militii! 
which  did  good  service  in  the  war  of  the  Rev^ 
olution.  John  McKeel's  ancestors  sailed  fror 
Amsterdam,  Holland,  April  16,  1663,  in  ash' 
known  as  the  "Brindled  Cow,"  otherwise 
spoken  of  as  the  "  Spotted  Cow. "  They  set-^ 
tied  at  Fordham,  N.  Y.  Her  paternal  grand-^ 
father,  Reuben  Powell,  lived  in  Fishkill,  antf 
was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution. 

Dr.  Wilson's  boyhood  was  spent  at  Ro^fJ 
bury,  Delaware  county,  where  he  attended  the 
public  schools.  In  1867  he  entered  the  Alu 
bany  Medical  College,  and  later  the  College  oil 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHWAL  RECORD. 


183 


Physicians  and  Surgeons  in  New  York  City, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1870.  He 
practiced  one  year  at  Stamford,  Delaware 
county,  and  then  came  to  Pleasant  Valley, 
where  he  followed  his  profession  for  some  years 
with  marked  success.  In  1879  he  moved  to 
Poughkeepsie,  and  has  established  a  line  prac- 
tice entirely  on  his  own  merits.  His  abilities 
have  been  widely  recognized.  He  has  been 
health  officer  of  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie,  and 
held  the  same  position  in  Poughkeepsie  town 
for  twelve  years.  He  was  in  the  State  mili- 
tary service  about  twenty-one  yeaVs;  in  1871 
was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon  of  the 
2 1  St  Regiment,  and  in  1883  of  the  19th  Sepa- 
rate Company,  with  the  rank  of  captain. 

On  August  18,  1885,  Dr.  Wilson  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Geraldine  Siever,  a  daughter  of 
George  Siever,  a  well-known  citizen  of  Pough- 
keepsie, and  they  have  one  son,  George  Rob- 
ert, born  November  28,  1886.  Socially,  the 
Doctor  and  his  wife  occupy  a  leading  position 
in  the  most  e.xclusive  circles.  He  belongs  to 
the  order  of  Elks  and  to  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, being  past  master  of  Shekomeko  Lodge 
No.  458,  F.  &  A.  M.  His  residence  is  No.  40 
Cannon  street,  Poughkeepsie,  New  York. 


EORGE  H.  WILLIAMS,   M.   D.,   M.  R. 

C.  S.,  L.  R.  C.  P.      But  few  members  of 

Ihe   medical    fraternity    of  this    locality    have 

Mijoyed  the  advantage  of  as  thorough  prepara- 

jn  for  the  exacting  duties  of  their  calling  as 

IS  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  now  a  success- 

lil  practitioner  at  Fishkill.     To    a  course  in 

le  of  the  best  of  our   American  medical  col- 

bges.he  has  added  prolonged  study  in  foreign 

pstitutions,  where  he  has  won   degrees  repre- 

snting   years    of    research     and    observation 

under  the  guidance  of  eminent  workers  in  his 

profession. 

Although  he  has  been  among  us  but  a  few 
years,  the  standing  which  Dr.  Williams  has 
already  won  makes  it  most  appropriate  that 
his  biography  should  be  given  at  some  length 
in  this  volume.  He  was  born  May  30,  i860, 
in  Johnstown,  F'ulton  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  and  is  of 
English  descent  in  both  lines  of  ancestry. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  Roger  Williams,  was 
a  native  of  the  "  Merrie  Isle,"  and  followed 
the  business  of  carriage  manufacturing  there 
in  early  manhood,  and  later  in  Sing  Sing, 
N.  Y. ,  and   Bridgeport,  Conn.,  where  he   and 


his  wife,   Elizabeth   Spiller,   passed   their  last 
days. 

Rev.  W.  H.  Williams,  our  subject's  father, 
was  born  in  Plymouth,  England,  and  was  ap- 
proaching manhood  when  he  came  to  America. 
He  received  an  important  portion  of  his  edu- 
cation under  the  able  instruction  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Coit,  rector  of  St.  John's  Church,  Bridgeport, 
Conn.,  who  prepared  him  for  entrance  to  Trin- 
ity College,  Hartford,  Ccnn.  He  completed 
his  theological  course  at  Middletown,  Conn., 
where  he  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  in  the 
Episcopal  Church.  His  first  charge  was  at  New 
Canaan,  Fairfield  Co.,  Conn.,  and  his  second 
at  Johnstown,  N.  Y.;  but  some  years  after  lo- 
cating there  the  Civil  war  broke  out,  and  he 
served  until  its  close  as  chaplain  of  the  87th 
N.  Y.  V.  I.  On  his  return  to  the  North,  he 
became  rector  of  the  Episcopal  Church  at 
Winsted,  Conn.,  and  in  1867  he  went  to  Dixon, 
Fulton  Co.,  111.,  to  take  charge  of  the  con- 
gregation there.  In  1 87 1  he  accepted  a  call 
to  the  Church  at  Albany,  Ga.,  and  from  1873 
to  1876  he  served  as  rector  of  the  Church  at 
Pontiac,  near  Providence,  R.  I.  He  returned 
to  England  in  1876;  in  1879  he  was  called  as 
vicar  to  Christ's  Church,  Padgate,  Warrington, 
and  died  there  in  1889.  He  was,  we  believe, 
the  second  American  clergyman  who  held  a  ben- 
efice, or  "living,"  in  the  Established  Church. 
His  wife,  Maria  (Merritt),  to  whom  he  .was 
married  in  1848,  was  a  daughter  of  John 
B.  Merritt,  a  prominent  resident  of  Bridge- 
port, Conn.  She  was  born  in  that  town, 
but  her  family  was  of  English  extraction. 
Five  children  were  born  of  this  union,  of 
whom  three  died  in  infancy.  Of  the  two 
survivors  the  elder.  Rev.  John  W.  Williams, 
is  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church  (Episcopal)  at 
East  Orange,  New  Jersey 

Dr.  G.  H.  Williams,  the  younger  son, 
passed  his  youth  in  various  places  owing  to  the 
changes  of  location  which  are  so  common  an 
incident  in  a  clergyman's  life.  His  elementary 
education  was  obtained  mainly  in  the  school  of 
the  Rev.  C.  M,  Selleck,  Norwalk,  Conn.,  and 
in  1876  he  entered  Trinity  College,  Hartford, 
Conn.,  where  he  spent  two  years.  In  1878 
he  was  enrolled  as  a  student  in  the  medical 
department  of  Yale  College,  and  the  following 
year  he  joined  his  father  at  Warrington,  Eng- 
land, where  he  pursued  his  professional 
studies  at  Owen's  College  (Medical),  Manches- 
ter. Later  he  graduated  at  the  College  of 
Physicians  at    Edinburgh,  Scotland,  in   1883, 


184 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  in  January,  1884,  he  was  graduated  as 
a  member  of  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons 
at  London,  these  honors  conferring  the 
right  to  use  the  titles  commonly  abbreviated 
to  L.  R.  C.  P.  Edin.,  and  M.  R.  C.  S.  Eng. 
He  served  one  term  as  house  surgeon  of  the 
Royal  Infirmary  in  Manchester,  and  two  years 
as  house  surgeon  of  the  North  Lonsdale  Hos- 
pital at  Barrow-in-Furness,  Lancashire,  and 
in  1887  became  assistant  surgeon  to  Dr.  J.  A. 
Hall,  of  Huddersfield,  Yorkshire,  with  whom 
he  remained  one  year.  In  1888  he  established 
an  independent  practice  at  Warrington,  Lan- 
cashire; but  returning  in  i8go  to  his  native 
land,  he  opened  an  office  in  New  York  City, 
in  West  Eighty-first  street.  During  his  first 
year  there  he  completed  his  course  at  Yale, 
securing  the  degree  of  M.  D.  from  that  univer- 
sity. In  1894  he  purchased  the  practice  of 
Dr.  F.  T.  Hopkins,  at  Fishkill,  and  has  now 
become  well  established  among  the  leading 
physicians  of  that  place. 

On  January   12,  1893, 
ried    Miss  Sarah  Vacher, 
John  Van  Vorst,  a  prominent  resident  of  Jer 
sey  City,  N.  J.     Three  children — Agnes  Van- 
Vorst,  Helen  Merriit  and  Sarah  Vacher — have 
blessed  this  union.     The  Doctor  is   a  member 
of  the  Episcopal  Church 
the  Masonic  fraternity, 
intelligent  interest  in  all 


Dr.  Williams  mar- 
second   daughter  of 


and  also  belongs  to 
While  he  takes  an 
the   questions  of  the 


day,  he  is  not  a  partisan  in  politics. 


C CHARLES  EDWARD  LANE,  M.  D.,  a 
1  prominent  and  successful  physician  and 
surgeon  of  Poughkeepsie,  is  descended  from 
one  of  the  old  families  of  Dutchess  county,  his 
great-grandfather,  Jacob  Lane,  having  resided 
here  before  the  Revolution.  Jacob  Lane  had 
two  sons,  Peter,  and  John  G.,  our  subject's 
grandfather,  who  was  born  May  22,  1776,  and 
passed  his  life  in  the  town  of  Beekman  (now 
Unionvale).  He  married  Betsey  Emigh,  and 
had  twelve  children:  Thomas,  Benson,  Mar- 
vin, Jackson,  William,  Rennselaer,  Jeremiah, 
Edward,  Betsey,  Hannah,  Phcebe  and  Julia, 
all  of  whom  lived  in  Dutchess  county  except 
Jackson,  who  moved  to  Michigan. 

Edward  Lane,  father  of  our  subject,  re- 
ceived a  limited  education  in  his  youth,  and  at 
an  early  age  left  home  to  support  himself.  He 
embarked  upon  a  whaling  voyage,  and  several 
years  passed  before  he  returned  to  his  native 
land.      Having  a  bright  intellect,  he  spent  his 


leisure  hours  in  study,  trying  to  gain  as  best  he 
could  the  education  denied  him  in  his  earlier 
years.  On  his  return  home  he  served  on  sev- 
eral boats  on  the  Hudson  as  pilot  and  captain, 
and  later  became  the  owner  of  a  schooner, 
which  at  that  time  was  the  largest  that  ran  to 
Troy.  In  1854  he  married  Jane  A.  Hall,  a 
lady  of  Dutch  descent,  and  daughter  of  Gilbert 
and  Mary  Hall.  Three  children  were  born  to 
them,  as  follows:  Charles  Edward;  Celestia 
A.  died  in  infancy;  and  Irvin  J.  is  a  prominent 
physician  at  Sing  Sing,  N.  Y.  In  1863  Ed- 
ward Lane  sold  his  schooner  after  a  final  trip 
to  Providence,  R.  I.,  accompanied  by  his  family, 
and  he  then  bought  a  farm  in  Seneca  county, 
N.  Y.,  whereon  he  lived  three  years,  when  he 
sold  it  and  purchased  his  present  farm  in  Fish- 
kill. 

The  subject  proper  of  these  lines,  wnose 
name  appears  at  the  opening,  was  born  at 
Clove,  Dutchess  county,  August  16,  1855, 
and  lived  with  his  parents  until  he  was  nine 
years  old,  when  he  returned  to  his  place  of 
birth  in  order  to  make  his  home  with  his  uncle 
and  aunt,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  M.  Cutler,  the 
latter  being  his  mother's  sister,  and  as  they 
had  no  children  they  practically  adopted  our 
subject.  At  sixteen  he  had  obtained  such  ele- 
mentary education  as  was  afforded  by  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  the  neighborhood,  and  was  sent 
to  the  Wesleyan  Academy,  at  Wilbraham, 
Mass. ;  but  before  his  course  there  was  com- 
pleted, his  uncle's  failing  health  caused  him  to 
return  and  devote  his  entire  attention  to  the 
sufferer.  Upon  the  latter's  death,  in  1876, 
he  bequeathed  to  our  subject  the  old  home- 
stead of  the  Hall  family,  and  associated  as  it 
is  with  memories  of  mother,  grandparents  and 
others.  Dr.  Lane  still  retains  it  as  a  prized 
possession.  In  1876  our  subject  took  the 
business  course  at  the  Eastman  Business  Col- 
lege, Poughkeepsie.  On  March  28,  of  the  fol- 
lowing year,  he  married  Hattie  A.  Yoemans,  of 
Clove,  by  whom  he  has  had  two  sons:  Theron, 
born  February  27,  1878,  who  died  in  infancy; 
and  George  Edward,  born  November  30,  1883, 
who  is  at  home. 

In  1880  Dr.  Lane  entered  the  New  York 
Homeopathic  Medical  College,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1883,  and  for  five  years  he 
successfully  practiced  his  profession  at  Clove. 
In  1888  he  moved  to  Poughkeepsie,  where  his 
abilities  as  general  practitioner  and  specialist 
in  orificial  surgery  won  for  him  speedy  recog- 
nition from  the  medical  fraternity,  as  well  as 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHWAL  RECORD. 


185 


from  the  public.  From  1889  to  1894  he  was 
secretary  of  the  board  of  examining  surgeons 
of  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Pensions;  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Dutchess  County  Medical  Society, 
and  of  the  New  York  State  Homeopathic  Med- 
ical Society.  While  taking  a  prominent  part 
in  the  social  life  of  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie, 
he  still  retains  an  active  interest  in  local  affairs 
at  his  home  in  Clove,  and  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Christian  Church  there.  He  affiliates  with 
Triune  Lodge  No.  782,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Pough- 
<eepsie  Chapter  No.  172,  R.  A.  M. ;  Pough- 
keepsie Commandery  No.  43,  K.  T. ;  Mecca 
Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine;  Poughkeepsie 
:ouncil  No.  391,  R.  A.;  with  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
^allkill  Lodge  No.  297;  and  with  the  L  O.  G. 
r.,  Lodge  No.  80,  and  the  International  Su- 
ireme  Lodge. 


->EORGE  MARVIN  WELLMAN,   A.   M., 

J  M.  D.,  a  prominent  physician  of  Dutchess 

]Ounty,     residing  at   Dover  Plains,    is   a    de- 

cendant,    in    the  seventh    generation,    of  (I) 

"homas    Wellman,"    who    in    1640   came    to 

[merica,  probably  from  PoundsfordPark,  Som- 

rsetshire,  England,  locating  in   Lynn,  Mass. ; 

nd  also  in  the  seventh  generation,  of  Thomas 

'liss'and  his  wife  Margaret,  who  likewise  came 

cm  England  and  settled  in  Springfield,  Mass. , 

1  1639.     Thomas  Wellman'  (I)  died  October 

3,    1672,    leaving    no    will.      His  estate  was 

:ttled    by    agreement    of    the    heirs,    which 

^reement  was  accepted   by  the  court,   and  is 

n  the  records  of  the  town  of   Lynn,    Massa- 

nusetts. 

Thomas  Wellman'  d)    married   Elizabeth 

-[surname  not  now  known],  and  by  her  had 

.X  children,  as  follows:    '^I  AbigaiP;  MI  Abra- 

im,'^   born   about    1643,    died   in    171 7;  *  III 

aac,^  the  date  of-whose  birth   is   unknown. 

It  record  says  that  he  was  living  December 

",  1710;  and  'IV  Elizabeth^  ''V  Sarah^  and 

I  Mary^  all  three  of   whom   were  living  and 

t  of  age,   at   the   time   the    agreement  was 

ned,  March  22,  1673.    Of  this  family  Isaac^ 

was   the   great-great-great-grandfather  of 

George   M.  Wellman.      A    descendant  of 

■raham  Wellman'-'  (3)    is    Rev.    Joshua   W. 

oilman,  D.  D.,  whose  home   is  at  No.    117 

-iinmer  street.   Maiden,    Mass.,  and  who  was 

trn  in  Cornish,  N.  H.,  November  28,    1821. 

lis  grandmother,   Althea   (Ripley)   Wellman, 

^13  a  descendant,   in   the  seventh  generation, 

t  Governor  William  Bradford,   of   Plymouth 


Colony,  Mass.  Rev.  J.  W.  Wellman,  D.  D., 
is  a  member  of  the  New  England  Historical 
and  Genealogical  Society,  and  has  quite  full 
records  of  the  descendants  of  Thomas  Well- 
man,  the  immigrant  of  1640.  To  him  Dr. 
Wellman,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  in- 
debted for  many  of  the  events  and  dates 
recorded  herein. 

Isaac  Wellman^  (4)  was  married  March  13, 
1679,  to  Hannah  Adams,  who,  it  is  thought, 
in  1723  (being  then  a  widow),  moved  with 
her  son,  Isaac,  to  Norton,  North  Precinct 
(now  Mansfield),  Mass.,  as  related  farther  on. 
Her  children  were  as  follows:  •*  I  Isaac,'' 
born  February  7,  1680,  died  September  19, 
1 681;  '■'  II  Stephen'',  born  September  6,  1681, 
died  January  21,  1767,  aged  eighty-five; '"III 
Isaac  (2d),''  date  of  birth  not  known,  died  in 
1740,  at  Mansfield.     Of  this  family  Isaac  ■'  (2d) 

(10)  was  the  great-great-grandfather  of  Dr. 
Wellman. 

Isaac  Wellman''  (10)  married  Mary  Slafter, 
who  was  born  in  November,  1688,  the  eldest 
of  ten  children  of  John  Slafter,  of  Lynn,  Mass. 
[See  "  Slafter  Memorial,"  pp.  4-7].  In  1723 
Mr.  Wellfnan  and  family  removed  to  Norton, 
North  Precinct,  Mass.,  where  he  purchased 
118  acres  of  land  for  the  sum  of  236  pounds 
sterling,  lawful  money  of  the  province  of  Mas- 
sachusetts Bay,  the  deed  bearing  the  date  of 
"  this  twenty-third  day  of  May,  Anno  Domini, 
1723,  in  the  ninth  year  of  the  reign  of  our 
Sovereign  Lord,  George  of  Great  Britain," 
etc.  Mrs.  Mary  (Slafter)  Wellman  died  Jan- 
uary 12,  1793,  "  in  the  105th  years  of  her  age; 
a  religious  woman."  At  the  time  of  her  hus- 
band's death  (1740)  there  were  five  children 
in  the  family,  the  youngest  of  whom  died  soon 
after,  and  the  name  of  that  child  is  not  on 
record.  The  others  were  as  follows:  "I 
Isaac,*  baptized  June  8,  1718,  died  in  Norton, 
North  Parish,  December  30,  1804;  '''II  Eb- 
enezer,'  born  about'  1720,  died  February  11, 
1776,  in  the  fifty-sixth  year  of  his  age;  '''III 
Hannah,*  baptized  May  27,  1722;  and  "IV 
Timothy,*  born  about    1724.     Of  these  Isaac' 

(11)  was  the  great-grandfather  of  Dr.  Wellman. 
Isaac    Wellman*    (11)   was    a    resident    of 

Mansfield.  He  married,  August  4,  1748, 
Hannah  Wellman,  of  Attleboro,  Mass.,  who 
died  November  29,  1794,  at  Mansfield.  Her 
ancestry  is  as  yet  unknown.  Their  children 
were:  ''''I  Peter,*  born  August  7,  1750,  died 
May  28,  1791;  "''II  Ebenezer,'''  the  grand- 
father   of    Dr.     Wellman;   '"III    Mary,''    born 


186 


COMMEMOBATTVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


May    12,    1756;   unmarried;  and  '"IV    Sarah, ^ 
born  September  19,  1758,  unmarried. 

Ebenezer  Wellman^(i6)  was  born  at  Mans- 
field, Mass.,  September  22,  1752,  and  died 
January,  1831.  When  a  young  man  he  re- 
moved to  Vermont,  where  he  purchased  a  farm 
at  Grassybrook,  since  called  Brookline,  in 
Windham  county. 

Ebenezer  Wellman^  (12)  (who  was  born 
about  1720),  married  (first).  May  28,  1747, 
Sarah  Payson,  of  Stoughton,  Mass. ;  (second) 
March  26,  1761,  Priscilla  Day,  of  Stoughton. 
Children  of  first  marriage:  '•'  I  Joseph,''  born 
December  28,  1747;  '*  II  Sarah,''  born  March 
27,  1749;  -'III  Samuel,*  born  March  13,  1751; 
^ IV  Benjamin,'^  born  March  18,  1753;  *'V 
Mary, ■'^  born  June  9,  1755;  '^VI  Judith,'^  born 
February  9,  1757;  and  '■'■'' VII  Phebe,"  born  July 
2,  1759.  Children  of  second  marriage:  -""VIII 
Oliver,*  born  October  18,  1761;  ^IX  Lucy,* 
born  November  30,  1763;  *X  Abigail,*  born 
July  21,  1767;  -'XI  Betty,*  born  March  24, 
1769;  and  *XII  Ebenezer,*  born  May  4,  1772. 
Of  these,  Joseph*  (19)  and  Oliver*  (26)  rendered 
military  service  in  the  Continental  army,  in 
the  Revolutionary  war. 

Timothy  Wellman^  (14)  (who  was  born  about 
1734)  married,  August  14,  1755,  Rachel  New- 
land,  of  Norton,  Mass.  Their  children  (as  far 
as  known)  were:  ■*' I  Timothy,*  born  in  1757 
in  Mansfield,  Mass.,  died  in  Brookline,  Vt., 
March  8,  1842;  •''-11  John,*  [birth  and  death 
unknown];  *'III  a  daughter  [birth  and  death 
unknown] ;  ■**  IV  a  daughter  [birth  and  death 
unknown];  '*V  Darius  [birth  and  death  un- 
known]. There  is  no  full  record  of  their  chil- 
dren, but  it  is  believed  that  it  was  their  eldest 
son,  Timothy*  (31),  who  married  Lucy  Skin- 
ner, of  Princeton,  Mass.  This  son  Tim- 
othy* (31)  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  was  in  the  fight  on  Dorchester 
Heights,  Mass.  There  is  evidence  that  he 
was  "a  brave,  generous  and  energetic  man,  a 
true  Christian  and  a  public  benefactor."  At 
the  close  of  the  war  he  removed  to  Brookline, 
Vt.  There  is  no  record  of  the  date  of  his  mar- 
riage, nor  of  his  wife's  family. 

Peter  Wellman*(i5)  married  February  5, 
1780,  Hannah  Capron,  of  Mansfield,  Mass. 
Their  children  were:  '*'I  Solomon,"  born  De- 
cember 21,  1780,  died  at  Lowell,  Mass.,  July 
13,  185 1 ;  -'"11  Hannah"  born  January  20, 
1783,  died  September  i,  1874,  aged  ninety- 
one  years;  '^III  Deliverance,"  born  February 
25,  1785;  *'IV  Christiana,  "  born  February  26, 


1788,  died  September,  1809;  *"V  Isaac,"  born 
June  8,  1790.  The  widow  of  Peter*  (15)  mar- 
ried, for  her  second  husband,  Solomon  Grov- 
ener,  of  Jamaica,  Vt. ,  September  15,  1796. 
They  had  children,  and  she  died  about  1840, 
in  Jamaica,  Vermont. 

Ebenezer  Wellman*  (16)  (grandfather  ol 
Dr.  Wellmani  married  in  Mansfield,  Mass., 
Miss  Sarah  Austin  [no  date  of  their  marriage 
given,  and  no  record  of  her  parentage  or 
birth] ;  she  died  in  Brookline,  Vt.,  September 
16,  1803.  Their  children  were:  "I  Sarah," 
born  November  8,  1783;  *TI  Ebenezer,"  born 
November  11,  1787,  died  March  20,  iS;2: 
**III  Isaac,"  born  May  20,  1790,  died  Noven'cr 
24,  1866;  "IV  Abigail  Ann,"  born  February  25, 
1797,  died  February  28,  1865;  '*V  Marvin, 
born  at  Brookline,  Vt.,  June  6,  1800;  died  at 
Dover  Plains,  N.  Y.,  March  20,  1876. 

Timothy  Wellman*(3i),  who  married  Lucy 
Skinner,  had  by  her  twelve  children,  as  fol- 
lows: *'I  Isaac,"  born  January  i,  1784,  died 
January  26,  1848,  at  Lagrange,  Wyoming  Co., 
N.  Y. ;  ^T I  Lucy,"  [date  of  birth  unknown]; 
**III  Lucinda,"  born  1790;  *':'IV  Asa,"  [birth 
date  unknown]  died  1820;  ^V  William, "  [date 
of  birth  and  death  unknown];  *'VI  De  Louis, 
born  i796;*^VII  Hannah,"  born  1797;  *'VII1 
Hiram,"  born  1799;  **IX  Timothy,"  born  iSoi: 
^^X  Daniel,"  born  November  5,  1802;  *"XI 
Laura,  "  born  1804,  died  1877;  *'XII  Elmira'', 
born  1809. 

John  Wellman  *  (32)  married  at  Mansfield. 
Mass.,  April  26,  1784,  Cloe  Wellman,  who 
was  probably  youngest  daughter  of  Elkanah 
Wellman  and  his  wife,  Mehitabel  Wellman. 
Cloe  Wellman  was  baptized  in  Lynnfield. 
Mass.,  May  20,  1764.  John  and  Cloe  re- 
moved to  Brookline,  Vt.,  and  are  reported  to 
have  had  two  sons  (58)  and  (59)  [names  not 
known].  The  family  aftferward  removed  to 
Amherst,  Mass.,  and  conducted  a  forge,  about 
a  mile  north  of  the  college  buildings. 

Solomon  Wellman,"  (36)  married  Elizabetl 
Tripp  Leeds,  daughter  of  Thomas  Leeds,  0 
Dorchester,  Mass.  [date  not  known];  sh< 
was  born  September  26,  1791,  and  died  Sep 
tember  4,  1849.  Their  thirteen  children  were 
'''I  George,"  born  March  16,  18 10,  in  Boston 
Mass.,  died  April  4,  1864; "'II  Eliza  Ann' 
born  March  25,  181 1,  in  Boston,  died  June  9 
1875;  "-'III  Caroline  Capron,"  born  August  23 
1812,  married  Josiah  Shaw,  of  Abington 
Mass. ; ''"IV  Lucinda  Boyden,' born  Decembe 
3,  1813,  died  January  26,  1833; '"V  Mary  Eliz 


\ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPUICAL  RECORD. 


187 


abeth,'  born  January  21,  181  5,  married  Martin 
liayley  Pierce,  of  Abington,  Mass. ;  '"'VI  Clar- 
issa Maria,"  born  December  9,  1817;  "'VII 
William  Lloyd,'  born  October  23,  i8i9;'"VIII 
Henry  Ripley,'  born  March  20,  1821,  died 
May  14,  1848;  "^IX  Charles  Payson,"  born  De- 
cember 13,  1823;  '"X  Otis,"  born  January  26, 
1827,  died  in  infancy;  ""XI  Harriet  Angeline," 
i"rn  March  25,  1828,  married  John  Adams 
oyd,  of  Abington,  Mass.;  ''XH  Elisha,"  born' 
Uctober  21,  1830,  went  to  California;  '-XHI 
Liicinda  Jane,"  born  January  26.   1833. 

Hannah  Wellman"  (37)  married  April  25, 
1805,  Jesse  George,  of  Wrentham,  Mass.  He 
was  bora  October  22,  1783,  and  died  Septem- 
Their   ei^ht    children   were:    "''I 


ber  5,  185 1. 

Emily, 

born    November    i , 

'■'01    Hannah  Maria, 

January    31,    18 16; 

November  4,  1813, 


born  October  7,  1805;  '^11  Elizabeth," 
1807,  died  July  8,  1834; 
•  born  April  8,  181 1,  died 
'"IV  John  Capron,'  born 
died  November  2,  1882. 
Ivesided  in  Boston;  "V  Lyman  Augustus,"  born 
March  17,  1817,  resides  in  Boston,  Mass.;  ™VI 
Hiram,'  born  June  23,  1820,  resides  in  Wrent- 
ham, Mass.;  '"VII  William  Emerson,"  born 
August  II,  1823;  *VIII  Catharine  Augusta,^ 
jorn  July  20,   1826,  died  April  22,   1879. 

Deliverance  Wellman  "(38)  married  Wind- 
sor Wheelock,   of  Mendon,    Mass.     Their  six 

;hildren  were:  "'I  Clara  Elizabeth,"  born , 

lied  September  18,  1857.    She  married  her  cou- 

Im^  Hiram  George,  '(78)  who  survives  and  lives 
BiVrentham, Mass.  ;''-II  Charlotte,'  born , 
Brried    Marvel    Marr,    and    had    as  children 


Ido  and  Maria,  who  reside  in  West  Thomp- 
Conn. ;  **III  Nancy'  [birth  and  death  dates 

nown];   "IV    Mary,"    born    ,    married 

IipTaft;had  son   Philip;  *V   Sylvia,' born 
married  Nelson  Steere,  and  had  children 
Vdelbert  and  Sarah,  who  reside  in  Burrillville, 

^.  I.;*VI  Peter,"  born  ,    married    [name 

if  wife  unknown],  and  had  Joseph  and  Mary, 
vho  live  in  Woonsocket,  Rhode  Island.' 

Christiana  Wellman"  (39)  married  Harvey 
ieorge, and  had  Mary'(87 ),  who  died  in  infancy. 
Isaac  Wellman"  (40)  married  (first)  Lucinda 
3oyden;  (second),  Nancy  Boy  den,  sisters,  of 
■ledfield,  Mass.  He  had  at  least  seven  chil- 
ren  by  his  f:rst  wife  [names  and  births  not 
nown.]  He  removed  to  Alabama,  Genesee 
"o..  N.  Y.  After  his  first  wife  died  he  re- 
loved  to  Grattan,  Kent  Co..  Michigan. 

Sarah  Wellman"  (41)  married  Zachariah 
lolden  [no  dates].  Their  children  were:  *I 
-Imore"  [dates  of  birth  and  death  unknown], 


married  and  lived  in  Dansville,  N.  Y. ;  ''•'II 
Elvira"  [no  dates  given]  died  young. 

Ebenezer"  (42)  married  Susannah  Moore 
[no  dates  given].  Their  ten  children  were: 
*I  Leavit  K.,'  born  December  25,  1809;  '"11 
Elvin  M.,"  born  August  10,  i8u;''^III  Peter 
Dallas,"  born  March  9,  1813;  '■'^^IV  Norman  An- 
drews," born  April  15,  181  5;  '"V  Mary  Moore,' 
born  June  8,  18 17;  ''■^VI  Sarah  Austin,'  born 
September  22,  18 19;  '•"'VII  Abigail  Marsh,' born 
October  23,  i82i;'"VIII  Marvin,' born  Novem- 
ber I,  1823,  died  in  Illinois; '"IX  Luke,'  born 
January3i,  1826;  "'X  Chelis,' born  1829.  The 
first  four  were  born  in  Brookline,  Vt.,  the  next 
four  in  Montgomery,  Vt. ,  and  the  other  two  in 
Avery's  Gore,  Vermont. 

Isaac  Wellman"  (43)  married  July  12,  18 12, 
in  Brookline,  Vt. ,  Kesiah  Robbins,  daughter  of 
William  and  Kesiah  (Benson)  Robbins.  She 
was  born  July  6,  1792,  and  died  November  24, 
1866.  They  had  only  one  child,"*'  I  Everett 
Perry  Wellman,'  born  in  Brookline,  Vt.,  Jan- 
uary 5,  1813,  died  in  Brookline,  Vt.,  February 
22,   1891. 

Abigail  Ann  Wellman"  (44)  married  June 
28,  1 8 14,  Allen  G.  Andrews,  of  Providence, 
R.  I.  They  emigrated  in  18 14,  to  Hardin 
county,  Ky.,  and  in  1828  removed  to  Mon- 
mouth, Warren  county.  111.,  where  they  spent 
the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Their  ten  chil- 
dren were:  '"'I  Sarah  Elizabeth',  born  Octo- 
ber 10,  18 17,  married  April  i,  1834,  Nathaniel 
Hopper;  '"'11  Allen  Talbot  (ist),'  born  March 
10,  1 8 19,  died  August  27,  1829;  ""'III  Abby 
Ann,'  born  November  28,  1821,  married  March 
20,  1845,  Norman  Buck;  ""IV  Roland  Green,' 
born  March  17,  1823,  married  November  2, 
1848,  Ann  Carter,  and  died  August  4,  1849; 
'"•'V  Alexine  Southgate,' born  February  3,  1827, 
married  October  12,  1847,  Elvin  M.  Wellman; 
'""VI  Lydia  Beals,'  born  March  2,  1828,  mar- 
ried April  2,  1845,  Seth  Gates;  ""VII  Cynthia 
Jane,'  born  October  13,  1829,  died  August  13, 
1843;  ""VIII  Elkanah  W.,'born  August  26, 
i83i,died  March  19,  1834;  '""IX  Lusannah 
R.,'  born  October  17,  1835,  married  February 
25,  1853,  William  Ward;  ""X  Allen  Talbot 
(2nd),'  born  April  19,  1837,  married;  lives  in 
Monmouth,  Illinois. 

Marvin  Wellman  "(45)  (the  father  of  Dr. 
George  M.  Wellman),  in  April,  1822,  became 
a  resident  of  Springfield,  Mass. ,  where  he  spent 
most  of  his  life,  engaged  in  conducting  a  store 
at  the  corner  of  Maine  and  William  streets.  In 
1866  he  sold  his  property  in   Springfield,  and 


188 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


returned  to  Vermont,  buying  a  home  in  Fay- 
etteville  (near  Brookline,  his  native  town), 
where  he  lived  until  1872,  when  he  brought 
his  wife  to  Dover  Plains,  N.  Y.,  making  his 
home  with  his  son.  Dr.  Wellman.  On  June  8, 
1826,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Bliss,  a  daughter 
of  Zenas  and  Mary  (Babcock)  Bliss,  of  Spring- 
field, Mass.  [See  the  Bliss  genealogy  as  given 
farther  on].  The  children  of  Marvin"  (45) 
and  Mary  Bliss  Wellman:  '"I  Abigail,'  born 
June  21,  1827,  did  not  marry;  "^'11  Mary 
Bliss, ^  born  October  11,  1829,  married  Sep- 
tember 9,  1 861;  "■'III  Isaac  Austin  (first),' born 
December  11,  1831,  died  February  25,  1833; 
*"IV  Isaac  Austin  (second),'  born  April  27, 
1834;  ^'^V  George  Marvin'  (the  subject  of  this 
sketch),  born  February  24,  1837;  ""VI  Laura 
Bliss,"  born  August  5,  1839,  did  not  marry;"' 
VII  Emma  Lucretia,'  born  July  18,  1843, 
married  July  18,  1888,  James  Y.  Robinson,  of 
Kansas,  a  veteran  Union  soldier  of  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion.  No  children.  They  reside  in 
Quenemo,    Kansas. 

Isaac  Wellman"  (46),  son  of  Timothy*  (31) 
and  Lucy  Skinner  Wellman.  of  Brookline,  Vt., 
married  April  21,  1808,  Sally  Bixby,  who  was 
born  in  Brookline,  March  12,  1787.  In  1824 
they  removed  to  Friendship,  Allegany  Co.,  N. 
Y.  Thence  they  removed  to  Wyoming  coun- 
ty, N.  Y. ,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of 
their  lives.  They  were  deeply  religious  people 
and  belonged  to  the  Baptist  denoir.ination. 
Isaac"  (46)  was  a  second  cousin  of  Isaac"  (43). 
There  were  two  branches  of  Wellmans  in 
Brookline,  Vt. ,  Isaac"  (46)  was  a  deacon  and 
preacher,  and  several  of  his  sons  were  elected 
deacons.  Their  children:  "'^I  Chauncey," 
born  July  16,  1810;  "'TI  Nelson  H.,'  born 
April  21,  1815,  died  December  21,  1885;  ''*III 
Sarah  C,"  born  June  14,  18 17,  died  1885;'^' 
IV  Alvin,"  born  May  17,  1822;  ^^V  Miriam  De- 
light,' born  September  26,  1824,  in  Friendship, 
N.  Y. ;  '^VI  Harvey,' born  April  17,  1827. 
The  first  four  were  born  in  Brookline. 

Everett  Perry  Wellman"  (100)  married 
Electa  Butterfield,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Polly  (Miller)  Butterfield,  at  Newfane,  Vt., 
August  13,  1840.  She  was  born  September 
10,  1813,  and  died  June  9,  1889.  Everett 
Perry"  (100)  was  a  quiet,  industrious  farmer, 
universally  respected;  and  honored  by  his  fel- 
low townsmen  by  a  seat  in  the  Vermont  House 
of  Representatives.  Their  children:  '-^  I  Mary 
Abby  Ann,*  born  October  20,  1846,  at  Brook- 
line,  Vt. ;  '-^  II  Martha   Electa, **  born   July  9, 


1849,  at  Brookline,  Vt.;  Mary  Abby  Ann*  (124), 
married  at  Brookline,  November  16,  1882, 
Judge  Andrew  Asa  Wyman,  who  was  born 
March  12,  1830,  and  died  suddenly  November 
21,  1894,  of  heart  disease,  upon  the  steps  of 
the  capitol  at  Montpelier,  Vt. ,  where  he  was 
in  attendance  as  a  member  of  the  House  of 
Representatives.  They  had  no  children. 
Martha  Electa**  (125)  married,  March  25, 
,1895,  at  Athens,  Vt. ,  Rev.  George  Henry 
Bolster,  who  was  born  in  Alstead,  N.  H. ,  Feb- 
ruary 26,   i860. 

Mary  Bliss  Wellman  '  (112)  married  Sep- 
tember 9,  1 861,  at  Quincy,  111.,  John  Sprout, 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  a  substantial  farmer 
and  stock  breeder.  After  their  marriage  they 
removed  to  Monmouth,  111.,  where  they  have 
since  remained.  Their  children:  ^-"I  John 
Wellman,  *  born  September,  1S64;  '^  II  Ma- 
mie," born  August,  1867. 

Isaac  Austin  Wellman  (second)  '\i  14)  mar- 
ried November. 5,  1879,  at  Solomon  Rapids, 
Kans..  Mrs.  Sarah  Mitchell,  of  the  same  place. 
Mr.  Wellman  is  a  merchant,  and  resides  at 
Centropolis,  Kans.  They  have  had  only  one 
child,  '^M  Emma  May,**  born  July  15,  1882, 
at  Centropolis,  Kansas. 

Dr.  George  Marvin  Wellman' (i  i  5)  mar- 
ried, at  Otego,  N.  Y.,  on  September  8,  1869, 
Miss  Jeannie  S.  Cole,  daughter  of  James  H. 
and  Augusta  Cole,  substantial  farmers  of  Ote- 
go, Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.  She  was  born  at  Ote- 
go, N.  Y. ,  July  3,  1849,  and  died  at  Dover 
Plains,  N.  Y. ,  December  13,  1886.  Children 
of  Dr.  George  M.'  (115)  and  Jeannie  S.  Cole 
Wellman:  '-'I  Marion  Augusta,"  born  Novera- j 
ber  25,  1870;  '■*•  II  Fred  Browning,"  born  Au-  fl 
gust  31,  1877,  died  June  12,  1878;  '•"  III 
Maude  Sherman,*  born  December  24,  1884. 
Marion  Augusta  Wellman"  (129)  married  at 
Dover  Plains,  N.  Y.,  July  i,  1896,  Rev.  Ed- 
ward Duncan  Kelsey  (a  sketch  of  whom  fol- 
lows). They  have  one  child  '''-I  Marion  Wellman 
Kelsey.-' born  at  Sharon,  Conn.,  May  17,  1897 

Dr.  George  M.  Wellman,  the  subject  ol 
this  sketch  passed  his  early  life  in  Springfield, 
Mass.  In  the  high  school  of  that  city  he  pre- 
pared for  college,  and  in  1857  he  entered  Am- 
herst College,  where,  working  his  own  way  b\ 
teaching  school,  he  completed  the  classica 
course,  graduating  in  1861,  receiving  the  de 
gree  of  A.  B.  Five  years  later  the  degree  0 
A.  M.  was  conferred  upon  him.  In  1861  h( 
entered  the  government  hospital  service  a 
Washington,  D.  C,  as  ward  master  in  Lincoli 


COMMEMORATIVE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


189 


Hospital,  serving  until  1864,  when  he  obtained 
an  appointment  in  the  Ordnance  Office  of  the 
War  department,  where  he  continued  for  four 
years.  In  the  meantime  he  had  taken  up  the 
study  of  medicine  in  the  Georgetown  Medical 
College,  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he  gradu- 
ated in  1868  with  high  honors,  delivering  the 
valedictory  at  the  commencement  exercises  in 
Wall's  Opera  House  in  that  city.  Proceeding 
to  New  York  City,  he  then  took  a  one-year's 
course  of  study  at  the  College  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons. 

In  1869  Dr.  Wellman  located  at  Dover 
Plains,  Dutchess  county,  where  he  soon  built 
up  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  His  plain 
common  sense,  good  judgment,  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  medicine  and  skill  in  surgery,  at  once 
won  for  him  the  confidence  of  the  people,  and 
his  success  was  an  assured  fact.  He  is  one  of 
the  prominent  members  of  the  Dutchess  Coun- 
M'  Medical  Society.  As  a  citizen  he  stands  de- 
rvedly  high,  and  has  often  been  urged  to  ac- 
cept public  office,  but  cares  little  for  political 
preferment. 

Rev.  Edward  Dunxan  Kelsey,  who  married 
Miss  Marion  A.  Wellman,  is  a  son  of  Lysander 
and  Mary  (Duncan)  Kelsey,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  October  i,  18 17,  at  Rutland,  Vt., 
the  latter  on  March  4,  1826,  in  Maysville,  Ky. 
They  were  married  May  30,  1847,  and  became 
the  parents  of  the  following  children:  Rev. 
Francis  Duncan,  born  February  15,  1849,  re- 
sides at  Oberlin,  Ohio;  Charles  Duncan,  born 
August  25,  1850,  died  August,  1874;  Rev. 
Edward  Duncan,  born  January  16,  1853,  at 
Wheelersburg,  Ohio,  resides  in  Sharon,  Conn. ; 
Elizabeth  Duncan,  born  March  15,  1855,  mar- 
'ied  to  George  S.  Van  Every,  of  Portland, 
Dregon,  resides  at  Los  Angeles,  Cal. ;  Caro- 
ine  Duncan,  born  October  31,  i860,  married 

0  Charles  H.  Hauks,  of  Washington,  D.  C. , 
esides  at  Tacoma,  Wash.;  George  Duncan, 
)orn  August  28,  1864,  has  been  twice  married, 
esides  at  Meadville,  Penn. ;  and  Frederick 
Duncan,  born  June  8,  1866,  married  and  re- 
ides  at  Juneau,  Alaska.  The  father  of  this 
amily  died  May  24,  1889,  at  Portland,  Ore- 
on,  where  the  mother  is  yet  residing. 

Rev.  Edward  Duncan  Kelsey  removed,  in 
857,  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he  graduated 
rom  the  high  school;  from  1870  to  1874  he 
ttended  Marietta  (Ohio^  College,  graduating 

1  the  latter  year;  in  1875  he  entered' Andover 
Mass.)  Theological  Seminary,  where  he  re- 
tained two  years.     In  1877  he  went  to  Ash- 


ville,  N.  Y.,  where  for  two  years  he  was  pas- 
tor of  the  Congregational  Church;  then,  in 
1879,  entered  Yale  Theological  Seminary,  New 
Haven,  Conn.,  graduating  there  in  1881. 
From  1882  to  1884  he  was  settled  as  pastor  at 
Almont,  Mich.;  from  1884  to  1885  was  assist- 
ant pastor  of  the  Seventh  Presbyterian  Church, 
New  York  City;  from  1885  to  1889  he  was 
pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Cutchogue,  L.  I.,  N.  Y. ;  from  1889  to  1890 
was  settled  at  Prospect,  Ohio;  from  1890  to 
1894  was  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
South  Amenia,  N.  Y.  In  1894  he  became 
principal  of  the  high  school  at  Sharon,  Conn., 
in  which  position  he  has  since  remained.  Mr. 
Kelsey  has  been  twice  married,  first  time  on 
June  29,  1 88 1,  to  Miss  Julia  C.  Baldwin,  of 
New  Haven,  Conn.  She  was  born  at  Milford, 
Conn.,  February  23,  1857,  and  died  February 
I,  1894,  at  South  Amenia,  N.  Y.  The  chil- 
dren of  this  union  were:  Frank  Childs,  born 
July  19,  1882,  died  September  3,  1883; 
Arthur  Baldwin,  born  September  10,  1884; 
Florence  Duncan,  born  October  13,  1886;  and 
Josephine  Dykeman,  born  July  25,  1893. 

The  Bliss  Genealogy — Zenas  Bliss  was  a 
descendant  of  Samuel  Bliss,  the  youngest  son 
of  Thomas  and  Margaret  Bliss,  who  settled  in 
Springfield,  Mass.,  in  1639.  Samuel's  son, 
Ebenezer  Bliss,  married  Mary  Gaylord,  of 
Madison,  Conn.,  January,  1707.  Ebenezer's 
son,  Jedediah  Bliss,  was  born  February  7, 
1708,  and  married  Rachel  Sheldon  July  2, 
1733,  and  had  by  her  eight  children,  and  nine 
by  his  second  wife — seventeen  in  all.  They 
were:  Rachel,  born  July  24,  1734;  Moses, 
born  January  16,  1735;  Jedediah,  Jr.,  born 
April  20,  1738;  Mary,  born  December  11,  1739; 
Lucy,  born  March  9,  1741;  Lucy  (second), 
born  November  24,  1742;  Aaron,  born  1745; 
Patience,  born  October  24,  1747. 

Jedediah  Bliss,  Sr. ,  married  his  second  wife, 
Miriam  Hitchcock,  August  19,  1748,  and  had 
by  her  nine  children,  viz  :  Miriam,  born  May 
17,  1749,  married  Silas  Bliss;  Ebenezer,  born 
January  26,  1750,  married  (first)  Miss  Nevens, 
and  (second)  Sarah  Ferry;  Reuben,  born  No- 
vember 3,  175 1,  killed  in  the  war  of  the  Revo- 
lution; Alexander,  born  October  11,  1753; 
Zenas  (grandfather  of  Dr.  Wellman),  born 
February  3,  1756,  married  Mary  Babcock; 
Martha,  born  December  7,  1757,  married  a 
Mr.  Gridley;  Isaac,  born  August  10,  1760, 
married  Welthy  BuUers;  Jacob,  born  March 
12,  1763,  married  Mary  Collins,  who  was  born 


190 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPUWAL  RECORD. 


in  1765;  Naomi,  born  October  22,  1766,  mar- 
ried a  Mr.  Kneeland. 

Zenas  Bliss  (grandfather  to  Dr.  Wellman) 
married  Mary  Babcock,  December,  1784  (she 
was  born  August  20,  1758,  and  died  Septem- 
ber 25.  1824),  and  had  by  her  ten  children,  all 
born  in  Springfield,  Mass.,  at  the  old  home- 
stead, corner  of  Main  and  William  streets. 
They  were  as  follows:  Horace,  born  Febru- 
ary 13,  1786,  died  March  26,  1844;  Elisha, 
born  November  25,  1787,  died  at  Hartford, 
Conn.,  January  1,  1881,  aged  ninety-three 
years;  Abigail  and  Harvey  (i)  (twins),  born 
November  24,  1789  (Abigail  died  March  5, 
1807,  and  Harvey  (i)  died  December  3,  1789); 
Harvey  (2),  born  March  27,  1792,  died  Novem- 
ber 23,  1869;  Lucretia,  born  May  3,  1794, 
died  unmarried  February  26,  1844;  John  B., 
born  February  17,  1797,  died  February  22, 
1884,  aged  eighty-seven  years;  Isaac,  born 
September  8,  1798,  died  March  5,  1892,  aged 
ninety-three  years;  Mary  (the  mother  of  Dr. 
Wellman).  born  January  8,  1803,  married 
Marvin  Wellman,  June  8,  1826,  died  March  10, 
1877;  Emetine,  born  February  19,  1805,  died 
February  2,  1806. 

Of  these  children  of  Zenas  and  Mary  Bab- 
cock Bliss:  Horace  was  twice  married,  and 
had  by  his  first  wife  three  children,  Eli^a, 
Mary  and  Emily;  and  by  his  second  wife,  had 
also  three — Horace,  Charles  and  Lucretia. 
Elisha  married  Almira  Sikes,  and  by  her  had 
eight  children — Elisha,  Almira,  Harriet,  Frank, 
Edward,  Richard,  Mary,  and  Elizabeth.  Har- 
vey married  Abbie  Grout,  of  Putney,  Wind- 
ham Co.,  Vt.,  and  by  her  had  eight  children — 
Edwin,  Marshall,  Isaac,  Harvey,  Emma, 
Laura,  Sylvester  and  Samuel;  of  these,  Edwin 
and  Isaac  were  for  many  years  missionaries  in 
Armenia.  John  B.  married  Maria  Parker,  and 
had  six  children — Roswell,  Charles,  Abbie, 
Hiland,  Sarah  and  Earle.  Isaac  married 
Eleanor  Titus,  and  had  seven  children — Horace 
C,  Isaac  R. ,  Elisabeth  L. ,  Eleanor  M., 
Samuel  B.,  Ephraim  T. ,  and  Edgar.  Mary 
married  Marvin  Wellman,  and  had  seven  chil- 
dren, as  shown  in  the  Wellman  genealogy. 


JrOSEPH  MARTIN  FAMILY.  The  village 
of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess  county,  was  in  the 
~  earliest  times  a  favorite  point  with  the  Dutch 
settlers  of  this  region,  and  it  boasts  of  one  of 
the  oldest  houses  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
built  for  a  residence  by  Hendrick  Martin,  who 


crossed  the  ocean  in  1727.  On  his  arrival  he 
took  a  lease  from  the  Beekman  patentee,  and 
at  once  erected  this  house,  which  he  located 
about  one-eighth  of  a  mile  from  the  old  New 
York  and  Albany  post  road,  and  adjacent  to 
the  present  village  of  Red  Hook.  It  has  re- 
ceived alterations  from  time  to  time,  but  parts 
of  the  original  structure  still  stand.  In  1751 
he  leased  other  lands  adjoining,  from  the  Van- 
Benthuysen  patentee. 

When  Hendrick  Martin's  son,  Gotlob,  was 
married,  the  father  cut  a  big  stake,  and  walk- 
ing across  the  farm  drove  it  into  the  ground, 
remarking  to  the  young  bridegroom  that  it  was 
time  for  him  to  "swarm  for  himself,"  and  upon 
this  spot  Gotlob  built  a  plain  but  substantial 
stone  house,  which  stands  to-day.  The  car- 
penters were  putting  up  its  rafters  while  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  was  being  read 
in  Philadelphia,  July  4,  1776.  To  this  house, 
in  1789,  John  Martin,  son  of  Gotlob,  brought 
his  bride,  Isabella  Fulton,  a  relative  of  the 
famous  Robert  Fulton.  It  had  been  willed  by 
Gotlob  to  his  grandchildren,  but  the  sons  would 
not  take  it  from  their  mother,  and  after  her 
death  Edward  Martin,  a  son  of  John,  pur- 
chased it  for  a  home  for  his  sister,  who,  like 
himself,  never  married.  He  was  born  Febru- 
ary 18,  181 1,  and  lived  beyond  the  ordinary 
limit,  dying  December  3,  1893.  He  made  a 
fortune  as  a  civil  engineer  by  taking  his  pay  in 
land  from  a  railroad  company  he  was  employed 
by,  some  of  which  property  now  lies  within 
the  present  boundaries  of  Chicago. 

To  John  and  Isabella  Martin  eleven  chil- 
dren were  born,  viz. :  Philip,  Michael  S.,  Au- 
gustus, Henry  G.,  Robert,  Claudius  G.,  James, 
Edward,  Joseph,  John  and  Serena.  Joseph 
Martin  was  born  February  8,  18 14,  and  was 
educated  in  the  schools  of  the  neighborhood. 
At  an  early  age  he  learned  the  trade  of  tanner 
and  currier;  afterward  studied  law  and  prac- 
ticed until  his  death,  November  25,  1889.  He 
was  identified  with  the  old  militia,  holding  all 
the  offices,  from  second-lieutenant  to  colonel, 
both  inclusive,  in  the  iiith  Regiment  New 
York  Militia,  and  he  served  a  short  time  in 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  On  January  10, 
1837,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Margarite  S.  Bar- 
ringer,  of  Red  Hook,  and  had  ten  children, 
whose  names,  with  dates  of  birth,  are  as  fol- 
lows: (i)  Frederick  A.,  December  7,  1837; 
(2)  John  D.,  October  21,  1840;  (3)  Joseph  P., 
April  15,  1842;  (4)  Claudius  E.,  March  13. 
1844;     (5)  Augustus,    October    3,  1845    (died 


#f 

1^ 

». 

^^^^^^^^^^^^f 

I, 

i^ 


I 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD 


191 


April  20,  1846);  (6)  Gertrude  A.,  June  8,  1847; 
,7)  Isabella  F.,  May  15,  1849;  (8)  Elizabeth 
B.,  July  20,  1852;  (9)  Harriet  A.,  January  7, 
1854;  (10)  Sarah  S.,  August  6,  1857. 

All  the  boys  in   this   family  served    in  the 
Civil  war,  and  one,  John  D.,  corporal  of  Coni- 
jany  B,  7th  N.  J.  V.  I.,  died  in  the  army  Jan- 
uary 3,  1862.      Claudius   E.,  at  the  outbreak 
pf  the  Rebellion,  offered  himself  as  a  recruit 
'or  a  New  Jersey  regiment,  but  was  refused  on 
iccount  of  his  youth,  being  under  sixteen  years 
)f  age.      Returning    home,   however,    he    ob- 
ained  his  father's    written  consent,  and  went 
)ut  as  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Fifth 
\ew  York  Cavalry.     At   the   organization  of 
his  regiment  as  a  veteran  regiment,  he  re-en- 
isted  and  served  until  the  close  of   the  war. 
le   had    a    horse    shot    under    him,    and  was 
vounded  and  captured  at  Orange  Court  House, 
iut  was  re-capiured  by  his  own  regiment  the 
ame  day.      Returning    home  at  the  close  of 
he  struggle, he  settled  upon  a  farm  in  Warners, 
)nondaga  county,  where  he  still  resides.   Joseph 
'".  (or  J.  Fielding)  enlisted  at  Trenton,  N.  J., 
kpril   20,    1 86 1,   in  Company  C,    First   N.   J. 
Ililitia,  for  three  months;  re-enlisted  at  Tren- 
3n,  August  27,  1 861,  this  time  in  Company  B, 
th  N.  J.  V.  I.,  for  three  years;  again  enlisted, 
lis  time  at    Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  September 
3,  1864,  for  one  year,  and  October  24,  1864, 
■as  commissioned    as    first  lieutenant  in  the 
9th  N.  Y.  S.  V.  I.,  and  was  honorably  dis- 
liarged    September   14,    1865.      Prior   to  the 
■arhe  had  finished  his  studies  in  Poughkeepsie, 
nd  after  his  return  he  studied  law  in  the  West, 
len  practiced  his  profession  in  Illinois,  South 
'akota  and  New  York  State.     While  in  Illi- 
ois  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  the 
)wn   of   Seward,   Kendall    county,    and    was 
jmmissioned  as  such  by  Gov.  Shelby  M.  Cul- 
m  April  28,  1881.     On  November  15,  1884, 
;  was  admitted  to  practice  as  an  attorney  and 
ounselor  at  law  in  Sully  county,  Dakota  (now 
Duth  Dakota),  of  which  county  he  was  elected 
^^ty  judge  November  3,  1885.      On  March 
■^■89,  he  was  admitted  to  practice  as  attor- 
""and  counselor  at  law  in  the  United  States 
istrict  Court  of  the  Territory  of  Dakota,  at 
■  uron  (now  South   Dakota),  and  October  8, 
igo,  was  appointed  by  the  board  of  county 
(■mmissioners  of  Sully  county,  South  Dakota, 
'  a  member  of   the  board  of  insanity.      On 
bvember  16,  1892,  he  was  admitted  to  prac- 
t;e  in   the   superior    court    of     Dakota,    at 
lerre;  on  December  G,  1892,  was  admitted  to 


practice  in  the  U.  S.  District  and  Circuit 
Courts  of  South  Dakota,  at  Siou.x  Falls;  on 
May  1 1,  1893,  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  State  of  New  York  at 
Poughkeepsie,  and  October  22,  1894,  was  ad- 
jnitted  to  practice  in  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  North  Grand  Division  of  Illinois,  at  Ot- 
tawa, Illinois. 

Frederick  A.  Martin  entered  the  service  on 
the  organizaiion  of  the  1 15th  N.  Y.  V.,  in  Au- 
gust, 1862;  was  wounded  and  captured  at  the 
surrender  of  Harpers  Ferry,  September,  1862, 
and  paroled  with  the  surrendered  garrison. 
At  Olustee,  Florida,  February,  1864,  he  was 
wounded  and  left  on  the  field,  but  escaped 
with  the  assistance  of  mounted  officers  of  his 
regiment.  For  a  time  he  was  detailed  in 
charge  of  commissary  stores  at  Hilton  Head, 
S.  C  and  later  as  inspector  of  the  Port  of 
Beaufort,  S.  C,  then  returning  to  his  regiment 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  In  his 
youth  he  had  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter 
and  builder,  and  on  returning  home  he  en- 
gaged for  five  years  in  car  building;  then  en- 
tered the  office  of  the  Boston  &  Albany  R.  R. , 
remaining  some  twenty-five  years,  and  he  has 
since  carried  on  a  drug  store  at  Ford  Edward, 
N.  Y.  In  October,  1865,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Susan  L.  Near,  of  Red  Hook,  and  has 
one  son,  Joseph  Louis,  who  is  now  in  partner- 
ship with  him.  He  is  a  member  of  several 
Masonic  bodies  in  Albany,  N.  Y. ,  including 
Temple  Commandery  No.  2,  K.  T.,  and  is 
commander  of  the  G.  A.  R.  Post  No.  491, 
Fort  Edward,  N.  Y.  Joseph  Louis,  his  son, 
is  also  a  member  of  various  Masonic  bodies, 
including  Cyprus  Temple,  Nobles  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine,  Albany,  N.  Y. ,  and  is  also  a  graduate 
of  the  Albany  College  of  Pharmacy. 

Two  of  the  daughters  married,  Gertrude 
A.  and  Isabella  F. ,  the  former  of  whom  is  liv- 
ing in  Bayonne,  N.  J.,  the  latter  in  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.  The  Misses  Elizabeth  B. ,  Harriet  A. 
and  Sarah  S.  Martin  occupy  an  elegant  resi- 
dence on  the  site  of  the  old  homestead  of  the 
Barringer  family,  to  which  their  mother  be- 
longed, and  have  always  held  a  prominent  place 
in  the  most  refined  and  exclusive.social  circles. 


ILLIAM  BOGLE,  president  of  the 
]^L  Dutchess  Print  Works,  located  at 
Wappingers  Falls,  Dutchess  county,  is  one  of 
the  best  known  and  most  highly  esteemed  res- 
idents of  the  county.     This    extensive    plant 


192 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


was  established  in  1832,  and  has  been  engaged 
in  printing  and  dyeing  cotton  goods  for  over 
sixty  years.  Some  1,150  hands  are  employed 
in  the  works,  all  of  whom  reside  in  or  near  the 
village,  forming  a  goodly  portion  of  the  popu- 
lation. Mr.  Bogle  has  been  connected  with 
the  establishment  for  thirty-nine  years,  fifteen 
as  its  president,  and  it  has  been  re-organized 
three  times  during  the  last  twenty  years  in  or- 
der to  suit  the  times  and  the  market. 

Mr.  Bogle  was  born  near  Manchester, 
England,  September  7,  1834,  a  son  of  John 
Bogle,  who  was  born  in  the  same  locality  in 
1799,  and  lived  until  1880.  He  was  a  color- 
mixer  in  a  cloth-printing  business  for  sixty-five 
years.  At  Middleton  parish  church,  Lan- 
cashire, he  married  Ann  Brooks,  a  native  of 
Ainsworth,  England,  and  they  reared  a  family 
of  ten  children,  our  subject  being  seventh  in 
the  order  of  birth.  None  of  the  family  except 
William  ever  came  to  America.  James  Bogle, 
the  father  of  John,  was  born  in  Scotland, 
whence  he  went  to  England,  and  in  1805  es- 
tablished a  print  works  in  Lancashire.  He 
was  one  of  the  earliest  master  printers  in  that 
country. 

Our  subject  lived  in  England  until  he  was 
twenty-three  years  of  age,  and  there  learned 
the  business  of  color-mixing  with  his  father. 
On  July  22,  1857,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Selina  Hoyle,  of  Manchester,  and  on  the  first 
of  August  following  sailed  for  the  United 
States,  reaching  Wappingers  Falls,  Dutchess 
county,  August  14,  1857.  He  came  to  that 
place  under  a  contract  with  the  Dutchess  Print 
Works,  and  for  nine  years  was  employed  by 
them  as  a  color-mixer.  He  then  became  as- 
sistant superintendent,  holding  that  position 
for  eleven  years,  and  on  April  i,  1876,  was 
made  superintendent  of  the  works,  which  of- 
fice he  now  holds.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bogle  have 
three  children:  John,  born  in  1858,  has 
charge  of  the  cambric  department  in  the  print 
works;  Alice,  born  in  i860,  is  at  home  with 
her  parents;  and  Mary,  born  in  1862,  married 
John  Macauley,  who  is  an  engraver  in  the  print 
works.  Our  subject  is  a  Republican  in  his  po- 
litical views,  and  all  the  family  are  members 
of  the  Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  Bogle,  as  may  be  inferred  from  the 
foregoing  sketch,  holds  an  important  place  in 
the  community.  He  stands  high  with  his  busi- 
ness associates  as  a  man  of  ability,  strict  in- 
tegrity and  of  progressive  ideas.  In  all  the 
relations  of   life  he  has  fulfilled  his  duties  with 


fidelity,  and  his  enterprise  and  industry  hav( 
brought  him  financial  prosperity  as  well  as  thf 
good  will  of  his  fellow  men.  No  citizen  0 
Wappingers  Falls  is  more  deserving  of  respecl 
and  esteem  or  more  worthy  a  place  in  thi; 
volume. 


Ill  NTHONY  BRIGGS  (deceased)  was  one 
.^^  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  the  towr 
of  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess  county,  and  one 
of  her  well-to-do  citizens.  He  was  widel) 
known  and  honored,  and  in  his  death  Dutches; 
county,  in  whose  welfare  he  always  took  i 
commendable  interest,  has  lost  a  valued  citi 
zen.  His  integrity  of  character,  unboundee 
benevolence,  and  never  failing  courtesy,  madi 
him  beloved  by  all  who  had  the  honor  of  hi 
acquaintance. 

Mr.  Briggs  was  born   in  the  town  of  Pin^ 
Plains,     Dutchess    county.     May     25,     1829 
and   his   father,    who   was   a   son   of  Anthonj 
Briggs,  was  also  born  in  that  town,  March  25 
1800.     The  family  is  of  English  lineage.    Th' 
father  married  Clarissa  Benham,  who  was  alsi 
of  English  descent,  and  a  native  of  New  Haven 
Conn. ,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  thre 
children:     Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  H.  Jewett 
who  is  living  retired  in  Poughkeepsie;  Harriet 
wife  of  Benjamin  White,   a  farmer  of  Wiscor 
sin;  and  Anthony,  subject  of  this  sketch.    Th 
parents  began  house-keeping  in  the  town  c 
Pine  Plains,  on  a  farm,  but  later  removed  t 
Washington   town,    Dutchess    county,     wher 
they  reared  their  family. 

Our  subject  passed   the  first  three  years  i 
his  life  in  his  native  town,  after  which  he  w? 
taken  to  Washington  town,  where  he  received 
good  education,  and  became  a  surveyor,  whic 
business  he  followed  in   early  life,  being  thn 
years  thus  employed  in  Wisconsin.     On  Febn 
ary  24,  1852,  Mr.  Briggs  was  united  in  marriaf 
with  Miss    Hannah   White,  who  was   born 
the  town  of  Washington,  April  9,   1830,  and 
a  daughter  of  Ethan  White,  who  was  also  boi 
there,  the  date  of  his  birth  being  October  i 
1802.      Her    mother,    who    bore    the    maidi 
name  of  Myra  Northrope,  was  born  in  thetov 
of  Amenia,    Dutchess  county,    April  9,    180^ 
and  aftei*  her  marriage  with  Mr.  White  th 
located  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Washingto 
where  they  reared  their  seven  children   as  f( 
lows:     Mary,    wife    of    Hiram  T.  Beecher, 
farmer  of  Pleasant  Valley  town;  Benjamin, 
agriculturist   of   Wisconsin;  Abner  (deceasee 


<>y^^^7:^/^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPBIGAL  RECORD. 


198 


who  was  a  farmer  of  Washington  town,  Dutch- 
ess county;  Seneca,  also  a  deceased  farmer  of 
Washington  town;  Catherine,  wife  of  Edward 
R.  Kinney,  of  the  same  town;  Hannah,  widow 
of  our  subject;  and  Davis,  who  operates  a  farm 
in  Washington  town.  In  politics  the  father 
was  a  Republican,  and  he  and  his  wife  be- 
longed to  the  Methodist  Church;  he  died  in 
1 87 1,  she  in  1868.  Abner  White,  the  paternal 
grandfather  of  Mrs.  Briggs,  was  a  native  of  the 
town  of  Washington,  and  a  son  of  Charles 
White,  who  was  a  descendant  of  Peregrine 
White,  the  first  white  male  child  born  in 
America.  Her  maternal  grandfather,  Benja- 
min Northrope,  a  native  of  Redding,  Conn., 
was  the  son  of  Samuel  Northrope,  who  was  of 
English  descent,  and  became  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  of  the  town  of  Amenia.  Both  the 
White  and  Northrope  families  were  very  prom- 
inent in  this  part  of  the  State. 

For  fifteen   years   after  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Briggs   engaged    in  farming    in    the    town    of 
Washington,  but  in   1869  he  removed  to  the 
farm  now  owned   by   his   widow,  which    com- 
prises 300  acres  of  good  land.     There  he  car- 
ried on  general    farming   in   connection    with 
surveying,  and  was  very  successful  in  his  un- 
dertakings.    In  the  family  were  three  children: 
Davis   W.,    of    whom    special     mention    will 
presently  be  made;   Mary  E. ,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  three  years;   and   Homer   E.,  a  well- 
known  lawyer  of    Poughkeepsie.     Mr.  Briggs 
was  a  stanch  advocate  of   the  policy  pursued 
by  the   Republican    party,  held    the  office  of 
supervisor  for  two  terms,    was  justice  of  the 
peace  in  the  town  of  Washington,  eleven  years, 
and  five  years  in  Pleasant  Valley,   ever   dis- 
:harging  his  duties  with  promptness  and  fidel- 
ty.      While    in    Wisconsin    he    was    elected 
superintendent  of  schools  in   the  town  of  Em- 
Dire,   and  after  returning  to   Washington    he 
aught   school   several    months.      The    whole 
;ommunity  mourns  with  the   bereaved  family 
he  taking   away    of   this    noble-hearted   and 
;enerous  man,    who  died    February    5,  1895. 
^e  was  a  sincere  member  of  the    Methodist 
Church,  to  which  his  widow  also  belongs. 

Davis  W.  Briggs,  the  eldest  son  of  this 
tonored  couple,  was  born  February  24,  1853, 
1  the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess  county, 
nd  received  his  education  in  both  Washington 
nd  Pleasant  Valley  towns.  He  is  now  oper- 
ting  the  old  farm  in  Washington,  and  also 
le  homestead  farm  in  Pleasant  Valley.  On 
>ctober  18,    1882,  he   married   Irene   Bower, 

13 


who  was  born  February  20,  1858,  in  Pleasant 
Valley,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Hannah  (Kirk) 
Bower,  and  four  children  have  been  born  to 
this  union:  Anthony  J.,  Mary  Alida,  Harold 
G.  and  Norton  Augustus.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  of  Pleasant  Valley. 


TRISTRAM  COFFIN  is  a  descendant  of 
the    CofTyns,    of   Devonshire,    England. 

The  Manor  of  Alwington  in  that  county  was 
assigned  to  Sir  Richard  Coffyn  by  William 
the  Conqueror  in  the  eleventh  century.  It  has 
remained  in  the  family  ever  since,  and  is  now 
known  as  Portledge  Manor.  It  is  located  on 
the  coast  near  Plymouth,  and  contains  about 
four  thousand  acres.  The  family  mansion  and 
one  of  the  churches  on  the  estate  are  ancient 
stone  buildings.  Many  of  the  memorial  stones 
of  members  of  the  family  are  in  this  old  church. 

Tristram  Coffyn,  the  first  of  the  race  who 
settled  in  America,  came  to  Massachusetts  in 
1642.  He  lived  for  a  time  in  Haverhill  and 
Newburyport,  and  removed  to  Nantucket  in 
1660.  In  company  with  nine  others,  he  pur- 
chased the  Island  from  the  Crown  and  the  In- 
dians. He  was  prominent  among  the  early 
settlers,  and  became  chief  magistrate  of  the 
Island.  He  died  there  in  1681.  His  letters 
to  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  the  English  Colonial 
Governor  of  New  York,  are  preserved  in  the 
State  archives  in  Albany.  ^ 

The  accurate  genealogical  records  existing 
in  Nantucket,  enable  members  of  its  old 
families  to  trace  their  lineage  back  to  England 
in  unbroken  lines.  The  names  of  the  succes- 
sive sires  of  the  nine  generations  of  the  Coflin 
family,  ancestors  of  Tristram  Coffin,  were  as 
follows:  Nicholas,  Peter,  Tristram  (the  pio- 
neer), John  (who  died  at  Martha's  Vineyard  in 
1711),  Peter,  Tristram,  Abishai  (who  settled 
in  the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess  county, 
in  1774),  Robert  and  Alexander  H.  With  the 
exception  of  the  last,  these  names  are  inscribed 
on  the  family  monument  in  the  burial  ground 
of  the  old  Friends'  meeting  house  at  Nine 
Partners  (now  Millbrook),  New  York. 

Alexander  H.  Coffin,  father  of  Tristram, 
died  in  Poughkeepsie  in  1890.  His  wife,  Jane 
Vincent,  also  died  there,  in  1871.  They  had 
three  children:  Owen  Vincent  Coffin,  ex-Gov- 
ernor of  Connecticut,  who  resides  in  Middle- 
town,  in  that  State;  Tristram;  and  Harriet  M. 
Valentine   (deceased).     Through  his    mother, 


194 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mr.  Coffin  is  related  to  the  Vincent,  Fowler 
and  Vail  families  of  Dutchess  county.  Capt. 
Israel  Vail,  of  the  Revolutionary  army,  was 
one  of  his  ancestors.  Through  his  father  he  is 
connected  with  the  Vanderburgh  and  Bentley 
families.  Henry  Vanderburgh,  his  ancestor  five 
generations  back,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
in  Poughkeepsie.  James,  son  of  Henry  Van- 
derburgh, who  was  Mr.  Coffin's  direct  ancestor 
four  generations  removed,  lived  and  died  in  the 
town  of  Beekman.  He  was  a  colonel  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  Washington  mentions  in 
his  journal  having  dined  at  Col.  Vanderburgh's 
on  several  occasions,  while  the  army  was  en- 
camped above  the  Highlands. 

Tristram  Coffin  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Unionvale,  and  attended  the  district  school, 
and,  later,  Amenia  Seminary.  He  left  home 
at  an  early  age,  and  was  in  business  in  New 
York  for  several  years.  He  made  a  number 
of  trips  through  the  South  and  West  before 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  After  the  outbreak 
of  the  war,  he  studied  law  in  the  office  of 
Joseph  W.  Gott,  of  Goshen,  Orange  Co., 
N.  Y.  Leaving  Goshen  in  1 863,  he  entered  the 
Albany  Law  School,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated in  1864.  He  then  went  to  Poughkeep- 
sie, where  he  was  a  law  student  in  the  office 
of  the  late  Hon.  Allard  Anthony  for  one  year 
before  commencing  practice.  In  1870  he  was 
elected  district  attorney  of  Dutchess  county, 
and  held  the  office  for  three  -years.  In  1881 
Mr.  Coffin  delivered  the  principal  oration  at  the 
meeting  of  the  representatives  of  the  Coffin 
family  of  the  United  States  held  at  Nantucket. 
He  has  been  asked  to  compete  for  different 
public  positions,  and  to  accept  office  in  monied 
and  other  corporations,  but  has  invariably  de- 
clined. For  about  twenty  years  he  devoted 
himself  untiringly  to  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  Poughkeepsie,  in  which  he  was  sucess- 
ful  from  the  outset.  While  in  the  midst  of  a 
lucrative  practice,  and  in  the  prime  of  life,  he 
surprised  his  clients  and  friends  by  refusing  to 
receive  any  new  business.  For  several  years, 
although  he  has  kept  an  office  for  the  transac- 
tion of  his  duties  as  trustee  of  a  number  of 
estates,  he  has  been  absent  much  of  the  time. 
He  remained  a  bachelor  until  1890,  when  he 
married  Miss  Ida  M.  Gardner,  a  native  of 
Michigan,  and  a  descendant,  of  the  eleventh 
generation,  from  Sir  Thomas  Gardner,  of 
Yorkshire,  England. 

Mr.  Coffin  is  a  gentleman  of  sterling  char- 
acter, refined  tastes,  an  ardent  lover  of  nature 


and  an  enthusiastic  traveler.  He  has  seen  much 
of  his  own  country,  and  has  made  a  number  of 
trips  to  Europe  and  the  East.  He  has  been 
a  frequent  contributor  to  newspapers  and  peri- 
odicals, and  possesses  marked  literary  ability. 
He  is  a  collector  of  antiques,  rare  books  and 
autographs.  His  collection  of  manuscripts  is 
especially  rich  in  Colonial  and  Revolutionary 
letters  and  documents. 

Mr.  Coffin  has  an  attractive  country  home 
on  the  Hudson,  at  Milton,  Ulster  county, 
where  he  usually  spends  the  summer. — F.  C. 
Valentine. 


E^DWIN  JUCKETT,  who  was  called  from 
^  this  earth  on  the  2d  of  February,  1896, 

had  spent  his  entire  life  in  Dutchess  county, 
and  for  many  years  was  a  leading  blacksmith 
and  wagon-maker  of  Stanfordville,  where  hisi 
death   occurred.      His    honorable   upright  lifei 
had  secured  for  him  the  respect  of  all. 

Mr.  Juckett  was  born  in  the  town  of  Amen 
September  24,  1824,  and  was  one  of  the  thr 
children  of   Lewis    M.   and  Juliette  (Bennet 
Juckett,  the  others   being  Stephen  and  SallyJ 
both  now  deceased.     On  both  the  paternal  an 
maternal  sides  he  was  of  French  descent,  and 
his  father,  who  was  born  in   Kent,  Conn, 
came    a    prominent    farmer   of    the    town 
Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  where  Edwin  passed 
his  school  days.      On  leaving  the  parental  roofi 
in  1844,  he  began  working  for  S.  O.  Rogersi 
Sr. ,  in  an   axle  factor}'   at  Stanfordville,  ancJ 
five  years  later  bought  the  Daniel  Young  place| 
near  that  village,  where  he  erected  a  house  antj 
shop,  the   former  of    which   is  still  standing 
The  shop  was  burned   in  March,  1873,  buthi 
at   once   rebuilt,  and  there  carried  on   black 
smithing  and  wagon-making  up  to  the  time  c| 
his  death — a  period  of  almost  half  a  century 
On  October   31,    1849,    Mr.    Juckett   wa<' 
married  to  Miss  Elsie  A.  Gildersleeve,  daugh 
ter  of  Joseph   Gildersleeve,   a  woolen   mam 
facturer  of  Stanfordville.      Her  birth  occurre 
April    30,    1824,  and  she   died   on  March  i; 
1874.      In    their    family    were    five    childrer 
(i)  Mary   B. ,    after   graduating    from    D.   C 
Wright's  private  school  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y 
engaged  in  teaching  until  her  mother's  deatl 
after  which  she  kept  house  for  her  father,  ar 
still    makes    her   home    in    Stanfordville. 
George  B.,  after  learning  the  blacksmith  ti 
with  his  father,  followed  the  trade  at  Stanfor 
ville  and  Wassaic,  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  f 


COMMEMORA  TIVE  BIOORAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


195 


several  years.      He  then  engaged  in  the  milk 
business  with   his   uncle   in   Brooklyn,    N.    Y. , 
with  whom  he  remained  several  years.      Later 
he  studied  stenography  under  the  tuition   of 
Prof.   T.    J.    Ellinwood,  for  twenty-five  years 
the  official  reporter  of  Henry  Ward  Beecher's 
sermons.      In  1883,  after  completing  his  study 
of  stenography,  he  entered  the  employ  of  Col. 
George  Bliss,  of  New  York  City,  a  well-known 
lawyer  and  legal  author,  as  his  stenographer 
and  private  secretary,  with  whom  he  remained 
twelve  years.      During  the  year   1895.    while 
Mr.  Bliss  was  traveling  in   Europe,  he  was  in 
the  employ  of  the  Grant  Monument  Associa- 
tion,  under  Gen.  Horace  Porter,  president  of 
the  Association,   and  the  present  ambassador 
to   France.       During  this    year    Gen.    Porter 
dictated  to  him  his  ' '  Campaigning  with  Grant. " 
Upon  Col.  Bliss'  return  from  Europe  he  again 
■ntered  his  employ,  with  whom  he  still  remains. 
1}  William  M.,  a  native  of  the  town  of  Stan- 
ord,  attended  school  there,  and  began  his  busi- 
'^ess  career  as  a  clerk   in   a  store  at  Bangall, 
ti.  Y.      He  then    held    a    similar    position  in 
'oughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  after  which  he  became 
raveling  salesman  for  his  uncle,  who  was  con- 
ected  with   the  wholesale  dry-goods  house  of 
"efft,  Weller  &  Co.,  of   New   York  City.     At 
he  end  of  three  jears  he  left  this  firm  to  accept 
position  as  salesman  for  the  wholesale  dry- 
-is    house    of    Butler,  Clapp    &    Co.,   with 
m  he  remained  seven  years.      He  then  be- 
le  connected  with  the  dry-goods  house  of 
Jaffray  &    Co.,    remaining    with   them 
their  failure.      He    is    now    a    traveling 
iman  for  Dunham.  Buckley  &  Co.,  whole- 
ile  dry-goods  merchants  at  No.  340  Broadway, 
w  York  City.     He  married  Margaret  Husted," 
hJ  they  now  make  their  home  at  Attlebury' 
Hp-     (4)  DeWitt,  after  following  the  black'- 
^rth    trade  for   several   years,   then   became 
eling    salesman    for   Joseph    Ruppert,    a 
'olesale    hardware     merchant     at    No     212 
iffield  street,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.      He  married 
sElma  Green,  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  by 
-n  he  has  had  three  children  :  Elsie  A.  and 
leB.  fboth  deceased),   and  William.      He 
r^idesat  No.  313  Glenrnore  avenue,  Brooklyn, 
\;      (5)  Carrie  E.,  after  graduating  from 
Eastman  Business  College,  Poughkeepsie, 
^  -,  entered  the  employ  of  Orvis  Bros.  & 
bankers  and  brokers,  of  No.   44  Broad- 
.  New  York  City,  as  stenographer,  remain- 
with  them  eight  years.      She   is  now  the 
of  George  C.  Trefry.    and  two  children 


bless  their  union:  Edwin  J.  and  George  Clifford 
They    reside  at  Nc.   36  Morton    street,    New 
York  City. 


-pETER  BURHANS  (deceased).     The  sub- 
K     ject  of  this  sketch,  who  was  formerly  a 
well-known    wagon    manufacturer   of    Pough- 
keepsie, was  born  in  Pleasant  Valley    Dutch- 
T.f,"^"?"^^'  J^""^'"y  2,  18 1 2,  and  was  the  sen 
of  William  and  Mary  (Smith)  Burhans.     Jacob 
Burhans  arrived  in  this  country  prior  to  Decem- 
ber, 1660.     Jans,  a  son,  who  arrived  in  April 
1663,   married   Miss   Helena   Traphagan,   and 
from  them  the  subject  of  this  memoir  is  de- 
scended  through    Barent    and    Johannes    and 
Petrus. 

Our  subject  had  no  schooling  to  speak  of 
but  was  a  man  of  good  mechanical  ability.     He 
spent   his    younger    days   in   Pleasant  Valley 
coming  to  Poughkeepsie  when  about  eighteen 
years  old  to  learn  the  wagon  maker's  trade. 
He  worked  as  a  journeyman  only  a  few  years, 
and  then  started  in  business  for  himself  in  the 
city,  later  forming  a  partnership  which  proved 
somewhat  disastrous.     About  the  year  1 844  he 
carried  on  business  at  No.  2,77  (now  385)  Main 
street.      In    1851    or    1852    he  purchased   the 
premises,  and  continued  to  carry  on  business 
there  until  the  spring  of  1877,  when  he  retired 
on  account  of  ill  health,  and  had  the  building 
altered  to  suit   other  business.      In    1855    he 
bought  the  adjoining  lot,  and  put  up  a  frame 
building  which  was  used  by  various  parties  as 
a   blacksmith  shop  till  the  summer  of   1877, 
when   it   was   demolished   to  give  place  to   a 
more  substantial  brick  building— Nos.  387J  and 
389  Main  street.     Both  buildings  are  stUl  in 
the  possession  of  the  family.      He  was  a  self- 
made  man,  very  thorough,  careful,  and  pains- 
taking,   and  his   work  had   the   reputation   of 
being  the  very  best. 

Mr.  Burhans  was  twice  married,  his  first 
wife  being  Miss  Johanna  B.  Smith,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Uriah  Smith,  a  farmer  in  the  town 
of  Hyde  Park  (who  died  a  comparatively 
young  man),  and  niece  of  Judge  Isaac 
Smith,  of  Lithgow.  She  died  in  1859. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burhans  were  born  three 
children:  Albert,  who  died  young;  Ella,  who 
married  Isaac  Germond;  and  Mary,  who  died 
in  1875,  aged  twenty-three  years.  His  sec- 
ond marriage  was,  in  i860,  to  Miss  Eliza 
Pinckney,  daughter  of  Jacob  Pinckney  of 
Bethel,     Sullivan    Co.,    N.   Y.      Our    subject 


196 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


was  a  Republican,  and  took  quite  an  in- 
terest in  political  matters.  Although  receiv- 
ing but  little  schooling,  he  supplemented  it 
with  a  great  deal  of  reading,  and  was  well  in- 
formed on  current  topics  of  the  day.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  was 
early  in  life  associated  with  the  sons  of  tem- 
perance, having  strong  views  and  ideas  regard- 
ing total  abstinence.  He  died  in  1887,  in  his 
seventy-sixth  year.  Mrs.  Germond  has  one 
daughter,  Clara,  now  (1897)  eight  years  old. 

William  Burhans  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion He  married  Miss  Mary  Smith,  and  they 
had  the  following  children:  Henry,  Elmira, 
Peter,  William  (2),  Edwin  S.,  Charles,  John, 
Willitt  (who  died  in  1894),  and  George  H. 
(who  lives  in  Pleasant  Valley,  and  is  the  only 
survivor).  William  (Sen.)  died  about  1855. 

Isaac  Germond,  mentioned  above,  is  a 
member  of  one  of  the  very  oldest  families  m 
the  county,  who  formerly  owned  a  large  tract 
of  land  surrounding  "Germond  Hill,"  near  Ver- 
bank  and  one  of  the  descendants,  Lewis  U 
Germond,  still  occupies  a  part  of  the  original 
tract  in  the  town  of  Washington.  George 
Washington  Germond,  father  of  Isaac,  died  in 
1 89 1  in  his  ninetieth  year,  leaving  five  sons 
and  two  daughters.  The  Germonds,  Germans 
and  Jarmans  are  said  by  some  to  be  all  de- 
scended from  four  brothers  who  came  from 
France  about  two  hundred  years  ago,  one  set- 
tling on  Long  Island,  one  in  Harlem,  one  in 
the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess  county, 
and  one  in  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess 
county. 

H^ON.    SAMUEL    K.   PHILLIPS,    county 
[_  judge  of  Dutchess  county,  and  a  lawyer 

of  wide  reputation  for  ability  and  success  in 
the  management  of  important  cases,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  born  February  12, 
1858  but  since  the  age  of  four  years  he  has 
had  his  home  in  the  village  of  Matteawan. 
His  father,  Edmund  S.  Phillips,  was  the  first 
lawyer  to  locate  at  Matteawan. 

judge  Phillips  received  his  education  in  the 
private^nd  public  schools  of  Matteawan,  and 
at  an  early  age  began  his  professional  studies 
in  his  father's  office.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  May,  1879.  having  just  attained  his 
majority,  and  immediately  engaged  in  practice. 
During  the  past  sixteen  years  he  has  made  an 
enviable  record,  and  has  been  retained  as 
counsel,  on  one  side  or  the  other,  in  nearly  all 


the  cases  of  note  that  have  arisen   in  this  lo- 
cality.     He  was  engaged  by  the  State  of  New 
York  to  take   charge    of  the   legal  matters  in 
connection  with  the.location  of  the  State  Hos- 
pital at  Matteawan,  and   later  was   employed 
by  the  State  in  the  important  matter  of  acquir- 
ing a  right  of  way  for  a  sewer  from  that  insti- 
tution to  the  Hudson  river.      He   is   now  the 
attorney  for  the  Mechanics  Savings  Bank,  of 
Fishkill  Landing;  for  The  Matteawan  Savings 
Bank,  and  for  The  Matteawan  National  Bank, 
and  has  been   the  legal  advisor  of  the  pro- 
moters of  many  of  the  leading  business  enter- 
prises of  the  town.      In  some  of  the  most  im- 
portant   of    these    ventures    he    is  personally 
interested;  he  is  president  of  The   Matteawan 
Savings  Bank,  a  director  of  The  Matteawan 
National  Bank,  and  was  one  of  the  projectors, 
and  is  still  a  director  and  one  of  the  principal 
stockholders  of   the  electric  railway  system  of 
the  town  of  Fishkill.     He  is  a  trustee  and  the 
treasurer  of  Highland    Hospital;  a   trustee  of 
the  Fairview  Cemetery  Association,  chairmap 
of  the  board  of  trustees,  and    for   more  than 
twenty  years  secretary  of  the  Sunday-school  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Matteawan. 
For  the  past  ten  years  he  has  been  a  member 
of  the  board  of  education,  and  during  the  last 
year  of  his  service  therein  was  its  president. 

Able  and  popular,  possessing  all  the  quali- 
ties which  insure  success  in  public  life,  it  is 
not  surprising  that  he  should  already  have  be- 
come a  leader  in  political  affairs.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1895.  he  was  elected  on  the  Republican 
ticket  to  the  office  of  county  judge.  Com- 
menting upon  his  nomination,  the  Poughkeep- 
sie  Star  says:  -  *  *  *  young  in  years 
but  old  in  experience,  a  good  lawyer,  a  man 
to  be  trusted  by  the  people.  Although  there 
are  many  attorneys  in  the  county  who  feel 
that  this  is  a  good  year  to  be  the  nominee  on 
the  Republican  ticket,  all  were  united  in  en- 
dorsing Mr.  Phillips  as  the  choice  of  the 
party."  The  Fishkill  Standard,  the  leading 
Democratic  paper  of  the  locality,  said:  "As  a 
citizen  of  the  town  of  Fishkill,  and  as  an  active 
professional  man,  we  have  only  words  of  com- 
mendation for  Samuel  K.  Phillips.  Raised  in 
Matteawan,  and  educated  in  the  public  schools 
there,  he  has  always  been  before  the  eyes  of 
the  public,  and  has  won  his  way  to  distinction 
and  success  by  many  excellent  qualities.  That 
he  will  make  a  good  county  judge,  if  elected, 
and  be  a  worthy  successor  of  those  who  have 
preceded  him,  is  suie." 


c/.a:. 


L 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


197 


The  Judge  is  a  prominent  Free  Mason,  and 
at  present  is  master  of  Beacon  Lodge  No.  283, 
F.  &  A.  M. ,  a  member  of  Highland  Chapter 
No.  52,  R.  A.  M..  Hudson  River  Command- 
ery,  K.  T. ,  and  Mecca  Temple,  Order  of  the 
Mystic  Shrine.  In  October,  1885,  he  married 
Miss  Henrietta  Reid,  daughter  of  Luke  and 
Abigail  (Darling)  Reid,  of  Hudson,  N.  Y. 
They  have  one  son,  Samuel  Vincent  Phillips. 


VUERNSEY  FAMILY.  (I)  John  Guern- 
fi  sey,  the  progenitor  of  the  Guernsey  fam- 
ily in  America,  appears  in  Milford,  Conn., 
about  1634.  (II)  Joseph  Guernsey,  son  of  the 
above,  born  in  1639,  married  Hannah  Coley, 
daughter  of  Samuel  Coley,  Sr.,  April  10,  1663, 
resided  at  Milford,  and  was  a  "  free  planter." 
(Ill)  Joseph  Guernsey,  son  of  Joseph,  was 
born  at  Milford,  1674.  Large  land  owner. 
He  married  Hannah  Disbrow,  daughter  of 
Gen.  Disbrow,  of  Horse  Neck,  and  removed  to 
Woodbury,  Conn.,  where  he  died  September 
15,  1754.  (lY)  John  Guernsey,  son  of  above, 
born  April  6,  1 709,  married  ' '  Ann  Peck,  daugh- 
ter of  Jeremiah  Peck,  and  granddaughter  of 
the  Rev.  Jeremiah  Peck,  well  known  through- 
out New  England. "  He  removed  to  Litchfield, 
Conn.,  thence  to  Amenia,  N.  Y. ,  where  he 
died  and  was  buried,  1783. 

(V)  John  Guernsey,  son  of  John  and  Ann 
Guernsey,  was  born  October  28,  1734.  He 
married  Azubah  Buel;  removed  to  Broome 
county,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  owned  1,000  acres  of 
land;  afterward  returned  to  Amenia,  where  he 
'died  in  1799,  and  was  buried  near  the  grave  of 
his  father.  (VI)  Ezekiel  Guernsey,  M.  D., 
son  of  the  above,  was  born  in  1775,  married 
Lavoisa  Bennett,  daughter  of  Col.  Peter  Ben- 
nett, and  died  at  Stanford,  Dutchess  county, 
|N.  Y.,  in  1856. 

(VIIj  Stephen  Gano  Guernsey,  son  of  Eze- 
kiel and  Lavoisa  Guernsey,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Stanford,  September  8,  1799,  and 
died  in  the  town  of  Stanford  in  1875;  married 
Elenor  Rogers,  of  Litchfield.  Conn. ,  daughter 
Df  Dayton  Rogers  and  granddaughter  of  a 
Revolutionary  soldier. 

(VIIIj  Stephen  Gano  Guernsey,  son  of 
Stephen  Gano  and  Elenor  Guernsey,  was  born 
^pril  22,  1848,  in  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutch- 
ess county,  N.  Y.,  and  in  his  boyhood  winters 
ittended  the  common  schools  of  the  locality, 
vhile  in  the  summers  he  did  general  work  on 


the  farm.  His  education  he  finished  at  Fort 
Edward  Institute,  Glens  Falls,  New  York. 

In  1870  Mr.  Guernsey  moved  to  Pough- 
keepsie,  where  he  read  law  with  Judge  Charles 
Wheaton  and  his  brother,  D.  W.  Guernsey, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1871.  In  1874 
he  was  appointed  deputy  county  clerk,  which 
incumbency  he  held  until  1876,  when  he  re- 
signed to  commence  the  practice  of  law  for 
himself  in  the  office  of  Jacob  Jewett,  who  died 
some  few  months  later.  Mr.  Guernsey  contin- 
ued in  the  same  office,  and  has  since  remained 
in  active  practice,  which  is  a  general  one.  In 
his  political  preferences  Mr.  Guernsey  is  a 
Democrat,  and  has  gerved  as  member  of  the 
board  of  education  four  years — from  1890  to 
1894.  He  was  U.  S.  Loan  Commissioner,  ap- 
pointed under  Gov.  Robinson,  and  has  been 
re-appointed  by  each  succeeding  governor  to 
the  present  time,  although,  owing  to  a  change 
of  the  State  laws,  there  is  little  business  for 
the  office  at  present.  In  1892  he  was  elected 
president  of  the  Poughkeepsie  National  Bank, 
and  is  still  serving  as  such. 

In  1877  Mr.  Guernsey  was  married  to  Miss 
Marianna  Hicks,  and  children  as  follows  were 
born  to  them:  Raymond  Gano  (IX)  Homer 
Wilson,  Louis  Gildersleeve  and  Emeline.  Our 
subject  is  a  careful,  conservative  business  man. 


EvLIZABETH  H.  GEROW,  M.  D.,  a  pio- 
'j  neer  woman  physician  of   Poughkeepsie, 

Dutchess  county,  whose  success  has  been  a 
pleasing  and  convincing  test  of  the  ability  of 
her  sex  to  cope  with  all  the  difficulties  of  her 
profession,  is  a  descendant  of  an  old  Huguenot 
family,  the  name  being  originally  Giraud. 

Her  ancestors  were  early  settlers  in  Ulster 
county,  and  her  great-grandfather,  William 
Gerow,  was  a  resident  of  Plattekill,  where  the 
homestead  has  ever  since  been  maintained. 
Her  grandfather,  Elias  Gerow,  lived  and  died 
there;  he  married  Elizabeth  Coutant,  and  their 
son,  Elias  Gerow  (2),  our  subject's  father,  was 
also  a  lifelong  resident,  following  farming  as 
an  occupation.  He  married  Sally  Ann  Baker, 
a  native  of  Westchester  county,  who  survived 
him  and  died  at  our  subject's  home  in  Pough- 
keepsie. Ten  children  were  born  of  this  union 
— four  daughters  and  six  sons — of  the  latter 
onlj'  four  are  now  living. 

Dr.  Elizabeth  H.  Gerow  attended  the 
schools  of  Plattekill  during  her  childhood,  and 
later  studied  in  the  Friends'  School  at  Union 


198 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Springs,  N.  Y.  She  taught  for  some  time  in 
Ulster  county,  and  then,  desiring  to  prepare 
herself  for  the  medical  profession,  she  entered 
the  Woman's  Hospital  in  Boston,  Mass.  After 
eight  months  there  she  began  the  course  in  the 
Medical  Department  of  Michigan  University, 
from  which  she  was  graduated  in  the  spring  of 
1875.  She  had,  in  the  meantime,  continued 
her  studies  in  the  Woman's  Hospital  during 
her  vacations,  spending  about  three  years,  in 
all,  in  the  institution,  and  gaining  an  experi- 
ence which  at  that  time  was  seldom  obtainable 
by  a  woman.  She  became  an  expert  in  deal- 
ing with  the  diseases  of  women  and  children, 
and,  from  the  first,  has  n;et  with  unusual  suc- 
cess in  her  practice.  On  May  i,  1875,  she 
opened  her  office  in  Poughkeepsie,  and  in  five 
years  had  all  the  business  that  she  could  attend 
to.  For  the  past  ten  years  she  has  devoted 
her  entire  time  to  her  large  office  practice. 

Dr.  Gerow  is  held  in  high  esteem  among 
her  professional  associates,  as  well  as  with  the 
general  public,  and  was  appointed  on  the 
first  Medical  Board  of  the  Vassar  Hospital  in 
Poughkeepsie,  and  she  is  a  member  of  the 
Dutchess  County  Medical  Society,  and  a  cor- 
responding member  of  the  Boston  Gynecolog- 
ical Society. 


WILLIAM  L.  DAVIS  (deceased),  a  well- 
known  farmer  and   auctioneer  of  the 

town  of  Washington,  was  born  in  Columbia 
county,  February  10,  1835.  His  father, 
Henry  D.,  was  born  in  the  same  county,  where 
he  married  and  settled  on  a  farm.  To  him 
and  his  wife  were  born  these  children:  Or- 
ville,  who  married  Miss  Maria  Emigh,  and  is 
now  farming  in  the  town  of  Clinton;  he  has 
one  son,  Henry  T. ;  Esther  died  unmarried, 
April  10,  1896;  William  L.  is  our  subject.  Mr. 
Davis  farmed  in  Columbia  county  and  in  Wis- 
consin, dying  in  the  latter  place  in  1837.  His 
wife  was  Miss  Jane  Ann  Lawton,  who  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Washington  May  i,  1809, 
the  only  child  of  Seth  Lawton,  who  was  born 
June  18,  1782,  in  Rhode  Island,  and  died  in 
November,  1869,  and  Esther  (Peck)  Lawton, 
who  was  born  near  New  York  City,  August  25, 
1786,  and  died  December  6,  185 1.  David 
Lawton,  the  father  of  Seth,  was  a  farmer  in 
Washington  town. 

^Villiam  L. ,  our  subject,  remained  at  home 
in  the  town  of  Washington  until  December  27, 
1856,  on  which  date  he  was  married  to  Miss 


Mary  L.  Wilson,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Mary  (Streight)  Wilson.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis 
secured  a  farm  in  this  town,  and  three  children 
were  born  to  them,  namely:  Thomas  L.,  born 
March  6,  1859,  died  October  7,  1862;  Seth  L., 
born  December  17,  1862,  died  December  20, 
1864;  Willard  H.,  born  September  15,  1865. 
Mr.  Davis  was  .'.  Democrat,  and  he  and  his 
wife  were  both  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church. 

Willard  H.  manages  the  farm  of  168  acres, 
on  which  he  raises  Jersey  cattle,  Berkshire 
hogs,  and  Thorndale  horses.  The  farm  is 
called  "  Brookside  Stock  Farm." 

Thomas  Wilson,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Davis, 
was  born  and  reared  in  the  town  of  Unionvale; 
his  wife  was  born  in  Stanford.  They  settled 
on  a  farm  in  Unionvale,  and  reared  a  family  of 
six  children:  Eseck,  a  retired  citizen  of 
Poughkeepsie;  Maria  became  the  wife  of  Dr. 
John  Perry,  of  Amenia,  and  after  his  death 
she  married  Moses  Conger,  a  lawyer  in  the 
town  of  Clinton;  Sally  A.  married  Henry 
Chamberlin,  a  tanner  and  currier  (both  are  de- 
ceased); Mary  L.  is  our  subject's  wife;  John 
died  in  the  Civil  war;  George,  a  farmer,  died 
August  21,  1896,  in  Ashley,  Illinois..  Thomas 
Wilson  died  in  1843,  and  his  wife  July  3,  1879. 

Joseph  Wilson,  Mrs.  Davis'  grandfather, 
was  born  in  Ireland,  where  he  followed  the  oc- 
cupation of  a  weaver.  Henry  Streight  was 
the  maternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Wilson. 


WILLIAM  R.  KIMLIN,  who  was  a  prom- 
inent  contractor  and  builder  in  Pough- 
keepsie, Dutchess  county,  and  whose  death 
took  place  December  8,  1891,  was  born  in 
that  city  October  7,  1843.  His  father.  Will- 
iam Kimlin,  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1800,  and 
came  to  America  in  1839. 

William  Kimlin  obtained  a  good  education 
in  the  public  schools,  and  also  in  that  con- 
nected with  Christ  Church  (Episcopal).  He 
was  a  man  of  keen  perceptions,  and,  having 
always  been  a  great  reader,  was  well  informed 
on  all  subjects  of  general  interest.  After  leav- 
ing school  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  mason, 
serving  an  apprenticeship  of  three  years  with 
Mr.  Harlow  while  the  latter  was  engaged  in 
building  Vassar  College.  He  was  a  journey- 
man mason  for  some  time,  and  was  also  fore- 
man for  Elias  Spross  for  several  years.  About 
1874  he  started  as  a  contractor  and  builder  in 
partnership    with    James    Mathews,    the   firm 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


199 


I  name  being  Kimlin  &  Mathews.  This  connec- 
I  tion  continued  for  three  or  four  years,  when 
Mr.  Kimlin  assumed  entire  charge  of  the  busi- 
ness for  himself.  During  this  time  he  made 
contracts  for  some  of  the  largest  buildings  in 
the  city,  among  others  the  post  office,  which 
was  begun  in  the  fall  of  1884,  Mr.  Kimlin  com- 
pleting his  part  of  the  work  in  1886.  He  was 
one  of  the  foremost  men  in  his  trade,  and, 
having  more  than  average  ability  and  judg- 
ment, was  successful  in  his  enterprises.  He 
possessed  strong  individuality,  and  made  him- 
self felt  in  any  matters  in  which  he  was 
interested. 

Mr.  Kimlin  was  married  September  17, 
1873,  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Thomas  Conn, 
of  New  York  City.  Her  father  was  a  butcher, 
and  was  of  Irish  descent,  his  family  coming 
from  County  Down.  Five  children  were  born 
of  this  union:  William  T.  is  in  the  employ  of 
F.  J.  Nesbitt;  Stewart  T. ,  Lottie  S.  and  Edith 
B.  are  at  home  with  their  mother;  and  one 
died  in  infancy.  Of  these,  William  T.  and 
Stewart  T.  have  learned  the  mason  trade,  and 
expect  in  about  a  year  or  so  to  enter  in  the 
same  business  as  their  father. 

Mr.  Kimlin  was  strongly  in  sympathy  with 
:he  Republican  party,  although  he  never  took 
in  active  part  in  politics.  He  belonged  to  the 
Exempt  Firemen,  and  was  a  member  of 
Christ  Church,  Episcopal.  He  was  a  loyal 
;itizen,  and  always  ready  to  do  his  share  toward 
promoting  the  interests  of  his  community. 


SEORGE  TOFFEY  DOUGHTY  fde- 
_  ceased)  was  throughout  life  identified 
vith  the  interests  of  the  town  of  Beekman,  his 
)irth  having  occurred  at  Greenhaven,  in  that 
ownship,  October  6.  18 16.  The  Doughty 
amily  came  from  England  at  a  very  early  pe- 
iod  in  the  history  of  this  country,  one  of  the 
irst  being  Francis  Doughty,  a  clergyman  of 
he  Church  of  England. 

Joseph  Doughty,  the  grandfather  of  our 
ubject,  was  born  on  Long  Island,  and  fol- 
3wed  farming  as  a  life  work.  He  was  a  sin- 
ere  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  He 
larried  Miss  Psyche  Wiltsie,  and  to  them  were 
orn  twelve  children,  namely:  Thomas,  who 
ecame  a  farmer  of  Beekman  town;  Joseph, 
'ho  in  early  life  was  a  merchant,  and  later 
ved  in  Beekman  town;  Cornwell,  a  farmer 
nd  merchant  of  the  same  township;  Nehe- 
liah,  a  farmer  and   miller,   also  of  I3eekman 


town;  William,  the  father  of  our  subject; 
Martin,  also  a  farmer  of  Beekman  town;  Jacob, 
a  merchant  of  Greenhaven;  Psyche,  who 
married  Samuel  Vail,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Albany,  N.  Y. ;  Mary,  who  wedded  Jonathan 
Hoag,  a  farmer  of  Nassau,  N.  Y. ;  Jane,  who 
married  Philip  Flagler,  an  agriculturist;  John 
and  Elizabeth. 

William  Doughty,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Beekman, 
and  on  attaining  to  man's  estate  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Mrs.  Sarah  Vanderburgh  {nee 
Van  Wyck),  by  whom  he  had  six  children: 
Phebe,  John  J.,  Pysche,  William,  Sarah  and 
George  T.  All  his  life  the  father  carried  on 
farming  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  where  he 
was  numbered  among  the  highly-esteemed  cit- 
izens. He  died  in  1854  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
four  years,  the  mother  in  1865  at  the  age  of 
ninety-four  years. 

During  his  boyhood,  George  T.  Doughty 
attended  the  district  schools  near  his  home  in 
Beekman  town,  and  for  three  years  resided 
with  his  sister  at  New  Lebanon,  N.  Y.  He 
was  also  for  a  time  a  student  in  the  Nine  Part- 
ners Boarding  School  in  the  town  of  Washing- 
ton, Dutchess  county.  He  always  followed  the 
vocation  of  farming,  and  erected  all  the  build- 
ings upon  his  place  with  the  exception  of  the 
residence. 

On  December  14,  1836,  in  the  town  of 
Beekman,  Mr.  Doughty  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Van  Benschoten,  of  the  town  of  Lagrange, 
Dutchess  county,  and  to  them  were  born  three 
children:  Mary  G. ;  William  H.,  of  New  York 
City,  who  married  Mrs.  Edith  Bryant  [lu'e 
Chatterton),  and  to  them  was  born  one  child 
— Laura  Isabelle;  and  Edward,  deceased 
The  mother  of  these  died  May  17,  1843,  and 
in  the  same  township  Mr.  Doughty  was  again 
married,  his  second  union  being  with  Hester 
Kelley,  by  whom  were  also  born  three  children: 
James  A.,  of  Torrington,  Conn.,  who  was 
married  to  Miss  Alice  J.  Brooker,  of  the  same 
place,  and  to  them  were  born  two  children — 
Ella  Brooker  (deceased)  and  Marion  Seymour; 
Phebe  J.;  and  Cornell,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y., 
married  Miss  Anna  J.  Butts,  of  New  York 
City,  and  to  them  was  born  one  child — Isa- 
belle Perry. 

For  three  terms,  Mr.  Doughty  filled  the 
office  of  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Beekman, 
and  enjoyed  the  popularity  which  comes  to 
those  generous  spirits  who  have  a  hearty  shake 
of  the  hand  for  those  with  whom  they  come  in 


200 


OOMMEMOliATIVB  BIOQItAPUIUAL  RECORD. 


contact  from  day  to  day,  and  who  seem  to  throw 
around  them  in  consequence  so  much  of  the 
sunshine  of  life.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Society  of  Friends,  and  was  one  of  nature's 
noblemen,  the  world  being  better  for  his  hav- 
ing lived.  His  death,  which  occurred  in  the 
town  of  Beekman,  June  7,  1887,  was  widely 
and  deeply  mourned. 


QEORGE  E.  CRAMER,  president  of  the 
Board  of  Trade  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  a 
leading  grain  dealer  and  wholesale  grocer  of 
that  city,  was  born  in  Pleasant  V'alley,  Dutch- 
ess county,  August  31,   1841. 

Our  subject's  ancestors  came  originally 
from  Holland,  settling  in  Dutchess  count}'  at 
an  early  date.  His  grandfather,  Philip  Cra- 
mer, was  born  in  1783,  near  Poughkeepsie, 
where  he  was  a  farmer  for  some  years  before 
his  removal  to  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess 
county,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  forty-nine 
years.  He  married  Susannah  Reynolds,  and 
they  had  three  children:  Phoebe,  who  married 
Jehial  Smith;  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Henry 
Burhans,  and  George  B.,  our  subject's  father, 
who  was  born  in  Poughkeepsie  in  18 14.  His 
schooling  was  limited  to  a  few  years'  attend- 
ance at  the  public  schools  of  that  crty,  but  he 
was  a  man  of  common  sense,  and  acquired  a 
good  practical  education  in  the  course  of  his 
life.  He  was  a  carpenter  and  builder  in  Pleas- 
ant Valley  for  many  years,  and  was  quite  suc- 
cessful; but  failing  health  compelled  him  to 
choose  another  occupation,  and,  in  1874,  he 
engaged  in  the  butcher  trade  at  the  same  place. 
Politically,  he  was  first  a  Whig,  and  later  a 
Republican,  but  although  he  was  greatly  in- 
terested in  the  welfare  of  his  party,  he  was 
never  an  office-seeker.  For  full  half  a  century 
he  was  a  devout  and  consistent  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  was  a  trustee  for 
many  years.  He  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Dun- 
can, a  daughter  of  Joshua  Duncan,  a  well- 
known  manufacturer  of  cotton  goods  at  Pleas- 
ant Valley,  in  partnership  with  George  P.  Far- 
rington.  The  Duncans  are  among  the  oldest 
families  in  that  locality.  Nine  children  were 
born  of  this  marriage,  seven  of  whom  are  still 
living,  and  all  residents  of  Dutchess  county. 
The  mother  died  in  1880,  the  father  surviving 
her  until  May,  1893. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  attended  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  Pleasant  Valley,  and  studied 
ior  a  time  with  a  private  tutor,  supplementing 


these  limited  opportunities  in  his  later  years  by 
an  extended  course  of  reading.  At  the  age  of 
eleven  he  began  to  work  for  his  uncle  Duncan 
in  the  grocery  business  in  Poughkeepsie,  but 
after  two  years  he  returned  home  and  clerked 
in  a  country  store  for  about  two  years.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  he  went  to  Poughkeepsie  as 
clerk  for  John  McLean,  grocer,  remaining  four 
years;  then  engaged  as  bookkeeper  for  John 
H.  Matthews  in  the  freighting  business  at  the 
Lower  Landing,  and  after  five  years  there  he 
spent  two  years  in  the  same  capacity  with 
Gaylord,  Vail&  Doty,  at  the  Main  Street  Dock. 
In  1 87 1  he  entered  the  employ  of  W.  W. 
Reynolds  &  Co.,  as  bookkeeper,  and  three 
years  later  became  a  member  of  the  firm,  then 
known  as  Reynolds  &  Co.,  and  composed  of 
William  T.  and  John  R.  Reynolds  and  George 
E.  Cramer.  On  January  i,  1890,  the  firm  be- 
came Reynolds  &  Cramer,  and  as  the  senior 
member  is  not  in  good  health,  the  more  active 
management  of  the  business  devolves  upon 
Mr.  Cramer.  This  is  one  of  the  oldest  houses 
in  the  city,  dating  back  to  1820,  and  under  the 
able  and  enterprising  direction  of  Mr.  Cramer 
its  already  extensive  trade  has  been  enlarged 
to  five  times  its  volume  at  the  time  of  his  en- 
trance into  the  firm,  and  is  now  the  largest  es- 
tablishment of  its  kind  in  the  Hudson  River 
Valley.  He  holds  high  rank  in  commercial 
circles,  and  has  been  president  of  the  Pough- 
keepsie Board  of  Trade  for  the  past  four  years. 
In  1892  he  was  appointed  president  of  College 
Hill  Park  Commission,  by  William  W.  Smith, 
who  bought  this  property  and  donated  it  to 
the  city  as  a  public  park. 

In  1866  Mr.  Cramer  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  A.  Barnes,  a  daughter  of  Mrs.  Jane  A. 
Barnes,  and  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  old 
families  of  Poughkeepsie.  They  have  one 
daughter,  Ella  W.  Cramer.  Although  he  is  a 
Republican  in  principle,  and  has  taken  an  act- 
ive interest  in  the  success  of  his  party,  Mr. 
Cramer  is  not  an  office  seeker,  and  has  refused 
to  accept  any  nominations  for  public  office. 
He  is  ready  to  assist  any  movement  for  the 
welfare  of  the  city,  and  takes  especial  interest 
in  the  schools,  serving  for  eleven  years  in  the 
board  of  education,  and  for  several  years  its 
president.  He  belongs  to  the  Washington 
Street  M.  E.  Church,  of  which  he  is  a  trustee 
and  the  treasurer,  and  has  been  superintend- 
ent of  the  Sunday-school  for  twenty- five  years. 
At  one  time  he  was  active  in  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, of  which  he  is  still  a  member,  and  is 


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II 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


201 


past  master  of  Poughkeepsie  Lodge  No.  266, 
and  past  eminent  commander  of  Poughkeep- 
sie Commandery  No.  53,  Knights  Templar. 


HOWELL    WHITE,  M.  D.,   a  prominent 
physician   of  Fishkill,    Dutchess  county, 

is  a  descendant  of  a  family  which  has  been 
notable  for  generations  for  its  connection  with 
the  medical  profession.  His  great-grandfather 
was  a  physician,  and  had  two  brothers  in  the 
calling,  and  the  same  is  true  of  his  grandfather 
and  his  father,  three  brothers  in  each  genera- 
tion choosing  the  deep  researches  and  arduous 
labors  of  the  medical  practitioner. 

Dr.  White  was   born   at  Fishkill  June  12, 
1856,  the  son  of  the  late  Dr.  Lewis  H.  White, 
whose  long  and  successful  career  as  a  physician, 
and    excellent     qualities     as     a     citizen,    won 
him  a  lasting  reputation.      He  was  given  good 
educational  advantages,  and,  after  leaving  the 
public  schools  of  Fishkill,  studied  two  years  at 
Warring's    Military  School,  in  Poughkeepsie, 
land  four  years  in  the  private  school  of  Hugh 
|S.  Banks,  at  Newburg,  and  then  entered  Wil- 
iliston    Seminary    at    East    Hampton,    Mass., 
where  he  was  graduated  in  1875.     A  complete 
course  in  Bellevue  Medical  College,  New  York 
City,  followed,  and  on  his  graduation  in    1879 
^e  became  an  interne  in  the  Presbyterian  Hos- 
pital in  that  city,  securing  invaluable  practical 
work.     He    began    his  professional   labors   in 
Fishkill   in   1880,  and  has  been   constantly  in 
practice  ever  sir.ce,  meeting  with  marked  suc- 
;ess.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Dutchess  County 
VIedical  Society,  and  of  the  New  York  State 
vledical   Society.     In  politics  he  is  a  Repub- 
ican. 

On  June  9,  1881,  the  Doctor  married  a 
ady  of  Huguenot  descent.  Miss  Elizabeth  M. 
3otheal,  whose  interesting  genealogical  record 
5  given  below.  They  have  four  children: 
'atherine  Elizabeth,  Lewis  Howell,  Richard 
iapalje  and  Helena.  Both  the  Doctor  and 
is  wife  are  members  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
hurch  of  Fishkill,  and  take  a  generous  in- 
;rest  in  all  advanced  movements. 

Doctor  White's  lineage  is  a  long  and  hon- 
pble  one,  as  he  is  in  the  eighth  generation  in 
jescent  from  Thomas  White,  of  Weymouth, 
JLags. ,  who  was  Representative  in  General 
curt  in  1636-37.  He  died  in  1679,  leaving 
iccording  to  Farmer)  five  children:  Joseph, 
Mendon;  Samuel,  born  in  1642;  Thomas, 
Braintree;  Hannah,  who  married  John  Bar- 


ter; and  Ebenezer,  born  in  1648,  died  August 
24,  1703. 

Second  Generation:  Ebenezer,  the  fifth 
child  of  Thomas,  of  Weymouth,  was  the  fa- 
ther of  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  White,  who  was 
pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Bridge- 
hampton.  Long  Island. 

riiird  Generation:  Rev.  Ebenezer  White, 
of  Bridgehampton,  was  born  in  1673,  and  died 

in  1756.      He  married  Hannah  ■ -,  and  they 

had  children:  Elnathan,  born  1695,  died 
1773;  James;  Rev.  Sylvanus,  born  1704,  died 
1782;  Silas,  born  17 10,  died  1742. 

Fonrtk  Generation:  Rev.  Sylvanus  White, 
second  son  of  Rev.  Ebenezer  White,  of  Bridge- 
hampton, L.  I.,  was  born  in  1704,  and  went 
to  Weymouth,  Mass.,  in  171 5,  to  attend  a 
classical  school.  He  entered  Harvard  College 
in  1719,  graduating  in  1723.  In  1727  he  as- 
sumed the  pastoral  charge  of  the  Church  at 
Southampton,  L.  I.,  which  he  retained  for 
nearly  fifty-five  years.  He  died  October  22, 
1782.  He  married  Phebe  Howell,  only  daugh- 
ter of  Hezekiah  Howell,  and  had  nine  children, 
viz. :  Sylvanus,  Edward,  Hezekiah,  Daniel, 
M.  D. ,  Silas,  Phebe,  Ebenezer,  M.  D.,  Eben- 
ezer (2),  Henry,  M.  D.  Except  the  first  Eb- 
enezer, who  died  in  infancy,  they  all  lived  to 
adult  years. 

Fiftli  Generation:  Ebenezer,  the  seventh 
son  of  Rev.  Sylvanus,  after  being  instructed 
in  the  classics  by  his  father,  commenced  the 
study  of  medicine,  as  did  also  his  brothers 
Daniel  and  Henry,  availing  himself  of  all  the 
facilities  existing  in  our  country,  at  that  time, 
for  acquiring  a  thorough  knowledge  of  his  cho- 
sen profession.  In  early  life  he  married  Hel- 
ena, daughter  of  Theophilus  Bartow,  of  New 
Rochelle,  and  granddaughter  of  Rev.  John 
Bartow,  of  Westchester,  and  great-grand- 
daughter of  Gen.  Bartow,  who  fled  from  France 
to  England  in  1685  (on  the  revocation  of  the 
Edict  of  Nantes).  This  marriage  was  a  union 
of  Puritan  with  Huguenot.  The  young  couple 
commenced  life  together  where  they  ended  it, 
in  Yorktown,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.  The 
old  homestead  is  still  standing,  and  is  occupied 
by  a  grandson,  Josephus  L.  White.  The  Doc- 
tor soon  acquired  an  extensive  practice,  and 
engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  a  large  farm. 
Here,  on  what  afterward  became  the  neutral 
ground  at  the  commencement  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  found  him,  and  from  the  first  of 
which  struggle  to  the  end  he  was  the  zealous, 
uncompromising    advocate    of    his    country's 


202 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


cause.  Many  were  the  advantages  and  thrill- 
ing incidents  he  would  relate  to  his  listening 
grandchildren  of  Tory  raids  and  persecutions, 
and  many  of  the  wounds  received  in  these  af- 
frays came  under  his  professional  care  and 
treatment.  [See  Dr.  Thatcher's  Military  Jour- 
nal— Boston.  1823,  page  307;  also  Bolton,  in 
his  history  of  Westchester  Co.,  Vol.  II.,  page 
384,  relates  one  of  many  incidents  in  Dr. 
White's  experience  during  the  war.]  He  was 
elected  to  the  State  Senate,  and  afterward  as 
Presidential  elector.  He  was  born  in  South- 
ampton in  1746,  and  died  in  Yorktown  in 
1827,  after  more  than  half  a  century's  success- 
ful practice  of  his  profession.  Kis  wife  sur- 
vived him  only  a  few  years.  Their  children 
were:  Catharine,  Bartow,  Ebenezer,  Henry, 
Lewis,  James  and  Theodosius. 

Sixth  Generation:  Ebenezer,  the  second 
son  of  Dr.  Ebenezer,  of  Yorktown,  also  made 
choice  of  the  profession  of  medicine,  as  did  his 
brothers  Bartow  and  Henry.  He  was  a  pupil 
of  his  father,  and  finished  his  studies  by  at- 
tending medical  lectures  in  the  City  of  New 
York.  He  married  Amy,  daughter  of  the  late 
Samuel  Green,  of  the  town  of  Somers,  West- 
chester county,  and  located  there  in  the  house 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  son  Samuel. 
After  a  practice  of  more  than  sixty  years,  he 
died  March  18,  1865,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-five.  He  was  surrogate  of  Westchester 
county,  and  represented  Dutchess  county  in 
the  State  Legislature.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Republican;  in  religion  a  Presbyterian;  and  in 
theory  and  practice  an  ardent  temperance  man. 
He  had  nine  children,  of  whom  three  sons 
adorned  the  profession  which  their  father  so 
long  followed. 

Seventh  Generation:  Bartow  P.,  M.  D., 
married  Ann  Augusta  Belcher",  of  Round  Hill, 
Conn.,  and  located  there;  Stephen  G.,  a  mer- 
chant of  Somers,  died  unmarried,  aged  twen- 
ty-three; Helen  A.  married  James  Brett,  of 
Fishkill;  Lewis  H.,  M.  D.,  married  Helena  Van- 
Wyck,  of  Fishkill;  Oliver,  xM.  D.,  who  settled 
in  New  York,  married  Catharine  O.  Ritter; 
Phebe  married  Robert  Calhoun;  John  P.,  a 
merchant  of  New  York,  married  Margaret  Bry- 
son;  Euphemia  married  James  W.  Bedell,  of 
Somers;  Samuel  married  Emma  Jackson,  and 
is  now  living  in  the  old  homestead  at  Somers, 
Westchester  county. 

Dr.  Lewis  H.  White,  the  father  of  Howell, 
was  born  in  Somers,  March  17,  1807.  He 
studied  at  Yale  College,  New  Haven,  in  after 


years  receiving  an  honorary    medical    degree 
from  the   University   Medical  College  of  New 
York.      He    settled    in    Johnsville,     Dutchess 
county,  and  after  several  years  of  practice  re- 
moved  to   Fishkill,  where   he  resided  the  re- 
sided the  remainder  of  his  life.      He  practiced 
his  profession  in    Fishkill   and  Johnsville  for 
fifty-eight  years,   occupying   a  position  in  his 
profession    equalled   by   few    and  excelled   by 
none.     He   was  a   member  of    the    Dutchess 
County  Medical   Society,  and  for  eleven  years 
its  president;  also  a  member  of  the  New  York 
State  Medical  Society.     On  June  7,  1853,  he 
married  Helena,  daughter  of  John  C.  and  Delia 
Van  Wyck,  of  Fishkill.     They  had  three  chil- 
dren:   Howell,  born  June  12,  1856;  Catharine, 
born  June  i,  1859,  died  July   16,  1862;  Kate, 
born    October   3,     1865,    married    Hasbrouck 
Bartow,  of  Hackensack,  N.  J.,  and  now  resides 
there.      It  is  a  noteworthy  fact  that  Dr.  Lewis 
H.    White,    his   father   and  grandfather   each 
practiced  his  profession  for  over  half  a  century. 
Mrs.    White    is    a    daughter   of    Isaac   E. 
Cotheal  and  his  wife,  Catherine  E.  (Rapalje), 
and  on  the  maternal  side   is  a  descendant  in 
the    eighth  generation  from  Joris  Jansen  de 
Rapalje,   one    of    the    proscribed    Huguenots, 
from   "  Rochelle  in  France,"  and  the  common 
ancestor  of  all  the  American   families  of  this 
name.      He  came  to  this  country  with  other 
colonists  in    1623,  in  the    "Unity."   a  ship  of 
the  West  India  Company,  and  settled  at  Fort 
Orange    (now    Albany),    where    he    remained 
three  years.      In    1626   he    removed    to  New- 
Amsterdam,  and  resided  there  until  after  the 
birth  of  his  youngest  child.      On  June  16.  1637. 
he  bought   from  the   Indians  a  tract  of  land 
computed  at  335  acres,  called  Rennegacouck. 
now  included  within  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  and 
comprehending    the    lands    occupied    by   the 
U.   S.   Marine    Hospital.      Here    Mr.   Rapalje 
finally  located,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life.      He  was  a  leading  citizen,  acted  a  prom- 
inent part  in   the   colony,  and   served   in  the 
magistracy  of  Brooklyn.      He  died  soon  after 
the    close    of   the    Dutch    administration,   his 
widow,   Catalyntie,   daughter   of    Joris   Trico 
surviving  him   many  years.     She  was  born  ii 
Paris,    and    died    September    11,    1689.   agec 
eighty-four.     The  original  family  record,  pre 
served  in  the  library  of  the  New  York  Histor 
ical  Society,  gives  the    names    and    dates  0 
birth  of  their  children,  as  follows:    Sarah,  bor 
June  9.    1625,    was    married    (first)    to   Han 
Hausse  Bergen,  and  then  to  Tennis  Gysberti 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


208 


Bogart;  Marritie,  born  March  ii,  1627,  mar- 
ried Michael  Vandervoort;  Jannetie,  born  Au- 
gust 18,  1629,  married  Rem  Vanderbeeck ; 
Judith,  born  July  5,  1635,  married  Pieter  Van- 
Nest;  Jan.  born  August  28,  1637,  married,  but 
died  in  1662  without  issue;  Jacob,  born   May 

28,  1639,  was  killed  by  Indians;  Catalyntie, 
born  March  28,  1641,  married  Jeremias  West- 
erhout;  Jerominus,  born  June  27,  1643;  An- 
letie,  born  February  8,  1646,  was  married 
first)  to  Marten  Reverse,  and  then  to  Joost 
Fransz;  Elizabeth,  born  March  28,  1648,  mar- 
led Dirck  Hooglandt;  Daniel,  born  December 

29,  1650. 

Second  Generation:  Jerominus  Rapalje 
lecame  a  man  of  some  prominence,  a  justice 
)f  the  peace,  and  a  deacon  of  the  Brooklyn 
'hurch.  He  married  Anna,  daughter  of  Tennis 
)enys,  and  had  nine  children  born,  as  follows: 
oris,  born  November  5,  1668,  married  July  27, 
694,  Nellie,  daughter  of  Jan  Conwenhoven, 
ied  at  Cripplebush,  in  1697;  Tennis,  born 
Jay  5,  1671;  Jan,  born  December  14,  1673; 
"emmetie,  born  October  5,  1676,  married  Jan 
lennet;  Jacob,  born  June  25,  1679;  Jerominus, 
om  March  31,  1682;  Catalina,  born  March 
5,  1685,  married  Peter  DeMond,  of  Raritan, 
.  J.;  Sarah,  born  November  4,  1687,  married 
tans  Bergen;  and  Cornelius,  born  October 
t,  1690. 

Third  Generation:  Jan  Rapalje,  son  of 
;rominus,  married  Annettie,  daughter  of  Coert 
an  Voorhees,  and  was  a  farmer  on  a  portion 
■  the  family  estate  in  Brooklyn,  which  at  his 
<!ath  in  1733  he  left  to  his  son  George.  They 
lid  three  children:  George  C,  Jeromus,  and 
hn.  who  married  Maria  Van  Dyke,  in  1737. 

Fourth  Generation:  Jeromus  Rapalje,  son 
c  Jan,  inherited  a  farm  at  Flushing,  where  he 
ctA  in  1754.     He  was  twice  married,  and  left 

children:  John,  Richard,  Stephen,  Ann, 
i-i  and  Elizabeth. 

Fifth  Generation:  John  Rapalje,  son  of 
Jromus,  was  born  in  1722,  and  died  at  Jamaica 
a  the  age  of  about  fifty  years.  He  was  twice 
nirried,  and  by  his  first  wife,  Elizabeth, 
djghter  of  Abraham  Brinckerhoff,  had  five 
cldren:  Catherine,  who  married  Tennis 
EinkerhofJ;  Jeromus;  Abraham  Brinkerhof!, 
bfn  1 76 1,  died  1818;  Aletta,  who  married 
Jjnes  Debervoise;  and  Richard.  The  sons 
s^tled  at  Fishkill,  N.  Y.,  where  some  of  their 
d^endants  remain. 

^ixth  Generation:     Richard  Rapalje,  son 

John,  was  born  on  Long  Island  August  30, 


1764,  removed  to  Fishkill  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  and  died  September  2,  1825.  He 
was  married  three  times,  first  on  January  31, 
•795.  to  Letty,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Eliza- 
beth Van  Wyck.  She  was  born  November  21, 
1775,  and  died  September  11,  1800.  They 
had  children:  Elizabeth,  born  March  21, 
1796,  died  September  13,  1796;  John  Van- 
Wyck,  born  August  18,  1798,  died  Septem- 
ber 13,  1798;  Eliza  Van  Wyck,  born  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1800,  died  January  17,  1801.  Mr. 
Rapalje  married  December  2,  1801,  for  his 
second  wife,  Jane  Van  Wyck,  a  sister  of  his 
first  wife.  She  was  born  March  15,  1782, 
and  died  November  23,  1806.  They  also  had 
three  children,  viz. :  William  Edward,  born 
October  11,  1802,  died  and  was  buried 
at  sea  while  on  his  return  from  Europe  June 
2,  1833;  Isaac  Van  Wyck,  born  Novem- 
ber 8,  1804,  died  December  7,  1809;  John 
Augustus,  born  October  6,  1806,  died  same 
day.  On  September  i,  18 10,  Mr.  Rapalje 
married  Ann,  daughter  of  Archibald  and  Cath- 
arine Currie,  of  New  York  (born  September  1 3, 
1777,  died  January  31,  i860),  and  they  had 
children  as  follows:  Jane  Ann,  born  June  18, 
181 1,  died  July  4,  1825;  Isaac  Van  Wyck,  born 
March  14,  1813,  died  August  2,  1824;  Richard, 
born  March  16,  181 5,  died  December  26,  1846; 
Archibald  Currie,  born  January  16,  1817,  died 
July  28,  1831;  Catharine  Elizabeth,  born  July 
8,  18 19,  died  January  8,   1864. 

Seventh  Generation:  Catharine  Rapalje 
married  October  22,  1856,  Isaac  E.  Cotheal, 
born  August  12,  18 17,  died  May  8,  1884,  of 
New  York  City,  son  of  Henry  and  Phebe  (Ber- 
rian  Warner)  Cotheal.  They  had  three  chil- 
dren: Elizabeth  M.,born  February  25,  1858, 
the  wife  of  our  subject;  Anne  Rapalje,  born  De- 
cember 13,  i860,  who  married  Charles  D.  Sher- 
wood; and  Catharine  Elizabeth,  unmarried. 

The  old  homestead,  known  as  "Robinia," 
where  Mrs.  White  was  born,  contained  be- 
tween 500  and  600  acres,  and  was  originally 
part  of  the  Maaame  Brett  Patent,  transferred 
at  first  to  the  Van  Wyck  family,  from  them  to 
the  Southards,  from  them,  in  the  year  1795, 
to  Richard  Rapalje  (Mrs.  White's  grandfather), 
who  built  the  present  residence  in  1800.  At 
his  death  the  estate  came  to  Catharine  Coth- 
eal, his  daughter;  and,  at  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band, to  Mrs.  White.  After  her  marriage  to 
Dr.  Howell  White  they  lived  there  for  eight 
years,  when  they  sold  it  in  1893  to  its  present 
owner,  William  T.  Blodgett. 


204 


OOMMEMOEA  TIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


HON.    AUGUSTUS   B.    GRAY,    the   able 
_       and  popular  representative  from  the  Sec- 
ond Dutchess  District  in  the  New  York  Assem- 
bly, was  born  April  2,  1861,  in  New  York  City, 
of  New  England  ancestry,  being  a  descendant 
of  Henry  Gray,  one  of  two  brothers.  John  and 
Henry,    who    settled   at   Fairfield,    Conn.,    in 
1643.      Hiram  B.  Gray,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  at  Fairfield,  Conn.,  March'22,  1801, 
and  lived  when  a  child  at  Pawling,  Dutchess 
county,    and   Paterson,    Putnam    county.     At 
the   age  of  twenty-one  he  went  to   New  York 
City  and  engaged  in  mercantile  business.      On 
December  20,  1847,  he  was  married  in  Schuy- 
ler county  to  Miss   Nancy  Hager,  a  native  of 
that  county,  and  of  their  children  two  are  now 
living:    John   Hiram,    born  August  20,    1852, 
who  is  engaged  in  the  building  and  real-estate 
business  in  New  York  City;    and  Augustus  B., 
our  subject.      Hiram  Gray,  who  was  a  strong 
supporter    of     Lincoln's    administration,    was 
bur«ed  out  during  the  draft  riot  in  New  York 
City,  in  July,  1863,  and  he  then  went  to  Schuy- 
ler county,  where  he  bought  two  farms  where- 
on he  remained   until    1866,  in  that  year  dis- 
posing of  them.      In  1 870  he  bought  the  home- 
stead now  occupied  by  our  subject  on  the  out- 
skirts of  Poughkeepsie;  he  died  in  New  York 
City,    January    27,     1872;     his    wife,    Nancy 
(Hager),  still  survives. 

Our  subject  was  born  April  2,  1861,  and 
spent  his  boyhood  in  New  York  City,  attend- 
ing the  public  schools  and  preparing  for  col- 
lege. After  his  father's  death  he  took  up  his 
residence  at  the  homestead  which  he  has  man- 
aged with  great  ability,  gaining  a  high  reputa- 
tion among  farmers  throughout  the  State. 

On  June  23,  1882,  in  Tompkins  county,  N. 
Y. ,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Case,  daugh- 
ter of  Homer  Case,  of  Schuyler  county,  a  gal- 
lant soldier  of  the  103rd  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  in  the 
Civil  war,  who  lost  his  life  in  1862  in  defense 
of  the  Union.  Four  children  were  born  of 
this  marriage:  George  W.,  January  17,  1885; 
Nancy  Isabel,  April  9,  1886;  Harry  Augustus, 
February  24,  1888;    and  Homer  B.,  July  10, 

1893- 

Mr.  Gray  is  a  Republican,  and  devoted  to 
his  party.  He  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in 
town  politics,  and  rendered  faithful  service  on 
the  boarS  of  supervisors  in  1888,  1889  and 
1890,  his  constituents  showing  their  apprecia- 
tion by  re-electing  him  the  third  time  without 
opposition.  He  succeeded  in  bringing  in  a 
minority  report  in  regard  to  keeping  the  pres- 


ent site  of  the  State  Armory,  and  gained  the 
good  will  and  support  of  the  military  men  and 
taxpayers.  In  1893  he  was  elected  to  the  As- 
sembly by  a  plurality  of  237  votes  over  J.  W. 
De  Peyster  Toler,  and  has  been  re-elected  in 
the  years  1894,  1895  and  1896,  having  re- 
ceived increased  majorities,  and  in  1896  hav- 
ing received  2,144  plurality.  \ 

In  1896  and   1897   he  served  as  chairmanj 
of  the  Committee  on  Banks,  and  has  served  on 
the  Labor  Committee  for  three  years,  and  his 
support  by  the  laboring  classes  shows  that  he    ^ 
always  has  the  interest  of  the  laborer  at  heart,    1 
and  does   all   in  his  power  to    advance  their  1 
cause.      He  has  served  for  three  years  on  the 
Committee    on    Agriculture,    Commerce    and 
Navigation.       In    fact,  his    entire    record    has 
proved  him  to  be  a  most  efficient  supporter  of 
the  interests  of  his  district. 

He  has  served  on  the  Republican  County 
Committee  for  twelve  years,  and  chairman  of 
the  Town  Committee,  and  is  treasurer  of  the 
Dutchess  County  Agricultural  Society.  He  is 
a  member  of  Poughkeepsie  Chapter  No.  172, 
R.  A.  M.,  and  Triune  Lodge  No.  782,  F.  A. 
M.,  and  Armor  Lodge  No.  107,  K.  of  P. 


PHILIP  CLAYTON  ROGERS.  Amonfr 
_  the  leading  citizens  of  Poughkeepsie, 
Dutchess  county,  none  hold  a  higher  place  in 
the  estimation  of  the  public  than  the  gentle- 
man whose  name  introduces  this  sketch,  and 
who  comes  of  a  long  line  of  distinguished  and 
worthy  ancestors. 

Moses  Rogers  (the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject), born  in  1750,  died  November  30,  1825, 
was  one  of  the  merchant  princes  of  New  Yori- 
City.      He  was  engaged   in  the    West    Indies 
trade  for  many  years,  and  was  a  wealthy  mai 
for  those  early  days,  being  one  of  the   fifteei 
merchants  in  the  city  who  could  afford  to  keej 
horses  and  carriage.      He  was  one  of  the  found 
ers  of  Grace  Church,  and  was    much  devote 
to  Church  work.      He  was  a  brother-in-law  c 
Archibald  Gracie,  who    was  even  more  cele 
brated  than  himself.      He  was  a  man  of  e> 
treme  sagacity,  and  was  very  successful  in  a 
his  enterprises.     The  family  is  of  English  d( 
scent,    and    came,   probably,   from  Yorkshin 
They  are    connected   with    President  Dwigh 
the  first  president  of  Yale  College,  and  by  ma 
riage  with  the  Woolseys  and  Governor  Fitcl 
first  Colonial  governor  of  Connecticut;  the  Ve 
plancks,  the  Winthrops,  Van  Rennselaers,  ai 


'/^ 


/^  jZ^^^y, 


IF 

l^fendletons 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIC'AL  BECOltD. 


205 


jndletons  of   Virginia.     Moses  Rogers  mar- 
ried Sarah  Woolsey,  and  they   had   four  chil- 
dren:    Benjamin   Woolsey,  Archibald  Rogers 
(our  subject's  father);  Frances  married   Frank 
Winthrop;  and  Julia  became  the  wife  of  Sam- 
uel Hopkins,  of  Geneva,   N.   Y.     Mr.  Rogers 
died  in  1825,  and  his  wife  passed  away  in  1820. 
Archibald  Rogers,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  1791  at  Shippan  Point,  Stamford, 
Conn.,  where  his  father  had  his  summer  home. 
He  was  educated  in  Yale  College,  and  in  about 
1 8 16  took  a  trip  abroad  at  the  suggestion  of  his 
father,  whose  favorite  son  he  was,  in  company 
with  Tom  Moore,  nephew  of  Bishop  Moore,  of 
Virginia.      He  spent  three  years  in  traveling, 
and    among  other   places  visited  the   field  of 
Waterloo,  where  he  secured  some   interesting 
relics.      He  was  married  in  1821  to  Miss  Anna 
Pierce  Pendleton,  only  daughter  of  Judge  Na- 
thaniel Pendleton,  of  New  York  City,  who  was 
on  the  bench  before  Judge  Emmott.     To   this 
I  union  eight  children  were  born,  and  the  follow- 
I  ing  record  of  seven  is  given:     (i)   Nathaniel 
Pendleton,  who  was  born  April  29,  1822,  was  for 
many  years  a  prominent  lawyer  in  New  York, 
and  was  associated  with  Alexander  Hamilton, 
a  grandson  of  the  famous  Alexander  Hamilton 
of  history,  and  Francis  Reeves,  son  of  Francis 
Reeves,    minister    to    France,  the    firm  name 
being  Hamilton,    Rogers  &   Reeves.      In    his 
later   years    he    lived    at    "  Placentia, "  Hyde 
Park,  until   his  death,  which  occurred    at  his 
town  residence  in  New  York   City,  April  22, 
1892.     (2)  Julian,    born    February    12,   1824, 
J  died  when  six  months  old.    (3)  Edmond  Pendle- 
||on,born  in  1827,  father  of  Col.  Arch'd  Rogers, 
■*f  Gov.  Morton's  staff,  and  died  at  Hyde  Park, 
February  9,  1895,  married  Virginia  Dummer, 
if  Jersey  City,  in   1850.      (4)  Archibald,  born 
August    10,  1825,   died    March    21,   1831.    (5) 
Philip  Clayton,  our  subject,  was  born  August 
13,  1829  (he  was  named  after  Major  Phil  Clay- 
ton,   of   the    Catalpas,    of    whom    he    was    a 
lineal   descendant,    who   settled    in    Culpeper 
^county,  Va.,  in  1643).   (6)  Archibald  (2),  born 
■Wovember  12,  1832,  died  in   New  York  City, 
■December    20,  1836.     {7)    Susan    Bard,  born 
November  4,    1834,  married  Herman  T.  Liv- 
ingston, only  son    of    Herman    Livingston,  of 
Oake  Hill,  opposite  Catskill,  and  lives  in  New 
York.     Anna  P.  Rogers,  their  mother,  died  at 
Hyde  Park,  December  26,  1873,  in  the  eighty- 
seventh  year  of  her  age.      After   his    marriage 
Jiir  subject's   father  passed  the   remainder  of 
I  his  life  in  the  ijuiet  pursuits  of  a  country  gen- 


tleman. He  was  a  great  hunter  and  fisher- 
man, and  enjoyed  these  sports  to  their  full  ex- 
tent. He  was  a  man  of  great  generosity  of 
character,  and  was  universally  esteemed. 

The  Pendletons,  ancestors  of  our  subject's 
mother,  were  of  an  old  English  family  (the 
name  is  mentioned  in  King  Edward's  time, 
"  Penniltonns"),  members  of  which  came  to 
this  country  and  settled  in  Virginia  in  1628. 
Edmund  Pendleton  was  the  first  president  of 
the  Virginia  State  Assembly,  and  was  a  close 
friend  of  General  Washington  and  Patrick 
Henry.  He  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
of  the  Pendletons.  He  lived  in  Culpeper 
county,  Va.  Martha  Washington  was  a  Dan- 
dridge,  and  the  Pendletons  and  Dandridges  are 
closely  connected.  Judge  Nathaniel  Pendleton 
became  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war 
when  only  eighteen  years  old,  and  by  his 
bravery  rose  to  the  rank  of  major.  He  distin- 
guished himself  greatly  at  the  battle  of  Eutaw 
Springs,  serving  at  that  time  on  the  staff  of 
General  Nathaniel  Greene;  the  General's  pis- 
tols are  still  in  the  family.  After  leaving  the 
army  he  married  Susan,  a  daughter  of  Dr. 
John  Bard,  of  Burlington,  N.  J.  The  Bard 
family  is  of  good  old  Huguenot  stock,  and 
came  to  this  country  after  the  Edict  of  Nantes. 
Dr.  John  Bard  was  a  distinguished  physician 
of  Burlington,  N.  J.,  son  of  Gen.  Peter  Bard, 
of  the  Revolutionary  army,  afterward  settling 
in  New  York  City,  where  he  lived  a  number 
of  years.  He  died  at  Hyde  Park,  where  he 
resided  the  latter  part  of  his  life.  His  epitaph 
reads:  "  The  longer  he  lived  the  more  he  was 
beloved." 

Judge  Pendleton  was  the  second  to  Gen. 
Hamilton  in  the  latter's  famous  duel  with 
Aaron  Burr  at  Weehawken,  in  1804.  He  was 
a  noted  lawyer  of  his  day  in  New  York  City, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  a  judge  in  the 
court  at  Poughkeepsie.  He  bought  a  place  at 
Hyde  Park  which  he  named  "Placentia," 
meaning  "Rest,"  where  he  died  in  1821,  in 
his  sixty-first  year.  His  eldest  son,  Edmund 
Henry,  who  eventually  filled  his  father's  place 
at  the  bar  in  Poughkeepsie,  and  was  judge 
from  1830  to  1840,  married  F'rances  Maria 
Jones,  of  Jopes  Wood,  N.Y. ;  he  went  to  Europe 
in  1836,  and  spent  the  balance  of  his  life  be- 
tween Hyde  Park  and  New  York  City.  He 
died  in  1863  without  issue,  his  large  property 
being  left  to  his  only  sister's  eldest  son,  Na- 
thaniel P.  Rogers. 

Nathaniel  Greene   Pendleton  went  to  Cin- 


206 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


cinnati,  when  a  young  man,  and  practiced  law, 
becoming  very  successful  and  being  twice  sent 
to  Congress.  His  first  wife  was  Jane  Hunt, 
a  daughter  of  Gov.  Hunt,  of  Ohio,  and  his  sec- 
ond. Miss  Anna  Bullock,  of  Kentucky.  He 
left  a  large  family — his  most  distinguished  son 
being  George  Pendleton,  of  Ohio,  who  was  sent 
twice  to  Congress,  was  a  U.  S.  Senator  from 
that  State,  was  minister  to  Berlin,  and  was  a 
candidate  for  Vice-President  on  the  ticket 
with  Gen.  George  B.  McClellan,  in  1864.  He 
married  Alice  Key,  daughter  of  Francis  Scott 
Key,  the  American  poet  (who  was  born  in 
1780,  and  died  in  1843),  author  of  the  "Star 
Spangled  Banner."  James  M.  Pendleton, 
M.  D.,  married  Margaret  Jones,  a  member  of 
one  of  the  prominent  families  of  New  York 
City;  he  was  a  distinguished  physician,  and 
having  a  large  fortune  spent  much  of  his  time 
in  practicing  among  the  poor  people  of  the 
city,  never  accepting  any  money  for  his 
services. 

Philip  Clayton  Rogers,  the  subject  proper 
of  this  review,  was  educated  in  his  younger 
days  in  the  celebrated  school  of  Dr.  Huddart, 
in  New  York  City.  In  1840  he  entered 
Columbia  College,  where  he  remained  until 
1845,  leaving  in  the  junior  year  to  take  a  posi- 
tion in  the  counting-room  of  Robert  Kermit, 
of  the  old  Red  Star  Line.  In  1853  he  was 
appointed  secretary  of  the  Second  Avenue 
Railroad  Co.,  filling  that  office  for  three  years. 
At  this  time  a  change  took  place  in  the  man- 
agement, and  Mr.  Rogers  removed  to  Hyde 
Park.  In  1859  he  took  a  trip  to  China,  going 
out  as  a  passenger  and  coming  back  "before 
the  mast,"  having  a  strong  wish  to  see  strange 
climes  and  people.  In  1861  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  the  famous  New  York  Seventh  Reg- 
iment (Old  8th  Company,  Capt.  Shumway), 
and  went  to  Washington,  returning  in  June  of 
that  year  in  company  with  his  brother,  Ed- 
mund P.  Rogers,  to  whom  he  was  devotedly 
attached.  The  following  August  he  was  made 
second  lieutenant  in  the  55th  N.  Y.  V.,  and 
this  regiment,  next  year  after,  being  consoli- 
dated with  another,  he  was  made  first  lieuten- 
ant of  Company  H,  39th  Regiment.  He  was 
soon  promoted  to  the  captaincy,  and  was  ap- 
pointed aid-de-camp  in  the  First  Brigade, 
First  Division,  of  the  Second  Army  Corps.  In 
the  second  day's  fight  at  the  battle  of  the 
Wilderness,  May  6,  1864,  he  was  taken  pris- 
oner and"  carried  to  Macon,  Ga.,  whence  he 
was  sent  to  the  jail  at  Charleston.    On  his  way 


there,  he  in  company  with  eighty  other  offi- 
cers who  were  prisoners  jumped  from  the  cars 
at  Pocataligo  Station,  and  made  a  bold  dash 
for  freedom,  but  were  hunted  down  by  hounds, 
only  one  succeeding  in  escaping.  He  was 
afterward  exchanged  by  special  order  of  Gen. 
Foster,  and  was  sent  back  to  New  York  on 
board  the  steamer  "Arago, "  in  August,  1864. 
In  October  he  resumed  his  duties  on  the  staff 
of  the  First  Battalion,  First  Division,  Second 
Corps,  remaining  at  his  post  until  February 
20,  1865,  when  worn  out  by  the  hard  life  of  a 
soldier  he  took  an  honorable  discharge.  He 
wears  a  bronze  cross  of  the  7th  Regiment, 
N.  Y.  S.  v.,  which  was  given  him  for  long  and 
faithful  service,  and  is  among  his  choicest 
treasures. 

In  1865  Mr.  Rogers  was  married  to  Miss 
Julia  Kavanagh,  of  New  Rochelle,  a  descend- 
ant of  the  Kavanaghs  of  Ireland,  a  very  old 
family.  To  this  union  four  children  have  been 
born:  Philip  Clayton,  Jr.,  Juliana,  Virginia 
and  James  M.  The  latter,  who  was  a  favorite 
child  of  his  father,  was  killed  when  seven 
years  old  by  the  discharge  of  a  gun  in  the 
hands  of  a  playmate. 

Capt.  Rogers  has  seen  many  stirring  events 
in  the  course  of  his  long  and  eventful  life,  and 
bore  an  active  part  in  one  of  the  strangest  and 
bloodiest  wars  in  history,  when  brother  was 
arrayed  against  brother  and  State  against 
State.  He  lived  to  see  a  re-united  country, 
more  prosperous  and  happy  than  ever  before,: 
and  with  most  brilliant  prospects  for  still 
greater  power  and  glory  in  the  future.  He  if 
now  passing  the  evening  of  his  life  in  peacefu 
retirement,  happy  in  his  family  and  friends 
and  with  the  consciousness  of  having  done  hiil 
part  well  in  whatever  he  has  engaged. 


(jOBERT      RIDER     THOMPSON     (def 
i,  ceased),  at  one  time  a  prominent  citize  ( 
of   Smithfield,    widely  and    favorably   known 
was  a  native   of  Dutchess  county,  born  in  thj 
town   of   Stanford,   December   14,  1814.     Hj 
grandfather,  Elias  Thompson,  was  also  a  res ' 
dent  of  the  county,  where  the  birth  of  his  f; 
ther,  James  Thompson,  occurred.      The  latti 
served  his  apprenticeship  to  the  hatter's  tradi 
but  never  followed  that    business,  devoting  h 
time  principally  to  agricultural  pursuits  in  tl 
town  of  Stanford,  where  he   died  at  the  age  I 
seventy-six  years.      His   political  support  w  | 
given  the  Democratic  party.      He  was  marrii: 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


207 


to  Rebecca  Rider,  daughter  of  Robert  Rider, 
and  to  them  were  born  nine  children:  Erne- 
line,  Robert  R.,  Hannah,  Jane,  David,  Melis- 
sa, Edwin,  Elias  M.  and  Henry  P.,  ail  of  whom 
are  deceased  except  David  and  Elias  M. 

After  attending  the  district  schools  for  a 
time,  our  subject  entered  the  Nine  Partners 
Boarding  School,  but  finished  his  education  in 
the  Amenia  Seminary,  after  which  he  aided 
in  the  work  of  the  home  farm  during  the  sum- 
mer season,  while  the  winter  months  were  de- 
voted to  school  teaching  until  his  marriage. 
That  important  event  of  his  life  was  celebrated 
in  1841,  Catherine  Sanford  becoming  his  wife. 
After  a  long  and  happy  married  life  of  over 
half  a  century  she  was  called  to  her  final  rest  in 

1893. 

Fourchildren  blessed  theirunion,  as  follows: 
(I)  Ellen  C.  is  the  wife  of  William  J.  Clanney, 
of  Amenia,  by  whom  she  has  five  children — 
Grace,  George,  Robert,  William  and  Clarence. 
1(2)  George  married  Nellie  Le  Roy;  he  died  in 
1895,    leaving    no    children.     (3)    John    R.,  a 
leading  resident  of  Amenia,  is  the  superintend- 
ent of  the  water  works  at  that  place  and  at 
Pine  Plains  and  Wassaic.      In  1877  he  married 
Mary  F.  Bertine,  and  they  have  three  children 
— Kate,  John  R.,  Jr.,  and  Anna  Frances.     (4) 
Hdward  B.  was  born  at  Smithfield,  November 
1862,   and   there   spent  his  boyhood,  later 
attending  the  Amenia  Seminary.     At  the  early 
age  of  ten  years  he  took  quite  a  fancy  to  ducks, 
which  he  engaged  in  raising  for  a   few  years, 
and  then   turned    his    attention    to    Plymouth 
Rock  chickens,  paying  $8   for  his   first  setting 
A  eggs.     He  then  began  dealing  in  fancy  fowls 
and   eggs,    and   now  makes  two  shipments  a 
•veek.     He  has  successfully  exhibited  his  fowls 
n  New  York  City,  Chicago  and  Philadelphia, 
ind  has  won  many  premiums.     Socially,  he  is 
;onnected  with  Amenia    Lodge  No.  672,  F.  & 
^.  M.,  of  which  he  has  twice  served  as  master, 
s  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  is  a  member  of 
he  Smithfield  Presbyterian  Church.     At  Nevv- 
lurg.    Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in   February,   1891, 
le  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Ada 
^^ith,  daughter  of    Rev.  W.    E.   Smith,  and 
^mts  two  children — Edward  Valentine,  born  in 
^■^92,  and  Walter  Carlyle,  born  in  1893. 
^0     After  his  marriage,    Robert  R.  Thompson 
'cated  at  Smithfield,  where  he  made  his  home, 
nd  for  forty  years   was   successfully   engaged 
■1  the  fire,  life  and  accident  insurance  business, 
'or  twenty-five  years  he  also  served  as  post- 
naster  of  Smithfield,  and  was  school  inspect- 


or. He  cast  his  ballot  in  support  of  the  prin- 
ciples advocated  by  the  Democratic  party,  and 
affiliated  with  Amenia  Lodge  No.  672,  F.  & 
A.  M.  He  was  a  pleasant,  genial  gentleman, 
winning  many  friends,  and  faithfully  discharged 
every  duty  that  devolved  upon  him.  He  passed 
away  at  his  home  December  26,  1896,  at  the 
ripe  age  of  eighty-two  years  and  ten  days,  in 
full  possession  of  his  business  faculties  to  the 
very  last. 


L\/i  ILTON  H.  ANGELL,  M.  D. ,  one  of  the 
leading  physicians  of  Dutchess  county, 
is  established  in  Salt  Point,  where  he  follows  a 
career  of  usefulness,  having  thoroughly  fitted 
himself  for  the  duties  of  a  most  responsible 
position.  He  gives  his  entire  attention  to  his 
chosen  profession,  with  most  satisfactory  re- 
sults to  himself  and  patrons. 

Ephraim  Angell,  the  paternal  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Rhode  Island,  of 
English  origin,  and  after  his  marriage  with 
Mary  Thorne  he  located  in  Columbia  county, 
N.  Y.  Their  family  included  nine  children, 
namely:  Augustus  carried  on  farming  in 
Columbia  county;  Joseph  died  in  early  man- 
hood; Stephen  is  the  father  of  our  subject; 
Henry  (deceased)  was  in  early  life  a  farmer, 
but  later  became  a  coal  dealer  in  Chicago; 
William  carries  on  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Columbia  county;  Ephraim  is  engaged  in  the 
same  occupation  in  that  county;  Sarah  is  the 
wife  of  Elisha  Clark,  a  farmer  of  Columbia 
county;  Martha  first  wedded  Ashley  Niles,  a 
merchant  of  that  county,  and  after  his  death 
became  the  wife  of  Nodiah  Hill,  a  very  learned 
man;  and  Emma  (deceased)  married  Dr. 
William  Vail  (now  deceased),  who  was  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  New 
Hampshire.  The  father  of  this  family  fol- 
lowed farming  exclusively  in  Columbia  county 
until  his  death. 

Stephen  T.  Angell,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  native  of  the  village  of  Spencer- 
town,  Columbia  county,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood.  He  married  Hannah  E.  Ham,  who 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess 
county,  and  is  a  daughter  of  George  Ham,  an 
agriculturist.  They  began  their  domestic  life 
upon  a  farm  near  Salt  Point,  in  Pleasant  Val- 
ley town,  where  their  five  children  were  born 
as  follows:  Evelyn;  George  H.,  a  merchant 
of  Wappingers  Falls,  N.  Y. ;  Augustus,  a  physi- 
cian and  oculist,  of  Hartford,  Conn. ;  J.  Thorne, 


208 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


engaged  in  railroad  business  in  Pine  Plains, 
Dutchess  county;  and  Milton,  the  subject  of 
this  review.  Besides  general  farming  the 
father  was  successfully  engaged  in  breeding 
Shorthorn  cattle  and  Southdown  sheep.  For 
many  years  he  served  as  justice  of  the  peace, 
was  ever  identified  with  the  Republican  party, 
and  a  man  of  most  estimable  character.  His 
death  occurred  in  October,  1889,  his  faithful 
wife  still  surviving. 

On  the  family  homestead  at  Salt  Point,  Mil- 
ton H.  Angell  was  born  October  8,  1856,  and 
under  the  parental  roof  spent  his  boyhood,  dur- 
ing which  period  he  attended  the  district 
schools.  Later  he  entered  the  Military  Acad- 
emy at  Poughkeepsie,  and  for  three  years  pur- 
sued his  studies  at  De  Garmo  Institute,  Rhine- 
beck,  N.  Y.,  after  which  he  taught  school  for 
one  year.  He  then  began  the  study  of  medi- 
cine, taking  a  course  of  lectures  at  the  New 
York  Homeopathic  Medical  College,  where  he 
was  graduated  with  the  class  of  '82.  Shortly 
afterward,  the  Doctor  located  at  Wappingers 
Falls,  where  he  engaged  in  practice  for  a  year 
and  a  half.  Then  he  removed  to  Stanfordville, 
Dutchess  county,  where  he  followed  his  chosen 
profession  for  six  years,  and  in  1890  succeeded 
his  brother.  Dr.  Augustus,  at  Salt  Point,  where 
he  enjoys  a  large  and  lucrative  practice. 

On  October  13,  1886,  Dr.  Milton  H.  Angell 
was  married  to  Miss  Frances  McKay,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Robert  McKay,  a  native  of  Brooklyn,  N. 
Y.,  who  is  now  living  retired;  he  is  of  Scotch 
descent,  and  a  son  of  Samuel  McKay,  a  prom- 
inent hatter  and  furrier.  Two  children  have 
been  born  to  the  Doctor  and  his  wife:  Evelyn 
and  Milton.  Dr.  Angell  stands  high  in  the 
ranks  of  the  medical  fraternity  of  Dutchess 
county;  politically,  he  is  an  adherent  to  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party. 


WILLIAM.  HENRY  TABER.      One  of 
the  first  grants  of  land  in  the  far-famed 

Oblong  Valley,  in  Dutchess  county,  was  made 
by  King  George  III.  in  1760,  conveying  the 
title  of  500  acres  to  Thomas  Taber,  the  great- 
grandfather of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He 
came  from  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  where  he  was 
born  in  1732,  and  in  1760  made  his  home  upon 
this  estate,  which  has  ever  since  been  in  the 
possession  of  the  family. 

His    son,    Jeremiah    Taber,    our   subject's 
grandfather,  was  born  there  in  1762,  and  like 


his  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He 
was  prominent  in  local  affairs,  also  in  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends  at  Quaker  Hill,  and  being  a 
man  of  unusual  sagacity  he  was  greatly  re- 
spected throughout  the  locality.  He  lived  un- 
til 1834,  and  his  wife,  Dillalah  Russell,  daugh- 
ter of  Elihu  Russell,  departed  this  life  in  1852. 
They  had  six  children:  (i)  Eliza,  who  mar- 
ried Joseph  Carpenter,  a  native  of  Harrison 
township,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  a  farmer, 
and  they  had  three  children — Harriet  A.,  mar- 
ried to  Daniel  Griffin;  Mary  T. ,  wife  of  Joseph 
Parks,  of  the  firm  of  Parks  &  Tilford  (they  had 
two  sons — George  and  Herbert — in  business 
with  their  father),  and  Arthur,  now  deceased. 
(2)  Russell,  who  succeeded  to  his  mother's 
homestead,  and  lived  there  during  his  life,  mar- 
ried Deborah  Hoag,  and  had  four  children — 
Mary  H.,  who  married  Alfred  Wing,  brother  of 
Ebby  P.  Wing;  Eliza,  who  died  when  young; 
Ann,  unmarried,  and  John,  who  wedded  Delia 
Ross.  (3)  Thomas,  a  farmer,  settled  in 
Broome  county,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  left  descend- 
ants; he  married  Mary  Gilbert,  and  had  four 
children — Amelia,  who  married  Morton  Crane, 
of  Putnam  county;  Gilbert,  who  first  married 
Amanda  Tripp,  and  had  one  daughter,  Hattie 
(now  Mrs.  Birdsell);  Delilah,  who  married 
Warren  Merchant,  and  Jeremiah,  who  lives  in 
Delaware  county.  (4)  William,  our  subject's 
father.  (5)  Harriet,  who  married  Jonathan 
Akin,  and  with  her  husband  was  greatly  es- 
teemed in  the  Society  of  Friends,  as  well  as  in 
the  community  at  large.  (6)  John,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  sixteen. 

William  Taber,  who  was  born  December 
10,  1796,  inherited  260  acres  of  the  old  farm, 
by  buying  out  the  other  heirs.  He  was  a  suc- 
cessful farmer,  a  Quaker  in  religion  and  an  ex- 
emplary citizen,  noted  for  his  unfailing  kind- 
ness to  the  unfortunate.  Although  he  never 
took  an  active  part  in  politics,  he  was  a  stanch 
Democrat  in  principle.  He  married  Eliza, 
daughter  of  Abial  Sherman,  a  leading  resident 
of  the  soiithern  part  of  the  town  of  Pawling. 
She  died  February  5,  1841,  and  he  survived 
her  until  1863,  when  he  breathed  his  last  at 
the  old  homestead.  Of  their  three  children, 
one  died  February  4,  1846,  at  the  age  of  sjx 
years.  Walter  F.  Taber,  the  youngest  of  the 
two  surviving  sons,  is  a  well-known  resident  of 
Poughkeepsie. 

William  Henry  Taber,  the  eldest  son,  was 
born  May  4,  1825,  and  has  spent  the  greateil 
part  of  his  life  on  the  old  estate.     After  finish- 1 


II' 


f 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


209 


ing  the  course  of  study  afforded  in  the  district 
school  of  the  neighborhood,  he  attended  the 
lacobWiilets  select  school  for  some  time,  and 
then  studied  one  winter  in  Poughkeepsie,  with 
Prof.  Hyatt.  He  received  a  fair  education  for 
the  times,  which  his  naturally  active  mind  has 
enabled  him  to  enlarge  by  reading  and  observa- 
tion. He  remained  at  home  until  his  marriage 
in  1S52  to  Miss  Catherine  Flagler,  daughter  of 
Benjamin  F.  Flagler,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Beekman,  when  he  settled  upon  a  farm  be- 
longing to  an  aunt  of  his  wife,  conducting  same 
for  two  years.  In  1854  he  bought  J.  J.  Vande- 
urg's  interest  in  a  general  store  at  Pawling, 
nd  gave  his  whole  attention  to  the  business. 
n  the  following  year  Mr.  Merritt  sold  his  in- 
:erest  in  the  same  store,  to  Walter  F.  Taber, 
nd  the  two  brothers  continued  in  partnership 
ntil  1863,  when  our  subject  moved  to  the  old 
omestead,  buying  up  all  other  claims  upon  it. 
ere  he  has  carried  on  general  farming,  and  has 
"also  engaged  in  other  lines  of  business,  dealing 
extensively  in  live-stock,  in  the  slaughter  of 
cattle,  and  in  the  sale  of  meat  at  retail.  His 
purchases  of  Western  cattle  to  supply  the  local 
demand  for  milk  cows  have  been  large  and 
profitable — in  fact,  his  enterprises  have  been 
niformly  successful.  He  was  an  incorporator 
d  one  of  the  original  trustees  of  the  Pawling 
avings  Bank,  has  been  for  many  years  its 
vice-president,  and  for  more  than  twenty  years 
has  been  an  inspector  of  the  National  Bank  of 
J'awling. 

|B  Mr.  Taber's  first  wife  died  on  September 
"6,  1855.  leaving  two  daughters:  Eliza,  the 
wife  of  William  H.  Osborne,  of  Pawling;  and 
Amelia,  who  married  Edwin  R.  Ferris,  of  Jer- 
sey Heights.  In  1858,  for  his  second  wife, 
Mr.  Taber  wedded  Elizabeth  Thomas,  daughter 
of  Charles  Thomas,  a  well-known  resident  of 
the  town  of  Dover,  and  three  children  were 
born  to  them:  George  A.;  Nellie,  wife  of 
Stephen  Moore;  and  Charles  W.,  who  resides 
at  Gaylords  Bridge.  The  mother  of  this  family 
died  April  6,  1874,  and  Mr.  Taber  formed  a 
third  matrimonial  union  January  10,  1888, 
with  Miss  Louise  Frost,  daughter  of  Alva  Frost. 
They  have  had  two  sons:  William  Henry,  Jr., 
and  Sherman,  both  at  present  attending  school. 
Mr.  Taber  is  an  inHuential  worker  in  the 
Democratic  party,  and  served  as  supervisor 
and  justice  of  the  peace  in  1854.  He  is  active 
in  local  affairs  also,  and  has  been  assessor  for 
nineteen  years,  during  which  time  he  has  re- 
vised the  entire  assessment  list. 

14 


■€ 


M' 


lENRY  D.  WHITE.  M.  D.,  a  leading 
physician  and  surgeon  of  Hopewell  Junc- 
tion, Dutchess  county,  belongs  to  a  family 
that  has  had  several  able  representatives  in 
the  medical  profession.  His  great-grandfather, 
Ebenezer  White,  was  an  eminent  practitioner 
of  Westchester  county,  N.  Y. ,  where  his  en- 
tire life  was  passed.  The  White  family  is  of 
old  English  stock,  and  was  founded  in  this 
country  during  the  early  period  of  its  settle- 
ment. In  religious  belief  they  have  been 
principally  members  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church. 

His  grandfather.  Dr.  Bartow  F.  White, 
was  a  native  of  Westchester  county,  N.  Y. , 
but  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in 
Connecticut.  In  politics  he  was  a  stalwart 
supporter  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  mar- 
ried Ann  Augusta  Belcher,  a  native  of  Round- 
hill,  Conn.,  and  a  daughter  of  Elisha  Belcher, 
M.  D.,  who  served  with  distinction  during  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  whose  ring,  worn  by 
him  at  that  time,  is  now  on  the  finger  of  the 
Doctor.  Four  children  were  born  to  the 
grandparents:  Stephen;  Alethea,  who  mar- 
ried Dr.  Henry  A.  Weeks,  of  New  York  City 
(and  whose  son,  Bartow  F.,  was  assistant  dis- 
trict attorney  of  that  city) ;  and  William  and 
Elisha,  deceased. 

Stephen  White  was  born  at  Roundhill, 
Conn.,  was  reared  to  manhood  in  New  York 
City,  and  has  been  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits exclusively,  both  in  that  city  and  in 
Brooklyn,  but  is  now  living  retired.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Caroline  Elizabeth 
De  la  Pierre,  whose  birth  occurred  in  New 
York  City.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Hol- 
land, but  of  French-Huguenot  parentage.  The 
Doctor  is  the  third  in  order  of  birth  in  a  fam- 
ily of  three  children,  his  sisters  being  Alethea 
A.,  and  Caroline  De  la  Pierre,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  six  years.  His  parents  are  highly-es- 
teemed people,  members  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church,  and  his  father  is  an  adher- 
ent of  Democratic  principles,  always  supporting 
that  party. 

Dr.  White  was  born  at  Brooklyn,  P"ebru- 
ary  8,  1866,  there  received  his  primary  educa- 
tion in  a  private  school,  and  later  attended 
the  Polytechnic  Institute.  After  the  com- 
pletion of  his  literary  course  he  entered  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  of  New 
York  City,  where  he  graduated  with  the  class 
of  1887,  after  which  for  one  year  he  was  house 
physician  of  St.  John's  Hospital  of  Brooklyn, 


210 


COMMEMOliAriVE  BIOORAPUWAL  RECORD. 


I 


thus  gaining  much  valuable  practical  experi- 
ence. He  located  at  Hopewell  Junction  in 
1896,  and  from  the  present  outlook  will  soon 
be  at  the  head  of  a  large  and  lucrative  prac- 
tice. He  has  that  love  for  his  profession 
which  is  sure  to  win  success,  and  his  skill  can- 
not fail  to  be  recognized.  Like  his  ancestors, 
the  Doctor  is  also  an  ardent  Democrat,  and 
socially  holds  membership  in  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Royal  Arcanum, 
both  in  New  Jersey  lodges;  also  in  the  New  Jer- 
sey Society  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution. 
Professionally,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Dutch- 
ess County  Medical  Society. 


D' 


a  son  of  David  Cole, 
town   of  Rhinebeck, 


[\AVID  COLE  (deceased)   was   one  of  the 

most    genial    and    whole-souled    men    of 

Dutchess  county.  He  had  accumulated  a 
good  property.by  his  own  thrift  and  industry, 
owning  at  the  time  of  his  death  the  property 
in  the  town  of  Red  Hook,  known  as  the  Will- 
iam Waldorf  farm,  which  contains  sixty-nine 
acres  of  rich  and  fertile  land.  His  tastes 
always  inclined  him  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  that  industry  found  in  him  a  most  able 
representative.  He  was 
a  leading  farmer  of  the 
Dutchess  county. 

In  1846  our  subject  was  married  to  Miss 
Catherine  Lewis,  who  was  born  in  Woodstock, 
Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1825,  and  educated  in 
the  common  schools  of  that  place.  To  this 
worthy  couple  were  born  six  children,  (i) 
James  Lewis  was  born  in  the  town  of  Red 
Hook,  and  when  eighteen  years  of  age  enlisted 
in  the  Union  army  at  Albany,  N.  Y. ,  becom- 
ing a  member  of  the  United  States  Cavalry. 
In  an  engagement  he  was  taken  prisoner  by 
the  Rebels,  and  while  confined  in  one  of  those 
loathsome  Southern  prisons  contracted  the 
measles,  from  which  he  died  when  in  the  nine- 
teenth year  of  his  age.  (2)  Prudence  is  the 
next  in  order  of  birth.  (3)  Alida  married  Al- 
fred Henion,  and  had  four  children — Jennie 
Louise,  born  March  24,  1872;  Philip  Hiram, 
born  November  9,  1874;  Watson  Lewis,  born 
January  9,  1879,  and  died  in  infancy;  and 
Ethel  Catherine,  born  August  21,  1888.  (4) 
Luella  is  the  fourth  in  the  family.  (5)  Eliza- 
beth died  in  infancy.  (6)  Philip  Henry  was 
also  born  in  the  town  of  Red  Hook.  He  be- 
came a  student  in  Union  College  at  Schenec- 
tady, N.  Y. ,  and  also  attended  the  New  York 
College  for  one  year.      He  then  became  pro- 


fessor in  the  former  institution,  which  position 
he  held  until  1895,  at  the  same  time  being 
pastor  of  the  Second  Reformed  Church  at 
Schenectady.  He  has  been  quite  an  exten- 
sive traveler,  having  visited  Europe  several 
times.  He  married  Miss  Anna  Furbeck,  of 
Schenectady,  and  they  have  two  children: 
Edward  Martin,  born  August  30,  1892,  and 
Lewis  Furbeck,  born  June  6,  1893. 

Garrett  Lewis,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Cole, 
was  a  native  of  Woodstock,  Ulster  county,' 
and  during  his  boyhood  and  youth  attended 
the  public  schools  of  the  locality.  He  fol- 
lowed farming  as  a  lifework.  He  was  unitctd  ( 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Fannie  Ewyrie,  of  thei 
same  place,  and  they  became  the  parents  of ' 
ten  children,  as  follows:  Bowen  remained 
single;  William  H.  married  Nellie  Kipp;  John 
married  Eliza  Smith;  Christopher  married 
Sophia  Homer;  Marie  married  Andrew  Wol- 
vern:  Nellie  married  John  Whittaker;  Leah  mar- 
ried Peter  John;  Philip  died  in  childhood;  Mat- 
thew died  in  infancy;  and  Catherme  (widow 
of  David  Cole,  of  this  review)  completes  the 
family. 


€  CARPENTER   FAMILY.     Tradition,    Par 
_    ish  and  Church  records,  and   other  infor- 
mation quite  conclusive,  tell  us  that  the  first  o 
the  Carpenters,  of  whom  this   sketch  relates 
was  a  German  of  the  name  of  (I)  Gotlieb  Z'lm 
merman,  who  about  the  year   1500  emigratet 
from   Prussia  to    England,  where  he  anglicei 
his   name  to  Caleb  Carpenter.      William  an< 
(II)  Richard  Carpenter  are  supposed  to  havi 
been  his  immediate  descendants,  and  the  onl; 
children  of  their  parents  to  attain  to  man's  es 
tate,(II)  Richard  being  the  only  one  of  the  tw" 
who  left  issue.     William    was  engaged  exten 
sively  in  ship  chandlery,  and  later  in  the  ship 
ping  business,  chiefly  with  the  West  Indies 
and  when  he  died  in  1700  at  the  age  of  ninety 
seven  years,  he  left  an  estate  said  to  have  bee 
valued  at  three  million  pounds  sterling,  devise 
by  will  (bearing  date   1684)  to  his  legal  heir 
who  are  supposed  to  have  been  his  nephew 
(HI)   Ephraim  and  Timothy  Carpenter,   the 
residing  in  America;  and  Josiah  and  Phebe  Ca 
penter  (both  then  residing  in  Wales),  childre 
of  (HI)  Ephraim    Carpenter,  only  son  of  ^I 
Richard  Carpenter. 

(Ill)  Ephraim  Carpenter  had  issue:  Epl 
raim,  (IV)  Timothy,  Josiah,  and  Phebe,  wl 
died  in  Wales;  the  other  three  emigrated 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOaBAPHWAL  RECORD. 


211 


vmerica  about  the  year  1678;  but  Josiah  re- 
urned  to  Wales  a  few  years  afterward,  and 
ied  there.  Ephraim  and  (IV)  Timothy  pur- 
hased  a  large  tract  of  land  of  the  Indians  on 
.ong  Island,  in  the  then  Province  of  New 
ork,  embracing  a  large  portion,  if  not  all,  of 
le  town  of  Hempstead,  and  settled  thereon  at 
r  near  what  is  now  known  as  Jerusalem. 

I IV)  Timothy  Carpenter  was  born  in  Eng- 
nd  December  19,  1665.  About  1688  he  mar- 
ed  Mercy  Coles,  of  Oyster  Bay,  Long  Island, 
id  a  short  time  thereafter  they  moved  to 
Westchester  county.  Their  family  consisted 
I  the  following  children:  John,  bornJunei3, 
')90;  Hulda,  August  29,  1692;  Jeptha,  Decem- 
l:r  18,  1693;  (V)  Benjamin,  March  25,  1696; 
;id  Timothy,  Jr.,  April   i,  1698. 

(V)  Benjamin  Carpenter  was  born  in 
'estchester  county,  N.  Y. ,  March  25,  1696, 
£  d  for  his  first  wife  married,  October  30,  1 7 1 8, 

Inah ,  who  was  born  March  19,  1698. 

Ciildren  as  follows  were  born  to  them:  Eliza, 
^ptember  12,  1719;  Elijah,  December  23, 
122;  Ezra,  May  6,  1726;  Luther,  August  16, 
130;  Sarah,  July  11,  1734,  and  (VI)  Caleb, 
5ptember  25,  1736.  After  the  death  of  his 
fiit  wife,    November  3,    1758,   (V)  Benjamin 

mrried  Lydia ,  born   August  4,  1712, 

dd  November  25,  1778.  (V)  Benjamin  died 
>irch  26,  1778  or  1779. 

R^l)  Caleb  Carpenter  was  born  Septem- 
BNS-  '736,  in  Westchester  county,  N.  Y. 
r  his  first  wife  he  married  Amy ,  who 

ws  born  November  25,  1738,  and  children  as 

fclows  were  born  to  them;  Sebe,  born  July  4, 

I  JO;   Benjamin,   April    i,    1762;   Mary,    June 

^<  1767;  Lydia,  August  4,  1769,  died  August 

',  1796;  (VII)  John,  October  20,  i77i;Zeno, 

Dcember  8,    1773,    died    February   8,    1795; 

Rth,  January   24,  1776,  and   Caleb,  October 

2^    1778,    died    December    3,     1814.      The 

mther  of  these  died   January    18,  1795,  and 

his  second  wife  (VI)  Caleb   married  Zip- 

ih  Kip,  who  died  February  12,  181 8,  aged 

v-nine  years.      (VI)  Caleb  died  December 

1826. 

VIIj  John  Carpenter  was  born  at  White 
ns,  Westchester  county,  October  20,  1771, 
n^  died  October  10,  1828.  He  was  married 
Foruary  16.  1799,  to  Amy  Green,  who  was 
ben  January  7,  1781,  daughter  of  Isaiah  and 
El:abeth  Green,  and  children  as  follows  were 
DOitothem:  Leonard,  November  8,  1799; 
■^•'11)  Emory,  March  5,  1801;  William  G., 
ober  24,  1802;  Jacob,  November  24,  1804; 


Caleb,  February  5,  1807,  and  John  G. ,  in  No- 
vember, 18 1 2.  The  father  of  these  followed 
farming  exclusively,  and  he  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  Hicksite  Quakers  Society. 
He  died  loth  9th  Mo.,  1828,  she  on  8th  7th 
Mo.,  1 85 1,  aged  seventy  years,  six  months, 
one  day. 

(VIII)  Emory  Carpenter  was  born  March 
5,  1 80 1,  in  Westchester  county,  where  he 
lived  until  he  was  sixteen  years  old,  and  then 
came  to  the  town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess  county, 
later  removmg  to  Ulster  county.  In  that 
county,  at  New  Paltz,  by  Rev.  Bogardus,  Oc- 
tober 22,  1825,  he  was  married  to  Jane  Ann 
Du  Bois,  who  was  born  April  15,  1806,  in 
Plattekill,  Ulster  county,  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Abigail  (Cooper)  Du  Bois,  of  Ulster  coun- 
ty, whose  children  were:  Jane  Ann,  Hannah, 
Martha,  Rachel,  Josiah  C.  and  Elias  M. 
Joseph  Du  Bois  was  a  lifelong  farmer.  Peter 
Du  Bois,  son  of  Jacques,  who  was  the  Hugue- 
not who  emigrated  to  America  in  the  year 
1674,  was  the  great-great-great-grandfather  of 
William  J.  and  J.  Du  Bois  Carpenter,  both  of 
Poughkeepsie.  His  descendant,  Elias  Du  Bois, 
married  Elizabeth  Tompkins.  Soon  after  their 
marriage  (VIII)  Emory  Carpenter  and  his  wife 
located  on  a  farm  near  Poughkeepsie,  later  re- 
moving to  New  York  for  a  time.  They  had 
the  following  children:  Edmund,  born  June  29, 
1826,  died  September  10,  1827;  Caleb,  August 
25,  1827,  died  August  5,  1828;  (IX)  William 
J.,  December  10,  1828;  Amy  J.,  May  8,  1831 ; 
(IX)  J.  Du  Bois,  March  14,  1833;  Harriet  N., 
November  13,  1834;  George  E.,  May  13,  1836; 
Elias  Du  Bois,  December  11,  1837;  and  Jacob 
G.,  August  2,  I  843.  Of  these,  William  J.  lives 
a  retired  life  in  Poughkeepsie;  Amy  J.  married 
Capt.  Smith,  who  is  deceased;  Harriet  N.  be- 
came the  wife  of  Nathan  Williams,  of  Ulster 
county;  George  E.  is  a  clerk  with  his  brother, 
J.  Du  Bois;  Elias  D.  is  captain  of  a  steamer 
on  the  Hudson;  and  Jacob  G.  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  Brooklyn  Eagle  for  twenty- 
three  years.  After  leaving  the  farm  near 
Poughkeepsie,  the  parents  moved  to  another 
in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  where  the  father  died 
August  17,  1844;  politically,  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat, in  religious  faith  a  Hicksite  Quaker.  The 
mother,  for  her  second  husband,  married  Sel- 
leck  Carpenter,  August,  1856.  She  died  June 
10,   1 89 1. 

(IX)  Josiah  Du  Bois  Carpenter,  one  of  the 
leading  and  oldest  grocers  of  Poughkeepsie, 
was  born   at  New  Paltz,   Ulster  Co.,    N.  Y., 


212 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPITWAL  RECORD. 


March  14,  1833.     When  one  year  old  he  was 
taken  to  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  attended  the 
district  schools  until  fourteen  years  of  age,  and 
then  studied  with  his  uncle,  Josiah  C.  Uu  Bois, 
after  whom  he  was  named.      Mr.   Carpenter 
entered  a  general  store  at  Highland  conducted 
by   his   uncle  Josiah   C.    Du   Bois,   where    he 
^        stayed  for  five  years;  then  returned  to  Pough- 
keepsie and   clerked  in  a  dry-goods  store  for 
John  W.    Miller   one  year;    then   clerked   for 
Cornwall  &  Heath  for  the  same  length  of  time. 
Subsequently  he  engaged  in   the  grocery  busi- 
ness with  his  brother,  William  J. ,  which  he  con- 
tinued from  1854  until  1861,  when  he  left  the 
grocery  business  for  freighting;  but  in  1863  he 
resumed  the  grocery  trade.      On  May  28,  1857, 
Mr.  Carpenter  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  R. 
Southwick,  who  was  born  August  25,  1835,  in 
Napanoch,    Ulster    Co..    N.    Y.,   daughter    of 
Adna  H.  Southwick.     The  following  children 
were  the  result  of  this  union:     Stella  B.,  born 
April  10,  1858;   Alice  M.,  born  December  31, 
1863;  Mary  A.,   born   January   28,   1866;  died 
March  16,  1866;  Lydia  S.,   born   October  10, 
1867;  and  Du   Bois,    born   March    22,     1873. 
Of  these,  Alice  M.  was  married  April  2,   1886, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  to  Clinton   D.  Park- 
hill,    son    of   Mortimer  and   Eleanor  (Shultz) 
Parkhill,  of  Canisteo,  N.  Y.,  and  children   as 
follows  have  been  born  to  them:     Clinton  D., 
Jr.,   born  August    2,  1887;   J.    Du  Bois,  born 
May    24,     1892,   died    September   28,    1892; 
Mortimer  S.,  born   December    10,    1894;   and 
Reynolds  S.,    born   February    13,    1896,    died 
July  17,   1896. 

(IX)  Josiah  Du  Bois  Carpenter  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  a  member  of  the  Royal  Ar- 
canum, and  he  and  his  wife  belong  to  the 
Methodist  Church.  He  has  always  taken  an 
active  interest  in  all  public  matters  pertaining 
to  the  welfare  of  Poughkeepsie;  was  first  presi- 
dent (for  two  years)  of  the  Merchants  Associa- 
tion, and  has  served  on  several  committees 
for  the  improvement  of  the  city.  His  place  of 
business  is  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Acad- 
emy streets,  opposite  the    "Morgan   House." 


G^\EORGE  K.  TABER,  a  leading  agricult- 
J  urist  of  the  town  of  Pawling,  Dutchess 
county,  and  a  director  of  the  Pawling  National 
Bank,  is  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  oldest  and 
most  distinguished  families  of  that  vicinity. 
His  ancestors  were  originally  from  England. 
Thomas  Taber,    great-grandfather  of    our 


subject,  was  born  in  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  in 
1732,  came  to  Dutchess  coimty  in  1760,  and 
bought  a  farm  at  Quaker  Hill,  where  he  pas.sed 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a  Quaker 
in  religion,  and  most  of  his  descendants  ad- 
hered to  the  same  faith.  His  death  occurred 
September  18,  1783,  when  he  was  aged  fifty 
years;  his  wife,  Anne  Theresa  Taber,  was  born 
in  1734,  and  died  August  29,  1805,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-one  years.  They  had  eleven  chil- 
dren, whose  names,  with  dates  of  birth  and 
death,  are  as  follows:  Hannah  (wife  of  Edmond 
Ferris),  November  12,  1753  —  December  4. 
1777;  Salome,  June  11,  1755— 1766;  Nathaniel 
(son),   April   26,    1757;    Meribah,    March    23. 

1759 June  4,    1850;   William,   November  6, 

1760— November  3,    T836;   Jeremiah,   August 

26,  1762 — May  8,  1834;  Anne  Therese,  April 
2,  ,766—1856;  Ruth,  April  i,  1768— 1789; 
Salome  (wife  of  Charles  Hurd  ),  August  29. 
1 77 1  — 1827;  Almy,  August  28,  1773;  Mary, 
November  18,  1775— May  27,  1852.  Of  these, 
William,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  married 
Martha  Akin,  who  was  born  March  i,  1761, 
and  children  as  follows  came  to  this  union, 
names  and  dates  of  birth  being  given:  Isaac, Oc- 
tober II,  1782;  Hannah,  November  25,  1783; 
Thomas,  May  19,  1785;  George  P.,  June  25, 
1787;  Phebe,  January  13,  1790;  Sybilla,  June 

27,  1791;  Abigail,  December  21,  1793;  Jona- 
than Akin,  March  7,  I797;  and  Ann,  February 
15,  1799.  Of  these,  Thomas  married,  Febru- 
ary 2,  1820,  Phebe  Titus,  daughter  of  Stephen 
Titus'  and  his  wife  Elizabeth  (Holmes),  and 
their  children  were:  Stephen,  born  March  7, 
1 82 1,  and  Samuel  Titus,  April  13,  1824, 
diedat  Roslyn,  Long  Island,  February  4.  i87>- 
The  father  of  these  died  March  21,  1862,  at 
Roslyn,  Long  Island,  the  mother  on  August 
13,  1824,  at  Chestnut  Ridge,  Dutchess  Co.. 
New  York. 

Stephen  Taber,  son  of  Thomas  and  Phebe 
(Titus)  Taber,  married  Rosetta  M.  Townsend 
May  27,  1845,  and  their  children  were:  Sam- 
uel T.,  who  was  lost  at  sea  in  October,  1865; 
William  T.,  married  to  Sarah  Canton;  Ade- 
laide, married  to  Walter  R.  Willets  (their  chil- 
dren—Rosetta,  Elsie,  Gertrude  and  Edna), 
Gertrude,  married  to  Benjamin  Kirk:  and 
Thomas  T.,  married  to  Katharine  Brooks  (have 
one  son— William  T.).  The  father  of  these 
died  in  New  York  City  April  23,  18S6,  the 
mother  on  March  4,   1883. 

Samuel  Titus  Taber  married  Katherine  t^ 
Hiller,    September  2,    1845,  and  they  moved 


^t.  x^^^^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


213 


from  Dutchess  county  to  Long  Island,  in  1856. 
Their  children  are  two  in  number:  (i )  Martha 
Elizabeth,  born  July  2,  1846,  married  Will- 
iam H.  Willets,  September  12,  1867  (their 
daughter,  Katherine  Taber  Willets,  born  Oc- 
tober 10,  1868,  married  Alfred  A.  Gardner, 
August  22,  1892;  they  have  one  son,  born 
November  8,  1896);  and  (2)  Sarah  Phebe, 
born  November  4,  1847,  married  William 
Willets  in  1869  (their  children  are:  Samuel 
Taber  Willets,  born  October  15,  1872; 
Stephen  Taber  Willets,  born  August  i,  1878; 
and    Robert    Henry    Willets,    born    June  24, 

'8.). 

William  Taber,  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
became  a  man  of  distinction  and  note.  He 
was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  was  one  of  the 
judges  of  sessions  in  Dutchess  county,  and  in 
1790  was  a  member  of  the  State  Assembly, 
his  strong,  upright  character  and  aggressive 
disposition  giving  him  great  influence  with  all 
classes.  He  was  an  extensive  land  holder, 
owning  about  one  thousand  acres  which  he  di- 
vided among  his  sons.  He  married  Martha 
Akin  (daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Lillias  (Ferris) 
Akin),  who  died  January  3,  1847,  in  her  eighty- 
sixth  year.  Of  their  nine  children,  the  eldest, 
Hannah,  married  (first)  Mr.  Pierson,  and  (sec- 
ond) Daniel  Kumsey;  she  left  a  son,  William 
T.,  who  married  (in  1842)  Caroline  Field,  and 
settled  at  F'airfa.x  Court  House,  Va.,  where  he 
and  his  family  still  live.  (2)  Thomas  married 
Phcebe  Titus,  of  Hempstead,  L.  I.,  and  they 
lived  at  Chestnut  Ridge,  Dutchess  county,  un- 
til, about  1856,  the  family  moved  to  Roslyn, 
L.  I.  They  had  two  sons:  Stephen  (who 
nt  to  Congress  from  there,  serving  two 
Tms — 1864  and  1866)  and  Samuel  T. 
Thomas  lived  at  Chestnut  Ridge,  and  took  a 
prominent  part  in  the  political  movements  of 
his  time,  serving  as  a  member  of  the  Twen- 
tieth Congress.  (3)  George  P.  married  Helen 
.\kin,  and  had  three  children:  William  (who 
died  February  16,  1859),  Oliver  (who  died 
September  17,  1878),  and  Philip  (the  only 
,^e  now  (1897)  living).  George  P.  died  in 
ptbruary,  1870,  in  his  eighty-third  year,  and 
of  his  three  children,  above  named,  William 
married  Helen  Kirby,  Oliver  married  'Eliza 
Irwin,  of  East  Albany,  and  Philip  is  a  bach- 
elor residing  on  the  homestead;  William  and 
Oliver  both  died  without  issue.  (4)  Sybil 
married  John  Pierce,  and  had  one  son — 
George  T.  Pierce.  (5,)  Abigail  married  Cyrus 
Tweedy.     (6)  Phoebe  married  Thomas  Sweet. 


11° 


(7)  Ann    married   Chesterfield   King,  and   had 
two  children — William  T.  and  Helen. 

Jonathan  Aiken  Taber,  our  subject's  father, 
was  born  in  1797,  and  with  his  two  brothers 
inherited  the  homestead,  his  share  being  260 
acres,  to  which  he  afterward  added  until  he 
owned  more  than  600  acres.  His  life  was 
passed  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  he  did  not 
take  a  prominent  part  in  politics;  but  he  was 
always  interested  in  public  questions,  and  took 
a  decided  stand  against  slavery,  becoming  a 
Republican  in  his  later  years.  He  was  one  of 
the  most  substantial  and  public-spirited  men 
of  his  town,  and  he  and  his  cousin,  Jonathan 
Akin,  were  among  the  prime  movers  in  the 
construction  of  the  Harlem  railroad,  to  which 
he  gave  much  time  and  energy.  Like  his 
father  and  a  majority  of  the  family,  he  was  a 
lifelong  supporter  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 
His  first  wife,  Hannah  Kirby,  daughter  of 
George  Kirby,  died  December  25,  1832,  leav- 
ing two  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the 
elder.  The  other,  Martha  Ann,  married  Will- 
iam H.  Akin,  and  had  two  children:  Albro 
and  Amy.  His  second  wife  was  Abigail  Ayers, 
by  whom  he  had  five  children:  Hannah,  who 
married  Edward  Wanzer,  and  has  one  daugh- 
ter, Margaret;  William  T. ,  who  married  Emma 
L.  Crawford,  and  has  one  child,  Frederick  C, 
who  has  been  bookkeeper  in  the  National 
Bank  of  Pawling  some  twenty  years;  James 
Ayers,  who  married  Virginia  Houghton,  and 
has  three  children — William,  James  Akin  and 
Gertrude;  Mary,  who  died  at  sixteen  years  of 
age;  Abbie,  who  died  in  1880,  aged  thirty-two 
years.  The  father  of  this  familj'  died  in  1868, 
and  his  second  wife  survived  him  until  1889. 

George  K.  Taber,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  February  5,  1822,  at  the  old 
homestead  about  two  miles  below  the  village 
of  Pawling.  He  received  a  common-school 
education,  which  was  supplemented  with  a 
three-seasons'  course  at  Dutchess  County 
Academy,  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  graduated 
when  about  twenty-one  years  old.  He  has 
been  engaged  in  farming  all  his  life,  and  for 
twenty-four  years  lived  on  the  Ravinewood 
farm,  about  three  miles  southeast  of  the  vil- 
lage. In  1869  he  bought  his  present  property, 
and  built  the  house  in  which  he  now  resides. 
As  a  business  man  he  is  successful,  and  he  is 
one  of  the  most  influential  men  of  the  locality. 
In  October,  1845,  he  married  Charlotte  Field, 
who  was  born  January  16,  1826,  in  the  town 
of  Pawling,  only  child  of  Comfort  Field,  and 


214 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


granddaughter  of  Gilbert  Field.  The  family 
is  one  of  the  oldest  in  this  region,  and  her 
ancestors  were  early  settlers  at  North  Salem, 
Westchester  county,  where  the  old  homestead 
is  still  in  the  possession  of  lineal  descendants. 
Of  the  five  children  of  this  union,  two  are  liv- 
ing :  Gilbert  Field,  the  eldest  child  and  only 
son,  born  September,  1846,  died  August,  1889. 
He  married  Mary  B.  Allen,  and  had  three 
daughters — Hattie  A.,  Hannah  and  Mary,  all 
yet  living;  he  was  a  farmer  and  cattle  raiser, 
importing  the  first  Red-Polled  cattle  ever 
brought  to  this  country.  Hannah  K.  died  at 
the  age  of  twenty.  Martha  A.  and  Alicia  are 
at  home.  Lottie  died  in  1880,  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taber  are  Bap- 
tists in  faith,  and  have  always  taken  great  in- 
terest in  the  work  of  the  Church,  and  in  all 
measures  for  the  public  welfare.  In  politics 
he  was  formerly  a  Republican,  but  of  late 
years  he  has  affiliated  with  the  Prohibition 
party,  taking  a  strong  stand  in  the  cause  of 
temperance.  His  father  was  one  of  the  first 
to  prohibit  the  use  of  stimulants  in  the  harvest 
field  and  on  other  occasions,  as  the  custom 
then  was. 


EVUGENE    S.    CRAFT,    one    of    the   most 
^  straightforward    and    energetic    business 

men  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  spent 
the  first  ten  years  of  his  life  in  Port  Chester, 
Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  where  his  birth  took 
place  February  14,  1867.  He  is  a  son  of 
John  W.  and  Phcebe  (Merritt)  Craft,  who  were 
married  in  that  city;  but  when  he  was  only 
three  years  of  age  his  mother  died,  leaving 
eight  children,  namely :  Graham,  Earls, 
Phcebe,  John,  Manford,  Louis,  Eugene  Sloat 
and  Washington.  The  father,  who  was  a 
native  of  Putnam  county,  N.  Y.,  became  a 
highly-educated  man,  and  for  seven  years  fol- 
lowed the  profession  of  teaching.  By  trade  he 
was  a  stone  mason,  and  while  following  con- 
tracting in  that  line  was  employed  as  overseer 
on  the  masonry  of  the  West  Shore  railroad 
passing  through  Newburgh,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
is  now  engaged  in  the  grocery  business.  For 
his  second  wife  he  married  Eliza  Terwilliger. 
In  the  public  schools  Eugene  S.  Craft 
obtained  his  education,  and  was  ten  years  of 
age  on  going  to  Newburgh,  where  he  remained 
eight  years.  On  the  expiration  of  that  time 
he  came  to  Poughkeepsie,  first  being  in  the 
employ  of  Mr.  Griggs,  at  the  "Morgan  House," 


where  he  remained  some  three  years.  He  next 
entered  his  father's  grocery  store  as  clerk,  and 
two  years  later  the  business  was  sold  to  S.  J. 
Kelder,  for  whom  he  also  worked  two  years. 
In  1892  he  entered  into  partnership  with  J.  G. 
Bloomer,  under  the  firm  name  of  E.  S.  Craft, 
but  at  the  end  of  six  months  he  purchased  his 
partner's  interest.  In  January,  J 894,  he 
bought  his  present  store  at  No.  466  Main 
street,  from  Mr.  Bloomer,  and  admitted  that 
gentleman  to  a  partnership  in  the  store  at  No. 
521.  Nine  months  later  he  sold  his  interest  in 
the  latter  establishment  to  his  partner,  retain- 
ing the  store  at  No.  466,  of  which  he  is  sole 
proprietor.  He  has  been  quite  successful  in 
his  business  ventures,  and  now  receives  a 
liberal  patronage. 

While  a  resident  of  Newburgh,  Mr.  Craft 
held  membership  with  Trinity  Church,  and 
now  belongs  to  Washington  Street  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  while  he  is  also  assistant 
superintendent  of  the  Cherry  Street  Chapel. 
Socially  he  is  connected  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  Lodge,  and  in  politics  is  an  earnest  and 
strong  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  Prohibi- 
tion party.  He  is  a  conscientious,  Christian  gen- 
tleman, an  active  worker  for  the  temperance 
cause,  and  upright  and  honorable  in  all  the 
walks  of  life. 


MAJ.  WILLIAM  HAUBENNESTEL,  of 
_  __  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  senior 
member  of  the  well-known  firm  of  Hauben- 
nestel  &  Son,  dealers  in  boots  and  shoes,  is 
one  of  the  representative  men  of  that  place. 
He  has  been  identified  with  the  city  since  his  ' 
childhood,  for,  although  he  is  a  native  of  New 
York  City,  born  in  1843,  he  was  taken  to 
Poughkeepsie  six  years  later  by  his  parents. 

After  leaving  school  he  learned  the  shoe- 
making  trade,  and  in  1867  started  for  himself 
in  the  shoe  business,  which  he  has  conducted 
ever  since.  Mr.  Haubennestel  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, and  has  served  his  party  faithfully 
on  many  occasions.  He  was  assessor  in  1872- 
74-76,  and  was  elected  supervisor  of  the  Sec- 
ond ward  in  Poughkeepsie  in  1887.  In  that 
body  he  did  vaUant  service,  and  it  was  through 
his  instrumentality  that  the  matter  of  caring 
for  the  insane  was  amicably  arranged,  saving 
the  city  thousands  of  dollars.  In  1894  he  was 
elected  treasurer  of  Dutches3  county  with  a 
majority  of  2,290. 

In    military   circles    Mr.    Haubennestel    is 


COMMEMORATIVE    BIOOBAPHICAL    RECORD. 


215 


i 


^nown  throughout  the  entire  State.  On  May 
i860,  he  joined  Company  D,  21st  Regiment, 
Y.  V.  I.  (now  the  Nineteenth  Separate 
Company),  as  a  private,  and  received  rapid 
■promotion  as  follows:  July  2,  i86i,  second 
sergeant;  July  3,  1862,  first  sergeant;  Novem- 
ber 3,  1862,  second  lieutenant;  April  6,  i866, 
first  lieutenant;  November  12,  1866,  captain; 
and  on  January  2,  1876,  by  virtue  of  long 
service,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  brevet- 
major.  During  all  these  years  he  had  served 
his  country  faithfully  without  a  furlough  or 
iven  a  leave  of  absence.  At  the  front  his  rec- 
d  is  bright.  In  June,  1863,  when  the  Na- 
nal  Capital  and  the  whole  North  was  threat- 
med  by  the  victorious  army  of  Gen.  Lee,  the 
command  left  Poughkeepsie,  reported  to  Maj. 
Gen.  Schenck  at  Baltimore,  and  was  assigned 
quarters  at  Belgier's  barracks.  It  was  at  this 
critical  juncture  that  the  history  of  Company 
D  and  Maj.  W.  Haubennestel  became  closely 
linked.  He  was  then  a  lad  of  only  eighteen 
years,  and  was  with  them  in  all  the  exciting 
times  until  mustered  out  of  service  in  August, 
1863.  He  was  repeatedly  offered  the  position 
of  p*ost  adjutant,  but  his  age  prevented  his  ac- 
ceptance. On  February  20,  1897,  he  was  ap- 
pointed battalion  commander  of  the  Eleventh 
Battalion,  embracing  the  territories  of  West- 
chester, Putnam,  Dutchess  and  Columbia 
counties. 

To  this  gentleman  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie 
is  indebted  for  the  beautiful  armory  on  Market 
street;  for  almost  alone,  for  seven  long  years, 
he  fought  for  its  erection,  making  at  least  three 
hundred  trips  to  Albany  before  he  secured  his 
purpose.  In  May,  1891,  on  Decoration  Day, 
the  corner  stone  was  laid  with  imposing  cere- 
monies, and  now  the  grand  structure  is  a  mon- 
ument to  his  energy  and  perseverance. 

Our  subject  was  married  October  10,  1867, 
ito  Alice  Buys,  and  two  children  have  been 
iBIorn  to  them:     Ella  L.  and  Louis  P. 

Major  Haubennestel's  friends  are  legion, 
and  he  is  active  in  fraternal  society  work.  In 
1866  he  joined  the  I.  O.  O.  P.,  at  Poughkeep- 
sie, Lodge  No.  21,  in  which  he  has  passed  all 
the  chairs,  and  he  has  been  a  representative  to 
the  Grand  Lodge  several  times.  He  is  also  an 
old  member  of  Poughkeepsie  Lodge  No.  266, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  having  joined  same  in  1868.  In 
1880  he  united  with  Hamilton  Post,  G.  A.  R., 
and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Veteran  Fireman 
Association.  The  Nineteenth  Separate  Com- 
pany Fife,  Drum  and  Bugle  Corps,  the  crack 


drum  corps  of  the  State  of  New  York,  was  or- 
ganized in  the  fall  of  1888  by  Mr.  Haubennes- 
tel, assisted  by  his  son  Louis  P.  Haubennestel, 
who  is  leader  of  the  corps,  and  was  the  promo- 
ter of  the  organization. 

Louis  P.  Haubennestel,  the  junior  member 
of  the  firm  of  Haubennestel  &  Son,  was  born 
in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ,  August  16,  1870,  and 
his  education  was  completed  at  Riverview 
Academy,  where  he  held  the  position  of  drum 
major.  He  was  the  commanding  officer  of  St. 
Paul's  Co.,  Knights  of  Temperance,  in  1890, 
when  they  won  the  prize  banner  for  drill,  in 
New  York  City.  On  April  11,  1894,  he  was 
married  to  Minnie  Avis  Barton,  daughter  of 
Edward  and  Mina(Fenn)  Barton,  of  Salisbury, 
Conn.,  where  she  was  born.  Her  grandfather, 
who  was  a  prominent  Democrat,  in  1842  de- 
livered a  political  address  in  Poughkeepsie,  and 
in  1852  he  carried  the  official  vote  of  the  State 
of  Connecticut  to  Washington.  From  1852  to 
1856  he  was  a  member  of  the  Assembly,  and 
in  1873  was  State  senator.  He  is  still  living 
at  Salisbury,  Conn.  Mrs.  L.  P.  Haubennes- 
tel's father  is  also  prominent  in  Democratic 
circles  and  has  held  several  positions  of  trust. 


OSE  MANUEL  GODINEZ,  of  the  firm  of 
C.  H.  Gallup  &  Co.,  is  as  his  name  would  in- 
dicate, of  Cuban  origin,  born  August  i ,  1853, 
on  the  island  of  Cuba,  where  his  father,  Fran- 
cisco J.  Godinez,  was  the  owner  of  a  large 
sugar  plantation. 

Jose  Manuel  Godinez  passed  his  boyhood 
in  his  native  land,  and  received  his  education 
in  the  lower  schools,  from  which  he  took  the 
degree  A.  B.,  and  in  the  University  of  Havana. 
When  yet  quite  young  he  was  made  one  of  the 
guards  of  the  Captain-General  of  Cuba,  and 
stationed  at  Havana.  He  served  three  years, 
receiving  the  rank  of  lieutenant,  and  then  ob- 
taining a  furlough,  came  to  the  United  States, 
and  at  once  declared  his  intention  of  becoming 
a  citizen;  he  remained  here  until  after  his 
final  papers  were  signed,  and  then  went  home 
on  a  visit.  In  1876  he  entered  the  Eastman 
Business  College  at  Poughkeepsie,  and  took  a 
full  business  course.  During  all  this  time  he 
made  frequent  visits  home  to  see  his  parents. 
Even  now,  while  Poughkeepsie  is  his  home,  he 
still  retains  a  large  plantation  of  several  thou- 
sand acres  in  Cuba,  though  this  has  been  laid 
waste  and  the  buildings  all  burned  in  the  prog- 
ress of  the  present   Cuban  war.      In    1890  he 


216 


COMMEMORA  TIVE  BIOORAPBICAL  RECORD. 


entered  partnership  with   Mr.    Gallup    in    the 
photograph  business. 

In  1877,  in  Poughkeepsie,  Mr.  Godinez  was 
married  to  Miss  Ella  Gallup,  daughter  of 
Charles  H.  Gallup,  and  sister  of  his  present 
partner  in  business.  To  this  union  one  child 
has  been  born,  Francisco  Laurent,  now  at- 
tending Riverview  Military  College.  Mr.  God- 
inez is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity — 
Ancient  Scottish  Rite — which  he  joined  in 
Cuba.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Pough- 
keepsie Gun  Club. 


ISAAC  W.  SHERRILL,  who  has  twice 
served  as  county  treasurer,  and  who  is  one 
of  the  most  prominent  citizens  of  Poughkeep- 
sie, was  born  in  New  Lebanon.  Columbia  Co., 
N.  Y.,  May  16.  1849,  a  son  of  Walter  and 
Amy  (Fowler)  Sherrill. 

The  Sherrill  family  is  of  English  ancestry, 
and  the  first  of  the  name  in  this  country  set- 
tled on  Long  Island,  whence  some  of  them 
came  to  Dutchess  county.  Isaac  Sherrill,  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess  county,  where  he 
carried  on  farming.  On  June  18,  1809,  he 
married  Betsy  Jackson,  and  they  had  five  chil- 
dren, of  whom  the  following  record  is  given: 
Jeremiah  is  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Washing- 
ton, Dutchess  county;  Walter  is  the  father  of 
our  subject;  Hunting  is  a  farmer  in  Columbia 
county,  N.  Y. ;  Eliza  M.  married  Lewis  Adsit, 
also  a  fanner,  and  now  deceased;  and  Marga- 
ret married  George  Fowler,  now  deceased. 

Walter  Sherrill  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Stanford,  and  was  reared  on  the  home  farm. 
He  married  Amy  E.,  daughter  of  Israel  Fow- 
ler, who  was  born  at  Unionvale,  Dutchess 
county,  and  they  settled  on  a  farm  in  Columbia 
county,  where  the  father  died  in  1852,  and  the 
mother  in  1854.  They  were  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  Church,  and  in  his  polit- 
ical belief  the  father  was  a  Whig.  They  had 
two  children:  Isaac  W.  and  Henrietta,  the 
latter  being  now  deceased. 

Isaac  W.  Sherrill  was  a  child  of  three 
years  when  his  father  died,  and  his  mother's 
death  following  two  years  later,  he  was  taken 
by  his  uncle,  Jeremiah  Sherrill,  with  whom  he 
lived  in  the  town  of  Hillsdale,  Columbia  county, 
until  twelve  years  of  age.  His  uncle  at  that 
time  removed  to  the  town  of  Washington, 
Dutchess  county,  and  there  our  subject  attended 
the   district  school,   later  taking   a   course  at 


the  Dutchess  County  Academy.  His  educa- 
tion was  completed  at  Gary's  Institute,  Pough- 
keepsie, and  when  twenty-one  years  of  age  he 
returned  to  that  city  and  entered  the  hardware 
store  of  Uhl  &  Husted,  as  clerk.  With  this 
house  he  remained  two  years,  and  then  went 
into  the  general  store  of  Budd  &  Trowbridge. 
A  year  later  he  bought  the  interest  of  Mr.  Budd, 
and  the  firm  became  Trowbridge  &  Sherrill. 
In  the  following  year  Peter  Adriance  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  partnership,  and  the  name  was 
changed  to  Trowbridge,  Sherrill  &  Adriance. 
This  connection  continued  for  three  years, 
when  Mr.  Sherrill  sold  out  his  interests,  and 
for  a  short  time  was  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  shoes  with  Bayly  &  Halsted. 

In  1878,  Mr.  Sherrill  was  elected  alderman 
of  the  Third  ward,  on  the   Republican  ticket, 
and  was  re-elected  in  1880,  serving  two  term.-: 
He  was  afterward  appointed  city  chamberlain, 
by   Mayor  Ezra  White,   which  ofhce  he  he! 
four  years.      In  1886  Mr.  Sherrill  started  as; 
dealer  in  investment  securities,  a   business  h' 
is  yet  carrying  on,  at   No.   19   Market  street. 
In  1888  he  was  elected   county   treasurer,  and 
at  the  expiration   of  his  term  was   re-dected, 
serving  in  this  capacity  until  January  i,  1893 
In  April,  1897,  Governor  Black  appointed  hiii 
one  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  New  Yorl. 
State  Soldiers'  and  Sailors'    Home,  located  ai 
Bath,  Steuben  Co. ,  N.  Y.,  which  is  an  institu 
tion    of    about    fifteen   hundred   inmates.     It 
June  of  the  same  year   he   resigned  from  tha^ 
position,  and  the  Governor   appointed   him  t( 
the  honorary  position  of  one  of  the  Board  0 
Managers  of  the  Hudson  River  State  Hospital 
located  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. .  which  is  con 
sidered  a  position  of  prominence  in  the  State 

On  October  i,  1873,  our  subject  was  unitei 
in    marriage    with   Miss    Virginia    Halstead,  : 
native  of  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess  coun 
ty.     The  Halsteads  are  of  English  descent,  an' 
her  father,  Nehemiah  Halstead,  was  for  atim 
a  merchant  at  Bangall,  Dutchess  county,  after 
ward  following  farming.      Four  children  hav 
been  born  to  our  subject   and  his  wife:     Wil 
fred  H.,  Harold  W.,  Virgil  C.  and  Arthur  L 
Mr.   and  Mrs.    Sherrill  attend  the   Congrega 
tional  Church.      Mr.   Sherrill  is  a  Republica 
in  politics,  and  has  always   taken  a  lively  ir 
terest  in  public    matters,  lending   his  influenc 
to  all  projects  for  the  growth   and  welfare  c 
his  community.      His  ability  as  a  business  ma 
is  well-known,  and  he  stands  high  in  the  est 
mation  of  his  associates. 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHIOAL  HECOBD. 


217 


JAMES  HARVEY  SWIFT  (deceased)  was 
born  in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ,  April  23, 
1825,  and  was  a  brother  of  George  H. 
Swift,  a  leading  citizen  of  the  town  of  Amenia, 
Dutchess  county.  His  boyhood  days  were 
passed  in  his  native  city,  attending  the  Dutch- 
ess County  Academy  and  College  Hill  Academy. 
For  two  years  later  he  was  a  student  at  Yale 
College,  after  which  he  entered  Rutgers  Col- 
lege at  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  taking  the  class- 
ical course  and  graduating  with  the  class  of 
'44.  He  then  came  to  the  town  of  Amenia, 
where,  for  a  year,  he  lived  upon  a  farm  with 
;S  brother  John,  and  subsequently  purchased 
e  Burton  farm,  where  he  lived  until  his 
marriage. 

On  February  4,  1847,  Mr.  Swift  was  mar- 
ried in  New  York  City  to  Miss  Frances  Au- 
gusta Swift,  daughter  of  Thomas  Swift,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  seven  children, 
namely:  Alida  Warner,  born  November  9, 
1847,  died  December  12,  1892;  Henry,  born 
December  31,  1849,  died  January  15,  1865; 
IFrances  Augusta,  born  December  12,  1851, 
died  March  15,  1852;  Thomas  James,  born 
1  March  6,   1853;  Charles  Rowland,  born  Janu- 

Ilary  28,  1858,  died  April  30,  i860;  Freeborn 
Uewett,  born  February  11,  1862,  died  Decem- 
^K-  15,  1864;  and  John  Morton,  born  October 
■  1865. 
■  In  1857  Mr.  Swift  purchased  the  Philo 
Beed  farm,  which  continued  to  be  his  home 
ffjtil  his  death,  on  September  27,  1889.  Dur- 
ing his  active  business  life  he  carried  on  farm- 
ing in  the  town  of  Amenia,  with  the  exception 
of  when,  in  connection  with  his  brother,  George 
H.,  he  was  executor  of  his  brother  Charles'  es- 

■iate,  at  which  time  he  resided  in  Poughkeepsie. 
B   Mr.  Swift  was  a  most  earnest  and  consis- 
tent  member  of    the  Presbyterian   Church  at 
■  South  Amenia,  in   which   he   served   as  elder 
l|>in  1864,  and  politically  was  a  Republican. 
Wis    record   was  an    honorable   one,   and  his 
iiemory  will  be  long  cherished   by  the  many 
vho  had  the  pleasure  of  his  acqaintance,  for 
lis  sturdy  worth  and  for  his  countless  acts  of 
jenevolence  and  kindness,  of  which  often  only 
he  recipient   and   himself   knew.     He  was  an 
nfluential  man,  and  contributed  liberally  to  all 
ood  enterprises. 

Mrs.  Swift  was  born  in  the  town  of  Dover, 
Dutchess  county,  July  25,  1828,  and  before 
ler  marriage  was  a  distant  relative  of  her  hus- 
)and,  both  tracing  their  ancestry  back  to 
udah  Swift,  their  paternal  great-grandfather. 

14  A 


The  founder  of  the  family  in  America  was 
William  Swift,  and  from  him  in  direct  line  to 
Judah  are  William,  Ephraim  and  Samuel. 
Judah  Swift,  by  his  marriage  with  Elizabeth 
Morton,  had  eight  children:  Lois;  Samuel; 
Nathaniel;  Moses;  Rebecca;  Seth,  the  grand- 
father of  Mr.  Swift,  of  this  review;  Elizabeth; 
and  Moses,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Swift. 
Seth  wedded  Mary  Wells,  and  they  had  six 
children:  Henry,  Moses,  E.  Morton,  Ann  W., 
Maria  and  Thomas  W.  Henry,  the  eldest, 
married  Rebecca  Warner,  and  to  them  were 
born  six  children:  Charles  Wells,  Maria, 
John  Morton,  George  Henry,  Frances,  and 
James  Harvey,  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch. 

Moses  Swift,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Swift, 
spent  his  entire  life  in  the  town  of  Amenia. 
He  married  Hannah  Hurd,  of  the  town  of 
Dover,  on  June  9,  1785,  and  one  of  their  chil- 
dren was  Thomas  Swift,  the  father  Mrs.  James 
H.  Swift.  He  was  born  in  Amenia,  January 
24,  1789,  and  was  three  times  married,  his 
first  wife  being  Maria  Barlow,  and  his  second 
Mary  L.  Grant.  After  the  death  of  the  latter 
he  married  Asenath  Cline,  the  mother  of  Mrs. 
Swift.  She  was  born  October  6,  1793,  and 
died  April  i,  1891.  The  father  was  principal- 
ly engaged  in  hotel  keeping  throughout  life,  , 
conducting  the  "Forbes  House"  at  Pough- 
keepsie; the  "Atlantic  Hotel"  at  Hoboken, 
N.  J.;  and  the  "Bull's  Head"  in  New  York 
City.      His  death  occurred  January  25,  1872. 


EMMERY  WING  (deceased)  was  born  at 
'I  Wing's  Station,  on  the  Harlem  railroad, 

in  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  May 
20,  1825.  There  he  remained  during  his 
youth,  attending  the  public  schools. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  went  to  Al- 
bany, and  clerked  in  the  wholesale  grocery 
store  of  Cook  &  Wing;  stayed  there  three 
years,  and  then  for  one  year  traveled  with  the 
circus  and  menagerie  of  G.  C.  Quick  &  Co; 
next  clerked  in  the  "Northern  Hotel,"  at  the 
corner  of  Mill  and  Washington  streets,  for  four 
years.  Mr.  Wing  was  married  in  the  town  of 
Washington  to  Ann  Maria  Vail,  and  then  en- 
gaged in  the  fancy  dry-goods  and  millinery 
business  at  No.  304  Main  street,  later  buying 
the  store  at  No.  306  Main  street,  and  building 
the  place  now  occupied  by  A.  B.  Stockholm. 
He  remained  in  business  from  1855  to  1877, 
and  in  1 872  bought  his  late  residence  on  South 


218 


GOMMEMORATIVB  BIOQRAPniGAL  RECORD. 


avenue,  where  he  passed  the  rest  of  his  days. 
His  first  wife  died  November  9,  1875,  and 
September  17,  1876,  he  married  Miss  Mary 
Eliza  Van  Kleeck,  a  daughter  of  Levi  Van- 
Kleeck.  Of  this  union  there  were  two  chil- 
dren: Irene  K.,  born  October  7,  1877,  died 
August  2,  1878,  and  Emery,  Jr.,  born  March 
14,  1880.  Mr.  Wing  had  a  large  orchard,  and 
was  a  very  successful  fruit  grower,  and  for  the 
past  twenty  years  of  his  life  he  lived  retired 
on  South  avenue,  dying  May  9,  1896. 

Elijah  Wing,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  at  Wing's  Station,  where  he  spent  his 
youth.  He  married  Lucy,  daughter  of  Brad- 
ford Holmes,  M.  D. ,  and  children  as  follows 
were  born  to  them:  (1)  John,  deceased;  (2) 
Maria  H.,  married  (first)  to  Erastus  Burch, 
and  they  had  one  child — Mary  E. — and  (sec- 
ond) wedded  Edward  M.  Buckley,  by  whom 
there  were  three  children — Charles,  Arthur 
and  Emery  W.  (3)  Emery, our  subject.  (4) 
Walter  P.,  who  was  on  the  whaling  vessel, 
"Yonkers. "  (5)  Hiram.  Mr.  Wing  was  a 
farmer,  and  gave  all  his  time  and  attention  to 
that  occupation. 

Thurston  Wing,  the  grandfather,  was  born 
in  Rhode  Island,  and  came  to  the  town  of 
Dover  when  a  boy.  He  married  Mary  Young- 
er, and  they  had  the  following  children:  Arch- 
ibald (deceased),  Rhodie  (deceased)  married 
Zebulon  Ross,  Mary  Ann  became  the  wife  of 
Theodorus  Sheldon,  and  Elijah  and  Thurston 
(both  deceased).  Mr.  Wing  died  in  1844,  an 
adherent  of  the  Quaker  faith. 

Thomas  Wing,  the  great-grandfather,  was 
born  in  England,  and  came  to  America,  locat- 
ing first  in  Rhode  Island,  and  later  in  Dutch- 
ess county.  He  was  the  earliest  ancestor  of 
the  Wing  family  in  this  country. 


CORNELIUS  LAMOREAUX  CANNON. 
_'  the  well-known  contractor  and  builder  of 
Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  was  born 
February  i,  1850,  at  the  old  homestead  of 
the  family  on  South  Hamilton  street,  Pough- 
keepsie. 

His  early  education  was  acquired  at  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  place,  at  the 
Dutchess  County  Academy,  and  at  the  Eastman 
Business  College,  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1867.  His  father,  the  late  Arnout 
Cannon,  was  prominent  in  the  building  trade, 
and  our  subject  learned  the  business  thor- 
oughly under  his  instruction,  serving  a  three- 


years'  apprenticeship.  He  was  then  made 
foreman  of  his  father's  shop,  and  held  that 
position  until  1873,  when  he  and  his  brother 
Arnout,  an  architect,  went  into  business  under 
the  firm  name  of  A.  Cannon's  Sons.  This  ar- 
rangement lasted  until  1881,  when  they  sep- 
arated, our  subject  continuing  his  work  as 
builder,  and  his  brother  following  architecture 
exclusively.  Mr.  Cannon  is  a  leader  in  his 
line,  and  employs  about  twelve  men  the  year 
round. 

On  April  28,  1873,  Mr.  Cannon  was  mar- 
ried in  Poughkeepsie  to  Miss  Julia  E.  Schon, 
a  native  of  St.  Croix,  Danish  West  Indies. 
Her  father,  James  N.  Schon,  was  born  in  Co- 
penhagen, Denmark,  in  1815,  and  went  to  St. 
Croix  when  a  young  man  as  superintendent  of 
a  large  hospital.  He  was  married  there  to 
Miss  Maria  Schuster,  a  native  of  the  place, 
who  had  been  educated  at  New  Haven,  Conn. 
They  had  two  children,  Julia  E.  and  Charles 
E.  After  twenty-two  years  at  St.  Croix,  Mr. 
Schon  came  to  the  United  States,  spending 
one  year  in  New  York  City  before  making  his 
home  in  Poughkeepsie.  He  was  for  a  short 
time  employed  as  bookkeeper  for  the  iron 
works  of  Edward  Beck,  and  then  became  pri- 
vate secretary  to  the  late  Matthew  Vassar. 
On  the  foundation  of  Vassar  College  he  be- 
came registrar  and  assistant  treasurer,  anc 
held  those  offices  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred March  26,  1875. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cannon  have  had  eight  chil 
dren,  whose  names  with  dates  of  birth  are  a; 
follows:  Frederick,  March  17,  1874;  Nellie 
October  7,  1876;  James  Schon,  October  25 
1878;  Clara  Louise,  November  22,  1880 
Ernest  Alton,  March  19,  1883;  Wallace  Cor 
nelius,  July  11,  18S5;  Francis  Jones,  April  3 
1887;  and  Julia  Gardner,  November  10,  1889 
Politically  Mr.  Cannon  is  a  Republican,  bu 
while  he  is  a  stanch  and  influential  supporte 
of  the  doctrines  of  his  party  he  is  not  an  office 
seeker.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
No.  297,  and  of  the  Royal  Arcanum. 


C-APTAIN  LUTHER  ELTING,  one  of  th 
'  oldest  and  most  highly  respected  resident 
of  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  count) 
was  born  August  2,  181  5,  at  Highland,  Ulstf 
county,  then  known  as  New  Paltz  Landing. 
His  ancestors  were  early  settlers  in  th: 
locality,  and  his  grandfather,  Noah  Elting,  w; 
born  there,  and  became  one  of  the  prominei 


p 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPUWAL  RECORD. 


219 


business  men  of  his  day,  being  extensively  en- 
gaged in  the  freighting  business  and  in  sloop 
building;  he  was  also  the  originator  of  the  ferry 
line  between  Highland  and  Poughkeepsie.  He 
married  Hannah  Deyo,  of  Ulster  county,  and 
had  the  following  named  children:  Deyo, 
Henry  D.,  Philip,  David,  Abram,  Mrs.  David 
Fowler,  Mrs.  Clinton  Woolsey,  Mrs.  Bradner 
Woolsey  and  Joseph. 

Abram  Elting,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  at  New  Paltz  Landing  in  17S5,  and  after 
acquiring  an  education  in  the  Dutch  schools  of 
New  Paltz  he  engaged  in  freighting  and  sloop 
building,  later  conducting  also  a  store  and  a 
farm,  in  all  of  which  lines  of  effort  he  met  with 
success.  He  was  a  leading  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  stood  high  in  the  es- 
teem of  the  community.  He  married  Miss 
Betsey  Ransom,  of  Highland,  and  had  seven 
children:  Noah,  who  died  at  eighteen  years; 
Milton,  who  died  at  three;  Phcebe  Ann  (de- 
ceased); Luther,  our  subject;  Albert  (deceased); 
Mary  Ellen,  who  married  Ezekiel  Elting,  of 
Highland ;  and  John  J.  (deceased).  The  mother 
bf  this  family  died  in  1851,  and   the  father  in 

1859- 

Capt.  Elting's  school  days  were  spent  in 
'.he  district  school  at  Highland,  and  at  four- 
een  and  one-half  years  of  age  he  began  the 
reighting  business  with  his  father.  After 
welve  years  on  the  sloop  "Intelligence,"  he 
an  a  barge  for  another  twelve  years.  In  1854 
le  moved  to  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  had 
)ought  his  present  residence  a  short  time  be- 
ore,  and  he  has  since  lived  a  retired  life  so  far 
s  business  is  concerned,  with  the  exception  of 
our  years — 1860-64 — when  he  was  in  the  ice 
•usiness  under  the  name  of  Rockland  Lake  Ice 
"o. ,  now  the  Knickerbocker  Ice  Co. 

On  January  26,  1853,  at  Middletown, 
)range  county,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah 
"..  Watkins,  a  lady  of  Welsh  descent,  and  a 
aughter  of  Hezekiah  Watkins.  Of  their  three 
hildren,  only  one,  Irving  (the  second  child), 
now  living.  Theodore  Hezekiah  died  in  in- 
mcy,  and  Eugene  at  the  age  of  two  and  one- 
alf  years. 

Irving  Elting,  born  May  i,  1856,  is  a 
rominent  attorney  of  Poughkeepsie.  After 
aduating  from  Harvard  University,  in  1878, 
2  studied  law  at  the  Harvard  Law  School, 
id  then  in  his  native  city.  In  1 882  he  opened 
1  office  there,  and  has  met  with  great  success 
cases  involving  patent  rights  and  copyrights, 
which  he  makes  a  specialty.     On  November 


5,  1885,  he  married  Miss  Susan  D.  Green,  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  Green,  a  well-known  resi- 
dent of  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  to  their 
union  has  been  born  one  child — Elisabeth. 


11  IKEN  T.  BRILL,  a  well-known  residetn 
,^!^  of  the  town  of  Pawling,  Dutchess  county, 
is  one  of  the  leading  workers  in  his  chosen 
occupation  of  farming  and  gardening.  An 
apprenticeship  of  six  years  with  J.  B.  Dutcher 
gave  him  unusual  opportunities  for  perfecting 
himself  in  the  details  ©f  the  latter  business,  and 
his  work  as  gardener  for  Miss  M.  B.  Monahan, 
of  Quaker  Hill,  does  credit  to  both  his  training 
and  native  ability. 

Egbert  Brill,  father  of  our  subject,  was  one 
of  the  patriots  who  served  his  country  during 
the  Civil  war,  being  a  member  of  Company  F, 
128th  N.  Y.  V.  I.  He  participated  in  many 
engagements,  among  which  were  the  battles 
of  Bull  Run,  Port  Hudson  and  Gettysburg. 
He  was  finally  discharged  on  account  of  dis- 
ability. 

Aiken  T.  Brill  is  a  native  of  the  town  of 
Pawling,  and  grew  to  manhood  there,  acquir- 
ing his  education  in  the  public  schools.  He 
married  Miss  Georgiana  Squires,  who  was  born 
in  the  same  town,  August  6,  1867.  In  her 
childhood  her  parents  moved  to  the  old  home- 
stead at  Roxbury,  Conn.,  and  she  there  at- 
tended the  schools  and  grew  to  womanhood; 
and  there  also  she  and  our  subject  were  mar- 
ried. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brill  have  four  children  : 
Clifton,  Mabel,  John  C,  and  one  whose  name 
is  not  given. 

Mrs.  Brill's  ancestry  deserves  especial  note 
because  of  the  patriotic  services  rendered  dur- 
ing the  Revolutionary  war  by  the  representa- 
tives of  the  family  in  that  day.  Her  great- 
great-grandfather,  Gideon  Squires,  was  born 
and  educated  in  Roxbury,  Conn.,  and  was 
captain  of  a  company  in  the  Colonial  forces. 
He  lost  his  life  in  the  struggle  for  freedom 
while  crossing  Lake  George.  Having  raised 
up  in  the  boat  to  see  where  they  were,  he  was 
shot  by  an  Indian  who  was  on  the  watch  for  a 
chance  to  take  aim  at  the  voyagers.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Martha  Warner,  a  sister  of  Col.  Seth 
Warner,  who  was  second  in  command  at  the 
battle  of  Bennington.  Four  children  were  born 
to  them:  Abyathy,  Eben,  Martha  and  Mar- 
garet. Abyathy  Squires,  Mrs.  Brill's  great- 
grandfather, was  born  at  Roxbury,  Conn. ,  and 
made  his  home  there,  following  farming  during 


220 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


his  manhood.  He  served  throughout  the  Rev- 
olutionary war,  as  sergeant,  and  drew  a  pen- 
sion of  $20  per  month  until  his  death  at  the 
age  of  eighty-nine  years.  He  and  his  wife, 
Rachel  Atwell,  reared  a  family  of  four  children, 
of  whom  Mrs.  Brill's  grandfather,  Cyrus  Squires, 
was  the  youngest.  Of  the  others  Levi  died  at 
the  age  of  ten  years;  Moses  married  Clarissa 
Curtis;  and  John  married  Miss  Eunice  Hunt. 

Cyrus  Squires  was  born  at  the  old  home  in 
Roxbury,  June  24,  1804,  and  after  completing 
his  studies  in  the  common  schools  there  he 
engaged  in  farming.  He  married  Miss  Sarah 
Wilcox,  daughter  of  Elisha  Wilcox,  a  leading 
farmer  of  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county, 
and  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Bircham.  Of  their 
two  children,  the  elder,  Moses,  died  at  the  age 
of  seven  years.  The  younger,  George  M.,  the 
father  of  Mrs.  Brill,  was  born  at  the  old  home- 
stead, September  13,  1839.  He  attended  the 
common  schools  there  in  his  youth,  and  learned 
the  hatter's  trade  when  it  came  time  to  pre- 
pare for  taking  a  place  in  the  business  world; 
but  after  following  the  trade  fifteen  years  he 
gave  it  up  to  engage  in  agriculture.  He  served 
in  the  governor's  guards  in  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut, and  was  drafted  during  the  Civil  war. 
He  died  May  9,  1897,  when  he  was  aged  fifty- 
seven  years.  His  wife  was  Miss  Emily  Amelia 
Woodin,  daughter  of  Henry  L.  and  Laura 
(Chaplin)  Woodin,  of  the  town  of  Pawling, 
Dutchess  county,  her  father  being  a  well-known 
farmer.  Mrs.  Brill  was  the  elder  of  two 
children.  Her  brother,  Origen  G.  Squires, 
an  adopted  child,  was  born  in  New  Milford, 
Conn.,  April  4,  1876,  and  died  at  fifteen  years 
of  age.  He  was  taken  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brill 
when  only  eight  days  old  and  adopted  as  their 
own  child. 


J  WILSON  POUCHER,  M.  D.,  a  promi- 
nent physician  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 
county,  and  a  representative  of  one  of  the 
oldest  families  of  this  State,  was  born  July  24, 
1859,  at  Claverack,  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.  His 
family  originated  in  France,  but  his  ancestors 
fled  to  Holland  at  the  time  of  the  "Massacre 
of  St.  Bartholomew",  later  coming  to  the  New 
World. 

Simon  Poucher  (or  Boucher,  as  the  name 
was  then  given)  was  born  in  France,  came  to 
America  in  1658,  and  settled  upon  the  Van- 
Rensselaer  estates  which  included  several 
counties,  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Albany 


being  a  portion  thereof.  He  was  a  millwright 
by  trade,  and  was  employed  on  the  manor  by 
Patroon  Van  Ren.sselaer,  his  home  being  in 
the  vicinity  of  Claverack,  where  his  descend- 
ants have  since  resided,  many  of  them  attain- 
ing to  positions  of  great  prominence.  His  son, 
Pierre  Boucher,  was  born  about  1675,  ^nd  died 
February  19,  1739.  One  of  his  sons,  Jacob 
(born  January  13,  171 5,  died  in  1786),  had  a 
son  Antoine  (born  April  30,  1775,  died  1856) 
who  had  a  son  Johannes,  our  subject's  grand- 
father (born  October  11,  1806),  who  had  a 
son,  Peter,  our  subject's  father  (born  May  5, 
1835).  With  the  exception  of  the  last-named 
these  all  followed  the  millers'  trade  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  Claverack.  Peter  departed  from  the 
rule,  engaging  in  agriculture  exclusively,  and 
being  industrious,  temperate  and  thrifty  has 
made  a  success  of  a  business  which  is  not  al- 
ways profitable  in  these  days.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  in  politics  is  a 
Democrat,  taking  no  part,  however,  in  the 
active  work  of  the  organization.  He  married 
Miss  Mary  Cummings,  daughter  of  Jacob  Cum- 
mings,  a  native  of  New  England,  and  a  prom- 
inent resident  of  Claverack.  She  died  in  1870, 
and  of  their  five  children  only  three  are  now 
living,  our  subject  being  the  eldest. 

Dr.  Poucher  received  his  primary  education 
at  the  public  schools  of  Claverack,  later  attend- 
ing Claverack  College,  from  which  institution 
he  was  graduated  in  1879,  in  the  classical 
course.  For  one  year  he  taught  in  the  public 
schools,  and  then  entered  Union  College, 
graduating  in  1883  from  the  medical  depart- 
ment. Locating  at  Modena,  Ulster  county, 
he  established  a  general  practice;  but  wishing 
to  pursue  his  studies  further,  he  disposed  of 
his  business  in  1885  and  went  to  Europe  for 
two  years,  spending  the  first  year  in  Berlin, 
then  dividing  the  second  between  Vienna  and 
Paris,  making  a  specialty  of  surgery  and  gyne- 
cology. On  his  return,  in  1887,  he  opened  an 
office  in  Poughkeepsie,  and  has  since  built  up 
a  large  general  practice.  Although  a  genera! 
practitioner,  he  makes  a  specialty  of  surgery, 
in  which  respect  he  is  widely  known  through- 
out this  section  of  the  State,  and  takes  rank 
among  the  foremost  of  his  profession.  He  is 
a  surgeon  on  the  staff  of  Vassar  Brothers 
Hospital,  a  member  of  the  State  and  Count) 
Medical  Societies,  and  a  liberal  contributor  ol 
articles  to  meetings  of  these  societies.  Hf 
has  lately  been  appointed  to  the  board  0 
Pension  Examining  Surgeons. 


I 


I 


4 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


221 


i 


esie 

It; 


In  1892  Dr.  Pouchcr  niarrieci  Miss  Cath- 
ine  D.  Le  Fever,  daughter  of  Hon.  Jacob 
Fever,  member  of  Congress,  and  one 
:hild,  a  daughter,  has  been  born  to  them. 
Both  the  Doctor  and  his  wife  are  prominent 
in  the  social  life  of  the  city,  and  are  leading 
members  of  the  Washington  Street  M.  E. 
Church,  of  which  he  is  a  trustee.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  and 
Mrs.  Poucher's  ancestry  entitles  her  to  a  place 
in  the  society  of  the  Daughters  of  the  American 
Revolution.  Dr.  Poucher  is  a  member  of  the 
Holland  Society,  the  Society  of  Colonial  Wars, 
and  the  Society  of  Old  Guard.  He  is  inter- 
ested also  in  athletics,  and  belongs  to  the 
nnis,  Golf,  and  Boat  Clubs,  and  to  the 
mrita  Club.  Of  all  movements  for  local  im- 
provement he  is  a  prompt  and  hearty  support- 
er, and  in  political  affairs  his  influence  is  given 
to  the  Republican  party.  He  has  served  as 
alderman  of  the  Fifth  ward,  and  at  the  present 
time  is  one  of  the  commissioners  of  the  board 
of  public  works,  the  first  member  elected  to 
that  board,  previous  ones  having  been  appoint- 
,  ed.  Socially  he  affiliates  with  the  F.  &  A.  M., 
1  Triune  Lodge;  Poughkeepsie  Chapter  and 
Commandery;  the  Mystic  Shrine  of  New  York 

I  City;   and  he  is  a  life  member  of  the  Ancient 
kd    Accepted    Scottish    Rite    of    New  York, 

CLARK  KIRBY.      For  over  a  century  the 
_    Kirby  family  has  been  identified  with  the 
linterests    of    Quaker    Hill,   town  of    Pawling, 
BJButchess  county,  New  York. 
HH    In    1757,  in  the  village  of   New  Bedford, 
Hk  I.,  was  born  George  Kirby,  of  English  de- 
^Rent.     In    1780,  he  came  to  Quaker  Hill  and 
settled  just  across  the  road   from  where   the 
new  school  house  now  stands.      He  possessed 

■about  one  hundred  acres  of  land  at  this  place, 
hd  here  made  his  home  for  some  time,  later 
Tjuying  what  was  then  known  as  the  old  Reed 
F"erris  farm,  but  subsequently  called  the  "old 
Kirby  House."  Some  time  afterward  he 
nought  the  farm  consisting  of  about  three 
lundred  acres,  and  on  this  he  passed  his  re- 
naining  days.  He  married  (probably  after  his 
:oming  to  Dutchess  county)  Anna  Stocum,  and 
ly  this  marriage  had  seven  children — five  sons 
ind  two  daughters:  Clark,  of  whom  special 
nention  is  made  below;  Gideon,  who  was  as- 
ociated  with  his  brother  Clark,  and  died  on 


the  homestead;  Uriah,  who  lived  in  Amenia; 
William,  who  lived  near  Poughkeepsie;  Hum- 
phrey, deceased  while  young;  Hannah,  who 
married  Akin  Taber;  and  Amy,  who  died  un- 
married. With  the  exception  of  the  son  Hum- 
phrey, the  ^ntire  family  lived  to  advanced 
ages.  The  father  died  in  the  year  1831,  be- 
loved and  respected  by  his  fellowmen.  He 
was  one  of  the  leading  men  in  the  community, 
and  in  his  religious  faith  was  a  Quaker,  prac- 
ticing in  his  daily  life  the  simple  tenets  of  that 
sect,  and  in  his  kindly,  courteous  manner,  an- 
nouncing his  unfaltering  belief  in  the  Brother- 
hood of  Man.  His  wife  died  February  18, 
1894. 

Clark  Kirby,  the  eldest  son  of  George 
Kirby,  was  born  on  Quaker  Hill,  February  16, 
1794,  and  made  his  home  there  until  the  re- 
moval of  his  parents  to  the  Kirby  farm  below 
the  Hill.  Here  he  and  his  brother  Gideon 
owned  a  large  tract  of  land,  some  eight  or  nine 
hundred  acres,  and  followed  farming  as  an  oc- 
cupation all  their  lives.  In  this  they  had 
more  than  ordinary  success,  and  were  ranked 
among  the  leading  men  of  the  place. 

Clark  Kirby  had  acquired  an  education  such 
as  was  obtained  by  very  few  men  in  these 
times,  and  was  especially  fond  of  mathematics. 
He  was  a  natural  student,  and  his  leisure  time 
was  spent  in  reading,  which  covered  a  wide 
range,  and  he  became  a  well-informed  man  on 
general  topics  of  interest — ancient  and  modern. 

On  November  28,  1833,  he  was  married 
to  Charlotte  Hungerford,  of  New  Milford, 
Conn.,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  three 
daughters,  as  follows:  Caroline,  who  married 
George  Miller,  of  New  York  City;  Helen,  who 
married  William  Akin  Taber,  of  Pawling, 
Dutchess  Co. ,  N.  Y. ;  and  Frances.  Mr.  Kirby 
was  one  of  the  original  board  of  directors  of 
the  Pawling  National  Bank,  and  held  this  po- 
sition for  over  twenty  years.  In  politics  he 
was  first  a  Whig,  later  a  Republican,  and  as  a 
private  citizen  was  much  interested  in  public 
affairs,  though  he  had  no  desire  to  pose  before 
the  world  in  the  fierce  light  that  beats  on  pub- 
lic officials.  In  his  quiet,  unassuming  way  he 
served  the  public  only  by  his  conscientious 
performance  of  every  duty,  a  worthy  example 
for  emulation.  Like  his  father  before  him,  he 
was  a  believer  in  the  religion  that  sprung  from 
the  teaching  of  George  Fox.  In  1881  this 
gentle  spirit  was  gathered  to  his  fathers,  and 
1894  his  wife,  too,  entered  upon  the  unseen 
life. 


222 


OOMMEMORA  TIVE  BIOORAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


FRANK  L.  R.  TP:TAM0RE,  M.  D.  Mr 
_  though  but  a  recent  acquisition  to  the 
medical  fraternity  of  this  section,  Dr.  Teta- 
more,  of  Matteawan,  has  a  reputation,  gained 
in  other  fields  of  practice,  which  has  at  once 
placed  him  in  the  front  rank  of  the  profession 
here.  In  1882  he  began  his  active  practice  in 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ,  and  continued  there  until  Sep- 
tember, 1896,  when  he  opened  his  present 
offices  in  Matteawan,  and  also  established  a 
sanitarium  for  the  accommodation  of  his 
numerous  patients,  who  will  find  here  pure 
air,  quiet,  and  the  soothing  influences  of  charm- 
ing natural  scenery.  Dr.  Tetamore  has  at- 
tained prominence  as  a  surgeon,  and,  to  quote 
from  the  Brooklyn  Record,  is  a  "  specialist " 
in  those  delicate  operations  which  relate  to  the 
restoration  of  the  face  by  transplanting  tissue. 
He  successfully  demonstrated  that  the  bones 
of  animals  could  not  be  utilized  in  restoring 
injured  portions  of  the  face,  but  by  the  trans- 
planting of  tissue  he  succeeded  in  constructing 
an  artificial  face  for  a  lady  from  Scranton, 
Penn.,  who  was  fearfully  disfigured  in  an  acci- 
dent on  the  Reading  railroad.  "  Many  natu- 
ral deformities  have  been  successfully  operated 
upon  by  him — crooked  limbs,  backs  and  necks 
straightened  under  his  methods." 

A  brief  outline  of  Dr.  Tetamore's  history 
will  be  of  interest  to  the  readers  of  this  vol- 
ume. His  family  originated  in  Holland,  the 
first  of  his  ancestors  to  cross  the  ocean  being 
his  great-great-grandfather  Tetamore,  who 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  married 
an  Indian  squaw,  and  their  son,  our  subject's 
great-grandfather,  who  was  born  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  this  State,  served  as  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  1812.  William  Tetamore,  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  1806, 
in  the  town  of  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county, 
and  throughout  his  mature  years  made  his 
home  in  the  village  of  Red  Hook,  where  he 
died  in  1895.  For  seventy  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  old  Dutch  Church  of  Rhine- 
beck;  his  talents  were  of  an  unusual  order,  and 
he  invented  the  old  hay  press,  which  has  been 
in  common  use  for  many  years,  and  has  not 
yet  been  superseded.  He  married  Hannah 
Amie,  of  the  town  of  Milan,  Dutchess  county, 
and  has  three  children:  John  W. ;  Anna,  who 
married  C.  C.  Coons,  an  extensive  horticult- 
urist of  Germantown,  Colunibia  county;  and 
Mary  E. ,  the  wife  of  V.  O.  Ricker,  a  house- 
finisher  at  1 1 6th  street,  New  York  City. 

John  W.  Tetamore,  the    Doctor's    father, 


was  a  native  of  Red  Hook,  where  he  first  saw 
the  light  in  1830;  he  lived  in  Dutchess  county 
until  he  was  twenty-one,  when  he  went  to  New 
York  City.  He  married  Elizabeth  Martin,  a 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Maria  (Done)  Martin; 
the  former,  a  well-known  merchant  and  tin- 
smith of  Hudson,  N.  Y. ,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1 812,  and  the  grandfather,  Robert 
Martin,  a  native  of  the  North  of  Ireland,  served 
in  the  Revolutionary  war;  Mrs.  Maria  Martin 
was  a  daughter  of  Ezra  Done,  of  Columbia 
county. 

After  their  marriage  the  Doctor's  parents 
settled  for  a  time  in  Hudson,  but  at  present 
they  reside  in  Brooklyn.  They  are  both  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Church,  although  the  Tet- 
amore family  have  always  been  Lutherans. 
In  politics,  however,  J.  W.  Tetamore  agrees 
with  the  other  members  of  his  family,  and  is  a 
stanch  Republican.  The  Doctor  is  the  eldest 
of  six  children,  the  others  being:  Lelia  mar- 
ried Geo.  W.  Granger,  of  Brooklyn;  Jane  T.  B. 
is  the  wife  of  E.  A.  Anderson,  an  assistant  su- 
perintendent of  the  Ne\<^  York  Life  Insurance 
Co. ;  Henry  M.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
eight,  was  a  dentist  in  Brooklyn;  Lewis  J.,  a 
printer  in  New  York  City,  is  married  to  Miss 
Ada  Pouch,  of  Brooklyn;  and  William,  who  is 
now  twenty-one  years  old,  resides  in  New 
York  City. 

Dr.  Tetamore's  earthly  career  began  Au- 
gust 28,  185 1,  at  Hudson,  but  until  he  was 
eleven  years  of  age  his  time  was  chiefly  spent 
in  Red  Hook.  He  then  returned  to  his  native 
place,  and  attended  the  public  schools  for 
about  two  years.  At  thirteen  he  went  to 
Albany  as  clerk  in  the  drug  store  of  Collins  & 
Kirk,  and  after  two  years  there  he  went  to 
Staten  Island  in  a  similar  capacity.  Later  he 
returned  to  Albany  and  entered  the  employ  of 
H.  B.  Clement  &  Co.,  druggists,  for  a  time, 
and  then  he  took  charge  of  the  drug  store  of 
Dr.  William  H.  Peer,  of  Brooklyn,  remaining 
a  year  and  a  half.  While  there  he  attended 
the  New  York  Dental  College,  and  although 
he  did  not  graduate,  he  began  to  practice  at 
Brooklyn,  and  at  the  same  time  began  to  read 
medicine  with  Dr.  George  R.  Fowler,  surgeon 
of  the  Second  Brigade,  N.  Y.  N.  G.  Contin- 
uing his  medical  course,  he  was  graduated  in 
1882  from  the  Long  Island  Hospital  College, 
and  after  spending  a  short  time  as  Curator  of 
the  college,  he  established  an  office  at  Brook- 
lyn, and  began  his  work  as  a  practitioner. 
His  abilities  have  received   recognition  from 


COMMEMORATIVE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


228 


many  sources.  He  was  appointed  hospital 
steward  of  the  Fourteenth  Reginrient,  N.  Y. 
N.  G.,  in  1879,  assistant  surgeon  in  1885, 
surgeon  in  1890,  and  State  medical  inspector 
of  U.  S.  Camp  at  Peekskill,  N.  Y. ,  in  1896. 
As  has  been  noted,  he  went  to  Matteavvan  in 
the  fall  of  1896,  and  has  leased  the  residence 
of  the  late  Dr.  J.  P.  Schenk,  where  he  has  an 
office  on  Leonard  street,  near  Fountain  Square. 
On  November  25,  1873,  Dr.  Tetamore 
married  Miss  Mary  E.  Davison,  daughter  of 
William  Davison,  of  Brooklyn.  Three  chil- 
dren have  blessed  this  union:  Walter  D. , 
born  in  1874;  Florence  M.,  born  in  1876; 
and  Clarence,  born  in  1878.  Politically  the 
Doctor  is  a  Republican.  In  religious  faith  he 
is  a  Baptist,  and  while  living  in  Brooklyn  he 
served  as  superintendent  of  a  Sunday-school, 
which  increased  under  his  care  from  fifty 
pupils  to  1,200.  He  belongs  to  the  I.  O. 
O.  F. ,  also  the  Junior  Order  of  American 
Mechanics,  and  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
N.  Y.  County  Medical  Association.  Altogether 
it  will  be  seen  that  Matteawan  has  reason  to 
congratulate  herself  upon  Dr.  Tetamore's 
choice  of  a  home. 


^ 


GEORGE   NORTON    MILLER,  M.  D.,    a 
prominent  citizen  of  the  town  of  Rhine- 
!beck,  Dutchess  county,  resides  upon  a  beautiful 
testate  two  miles  from  the  village  of  Rhinebeck. 
It  was  there  that  he  first  saw  the  light  Sep- 
tember 27,     1857,    and    in   his   mature   years 
le  finds  it   the  pleasantest  spot    in  which  to 
pass  the  leisure  which  culture  and  refinement 
:an  so  well  employ  in  congenial  tasks.      He 
ittended    school  in  his  boyhood  in  New  York 
3ity,  and  later  entered  Harvard  College,  and 
.vas  graduated  from    the  literary  department 
vith  the  degree  of  A.  B. ,  in  1 879,  and  from  the 
nedical  department,  in  1882.    A  trip  to  Europe 
oilowed,  with  two  years  of  study  at  Vienna  and 
leidelberg,  and  he  then  returned  to  his  native 
and.     April  18,  1886,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
(artha  LeRoy  Glover,  who  was  born  in   New 
ork  City  in  1864,  and  received  there  a  liberal 
ducation.      Ever  since  their  marriage  the  Doc- 
or  and  his  wife  have  resided  at  the  old  home, 
"hey    have  three    children:     George   Norton, 
orn  January  6,  1888,  the  third  of  the  name  in 
irect  line  of  descent;  Helen  LeRoy,  born  July 
,  1889,  and  Catherine  Caroline,  born  March 
1890. 
The  Miller  family  is  of   English  origin,  and 


the  Doctor  is  of  the  sixth  generation  from  Will- 
iam Miller  who  settled  in  1648  at  Ipswich, 
Mass.,  where  he  became  a  freeholder  and  was 
one  of  the  heaviest  tax  payers.  He  and  his  wife 
Patience  had  a  son  Abram,  who  was  born  Jan- 
uary 20,  167 1,  at  Northampton,  Mass.  He 
married  Harriet  Clapp,  and  had  a  son  Jona- 
than, who  was  born  in  1703,  and  died  in  1787. 
He  was  married  January  2,  1723,  to  Sarah 
Allen,  and  had  a  son  Elisha,  our  subject's  great- 
grandfather, who  was  born  in  Connecticut  in 
1730,  and  died  in  1807.  October  18,,  1764,  he 
married  Sarah  Fowler,  whose  death  occurred  in 
1772.  Their  son  William,  our  subject's  grand- 
father, who  was  born  in  Connecticut  in  1768, 
became  a  well-known  minister  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church.  He  died  in  18 18;  but  his  wife, 
Anna  Starr,  who  was  born  in  1772,  lived 
nearly  a  century,  passing  away  in  1865. 

George  Norton  Miller,  our  subject's  father, 
was  born  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  July  27,  1805, 
and  for  many  years  was  a  prominent  business 
man  in  Charleston,  S.  C.  In  October,  1855, 
he  married  Miss  Caroline  Tucker  Chace.  She 
passed  to  her  eternal  rest  September  19,  1872; 
but  his  life  was  prolonged  until  March  10, 
1892.  Of  their  four  children  all  but  one,  a 
daughter,  survive,  viz.:  William  Starr,  H. 
Ray,  and  the  subject  of  our  sketch. 


JrOSEPH  FIELD  (deceased)  was  born  in 
the  city  of  New  York,  January  7,  1829,  and 
was  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Hannah  (Dusen- 
berry)  Field,  the  former  a  native  of  Westches- 
ter county,  N.  Y.  In  that  city  he  was  reared 
and  educated  in  its  public  schools.  After  learn- 
ing the  wagon- maker's  trade,  in  1851  he  went 
to  Kings  Bridge,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  engaged  in 
that  business.  It  was  there  that  he  met  Tem- 
perance R.  Darke,  to  whom  he  was  married, 
December  8,  1853;  in  the  following  spring, 
on  account  of  ill-health,  he  gave  up  wagon- 
making. 

About  1865  Mr.  Field  removed  to  a  farm 
near  Sharon,  Conn.,  which  he  operated  until 
1868,  when  he  came  to  the  village  of  Amenia, 
where  he  conducted  a  market  up  to  the  time 
of  his  death,  January  27,  1892.  He  was  made 
a  Mason  in  Shekomeko  Lodge  at  Washington 
Hollow,  Dutchess  county,  and  later  affiliated 
with  Amenia  Lodge  No.  672,  F.  &  A.  M., 
while  politically  he  was  an  ardent  Republican, 
but  would  never  accept  official  positions.  He 
was  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  every  duty,  was 


224 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPUWAL  RECORD. 


a  man  of  excellent  principles  and  a  blameless 
life,  and  thoroughly  enjoyed  the  esteem  and 
respect  of  every  community  in  which  he  re- 
sided, and  died,  mourned  by  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances. 

Mrs.  Field,  a  most  estimable  lady,  was 
born  June  24,  1832,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
Charles  and  Temperance  R.  (Hayden)  Darke. 
By  her  marriage  she  became  the  mother  of 
three  daughters:  Ella,  born  February  12, 
1855,  married  Charles  Jenkins,  by  whom  she 
has  three  children — Maria  Louise,  Harry  and 
John  Roy;  Maria,  born  May  26,  i860,  died 
March  21,  1864;  and  Gertrude,  born  June  14, 
1872,  completes  the  family. 

Charles  Darke,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Field, 
was  a  native  of  Bloomingdale,  N.  Y.,  and  most 
of  his  life  was  engaged  in  the  market  business 
at  Kings  Bridge.  However,  he  spent  his  last 
years  in  Amenia,  where  both  himself  and  wife 
died  and  were  buried.  They  had  four  chil- 
dren: Temperance;  Charles  H.,  of  Poughkeep- 
sie,  N.  Y. ;  Isaac  D.,  of  Springfield,  Mass. ;  and 
Emma,  wife  of  George  T.  Willson. 


fEERMANCE  FAMILY,  THE,  now  rep- 
resented in  Dutchess  county  by  Martin 
and  Dewitt  Heermance,  is  descended  from 
Jan  Heermance,  who  came  to  America  from 
Holland  in  1659.  His  will,  written  in  Dutch, 
is  on  record  in  the  surrogate's  office  in  New 
York  City.  His  descendants  settled,  at  an 
early  date,  in  Dutchess  county.  One  of 
them,  Hendricus  Heermance,  married  a  daugh- 
ter of  Gerrit  Artsen,  one  of  the  partners  to  the 
first  purchase  of  land  from  the  Indians,  at 
Rhinebeck  (the  Kipsberger)  in  1686,  subse- 
quently confirmed  by  royal  patent  in  1688. 
In  1 7 16  Hendricus  Heermance  bought,  of  his 
father-in-law,  property  now  known  as  Ellers- 
lie,  the  present  home  of  Governor  Morton. 
Catharine  Heermance,  a  granddaughter  of  Jan 
Heermance,  married  John  The  Baptist  Kip,  a 
grandson  of  Jacob  Kip,  one  of  the  original 
grantees  under  the  royal  patent  of  1688. 

Jacob  Heermance,  a  grandson  of  Jan,  and 
brother  of  Catharine,  married  Catharine  Vos- 
burgh,  a  daughter  of  Jan  Vosburgh  and  Cor- 
nelia Knickerbocker.  They  had  eight  chil- 
dren— four  sons  and  four  daughters — -Jacob, 
John,  Andrew,  Martin,  Cornelia,  Anna,  Doro- 
thea and  Eleanor.  Cornelia  Heermance  mar- 
ried Gen.  David  Van  Ness;  Eleanor  married 
Peter  Cantine;  Dorothea   married  Henry  De- 


Witt,  and  Anna  married  Isaac  Stoutenburgh. 
Martin  Heermance  married  a  daughter  of  Dr. 
Hans  Kiersted,  a  direct  descendant  of  the  Dr. 
Hans  Kiersted  who  in  1642  married  Sarah 
Roeloffe  Jans,  daughter  of  Anneke  Jans,  from 
whom  came  the  millions  now  possessed  by  the 
Trinity  Church  Corporation  of  New  York  City. 
Martin  was  the  only  son  of  Jacob  Heermance, 
who  left  sons.  For  many  years  he  was  a 
leading  citizen  of  the  county,  and  was  com- 
missioned brigadier-general  in  the  war  of  1812. 
One  of  his  daughters  married  Archibald  Smith, 
a  prominent  lawyer  of  Saratoga  county,  while 
another  daughter  married  Dr.  Henry  Van- 
Hoevenberg,  at  one  time  health  officer  of  the 
Port  of  New  York.  Andrew  J.  Heermance, 
one  of  his  sons,  bought  the  property  on  which 
stands  the  house  built  by  the  Kips  in  the  year 
1700,  and  which  was  subsequently  owned  by 
the  Beekman  and  Livingston  families.  It  is 
still  in  a  good  state  of  preservation.  He  was 
a  public-spirited,  progressive  man,  and  an 
honored  citizen,  and  for  several  terms  repre- 
sented the  town  of  Rhinebeck  in  the  board  of 
supervisors  of  Dutchess  county. 

Rev.  Harrison  Heermance,  another  son  of 
Gen.  Martin  Heermance,  was  a  minister  of  the 
Reformed  (Dutch)  Church.  At  the  breaking 
out  of  the  Civil  war  he  was  settled  in  Lenawee 
county,  Mich.;  but  he  resigned  his  charge  and 
entered  the  army  with  the  4th  Mich.  Cav., 
and  subsequently  served  as  chaplain  of  the 
128th  N.  Y.  V.  His  son,  Isaac  Henry  Heer- 
mance, then  under  sixteen  years  of  age,  en- 
listed at  the  same  time,  in  the  same  regiment, 
and  died  in  the  service  before  he  was  eighteen. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  Rev.  Harrison  Heer- 
mance resumed  his  residence  at  Rhinebeck, 
his  native  town,  and  died  there  in  1883.  His 
wife  was  Rebecca  A.  Van  Denbergh,  of  Lan- 
singburg,  N.  Y.  Their  two  surviving  sons, 
Martin  and  DeWitt  Heermance,  were  born  in 
Michigan,  but  from  their  early  childhood  have 
lived  at  Rhinebeck,  and  were  educated  in  the 
De  Garmo  Classical  Institute,  then  located  in 
that  town.  They  have  since  taken  up  their 
residence  in  Poughkeepsie.  In  1881  Martin 
Heermance  was  elected  supervisor  of  the 
town  of  Rhinebeck,  and  was  re-elected  in 
1882.  In  1883  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Poughkeepsie.  In  1888  he  was 
elected  district  attorney  of  Dutchess  county, 
and  his  brother  DeWitt,  who  had  graduated 
at   the  Albany  Law  School  several  years  be- 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


225 


fore,  and  was  then  in  partnership  with  him  in 
the  practice  of  law,  was  assistant  district  at- 
torney. In  i8f)6  Martin  Heermance  was  ap- 
pointed   one   of  the  three   State  assessors  of 

\\  New  York,  by  Gov.  Morton,  and  was  made 
chairman  of  the  board.  Both  Martin  and  De- 
Witt  Heermance  are  members  of  the  Holland 

,  I  Society.  Martin  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
'  order,  and  ^while  residing  at  Rhinebeck  was 
twice  elected  master  of  Rhinebeck  Lodge.  In 
1 88 1  he  married  Nina  Radcliffe,  daughter  of 
the  late  David  Van  Ness  Radcliffe,  of  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  and  they  have  one  child,  Radcliffe 
Heermance.  In  1892  DeWitt  Heermance 
married  May  Hallenbeck,  daughter  of  the  late 
John  J.  Hallenbeck,  of  Montclair,  N.  J.,  and 
they  have  one  son,  Andrew  Hallenbeck  Heer- 
mance. Jacob  Heermance,  the  great-grand- 
father of  Martin  and  DeWitt,  had  a  brother 
Nicholas,  who  left  descendants,  none  of  whom 
are  known  to  be  residents  of  Dutchess  county. 
The  late  Rev.  Henry  Heermance,  of  Kinder- 
hook,  and  Col.  William  L.  Heermance,  now 
residing  at  Yonkers,  are  descended  from  this 
branch  of  the  family. 


ENRY  L.  YOUNG,  a  prominent  resident 
of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  now 
ing  retired  from  active  business,  was  born  in 
w  York  City,  August  28,  18 iS,  the  son  of 
nry  L.  and  Mary  L.  (Hydei  Young. 
The  Young  family  is  of  English  extraction, 
d  Quakers  in  religious  belief..  Alexander 
ung,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a 
mer  at  Sing  Sing,  N.  Y.  He  married  Miss 
n  Slausson,  and  they  reared  a  family  of  five 
Idren,  namely:  Jacob,  who  became  captain 
a  Hudson-river  vessel.  Hiram,  who  was  a 
;ailor;  Nathaniel,  who  was  a  farmer  in  West- 
;hester  county,  N.  Y. ;  Charlotte,  married  to 
William  H.  Smith,  a  merchant  of  New  York, 
ind  Henry,  father  of  our  subject. 

Henry  Young  was  born  in  1792  at  Sing 
^ing,  N.  Y.  His  wife,  Mary  L.  (Hyde),  was 
orn  at  Norwich,  Conn.,  and  her  family  was 
-iso  of  English  descent.  After  their  marriage 
hey  lived  in  New  York  City,  where  Mr.  Young 
arried  on  a  large  hardware  business.  They 
ad  four  children,  namely:  Henry  L.,  our 
ubject;  Mary,  who  married  a  Mr.  Barnes,  a 
lerchant  in  New  York  City  (now  deceased); 
ames,  who  lives  in  New  York  City,  and  is  re- 
red  from  business,  and  Martha,  married  to 
lenry  S.  Leavitt,  a  merchant  of  New   York 

16 


City.  The  father  served  in  the  war  of  18 12, 
and  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church. 

Henry  L.  Young,  the  subject  proper  of  this  re- 
view, spent  his  boyhood  days  in  New  York  City, 
where  he  attended  the  private  schools,  and  on 
completing  his  education  clerked  in  his  father's 
store  for  four  years.  He  then  went  to  Avon 
Springs  and  settled  on  a  large  farm,  where  he 
remained  for  eleven  years.  On  June  23,  1842, 
Mr.  Young  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Henry  Dwight,  of  Utica, 
N.  Y. ,  and  who  was  of  English  descent.  Five 
children  have  been  born  to  them:  Edmund, 
who  resides  in  Poughkeepsie;  James  H.,  resid- 
ing in  Brooklyn;  Mary  D.,  at  home  with  her 
parents;  William  H.,  an  attorney  in  New  York 
City,  and  Henry  D. ,  who  died  while  a  student 
at  college. 

In  the  fall  of  1853  Mr.  Young  removed  to 
Poughkeepsie,  which  has  since  been  his  home. 
He  has  a  beautiful  residence  at  No.  98  South 
Hamilton  street,  with  fine  grounds  filled  with 
ifowers,  and  every  comfort  and  luxury  attaina- 
ble. Here,  with  no  cares  of  business  to  annoy 
him,  he  is  passing  the  evening  of  his  life  in 
peace  and  happiness,  his  only  sorrow  being  the 
loss  of  his  beloved  wife,  who  passed  from 
earth  January  9,  1890.  She  was  a  member  of 
the  Reformed  Church  (as  is  also  Mr.  Young), 
and  was  a  most  estimable  woman. 

Mr.  Young  held  various  positions  of  honor 
and  trust,  having  been  a  trustee  of  \'assar  Col- 
lege for  ten  years;  vice-president  and  director  of 
the  Farmers'  and  Manufacturers'  Bank  for  sev- 
eral years;  trustee  of  the  Savings  Bank;  presi- 
dent of  the  cemetery  board;  and  president  of 
the  board  of  water  works  for  three  years.  He 
was  one  of  the  committee  who  drafted  a  new- 
charter  for  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  has 
always  taken  an  active  interest  in  its  growth 
and  prosperity.  He  is  a  man  of  sterling  integ- 
rity, and  has  frequently  been  made  executor  of 
large  estates.  In  every  relation  of  life  Mr. 
Young  has  borne  an  unblemished  reputation, 
and  his  worth  as  a  man  and  a  citizen  is  well 
known  and  thoroughly  appreciated,  not  only  by 
the  public  generally,  but  by  a  host  of  warm 
personal  friends. 


BEUBEN  WILEY  (deceased).    During  the 
Civil  war,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  then 

in  the  prime  of  his   manhood,  offered   himself 
to  the  Union  cause.      Enlisting  in  the  Eighth 


226 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


N.  Y.  H.  A.,  he  served  with  the  quiet  heroism 
of  the  true  soldier  until  death  came  to  him  in 
the  midst  of  the  hard-fought  struggle  before 
Petersburg,  June  i6,  1864. 

Mr.  Wiley  was  of  Scotch  descent,  his 
great-gTAndfather,  Hugh  Wylie,  being  the  first 
ancestor  to  come  to  America.  Arriving  in  early 
manhood,  he  located  in  the  town  of  Clinton, 
Dutchess  county,  where  he  became  the  owner 
of  a  farm  of  300  acres  near  Clinton  Hollow. 
He  married  Mary  Hall,  and  had  two  children: 
Reuben  and  Mary.  Reuben  Wiley's  son,  John 
Wiley,  our  subject's  father,  was  born  and  edu- 
cated there,  and  also  engaged  in  farming  in 
mature  years.  He  married  Sarah  Allen,  and 
eight  children  were  born  of  this  union:  En- 
sign (deceased),  Allen,  Reuben  (our  subject). 
Mary  Jane,  Hannah  M.,  Martin  (who  served 
as  a  soldier  in  the  150th  N.  Y.  V.  I.),  and 
William  and  Adeline  (both  deceased). 

Reuben  Wiley  was  born  at  the  old  home- 
stead July  17,  1827,  and  received  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  neighboring  schools.  At  the  age 
of  seventeen  he  went  to  Saratoga  and  engaged 
in  a  general  mercantile  business,  later  moving 
to  New  York  City,  where  he  went  into  the 
commission  business  on  Washington  street. 
While  there  he  Carried  Miss  Mary  T.  Adee,  a 
native  of  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess  county. 
Of  this  marriage  two  children  were  born: 
Samuel,  now  a  resident  of  Fairbury,  Neb., 
and  Sarah  A.,  who  was  married  October  13, 
1875,  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  to  John  W. 
Dutcher,  a  son  of  Lotan  Dutcher  and  Eliza 
(Doughty)  Dutcher,  of  Lagrange.  He  was 
educated  at  Clinton  Hollow  and  Pleasant 
Plains,  later  engaging  in  farming,  and  is  now 
one  of  the  agriculturists  of  his  vicinity.  yVfter 
their  marriage  they  lived  in  the  town  of  Clin- 
ton for  two  years,  when  they  moved  to  the 
town  of  Washington,  remaining  there  twelve 
years.  In  1889  they  returned  to  Clinton  Hol- 
low, where  they  have  since  resided.  They 
have  two  children:  Reuben  W.  and  Lotan  H. 
In  politics  Mr.  Dutcher  is  a  Republican. 


^RTHUR  FRANCIS  HOAG,  M.  D.,  a 
M^^  prominent  physician  of  Millerton,  is  a 
native  of  the  town  of  Northeast,  Dutchess 
county,  born  November  1 1,  1856.*  His  family 
is  of  English  origin. 

William  P.  Hoag,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Pine  Plains,  Dutchess 
county,  in  1819,  and  received  a  good   literary 


education.  He  was  of  a  scientific  turn  of 
mind,  and  while  he  was  always  an  interested 
reader  on  general  subjects,  hb  made  a  special 
study  of  geology.  Until  1873  he  was  a  farmer 
in  the  town  of  Northeast,  whence  he  removed 
to  Wabasha,  Minn.,  where  for  some  years  he 
conducted  a  storage  elevator  for  grain,  later 
going  to  Cass  county.  North  Dakota,  and  en- 
gaging in  farming.  He  married  Mary  Jane  Sim- 
mons, daughter  of  John  Simmons,  a  wealthy 
farmer  of  near  Chatham,  Columbia  county, 
N.  Y. ,  and  had  four  sons:  William  Edward, 
born  May  4,  1852,  now  a  traveling  salesman; 
Arthur  Francis,  our  subject;  Robert  Henry, 
born  November  22,  1858,  a  commission  mer- 
chant of  Minneapolis;  and  Charles  Simmons, 
born  November  25,  i860,  a  farmer  at  Nor- 
cross,  Minn.  On  his  removal  to  the  West, 
Mr.  Hoag  was  accompanied  by  all  of  his  fam- 
ily except  our  subject,  and  since  1890  has  made 
his  home  with  his  son  in  Minneapolis.  He  has 
always  been  a  Republican,  but  has  never 
sought  or  held  office.  In  religious  belief  he  is 
a  Quaker,  and  has  by  his  upright  and  consist- 
ent life  commanded  the  esteem  of  his  asso- 
ciates. 

Dr.  Hoag  received  an  excellent  education 
in  his  youth,  studying  the  English  branches, 
and  also  the  classics  with  Rev.  A.  H.  Seeley, 
of  Smithfield,  Dutchess  county.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  Sidney 
Stillman,  of  Millerton,  as  a  medical  student, 
where  he  remained  three  years,  making  a  spe- 
cialty of  surgery.  In  1876  he  entered  the  med- 
ical department  of  Columbia  College,  and  was 
graduated  in  1879,  having  taken  special  work 
in  anatomy  and  surgery  in  addition  to  the  pre- 
scribed course.  He  took  clinics  with  Dr. 
Sands,  and  did  a  great  deal  of  hospital  work. 
On  August  16,  1876,  he  returned  to  Millerton 
and  formed  a  partnership  with  Dr.  Stillman, 
which  continued  three  years,  since  which  time 
he  has  practiced  alone.  His  preparation  for 
his  work  has  been  most  thorough,  and  he  is  no 
less  painstaking  in  his  practice,  and  as  a  result 
he  has  a  large  business  extending  throughout 
the  northeastern  part  of  the  county.  He  holds 
in  a  high  degree  the  confidence  of  the  commu- 
nity, and  has  been  health  officer  of  the  town  of 
Northeast  and  the  village  of  Millerton  for  about 
ten  years,  being  elected  on  the  Republican 
ticket.  He  is  also  medical  examiner  for  eight 
life  insurance  companies;  he  is  a  member  of 
the  State  Medical  Society  and  the  County  Med- 
ical Society.     The  Doctor  is  a  liberal-mindel 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


227 


San,  and  holds  to  the  simple  and  tolerant 
Quaker  faith  in  which  he  was  reared.  So- 
cially, he  is  a  member  of  Webatuck  Lodge  No. 
480,  F.  &  A.  M. ,  in  which  he  has  held  various 
offices.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in  local 
affairs,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  board  of 
education. 

In  1 88 1  Dr.  Hoag  was  married  to  Miss 
Jessie  L.  Wheeler,  daughter  of  the  late  Nor- 
man Wheeler,  of  the  town  of  Northeast,  and 
they  have  two  sons:  Arthur  Edmond  and 
William  Harvey. 


GEORGE    W.    CONKLIN    (deceased).     A 
life  so  strongly  marked  by  worthy  ambi- 
tion and  well-directed   energy   as   that  of  the 
subject   of   this   brief   memoir,    cannot   fail  to 
convey  to  every  reader  a  practical  lesson  which 
they  would  do  well  to  heed.      Although  of  good 
I  family,    Mr.  Conklin's  chief  inheritance   con- 
isisted  of   the  vigorous    mentality  and   upright 
character   upon  which  his   success  was   based. 
.  His  ancestors  were  among  the  early  settlers  of 
I  Putnam  Valley,  Putnam  county,  and   his  par- 
ents, William    and    Phcebe   (Sirrine)   Conklin, 
resided  upon  the  old  Conklin  homestead  north 
f  Oscawana  Lake,  where  on  January  3,  1828, 
<ur  subject  was  born. 

Mr.  Conklin  was  educated  in  the  schools 
lear  his  home,  and  had  no  other  advantages; 
)Ut,  being  fond  of  books,  he  supplemented  his 
oinmon-school  education  by  extensive  read- 
Dg,  and  became  a  man  of  broad  information, 
a  student  of  human  nature,  he  enjoyed  fic- 
lon,  and  Dickens'  works  were  his  especial 
ivorites.  He  was  phenomenally  successful  in 
usiness.  When  seventeen  years  of  age  he 
ent  to  Maryland  to  get  out  ship  timber,  and 
nmediately  after  arriving  there  he  was  recog- 
ized  as  a  young  man  of  good  ability,  and  was 
ut  in  charge  of  a  gang  of  men  who  were  en- 
ed  in  that  work.  He  remained  there  until 
850,  when  he  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
;nkins,  of  Phillipstown,  Putnam  county.  He 
len  gave  his  attention  to  building  bridges  on 
le  Hudson  River  railroad,  having  charge  of  a 
;mg  of  men  on  the  extension  from  Poughkeep- 
t  north,  and  was  in  the  employ  of  the  road 
iitil  the  last  year  of  the  Civil  war.  He  went 
)  Port  Royal  in  March,  1865,  returning  in 
jly  of  that  year,  and  then  entered  the  em- 
y  of  the  government  in  the  navy  yards  at 
rooklyn.  He  laid  tracks,  and  was  the  gen- 
a^verseer  during  his  stay  of  four  years. 


There  he  became  acquainted  with  R.  G.  Pack- 
ard, and  later  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
him  in  the  dredging  business.  This  was  an 
extensive  enterprise,  and  he  was  quite  success- 
ful, continuing  for  twenty-six  years  at  least. 
After  leaving  the  navy  yard  Mr.  Packard  and 
Mr.  Conklin  went  with  Morris  &  Comings; 
but  after  a  while  Mr.  Packard  went  into  busi- 
ness for  himself,  and  Mr.  Conklin  accompanied 
him,  and  continued  in  the  business  until  within 
three  years  of  his  death,  which  occurred  May 
8,  1893.  He  helped  in  the  making  of  dredg- 
ing machinery,  and  in  all  the  different  branches 
of  the  business,  having  a  natural  talent  for 
mechanics.  By  nature  he  was  energetic  and 
forceful,  and  would  have  been  successful  in 
anything. 

In  his  political  faith  Mr.  Conklin  was  a 
strong  Republican,  but  he  was  not  especially 
active  in  party  work.  For  some  time  he  was 
a  member  of  the  fire  department  at  Pough- 
keepsie.  Cataract  Company  No.  4,  and  be- 
came an  exempt  fireman.  In  religion  he  was 
was  a  Methodist. 

Mr.  Conklin  had  a  pleasant  home  and  a 
charming  family.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of 
David  and  Ann  (Stevens)  Jenkins,  of  Phillips- 
town,  Putnam  county.  Six  children  blessed 
their  union:  (i)  George  L. ,  born  November 
14,  1852,  is  a  machinist,  and  has  been  in  the 
dredging  business.  He  married  Miss  May 
Pickert,  and  has  three  children:  May  Eliza- 
beth, George  Wesley  and  L.  Clyde.  (2)  Lillie 
J.  is  married  to  William  Saltford,  an  English- 
man, and  a  florist  by  occupation.  They  have 
two  sons:  W.  Arthur  and  George  C.  (3) 
Minnie  C.  married  William  Seeholzer,  of  Mid- 
dletown,  N.  Y. ,  proprietor  of  the  R.  R.  res- 
taurant, and  has  one  daughter,  Helen  C.  (4) 
Lizzie  M.  is  at  home.  (5)  Josephine  and  (6) 
Carrie  died  in  infancy. 

Mrs.  Conklin  is  the  granddaughter  of  Joel 
Jenkins,  a  native  of  Maine,  who  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  and  two  broth- 
ers were  among  the  first  to  enlist  in  that  strug- 
gle, and  the  three  were  engaged  in  the  first 
battles.  One  brother  was  shot  in  one  of  the 
early  engagements,  but  Joel  Jenkins  and  other 
brother  served  throughout  the  war,  and  after 
its  close  he  settled  south  of  the  Croft's  church, 
in  the  town  of  Phillipstown.  The  Jenkins 
family  of  that  place  are  descended  from  him. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Garrison,  and  had  the 
following  children:  David,  Mrs.  Conklin's  fa- 
ther; Polly,  who  married  Daniel  Bishop;  Sarah 


228 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


(Mrs.  Masters);  Isaac,  who  lived  at  Garrison; 
Abram,  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth;  Hannah 
(Mrs.  Curry);  Susan,  wife  of  James  Croft; 
James;  and  Ann,  who  married  Mr.  Jennings. 


HENRY  E.    ALLISON,    M.   D.,    medical 
superintendent  of  the  Matteawan  State 

Hospital,  at  Matteawan,  was  born  December 
I,  1 85 1,  at  Concord,  N.  H.,  a  son  of  William 
H.  and  Catherine  (Anderson)  Allison. 

He  received  his  preliminary  education  at 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  city,  later  at- 
tending Kimball  Union  Academy  at  Meriden, 
N.  H.,  where  he  graduated  in   1871.      In  the 
fall  of  the  same  year  he  entered  the  classical 
department   of  Dartmouth  College.      He  was 
elected   president  of  the    class    in   his  Senior 
year,    and  graduated    with    honors    in     1875. 
Among   his   classmates    was    Gov.    Frank    S. 
Black,    of    New    York.     After  graduation,   in 
the  fall,  he   taught  the  high  school   of  Hills- 
borough Bridge,  N.  H.,  and  during  the  follow- 
ing year  attended   the  full  course  of  lectures 
and    instruction    at   Dartmouth   Medical   Col- 
lege.     In  June,  1878,  he  received  the  degree 
of  M.  D.  at  Dartmouth,   and  in  August  com- 
menced the  practice   of  his  profession   in  the 
capacity  of  an  assistant  physician  at  the  Wil- 
lard  Asylum,  in  the  town  of  Ovid,  N.  Y. ,  an 
institution  then  containing  some  twelve  hun- 
dred patients.      Here  he  remained  in  charge  of 
various    medical   departments    of    the    service 
until  March,  1883,  when  he  resigned,  although 
strong   inducements   were   offered   him   to  re- 
main.    After  pursuing  a  post-graduate  course 
at  the   New  York   Polyclinic,   he  commenced 
the  general  practice  of  medicine  at  Waterloo, 
Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  some 
fourteen  months,  meeting  with  excellent  suc- 
cess.    During  this  time  (1883-84)  he  served 
as  town  physician.     At  the  urgent  request  of 
the  board  of  trustees  of   the  Willard  Asylum, 
he  returned  in  1884  to  that  institution  as  first 
assistant  physician,  passing  the  State  Civil  Serv- 
ice examination  for  that  position  held  in  New 
York    City.     On   July    r,    1889,    he   was   ap- 
pointed medical    superintendent  of  the   State 
Asylum  for  Insane   Criminals  at   Auburn,  Ca- 
yuga Co.,  N.  Y.,  an  institution   at   that   time 
containing  two  hundred  and  nineteen  patients. 
By  virtue  of  this   office    he    also    became,  by 
statute,  a  member  of  the  commission  created 
by  the  Legislature  to  erect   a   new  asylum  for 
insane  criminals  which   was  founded  at  Mat- 


teawan, Dutchess  county,  and  to  which,  upon  its 
completion,  the  inmates  of  the  old  Auburn 
asylum  were  transferred  April  25,  1892.  This 
new  institution  is  now  known  as  the  Matteawan 
State  Hospital,  of  which  Dr.  Allison  is  the  med- 
ical superintendent  and  treasurer.  The  total  cost 
of  the  buildings  and  grounds  was  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  $900,000;  the  hospital  has  accom- 
modations for  five  hundred  and  fifty  patients. 

Dr.  Allison  became  a  member  of  the  Seneca 
County  Medical  Society  in  1879,  and  was 
elected  president  of  the  society  in  1886;  was 
also  president  of  the  Seneca  County  Medical 
Association.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Dutchess 
County  Medical  Society,  the  Newburgh  Bay 
Medical  Society,  and  of  the  American  Medico- 
Psychological  Association,  and  an  honorary 
member  of  La  Societe  de  Medecine  Mentale, 
of  Belgium. 

Dr.  Allison  has  published  the  following  pa- 
pers and  monographs:  "A  Case  of  Multiple 
Tubercular  Tumor  of  the  Brain  "  [New  York 
Medical  Record,  August,  1882];  "Cerebral 
Lesions  in  the  Chronic  Insane  "  [Alienist  and 
Neurologist,  July,  1885];  "Moral  and  Indus- 
trial Management  of  the  Insane  "  [Alienist  and 
Neurologist,  April,  1886];  "Mental  Changes 
Resulting  from  the  Separate  Fracture  of  Both 
Thighs"  [American  Journal  of  Insanity,  July, 
1886];  "Notes  in  a  Case  of  Chronic  Insanity" 
[American  Journal  of  Insanity,  April,  1887]; 
"An  Historical  Sketch  of  Seneca  County  Med- 
ical Society"  [Press  of  Brandow  &  Speed,  Al- 
bany, 1887];  "On  a  General  System  of  Report- 
ing Autopsies  in  American  Asylums  for  the  In- 
sane" [Read  before  the  Association  of  Medical 
Superintendents  of  American  Institutions  for 
the  Insane,  Newport,  R.  I.,  June,  1889;  Amer- 
ican Journal  of  Insanity,  October,  1889];  a 
short  contribution  to  "  De  La  Responsibility 
Att6nuee."by  Henry  Thierry,  Paris,  1891;  "On 
Motives  Which  Govern  the  Criminal  Acts  of 
the  Insane"  [Read  before  the  Association  of 
Medical  Superintendents  of  American  Institu- 
tions for  the  Insane,  Washington,  D.  C,  May, 
1892;  American  Journal  of  Insanity,  October, 
1 892] ;  • '  The  Insane  Criminal  "  [The  Summary, 
December,  1892];  "  Insanity  Among  Criminals" 
[Read  before  the  American  '  Medico-Psycho- 
logical Association,  Philadelphia,  Perm.,  May, 
1894;  American  Journal  of  Insanity,  July, 
1894;  Criminal  Law  Magazine  and  Reporter, 
Vol.  16,  1894];  "On  the  Care  of  the  Crimi- 
nal Insane  in  the  State  of  New  York"  [Read 
at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Trustees  and  Su- 


L 

± 

M 

1 

b 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H 

^ 

.^^fej^. 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


229 


perintendents  of  the   State   Hospitals  of  New 
York,  Matteawan,  October,  1894;  Conglomer- 
ate,   October,     1894];     "Some    Relations    of 
11     Crime  to  Insanity  and  States  of  Mental  En- 
feeblement"  [Read  at  the   annual   meeting  of 
the    American    Medical    Association,    Atlanta, 
Ga.,  May,  1896;  Journal  of  the  American  Med- 
ical  Association,   September.  1896];   "Simple 
Melancholia    and     its    Treatment  "    [Read    at 
Xewburgh  Bay  Medical  Society;  Medical  Rec- 
_^rd,  January,    1897];   four   annual    reports   of 
■^taie  "State  Asylum  for  Insane  Criminals,"  1889, 
I^BO.  '91.  '92;  four  annual  reports  of  the  "  Mat- 
BBc^wan   State   Hospital,"  1893,    '94'     95.    96- 
'      In  addition,  although  not  seeking  the  work,  he 
has  been  frequently  called  upon  to  testify  as  an 
expert   medical   witness   in  various  important 
trials  before  the  courts. 

On  October  8,  1 884,  Dr.  Allison  was  married 

to  Miss  Anna  M.  De  Puy,  daughter  of  Lewis 

and    Sabina    E.    (Schoonmaker)    De    Puy,    of 

Kingston,  N.  Y.,  and  four  children,  as  follows, 

have  come  to  brighten  their  home:     Catherine 

De  Puy,  Elizabeth  Shand,  William  Henry  and 

Anna.     On  February  24,  1889,  at  Ovid,  N.  Y., 

H^e  united  with  the   Presbyterian  Church,  and 

HH  now  a  member  and  an  elder  of  the  First  Re- 

IBrmed  Dutch  Church  at  Fishkill  Landing,  N. 

P|V. ;  socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Union  Lodge, 

No.  114,  F.   &  A.  M.;  of  Dartmouth  College 

Association  of  New  York,  and  of  the  Associa- 

_,   tion  of  the  Alumni  of  Dartmouth  College. 

HH    The  Maiteaivan  State  Hospital  was  origi- 
HHilly   established    at    Auburn,    in    1855,    and 
H^p>ened  for  the  reception  of  patients  in  Febru- 
HKy,.i859.      Next  to  Utica   it   is  the  oldest  of 
HHie  State  hospitals  for  the  insane.      Designed 
"^t   first   for  the   care  of    insane  convicts,   its 
scope  has  been  gradually  enlarged  until  it  now 
provides  for  all  classes  of  insane  criminals,  and 
occupies    a    position    of    highest    importance 
among  the  hospitals  of  the  State.      Its  growth 
at  Auburn  was  not  rapid,  but  the  buildings  be- 
came overcrowded  in  the  course  of  years,  finally 
rendering  it  necessary  to  erect  a  new  institu- 
tion upon  a  larger  scale  and  a  more  convenient 
site;    and    Matteawan,    in   the    Hudson   River 
Valley,  was  selected.      Modern  buildings,  com- 
plete in  every  detail,  were  erected  there,  and 
the  new  asylum  opened  in   April,  1892.      Its 
name  was  subsequently  changed  from  the  State 
Asylum  for  Insane  Criminals  to  the  Matteawan 
State  Hospital.      It  receives  patients   not  only 
from  penal  institutions,  but  also  all  cases  from 


the  courts  of  the  State  where  the  plea  of  in- 
sanity arises  as  a  defense  for  crime.  Such 
persons  are  committed  to  its  custody  during 
the  continuance  of  their  mental  disease.  The 
population  again  rapidly  increased  at  Mattea- 
wan, until,  within  four  years  from  its  opening 
on  the  new  site,  the  hospital  was  filled  to  more 
than  its  utmost  capacity.  The  desirability  of 
separating  the  convicted  from  the  unconvicted 
inmates  had  long  been  recognized,  and  it  was 
recommended  that  this  end  should  be  accom- 
plished by  providing  a  hospital  in  connection 
with  one  of  the  State  Prisons,  to  be  built  by 
convict  labor,  and  for  the  purpose  of  caring 
only  for  the  convict  insane.  Gov.  Morton  in 
his  annual  message  approved  the  project,  and 
an  appropriation  for  this  purpose  was  made 
at  the  legislative  session  of  1896.  Complete 
plans  for  the  new  Institution,  designed  when 
finished  to  accommodate  six  hundred  inmates, 
were  prepared  by  Dr.  Allison,  and  the  buildings 
are  now  under  construction.  The  change  will 
relieve  the  Matteawan  State  Hospital  of  an  un- 
desirable class  of  patients,  and  enable  the  hos- 
pital to  expand  along  lines  more  favorable  to 
its  proper  development  and  growth. 


ISAAC  M.  CORNELL,  M.  D.,  a  prominent 
physician    of  Wappingers   Falls,   Dutchess 

county,  was  born  in  Defreestville,  Rensselear 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  26,  1851,  the  son  of  Rev. 
William  A.    and   Helen  M.  (Wyckoff)  Cornell. 

Peter  Cornell,  the  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  April  i,  1756,  and  married 
Maria  Meserole,  who  was  born  October  22, 
1758,  and  their  family  comprised  nine  children 
as  follows:  Cornelius,  born  in  1781,  was  a 
farmer  in  Lagrange;  Isaac  (i)  died  in  infancy; 
Isaac  (2)  was  the  grandfather  of  our  subject; 
Sarah  married  a  Mr.  Van  Valen;  Jane  married 
Matthew  Luyster;  Margaret  died  unmarried; 
Maria  and  Cornelius  died  in  infancy;  Eliza- 
beth, born  in  1790,  married  Oliver  Todd. 
Peter  Cornell  and  his  wife  were  members  of 
the  Reformed  Dutch  Church.  Of  this  family, 
Isaac  married  Miss  Hoffman,  a  native  of  Dutch- 
ess county,  and  they  settled  on  a  farm  in  La- 
grange, where  they  reared  their  seven  children, 
to  wit:  Peter  M.,  a  farmer  in  the  town  of 
Lagrange;  William  A.,  father  of  our  subject; 
Frederick,  a  farmer  in  Kansas;  Margaret  mar- 
ried to  Darius  Howland;  and  Mary,  Elizabeth 
and  Isabella. 

William   A.    Cornell,  father  of    Isaac    M., 


280 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  and 
after  completing  a  common-school  education 
entered  Rutgers  College,  at  New  Brunswick, 
N.  J.,  where  he  prepared  himself  for  the  min- 
istry. During  the  better  part  of  his  life  he  was 
a  preacher  in  the  Reformed  Church,  but  his 
health  becoming  impaired  he  returned  to  the 
farm  at  Lagrange,  where  he  died  August  i8, 
1876.  During  his  ministry  he  was  pastor  of 
the  churches  at  Athens  and  Blooming  Grove, 
N.  Y.,  or  Defreestville,  as  it  is  now  called. 
About  1853  he  gave  up  regular  work,  but 
preached  occasionally  until  the  time  of  his 
death.  On  April  12,  1843,  he  married  Miss 
Helen  M.,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
Wyckoff,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  native  of 
New  Brunswick,  N.  J.;  the  family  was  of  old 
Holland  stock.  Of  this  union  six  children 
were  born;  Elizabeth  W.,  who  married 
Thomas  B.  Burnett,  of  Orange,  N.  J. ;  Helen, 
who  died  in  infancy;  Sarah  L. ,  who  married 
James  Y.  Luyster,  of  New  Hackensack,  N.  Y. ; 
Isaac  M.,  our  subject;  William  A.,  who  mar- 
ried Bertha  Schultz,  and  lives  at  Sioux  Falls, 
S.  Dak.;  and  Jacob  W.,  assistant  treasurer  of 
the  Wappingers  Savings  Bank,  who  married 
Emma  Stockholm,  and  resides  in  Wappin- 
gers Falls. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  brought  up 
on  his  father's  farm  in  Lagrange,  and  attended 
the  district  school  until  he  was  fifteen  years  of 
age.  Subsequently  he  became  a  student  in 
the  Carey  and  Pelham  Institute,  Poughkeep- 
sie,  N.  Y.,  and  then  began  the  study  of  med- 
icine with  Dr.  S.  S.  Greene,  of  Lagrangeville. 
In  1873  he  entered  the  Medical  Department  of 
the  University  of  New  York,  and  graduated 
therefrom  m  the  class  of  'j"/.  After  his  grad- 
uation Dr.  Cornell  went  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ,  and 
for  some  time  practiced  with  his  old  precep- 
tor; then  resided  at  New  Hamburg,  N.  Y. , 
and  in  the  spring  of  1878  settled  at  Wap- 
pingers Falls,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  The  Doctor  stands  high  with  his  pro- 
fessional brethren,  and  has  been  very  success- 
ful in  his  calling.  He  has  secured  the  confi- 
dence of  the  public,  and  has  made  many 
friends  by  his  genial  manners  and  kindly  dis- 
position. His  practice  is  one  of  the  largest  in 
the  vicinit}'. 

On  October  30,  1878,  Dr.  Cornell  was 
married  to  Miss  Kate  E.  Dorland,  a  sister  of 
C.  P.  Dorland,  the  county  surrogate.  She 
died  July  29,  1880,  and  June  6,  1883,  the 
Doctor    was    married    to    Elizabeth    W.,    a 


daughter  of  Joseph  D.  Harcourt,  a  sketch  of 
whom  will  be  found  on  another  page.  Mar- 
tense  H.,  born  December  26,  1884,  is  the 
only  child  of  this  union.  In  his  political 
views,  the  Doctor  is  a  Republican.  From 
1883  to  1886  he  was  health  officer  of  the  town 
of  Wappinger,  and  in  1878  was  appointed  to 
the  same  office  for  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Dutchess  County 
Medical  Society  since  1878;  is  a  trustee  of  the 
Wappingers  Savings  Bank;  belongs  to  Wap- 
pingers Lodge  No.  671,  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Wap- 
pingers Falls,  to  Poughkeepsie  Chapter  No. 
172,  R.  A.  M. ,  and  Pougkheepsie  Commandery 
No.  43,  K.  T.  In  all  respects  he  is  one  of  the 
leading  citizens  of  Wappingers  Falls. 


'ILLIAM  MORGAN  LEE.  one  of  the 
prominent  attorneys  of  Poughkeepsie, 
Dutchess  county,  is  a  member  of  a  family 
which  has  long  held  a  leading  position  in  this 
locality. 

Darius  Lee,  his  father,  was  born  July  28, 
1794,  in  East  Fishkill,  and  in  early  manhood 
moved    to    Poughkeepsie,    where    he    became 
identified  with  several  important  business  enter- 
prises, a  general  store,  a  carriage  factory,  and, 
a    hotel   at    Arlington.      He    was    one  of    th^ 
founders  of  Heading  M.    E.    Church,  was  for" 
many  years  a  class  leader  and  local  preacher, 
and  he  held  for  a  long  time  the  oRice  of  justice 
of  the  peace  in  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie.    He 
married  for  his  second  wife  Naomi  Odell,  who 
was  born  July  28,    1812,  a  native  of  Putnami 
county,  and  they  had  seven  children,  of  vvhomi 
our  subject    is    the    eldest;  the   others    were: 
Kate,  a  successful  teacher  in  the  public  schools 
of  Poughkeepsie;  Frank  K.,  a  physician;  Ed-i 
ward,    who  resides  at   Mt.    Vernon,  S.    Dak. 
David  (deceased);  Sarah;  and  Henry  G.  (de- 
ceased).    The    father  died    in   1858,  and  the 
mother  on  February  26,  1883. 

William  Morgan   Lee  was    born    May   18,' 
1838,    in    Poughkeepsie.       His    literary    and 
scientific  studies   were   pursued  in  the   public 
schools  of  that  city,   and  with  private  tutors. 
When  twenty  years  old  he  taught  a  school  al'" 
Pleasant  Valley,  and  in  the  same  year  he  begar| 
the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Wilbur  &  Van- 
Cleef,  with  whom  he  remained  one  year.     H< 
then  taught  for  a  few  months  at  Schultzville 
and  in  1862  entered  the  office  of   the    provos 
marshall  at  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  was  em 
ployed  for  two  years  and   a  half.      Resumin) 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


281 


his  legal  studies  in  the  office  of  Judge  Charles 
Wheaton,  he  prepared  for  his  examination, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1866.  For 
some  time  he  practiced  with  Judge  Wheaton, 
and  later  with  Judge  Allard  Anthony.  He  is 
an  able  and  influential  worker  in  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  in  1869  was  appointed  city 
chamberlain,  serving  five  years;  in  1873  he  was 
elected  supervisor  of  the  Sixth  ward,  and  city 
attorney  in  1877,  which  latter  incumbency  he 
held  for  nine  years.  In  1 883  he  was  nominated 
for  surrogate  on  the  Republican  ticket  against 
H.  D.  Hufcut,  but,  like  the  other  candidates 
of  his  party  at  that  election,  he  was  defeated. 
From  1889  to  1893  he  was  deputy  collector  of 
Internal  Revenue  for  the  Fourteenth  District. 
.  His  well-proven  abilities  have  given  him  a  high 
standing  in  business  circles,  and  from  1893  to 
to  February,  1895,  he  was  auditor  and  general 
passenger  agent  for  the  P.  &  E.  R.  R. 
Through  all  the  varied  and  exacting  duties  of 
these  different  positions  he  has  carried  on  his 
regular  professional  work,  and  enjoys  an  ex- 
tensive and  profitable  practice. 

On  June  23,  1870,  in  Poughkeepsie,  Mr. 
Lee  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Worrall,  a  na- 
tive of  Pittsburg,  and  the  daughter  of  John 
Worrall.  Her  grandfather,  William  Worrall, 
was  an  early  settler  in  Poughkeepsie,  and  at 
one  time  owned  most  of  the  land  upon  which 
the  eastern  part  of  the  city  now  stands.  Two 
children  were  born  of  this  union:  Maud  and 
Frederick  William.  Mr.  I^ee  and  his  wife  are 
leading  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and 
he  has  been  a  vestryman  for  thirteen  years, 
clerk  of  the  vestry  for  four  years,  and  is  also 
the  treasurer  of  the  Archdeaconry  of  Dutchess 
county. 

He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  and  he  was  received  into  Pough- 
keepsie Lodge  in  March,  1869;  Poughkeepsie 
Chapter  No.  172,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1869;  Poughkeepsie  Commandery, 
Knights  Templar,  in  October,  1870;  and  was 
elected  High  Priest  of  the  Chapter  in  Decem- 
ber, 1872,  and  re-elected  four  successive 
terms.  In  May,  1876,  he  was  chosen  Com- 
mander of  Poughkeepsie  Commandery,  and 
held  the  office  six  years.  He  was  a  charter 
member  and  first  Master  of  Triune  Lodge  No. 
782,  organized  in  1879,  and  became  a  member 
of  King  Solomon  Council,  Royal  and  Select 
Masters,  in  1880,  serving  as  Master  of  the 
Council  for  two  years.  In  1883  he  served  on 
the  staff  of  J.  Edward  Simmons,  and  in  1884 


with  William  Brodie  as  Deputy  Grand  Master. 
In  1887  he  was  Grand  Principal  Sojourner  of 
the  State,  and  he  has  been  Grand  Steward  in 
the  Grand  Council,  and  is  now  the  Repre- 
sentative of  the  State  of  Wisconsin  near  the 
Grand  Council  of  the  State  of  New  York.  In 
1889  he  became  a  member  of  Mecca  Temple 
of  the  Mystic  Shrine  in  New  York  City. 


ICHARD  A.  VARICK,  M.  D.  (deceased), 
was  born  in  the  City  of  New  York,  April 
24,  1806.  His  ancestors  were  Holland- Dutch, 
and  the  name  was  originally  spelled  Van 
Vaarick. 

Dr.  Varick  spent  his  early  da\'s  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm,  after  which  he  took  a  course  of 
lectures  in  ?.  Medical  College  in  New  York,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1827. 
After  completing  his  course  in  medicine  he 
came  to  Poughkeepsie,  and  practiced  with  Dr. 
John  Barnes,  with  whom  he  remained  until  the 
latter's  death,  after  which  our  subject  practiced 
alone.  He  married  Miss  Eliza  Harris,  of 
Poughkeepsie,  and  two  children — one  son  and 
one  daughter — were  born  to  them:  John  B.  is 
a  wholesale  hardware  merchant  in  New  Hamp- 
shire; and  Elizabeth  Harris  married  William 
R.  Pell,  of  New  York.  Mrs.  Varick  died  in 
1837,  and  Dr.  Varick  subsequently  married 
Miss  Isabel  Shepherd,  who  was  born  in  Albany 
June  27,  1809.  By  this  union  there  were 
children  as  follows,  five  in  number:  (i) 
Robert  S.  was  in  the  hardware  business  in 
New  York  City,  and  died  when  a  young  man. 
(2)  Remsen  was  in  the  Civil  war,  and  was  on 
the  first  boat  that  went  to  Richmond,  Va. ; 
after  the  war  he  returned  to  Poughkeepsie  and 
entered  the  drug  business;  he  died  in  1883.  (3) 
Richard  A.,  Jr.,  died  while  attending  college. 
(4)  Ellen  S.  married  Edward  Barnes,  a  drug- 
gist of  Poughkeepsie.  (5)  William  was  a 
merchant  of  Boston,  and  died  in  1878.  In 
politics.  Dr.  Varick  was  originally  a  Whig, 
later  a  Republican.  He  was  a  prominent  citi- 
zen, and  stood  high  in  the  esteem  of  his  fellow 
men.  He  and  his  wife  were  liberal  contribu- 
tors of  the  Reformed  Church.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Society  of  Cincinnati,  as  eldest  son, 
in  nearest  male  line,  inheriting  it  through  Col. 
Richard  Varick,  of  the  Revolutionary  army, 
and  being  succeeded  at  his  death  by  his  eldest 
son,  John  B.  Varick.  Dr.  Richard  A.  Varick 
died  August  10,  1871. 

John  V.  B.  Varick,    father  of  our  subject, 


282 


COMMEMORATIVE  BTOOBAPHTCAL  RECORD. 


married  Miss  Dorothy  Remsen  in  New  York 
City,  shortly  after  which  he  located  on  a  farm 
in  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  followed 
agricultural  pursuits  a  few  years.  Returning 
to  New  York,  he  there  remained  until  his  death. 
To  him  and  his  wife  the  following  children 
were  born:  Richard  A.;  Henry,  who  was  an 
attorney  in  Poughkeepsie.  and  died  there; 
James  L.,  a  merchant  in  New  York;  John  was 
a  farmer  on  the  homestead,  where  he  died; 
Abram  was  a  resident  of  Poughkeepsie;  Jane 
married  Richard  V.  Gilbert,  a  resident  of  Bridge- 
port, Conn.,  and  Poughkeepsie  (both  are  now 
deceased);  Antoinette  married  William  Pell,  a 
sea  captain;  and  Kate  became  the  wife  of 
Abram  Van  Santvoord,  a  resident  of  New  York 
City.  By  his  second  wife,  who  was  a  Miss 
Romeyn,  John  V.  B.  Varick  had  two  children: 
Susan,  who  married  Cornelius  Van  Santvoord, 
a  prominent  lawyer  of  New  York;  and  Theo- 
dore R.,  who  was  surgeon  general  of  New 
Jersey  till  his  death. 


ENRY  DU  BOIS  VAN  WYCK,  proprie- 
_-.  tor  of  Knickerbocker  Lodge,  Van  Wyck 
Lake,  near  Fishkill  Village,  Dutchess  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  also  the  owner  of  extensive  property 
interests  at  Norfolk,  Va.,  is  one  of  our  most 
talented  and  successful  men  of  affairs,  having 
given  to  various  financial  enterprises  through- 
out his  Hfe  the  generalship,  the  energy,  the 
insight,  and  the  indomitable  will  which  mark 
the  highest  type  of  business  man. 

He  is  a   native  of   Fishkill,  born  October 
27,  1823,  at   the  old   Van  Wyck  homestead, 
on' the  Hudson,  a  place  which  has  been  in  the 
possession  of  his  family  for  one  hundred  years. 
The   mansion  is  of  the  Colonial  type,  and   is 
famous  as  the  house  in  which  the  proceedings 
of  the  first  legislature  of   the  State  of    New 
York  were  printed,  and  it  is  now  occupied  by 
the  Misses  Vandervort,  Mr.  Van  Wyck's  nieces, 
the  estate   having  been   sold   to  them   by  him 
for  one-tenth  of  its  value.      His  father,  John  C. 
Van  Wyck,  was  the  owner  of  large  tracts  of 
land  in  that  vicinity,  and  for  many  years  fol- 
lowed  mercantile  pursuits  in  New  York  City. 
He  married  Delia  Griffin,  and  reared  a  family 
of  seven  children:     Letitia,   Catherine,  Jacob, 
Helena,  Henry  Du  Bois,  Mary  Ida  and  Adelia. 
Mr.  Van  Wyck  was  educated   in  the   dis- 
trict schools  near  his  home,    also  at  College 
Hill,  Poughkeepsie,  and  on  leaving  school  he 
went  to  New  York  City  and  clerked  in  a   large 


wholesale  tobacco  house  for  three  years.      He 
then  spent  two  years  in  the  oil  business;  went 
to  Kalamazoo,   Mich.,   with  a  large  drove  of 
sheep,  and  located   there  upon  a  large   farm 
which  he  devoted  to  sheep  raising  and  wheat 
growing,  his  first  crop  of  wheat  from  600  acres 
of  land  being  the  first  large  crop  harvested  in 
the  United  States.      In    1849  he  went  to  San 
Francisco,  Cal.,  meeting  there  William  Annin, 
of  Fishkill   Landing,   and  bought  the   barque 
"Galindo,"  in  which  Mr.  Van  Wyck  made  an 
exploring  trip  to  the  North  along  the  coast  of 
California  and  Oregon.      Mr.  \an  Wyck  was 
captain,  with  James  Riddell  as  sailing  master, 
and  they  carried   sixty  passengers,  who   were 
in  search  of   a  river  which   was  laid  down  on 
one  of  Van  Couver's    charts  as  flowing  into 
Trinidad  bay.     They  found  the  bay,   but  no 
stream  large  enough  to  be  called  a  river.      One 
whale    boat  was  sent    north  from    this  point 
and  one  south,  with  five  men  in  each,  but  they 
returned  on  the  fifth  day,  having  lost  four  men 
while   entering  the  mouth  of   Humboldt   bay. 
There  was  a  mutiny  on  board  of  the  barque, 
which  lasted  several  days,  the  passengers  be- 
ing of  a  very  rough  class.     The  party  found  a 
tribe  of  Indians  at  Trinidad  bay,  who  treated 
them  with  great  kindness,  as  did  another  large 
band  at  Klamath  river  under  Chief  Cawtapish, 
numbering   about   1,800  warriors.     Mr.   Van- 
Wyck's  party  were  the  first  whites  they  had 
ever  seen,  as  the  generation  which  had  greeted 
Van    Couver's  men   had  gone    to    the   happy 
hunting  grounds. 

James  Johnson  and  Mr.  Van  Wyck  were 
the  discoverers  of  the  great  Gold  Bluff  claims, 
eight  miles  south  of  the  Klamath  river,  which 
are  still  being  worked.  In  1850  Mr.  Van- 
Wyck  sold  his  interest  to  A.  J.  Butler,  brother 
of  Gen.  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  and  then  having 
procured  thirty  mules  from  San  Francisco,  he 
started  on  an  exploring  expedition  through  the 
Indian  country,  following  the  Klamath  river, 
and  at  the  end  of  forty-four  days  they  struck 
the  rich  camp  known  as  Yreka  Mining  camp, 
near  the  foot  of  Mt.  Shasta.  They  had  passed 
through  several  different  large  tribes  of  Indi- 
ans, viz.:  The  "Chora,"  "Mad  Rivers, 
"Klamaths,"  "  Smith  Rivers,  "  "  Rogue  Riv- 
ers," "Scott  Rivers,"  "Shastas,"  "Mo- 
docs,  "  and  others,  always  being  treated  well, 
although  the  Indians  had  never  seen  a  white 
person  before,  and  Mr.  Van  Wyck  thinks  there 
never  would  have  been  any  trouble  with  the 
Indians  if  the  white  men  had  used  them  justly. 


1^ 


282 


COMMBUOnATtVE  BIOORAPETCAL  RECORD. 


married  Miss  Dorothy  Remsen  in  New  York 
City,  shortly  aftef  whic'i  he  located  on  a  farm 
in  the  town  of  Pc  le,  where  he  followed 

agricultural  pursu ;c%v  years.      Returninjf 

to  New  York,  he  there  remained  until  his  death. 

To   him  and   his  wife   the   followin^j  children 

were  born:     Richard  A.;  Henry,  who  was  an 

attorney    in    Pouphkeepsie,    and     died    there; 

Jatnes  L. ,  a  merchant  in  New  York;  John  was 

a  farmer  on   the  homestead,  where  he  died; 

Abram  was   a  resident  of  Po  : 

married  Richard  V.Gilbert,  a  rr 

port,  Conn.,  and  Poughkeepsie   both  are  now 

deceased);  Antoinette   married  William  Pell,  a 

sea    captain;    and  Kate    became  the   wife    of 

Abrani  Van  Santvoord.  a  r 

City.      By   his   second   wii  . 

Romeyn,  John  V.  B.  Varick  had  two  chili  i 

Susan,  who  married  Corn  '       '        ' 

a  prominent   lawyer  of  N' 

dore   R.,    who  was  surgeon   general   of   New 

Jersey  t'1'  ^i'^  -'li'p^b 


HENRY  DU  BOTS  V<VN'  WYCK.  proprie- 
tor of  i;  Van  Wyck 
Lake,    near    i  ^.^um..     .i,.                 ^u.-..      r . 
iL  Y. .  and  ulao  the  owner 
ii                                '     \'a. ,  IS  ■ 
t.                                    ml  men  . 
given  to  various  financial  enterprises  through^ 
out   his  life   the   r  —  'hip,  the   energy,  the 
insight,  and  Che  i;              .ble  will  which   mark 
the  highest  type  of  business  man. 

He  is  a  native  of  Fishkill,  born  October 
27,  1823,  at  th()&  old  Van  Wyck  homestead, 
on  the  Hudson,  a     '  hich  has  been  in  the 

possession  of  his  !,  r  one  hundred  years. 

The  mansion  is  of  the  Colonial  type,  and  is 
famous  as  the  house  in  which  the  proceedings 
of  the  first  legislature  of  the  State  of  Ne>V 
York  were  pii  '  id  it  is  now  occupied  by 
the  Misses  Vai  ,  Mr.  Van  Wyck's  nieces, 

the  estate  having  been  sold  to  them  by  him 
for  one-tenth  of  its  value.  His  father;  John  C. 
Van  Wyck,  was  the  owner  of  large  tracts  of 
land  in  that  vicinity,  and  for  many  years  fol- 
lowed mercantile  pursuits  in  New  York  City. 
He  married  Delia  Griffin,  and  reared  a  family 
of  seven  children:  Letitia,  Catherine,  Jacob, 
Helena,  Henry  Du  Bois,  Mary  Ida  and  Adelia. 

Mr.  Van  Wyck  was  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  near  his  home,  also  at  College 
Hill,  Poughkeepsie,  and  on  leaving  school  he 
went  to  New  York  City  and  clerked  in  a  large 


wh   '       '    *   '         ,  house  for  three  years.      IT. 
tl  irs  in  the  oil  busmess;   wc  ; 

.to  Kalamazoo,   Mich.,   with  a  large  drovi 
sheep,  and  located  there  upon  a  large   f;.i: 
which  he  devoted  to  sheep  raising  and  wh' 
^1  of  wheat  from  6' 

oi  .   large  crop  harv.; 

the  L  ites.      In    1849  he  went  to  ^ 

Frant  meeting  there  William  Am 

of  F'.r  ;ig,   and   bought  the   bar 

ch  Mr.  Van  Wyck  n^    '■ 
Uie  North  along  the  t 
(.  1  Oregon.     Mr.  Van  Wyck  • 

c.  ■  -.es  Riddell  as  sailing  mas' 

a  sixty  passengers,  who   ^■ 

.   river  which   was  laid  (i 
Oliver's   charts  as  ilowi;.^ 
rinidad  hey  found  the  bay,   but 

:h  to  be  called  a  river.     < 

sent    north  from    this  p 
and  (  'li  five  men  in  each,  !- 

retur  .ith  day,  having  lost  fc 

while  t;  the  mouth  of   Humboldt   t.- 

Ti  iny  on  board  of   the  I 

w  '  '  al  days,  the  passen;:; 

in:  !i  class.     The  party  • 

tnic  t  Trinidad  bay,  whi. 

them  indness,  as  did  anotlv 

.  iver  under  Chief  Ca\ 
:    1, 800  warriors.     M. 
Wyck  V    were  the  first  whites  t: 

ever  s  '-    veneration  which  had 

Van  in   had  gone   to    the 

hunt  1 1  ".is. 

]d  iiison   and   Mr.  Van   Wyrt  v, 

the  di  s  of  the  great  Gold  Bluf! 

eight  '    uf  the  Klamath  i 

are    st  orked.      In    185- 

Wyck  soi  rest  to  A.J.  Butler, 

of  Gen.  Li-..,r...,.ii  F.  Butler,  and  t^' 
procured  thirty  mules  from  San  F 
started  on  an  exploring  expedition 
Indian   country,  following   the   Kl. 
and  at  the  end  of  forty-four  days 
the  rich  camp  known  as  Yreka  M 
near  the  foot  of  Mt.  Shasta.     The 
through  several  different  large  tri 
ans,    viz.:     Th'i     "Chora,"     "M 
"  Klamaths,"   "  Smith  Rivers,"   "  Kogue  1; 
ers,"      "Scott    Rivers,"     "Shastas,"     "  ^: 
docs, "  and  others,  always  being  treated  v.  < 
although  the  Indians   had   never  seen 
person  before,  and  Mr.  Van  Wyckthini;    . 
never  would  have  been  any  trouble  with  t 
Indians  if  the  white  men  had  used  them  justly 


/  CM^<zyri_j^^:L^  /Z,_ 


^cu>^  y/Vcv-/^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPBICAL  RECORD. 


238 


Many  noted  chiefs  were  among  these  tribes, 
and  Mr.  Van  Wyck  says,  '•  he  never  saw 
more  beautiful  women  than  were  many  of 
these  Indian  maidens,"  particularly  on  the 
coast.  The  Modoc  Indian  Jim,  afterward 
known  as  "  Shack  Nasty  Jim,"  rode  for  one 
year  the  bell  animal,  leader  of  a  train  of  mules, 
that  Mr.  Van  Wyck  was  running  from  Yreka 
to  Portland,  Oregon,  and  also  to  Marysville, 
Cal.,  and  other  towns,  where  goods  could  be 
procured.  Mr.  Van  Wyck  gave  him  a  furlough 
that  he  might  visit  his  people,  who  were  sup- 
posed to  be  camping  at  the  Lava  Beds,  sixty 
miles  from  Yreka.  When  he  reached  the  Lava 
Beds,  he  found  they  had  gone  to  Pitt  river, 
fishing  for  salmon,  and  he  came  back  after 
three  or  four  days  in  a  very  filthy  condition, 
having  laid  on  the  earth  after  heating  it,  so  as 
to  keep  warm,  during  the  cold  nights.  He 
had  lived  for  two  days  on  shack  berries  (a  very 
nutritious  fruit),  and  when  he  appeared  before 
Mr.  Van  Wyck,  the  latter  said  to  him,  "Jim, 
you  look  so  filthy,  and  having  lived  on  shack 
berries,  I  think  your  name  ought  to  be  changed, 
so  I  will  give  you  a  new  one,  that  of  '  Shack 
Nasty  Jim;'  "  and  this  nickname  clung  to  him 
until  his  death. 

The  Modocs  were  always  very  kind  to  the 
whites,    until    the    whites    by    misusing   them 
caused  them  to  be  enemies  instead  of  friends. 
As  an  instance:     In  1853,  during  the  immense 
immigration  across  the  plains  (all  the  men  and 
women  being  sick,  and  the  cattle  exhausted, 
on  account  of    the  shortness  of   supplies),  a 
party  of  300  emigrants  went  into  camp  near 
the  Modoc  country,   and  one  of  the    Modocs 
volunteered  to  carry  word  of  their  sad  plight 
to  "Yreka."     On  his  arrival  the  message  was 
delivered  to  Mr.  Van  Wyck  at  his  store,  as  he 
was  the  largest  dealer  in  that  country.      He  im- 
mediately called  a  meeting  of  the  citizens,  and, 
as  gold  dust   was   as  plenty  as    dirt,   quickly 
raised  enough  to  purchase  cattle,  provisions, 
medicines  and  everything  needed  to  bring  them 
through.     An  expedition   was  sent  out  under 
the  charge  of  a  supposed  merciful  man,  who 
distributed   the   supplies   among  the  suffering 
■migrants.     Having  one  fat  ox  left,  he  killed 
t,  barbecued  a  quarter  of  it,  and  invited  the 
eading  men  of  the  Modoc  tribe  to  partake  of 
he  feast.     It  was  said  at  the  time  that  strych- 
line  had  been  put  on   this  quarter,  which  he 
lad  taken  out  to  kill  wolves  in  order  to  get  their 
■elts.     At    any    rate,    the    party    returned    to 
reka  with  eleven  Indian  scalps,  and  said  that 


they  had  had  a  terrible  fight  with  the  Modocs, 
and  the  scalps  were  the  trophies  of  their  vic- 
tory. Yreka  people  learned  afterward  that 
there  had  been  no  fight,  but  that  the  Indians 
had  been  poisoned.  This  accounts  for  the 
manner  in  which  Capt.  Jack  of  the  Modocs 
treacherously  killed  Gen.  Canby,  of  the  U.  S. 
Army,  as  he  always  said  he  would  get  even  by 
killing  some  "big  Boston  fighting  man."  Mr. 
Van  Wyck  remained  at  Yreka  until  i860,  when 
he  went  to  Portland,  Oregon,  and  remained 
there  six  months,  forming  another  expedition 
which  started  for  Idaho  Territory,  passing 
through  the  Dallas,  Umpqua,  Umatilla,  and 
the  place  where  the  city  of  Walla  Walla  now 
stands,  on  through  Grand  Ronde  valley,  and 
over  the  Blue  mountains,  to  the  site  of  Boise 
City,  then  a  wilderness;  from  there  they  went 
north  and  camped  on  a  small  stream  sixty 
miles  from  Boise  City,  and  finding  placer  gold 
in  abundance,  they  started  Idaho  City,  and  in 
nine  months  18,000  miners  were  there  at  work 
washing  out  the  precious  metal  in  enormous 
quantities.  On  this  trip  the  party  passed 
through  the  "  Nez  Perces"  Umatillas,  Grande 
Ronde,  Boise  Rivers,  Bannocks,  and  other 
tribes  of  Indians  without  losing  a  man  or  even 
having  any  trouble,  being  treated  well  all  the 
time.  The  Yreka  camp  and  the  Idaho  City 
camp  were  two  of  the  richest  mining  places 
ever  discovered  in  the  United  States,  and  Mr. 
Van  Wyck  was  the  leader  of  the  party  who  dis- 
covered both  camps.  In  attempting  to  cross 
Boise  river  with  their  mules  they  were  detained 
over  twelve  hours  to  allow  a  school  of  salmon 
to  pass  up  the  stream,  as  the  mules  could  not 
be  persuaded  to  go  into  the  water  until  the  fish 
had  passed.  At  this  early  period  these  rivers 
were  literally  filled  with  salmon,  and  other  fish. 
Mr.  Van  Wyck  ran  stages  from  Yreka  to 
Red  Bluff,  Cal.  (160  miles),  for  several  years, 
carrying  Wells,  Fargo  &  Co.'s  express  daily, 
and  having  at  times  from  500  to  1,000  pounds 
of  gold  dust  to  be  minted  at  San  Francisco  and 
carried  back  as  coin.  He  never  lost  one  dol- 
lar by  the  "road  agents,"  and  it  was  said  that 
he  was  "  in  with  the  '  road  agents,'  "  as,  know- 
ing them  all,  and  being  very  kind  to  them, 
loaning  them  money  whenever  they  needed  it, 
they  had  promised  him  that  his  stage  coaches 
should  never  be  attacked,  while  the  robberies 
of  other  coaches  were  constant.  Both  Idaho 
and  Yreka  Camp  were  filled  with  the  roughest 
elements  in  the  world  in  those  days,  and  mur- 
ders were  of  daily  occurrence,  as  from  one  to 


284 


COMMEMORATTVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


seven  men  were  found  murdered  every  morn- 
ing in  the  streets.  Mr.  Van  Wyck  ran  the 
Bonaparte  Gold  &  Silver  (in  which  he  was  a 
quarter-owner)  (or  five  years,  doing  his  own 
amalgamating,  retorting  and  assaying,  having 
received  a  perfect  knowledge  of  this  science  as 
a  student  of  the  celebrated  Joseph  Oesstricher, 
the  gold  and  silver  assayer  of  Idaho  City. 

Mr.  Van  Wyck  was  at  one  time  given  a 
pass-word  by  Caw-Ta-Pish,  chief  of  the  Klam- 
ath's tribe  (whose  life  he  had  saved  on  one 
occasion),  which  was  often  of  great  service  to 
him  among  the  tribes  who  understood  the 
jargon  language.  The  pass-word  was  this — 
Cho,  Ko,  Nez,  \Va,  Gee,  which  expresses  that 
Mr.  Van  Wyck  had  been  a  great  friend  of  the 
Indians.  Mr.  Van  Wyck  at  this  point  again 
asserts  his  belief  that  there  never  would  have 
been  bad  Indians  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  bad 
whites,  some  of  whom  would  shoot  a  poor 
Indian  for  their  own  amusement. 

George  P.  Gordon,  the  inventor  of  the 
Gordon  printing  press,  with  whom  Mr.  Van- 
Wyck  had  been  acquainted  since  1839,  induced 
him  to  sell  his  interests  in  Idaho  and  join  him 
in  Southern  speculating,  and  in  1869  Mr.  Van- 
Wyck  went  to  Norfolk,  Va.,  to  look  after 
property  to  purchase.  Being  pleased  with  the 
outlook  and  location,  he  wrote  for  Mr.  Gordon 
to  come  down  immediately,  and  their  first  pur- 
chase was  the  Mallory  plantation,  for  which 
they  paid  $51,000  cash,  at  the  same  time  buy- 
ing four  other  estates  adjoining  at  a  cost  of 
$21,000  more,  making  three  thousand  acres  in 
all  of  the  most  beautiful  trucking  land  in  Vir- 
ginia. Mr.  Gordon  died  in  1879,  and  three 
years  later  Mr.  Van  Wyck  married  his  widow, 
who  died  in  California  in  1890  of  pneumonia. 
Mr.  Van  Wyck  was  the  pioneer  in  the  garden 
truck  business  in  Virginia,  working  1 80  negroes, 
and  eighty  mules,  and  six  horses  daily,  and  he 
still  has  an  interest  in  the  plantations  which 
will  soon  be  sold  to  close  up  the  estate  of  the 
late  Mrs.  Van  Wyck.  He  also  owns  many 
buildings  in  Norfolk,  Va. ,  including  Van  Wyck's 
Academy  of  Music  on  Main  street,  which  was 
built  twelve  years  ago  at  a  cost  of  nearly  $171,- 
000,  and  is  a  temple  of  the  dramatic  and  lyric 
arts,  of  which  Norfolk  is  justly  proud.  It  is 
four  stories  high,  200x150  feet  ground  plan, 
and  has  an  auditorium  seating  1,600  people, 
at  the  same  time  affording  standing  room  for 
some  seven  or  eight  hundred  more.  Its  stage 
is  45  x  60  feet,  with  a  height  of  twenty  feet  to 
the  grooves,  and  a  height  in  the  clear  of  sixty- 


five  feet.  The  proscenium  arch  is  thirty-two 
feet  wide  by  forty  feet  high.  These  dimensions, 
the  general  design  of  the  house  and  its  hand- 
some decorations  and  finish,  have  earned  for  it 
the  reputation  of  being  the  finest  theatre  south 
of  Washington.  The  best  talent  on  the  Amer- 
ican stage  is  engaged  for  this  house.  The 
present  manager,  who  has  had  charge  for  the 
past  five  years,  is  A.  B.  Duesberry,  a  Rich- 
mond man  of  considerable  experience  in  the- 
atrical matters.  The  treasurer,  C.  M.  Mayes, 
has  been  with  the  house,  in  various  capacities, 
for  the  last  seven  years. 

In  1890  Mr.  Van  Wyck  purchased  the 
property  known  as  the  Ross  farm,  at  Fishkill, 
Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  constructed  the  lake 
and  buildings  known  as  Knickerbocker  Lodge, 
Van  Wyck  Lake,  improving  and  beautifying 
the  place  at  a  cost  of  $51,000.  The  spring  of 
water  located  there  has  no  equal  in  the  world 
for  the  cure  of  diabetes,  and  the  charming 
scenery  and  other  advantages  make  it  a  delight- 
ful summer  resort. 


E^DMUND    L.    HENDRICKS    (deceased). 
'I  The  family  name   of  Hendricks  has  long 

been  prominent  in  business  circles  in  this  re- 
gion, and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  sustained 
well  the  reputation  for  enterprise,  good  judg- 
ment and  public-spirit  which  was  his  birth- 
right. His  grandfather,  Lawrence  Hendricks, 
was  a  well-known  resident  of  Red  Hook.  He 
had  a  son,  Jacob  L.  Hendricks,  our  subject's 
father,  who  married  Anna  Moore,  and  reared 
a  family  of  children  whose  names  with  dates  of 
birth  are  as  follows:  Edmund  L.,  July  12, 
1809;  Magdalene,  October  19,  i8u;  Jeremiah, 
November  2,  18 13;  and  Philip,  January  29, 
1816. 

Edmund  L.  Hendricks  received  the  name 
of  Lawrence  Edmund   at   his   baptism,  but  in 
later  years  he  transposed   it  to  Edmund  Law- 
rence.     He  was  educated   at  the  Upper  Red 
Hook  Academy;  then  learned  harness  making, 
and  afterward  engaged  in  the   manufacture  of 
harness  at  Red  Hook.      He  retired  in  Septem- 
ber,  1863.     On  September  25,    1832,  he  wa: 
married  to   Miss   Barbara  Ann  Davis,  of  Rec 
Hook,  and  six  children  were  born  of  this  union 
Francis  Theo,   Mary  Elizabeth,    Cornelia  A. 
Edmund   D.,  William   E.    and   Magdalene  A 
Of  this  family  all  are  now  deceased  except  Ma^' 
E.  and  Magdalene  A.      Their  home  was  char 
acterized  by  refinement  and  quiet  devotion  t<i 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


235 


christian  principles.  After  fifteen  years  of 
wedded  life,  the  mother  died  August  19,  1847, 
the  father  surviving  until  November  27,  1883. 
The  Misses  Hendricks  still  occupy  the  resi- 
dence built  by  their  father  in  1842.  They 
were  educated  in  Red  Hook,  and  have  taken 
a  leading  position  in  social,  religious  and  phil- 
anthropic enterprises,  and  both  are  regarded 
as  most  ready,  active  and  generous  supporters 
of  any  measure  tending  to  promote  the  welfare 
of  their  community,  or  of  that  wide  circle  which 
includes  all  humanity  as  one  family. 


BRAM  WRIGHT,  one  of  the  most  prom- 

inent    business    men     of     Poughkeepsie, 

Dutchess  county,  was  born  November  8,  1812, 
in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  and  now  carries 
the  burden  of  his  eighty-five  years  with  a 
sprightliness  and  vigor  which  many  men 
younger  than  he  might  envy. 

Isaac  Wright,  his  father,  was  born  in  1764 
in  Westchester  county,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  grew 
I  to  manhood  and  married  Miss  Mary  Hamilton, 
'  who  was  born  in   1763,  a  native  of  the  same 
county.      Her  father  was  born  in  the  North  of 
Ireland,  of  Scotch-Irish  parentage.     Thirteen 
children  came  of  this  union,  of  whom  our  sub- 
ject is  the  youngest  and  now  the  only  survivor. 
Isaac  Wright  engaged  in  farming  at  his  native 
place  after  his  marriage,  and  a  few  years  later 
;  moved  to  East  Fishkill,  being  one  of  the  ear- 
'  liest  settlers    there.     He  was  a  man  of   very 
■  strong  constitution,  and   never  knew  what  ill- 
ness was  until  his  last  years.      He  died  in  1839, 
his  wife  surviving  him  nine  years.     They  were 
I  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  so  hospit- 
able were  they  to  ministers  and  other  travelers 
in  those  days  that  their  home  was  known  far 
^md  near  as  the  "  Methodist  Tavern." 
HB  Abram  Wright  passed  his  boyhood  on  the 
H^nn  where  he  was  born,  his  educational  op- 
HBtunities    being  limited  to    the  neighboring 
^^Btrict  school.      His  first  money-making  em- 
^^^yment  was  in  a  country  store  at  Coldspring, 
, Putnam  county,  at  $4  per  month  and  board. 
Later,  while  visiting  a  brother  at  New  Orleans, 
le  was  persuaded  by  him  to  go  into  the  cotton 
immission  business  at  Manchester  (now  Yazoo 
ity).  Miss.     There   he    remained    six    years, 
hen  he  was  burned  out,  sustaining  a  loss  of 
50,000.      Gathering  up    what    he    could,    he 
if,'ain  embarked  in  business,  locating  at  Vicks- 
nirg,  where  for  eight  years  he  dealt  extensively 
li  plantation  supplies.      He  then  returned  to 


New  Orleans,  holding  an  interest  with  his 
brother  Hamilton  for  two  years,  but  sold  out 
and  came  back  to  his  early  home.  After  a  few 
years  passed  at  Coldspring  he  moved  to 
Poughkeepsie,  where  in  1857  he  bought  his 
present  place.  He  is  a  man  of  great  energy 
and  business  acumen,  and  has  engaged  in  vari- 
ous profitable  enterprises.  He  was  a  stock- 
holder in  the  company  which  built  the  Pough- 
keepsie bridge,  a  director  in  the  Farmers'  and 
Merchants'  Bank,  and  is  now  one  of  the  trus- 
tees of  the  Poughkeepsie  Savings  Bank.  He 
has  also  speculated  in  real  estate  to  some  ex- 
tent, and  has  built  five  stores  on  Main  street 
between  Academy  street  and  Eighme  place. 
Business  cares  have  not,  however,  engrossed 
his  thoughts  to  the  exclusion  of  matters  of 
public  moment,  for  he  has  always  been  ready 
to  forward  any  movement  for  the  welfare  of 
the  city;  he  has  held  office  on  the  board  of  ed- 
ucation, and  on  the  alms  house  commission; 
has  been  alderman  from  the  Sixth  ward,  and 
has  served  several  times  on  the  waterworks 
board,  having  been  a  member  of  that  board  at 
its  organization.  Politically,  he  has  always 
been  a  stanch  Democrat. 

Mr.  Wright  was  married,  in  1837,  to  Mary 
Warren,  a  daughter  of  Judge  Warren,  of  Cold- 
spring,  and  has  had  seven  children:  Eliza, 
Charlotte,  Webster,  Sarah  (Mrs.  Leonard  Car- 
penter), Cornelia,  Ida  and  William,  of  whom 
only  two  are  now  living:  Webster,  a  resident 
of  Plainfield,  N.  J.,  and  William,  who  lives  in 
Poughkeepsie. 


CHARLES  DAVIS,  whose  death  occurred 
_'  in  1895,  was  one  of  the  leading  and  influ- 
ential agriculturists  of  the  town  of  Dover, 
Dutchess  county.  Timothy  Davis,  his  grand- 
father, was  a  native  of  Delaware  county,  N.  Y., 
and  was  also  a  farmer.  He  wedded  Miss  Mary 
Wilbur,  by  whom  he  had  five  children:  Zilla, 
Wilbur,  Silas,  Ruth  and  Sarah. 

Wilbur  Davis,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  and  educated  in  Delaware  county, 
N.  Y.  ,■  and  followed  the  occupation  to  which 
he  was  reared.  He  married  Miss  Ethel  Man- 
chester, and  seven  children  came  to  bless  their 
union,  as  follows:  (i)  William,  who  was  born 
and  educated  in  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess 
county,  there  engaged  in  farming,  and  married 
Miss  Janet  Clark.  To  them  were  born  six 
children — Walter  and  Chester,  who  died  in 
infancy;    Mary,    who    wedded    James    Wood; 


286 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  BECORD. 


George,  who  married  Emily  Tripp;  Mina,  who 
married  Lewis  Waldron;  and  Harry,  who  died 
in  infancy.  (2)  Betsy  married  William  Smith, 
a  farmer  of  Dover  Plains,  Dutchess  county, 
and  they  had  two  children — Frances,  who 
married  Charles  Cooper;  and  Jane,  who  mar- 
ried James  Deacon.  (3)  Charles,  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  the  next  in  order  of  birth. 
(4)  Silas,  a  hat  manufacturer,  enlisted  in  a 
Connecticut  regiment,  and  served  all  through 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  He  married  Miss 
Margaret  Abbott,  but  no  children  were  born 
to  them.  (5)  Sarah  was  never  married.  (6) 
Theron  was  engaged  in  the  foundry  business, 
and  married  Miss  Anna  Hart,  by  whom  he  had 
three  children — Mary,  John  and  Albert.  (7) 
Henry  carried  on  farming  in  the  West.  He 
married  Miss  Margaret  O'Conners,  but  they 
had  no  children.  All  of  the  above-named 
family  were  born  in  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutch- 
ess county,  and  were  there  educated. 

The  subject  proper  of  this  sketch  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  in 
1824,  and  like  the  other  members  of  the  fam- 
ily attended  the  common  schools  near  his 
home.  He  early  became  familiar  with  the 
work  that  falls  to  the  lot  of  the  agriculturist, 
and  made  farming  his  life  work.  He  was  a 
highly-respected  citizen,  having  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him,  and  many 
friends  mourned  his  death. 

Mr.  Davis  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Elizabeth  Benson,  a  daughter  of  Jeffer- 
son and  Fannie  (Glenn)  Benson,  of  Amenia, 
Dutchess  county,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  eight  children,  namely:  George,  born 
in  1849,  has  for  several  years  been  a  conductor 
on  the  Harlem  railroad;  he  married  Ellen 
Duncan,  and  has  one  child — Ed  J.;  John. 
born  in  185 1,  was  for  years  conductor  on  the 
Harlem  railroad,  and  had  his  arm  crushed  in 
1891:  William,  born  in  1853,  was  on  the  same 
road  for  years,  and  is  now  on  the  Brooklyn 
bridge;  he  married  Eliza  Benson,  and  has 
eight  children — Charles,  Albert,  Nellie,  Anna, 
Emma,  Sophia,  Arthur  and  Lula.  Edward, 
born  in  1855,  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years. 
Frank,  born  in  1857,  was  a  conductor  on  the 
Staten  Island  road,  and  was  killed  in  a  colli- 
sion in  1893;  he  married  Katie  E.  Spencer. 
Walter,  born  in  1859,  is  a  fireman  on  the 
Harlem  road;  he  married  Jennie  Proper,  and 
has  two  children — Ida  and  Ethel.  Jefferson, 
born  in  i860,  is  an  engineer  on  the  Brooklyn 
bridge;    he   married  Emily   Duncan,    and   has 


three  children — Edith,  Harry  and  Mabel. 
Arthur,  born  in  1862,  was  a  policeman  at  the 
time  of  his  death  in  1888;  he  married  Georgia 
Schamerhorn,  and  had  one  child — Katie  E. , 
who  died  in  infancy. 


ENJAMIN  N.  BAKER,  M.  D.,  one  of  the 

'  ablest  and  most  successful  medical  practi- 
tioners of  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county,  was 
born  October  2,  1833,  in  Montgomery  county, 
Pennsylvania. 

His  family  is  of  English  origin,  and  has 
long  been  established  in  Nottingham,  England, 
where  his  grandfather,  John  Baker,  was  a  well- 
known  resident  in  his  day.  Rev.  John  J.  Baker, 
our  subject's  father,  was  the  first  of  the  family 
to  come  to  America,  and  fifty  years  of  his  life 
were  spent  as  a  devoted  minister  of  the  Baptist 
Church  in  Philadelphia  and  in  different  towns 
in  New  Jersey.  He  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Nicholson,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Nicholson,  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,  who  was  at  one  time 
imprisoned  in  a  man-of-war  in  New  York  har- 
bor. Thirteen  children  were  born  of  this  union, 
of  whom  the  following  seven  lived  to  adult  age: 
Benjamin  N.,  W^illiam,  Lansing  B.,  John  J., 
Catherine.  Margaret  and  AUie.  The  father 
died  in  1890,  and  the  mother  in  1891. 

Dr.  Baker  received  a  good  education  in 
youth,  graduating  in   1848   from   the  Central 
High  School  in  Philadelphia,  to  attend  which 
he  walked  three  miles  each  day.      Soon  after 
leaving  school  he  engaged  in  the  drug  business 
in  the   same  city,  and   later  took  the  general 
course  in  medicine  in  the  Pennsylvania  Med- 
ical College,  and  was  graduated  in  1857.     He 
then   began   the  practice  of   his  profession  at 
Lawrenceville,  N.  J.,  and  remained  there  twelve 
years,  with  the   exception  of  one  year  in  the: 
army,  in  1862-63.     He  entered   as  second  as^ 
sistant  surgeon  of  the  ist  N.  J.  C,  and  late 
became  first  assistant  of  the  28th  N.  J.  I.,  an( 
then  first  surgeon  of  the  Third  Division,  Secon< 
Corps,  Hospital  in  the  field,  and  was  mustere( 
out  while  holding  this  rank.      He  returned  to 
Lawrenceville,  but  in  1868  moved   to  Rhine 
beck,  and   has  been  in  general  practice  there 
ever    since,    winning    an    enviable    reputatioD 
throughout    the    surrounding  country   for  the 
successful  and  scientific  treatment  of  difficult 
cases.     In  his  professional  work  he  is  naturall) 
a  diligent  reader,  and  he  keeps  well  informec 
also  on  the  topics  of  the  day.      Political  wori 
he  has  left  entirely  alone.    He  votes  the  Dem 


^ 


Ov 


«^ 


i 


COMME.VORATirB  BIOQBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


237 


ocratic  ticket,  though  formerly  a  Republican, 
and  he  is  interested  in  all  movements  for  the 
public  benefit,  and  has  been  health  officer  for 
several  years. 

On  April  7,  1858,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Sarah  S.  Exton,  daughter  of  Thomas  Exton, 
a  well-known  citizen  of  Clinton,  N.  J.,  and 
granddaughter  of  Hugh  Exton,  who  came 
from  England  at  an  early  date  and  purchased 
one  thousand  acres  of  land,  now  known  as 
Union  farms.  They  have  had  eight  children, 
four  of  whom  are  now  living:  Lizzie,  who 
married  Edward  Holley,  of  Hudson,  N.  Y. ; 
Ella,  the  wife  of  R.  R.  Jarvis,  of  Arlington, 
N.  J.;  Harriet,  the  wife  of  Thomas  J.  Sinclair, 
of  Philadelphia;  and  Mae,  who  is  at  home. 
The  Doctor  united  with  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  his  youth,  but  he  and  his  wife  are  now  active 
,  members  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church.  The 
\  Doctor  takes  great  interest  in  the  G.  A.  R., 
being  a  member  of  Armstrong  Post,  and  he  also 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  order. 


THOMAS  W.  EMBLEY,   M.  D.,  of  Fish- 
_     kill,  Dutchess  county.     Among  the  tal- 
=;nted    young    physicians    of    this    region,    we 
should  name  the  subject  of  this  sketch  as  hav- 
ng  demonstrated  in  an  unusually  short  time 
he  possession  of  native  ability  for  his  profes- 
iion,  as  well  as  the  thorough  training  which, 
however  necessary  to  a  successful  practitioner, 
useful  only  where  the  other  exists  to  be  de- 
!oped. 
Dr.  Embley  is  a  native  of  Fishkill-on-Hud- 
on,  where  he  was  born  July  22,  1874.      His 
amily  originated  in  England,  and  for  300  years 
here  has  been  a  Thomas  Embley  in  the  direct 
me  of    descent.     The    Doctor's  great-grand- 
Hther,  Thomas  Embley,  lived  in   Lancashire, 

I  land,  and  was  a  mason  by  trade.      He  was 
dentally  killed  by  the  falling  of  a  scaffold, 
left  a  small  family,  among  whom   was  a 
Thomas,  our  subject's  grandfather,  who 
born  at  Clitheroe,  in  northern  Lancashire, 
became   a  carder  of  cotton   goods   in   his 
uth,  and  later  followed   teaming,  but  finally 
'1  in  the  grocery  business.      He  died  in 
;,     aged   seventy-five  j'ears,   and   his   wife, 
in  (Tiplady),  followed  him  a  year  later,  aged 
ty-eight.      Her  father,  John  Tiplady,  was  a 
id  miner  of    Yorkshire,  England.     Thomas 
lid  Ann  Embley  were  devout  members  of  the 
hurch  of  England.     Of  their  three  children, 


the  youngest,  Thomas,  our  subject's  father,  is 
now  the  only  survivor.  Mary  A.  married 
William  Fitton,  now  deceased,  and  Alice  was 
the  wife  of  the  late  John  Seddon. 

Thomas  Embley,  the  Doctor's  father,  was 
born  at  Hyde,  Cheshire,  England,  August  6, 
1839,  and  was  the  only  one  of  the  family  to 
cross  the  ocean.  The  first  eleven  years  of  his 
life  were  spent  at  his  native  place,  and  he  then 
became  a  switch-tender  in  a  railroad  yard  at 
Gorton.  At  fourteen  he  went  to  Manchester 
to  learn  the  art  of  decorating  interiors,  and  for 
several  years  he  was  successfully  engaged  in 
painting  and  paper-hanging.  In  1873  he  came 
to  America,  and  visited  Fishkill  and  neighbor- 
ing towns  in  his  search  for  a  suitable  location. 
The  prospects  there  being  favorable  he  began 
working  at  his  trade,  but  in  1876  he  estab- 
lished a  saloon  business  at  Fishkill  Landing, 
and  has  met  with  marked  success.  In  1889 
he  built  the  brick  block  at  the  corner  of  Wal- 
nut and  Main  streets,  where  he  has  since  con- 
ducted his  business,  and  until  taking  possession 
of  that  place  he  was  also  engaged  to  some  ex- 
tent at  his  old  trade  of  decorator.  At  present 
he  is  treasurer  of  the  Liquor  and  Beer  Deal- 
ers' Association  of  Fishkill. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Embley  is  inde- 
pendent, voting  for  the  best  men  and  measures 
without  regard  to  party.  He  inclines  toward 
the  Episcopal  Church,  having  been  a  member 
of  the  Established  Church  before  coming  to 
the  United  States.  While  living  in  Godley, 
England,  he  was  active  in  Church  work,  and 
was  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday-school.  He  also 
joined  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  in  his  native  land.  He 
was  married  in  the  old  country,  August  6,  1 869, 
to  Miss  Lucy  J.  Fisher,  daughter  of  William 
Fisher,  of  Leiston,  Suffolk,  England.  Only 
one  child,  our  subject,  lived  to  adult  age,  and 
to  him  we  will  now  return. 

Dr.  Embley  was  educated  in  Fishkill,  and 
on  completing  his  course  in  the  local  schools 
he  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  G. 
Dawson,  of  Matteawan.  After  eighteen  months 
of  preparatory  reading  he  was  enrolled  in  Oc- 
tober, 1893,  as  a  student  at  Hahnemann  Med- 
ical College  at  Philadelphia,  Penn.  He  was 
graduated  in  1896,  and  in  July  of  that  year 
opened  his  office  at  Fishkill  village,  where  he 
is  making  his  way  by  his  own  merits.  He  has 
already  had  some  difficult  cases,  and  was  asso- 
ciated with  Dr.  Dawson,  his  former  preceptor, 
in  a  very  important  operation  requiring  intelli- 
gence and  skill,  by  which  they  saved  a  leg  for 


n 


238 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  man  who  had  been  run  over  by  the  cars.  So 
far  the  Doctor  has  not  donned  the  Hymeneal 
yoke. 


lEV.  JAMES  NILAN,  D.  D.,  pastor  of 
St.  Peter's  Roman  Catholic  Church, 
Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  is  a  native  of 
Ireland,  born  in  County  Galway,  in  1836.  At 
the  age  of  seventeen  he  came  to  this  country, 
and  was  educated  at  St.  John's  College,  Ford- 
ham,  N.  Y.,  from  which  he  graduated  with 
the  first  gold  medal  conferred  by  Archbishop 
Hughes.  Subsequently  he  pursued  his  theo- 
logical studies  at  Rome,  where,  in  1863,  he 
was  ordained  to  the  priesthood,  at  St.  John 
Lateran. 

On  his  return  to  this  country  he  was  as- 
signed to  missionary  service  at  the  Church  of 
the  Holy  Cross,  New  York,  and  in  1868  he 
was  sent  by  Cardinal  McCloskey  to  the  charge 
of  the  Catholic  Church  at  Port  Jervis,  N.  Y. 
Here,  during  his  pastorate,  he  succeeded  in 
securing  the  erection  of  one  of  the  finest 
church  buildings  in  that  diocese.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1877,  on  the  appointment  of  Dr.  Patrick 
McSweeney  to  St.  Bridget's  Church,  New 
York,  Dr.  Nilan  was  transferred  to  the  pas- 
torate of  St.    Peter's  Church,    Poughkeepsie. 

During  the  pastorate  (1844-1870)  of  Rev. 
M.  Riordan,  the  present  St.  Peter's  church 
building  was  begun  and  completed,  two  large 
school  buildings  and  a  rectory  being  also 
erected.  In  1872,  during  the  pastorate  of 
Rev.  Dr.  McSweeney,  the  rectory  was  en- 
larged, and  arrangements  were  made  whereby 
the  parochial  school  buildings  were  placed 
under  the  control  of  the  city  board  of  educa- 
tion. The  parish  of  St.  Mary's  was  estab- 
lished in  the  upper  part  of  the  city.  During 
Father  Nilan's  pastorate  the  church  building 
has  been  enlarged,  and  provided  with  stained- 
glass  windows  at  a  cost  of  $10,000.  Its  Sab- 
bath-school numbers  nearly  seven  hundred. 
It  has  five  sodalities  for  the  young  members  of 
the  congregation;  a  young  people's  literary 
society,  with  a  good  library;  a  boys'  temper- 
ance society  of  over  300  members;  and  a  total 
abstinence  and  benefit  society  of  several  hun- 
dred men  and  women.  The  average  income 
of  the  church  is  $8,000,  nearly  $5,000  of 
which  is  from  pew  rent. 

Few  churches  present  a  more  complete  ar- 
ray of  parish  organizations,  in  saccessful  oper- 
ation   to-day,    than    does    the    Church  of  St. 


Peter's.  Dr.  Nilan's  pronounced  temperance 
principles,  his  warm  sympathies  with  the  hum 
blest  of  his  fiock,  and  his  frank  acceptance  o 
all  the  responsibilities  of  citizenship,  have  com^ 
bined  to  give  him  an  enviable  position,  not  onl) 
with  the  members  of  his  parish,  but  in  the 
community  at  large.  In  the  general  benevo- 
lent, temperance  and  literary  movements  ol 
the  city.  Dr.  Nilan  has  always  taken  a  promi- 
nent part,  and  he  possesses  in  a  marked  degree 
the  esteem  of  all  classes  of  the  people. 


T.  PULTZ,  M.  D. ,  a  prominent  physi- 
cian of  Stanfordville,  Dutchess  county, 
is  a  great-grandson  of  one  of  the  pioneer  agri- 
culturists of  the  town  of  Rhinebeck,  Davie 
Pultz,  who  came  from  Germany  at  an  earlj 
day  to  make  a  home  in  this  country.  His  son, 
Michael  D.  Pultz,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
was  reared  to  the  occupation  of  farming,  anc 
also  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade.  He  wa= 
a  member  of  the  old  militia,  and  took  an  act- 
ive part  in  the  local  affairs  of  his  day.  He 
and  his  family  belonged  to  the  Lutheran 
Church,  attending  at  Wurtemburg.  By  his 
first  wife,  who  was  a  Miss  Cookingham,  he 
had  six  children:  Julia,  Reuben,  Mary,  Mar- 
tin, Griffin  and  Lavina,  of  whom  Mary  is  now 
the  only  survivor. 

Martin  Pultz,  our  subject's  father,  always 
resided  at  the  old  homestead,  receiving  his 
education  in  youth  in  the  neighboring  schools. 
In  politics  he  was  a  Whig,  and  in  movement.': 
of  his  time  and  locality  he  was  infiuential,  bei 
ing  especially  interested  in  the  early  agitatior 
of  the  temperance  question,  and  an  activ< 
worker  in  the  Sons  of  Temperance.  He  mar 
ried  Catherine  Traver,  a  daughter  of  Phillip  I 
Traver,  of  Milan.  His  death  occurred 
1850;  his  widow  makes  her  home  with 
subject. 

Monroe  Traver  Pultz,  the  only  child  c 
this  union,  was  born  at  the  old  home  fa 
July  17,  1843.  After  making  the  most  of  tf 
somewhat  limited  facilities  afforded  by 
local  schools,  he  studied  for  some  time 
Rhinebeck  Academy,  then  one  year  at  Wilbrs 
ham  Academy  in  Massachusetts,  and  a  year  1 
Fort  Edwards,  N.  Y.  He  then  for  a  tin 
pursued  the  scientific  course  in  Union  CoUe 
with  the  class  of  '67,  and  later  began  t 
study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  I.  F.  Van  Vliet, 
Rhinebeck,  after  which  he  took  a  three-year 
course  in  the  College  of   Physicians  and  Su 


n 
ou 


th 


I 


COMMEMOBATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


289 


^eons,  New  York  City,  graduating  in  1868. 
In  June  of  the  same  year  he  located  at  Stan- 
fordville,  where  he  has  since  practiced  with 
great  success,  his  native  abiHties  and  fine 
scholarship  giving  him  high  rank  in  his  profes- 
sion. He  has  been  twice  married,  first  to 
Miss  Emma  Amelia  Bailey,  a  daughter  of 
Richard  Bailey,  a  well-known  resident  of 
Rhinebeck.  She  died  in  1877,  leaving  two 
sons,  Fred  A.  and  Lee,  the  latter  a  graduate 
of  the  Albany  Medical  College  in  the  class  of 
'95.  In  1878  Dr.  Pultz  was  married,  the  sec- 
ond time,  in  the  town  of  Stanford,  to  Miss 
Alice  Clark,  daughter  of  Almon  Clark. 

In  politics  the  Doctor  is  a  Democrat,  but 
he  takes  no  share  in  party  work,  although  he 
is  a  supporter  of  all  measures  tending  to  the 
)ublic  welfare,  and  has  served  as  health  offi- 
cer of  the  town  of  Stanford.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Christian  Church,  and  of  the  F.  &  A. 
tf.,  Rhinebeck  Lodge;  he  holds  a  prominent 
jlace  in  the  Dutchess  County  Medical  Associa- 
tion, in  the  New  York  State  Medical  Asso- 
ciation, and  in  the  American  Medical  Associa- 
tion. 


E^DWIN  R.    PEASE.     Among  the  old  resi- 
'I  dents  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county, 

probably  none  were  better  known  that  the  late 
Edwin  R.  Pease.  Mr.  Pease  was  born  June 
22,  1820,  and  died  March  16,  1885.  He  was 
a  son  of  Dudley  S.  Pease,  an  early  settler  in 
the  village,  who  came  from  the  East. 

In  early  life  Mr.    Pease   learned   the  shoe- 
sing  industry,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-two 
rs  he  established  business  for  himself,  man- 
^cturing   shoes    and   running  a  retail  store, 
started    in  business  on  the  north  side  of 
lin  street,  near  Bayeau  street,  where  he  re- 
kflained  for  about  a  year,  when  he  moved  to  No. 
n69  Main  street,  and  there  continued  the  bus- 
ness  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.      He  was  one 
the  most  prominent   merchants  of  the  city, 
rays  identified  with  all  matters  of  public  in- 
Bst.      Although  one  of  the  most  substantial 
respected  residents,  and  owner  of  much 
estate,  he  never  aspired  to  official  honors, 
was  a  Democrat,  but  never  held  any  polit- 
office,  except  that  of  police  commission- 
I  which  incumbency  he    was  holding   at  the 
of  his  death.       For  many  years  he  was  a 
IBtee  of  the  old  Cannon  Street  M.  E.  Church, 
'which  he  was  a  liberal  contributor. 
Mr.  Pease  married  January  11,  1844,  Cor- 


nelia Stanton,  a  daughter  of  Morris  and  Eliza 
Stanton.  Morris  Stanton,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Pease,  was  born  in  Ulster  county,  and  followed 
the  cooper's  trade.  Eliza  Stanton,  the  mother 
of  Mrs.  Pease  (more  familiarly  known  as  Eliza 
Bates,  which  name  she  inherited  by  marriage 
to  her  second  husband,  Joseph  I.  Bates,  in 
June,  1835),  was  born  November  10,  1798,  in 
a  house  on  Academy  street,  standing  where 
George  W.  Scott's  livery  stable  is  now  located. 
She  built  the  handsome  building  now  occupied 
by  the  Dutchess  Restaurant  and  the  Dutchess 
Club,  at  No.  309  Main  street,  where  she  lived 
for  many  years,  and  died  February  25,  1888, 
honored  as  the  oldest  Methodist  in  Pough- 
keepsie. She  was  a  member  of  the  first 
Methodist  Sunday-school  in  Poughkeepsie, 
holding  their  meetings  in  the  old  church  on 
Jefferson  street.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Til- 
man  Seabury,  a  sergeant  in  the  Revolutionary 
army,  who  married  Cornelia  Kip,  a  direct 
descendant  of  Anneka  Jans,  of  Trinity-Church 
fame. 

Tradition  affirms  that  while  the  Revolu- 
tionary soldiers  were  stationed  at  Poughkeep- 
sie, Tilman  Seabury,  wishing  to  make  the 
acquaintance  of  Cornelia  Ivip,  whom  he  had 
seen,  purchased  some  handkerchiefs,  and 
asked  her  to  hem  them  for  the  soldiers,  as 
the  "girls"  were  all  anxious  to  do  work  for 
the  soldiers.  She  accepted,  and  an  acquaint- 
ance was  then  formed  which  resulted  in  court- 
ship, and  the  records  of  the  old  Dutch  Church 
at  New  Hackensack  show  that  on  February 
27,  1778,  Tilman  Seabury  and  Cornelia  Kip 
were  married  by  the' Rev.  Isaac  Rysdyke. 

Mrs.  Stanton  (Mrs.  Bates)  was  a  grand- 
niece  of  Bishop  Seabury,  the  first  Episcopal 
bishop  in  America.  Mrs.  Stanton  (Mrs.  Bates) 
was  also  a  direct  descendant,  through  Samuel 
Seabury,  of  John  Alden  and  Priscilla  Mullens, 
who  came  to  this  country  in  the  "  Mayflower." 
Mrs.  Stanton,  by  her  marriage  to  Morris 
Stanton,  had  three  children  :  Sarah,  who 
died  August  14,  1873,  unmarried;  Cornelia 
(Pease),  who  lives  at  No.  1 17  Academy  street, 
and  Mary,  who  married  the  Rev.  B.  D. 
Palmer,  now  living  at  Paterson,  New  Jersey. 

Dudley  S.  Pease,  the  father  of  Edwin  R. 
Pease,  came  from  Connecticut  to  Poughkeep- 
sie,   where  he  engaged  in  the  shoe  business. 

He  also  kept  a-  grocery  store.  He  was 
born  March  5,  1785,  and  died  March  17, 
1855.  On  November  14,  1805,  he  married 
Lewrelly  Loomis,  by  whom  he  had  two  chil- 


I 


240 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


dren,  Charles  and  Sylvia  L.  For  his  second 
wife  he  married,  June  14,  18 10,  Maria  Seares, 
by  whom  he  had  two  children,  Maria  L.  and 
Albert.  For  his  third  wife  he  married,  De- 
cember I,  1 8 14,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Samuel 
(and  Margaret)  Killey,  a  descendant  of  Seth 
Killey,  of  Yarmouth,  by  whom  he  had  six  sons 
and  two  daughters:  Richard  P.,  Margaret, 
Edwin  R.,  Catherine  J.,  Franklin,  Albert  S. , 
Walter  S.  and  Egbert  K.,  all  of  whom  are 
now  dead  except  Albert  S.,  who  lives  at  Sara- 
toga, N.  Y.  Edwin  R.  and  Cornelia  Pease 
had  four  children— *two  sons  and  two  daughters 
—all  of  whom  are  now  living. 


)OBERT  SANFORD,  a  prominent  citizen 
and  a  lawyer  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 
county,  who  has  been  a  resident  of  that  city 
for  the  past  forty  years,  was  born  in  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  December  10,  1831. 

When  he  was  three  years  of  age,  his  par- 
ents, Nathan  and  Mary  (Buchanan)  Sanford, 
removed  from  Albany  to  Flushing,  L.  I.,  where 
they  resided  four  years,  or  until  the  death  of 
the  father  in  October,  1838.  During  the  fol- 
lowing two  years,  Mr.  Sanford  traveled  with 
his  widowed  mother,  and  at  the  age  of  ten 
years  entered  schools  at  Hartford,  Conn. ,  where 
he  remained  for  five  years,  then  becoming  a 
pupil  in  the  school  of  the  celebrated  instructor. 
Dr.  Muhlenberg,  at  College  Point,  L.  I.,  where 
he  remained  four  years.  During  the  next  two 
years  he  was  under  private  tutors,  one  of  them 
being  Rev.  Dr.  George  H.  Houghton,  rector  of 
the  historical  "little  church  around  the  cor- 
ner" on  28th  street,  just  east  of  Fifth  avenue. 
New  York  City,  who  coached  him  in  Greek, 
and  said  to  him:  "Bob,  you  are  the  most 
stupid  jackass  lever  saw!"  After  that  mental 
castigation,  "Bob"  respected  his  tutor,  and 
improved  in  that  ancient  language  so  much  as 
to  write  a  letter  in  Greek,  into  which  the  asin- 
ine still  existed,  according  to  the  worthy  Doc- 
tor. For  one  year  after  this  he  was  a  student 
at  the  Kinsley  Military  Institute,  West  Point, 
N.  Y. ,  and  the  next  two  years  were  passed  by 
him  at  Schenectady,  N.  Y.  He  then  traveled 
in  Europe  for  a  couple  of  years  with  his  mother. 

In  1857  Mr.  Sanford  located  at  Poughkeep- 
sie, and  began  the  study  of  law  at  the  New 
York  State  and  National- Law  School,  graduat- 
ing with  the  class  of  '58.  For  two  years  he 
was  in  the  law  office  of  Joseph  H.  Jackson, 
and  during  the  following  two  years  practiced 


law  for  himself.  In  1 860  he  set  out  on  another 
extended  European  trip,  which  occupied  two 
years,  during  which  he  attended  a  course  of 
lectures  at  the  Sorbonne,  in  Paris,  and  was 
presented  at  the  Court  of  Napoleon  III.  Re- 
turning to  the  United  States,  he  practiced  law 
in  Poughkeepsie  for  three  years,  or  until  1865, 
at  which  time  he  commenced  his  third  trip 
across  the  Atlantic,  the  winter  being  spent  at 
Ventnor,  Isle  of  Wight,  hunting,  and  the  sum- 
mer in  London,  where  he  was  presented  at 
Court  by  his  cousin,  Charles  Francis  Adams, 
then  minister  of  the  Court  of  St.  James.  At 
the  end  of  about  two  years  he  returned  to  the 
United  States,  and  to  Poughkeepsie. 

On  May  23,  1867,  Mr.  Sanford  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Helen  Hooker 
Stuyvesant,  eldest  daughter  of  John  R. 
Stuyvesant,  a  resident  of  Edgewood,  Hyde 
Park,  Dutchess  county,  and  a  great-grand- 
daughter of  Petrus  Stuyvesant,  Colonial  Gov- 
ernor of  the  State  of  New  York.  Five  chil- 
dren have  been  born  of  this  union:  Mary 
Buchanan,  Henry  Gausevoort,  Helen  Stuyves- 
ant and  Desire  McKean.  Of  these,  Stuyves- 
ant died  August  13,  1890;  the  others  are  at 
home  with  their  parents. 

Mr.  Sanford  in  his  political  predilections  is 
a  Republican,  but  no  partisan,  and  while  a 
loyal  citizen  has  always  declined  office.  So- 
cially, he  is  a  member  of  the  Sigma  Phi  Fra- 
ternity, the  Aztec  Society  (a  Mexican  war  so- 
ciety); the  Amrita  Club,  of  Poughkeepsie;  the 
Dutchess  Hunt  Club;  the  Union  League  Club, 
of  New  York  City;  the  Society  for  the  Pre- 
vention of  Cruelty  to  Animals,  in  which 
society  he  has  always  taken  great  interest;  the 
American  Geographical  Society;  the  Church 
Club  of  New  York,  besides  many  others.  He 
is  a  trustee  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Com- 
forter, at  Poughkeepsie;  and  was  a  member 
of  the  board  of  education  from  1862  to  1866, 
having  to  resign  on  account  of  his  going  to 
Europe. 

Physically,  Mr.  Sanford,  who  is  now  (1897) 
sixty-six  years  of  age,  is  of  about  medium 
height,  and  of  the  blonde  type;  is  possessed  of 
a  well-knit  frame,  having  from  his  youth  kept 
up  his  out-door  exercise — skating,  riding,  walk- 
ing, etc.,  as  well  as  fencing — in  fact,  he  is  a 
moderate  all-round  athlete,  without  ever  ex- 
celling in  any  one  exercise.  Ventilation,  sew- 
erage, and  sanitary  matters  in  general,  and, 
above  all,  pure  air,  have  been  his  "hobbies," 
so  much  so  that  he  has  sometimes  been  called 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD 


241 


a  ' '  crank  ' '  on  these  subjects ;  indeed,  he  claims 
that  the  foul  air  of  the  court  rooms  finally  drove 
him  away  from  active  practice  in  them. 

Mr.  Sanford  has  a  delig;htfully  picturesque 
home  in  Poughkeepsie,  beautified  with  wide 
lawns,  winding  walks,  and  a  romantic  little 
brook;  while  the  house  is  commodious,  and 
elegantly  designed  and  furnished.  Everywhere 
are  seen  evidences  of  cultivated  taste  and  re- 
fined associations,  while  souvenirs  of  his  travels 
in  foreign  countries  recall  to  him  many  pleas- 
ant memories  of  years  of  sight-seeing.  No 
family  stands  higher  than  that  of  Robert  San- 
ford, and  the  hospitable  home  is  always  open 
to  a  large  circle  of  warm  friends. 

Sanford  Family.  The  ancient  family  of 
Sontford,  Sonforde,  or  Sanford  of  Sandford, 
came  to  England  with  William  the  Conqueror, 
and  the  name  of  its  founder  occurs  in  every 
known  copy  of  the  "  Battle  Abbey  Roll."  [See 
Burke's  "  Landed  Gentry  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland."] 

Thomas  Sanford,  the  grandfather  of  Rob- 
ert Sanford,  was  born  in  Connecticut,  married 
Phoebe  Baker  and  settled  on  Long  Island,  at 
,  Bridgehampton,  where  he  practiced  medicine, 
I  and  also  followed  farming,  and  where  he  died. 
He  had  two  children,  Nathan,  our  subject's 
father,  and  Phebe,  who  married  Dr.  Rufus 
Rose,  a  physician. 

Nathan  Sanford,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  at  Bridgehampton,  L.  I.,  November  5, 
1777,  and  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's 
farm.  He  received  an  elementary  education 
at  Clinton  Academy,  Easthampton,  L.  I.,  and 
in  1793  entered  Yale  College,  but  did  not  grad- 
uate. In  1797  he  studied  law  with  Samuel 
Jones,  Sr.,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1799.  In  1800  he  was  one  of  the  United 
(States  Commissioners  of  Bankruptcy,  and  in 
i  1803  was  made  United  States  District  Attor- 
iney  for  the  Southern  District  of  New  York, 
which  position  he  held  twelve  years.  In  181 1 
he  was  chosen  speaker  of  the  State  Assembly, 
;being  the  last  speaker  to  preside  in  a  cocked 
hat.  The  following  year  he  was  elected  to 
'the  State  Senate,  and  his  portrait,  ordered  by 
the  State,  is  now  in  the  Capitol  at  Albany. 

In  181 5  Mr.  Sanford  was  elected  to  the 
United  States  Senate,  and  soon  after  relin- 
luished  the  practice  of  his  profession,  devoting 
'limself  in  his  legislative  capacity  to  the  inter- 
-ts  of  his  country.  In  1821,  after  the  expi- 
ation of  his  term  of  office,  he  was  chosen  a 
nember  of  the  convention  for  framing  a  new 

19 


constitution  for  the  State  of  New  York.  In 
1823  he  was  appointed  to  succeed  the  Hon. 
James  Kent  as  chancellor  of  the  State,  which 
position  he  filled  with  honor  until  1825,  when 
he  was  again  elected  to  the  U.  S.  Senate,  in 
place  of  Dr.  Rufus  King,  by  a  unanimous  vote  of 
both  branches  of  the  Legislature.  He  was 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  Foreign  Affairs, 
the  most  prominent  of  all  Senate  Committees. 
In  the  Presidential  election  of  1824  Senator 
Sanford  was  one  of  the  candidates  for  the  vice- 
Presidency  of  the  United  States.  At  that 
period  candidates  were  not  formally  nominated 
by  their  parties  as  at  the  present  day.  In  this 
election  there  were  four  candidates  for  that 
office:  William  H.  Crawford,  nominated  by 
the  Democratic  members  of  Congress;  Andrew 
Jackson,  nominated  chiefly  by  numerous  con- 
ventions; the  candidate  of  the  people,  John 
Quincy  Adams,  nominated  by  the  Legislatures 
of  most  of  the  Eastern  States;  and  Henry 
Clay,  nominated  by  his  friends  in  various 
States.  Mr.  Sanford  was  put  on  the  ticket 
with  Clay,  and  the  other  candidates  for  the 
Vice-Presidency  were:  Calhoun,  Macon,  Van- 
Buren,  Jackson  and  Clay.  Neither  candidates 
received  a  majority  of  votes,  but  Adams  was 
elected  when  the  vote  was  thrown  into  the 
House  of  Representatives.  Calhoun  received 
a  large  majority  for  Vice-President. 

Among  the  many  eminent  men  of  New 
York,  no  one  served  in  more  important  posi- 
tions in  the  same  length  of  time  than  did 
Nathan  Sanford.  He  was  an  educated  man, 
and  master  of  many  languages.  At  the  expi- 
ration of  his  senatorial  term,  he  retired  to  his 
estate  at  Flushing.  L.  I. ,  where  he  resided 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  October  17, 
1838.  He  was  married  three  times,  his  third 
wife  being  Mary  Buchanan,  who  was  born  in 
Baltimore,  November  i,  1800,  a  daughter  of 
Andrew  and  Anne  (McKean)  Buchanan,  the 
former  of  whom  was  a  merchant  in  that  city. 
Mrs.  Sanford  was  the  second  in  a  family  of 
four  children,  the  others  being  Susan,  Thomas 
and  Ann. 

Dr.  George  Buchanan,  the  maternal  great- 
great-grandfather  of  Robert  Sanford,  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Scotland  in  1698,  and  emi- 
grated to  Maryland  in  1723.  His  son  George, 
also  a  physician,  was  born  in  Baltimore,  Sep- 
tember 19.  1763,  and  married  Laetia  McKean, 
by  whom  he  had  eleven  children,  Andrew,  the 
grandfather  of  Robert  Sanford,  our  subject, 
being  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth.      Laetia  Mc- 


242 


COMlilEMORATTVB  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Kean  was  the  daughter  of  Thomas  McKean, 
one  of  the  Signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, and  at  one  time  governor  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  Delaware.  The  McKeans  were 
of  Irish  extraction. 

The  marriage  of  Nathan  Sanford  and  Mary 
Buchanan  took  place  in  the  White  House  at 
Washington,  President  John  Quincy  Adams, 
Miss  Buchanan's  nearest  relative,  giving  away 
the  bride.  But  one  child,  Robert,  was  born 
of  this  union.  Nathan  Sanford  died  October 
17,  1838,  and  his  wife  on  April  23,  1879,  at 
Poughkeepsie.  [The  above  historical  facts  in 
relation  to  the  Hon.  Nathan  Sanford  are  taken 
from  Appleton's  Encyclopedia  of  American 
Biography,  Vol.  V,  p.  391.] 


fOHN  F.  MARQUET  (deceased),  who  in 
'    his  lifetime   was  a   prominent    agriculturist 

of  the  town  of  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county, 
was  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers 
in  that  vicinity,  and  was  born  July  13,  1828, 
upon  the  farm  he  lately  occupied. 

His  great-grandfather,  George  Marquet, 
emigrated  from  Holland,  and  at  an  early  date 
settled  upon  a  tract  of  land  near  the  present 
site  of  Wurtemburg,  and  it  has  ever  since  been 
the  home  of  his  family.  George  Marquet,  our 
subject's  grandfather,  passed  his  life  there;  he 

married    Anna ,  and  reared    a    family 

of  children:  John  G.  and  William  H.,  both 
farmers  in  Rhinebeck;  David;  and  Margaret, 
who  married  Philip  Pultz,  a  farmer  of  the 
same  locality. 

David  Marquet,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  November  8,  1794,  and  was  married 
November  5,  181 5,  to  Savina  Cookingham, 
born  November  13,  1794,  a  daughter  of  Fred- 
erick Cookingham,  of  Rhinebeck.  They  also 
settled  at  the  old  farm  where  four  children 
born  to  them,  as  follows:  AnnaE. ,  March 
30,  1817;  Matilda,  June  2,  1820;  Margaret, 
April  8,  1824;  and  John  F.,  our  subject.  The 
father  of  this  family  died  at  the  old  home 
April  3,  1838,  the  mother  on  July  28,   1889. 

The  youth  of  John  F.  Marquet  was  passed 
much  the  same  as  that  of  any  other  healthy 
country  boy,  and  as  he  grew  to  manhood  he, 
too,  determined  to  become  a  general  farmer. 
He  was  married  October  2,  1851,  to  Emily 
Cookingham,  whose  ancestors  came  from  Hol- 
land in  the  early  days,  and  settled  in  the  town 
of  Rhinebeck,  where  her  grandfather,  George 
Cookingham,  was  a  leading  farmer  of  his  time. 


Her  father,  David  I.  Cookingham,  also  a 
farmer  there,  married  Mary  Schryver,  a  lady 
of  German  descent,  and  daughter  of  John 
Schryver,  of  Rhinebeck.  After  their  marriage 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marquet  lived  for  fifteen  years 
upon  a  farm  near  the  church,  a  part  of  which 
they  then  sold  for  the  beautiful  Wurtemburg 
Cemetery.  In  1866  they  moved  to  the  118- 
acre  farm  at  the  old  homestead.  Two  daugh- 
ters blessed  their  home  only  to  be  taken  away 
in  early  womanhood:  Ida,  born  January  31, 
1853,  died  June  20,  1877;  and  Mary,  born 
May  19,  1857,  died  May  10,  1884.  The  par- 
ents are  both  also  now  deceased,  the  father 
passing  away  February  15,  1896,  and  the 
mother  on  February  19,  1896.  This  family 
was  always  connected  with  the  Lutheran 
Church,  and  Mr.  Marquet  and  his  wife  were 
leading  members  of  the  congregation  at  Wurt- 
emburg. In  politics  he  was  a  Republican,  but 
he  never  was  in  any  sense  a  politician,  and 
sought  no  office. 


JOHN  MILLARD  (deceased).      The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was   born   in   Poughkeepsie, 

Dutchess  county.  May  21,  1789,  and  was 
the  son  of  Charles  and  Lydia  (Pride)  Millard, 
the  fbrmer  of  whom  was  born  in  Cornwall, 
Conn.,   February  19,  1763. 

Our  subject  lived  but  a  short  time  in 
Poughkeepsie,  moving  in  early  life  to  Marl- 
borough, Ulster  county.  He  married  Miss 
Sarah  Purdy,  a  daughter  of  John  S.  and  Eliza- 
beth (Jennings)  Purdy,  who  was  born  in  White 
Plains,  Westchester  county,  in  1793,  where  she 
lived  until  fourteen  years  old.  After  their  1 
marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Millard  located  in  New  \ 
York  and  subsequently  in  Brooklyn,  where  our 
subject  carried  on  a  wholesale  and  retail  gro- 
cery business.  The  following  children  were 
born  to  them:  Lydia  resides  in  Poughkeep- 
sie; Elizabeth;  Hester  lives  in  Poughkeepsie; 
Sarah;  Charles;  Martha  J.;  John  P.  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Poughkeepsie;  Samuel  N.  is  a  retired 
citizen  of  Marlborough,  Ulster  county;  James. 
Our  subject,  with  his  wife,  was  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  took  an  act- 
ive interest  in  all  public  matters.  His  death 
took  place  April  28,  1871,  and  that  of  his  wife 
October  6,  1881. 

Charles  Millard  was  in  the  army  at  New- 
burgh,  N.  Y. ,  under  Washington,  when  Ar- 
nold, the  traitor,  fled  from  West  Point.  In 
1800  Mf.    Millard   was  living  in  Marlborough, 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


248 


Ulster  county,  and  was  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Lydia 
Pride,  of  Poughkeepsie,  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Magdaline  Pride.  The  latter  couple  were 
proprietors  of  the  half-way  house  between  Al- 
bany and  New  York,  on  the  old  post-road 
north  of  the  City  of  Poughkeepsie.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Millard  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren: John,  our-subject;  James,  who  was  a  lum- 
ber merchant  at  Catskill,  N.  Y. ;  Charles,  who 
was  a  merchant  of  New  Orleans;  William,  who 
was  a  man  of  means  and  traveled  extensively; 
Walter,  who  was  engaged  with  his  father  in 
the  lumber  business;  Cornelia,  married  to 
Hackaliah  Purdy,  a  farmer  of  Ulster  county; 
Catherine,  who  became  the  wife  of  Elam  Dun- 
bar, a  farmer  of  Connecticut,  who  previously 
had  conducted  a  hat  factory  in  Poughkeepsie; 
Caroline,  who  died  unmarried;  and  by  a  second 
marriage,  Margaret  and  Franklin.  Mr.  Mill- 
ard moved  his  lumber  business  to  New  Ham- 
■  burg,  in  1824,  and  died  there  in  1827.  John 
Millard,  the  grandfather,  was  born  January  1  5, 
1736,  in  Massachusetts,  and  died  November 
22,  1813.  He  married  Miss  Christiana  Rust, 
who  was  born  November  21,  1742,  and  died 
June  17,  1831.  Theirchildren  were:  Charles; 
iRufus;  Philo,  who  was  a  musician;  Ira,  who 
I  was  a  manufacturer  at  Wappingers  Falls, 
Dutchess  county;  Russell,  who  was  a  resident 
of  Connecticut.  Robert  Millard,  the  great- 
, grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts. 
'His  ancestors  were  of  French-Huguenot  stock. 
John  S.  Purdy.  the  father  of  Mrs.  Millard, 

Kborn  in  Westchester  county,  N.  Y.,  July 
1763,  and  died  September  23,  1856.      He 
a  patriot,  and  when  a  mere  boy  served  in 
the    Revolutionary    war.       He    married    Miss 
I'^lizabeth  Jennings,  a  daughter  of  Peter  Jen- 
lings,  who  was  born  May  12,  1765,  and  died 
n  1842.     They  were  married  March  21,  1786, 
nd  had  the  following  children:   Hester,  born 
^J^e  1 7, 1 787,  married  Dennis  H.  Doyle,  who,  in 
^^■year  1807,  with  Robert  Fulton,   took  the 
^^ra  trip  up  the  Hudson,  on  the  "Clermont"; 
'eter,  born  January  19,  1789;  Elisha,  born  May 
.  1 791 ;  Sarah,  born  April  17,  1793;  Lydia,  born 
'ecember  15,  1795,  married   William   Smith, 
ho  was  in  the  war  of  1812;    Hackaliah,  born 
ovember  22,   1797;  Eliza,  born  July  i,   1799; 
artha,  born  April  3,  1801 ;  Maria,  born  March 
1803;    Dennis,    born    December    4,    1805; 
^'illiam  J.,  born   October   16,  1809.      Dennis 
the  only  one  living  now  (1897),  at  the  age  of 
inety-one.      Elisha  Purdy,  father  of  John  S., 


was  born  at  White  Plains,  Westchester  county. 
He  married  Mehitable  Smith,  a  daughter  of 
Rev.  John  Smith,  D.  D. ,  and  they  reared  these 
children:  John  S.,  Thomas,  James,  Hetta, 
Challie,  Elizabeth,  Winfred,  Nancy,  and  Ainee. 
Elisha  was  a  farmer  in  Westchester  and  Ulster 
counties.  Nathaniel  Purdy,  father  of  Elisha, 
was  a  native  of  Westchester  county,  and  was 
an  Episcopal  minister.  His  father  was  John 
Purdy,  a  son  of  Joseph,  a  son  of  Francis,  who 
came  from  Yorkshire,  England,  in  1658,  and 
settled  in  Fairfield,  Conn.  The  Purdys  were 
originally  from  Wales,  and  settled  in  England. 
Two  sons  of  Francis  Purdy,  Joseph  and  Fran- 
cis, were  commissioned  surveyors  by  the  Crown, 
and  sent  to  America. 

Rev.  John  Smith,  D.  D.,  above  referred 
to,  was  born  in  England  in  1702.  He  was 
educated  at  Oxford,  and  for  thirtj'  years,  until 
his  death  in  1771,  served  as  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Rye.  Westchester  Co. , 
N.  Y.  He  married  Mehitable  Hooker,  a  great- 
granddaughter  of  Rev.  Thomas  Hooker,  the 
founder  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  in  1636. 


P^ETER  B.  HAYT,  of  the  firm  of  Peter  B. 
Hayt  &  Co.,   was  born  in  Poughkeepsie 

October  8,  1835.  In  the  spring  of  1836  his 
parents  moved  to  a  farm  in  New  Hackensack, 
Dutchess  county,  where  he  was  reared,  early 
in  life  attending  a  private  school  and  later  a 
district  school,  and  finishing  his  education  at 
Amenia  Seminary. 

In  1854  Mr.  Hayt  went  to  Newburgh  and 
clerked  for  Stephen  Hayt  &  Co.,  dry-goods 
merchants,  where  he  remained  until  1862, 
when  he  came  to  Poughkeepsie  and  entered  in 
the  merchant-tailoring  business  under  the  firm 
name  of  Seward,  Vail  &  Hayt.  The  firm  was 
subsequently  changed  to  Seward  &  Hayt,  Sew- 
ard, Hayt  &  Co.,  Seward  &  Hayt,  Peter  B. 
Hayt  &  Co.,  Hayt  &  Alley,  Hayt  &  Lindley, 
and,  in  1892,  to  Peter  B.  Hayt  &  Co.  The 
business  at  present  is  located  corner  of  Main 
and  Garden  streets. 

Mr.  Hayt  is  a  Republican,  but  has  never 
held  a  political  office;  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  and  is  a  director  and  vice- 
president  of  the  Poughkeepsie  Electric  Light  & 
Power  Co.  He  is  a  member  of  Davy  Crockett 
Hook  and  Ladder  Co.,  which  organization  he 
joined  in  1862,  and  has  been  treasurer  of  the 
company  since  1873. 


244 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


'ILSON  B.  SHELDON.  Among  the 
M'l^  citizens  of  mark  of  Dutchess  county  no 
one  is  more  worthy  of  consideration  than  this 
gentleman.  Although  now  well  advanced  in 
years,  he  is  still  one  of  the  most  energetic 
and  wide-awake  citizens  in  the  town  of  Beek- 
man.  A  native  of  Dutchess  county,  he  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Dover,  August  3,  1810, 
and  is  of  English  extraction. 

Caleb  Sheldon,  his  grandfather,  was  also 
born  in  the  town  of  Dover,  and  there  he 
learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed in  early  life,  later,  however,  turning  his 
attention  to  farming.  He  married  a  Miss 
Waldo,  by  whom  he  had  four  children — two 
sons  (Agrippa,  a  cattle  dealer;  and  Luther, 
father  of  our  subject)  and  two  daughters,  all 
born  in  Dover  township. 

Luther  Sheldon  grew  to  manhood  upon  a 
farm,  and  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Butts, 
who  was  also  born  and  reared  upon  a  farm  in 
the  town  of  Dover.  Their  entire  lives  were 
there  passed  in  rural  pursuits,  the  father 
dying  in  1863,  and  the  mother  in  1865.  They 
were  earnest  Christian  people,  devout  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
in  politics  he  was  first  a  Whig  and  later  a  Re- 
publican. Eleven  children  were  born  to  this 
honored  couple,  as  follows:  Phcebe,  Anor, 
Delilah,  Theodorus  and  Electa  (twins), 
Ophelia,  Albro,  Wilson  B.,  Jeremiah,  Har- 
rison and  Almira,  all  of  whom  married  and 
had  children,  but  all  are  now  deceased,  except 
Wilson  B. 

Our  subject  received  a  somewhat  limited 
education,  and  his  boyhood  time  was  much 
occupied  in  the  arduous  work  of  the  farm,  so 
much  so  that  his  schooling  was  limited  to 
about  two  months  during  the  winter  seasons. 
Later,  however,  he  was  a  student  at  the  Nine 
Partners  School,  in  the  town  of  Washington, 
Dutchess  county,  and  on  leaving  school  he  re- 
turned to  the  old  farm,  where  he  remained  un- 
til attaining  his  majority.  In  starting  out  in 
life  for  himself,  he  commenced  as  a  drover, 
his  first  experience  in  that  line  being  in  the 
year  1831,  when  he  loaded  one  hundred  sheep 
into  a  boat,  to  be  taken  to  New  York  City. 
Near  Tarrytown,  the  boat  sank,  but  his  sheep 
were  taken  ashore,  and  he  drove  then;  to  the 
city,  which  he  reached  after  thirty-six  hours. 
Having  sold  them  for  a  high  price,  he  was  so 
encouraged  that  he  decided  to  remain  in  the 
stock  business,  which  he  continued  to  follow 
with  good  success  for  twenty-five  years,  dur- 


ing which  time  he  did  an  extensive  business. 
In  1842  he  purchased  his  present  farm  in  the 
town  of  Beekman,  to  which  he  removed  four 
years  later,  and  has  since  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits. 

On  April  i,  1840,  Mr.  Sheldon  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Hannah  Maria  Doughty,  who  was 
born  upon  their  present  farm,  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  Doughty,  whose  ancestors  came  from 
Holland.  Seven  children  were  born  to  this 
worthy  couple,  three  of  whom  died  in  infancy, 
and  William  H.  at  the  age  of  twelve  years  and 
six  months.  Sophia  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  H. 
Storm,  a  leading  farmer  of  the  town  of  Beek- 
man; she  has  two  children — Wilson  B.  and 
Jeannette,  the  former  of  whom  married  Mary 
T.  Berry  (he  is  in  the  coal  and  lumber  business 
at  Storm  Lake),  the  latter  being  the  wife  of 
Frederick  Ryer,  and  living  at  Mount  Vernon, 
N.  Y.  Ida  first  married  William  A.  Storm,  a 
farmer  in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  and  her  sec- 
ond husband  was  Augustus  A.  Brush,  warden 
in  the  prison  at  Sing  Sing,  who  is  now  deceased 
(she  had  one  child  by  her  first  husband,  named 
Susie  Sheldon  Storm).  .-Mlie  is  the  wife  of 
.Frank  St.  John,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Beek- 
man.. and  has  two  children — Sheldon  and  Ida. 

Mr.  Sheldon  has  an  excellent  farm  of  500 
acres,  all  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
well  improved.  He  has  made  a  specialty  of 
cattle  raising,  sometimes  fattening  as  high  as 
eighty  head  in  a  season,  but  now  devotes  his 
time  to  the  dairy  business.  For  over  tifty-six 
years  he  and  his  wife  have  traveled  life's  jour- 
ney together,  and  to-day  seem  as  happy  and 
almost  as  young  as  when  starting  out.  In 
their  hospitable  home  they  have  entertained 
both  friends  and  strangers  in  a  most  praise- 
worthy manner,  and  many  are  the  kind  deeds 
which  have  not  only  brightened  their  own 
pathway,  but  have  contributed  to  the  comfort 
and  happiness  of  those  about  them.  Although 
now  eighty-six  years  of  age,  Mr.  Sheldon  does 
not  look  over  sixty,  as  he  has  not  a  gray  hair, 
and  is  quite  active. 

In  1831  he  cast  his  first  vote  for  John  Q. 
.\dams,  and  has  always  taken  a  prominent 
part  in  political  affairs,  now  supporting  the 
Republican  party.  For  four  terms  he  served 
as  supervisor  of  his  township;  was  elected 
county  clerk  in  1858,  which  position  he  filled 
for  six  consecutive  years;  in  1867  was  a  dele- 
gate to  the  Constitutional  Convention  held  in 
Albany;  and  in  1880  was  again  elected  county 
clerk,  being  at  that  time  seventy  years  of  age. 


i^ 


I 


Its 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


245 


locially  he  is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M., 
Lodge  No.  1 66,  Poughkeepsie.  He  has  ever 
been  true  to  the  duties  devolving  upon  him, 
both  in  pubHc  and  private  life,  and  is  one  of 
the  most  public-spirited  citizens  of  Dutchess 
county. 

Joseph  Doughty,  father  of  Mrs.  Wilson  B. 
Sheldon,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Beekman, 
Dutchess  county,  and  was  there  married  to 
Elizabeth  Brill,  by  whom  he  had  four  children, 
viz.:  Hannah  Maria  (Mrs.  Sheldon);  Sophia, 
■ho  married  a  brother  of  our  subject;  Phoebe 
ane,  wife  of  James  S.  Hopkins;  and  Thomas 
J.  (deceased),  who  married  Mary  Tompkins, 
and  had  one  daughter.  The  father  of  this 
family,  who  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  died  in  1833, 
the  mother  in  1859. 


SAMUEL  H.  BROWN,  M.  D.,  an  eminent 
.—    physician  of  Dutchess  county,  is  success- 
fully engaged  in  practice  at  Madalin.     He  was 
born  August  4,   1 860,  in  New  York  City,  and 
he  belongs  to   a  family  of  French  Huguenots, 
who  early  came  to  this  country  to  escape  re- 
ligious persecution.      His  grandfather.  Samuel 
Brown,  was  born   in  New  Canaan,  Conn.,  in 
1786,  and  was  the  son  of  Abram  Brown,  a  na- 
tive of  the  same  place.     On  reaching  man's 
estate  the  former  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Abigail  Young,  also  of   French   origin,   and  a 
descendant  of  one  of  the  Revolutionary  heroes. 
Five  children  were  born  to  this  worthy  couple, 
^namely:     William,  Charles,  Jeannette,  Samuel 
■■.  and  Sylvester.     All  his  life  the  grandfather 
■■gaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  he  passed 
■Mray  in  October,  1867. 

■■   Samuel  H.  Brown,  Sr.,   the  father  of  our 
IIBbject,  was  born  at  Greenwich,  Conn.,  June 
24,  1824,  and  when  a  young  man  began  the 
study  of  medicine  in  the  University  of  Harvard, 
where  he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1850! 
He  immediately  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  New  York  City,  but  on  the  breaking 
out  of  the  Civil  war  was  commissioned  sur- 
geon of  the  174th  Metropolitan  Regiment,  and 
'became    one    of    Gen.    Banks'    staff    officers 
While  at  the  siege  of   Port  Hudson,    he  con- 
tracted  typhoid   fever,   which   terminated   his 
lie.  August  I.   1863,  he  thus  laying  down  his 
life  on  the  altar  of  his  country.      His  first  vote 
was  cast  for  the  Whig  party,  but  on  its  or- 
ganization   he   joined    the    Republican  ranks, 
and   ever  afterward  fought  under  its  banner! 
He  had  married  Miss  Sarah  Tripp,  a  native  of 


Westchester  county,  N.  Y.,  and  a  daughter  of 
Benjamin  Tripp,  who  was  of  Holland  descent 
and  a  farmer  by  occupation.  Her  death  oc- 
curred August  13,  1 89 1. 

Our  subject  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  New 
York  City  until  thirteen  years  of  age,  when  he 
entered  Oakhill  Seminary,  where   he  pursued 
his  studies  for  four  years,  after  which  he  be- 
came a  student  in  St.  Stephens  College,  Ann- 
andale,  Dutchess  county,  and  graduated  with 
the  class  of  1881,  receiving  the  degree  of  A.  B. 
He  ne.xt  took  a  two-years' course  at  the  College 
of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  New  York  City. 
On  May  9,    1883,  the   Doctor  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Catherine  Tanner,  a  daughter  of 
Henry  and   Almena  (Staats)  Tanner,  farming 
people  of  the  town  of  Red  Hook,  where  her 
birth    occurred.       Her    paternal    grandfather. 
Job  Tanner,  was  a  native  of  Columbia  county] 
N.  Y.,  and  probably  of  German  descent,  while 
her  maternal   grandfather,  Henry  Staats,  who 
was  of  Holland  extraction,    was  born   in  the 
town  of  Red   Hook,  Dutchess  county,  and  in 
religious    belief    his    family    were    Lutherans. 
On  May  17.  1883,  only  a  few  days  after  their 
marriage,  Dr.  Brown  sailed  with  his  bride  for 
Europe,  where  he  took  a  two-years'  course  at 
Wurzburg,    Bavaria,   receiving  the   degree    of 
M.  D.  on  the  nth  of  June,  1885.     Returning 
to  America,  he  located  at   Madalin,  Dutchess 
county,  where  he  has  since  engaged  in  practice. 
His  thorough  knowledge  of  medicine  and  skill 
in  surgery  have  won  him  the  confidence  of  the 
people  to  such  an  extent  that  he  has  secured  a 
large  and  lucrative  patronage.      He  is  a  prom- 
inent citizen,  a   member  of  the   Masonic   fra- 
ternity, and  is  a  Democrat. 

Mrs.  Brown  is  an  only  child.  Her  father, 
Henry  Tanner,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Galla- 
tin, Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1821,  and  for 
some  time  was  a  leading  merchant  of  Rhine- 
beck,  Dutchess  county.  He  was  called  from 
this  life  March  8,  1872.  but  his  wife  is  still 
living. 


HOMER    WALLER    (deceased)  was    one 
of  the  representative  agriculturists  of  the 

town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county.  He  was  a 
man  of  excellent  Christian  character  and  of  a 
blameless  life,  and  thoroughly  enjoyed  the  es- 
teem and  respect  of  the  community  in  which 
he  resided.  He  was  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
born  at  Gaylordsville,  in  the  town  of  New 
Milford,  Litchfield   county,  in  1823,  and  there 


246 


COMMEMORATIVE  BTOORAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


attended  the  public  schools,  finishing  his  edu- 
cation at  the  Amenia  Seminary.  His  training 
in  farm  work  was  under  the  instruction  of  his 
father  upon  the  old  homestead.  In  later  life 
he  devoted  his  time  and  attention  to  that  oc- 
cupation. He  always  took  quite  an  active  in- 
terest in  politics,  and  held  a  number  of  minor 
township  offices,  including  that  of  justice  of 
the   peace,    in   which   capacity  he  served    for 

some  time. 

On  the  paternal  side  Mr.  Waller  traced  his 
lineage  in  an  unbroken  line  to  Samuel  Waller, 
who  was  born  in  England  in  1702,  and  was  a 
member  of  a  large  family,  all  of  whom  were 
educated  and  reared  in  the  northern  part  of 
that  country.  Three  of  these  children,  of 
whom  Samuel  was  one,  emigrated  to  America 
after  they  had  reached  their  majority.  He  lo- 
cated in  the  town  of  Kent,  Conn.,  which  at 
that  time  was  one  of  the  colonies  of  England, 
and  from  King  George  HI  obtained  a  grant  of 
land  three  miles  long  at  Kent,  running  from 
Warren  Pond  to  Spectacle  Pond.  There  he 
founded  the  present  Waller  family  in  America, 
and  died  at  that  place  in  1797-  He  married  a 
Miss  Ransom,  and  to  them  was  born  a  large 
family  of  children. 

One  of  these,  Peter  Waller,  grandfather  of 
Homer  Waller,  Jr. ,  was  born  at  Kent  Hollow, 
in   the  town  of    Kent,  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn., 
and   received  his   education   in  that    locality. 
He  followed  the   occupation  of  farming,  oper- 
ating the  original  tract  belonging  to  his  father, 
which  descended  to  him.      Most  of  his  life  was 
passed  upon  that  place,  he  dying  at  Gaylords- 
ville,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years.      He  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Hannah  Baldwin, 
of  Gaylordsville,  Conn. ,  and  to  them  were  born 
ten  children,  namely:     Pinina  (i)  died  in  in- 
fancy; Pinina  (2)  married  John  Elliott;  Samuel 
married  Sally  Taylor;  Homer  was  the  father  of 
our  subject;  Rebecca  remained  single;  Almeda 
became   the   wife  of    Solomon   Brown;    Love 
died    in    infancy;    Celestia    wedded  Theodore 
Buck;  Betsy  married  David  Sterling,  and  Electa 
died  while  young. 

The  birth  of  Homer  Waller,  Sr.,  occurred 
on  the  29th  of  March,  1 781,  at  the  old  home- 
stead in  Kent  Hollow,  and  he  attended  the 
schools  of  the  neighborhood.  He  succeeded 
to  the  home  farm,  which  he  conducted  many 
years;  was  prosperous  as  a  farmer,  and  a  de- 
vout member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  In 
181 1  he  married  Miss  Martha  Merwin,  and  the 
wedding  of  this  couple   was   one   of  the  great 


society  events  of  the  time,  especially  in   the 
town    of  New  Milford,    Conn.,   where  it  was 
celebrated.     All  the   traveling   in   those  days 
was  by  carriage  or  horseback,  and  most  of  the 
guests  came  the  latter  way,  with  their  wives  or 
intended  wives  back  of  them.     The  trousseau, 
which  was  considered  quite  expensive  for  those 
days,  was  purchased  in   New  York,  and   sent 
to  New  Milford  by  saddle-bags.     The  wedding 
journey  was   made  on   horseback,   from   New 
Milford  to  Kent,  the   bride  riding  behind  her 
husband  on  what  was  called   a  pillion.      Forty 
couples  accompanied  the  pair  to  their  destina- 
tion.    This  saddle  and  wedding  outfit  are  still 
in  the  possession  of  the  family,  together  with  a 
great    many    other    relics    of    Colonial    days. 
Upon  the  old  homestead  at  Kent  two  children 
were  born  to  this  worthy  couple:     Merwin  and 
Elizabeth  M.     The  former  was  born  January 
15,  1813.     They  removed  in  1 8 19  to  Gaylords- 
ville, town  of  New  Milford.  Litchfield  Co.,  and 
Homer  was  born  there.      Merwin  was  educa- 
ted in  the  public  schools  at   home,  and  at  the 
"Friends   Boarding   School"   in  the  town  of 
Washington,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.      Smith  M., 
his  youngest  son,  now  owns  and  occupies  the 
handsome  old  Waller  home,  he  being  of  the 
fourth  generation.      He  was  married  April  8, 
1896,   to   Miss    Julia    S.   Coleman,   of  Dover, 
N.    Y.       The    Waller   family,  from   the    time 
their  ancestor  settled  in  Kent  unto  the  present, 
have  been  a  respected  and   prominent  family. 
The  old   homestead  at    Kent    Hollow    is   stfll 
owned  by  members  of  the   family,  their  title 
still  being  from  the  King  of  England. 

Merwin  Waller  was  a  prominent  farmer  of 
New  Milford  township.  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn. 
On  October  15,  1845,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Julia  Ann  Mitchell,  by  whom 
he  had  one  son,  Edwin  M.,  born  July  24.  1848- 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  Merwin  Waller 
was  married,  Decembers!,  1850,  to  Miss  Julia 
Morehouse,  and  they  had  one  son.  Smith  M., 
born  April  6,  1853.  Elizabeth  M.  Waller,  the 
sister  of  our  subject,  was  born  July  24.  i8i6. 
and  on  January  2,  1856,  she  became  the  wife 
of  John  Fry,  son  of  William  I^ry.  After  his 
death  she  married  Cornwall  Hoag,  of  Dover, 
Dutchess  county.      She  had  no  children. 

On  January  31.  1850,  Homer  Waller  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  Fry,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  three  children:  George  S.,  born 
May  4,  1 851;  Martha  D.,  born  March  25.  1853, 
and  died  December  9,  1875;  and  William  H., 
born  July  21,  1855-     The  elder  son,  George 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


247 


— 3.  Waller,  was  married  in  1879  to  Miss  Mary 
A.  Beeman,  daughter  of  Edwin  Beeman,  of 
New  Preston,  Conn.,  and  three  children  bless 
their  union :  Martha  U. ,  born  in  1 88 1 ;  Homer, 
born  in  1884;  and  Everett,  born  in  1891.  With 
his  family  George  S.  Waller  resides  in  Minne- 
apolis, Minn. ,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  com- 
mission business. 

Christopher  Fry,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Homer  Waller,  was  a  native  of  New  Bedford, 
Mass.,  where   he   obtained   his  education,  and 
i_    was  one   of   the   heroes   of   the  Revolutionary 
IHter.      For  his  services  in  that  struggle  he  ever 
P^Kterward  received  a  pension.    He  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Allen,  by  whom  he  had  three  chil- 
dren:    John,  Millicent   and  William,    the  last 
named    being   the  father  of  Mrs.  Waller.      He 
was  born  in  Dover,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  April 
14,  1800,  and    with    his  father  he  learned   the 
trade  of  a  tanner,  after  which  he  conducted  a 
plant  in  his  native  town  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  married  Miss  Deborah  Hoag,  a  daughter  of 
Isaac  and  Mary  Hoag,  of  Quaker  Hill,  Dutch- 
ess county.      Her  father  lived  to  the  extreme 
old  age  of  one  hundred  years,  and   was  ever 
a  very   prominent   member  of  the  Society  of 
^^riends.     To  William  Fry  and  his  wife  were 
H^brn  seven  children:     Harriet  and  Mary,  who 
■never  married;    John,  who  wedded   Elizabeth 

*  Waller;     Cordelia,    who    remained    single; 
es,  who  married  Elizabeth  Dutcher;  Eliza- 
1,  the    widow   of   our   subject;  and  Albert, 
who   first  married  Sarah  Edmonds,  and  after 


rOSHUA  BENSON  (deceased),  who  was  so 
J   well    known  throughout  Dutchess  county. 


was  numbered  among  the  leading  and  rep- 
I  resentative  agriculturists  of  the  town  of  Ame- 
H^.     His  father,  John   Benson,   was  born  in 
^^Biode  Island,  and  there  attended  the  common 
^fvools  during  his  boyhood  and  youth.     When 
^■nte  a  young  man  he  accompanied  his  brother 
P|b  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y. ,  and  they  took  up 
land  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  where  they  suc- 
:essfully  engaged  in  farming.     That  property 
■^  still  in  the  possession  of  the  family.     The 
ither  of  our  subject  took  an  active  interest  in 
he  affairs  of  his  country,  and  served  as  a  sol- 
dier in   the  war  of   f8i2.      He    married  Miss 
<achel  Darling,  of  Rhode  Island,  and  to  them 
vere  born  seven    children:     Samuel,    Joshua, 
Heltiah,  John,  Polly,  Philadelphia  and  Abigail. 
Upon  the  old  homestead  in   the    town  of 


Amenia  our  subject  was  born  in  1786.  When 
he  had  reached  a  sufficient  age  he  entered  the 
public  schools  of  the  locality,  and  there  ac- 
quired a  practical  education.  He  early  be- 
came familiar  with  the  duties  that  fall  to  the 
lot  of  an  agriculturist,  and  continued  to  op- 
erate the  old  home  farm  throughout  life.  The 
place  was  one  of  the  most  noticeable  in  the 
township  for  the  air  of  thrift  and  comfort  that 
surrounded  it,  and  the  evidence  of  enterprise, 
taste  and  skill.  Mr.  Benson  married  Miss 
Amanda  Hopkins,  daughter  of  Prince  and 
Jemima  Hopkins,  of  Warren,  Litchfield  Co., 
Conn.,  where  her  father  followed  merchandis- 
ing. Fourteen  children  were  born  of  this 
union,  as  follows:  Lodema  married  Milton 
Pray;  Henry  married  Annis  Ferris;  George 
died  in  childhood;  Vanness  married  Frances 
Tompkins;  Amanda  married  Charles  Darling; 
Jeannette  married  William  Dutcher;  Zadie  is 
ne.xt  in  order  of  birth;  Dewitt  married  Susan 
Bartlett;  Rachel  died  unmarried;  Edwin  mar- 
ried Emily  Ensign;  Sarah  married  Henry 
Walker;  Maria  married  Henry  Morgan;  The- 
resa married  Robert  Ryan;  and  Egbert  mar- 
ried Sarah  Hopkins. 

Mr.  Benson  always  took  a  deep  interest  in 
political  affairs,  and  steadfastly  adhered  to  the 
principles  formulated  by  the  Whig  party,  al- 
though not  a  seeker  after  official  position.  He 
was  one  of  the  leaders  of  his  party  in  the  com- 
munity where  he  so  long  made  his  home,  and 
his  opinions  were  invariably  held  in  respect. 
He  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-four 
years,  and  when  called  to  the  rest  and  reward 
of  the  higher  world  his  best  monument  was 
found  in  the  love  and  esteem  of  the  community 
in  which  he  had  lived  for  so  many  years. 


BtR.  FRANCIS  M.  ROBINSON,  a  leading 
V  dentist  of  Pawling,  N.  Y.,  is  one  of 
Dutchess  county's  most  enterprising  sons. 
Born  in  Matteawan,  October  9,  1857,  he  was 
educated  in  the  schools  near  his  home,  and  his 
success  reflects  credit  upon  the  section  which 
afforded  him  his  opportunities,  as  well  as  upon 
himself. 

His  family  is  of  English  and  French  de- 
scent, and  his  great-grandfather  was  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  the  town  of  Kent,  Putnam 
Co.,  N.  Y.  His  grandfather,  Adonigee  Robin- 
son, a  man  of  fine  native  abilities,  was  born 
there  and  became  one  of  the  prominent  men 
of  his  locality.      He  was  a  colonel  in  the  State 


248 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Militia  when  they  used  to  train  at  Boyd's  Cor- 
ners, and  his  business  interests  were  varied 
and  extensive,  as  in  his  early  years  he  carried 
on  a  foundry,  store  and  mill  at  Farmers  Mills 
or  Milltown,  and  later  was  engaged  in  business 
at  Matteawan.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat, 
and  in  religious  faith  he  was  an  active  and  in- 
fluential member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  His 
death  occurred  in  1892,  but  his  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Sophia  Russell,  is  still  living 
in  her  eighty-seventh  year.  They  had  ten 
children — Keziah,  Jane,  Peter  A.,  Julia,  Levi, 
Hattie,  Coleman,  Nathan,  Ophelia  and  Emma, 
of  whom  all  but  two  are  living. 

Peter  A.  Robinson,"  our  subject's  father, 
•was  born  at  the  old  home  in  Putnam  county, 
in  1834,  and  in  early  manhood  engaged  in 
business  at  Wappingers  Falls,  and  later  was 
interested  in  broom-making  for  a  short  time. 
He  became  blind  when  about  twenty-four 
years  old,  and,  as  a  consequence  of  this  sad 
hardship,  his  life  has  been  somewhat  secluded. 
Although  he  has  been  totally  blind  for  nearly 
forty  years,  he  goes  about  freely,  his  memory 
and  sense  of  touch  having  become  marvelously 
developed.  He  married  Miss  Matilda  Badeau, 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Elizabeth  Badeau,  who 
were  natives  of  Putnam  county,  but  have  re- 
sided in  Matteawan  since  1845.  The  Badeau 
family  is  noted  for  energy  and  mental  ability, 
and  has  held  a  high  position  in  this  section. 
General  Adam  Badeau,  well-known  as  a  writer, 
as  well  as  in  military  affairs,  especially  in  con- 
nection with  Grant's  Memoirs,  is  a  near  rela- 
tive of  Mrs.  Robinson.  The  Doctor  was  sec- 
ond in  a  family  of  five  children.  Of  the  others 
William  Badeau  is  a  dentist  in  Middletown, 
N.  Y. ;  Lenora  died  at  the  age  of  two  years; 
Lizzie  Badeau  is  at  home;  and  Charles  Cole- 
man is  a  recent  graduate  from  the  Pennsylva- 
nia College  of  Dental  Surgery. 

Dr.  Robinson  finished  his  academic  course 
in  the  schools  of  Fishkill  Landing  at  about 
sixteen  years  of  age,  and  then  clerked  for  a 
year  with  C.  F.  Brett,  and  for  three  years 
with  S.  G.  &  J.  F.  Smith.  In  1876  he  spent 
a  short  time  in  a  dry-goods  house  in  Fulton 
street,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ,  and  then  began  the 
study  of  dentistry  with  Dr.  Barlow,  of  Fishkill 
Landing,  now  of  Poughkeepsie.  After  one 
year  with  him,  and  one  year  with  Dr.  Cornell 
in  Brooklyn,  he  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Patterson,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  remained 
seven  years.  During  this  time  a  law  was 
passed  requiring  all  practicing  dentists  to  regis- 


ter before  the  county  clerk.  In  1885  he  re- 
moved to  Pawling,  and  has  since  been  actively 
engaged  there  in  his  chosen  calling.  He  has 
an  office  in  Amenia  also,  where  he  spends 
Monday  and  Thursday  of  each  week  to  accom- 
modate his  numerous  patrons  in  that  vicinity. 
In  1876  the  Doctor  married  Miss  Henrietta 
Dodge,  daughter  of  Thomas  Dodge,  a  well- 
known  citizen  of  East  Fishkill.  Three  chil- 
dren were  born  of  this  union:  Edwin  Dodge, 
Harry  Sanford  and  Francis  Adams.  Although 
a  Republican  in  principle,  the  Doctor  is  not 
active  in  politics.  He  is  interested  in  local 
improvements,  and  is  always  ready  to  take 
part,  in  any  movement  tending  to  progress. 
Like  many  professional  men,  he  finds  recrea- 
tion in  different  forms  of  work,  and  for  ten 
years  has  given  much  attention  to  the  breeding 
of  Black  Langshans.  His  strain  have  become 
famous  throughout  the  United  States,  England 
and  Canada.  The  Doctor  exhibits  his  birds 
annually  at  the  Madison  Square  Garden,  New 
York  City,  where  they  have  made  a  world- 
wide reputation,  winning  the  grand  special 
prize  for  best  and  finest  display  three  years  in 
succession. 


JEREMIAH    SHELDON    (deceased)  was  a 
leading  agriculturist  of  the  town  of   Beek- 
man,  and  as  a  valued  citizen,  a  kind  father, 
and  an  affectionate  husband,  his  memory  should 
be  cherished  and  perpetuated  by  all.      He  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county, 
December  29,  181 2,  and  was  a  son  of  Luther 
and  Mary  (Butts)  Sheldon.     In  his  native  town- 
ship he  spent  his  boyhood  days,  and  attended 
the  district  schools.     While  yet  a  young  man 
he  became  a  cattle  dealer,  driving  his  stock  to 
New  York  City,  and   later  followed  that  busi- 1 
ness  there.      In  1849  he  returned  to  Dutchess  1 
county,  purchasing  the  farm  now  occupied  by  1 
his  daughter,  Mrs.  A.  B.  Andrews,  and  there  | 
continued  to  make  his  home  up  to  his  death,  1 
which  occurred  May  19,  1882. 

On  January  1 1,  1843,  in  the  town  of  Beek-j 
man,   Mr.   Sheldon  married    Miss    Sophia  M. 
Doughty,   daughter  of   Joseph    and  Elizabeth j 
Doughty,  and  of  their   union  were  born  three! 
children:  Amelia   B.,  wife  of    Kromaline  An- 
drews;  Mary  J.;    and   William  H.,  who  wasti 
engaged  in   the   coal  and  lumber  business  atj 
Poughkeepsie,    but    is    now    deceased.       Thej 
mother  was  called  to  her  final  rest  February  i, 
1886.      Mr.  Sheldon  took  an  active  interest  inf 


ua. 


roe^'ry^ 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE   BIOOBAPHICAL    RECORD. 


249 


PR 


11  affairs  tending  to  the  improvement  of  his 
town  and  county,  and  for  several  terms  he 
served  as  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Beekman. 
In  early  life  his  political  support  was  given  to 
the  Whig  party,  and,  on  its  dissolution,  he 
became  a  Republican. 

Kromaline  Andrews  is  a  native  of  the 
town  of  Unionvale,  Dutchess  county,  and  is 
the  son  of  Philip  Schuyler  Andrews,  who  is 
now  living  at  Shaffers  Mills,  town  of  Lagrange, 
Dutchess  county.  The  son  attended  the  dis- 
trict schools  near  his  home  in  Unionvale,  and 
ter  was  a  student  in  Carey's  school  in  Pough- 
epsie,  after  which  he  clerked  in  the  dry- 
goods  store  of  George  Van  Kleeck  in  that  city 
for  awhile.  Returning  to  the  town  of  Union- 
vale he  operated  his  father's  farm,  and  while 
thus  engaged  was  married  October  22,  1879, 
to  Miss  Amelia  B.  Sheldon.  After  the  death 
of  her  father,  they  removed  to  the  old  Sheldon 
farm,  where  they  have  since  resided  and  are 
numbered  among  the  highly  respected  people 
of  the  community.  In  politics  Mr.  Andrews 
is  a  Republican.  Mary  J.  Sheldon,  a  single 
lady,  and  sister  of  Mrs.  A.  B.  Andrews,  makes 
■^er  home  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andrews. 

"Charles  h.  gallup,  of  the  firm  of  c. 

V^    H.   Gallup  &  Co.,  which  is  in  the  front 
rank  along  with   the   leading  art  firms  of  the 

I^tate,  and  which  in  the  city  of   Poughkeepsie, 
fcutchess  county,  is  not  excelled   in   the  class 
■  work  executed,  has  descended  from  one  of 
Ke  intelligent   and  educated   families  of  New 
■ork  State. 
B    The  first   representative   of    the  family   in 
■merica  was  John  Gallup,  who  came  in  1630 
om  England  in  the  pilgrim   ship  "Mary  and 
ohn,"   and   located   near  Stonington,    Conn, 
e  of  his  sons  founded  Gallupsville,  Schoharie 
N.   Y.      Samuel   Gallup  was  the   great- 
eat-grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
d  the  latter's  grandfather  was  Nathan  Gal- 
ip,   a    millwright    by  trade,   who    resided    in 
hoharie    county.       Of    Nathan's    children, 
enry  Gallup,   A.    M.,   the  father  of  Charles 
,  of  whom  we  especially  write,  was  born  in 
II.      He  was  educated  at  Williams  College, 
'om  which  he  was  graduated  and  received  the 
Tee 'of  A.  M.     Subsequently  he  spent  three 
ars  at  Berlin  University,  Berlin,   and  trav- 
led    through   Europe,    crossing   the  -Alps    on 
t  with  a  friend,  and  in  so  doing  acquired  the 
nguage    of    that    section    of    the    continent. 


For  years  Prof.  Gallup  was  principal  of  the 
Academy  at  Monticello,  N.  Y.,  as  well  as  of  a 
number  of  other  institutions  of  learning,  and 
later  was  principal  of  New  Paltz  Academy  in 
Dutchess  county  for  three  years.  In  1866, 
retiring  from  active  business,  he  came  to 
Poughkeepsie,  where  he  died  in  1887.  In 
1849  he  had  married  Julia  Stone,  who  is  now 
living  with  her  daughter  in  Poughkeepsie. 
Their  children  are:  Charles  H.,  Ella  (Mrs.  J. 
M.  Godinez)  and  Albert  C. 

Charles  H.  Gallup  was  born  in  the  Acad- 
emy at  Monticello,  N.  Y. ,  on  November  17, 
1852.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
which  his  father  was  principal,  then  served  an 
apprenticeship  in  a  machine  shop  at  Pough- 
keepsie, N.  Y. ,  which  occupation  he  followed 
some  ten  or  more  years.  In  1879  he  went  to 
Cuba,  where  for  five  years  he  was  in  charge 
of  a  large  sugar  plantation  near  the  center  of 
the  island.  In  1884  he  returned  to  Pough- 
keepsie to  visit  his  parents,  and  was  persuaded 
by  his  mother  to  remain.  In  the  following 
year  he  purchased  the  Seeley  photograph  gal- 
lery, which  business  was  established  in  1857, 
and  carried  on  by  S.  L.  Walker,  one  of  the 
pioneers  in  the  art  of  photography.  Mr. 
Walker  had  been  a  pupil  of  and  was  aided  by 
Prof.  S.  F.  B.  Morse,  who  had  brought  with 
him  from  France  the  ideas  of  Daguerre,  and 
imparted  them  to  Walker,  who  introduced  the 
daguerrotype  process  in  the  city  of  Pough- 
keepsie. Our  subject  seemed  well  adapted  to 
the  business  which  he  entered  upon  with  his 
intelligence  and  his  usual  energy  and  snap, 
and  the  result  is  the  building  up  of  a  first-class 
art  gallery  complete  in  all  appointments, 
where  a  successful  business  is  being  carried 
on.  He  and  his  partner  are  progressive  men, 
affable  and  courteous,  and  have  kept  abreast 
of  the  times.  At  their  art  emporium  is  dis- 
played good  work;  they  employ  a  number  of 
specialists,  and  all  the  work  there  executed  is 
of  the  highest  order,  first-class  in  every  re- 
spect. A  man  of  tact,  Mr.  Gallup  has  seen 
what  the  people  want,  and  has  met  that  want. 
He  has  spared  no  pains  in  the  use  of  printers' 
ink,  but  advertised  extensively,  and  is  meeting 
the  popular  demand  of  a  good  quality  of  work 
at  a  low  price.  His  ten-dollar  life-size  crayon 
work,  and  three-dollar  cabinet  pictures  re- 
ceived the  highest  medal  awarded  at  the 
Dutchess  County  Fair,  for  superior  work. 
His  motto  is  "Superior  Work  at  Reasonable 
Prices."     It  remained  for  our  subject  to  intro- 


250 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPniCAL  RECORD. 


duce  the  process  of  instantaneous  photography 
into  Poughkeepsie. 

On  September  20,  1893,  Mr.  Gallup  was 
married  to  Edna  M.,  a  daughter  of  O.  W. 
Eggleston,  assistant  general  roadmaster  of  the 
N.  Y.  C.  &  H.  R.  railroad,  now  a  resident  of 
White  Plains,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Gallup  erected  in 
1895  one  of  the  most  tastj'  and  convenient,  as 
well  as  attractive,  homes  in  the  city,  located  on 
Balding  avenue.  He  designed  his  own  plans, 
and  the  building  was  erected  entirely  under 
his  own  supervision. 

Many  of  Mr.  Gallup's  ancestors  fought  in 
the  Indian  wars,  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution, 
and  in  that  of  181 2,  three  bearing  the  rank  of 
captain  and  two  that  of  colonel.  In  the  his- 
tory of  the  family  are  given  the  names  of  over 
sixty  Gallups  who  fought  in  the  Revolution 
and  in  the  war  of  1812,  besides  of  those  who 
participated  in  the  Indian  wars  of  the  colonies. 
They  were  rewarded  with  many  grants  of  land 
for  bravery,  etc.  Capt.  John  Gallup,  in  1637, 
off  Block  Island,  had  an  encounter  with  a  band 
of  Indians  who  had  captured  a  sloop  from 
Capt.  John  Oldham,  which  was  the  first  naval 
engagement  fought  in  this  country.  Capt. 
Gallup  captured  the  Indians,  and  took  them 
prisoners  to  Boston.  They  were  of  the  Pequot 
tribe,  and  this  was  the  opening  of  the  cele- 
brated bloody  Pequot  war  of  American  history. 


JOHN  TROWBRIDGE.  No  family  in  the 
city  of  Poughkeepsie  is  better  known  than 
that  of  which  our  subject  is  a  member,  and 
which  has  held  a  prominent  place  in  the  busi- 
ness community  for  over  half  a  century,  dur- 
ing that  time  establishing  in  financial  circles 
an  enviable  reputation  for  judicious  manage- 
ment, integrity  and  ability. 

John  Trowbridge  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Washington,  Dutchess  county,  July  20,  1829, 
and  traces  his  paternal  ancestry  to  Thomas,  of 
the  sixth  generation,  who  was  born  in  Somer- 
setshire, England,  and  was  the  first  of  the 
name  to  settle  in  America.  From  him  the  or- 
der of  descent  was  as  follows:  William,  born 
about  1634,  in  Connecticut;  Samuel,  torn  Oc- 
tober 7,  1670;  Samuel,  born  August  26,  1700; 
Stephen,  born  in  Connecticut  January  30, 
1726;  Stephen,  born  in  Danbury,  Conn.,  Jan- 
uary 18,  1756;  Stephen  B.,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, born  in  the  town  of  Northeast,  Dutchess 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  19,  1799.  The  grandfather 
of  our  subject  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution- 


ary war.      [For  a  history  of  our  subject's  father 
see  following  sketch  of  N.  C.  Trowbridge.] 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  six  years  of 
age  when  his  parents  removed  from  their  farm 
in  the  town  of  Washington  to  Poughkeepsie, 
in   which   latter   place   he   attended   both  the 
academy    and    the    Poughkeepsie    Collegiate 
School  on  College  Hill.      He  was   married  on 
January  18,  1853,  to  Miss  Eliza  Robinson,  who 
was   born   in   the  town   of   Fishkill,  Dutchess 
county,    the  daughter  of    Duncan   and    Mary 
Robinson,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation.      Three  children  were  born  of 
this  union,  viz.:  (i)  Mary  R.,  married  to  John 
W.  Pelton,  now   a  resident  of   Poughkeepsie, 
formerly  a  member  of  the  well-known  firm  of 
C.  M.  &  G.  P.   Pelton,  for  fifty  years   manu- 
facturers of  carpets  in  Poughkeepsie.      (2)  Ella, 
the  wife  of  S.   C.  Nightingale,  a  son  of  Rev. 
Crawford  Nightingale,  of  the  well-known  fam- 
ily of  that  name  in   Providence,  R.  I. ;    he  is 
head  of  the  firm  of  S.  C.  Nightingale  &  Childs, 
of  Boston,  Mass.,  dealers  in  railroad   and  mill 
supplies.      (3)  George  S.,  who  died  when  two 
years  of  age.     When  a  young  man  Mr.  Trow* 
bridge  began  in  the   mercantile  business,  hav- 
ing  a  general  store   on    Main   street,  and  for 
nearly   forty  years  was  engaged  in   that  line, 
handling  during  that  time   nearly  all  kinds  of 
mercantile  goods.      His  establishment  became 
one  of  the  largest  and  most   important  in  the 
county,  and  his   reputation  as  a  merchant  was 
of  the  best.     The  business  in  which  the  Trow- 
bridge family  was  prominent  was  founded  and 
conducted  as  follows:  (i)  Nathan  Conklin,  Jr.; 
&  Co. ;  (2)  Conklin,  Bowne  &  Co. ;  (3)  Bowne 
&  Trowbridge;  (4)  Bowne,  Trowbridge  &  Co.; 
(5)  by  retirement   of   Mr.  Bowne  the  firm  be- 
came  Trowbridge   &   Wilkinson,    which    con- 
tinued till  1 86 1,  when   it   became  Trowbridge 
&  Co.,  consisting  of  the  brothers,  N.  Conklin 
and  John  Trowbridge.      In  1887  John  retired, 
and   in    1888    N.  Conklin  also   retired,  and  in 
his  elegant  home,  having  amassed  a  comforta- 
ble fortune,  our  subject   is   now  living  a  quiet 
life,    in   the   enjoyment   of  the   results  of  his 
early  labors. 

Until  the  formation  of  the  Republican 
party  Mr.  Trowbridge  was  a  Whig,  but  since  i 
that  time  has  been  in  sympathy  with  the  latter 
party,  although  he  has  never  taken  an  active 
part  in  politics,  and  has  never  consented  to 
hold  public  office.  He  has,  however,  always 
been  a  loyal  citizen,  and  a  generous  con- 
tributor to  all  enterprises  having  for  their  ob- 


'JOMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


251 


ject  the  welfare  of  the  city  and  county.  Since 
1853  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  in  which  he  has  held  several  of  the 
higher  offices.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  and  are 
prominent  members  of  society. 


1,1  CONKLIN  TROWBRIDGE,  who  was 
one  of  the  oldest  and  most  prominent 
citizens  of  Poughkeepsie.  and  a  brother  of 
John  Trowbridge  (a  sketch  of  whom  appears 
above),  was  born  in  the  town  of  Northeast, 
Dutchess  county,  July  20,   1821. 

Stephen   B.  Trowbridge,  the   father  of  our 
subject,  was  also    a   native  of  Northeast,  and 
was  born  March   19,  1799.      He   married  Miss 
Eliza  Conklin,  whose    birth  took  place  August 
29,   1802,  in  the  same  town   in  which  her  hus- 
band was  born.      She   was  a   daughter  of  Na- 
than Conklin,  who  was   a  descendant   of  the 
East  Hampton,    L.    I.,   family  of  that  name, 
formerly  spelled   Conkling,  which  came  at  an 
early    day     to    Northeast,    Dutchess     county. 
After  their  marriage  our  subject's  parents  loca- 
ted on  the  old  farm   in  Northeast,  living  there, 
I  however,  but  a  short  time,  when   they  moved 
;  to  the   town   of  Washington.      Of  their   eight 
I  children  the    following    record    is   given:     N. 
I  Conklin  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Mary  E. 
married  William  Wilkinson,  a  lawyer  in  Pough- 
t  keepsie;  Nathan   was  druggist  in   Poughkeep- 
sie.   and    died     in    early    manhood;    John    is 
living  at   Poughkeepsie,  retired  from  business; 
Phcebe  E.  married  John  G.  Boyd,  a   business 
man   of    Poughkeepsie;    Cornelia    B,  married 
Henry  Seymour,  of  New  York  City;  and  Julia 
;  and  Eliza  reside  at   the  old   home   in    Pough- 
keepsie.    The  parents  of  our  subject  remained 
upon   the   farm  in   the    town    of  Washington 
ntil  1834,  when  they  removed  to  Poughkeep- 
e,  .Mr.  Trowbridge  becoming  one  of  the  firm 
^f  Conklin,  Bowne  &  Co.,  with  whom  he  con- 

«Jlued  in  business  for  many  years.      He  died 
■rch  25,  1884.   Nathan  and  Mulford  Conklin, 
■he  above-mentioned  firm,  were  two  brothers 
po  came  from  the  town  of  Northeast  in  18 10, 
nd    established    themselves    in    business    in 
iJ^U.  the  firm    name    at   first    being    Nathan 
-nklin,  Jr.,  &  Co.      In    1835  they  built  their 
rick  store  house,  which  is  still  standing,  and  is 
ne  of  the  old  landmarks  of  the  city.     They 
vere  very  prominent   men   in   their  day,  and 
onklin  street  was    named   for  them.     They 
-re  the  maternal  uncles  of  our  subject. 


Stephen  Trowbridge,  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Danbury,  Conn.,  and  be- 
came a  farmer.  He  married  Elizabeth  Bar- 
num,  who  was  a  connection  of  the  well-known 
Barnum  family  of  Connecticut,  and  six  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them.  He  enlisted  May 
12,  1775,  as  a  private  in  Company  6,  of  the 
Artesian  Corps,  which  was  recruited  mainly 
in  Fairfield  county,  and  took  part  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Hubbardston,  Bennington,  Saratoga 
and  Fort  George.  While  in  the  army  he 
learned  the  saddle-making  trade,  and  mended 
Gen.  Washington's  saddle. 

N.  Conklin  Trowbridge,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  seven  years  old  when  his  parents 
moved  from  the  town  of  Northeast  to  a  farm 
in  the  town  of  Washington,  where  he  spent 
the  following  seven  years.  In  1835,  at  the  age 
of  fourteen  years,  he  went  to  Poughkeepsie, 
where  he  attended  school  at  College  Hill  for 
two  years,  after  which  he  entered  the  general 
store  of  Nathan  Conklin,  Jr.,  &  Co.,  as  clerk. 
He  steadily  advanced  in  this  business,  finally 
becoming  the  proprietor  and  carrying  on  the 
establishment  until  1888,  or  more  than  half  a 
century,  when  he  retired  from  the  firm.  Mr. 
Trowbridge  died  April  19,  1897. 


JAMES  LYNCH   is  one  of  the  reliable   and 
progressive  young  business   men  of  Pough- 
keepsie, Dutchess  county,  where  his  birth 
occurred  November  20,   1869. 

His  father,  James  Lynch,  Sr.,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Ireland,  and  on  coming  to  the  United 
States  when  a  small  boy  located  at  Pough- 
keepsie, there  being  employed  by  a  Mr.  Bis- 
seil,  a  sculptor,  until  1878.  Mr.  Lynch  then, 
in  that  year,  established  himself  in  the  marble 
business,  which  he  conducted  with  success  up 
to  his  death,  which  occurred  on  August  25, 
1891.  He  was  a  very  quiet,  conservative 
man,  giving  the  strictest  attention  to  his  busi- 
ness, and  well  deserved  the  success  which 
came  to  him.  At  Newark,  N.  J.,  he  had  mar- 
ried Miss  Maria  O'Mera,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  five  children:  Catherine,  Annie, 
James,  Mary  and  Ellen. 

Since  the  death  of  his  father  our  subject 
has  had  complete  charge  of  the  business,  and 
has  displayed  e.xcellent  ability  in  its  manage- 
ment. He  takes  quite  an  active  interest  in 
civic  societies  in  Poughkeepsie,  belonging  to 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Order  of  Good 
Fellows,    and  to   the   Fire   Department.      He 


252 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


enjoys  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all  with 
whom  he  comes  in  contact,  and  no  doubt  a 
brilliant  future  awaits  him. 


GEORGE  W.  LUMB,  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  George  W.  Lumb  &  Son, 
proprietors  of  one  of  the  most  important  in- 
dustries of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county, 
was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  September 
1 6,  1837,  and  when  about  two  years  of  age 
was  brought  to  Poughkeepsie  by  his  parents, 
Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Beaumont)  Lumb,  na- 
tives of  the  same  country.  He  is  the  eldest 
in  their  family  of  three  children,  the  others 
being  Levi  and  Elizabeth,  the  latter  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  On  his  arrival  in  Poughkeep- 
sie in  1839,  the  father  secured  employment  in 
the  carpet  factory  of  C.  M.  &  G.  P.  Pelton, 
but  later  opened  a  grocery  store,  which  he 
conducted  until  about  two  years  before  his 
death.  He  held  membership  with  the  Con- 
gregational Church,  and  in  politics  was  first  a 
Whig,  later  a  Republican. 

Our  subject  spent  his  boyhood  days  in 
Poughkeepsie,  attending  Mrs.  Wheeler's  school 
and  the  grammar  schools,  after  which  he 
worked  in  the  factory  where  his  father  was 
employed.  Later  he  entered  the  sash  and 
blind  factory  of  William  E.  Beardsley,  where 
he  learned  his  trade,  and  there  remained 
eleven  years.  For  three  years  thereafter  he 
was  employed  as  foreman  in  the  John  E. 
Price  Sash  and  Blind  Factory,  after  which  he 
entered  the  service  of  the  New  York  Central 
Railroad  Co.,  as  fireman  on  an  engine,  first 
running  between  Poughkeepsie  and  Albany, 
afterward  between  Albany  and  New  York. 
In  1863  he  entered  the  United  States  navy, 
was  stationed  on  the  Grand  Gulf,  making 
three  trips  to  Aspinwall,  and  was  in  the  block- 
ading squadron  at  Galveston.  The  vessel 
later  acted  as  flag  ship  at  New  Orleans,  in 
which  city  our  subject  received  an  honorable 
discharge. 

On  his  return  north,  Mr.  Lumb  again  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  Railroad  Co.,  but  at 
the  end  of  a  year  he  and  his  brother  Levi 
started  a  sash  and  blind  factory  in  Pough- 
keepsie, at  the  corner  of  Dutchess  avenue  and 
Water  street,  which  for  two  years  was  op- 
erated by  horse  power.  They  then  removed 
to  the  present  factory  of  our  subject,  and  ad- 
mitted William  T.  Swart  as  a  member  of  the 
firm,    it    being    known    as    Swart,    Lumb    & 


Brother.  This  partnership  was  continued 
until  1885,  Mr.  Lumb  in  that  year  buying  out 
his  brother's  interest,  and  his  son  Charles  L. 
becoming  a  member  of  the  firm,  which  assumed 
the  name  of  Swart,  Lumb  &  Son.  Two  years 
later,  however,  Mr.  Swart  sold  out,  and  the 
name  was  changed  to  George  W.  Lumb  & 
Son.  They  do  an  extensive  business,  and 
well  deserve  the  liberal  patronage  which  is  ac- 
corded them.  In  i8g2  Mr.  Lumb  purchased 
the  old  Vassar  House  property,  where  he 
erected  a  four-story  brick  building  for  Mrs. 
Brazier's  knitting  mill,  which  was  then  con- 
ducted by  himself,  his  son,  C.  W.  H.  Arnold 
and  Miles  Hughes.  Mr.  Lumb  is  not  now  con- 
nected with  this  industry,  and  has  rented  the 
building.  Our  subject  is  connected  with  sev- 
eral of  the  leading  industries  of  the  city,  being 
a  stockholder  in  the  new  piano  factory  and  the 
electric-light  plant,  and  also  owns  about  fifty- 
three  houses  and  forty  vacant  lots  in  the  city. 

In  Poughkeepsie  George  W.  Lumb  and 
Sarah  W.  Dean,  a  native  of  Taunton,  Mass., 
were  united  in  marriage,  and  to  them  have 
been  born  four  children,  namely:  Charles  L. 
Jessie  B.,  for  whom  her  father  has  named  a 
boat;  George  J.,  a  graduate  of  both  the  high 
school  and  Eastman  Business  College;  and 
Maud  D.  In  his  political  principles  Mr.  Lumb 
is  an  unswerving  Republican,  devoted  to  the 
best  interests  of  his  party,  yet  has  never  sought 
or  desired  political  preferment,  having  only 
served  on  the  water  board  for  one  term,  So- 
cially he  is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M.,  Lodge 
No.  266,  and  in  religious  faith  he  is  a  Congre- 
gationalist.  The  family  now  live  at  No.  16 
Davis  place,  which  residence  our  subject  pur- 
chased of  Mayor  Harloe. 

Charles  L.  Lumb,  the  eldest  son  of  our 
subject,  is  a  native  of  Poughkeepsie,  where  he 
secured  his  education,  being  a  graduate  of  the 
high  school,  and  in  1880  he  received  a  diploma 
from  Eastman  Business  College.  After  work- 
ing in  the  factory  of  his  father  for  five  years 
he  was  admitted  to  partnership,  and  is  now 
general  manager  of  the  business,  doing  all  of 
the  office  work.  He  is  also  secretary  of  the 
Fallkill  Knitting  Co.,  and  is  a  director  of  thai 
Reimer  Piano  Factory.  On  October  2,  1889, 
in  Poughkeepsie,  he  was  united  in  marriagej 
with  Minnie  E.  Lovejoy,  daughter  of  J.  FredJ 
Lovejoy,  and  a  daughter  graces  their  union, 
Ethel  Dean,  born  July  11,  1893.  Mr.  Lumti 
is  a  stockholder  in  the  Electric  Light  Co.,  ir: 
the  Masonic  Temple  and  other  enterprises.    Ir 


, 

1 

V^    e  '^'j        <i^ ut^i^-^i-*^ 


I' 

( 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


258 


religious  belief  he  is  an  Episcopalian,  holding 
membership  with  Holy  Comforter  Church;  so- 
cially he  affiliates  with  the  F.  &  A.  M.,  Triune 
Lodge  No.  782,  with  Poughkeepsie  Chapter, 
Commandery  and  Council,  the  Mystic  Shrine, 
and  the  Royal  Arcanum,  and  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Lincoln  League  Club.  He  is 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Poughkeepsie 
Branch  of  the  New  York  Mutual  Savings  &  Loan 
Association,  also  of  the  Mason  Mutual  Benefit 
Association,  of  Massachusetts,  and  is  now  presi- 
dent of  the  Poughkeepsie  Horse  Owners  Associ- 
ation. A  gentleman  of  fine  address  and  thor- 
ough culture,  he  occupies  a  first  place  in 
society  as  well  as  in  the  commercial  circles  of 
Poughkeepsie.  Since  January,  1895,  he  has 
served  as  president  of  the  water  board,  and 
since  1891  has  been  notary  public. 


WILLIAM  ADRIANCE,   for  over  thirty 
years  one  of  the  most  prominent  and 

highly  respected  citizens  of  Poughkeepsie, 
Dutchess  county,  and  a  member  of  an  old  and 
much  esteemed  family  of  that  locality,  was 
born  December  12,  1814,  in  what  was  then 
the  village  of  Poughkeepsie. 

Theodorus  Adriance,  his  grandfather,  was 
probably  a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  and  was 
a  successful  farmer,  owning  a  large  tract  of 
land  near  Stormville.  He  was  one  of  the 
early  members  of  the  Hopewell  Reformed 
Dutch  Church,  and  was  a  leader  in  the  vari- 
ous local  movements  of  his  day.  He  married 
.Miss  Hacheliah  Swartout,  and  had  six  children, 
of  whom  we  have  mention  of :  Elizabeth, 
who  married  a  Mr.  Doughty;  Caroline,  who 
married  a  Mr.  Wilson;  Theodorus,  Jr.;  and 
Charles  Piatt,  our  subject's  father. 

Charles  Piatt  Adriance  was  born  in  Hope- 
well October  12.  1790,  and   received  his  first 
nstruction  in  the  district  schools  there.     When 
le  was  ten  years  old  he  went  to  Poughkeepsie, 
.0  the  home  of  his  sister,  Mrs.  Abram  Storm, 
and  he  and  John    Adriance   were  apprentices 
logether  in  the  shop   of  Abram   G.    Storm,  a 
ilversniith,  learning  the  mysteries  of  jewelry 
laking,  watch  repairing,  and  all  other  branches 
■  the  trade.     On  beginning  business  for  him- 
-If,  he  followed  the  trade  for  a  short  time  in 
oughkeepsie,  but  in   18 16  he  went  to  Rich- 
lond,  Va. ,  where  he  found  a  more  profitable 
eld  for  his  efforts  in    that    line.     There  he 
emained  until  August,  1832,  when  he  returned 
|0  Poughkeepsie  and  bought  a  farm  on  what  is 


now  known  as  College  Hill,  comprising  eighty 
acres  of  land,  where  he  followed  agriculture  for 
more  than  thirty  years.  Although  he  never  took 
an  active  part  in  politics,  he  was  an  interested 
observer  of  current  events,  and  in  early  life 
was  in  principle  a  Henry  Clay  Whig,  later  a 
Republican.  In  all  local  movements  he  was  a 
leading  worker,  especially  in  religious  move- 
ments. He  was  a  member  of  the  First  and 
Second  Reformed  Dutch  Churches  when 
formed,  and  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
latter,  and  an  elder  until  the  time  of  his  death. 
In  1864  he  removed  to  the  corner  of  Mill  and 
Garden  streets,  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  died 
November  25,  1874.  On  June  13,  1813,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Camp,  a  daughter 
of  Aaron  Camp,  a  well-known  resident  of 
Rhinebeck.  Together  they  spent  over  sixty 
years  of  wedded  life,  and  she  survived  him 
but  a  short  time,  dying  August  22,  1877.  Six 
children  were  born  to  them,  as  follows:  Will- 
iam is  our  subject;  Thomas  Edward  died 
February  18,  1832;  Mary  Frances  (Mrs.  John 
R.  Weeks,  of  Newark,  N.  J.j  died  April  2, 
1880;  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  John  B.  Pudney,  of 
Passaic,  N.  ].)\  Harriet  Newell,  born  January 
II,  1830,  died  February  20,  1832;  and  John 
Rice,  born  February  11,  1833,  died  December 
30,  1843.  Of  these,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Pudney 
is  now  the  only  survivor. 

William  Adriance,  our  subject,  received  a 
good  education  in  youth,  attending  the  sub- 
scription schools  of  Richmond,  Va.,  and  later 
studying  for  some  time  at  Amherst,  Mass.  He 
has  been  a  great  reader,  and  has  kept  well 
abreast  of  the  times.  On  leaving  school  he 
became  a  clerk  in  his  father's  store,  and  after 
a  time  went  to  New  York  City,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years.  In  November  1835,  he 
engaged  in  the  jewelry  business  in  Natchez, 
Miss. ,  carrying  same  on  successfully  for  seven 
years.  In  May,  1843,  he  went  to  St.  Louis, 
and  opened  a  dry-goods  store,  making  a  success 
of  the  venture.  In  1864  he  disposed  of  it, 
and  in  May  of  that  year  moved  to  Poughkeep- 
sie, where  he  has  since  lived  a  retired  life.  On 
July  26,  1837,  Mr.  Adriance  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Elizabeth  Harrington,  whose  father 
was  a  prominent  resident  of  New  York.  Nine 
children  were  born  of  this  union,  as  follows: 
Cornelia  Hyde,  born  May  30,  1838,  died  De- 
cember 14,  1S47;  James  Edward,  born  June 
I,  1840,  died  January  6,  1849;  Charles  Henry, 
born  October  8,  1842,  died  in  March,  1869; 
and  William  Nevins,  born  July  26,  1848,  died 


254 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


July  19,  1849.  Of  the  others,  Edward  Cor- 
nelius, born  June  23,  1850,  is  a  dry-goods  mer- 
chant in  Brooklyn;  Samuel  Winchester,  Janu- 
ary 9,  1853,  is  a  Congregational  minister  at 
Winchester,  Mass. ;  Mary  Elizabeth,  born  De- 
cember 2,  1855,  married  Elias  G.  Minard;  and 
the  youngest,  John  Rice,  born  February  13, 
1858,  died  March  6,  1858.  The  mother  of 
this  family  died  August  2,  i860,  and  Septem- 
ber 17,  1862,  Mr.  Adriance  married  Miss  Abbie 
Lovell  Bond,  of  Norwich,  Conn.,  daughter  of 
Rev.  Dr.  Alvan  Bond.  Mr.  Adriance  died  of 
heart  disease  January  2,  1897,  after  three  days' 
illness. 

Politically,  our  subject  was  in  early  years 
an  Old-line  Whig,  but  in  1856  he  espoused  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party,  to  which 
he  afterward  adhered.  He  was  no  political 
"  wire-puller, "  but  always  gave  his  influence 
to  secure  the  election  of  good  men  for  posi- 
tions of  trust.  He  was  a  leading  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Poughkeepsie  (Rev. 
Dr.  Wheeler,  pastor),  and  was  a  strong  sup- 
porter of  many  important  movements  for  the 
benefit  of  the  community. 


JAMES  M.  HADDEN,  president  of  the 
Poughkeepsie  Gas  Company,  and  one  of 
the  leading  citizens  of  that  enterprising  city, 
to  which  he  came  twenty  years  ago  as  an  as- 
sistant engineer,  is  descended  from  a  sturdy, 
industrious,  intelligent  ancestry  to  which  .  his 
own  career  does  credit. 

The  first  of  the  family  in  this  country,  of 
whom  there  is  any  knowledge,  was  Ephraim 
Hadden,  who  died  at  Woodbridge,  N.  J.,  Jan- 
uary 15,  1725.  One  of  his  children,  and  the 
one  from  whom  James  H.  descended,  was 
Thomas  Hadden  (1)  a  carpenter  and  farmer  by 
occupation.  He  was  appointed  many  times  to 
attend  and  represent  Woodbridge  at  the  Quar- 
terly Meetings  of  the  Quakers  held  at  Shrews- 
bury; also  as  a  member  of  various  boards,  be- 
ing the  medium  by  which  all  disputes  were  set- 
tled. His  second  wife  was  an  Episcopalian, 
and  for  this  marriage  he  was  disowned  by  the 
Quakers.  When  the  Episcopal  Church  of 
Woodbridge  received  its  charter  from  George 
HI  in  1769,  Thomas  Hadden  was  named  as 
one  of  the  vestrymen.  He  served  as  overseer 
of  the  poor,  1733-36;  as  a  surveyor  of  high- 
ways, 1736-39;  again  as  overseer  of  the  poor 
in  1742-1755,  and  1770.  He  was  married 
three  times,  having  issue  only  by  the  first  mar- 


riage to  Margaret  Fitz-Randolph  in  1727,  one 
of  whom,  Thomas  (2),  was  the  grejit-grandfa- 
ther  of  James  M.  He  was  born  at  the  old 
homestead  in  Woodbridge  in  1736,  of  which 
upon  reaching  his  majority  he  became  the  pos- 
sessor; married  in  1758  Annabel  Crowell.  He 
was  by  occupation  a  carpenter,  farmer  and  mill- 
wright. In  1755  he  was  captain  of  the  first 
regiment  of  Middlesex  county  militia  under 
Col.  Nathaniel  Heard;  became  first  major  of 
the  regiment,  and  in  1778  lieutenant-colonel. 
The  militia  of  New  Jersey  performed  good  serv- 
ice at  Trenton,  Princeton,  Germantown  and 
Monmouth,  in  all  of  which  it  is  probable  the 
men  of  Monmouth  took  part.     Thomas  Hadden 

(2)  died  in  1788  while  in  commission,  and  his 
wife  in  1821.  Of  their  children,  Nathaniel 
Hadden,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Woodbridge,  N.  J.,  January  8,  1765, 
and  became  a  prominent  ship-builder  and  lum- 
ber dealer.  He  was  a  quiet  man,  of  upright 
life  and  strong  religious  convictions,  and  for 
many  years  was  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  his  honorable  and  consistent  life  win- 
ning for  him  the  esteem  of  the  entire  commu- 
nity. He  was  three  times  married:  first  time, 
in  1788,  to  Mahala  Martin,  to  which  union 
three  children  were  born:  (i)  Annabel,  born 
October  9,  1789,  died  August  5,  1872,  was 
married  three  times,  first  to  John  Hampton, 
second  to  William  Ford,  and  last  to  Abram 
Webb;  (2)  Nancy,  born  August  15,  1798,  died 
January  10,  1878,  married  Smith  Martin;  and 

(3)  Ephraim,  born  September  28,  1806,  died 
January  12,  1842.  The  mother  of  this  family, 
born  May  20,  1767,  died  Nov.  19,  1807,  and 
for  his  second  wife,  August  13,  1808,  he  wedded 
Sarah  Marsh  Brown,  born  March  6,  1776;  of 
this  union  came  Samuel  Brown,  our  subject's 
father,  born  June  29,  1809.  Sarah  Marsh 
Brown  Hadden  died  on  November  23,  18 14, 
and  on  July  13,  18 19,  Mr.  Hadden  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  Halsey  Marsh,  born  March  26, 
1769,  and  died  December  6,  1828. 

Samuel    Brown    Hadden  remained    at   his, 
birthplace,    Rahway,    N.    J.,   until    1845,    and 
during  this  time  was  engaged  in  ship  building 
with  his  father.      He  purchased  a  farm  of  loc 
acres  in  the  outskirts  of  Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  when 
the  suburban  town  of  Linden  now  stands,  anr 
by  subsequent  additions  became  the  owner  0 
200  acres  there.     He  was  a  practical,  thorough 
going  farmer,  unusually  successful  in  business' 
and  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  locality 
Although  his  manner  was  quiet  and  retiring 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPUICAL  RECORD. 


255 


he  possessed  a  strong  character,  and  was  a 
man  of  tirm  purpose.  On  May,  12,  1833,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Phcebe  Woodruff  Winans, 
born  February  20,  1814,  and  of  their  nine 
children  seven  lived  to  maturity,  of  whom 
James  M.  Hadden  is  the  youngest.  The 
mother  of  the  latter  died  February  16,  1882, 
and  the  father  on  May  28,  1892. 

James  M.  Hadden,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  review,  received  his  early  education  at 
Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  where  he  attended  a  private 
school  conducted  by  John  Young.  At  the  age 
of  seventeen  he  left  school,  but  he  has  ever 
taken  a  deep  interest  in  literature  and  science, 
and  by  reading  has  acquired  a  fund  of  informa- 
tion. His  first  employment  was  as  a  clerk  for 
Jeremiah  Lambert  in  the  Greenwich  block, 
New  York  City;  but  at  the  end  of  two  years 
he  returned  home  on  account  of  ill  health. 
fter  a  short  vacation  he  became  bookkeeper 
lor  the  Seymour  Manufacturing  Company,  at 
Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  remaining  with  them  seven 
years.  On  April  13,  1875,  he  went  to  Pough- 
keepsie  as  assistant  engineer  for  George  \Y. 
Harris  (a  relative  by  marriage)  in  the  Citizens 
Gas  Company,  and  worked  in  that  capacity  for 
two  years,  when  he  became  chief  engineer. 
On  the  consolidation  of  the  business  with  that 
jf  the  Poughkeepsie  Gas  Company  in  Decem- 
ber, 1887,  he  was  made  superintendent  of  the 
rks.  and  in  1891  was  elected  president  of  the 
ipany,  a  position  which  he  has  filled  with 
kinguished  ability. 

^On  April  30,  1879,  Mr.  Hadden  was  mar- 
to  Miss  Mary  McAdam  Hay,  who  was  born 
8,    1852,   in  Ayrshire,    Scotland — about 
miles  from   the  home  of   Robert  Burns, 
is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
:Kinley;  Hay,  and  granddaughter  of  Mary 
Anderson)   McKinley,  who  was  an    acquaint- 
iice  of  the  poet  and  familiar  with  many  of  the 
ircumstances  which  inspired  his  writings.      A 
reat-uncle  of  Mrs.  Hadden  was  the  subject  of 
ne  poem.     .A  great-great-uncle  was  the  invent- 
rof  the  Mac.Adam  pavement,  for  which  valua- 
le  service  he  was  titled  by  the  English  govern- 
lent.     Mrs.  Hadden  is,  through  her  mother, 
niece  of    William  McKinley,   of   Elizabeth, 
.  J.,  and  a  distant  relative  of  President  Mc- 
inley.     Two  daughters  and  one  son  gladden 
le  home  of  our  subject:  Elizabeth  G.,  Helen 
.  and  William  McKinley  Hay. 

Mr.  Hadden  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
le  First  Reformed  Church,  in  which  he  is  a 
ading  official.     He  is  a  Mason,  a  member  of 


Triune  Lodge  No.  782.  In  local  matters  he 
lends  his  assistance  to  all  worthy  measures  and 
movements.  He  is  not  a  politician  in  the 
strict  sense,  but  he  is  a  strong  supporter  of  the 
Republican  party. 


FRANK  LATSON,  D.  D.  S.,  a  leading 
dentist   of   Rhinebeck,   Dutchess  county, 

was  born  in  that  township,  August  26,  1853, 
his  family  having  been  residents  of  that  local- 
ity for  four  generations. 

Dr.  Latson's  ancestors  were  French  Hugue- 
nots, who  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  this 
region,  and  his  grandfather,  Peter  Latson,  a 
native  of  Rhinebeck,  was  a  prosperous  carpen- 
ter there.  He  married  Betsey  Hannaburgh, 
and  had  nine  children:  Henry;  William,  a 
dentist  in  New  York;  James,  a  carpenter; 
Regina,  who  married  Stephen  H.  Powers,  of 
Brooklyn;  Margaret,  the  wife  of  Philip  Van- 
Steenburgh,  of  Red  Hook;  Rachel;  Amanda; 
Maria;  and  Matilda. 

Henry  Latson,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Rhinebeck  in  18 14,  and, 
after  learning  the  carpenter's  trade,  engaged  in 
the  business  of  contracting  and  building,  which 
he  carried  on  successfully  for  about  fifty  years. 
He  was  a  self-educated  man,  possessed  great 
natural  ability,  at  the  same  time  displaying 
marked  originality  of  thought  and  keen  analyt- 
ical powers.  He  was  his  own  architect,  and 
the  many  structures  designed  and  erected  by 
him  give  evidence  of  fine  artistic  taste.  His 
business  was  extensive,  four-fifths  of  the  build- 
ings constructed  in  Rhinebeck  and  vicinity, 
during  his  active  life,  being  his  work.  The 
beautiful  interior  of  the  M.  E.  church  was  de- 
signed by  him,  and  was  but  one  proof  of  his 
devotion  to  the  welfare  of  that  society,  of  which 
he  was  a  member  and  an  official  for  many  years. 
He  was  not  active  in  politics,  although  he  was 
an  ardent  Republican  in  principle,  and  fre- 
quently served  as  trustee  of  the  village.  He 
married  Maria  Teal,  daughter  of  Peter  W. 
Teal,  a  well-known  resident  of  the  town  of 
Stanford,  and  had  three  children,  of  whom  our 
subject  was  the  youngest.  John  is  a  physician, 
and  Norman  L.  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine 
years.  The  father  died  May  19,  1885;  the 
mother,  now  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight,  re- 
sides with  our  subject. 

Dr.  Latson  was  educated  at  De  Garmo 
Classical  Institute,  and  later  took  a  course  in 
the  New  York  College  of  Pharmacy.     In  1878 


256 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he  entered  the  New  York  College  of  Dentistry, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1880.  He 
located  in  his  native  place,  where  he  has  built 
up  an  extensive  practice,  and  ranks  among  the 
most  successful  men  of  the  town.  He  was 
married  in  1886  to  Miss  Bertha  Bradley,  of 
New  York  City,  daughter  of  Perry  Bradley, 
and  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  old  families  of 
Kinderhook.  They  have  two  children:  Lillian 
Kirkland  and  Frank  Waldo.  Politically,  the 
Doctor  is  a  Republican,  but  he  is  not  a  party 
worker.  He  is,  however,  greatly  interested  in 
local  improvements,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
village  board  of  trustees  and  the  local  fire 
department. 


BENJAMIN  MALTBY  FOWLER,  a  promi- 
nent  attorney  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 

county,  was  born  at  Durham,  Conn.,  April 
27,  1854.  He  comes  of  pure  New  England 
Slock. 

William  Fowler,  of  whom  he  is  a  direct 
lineal  descendant,  arrived  at  Boston  from 
England  in  1637,  with  Rev.  John  Davenport. 
He  was  one  of  the  prominent  founders  and 
officials  of  the  New  Haven  Colony,  which  was 
afterward  annexed  to  and  became  a  part  of 
Connecticut.  Many  of  the  early  ancestors  of 
Mr.  Fowler  (the  subject  of  this  sketch),  took 
an  important  and  conspicuous  part  in  public 
affairs  in  the  early  days  of  the  colonies;  one  of 
the  most  prominent  among  them  being  John 
Read,  who  was  Queen's  attorney  for  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut  in  1712,  and  later 
attorney-general  of  Massachusetts  for  several 
years,  and  also  a  member  of  the  Governor  and 
Council.  Robert  Treat  Paine,  one  of  the 
Signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence, 
was  a  member  of  the  family  from  which  he 
also  traces  descent. 

Jonathan  C.  Fowler,  his  grandfather,  was 
a  highly-respected  resident  of  Northford,  Conn. 
He  married  Eliza  Maltby,  a  descendant  of  a 
large  and  influential  family  of  that  name  in 
Connecticut. 

Dr.  Benjamin  M.  Fowler,  our  subject's 
father,  was  born  at  Northford,  Conn.,  in  1821. 
After  practicing  his  profession  for  awhile  at 
Durham,  Conn.,  he  in  1856  moved  to  Pough- 
keepsie, where  he  died  two  years  later  (Sep- 
tember 8,  1858)  full  of  promise  and  greatly 
beloved  and  respected  by  a  large  circle  of 
acquaintances,  which  he  had  formed  in  the 
short  time  that  he    resided    there.     On  Sep- 


tember II,  1850,  he  married  Mary  Payne, 
whose  ancestors  were  among  the  early  settlers 
of  America.  Three  children  came  of  this  mar- 
riage :  William  S.,  born  May  31,  1852,  died 
February  7,  1871;  Benjamin  M.,  our  subject; 
and  Harriet  J.,  born  March  16,  1856,  married 
Julius  Maltby,  of  Waterbury,  Conn.  Thomas 
Payne,  the  father  of  Mary  Payne,  was  a  lead- 
ing resident  of  Amenia.  Dr.  John  C.  Payne, 
her  brother,  has  been  for  many  years  a  leading 
physician  in  Poughkeepsie.  Although  the 
Paynes  early  settled  in  Amenia,  Dutchess 
county,  yet  they  also  came  from  New  England. 
Thomas  Payne  (or  Paine,  as  the  name  was 
then  spelled),  the  first  one  of  that  branch  of 
the  family  to  arrive  in  America,  landed  at 
Plymouth  in  1621,  having  emigrated  from  the 
County  of  Kent,  England.  Most  of  his  descend- 
ants settled  in  Connecticut. 

Thomas  Payne,  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
married  Sarah  Bartlett.     The  Bartletts  were  a 
distinguished  family   of   Redding,   Conn.,    but 
many  members  of  which  settled   in   Amenia. 
Daniel  C.  Bartlett,  the  father  of  Sarah  Bart- 
lett, was  a  valiant  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary 
war;    her  grandfather.    Rev.    Nathaniel   Bart- 
lett, second  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church 
in  Redding,  Conn. ,    served  as  such   for  fifty- 
seven  years — the  longest  pastorate,  it  is  said,  I 
known   to   the  New  England    Churches.      Hej 
was  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Revolutionary! 
cause,  as   appears  from   the  local  histories  of| 
Redding,  Conn. 

Benjamin  M.  Fowler  has  lived   in  Pough- 
keepsie since  boyhood.     After   graduating  atj 
the  high  school  there,  he  took  a  special  cour 
at  Riverview  Military   Academy,    and   shortly 
afterward  began  the  study  of  law  with  Thomp-i 
son  &  Weeks,  with  which  firm,   and  its  suc-l 
cesser,  Thompson,  Weeks  &  Lown,  he  spenlj 
most  of  his  clerkship,  although  for  a   time  hd 
was  with  Anthony  &  Losey  and  Robert  E.  Tayl 
lor.      He   was  admitted  to   the  bar   May   13  f 
1875.     While  studying  law   Mr.    Fowler  als(J 
took  up  the  study  of  shorthand.     As   he  waJ 
the  pioneer  stenographer  in  Dutchess  count)! 
his  services  were   in  constant  demand  in  thl 
various  courts  in  that  locality,  and  he  was  fre! 
quently  called  upon  to  report  speeches  and  lecf 
tures  of  various  sorts,  as  well.      He  was  officif 
stenographer  of  the  Dutchess  County  Courti 
Surrogate's  Court  and  State  Board  of  Asses.-J 
ors,  for  a  number  of  years.      Many  importarj 
cases  were  reported   by  him   during  this  timf! 
His  experience  in  the  surrogate's  court  and  h 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


257 


connection  with  Thompson  &  Weeks,  who 
were  largely  employed  in  the  settlement  of  es- 
tates, gave  him  unusual  opportunities  for  ac- 
quiring a  knowledge  of  the  procedure  in  that 
line  of  legal  business. 

In  1889  he  gave  up  the  practice  of  stenog- 
raphy to  give  attention  to  the  settlement  of  the 
late  John  Guy  Vassar's  estate;  he  having  been 
appointed  by  Mr.  Vassar  an  executor  of  his 
will.  As  the  estate  was  an  unusually  large 
one,  and  was  the  subject  of  considerable  liti- 
gation, it  attracted  much  public  attention. 
Notwithstanding  the  litigation  was  carried 
through  the  various  courts,  including  the  court 
of  appeals,  the  estate  was  finally  settled  and 
distributed  within  three  years,  a  remarkable 
record,  which  reflected  great  credit  on  Mr. 
Fowler  and  his  associates.  In  1891  he  was 
appointed  one  of  the  administrators  of  the  es- 
tate of  the  late  Hon.  Homer  A.  Nelson,  and 
since  r888  he  has  been  secretary  and  assistant 
treasurer  of  Vassar  Brothers'  Hospital.  While 
he  has  never  sought  or  held  public  office,  the 
fact  that  these  and  other  large  interests  have 
been  committed  to  his  care,  indicates  the  es- 
teem and  confidence  which  his  energetic  and 
conscientious  discharge  of  duty  has  won  for 
him. 

On  December  15,  1881,  at  Jersey  City,  N. ' 
].,  Mr.  Fowler  married  Miss  Ada  M.  Douglas, 
I  daughter  of  the  late  M.  S.  Douglas,  a  New 
York  merchant.  Of  this  union  three  children 
vvere  born:  Douglas  P.,  August  11,  1883; 
Maltby  S.,  July  18,  1886;  and  Benjamin  M., 
|r.,  September  i,  1890. 


D|R.  W.  E.  ACKERT,  a  well-known  veter- 
_  '  inary  surgeon  in  the  town  of  Rhinebeck, 
'Dutchess  county,  and  an  agriculturist  of  prom- 
ence,    was    born   in    that   town    October  5, 
.0. 

Like  so  many  of  the  substantial  and  pros- 

us  citizens  of  this  country,  his  family  was 

erman  origin,   the  first  of  the  American 

coming  from   the   Fatherland  at  an  early 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  John 

Ackert,  born  about    1784,  in   the    town  of 

hinebeck,  was  a  leading  farmer  in  his  day; 

>  son   William,  our   subject's   father,  also  a 

itive  of  Rhinebeck,  was  born  in    1809,  and 

'irried  Maria  Pultz,  of  the  same  town,  born 

18 1 2,  a  descendant  of   an  old  Holland  fam- 

In  politics  Mr.  Ackert  was  a  Republican; 

id  in  religious  faith  was  a  devout  and  consist- 


ent adherent  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  as  is 
also  his  wife.  They  were  the  parents  of  four 
children:  John  H. ,  a  farmer  of  Rhinebeck, 
now  deceased;  Virgil  A.,  a  farmer  near  the  old 
home;  Sarah  A.,  who  married  Egbert  G.  Tra- 
ver,  also  a  farmer  of  that  vicinity;  and  W.  E., 
the  subject  of  this  review.  The  mother  is 
still  living  and  makes  her  home  with  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  Traver. 

Reared  as  a  farmer's  boy,  the  Doctor  en- 
joyed the  educational  opportunities  afforded  by 
the  public  schools,  and  his  natural  abilities 
have  enabled  him  to  improve  upon  them  by 
private  reading,  until  he  is  an  unusually  well- 
informed  man.  In  his  specialty,  the  treatment 
of  that  noble  animal — the  horse — he  has  made 
thorough  study  ot  all  the  related  branches,  and 
stands  at  the  front  of  his  profession.  He  owns 
a  farm  of  fifty  acres,  of  which  his  sons  assume 
the  active  work,  while  he  devotes  his  time  to 
his  extensive  practice. 

On  November  24,  1864,  Dr.  Ackert  was 
married  to  Miss  Sarah  Hanaburgh,  a  daughter 
of  Peter  H.  and  Eliza  Ann  (Montfort)  Han^i- 
burgh,  of  Rhinebeck,  the  former  born  in  18 12, 
in  the  town  of  Rhinebeck,  of  German  descent, 
and  the  latter  born  October  2,  1849.  Four 
children  have  been  born  to  the  Doctor  and  his 
wife,  as  follows:  Edward  E. ,  who  died  March 
5,  1891;  David  H.,  Jennie  and  Raymond  P., 
who  are  all  at  home.  Mrs.  Ackert  has  in  her 
possession  a  quilt  made  from  the  dress  of  an 
old  slave — Aunt  Betta— in  the  Montfort  family. 
"  Aunt  Betta  "  was  at  least  one  hundred  years 
old  at  the  time  of  her  death,  and  had  worked 
in  the  Montfort  family  when  Mrs.  Ackert's 
mother  was  a  child.  In  politics  the  Doctor  is 
a  Republican,  and  takes  an  active  interest  in 
all  movements  of  the  day. 


EV.  DOCTOR  CORNELIUS  VINCENT 
,0  MAHONY,  pastor  of  the  Catholic  Church 
at  Wappingers  Falls,  Dutchess  county,  is  a 
native  of  New  York  City,  where  his  birth  took 
place  December  i,  185 1,  and  he  is  a  son  of 
Cornelius  and  Anna  O'Connell  Mahony,  both 
natives  of  County  Cork,  Ireland,  the  former 
born  on  January  18,  1818.  After  their  mar- 
riage they  emigrated  to  the  New  World,  and  in  • 
New  York  City  the  father  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile pursuits  for  about  thirty  years.  He  then 
lived  retired  until  his  death  in  1893.  His  wife 
had  long  preceded  him  to  the  other  world,  dy- 
ing in  1 869.     In  their  family  were  two  children: 


258 


COMMEMOHATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Michael  Joseph,  who  was  born  in  1849,  and 
Cornelius  Vincent,  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Doctor  Mahony  spent  his  boyhood  days  in 
New  York  City,  attending  the  public  schools 
until  eleven  years  of  age,  when  he  entered  the 
Jesuit  College,  where  he  remained  for  seven 
years.  After  graduating  there  he  became  a 
student  in  the  Troy  Seminary,  completing  the 
theological  course  there  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one;  but  being  too  young  for  ordination  he 
went  to  Rome,  where  he  took  the  entire  theo- 
logical course,  receiving  the  degree  of  D.  D. 
He  then  traveled  through  Europe  with  Dr. 
McGlynn  for  three  months,  after  which  he  re- 
turned to  America,  and  was  located  for  one 
year  at  St.  Stephens,  in  New  York  City.  Dur- 
ing the  following  five  years  he  was  professor  of 
mental  philosophy  and  ethics  in  the  Troy  Sem- 
inary, which  position  he  then  resigned,  and  in 
1884  came  to  Wappingers  Falls,  where  he  has 
since  been  located. 

His  force  of  character,  talent  and  ability 
are  phenomenal,  and  he  possesses  great  power 
for  good  among  his  people.  Father  Mahony 
is  himself  a  very  intelligent  and  cultured  man, 
and  has  done  much  toward  instilling  into  the 
minds  of  his  parish  children  a  taste  for 
literature. 


E\GBERT     VAN     WAGNER     (deceased). 
'I  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  July 

21,  1 82 1,  in  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess  county, 
where  he  passed  his  youth,  following  farming. 
On  May  31,  1848,  he  was. united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Cornelia  B.  Pulver,  who  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Pine  Plains  August  3,  1826,  a 
daughter  of  Andrus  Pulver,  a  native  of  the 
same  place.  He  married  Miss  Margaret 
Thomas,  and  the  following  children  were  born 
to  them:  Mary,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Lewis  D.  Hedges,  a  merchant  of  Pine  Plains 
(now  deceased);  Frances,  who  married  Henry 
Myers,  a  farmer  and  speculator  (now  deceased); 
Cornelia  B. ,  our  subject's  widow;  Elizabeth, 
and  Nicholas,  who  died  in  infancy.  Andrus 
Pulver  was  a  farmer  and  hotel  keeper.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  are  deceased. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife,  after  their  mar- 
■riage,  lived  a  f'ew  years  on  the  farm  m  Pleasant 
Valley,  and  five  years  in  Pine  Plains.  They 
then  moved  to  Poughkeepsie,  in  1856,  and 
bought  the  farm  on  which  Mrs.  Van  Wagner 
now  resides.  The  following  children  were 
born  to  them:     Henry,  a  farmer  here,  married 


to  Miss  Ruth  Brown;  Margaret,  married  to 
Eley  R.  Deyo,  a  merchant,  who  died  August  4, 
1887;  Albertson,  who  died  October  19,  1855, 
at  the  age  of  twelve  years;  Walter,  who  died 
March  7,  1880;  and  Elizabeth,  who  became 
the  wife  of  John  J.  C.  Howe,  a  farmer.  Mr. 
Van  Wagner  was  a  Democrat,  and  held  the 
office  of  commissioner  of  highways  for  several 
terms.  He  took  an  active  part  in  politics. 
He  was  public-spirited,  and  took  a  deep  in- 
terest in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  town 
and  its  affairs.  He  donated  the  site  of  the 
present  depot,  and  was  postmaster  of  the 
Van  Wagner  station  for  about  twenty  years. 
His  wife  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church. 

John  Van  Wagner,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  native  of  Pleasant  Valley,  where  he 
was  reared,  and  where  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Albertson,  born  in  Pleasant  Valley. , 
These  children  were  born  to  them:  Sarah, 
who  became  the  wife  of  David  Doty,  a  farmer 
of  Pleasant  Valley;  Isaac,  married  to  Sally 
Ann  Vincent;  Hiram,  a  farmer,  who  married 
Mary  Badgley;  Elsie,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Tunis  Conklin,  a  farmer;  Mary  A.,  who  died 
unmarried;  Willett,  married  to  Catherine  Sill 
(he  was  a  farmer  and  merchant);  Egbert,  our 
subject;  Susan,  who  died  unmarried;  and  Eli, 
who  died  in  infancy. 

Nicholas  Van  Wagner,  the  grandfather, 
came  from  Long  Island  and  settled  on  the 
farm  in  Pleasant  Valley,  where  he  reared  the 
following  children:  John,  our  subject's  father; 
Jacob,  a  farmer  in  Pleasant  Valley,  where  he 
lived  and  died;  Evert,  who  farmed  for  a  while 
in  Clinton,  and  then  went  to  the  western  part 
of  the  State,  where  he  died;  Solomon,  who 
farmed  in  Schoharie  county;  and  Esther, 
married  to  John  Van  Wagner,  a  farmer  in  the 
town  of  Poughkeepsie.  The  Van  Wagners 
were  in  the  war  of  1776. 


QEORGE  W.  CANNON,  a  prominent  resi- 
_  dent  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county, 
was  born  July  31,  1834,  in  New  York  City, 
which  had  been  the  home  of  his  ancestors  for 
many  years. 

His  grandfather  Cannon  was  a  man  of  note 
in  his  day,  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  18 12,  and 
at  one  time  the  sheriff  of  New  York  City. 
The  late  Arnout  Cannon,  our  subject's  father, 
was  a  prominent  contractor  and  builder  in 
Poughkeepsie.      He  was   born  July   13,  1805 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHWAL  RECORD. 


259 


in  New  York  City,  and  there  learned  the  trade 
of  a  mechanic,  in  1836  coming  to  Poughkeep- 
sie  and  engaging  in  the  building  business,  in 
which  he  continued  until  his  death,  September 
12,  1882.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity.  Lodge  No.  266,  Poughkeepsie,  and 
held  a  leading  place  in  many  of  the  pro- 
gressive movements  of  the  day  in  his  locality. 
He  was  married  in  New  York  City  to  Miss 
Naomi  Chilson,  a  native  of  Orange  county, 
N.  Y. ,  born  June  11,  18 12,  and  eight  children 
came  to  this  union:  Hester  (deceased);  George 
W.,  our  subject;  Charles  H.,  a  well-known 
carpenter  of  Poughkeepsie;  Arnout,  Jr.,  a 
prominent  architect  there;  William  H.,  a 
resident  of  Chicago;  Maria,  widow  of  James 
Gifford;  Cornelius  L.,  a  leading  contractor 
and  builder  of  Poughkeepsie;  and  Emma  Kate, 
the  wife  of  Charles  E.  Schon.  The  mother 
of  this  family  is  still  living  in  Poughkeepsie. 

George  W.   Cannon,    the    subject    of   this 
review,  attended  the  public  schools  of  Pough- 
keepsie until  he  was  twelve  years  old,  and  then 
entered    the    Dutchess    County    Academy    on 
South  Hamilton  street.     After  completing  his 
course  there  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade 
in  his  father's  shop,  serving  an  apprenticeship 
of  seven  years.      His  first  independent  business 
venture  was  the  establishment  of  an  art  store 
'with  a  photograph   gallery  attached,  which  he 
conducted    successfully   for   six    years    in    the 
^jmilding  now  occupied  by  W.  H.  Van  Keuren. 
HH  sold  this,  giving  up   the  artistic  surround- 
^^Bs  of  oil  paintings,  and  bronze  and   marble 
^^ftuary  for   the   prosaic  business    of    a    coal 
dealer,  which    he  followed  for  three  years  on 
Hooker  avenue.      In  this  as  in   all   his  proj- 
■cts    he  displayed    great    enterprise,    and  he 
'Ught  and  operated   the   first  wood-splitting 
lachine  ever  seen  in  the  city.     After  dispos- 
ng   of    this    business    Mr.    Cannon    traveled 
ough  the  West  for  twenty  years,  and  then 
rned  to  Poughkeepsie  to  reside.      In  1890 
purchased  the  old  Hicks  place,  with  a  man- 
now   known   as  River  Villa,  the   building 
hich  cost  over  $35,000.      Here  he  enter- 
his  friends  with  lavish  yet  elegant  hospi- 
pty.     During    the  triangular    boat  race    on 
Hudson  in  June.    1895,   between  Cornell, 
nsylvania  and  Columbia,  the  Cornell  crew 
ide    their  home  there;   also  in    1896.      Mr. 
non    has  been   married  three    times,   first 
;,  in    the    city  of    Poughkeepsie,   to    Miss 
Irriet  Hall,  who  died  leaving  three  children: 
e,  now  Mrs.  Charles  Wells,  of  Indianapo- 


lis; Julia,  who  resides  in  Indianapolis;  and 
Arnetta,  a  trained  nurse  in  New  York  City. 
Mr.  Cannon's  second  wife  was  Miss  Elizabeth 
Wyley,  of  Detroit,  Mich.,  who  lived  less  than 
a  year  after  their  marriage.  At  Detroit  he 
subsequently  married  Mrs.  Emma  Rich,  a 
native  of  Deep  River,  Conn.,  but  at  that  time 
a  resident  of  Bay  City;  she  has  one  daughter, 
Mary  B.  Rich,  a  graduate  of  the  School  of 
Music  of  Vassar  College,  and  now  the  wife  of 
David  Gibson,  of  Indianapolis,  Indiana. 

Mr.  Cannon  has  a  high  standing  in  financial 
circles,  his  business  abilities  being  widely  rec- 
ognized. He  owns  the  patents  for  the  New 
York  Safety  Dumb  Waiter,  also  for  the  Dia- 
mond Point  Nail  Set,  and  derives  a  large  roy- 
alty from  each. 

Charles  H.  Cannon,  a  younger  brother  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Poughkeepsie  Novem- 
ber 6,  1826,  and  was  educated  in  the  city  pub- 
lic schools  and  the  famous  old  Dutchess  County 
Academy.  He  learned  the  trade  of  sash  and 
blind  making  with  Harry  Seaman  and  Joseph 
Irish,  and  after  an  apprenticeship  of  two  and 
one-half  years  he  opened  a  shop  of  his  own  on 
South  Hamilton  street,  where  he  did  well  for 
a  few  years.  But  the  breaking  out  of  the  war 
bringing  "  hard  times"  to  his  line  of  work,  he 
gave  it  up  and  became  foreman  of  a  large  car- 
penter shop  at  Providence,  R.  I.,  having  charge 
of  over  forty  workmen.  After  three  years 
there  he  went  to  Detroit  and  spent  five  years, 
when  he  returned  to  Poughkeepsie  and  em- 
barked in  the  saloon  business  on  Main  street, 
but  was  burned  out  in  1871,  since  which  time 
he  has  been  engaged  in  the  carpenter's  trade. 

On  June  24,  1855,  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  Mr. 
Cannon  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  O'Con- 
nor, and  in  i860  he  built  his  residence  on 
Hooker  avenue,  Poughkeepsie,  where  the  fam- 
ilystill  resides.  Of  his  ten  children  five  are  liv- 
ing: Ettie(Mrs.  Albert  Jenks);  Fannie,  wife  of 
William  Brown,  of  New  York  City;  Emma 
Kate  (Mrs.  Fred  Rogers);  William,  a  resident 
of  Pittsfield,  Mass. ;  and  Minnie,  who  married 
Clarence  Martens,  of  Mt.  Vernon. 


BURTON  A.  SNYDER  (deceased)  was  born 
.  in  1867,  in  the  town  of  Gallatin,  Colum- 
bia Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  died  on  Easter  eve,  April 
18,  1897. 

Henry  Snyder,  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Livingston, 
Columbia    Co.,    N.    Y. ,    received   a  common- 


260 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


school  education,  and  at  an  early  age  began 
farming,  which  occupation  he  continued  to 
follow  throughout  life.  When  quite  a  young 
man  he  married  Miss  Eliza  Robison,  who  was 
the  daughter  of  a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Liv- 
ingston. To  this  worthy  couple  were  born  five 
children:  Celia,  who  married  Charles  Moore; 
Mary,  who  became  the  wife  of  William  Finger; 
Catherine,  who  wedded  Theodore  Hapeman; 
Annie;  and  Charles.  The  last-named,  who 
was  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Livingston,  Columbia  county,  and 
after  completing  his  literary  training  in  the 
public  schools  he  took  up  farming  as  a  life 
work.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Warehouse, 
daughter  of  John  Warehouse,  a  farmer  of  the 
same  township,  and  one  child  graced  this 
union.  Burton  A.,  our  subject. 

Burton  A.  Snyder,  like  his  ancestors,  re- 
ceived only  a  common-school  education.  At 
the  early  age  of  twelve  years  he  began  farm- 
ing with  his  uncle,  and  afterward  followed 
that  occupation.  In  1889  he  married  Miss 
Gertrude  Snyder,  a  daughter  of  Albert  Snyder, 
a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess 
county.  The  farm,  which  belongs  to  Mrs. 
Snyder,  has  been  in  the  possession  of  her  fam- 
ily for  many  years.  It  contains  225  acres  of  as 
fine  farming  land  as  is  to  be  found  anywhere 
in  the  locality,  and  is  supplied  with  all  the 
accessories  and  conveniences  to  be  found  upon 
a  model  farm  of  the  nineteenth  century. 

William  Z.  Snyder,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Snyder,  was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Rhine- 
beck,  Dutchess  county,  where  he  acquired  his 
education  in  the  district  schools,  and  he  also 
followed  farming  as  a  life  work.  He  wedded 
Miss  Margaret  Traver,  of  the  same  township, 
and  to  them  were  born  two  children:  Albert; 
and  Anna,  who  became  the  wife  of  Edgar  L. 
Traver.  The  former  was  also  born,  reared 
and  educated  in  the  town  of  Rhinebeck,  but 
he  later  purchased  the  farm  m  the  town  of 
Red  Hook,  which  his  daughter  now  occupies. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Gertrude 
M.  Burger,  of  Rhinebeck  town,  and  their  only 
child  is  Mrs.  Gertrude  M.  Snyder. 


BARREN  P.  LASHER  was  one  of  the 
_T^  most  straightforward,  energetic  and 
successful  business  men  who  ever  lived  in 
Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  where  he  de- 
parted this  life  in  March,  1890.  In  his  death 
the  community  was  deprived  of  one  of  its  best, 


most  useful  and  public-spirited  citizens,  and 
rich  and  poor  alike  mourned  his  departure  from 
their  midst,  for  he  was  beloved  by  men  in  every 
walk  of  life. 

Mr.  Lasher  was  born  at  Tivoli,  Dutchess 
county,  April  8,  1841,  and  was  the  only  son  of 
Philip  and  Catherine  (Millham)  Lasher,  though 
he  had  one  sister,  Carrie  C. ,  now  the  wife  of  R. 
C.  Brewster,  who  resides  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
His  father  was  a  merchant  of  Tivoli,  and  quite 
a  prominent  man  in  the  locality,  who  served  as 
brigadier-general  in  the  State  Militia  in  the 
old  training  days,  as  postmaster  of  Tivoli,  and 
as  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly  in  1858. 
He  was  twice  married,  his  second  wife  being 
the  mother  of  our  subject. 

The  education  of  Warren  P.  Lasher  was 
obtained  in  the  schools  of  Tivoli  and  Claverack, 
N.   Y.,  and   when   only  sixteen  years  old  he 
served  as  Assemblyman's  Clerk,  while  his  father 
was    a    member    of    the    Legislature.     Three 
years  later  he  became  a  clerk  in  the  general 
store   of    Faulkner  Brothers,    at   Wappingers 
Falls,  where  he  remained  until  he  was  twenty- 
three  years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  Pough- 
keepsie and  secured  a  position  in  the  dry-goods 
store  of  Cornwell  &   Elting.      He   was   after- 
ward with  Spring  &  Thalheimer,  whom  Saun- 
ders  &   Lasher  bought  out  in   1871,  and  the 
firm   later  became  Lasher,   Haight  &  Kelley. 
They  also  began  the   manufacturing   business, 
making  ladies'  skirts;   and  after  selling  out  the 
retail  dry-goods  business,  the  firm  was  changed, 
Mr.  Lasher  associating  with  Luckey  &  Piatt, 
while  still  later  it  became  Forbey  &  Lasher.     In 
the  manufacture  of  skirts  and  overalls  they  ran 
forty   machines   by    water   power.     The    new 
firm  had  been  in  existence  about  a  year  when 
Mr.  Forbey,  the   silent  partner,  died,  and  his 
interest   was   purchased   by   Frank    Hull,   the 
name  being  then  changed  to  Lasher  &  Hull. 
At  the  end  of  eight  years  our  subject  sold  out 
his  interest  to  Mr.  Hull,  and  formed  a  company 
composed  of    Lasher,  Eastmead  &  Osborne, 
for  the  manufacture  of  overalls.      Mr.  Lasher 
was  also  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Hermance 
&   Hance,    manufacturers  of  shirts,   but  later 
Messrs.  Eastmead  &  Osborne  purchased  Mr. 
Hermance's  interest,  and  the  name  was  changed 
to  Hance  &  Co.      On  account  of  failing  health, 
in   1889,  Mr.  Lasher  disposed  of  his  share  in 
in   the  company  of  Lasher,  Eastmead   &  Os- 
borne, but   retained    his   interest  in    Hance  & 
Co.  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 

While  clerking  at  Wappingers    Falls  Mr.  \ 


I 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


261 


l^^asher  met   Miss  Almira   J.   Hermance,    who 
l^ftvas  visiting  a  cousin  there,  and  on  January  19, 
^^■870,  they  were  united  in  marriage.      They  be- 
l^^an  their  domestic  life  in  Poughkeepsie,  where 
1      were  born  to  them  two  sons:  Claude,  a  member 
of  the  hrm   of   Lansing  &   Lasher,  real  estate 
and    insurance;   and    Frank    H.      Mr.    Lasher 
was  a  conscientious,  earnest  Christian,  a  trus- 
tee of  the   Baptist  Church  of   Poughkeepsie, 
and    an    active    worker    in    the   Young   Men's 
hristian  Association.      His   benevolence  was 
nostentatious  and  genuine,  and  there  is  noth- 
g  in   the  story  of  his  life   to  show  that  he 
er,  for  a  moment,  sought  to  compass  a  given 
md  for  the  purpose  of  exalting  himself,  as  he 
'as  a  man  of   retiring  disposition   and   averse 
making  any  show.      He   was  a  member  of 
e  Amrita  Club,  and  as  a  man  held  the  honor 
,nd  esteem  of  all  classes  of  people. 

Richard  M.  Hermance,  the  father  of  Mrs. 

asher,  was  born  at   Clifton    Park,    Saratoga 

N.  Y.,  June  3,  18 17,  and  was  the  son  of 

ornelius  and  Anna  (Westfall)  Hermance,  the 

rmer  a  native  of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess  county, 

,nd  the    latter   of    Claverack,    Columbia  Co., 

.  Y.      For  many  years  her  father  carried  on 

rming  in  Saratoga  county,  and,  on  disposing 

ff  his  land,  went    into  the  foundry  business, 

anufacturing  stoves  and  plows  at  Stillwater, 

aratoga  county;   he  patented  many  articles, 

mong  which  was  the   low  reservoir  used  on 

oking  stoves.      He  wedded  Emeline  Du  Bois, 

laughter  of  Richard  Du  Bois  of  Round  Lake, 

aratoga  county,  and  they  became  the  parents 

if  si.\  children,  namely:  Almira  J.;  Theodore; 

bert;  George  C. ;  Mary;  and  Emma  J.,  wife 

Henry  Richmond.     The  mother  of  this  fam- 

died  in  1886. 


BED    W.    VINCENT    (deceased).      The 

f   \incent  family,  which  is  one  of  the  oldest 
ind     most    prominent    in    Dutchess    county, 
is  of  English  origin,  the  ancestors  of  the  sub- 
let of  this  sketch  having  come  to  America  at 

very  early  date,  settling  as  pioneer  farmers 

the  town  of  Unionvale. 
Isaac    Vincent,    our  subject's  grandfather, 

as  a  farmer  and  merchant  in  Unionvale,  and 
Ijis  son,  David  D.  Vincent,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  followed  the  same  pursuits,  in  which 
he  proved  an  unusually  successful  business 
man.  He  was  always  a  Republican,  and  took 
great  interest  in  local  politics,  holding  various 
offices,  including  that  of  supervisor.      He  mar- 


ried Phoebe  Preston,  whose  ancestors  were 
leading  farmers  in  the  town  of  Dover,  where 
he  died  in  1888.  He  and  his  wife  had  three 
children:  Isaac,  who  was  a  farmer  and  store- 
keeper at  the  Clove,  and  died  in  1889;  Martha 
(deceased),  who  married  Stephen  Moore;  and 
Obed  W.,  who  died  July  14,  1892. 

Our  subject  was  reared  by  an  aunt  on  a 
farm  at  Chestnut  Ridge,  and  was  married  April 
15,  1880,  to  Miss  Mary  Ella  Vincent,  a  grand- 
daughter of  Jonathan  Vincent.  Her  father, 
John  W.  Vincent,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Unionvale,  and  was  a  school  teacher  in  early 
life,  later  removing  to  Poughkeepsie  and  be- 
i  coming  an  influential  politician.  He  was 
county  clerk  and  justice  of  the  peace  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  was  otherwise  prominent 
in  political  affairs;  he  died  in  1881.  He  at- 
tended the  M.  E.  Church,  and  was  interested  in 
various  progressive  movements.  He  married 
Rhoda  Butler,  who  was  born  at  Chestnut  Ridge, 
and  is  still  living.  This  family  is  of  English 
descent.  Her  father,  Peter  L.  Butler,  was  a 
well-known  farmer  in  the  town  of  Dover.  Of 
the  four  children  born  to  John  and  Rhoda 
Vincent  our  subject's  wife  was  the  eldest; 
Minnie  married  Charles  Andrews,  of  Lagrange- 
ville;  Walter,  who  married  Julia  O'Brien,  is 
in  business  at  the  stock  yards  in  Chicago;  and 
George  E.  resides  with  Mrs.  Vincent. 

After  their  marriage  Obed  Vincent  and  his 
wife  lived  at  Chestnut  Ridge  with  his  aunt, 
where  their  only  child.  Hazel  Blanche,  was 
born.  Mr.  Vincent  was  a  man  of  influence  in 
his  locality,  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  ably 
sustained  the  high  reputation  which  was  his 
birthright.  Since  his  death  Mrs.  Vincent  has 
managed  the  large  fortune  with  great  ability. 
In  May,  1895,  she  bought  a  beautiful  residence 
at  Manchester  Bridge,  three  miles  from  Pough- 
keepsie, where  she  now  resides,  her  home  be- 
ing the  center  of  a  refined  and  gracious 
hospitality. 


WILLIAM  THOMSON,  a  wealthy  retired 
merchant  of  New  York  City,  now  re- 
siding upon  a  fine  estate  near  Rhinebeck,  was 
born  at  No.  92  Watt  street.  New  York,  Sep- 
tember II,  1836.  His  family  had  long  been 
prominent  in  that  city,  and  his  father,  William 
A.  Thomson,  was  born  there  on  Cedar  street, 
May  29,  1808.  He  served  during  his  life  as 
president  of  the  Mercantile  Fire  Insurance  Co. , 
also  serving  for  many  years  as  president  of  the 


262 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPUICAL  RECORD. 


Merchants'  Exchange  National  Bank.  He 
was  one  of  the  last  of  an  old  Knickerbocker 
family  for  which  New  York  was  noted  years 
ago.  As  an  architect  and  builder  he  caused  to 
be  erected  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city  some 
elegant  structures,  which  remain  to  this  day  a 
monument  to  his  skill,  notably  the  present 
Assistant  Treasurer's  office,  corner  of  Wall  and 
Nassau  streets,  formerly  the  United  States 
Custom  House,  including  the  present  magnifi- 
cent building  of  the  Merchants'  Exchange  Na- 
tional Bank,  on  lower  Broadway. 

Samuel  Thomson,  our  subject's  grand- 
father, was  an  early  director  in  the  Merchants' 
Exchange  Bank,  and  was  also  concerned  in  the 
establishment  of  the  New  York  Life  and  Trust 
Co. ,  in  which  he  was  a  trustee  until  his  death 
in  1850.  He  was  one  of  the  oldest  builders  in 
the  city.  He  built  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  M. 
Mason's  church  in  Murray  street  as  early  as 
18 12,  and  was  the  architect  (in  connection  with 
his  son,  William  A.)  of  the  New  York  Custom 
House  (now  the  Treasurer's  office),  and  many 
other  fine  buildings. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  educated  at 
William  Forrest's  Collegiate  School  and  the 
New  York  Grammar  School,  and  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  became  a  clerk  with  Ivison  &  Phin- 
ney.  In  i860  he  left  this  employment  to  en- 
gage in  business  with  his  brother  Samuel,  as 
dealers  in  books  and  stationery  at  1 107  Broad- 
way, the  firm  being  known  as  Thomson  Bros. 
In  1873  the  brother  retired  and  Mr.  Thomson 
continued  alone  until  1879,  when  he  sold  the 
'  business  to  Messrs.  Dempsey  &  Carroll.  Dur- 
ing this  time  Mr.  Thomson  built  up  an  exten- 
sive trade,  especially  in  engraving,  being  for  a 
time  one  of  the  three  principal  engravers  of  the 
city.  Tiffany  and  Gimbrede  being  his  rivals, 
and  later  he  shared  the  honors  with  Tiffany 
only.  Among  his  customers  were  the  Astors, 
Livingstons,  Rheinlanders,  and  other  people 
of  note,  and  he  designed  and  engraved  the 
cards  for  the  reception  given  to  Gen.  Grant 
by  Marshall  O.  Roberts.  His  unusually  suc- 
cessful career  was  interrupted  by  his  failing 
health,  and,  after  disposing  of  his  business,  he 
came  to  Rhinebeck  and  purchased  the  beauti- 
ful farm  upon  which  he  has  since  resided,  its 
management  affording  him  healthful  and  pleas- 
ing recreation. 

On  May  13,  1863,  Mr.  Thomson  married 
Julia  Laura  Clearwater,  daughter  of  Rickerson 
Clearwater,  a  well-known  resident  of  Red 
Hook,  who,  for  over  fifty  preceding  years,  had 


been  a  merchant  in  New  York  City,  and  who 
was  born  at  Pleasant  Valley,  March  15.  1796. 
Her  grandfather,  Philip  Clearwater,  came  from 
Holland.  Her  mother,  Mrs.  Clearwater,  passed 
away  August  20,  1891,  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
three  years,  eight  months  and  ten  days. 

The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomson  has 
been  blessed  with  one  daughter:  Nettie,  born 
April  30,  1864,  who  married  Eugene  Cooking- 
ham,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  treasurer  of  the 
Crandell  &  Godley  Co.,  New  York  City,  one 
of  the  largest  companies  for  the  manufacture 
of  bakers'  and  confectioners'  supplies  in  the 
United  States.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eugene  Cook- 
ingham  have  two  sons:  William  Thomson, 
born  March  20,  1893,  and  Joseph  Thomson, 
born  March  21,  1896.  The  Thomson  family 
have  been  connected  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church  from  early  times,  and  in  politics  were 
Whigs  until  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party,  when  they  gave  it  their  allegiance,  but 
they  have  never  taken  an  active  share  in  par- 
tisan work. 


FRANK  HOWELL,  one  of  the  best-known 
drivers  and  horse  trainers  in  Dutchess 
count}',  was  born  in  Niagara  county,  N.  Y., 
June  28,  1861. 

The  Howell  family  is  of  English  origin, 
coming  to  this  country  from  their  old  home  in 
Plymouth,  England.  Joseph  Howell,  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  was  a  shoemaker,  and. 
lived  and  died  in  England.  He  married  Missi 
Rebecca  Smith,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  a  large  family  of  children,  of  whom  four  an 
yet  living,  namely:  Jennie;  William,  still  re- 
siding in  Plymouth,  England;  Elizabeth,  whc 
also  makes  her  home  in  England;  and  Josepb; 
the  father  of  our  subject. 

Joseph  Howell  was  born  in  Exeter,  Eng- 
land, and,  like  all  English  boys,  his  early  edu- 
cation and  reading  were  particularly  adapte( 
to  inspire  a  longing  to  go  to  sea.  When  quite 
young  Joseph  was  apprenticed  on  a  merchant- 
man and  started  for  the  West  Indies.  Th« 
captain  was  coarse  and  brutal,  and  the  young 
apprentice  had  a  hard  struggle.  For  three 
years  they  sailed  along  the  English  coast,  ano 
then  again  crossed  the  Atlantic,  this  time  com 
ing  to  New  York.  The  fabulous  stories  con 
cerning  the  New  World  had  much  impressed  the 
youth,  and,  on  landing,  he,  in  company  wit! 
three  other  boys,  ran  away,  and  by  workinj 
his  way  on  the  Erie  canal  finally  reached  Bui 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


263 


(alo.  This  was  in  1849,  during  the  great  epi- 
iemic  of  Asiatic  cholera  that  swept  over  almost 
Ihe  entire  country.  Buffalo  was  suffering  from 
this  dread  disease,  and  while  on  the  canal  Mr. 
Howell  was  stricken  with  the  scourge,  and  was 
laid  out  on  the  bank  to  die,  whence  he  was 
taken  to  the  hospital.  Hundreds  died  of  the 
disease;  but  Mr.  Howell,  after  a  long  illness, 
finally  recovered,  and  on  gaining  his  strength 
started  for  New  York;  he,  however,  engaged 
igain  on  the  canal  for  a  few  months. 

After  some  years  he  became  interested  in 
lorses,  and  was  superintendent  of  the  Samuel 
fownsend  stock  farm  in  Niagara  county,  where 
le  continued  for  nine  years.      In  1871  he  came 
ko  Dutchess  county,  and  for  twenty  years  man- 
aged the   large  stock  farm  of  Edwin  Thorne, 
veil  known  as  Thorndale  Stock  Farm,  located 
'near  Millbrook,  Dutchess  county.      The  horse 
department  here  has  from  100  to  150  horses 
all  the  time.      Since  1891  he  has  engaged  in 
the  hotel  business,  first  at  Hopewell  Junction, 
and  later  in  Arlington,  at  the  edge  of  Pough- 
keepsie.       Mr.    Howell    married   Miss    Sophia 
Barton,  and  they  have  become  the  parents  of 
fourteen  children,  eleven  of  whom  are  living. 

Frank  Howell  came   with   his   parents  to 
Dutchess  county,   where,    surrounded  by  fast 
horses,  he  developed  a  taste  for  handling  and 
breaking  them,  assisting  his  father  in  his  work 
until  he  gradually  learned   by   actual  practice 
all  the  work  of  a  practical  trainer.      He  devel- 
oped unusual  skill  in  his  undertaking,  and  Mr. 
Thorne  selected  him    as    his  trainer.     Then, 
assisted  by  his  former  employer,  he  started  out 
for  himself,  working  his  horses  on  the  Pough- 
keepsie  track.      Mr.  Thorne  at  one  time  owned 
the  Poughkeepsie   Driving    Park,    which    Mr. 
Howell   superintended    until    it    was    sold,    in 
1888,   to  the  present  owner,   Jacob  Ruppert. 
His   training  stables   are  finely   equipped  and 
conveniently  located  near  the  tracks.      Among 
the  horses  he  has  driven  or  owned  may  be 
mentioned:     Kate   C,    record   2:15!;   Elber, 
2:15:^;    Mithra,     2:17;     Prince,     2:2o|;     Niel 
Whitbeck,  2 :2i|;  Carlton  Chief,  2:2i|;  Marks- 
man   Maid,    2:21^;    Kentucky    Blanch,   2:26; 
Edwin    Thorne,    2:16^;    Daisy    Dale,    2:19^; 
Oxford  Chief,  2:22|,  and   Miss  Murray,  2:28. 
On  June  24,  1882,  Mr.    Howell  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Julia  Webb,  daughter  of  Edward 
and   Lucy  (Clarke)  Webb,  of  English  origin. 
Mr.  Webb  was  a  skilled  florist  and  landscape 
gardener  by  occupation,  and  after  selling  out 
his  business  in  England,  came  to  America  with 


his  family  in  1 868,  making  his  home  in  Dutchess 
county,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  He  expired  suddenly  from  heart  disease, 
December  5,  1892,  but  his  wife  still  survives. 
In  their  family  of  children  were:  Jonathan 
Edward;  Julia  E. ;  Marie  C,  and  Louise  A. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  Howell  have  been  born 
the  following  children  :  Lucy  Clarke;  Julia 
Webb;  Nellie  Viall  and  Louise  Webb.  Mr. 
Howell  is  a  very  public-spirited  man,  and 
takes  an  active  interest  in  all  movements  for 
the  advancement  of  the  community. 


JOHN  HAUPT,  the  proprietor  of  a  well- 
known  bakery  situated  at  the  corner  of 
Church  and  Gate  streets,  Poughkeepsie,  is 
one  of  the  thrifty  German-born  citizens  of  the 
county.  His  present  success  is  emphatically 
due  to  hard  work  and  economy,  and  reflects 
great  credit  upon  him. 

Mr.  Haupt  was  born  August  24,  1845,  ^^ 
Gross-hen  Zog,  um  Hessen,  a  son  of  Jacob 
Haupt,  also  a  native  of  Germany,  born  in  1801. 
The  father  was  the  owner  of  a  stone  quarry, 
and  was  engaged  all  his  life  in  the  business  of 
taking  out  rough  building  stone.  '  He  and  his 
wife,  Magdalena  (Uhink),  both  died  about  the 
year  1887.  Of  their  ten  children,  nine  grew 
to  adult  age:  Barbara  (the  eldest);  Mattice, 
now  living  in  Germany;  Agnes,  who  lives  in 
New  York  City;  Jacob,  in  Germany:  Lizzie,  in 
East  New  York;  Mary,  in  Germany;  Sybilla,  in 
Brooklyn;  Frank,  whose  whereabouts  are  not 
known;  and  John,  our  subject. 

John  Haupt  came  alone  to  America  when  a 
boy  of  thirteen  years.  He  made  his  home 
with  a  sister  in  New  York  City  for  a  short  time 
in  1857,  while  looking  for  employment,  and  as 
he  had  already  acquired  a  common-school  edu- 
cation, he  devoted  his  thoughts  from  that  time 
to  making  his  way  in  the  business  world,  a 
sufficiently  difficult  task  as  it  proved.  He  has 
always  been  engaged  in  the  baker's  trade,  his 
first  work  being  with  a  baker  in  Williamsburg 
at  $3  per  month,  with  whom  he  remained  six 
months,  and  from  that  time  was  employed  by 
various  parties  at  increasing  wages,  working 
one  year  at  one  place  for  $5  per  month,  and 
six  months  at  another  for  $7.  He  became 
third  helper  in  a  large  establishment  at  $3  per 
week,  and  then  going  to  New  York  secured  a 
place  as  second  hand  at  $4  a  week,  remaining 
during  one  winter.      His  next   employer,    Mr. 


264 


COMMEMORATIVE  BTOGRAPMICAL  RECORD. 


Feltz,  gave  him  $9  a  week,  and  after  seven 
months  he  entered  the  service  of  Mr.  Rein- 
hardt  at  the  corner  of  iith  avenue  and  45th 
street,  for  $12  a  week.  Here  he  injured  his 
eyes  so  that  he  gave  up  the  position  in  four 
months,  and  went  to  work  in  9th  avenue  for 
$9  a  week.  In  December,  1865,  he  came  to 
Poughkeepsie  as  head  baker  for  Mr.  Bice,  at 
$12  a  week  and  his  board,  and  in  July,  1866, 
he  began  to  work  for  P.  S.  Rowland  as  a  cake 
maker.  With  him  he  remained  fourteen 
months,  and  then  returned  to  New  York  as 
foreman  for  Mr.  Doring  at  the  corner  of  3rd 
avenue  and  46th  street,  at  $15  a  week  and 
board;  after  three  months,  however,  he  went 
back  to  Poughkeepsie  and  worked  for  Charles 
Arras  a  little  over  a  year.  In  1869  he  spent 
five  months  in  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  as  foreman  for 
Mr.  Weidner  on  First  street,  and  then  en- 
gaged in  business  for  himself  in  East  New 
York;  but  the  venture  proved  unprofitable,  and 
after  five  months  he  returned  to  Poughkeepsie 
and  again  worked  for  Charles  Arras  for  six 
years.  In  August,  1876,  he  bought  his  present 
establishment  of  George  Mallmann,  and  has 
successfully  conducted  same  for  over  twenty 
years,  building  up  a  large  and  profitable  trade. 
On  June'  9,  1867,  Mr.  Haupt  was  married 
to  Miss  Barbara  Bieber,  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  Bieber,  highly  respected  residents  of 
Poughkeepsie.  Four  children  were  born  of 
this  union:  John,  born  September  26,  1868, 
is  a  clerk  in  his  father's  establishment;  Rai- 
mund,  born  January  25,  1 871,  assists  as  a  cake 
baker;  Alfred  E.,  born  December  2,  1872, 
died  at  the  age  of  sixteen;  and  George  W., 
born  July  26,  1879,  is  in  school.  The  family 
attend  the  Lutheran  Church,  but  Mrs.  Haupt 
is  an  Episcopalian.  Mr.  Haupt  has  won  the 
respect  of  the  people  wherever  he  is  known, 
and  is  prominent  among  the  self-made  men  of 
his  localit}'.  He  has  taken  an  active  interest 
in  politics,  voting  the  Republican  ticket  as  a 
rule,  and  in  1895  ^^'^s  elected  supervisor  of  the 
Second  ward.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of 
the  I.  O.  O.  F. 


eEORGE  H.  BONTECOU.  The  first  an- 
'i  cestor  of  the  Bontecou  family,  of  whom 
we  have  a  definite  account,  was  William  Is- 
brand  Bontekoe,  who  lived  in  the  early  part  of 
the  seventeenth  century.  In  16 18  he  was  cap- 
tain of  the  "  Nouvelle  Hoorn,"  a  shipof  1,110 
tons  burden,  and  a  crew  of  206  men,  which  in 


that  year  set  sail  for  the  East  Indies.  He 
had  touched  at  the  uninhabited  island  of  Mas- 
caruque  and  at  Madagascar,  and  was  nearing 
Batavia  when  a  fire  broke  out  in  the  vessel, 
and  while  making  efforts  to  extinguish  it  he 
was  deserted  by  sixty-six  of  his  men,  who  es- 
caped in  a  shallop  and  a  small  skiff.  He  was 
unable  to  subdue  the  flames,  and  when  they 
reached  the  magazine  the  ship  was  thrown  into 
the  air  and  totally  destroyed,  but  Bontekoe  in 
falling  had  the  good  fortune  to  grasp  a  spar, 
which  supported  him  until  he  was  picked  up  by 
the  shallop.  At  another  time,  while  in  command 
of  a  ship  of  thirty-two  guns,  Bontekiie  took 
part  in  the  expedition  in  which  Cornelius,  with 
eight  vessels,  ravaged  the  coast  of  China. 

Bonteki'ie  wrote  an  account  of  his  voyages, 
and  the  incidents  referred  to  have  been  util- 
ized by  Alexander  Dumas  in  a  story  entitled 
"Bonteki'ie,"  the  first  in  his  volume — "  Les 
Drames  de  la  Mer."  Unfortunately  no  known 
record  exists  relating  to  this  man's  ancestors 
or  descendants,  but  his  family  was  doubtless 
of  Dutch  or  Flemish  origin,  and  it  is  probable 
that  one  of  his  sons  crossed  the  line  and  set- 
tled in  France,  where  we  next  hear  of  the 
name  in  connection  with  the  events  attending 
the  revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes,  October 
18,  1685,  by  which  Louis  XIV  put  an  end  to 
the  exercise  of  Protestant  forms  of  worship  in 
France,  and  compelled  all  who  would  not 
adopt  the  Catholic  faith  to  leave  his  realm. 
Among  the  refugees  who  fled  to  England  at 
this  time  were  Pierre  Bontecou  and  his  wife, 
Marguerite  Csllinot,  and  five  children:  Mar- 
guerite, Peter,  Sara,  Daniel  and  Susanne.  Ac- 
cording to  the  ' '  Archives  Nationales,  "  at  Paris, 
they  left  the  Isle  of  Re  in  1684  for  "  La  Caro- 
line "  [a  general  term  used  to  designate  the 
continent  of  North  America].  Their  residence 
had  previously  been  in  the  city  of  La  Rochelle, 
a  place  of  great  commercial  importance  and  a 
stronghold  of  Protestantism.  It  is  certain 
that  one  of  the  children,  Daniel,  was  bom 
there  in  1681,  and  doubtless  the  others  were 
natives  of  that  place.  Pierre  Bontecou  and 
his  little  family  found  refuge  in  England  for  a 
few  years,  but  in  1689  they  came  to  America 
and  settled  in  New  York  City,  where  three 
children  were  born,  Marie  and  Rachel  (twins), 
July  21,  1690,  and  Timothy,  June    17,  1693. 

Timothy  Bontecou,  our  subject's  great-i 
great-grandfather,  no  doubt  spent  his  boyhood 
in  New  York,  but  in  early  manhood  went  to 
France  to  learn  the  silversmith's   trade,   and 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


265 


remained,  it  is  supposed,  about  twenty  \ears. 
We  have  no  history  of  him  during  this  period; 
but  he  was  probably  married  in  France,  as  his 
wife.  Mar}',  died  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  No- 
\cinber  5,  1735,  at  the  age  of  thirty-three 
years,  according  to  the  inscription  on  her  mon- 
ument in  the  old  cemetery  in  that  cit\'.  On 
September  29,  1736,  he  married  his  second 
wife,  Mary  Goodrich,  daughter  of  David  and 
Prudence  (Churchill)  Goodrich,  of  Wethers- 
field,  Conn.  His  death  occurred  in  New 
Haven,  February  14,  1784,  at  the  age  of 
ninety.  By  his  first  marriage  he  had  one  son, 
Timothy,  born  in  1723,  probably  in  France. 
There  were  five  children  by  the  second  mar- 
riage: Peter,  who  was  born  in  New  Haven, 
[738;  Daniel,  born  1739,  died  1778;  David, 
;n  1742,  died  1766;  James,  born  1743,  died 
.;uo:  and  a  daughter,  Mrs.  Lathrop,  of  whom 
ill  trace  is  lost. 

Peter   Bontecou,  the  great-grandfather  of 

ur  subject,  was  married   November  14,  1762, 

i\    Rev.    Chaunce}-    Whittlesey,    to    Susanna 

'.  >mas.  daughter  of  Jehiel  and  Mary  Thomas, 

New  Haven.    The\'  had  nine  children,  whose 

lies,  with  dates  of  birth  and  death,  are  here 

Polly  Augusta,  August    13,  1763,  died 

28,  1849;  James,  August  6,  1766,  died 

1806;    David  (i),    August   23,  1767, 

ii-d  in    1767;    David   (2),  September  9,  1768, 

i  January  26,    1769;    Susannah  (i),  1769, 

i  in  infancy;  Susannah  (2),   1770,  died  De- 

nber  25,  1777;    Peter,   1770,  died  June  12, 

,794;  Sarah,  July   30,  1775,  died   January  9, 

Kand  David   (3),    March    17,   1777,    died 
;.    1854. 
avid  Bontecou,    the    grandfather  of  our 
ct,  was  married  October  i,   1769,  to  Pol- 
iik,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Anna  (Haw- 
>  j  Clark,  and  reared  a   family  of  eight  chil- 
:en,  of  whom  the  first   four  were  born  at  the 
!  home  of  the  family  in  New  Haven,  and  the 
p.aining  four    in    Coeymans,   N.    Y.     Their 
lies    with    dates    of   birth    are    as    follows: 
ler,  January   26,    1797;    Elizabeth,  October 
|.    1798;    Susannah,    July    25,    1801;   James 
lark,  July  11,    1803;   Sarah,    May  19,    1805; 
'avid,    October    25,     1807;     Samuel    Stover, 
luary   23,    18 10,    died    July   11,    1812;   and 

■uyrge,  our  subject's  father. 
Hieorge  Bontecou  was  born  June  23,  1812. 
f^was  married  September  6,  1838,  to  Lydia 
nn  Whipple,  who  was  born  May  28,  1818, 
daughter  of  William  and  Hannah  (Adams) 
hippie,  of  Troy,  N.  Y.     She  died  in  Troy, 


t.n: 
larch   2 
uly   12, 


February  20,  1864,  and  July  i,  1869,  Mr. 
Bontecou  married  Margaret  Dustin,  daughter 
of  Ananis  and  Margaret  (Hunter)  Dustin,  of 
Waterford,  Erie  Co.,  Penn.  The  family 
moved  from  Troy,  N.  Y.  to  Vineland,  N.  J., 
in  1866,  and  he  died  there  August  7,  1893. 
There  were  ten  children  by  his  first  marriage, 
their  names  with  dates  of  birth  being  as  fol- 
lows: Mary  Hannah,  August  19,  1839;  Will- 
iam Whipple,  August  17,  1841,  died  October 
14,  1842;  Susan,  May  29,  1843;  William 
Wright  Whipple,  June  19,  1845;  Elijah  Whip- 
ple, June  27,  1847;  George  Henry,  May  17, 
1849;  Philip  Dorlon,  January  23,  1853;  Abby 
Whipple,  April  12,  1856;  and  Reed  and  Fran- 
cis (twins),  December  26,  1858  (of  whom  the 
latter  died  July  24,  1859).  By  the  second 
marriage  there  were  two  children:  Lydia  Ann, 
born  April  5,  1870;  and  John,  born  February 
20,  1876,  and  died  April  4,  1879. 

As  will  be  seen  by  the  above  record,  George 
Henry  Bontecou,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  is  of  the  sixth  generation  in  direct  de- 
scent from  the  brave  Huguenot  pioneer,  Pierre 
Bontecou.  A  native  of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  he  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  there,  and  at 
the  age  of  thirteen  entered  the  employ  of  the 
New  York  Central  &  Hudson  River  railroad. 
In  1867  he  went  to  Minnesota  as  an  employe 
of  the  Southern  Minnesota  Railroad  Co.,  and 
remained  until  1872,  when  he  became  station 
agent  at  Dutchess  Junction  for  the  N.  Y.  C. 
R.  R.  and  the  N.  D.  &  C.  R.  R.  This  posi- 
tion he  has  held  ever  since,  his  able  manage- 
ment giving  entire  satisfaction  to  the  compa- 
nies which  he  represents,  and  to  the  traveling 
public.  For  the  last  five  years  he  has  also 
been  engaged  in  the  manufacturing  of  common 
building  brick  for. the  New  York  market,  his 
yards  being  located  at  Dutchess  Junction.  His 
excellent  judgment  in  business  affairs  has  made 
him  a  valued  worker  in  different  enterprises, 
among  them  the  Matteawan  Savings  Bank,  of 
which  he  is  a  trustee.  His  counsel  is  sought 
in  political  matters  also,  and  he  is  secretary  of 
the  Republican  committee  of  the  town  of  Fish- 
kill,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  Republican 
State  Convention  at  Saratoga  in  1895.  He  is 
foreman  of  the  Willar  H.  Mase  Hook  and 
Ladder  Co.,  of  Matteawan,  also  a  member  of 
the  State  Firemen's  Association,  and  he  is 
also  secretary  of  the  Matteawan  Club.  In  the 
Masonic  fraternity  he  is  an  active  worker,  be- 
longing to  Beacon  Lodge  No.  283,  Highland 
Chapter  of  Newburg,    Hudson   Commandery, 


266 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


K.  T.  of  Newburg,  and  Mecca  Temple  of  New 
York  City. 

He  has  a  pleasant  home  at  Matteawan,  and 
he  and  his  wife  (formerly  Miss  Emma  Mase) 
are  leading  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  in 
which  he  holds  the  office  of  secretary  of  the 
board  of  trustees.  They  have  had  four  chil- 
dren: George  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen; 
Howell  is  a  student  in  the  Medical  Department 
of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania;  Edna  and 
Pierre  are  at  home.  Mrs,  Bontecou  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Sylvester  H.  and  Almira  (Cornwell) 
Mase,  and  a  descendant  of  a  family  which  has 
been  distinguished  in  several  generations  for 
patriotism,  her  great-grandfather,  Peter  Mase, 
having  been  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  while  her  grandfather,  Peter  Mase,  served 
in  the  war  of  1812.  Her  father  was  second 
lieutenant  in  the  128th  N.  Y.  V.  I.  during  the 
Civil  war.  He  was  one  of  the  most  prominent 
men  of  Matteawan,  engaging  in  hat  manufac- 
turing, in  the  dry-goods  business,  also  in  the 
wholesale  and  retail  leather  business,  and  he 
held  the  office  of  sheriff  of  Dutchess  county  for 
two  terms. 


CHARLES  G.  BAUMANN,  a  prominent  sa- 
_ '  loon  keeper  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 
county,  was  born  in  that  city  November  23, 
1863. 

The  home  of  his  ancestors  was  in  Waldurn 
Baden,  Germany,  where  his  father,  John  Bau- 
mann,  was  born  March  16,  18 12.  The  latter 
attended  the  school  of  his  birthplace  during 
boyhood,  and  later  learned  the  shoemaker's 
trade,  serving  an  apprenticeship  of  five  years. 
He  afterward  traveled  through  Switzerland  as 
a  journeyman  cobbler,  and  in  1853  came  to 
America,  where  he  followed  his  trade  in  Cin- 
cinnati, but  shortly  afterward  returned  to 
Poughkeepsie  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
and  sale  of  cigars  in  a  wholesale  way.  He  was 
cautious  and  conservative,  and  made  a  success 
of  the  enterprise,  accumulating  a  fine  property. 
An  independent  voter,  he  thought  more  of  se- 
curing good  men  for  office  than  of  party  ties, 
and  he  never  sought  political  preferment  for 
himself.  He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Church  of  the  Nativity  (Roman  Catholic),  and 
was  a  leader  among  the  German-born  popula- 
tion. In  1842  he  was  married  in  Germany  to 
Eva  Catharine  Spieler,  who  died  July  16,  1889. 
In  the  following  year  he  disposed  of  his  busi- 
ness, and  on  May  I,  1 89 1,  he,  too,  departed  this 


life.  Of  the  nine  children  of  this  union  five 
lived  to  adult  age  and  four  are  still  living: 
August;  Josephine,  the  wife  of  Adam  Messer- 
schmidt,  of  New  York;  Mary  Louisa,  the  widow 
of  Robert  Farley;  and  Charles  G.,  our  subject. 

Charles  G.  Baumann  was  educated  in  the 
German  Catholic  school  at  St.  Michael,  and 
attended  the  public  schools  for  one  year.  He 
became  familiar  with  both  English  and  Ger- 
man, and  has  been  quite  a  reader  of  current 
literature.  After  leaving  school  he  tended 
bar  for  three  years  for  Albert  Von  Der  Linden, 
on  Market  street,  and  then  took  a  similar  posi- 
tion with  Charles  Matheis,  at  No.  116  Main 
street.  On  his  employer's  death  six  years  later, 
Mr.  Baumann  continued  the  business  for  the 
widow  for  one  year,  and  then  on  May  i,  1885, 
bought  the  business  and  the  building.  He  has 
been  the  agent  for  Jacob  Ruppert's  beer  for 
twelve  years.  As  a  business  man  he  has  been 
remarkably  successful,  and  he  takes  a  promi- 
nent part  in  various  local  movements,  being  a 
member  of  the  Germania  Singing  Society,  the 
Phoenix  Hose  Co.,  the  Young  American  Hose 
Co.  No.  6,  the  Veteran  Fire  Association,  the 
Dutchess  Social  Club,  and  he  is  an  honorary 
member  of  the  Knights  of  St.  George,  and  a 
charter  member  of  the  Elks.  In  religion  he 
follows  the  faith  of  his  father,  and  adheres  ti 
the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

On  October  8,  1889,  Mr.  Baumann  married 
Miss  Anna  M.  Haidlauf,  the  only  child  of  Dr. 
John  and  Rosalie  Marie  Elizabeth  Haidlauf. 
the  former  of  whom  (now  deceased)  was  one 
of  the  leading  German  physicians  of  Pough- 
keepsie. To  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bau- 
mann two  children  have  come:  Rosa  Heleric 
and  Katie  Josephine,  the  latter  being  now  de- 
ceased. 


LEWIS    PINCKNEY.    an   industrious    am 
progressive    agriculturist    of   the  town  0 
Pawling,  Dutchess  county,  was  born   Januar; 
I,  1 85 1,  in  the  town  of  Carmel,  Putnam  Co. 
N.  Y. ,  where   his  forefathers  were  among  th' 
most    prominent    of    the    early    settlers.     Hi 
grandfather.    Gen.    Stephen   Pinckney,   was 
native  of  that  place,  and  passed  his  life  ther 
in    agricultural    pursuits,    to    which,    in   late 
years,  he  added  mercantile  business.      He  hel 
the  rank  of  general  in  the  militia  of  his  dav 
and   was   a  leader   in    many   important   loc£ 
movements.      His   first  wife,    Miss   Hill,  die 
not  long  after  their  marriage,  and  he  forme 


COMMEMORATIVE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


267 


another    matrimonial    union,    this    time    with 
Miss  Ann    Hager.     Eight  children  were  born 
I  to  them:     William;   Ira,    who  never  married; 
'  Mrs.  Arabella  Pircle;  Mrs.  Nancy  Smith;  Perry; 
j  Michael;    Alva    and    Stephen.       Most    of   the 
'  members  of  this   family  settled  near  the  old 
home,  and  the  others  located  at  Norwalk,  Con- 
necticut. 

Perry  Pinckney,  our  subject's  father,  was  a 
carpenter  by  trade,  but  was  also  engaged  at 
times  in  farming.  He  was  an  energetic  man, 
successful  in  business,  especially  in  early  man- 
hood; a  member  of  the  IBaptist  Church  and  a 
leading  supporter  of  the  Democratic  party. 
A  large  portion  of  his  life  was  passed  near 
Lake  Mahopac  and  in  his  native  town,  but  his 
last  years  were  passed  in  Luddingtonville, 
where  he  died  November  25,  1879.  His  wife, 
Eleanor  Lockwood,  daughter  of  Daniel  Lock- 
wood,  departed  this  life  January  i,  1868.  Of 
their  seven  children,  six  lived  to  maturity, 
namely:  Sarah,  who  married  Robert  Lee; 
jLewis,  our  subject;  Sophia,  the  wife  of  Walter 
Tompkins;  James  S. ,  who  resides  west  of 
Pawling;  Lorainy,  who  is  not  married;  and 
iCarrie,  the  wife  of  John  Pattison,  of  White 
Plains,  New  York. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  received  his  edu- 

tion  mainly   in   the   district  schools   of  the 

\n  of  East  Fishkill,  and   after  his  mother's 

leath  began  working  by  the  month  for  farmers 

n  the  locality  during   the  summer  season  and 

ttended  school  during  the  winter  at  Peekskill, 

/"awling  and  other  places,  obtaining  as  good 

chooling  as  the  locality  afforded  notwithstand- 

ng  many  discouragements.      He  was  employed 

tt  farm   work  until  he   was   thirty-eight  years 

Ijld,    working    at    Hurd's    Corners    for    many 

|/ears,  with  one  winter  in   Scrub   Oak   Plains, 

l)ne  year  in  East  Fishkill,  one  year  with  Jere- 

(niah  Mead,  eight  months  with  Albert  Corbin, 

fight  with    Arnold    Brothers,  below  Pawling, 

■nd  then  after  a  winter  in    Mr.  Allen's  school 

1  that  village  he  worked  for  Allen  Light  for  a 

;vv  months  and  for  his   father-in-law  at  Cold 

pring  for  two  years,  returning  again  to  Mr. 

Jght's  for  a  short   time.      His   next  employer 

vas  Theodore  Wheeler,  of  Dover,  with  whom 

,e  stayed  nine  years  and  eight  months,  and  he 

hen  went  West,   spending   some   months  in 

ansas  and  Iowa.     On  his  return  in   the  fol- 

riwing  spring  he  again  engaged  in  farm  work, 

Ipending  one  year  each  with   Mr.    Ferguson, 

B.    Dutcher,    John    Arnold  and   John    L. 

laynes.    In  1890,  after  twenty-two  years  in  all 


at  this  work,  he  rented  his  present  farm  of 
664  acres  near  Pawling  from  Hooker  &  Ham- 
merlies.  He  has  thirty-seven  cows  and  is 
largely  interested  in  dairying. 

His  sterling  qualities  of  character  and  the 
indomitable  perseverance  that  has  enabled  him 
to  make  his  way  without  the  aid  which  helps 
so  many  men  to  a  prosperous  career,  have 
won  for  Mr.  Pinckney  the  respect  of  all  who 
know  him.  He  has  so  far  passed  his  life  in 
single  blessedness.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church  in  Pawling,  and  supports  the 
principles  ot  the  Democratic  party  without 
taking  an  active  share,  however,  in  political 
work. 


PETER  MILLER.  This  gentleman  worthi- 
ly  illustrates  the  commonly-accepted  view 

of  the  character  of  the  enterprising  German 
citizen,  who  has  made  his  own  way  in  this 
country,  and  is  now  at  the  head  of  a  good  re- 
tail boot  and  shoe  business.  A  native  of 
Westphalia,  he  was  born  September  28,  1848, 
and  is  the  son  of  John  J.  Miller,  who  was  also 
born  in  the  same  place,  in  181 5,  and  by  trade 
was  a  shoemaker,  which  occupation  was  fol- 
lowed by  his  father  and  grandfather. 

In  his  native  land  John  J.  Miller  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Misc  Anna  C.  Heller,  also  a 
native  of  Westphalia,  and  to  them  were  born 
five  children,  namely:  John,  a  shoemaker  of 
Germany;  Peter,  of  this  sketch:  Regina,  wife 
of  Mathew  Zeigen,  of  Poughkeepsie;  Cather- 
ine, who  died  in  infancy;  and  Carl,  a  shoe- 
maker, of  Germany.  The  father  never  left 
the  Fatherland,  where  he  continued  to  follow 
his  trade  until  he  was  called  from  this  earth  in 
1 86 1.  His  wife  had  passed  away  in  1850. 
They  were  devout  members  of  the  German 
Catholic  Church. 

Mr.  Miller,  of  this  sketch,  was  an  enter- 
prising, ambitious  boy,  and  after  working  at 
the  shoemaker's  trade  in  Germany  until  he  had 
reached  his  majority,  he  determined  to  seek  his 
fortune  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  Accord- 
ingly he  set  sail  in  1871,  and  has  since  been 
one  of  the  worthy  citizens  of  Poughkeepsie, 
where  he  was  first  employed  at  shoemaking, 
and  also  as  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  Frank  Marks 
for  about  a  year  and  a  half.  After  filling  a 
similar  position  with  Michael  Tiinmins  fornine 
years,  he  in  1883  started  in  the  shoe  business 
on  his  own  responsibility  at  No.  123  Main 
street,  where  he  carried  on  operations  for  five 


268 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


years,  and  then  purchased  his  present  store  at 
No.   131  on  the  same  street. 

In  January,  1876,  Mr.  Miller  led  to  the 
marriage  altar  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Muckenhoupt,  a 
widow  lady  who  had  nine  children  by  her  first 
union,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  pne 
son— Charley  T.  Both  our  subject  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  and  in  politics  he  gives  his  allegiance 
to  the  Democratic  party.  He  is  a  progressive, 
wide-awake  business  man,  enjoying  a  liberal 
patronage  and  is  held  in  high  esteem  in  both 
business  and  social  circles. 


SIMON  J.  KELDER.  one  of  the  leading 
,^  young  merchants  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.Y., 
and  a  most  respected  and  useful  citizen  of  that 
city,  is  a  native  of  the  town  of  Rochester,  Ulster 
Co.,  N.  Y.  His  great-grandfather  was  a  resi- 
dent of  Marbletown,  Ulster  county,  he  being 
one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  his  day.  His 
grandfather  was  a  resident  of  the  same  place, 
he  also  being  a  farmer,  and  he  held  several 
public  offices.  To  him  and  his  wife,  Susan 
Christian,  were  born  seven  children,  one  of 
whom,  George  Kelder,  was  the  father  of  Simon 
J.,  the  subject  of  our  sketch. 

George  Kelder  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Rochester,  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.,  January  15,  1840. 
On  October  9,  1861,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Martha  A. ,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Nancy  Roosa, 
of  the  town  of  Rochester,  Ulster  county,  and 
they  had  one  child,  Simon  J.  The  father  was 
a  bright  and  capable  young  man,  with  a  promis- 
ing future,  but  whose  life  was  taken  at  the  early 
age  of  twenty-four  years — when  but  at  the 
threshold  of  his  active  career — he  dying  from 
brain  fever  in  1864.  His  widow  subsequently 
married  Edward  L.  Rymph,  of  Hyde  Park, 
Dutchess  county,  this  State,  of  which  place 
she  is  still  a  resident. 

Simon  J.  Kelder  passed  his  early  boyhood 
in  Ulster  county,  and  at  the  age  of  five  years, 
on  his  mother's  re-marriage,  went  with  her  to 
Hyde  Park  and  there  lived,  making  his  home 
with  his  parents  until  seventeen  or  eighteen 
years  of  age,  working  on  a  farm;  in  the  mean- 
time he  attended  the  common  schools,  and  for 
a  period  the  seminary  at  New  Paltz.  He  then 
went  to  Poughkeepsie  and  engaged  in  the  hat 
and  cap  business,  being  located  at  No.  283 
Main  street,  which  business  he  continued  to 
follow  some  six  years,  when  he  disposed  of  it 
and  purchased  the  grocer}' business  of  J.  Craft, 


at  No  521  Main  street,  in  the  same  city.  In 
1894  he  removed  to  No.  396,  on  the  same 
street,  from  which  house  his  retail  business  is 
done,  and  the  wholesale  department  is  at  No. 
391.  Mr.  Kelder  began  his  business  life  at  an 
early  age,  and  with  small  means,  but  from  an 
humble  beginning  and  in  a  limited  way  he  has 
steadily  forged  ahead  until  to-day  he  stands 
among  the  foremost  young  business  men  of 
Poughkeepsie.  He  is  one  of  the  self-made 
men  of  our  times,  and  by  close  application  to 
business,  coupled  with  wise  judgment  and  busi- 
ness tact,  he,  though  yet  a  young  man,  has 
made  for  himself  a  position  m  business  circles 
of  which  he  may  well  be  proud.  In  politics 
Mr.  Kelder  is  a  Republican,  and  has  served  in 
several  official  relations.  He  is  now  one  ol 
the  aldermen  of  Poughkeepsie,  serving  fron 
the  Si.xth  ward,  to  which  of^ce  he  was  electt 
in  1897.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in  a, 
movements  looking  to  the  advancement  o* 
morals  and  religion  in  the  community;  is  a 
member  of  Trinity  M.  E.  Church,  of  Pough- 
keepsie;  also  is  identified  with  the  K.  of  P. 

On   November    19,    1884,    Mr.    Kelder  wa- 
married  to  Miss  Jennie  S.  Sutton,  a  daughti 
of    Henry    and    Louisa    Sutton,   of    Newburg, 
N.  Y.,  and  to  the  union  were  born:    Florence! 
George  T.,  who  died  in  the  eighth  year  of  hi 
age;   Louisa;  and  Stanley  M.,  who  died  in  h; 
infancy.     Their  home,  one  of  the  comfortabli 
ones  of  Poughkeepsie,  is  located  on    Hooke 
avenue,  designated  as  No.  5. 


ICHOLAS  HOFFMAN.  Among  th. 
many  worthy  citizens  of  German  birtl 
who  have  made  their  fortunes  in  this  State 
and  who  have  been  residents  of  Poughkeepsie 
Dutchess  county,  stood  prominent  the  gentle 
man  whose  name  opens  this  sketch,  and  wh^ 
left  many  friends  to  cherish  kindly  remem 
brances  of   him  when  death  called  him  hence 

Paul  Hoffman,  the  father  of  our  subject 
was  a  native  of  Aschaffenburg,  Bavaria,  Ger 
many,  and  was  a  shoemaker  by  occupatioi" 
He  married,  and  had  the  following  name 
children:  Nicholas,  our  subject;  Frank,  liviii 
in  St.  Helena,  Cal. ;  Valentine,  who  died  i 
Poughkeepsie;  Philip,  who  died  in  Norfoll- 
Va. ;  and  Margarett  and  Caroline,  who  sti 
live  in  their  native  town  in  Germany. 

Nicholas  Hoffman  was  born  at  Aschaffei 
burg,  Bavaria,  Germany,  February  28,  183: 
He  received  a  limited  education  in  his  nati\ 


I 


r 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHWAL  RECORD 


269 


and,  and  served  a  three-years'  apprentice- 
ship at  the  shoemaker's  trade.  In  185 1,  when 
nineteen  years  of  age,  he  came  to  this  country, 
landing  at  New  York  City,  where  he  worked 
as  a  journeyman  for  a  year,  and  then  set  up  a 
;hop  of  his  own,  in  a  room  in  the  tenement 
house  where  he  hved,  on  Third  street,  near 
Avenue  A.  After  a  year  and  a  half  spent  in 
■.his  way  he  left  New  York  for  Whiteport, 
Ulster  county,  where  he  followed  his  trade  for 
:he  succeeding  two  years.  He  then  purchased 
I  team,  and  was  engaged  in  teaming  some  ten 
,ears,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  purchased 
I  canal  boat  and  went  to  canaling  for  himself 
)n  the  D.  &  H.  canal,  continuing  several  years. 
In  1866  he  sold  his  canal  boat  and  moved 

0  Kingston,  and  entered  into  partnership 
vith  a  Mr.  Sturgis  in  the  brewing  business, 
lut  soon  afterward,  owing  to  his  illness,  he 
old  his  interest  to  his  partner,  and  in  1868 
ame  to  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  purchased  a 
aloon  at  No.  403  Main  street,  remaining  there 
intil  1872,  when  he  purchased  the  building  on 
he  corner  of  Main  and  Hamilton  streets,  built 
y  Philip  Goldstein,  and  moved  his  saloon  to 

1  part  thereof  in  1875.      From   1875  until  his 
eath    Mr.    Hoffman    was    proprietor    of    the 

Hoffman  House,"  which  is  one  of  the  finest 

lildings  of    its   kind    in    Poughkeepsie,    and 

hich,    under  his  judicious  management,  be- 

;une  a  very  popular  hotel.   In  1878  he  opened, 

connection  with  his  other  business,  a  shoe 

re,  which  was  conducted   by  his  two  sons, 

cnry  and  Nicholas,  until  1886,  when- he  sold 

le  shoe  business  and  opened  his  saloon  in  the 

m  where  it  had  been,  named  it  the  "  Hof?- 

n  House,"  by  which  name  it  is  at  present 

)vvn. 

Mr.  Hoffman  was  a  man  of  considerable 
-iness  ability,  possessed  of  e.xcellent  judg- 
ent  and  great  perseverance  and  enterprise, 
ianded  in  this  country  among  strangers,  an 
jhisticated  lad,  with  only  ten  cents  in  his 
ket,  and  totally  unacquainted  with  the  lan- 
fe.  He  taught  himself  to  speak,  read  and 
English,  and  became  a  generally  well- 
tmed  man  in  English  literature,  not  only 
Ime  prosperous  financially,  but  succeeded 
piaking  friends  among  the  best  class  of  citi- 
who  appreciated  his  generous,  vvhole- 
Bd  nature,  and  admired  his  sterling  quali- 
Among  his  business  associates  he  had 
:  reputation  of  being  careful,  thrifty  and 
'roughly  honest,  and  in  public  matters  he 
IS  Hberal  and  always  ready  to  assist  in  any 


way  desired.  A  Democrat  in  politics,  he  was 
not  a  partisan,  and  in  local  affairs  was  willing 
to  see  the  best  men  put  in  office  regardless  of 
their  party  affiliations.  In  religious  faith  he 
was  a  member  of  the  German  Catholic  Church, 
and  prominent  in  its  councils.  His  death  oc- 
curred August  28,  1877. 

In  185 1,  in  New  York  City,  Mr.  Hoffman 
was  married  to  Elizabeth  Kunney,  daughter  of 
Andrew  and  Margaretta  Kunney,  and  who  had 
come  to  America  on  the  same  ship  with  him, 
and  seven  children  blessed  their  union,  namely: 
Frank  and  Katherine  died  in  early  childhood; 
Caroline,  at  home;  Henry  and  Nicholas  (both 
deceased);  Katherine  and  Frank,  both  living  at 
home.  The  family  are  highly  esteemed  and 
respected  by  all  who  know  them. 


ULFORD  WHEELER,  one  of  the  act- 
?ll  ive,  prominent  and  enterprising  agri- 
culturists of  the  town  of  Pine  Plains,  Dutchess 
county,  was  born  April  27,  1840,  in  the  town 
of  Amenia,  that  county,  a  son  of  B.  Hampton 
Wheeler,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of  North- 
east, in  1 81 3.  Eben  Wheeler,  paternal  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  was  born  in  1750,  also  in 
the  town  of  Northeast,  where  he  continued  to 
follow  farming  up  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  about  i860.  The  family  was 
first  founded,  however,  in  Connecticut  by  En- 
glish emigrants,  and  the  grandfather  aided  the 
Colonies  in  their  struggle  for  independence. 
He  wedded  a  Miss  Conklin,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  ten  children,  namely:  B.  Hamp- 
ton, Albert,  Edmond  E. ,  Emeline,  Harriet, 
Betsy  Ann,  Julia,  Cornelia,  Mariette  (Mrs. 
Story)  and  Alma,  wife  of  Robert  Rowe. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  an  extensive 
farmer  and  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the 
town  of  Amenia,  his  place  being  located  about 
one  mile  south  of  the  village  of  Amenia.  He 
was  a  strong  man,  of  more  than  ordinary  abil- 
ity, possessed  excellent  business  judgment  and 
great  energy,  and  accumulated  a  handsome 
property,  having  at  one  time  three  large  farms 
in  the  town  of  Amenia,  all  the  result  of  his  own 
enterprise  and  diligence.  He  took  quite  an 
active  part  in  political  affairs,  voting  the  Dem- 
ocratic ticket  and  held  several  offices  in  the 
locality,  including  that  of  assessor,  which  he 
filled  for  several  years.  He  was  prominently 
connected  with  the  Amenia  Fair  Association, 
being  its  president  for  several  years,  and  was 
identified  with  everything  that  would  promote 


270 


COMMEMORATIVE  BWORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  welfare  of  his  town  or  county.  He  mar- 
ried Emeline  Clark,  daughter  of  Dugass  Clark, 
of  the  town  of  Northeast,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  five  children:  Mulford;  Mrs.  Sarah 
Bartholomew;  Elizabeth;  Clark  D.  (of  the 
town  of  Northeast)  and  Collin,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  ten  years. 

Mulford  Wheeler  acquired  an  e.xcellent  ed- 
ucation in  the  Amenia  Seminary,  which  at  that 
time  was  one  of  the  first  schools  of  the  county, 
and  in  later  years  he  supplemented  the  knowl- 
edge there  acquired  by  extensive  reading. 
After  the  age  of  twelve  he  was  able  to  attend 
school  only  in  the  winter  season,  as  his  serv- 
ices were  needed  upon  the  home  farm,  where 
he  remained  until  1865.  After  operating  one 
of  his  father's  farms  in  the  town  of  Amenia  for 
some  time,  in  March,  1871,  he  removed  to  his 
present  place  in  the  town  of  Pine  Plains,  hav- 
ing purchased  it  of  the  Eli  Collin  estate.  It 
comprises  309  acres  of  rich  and  arable  land, 
which  he  has  converted  into  on^  of  the  best 
farms  of  the  township. 

In  January,  1867,  Mr.  Wheeler  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Sarah  F.  Collin,  who  was  born 
June  24,  1847,  a  daughter  of  Eli  Collin,  who 
was  born  February  23,  1805.  Her  great-great- 
grandfather, John  Collin,  was  born  in  France 
in  1706,  and  on  coming  to  the  New  World 
located  at  Milford,  New  Haven  Co.,  Conn., 
where  his  son,  Daniel  Collin,  was  born  Febru- 
ary 19,  1734.  The  latter  became  the  father 
of  James  Collin,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Wheeler,  who  was  born  April  15,  1777.  He 
■was  a  large  land  owner  of  Dutchess  county, 
having  at  one  time  about  1,000  acres,  and  the 
family  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  in  the 
county.  Eli  Collin  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Northeast,  where  he  continued  to  make  his 
home  until  1828,  when  he  removed  to  the 
farm  now  owned  by  our  subject,  and  was  one 
of  the  most  successful  agriculturists  of  the 
locality.  On  February  20,  1830,  he  married 
Betsy  Finch,  and  they  had  nine  children: 
Almira,  Julia,  James  and  William,  all  now  de- 
ceased; Henry,  living  in  the  town  of  Northeast; 
Lydia  and  Myra.  both  now  deceased;  Sarah, 
wife  of  our  subject;  and  Bryan,  living  in  New 
York  City.  Mr.  Collin  was  originally  a  Whig 
in  politics,  later  becoming  a  Republican.  He 
died  in  1861,  his  wife  eight  years  later. 

Mr.  \\Tieeler  has  always  been  an  ardent 
Democrat  in  political  sentiment,  taking  an 
active  part  in  local  political  matters,  and  was 
elected  to  office   before    he  had    reached    his 


majority.  He  served  as  assessor  for  three 
years,  and  was  commissioner  of  highways  in 
the  town  of  Amenia.  Always  public-spirited, 
every  worthy  enterprise  for  the  benefit  of  the 
community  receives  his  support,  and  he  and 
his  wife  attend  and  contribute  liberally  to  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  Mrs.  Wheeler 
is  a  member. 


J 


AMES  E.  WAITE,  a  well-known  conduct- 
or on  the  New  York  Central  &  Hudson 
River  railroad,  and  one  of  the  most  trusted 
employes  of  the  company,  was  born  July  6, 
1843,  in  the  town  of  Unionvale,  Dutchess 
county,  where  his  father,  Joseph  Waite,  and 
his  grandfather,  Joseph  Waite,  were  also  born. 
The  latter  engaged  in  farming  there,  and  mar- 
ried a  Miss  Draper,  by  whom  he  had  seven 
children:  Joseph,  George,  Patience,  Mary, 
Sarah,  Katie  A.  and  Valley. 

Joseph  Waite,  the  father  of  James  E.,  was 
a  prominent  citizen  in   his   day.      He  acquired 
a  good  practical  education  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  town,  and  then   put   his  fine  talent  and 
skill  in  mechanical  work  to  good  use  as  a  car- 
penter and  builder.      In   this  business   he  was 
regarded  as  an   e.xpert,    and   his  work  is  to  be 
seen  in  many  of  the  best  houses  of  that  region. 
He  built  many  of  the  substantial  residences  of 
Dover  Plains,  including  the  one  now  occupiedi 
by  our  subject.      He  was  held  in  high  esteemi 
by  all  classes  and  took  great  interest  in  towni 
affairs,  but  he   never   aspired   to  political  dis- 
tinction and  many  times   refused  to  become  a 
candidate  for  public  office,  although  stronglj 
urged  to  do  so.     In  early  manhood  he  marries 
Miss  Amelia  Applebee,   of  the  town  of  Wash' 
ington,    Dutchess    county,   and  they  had   ten 
children,  of  whom   the  following  five  are  now 
recalled:     John,  who  married  Catherine  Van- 
Wagenen;  William,  who  married   Louisa  Ro- 
zell;  Charles,  who  married   Susan  J.  Bortem; 
Nehemiah  (deceased);  and  James  E. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  availed  himsel 
of  the  educational  advantages  to  be  found  in 
his  native  place,  and  then  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's trade  with  his  father,  for  whom  he  worked 
for  some  time.  Finding  the  business  uncon- 
genial, he  engaged  in  farming,  but  soon  after 
ward  began  driving  a  stage,  and  continued  this 
business  for  sixteen  years,  when  he  entered 
service  on  the  Harlem  railroad  as  a  brakemanj 
After  eleven  years  he  was  promoted  to  con- 
ductor,  which  position  he    has  now   held  foi 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPBWAL  RECORD. 


271 


twelve  years  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his 
employers  and  the  public.  He  is  an  active 
worker  in  the  Masonic  fraternity,  a  member  of 
the  Mutual  Benefit  Association,  and  of  Lodge 
No.  666,  of  Dover  Plains,  in  which  he  has  held 
most  of  the  offices.  He  has  twice  served  as 
junior  warden,  and  is  master  at  the  present 
time.  He  married  Miss  Carrie  Rozell,  who 
was  also  a  native  of  the  town  of  Unionvale, 
Dutchess  county,  where  she  received  an  ex- 
cellent education.  Two  children  were  born  to 
them,  neither  of  whom  is  now  living:  (i) 
Clarence  J.  Waite  was  born  in  Unionvale,  in 
1863,  and  after  acquiring  a  good  education 
there  engaged  in  mercantile  business  at  Pawl- 
ing, Dutchess  county.  Later  he  entered  the 
service  of  the  Harlem  Railroad  Co.,  and  re- 
mained until  his  death,  which  occurred  De- 
cember 30,  1890.  In  1887  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Kittie  Brusie,  daughter  of  Wesley  Brusie, 
;i  leading  farmer  of  the  town  of  Northeast,  and 
his  wife  Helen.  One  child  blessed  this  union, 
Clarice  J.  Waite,  born  March  14,  1891.  (2) 
Irving  Waite,  the  second  son  of  our  subject. 
ivas  born  in  Unionvale  in  1865,  and  attended 
;he  district  schools  of  that  vicinity  till  death 
:erminated  his  bright  and  promising  life  at  the 
ige  of  twelve  years. 

The  Rozell  family  has  been  prominent  in 
nionvale  for  many  years.  Albert  Rozell, 
-Irs.  Waite's  grandfather,  was  born  and  edu- 
ated  there  and  later  became  a  leading  farmer 
if  the  town.  He  married  Miss  Betsy  Horton, 
f  the  same  place,  and  had  twelve  children,  of 
vhom  only  five  are  now  known:  Beekman, 
vlbro,  James,  Mary  and  Albert  (Mrs.  Waite's 
ither).  Albert,  like  his  father,  was  educated 
n  the  common  schools  of  the  town,  and  then 
caged  in  farming.  As  a  politician  he  wield- 
great  influence  in  town  and  county  affairs, 
he  held  the  office  of  sheriff  for  many  years, 
veil  as  various  positions  in  his  township. 
land  his  wife,  Tamar  Orton,  reared  a  family 
Bight  children,  all  but  one  of  whom  mar- 
The  names,  with  dates  of  birth  and  their 
pective  partners  in  matrimony,  are  as  fol- 
Emma,  1837 — John  Schafer;  Henry, 
-Lizzie  Van  Black;  James,  1841 — Annie 
pen:  Carrie,  1843 — James  Waite;  Rhoda, 
JS — Rennselaer  Lane;  George,  1852,  is  not 
ied;  Celia,  1854 — Elias  Fleet;  and  Alice, 
|6 — Benjamin  Squires.  The  younger  chil- 
of  our  subject's  grandfather  Waite  all 
tried  and  settled  in  Dutchess  county. 
fGeorge    Waite    was    born    in     Unionvale, 


Dutchess  county,  in  1789,  and  received  a  com- 
mon-school education  there.  He  then  learned 
the  shoemaker's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  for 
some  thirty  years,  when  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  held 
numerous  town  offices,  serving  as  justice  of  the 
peace  for  a  number  of  terms.  He  married 
Miss  Lucinda  Bently,  daughter  of  William 
Bently,  a  farmer  of  Beekman,  and  his  wife, 
Susanna  Spencer.  Eight  children  were  born 
to  George  and  Lucinda  Waite:  (i)  Joseph  died 
in  infancy.  (2)  George  W.  Waite  was  born 
in  18 12,  in  the  town  of  Beekman.  After  his 
school  days  were  ended  he  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's trade,  at  which  he  worked  all  his  life. 
He  married  Almira  Van  Wike,  daughter  of 
Theo.  Van  Wike,  a  farmer  of  Unionvale,  and 
had  four  children:  Frank  Waite  married  Mary 
Hayte;  Fred  O.  married  Annie  Frier;  Corne- 
lius married  Ida  Waite;  and  Kate  married 
William  Voce.  (3)  Neilson  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Beekman  in  1816,  and  engaged  in 
farming,  teaching  and  merchandising.  He 
married  Miss  Annie  White  and  had  two  chil- 
dren: Dwight  and  Emma  J.  (4)  Cornwell 
Waite  was  born  in  the  town  of  Beekman  in 
18 18,  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
of  Unionvale.  Early  in  life  he  engaged  in 
farming  in  that  town,  and  continued  until  he 
was  thirty-five  or  forty  years  old,  when  he 
moved  to  South  Dover,  purchasing  the  Harri- 
son Sheldon  farm,  containing  160  acres  of  land, 
where  he  has  now  resided  for  a  number  of 
years.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Silby  Corn- 
well,  daughter  of  James  and  Cloey  (Sherman) 
Cornwell,  farmers  of  the  town  of  Beekman, 
Dutchess  county.  By  this  marriage  he  had 
one  child,  Harriet  A.,  who  married  Mr.  Ald- 
ridge,  of  Pawling,  and  had  three  children: 
Allie  and  Cornelia  (who  are  not  married),  and 
Morton  (the  latter  dying  in  infancy).  The 
mother  of  this  family  died  in  1850.  Mr. 
Waite  afterward  married  Mrs.  Hannah  (Ward) 
Sheldon,  widow  of  Harrison  Sheldon,  of  Do- 
ver. They  have  had  four  children:  Minnie 
Waite,  who  was  educated  in  the  Poughkeepsie 
Normal  School,  is  not  married.  Henry  C. 
Waite,  who  was  born  in  Dover  town,  and  was 
educated  at  Mt.  Union  (Ohio)  College  and  at 
Wilberham,  Mass.,  graduating  at  the  latter 
place.  He  taught  school  for  a  few  years,  and 
is  now  "connected  with  the  Erie  railroad,  in  the 
mail  department,  in  New  York  City.  He  mar- 
ried Addie  Kingsbury,  but  has  no  children. 
Irving    P.    was    educated    at     Prangs,    Dover 


272 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Plains,  and  DeGarmo  Institute,  at  Rhinebeck. 
He  has  always  been  engaged  in  farming,  and 
is  not  married.  William  A.  was  educated  at 
Wilberham.  Mass.,  and  at  Mt.  Union  (Ohio) 
College.  He  taught  school  for  a  numlser  of 
years,  and  then  took  a  clerical  position  at  New 
York  with  the  Erie  railroad;  he  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  express  business  in  New  York 
City.  He  married  Anna  Davis,  and  has  two 
children:  Stewart  D.  and  Eleanor.  (5)  Helen 
is  not  married.  (6)  Harriet  married  Moses 
Waite,  a  carpenter  of  Dover,  and  had  one 
child,  Georee  S.  White.  (7)  Catharine  re- 
mained unmarried.  (8)  Sarah  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Unionvale,  and  married  Isaac  D. 
Tripp,  a  farmer  and  miller  of  that  town.  They 
had  no  children. 

Patience  Waite,  the  third  child  of  Joseph 
Waite,  Sr.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Union- 
vale,  and  married  Richard  Cornwell,  a  farmer 
of  the  town  of  Beekman.  They  had  one  son, 
Joseph  Cornwall,  who  died  at  an  early  age. 

Mary  Waite,  also  a  native  of  the  town  of 
Unionvale,  married  Baria  Austin,  a  farmer  of 
that  town.  They  had  three  children:  Aaron 
B.,  who  married  Julia  Lane;  Sarah,  Mrs. 
David  Amie,  and  Jane,  Mrs.  William  W.  Abel. 

Sarah  Waite  married  John  Hall,  a  farmer 
of  Unionvale,  and  had  thirteen  children:  Piatt, 
De  Peyster,  Jay,  Katie  (who  married  David 
Hawer),  Polly,  Phcebe  (who  married  Henry  P. 
Amie),  Ellen,  Jane,  Mary,  and  four  others, 
whose  names  are  not  known. 

Katie  A.  married  William  McDowel,  a 
farmer  of  the  town  of  Warrington,  Dutchess 
county,  and  had  two  children:  Joseph  (who 
married  Miss  Van  Wagenen)  and  Katie  Ann. 

Valley  Waite  married  William  Hall,  a 
farmer.  He  was  a  cripple,  but  filled  a  promi- 
nent place  in  the  community,  and  during  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  was  collector  of  the  town 
of  Unionvale.  They  had  two  children,  Joseph 
and  George. 


TTNDERHILL  BUDD,  the  subject  of  our 
XJi  sketch,  one  of  the  most  progressive  and 
intelligent  agriculturists  of  the  town  of  Wap- 
pinger,  Dutchess  county,  is  a  descendant  of 
one  of  the  oldest  Colonial  families  in  this  coun- 
try. He  is  the  seventh  son  of  Elijah  Budd,  a 
prominent  farmer,  of  Dutchess  county  in  his 
day.  Elijah  Budd  was  born  in  the  year  1781, 
on  the  same  day  that  Lord  Cornwallis  surren- 
dered his  army  to  Gen.  Washington  at  York- 


town,  at  the  close  of  the  Revolution.  Elijah's 
father,  Gilbert,  came  from  Westchester  county, 
and  settled  in  the  Highlands,  north  of  Cold 
Spring.  From  there  he  came  to  Fishkill,  and 
purchased  a  farm  just  west  of  the  village  on  the 
old  post  road,  known  as  the  Old  Budd  home- 
stead, and  owned  at  the  present  time  by  Fred- 
erick Haight.  Here  Elijah  was  born.  .After 
the  death  of  his  father,  Elijah  came  into  pos- 
session of  the  farm.  In  1806  Elijah  married 
Abigail  Sebring,  daughter  of  Isaac  Sebring,  an 
extensive  and  prosperous  farmer  of  Dutchess 
county.  Isaac  Sebring  married,  December  31, 
1776,  Catherine  Van  Benschoten,  a  daughter 
of  Tunis  Van  Benschoten,  of  New  Hackensack, 
Dutchess  county.  Isaac  Sebring  died  in  his 
seventy-eighth  year,  his  wife,  Catherine  (\'an- 
Benschoten)  in  her  seventy-seventh  year. 
Tunis  Van  Benschoten  died  in  his  eighty-first 
year,  his  wife,  Annie  (Sleight),  in  her  ninety- 
first  year.  Elijah  Budd  sold  the  old  home- 
stead, and  bought  a  farm  of  John  Brincker- 
hodd,  on  the  Hudson,  now  Low  Point,  and 
moved  there  in  the  year  1822. 

On  this   farm    Underbill    Budd    was    borO' 
August  3,  1823.     On  October   12,    1852,   Mr. 
Budd  married  a  daughter  of  Matthew  I.  Snook, 
whose  ancestors  emigrated  from   Holland  in 
the   early   part    of   the    seventeenth   century. 
His  father  was  in  the  American  army  through 
the    Revolutionary  war.      .\fter    his  marriage 
Mr.  Budd  went  west  to  the  State  of  Illinois,  to 
look  after  the  estate  of  a  deceased  brother  who 
left  a  large  landed  estate,  and  lived  there  three 
years.       Mr.    Budd  became   a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen years,  and  while  in  Illinois  he  received  a 
license  as  a  local  preacher,  and  was  associated 
with  a  regular  Conference    preacher,  on  the 
Sabbath  preaching  sometimes  twice,  and  riding 
from  ten  to  twenty  miles.      He  has  sustainec 
his  relations  to  the  Church  for  forty  years,  ant 
has  been  a  member  thereof  some  fifty-six  years. 
During  that  period  he  has  filled   almost  every 
position  of  trust  in  the  Church,  and  has  nevei 
received  or  solicited  any  compensation  for  his 
labor   whatever,    giving    his    time    and    laboi 
freely  for  the   cause  of   Christianity,  and  alsc 
paying    liberally   toward    the    support    of  the 
Church.      At  the  end  of  three  years  he  returnee 
to   Dutchess  county,    and  took  charge  of  hi; 
father's  farm.      His  el,der  brothers  having  al 
left  home,    he  felt  it  his    duty  to  look  afte 
them  during  the  period  of  fifteen  years  in  th' 
faithful  discharge   of    his    duty.      His  mothe 


I 


I 


gtliichAjCuJZ.  ^^L<Ke(^ 


I 


f 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


273 


died  in  the  year  1866  at  tiie  age  of  eighty-one 
years.  His  father  lived  until  1869,  and  died 
in  the  eighty-ninth  year  of  his  age.  Mr.  Budd 
stayed  on  the  farm  until  the  estate  was  sold 
and  settled  up,  and  then,  in  1875,  moved  to 
the  farm  of  his  father-in-law,  who  died  in  that 
same  year  in  the  eightieth  year  of  his  age. 
On  this  farm  Mr.  Budd  still  lives,  and  although 
in  his  seventy-fourth  year  he  is  active,  both 
physically  and  mentally.  Mr.  Budd  lays  his 
activity  to  the  fact  that  he  has  always  abstained 
from  the  use  of  tobacco  and  spirituous  liquors 
in  any  form.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Budd  have  two 
sons :  Prof.  I.  S. ,  a  graduate  of  the  New 
England  Conservatory  of  Music  at  Boston,  and 
is  now  residing  in  the  city  of  Newburgh,  en- 
gaged in  the  profession  of  music;  and  Matthew 
V.  B.  Budd,  who  owns  a  farm  adjoining  his 
father,  and  is  living  at  home  at  the  present 
time. 

Sketch  of  English  History  of  Budd 
Family. — Baron  Gene  Budd,  a  great  soldier 
and  commanding  officer  under  Charles  the 
Great,  who  established  the  great  empire. 
Charles  gave  him  a  large  body  of  land  on  the 
1  coast  of  what  is  called  Normandy.  Here  he 
ruled  like  a  freeman,  and  he  and  his  descend- 
ants were  in  many  battles.  They  were  called 
French  when  the  Normans  invaded  that  part 
of  France,  and  they  fought  till  they  were  over- 
come and  slain,  only  a  few  men  left,  and  their 
land  taken  by  the  conquerors.  Some  scattered ; 
but  William  Budd  remained  and  worked  on 
the  seashore,  at  a  place  called  Rye.  His 
i5ons  and  grandsons  were  in  time  allowed  their 
iland,  and  they  became  soldiers.  Here  William 
ithe  Great  came  when  his  barons  wished  to 
Islay  him;  but  Richard  Budd  gathered  his  men 
land  protected  him  till  the  Duke,  through  his 
assistance,  was  able  to  check  the  insurgents 
and  bring  them  to  a  better  understanding. 
Oaring  the  Norman  Conquest  three  sons  of 
William  Budd  crossed  over  to  England,  and 
^e  supposed  to  have  named  the  town  of  Rye, 

anty  of  Sussex,  England,  leaving  men  there 

t  certain  occasions.     The  father  of  Richard 

led  back  in   Normandy,    and  inherited  his 

tier's  feudal  rights. 

The  Duke  rewarded  Richard  Budd  by  giv- 
him  greater  possessions.      His  son  John 

erited  them,  and  when  Edward  of  England 
he  was  the  first  to  muster  his  knights  and 

Jiers  and  land  at  Rye,  England,  to  defend 
claim    of    William   of    Normandy  to  the 

3ne  of  England,    and   In   the  great  battle 

18 


which  took  place  it  is  claimed  by  our  ancestors 
that  his  valor  turned  the  tide  of  battle,  in 
which  the  Saxons  were  defeated.  After  this 
battle  William  the  Great  was  made  king  of 
England.  John  Budd  married  a  sister  of  Will- 
iam the  Great,  and  was  made  Earl  of  Sussex. 
John  Budd  and  his  descendants  built  up  Rye, 
but  the  town  and  all  the  records  were  burnt  in 
the  wars  which  followed.  They  held  positions 
of  soldiers  and  knights.  They  married  in  the 
Nevils,  Brownes,  and  Montagues,  and  during 
the  war  of  the  Red  and  White  Roses  many  of 
them  were  slain  with  the  brave  Earl  and  Lord 
Montague,  their  cousins,  who  fell  at  Barnet 
with  axe  and  sword  in  hand  after  piling  heaps 
of  slain  around  them.  Edward  the  Fourth 
having  secured  the  crown,  the  descendants  of 
the  Nevils,  Budds  and  Brownes  found  no  favor 
with  him  or  his  reigning  heirs,  and  many  of 
their  large  estates  were  confiscated. 

John  Budd  resolved  to  find  freedom  in 
America,  and  made  the  first  settlement  in  Rye, 
Westchester  county.  It  was  on  the  past  re- 
nowned history  of  the  Budd  family  in  France 
that  Joseph  Bonaparte,  Count  Survillers,  ex- 
King  of  Spain,  while  visiting  Col.  John  Budd, 
at  Budds  Lake,  Morris  Co.,  N.  J.,  claimed  the 
aged  sire  to  be  of  high  French  blood,  and 
everything  went  along  smooth  enough  with 
them  until  Joseph's  daughter  happened  to  find 
a  picture  of  Napoleon  on  horseback,  being  led 
by  the  Russian  bear,  which  had  been  placed 
in  some  room  unknowingly  to  the  Colonel. 
The  Countess  brought  the  picture  to  her  father, 
in  tears,  and  Joseph,  finding  the  Colonel  in  the 
dining-room,  threw  the  picture  at  his  head, 
and  soon  the  blood  was  high  on  both  sides, 
Bonaparte  claiming  the  Colonel  a  traitor  to  his 
great  French  ancestors,  and  the  Colonel  claim- 
ing Joseph  to  be  a  coward  by  deserting  his 
brother  Napoleon  in  his  great  trial;  and  that 
he  knew  nothing  of  the  picture,  it  having  been 
placed  in  the  room  by  some  summer  visitor 
who  had  recently  left.  The  hot  blood  did  not 
abate  in  the  quarrel,  and  the  Colonel  ordered 
Joseph  Bonaparte  to  leave  the  house  and 
premises  without  delay,  which  he  did  and  re- 
turned to  Bordentown,  never  to  visit  the  lake 
again. 

Prominent  Members  of  the  Budd  Fami- 
ly IN  THE  early  History  of  the  Country. 
Thomas  Budd  was  blown  up  in  the  "Ran- 
dolph," while  engaging  a  British  frigate  during 
the  Revolutionary  war.  John  Budd,  the  first 
son  of  Daniel  Budd,  was  born  April  5,  1762,  in 


274 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  town  of  Chester,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
years  entered  the  Continental  service  under 
George  Washington.  He  had  charge  of  a  bat- 
tery when  the  British  were  advancing  on 
Springfield,  and  kept  the  enemy  in  check  un- 
til the  militia  gathered  in  force,  which  was 
about  the  time  the  "  Red  Coats"  (as he  called 
them)  made  a  charge  on  his  guns.  Seeing  that 
he  could  not  save  them,  he  ordered  his  horses 
to  be  cut  loose,  and  under  their  fire  and  shouts 
of  Yankee  curses  to  halt,  made  good  his  re- 
treat. The  militia  having  gathered,  the  Brit- 
ish got  the  worst  of  it,  and  the  guns  were  re- 
covered. At  the  battle  of  Monmouth  he  took 
part  on  that  hot  day,  and  was  made  colonel. 
Joseph  Budd  was  a  captain  in  the  war  of  1812, 
commanding  his  company  at  Sandy  Hook,  N. 
J.,  and  other  places  of  defense.  Daniel  Budd, 
born  July  27,  1722,  was  assessor  of  the  township 
of  Roxiticus,  N .  J. ,  and  a  captain  in  the  reserves 
of  the  Revolutionary  war.  James  Budd  re- 
sided in  Burlington,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Colonial  Assembly  in  1668.  He  was  drowned 
in  the  Delaware  at  Burlington,  N.  J.,  in  1692. 
GiUjert  Budd  was  a  surgeon  in  the  British 
navy  for  thirty  years.  He  returned  to  this 
country  after  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  lived 
with  his  cousin,  Col.  Gilbert  Budd,  of  Mamaro- 
neck,  N.  Y. ,  till  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1805,  when  he  was  aged  eighty-five  years. 

American  History  of  Budd  Family  From 
1632. — John  and  Joseph  Budd  came  to  this 
country  in  the  year  1632.  They  arrived  in 
New  Haven  in  1639  as  one  of  the  first  plant- 
ers of  that  place  [New  Haven  Col.  Rec. ,  Vol. 
1-7-425.]  He  removed  to  Southhold,  L.  I., 
from  thereto  Rye,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  in 
1 66 1.  In  1663  John  Budd  was  deputy  from 
Rye  to  the  General  Court  of  Connecticut.  He 
was  the  first  proprietor  of  Apawquamus,  or 
Budd's  Neck,  purchased  of  the  natives  Sachem, 
Shamrocke  and  other  Indians.  The  original 
conveyance  is  on  the  records  of  Westchester 
county,  dated  November  8,  166 1,  and  was  so 
large  a  grant  of  land  that  the  other  proprietors 
of  Rye  were  jealous,  and  they  petitioned  the 
General  Court  assembled  at  Hartford  (now 
Connecticut)  not  to  confirm;  but  John  Budd's 
influence  was  such  that  he  retained  his  pur- 
chase. He  left  sons,  John  and  Joseph,  and  his 
will  dated  October  13,  1669,  bequeathed  to 
his  son  John  all  his  portion  of  the  mills  on 
Blind  brook,  and  to  Joseph  all  of  Budd's  Neck. 
Joseph  Budd's  influence  with  the  Crown  ob- 
tained a  patent   dated  the  20th  of  February, 


1695;  but,  owing  to  deficiencies  in  the  bound- 
ary line  between  New  York  and  Connecticut, 
the  Courts  refused  to  act  on  this  patent,  and 
it  was  not  until  1720  that  it  was  confirmed 
under  the  great  seal  of  the  Province  of  New 
York.  The  patentees  then  yielded  yearly  to 
the  Governor,  on  the  fast  day  of  the  Blessed 
'Virgin  Mary,  the  annual  rent  of  one  pound 
and  nineteen  shillings.  This  was  under 
George  I. 

Lieut.  John  Budd  married  Catherine 
Browne,  a  descending  relative  of  Sir  Anthony 
Browne,  the  founder  of  the  Montague  family 
and  Henry  V  of  England.  Lieut.  John  Budd 
left  two  sons,  John  and  Joseph,  and  two 
daughters,  Judith  and  Jane.  Lieut.  John 
Budd  died  1670.  [M.  3  Hartford,  Vol.  1-425 
contains  his  will.] 

Joseph  Budd,  the  second  son  of  John  Budd 
(i),  was  known  as  Capt.  Budd  in  1700.  He 
was  a  prominent  oiflcer  in  1701,  and  justice  of 
the  peace  from  1710  to  17 16  and  from  1720 
to  1 722.  In  1 720  he  obtained  a  patent  for  the 
tract  purchased  by  his  father  known  as  Budd's 
Neck.  He  died  in  1722,  and  left  children: 
John,  Joseph,  Elisha,  Underbill. 

John  Budd,  son  of  Joseph,  is  mentioned  in 
the  records  of  Rye,  from  1720  to  1745.  He 
inherited  the  estate  on  Budd's  Neck,  which  he 
sold  in  1745,  mostly  to  Peter  Jay.  Gilbert 
Budd,  born  in  Westchester  county,  in  1736, 
grandfather  of  Underbill  Budd  (subject  of  our 
sketch),  married  Deborah  Searls,  born  June 
14,  1738;  children:  Underbill,  Seeley,  Elijah 
(I),  Mary  P.,  William,  Gilbert  (i),  John,  Gil- 
bert (2)  and  Elijah  (2).  Elijah  Budd,  father 
of  Underbill,  married  Abigail  Sebring;  chil- 
dren: Isaac  S.  (died  in  his  seventy-fourth 
year),  Van  Benschoten  (died  in  his  eighty- 
fourth  year),  John  J.,  Jacob  (died  in  his  eighty- 
fifth  year),  Tunis  G.,  Matthew,  Margaret 
(died  in  her  seventy-eighth  year),  Maria  M. 
(died  in  her  seventy-sixth  year).  Underbill, 
Amelia  A.  and  Edward.  The  father,  Elijah 
Budd,  died  in  his  eighty-ninth  year;  the 
mother,  Abigail  (Sebring),  died  in  her  eighty- 
first  year. 

Prominent  Members  of  the  Family  of 
To-day. — James  H.  Budd,  who  was  congress- 
man, and  is  now  Governor  of  California;  Jo- 
seph Budd,  judge  of  Superior  Court,  Stockton, 
Cal. ;  Oliver  H.  Budd,  who  is  now  serving  his 
second  term  in  the  Legislature;  James  Budd, 
president  of  the  Agricultural  College  of  Iowa; 
W.  H.  Budd,   lawyer,   New  York  City;  Will- 


> 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


275 


iam  Budd,  lawyer  and  senator,  Mt.  Holly, 
N.  J. ;  Joseph  K.  Budd,  banker,  St.  Louis; 
Dr.  Henrv  Budd,  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  and  others. 


ENRY  B.  BEVIER.  The  Bevier  family 
^  has  been  so  long  and  so  prominently 
identified  with  the  leading  interests  of  this  re- 
gion that  to  be  ignorant  of  its  history  "argues 
one's  self  unknown."  From  the  days  of  the 
Huguenot  pioneer,  Louis  Bevier,  one  of  that 
little  company  of  e.xiles  who  came  to  America 
in  1660,  to  the  present  time,  the  bearers  of 
this  name  have  been  distinguished  for  the  pos- 
session of  those  qualities  which  constitute  good 
citizenship,  and  many  have  held  positions  of 
honor  in  the  public  service. 

Henry  B.  Bevier,  our  subject,  is  a  well- 
known  druggist  and  apothecary  of  Matteawan, 
Dutchess  county,  born  August  31,  1857,  at 
Napanoch,  N.  Y. ,  the  son  of  Dr.  Benjamin  R. 
Bevier  and  his  wife,  Ellen  M.  Bange.  His 
I  education  was  obtained  at  his  native  place,  in 
I  the  public  schools,  and  at  the  Van  Vleck  Sem- 
'  inary.  At  an  early  age  he  entered  the  employ 
of  Alexander  A.  Taylor,  a  druggist  at  Summit, 
N.  J.,  and  while  there  he  passed  the  examina- 
tion before  the  State  Board  of  Pharmacy, 
obtaining  a  license  to  follow  his  chosen  calling. 
Later  he  was  employed  as  a  clerk  in  Newark, 
N.  J.,  and  other  places;  but  in  1877  he  went 
:o  Matteawan,  where  he  purchased  the  drug 
;5tore  of  Daniel  Y.  Bayley,  which  he  has  since 
conducted.  His  business  is  now  very  ex- 
lensive,  and  he  is  the  proprietor  of  Bevier's 
i£xpectorant  and  Bevier's  Malaria  Pills,  reme- 
whose  effectiveness  has  given  them  an 
lense  sale,  especially  in  the  eastern  and 
Idle  States. 

Like  all  of  his  family,  he  is  public-spirited 

takes  great  interest  in  local  progress.     He 

elected  coroner  on  the  Republican  ticket 

lovember,  1 894,  for  a  term  of  three  years, 

ring  a  majority  over  his  competitor  of  more 

m  2,000  votes.      As  a  member  of  the  board 

education    he  has  done  much  to  maintain 

efficiency  of  the  Matteawan  schools.     He 

trustee  of  the  Matteawan  Savings  Bank, 

a  member  of  various  social  and  fraternal 

ieties — the  Matteawan  Club,  the  F.  &  A.  M. , 

)n  Lodge  No.  283,  Newburg  Chapter,  and 

J  order  of  Foresters,  "  Court  Queen,"  of 

ludson. 

On  September  14,  1887,  he  was  married  to 
liss  Kate  Brown,  a  member  of  a  leading  fam- 


ily of  Matteawan,  and  daughter  of  the  late 
Monroe  Brown  and  his  wife,  Mary  Jones 
Brown.  They  reside  on  the  corner  of  Schenk 
avenue  and  Ackerman  street,  and  their  pleas- 
ant home  is  gladdened  by  two  sons,  Benjamin, 
born  in  1888,  and  Monroe,  born  in  1893.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bevier  attended  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  are  prompt  to  lend  their  sym- 
pathy to  any  worthy  cause. 

Mr.  Bevier  is  of  the  tenth  generation  in  di- 
rect descent  from  the  Huguenpt  exile,  and 
Conrad  Bevier,  his  great-grandfather,  who  was 
an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  army.  Dr. 
Benjamin  R.  Bevier,  his  grandfather,  one  of 
the  most  prominent  physicians  of  his  day,  was 
born  September  10,  1782,  and  died  at  Napa- 
noch, New  York,  June  17,  1866.  As  a  prac- 
titioner, he  was  distinguished  for  the  rapidity 
and  accuracy  of  his  diagnoses  in  difficult  cases, 
his  fidelity  to  his  patients,  and  his  genial  man- 
ner. The  latter  excellent  quality  both  his  son, 
Dr.  Benj.  R.  Bevier,  Jr.,  and  his  grandson, 
Henry  B.,  inherit  to  a  remarkable  degree.  He 
traveled  mostly  on  horseback,  and  may  be 
said  to  have  lived  nearly  forty  years  in  the 
saddle.  In  a  civil  capacity,  his  life  was  full  of 
labors,  and  honors.  He  had  a  remarkably 
sound  judgment,  abundant  executive  resources, 
unflinching  integrity,  and  correct  and  system- 
atic business  habits.  When  only  thirty  years 
of  age.  Gov.  D.  D.  Tompkins  signalized  his 
respect  and  esteem  for  him  by  making  him  one 
of  the  judges  of  the  Ulster  county  court,  which 
office  he  soon  resigned,  as  it  interfered  too 
much  with  his  professional  work.  He  was 
twice  a  candidate  for  Congress  in  his  district 
at  times  when  the  Old  Whig  party,  with  which 
he  was  connected,  was  some  3,000  in  the  mi- 
nority, and  was  defeated  in  one  instance  by 
only  one  hundred  and  fifty,  and  in  the  other 
by  only  six  votes.  He  subsequently  served 
the  county  several  terms  in  the  State  Legis- 
lature, and  was  also  supervisor  of  his  town. 

On  February  5,  1807,  he  married  Cathar- 
ine E.  Ten  E3'ck,  and  reared  a  family,  among 
whom  was  Dr.  Benjamin  R.  Bevier,  Jr.,  our 
subject's  father,  wha  was  born  January  21, 
1828,  at  Napanoch,  and  after  completing  his 
literary  studies  at  New  Paltz  Academy  and  the 
Dutchess  County  Academy,  studied  medicine 
in  Poughkeepsie  with  Drs.  Cooper  and  Hugh- 
son,  and  later  at  the  College  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons  in  New  York  City,  graduating  in 
1849.  He  has  ever  since  followed  his  profes- 
sion in  his  native  town,  and   is  still  in  active 


276 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


practice.  He  is  a  leading  member  of  the  Ul- 
ster County  Medical  Society,  and  takes  a 
prominent  share  in  local  progress,  having  rep- 
resented his  town  in  the  board  of  supervisors, 
and  served  two  terms  as  county  coroner.  On 
June  12,  1850,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ellen 
M.  Bange,  and  has  had  six  children,  of  whom 
two  died  in  infancy.  The  surviving  four  are: 
Mary  B.,  the  wife  of  Prof.  Brainard  G.  Smith, 
of  Hamilton  College;  Henry  B.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Conrad  B.,  a  licensed  pharmacist, 
now  in  his  brother's  employ;  and  Irene,  who 
is  at  home. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
the  late  Frederick  Bange,  was  bofn  in  Holland 
in  1 801,  and  came  to  this  country  when  he 
was  ten  years  old.  Immediately  after  his  ar- 
rival he  was  apprenticed  to  Squire  White,  of 
Hartford,  Conn.  He  was  afterward  a  clerk 
for  Mr.  Solomon  Porter,  and  while  in  his  em- 
ploy accumulated  $1,000,  with  which  he  en- 
gaged in  the  crockery  business,  importing  his 
goods  from  England.  In  time,  he  made  a 
large  fortune,  and  then  began  a  shipping  busi- 
ness between  New  London,  Conn.,  and  the 
West  Indies,  sending  out  horses  and  mules, 
exchanging  them  for  sugar  and  molasses. 
While  in  this  business,  he  became  involved 
through  the  failure  of  those  whom  he  had 
assisted,  and  with  that  strict  integrity  that  had 
always  characterized  him,  he  paid  every  cent 
of  his  indebtedness,  and  began  a  new  financial 
life  as  a  poor  man.  In  striving  to  obtain  what 
was  due  him  from  a  sea  captain  who  had  de- 
frauded him,  he  was  obliged  to  go  to  Mexico, 
and  while  there  formed  the  plan  of  engaging 
in  the  hide  and  wool  trade.  Assisted  by  friends 
in  New  York,  he  fitted  out  a  vessel,  and  later 
several  vessels,  of  which  he  became  the  owner. 
Thus  began  a  trade  which  has  made  many 
fortunes.  Mr.  Bange  regained  his  lost  com- 
petence in  this  trade,  and  then  retired,  buying 
a  country  seat  on  the  Passaic  river  at  Newark, 
N.  J.,  where  he  resided  for  several  years.  He 
was  induced  to  buy  the  tannery  at  Lackawack, 
Ulster  county,  N.  Y. ,  and  this  was  conducted 
several  years  by  his  son  Henry.  Then  he 
purchased  real  estate  and  water  power  at 
Napanoch,  N.  Y.,  upon  portions  of  which 
Forges  were  built,  where  railroad  axles  and 
bar-iron  were  manufactured.  He  made  the 
iron  for  the  Niagara  and  Ohio  suspension 
bridge.  In  1852  he  built  the  Napanoch  Blast 
Furnace,  and  opened  the  iron-mine,  which  he 
operated  for   four  or   five  years,  but  the  iron 


trade  becoming  much  depressed  he  was  obliged 
to  make  an  assignment  for  the  benefit  of  his 
creditors.  The  entire  property  was  sold,  and 
he  was  left  in  his  old  age,  after  a  life  of  unre- 
mitting toil,  with  very  little  means.  He  was 
one  of  the  kindest,  best  and  most  unselfish  of 
men,  always  considerate  in  regard  to  the  wel- 
fare and  happiness  of  his  family  and  friends. 
He  was  honest  and  upright  in  all  his  transac- 
tions, and  set  an  example  in  his  life  which  all 
would  do  well  to  imitate. 


JOHN  SCUTT,  a  prominent  business  man 
and  manufacturer  of  Millerton,  Dutchess 
county,  is  a  native  of  the  county,  born  at 
Pine  Plains,  February  21,  1821.  His  ances- 
tors on  the  paternal  side  came  from  Germany 
in  the  early  part  of  the  last  century,  settling  in 
Columbia  county,  N.  Y. ,  where  his  grandfa- 
ther, John  Scutt,  and  his  father,  William  Scutt, 
were  born,  the  latter  in  the  year  1777. 

William  Scutt,  our  subject's  father,  was  a 
farm  laborer  by  occupation,  and  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  was  spent  in  the  towns  of  Pine 
Plains,  Northeast  and  Amenia,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty. Always  industrious,  thrifty  and  steady  in 
his  habits,  he  was  held  in  great  esteem  by  all 
who  knew  him,  and  without  being  a  member 
of  any  Church  he  gave  evidence  in  his  daily 
life  of  high  morality.  Politically  he  was  a 
Democrat.  He  married  Hannah  Strever,  a 
descendant  of  an  old  Holland-Dutch  family,  of 
Columbia  county.  Fourteen  children  were 
born  to  this  union.  The  father  died  in  1887, 
in  his  ninety-first  year,  and  the  mother  in  April. 
1840. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  attended  the 
schools  of  Amenia  during  boyhood,  acquiring 
a  good  education  for  the  time,  and  he  devoted 
to  his  studies  the  same  energy  which  has  made 
his  business  career  such  a  notable  success, 
while  his  subsequent  reading  has  kept  him  well 
informed  on  current  topics.  At  the  age  of 
nineteen  he  left  school  and  began  work  on  a 
farm;  but  after  four  years  of  this,  having  de- 
cided to  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade,  he  went 
to  Chenango  county  to  work  with  John  Tryon, 
to  whom  he  hired  for  one  year  at  $4  per  month. 
In  the  following  year,  1844,  they  formed  a 
partnership  which  lasted  one  year,  when  Mr. 
Tryon  moved  to  the  West.  A  new  firm  was 
then  organized  under  the  name  of  Moon,  Dodge 
&  Scutt,  Mr.  Scutt  paying  fifty  dollars  and  be- 
coming an   equal   partner.      After  three  years 


I 


1^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


277 


with  this  firm  he  moved  to  Chenango  Forks, 
and  formed  an  equal  partnership  with  Myron 
Hollister,  remaining  one  year.  In  1849  he 
opened  a  shop  of  his  own  at  Gallatinville,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1854  moved  to  Northeast  Cen- 
ter, where  he  engaged  in  the  same  business  for 
two  years.  In  September,  1856,  he  purchased 
his  present  shop  at  Millerton,  from  Paine  & 
Fuller,  and  began  the  business  of  wagon-mak- 
ing and  blacksmithing,  employing  three  wagon- 
makers  and  five  blacksmiths.  In  1861  he  built 
a  furnace  for  the  manufacture  of  plows  and 
castings,  and  for  general  custom  work,  and  as 
this  was  the  only  furnace  in  the  vicinity  he 
speedily  secured  a  large  trade.  He  bought  the 
patterns  of  the  Eddy  plow,  of  the  "  Rough  and 
Ready,"  in  Washington  county,  and  has  since 
manufactured  and  sold  several  in  all  parts  of 
the  county.  Success  has  attended  all  his  en- 
terprises, and  he  has  won  a  high  standing  in 
business  circles. 

In  1843,  Mr.  Scutt  married  Miss  Julia  Ann 

Eddy,  of  the  town  of  Pine  Plains,  and  has  had 

i  six    children:      Charles,    a    prosperous    young 

painter  of  Millerton;  Jane,  who  married  Edgar 

Drum;    and    four    who    have    died — Melinda, 

.John    R. ,   Adelbert    and   William — the    latter 

!  passing  away  in  infancy.     The    mother   died 

1  April  8,    1890,   and  is  buried  at  Pine  Plains. 

I  Mr.  Scutt  is  one  of  the  pioneer  members  of 

I  the   Republican    party,    voting  that   ticket   in 

1856,  and  has  been  an   influential   worker  in 

local  affairs.      He  held  the  office  of  supervisor 

in   1886,  1887  and   1890,  has  been  justice  of 

the  peace  for  thirty-two  years,  and  has  lately 

been  re-elected  for  another  term.      He  became 

;a  Freemason  in  1858,  and  has  taken  great  in- 

jterest  in   the  work  of  the  order,  having  held 

[every  office  in  Webatuck  Lodge,  No.  480. 

^^  Kleeck  family  originated  in  Holland,  and 
the  first  of  the  name  to  emigrate  to  this  coun- 
try was  Baltus  (the  great-great-great-grandfa- 
her  of  our  subject),  who  came  to  New  York 
^^ity  in  the   seventeenth  century,  locating  on 
he  land  whereon  Trinity  Church  now  stands. 
't  is  not  known  in  what  year  he  came  to  Pough- 
eepsie,  but  he  built  the   first  house  in    1702, 
nd  was  the  largest  landholder  in  the  country, 
le  represented  the   county  in  the    i6th    and 
7th    Colonial     Assembly,    and   died    in    the 
pringof  1717.      He  had  six  children:     Barent; 


Johannis,  born  in   1680;  Lawrence,  who  died 
in  1769;  Peter,  Sarah  and  Elizabeth. 

Col.  Barent  Van  Kleeck  (who  was  a  colonel 
in  the  French  and  Indian  wars)  married  An- 
toinette Palmatier,  and  six  children  were  born 
to  them:  Baltus  (born  in  1707),  Michael, 
Ahazuerus,  Peter,  Catherine  and  Sarah.  Peter 
married  Antoinette  Frear,  the  daughter  of  a 
French  Huguenot,  and  their  family  comprised 
eleven  children:  Barent,  Simon,  Antoinette, 
Levi,  Jeremiah,  Henry,  Peter  P.,  Deborah, 
Mary,  Trientje  and  David.  Three  sons  were 
soldiers  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  two  of  them 
being  killed  in  the  battle  and  buried  in  unknown 
graves.  Barent,  the  father  of  these,  bought 
1,640  acres  of  land  in  the  town  of  Lagrange. 

Peter  P.  Van  Kleeck,  youngest  child  of  this 
branch  of  the  family,  was  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  La- 
grange August  2 1 ,  1757.  He  was  the  young- 
est son,  and  when  the  other  boys  enlisted  in 
the  army  he  remained  at  home  to  work  the 
farm  and  care  for  his  aged  parents.  At  that 
time  many  farmers  in  the  town  were  called  on 
to  carry  provisions  to  the  troops,  and  he  among 
the  rest  was  engaged  in  that  occupation.  On 
one  occasion  he  was  sent  with  his  load  to  Wash- 
ington's headquarters  at  Newburg,  and  it  be- 
ing a  severely  cold  day  Gen.  Washington  came 
out  and  invited  him  to  go  into  the  house  and 
get  warm.  He  did  so,  and  the  General  gave 
him  a  glass  of  wine,  after  which  they  spent 
nearly  two  hours  together  in  conversation.  He 
afterward  fought  in  the  battle  of  White  Plains 
in  the  Revolution. 

Peter  P.  Van  Kleeck  was  married  three 
times.  His  first  wife  wks  Miss  Meddaugh, 
who  bore  him  two  children:  Deborah  and 
Sarah;  Sarah  died.  His  second  wife  was 
Emily  Sabin,  whose  children  were:  John,  Si- 
mon and  Syrena;  for  his  third  wife  he  married 
Charlotte  Sickles,  of  Albany,  whose  father, 
John  Sickles,  was  a  captain  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war.  Of  this  union  four  children  were 
born:  Catherine,  Levi,  George  and  Andrew  J. 

Andrew  Jackson  Van  Kleeck,  the  father  of 
our  subject,  was  born  May  22,  1829,  on  the 
old  homestead  in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  which 
had  been  the  birthplace  of  his  father  and  grand- 
father before  him.  When  he  was  four  years 
old  his  parents  removed  to  Poughkeepsie. 
Here  he  lived  until  thirteen  years  of  age  when 
he  commenced  sailing  on  the  ocean.  At  the 
age  of  eighteen  he  was  fireman  on  the  "  Chris- 
tian City, "  and  when  twenty-eight  he  became 


278 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


engineer  on  the  ' '  Empire, "  a  vessel  plying  be- 
tween New  York  City  and  Albany.  This  oc- 
cupation he  followed  until  he  was  thirty  years 
of  age,  when  he  returned  to  Poughkeepsie  and 
worked  at  the  mason's  trade  for  ten  years.  He 
then  bought  the  homestead  farm  in  Lagrange 
town,  and  there  remained  the  rest  of  his  life. 
When  a  boy  he  attended  the  old  Dutchess 
County  Academy  at  Poughkeepsie,  and  was  a 
man  of  much  intelligence,  well  posted  in  cur- 
rent events.  For  nine  years  he  was  a  member 
of  the  volunteer  fire  department  at  Pough- 
keepsie, and  he  was  a  member  of  the  Mason's 
Union.  The  old  homestead  farm  was  surveyed 
in  July,  1768,  and  the  father  of  Andrew  helped 
to  drive  the  stakes.  This  property,  which 
originally  contained  1,640  acres,  was  later 
divided  up  into  four  farms. 

Andrew  J.  Van  Kleek  was  married  Novem- 
ber 6,  185 1,  when  he  was  twenty-two  years 
old,  to  Abigail  A.  Alverson,  and  the  following 
children  were  born  to  them:  Susie  E. ,  Edgar 
(who  died  January  14,  1857),  John  P.,  Mary, 
Gains  Andrew,  Minnie  (who  died  December 
15,  1866),  Charles  Swift,  and  Katherine  Ethel 
(who  died  August  15,  1875).  Of  these,  Susie 
E.  is  the  wife  of  Fred  Mulcox;  John  P.  mar- 
ried Florence  Teats,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren— Raymond,  Clifton  and  Leola,  only  one 
of  whom  is  living. 


MJ.  LYNCH,  florist,  Poughkeepsie,  Dutch- 
_  ess  county,  is  a  native  of  Ireland,  born 

June  8,  1846,  in  county  Limerick,  and  is  a  son 
of  Matthew  and  Margaret  (Fitzgerald)  Lynch. 
They  had  a  family  of  five  children:  John, 
Patrick,  Thomas,  Bridget  and  M.  J.,  all  now 
deceased  except  the  last  named.  The  father, 
who  was  a  gardener  by  occupation,  died  when 
our  subject  was  but  six  months  old. 

In  1847  or  '48  the  widowed  mother  came 
to  America,  bringing  her  infant  boy  (M.  J.) 
with  her;  but  two  years  later  they  returned  to 
Ireland,  where  he  remained  until  he  was  eight- 
een years  old,  attending  school  up  to  the  age 
of  eleven.  At  that  early  time  of  life  he  took 
an  engagement  with  the  Earl  of  Clare,  whose 
estate  lay  on  the  river  Shannon,  to  work  on 
the  farm  and  in  the  garden,  at  fivepence  a  day. 
During  his  service  of  seven  years  on  this  estate 
his  wages  were  increased  from  time  to  time, 
and  when  he  left  he  was  in  the  enjoyment  of  a 
pretty  fair  income  for  a  boy.  In  1864,  in 
company  with  his  mother  and  brother,  Thomas, 


he  set  sail  for  America,  his  brother  Patrick  hav- 
ing preceded  him  in  1862  (the  other  brother, 
John,  and  sister,  Bridget,  had  both  died).  On 
arriving  in  New  York  our  subject  soon  became 
impatient  to  find  work,  and  it  so  chanced  that 
one  day  he  met  a  lady  on  the  street  with  whom 
he  engaged  to  go  to  Staten  Island  to  take 
charge  of  her  greenhouse. 

Without  waiting  to  apprise  his  mother  of 
his  intentions,   the    lad    set    out  at  once  and 
landed  on  the  island  with  just  twenty-five  cents 
in  his  pocket,  which   he   invested   in  peaches. 
His  pay  to  commence  with   was  to  be  $8  per 
month,  and  at  the  end  of  a  fortnight  he  asked 
for  a  part  of  his  wages,  but  did  not  get  it  then, 
nor  since.      However,  he  succeeded  in  borrow- 
ing enough  material  to  enable  him  to  write  to 
his  mother  to  let  her  know  of  his  whereabouts. 
He  now  threw  up  his   somewhat  unprofitable 
situation  and  engaged  with  a  C.  G.  Genoux  at 
$14  per  month,  at   Clifton,  Staten  Island;  but 
a  year  and  a  half  later  we  find  him  in  the  em- 
ploy of   Timothy  Ryan,    florist,    at    Yonkers, 
N.  Y.,  at  $18    per   month.      Receiving,   how- 
ever, an  offer  of  $20  a  month  as  assistant  gar- 
dener under  William  Chalmers,  Mr.  Lilenthal's 
gardener,  Mr.  Lynch  soon  made  a  change,  and 
with  this  gentleman  remained  one  year.     The 
next  engagement  was  with  W.  H.  Aspinwall, 
of   Tarrytown,    N.    Y.    (now   the    Rockefeller 
place),  as  foreman  of  the  greenhouse  depart- 
ment; but  after  twelve  months  he  went  to  Col. 
Babbit,  of  Newton,  N.  J.,  laid  out  his  grounds 
and  built  extensive  greenhouses  for  him.     In| 
1868   he  again   made  a  change,  this  time  ac- 
cepting the  position  of  head  gardener  to  Will- 
iam B.  Dinsmore,  of  "The   Locusts",  on  the  I 
Hudson,  having  charge  of  the  greenhouses  and  | 
ornamental    grounds,    and    here    he  remained] 
two  years.     At  the  expiry  of  that  time  he  went  I 
to  Belleville  to  lay  out  J.  B.  Harvey's  grounds] 
and    one    year   later   came    to  Poughkeepsie, 
where  he  commenced   his  present  business  as  j 
florist  at    the  corner  of    Academy  street  and  1 
South    avenue,   which    property  he    had   pre-] 
viously  purchased.      He  began  in  a  small  way,  1 
having  at   first   only  one  greenhouse,    12x501 
feet  in    dimensions,  a  modest    nucleus  to  hisj 
present    mammoth    establishment    comprising! 
ten  greenhouses,  ranging  from  100  to  160  feet,  [ 
employment  being  given  to  five  men  all  thel 
year  'round.      In  addition  to  this  he  owns  val-| 
uable  property  at  No.  256  Main  street,  wheref 
he  has  his  seed  and  flower  store.     All  seeds 
sent  out  by  him  are  tested  before  shipment,  | 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


279 


and  parties  desiring  plants,  bulbs,  shrubs  or 
seeds  may  order  as  safely  by  mail  as  though 
they  were  on  the  grounds  to  make  their  own 
selection. 

In  1870  Mr.  Lynch  was  married  to  Cath- 
erine, daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Murphy) 
Powers,  of  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county,  and 
natives  of  County  Wexford,  Ireland,  but  both 
now  deceased,  as  is  also  Mr.  Lynch's  mother. 
The  children  of  John  and  Mary  Powers  were: 
Patrick  and  James,  both  liverymen  of  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y. ;  Edward,  of  Chicago;  Thomas,  who 
was  a  veterinary  surgeon,  and  is  now  deceased; 
John,  who  was  a  liquor  dealer,  and  is  now  de- 
ceased; and  Catherine.  The  children  born 
to  our  subject  and  wife  are:  Thomas  and 
John,  associated  with  their  father  in  business; 
Mary;  Maggie,  a  bright,  happy  girl,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  sixteen;  James  and  Kate. 
All  the  family  are  members  of  St.  Mary's 
Catholic  Church  at  Poughkeepsie,  and  in  poli- 
tics Mr.  Lynch  is  neutral. 


,^  UGUST  KOCH.  The  subject  of  this 
]j^L^  sketch  is  a  well-known  merchant  tailor 
I  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  He  was  born  at  Leut- 
Initz,  Fuerstenthum  Schwarzburgh-Rudolstadt, 
Germany,  March  2,  1834,  and  is  the  youngest 
of  nine  children,  four  sons  and  five  daughters, 
jf  Nicolaus  Casper  Koch  and  his  wife,  Anna 
Barbara,  a  Miss  Fridrich,  also  of  said  place, 
low  both  deceased. 

The  early  life  of  A.  Koch  was  spent  in  his 

inative  town.     At  the  age  of  six  years  he  com- 

•menced  his  schooling,  and  was  a  regular  scholar 

ip  to  the  age  of  fourteen,  when  he  received 

IS  good  an  education  as  the  average  children 

it  that  time. 

At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  left  his  home,  go- 
ng to  Stadt  Remda,  Sachs  Weimer,  to  learn 
:3  trade  with  Ernest  Heinze,  one  of  the  best, 
not  the  best,  master  tailors  in  that  city.     At 
he  age  of  nineteen  Mr.  Koch  came  to  America, 
nding  in  New  York  May  21,  1853,  where  he 
mained,    working  at    his  trade,   until    July, 
854.     He  then  went  to  Albany,  still  working 
t  his  trade  in  that  city.      In  November,  1855, 
e  came  to  Poughkeepsie,  and  was  engaged  as 
utter  by  the  late  Jacob  Bahret,  then  a  well- 
^nown  merchant  tailor  and  clothier. 

1856  Mr.  Koch   married  his  estimable 

Miss  Julia  Caroline  Bahret,  a  daughter 

employer;  their  married  life  has  been  a 

pleasant  one.      Four  children  were  born 


to  them,  three  sons  and  one  daughter,  as  fol- 
lows: Charles  Henry,  William  Edward,  Julia 
and  Augustus  Wesley.  The  eldest  died  when 
an  infant.  William  is  a  plumber  and  tinsmith 
by  trade;  he  married  Miss  Sadie  S.  Karcher, 
three  children  being  born  to  them — Ernest 
Harrison,  Ethel  J.  and  Florence  C. 

In  1866  Mr.  Koch  formed  a  co-partnership 
in  the  merchant-tailoring  business  with  J.  J. 
Bahret,  a  brother  of  his  wife,  and  took  full 
charge  of  the  cutting  department.  This  part- 
nership continued  up  to  1883,  when  poor  health 
made  it  necessary  for  him  to  retire  from  the 
business,  selling  his  interest  to  his  partner. 
No  sooner  had  he  gained  his  health  and  strength 
than  he  again  took  up  the  business  he  always 
liked  so  well,  and  started  in  merchant  tailor- 
ing at  No.  146  Main  street,  where  he  still  han- 
dles his  tape,  square  and  shears.  His  son 
Augustus  assists  him  in  the  business. 

Mr.  Koch  has  been  an  active  member  of 
the  German  M.  E.  Church  since  1854,  and 
has  been  a  hard  worker  in  the  Sunday-school 
for  nearly  forty  years.  He  is  a  self-made  man, 
starting  in  life  with  no  capital,  and  what  he 
has  accumulated  has  been  through  his  indi- 
vidual efforts,  energy  and  perseverance. 


S\TEPHEN  SCOFIELD,  one  of  Pough- 
)  keepsie's  most  prominent,  industrious  and 
progressive  citizens,  who  for  the  past  thirty- 
seven  years  has  been  engaged  in  the  business 
of  stair-building,  is  a  native  of  Wayne  county, 
N.  Y.,  born  April  13,  1828. 

Lebbens  E.  Scofield,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Dutchess  county,  in  1801,  a  son 
of  Ephraim  S.  Scofield,  who  in  an  early  day 
moved  from  Connecticut  to  New  York  State. 
Lebbens  during  his  lifetime  was  a  resident  of 
three  different  counties  in  the  Empire  State — 
Dutchess,  Wayne  and  Tompkins — and  a  por- 
tion of  his  earlier  manhood  was  passed  in  the 
town  of  Fishkill,  near  the  village  of  Glenham. 
His  first  occupation  was  that  of  a  farmer,  he 
afterward  serving  as  a  watchman  in  factories, 
etc.,  this  change  being  occasioned  by  an  ac- 
cident, whereby  he  lost  the  fingers  -of  one 
hand,  thus  incapacitating  him  for  manual 
labor.  He  married  Susan  Van  de  Water,  who 
was  born,  in  1797,  in  the  town  of  Fishkill, 
Dutchess  county,  of  Holland-Dutch  ancestry, 
and  eight  children  bless  this  union,  viz. :  Abbie, 
married  to  Walter  C.  De  Golyier,  and  living 
in  Danbury,  Conn. ;  Julia,  wife  of  John  Spald- 


280 


OOMMEMORAFIVE  BIOORAPHWAL  RECORD. 


ing,  a  florist  of  New  London,  Conn. ;  Stephen, 
our  subject;  Edmund,  accidentally  drowned  in 
a  pond  at  Glenham;  Hannah  (widow  of  Horace 
Crocker),  living  at  Payne,  Ohio;  Phoebe,  de- 
ceased wife  of  Daniel  Smith,  of  Wappingers 
Falls;  Susan,  single,  a  dressmaker,  comfort- 
ably situated  at  103  Pine  street,  Poughkeepsie; 
and  Harmon  C. ,  who  died  in  infancy.  The 
father  of  this  family  was  called  from  earth  in 
1848,  and  the  mother  in  1886. 

Stephen  Scofield,  the  subject  of  these  lines, 
received  a  liberal  education  for  the  times,  first 
attending  the  common  schools  of  Tompkins 
county,  later,  when  a  young  man,  receiving 
instruction  in  a  night  school  in  Wappingers 
Falls,  while  he  worked  in  a  cotton  factory. 
He  has  always  been  a  gfeat  reader,  especially 
of  ancient  history  and  mechanics,  becoming 
on  most  topics  a  well-informed  man.  His  first 
occupation  in  life  was  farming,  and  in  1841  he 
removed  with  his  parentsfromTompkins  county 
to  Dutchess  county,  where,  in  the  village  of 
Glenham,  he  secured  work  in  a  cotton  factory. 
After  three  years  engaged  in  that  line,  he  went 
to  Wappingers  Falls,  and  there  worked  in  a 
cotton  factory  until  1847,  in  which  year  he 
commenced  learning  the  trade  of  carpenter 
with  Stephen  Armstrong,  in  Poughkeepsie. 
Returning  to  Wappingers  Falls,  he  continued 
in  that  line  of  work  as  journeyman  until  1859, 
when  he  took  up  the  specialty  of  stair-build- 
ing— his  present  business — in  Poughkeepsie, 
where  he  has  since  resided,  meeting  with  un- 
qualified success  in  his  occupation,  which  is  a 
branch  of  carpentry  requiring  the  highest  grade 
of  skill.  For  many  years  he  was  the  only 
exclusive  stair-builder  in  Poughkeepsie — in  fact 
in  his  section  of  the  country — and  his  services 
in  buildings  have  extended  from  fifty  to  one 
hundred  miles  in  all  directions.  He  has  done 
work  in  Great  Barrington,  Mass.,  also  in 
Staten  Island,  N.  Y. ,  in  Providence,  R.  I., 
and  in  New  York  City. 

In  1850  Mr.  Scofield  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Letitia  Mott,  daughter  of 
Abram  and  Margaret  Mott,  of  Bangall,  Dutch- 
ess county,  and  two  children  have  been  born 
to  them:  Isabella,  married  to  J.  Frank  Clark, 
of  Norwich,  Conn. ,  who  has  charge  of  Osgood's 
drug  business  in  that  city;  and  Frank  L. ,  a 
musician,  leader  of  an  orchestra  and  band, 
who  married  Miss  Florence  Eastmead  (daugh- 
ter of  Charles  and  Janet  Eastmead),  by  whom 
he  has  four  children.  Mrs.  Florence  Scofield 
died  in  1890,  and  for  his  second  wife  Frank  L. 


married  Maud  Rounds,  daughter  of  Charles  F. 
Rounds. 

Mr.  Scofield  in  his  political  preferences  has 
been  a  Republican  ever  since  the  formation  of 
that  party,  prior  to  which  he  was  a  Whig,  and 
has  always  been  most  pronounced  in  his  views, 
as  well  as  an  active  worker  in  the  party.  In 
religious  faith  he  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church.  Socially,  he  is  a  charter  member 
of  the  K.  of  P.,  Armor  Lodge  No.  107,  Pough- 
keepsie; and  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Fallkill  Lodge, 
No.  297,  Siloam  Encampment  No.  36,  and 
Excelsior  Rebekah  Degree  Lodge  No.  7,  all  of 
Poughkeepsie.  He  has  always  taken  a  zealous 
interest  in  fraternal  work,  and  in  the  K.  of  P. 
he  is  past  chancellor,  while  in  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
he  has  passed  all  the  chairs  and  been  a  dele- 
gate to  the  Grand  Encampment. 

One  act  in  Mr.  Scofield's  life,  for  the  bet- 
terment of  his  fellowmen,  is  his  determined 
and  uncompromising  fight  against  the  use  of 
tobacco  in  any  form,  contending  that  it  is  an 
incentive  to  the  worse  habit  of  drinking.  He, 
himself,  is  strictly  temperate,  a  man  of  bright 
understanding,  and  an  excellent  conversation- 
alist. A  firm  and  enduring  friend,  it  may  also 
be  said  of  him  that  he  has  never  been  a  bitter 
or  vindictive  enemy,  and  he  enjoys  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  con- 
tact. 


r*V\EORGE  W.  KIDDER  is  a  successful  coal 
^y  and  lumber  dealer  of  Staatsburg,  Dutch- 
ess county.  From  researches  that  have  been 
made  it  has  been  ascertained  that  the  Kidder 
family  is  one  of  the  ancient  families  of  Eng- 
land. Some  account  relating  to  a  transfer  of 
land  there  dated  as  early  as  1370,  in  which  the 
name  of  Kydder  is  a  party,  is  said  to  be  still 
extant.  Tradition  says  that  they  are  of  the 
stock  of  ancient  Britons,  and  existed  as  a 
family  previous  to  the  incursions  of  the  Saxons, 
Danes,  or  Romans,  and  were  not  disturbed  at 
the  Conquest. 

Nelson  Kidder,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  at  East  Alstead,  N.  H.,  August  22, 
1803,  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability, 
well-informed,  and  highly  successful  in  his 
chosen  occupation — that  of  farming.  On  De- 
cember 22,  1829,  he  married  Sophia  George,j 
daughter  of  Ezra  George,  of  Acworth,  N.  H.,( 
where  she  was  born  July  22,  1803,  and  the>i 
became  the  parents  of  five  children:    Clarissa.! 


I 


« 


f 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


281 


deceased  wife  of  Mr.  Roys,  of  Alstead,  N.  H. ; 
Miranda  (Mrs.  Sawyer),  deceased;  ErastusE., 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business  at  Alstead;  Va- 
laria,  the  wife  of  Andrew  Morrison,  a  large 
farmer  of  Alstead;  and  George  Wilder,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  The  father  was  a  strong 
Democrat,  but  did  not  take  an  active  part  in 
political  matters,  though  he  was  naturally  one  of 
the  leading  men  of  the  community.  He  was  a 
great  Church  worker,  belonging  to  the  Methodist 
denomination,  and  was  one  of  twelve  who 
built  the  Brook  church  at  East  Alstead,  where 
his  death  occurred  December  21,  1871. 
There  his  estimable  wife  also  died,  May  26, 
1S83. 

At  East  Alstead,  Cheshire  Co.,  N.  H., 
George  W.  Kidder  was  born  April  10,  1845, 
and  in  the  common  schools  of  the  place  ac- 
quired a  good  English  education.  He  re- 
mained upon  the  home  farm  until  he  had 
reached  his  majority,  when  he  purchased  a 
half-interest  in  a  machine  shop  at  Alstead,  be- 
ing a  member  of  the  firm  of  Roob  &  Kidder 
for  two  years,  selling  out  in  the  fall  of  1869, 
and  coming  to  Staatsburg,  Dutchess  county. 
Until  the  following  spring  he  worked  as  a  car- 
penter for  William  Densmore,  and  then  began 
dealing  in  lumber  and  building  material,  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Herrick  &  Kidder,  which 
connection  was  continued  for  five  years,  or 
until  after  the  fire  in  April,  1875,  when  the 
partnership  was  dissolved.  Going  to  New 
York  City,  he  was  for  ten  years  employed  by 
the  Mutual  Benefit  Ice  Co.,  being  weighmaster 
in  the  summer  and  superintendent  on  the  river 
during  the  winter  season.  In  1887  he  bought 
out  the  coal  business  of  James  Roach,  at 
Staatsburg,  to  which  he  immediately  added  a 
stock  of  lumber  and  building  material,  since 
when  he  has  carried  on  business  very  success- 
fully, having  a  large  and  paying  trade. 

In  December,  1874,  Mr.  Kidder  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Julia  Rersley,  daughter  of  William 
H.  Rersley,  of  Staatsburg,  and  to  them  have 
been  born  one  son  and  one  daughter:     Bertha 
M.  and  George  Nelson.    Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kidder  at- 
tend the   Methodist  Church,  and  in  social  dr- 
ies hold  an  enviable   position.     Mr.  Kidder's 
terling  integrity  and  general  urbanity  of  man- 
ler  have  won  him  a  large  number  of  friends  in 
lis  community.      In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  and 
rue  Democrat,  at  National  or  State  elections, 
ut  on  local  matters  he  votes  independently, 
socially,    he    is    connected    with    Rhinebeck 
.edge  No.  432,  F.  &  A.  M. 


^/IjYRON  SMITH,  a  well-known  citizen  of 
Millbrook,  town  of  Washington,  Dutch- 
ess county,  and  who  at  this  writing  is  holding 
the  office  of  superintendent  of  the  poor,  was 
born  in  Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  May  12, 
1 85 1,  a  son  of  John  H.  and  Maria  (Reed) 
Smith.  His  early  days  were  spent  in  the  dis- 
trict school,  which  he  attended  until  fifteen 
years  of  age,  and  in  assisting  his  father  at 
wagon-making.  His  schooling  he  finished  in  a 
private  school  at  Dover,  and  for  the  following 
three  years  he  clerked  in  stores  at  Dover  and 
Wassaic.  He  then  was  employed  as  book- 
keeper for  the  New  York  Condensed  Milk  Co., 
at  Wassaic,  for  three  years. 

On  February  18,  1875,  Mr.  Smith  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mary  E. ,  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Mary  H.  (Arnold)  Tripp.  Mrs. 
Smith's  father  was  a  farmer  in  the  town  of 
Washington,  but  she  was  born  in  Amenia  April 
5,  1854.  Of  this  marriage  three  children  have 
been  born,  as  follows:  Howard,  deceased; 
Edna  L.  and  Frank.  After  his  marriage  Mr. 
Smith  located  on  a  farm  in  Washington  town, 
which  he  carried  on  until  January  i,  1889,  at 
which  time  he  was  made  superintendent  of  the 
poor  of  Dutchess  county,  and  has  held  that 
position  ever  since.  In  this  responsible  office 
he  has  given  general  satisfaction  by  his  excel- 
lent management,  and  has  shown  himself  to  be 
a  man  of  good  business  ability,  integrity  and 
kindly  disposition. 

Mr.  Smith  has  always  been  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, and  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote 
for  Gen.  Grant.  He  takes  a  leading  part  in 
political  affairs  in  his  locality,  and  has  served 
as  assessor  of  the  township  for  two  terms,  and 
has  also  been  inspector  of  elections.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  the  K.  of 
P.,  and  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Mill- 
brook  Club,  at  Millbrook,  where  his  social 
qualities  are  highly  appreciated.  In  public 
matters  he  has  always  been  on  the  side  of  prog- 
ress, ready  to  assist  in  all  worthy  enterprises, 
and  commands  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his 
fellow  citizens. 

The  Smith  family  of  which  our  subject  is  a 
member  is  said  to  have  descended  from  the  Rt. 
Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  who  was  born  in  the  parish  of 
Prescott,  Lancashire,  England,  about  1460. 
He  was  Bishop  of  Lincoln  and  Litchfield,  and 
with  Sir  Richard  Sutton,  was  the  founder  of 
Brazenose  College,  Oxford  University.  Nehe- 
miah  Smith  and  his  brother  John  came  to 
America  about    1638,   and  located    at  what  is 


282 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


now  New  London.  Conn.  Fourteen  years 
later  he  obtained  a  grant  of  land  for  a  home- 
stead on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  at  what  is 
now  known  as  Poquonock,  in  the  town  of 
Groton.  The  first  house  on  the  land  was  built 
by  Nehemiah  Smith  about  1652,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  road,  and  was  burned  down  during 
the  Revolutionary  war.  The  second  house 
was  built  by  Nathan  Smith,  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject.  From  Nehemiah  Smith  the  line 
of  descent  is  as  follows:  Nehemiah  (2);  Isaac, 
born  December  29,  1707,  married  Esther  Den- 
ison;  William,  born  October  26,  1749,  was 
married,  in  1772,  to  Sarah  Smith;  Nathan, 
born  at  North  Lyme,  Conn.,  November  12, 
1788,  married  Nancy  Waterman,  of  Salem,  in 
1 8 10.  To  this  last  named  couple  five  children 
were  born,  namely:  Sarah  M.,  Gilbert  B., 
Nathan  W. ,  Nancy  L.  and  John  H. 

John  H.  Smith,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  near  New  London,  Conn.,  June  i,  1821. 
He  spent  his  boyhood  on  his  father's  farm,  and 
when  fifteen  years  of  age  left  home  to  learn 
the  wagonmaker's  trade.  He  was  married  on 
June  I,  1847,  to  Maria  Reed,  a  daughter  of 
Myron  Reed,  of  Amenia,  N.  Y.  For  some 
time  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Smith  lived  at 
Amenia;  but  subsequently  removed  to  Wassaic, 
where  he  followed  his  trade  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  October,  1892.  The  father 
was  a  Republican,  and  a  prominent  man  in  his 
locality,  holding  various  town  offices,  such  as 
justice  of  the  peace,  etc.  He  and  his  wife  were 
consistent  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  and 
were  estimable  people.  Their  children  were 
seven  in  number,  of  whom  the  fpllowing  rec- 
ord is  given:  Nathan  is  a  merchant  in  Amenia 
Union;  Sarah  M.  married  Charles  M.  Hoyt,  a 
hatter  in  Danbury,  Conn. ;  Myron  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch;  Belinda  is  a  school  teacher 
and  has  never  married;  Esther  M.  married 
William  S.  Tripp,  a  butcher  in  Millbrook,  and 
is  deceased;  Edwin  D.  is  a  farmer  in  Pough- 
keepsie  town;  and  John  H.  is  a  wagon  maker 
in  Wassaic. 

The  following  short  history  of  the  family  of 
our  subject's  mother  will  prove  of  interest. 
"The  Reeds  of  Amenia  were  frofn  Norwalk, 
Conn.  In  1759  James  Reed  was  one  of  a  com- 
pany of  Connecticut  troops  who  passed  through 
Amenia  on  their  way  to  Canada  to  the  aid  of 
Gen.  Wolfe  in  the  siege  of  Quebec.  While  on 
their  way  the  company  received  news  of  the 
capture  of  Quebec,  and  were  ordered  to  return. 
Mr.  Reed  was  so  pleased  with  the  Oblong  Val- 


ley through  which  he  leisurely  returned,  that 
he  induced  his  father,  Daniel  Reed,  of  Nor- 
walk, to  purchase  for  him  some  land,  fifty-three 
acres  in  all.  The  brothers  of  James  Reed,  who 
removed  here  a  few  years  later  were:  Ezra, 
Elijah  and  Eliakim.  The  emigrant  ancestor 
of  this  family  was  John  Reed,  who  came  from 
England  in  1660.  He  had  been  an  officer  in 
the  army  of  the  Commonwealth,  and  came 
away  at  the  time  of  the  Restoration.  He  died 
in  Norwalk  in  1730,  aged  ninety-seven  years. 
He  was  a  good  specimen  of  a  Puritan  soldier, 
who  held  his  '  sword  in  one  hand,  and  his  Bible 
in  the  other.'" 


'\RNEST   HOCHSTADTER,    one  of    the 


J]  most    prominent   contractors    in    eastern 

New  York,  is  a  notable  instance  of  success  in 
life  attained  solely  by  diligence,  thrift  and 
judicious  management,  having  risen  from  a 
humble  position,  where  hard  toil  was  repaid 
with  but  meager  wages,  to  a  high  rank  in  the 
business  world. 

Mr.  Hochstadter  was  born  in  Lauenburg, 
Prussia,  Germany,   April  11,  1838,  the  son  of 
Henry  Hochstadter,  a  native   of  Hohenhorn, 
born  in  1801,  and  a  successful  teacher  who  oc- 
cupied   a   responsible    position    in    the  public 
schools  for  many  years  previous  to  his  death 
in  1839.      He  married  Wilhelmina  Turnow,  a 
native   of   Hagenow,     Mechlenburg-Schwerin, 
and  had  three  sons,  of  whom  our  subject  was  1 
the  youngest;  August,  who  was  for  some  time  \ 
in  business  with  the  latter,  died  in  Poughkeep- 
sie  in  1873,  and  Henry  is  a  prominent  grocer] 
in  Brooklyn.     The  mother   came  to  AmericaJ 
in  1865,  and  in  1882  passed  away  at  the  homel 
of  her  son  in  Poughkeepsie. 

Ernest  Hochstadter  received  an  e.xcellentj 
education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  village,  I 
and  being  also  fond  of  reading  has  become  un-l 
usually  well-informed.  He  was  only  one  yeaH 
old  when  his  father  died,  and  as  he  grew  olderl 
was  obliged  to  make  his  own  living  at  such| 
employment  as  could  be  obtained,  being  ar 
errand  boy  at  Lauenburg  and  in  Hamburg  fori 
about  two  years  and  a  half.  He  then  secured! 
a  clerkship  in  Hamburg,  where  he  remainedj 
until  1862,  at  which  time  he  came  to  this 
country.  Locating  in  Brooklyn,  he  bought  si 
horse  and  cart  and  engaged  in  trucking,  andiri 
1867  he  obtained  a  contract  from  the  city  foil] 
grading  and  paving  a  part  of  Sixth  avenue/ 
quite  an   achievement,    all   things   considered! 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


288 


He  then  began  the  business  of  constructing 
sewers  in  partnership  with  his  brother  August, 
and  did  $200,000  worth  of  work  in  Brooklyn 
alone.  In  1871  they  came  to  Poughkeepsie  to 
take  contracts  on  sewerage,  and  built  all  thesew- 
ers  in  the  city  except  the  one  in  Main  street  and 
a  few  collateral  lines.  They  employed  from  four 
I  hundred  to  five  hundred  men  for  two  years, 
and  on  the  completion  of  the  work  in  1873 
they  went  to  Hudson  and  laid  all  the  pipes  for 
the  water  works  there.  Returning  to  Pough- 
keepsie, they  laid  all  the  pipes  for  the  new 
Gas  Company,  and  then  transferred  their  base 
of  operations  to  Sandusky,  Ohio,  where  they 
laid  twenty-two  miles  of  water  pipe  in  rock, 
and  constructed  three  miles  of  sewer.  Other 
important  works  were  the  construction  of  the 
Phoenica  &  Hunter  railroad  in  the  Catskill 
Mountains;  the  work  in  the  Wallkill  Valley 
with  a  steam  shovel,  and  the  work  on  the 
West  Shore  east  of  Rondout  creek,  about  one 

land  one-half  miles;  in  addition,  the  building 
of  the  tunnel  at   Rosendale.     They    also  per- 

'  formed  part  of  the  work  on  the  Poughkeepsie 
Bridge.  Mr.  Hochstadter  is  very  systematic 
in  all  that  he  does,  and  doubtless  his  success 

Mlue  largely  to  his  careful  attention  to  detail. 
In   1863  Mr.  Hochstadter  was  married  to 
ss  Margaret  Grimm,  a  native  of  Barmbeck, 
rmany,   and  has   had    five    children,   all  of 
■vhom  died  in  infancy.      In   politics  he  was  a 
Republican  until  the  attempt  to  nominate  Gen. 
L .  S.  Grant  for  a  third  term,  since  which  time 
■  has  been  a  Democrat.     He  was  street  su- 
'crvisor  under  Mayor  Ellsworth  for  two  years; 
)ut  has  been  usually  too  busy   with  his  own 
iiiffairs  to  take  an   active   share  in  party  work, 
dthough  his  influence  has  often  been  exerted 
n  a  quiet  way  to  further  beneficial  movements. 
Vmong  the  German-born  citizens  he  is  regarded 
.vuth  pride  as  a  worthy  representative  of  their 
He    is    a    member    of    the    Lutheran 
rch. 


MUEL  SLEE  was  born  in  Poughkeepsie, 

N.  Y.,  in  1854.      His  father,  Robert  Slee, 

born  in   Poughkeepsie  in   18 18,  educated 

illets'  Academy,  at  the  old  Nine  Partners, 

nd  soon  after  completing  his  studies  became 

successful  merchant,  retiring  from  business 

I  1866  to  become  vice-president,  and,  shortly 

er,  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 

ughkeepsie,  of  which  he  had  been  an  incor- 

rator,  remaining  president  until  his  death  in 

■■93- 


Robert  Slee  was  interested  in  many  public 
enterprises  and  in  all  movements  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  his  native  place,  and  was  largely 
instrumental  in  securing  the  location  in  Pough- 
keepsie of  the  Hudson  River  State  Hospital 
for  the  Insane,  the  construction  of  railways 
and  the  Hudson  River  bridge.  He  was  of 
studious  disposition,  and  read  largely,  keeping 
in  touch  with  the  progressive  thought  of  the 
time  and  cultivating  the  friendship  of  men  of 
like  spirit;  he  passed  the  greater  part  of  his 
time  in  the  enjoyment  of  his  home  and  the 
entertainment  of  his  intimate  friends,  among 
whom  were  many  prominent  in  the  profes- 
sions, especially  the  ministry.  Mr.  Slee's  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  from  whom  he  was  named, 
was  born  in  Gloucester,  England,  in  1771; 
came  to  America  in  1792,  bringing  his  bride, 
Esther,  and  household  goods.  Esther  died  in 
1804,  and  was  buried  in  Christ  churchyard. 

The  elder  Samuel  Slee  was  admitted  to 
citizenship  in  1802.  During  the  State  admin- 
istrations of  George  Clinton  and  Daniel  D. 
Thonipkins  the  elder  Mr.  Slee  held  success- 
ively appointments  of  coroner,  sheriff  and 
judge.  He  was  also  trustee  of  the  village  of 
Poughkeepsie,  and  acted  as  its  president.  He 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  woolen  goods, 
importing  machinery  and  workmen  from  Eng- 
land, encouraged  by  the  policy  then  in  force 
of  protection  to  home  productions.  Upon  the 
conclusion  of  the  war  of  18 12,  and  before  the 
news  of  the  signing  of  the  Treaty  of  Ghent 
arrived  in  this  country,  English  ships  loaded 
with  woolens  entered  our  harbors,  and  the 
rising  industry,  left  without  protection  to  com- 
pete with  foreign  makes,  was  swamped,  and 
Mr.  Slee  became  financially  involved  and 
forced  into  litigation  which  only  found  its  end 
in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States, 
where  the  principles  for  which  he  contended 
became  the  law  of  the  land.  He  subsequent- 
ly engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  boots  and 
shoes,  and  accumulated  a  fortune  the  second 
time  after  he  was  forty  years  of  age.  Mr. 
Slee  was  universally  known  as  "Major"  Slee, 
and  was  in  actual  service  six  months  in  the 
war  of  1 81 2,  stationed  at  Plattsburg.  His 
military  career  commenced  in  1804  when  he 
was  appointed  first  lieutenant  (Capt.  Nathan 
Myers)  of  a  company  of  artillery  attached  to 
the  brigade  commanded  by  Brig.  Gen.  Theo- 
dorus  Bailey,  by  Gov.  George  Clinton;  in  1806 
Gov.  Morgan  Lewis  appointed  him  captain  of 
the  same  company,  in  1808  he  became  second 


284 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


major  of  the  3rd  Regiment  of  artillery  on 
appointment  of  Gov.  D.  D.  Thompkins,  by 
whom  he  was  in  1809  promoted  to  be  first 
major.  In  181 5  Major  Slee  received  his  com- 
mission of  lieutenant-colonel  commandant  of 
4th  Artillery. 

Major  Slee  died  November  9,  1852,  a  much 
honored  and  respected  citizen.  He  had  mar- 
ried the  present  Mr.  Slee's  grandmother, 
Isabella  Newby,  in  July,  18 12.  She  was  also 
born  in  England,  in  Westmoreland,  in  1788, 
coming  to  America  in  1797  with  her  father, 
Robert  Newby,  and  his  family.  She  was  un- 
usually beautiful  intellectually,  and  was  the 
"Queen"  to  seven  sons  and  many  of  their 
intimate  friends.  She  died  July  4,  1869.  Mr. 
Slee's  mother  was  Emeline  Gregory,  born  at 
Sand  Lake,  Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1820. 
She  was  one  of  nine  children,  each  one  of 
whom  was  either  a  preacher  or  an  instructor, 
several  of  whom  have  become  eminent  in  let- 
ters. Her  father,  Joseph  Gregory,  was  born 
at  Dover  Plains,  Dutchess  county,  in  1787. 
He  served  two  terms  in  the  State  Assemby. 
During  this  time  he  was  engaged  in  an  agita- 
tion for  the  amelioration  of  the  law  of  land 
tenure  which  was  known  as  the  anti-rent  war, 
and  largely  through  his  efforts  and  the  ex- 
penditure of  his  private  fortune  a  reform  was 
effected  which  removed  this  question  from  the 
politics  of  the  State.  In  18 16  Gov.  D.  D. 
Thompkins  appointed  Joseph  Gregory  lieuten- 
ant of  a  company  of  light  infantry  in  the  43d 
Regiment,  and  Gov.  DeWitt  Clinton,  in  1818, 
promoted  him  to  be  captain  of  the  same  com- 
pany. He  came  of  sturdy  English  stock,  as 
did  his  wife,  Rachel  Bullock,  one  of  the  early 
American  women  noted  for  her  mental  gifts, 
of  whom  one  said:  "  She  was  the  first  citizen 
of  Rensselaer  county." 

Our  subject  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1877,  practicing  law  in  Poughkeepsie  and 
New  York  City  until  1888,  when  with  his  fam- 
ily he  settled  at  Washington  Hollow,  Dutchess 
county,  and  engaged  in  farming.  In  1892  he 
removed  to  Poughkeepsie  and  resumed  the 
practice  of  his  profession.  He  takes  an  active 
interest  in  politics  and  agriculture,  and  finds 
his  greatest  pleasure  in  his  home  and  family. 
Like  his  father,  he  is  an  extensive  reader,  and 
is  fond  of  out-of-door  life.  In  1878  he  mar- 
ried Marie  Louise,  daughter  of  the  late  Will- 
iam Tryon,  of  Katonah,  N.  Y. ,  and  has  two 
sons:  Ralph  Burton  (1885)  and  Robert  Don- 
ald   (1892).      Mr.    Slee's   only    brother,    John 


Gregory  Slee,  is  a  D.  V.  S.,  practicing  at  Bos- 
ton, Mass.  Their  sister,  Emeline  Gregory 
Slee,  is  a  graduate  of  Vassar,  and  now  re- 
siding with  her  brother,  Samuel  Slee. 


[(f/TLLIAM  BEDELL  ranks  among  the 
'MImL  progressive  and  enterprising  farmers  of 
the  town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess  county.  His 
residence  is  pleasantly  situated  near  Clinton 
Corners,  where  he  is  engaged  principally  in 
general  farming. 

Jeremiah  Bedell,  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  February  22,  1751,  and  for 
some  time  lived  in  Dutchess  county,  previous 
to  his  removal  to  Greene  county,  N.  Y.  He 
wedded  Marian  Gildersleeve,  who  was  born  in 
Dutchess  county,  January  13,  1756,  and  their 
union  was  blessed  with  twelve  children,  seven 
sons  and  five  daughters,  all  of  whom  but  two 
lived  to  advanced  ages,  and  were  respected 
and  upright  citizens.  One  son  held  the  office 
of  supervisor  over  twenty  successive  years,  in 
Greene  county,  N.  Y.  The  father  of  these 
died  August  12,  181 5,  the  mother  on  October 
3,  i8©7. 

Jacob,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  bom  i 
March  16,  1801,  and  died  February  25,  1865. 
He,  the  youngest  in    the  above  family,  was  a ; 
native    of    Greene    county,    N.   Y. ,  where   he 
spent  his  boyhood  days,  and  after  completing 
his   education    he  taught    school    there.     He 
was  married  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess 
county,    February   21,     1 821,  to    Hannah   H. 
Cornell,  who  was  born  in  that  town  September 
22,     1802,    daughter  of    Matthew  and    Sara 
(Halsted)  Cornell,  and  died  January  15,  1877. 
Three  children  graced  their  union:   David,  who 
was  born  January  22,    1822,   was  married 
Elizabeth   D.    Wing,    January  26,    1843,    am 
died  June  25,    1877;  William,   the  subject  0 
this  review;    and   Mary,    who  was  born  Marc 
5,  1838,  and  is  now  the  widow  of  George 
Smith.     After  his  marriage  the   father  located 
on  a  farm  two  miles  west  of  Clinton  CornerSi 
where  he  operated  his  land  until  the  spring  0 
1855,  at    which    time    he    laid   aside  busines: 
cares,    living   retired    up    to   the  time  of    hii 
death.      He  belonged  to  the  Society  of  Friends 
and  was  widely  and  favorably  known  through 
out  the  county. 

William  Bedell,  our  subject,  was  bor 
April  8,  1833,  in  Dutchess  county,  and  his  bo) 
hood  days  were  passed  in  the  manner  of  mos 
farmer   lads  in  those    days — between  schoo 


P. 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHWAL  RECORD. 


285 


ing  and  working  on  the  home  farm.  Besides 
attending  the  district  school,  he  also  received  a 
part  of  his  education  in  the  Jacob  Willets  school, 
in  the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess  county. 
On  September  13,  1854,  Mr.  Bedell  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mary  Elizabeth  Doty, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Sands  and  Maria  (Wing) 
Doty,  and  a  native  of  the  town  of  Clinton, 
Dutchess  county.  By  this  union  there  are  two 
sons:  George  Doty,  who  was  born  April  27, 
1868,  married  Etta  Hicks,  a  daughter  of  Wal- 
ter D.  Hicks,  and  Jay  Sands,  born  August  16, 
1870.  The  mother  of  these  died  April  10, 
1890,  and  at  Yorktown,  Westchester  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  May  17,  1892,  our  subject  was  again  mar- 
ried, this  time  to  Henrietta  (Hallock)  Irish. 

Upon  the  old   home  farm,  Mr.    Bedell  re- 
mained until  1866,  when  he  removed  to  Pough- 
keepsie,    N.    Y. ,    where    the    following   three 
years  were  passed,  and  then  for  eight  years  he 
lived  near  Morgan  Lake,  N.  Y.      He  has  been 
engaged  in  the  crockery,  gas  and  steam-fitting 
'businesses,  and  for  a  few  years  was  interested 
with  A.    M.    Doty  in  a  drug  store;  but   in  the 
-pring  of  1877  he  purchased  his  present  farm 
near   Clinton    Corners,   and    has    since    made 
';hat  place  his  home.      He  is  one  of  the  direc- 
ors  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Poughkeep- 
ie,  and  has  been  executor  of  many  important 
states.      He  takes  quite  an  active  interest  in 
,he  welfare  of  his  town   and    county,  but  has 
ilways  refused  to  accept  public  office,  as  his 
ime  has  been  fully  occupied  by  his  own  busi- 
5s  affairs. 

TAMES  DENN  BURGESS,  a  prominent  con- 
I    tractor  and  builder  of  Poughkeepsie,   was 
born    September    27,    1843,    at    Kingston, 
i  nada,  the  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Denn) 
rgess. 
ohn  Burgess,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
subject,   was   a   native  of   Somersetshire, 
land,  born  in  the  town  of  Shepton  Mallet, 
re  he  spent  his  entire  life.      He  was  a  car- 
er by  trade,  and  had  a  family  of  four  chil- 
:     John,  Michael,   James  and  Sarah;  the 
r  married  a  Mr.  Brown,  of  England, 
ames  Burgess,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
born    in   Shepton  Mallet,    Somersetshire, 
815,  and  obtained  a  good  common-school 
ation.     He  was  a  great  reader  all  his  life 
became  a  well-informed  man.      In  1830, 
n   a  lad    of   fifteen,  he    came   to   America 
th  his  brother  John,  and  settled  in  Kingston, 
inada,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 


life.  He  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter,  serv- 
ing an  apprenticeship  of  five  years,  and  for 
some  years  after  worked  as  a  journeyman. 
He  then  became  a  contractor  and  builder,  and 
for  twenty  years  prior  to  his  death  was  fore- 
man of  the  government  works  at  Kingston. 
He  was  an  able  man,  and  one  of  the  foremost 
in  his  vocation.  He  was  very  successful  in  his 
business  affairs,  and  his  prosperity  was  due 
entirely  to  his  own  exertions,  as  he  began  life 
dependent  on  his  own  resources. 

James  Burgess  married  Elizabeth  Denn, 
daughter  of  William  Denn,  of  Kingston. 
Her  father  came  from  England  about  18 12 
in  connection  with  the  Dock  Yard  and  Naval 
Store  Department,  established  in  Kingston. 
He  was  a  prominent  citizen,  both  in  Church 
and  business  matters.  Three  children  were 
born  of  this  union  :  William,  who  died  in 
infancy;  James  Denn,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  and  Sarah  Ann,  who  died  when 
three  years  of  age.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burgess 
were  members  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist 
Church,  in  whose  work  they  took  an  active 
interest,  In  politics  Mr.  Burgess  was  a  Con- 
servative, and  a  stanch  follower  of  Sir  John  A. 
MacDonald.  He  never  aspired  to  office,  but 
held  a  high  place  in  the  esteem  of  his  fellow 
citizens.  He  died  in  Kingston,  Canada,  on 
April  4,  1887,  his  wife  surviving  him  until  1889. 

James  D.  Burgess  attended  a  private  school 
in  Kingston,  Canada,  until  about  sixteen  years 
of  age,  when  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  ma- 
chinist, at  which  he  worked  two  years.  Being 
compelled  on  account  of  ill  health  to  give  up 
this  occupation,  he  took  up  carpentering  with 
his  father,  and  after  working  one  year  as  a 
journeyman  he  went  into  business  for  himself. 
Four  years  later  he  married  Annie  M.  Foote, 
the  daughter  of  a  confectioner  in  Kingston, 
and  removed  to  Napanee  (Canada),  where  he 
established  himself  in  the  bakery  and  confec- 
tionery business,  and  carried  that  on  for  seven 
years.  His  wife  died  about  this  time,  January 
29,  1872,  and  he  returned  to  his  old  trade  of 
carpenter,  in  which  he  was  engaged  for  the 
following  six  years. 

At  the  end  of  this  tfme  Mr.  Burgess  re- 
moved to  Deseronto,  Hastings  Co.,  Ont., 
Canada,  and  became  connected  with  the  Rath- 
burn  Company,  a  large  corporation,  and  was 
given  charge  of  all  their  building  operations,  a 
very  responsible  position.  In  1885  he  went  to 
Hyde  Park  to  take  charge  of  the  erection  of 
the  Archibald  Rogers  buildings,  and  remained 


286 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


with  Mr.  Rogers  for  two  years.  He  then  went 
to  Poughkeepsie  as  superintendent  for  Powers 
&  O'Reiiley  in  the  erection  of  the  second  lot 
of  buildings  for  the  Hudson  River  Hospital. 
Some  years  later  he  had  the  contract  for  the 
building  of  the  third  set  of  cottages  for  the 
hospital.  For  the  past  eight  years  Mr.  Bur- 
gess has  been  carrying  on  business  on  his  own 
account,  and  is  considered  one  of  the  leading 
contractors  and  builders  in  the  city.  Among 
other  large  structures  which  have  been  built 
by  him  are  Trinity  church  and  a  large  addition 
to  the  Gallandet  House  for  Deaf  Mutes. 

Mr.  Burgess,  for  his  second  wife,  married 
Miss  Southwood,  of  Belleville,  Canada,  and 
for  his  third  wife  wedded  Mrs.  Dowling,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Ellen  Bogert.  She  died  in 
Deseronto,  in  1883.  In  1884  Mr.  Burgess  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eva  Chambers,  a 
daughter  of  Charles  Chambers,  a  native  of 
Yorkshire,  England,  and  a  retired  farmer  of 
Deseronto,  who  has  been  one  of  the  leading 
men  of  the  county. 

The  children  of  our  subject  are:  Harry, 
who  is  a  bookkeeper  for  the  Rathbun  Co., 
Oswego,  N.  Y. ;  Laura,  who  married  Rev. 
Robert  Knapp,  of  Walton,  N.  Y. ;  Ada,  who 
married  Rev.  Merrick  E.  Ketcham,  of  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio;  William,  who  graduated  from  the 
Syracuse  University  in  June,  1895,  and  now 
practicing  law  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ;  and  Lillian, 
Charles  and  Denn  Maltby,  at  home. 

Mr.  Burgess  is  a  self-made  man,  one  who 
has  achieved  his  success  by  his  own  industry 
and  enterprise.  He  has  always  been  a  reader, 
and  is  well-posted  on  all  topics  of  the  day. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  his  political  views,  al- 
though he  sympathizes  with  the  Prohibitionists 
on  the  temperance  question.  He  is  quite  a 
worker  for  his  party,  but  has  never  been  an 
office-seeker.  As  a  citizen  he  is  public-spirited, 
and  is  always  at  the  front  in  matters  relating 
to  the  welfare  of  his  community.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  takes  an  active  interest  in  Church  work;  is 
one  of  the  trustees,  and  has  been  superintend- 
ent of  the  Sunday-school  for  five  years. 


SAMUEL  CARPENTER  BARIGHT,  one 
of  the  substantial  farmers  of  Dutchess 
county,  is  a  native  of  the  same,  having  been 
born  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  July  5, 
1826.  There  are  several  branches  of  the  fam- 
ily in  this  country,  one  in  Columbia  county,  N. 


Y. ,  one  in  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  and  one  in  Can- 
ada. The  Columbia  county  and  Canada 
branches  spell  the  name  "Boright. "  The 
Barights  were  of  the  Quaker  faith,  though 
some  were  Presbyterians. 

The  old  Baright  homestead  was  in  the 
family  for  several  generations,  and  was  sold 
by  Elijah  Baright  to  A.  R.  Bartholomew,  who 
is  its  present  owner.  Our  subject's  great- 
grandfather settled  on  the  tract  of  land  which 
he  received  as  a  grant  from  the  English 
crown,  when  it  was  all  wilderness.  There  his 
son  John  (born  October,  1763,  died  January, 
1 81 3)  grew  up,  and  married  Miss  Eleanor 
Drake,  and  they  continued  their  married  life 
on  the  old  farm,  where  they  reared  the  follow- 
ing family:  Sarah  married  Jacob  Stringham, 
and  went  to  Michigan,  where  he  farmed,  and 
where  they  both  died.  Augustin  was  a  farmer 
in  Pleasant  Valley,  where  he  embarked  in  the 
mercantile  business;  he  died  at  Batavia,  N. 
Y.  Susanna  died  unmarried.  Elizabeth  he- 
came  the  wife  of  Daniel  Stringham,  a  farmer 
in  the  town  of  Lagrange.  John  died  young. 
Elijah,  who  was  the  father  of  our  subject, 
married  Amy  Doty  Carpenter,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Carpenter,  of  the  town  of  Clinton, 
born  1763,  died  1844.  His  pedigree  dates 
back  to  Timothy  Carpenter,  born  in  Wales, 
1698,  subsequently  settled  on  Long  Island,  N. 
Y. ,  and  his  descendants  are  supposed  heirs  to 
a  large  estate,  held  by  the  Bank  of  England. 

Our  subject  grew  up  on  the  farm  in  Pleas- 
ant Valley,  and  November  12,  1850,  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Frances  Dean, 
who  was  born  in  New  York  City,  February 
18,  1827,  and  in  1853  they  came  to  their 
present  home,  where  they  have  since  resided 
The  following  children  have  been  born  to 
them:  Arthur  Garwood  is  a  horticulturist  in 
the  town  of  Poughkeepsie.  Anna  founded 
the  School  of  Expression  in  Boston,  Mass.; 
she  subsequently  married  S.  S.  Curry,  Ph.  D., 
of  Boston,  where  they  are  engaged  in  teaching 
the  Art  of  Expression.  Helen  Dean,  special- 
ist in  the  Art  of  Expression,  married  Charles 
D.  Craigie,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  who  is  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  and  publishing  business. 
Genevieve  is  an  artist  and  specialist.  Elijah 
Kirk  is  a  salesman  in  one  of  the  houses  of  the 
Armour  Packing  Co.,  Poughkeepsie.  Mary 
Louise  is  professor  of  the  Art  of  Expression 
and  Literature,  in  the  University  of  Oregon, 
at  Eugene,  Ore.  Mr.  Baright  has  a  farm  of| 
120  acres  one  mile  north  of  the  city  of  Pough 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


287 


keepsie,  where  he  does  general  farming.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  Republican,  and  takes  an  active 
interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  party;  in  religious 
faith  he  is  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 
Joseph  C.  Dean,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Frances  Dean  Baright,  was  a  member  of  the 
Society  of  Friends  of  the  town  of  Pleasant 
Valley,  and  was  a  land  owner  and  merchant. 
His  mother's  father  was  Joseph  Castin,  one  of 
the  "  Nine  Partners  "  of  a  portion  of  Dutch- 
ess county.  Joseph  C.  Dean  married  Sarah 
Mabbett  of  the  town  of  Washington,  and  sev- 
eral children  were  born  to  them:  Jonathan, 
their  eldest  son,  and  the  father  of  Mrs.  Ba- 
right, married  Helen,  the  daughter  of  Gen.  S. 
A.  Barker,  of  the  town  of  Lagrange;  Edwin, 
the  second  son,  was  engaged  in  the  theatrical 
profession  (he  married  Julia  Drake,  of  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  and  Julia  Dean,  the  celebrated 
actress,  was  their  daughter). 

Mrs.  Frances  Dean  Baright's  grandfather 
|on  her  mother's  side  was  Samuel   A.  Barker, 
vvho  was  a  general   in  the   war  of  1812,  and  a 
jiivate  in  Capt.  Brinkerhoff's  regiment,  of  the 
Dutchess  county  militia  in  the  Revolutionary 
i.var.     He  owned  an  estate  in  the  town  of  La- 
range,  and  held  slaves;  was  active  in  public  af- 
airs,  and  was  an  assemblyman  at  Albany.      His 
econd  wife  was  Meriby  Collins,  and  they  had 
eral  children,  one   of  whom,  Helen  Barker 
jan,  was  the   mother  of  Frances   Dean  Ba- 
isfht. 


)RNELIA  VAN    KLEECK  was  born  in 
Poughkeepsie,  and  has  resided  there  ever 

The  Van  Kleeck  family  came  originally  from 
land,  and  settled  in  Dutchess  county  at  a 
early  day.      Baltus  Van  Kleeck,   grand- 
er of  our  subject,  was  born   in  Dutchess 
fity,   N.  Y.      He   left   two  children:     Mar- 
^t.  who  married  John  G.  Vassar  (a  brother 
Jatthew  Vassar,  the  founder  of  the  college 
It  name,  and   who  was  in   the  brewing 
less  with  him);    and  Leonard,   the   father 
|ur  subject. 

eonard  B.  Van  Kleeck  was  born  in  Pough- 

f>sie,   April    18,    1785,   and    there    married 

ibeth  Phillips,  who  was  born  in  the  same 

in  1791.     Her  father,  James  Phillips,  was 

o  a  native  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  was  a  farmer. 

was  of  English  descent.      He  married  Cor- 

ia  Van  Vlack,  and  to  their  union  were  born 

Idren   as   follows:    John    was    a   grocer   in 


Poughkeepsie,  and  died  in  the  West;  Abram 
was  a  hotel-keeper  in  Poughkeepsie;  Mary  mar- 
ried John  Wyley,  a  farmer  in  Dutchess  county; 
Catherine  married  Robert  Green,  and  lived  in 
New  York  City;  Jane  married  Jacob  Harris,  a 
farmer  in  Dutchess  county;  Sarah  married 
Isaac  Griffin,  a  butcher;  Barbara  married  Isaac 
Cubney,  a  farmer  and  blacksmith  in  Pough- 
keepsie; and  Elizabeth  became  Mrs.  Van- 
Kleeck.  The  parents  both  died  at  Pough- 
keepsie. 

After  his  marriage  Leonard  Van  Kleeck  took 
charge  of  a  hotel  in  Poughkeepsie,  and  at  one 
time  owned  a  large  amount  of  city  property. 
Six  children  were  born  to  him  and  his  wife, 
namely:  Margaret,  who  died  in  infancy;  Henry, 
who  was  a  clerk  for  his  father,  and  died  in 
1850;  James  was  city  librarian,  and  died  in 
1894;  Alfred  was  a  merchant  in  Mobile,  Ala., 
and  died  in  1849;  Cornelia  is  the  only  surviv- 
ing member  of  the  family;  Edgar  A.  became  a 
Baptist  minister,  and  died  in  1889.  Leonard 
Van  Kleeck  died  in  1854,  and  his  wife  in  1828. 
They  were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  most  estimable  people.  Mr.  Van  Kleeck 
was  a  strong  Republican,  and  prominent  both 
in  his  party  and  in  all  public  affairs. 

Cornelia  Van  Kleeck,  our  subject,  is  a  de- 
voted member  of  the  Mill  Street  Baptist  Church 
in  Poughkeepsie,  to  which  church  in  the  last 
seven  years  she  has  contributed  large  sums  of 
money.  She  is  very  generous  and  charitable 
to  all  in  distress,  and  is  always  ready  to  assist 
every  philanthropic  or  religious  enterprise. 


PHEBE  THORNE  WILLIAMSON,  M.  D. 
Among  those  who  devote  their  time   and 

energies  to  the  practice  of  medicine,  and  have 
gained  a  leading  place  in  the  ranks  of  the  pro- 
fession, is  the  lady  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch.  She  makes  her  home  in  Poughkeepsie, 
Dutchess  county,  having  an  office  at  No.  13 
Liberty  street,  but  also  spends  a  part  of  each 
week  in  New  York  City,  where  she  has  an  of- 
fice at  No.  1244  Broadway,  and  in  both  cities 
she  has  secured  a  large  and  lucrative  practice. 
Dr.  Williamson  is  a  native  of  Dutchess 
county,  born  at  Millbrook,  where  her  early  life 
was  passed,  and  attended  the  old  Nine  Part- 
ners Boarding  School,  there  acquiring  her  lit- 
erary education.  Judge  Stephen  Thorne,  her 
paternal  grandfather,  practiced  law  in  Pough- 
keepsie,   and   also  made   his  home   in  Milan, 


n 


288 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Dutchess  county.  In  his  family  were  five  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  died  within  six  years  of  each 
other,  namely:  Benjamin,  a  physician  of  Mil- 
an; Herrick,  who  was  given  the  maiden  name 
of  his  mother;  Stephen;  Cynthia;  and  John  S. 

The  last  named  was  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject. He  was  born  at  Milan  in  1823,  and  was 
there  reared  and  educated.  After  studying 
medicine  with  his  brother  for  some  time  he  en- 
tered the  medical  college  at  Castleton,  Vt., 
and  later  graduated  from  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  New  York  University,  after  which 
he  engaged  in  practice  at  Bangall,  Stanford 
town,  Dutchess  county.  There  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Frances  C.  Barlow,  daughter 
of  Cyrus  Barlow,  and  to  them  were  born  two 
daughters — Georgie,  wife  of  James  T.  Haight, 
of  Stanfordville,  Dutchess  county;  and  Phebe 
Anna.  After  following  his  profession  in  that 
village  for  several  years,  he  removed  to  Mill- 
brook,  where  he  was  engaged  in  practice  for 
thirty  years,  and  was  very  successful  in  his 
chosen  calling.  He  was  a  very  influential 
man,  and  for  many  years  served  as  county 
physician.  He  belonged  to  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  lodge  of  Poughkeepsie,  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  the  Masonic 
fraternity  of  Washington  Hollow,  Dutchess 
county.  Though  not  a  member  of  any  relig- 
ious denomination,  he  gave  liberally  to  the 
support  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
He  was  called  from  life  in  1880,  and  his  death 
was  widely  and  deeply  mourned. 

Phebe  Thorne  began  the  study  of  medicine 
with  her  father,  whom  she  assisted  in  his  prac- 
tice, and  after  attending  a  four-years'  course 
of  study  in  the  Woman's  Medical  College  and 
Infirmary  of  New  York,  she  was  graduated  in 
1878.  The  year  previous  she  had  married 
Albert  Williamson,  and  they  have  a  daughter 
who  was  born  in  1882.  After  her  father's 
death  our  subject  was  county  physician  at 
Millbrook  for  a  year  and  a  half,  and  in  1882 
removed  to  Brooklyn,  where  she  was  engaged 
in  practice  for  three  years,  during  which  time 
she  was  the  first  woman  appointed  on  the 
Brooklyn  Eastern  District  Hospital  staff.  She 
was  compelled  to  leave  that  city  on  account  of 
ill  health,  and  came  to  Poughkeepsie,  where 
she  confines  her  practice  to  the  diseases  of 
women,  and  obstetrics.  She  stands  high 
among  the  members  of  the  medical  fraternity, 
is  a  close  student,  and,  being  thoroughly  in 
love  with  her  profession,  her  success  is  assured. 
Dr.  Williamson  purchased  the  "Windsor  Ho- 


tel," on  Hooker  avenue,  which  she  converted 
into  a  sanitarium  and  summer  hotel;  but  as  it 
was  so  difficult  to  secure  competent  help,  and 
so  much  responsibility  rested  upon  her,  that 
she  gave  up  the  sanitarium  and  now  rents  the 
place  to  Vassar  College  for  an  extra  dormitory 
and  class  rooms.  She  holds  membership  with 
the  Dutchess  County  Medical  Society  and  the 
Kings  County  Medical  Society.  The  Doctor 
not  only  holds  a  leading  place  in  the  medical 
profession,  but  is  also  a  valued  and  prominent 
member  of  society,  being  held  in  the  highest 
regard  by  all  who  know  her. 


JAMES  EDWARD  DEAN, of  Fishkill,  Dutch- 
ess county,  treasurer  of  the  Fishkill  Sav- 
ings Institute,  and  for  many  years  its  presi- 
dent; proprietor  of  Monumental  Works,  and 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Fishkill  Weekly 
Times,  is  among  the  prominent  citizens  of 
that  village. 

He  is  the  son  of  William  George  and  Phebe 
Ann  (Van  Nostrand)    Dean,  and   his  ancestry  i 
is  a   notable    one,    his  paternal    grandfather, 
Ephraim    Dean,  and  great-grandfather,  Will- 
iam Dean,  having  been  soldiers   in  the  Revo-j 
lutionary  army,  enlisting  in  Westchester  countyj 
in  1775,  and  serving  until  the  close  of  the  war. I 
During  the  winter  of   1776-77,  they  were  botbj 
with  the  troops  that  were  encamped  at  FishTJ 
kill.      On  the   maternal  side   his  great-grand 
father  Alexander  Mead,  and  great-grand fathe 
Michael  Rogers,  were  also  participants  in  thd 
struggle  for  independence;  while  another  an-| 
cestor,  Aaron   Van  Nostrand,   was  granted 
service  of  plate  by  the  Colonial  Assembly  fo^ 
bravery  in  the   French  and   Indian  war;  and 
still    another,  Jacobus    Swartwout   (father  oil 
Gen.   Jacobus  Swartwout),    served  in   one  oj 
the  Colonial  wars.     The  elder  Swartwout  wa!( 
the  first  judge  of  the  court  of  common  plea 
of  Dutchess   county,  and   at    the    time   of  hi:j 
death    was    the    first   supervisor   of  Rombouj 
Precinct.      Mr.  Dean's  mother  died  April  14! 
1896,  aged  ninety- five  years,  four  months  anJ 
fifteen  days,  having  seen  eight   generations  cl 
her  family,  including  two  of  her  great-grandc 
fathers,    who    lived   until    she   was    seventeef 
years  old,  and  her  own  great-great-grandchil 
dren.      Of  her  seven  children,  all  lived  toIn^:| 
turity,  the  first  to  pass  away  being  Helena  Di  I 
Bois  Dean,  who  died   March    19,  1896,  at  tH 
age  of  sixty-one. 


I 


OL^^ 


e  CL^).^ 


I 

i 


p 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHWAL  RECORD. 


289 


James  Edward  Dean  was  born  in  Fishkill, 
i  May  lo,  1830,  the  third   child  and  eldest  son 
of  his  parents,  and  his  education  was  obtained 
I  in  the   public  schools  of  the  village,  later  in 
the  academy  which  was  then  conducted  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.    Pingry.      In   the  spripg  of   1848  he 
went  to  Rochester,  N.  Y. ,  to  learn  the  marble- 
worker's  trade,  but  was  called   home   in  Au- 
gust,   1850,   by   the   death   of  his   father,  and 
for  several  years  he  worked   as   a  journeyman 
for   Roswell  Lamson,    of  Fishkill.      On   May 
10,  1854,  he  married  Miss  Jerusha  Powell  Hil- 
liker,  daughter  of  Samson  and   Mary  (Gilder- 
sleeve)  Hilliker,  and  soon  afterward  moved  to 
Glens  Falls,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  and  his  brother 
engaged  in  the  marble  business  under  the  firm 
name  of  J.  E.  &  G.  W.  Dean.      Returning  to 
Fishkill  in  the  spring  of   1855,  he   purchased 
the  yards  of  Roswell  Lamson,  and  has  carried 
on  the  business  ever  since,  the  making  of  mon- 
uments,   headstones,    vaults,    enclosures,    and 
,and  everything  pertaining  to  that  line  of  work. 
In  1870  he  was  elected  president  of  the  Fish- 
kill  Savings    Institute,    and     held     the   office 
itwenty-one  years,  when   he   resigned  and  was 
chosen  treasurer.      In  1862,  Mr.  Dean,  in  com- 
)any  with   Milton  A.    Fowler,  now  of  Pough- 
;eepsie,  purchased  the  Fishkill   Journal,  which 
hey  sold  in    1866  to  George   VV.  Owen,  who 
amoved  it  from  Fishkill  to  Matteawan  in  1882. 
\ot  long  after  this,  Mr.  Dean  and  several  other 
entlemen    established     the     Fishkill     Weekly 
''lines,  still   conducted   by  Mr.  Dean   and  his 

Krierman. 
'he  Deans  were   prominent   adherents  of 
democratic  party  for  generations  previous 
e  Civil  war,  and  Mr.  Dean's  first  vote  was 
for  Franklin  Pierce  in   1852;  but  in  1855 
^  lined  the  Republican  party  at  its  organi- 
^on,  and  has  held  to  it  ever  since.      In  1859 
as  elected  town  clerk,  and  the  following 
justice  of  the  peace,  holding  each  office 
term,  and  declined  a  renomination.      For 
ve  years   he   was  postmaster  at  Fishkill, 
ious  to  November,   1885,  his  commission, 
h  was  signed  by  President  Grant,  bearing 
of  June    16,   1873.      Since    1863   he    has 
n  his  interest  in  educational  advancement 
continuous  service   as  a   trustee  of   Union 
:ee  School,  District  No.  6,  town  of  Fishkill. 
Mr.  Dean  was  one  of  the  earliest  promot- 
■^  in  the  organization  of  the   Fishkill  Rural 
metery,  of  which  he  was  made  trustee  and 
■asurer,  and   held  both  positions  for    thirty 
^^ars,  but  declined  re-election  as  treasurer  in 


1895.  His  father  held  the  positions  of  justice, 
postmaster  and  school  trustee  in  the  same  vil- 
lage for  many  years  before  him,  and  his  son, 
Herman,  is  now  the  successor  of  both,  as  justice. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dean  have  four  children: 
William  Edward  is  a  well-known  lawyer  in 
Fishkill;  Anna  is  at  home;  Herman  is  justice 
of  the  peace,  and  the  editor  of  the  Fishkill 
Weekly  Times ;  and  Robert  Edo  is  in  the  mon- 
ument business  with  his  father.  Mr.  Dean's 
ancestors  have  been  identified  with  the  Re- 
formed and  Episcopal  Churches  for  genera- 
tions, and  most  of  the  family  are  now  members 
or  regular  attendants  of  Trinity  Episcopal 
Church,  Fishkill.  By  virtue  of  his  ancestry 
Mr.  Dean  is  a  member  of  the  Society  of  the 
Sons  of  the  Revolution,  New  York  branch, 
and  is  also  eligible  to  membership  in  several 
other  similar  societies.  Mrs.  Dean's  grandfa- 
ther served  in  the  same  regiment  (the  3d  West- 
chester) that  Mr.  Dean's  ancestors  did  in  the 
Revolution,  and  from  both  sourcees  his  daugh- 
ter derives  her  claim  to  membership  in  the 
Society  of  Daughters  of  the  American  Rev- 
olution. 


WILLIAM  BOSTWICK,  one  of  the  busi- 
est, most  energetic,  and  most  enter- 
prising men  of  Pine  Plains,  Dutchess  county, 
is  now  the  president  of  the  Stissing  National 
Bank,  the  history  of  which  is  here  given: 

A  meeting  was  held  at  the  home  of  Henry  C.  Myers, 
in  the  village  of  Pine  Plains,  February  IT),  18;i9,  at  which 
Aaron  E.  Winchell  was  chosen  chairman,  and  F.  I.  Cur- 
tiss,  secretary,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  bank  under 
the  general  banking  law  passed  April  18.  1838.  At  this 
meeting  Aaron  E.  Winchell,  R.  W.  Bostwick,  Backus 
Culver,  Justus  Booth  and  Cornelius  Husted  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  report  a  board  of  ihrectors,  which 
was  as  follows:  Aaron  E.  Winchell,  R.  W.  Bostwick, 
Walter  Reynolds,  Justus  Booth,  Backus  Culver,  Corne- 
lius Husted,  Frederick  I.  Curtiss,  George  W.  Barton, 
Henry  Hoffman,  John  Ferris,  William  W.  Pulver,  Abram 
Dibble,  William  Winchell,  -Samuel  Deuel,  Niles  Hart- 
well,  William  Eno,  and  Leonard  Rowe.  At  a  meeting  of 
the  directors  held  March  Ifi,  1839,  Reuben  W.  Bostwick 
was  elected  president;  Wdliam  Eno,  vice-president;  and 
Walter  Reynolds,  attorney  for  said  bank;  and  April  1.5, 
following,  Frederick  W.  Davis  was  called  as  cashier. 
The  bank  was  located  in  the  Dibble  store  March  23,  1839. 
At  a  meeting  held  August  26,  1847,  F.  W.  Davis  resigned, 
and  John  F.  Hull  was  appointed.  The  latter  resigned  at 
the  meeting  of  May  4,  1852,  and  Reuben  Bostwick  was- 
appointed  cashier.  This  organization  was  known  as  the 
"  Pine  Plains  Bank." 

At  a  meeting  appointed  for  the  organization  of  a 
bank  held  May  29,  1858,  the  subscribers  to  the  stock 
thereof  voted  the  name  should  be  ".Stissing  Bank,"  and 
Justus  Booth  was  made  president,  with  Reuben  Bostwick 
as  cashier.  The  lot  was  purchased  June  19,  18.58,  and 
contract  for  building  the  hanking  house  was  made  July 
10,  following.     Justus  I5ooth  declining  re-election  for  an- 


290 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


other  year,  William  S.  Eno  was  elected  president  May 
14  1864.  At  a  meeting  held  March  4, 18(56,  the  name  ot 
the  bank  was  changed  to  "  Stissing  National  Bank." 
Reuben  Bostwick  continued  as  cashier  until  July  11, 
1870,  when,  at  a  special  meeting,  Fred  Bostwick,  his  old- 
est son,  was  elected  cashier,  and  William  Bostwick  was 
chosen  clerk.  This  continued  until  the  resignation  of 
Fred  Bostwick  was  accepted  May  9,  1885,  and  William 
Bostwick  was  appointed  cashier  by  the  board  and  ofticers. 
On  May  16,  1885,  William  M.  Sayre  was  appointed  assis- 
tant cashier,  and,  after  his  death,  J.  H.  Bostwick  was 
elected  asst.  cashier  May  21,1887.  On  Jan.  14,  1«96\  Will- 
iam Bostwick  was  elected  president  in  the  place  of  Will- 
iam S.  Eno,  who  retired,  and  J.  H.  Bostwick  was  ap- 
pointed cashier.  The  bank  is  now  in  a  flourishing  condi- 
tion, for  which  great  credit  is  due  its  efficient  officers. 

The  Bostwick  family  was  founded  in  Anier- 
ica  by  English  immigrants.     Reuben  Bostwick, 
the    father    of    our   subject,   was   a  native    of 
Dutchess  county,  born  in   1821,  and  was  the 
son   of   Reuben  W.  Bostwick,   who  for  many 
years  was  a  general  merchant  of   Pine  Plains. 
The  son  was  reared  in  that  village,  and  there 
spent  his  entire  life,  being  associated  with  his 
father  in  the  store  until  he  was  elected  cashier 
of  the   bank,  in  1852,  which  position  he  con- 
tinued to  fill  until  1870.     He  was  an  able  busi- 
ness   man,  possessed  of    more    than   ordinary 
ability.      He  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Hunt- 
ing, daughter  of  John  Hunting,  of  the  town  of 
Pine   Plains,  and    their   family  included  seven 
children:     Fred,  of  Pine  Plains;  William,  sub- 
ject of  this  review;  Ida;   Hattie;   Walter  and 
Walker,  both  of  whom  died  when  young;  and 
J.  Hunting.     The  father  did  not  take  an  active 
part  in  political  affairs,  but  voted  the  Repub- 
lican   ticket,  which    is   also    supported  by  his 
sons,  and  in    religious    belief    the    family  are 
Presbyterians. 

On  December  28,  1851,  William  Bostwick 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Pine  Plains,  where 
his  primary  education  was  received.  Later  he 
was  a  student  at  College  Hill  Military  Acad- 
emy, and  also  at  Riverview  Academy.  At  the 
age  of  fifteen  years  he  left  the  school  room, 
and  soon  afterward  obtained  a  position  in  the 
bank,  where  he  served  as  clerk  until  1884,  and 
was  then  cashier  until  elected  president,  in 
1896.  The  banking  interests  of  Pine  Plains 
have  for  many  years  been  well  represented  by 
members  of  the  Bostwick  family,  and  our  sub- 
ject has  been  one  of  the  most  discreet  and 
able  officers  of  the  Stissing  National  Bank. 
He  has  a  remarkable  faculty  for  the  conduct- 
ing and  dispatching  of  business,  and  his  ability 
to  fill  the  important  position  which  he  now 
occupies  has  been  well  proven  by  his  faithful 
service  as  cashier. 

Mr.  Bostwick  has  been  twice  married,  his 


first  union  being  with  Miss  Belle  Eno,  who 
died  in  1883.  The  lady  who  now  shares  his 
name  and  fortunes  was  in  her  maidenhood  Miss 
Eugenia  Covey,  daughter  of  Lyman  Covey, 
and  to  them  have  been  born  three  sons: 
Walker,  Harry  C.  and  Ralph.  Although  only 
interested  in  politics  as  a  citizen  anxious  to 
have  good  government,  Mr.  Bostwick  has  made 
a  careful  study  of  political  matters,  and  casts 
his  ballot  in  support  of  the  Republican  party. 
Socially,  he  is  identified  with  the  Royal  Arca- 
num. Courteous,  genial,  well  informed,  alert 
and  enterprising,  he  stands  to-day  one  of  the 
leading  representative  men  of  his  county — a 
man  who  is  a  power  in  his  community. 


HENRY  A.  ALDEN  (deceased).     The  his- 
tory    of     the    privations,    anxieties    and 

struggles  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  after  the  land- 
ing at  Plymouth  Rock  is    brightened  by  one 
beautiful  strain  of  romance,  the  story  of  John 
and  Priscilla  Alden,  who  were  the  direct  an- 
cestors of  the  subject  of  this   sketch.     Johm 
Alden   was   one    of    those    (the    seventh)  whO' 
signed  the  compact  in  the  cabin  of  the  "  May- 
flower" in  1620,  and  was    the  last   male  sur- 
vivor of  the  devoted  band    of   voyagers.     He 
was  not  of  the  Leyden  Church,  but,  as  Brad- 
ford in  his  "  History  of  the  Plymouth  Planta- 
tion "  informs  us  (the  spelling  in   the    original 
being  preserved),  "was  hired  for  a  cooper  at  1 
Southampton,    where   the   ship   victuled;  andi 
being  a  hopful   yong  man  was  much   desired, 
but  left  to  his  own  liking  to  go  or    stay  whea 
he  came  here;  but  he  stayed  and  maryed  here." 
He  was  distinguished  for  his  practical  wis^ 
dom,  integrity  and  decision,  and  early  acquired 
and  retained  during  his  long  life   a  commandj 
ing  influence  over  his  associates.    He  was  mud 
employed  in  public  business;   was  an  assistaB 
to  the  Governor  for  many  years,  and  in  eveij 
position  he  fulfilled  his  duties  promptly  and  b 
the  satisfaction  of  his    employers.      His  ances 
tors  in  England  have  not  been   traced,  so  fa 
as  is  known.      He  was  born  in    i  599,  and  die 
at    Duxbury,     Mass.,    September     12,    1687 
His  marriage  took   place    probably    in   1621 
Priscilla  was  the  daughter  of  William  Moline 
(or  Mullins),  who  with  his  wife  came  also  witi 
the  "  Mayflower,"  and    both  died  in  Februar 
succeeding   their    landing.       Tradition    repn 
sents  Priscilla  as  being  very    beautiful  in  h« 
youth,  and  John  also   was   a    comely  persor 
and  considering   his  other  accomplishments 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPBIOAL  RECORD. 


291 


is  not  surprising  that  when  he  was  sent  by 
Capt.  Standish,  after  the  death  of  his  wife, 
to  solicit  her  hand  for  the  Captain  in  marriage,' 
she  preferred  the  messenger  to  the  message. 
"As  he  warmed  and  glowed,  in  his  simple 
and  eloquent  language,  quite  forgetful  of  self 
and  full  of  praise  of  his  rival,  archly  the  maiden 
smiled,  and,  with  eyes  overrunning  with 
laughter,  said,  in  a  tremulous  voice,  '  Why 
don't  you  speak  for  yourself,  John?'"  Their 
residence  after  a  few  years  was  in  Duxbury  on 
the  north  side  of  the  village,  on  a  farm  still  in 
the  possession  of  their  descendants  of  the 
seventh  generation,  having  never  been  alien- 
ated. He  made  no  will,  having  distributed 
the  greater  part  of  his  estate  among  his  chil- 
Iren  during  his  lifetime. 

Jonathan,  his  third  son,  with  whom  he  re- 
sided on   the  old  homestead,  administered  on 
lis  estate  and  made  a  final  settlement  with  the 
leirs,  June    13,  1688.     The  settlement  is   as 
ollows:      "We,  whose  names  are  subscribed, 
rsonally   interested    in    the    estate    of   John 
Men,    Sr.,   of    Du.xbury,    Esquire,   lately  de- 
ased,   do   hereby  acknowledge    ourselves  to 
ave  received,   each   of  us,   our  full  personal 
roportion  thereof   from  Jonathan  Alden,  Ad- 
nistrator  thereof,  do   by  these    presents   for 
rselves,    our    heirs,    and    executors,   acquit, 
charge   fully,  the  said  Jonathan  Alden,  his 
:rs.  forever  of  and   from  all  right,  dues,  de- 
-nds,  whatsoever   relating    to   the  aforesaid 
nate.      In  witness  whereof  we  have  hereunto 
^cribed  and   sealed   this    13th  day  of  June, 
lo    Domini    1688."— John    Alden    {si-al)\ 
Alden    (seal),     David   Alden   {seal), 
Cilia  Alden  {sea/),  William  Paybody  {seal), 
kander  Standish  (j^rt/)  in  the  right  of  Sarah', 
Iwife,   deceased,    John  Bass  {seal)  in   the 
,  of  my  wife  Ruth,  deceased,  Mary  Alden 
0.  Thomas  Dilauno  {seal).    As  only  eight 
Iren  are  named  in    this  instrument  it  was 
bosed,  until  recently,  that  he  had  no  more. 
Bford,  however,  states  in  his  history,  that, 
^e  time  of  his  writing,  John  Alden  and  his 
I  Pnscilla  were  both  living  and  had  eleven 
gran,  and   that  their  eldest  daughter  was 
and  had  five  children.     In  the  document 
d  above  her    name    is   written   Priscilla. 
prdmg  to  this  account   the  children  were: 
|.  born  about   1622;  Joseph,  1624;  Eliza- 
1625;   Jonathan,    Sarah,    Ruth,    Mary, 
3,  the    names    of    the  other  three  beintj 
■own. 

\ecoiul    Generation:      Joseph    Alden,     of 


Bndgewater,  farmer,  son  of  John  (i),  was  born 
1624.  died  February  8,  1697.  He  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  Moses  Simmons,  Jr.,  and 
had  five  children,  viz.:  Isaac,  Joseph  (born 
1667),  John,  Elizabeth  and  Mary. 

T/iird Generation :     Deacon  Joseph  Alden 
Bndgewater,  farmer,  son  of  Joseph,  was  born 
m    1667.      He   married    Hannah,   daughter  of 
Daniel  Dunham,  of  Plymouth,  who  died  June 
13.  1748.     Their  children  were,  viz. :    Daniel 
born  January  29,    1691;   Joseph,   August    26* 
1693,  died   December  9,  1695;  Eleazer,  Sep- 
tember 27,  1694;  Hannah,  in  February,  1696- 
Mary,  April    10,    1699;  Joseph,  September  5' 
1700,  died  October  5,  1700;  Jonathan,  Decem- 
ber 3,  1703,  died  November  10,  1704;  Samuel 
August  20,  i705;Mehitabel,  October  18    1707' 
and  Seth,  July  6,  17 10. 

Fourth  Generation:  Samuel  Alden,  of 
Titicut,  son  of  Deacon  Joseph,  was  bornAu- 
gust  20,  1705,  and  died  in  1785.  He  was 
married  in  1728  to  his  first  wife,  Abiah,  daugh- 
ter of  Gapt.  Joseph  Edson,  and  had  nine  chil- 
dren, viz. :  Abiah,  born  1729;  Mehitabel,  1732; 
Sarah,  1734;  Samuel,  1736;  Josiah,  1738; 
Simeon,  1740;  Silas  died  aged  twenty-one 
years;  Mary;  Hosea,  killed  by  the  kick  of  a 
horse.  Samuel  Alden  married,  in  1752  his 
second  wife,  who  was  a  daughter  of  fosiah 
Washburn. 

Fifth  Generation:  Josiah  Alden  was  a 
farmer  at  Ludlow,  Mass.  He  was  married, 
in  1 76 1,  to  Bathsheba  Jones,  of  Raynham' 
and  had  nine  children:  Elijah,  Azel,  Abiah' 
Bathsheba,  Charity,  Josiah,  Lucy,  Rebecca 
and  Benjamin. 

Sixth  Generation:     Josiah  Alden,  of  Lud- 
low, a  farmer,  was  born   September   3,  1773 
and  died  in  1833.      He  married   Olive  Brown' 
and  had  ten  children,  viz. :  Azel,  Justin,  Char- 
ity, Zenas,  Washington  Brown,  Charles,  John 
Mary,  Oramus,  Eunice. 

Seventh  Generation :  Zenas  Alden,  of  Lud- 
low and  Springfield,  Mass.,  was  born  Novem- 
ber I,  1795,  and  died  in  Januarv,  1840;  he 
married  Betsey  Taylor,  of  Hartford,  Conn., 
and  had  six  children,  viz.:  George  Washing- 
ton, who  died  at  Springfield  in  1863  or  1864; 
Henry  A.,  our  subject;  Charles,  a  resident  of 
Hartford,  Conn.;  Jane;  Caroline  married  a 
Mr.  Taylor,  of  Hartford,  Conn. ;  and  William. 
The  late  Henry  A.  Alden  was  born  March 
10,  1823,  at  Springfield,  Mass.,  where  his 
father  was  engaged  in  manufacturing  rifles  for 
the  U.  S.  Government.      During  his  boyhood 


292 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
place,  and  at  eighteen  he  became  associated 
with  Charles  and  Henry  Goodyear,  the  well- 
known  inventors,  in  the  manufacture  of  India- 
rubber  goods.  After  several  years  with  them, 
he  opened  a  factory  on  Staten  Island  in  1847, 
under  the  name  of  the  New  York  Rubber  Co. 
In  1857  the  works  were  removed  to  Fishkill- 
on-Hudson,  and,  as  Mr.  Alden  had  become 
familiar  with  the  rubber-goods  trade  in  all  its 
branches,  he  was  made  superintendent.  Hav- 
ing become  a  leading  stockholder  in  the  com- 
pany, he  was  elected  president,  and  held  this 
position  until  his  death,  which  occurred  De- 
cember 6,  1882.  His  business  cares  prevented 
him  from  taking  an  active  part  in  public  affairs, 
but  he  was  a  stanch  Republican  in  politics,  and 
was  always  ready  to  encourage  any  measure 
for  local  improvement. 

On  July  16,  1847,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  M.  Bishop,  of  Woodbury,  Litchfield 
Co.,  Conn.,  and  two  sons  were  born  of  this 
union.  .  The  elder,  Henry  Bishop  Alden,  was 
born  at  Newtown,  Conn.,  February  17,  1850, 
and  died  September  30,  1875.  He  was  married 
June  20,  1872,  to  Miss  Susie  B.  Van  Liew, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary  (Fitzgerald)  Van- 
Liew,  of  Sing  Sing,  N.  Y.  They  had  one 
daughter  (posthumous),  Mary,  born  February 
3,  1876,  at  Sing  Sing.  The  youngest  son, 
George  Fuller  Alden,  was  born  March  10, 
1853,  at  Newtown,  Conn.,  and  died  March  7, 
1886.  He  was  married  June  14,  1877,  to 
Miss  Cornelia  DuBois,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Adelia  (Van  Voorhis)  DuBois,  of  Fishkill,  N. 
Y.  she  survives  him  with  one  daughter, 
Edith,  who  was  born  at  Fishkill,  December 
15,  1881. 

Mrs.  Henry  A.  Alden  was  the  second  in  a 
family  of  four  daughters,  the  others  being 
Fannie,  Emily  M.,  and  Elsie  M.,  who  is  the 
wife  of  George  C.  Smith,  of  Fishkill.  The 
father.  Miles  Bishop,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of  1812,  and  his  regiment  was  stationed  at 
London,  Conn.,  to  guard  Fort  Griswold,  when 
Roger  Griswold  was  governor  of  Connecticut. 
Mrs.  Alden's  paternal  great-gratidfather  was 
Miles  Bishop,  and  her  grandparents  were  Lu- 
ther and  Sybil  (Long)  Bishop,  who  had  nine 
children:  Charles,  Salmon,  Julia,  Raney, 
Thyrza,  Seth,  Sallie,  Garwood  and  Miles. 
Her  maternal  great-grandparents  were  Aner 
Ives,  who  was  born  January  1 3.' 1740,  and  his 
wife  Rachel,  born  June  11,  1744.  Their  son 
Asael,  Mrs.  Alden's  grandfather,  born  June  25, 


1764,  married  Elsie  Foote,  who  was  born 
October  19,  1756.  They  had  eight  children, 
whose  names  with  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows: 
Amasa,  October  15,  1784;  Asael  W.,  August 
31,  1787;  Fannie,  February  16,  1790;  Garrett, 
March  19,  1792;  Cynthia,  January  23,  1795; 
Harmon,  March  31,  1797;  Nancy,  January  17, 
1800  (died  in  infancy);  and  Nancy  (2),  April 
16,  1804. 

Elsie  Foote  Ives,  Mrs.  Alden's  grandmoth- 
er, was  a  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Lucy 
(Wilinot)  Foote;  her  father  was  a  captain  in 
the  Revolutionary  army,  and  also  served  in 
the  French  and  Indian  war. 


GEORGE  W.  OWEN,  the  well-known  edi- 
^  tor  of  the  Fishkill  Journal,  which  has 
been  for  many  years  a  powerful  aid  to  the  best 
interests  of  the  community,  is  one  of  the  most 
prominent  citizens  of  Matteawan,  Dutchess 
county. 

On  the  paternal  side  Mr.  Owen  is  descended 
from  a  family  which  has  long  been  held  in  es- 
teem in  Putnam  and  Westchester  counties,  his 
ancestors  having  been  among  the  earliest  set- 
tlers in  the  vicinity  of  Feekskill.      He  first  saw 
the   light   in  Orange  county,  N.   Y.,  near  the 
southwestern  border  of  the  town  of  New  Wind- 
sor, and   his  youth   was   spent   upon   a  farm. 
Possessing  an   active  and   inquiring   mind,  he 
devoted  his  evenings  and  the  few  moments  of 
leisure  that  he  could  find,  amid  the  e.xacting 
duties  of  farm  life,  to  reading  and  study,  thusi 
supplementing  the  limited  educational  advaa 
tages  afforded  by  the  brief  winter  terms  of  th( 
country  schools.      In  this  manner  he  master© 
not  only  the  ordinary  branches  but  the  high 
mathematics    and    the    natural    sciences,    aai 
made  a  thorough  study  of  the  English  languagi 
and   literature,  giving  also  some   attention  t 
Latin,  on   account  of  the  assistance  which  it| 
would  give  in  the  analysis  of  English.      Savini 
something  from  his   earnings,  he  managed  t 
take  a  course  in  a  large  academical  institution,! 
where  his  time   was  chiefly  spent  in  reviewini 
the  studies   that   he   had   pursued  in  private 
He  had  feared  that  some  erroneous  conclusion5| 
might  have  been  made  by  him,  but  it  is  hardl 
necessary  to  state  that  he  found  that  his  thor 
ough  work  in  the  seclusion  of  the  farm  enablec 
him  to  take  a  high   rank  among  the  pupils  ti 
whom     "Dame     Fortune"     had     apparentl.i 
shown  more  favor. 

The  employment  which  first  became  avail 


I 


t 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


298 


.ble  was  that  of  teaching  school,  and  this  he 
followed  for  about  eight  years.  In  1865  he 
purchased  the  Fishkill  Journal,  then  a  small 
weekly  published  in  Fishkill  Village.  It  was 
printed  upon  an  old-fashioned  hand  press,  as 
were  most  of  the  similar  papers  of  that  time; 
but  after  working  for  a  year  with  this  anti- 
quated plant,  he  procured  a  cylinder  press 
and  new  type,  and  brought  out  the  Jo7ir- 
nal  in  a  new  dress.  He  also  enlarged  it, 
and,  as  he  was  a  Republican,  he  could  not  re- 
frain from  making  the  paper,  which  had  pre- 
viously been  neutral,  reflect  his  own  views 
upon  the  stirring  issues  of  the  Reconstruction 
period.  Andrew  Johnson,  raised  to  the  Presi- 
dency through  the  death  of  Abraham  Lincoln, 
was  then  setting  himself  at  variance  with  the 
party  that  elected  him,  and  the  Fishkill  Jour- 
nal, with  its  earnest  discussions  of  the  prob- 
lems of  the  hour,  became  a  power  in  Dutchess 
county  politics.  In  the  fall  of  1877  Mr.  Owen 
purchased  a  job-printing  bffice  in  Matteawan, 
and  for  several  years  conducted  this,  as  well 
as  the  Journal  office  in  Fishkill  Village.  In 
August,  1882,  he  removed  the  Journal  plant 
to  Matteawan,  and  combined  the  two  estab- 
lishments. On  September  14,  1885,  he  started 
the  Fishkill  Daily  Journal,  which  he  con- 
ducts in  connection  with  the  weekly  edition. 

In  his  journalistic  work  Mr.  Owen  has  been 
identified  with  all  that  is  enterprising  and  up- 
lifting to  the  community,  encouraging  philan- 
thropic movements  and  endorsing  every  effort 
for  advancement  in  whatever  line.  Some  sub- 
stantial advantages  gained  of  later  years  could 
no  doubt  be  traced  to  his  influence  exerted 
either  personally  or  through  the  columns  of  his 
paper,  and  his  power  for  good  has  been  none 
the  less  real  for  being  quietly  used.  Mr.  Owen 
has  also  devoted  some  time  to  literary  work, 
and  is  the  author  of  two  works  of  fiction  of  a 
somewhat  practical  nature,  which  were  well 
received  by  the  public,  and  had  a  large  sale. 
Although  Mr.  Owen  has  never  sought  pub- 
lic office,  he  was  for  several  years  a  member 
of  the  Matteawan  board  of  education,  and  his 
fine  abilities  make  him  a  valued  adviser  in  vari- 
ous enterprises,  notably  the  Matteawan  Sav- 
ings Bank,  of  which  he  is  a  trustee.  He  has 
been  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A. 
M.,  Beacon  Lodge  No.  283. 

During  his  journalistic  career,  Mr.  Owen's 
recreations  have  consisted  chiefly  in  making 
tours  through  various  parts  of  the  United 
States.     Having  a  passion  for  natural  scenery, 


he  has  most  frequently  visited  the  regions 
whose  features  were  picturesque,  grand  or 
beautiful.  The  wilderness  of  the  Adirondacks; 
the  grand  cataract  of  Niagara;  the  picturesque 
St.  Lawrence  river,  with  its  Thousand  Is- 
lands, its  rushing  rapids, where  the  steamboat, 
with  its  human  freight,  plunges  down  between 
the  rocks  as  if  to  certain  destruction,  the  quaint 
old  city  of  Quebec;  also  the  rugged  White 
mountains  of  New  England,  with  their  snow- 
capped Mount  Washington;  the  orange  groves 
of  Florida;  the  far  West;  the  grand  Sierra 
Nevadas;  California,  with  all  its  marvelous 
beauties  and  resources — these  have  all  been 
scenes  of  his  travels  and  themes  for  his  pen, 
wherein  he  entertained  his  readers  with  many 
a  well- written  article.  Thus  he  combined 
business  with  pleasure  and  profit  to  his  readers. 
The  most  important  of  these  travels  was 
an  extended  tour  across  the  continent,  when 
the  Pacific  railroad  had  been  completed  but  a 
comparatively  short  time,  and  the  country 
opened  up  by  this  great  thoroughfare  was  still 
in  almost  its  native  wildness.  Going  by  rail, 
he  took  plenty  of  time,  stopping  at  various 
points  of  interest  along  the  way,  writing,  graph- 
ically, descriptive  articles  for  his  paper.  The 
unique  features  of  the  desert  plains,  then 
roamed  over  by  the  buffalo,  the  antelope,  the 
lively  coyote,  and  other  wild  animals  in  their 
native  freedom,  were  set  forth  in  entertaining 
articles.  He  visited  Salt  Lake  City,  when 
Brigham  Young  was  living  and  reigning  in  all 
his  glory,  and  had  an  interview  with  the  great 
Mormon.  Continuing  his  journey  by  rail  to 
California,  he  passed  over  the  Sierra  Nevadas 
in  the  month  of  June,  when  the  snow  in  huge 
banks  still  lay  in  the  gorges,  and  the  scene 
was  one  of  wild  and  rugged  grandeur.  Arriv- 
ing in  San  Francisco,  he  remained  in  that  city 
for  a  considerable  time,  and  then  started  out 
in  excursions  through  various  parts  of  that 
remarkable  country.  Railroads  were  not  as 
numerous  there  then  as  now,  and  a  large  part 
of  the  travel  was  done  in  stages  over  thorough- 
fares which  could  only  be  termed  roads  by 
courtesy;  and  on  horseback  through  trackless 
forests.  He  reached  the  famous  Yosemite 
Valley  in  this  manner,  part  of  the  way  by 
stage,  and  when  a  point  was  reached  where  no 
trace  of  a  road  existed,  the  remainder  of  the 
journey  was  performed  on  the  back  of  a  mus- 
tang, the  only  paths  being  simply  trails  where 
previous  traveling  parties  had  left  footprints. 
Here,    also,   he  visited   the   famous   Mariposa 


294 


OOMsMEMORATIVB  BIOORAPHICAE  RECORD. 


grove  of  big  trees,  the  greatest  known  giants 
of  the  forest,  and  performed  the  oft  repeated 
feat  of  riding  on  horseback  through  a  hollow 
log  which  lay  prostrate  on  the  ground. 

After  establishing  himself  for  a  time  in  the 
Yosemite  Valley,  and  familiarizing  himself 
with  its  grand  and  wonderful  features,  he 
made  frequent  excursions  on  horseback  among 
the  lofty  mountains  of  the  Sierra  range  in  the 
vicinitj',  among  snow  banks  in  summer,  the 
intrepid  mustang  climbing  cliffs  where  a  man 
alone  would  find  it  difficult  to  keep  his  footing. 

Mr.  Owen's  articles  on  the  Yosemite  Val- 
ley and  the  big  trees  were  pronounced  to  be 
fine  literary  productions,  highly  entertaining  to 
his  readers;  and  after  his  return  he  embodied 
some  of  these  in  a  lecture,  which  he  delivered 
free  on  several  occasions.  These  articles  are 
preserved  now  only  in  the  old  files  of  the 
Journal. 


HENRY  TIEDJE,  a  leading  confectioner 
of  Poughkeepsie,   Dutchess  county,  was 

born  August  27,  1858,  in  the  village  of  Ring- 
stead,  Province  of  Hanover,  Germany,  the  son 
of  Henry  and  Bertha  Tiedje. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
his  native  place,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
started  out  to  make  his  way  in  the  world,  with 
with  no  capital  but  his  own  abilities.  He 
bame  to  America  to  find  a  better  field  for  his 
energies  than  the  Fatherland  afforded,  and  lo- 
cated first  in  New  York  City,  where  a  brother 
secured  him  employment  in  a  small  confection- 
ery store.  In  New  York  he  remained  seven 
years,  engaged  in  various  occupations,  and 
then  went  to  Poughkeepsie  to  work  as  a  candy- 
maker  for  Charles  H.  Gerdes.  On  May  24, 
1883,  Mr.  Tiedje  bought  the  business  of  his 
employer,  and  has  continued  it  since  at  the 
old  stand.  No.  358  Main  street,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  three  years  at  No.  366  Main  street. 
In  1893  Mr.  Tiedje  bought  the  building  in 
which  his  store  is  located.  His  success  has 
been  remarkable,  and  is  based  solely  upon 
industry,  economy  and  good  business  man- 
agement. He  manufactures  his  own  plain 
candies,  soda  water  and  ices,  in  which  he  has  an 
extensive  trade. 

On  October  23,  1889,  he  was  married,  by 
Rev.  F.  B.  Wheeler,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  War- 
ren, daughter  of  Albert  Warren,  a  well-known 
citizen  of  Poughkeepsie.  They  have  one  child, 
Estelle  E.,  born   September  20,  1890.      Mrs. 


Tiedje  is  a  true  helpmeet  for  her  husband,  and 
her  energy  and  business  ability  have  been  im- 
portant factors  in  her  husband's  advancement, 
and  he  takes  manly  pride  in  acknowledging  the 
fact.  Mr.  Tiedje  is  a  naturalized  citizen  of 
the  United  States,  but  he  does  not  take  any 
active  part  in  politics,  his  attention  being 
given  to  his  business  interests. 


lENJAMIN  A.  SLEIGHT  (deceased),  for- 
^  merly  a  prominent  business  man  and  agri- 
culturist of  the  town  of  Wappinger,  Dutchess 
county,  was  a  member  of  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  highly  esteemed  families  of  that  vi- 
cinity, and  as  a  substantial  citizen  of  his  own 
day  he  sustained  well  the  reputation  won  by 
his  forefathers.  He  was  born  in  1786,  in  the 
town  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  his  active  life  cov- 
ered a  period  of  great  importance  in  the  devel- 
opment of  that  region. 

Abraham  Sleight,  father  of  Benjamin   A., 
and  a  native  of  Kingston,  Ulster  county,  was 
a  prominent  citizen  of  the   town   of   Fishkill 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  cen-i 
tury,  and  served  as  a   soldier   in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  a  grateful  country  awarding  him 
a    pension    in    his  later  years.      He   followed 
farming  all  his  life,  settling  in  Fishkill  shortlj 
after  his  marriage  with  Miss  Ruth  Roe,  a  na- 
tive of  Dutchess  county.      Both  became  active 
supporters  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  it 
Fishkill.      They   had   eight   children:     Sarah; 
who    married    James    M.    Jones,   of    Dutchesg 
county;  Abraham,  a  farmer,  who  died  in  earl 
manhood;    Benjamin    A.,    our   subject;    Ano 
Ruth,  John  (an  invalid),  and  Nellie   (none  0 
whom  ever  married),  and  Sophie  E.  (Mrs.  R 
D.  E.  Stoutenburgh).     Among  other  represent 
atives  of  the  Sleight  family  in  that  locality  wai 
Peter  R.  Sleight,  a  cousin  of  our  subject,  am 
the  father  of  Alexander  Sleight,  of  Lagrange 

Benjamin  A.  Sleight  was  reared  upon  thi 
farm,  and  attended  the  schools  of  Kingst 
where  he  acquired  a  good  academic  educationi 
After  leaving  school  he  engaged  in  mercantil< 
business  in  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie.  H< 
married  Miss  Caroline  Ackerman,  daughter  0 
James  Ackerman,  a  native  of  the  town 
Poughkeepsie,  and  a  leading  farmer  of  tt 
town  of  Lagrange,  where  she  was  born.  He 
grandfather,  Gurloyn  Ackerman,  was  a  leadin? 
resident  of  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie  in  hi 
time,  and  her  ancestors  were  among  the  mos 
highly  esteemed  of  the  Holland-Dutch  settler 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


295 


of  Dutchess  county.  Not  long  after  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Sleight  settled  in  the  town  of  Fish- 
kill,  where  his  well-known  integrity  of  charac- 
ter and  judicial  mind  caused  him  to  be  elected 
to  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  and  his 
faithful  discharge  of  the  duties  in  that  position 
occupied  most  of  his  time  for  many  years; 
but  later  he  devoted  himself  to  the  manage- 
ment of  his  farm.  In  politics  he  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat, and  like  his  parents  he  adhered  to  the 
old  Reformed  Church.  His  wife  died  in  1854, 
and  four  years  thereafter  he,  too,  passed  away. 

Eight  children  were  born  to  their  union: 
Edgar,  who  died  in  1892,  was  a  farmer  in  the 
town  of  Wappinger;  Louise  is  at  home;  Frank, 
a  hardware  merchant  in  Poughkeepsie,  died  in 
1877;  Amelia  was  married  to  Francis  B.  Pye, 
the  famous  inventor;  Anna  married  M.  V.  B. 
Schryver,  of  Rhinebeck,  and  died  in  1894; 
Eliza  is  at  home;  John  is  a  resident  of  Green- 
bush,  N.  Y. ;  and  Sidney  died  therein  1873. 

The  late  Francis  B.  Pye,  whose  name  is 
known  in  all  parts  of  the  civilized  world  as  the 
inventor  of  the  time  lock,  was  a  native  of 
Newark,  N.  J.,  and  a  descendant  of  an  old 
English  family.  His  grandfather,  Thomas  Pye, 
was  the  pioneer  lock  manufacturer  of  America, 
while  he  (Francis  B.)  was  the  first  to  manu- 
facture cast-iron  locks  in  this  country,  and  was 
the  head  of  the  Trenton  Lock  Co.,  one  of  the 
most  important  firms  engaged  in  that  line  of 
business.  Since  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
January,  1877,  Mrs.  Pye  has  lived  at  the  old 
homestead  near  Fishkill  Plains,  a  fine  estate 
with  a  tasteful  and  commodious  brick  residence. 

e  possesses  unusual  executive  ability,  and 

nages  the  farm  of  167  acres  with  great  skill. 
ier  specialty  is  horticulture,  and  she  has  1,200 
(apple  trees  in  her  orchards,  which  are  among 
the  most  extensive  in  the  locality. 


wit 

i 


BBntt 
^nne 


HOMAS   I.   STORM  (deceased),  who  in 
in  his  lifetime  was  a  wealthy  and  influ- 
itial  citizen   of  the  town   of   East   Fishkill, 
tchess  county,  residing  near  Stormville,  was 
ine  of  the  leading  agriculturists  there,  as  were 
several  generations  of  his  ancestors. 

John  Storm,  his  great-grandfather,  was  one 
'f  three  brothers  who  came  from  Holland  at 
in  early  period  and  settled  upon  a  large  tract 
)f  land  in  the  wilderness — Goris  in  Westches- 
er  county,  N.  Y. ;  Isaac  in  York  county,  Penn., 
nd  John  at  our  subject's  present  farm  in  East 
Bhkill. 


Thomas  I.  Storm,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
was  born  and  reared  there,  and  after  his  mar- 
riage to  Dianah  Adriance,  November  9,  1788, 
made  it  his  permanent  home.  Seven  children 
were  born  to  him:  Isaac,  a  wholesale  mer- 
chant in  New  York  City;  Thomas,  a  specula- 
tor in  New  York  City,  and  the  owner  of  a  farm 
in  Orange  county;  Charles,  a  tobacco  mer- 
chant in  New  York  City;  Gallette,  who  mar- 
ried Gilbert  Wilkinson,  of  Poughkeepsie,  a 
boatman  by  occupation;  Catherine,  the  wife 
of  Henry  Teller,  a  farmer  in  Orange  county; 
Theodorus,  our  subject's  father;  and  Emeline, 
who  married  George  Doughty,  a  farmer. 

Theodorus  Storm  settled  upon  the  old  farm, 
and  married  Susan  Storm,  a  native  of  Fishkill, 
and  the  daughter  of  Col.  John  Storm,  a  de- 
scendant of  one  of  the  three  brothers  above 
mentioned.  Seven  children  were  born  of  this 
union:  Susan,  who  married  John  T.  Storm, 
now  living  in  retirement  in  Beekman;  Maria 
L. ,  the  wife  of  William  Humphrey,  a  farmer 
in  Pleasant  Valley;  Catherine  (deceased);  Theo- 
dore, who  is  blind;  Cornelia,  who  married 
Henry  Wooley,  a  farmer  in  Beekman  (both 
now  deceased);  Thomas  I.,  our  subject;  and 
one  child  that  died  in  infancy.  The  father  of 
this  family  died  August  10,  1865.  He  was  a 
Democrat  in  principle,  though  not  especially 
active  in  political  affairs,  and  he  and  his  wife 
were  both  prominent  members  of  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church. 

Thomas  I.  Storm  was  born  April  14,  1827, 
and  passed  his  entire  life  upon  the  old  estate 
to  which  the  residence  of  so  many  of  his  fam- 
ily have  lent  pleasant  associations.  On  June 
10,  1857,  he  was  united  in  wedlock  with  Susan 
Maria  Arthur,  a  lady  of  Irish  descent,  and  a 
native  of  Dutchess  county.  Her  father,  John 
Arthur,  a  well-known  agriculturist,  was  a 
cousin  to  ex-President  Chester  A.  Arthur;  her 
mother  was  a  daughter  of  Major  Abram  Ad- 
riance, of  East  Fishkill.  Of  the  four  children 
by  this  marriage,  all  are  residents  of  the  town 
of  East  Fishkill.  Arthur  is  a  horticulturist; 
Walter  follows  agriculture;  Adriana  married 
Eugene  Storm,  formerly  a  merchant  of  New 
York,  who  died  January  9,  1890,  leaving  a 
widow  and  one  child,  William  T.  Storm,  born 
September  2,  1885;  and  Doretha,  married  to 
Benjamin  D.  Haxtun,  a  farmer,  and  has  two 
children:  Maria  Arthur  Haxtun,  born  October 
22,  1894,  and  Adriana  Storm  Haxtun,  born 
February  22,  1897. 

Thomas  I.  Storm  died  very  suddenly  June 


! 


296 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHWAL  RECORD. 


17,  1896.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  local 
Democratic  organisation,  and  served  as  town 
assessor.  He  was  a  leading  adherent  of  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church,  of  Hopewell,  as  is 
also  his  widow. 


JOHN  G.  DUNCAN  (deceased)  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Unionvale,  Dutchess  Co., 
N.  Y.,  in  the  year  1793.  He  received  a 
good  common-school  education,  and  while  yet 
a  young  man  entered  the  general  store  of 
Jacob  Fowler  as  clerk.  By  strict  attention  to 
business  he  rose  rapidly,  and  soon  became 
owner  of  the  store  at  Hoxie  Corners.  By  de- 
grees he  acquired  several  farms  in  the  vicinity, 
among  them  being  the  Oakley  and  the  Stryker 
places.  His  health  failing,  he  retired,  when 
about  thirty-four  years  of  age,  to  his  farm  at 
Verbank,  where  he  passed  his  declining  years, 
dying  December  19,  1857.  Shortly  after  his 
death  his  widow  removed  to  Poughkeepsie, 
and  died  there  January  4,  1875. 

Mr.  Duncan  in  his  political  preferences 
was  first  a  Whig,  afterward  a  Republican,  and 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years. 
He  was  fond  of  reading,  and  for  a  long  time 
was  custodian  of  the  circulating  library  known 
as  the  Franklin  Library,  and  he  was  also  in 
charge  of  the  District  School  Library. 

He  was  progressive,  being  quick  to  appre- 
ciate and  advance  whatever  pertained  to  the 
welfare  of  the  community,  and  his  sterling 
qualities  earned  for  him  the  respect  and  con- 
fidence of  his  fellow  townsmen.  In  his  domes- 
tic relations  he  was  a  kind  husband  and  father, 
always  preferring  the  quiet  seclusion  of  home 
to  the  more  bustling  activities  of  his  business 
life.  He  suffered  not  a  little  from  rheumatism, 
and  was  also  quite  deaf,  which  latter  infirmity 
accounted  for  his  absence  from  many  public 
assemblages. 

The  old  house  on  the  Verbank  farm  (which 
is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  family)  was  con- 
sidered unusually  handsome  in  its  day,  its 
architectural  features  being  admired  by  many 
from  a  distance.  The  walls,  which  were  hard 
finished,  are  still  well  preserved,  and  the  past 
seventy  years  have  made  little  impression  on 
the  solid  timbers.  The  land  now  covered  by 
the  Verbank  station,  as  well  as  a  good  portion 
of  the  Verbank  Rural  Cemetery,  originally  be- 
longed to  "Ingleside,"  the  farm  owned  by  the 
subject  of  our  sketch. 

The    Duncan    family,  of    which   John   C. 


Duncan  was  a  member,  originally  came  from 
Scotland,  first  locating  in  Canada,  thence  mov- 
ing to  Boston,  and  from  there  to  Dutchess 
county.  William  Duncan  married  Mary 
Wooley,  their  son  George  marrying  Lucy  Rey- 
nolds, leaving  a  son  John  G. 

In  1814  Mr.  Duncan  married  Mary  Vail, 
second  daughter  of  Piatt  Vail.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Duncan  were  born  seven  children  as 
follows: 

(i)  Maria  Jane  was  born  in  Unionvale  in 
1816.  She  attended  Miss  Proctor's  school  at 
Poughkeepsie.  She  was  married  to  Leonard 
B.  Sherman,  of  the  town  of  Washington, 
and  died  in  1847,  leaving  two  daughters,  (a) 
Mary  and  (b)  Matilda.  (a)  Mary  married 
Lewis  Germond;  (b)  Matilda  married  Chauncey 
Colwell. 

(2)  Ovid  was  born  December  i,  18 19,  in 
the  town  of  Unionvale.  He  spent  his  boy- 
hood on  his  father's  farm,  attending  school  at 
Amenia  Seminary  in  Dutchess  county.  He 
early  became  associated  with  his  father  in 
mercantile  pursuits,  and  later  purchased  the 
Alonzo  Haight  farm.  For  many  years  he  was 
widely  known  as  a  dealer  in  cattle.  He  mar- 
ried Ann  Davis,  leaving  two  daughters,  Caro- 
line (now  deceased)  and  Annie  Kate;  also  four 
sons — John,  Jesse  (deceased),  Everett  and 
Theron.  All  those  who  are  living  reside  in 
Dutchess  county. 

(3)  Antoinette  died  in  infancy. 

(4)  George  Piatt  was  born  June  23,  1825. 
His  school  days  were  passed  at  Amenia  Semi- 
nary. On  the  death  of  his  father,  the  home- 
stead came  into  his  possession.  In  1864  hei 
married  Anna  Brown  Downing,  of  Lagrange, 
and  took  up  his  residence  in  this  town,  dying 
there  March  23,  1874.  He  was  honorable  in 
his  business  affairs,  faithful  in  his  friendships 
and  respected  by  all.  He  left  two  sons, 
Charles  Henry  (born  July  1 1,  1866)  and  George 
Richard  (born  February  14,  1868),  both  of 
whom  attended  private  schools  in  Poughkeep- 
sie, and  later  St.  Stephens  College,  Dutchessi 
county.  The  former  was  graduated  from  St. 
Stephens  in  the  class  of  '87,  and  from  Gen. 
Theological  Seminary  in  1890.  His  first 
charge  was  in  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  from  which 
place  he  was  called,  in  1891,  to  St.  James 
Church,  Watkins,  N.  Y.  After  spending  five 
years  there  he  was  elected  to  the  rectorship  ol 
Grace  Church,  Millbrook,  N.  Y.  As  the  taste; 
of  the  latter  inclined  toward  business,  he  left 
school  at  an  early  age   to  take  up  newspapet 


I 
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t 


f 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOEAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


297 


work,  which  he  followed  with  success  until  his 
health  became  affected.  He  now  resides  in 
North  Granby,  Massachusetts. 

(5)  Catherine  Amelia  was  born  at  the  home- 
stead, Unionvale,  June  i,  1827.  She  joined 
the  Methodist  Church  at  an  early  age,  attend- 
ing school  at  Nine  Partners  and  Anienia  Sem- 
inary. In  company  with  her  mother  and  sis- 
ters she  removed  to  Poughkeepsie  in  1 864,  be- 
coming a  communicant  of  St.  Paul's  Church  in 
1877,  where  she  continued  a  devoted  member 
up  to  her  death,  which  occurred  March  26, 
1897.     She  was  unmarried. 

(6)  Rebecca  Matilda  was  born  at  the 
homestead,  town  of  Unionvale.  She  attend- 
ed Nine  Partners  School  and  Amenia  Semi- 
nary, and  was  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church 
in  her  youth.  Removed  to  Poughkeepsie  and 
was  married  June  22,  1864,  to  Lewis  F. 
Streit,  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  of 
which  Church  she  subsequently  became  a 
member. 

(7)  Frances  Emma,  the  youngest  child, 
vvas  born  at  the  homestead  in  Verbank,  town 
if   Unionvale.       She    was    a    member  of  the 

Methodist  Church  at  that  place.  Attended 
;chool  at  Tookers  Female  Academy,  Pough- 
eepsie.  In  1864  she  came  to  Poughkeepsie 
o  reside,  and  in  1877  she  was  confirmed  in 
it.  Paul's  Church,  Poughkeepsie.  She  is  liv- 
ig  at  her  home  in  the  above-named  place, 
is  unmarried. 

The  father  of  Mary  (Vail)  Duncan  was 
t 'Vail  (born  1769,  died  1822),  who  was 
tied  to  Catherine  Reynolds  (born  1767, 
1852).  His  father  was  Capt.  Israel  Vail, 
eekman  Precinct,  who  served  with  dis- 
ion  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and 
ose  record  appears  as  follows,  according  to 
he  secretary  of  the  New  York  Society,  "  Sons 
f  the  Revolution:"  "Captain  Israel  Vail,  5th 
t.,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Militia.  (Col. 
es  Vanderburg)  March  loth,  1778." 


George  SCHLEGEL.      There  is  no  ele- 
ment which    enters    into   our   composite 
ibonal  fabric  which  has  been  of  more  practi- 
strength,  value  and  utility  than  that  fur- 
Sed  by  the  sturdy,  persevering  and  honora- 
^sons  of  Germany,  and  in  the  progress  of  our 
iion  this  element  has  played   an  important 
^rt.     The  subject  of  this  review,  who  comes 
stanch  German  stock,  was  born  at  Carls- 
|he,  Grand  Duchy  of  Baden,  April  20,  1823. 


There  he  was  educated,  and  learned  the  shoe- 
maker's trade. 

Hoping  to  benefit  his  financial  condition, 
Mr.  Schlegel,  in  1844,  sailed  for  America,  and 
on  landing  at  New  York  secured  work  there  at 
his  trade  for  five  years,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  came  to  Poughkeepsie.  Here  he 
opened  a  retail  shoe  store,  and  also  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  boots  and  shoes,  conduct- 
ing his  business  on  Main  street,  near  River 
street,  until  1870,  when  he  disposed  of  his 
stock.  He  then  came  to  his  present  location 
at  Nos.  544  and  544.J  Main  street,  where  he 
has  since  successfully  carried  on  a  variety 
store,  and  has  built  up  an  extensive  trade. 

In  1846  Mr.  Schlegel  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Johanna  Reinhard,  a  lady  of  Ger- 
man birth,  who  died  in  Poughkeepsie  in  1867. 
Four  years  later  he  was  again  married,  his 
second  union  being  with  Emma  Meyerhuber, 
a  native  of  Carlsruhe,  Germany,  and  to  them 
have  been  born  two  children,  George  C. , 
born  August  23,  1873,  a  druggist  of  Pough- 
keepsie; and  Emma,  born  June  5,  1876.  Mrs. 
Schlegel  is  the  proud  possessor  of  a  medal  and 
cross  given  her  by  King  'William  I,  of  Ger- 
many, for  the  services  she  rendered  during  the 
war  of  1870,  while  in  the  hospital  taking  care 
of  the  sick  and  wounded.  In  religious  belief 
both  she  and  her  husband  are  Protestants,  and 
they  have  made  many  warm  friends  in  their 
adopted  country.  Politically,  Mr.  Schlegel 
uses  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  Demo- 
cratic principles,  and  has  maintained  a  lively 
interest  in  the  advancement  of  the  industrial 
and  popular  interests  of  the  city  of  his  adoption. 
He  is  a  man  of  genial,  social  nature,  a  member 
of  the  Germania  Society,  and  is  a  representa- 
tive German-American  citizen. 


PETER  ADRIANCE,  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Peter  Adriance  &  Son,  plumbers, 

tinners,  steam,  hot  water  and  gas  fitters,  whose 
place  of  business  is  No.  393  Main  street,  Pough- 
keepsie, was  born  in  the  town  of  East  Fish- 
kill,  Dutchess  county,  April  19,  1843,  on  the 
farm  where  his  great-grandfather,  Ram  I. 
Adriance,  located,  the  first  of  the  family  to 
come  to  Dutchess  county. 

There  also  was  born,  in  1787,  Peter  Adri- 
ance, the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  and 
there  his  entire  life  was  devoted  to  agriculture. 
He  married  Catherine  Storm,  and  they  reared 
a  family  of  three   children:     Thomas,  the  fa- 


t 


298 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ther  of  our  subject;  Mary  A.,  who  wedded 
James  Wilkinson,  of  Dutchess  county;  and 
Amelia,  who  married  Willett  Culver,  a  farmer 
of  Dutchess  county.  The  parents  of  these 
were  both  faithful  members  of  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church. 

Upon  the  old  homestead  Thomas  Adriance 
(father  of  our  subject)  was  born  in  i8i  i.  He 
married  Catherine  Culver,  a  native  of  the 
town  of  Hyde  Park,  Dutchess  county,  and  a 
daughter  of  a  farmer  of  that  locality.  Her 
people  were  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 
Five  children  were  born  to  this  union:  Peter; 
Edgar,  who  deals  in  fancy  goods  in  Pough- 
keepsie;  Amelia,  wife  of  S.  A.  Walker,  of 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  Robert,  a  merchant  of  Fish- 
kill,  Dutchess  county;  and  Mary  A.,  who  died 
in  infancy.  The  father  followed  farming  ex- 
clusively through  life;  in  his  political  senti- 
ment he  was  an  ardent  Democrat.  He  died 
in  1861,  his  wife  in  1885. 

Like  most  farmer  boys  Peter  Adriance 
passed  his  early  life,  and  the  education  he  ac- 
quired in  the  old  district  school  of  the  neigh- 
borhood was  supplemented  by  a  course  in  the 
Dutchess  Academy,  and  at  the  Hudson  River 
Institute  at  Claverack,  N.  Y.,  after  which  he 
returned  to  the  home  farm,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  work  until  twenty-five  years  of  age. 
In  1861  he  married  Miss  Alice  Adriance, 
who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  a 
daughter  of  John  V.  Adriance,  an  agricultu- 
rist. One  child  was  born  to  them,  Eugene, 
who  is  now  in  business  with  his  father.  After 
living  upon  the  farm  for  about  four  years,  Mr. 
Adriance  entered  the  grocery  store  of  Dart  & 
Co.,  at  Glenham,  Dutchess  county,  as  clerk, 
but  soon  after  came  to  Poughkeepsie,  where 
he  was  similarly  employed  by  D.  O.  Smith 
for  about  a  year.  For  two  years  he  then 
clerked  in  the  hardware  store  of  Budd  &  Trow- 
bridge, and  then  for  the  same  length  of  time 
was  with  L.  T.  Mosher,  in  the  pork-packing 
industry,  after  which  he  returned  to  the  hard- 
ware store,  which  was  then  owned  by  Trow- 
bridge &  Sherrill.  He  soon  secured  a  third 
interest  in  the  firm,  the  name  being  changed 
to  Trowbridge,  Sherrill  &  Adriance;  but  at  the 
end  of  three  years  Mr.  Sherrill  sold  out.  The 
firm  of  Trowbridge  &  Adriance  did  business 
until  1893,  when  our  subject  purchased  his 
partner's  interest,  and  his  son  was  given  a 
share  in  the  business,  which  has  now  grown 
to  extensive  proportions.  The  liberal  patron- 
age which  they  receive   is   well   deserved,    as 


they  strive  to  please  their  customers,  and  their 
work  is  all  first-class  in  every  particular. 

Mr.  Adriance  is  public-spirited  in  an  emi- 
nent degree,  and  has  done  much  in  behalf  of 
the  general  welfare  of  the  community.  He  is 
popular,  and  is  the  center  of  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances  who  honor  and  es- 
teem him  for  his  many  virtues  and  genuine 
worth.  He  is  largely  interested  in  the  Co- 
operative Savings  and  Loan  Association,  and 
prominently  identified  with  the  Masonic  Order 
and  the  Royal  Arcanum.  He  and  his  estima- 
ble wife  contribute  to  the  Reformed  Church, 
which  they  attend.  The  line  of  descent  of 
which  our  subject  is  a  member,  is  as  follows: 
(i)  Adrian  Reyersz,  emigrated  from  Holland, 
1646;  (2)  Abram  Adriance,  born  1680,  settled 
in  Flatbush,  N.  Y. ;  (3)  Ram  I.  Adriance, 
born  1753,  was  the  first  to  come  to  Dutchess 
county;  (4)  Peter  Adriance,  born  1787,  in 
Dutchess  countj';  (5)  Thomas  Adriance,  born 
in  181 1,  in  Dutchess  county;  (6)  Peter  Adri- 
ance, our  subject. 


G\EORGE  SCHLUDE.  A  brilliant  example 
_I^  of  a  self-made  American  citizen,  and  a 
grand  exemplification  of  the  progress  that  an 
ambitious  foreigner  can  make  in  this  country 
of  unbounded  opportunities,  is  shown  in  the 
case  of  our  subject,  one  of  the  leading  Ger- 
man-American residents  of  Poughkeepsie.  His 
singular  success  is  due  to  his  own  energy  and 
the  high  ideal  which  his  lofty  and  laudable  ambi- 
tion placed  before  him.  Success  m  any  walkoJT 
life  is  an  indication  of  earnest  endeavor  ano 
persevering  effort — characteristics  that  MrJ 
Schlude  possesses  in  an  eminent  degree. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Hochberg,  Hohea^ 
zollern,  Signieringen,  Prussia,  Germany,  FeW 
ruary  2,  1832,  and  is  the  elder  of  the  two  chil-j 
dren  of  Boletus  and  Elizabeth  (Grazer  I  Schludel 
both  natives  of  the  same  locality  as  is  Georgeif 
where  the  father  died  in  1834.  The  youngeij 
child,  Josephine,  wedded  John  Rumsburger, 
merchant  of  Germany,  but  both  are  now  de 
ceased. 

In  the  Fatherland  George  Schlude  grew  tl 
manhood,  securing  the  usual  education  affordl 
ed  by  the  public  schools  of  that  country,  an/ 
there  learned  cabinet-making.  Hearing  mucij 
of  the  splendid  opportunities  afforded  youE 
men  in  the  New  World,  he  at  the  age  of  eightl 
een  years  sailed  for  the  United  States,  and  il 
New  York  City  and  Philadelphia  worked  at hf 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


299 


trade  for  about  two  years,  when  he  returned 
to  Germany,  and  there  spent  a  similar  period. 
However,  in  1854,  we  again  find  him  in  Amer- 
ica, and  this  time  he  located  at  Poughkeepsie, 
where  he  was  employed  at  his  trade  until 
1872.  He  then  began  the  furniture  business, 
which  he  has  since  continued,  at  the  present 
time  located  at  Nos.  150  and  152  Main  street, 
the  firm  being  now  George  Schlude  &  Sons. 
For  the  past  five  years  he  has  occupied  his 
present  store,  where  he  carries  a  full  line  of 
furniture  and  pictures,  and  in  connection  con- 
ducts an  undertaking  department. 

In  1855  Mr.  Schlude  married  Miss  Caroline 
Hummel,  a  native  of  Baden,  Germany,  and 
eight  children  bless  their  union:  Caroline, 
Charles,  Emma,  Frederick,  Ida,  George,  Lil- 
lie  and  Leonard.  Charles,  Frederick  and 
George  are  in  business  with  their  father.  As 
a  Democrat  in  politics,  Mr.  Schlude  takes 
great  interest  in  all  political  questions,  although 
not  an  aspirant  for  political  preferment.  He 
has  done  much  for  the  upbuilding  of  Pough- 
keepsie, and  in  his  varied  relations  in  business 
affairs,  and  in  social  life,  has  impressed  all 
with  his  sincere  and  manly  purpose  to  do  by 
others  as  he  would  have  others  do  by  him. 


us  a 
Hffne 


BRAM  STORM   HUMPHREY,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  well-known  wholesale  and  re- 
tail drug  firm  of   Doty  &  Humphrey,  Pough- 
keepsie,   was  born  in  the  town  of  Beekman, 
Dutchess  county,  October  12,  1848. 

Thomas  Humphrey,  his  great-grandfather, 
■vas  a  farmer  in  Dutchess  county,  and  mem- 
lers  of  the  family  served  in  the  Revolutionary 
ar.  Abram  Humphrey,  grandfather  of  our 
ibject,  was  born  in  Beekman,  July  i,  1785, 
iid  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer  until 
is  death,  which  occurred  February  9,  1821, 
Dutchess  county.  He  married  Miss  Letitia 
iance,  also  a  native  of  the  county,  and 
ir  three  children  were  as  follows:  Cath- 
Ine,  who  married  Alexander  Hasbrouck,  a 
irmer  of  East  Fishkill;  Sarah,  who  married 
acob  Pudney,  a  farmer  in  Dutchess  county; 
nd  John  (our  subject's  father). 

John  Humphrey,  father  of  our  subject, 
as  born  in  Beekman,  Dutchess  county,  June 
2,  1818.  He  was  reared  upon  a  farm,  and 
arried  Miss  Catherine  E.  Storm,  who  was 
orn  in  East  Fishkill,  June  25,  1814.  Her 
^A^ther,  Abram  Storm,  who  was  a  native  of  the 
^^KOie  place  and  a  farmer,  was  the  son  of  Isaac 


and  Elizabeth  Storm,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  in  Tarrytown,  N.  Y.,  October  i,  1772, 
and  with  four  brothers — Jacob,  John,  Abram 
and  Thomas — came  in  an  early  day  to  Dutchess 
county.  They  took  up  a  very  large  tract  of 
land,  some  of  which  is  still  in  possession  of  the 
family.  The  Storm  family  lived  on  Long  Is- 
land in  1620,  or  thereabouts,  and  their  coat 
of  arms  has  been  handed  down  to  the  present 
generation. 

Our  subject's  parents  after  their  marriage 
located  on  the  old  farm  in  Beekman,  where 
they  reared  a  family  of  six  children,  two  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  The  others  were 
Helen;  Letitia,  who  married  William  Quin- 
tard,  of  the  firm  of  Quintard  Brothers,  jewel- 
ers, of  Poughkeepsie,  and  died  July  18,  1887; 
John  V. ,  a  wholesale  and  retail  druggist  of 
Poughkeepsie;  and  Abram  S.,  our  subject. 
The  father  of  this  family  died  October  20, 
1853,  the  mother  on  August  24,  1885.  He 
was  a  Democrat  in  his  political  views,  and 
both  were  members  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church. 

Our  subject  spent  his  younger  days,  after 
1856,  in  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  attended  the 
Dutchess  County  Academy,  and  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  he  entered  the  drug  store  of  Elias 
Trivett  as  clerk.  There  he  remained  for  about 
four  years,  then  went  to  Kingston,  N.  Y. ,  and 
clerked  for  Van  Dusen  Brothers  for  some  five 
years.  His  next  location  was  Providence,  R. 
I.,  where  he  engaged  in  the  drug  business  for 
himself  for  one  year,  after  which  he  returned 
to  Poughkeepsie,  and  a  year  later  formed  a 
partnership  under  the  firm  name  of  Humphrey 
&  Bowne.  This  continued  two  and  one-half 
years,  when  Mr.  Bowne  sold  out  his  interest  to 
John  V.  Humphrey,  and  the  business  was  then 
conducted  under  the  name  of  Humphrey  Broth- 
ers. Eight  years  later  Abram  S.  sold  out  his 
interest,  and  became  secretary  and  treasurer 
of  the  Storm  Spring  Company,  holding  these 
offices  for  eight  years.  In  1890  he  became  a 
member  of  the  present  firm  of  Doty  &  Hum- 
phrey, which  does  a  large  wholesale  and  retail 
drug  business. 

On  October  8,  1873,  Mr.  Humphrey  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Vignes, 
who  was  born  in  Kingston,  May  20,  1850,  a 
daughter  of  John  Vignes,  of  that  city,  who 
was  of  French  descent.  Mr.  Humphrey  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  takes  an  active  inter- 
est in  all  matters  relative  to  the  welfare  of  his 
community.      In   1884   he   was   elected  alder- 


800 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


man  for  the  Sixth  ward,  and  served  two  terms; 
also  two  terms  on  the  water  board,  and  at  the 
present  time  represents  his  ward  in  the  board 
of  supervisors.  Sociall}',  he  belongs  to  the 
Royal  Arcanum,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  of 
which  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Consistory. 


ISAAC  VINCENT.  SR.,fatherof  Mrs.  Phoebe 
A.  Wing,   was  born  January   26,    1781,  in 

the  town  of  Unionvale,  Dutchess  Co.,  N. 
Y. ,  son  of  Gilbert  and  Phoebe  (Vail)  Vincent, 
both  also  natives  of  Dutchess  county,  and  highly 
respectable  farming  people.  In  religious  faith 
they  were  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 
They  had  a  family  of  thirteen  children,  named 
respectively:  Isaac,  Absalom,  Rebecca,  La- 
vina,  Jonathan,  Leonard,  Thomas,  Margaret 
and  Elizabeth  (twins),  Richard,  Michael, 
Phebe  Ann,  and  Hepsibeth.  Of  these,  Mar- 
garet married  John  Potter,  and  had  two  chil- 
dren— Jane,  who  married  Theron  Thompson, 
and  Thomas,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion,  and  died  of  wounds  received  at 
the  battle  of  Antietam.  Elizabeth  married 
Jonathan  Huestis,  and  had  two  children — Eg- 
bert, married  to  Marietta  Williams  (they  had 
three  children,  and  both  are  now  deceased), 
and  Jane,  married  to  Isaac  Mabbett  (they  have 
no  children;  Mr.  Mabbett  is  deceased,  and  his 
widow  resides  in  Chicago). 

Isaac  Vincent,  the  eldest  in  the  above  men- 
tioned family  of  thirteen  children,  in  1807  mar- 
ried Martha  Duncan,  who  was  born  at  Dover, 
Dutchess  county,  in  1788,  and  died  October 
30,  1873.  Isaac  was  a  merchant,  and  opened 
the  first  store  at  Chestnut  Ridge;  he  was  also 
a  farmer,  and  accumulated  a  considerable 
amount  of  property.  Altogether  he  was  a  man 
of  no  small  influence  in  his  day,  too  busy  to 
accept  office,  though  a  strong  Whig  and  Re- 
publican. He  was  the  first  postmaster  at 
Chestnut  Ridge,  and  when  advanced  years 
came  upon  him  he  handed  the  office  over  to 
his  son  Edgar,  at  whose  death  Mrs.  Phoebe  A. 
Wing  took  charge  thereof;  it  has  been  in  the 
family  the  long  period  of  eighty  years  in  all. 
The  record  of  the  children  born  to  Isaac  and 
Martha  (Duncan)  Vincent  is  as  follows: 

(i)  Horatio  N.  was  born  September  16, 
1808,  and  died  unmarried.  May  27,  1862. 

(2)  David  was  born  March  10,  1810,  and 
died  February  5,  1887.  He  married  Phoebe 
Preston,  who  was  born  November  3,  1817,  and 


died  September  20,  1856;  they  had  three  chil- 
dren— Isaac,  born  May  16,  1847,  died  January 
25,  1889;  Martha,  born  July  13,  1849,  died 
July  16,  1874;  and  Obed,  born  in  1855,  died 
July  13,  1892  (he  married  Ella  Vincent,  and 
had  one  daughter.  Hazel).  Obed  was  a  Re- 
publican in  politics.  Isaac,  Jr.,  son  of  David, 
married  Mary  E.  Albro,  and  had  three  children 
— Phoebe  Ann,  David  D.,  and  Martha  A.  (now 
Mrs.  John  A.  Gaffney).  Martha,  daughter  of 
David,  married  Stephen  Moore,  and  had  one 
son^ — David,  a  merchant  and  farmer  at  Cloe 
Valley;  he  married  Minnie  Vincent,  and  they 
have  two  children — Edna  M.  and  Vincent. 

(3)  Gilbert,  born  March  14,  1812,  married 
Mary  Van  Wyck,  October  2,  1856,  and  they 
had  two  children — Horatio  N.,  born  January 
I,  1859,  died  March  14,  i860;  and  Phoebe  A., 
born  May  i,  1861  (she  married  John  L.  Bald- 
ing, and  had  two  children — Vincent,  born  Au- 
gust 26,  1879,  died  June  26,  1880,  and  John 
L. ,  born  April  16,  1882;  their  mother,  Phcebe, 
died  August  26,  1884).  Gilbert  Vincent  died 
September  23,  1875. 

(4)  Edgar,    born   December    i,     18 13,    re- 
ceived a  liberal  common-school  education,  anc 
became  a  leading  business  man,  was  a  Repub' 
lican  in  politics,  and  a  leader  in  his  party.     Ii 
18 —  he  was  elected   to  the  State  Assembly 
was  also  county  clerk  six  years,  and,  as  alread; 
stated,  was  postmaster  at  Chestnut  Ridge,  ii 
addition  to  which  he  filled  many  minor  offica 
all  with  the  same  degree  of    ability  and  intq 
rity  characteristic  of  him.   No  man  had  a  widd 
acquaintance   than   Edgar  Vincent,   and  non 
was    more    deserving    of   the    high  esteem 
which  he  was  held  by  all   classes  in  the  con 
munity.      He  died   unmarried.  May    14,  187^ 
deeply  regretted  by  all  who  knew  him. 

(5)  Phcebe  A.,  the  youngest  daughter  an 
child  of  Isaac  and  Martha  (Duncan)  Vincen 
was  born  at  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  Noven 
ber    4,    1 8 18.       She  was  married  in   1840  t 
Obed  Wing,  who  was  born  August  2,  i8i7,t 
died  January  17,  1882.     They  had  no  famil] 
but   reared    from    childhood    Martha    Pray, 
daughter  of  George  and    Nancy  (Baker)  Pra 
who,  at  their   death,   gave  Martha  to  Mr.  ar 
Mrs.  Wing,  and  she  became  as   dear  to  the 
as  if  she   was  their  own  daughter.      She  h: 
three  brothers:  Elias  N.,  George  and  Sewar 
and  one  sister,  Ida  (now  Mrs.  Charles  Duncar 
Mrs.  Phcebe  A.  Wing  is  in  many  ways  a  i 
markable  woman,  there  being  few  of  her  a 
who  can  boast  of  her  wonderful  vitality  a 


w 
o 

a 


o 
w 


(a 
o 

a 


o 


^--^-f 


COISMEMOBATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


801 


brightness.  To-day,  with  the  assistance  of 
Miss  Pray,  she  is  conducting  a  large  farm  with 
,  all  the  ability  and  acumen  of  many  a  man  of 
half  her  years,  and  ever  since  her  brother  Ed- 
gar's death,  up  to  September,  1895,  she  was 
the  efficient  and  courteous  postmistress  at 
Chestnut  Ridge.  Far  and  wide  she  is  known 
and  respected,  and  the  wish  of  all  is  that  she 
may  be  spared  many  years  of  usefulness  and 
beneficence. 


JEDEDI.\H     I.    WANZER.      The    Wanzer 
family,  which  has  held  an    influential  posi- 
tion in  this  region   for  many  generations, 
IS  of  old  pioneer  stock,  and  the  hardy  virtues 
of  their  ancestry  are  well    exemplified  in  their 
numerous  descendants. 

The  first  of  the  line  was  Abraham  Wanzer 

I,  who  lived  at  Horse  Neck,  on  Long  Island 

sound,    in    the    town   of    Greenwich,    Conn., 

about  1700.      He  was  married  first  to  Abigail 

jHusted,  of  that  place,  who  died  several  years 

ibefore  him.     He  afterward   married   Deborah 

iClasson,  who  survived  him  leveral  years.      He 

had  two  children   by  his   first    wife,   Anthony 

and  Moses  (i),  and    by    his    second  wife,  one 

child.  Deborah.     Later  in  life  he  moved  with 

his  family  to  the  town    of   Sherman,  Fairfield 

Co.,  Connecticut. 

Moses  Wanzer  ( i )  was  born   at  Horse  Neck, 

ibout  the  year  1722.      He   married   Elizabeth 

ienedict)    Knapp,    of  Danbury,    Conn.,   and 

ed  and  died  on  the  farm  in  Sherman  owned, 

1870,  by  Abram   Wanzer,    their   grandson. 

Ihey  had  eight  children:     (I)  Abram  (2),  (H) 

Nicholas,  (HIj  Moses  (2),    (IV)  Ebenezer,  (V) 

\bigail,    (VI)    Husted,    (VII)    Elizabeth,  and 

VIII)  John. 

(I)  Abram  Wanzer  (2)   lived  in  New   Mil- 

d.  Conn.,  and  had  a  large  family.      His  eld- 

l^jt  son,  Zebulon,  married  Sybil  Wing,  whose 

IHNr  was  killed  at  a  raising  of   a  sawmill  at 

|^V>n?-     They  lived  on  a  farm  near  New  Mil- 

IwB.  Conn.,  and  had  four  children,  as  follows: 

Michael  went  to  Iowa  when  a  young  man, 

■  arried    and    had    two    children,    who,    being 

rphaned  at  an  early  age,  were  taken  in  charge 

their  uncle  Elihu,  living  at  Macedon,  N.  Y., 

:;  later  returned   to    the    West.      (2)  Elihu,' 

1    of   Zebulon,    married    Tammy    Eddy    at 

„'uaker  Hill,  and  removed  to  Macedon,  N.  Y., 

vhere  they   resided   in    1873.     They  have  no 

3sue.     (3)  Elizabeth  married  Ward    Bryant, 

^nd  lived  in  Amenia,  Dutchess  county.      They 


had  eleven  children:  Laura,  Calvin,  Elihu, 
James,  Amos,  Sarah,  Jane,  Ezra,  Phebe,  Reu- 
ben, and  Coralie.  (4)  Jane  married  Luther 
Bencroft,  and  lived  near  Macedon  Locks, 
New  York. 

Moses  Wanzer,  the  son  of  Abram  (2),  mar- 
ried Sally  Akin,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Akin, 
of  Pawling,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  they  lived  in 

Sherman,    Conn.,  and  had   fifteen  children 

Nicholas  Akin,  Phebe,  Benjamin,  Elizabeth, 
Martha,  Jane,  Anna,  Sarah,  Lydia,  Moses,' 
Margaret,  Edward,  Mary,  Harriet,  Martha— 
of  whom,  Sarah  Wanzer  married  Mr.  Congdon, 
and  lived  inBeekman;  her  son  James  attended 
Cornell  University,  and  died  about  the  year 
1872.  Lydia  married  James  Haight,  lived  at 
Chappaqua,  N.  Y.,  and  had  two  daughters. 
Margaret  married  Dr.  Holcomb,  of  New  York 
City,  where  they  were  living  in  1873;  Moses, 
Jr.,  a  farmer,  married  the  daughter  of  Ezra 
Haight,  of  Chappaqua,  N.  Y. ;  Edward  A.  mar- 
ried a  daughter  of  Akin  Taber,  a  farmer  of 
Pawling;  Harriet  lived  to  maturity;  (the  others 
died  young). 

(II)— Nicholas  Wanzer,  son  of  Moses,  Sr., 
married  Phebe  Miller,  and  lived  in  the  town  of 
New  Milford,  Conn.      He  had  no  children. 

(Ill) — Moses,  son  of  Moses,  Sr.,  married 
Sarah  Hill,  and  moved  to  Vermont.  They 
had  seven  children:  Hill,  Nicholas,  Moses, 
John,  Amy,  Betsey  and  Sarah.  Of  these' 
Moses  lived  at  Bath,  Long  Island,  and  later 
moved  to  Illinois,  where  he  died  about  1879. 
He  was  engaged  in  the  clothing  business  in 
New  York  City.  He  had  several  children, 
among  whom  was  a  son  named  Moses,  who,' 
when  a  young  man,  went  to  Illinois,  married 
and  had  several  children.  He  lived  in  or  near 
McHenry  county. 

(IV) — Ebenezer,  son  of  Moses,  Sr. ,  mar- 
ried Betsey  Hendrick,  and  lived  in  or  near 
Brooklield,  Conn.  He  had  seven  children: 
David,  Phebe,  Anna  (3),  Ebenezer,  Ira,  Hiram 
and  William.  Of  these,  David  never  married, 
and  lived  and  died  in  the  old  homestead! 
Phebe  married  Lewis,  son  of  Thomas  Havi- 
land,  and  lived  in  the  town  of  New  Milford, 
Conn.;  they  had  two  children:  Ebenezer 
Wanzer  Haviland  and  Betsey  P.  Ebenezer 
married  Betsey  S.  Wheeler,  and  a  daughter  of 
theirs,  Betsey  P.  Haviland,  married  Robert 
Post,  of  Long  Island,  and  settled  at  Quaker 
Hill,  in  Pawling,  N.  Y.,  where  they  now 
live.  They  have  three  children — Edmond 
Phebe    and    Isaac.     Anna  (3)  married  David 


802 


COMMEMORATIVE  BTOORAPEICAL  BECORD. 


Merritt,  and  lived  on  Quaker  Hill,  N.  Y.;  she 
died  young;  they  had  two  children,  who  died 
in  infancy.  Ebenezer  married  Lucy,  daughter 
of  William  Leach,  settled  near  Brookfield, 
Conn.,  and  had  three  children — William  L., 
Phebe  L.  and  Betsey.  Ira  married  Laura 
Hayes,  of  New  Fairfield;  he  was  the  author 
of  an  arithmetic,  which  was  esteemed  as  a 
valuable  work;  they  had  five  children — David, 
Levi,  Mary,  Flora  and  Betsey.  Hiram  died 
young.  William  married  Hannah,  daughter 
of  Zachariah  Ferris,  of  Jerusalem,  Conn.,  and 
lived  in  or  near  New  Milford,  Conn.;  they  had 
four  children — Charles,  Hannah,  Ellen  and 
Anna;  of  these,  Charles  married  Carrie  Tread- 
well,  and  had  three  children- -William  D., 
Minnie  and  Alice. 

(VI) — Husted  Wanzer,  son  of  Moses,  Sr. , 
born  March  3,  1762,  for  his  first  wife  married 
Lucy  Leach,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  and  Mary 
(Marsh)  Leach,  of  Sherman,  Conn.  She  died 
25th  of  1 2th  month,  1797,  and  for  his  second 
wife  he  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Stephen 
Osborn,  of  New  Milford,  Conn.,  who  did  not 
live  long.  He  then  married,  for  his  third  wife, 
Florilla  Pepper,  daughter  of  Dan  and  Sarah 
Pepper,  of  Sherman,  Conn.  Husted  Wanzer 
had  five  children — three  by  the  first  marriage, 
(i)  Daniel,  (2)  Elizabeth,  {3)  Ebenezer,  one 
by  the  second  marriage,  (4)  Nicholas,  and  one 
by  the  third  marriage,  (5)  George,  (i)  Daniel 
married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Sarah  Haviland,  of  Oblong,  or  Haviland  Hol- 
low, and  they  had  seven  children — Husted, 
Haviland,  John,  Richard,  Henry,  Isaac  and 
Ann.  (2)  Elizabeth  Wanzer  was  born  12th 
of  5th  njonth,  1793,  married  Henry,  son  of 
Edward  Briggs,  of  Quaker  Hill,  and  had  four 
children — Annan,  who  married  Polly  Akin; 
Edward,  who  died  single;  Husted,  who  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Wanzer,  and  Henry,  who  mar- 
ried Almira  Haws.  (3)  Ebenezer,  born  De- 
cember 20,  1795,  married  Sarah,  daughter  of 
Amos  and  Esther  Irish,  of  Quaker  Hill, 
Dutchess  county,  in  2d  month,  1820.  She 
died  on  the  20th  of  December,  1823,  and  in 
6th  month,  1825,  he  married  Esther  Irish,  sis- 
ter of  his  first  wife.  She  died  on  3d  of  loth 
month,  1838;  and  on  20th  of  8th  month,  1842, 
he  married  Eliza  Boughton,  daughter  of  Thad- 
deus  and  Lucy  Boughton,  of  Victory,  Cayuga 
county.  He  had  nine  children,  of  whom,  two 
were  by  the  first  marriage:  Lucy,  born  15th 
of  8th  month,  1821,  died  22d  of  2d  month, 
1 842;  and  Elias,  born  12th  of  12th  month,  1823, 


died  in  September,  1896  (he  married  Hannah 
Haight,  and  had  two  sons).  The  children  by 
the  second  marriage  were:  Sarah,  born  7th 
of  6th  month,  1826;  Charles  J.,  born  26th  of 
2d  month,  1828;  James  M. ,  born  9th  of  9th 
month,  1829;  Elizabeth  B.,  born  12th  of  7th 
month,  1 83 1 ;  Caroline,  born  29th  of  4th  month, 
1835;  Daniel  H.,  born  3d  of  12th  month,  1837; 
and  Mary,  who  only  lived  to  be  some  thirteen 
years  of  age.  (4)  Nicholas,  born  January  8, 
1804,  and  died  27th  of  loth  month,  1875;  mar- 
ried Almira,  daughter  of  Jedediah  and  Lydia 
Irish,  of  Quaker  Hill,  N.  Y.,  and  settled  in 
New  Fairfield,  Conn.  They  had  the  follow- 
ing children:  Jedediah  I.,  our  subject;  Eben- 
ezer H.,  born  December  24,  1831,  and  died 
unmarried  October  31,  1855;  Mary  Jane,  born 
June  21,  1834,  married  Harvey  H.  Barnum, 
February  6,  1854;  Gilbert,  born  April  27,  1836, 
died  October  11,  1861,  unmarried;  Henry  B., 
born  July  9,  1839,  first  married  April  3,  1861, 
Sylvia  D.  Sheldon,  who  died  August  21,  1863, 
and  he  married  for  his  second  wife  Phoebe  J. 
Haynes;  John  L. ,  born  August  8,  1843,  died 
January  13,  1844;  tnd  Elizabeth  B.,  who  was 
born  October  11,  1847,  and  died  Decembers, 
1879,  married  Perley  M.  Cummings,  and  had 
three  children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy; 
Cora  Emily,  born  June  13,  1876;  and  Ralph 
H.,  born  October  4,  1877.  (5)  George  Husted 
Wanzer,  born  February  8,  1820,  was  the  onlyj 
child  of  the  third  marriage  of  Husted  Wanzer,[ 
and  lives  on  the  homestead  at  Sherman,  Con- 
necticut. 

(VII)  Elizabeth,  the  seventh  child  of  Moses,  J 
Sr. ,  married  Thomas  Haviland,  a  resident  ofi| 
Leach    Hollow.      They   had   eight  children- 
Horace,  Willis,  John,  Jane,  Elizabeth,  Pheb6,j 
Nancy  and  Sophia.    Of  these,  Horace  married 
Eunice,  daughter  of  Ichabod  Leach,  of  Leach 
Hollow,  and  settled  in    that  place,  where  he 
followed  the   blacksmith's  trade;  he  had  one 
son,    Israel,    who   married   Abby,  daughter  oil 
Zachariah  Ferris.    Willis  Haviland,  forhisiirsti 
wife,    married    Phebe   Searing,  and  settled  all 
Hartsville,  Dutchess  county,  where  her  deatb 
occurred;    they    had   three    daughters,    Sarah 
Eliza  (married  to  Philip  (son  of  Isaac)  Merritt.l 
of   Millbrook,  N.  Y.);    Mary,  who  never  marl 
ried,  and   Harriet.     Willis    Haviland,    for  hisJ 
second   wife,    married   Elizabeth,  daughter  oj 
Philip    Hart.     John    Haviland    married  Marf 
Ann  Ferris,  daughter  of  Zachariah  Ferris,  an«j 
lived  near  New  Milford,  Conn.;  they  had  oni| 
child — Jane  Ann,  who  married   Gersham  Gid 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


303 


dings,  but  nothing  is  known  of  their  issue. 
Jane  Haviland  married  Simeon  Hinmon,  of 
New  Milford,  Conn. ;  nothing  is  known  of  their 
issue;  she  died  and  he  afterward  moved  to 
Seneca  county,  N.  Y.  EHza  Haviland  married 
Ira  Leach,  son  of  William  Leach,  and  lived 
,  and  died  at  Leach  Hollow,  Conn. ;  they  had 
two  children,  whose  names  are  not  known. 
Phebe  Haviland  remained  single. 

(Vni)  John  Wanzer,  youngest  son  of  Moses 
and  Elizabeth  (Knapp)  Wanzer,  lived  in  New 
Fairfield,  Conn.  He  married  Grace  Swords, 
and  their  children  were:  Abraham,  Isaac, 
Jacob,  Ithamar,  Abigail.  Amittai,  Elizabeth, 
John  Jay,  Francis  D.  S.,  Abbie  Jane,  and 
Willis  H.  Of  these,  Abraham  married  (first) 
Anna  Leach,  and  (second)  Phebe  (Haviland) 
Hathaway.  Isaac  Wanzer  married  (first) 
l::iiza  Treadwell,  and  (second)  Cornelia  Tread- 
well;  children  by  first  marriage:  Jabez,  Grace, 
Jane  Ann,  John,  Lucy  Eliza,  and  Andrew; 
children  by  second  marriage:  Elizabeth,  Mar- 
L^aretta.  George  Munson,  Sarah  C.  and  Grace. 
Jacob  Wanzer  married  Phebe  Leach,  and  had 
children:  Lucy  Ann,  Mary,  Abigail,  Merritt 
L. ,  Jane  and  Julia.  John  Jay  Wanzer  married 
Ann  Eliza  Dennison.  Francis  D.  S.  Wanzer 
married  Lucia  S.  Osborn,  and  had  children: 
Harriet  A.,  Sarah,  Mary  E.,  Abbie  Jane, 
Kichard  D.,  Franklin,  Thalia  Grace,  George 
uid  Lottie  E.  Willis  H.  Wanzer  lived  on  his 
ather's  homestead  in  New  Fairfield,  Conn. ; 
le  married  rfirst)  Lydia  Ann  Leach,  and  (sec- 
ond) Sarah  Ann  Kellogg,  and  had  children: 
^enry  J.,  Hanford  Kellogg,  Willis  H.,Jr., 
-vdia  Ann  and  Rachel  Sophia.  (Willis  Wan- 
represented  New  Fairfield   in   General  As- 

mbly  of  Connecticut  in  1855,  1858  and  1873). 
Vmittai  Wanzer  married  Homer  J.  Leach, and 
lad  children:  Daniel  Francis  and  Abbie  Jane. 
Elizabeth  Wanzer  married  Andrew  A.  Skid- 
nore,  and  had  children:  Elizabeth,  Jane  S. , 
\ndrew  A.  and  James  W. 

Amos  Irish,  the  maternal  great-grandfather 
f  our  subject,  was  a  son  of  Joseph,  who  was 

son  of  Jedediah,  of  one  of  the  early  families 

f  Rhode  Island.    Amos  was  born  in  Pawling, 

lay  20.  1757,  was  educated  there  and  engaged 

'  farming.      He  was  a  birthright  Friend.     He 

rried  Esther  Irish,  a  cousin,  who  was  born 

'>    2.     1757,    and    they    had    ten    children. 
liose  names  with  dates  of  birth  are  as   fol- 

^:    Jedediah,    31st    of    8th    month,     1780; 

■th,  4th  of  7th  month,  1782;   Rachel,   27th 
■nth  month,  1784;  Joseph,  22d  of  3d  month, 

I 


1786;  Charles,  14th  of  4th  month,  1788; 
Cynthia,  20th  of  5th  month,  1790;  David, 
20th  of  6th  month,  1792;  Jonathan,  23d  of 
8th  month,  1794;  Esther,  22d  of  2d  month, 
1797;  and  Sarah,  13th  of  9th  month,  1799! 
Of  these  children  all  lived  to  a  good  old  age, 
excepting  Cynthia,  who  died  young.  They 
married  as  follows:  Jedediah — Lydia  Hoag; 
Ruth— Abram  Wing;  Rachel— Warren  Giles; 
Joseph  married  (first)  Miss  Dorland,  and 
(second)  Jane  Stevenson;  Charles— Rhoda 
Ketcham;  David— Martha  Titus;  Jonathan 
married  (first)  Ruth  Chase,  and  (second)  Han- 
nah Tallman;  Esther— Ebenezer  Wanzer;  and 
Sarah — Ebenezer  Wanzer. 

Jedediah  Irish,  grandfather  of  our  subject 
on  the  maternal  side,  was  born  in  or  near  the 
town  of  Pawling,  Dutchess  county,  and  spent 
his  lifetime  there,  dying  September  4,  1818. 
He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of 
that  town,  and  taught  school  for  many  years. 
He  married  Lydia  Hoag,  who  was  born  Sep- 
tember 20,  1792,  and  they  had  seven  children, 
who  married  as  follows:  Amos — Matilda  Giles; 
Cynthia— Nathan  O'Banks;  Almira— Nicholas 
Wanzer;  Martin— Mary  A.  Haviland;  Rebecca 
—Gilbert  Jennings;  Jane— John  Lawrence; 
and  Willis— Phoebe  Haviland. 

Almira  Irish,  mother  of  our  subject,  was 
born  January  13,  1807,  in  the  town  of  Sher- 
man, Conn.,  educated  there,  and  married 
Nicholas  Wanzer,  of  Pawling.  She  died  Sep- 
tember 21,   1861. 

David  Irish,  father  of  our  subject's  present 
wife,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Pawling,  and  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools.      He  was  always 
engaged  in  farming,  and  also  followed  survey- 
ing,     lie  was  a  Friend,  and  a  minister  in  the 
Friends  Society.      He   married  Martha  Titus, 
daughter  of  William  and   Mary  (Cock)  Titus, 
farmers  of   Orange   county,   N.    Y.      He  died 
October  2,   1894,  at  the  age  of  ninety-two,  and 
his  wife  passed  away  February  22,  1873,  aged 
eighty-four.       They    had    three    children:  "(i) 
William  Irish,  born  in  Pawling,  April  16,  1820, 
engaged  in  farming.      He    married   Miss  Annie 
Quimby,  who  was  born  on  the  istof  2d  month, 
1825,  daughter  of  Aaron  and   Phebe  Quimby! 
and  had   one  son — David  A.  Irish,  born  3d  of 
8th    month.    1850,  in   Pawling,    where   he   en- 
gaged   in    farming.       He    married     first     Miss 
Phebe  M.  Hallock,  by  whom  he  had  no  issue. 
For  his  second  wife  he  married  Miss  Henriette 
Hallock,  a  sister,  and  by  her  he  had  one  child, 
who    died    in    infancy.       (2)   Mary    Irish   was 


304 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPSIOAL  RECORD. 


born  in  Pawling,  June  7,  1824,  and  married 
David  I.  Wing,  a  farmer  in  that  town.  They 
had  four  children:  Elizabeth,  born  12th  of 
5th  month,  1848;  Martha  T. ,  3d  of  2d 
month,  1850;  Phebe  P.,  27th  of  7th  month, 
1853;  Caroline,  25th  of  7th  month,  i860; 
Elizabeth  married  Edward  Ryder;  Martha  re- 
mained single;  Phebe  married  Edward  Wilcox; 
Caroline  remained  single.  (3)  Phebe  T.  Irish 
(present  wife  of  our  subject)  was  born  in  Pawl- 
ing, September  i,  1828,  and  educated  there. 
She  married  (first)  Joseph  Pierce,  Jr.,  a  farmer 
of  Westchester  county,  N.  Y. ,  by  whom  she  had 
four  children:  (i)  William,  born  June  12, 
1853,  died  in  infancy.  (2)  Annie  S.  married 
Charles  Irish,  and  they  have  two  children — 
Mary  S.  and  Frederick.  (3)  Joseph  D. ,  born 
June  27,  1857,  died  March  6,  1893;  became  a 
farmer;  he  married  Jennie  L.  Jones,  daughter 
of  Edward  and  Caroline  Jones,  and  they  had 
one  child — Edward  H.  Pierce.  (4)  Henry, 
born  in  Pawling,  June  7,  1859,  was  educated 
there,  graduated  at  Cornell  College,  and  be- 
came a  civil  engineer;  he  is  now  in  the  employ 
of  the  Chesapeake  &  Ohio  Railroad  Co. ;  he 
married  Miss  Mary  L.  Hyatt,  of  Ithaca,  and 
they  have  no  issue.  The  father  of  this  family, 
Joseph  Pierce,  Jr.,  died  in  November,  1858, 
and  his  widow,  seven  years  later,  married  our 
subject. 

Jedediah  I.  Wanzer,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  is  a  native  of  New  Fairfield, 
Conn.,  born  May  13,  1829.  He  grew  up  on  a 
farm,  and  had  such  schooling  as  fell  to  the  lot 
of  the  average  farmers'  sons  of  that  day.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-one  he  joined  a  surveying 
party  as  chain-bearer  in  making  the  survey  for 
the  Danbury  &  Norwalk  railroad.  In  this  ca- 
pacity he  worked  for  two  years,  and  in  that 
period  prepared  himself  for  the  position  of  a 
civil  engineer,  which  for  ten  years  he  followed 
as  an  occupation.  In  the  spring  of  1852  he 
went  west  and  engaged  in  surveying  in  Illinois 
and  Iowa,  through  the  spring  and  summer, 
and  that  fall  he  had  charge  of  and  completed 
a  division  of  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  R.  R. ,  west  of 
Aurora,  111.,  the  work  requiring  one  year;  was 
next  engaged  in  similar  work  on  the  C.  N.  W. 
R.  R. ,  west  of  Dixon,  111.  In  1856  he  re- 
turned to  Western,  N.  Y. ,  and,  as  assistant 
engineer,  superintended  the  widening  of  the 
Erie  canal,  west  of  Albion,  N.  Y.  On  the 
completion  of  this  work  in  1859,  he  again 
went  west,  purchased  a  farm  in  Clinton  coun- 
ty, Iowa,   on  which  he  settled.     In  the  winter 


of  1864-65  he  sold  the  farm  and  returned  east 
(to  Knowlesville,  N.  Y.).  Later  he  went  to 
Danbury,  where  he  again  engaged  in  survey- 
ing, and  in  1867  purchased  the  farm  upon 
which  he  now  resides,  and  which  comprises 
300  acres  of  valuable  land. 

On  May  6,  1858,  Mr.  Wanzer  was  married 
to  Miss  Frances  Arabella  Sawyer,  daughter  of 
John  F.  and  Mary  J.  (Gilbert)  Sawyer,  both 
natives  of  Vermont,  the  former  born  June  2, 
1802,  and  the  latter  on  March  25,  1823. 
John  F.  Sawyer  had  five  brothers,  who  were 
Baptist  ministers.  The  Sawyers  trace  their 
ancestry  back  to  one  Thomas  Sawyer,  who 
was  born  in  England  in  161 5,  and  in  1639 
came  to  America,  settling  in  Lancaster,  Mass., 
in  1647,  in  which  year  he  married  Mary  J 
Houghton.  riis  death  occurred  September  1 
12,  1706.  To  our  subject  and  wife  were  born: 
Henry  S.  (at  Lyons,  Iowa),  May  28,  1859, 
who  married  Lillie  Jones  (they  have  two  chil- 
dren— Helen,  born  April  18,  1883,  and  Harry 
Jay,  born  February  28,  1889);  and  Helen  A. 
born  (at  Lyons,  Iowa)  August  29,  i860,  died 
June  16,  1885;  she  married  Frank  E.  Cole, 
May  25,  1882.  (They  have  two  children: 
Emery,  born  April  30,  1883,  and  Esther  W., 
born  December  30,    1884).      On   February  2, 

1865,  Mrs.    Wanzer    died,    and   on   May    14, 

1866,  Mr.  Wanzer  married  (for  his  second 
wife)  Phoebe  T.  (Irish)  Pierce,  the  widow  of 
Joseph  Pierce,  Jr. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  the  substantial  men 
of  the  community;  is  the  possessor  of  a  fine 
tract  of  land  above  referred  to,  and  has  a  fine 
home.  In  1870,  on  the  organization  of  the 
Savings  Bank  at  Pawling,  he  was  one  of  the 
original  members,  was  made  secretary  of  the 
same,  and  served  as  such  until  1888,  when  he 
was  made  president,  which  position  he  now 
sustains  with  the  bank.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Republican  through  the  Civil  war;  in  1872, 
he  voted  for  Horace  Greeley,  and  has  since 
affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party. 


IJrEWTON  HEBARD,  cashier  of  the  First 
_  J.  National  Bank  of  Am.enia,  has  for  many 
years  been  connected  with  the  financial  inter- 
ests of  that  place.  He  is  a  native  of  Dutchess 
county,  born  at  Poughkeepsie,  October  14, 
1837,  and  is  descended  from  Capt.  Robert 
Hebard,  who  was  born  in  England  in  1737, 
at  an  early  date  becoming  a  resident  of  Dutch- 
ess county,  where  he  died  May  17,  1798.     He 


jN^^Y^ar^A.— ^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


305 


married  Miss  Lydia  — ,  who  was  born  in 

1737,   and  died  August   21,    1819.     They  be- 
came the  parents  of  seven  children:     Reuben; 
Benjamin,  who  was  born  April   i,    1765,  and 
died  April  24,  1837;  Daniel,  the  grandfather  of 
the  subject  of  this   review;  Robert,  who  died 
May  24,  1855,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  ten 
months  and   four  days;  Ruth,  who  died  Janu- 
ary 28,    1808;  Sarah;  and   Lydia,   who   died 
January  6,  1788,  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years. 
The  birth  of  Daniel  Hebard  occurred  June 
I,    1766,    and   on   reaching    manhood  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter  of    Capt.   Colbe  Chamberlain.      She  was 
born  June  25,  1769,  and  died  August  27,  1796. 
They   had  three   children:     Salina,   who  was 
born  April  i,    1790,   and  died  May  22,    1847; 
.Aurelia,  who  was  born  August  17,   1792,    and 
died  June  27,  1858;  and  John  J.,  the  father  of 
our  subject.      After  the  death  of  his  first  wife, 
Daniel    Hebard    married    her   sister,    Letitia 
Chamberlain,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
sight  children:     Frederick,   born  January  20, 
1798,   died   February   13,    1799;    Henry,  born 
pctober  16,  1800,  died  October  20,  1885;  Ed- 
vard,  born  November  22,  1807,  died  Septem- 
)er  28,  1880;  Susan,  born  May  14,  1809.  died 
lied  January  10,  18 10;  Charles,  born  October 
7,    1810,    died    December    15,     1845;    Elias 
sixon,  born  January    14,    1814,    died   August 
7  of  the  same  year;  Frederick,  born  Septem- 
ler  5,  1820,   died  May  21,  1896;  and  Susan, 
'orn  February  17,  1824,  is  the  widow  of  Col. 
fenry  Rundall  (deceased).     The  father  of  this 
imily  died  January  6,  1841. 

John  J.  Hebard,  the  father  of  our  subject, 

'as   born  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  April  27, 

794,  and  during  his  boyhood  days  attended 

:hool    at    Sharon,    Conn.      On  November   i, 

818,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Harriet  E.  De- 

ino,  who  was  born  March  19,  1795,  and  died 

eptember    5,    1857.     Their  family  consisted 

six  children,  namely:     Elizabeth,  born  July 

3,  1820,  died  July  17,  1869;  Jethro  Delano, 

jrn  May  7,    1822,   died  February  21,   1864; 

eorge,  born  May  8,  1824,  died  December  29, 

147;  John,  born  July  14,  1827,  died  February 

',    1849;   Harriet  Salina,    born   January  21, 

'\\,  died  April  29,  1881;  and   Newton,  sub- 

t  of  this  sketch,  the  only  one  now  living. 

v'  trade  the    father    was    a  silversmith   and 

ockmaker,  and  was  thus  employed  at  Amenia 

'lion  at  the  time  of  his  marriage.     Removing 

'  Poughkeepsie,  he  engaged  in  the  same  busi- 

-s  there    for   a    time,    later  engaging  in  the 
20 


manufacture  of  soap,  and  then  conducted  a 
store  at  that  place.  In  1862  he  returned  to 
the  town  of  Amenia,  where  his  death  occurred 
in  1874,  when  he  was  aged  eighty  years.  He 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  181 2,  under  Capt. 
Judson,  New  York  State  Militia. 

The  early  school  days  of  Newton  Hebard 
were  passed  at  Williamsburg,  N.  Y. ,  and  after 
graduating  from  the  academy  in  that  city,  he 
clerked  there  in  a  store  for  four  years.  He  was 
engaged  in  farming  near  Newburgh,  N.  Y.,  for 
the  same  length  of  time,  after  which  he  went  to 
Brooklyn,  and  clerked  in  a  hat  store  for  two 
years,  and  then  for  two  years  and  a  half  he  was 
in  the  real-estate  office  with  G.  W.  Kelsey. 
Coming  to  the  village  of  Amenia  in  1862,  he  was 
employed  in  the  store  of  C.  M.  Benjamin  until 
1865,  when  he  started  a  private  bank  under 
the  firm  name  of  N.  Hebard  &  Co.  In  Febru- 
ary, 1867,  the  bank  was  blown  open  and 
robbed;  but  his  good  friends  put  him  on  his 
feet  again,  and  in  the  following  fall  the  First 
National  Bank  was  purchased  by  the  people  of 
Amenia.  Mr.  Hebard  then  closed  out  his 
business  to  become  clerk  in  that  institution, 
and  four  years  later  he  was  made  cashier, 
which  important  position  he  is  still  filling  to  the 
satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 

In  Amenia,  on  October  5,  1864,  Mr.  He- 
bard was  married  to  Miss  Harriet  E.  Per  Lee, 
daughter  of  Walter  P.  Per  Lee.  In  1858  our 
subject  was  initiated  into  the  mysteries  of  the 
Masonic  Order,  and  now  holds  membership 
with  Amenia  Lodge  No.  672,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  in 
religious  faith  he  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church;  politically  he  has  always  been  an  un- 
compromising Republican  on  National  issues, 
although  at  local  elections  he  votes  for  the 
one  he  regards  as  best  qualified  for  the  office 
to  be  filled.  Personally  he  has  no  ambition 
for  political  preferment.  He  is  vigorous  and 
well-preserved,  with  a  remarkable  faculty  for 
the  conduct  and  dispatch  of  business,  and  in 
social  as  well  as  in  business  life  stands  de- 
servedly high. 


OLIVER  WELDON  BARNES,  civil  engi- 
neer, is  a  well-known  resident  of  the  village 
of  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  having  settled 
there  in  1867  while  he  was  engaged  in  the 
construction  of  the  Dutchess  and  Columbia 
railroad,  of  which  he  was  the  chief  engineer. 
His  ancestors  came  from  England  in  the  seven- 
teenth century,  settling   in    Boston,  and  later 


806 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


generations  resided  in  Marlboro,  Mass. ,  where 
his  father,  Henry  Barnes,  was  born  in  1790. 
His  mother,  Marilla  (Weidon),  was  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  born  in  Hartford  county  in  1796. 
In  1825  they  moved  to  Philadelphia. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  the  town  of  Ber- 
lin, Hartford  Co.,  Conn.,  May  15,  1823,  and 
his  education  was  begun  there  in  early  life. 
At  sixteen  years  of  age  he  was  sent  to  Bur- 
lington College,  Burlington,  N.  J., and  he  subse- 
quently went  to  Europe  to  complete  his  engi- 
neering studies.  On  his  return,  in  April, 
1847,  he  was  appointed  an  assistant  engineer 
in  the  first  corps  sent  out  from  Philadelphia  to 
survey  the  western  division  of  the  Pennsylvania 
railroad,  extending  from  the  summit  of  the 
Alleghany  Mountains  to  Pittsburg.  He  be- 
came the  principal  assistant  engineer  in  charge 
of  the  field  parties,  and  made  the  final  location 
on  the  bold  lines  that  distinguished  that  divi- 
sion as  the  first  engineering  work  on  this  conti- 
nent at  that  time,  and  remained  in  charge  of 
his  division  until  its  construction  was  completed 
in  1854.  He  was  then  appointed  chief  engi- 
neer of  the  Pittsburg  &  Connellsville  railroad, 
extending  from  Pittsburg  to  Cumberland,  now 
the  Pittsburg  division  of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio 
railroad,  and  remained  on  that  work  until 
1857,  when  he  took  charge  of  the  construction 
of  the  last  eighty-four  miles  of  the  Pittsburg, 
Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago  railroad,  and  com- 
pleted it  to  Chicago  in  December,  1858.  He 
then  returned  to  Philadelphia,  and  built  some 
branch  lines  for  the  Pennsylvania  railroad. 
In  1866  he  came  to  Dutchess  county,  surveyed, 
located  and  constructed  the  Dutchess  &  Col- 
umbia railroad,  from  Dutchess  Junction  to 
Millerton,  fifty-eight  miles  in  length,  and  sub- 
sequently was  chief  engineer  on  the  surveys 
for  the  extension  of  the  Boston,  Hartford  & 
Erie  railroad,  from  Waterbury,  Conn.,  to  Fish- 
kill-on-Hudson,  superintending  the  construc- 
tion of  the  work  near  the  River  Terminal  until 
the  suspension  of  operations  consequent  upon 
the  financial  difficulties  of  that  company  in 
1869.  Leaving  the  service  of  the  Boston, 
Hartford  &  Erie  Railroad  Co.,  in  1870,  he  be- 
came the  promoter  and  chief  engineer  of  the 
Connecticut  Western  Railroad  Co.,  the  sur- 
veys and  location  of  that  line  from  Hartford  to 
the  State  Line  of  New  York,  near  Millerton, 
being  made  under  his  personal  supervision, and 
the  work  was  subsequently  constructed  under 
his  charge  in  1870  and  1871. 

He  then  became  the    president   and  chief 


engineer  of  the  New  York  City  Central  Under- 
ground Railroad  Co.,    which   was    authorized 
by  a   special   charter  to   construct   a    line  of 
underground  railway  for  rapid  transit  through 
the  city  of  New  York  from  City   Hall  Park  to 
the  Harlem  river.      He   prepared    the  surveys 
and  plans  for  the  construction  of  the  line;  but 
the  political  obstructions  of  the    Tweed  com- 
bination rendered  it   impossible  to  secure  the 
capital  for  its  construction  at   that  time.     In 
1872  the  control   of  the   company  was  trans- 
ferred to  influential  capitalists  interested  in  the 
proposed  New  York  &  Montreal  Railroad  Co., 
who  were  intending  to  use  its  corporate  rights 
for  an  entrance  into  the  heart  of  the  city,  but 
were  compelled  by  the  financial  panic  of  1873 
to  abandon   the   scheme;    the    enterprise    re- 
mained dormant  until  the  Rapid  Transit  Com- 
mission was  appointed  in  1891,  when  the  plans 
of  the  New   York   City    Central    Underground! 
Railroad  Co.  were  presented    to  the   commis- 
sion  by   Oliver    W.  Barnes,    who    had    agaii 
been  appointed  the  chief  engineer  of  the  com- 
pany.    These  plans  were  favorably  considerec, 
by  the  commissioners,  but  they  finally  adopted 
a  more  elaborate    and    enormously    expensive 
four-track  system,  so  costly,  in   fact,  that  th< 
Supreme  Court  in  May,  1896,  refused  to  sanc- 
tion its  construction,  and  declared  it  contrary 
to  public  policy  for  the  City  of    New  York  t( 
undertake  it.      In   1882  Mr.    Barnes   was   ap 
pointed  chief  engineer  for  the  proposed  Sout 
Pennsylvania     railroad,     which    William    i 
Vanderbilt    and    his  associates    undertook  t 
construct  as  an  extension  of   the  Philadelphi 
&  Reading  railroad  system,  from    Harrisbnr 
to  Pittsburg — a  distance  of  218  miles,  throug 
the  southern  tier  of  counties.    The  line  was  lo 
cated  on  a  bold  direct   route,  which  require 
the  construction  of  seven  tunnels,  each  a  mil 
or  more  in  length,  and  a  large  amount  of  othd 
heavy  work;  construction  was  commenced,  am 
the  tunnels  well  advanced,  when  the   Pennsy 
vania  Railroad  Co.  persuaded    Mr.  Vanderbi 
to  abandon  the  completion  of  the  line,  and  se 
the  financial  control  of  the   enterprise  to  th; 
company.      Litigation  and    opposition   by  i\ 
people  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  preventt 
the  transfer  of  the   property  to    the    Penns} 
vania   Railroad  Co.  for  several  years;  but  it 
now  fully  under  its  control  and   ownership, 
be  completed  when  the  policy  of  that  compai 
requires  it  as  a  part  of  its  system. 

In    1884   Mr.   Barnes    was    appointed  tl 
chief  engineer  of  the  New  York,  Lake  Erie 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BWOBAPUIGAL  RECORD. 


307 


Western   Railroad  and   Coal   Co.,  and  built  a 
line  of  railroad  from   the   Erie   railroad  to  the 
company's   coal    lands  in    Elk   and    Jefferson 
counties,  Penn.      It  was   a  work   of  great  en- 
gineering difficulty    for  the    most  part  in  the 
Alleghany   Mountain    range;  on    it    was    con- 
structed  the    celebrated    Kinzua    Viaduct,    a 
steel   structure   2,240  feet   in  length  and  301 
feet  high.      It  has  been  a  very  successful  line, 
and  now  carries  a  very  large  tonnage  from  the 
company's  mines  to  its   main  line.      On  com- 
pletion  of  this  work   Mr.  Barnes  became  the 
chief  engineer  of  several  other  lines  in  Mary- 
land  and   Virginia,  which   were  prepared    for 
future  construction;  in  1885  he  was  appointed 
a  commissioner  of  the   New  Croton  Aqueduct 
and  chairman  of  the  Construction  Committee. 
This  position  he  held  until    1887,  when  polit- 
ical changes    caused  a  reorganization  of  the 
commission,  and  new  men  were  appointed  by 
I  the  mayor  of  the  city  of  New  York. 
j        Mr.  Barnes  was  chosen,  in  the  same  year, 
'as  Chief  Engineer  of  the  New  York   &   Long 
Island  Railroad    Co.,  a  corporation  chartered 
by   the    State   with   authority    to  construct  a 
double-track  tunnel  and  railway  from  the  west 
Iside  of  the  City  of  New  York  at  the  Hudson 
-iver,  eastwardly  along  Forty-second  street  at 
1  depth  of  one  hundred  feet  under  the  surface, 
1:0  and  under  the  East  river  to   Long  Island 
City,  and  thence  to  Brooklyn.     The  line  has 
been  surveyed,  located  and  construction  com- 
nenced,  and  financial   arrangements  are  now 
n  progress  for  the  active  construction  of  the 
vork.      He  is  also  chief  engineer  of  the  New 
york  Connecting  Railroad  Co.  (which  will  be 
a  continuation  of  the  New  York  &  Long  Island 
ailroad),  from  Long  Island  City  to  the  New 
i'ork,    New  Haven  &  Hartford    railroad,  and 
|>ther    lines   in  and    near    Port   Morris   in  the 
Twenty-third  ward  of  New  York  City.     This 
ine  is  now  nearly  ready  for  construction,  and 
ill   be  consolidated   with    other   lines    so  as 
■1  connect  all  the  trunk  lines  which  now  ter- 
linate    in    Jersey    City    with  the  New  York, 
~ew  Haven  &  Hartford  railroad  on  a  termi- 
al   property    near    East    Bay,   at  the  Bronx 
ver.     Mr.  Barnes  is  a  member  of  the  Ameri- 
:in    Society    of    Civil    Engineers,    the    Union 
•eague  Club  of  New  York,  the  New  England 
ociety,  also  the  Engineers  Club  of  Philadel- 
hia,  and  his  distinguished  abilities  and  high 
laracter  as  a  man  have  won  for  him  an  en- 
ible  standing  wherever  he  is  known. 
Mr.  Barnes  was  married,  while  he  was  Res- 


ident Engineer  on  the  western  division  of  the 
Pennsylvania  railroad,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Den- 
ny Harding,  of  Pittsburg,  the  ceremony  being 
performed  January  7,  185 1,  at  Allegheny 
Arsenal,  where  her  father,  Major  Edward  Hard- 
ing, of  the  United  States  Army,  was  in  com- 
mand as  ordnance  officer.  Her  mother's 
maiden  name  was  Nancy  Denny,  and  her  fam- 
ily was  one  of  the  oldest  in  Pennsylvania;  her 
father,  Ebenezer  Denny,  when  a  young  man, 
went  from  Carlisle  in  Cumberland  county  to 
reside  in  Pittsburg,  prior  to  the  Revolution. 
He  was  an  aid  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Arthur  St. 
Clair  during  the  whole  period  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  and  frequently  met  Gen.  Wash- 
ington. When  the  city  of  Pittsburg  was  in- 
corporated in  1 8 16,  he  was  chosen  as  mayor 
of  the  city.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barnes  have  two 
daughters,  and  one  son,  Edward  Harding 
Barnes,  a  civil  engineer,  in  the  employ  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Co.,  near  Pittsburg. 


E 


'\LI    H.   COLLIN,   a  prominent   merchant 


of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess  county,  was  born 
January  22,  i860,  in  the  village  of  Pine  Plains, 
which  had  been  for  several  generations  the 
home  of  his  family. 

His  grandfather,  Eli  Collin,  was  born  there, 
and,  with  a  brother,  once  owned  and  cultivated 
about  1,000  acres  of  valuable  farm  land  in  the 
vicinity.  He  married  Miss  Betsy  Finch,  of 
Pine  Plains,  and  reared  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren: James,  William,  Henry,  Bryant,  Lydia, 
Myra,  Sarah  and  Julia.  William  Collin,  our 
subject's  father,  was  reared  upon  his  father's 
farm  and  educated  in  the  neighboring  schools, 
and  in  later  life  followed,  like  his  ancestors,  the 
calling  of  agriculture.  He  married  Miss  Cath- 
arine Conklin,  a  daughter  of Conklin,  a 

leading  citizen  of  Mt.  Ross. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  only 
child  of  this  union,  and  at  two  years  of  age 
was  taken  by  his  parents  to  the  town  of  North 
Easton,  where  he  received  his  elementary  edu- 
cation. Later  he  attended  the  Amenia  Semi- 
nary at  Amenia,  and  after  graduating  he  man- 
aged his  father's  farm,  relieving  his  later  years 
of  care.  After  his  father's  death  he  turned 
his  attention  to  mercantile  pursuits,  first  in 
Hudson,  where  he  remained  two  years,  and 
later  in  Red  Hook,  where  he  established  a 
millinery  and  fancy-goods  store,  of  which  he 
has  made  a  success,  ranking  among  the  sub- 
stantial business  men  of  that  locality.    He  was 


COMMEMOUA  TIVB  BIOORAPHICAL  JiEOOliD. 


married,  September  21,  1887,  to  Miss  Marian 
Rider,  a  daughter  of  Oliver  D.  Rider,  a  wealthy 
mason  of  Red  Hook,  and  has  two  sons — Will- 
iam O.,  born  in  July,  1889,  and  Henry  B., 
born  in  June,  1893. 

Mr.  Collin  is  an  active  member  of  the  fra- 
ternal order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  now  past 
grand  of  Christian  Lodge  No.  379,  of  Red 
Hook,  and  financial  scribe  of  Shiloh  Encamp- 
ment No.  68. 


m  NDREAS  VALETTE  HAIGHT,  a  lead- 
JP^  ing  printer  and  publisher  of  Poughkeep- 
sie,  whose  original  and  artistic  work  in  color 
printing  has  won  recognition  among  his  craft 
both  in  Europe  and  America,  is  a  native  of 
Ellenville,  Ulster  Co. ,  N.  Y. ,  born  February 
4,  1842. 

Eburn  Haight,  from  whom  our  subject's 
branch  of  the  family  comes  in  direct  line,  was 
a  descendant  of  one  Jonathan  Haight,  who 
was  born  1 670-1684,  and  lived  at  Rye,  West- 
chester Co.,  N.  Y.  He  was  a  man  of  prom- 
inence in  his  day,  and  served  as  high  sheriff  of 
Westchester  county.  One  of  his  descendants, 
David,  born  in  1701,  also  lived  at  Rye,  and 
died  about  1798.  Eburn  Haight,  above  men- 
tioned, was  born  some  time  prior  to  1754,  and 
was  a  resident,  like  his  immediate  forefathers, 
of  Westchester  county,  N.  Y.  His  son,  also 
named  Eburn,  was  born  about  1744  in  that 
county,  and  married  Joanna  Fowler,  of  Ellen- 
ville, Ulster  Co. ,  N.  Y.  Of  their  eight  children 
David  was  the  father  of  the  subject  of  these 
lines. 

David  Haight  was  born  March  31,  1801, 
in  Plattekill,  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  on  Feb- 
ruary 20,  1831,  married  Anna  Barbara  Valette, 
daughter  of  John  J.  Valette,  of  Plattekill, 
Ulster  county.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  as  follows:  Caroline  Adelia,  married 
to  George  Warren,  and  living  at  Ellenville; 
Susan  Van  Wyck,  wife  of  William  H.  Deyo, 
of  Ellenville;  Ruth,  who  died  young;  Phoebe 
Jane,  married  to  William  Warren,  and  also 
living  in  Ellenville;  Andreas  Valette,  our  sub- 
ject; and  Eburn  Fowler  and  George  Emory, 
both  residents  of  New  York  City. 

After  completing  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  town,  our  subject  began 
to  learn  the  printer's  art  in  the  office  of  the 
Ellenville  Journal,  going  thence  to  Rondout, 
and  from  that  place  to  New  York  City,  where 
he    found   employment,    which,    however,    he 


gave  up  to  enter  the  army.  He  enlisted  in  the 
Ninth  Regiment,  N.  Y.  S.  M.,  and  soon  after- 
ward was  transferred  to  the  20th  Regiment, 
N.  Y.  S.  M.,  and  on  finishing  his  three-months' 
term  of  service  he  re-enlisted  in  the  Fourth  N. 
Y.  Cavalry,  from  which  he  received  an  honor- 
able discharge  in  1863.  On  his  return  from 
the  field  he  went  to  California,  where  for  some 
time  he  worked  in  the  office  of  the  San  Fran- 
cisco Call,  and  later  had  charge  of  the  job- 
printing  department  of  the  State  printing  works 
at  Sacramento.  In  1868  he  returned  to  the 
East,  and  became  a  partner  in  the  publication 
of  the  Ellenville  (Ulster  county)  Journal,  and 
began  to  make  a  reputation  as  a  typographic 
artist.  Of  the  quality  of  his  work  the  "Ameri- 
can Art  Printer  "  says:  "  He  (Mr.  Haight)  was 
the  first  of  our  more  modern  printers  to  depart 
from  the  sometimes  over-delicate  tint  work  of 
pioneers  like  William  J.  Kelly  (exquisite 
though  the  latter's  was),  and  combine  there- 
with more  daring  tones  and  even  full  brilliant 
dashes  of  rich  coloring,  that  shot  his  work 
straight  into  admiring  notice."  In  an  article 
by  John  Bassett  in  an  English  journal,  hiai 
work,  in  general,  is  highly  praised,  and  made 
the  text  of  a  brief  exhortation  to  the  English 
artists  in  this  line:  "To  wake  from  their 
period  of  Rip  Van  Winkleism,  and  put  into 
their  pages  a  little  'go,'  which  should  stimu- 
late the  coming  generation  of  English  CaxtoDS 
to  emulate  their  cousin  across  the  pond."  He 
mentions  especially  Mr.  Haight's  new  designs 
for  type  faces,  several  being  among  the  most 
popular  productions  of  the  type  foundries. 

In  1874  Mr.  Haight  became  superintendent 
of  the  Rondout  Freeman,  and  later  was  pro- 
moted to  its  entire  control,  becoming  a  share- 
holder in  the  company  and  holding  the  offices 
of  secretary  and  treasurer.  In  1878  he  re- 
signed his  position  on  the  Freeman,  and  opened 
an  office  in  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  has  devel- 
oped an  extensive  business.  He  was  a  large 
exhibitor  of  specimens  of  printing  at  the  Ca.x- 
ton  Celebration  in  1877,  and  also  in  the  first 
two  Printing  Trades  Exhibitions  held  in  Lon-I 
don,  England.  His  "  Specimens  of  Printing,'] 
published  yearly,  has  won  the  praise  of  expertsi 
in  his  line,  and  reflects  great  credit  upon  thd 
capabilities  of  his  workmen  as  well  as  upon  tht^ 
designer.  In  1886  the  Public  Printer  at  Washj 
ington  officially  invited  Mr.  Haight  to  give  ex; 
pert  opinion  on  matters  in  connection  withtln' 
government  printing  office.  At  the  time  of  thi 
opening  of  the  new  bridge  at  Poughkeepsie  th' 


UUMur. 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BTOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


309 


Eagle  of  that  city  published  a  souvenir  edition 
consisting  of  forty-four  pages,  concerning  which 
the  proprietors  gave  notice  that  they  intended 
to  ecHpse  all  previous  efforts  of  the  kind.  The 
wort:  occupied  some  months,  and  was  executed 
in  the  Eagle  office  under  the  direct  supervision 
of  Mr.  Haight.  The  frontispiece  covered  a 
superficial  area  of  2i6  inches,  and  was  the 
largest  which  has  ever  appeared  in  a  paper,  and 
the  entire  paper,  which  contains  many  por- 
traits, one  of  Mr.  Haight  being  among  them, 
was  an  artistic  success.  As  a  contributor  to 
various  trade  papers  Mr.  Haight  has  furnished 
many  practical  and  original  ideas  to  his  breth- 
ren of  the  craft.  Among  other  articles  may  be 
noted  the  following  in  the  "  Inland  Printer:" 
"Does  Good  Printing  Pay.'"  "About  Job 
Composition,"  and  a  series  on  "Colors  and 
Color  Printing." 

Notwithstanding    his    activity  in  business, 

Mr.  Haight  finds  time  to  take  part  in  the  social 

and  political   life  of  his  city,  and   has  served 

two  terms  as  alderman  and  three  as  supervisor, 

displaying  his  characteristic  energy  and  ability 

n  his  public  duties.      He  is  a  member  of  the 

J.  A.   R. ,  D.  B.   Sleight  Post,  of  which  he  is 

jast  commander,    and    also    belongs   to    the 

Masonic  order,  being  a  past  master  of  Triune 

'^odge,    F.   &  A.    M.;   past    high    priest  (two 

arms)  of  Poughkeepsie   Chapter,   R.    A.    M. ; 

ieputy  master  of  King  Solomon  Council  R.  & 

S.  M. ;  eminent  commander  for  five  consecutive 

arms  of   Poughkeepsie  Commandery  No.  43, 

i.  T.,  and  a  member  of  Mecca  Temple,  Mystic 

ihrine,  in  New  York  City. 


K 


K  M.  DOTY,  of  the  well-known  drug  firm 
t\.  of  Doty  &  Humphrey,  Poughkeepsie, 
)utchess  county,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
'linton,  near  Clinton  Corners,  Dutchess  coun- 
February  5,  1850.  Until  about  sixteen 
s  old  he  lived  upon  the  old  farm,  attend- 
the  district  school,  at  which  time,  his  par- 
nts  moving  to  Poughkeepsie,  he  there  finished 
is  education,  at  the  Riverview  Military  Acad- 
my. 

On  September  17,  1869,  Mr.  Doty  entered 
le  drug  store  of  Varick  &  Gerard,  Pough- 
eepsie,  where  he  remained  less  than  one  year, 
nd  then  accepted  a  position  with  Van  Valk- 
nburgh  &  Brown,  who  were  also  in  the  drug 
usiness  in  that  city.  Here  he  worked  for  six 
lonths,  and  then  took  charge  of  a  branch 
ore  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Bridge  streets, 


which  he  conducted  for  some  time,  purchasing 
a  one-third  interest  in  the  business  on  Novem- 
ber I,  1872.  On  November  25,  1873,  with 
William  Bedell,  Mr.  Doty  bought  out  the  firm 
of  Van  Valkenburgh  &  Vreeland,  at  the  old 
main  store,  taking  Mr.  Brown  in  as  a  partner, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Brown,  Doty  &  Co. 
This  partnership  lasted  about  two  years,  at  the 
end  of  which  time  Mr.  Bedell  sold  his  interest, 
and  the  firm  name  became  Brown  &  Doty, 
which  lasted  until  i88i,  when  the  partnership 
was  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Doty  continued  the 
business  in  both  the  main  and  branch  stores 
for  several  years.  During  the  time  he  pur- 
chased the  drug  store  of  L.  P.  Hatch,  of  Mil- 
lerton,  N.  Y. ,  which  was  run  by  him  success- 
fully in  connection  with  the  above.  When  the 
firm  name  was  Brown,  Doty  &  Co.,  they 
bought  out  Peter  M.  Howard,  at  No.  265  Main 
street,  and  moved  their  stock  from  No.  249 
Main  street.  In  1889  Mr.  Doty  took  in  his 
present  partner,  A.  S.  Humphrey,  and  in  1890 
they  moved  from  No.  265  Main  street  to  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Crannell  streets,  which  is 
much  larger  and  better  adapted  to  their  rap- 
idly-increasing business.  The  store  is  hand- 
somely fitted  up,  and  the  firm  deals  wholesale 
as  well  as  retail  in  drugs,  medicines,  sundries, 
paints,  oils,  glass,  seeds,  etc. 

On  September  8,  1880,  Mr.  Doty  was 
united  in  marriage  with  the  only  daughter  of 
R.  W.  Wing,  of  New  York  City.  While  on 
the  streets  of  Poughkeepsie,  viewing  a  fire- 
men's parade,  September  22,  1890,  Mr.  Doty 
was  struck  by  a  stray  bullet  fired  from  a  re- 
volver in  the  hands  of  some  unknown  drunken 
Eastman  student.  Mr.  Doty  was  carried  to 
his  young  wife  unconscious,  and  remained  in 
bed  several  weeks,  having  had  a  marvelous 
escape  from  instant  death.  One  child,  Her- 
bert A.,  born  January  7,  1884,  has  blessed  the 
union.  Mr.  Doty  is  an  independent  Demo- 
crat, and  a  public-spirited  citizen.  He  has 
served  as  trustee  of  the  Baptist  Church  at 
Poughkeepsie  over  fourteen  years,  and  Mrs. 
Doty  is  a  member  of  that  organization.  He 
has  repeatedly  refused  many  offers  of  public 
trust. 

Thomas  S.  Doty,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  18 10,  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess 
county,  where  he  married  Miss  Maria  Wing, 
also  a  native  of  Clinton,  born  in  18 15,  a 
daughter  of  George  and  Mary  Wing,  who  were 
also  born  in  Dutchess  county.  After  their 
marriage  Mr.    and   Mrs.    Doty  settled  on  the 


810 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


old  homestead  farm,  he  following  farming  and 
stock  raising  until  seven  years  before  his 
death,  when  he  lived  a  retired  life  in  the  city 
of  Poughkeepsie,  and  died  January  i8,  1873. 
To  him  and  his  wife  were  born  the  following 
children:  David,  who  is  in  the  hotel  business 
at  Mound  City,  Kans. ;  Mary  E.,  married  to 
William  Bedell,  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Clin- 
ton, once  our  subject's  partner  in  the  drug 
business  at  Poughkeepsie,  she  died  in  1893; 
George,  a  farmer  and  stock  dealer  in  Dutchess 
county;  Carrie,  wife  of  Frank  E.  Whipple, 
cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Pough- 
keepsie; Amelia  Devine,  residing  in  Pough- 
keepsie; Alexander,  who  died  in  May,  1870; 
Agrippa  Martin,  our  subject;  Maria,  the  wife 
of  Frank  Palmer,  of  Princeton,  Kans. ;  Lavinia, 
wife  of  James  Cookingham,  the  leading  grocer 
of  Clyde,  N.  Y. ;  and  Thomas  S.,  in  the  agri- 
cultural-implement busines's  in  Manchester, 
Iowa.  In  politics,  Mr.  Doty  was  a  Democrat, 
and  in  religious  faith  he  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
He  died  in  1873;  his  widow  is  still  living  in 
Poughkeepsie. 

David  Doty,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Clinton,  May  13,  1787.  He 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Sands,  who  was  born 
May  31,  1785,  and  they  settled  on  the  old 
homestead,  where  he  followed  farming  up  to 
his  death,  January  29,  1828;  his  wife  passed 
away  November  26,  1826.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  he  was  an 
enthusiastic  Democrat.  The  following  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them:  Hannah,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Alexander  Wing,  a  farmer  of 
Dutchess  county;  Mary,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Moses  Sands,  at  one  time  sheriff  of  Dutch- 
ess county,  but  now  deceased  (her  present 
husband  is  George  Howell,  who  is  in  the  real- 
estate  business  in  Jersey  City);  Esther,  mar- 
ried to  Jacob  Smith,  formerly  a  farmer,  later 
a  liveryman  in  Poughkeepsie,  and  now  de- 
ceased; David  A.,  our  subject's  father;  and 
one  that  died  in  infancy.  The  Dotys  are. of 
Scotch  descent,  and  the  first  of  the  family  in 
this  country  came  over  in  the  "  Mayflower." 


JOHN  CORCORAN,  a  prominent  business 
man  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  a 
leading  retail  grocer  and  an  active  member 
of  the  Board  of  Trade,  is  a  native  of  that  city, 
born  January  13,  1842. 

He  is  of  Irish  parentage,  and  was  named 


for  his  grandfather,  a  lifelong  resident  of  the 
Emerald  Isle.  His  father,  William  Corcoran, 
was  born  there  about  181 5,  and  in  early  man- 
hood came  to  America  with  his  wife,  Ellen 
(Ryan),  locating  at  Poughkeepsie,  where  he 
became  a  prosperous  gardener  and  florist.  He 
died  in  1853,  and  his  wife  survived  him  until 
1875. 

John  Corcoran,  our  subject,  attended  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  place  until  he  was 
thirteen  years  old,  and,  with  the  exception  of 
one  winter  in  a  night  school  at  Norwalk,  Conn., 
his  education  was  mainly  self-acquired.  His 
habits  of  reading  and  close  observation  have 
enabled  him,  however,  to  secure  a  r&.nge  of 
practical  information  which  some  men  of  wider 
opportunities  might  well  envy.  At  thirteen  he 
began  working  in  a  brass  foundry,  and  later; 
followed  the  trade  of  florist  for  twelve  years. 
He  spent  three  years  in  that  business  in  Nor- 
walk, Conn.,  but  since  1868  he  has  been  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business  in  Poughkeepsie, 
first  at  th  e  corner  of  Mansion  and  Bridge 
streets,  and  for  eighteen  years  past  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Mill  and  Bridge  streets.  His  success  is 
substantial,  and,  as  he  believes  in  making  thcl 
most  of  life  and  its  good  gifts,  he  has  investecl 
some  of  his  gains  in  a  pleasant  home  for  hij| 
family,  his  residence  on  Bain  avenue  being  one 
of  the  finest  in  the  city. 

He  has  been  twice  married,  first,  in  1866^ 
to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Delaney,  who  died,  leavii 
three  children:  William,  Catherine  and  Ellen 
Mr.  Corcoran's  present  wife  was  Miss  Mar 
Oldfield,  a  daughter  of  Michael  and  Ellen  Old 
field.  Eight  children  were  born  of  this  man 
riage:  John  (deceased),  Clarice,  Frances,  Mar 
Joseph,  Elizabeth,  James  L.  and  Edward 
The  family  are  leading  members  of  St.  Peter'J 
Catholic  Church,  and  Mr.  Corcoran  is  proini| 
nent  in  the  work  of  the  Catholic  Benevolen 
Society.  In  fact,  he  has  taken  an  active  pa« 
in  many  enterprises  —  civil,  religious  and  polill 
ical,  as  well  as  those  which  have  pertained ' 
finance  alone.  He  has  been  president  of  ttl 
Retail  Merchants  Association  for  two  termsi 
vice-president  of  the  Board  of  Trade  for  twl 
terms,  and  a  member  of  that  body  for  marl 
years.  While  he  is  an  ardent  supporter  of  tlj 
principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  he  dc 
not  seek  political  office.  About  1886  he  wj 
appointed  alderman  from  the  First  ward,  ail 
was  elected  to  the  position  about  1887,  bf 
resigned  before  the  expiration  of  his  terr| 
About  1890  he  was  appointed   member  of  t| 


COMMEMORATIVE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


811 


board  of  water  commissioners,  by  Mayor  Ells- 
worth, and  he  has  given  to  the  discharge  of  the 
duties  of  each  place  the  ability  and  energy  and 
fidelity  which  have  distinguished  his  business 


career. 


FREDERICK  WORMSLEY,  a  successful 
and  enterprising  grocer  of  Poughkeepsie, 

Dutchess  county,  was  born  in  Prussia,  Ger- 
many, November  30,  1842,  and  is  the  son  of 
Jacob  and  Catherine  (Otto)  Wormsley,  the 
former  of  whom  held  the  office  of  tax  collector 
under  the  German  government.  Both  the 
parents  died  in  Germany. 

Our  subject  spent  his  early  days  in  Prussia, 
and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  came  to  Poughkeep- 
sie with  his  sister,  making  his  home  first  at 
East  Poughkeepsie.  He  worked  for  his  board, 
taking  care  of  fourteen  horses,  milking  five 
cows,  and  going  to  school  i  n  the  winter.  Later 
he  clerked  for  Mr.  Baker  in  a  grocery  store,  on 
Main  street,  and  then  for  James  Husted,  on 
Market  street,  for  several  years.  In  1869  he 
(Started  a  grocery  store  where  Wallman's 
bakery  now  is,  and  then  conducted  a  store 
where  Mr.  Bloomer's  place  now  stands.  This 
he  ran  from  1882  to  1887,  when  he  sold  out 
ind  lived  a  retired  life  until  September  21, 
1895,  when  he  again  went  into  business  on 
Main  street. 

Mr.  Wormsley  was  married  May  10,  1868, 

.0  Annie,  a  daughter  of  John   Munsell.      She 

ivas  born  in  Germany,  but  has  been  a  resident 

iOf  Poughkeepsie  since  she  was  si.x  months  old. 

They  have  no  children.      Our  subject  was  con- 

irmed  in  the  Lutheran  Church  before  leaving 

Germany.      He  is  a  member  of  the  Improved 

Order  of  Red  Men;  a  Veteran   Fireman,  life 

(iiember  of   Steamer   Company   No.  2;  and  a 

nember  of  Freigangrath  Lodge  No.  549,  D.  O. 

Haragari.      He  has  been  a  lifelong  Democrat, 

sut  has  never  sought  public  office.      He  began 

life  as  a  poor  boy,  and  has  succeeded  in  ac- 

:umulating    a    comfortable     property.        Mr. 

vVormsley  is  a  straightforward  business  man, 

md  is  highly  respected   by  his  neighbors  and 

(issociates. 


EDWARD  HUNTTING  BEDFORD  (de- 
'I  ceased).     The   Bedford   family  has  been 

Tominent  in  the  vicinity  of  Glenham,  Dutch- 
ss  county,  for  many  years,  and  by  intermar- 
iage  it  is  related  to  several  other  distinguished 


families  of  this  section.  The  subject  of  this 
brief  memoir  was  a  worthy  descendant  of  such 
an  ancestry,  and  although  his  life  was  passed 
in  the  quiet  calling  of  agriculture  he  displayed, 
on  all  occasions,  characteristics'  which  would 
have  adorned  any  sphere  of  life. 

He  was  born  at  Glenham,  July  14,  1835, 
the  son  of  John  and  Sarah  H.  (Waldron)  Bed- 
ford, and  grandson  of  John  Bedford,  a  jeweler 
and  watchmaker  at  Fishkill.  His  father  was 
born  May  16,  1791,  and  died  February  24, 
1845,  after  spending  his  later  years  as  a  farmer 
at  Glenham.  His  wife,  whom  he  married 
Februaj-y  20,  1828,  was  born  April  28,  1800, 
survived  him  many  years,  dying  January  15, 
1882.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Peter  Waldron 
(who  was  born  April  23,  1754,  and  died  May 
10,  1827)  and  his  wife,  Edea  Swartwout  (born 
October  9,  1764,  died  January  i,  1847).  Their 
marriage  took  place  February  21,   1796. 

Edward  H.  Bedford  was  one  of  two  sons, 
his  brother  Andrew,  who  was  born  March  15, 
1830,  being  the  elder.  Our  subject  attended 
the  district  schools  at  Glenham,  and  the  acad- 
emy at  Fishkill,  then  conducted  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Pingree,  and  later  entered  Yale  College,  but 
was  obliged  to  leave  on  account  of  ill  health 
before  his  course  was  finished.  Returning 
home,  he  assumed  the  management  of  the  farm, 
which  he  continued  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred January  20,  1872.  He  was  prominent 
in  the  varied  activities  of  his  locality,  being  one 
of  the  leading  officials  of  the  Fishkill  Savings 
Bank,  and  an  earnest  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican party.  In  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church 
at  Glenham  he  was  an  active  worker,  holding 
the  offices  of  deacon,  treasurer  and  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday-school. 

On  October  13,  1859,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Anna  Bevier,  daughter  of  Rev.  John  H. 
and  Margaret  (Van  Wyck)  Bevier.  Her  father 
was  at  that  time  the  pastor  of  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church  at  Glenham,  and  he  performed 
the  ceremony  in  the  parsonage  there.  On  the 
maternal  side  her  grandparents  were  Cornelius 
C.  and  Lctitia  (Adriance)  Van  Wyck,  of  Fish- 
kill. To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bedford  eight  children 
were  born,  as  follows:  Edward  Huntting,  Jr., 
December  25,  i860,  died  August  11,  1864; 
John  Bevier.  February  27,  1862  (of  whom 
further  mention  is  made);  Andrew  Wortman, 
August  II,  1863,  died  December  30,  1882; 
Wilhelmus,  January  24,  1865,  died  January  3, 
1894;  Sarah  Van  Wyck.  May  21,  1866;  Anna 
Huntting,  July  12,1 868,  was  married  at ' '  Glen- 


812 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


villa,"  Glenham,  May  23,  1894,  to  the  Rev. 
Peter  Stryker  Beekman,  by  the  Rev.  Benjamin 
E.  Dickhant;  Charles  Van  Wyck,  March  14, 
1 87 1,  is  a  minister  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church;  and  Edwin  Rapelje,  August  19,  1872, 
is  a  physician  at  Brooklyn,  New  York. 

John  Bevier  Bedford  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Glenham  and  Matteawan, 
also  in  a  private  school  at  Fishkill  Landing  and 
a  boarding  school  at  Poughkeepsie.  After 
leaving  school  he  settled  on  the  old  home- 
stead, where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  In 
1888  and  '89  he  passed  a  year  in  the  West  and 
Southwest,  spending  part  of  the  time  at  Omaha, 
Neb.,  and  Wichita,  Kans.  After  his  return 
home  he  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Glen- 
ham, beginning  with  the  administration  of 
President  Benjamin  Harrison,  and  which  posi- 
tion he  held  for  five  consecutive  years.  He  is 
now  clerk  of  the  school  board,  having  held  the 
office  for  nearly  three  years.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Republican. 

Genealogy  of  the  Bevier  Family- — First 
Generation:  Louis  Bevier  and  Maria  Lablane 
emigrated  from  France  between  the  years  1672 
and  1675.  Children  of  Second  Generation: 
Maria,  born  July  9,  1674;  John,  January  2, 
1676;  Abram,  January  20,  1678;  Samuel,  Janu- 
ary 21,  1680;  Andries,  July  12,  1682;  Louis, 
November  6,  1684;  Ester,  1686;  Solomon, 
July  12,  1689.  Third  Generation:  Abram 
Bevier  was  married  to  Rachel  Vernooy,  1707. 
Their  son  Samuel  was  baptized  in  1715,  and 
they  had  nine  other  children  beside  him. 
Fourth  Generation:  Samuel  Bevier,  Jr.,  was 
married  to  Sarah  Le  Fever.  They  had  three 
sons  and  four  daughters;  Andries,  their  eldest 
son,  was  born  April  4,  1742.  Fifth  Genera- 
tion: Andries  Bevier  married  Jecomyntie 
Du  Bois,  June  2,  1764.  She  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Cornelius  Du  Bois  and  Margaret  Hough- 
taling.  They  had  the  following  children: 
Sarah,  born  August  18,  1765;  Samuel,  October 
25,  1766;  Cornelius,  April  27,  1769;  Wilhel- 
mus,  May  10,  1771;  Lewis,  born  December  5, 
1773;  Abraham,  July  28,  1776;  Janatie,  No- 
vember 30,  1 78 1,  died  in  infancy;  Margaret, 
baptized  May  30,  1779;  Josiah,  baptized  Feb- 
ruary 7,  1783;  Rachel,  baptized  March  13, 
1 79 1.  Sixth  Generation:  Wilhelmus  Bevier 
was  married  January  11,  j8oi,  to  Anna  Hoorn- 
beek,  born  May  29.  1771,  and  died  June  3, 
1850.  They  had  the  following  children:  (i) 
Jemimah,  born  November  24,  1801,  died 
October  19,    1885;   (2)  Catherine,   born  Sep- 


tember 14,  1803,  died  March  8,  1864;  (3)  John 
H.,  born  July  21,  1805,  died  August  14,  1880; 
(4)  Maria,  born  August  29,  1807,  died  June  i, 
1885;  (5)  William,  born  August  29,  1809, 
died  June  14,  1834;  (6)  Benjamin  H.,  born 
March  i,  18 12,  died  September  7,  1880;  (7) 
Sarah,  born  June  24,  1814.  died  March  20, 
1863.  John  H.  Bevier  married  Margaret  Van- 
Wyck  and  had  the  following  children:  Corne- 
lius Van  Wyck,  born  April  19,  1833,  died  Sep- 
tember 28,  1889;  Anna,  born  March  24,  1835 
(widow  of  Edward  H.  Bedford),  resides  at 
"Glenvilla,"  Glenham;  Wilhelmus,  born  April 
23,  1840,  died  January  26,  1844;  and  Laetitia 
Van  Wyck,  born  April  19,  1842,  resides  at 
"Glenvilla." 

Genealogy  of  the  Van  Wyck  Family:  Cor- 
nelius C.  Van  Wyck,  born  April  25,  1763, 
died  December  9,  1832.  Letitia  Adriance, 
his  wife,  born  February  5,  1766,  died  May  22, 
1858.  They  were  married  May  3,  1786.  To 
them  were  born  the  following  children:  Isaac, 
born  January  31,  1787.  died  April  16,  1858; 
Letty,  born  October  26,  1788,  died  June  9, 
1835;  Peter  Schenck,  born  January  19,  1790, 
died  September  28,  1875;  Susan,  born  July 
30,  1791,  died  July  2,  1878;  John  C,  bom 
March  24,  1793,  died  June  2,  1867;  Sally, 
born  February  5,  1795,  died  February  18, 
i860;  Maria,  born  December  15,  1796,  die( 
March  18,  1879;  Ida  Eliza,  born  May  16,  1799, 
died  September  2,  1800;  Charles,  born  Aprl 
7,  1 801,  died  March  28,  1880;  Albert,  bom 
February  25,  1803,  died  November  23,  1806; 
Caroline,  born  January  22,  1805,  died  August 
16,  1875;  Margaret,  born  July  3,  1810.  died 
November  20,  1868  (she  was  the  wife  of  the 
Rev.  John  H.  Bevier). 


JOHN  SUTCLIFFE,  one  of  the  best  known< 
and  most  successful  business  men  of  Pough- 
keepsie, Dutchess  county,  was  born  in  Stain- 
land,  near  Halifax,  Yorkshire,  England,  July 
29>  1837,  a  son  of  Eli  and  Mary  (Lumb)  Sutn 
cliffe.  His  grandfather  John,  and  great-grand- 
father Eli  Sutcliffe,  were  natives  of  the  same 
locality,  the  former  of  whom  carried  on 
woolen  business,  the  latter  conducting  a  pa- 
per-mill. 

Eli  Sutcliffe,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  April  7,  181 5,  also  in  Stainland,  neai 
Halifax,  England,  grew  to  manhood  in  his  na- 
tive country,  and  there  married  Miss  Marj 
Lumb,  who  was  born  in  Barkisland,  near  Hali- 


p 


djt-. 


v^^ 


s 


I 


« 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


818 


fax,  England,  September  23,  181 5.  Her  fa- 
ther, John  Lumb,  a  weaver  of  woolen  goods, 
was  also  born  in  that  part  of  the  country. 
About  four  years  after  their  marriage  the  young 
couple  came  to  the  United  States,  and  in  1840 
settled  in  Poughkeepsie,  where  Mr.  Sutcliffe  at 
first  worked  in  a  woolen-factory,  afterward  en- 
gaging in  teaming.  In  1851  he  opened  a  gro- 
cery store  at  the  corner  of  Union  and  Clover 
streets,  which  he  carried  on  some  eighteen 
years.  In  1855,  in  partnership  with  David 
Scott,  he  went  into  the  manufacture  of  soap 
and  candles,  later,  however,  disposing  of  this 
business,  also,  in  1867,  of  his  interest  in  the 
grocery  store  to  his  son  William  H.,  after, 
which  he  retired  from  active  business.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  originally  a  Whig,  and  for  many 
years  since  has  been  an  active  member  of  the 
Republican  party;  he  has  served  as  assessor 
for  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie.  In  religious  faith 
he  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  as  was  also  his  wife,  who 
departed  this  life  September  10,  1894.  Five 
children  were  born  to  this  worthy  couple,  as 
lollows:  John,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Sarah  E.,  who  married  Benjamin  F.  Brinker- 
[loff;  William  H.,  a  grocer  in  Poughkeepsie; 
Eli  D. ,  an  Episcopalian  minister  in  Oregon ; 
ind  George  T.,  who  died  in  infancy. 

John  Sutcliffe,  our  subject,  was  three  years 
lid  when   his   parents  came   to  this  country, 
md  was  reared  in  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools,  and  also  the  Dutch- 
;ss  County  Academy.      His  business  career  he 
iiegan  as  clerk  in  his  father's  store,    and    in 
j86i  went  to  Peekskill,  where  he  became  as- 
listant  manager  of  the  Peeksville   Blast   Fur- 
•ace,  a  position  he  filled  for  two  years.      He 
hen  drew  the  plans  for  a  new  furnace  to  be 
stablished  at  Coldspring,  Putnam  Co.,  N.  Y., 
nown  as  the  Phillips  Iron  Works,  and  which 
e  also  built  and  started.      After  getting  this 
ell  under  way,  owing  to  some  disagreement 
ith  the  management,  he  resigned  his  position 
id  went  to  England  in  order  to  post  himself 
ore  thoroughly  in  the  details  of  the  iron  busi- 
ess.     In  the  fall  of  1864  he  returned   to  the 
nited  States,  and  began  the  building  of  new 
')n  works  at  Verplanck's  Point,  N.   Y. ;  but 
vingto  the  financial  panic  in  1865  they  were 
>\.  completed.    In  the  latter  year  he  erected  the 
lilding  on  the  corner  of  Union  and  Clover 
reets,  Poughkeepsie,   for  his  father,  and  be- 
ime  interested  in  a  woolen   business  with  an 
icle.    In  the  following  spring  he  went  to  Hyde- 


ville,  Vt.,  to  take  charge  of  the  works  of  the 
Eagle  Slate  Co. ,  and  remained  with  that  com- 
pany for  four  years,  managing  the  business  with 
great  success,  and  making  many  improve- 
ments in  the  establishment.  In  1868  he  went 
to  Wales  and  England,  where  he  made  a  study 
of  the  manufacture  of  slate,  and  on  his  return 
built  the  machinery  for  working  up  refuse 
stock  into  billiard  tables,  mantels  and  other 
slate  work.  He  also  built  the  mill  which  he 
successfully  operated  until  1870,  when  he  left 
the  company  on  account  of  a  difference  of 
opinion.  In  the  summer  of  1870  he  remodeled 
a  slate  mill  at  the  Chapman  slate  quarries  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  in  the  winter  of  1870-71  re- 
turned to  Poughkeepsie  to  build  the  filter  beds, 
docks,  etc.,  for  the  city  water  works,  and 
spent  the  year  1871  in  constructing  the  same. 
The  filter  beds  were  the  only  successful  ones 
of  the  kind  in  the  United  States  at  that  time, 
and  are  still  in  operation. 

Mr.  Sutcliffe  spent  a  portion  of  the  follow- 
ing year  traveling  through  the  South  and  West, 
studying  and  looking  up  the  large  iron  fields,  etc. 
In  the  fall  of  1872  he  again  returned  to  Pough- 
keepsie and  built  the  Hudson  River  Iron  Works, 
and  the  docks  now  known  as  the  Phoenix 
Horse  Shoe  Works.  In  1873  he  took  con- 
tracts to  build  sewers  and  lay  water  pipes  in 
the  city  of  Poughkeepsie;  but  before  the  con- 
tracts were  finished,  owing  to  the  stringency  in 
the  money  market,  in  the  fall  of  1873,  the  city 
could  not  raise  sufficient  money  to  meet  its 
obligations,  and  requested  Mr.  Sutcliffe  to  sus- 
pend work.  However,  he  obtained  the  neces- 
sary funds  from  private  sources,  and  finished 
the  work.  He  also  managed  the  Franklin 
Iron  Works  near  Utica,  N.  Y. ,  which  had  two 
blast  furnaces,  and  in  addition  to  his  other  en- 
terprises built  a  row  of  brick  buildings  in 
Poughkeepsie. 

In  the  spring  of  1 874  he  was  called  to  Penn- 
sylvania to  settle  up  the  business  of  the  Pond- 
Eddy  Blue  Stone  Company,  which  was  located 
on  the  Erie  railroad,  in  Pike  county,  in  which 
affair  he  displayed  much  ability,  and  matters 
were  satisfactorily  arranged.  He  was  next 
employed  by  the  Vallecillo  Silver  Mining  Co., 
to  look  up  their  mines  in  Mexico,  and  if  he 
thought  they  could  be  run  with  profit,  to  take 
the  management  of  them,  and  if  not,  to  return 
and  receive  one  year's  pay  for  his  services. 
His  investigation  proved  so  satisfactory  that 
he  took  charge  of  the  mines  and  operated  them 
for  ten  years,  during  which  tinre  he  succeeded 


314 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


in  placing  them  on  a  good  paying  basis  with- 
out any  cost  to  the  company.  In  the  fall  of 
1884  he  returned  home  and  took  a  year's  rest 
after  his  arduous  labors,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  was  engaged  by  the  receiver  of  the 
Steel  Company  of  Canada,  Nova  Scotia,  to 
take  charge  of  its  affairs  as  general  manager, 
and  owing  to  the  success  attending  his  man- 
agement a  new  company  was  organized  under 
the  title  of  the  Londonderry  Iron  Company, 
Limited,  in  which  he  took  an  interest,  and  of 
which  he  became  general  manager.  In  the 
fall  of  1889  he  resigned  his  position  as  mana- 
ger, consenting,  however,  to  act  as  consulting 
engineer,  with  his  residence  at  Poughkeepsie 
instead  of  Nova  Scotia.  Since  that  time  he 
has  made  his  home  in  Poughkeepsie,  and  has 
been  engaged  in  various  contracts,  and  acting 
as  consulting  engineer. 

On  July  26,  1876,  Mr.  Sutcliffe  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Swart.  Her  father, 
William  Beekman  Swart,  was  of  Dutch  de- 
scent, a  descendant  of  Anneke  Jans,  and  an 
old  settler  of  Dutchess  county,  whose  father, 
Maj.  Thomas  Swart,  served  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war,  and  was  an  officer  in  the  war  of  18 12. 
Three  children  have  been  born  of  this  union, 
Paul,  Allen  and  John  W. 

Mr.  Sutcliffe  is  a  strong  Republican,  and 
served  as  police  commissioner  for  two  terms. 
In  religious  matters  he  is  not  a  sectarian,  but 
has  a  kindly  feeling  for  all  denominations.  He 
was  formerly  an  Odd  Fellow,  and  is  now  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity;  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Canadian  Society  of  Civil  Engineers, 
and  the  American  Institute  of  Mining  Engineers, 
also  of  the  Engineers  Club  of  New  York  City. 
In  the  various  responsible  positions  that  he 
has  filled  he  has  earned  the  reputation  of  a 
man  of  integrity,  good  judgment  and  keen 
business  ability,  and  is  everywhere  respected 
and  esteemed  for  his  many  sterling  qualities. 


WILLARD  C.  VAIL,  of  Poughkeepsie, 
was  born  in  Verbank,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty. May  17,  1856,  and  is  a  descendant  of  Hol- 
land ancestors.  He  spent  his  boyhood  on  the 
old  farm,  and  attended  the  district  schools, 
from  which  he  went  to  the  Oswego  Institute, 
and  spent  one  year  at  the  Poughkeepsie  Mili- 
tary Institute.  Later  he  entered  the  hard- 
ware store  of  Valentine  &  Coleman,  in  Pough- 
keepsie, holding  the  position  of  clerk  and  book- 
keeper.     Next  he    commenced    the  study  of 


law  in  the  law  office  of  Tristram  Coffin,  with 
whom  he  remained  two  years,  and  then  en- 
tered the  Albany  Law  School,  graduating  with 
the  class  of  '76.  Returning  to  the  old  home- 
stead, he  has  here  been  engaged  in  farming 
ever  since. 

On  January  14,  1885,  Mr.  Vail  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Gertrude  B.  Flagler,  who  was 
born  at  Overlook  in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  a 
daughter  of  Philip  D.  Flagler,  a  farmer.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Vail  have  two  children:  Elias  C.  and 
Lavina  C.  In  1895  our  subject  purchased  a 
house  on  the  corner  of  South  Hamilton  and 
Barclay  streets,  Poughkeepsie,  which  is  one  of 
the  finest  residences  in  Poughkeepsie.  He  is 
a  Republican,  and  one  of  the  foremost  citizens 
of  the  place. 

Elias  D.    Vail,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  also  born  at  Verbank,  as  was  also  Isaac, 
the  grandfather,   and  Elias,   the  great-grand- 
father of  our  subject.     Isaac,  the  grandfather, 
was  the  father  of  thirteen   children,  of  whom 
Elias  D.  was  the  youngest.     The  latter  grewj 
to  manhood  on  the  farm,    and   married   Mis 
Lavina  Cornell,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Beekman,    a   daughter    of   George  Cornell,  al 
farmer.     The  Cornell  family  was  also  of  Hol-^ 
land  stock.     To  Elias  D.  and   his  wife   chil- 
dren   as    follows    were    born :       Willard    C. ; 
George  E.  and  Edwin  G.  (twins),  the  formerJ 
of  whom  died   at   the  age    of    sixteen  years.j 
while  the  latter  is  a  farmer  on  the  old  home- 
stead.     The  mother  died   October  22,  1861; 
the  father  lives  on  the  old  homestead;  he  is  a | 
Republican  in  his  political  preferences. 


JrOHN  VINCENT  HUMPHREY.      Amon§J 
Ij    the  prominent  business  men  of  PoughkeepT 
sie  few  names  are  better  known  than  thaJ 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who,  since  1874I 
has    successfully    conducted    a    drug   businesj 
there.      He   is  a   native   of   Dutchess  county! 
born  in  the  village  of   Beekman,   October  2o| 
1853,  and  is  a  son  of  John  Humphrey,  whosf 
birth    also    occurred    at  that   place,    in   1818I 
There  the   father  engaged  in  farming  until  h| 
was  called  from  this  earth,  when  our  subjecl 
was  only  a  few  days  old.      At  Stormville  hi 
was    united    in   marriage    with    Catherine    El 
Storm,  a  daughter  of   Abram   Storm,   and  tl 
them    were    born   four    children:     Helen   Rj 
Latitia  C,  deceased  wife  of  William  M.  Quii' 
tard;  Abram  and  John  V.     The  paternal  granc 
father,  who  bore   the   name   of  Abram  Hur 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


815 


phrey,  also  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  at 
Beekman. 

The  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were 
passed  in  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  attended, 
and  completed  his  literary  education  in,  the 
Dutchess  County  Academy.  He  began  his 
business  career  as  a  partner  in  the  drug  store 
of  his  brother,  Abram  S.  Humphrey,  who  was 
then  conducting  the  drug  business,  and  in  1882 
purchased  his  brother's  interest,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  connected  with  the  drug 
trade  in  Poughkeepsie.  His  first  place  of 
business  was  at  No.  384  Main  street,  where  he 
remained  two  years,  and  then  removed  to  No. 
386.  there  carrying  on  operations  for  five 
years.  He  then  purchased  his  present  store  at 
No.  388  Main  street,  where  he  carries  a  full 
and  complete  line  of  drugs,  patent  medicines, 
etc.  As  a  business  man  he  is  enterprising,  en- 
ergetic, always  abreast  with  the  times,  and 
has  been  rewarded  with  a  well-deserved  success. 

Mr.  Humphrey  was  married  at  Poughkeep- 
sie, October  3,  1877,  to  Miss  Sarah  Millard, 
daughter  of  John  P.  Millard,  and  four  children 
grace  their  union:  John  Huson  Millard,  born 
November  29,  1878;  Abram  Storm,  born  April 
16.  1880;  Ogden  Hoflman,  born  July  16,  1883, 
and  Olive,  born  January  28,  1897.  Mr.  Hum- 
phrey is  a  man  of  generous  impulses,  giving 
liberally  of  his  time  and  money  to  all  worthy 
causes,  and  in  everything  he  does  he  tries  to 
make  the  world  brighter  and  better.  He  holds 
membership  with  the  Second  Reformed  Church 
of  Poughkeepsie. 


TAMES  EDGAR  SADLIER,  M.  D.  Among 
J  the  young  followers  of  iEsculapius  who  have 
won  their  way  unaided  and  attained  promi- 
nence in  their  profession,  is  James  Edgar  Sad- 
ler, of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county.  He 
A'as  born  at  Walden,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y. , 
March  28,  1865,  of  French  ancestry. 

James  Sadlier,  Jr.,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ect,  was  a  native  of  France,  the  son  of  James 
iadlier,  Sr. ,  also  a  native  of  France,  who,  at 
he  time  of   his  son's  birth,  was  visiting  with 
'ther    members    of    his    family    in     England. 
■Vhen  James  Sadlier,  Jr.,  was  five   years  old, 
lis  parents  removed  to  the  United  States,  and 
cated  in  New  York.     His  education  was  re- 
ived  at   the  public  schools  of  that  city,  and 
n  leaving  school  he  at  once  entered  the  busi- 
ess  world.      He  established  himself  in  the  to- 
acco  business  at  the  corner  of  Broadway  and 


Maiden  Lane,  where  he  remained  until  1873. 
In  Orange  county,  N.  Y. ,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Ann  Jeannette  Woodruff,  daughter  of 
Richard  and  Charlotte  Woodruff,  prominent 
residents  of  that  county.  Si.x  children  were 
the  result  of  this  union,  three  of  whom  died  in 
infancy;  the  others  are:  Charles  Whittemore, 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Walden  Savings 
Bank,  and  teller  of  the  Walden  National  Bank; 
James  Edgar;  and  Augustus,  who  is  at  the  old 
home  in  Walden,  N.  Y.  The  father  of  this 
family  passed  to  his  final  rest  January  4,  1876, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-one  years.  He  was  a  man 
highly  esteemed  for  his  many  sterling  qualities, 
and  well  liked  by  all  who  knew  him  for  his 
genial  nature,  a  characteristic  of  the  French 
nation. 

James  Edgar  Sadlier,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  review,  received  an  unusually  good  educa- 
tion, first  attending  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  town,  later  attending  an  academy  at 
Montgomery,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  and  also  one 
at  New  Paltz,  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  decided 
to  enter  the  medical  profession,  and  accord- 
ingly went  to  Pine  Bush,  Orange  county,  and 
began  the  study  of  medicine  under  the  careful 
tuition  of  his  uncle.  Dr.  William  H.AVoodrufT; 
after  studying  with  him  for  sometime  our  sub- 
ject, in  1884,  was  enrolled  as  a  student  in  the 
Medical  Department  of  Union  College  at  Al- 
bany, N.  Y. ,  completing  his  course  in  1887. 
His  advantages  had  well  disciplined  his  mind, 
and  his  careful  attention  to  detail  had  given 
him  a  reputation  before  leaving  the  class  room 
that  years  of  practice  often  fail  to  acquire. 
On  leaving  school  he  was  appointed  on  the 
staff  of  the  Albany  City  Hospital  for  the  period 
from  October,  1887,  to  April  i,  1889.  After 
his  term  at  the  hospital  had  expired  he  came 
to  Poughkeepsie,  and  began  the  regular  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  His  untiring  and  un- 
ceasing labor,  coupled  with  his  skill,  foon  won 
recognition,  and  he,  by  his  own  exertions,  had, 
in  a  short  time,  built  up  a  large  and  lucrative 
practice.  In  July,  1891,  he  was  appointed 
one  of  the  attending  physicians  of  Vassar 
Brothers  Hospital,  which  position  he  is  still 
holding.  He  is  also  physician  for  the  pension 
department  of  this  district. 

On  June  18,  1891,  Dr.  Sadlier  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Hattie  C.  Millspaugh, 
daughter  of  Theron  L.  Millspaugh,  of  Walden, 
N.  Y.  No  children  have  been  born  to  them. 
Socially  the  Doctor  is  a  member  of  Armor 
Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  in  the  social 


816 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


life  of  the  city  he  and  his  charming  wife  are 
well-known  and  important  factors.  He  served 
as  secretary  of  the  Dutchess  County  Medical 
Society  from  January,  1891,  to  January,  1897, 
when  the  society  elected  him  delegate  to  the 
New  York  State  Medical  Society  for  the  ensu- 
ing three  years,  which  necessitated  his  resig- 
nation as  secretary. 


SHERMAN  NICHOLAS  HAIGHT.  The 
,_)  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  representative 
of  the  ninth  generation  of  the  Haight  family 
in  America.  Simon  Haight,  the  founder  of 
the  family  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  came 
from  England  to  Massachusetts  in  1628.  His 
son  Nicholas  (i)  married  Susanna  Joyce,  and 
had  a  son,  Samuel,  whose  son  Nicholas  (2) 
married  Patience  Titus,  and,  purchasing  land 
from  the  Nine  Partners,  came  to  Dutchess  Co. 
from  Long  Island.  Jacob  (i),  son  of  Nicholas 
(2),  was  born  on  Long  Island  and  married  Sarah 
Hicks;  they  came  from  Poughkeepsie  in  an 
ox-cart,  and  settled  on  the  farm  where  Clem- 
ent Haight  now  lives.  The  place  was  then  a 
wilderness,  and  wolves  were  numerous;  they 
built  a  log  cabin,  the  door  of  which  was  bark. 
To  this  pioneer  couple  were  born  the  following 
children:  Elizabeth,  John,  Stephen,  Nicho- 
las (3),  Jacob  (2),  Patience,  Sarah,  Samuel  (2), 
and  Phoebe.  Nicholas  (3)  married  Miss  Mar- 
garet Vincent,  and  in  their  family  of  several 
children  was  Nicholas  (4),  who  married  Phoebe 
Skidmore,  and  followed  the  occupation  of  a 
farmer  exclusively.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
were  Quakers,  and  they  reared  the  following: 
Andrew,  the  father  of  our  subject;  Sally,  who 
died  unmarried;  Elias,  who  married  Lavina 
Vail,  and  was  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Wash- 
ington; James,  who  married  Eliza  Smith,  and 
was  a  farmer  on  Chestnut  Ridge;  and  Louisa, 
who  died  unmarried. 

Andrew  Haight,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Washington,  May  16, 
1805.  He  married  Sarah  Ann  Sherman,  a 
daughter  of  Jedediah  and  Catherine  (Gage) 
Sherman,  born  October  17,  1803,  either  in 
Dutchess  or  Saratoga  county.  After  their 
marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haight  settled  on  a 
farm,  and  two  children  were  born  to  them: 
Nicholas,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Sherman, 
our  subject.  The  father  died  September  10, 
1877,  and  the  mother  on  April  8,  1869.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Republican,  and,  religiously. 


both  he  and    his  wife  were    followers  of  the 
Quaker  faith. 

Jedediah  Sherman,  the  maternal  grand- 
father of  Sherman  Haight,  was  a  prosperous 
farmer  in  the  town  of  Washington,  born  Feb- 
ruary 26,  1781.  His  first  wife  (whose  name  is 
not  now  known)  was  born  June  8,  1780.  By  her 
he  had  five  children,  of  whom  the  following 
is  the  record:  (i)  Mosher  B.,  a  miller  at  Lit- 
tle Rest,  first  married  Miss  Barton,  by  whom 
he  had  two  children — Kate  and  Isaac — and  for 
his  second  wife  wedded  Miss  Phoebe  Conklin, 
a  sister  of  Isaac  Conklin,  a  sketch  of  whom 
appears  elsewhere.  (2)  Howland  R. ,  a  dyer, 
who  married  Caroline  Innis,  by  whom  he  had 
one  child — Kate.  (3)  Jeremiah  D.,  a  mer- 
chant at  Mabbettsville  and  later  a  farmer,  who 
married  Hannah  Tabor,  and  they  had  children 
as  follows — Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Caroline,  Philip 
J.,  Martha,  George,  and  Kate.  (4)  Leonard, 
who  first  married  a  Miss  Duncan,  by  whom  he 
had  two  children — Mary  and  Matilda;  after 
the  death  of  his  wife  he  again  married,  and 
three  children  were  born  of  this  union — Jane, 
Henrietta,  and  Charles.  (5)  The  mother  of 
our  subject. 

Sherman  Haight,  the  subject  proper  of  this  1 
sketch,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Washington, 
May  27,  1841.  He  spent  his  boyhood  on  the 
home  farm,  and  on  December  7,  1869,  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  E.  Sisson, 
a  native  of  Washington  town,  and  a  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Eliza  (Bryan)  Sisson.  After 
their  marriage  our  subject  and  his  wife  located 
on  their  present  large  dairy  farm,  which  is  one 
of  the  finest  in  Dutchess  county.  The  follow- 
ing children  have  graced  the  union  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Haight:  Sarah  Eliza,  Anna  Sisson,  An- 
drew Henry,  Sherman  David,  and  Samuel 
Moore,  all  of  whom  are  living  and  unmarried. 
Politically,  our  subject  is  a  Republican,  and 
he  and  his  wife  are  prominent  in  social  circles. 

Henry  Sisson,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Haight, 
was  born  in  Washington  township,  April  10, 
1807,  a  son  of  Lemuel,  Jr.,  and  Sarah  (Suther- 
land) Sisson,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  native 
of  Rhode  Island,  a  son  of  Lemuel,  Sr. ,  who  in 
turn  was  a  direct  descendant  of  old  Huguenot 
stock.  The  other  children  in  the  family  of 
Lemuel  Sisson,  Jr.,  were:  Jacob,  Job,  William, 
Anna,  Richard,  Lydia,  Phoebe,  Sally,  Isaac 
and  Marah  Deborah.  On  reaching  manhood, 
Henry  Sisson  was  united  in  marriage  with  MisJ 
Eliza  Bryan,  who  was  born  March  16,  1810. 
in  the  town  of  Northeast,  a  daughter  ot  Amo.' 


_^r$^-.^ 


[ 


*^^^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


817 


and  Elizabeth  (Flint)  Bryan,  and  to  them 
were  born  four  children,  namely:  Emily,  who 
married  Walter  F.  Conklin,  a  merchant  and 
musician;  James  B.,  a  farmer  and  auctioneer, 
who  married  Miss  Helen  Titus;  Anna,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Samuel  H.  Moore,  for 
many  years  associated  with  Adriance  Piatt  & 
Co.,  manufacturers  of  harvesting  machinery; 
and  Sarah  E.  (Mrs.  Haight). 

Amos  Bryan,  the  maternal  grandfather  of 
Mrs.  Haight,  settled  on  the  Bryan  homestead 
farm,  in  Northeast  town,  after  his  marriage 
with  Elizabeth  Flint.  They  had  a  family  of 
nine  children:  David,  Isaac,  Ward,  Ezra. 
James,  Laiira,  Mary,  Sarah  E.  and  Eliza. 
William  Cullen  Bryant  was  related  to  this 
family. 


CHARLES    KIRCHNER,    the    well-known 
_    proprietor    of    a    large    meat    market    at 
Poughkeepsie,   Dutchess  county,    and   one   of 
the  most  extensive   real-estate  holders  of  that 
'y,   is  a  native   of    Germany,   born  ^lay  31, 
;5,  in  Otterberg,  Rhenish  Bavaria. 
His  ancestors  were  prominent  residents  of 
hat  place  for  many  generations,  and  William 
\irchner,  his  great-grandfather,  was  Dominie 
n  the  Frst    Reformed  Church  there.      Frantz 
\irchner,  our  subject's  grandfather,  a  butcher 
)y  trade,  had  six  children:     Catherine  Good- 
lart;  William  and  Henry,  who  came  to  Phila- 
lelphia  at  an  early  date;  Jacob,  who  was  an 
musually  fine  specimen  of   physical  manhood, 
leing  over  six  feet  in  height,  and  was  a  mem- 
ler  of  Napoleon's  famous  body-guard  of  three 
i.undred  men  in   the  ill-starred  Russian  cam- 
aign,  from  which  he  never  returned. 
Conrad  Kirchner,  our  subjects'  father,  born 
^w8oo,    succeeded    to  his  father's  business, 
remained  at  the  old  home,  where  he  died 
I877.   In  1825  he  married  Elizabeth  Godel, 
was  born  in  Otterberg  in  1800,  and  died 
S80.     They  had  ten  children:     Elizabeth, 
lilt  of  Charles  Nunce,  of  Newark,  N.  J. ; 
nam,  who  inherited  his  father's  house  and 
less,  and  died  in  1892;  Caroline,  who  re- 
lied in  Germany  and  married  John  Hubing 
Jacob  (deceased),  formerly  a  butcher  at 
brberg;  Charles,  our  subject;  Conrad,  who 
[a  butcher   in  Otterberg  for  many  years, 
f  died  in  Poughkeepsie  in  1892;  Wilhelmina, 
married    (first)    Christian    Strause,    and 
jnd)  Baron  Von  Gutterman,   both  promi- 
men  in    Germany;   Louis,    a  butcher  in 


Poughkeepsie;  and  Philip  and  Henry,  both  in 
the  butcher  business  at  Newark,  N.  J.  The 
brothers  have  all  been  successful  in  business. 
The  parents  came  to  America  in  1869  to  visit 
their  sons,  and  the  father,  who  was  a  man  of 
fine  presence  and  genial  nature,  made  many 
friends  among  the  leading  people  of  Pough- 
keepsie. In  the  summer  of  1875  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Conrad  Kirchner  celebrated  their  golden 
wedding  at  their  home  in  Otterberg,  Germany, 
for  which  occasion  eleven  members  of  the 
Kirchner  family  in  America  proceeded  to  Ger- 
many to  be  present  at  the  event;  there  were 
eighty  members  present. 

Charles  Kirchner,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  review,  attended  the  schools  of  his  native 
town  until  he  was  fifteen  years  old.  He  made 
good  use  of  these  opportunities,  and  has  since 
kept  well  informed  on  the  topics  which  inter- 
est all  intelligent  people.  At  the  age  of  eight- 
een he  began  to  assist  his  father  in  business; 
but  soon  after,  in  May,  1854,  he  came  to 
America,  being  the  first  of  the  sons  to  leave 
the  old  country.  After  a  short  stay  in  New- 
ark, N.  J.,  he  went  to  Poughkeepsie,  arriving 
there  on  July  5,  same  year.  He  secured  a  po- 
sition as  clerk  with  Jacob  Petillon,  remaining 
six  months,  when  he  returned  to  Newark  and 
clerked  in  a  butcher  shop  for  a  year  and  a 
half.  During  this  time  he  learned  the  trade, 
also  familiarized  himself  with  the  English 
language,  and  in  August,  1856,  he  engaged  in 
business  for  himself  in  Newark,  continuing  it 
successfully  until  October,  1862,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Poughkeepsie  and  opened  his  market 
at  No.  I  56  Main  street,  which  he  has  now  con- 
ducted for  more  than  thirty-four  years.  His 
success  in  this  line  has  been  marked,  and  he 
has  also  made  some  judicious  investments  in 
real  estate,  which  have  proven  profitable.  At 
one  time  he  owned  the  Poughkeepsie  Driving 
Park,  which  he  sold  to  Edwin  Thorn,  and  at 
present  he  pays  the  largest  taxes  on  real  estate 
of  anyone  in  the  city.  In  1872  he  built 
"  Kirchner's  Hall  "  for  a  State  Armory,  which 
is  allowed  to  be  one  of  the  best  buildings  in 
the  city,  and  in  1891  he  converted  it  into  a 
public  hall,  for  which  purpose  it  is  one  of  the 
finest  in  the  State.  His  rare  judgment  and 
business  skill  have  been  widely  recognized  in 
financial  circles,  and  he  is  often  consulted  in 
important  enterprises. 

In  1867  Mr.  Kirchner  married  Miss  Caro- 
line C.  Petillon,  daughter  of  Jacob  Petillon, his 
first  employer  in  this  country.      They  have  no 


818 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


children.  Mr.  Kirchner  has  thirty-five  nephews 
and  nieces  in  Germany  and  America,  to  whom 
he  is  most  generous  and  affectionate,  being 
especially  interested  in  their  education.  One 
he  has  sent  to  the  Bishop  School;  one  to  the 
Bisbee  Military  School;  one  to  the  Theological 
Seminary,  at  Rochester,  while  a  niece  gradu- 
ated from  Vassar  in  1893.  He  is  always  ready 
to  risk  something  to  help  another,  has  been 
bondsman  for  many  city  officers  and  bank 
officials,  and  has  never  lost  a  dollar.  As  a 
lover  of  horses,  he  delights  in  owning  and 
driving  a  fine  team. 

Mr.  Kirchner  has  made  four  visits  to  the 
Fatherland,  one  for  four  months,  in  1861, 
while  he  was  in  business  in  Newark;  one  of 
seven  months  in  1874,  and  one  in  1880  at  the 
time  of  his  mother's  death,  when  he  re-interred 
his  father's  remains  by  her  side  in  a  new  burial 
plot,  and  erected  a  handsome  monument.  His 
last  visit  was  in  1890,  when  his  wife  accom- 
panied him,  and  they  traveled  some  eight 
months,  visiting  many  points  of  interest.  He 
and  his  wife  are  leading  members  of  the  Re- 
formed Dutch  Church,  and  in  local  affairs,  he 
is  regarded  as  a  friend  of  every  progressive 
movement.  He  is  an  influential  worker  in  the 
Republican  party,  and  has  been  urged  to  be- 
come a  candidate  for  the  office  of  mayor,  but 
he  has  never  permitted  his  name  to  be  used  in 
such  connection. 


VAN  WYCKS.  The  ancestor  of  the  Van- 
Wycks  in  Dutchess  county  was  Cornelius 

Barents  Van  Wyck,  who,  in  1650,  came  to 
New  Netherlands  from  the  town  of  Wyck, 
Holland,  and  in  1660  married,  at  Flatbush, 
Kings  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Ann,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Johannis  Theodorus  Polhemus,  the  first  Re- 
formed Dutch  minister  in  that  county. 

The  Van  Wycks,  of  Holland,  are  an  aris- 
tocratic family,  and  continue  to  use  the  same 
coat  of  arms  as  those  brought  here  by  the 
American  Van  Wycks  upward  of  two  and  one- 
half  centuries  ago.  From  the  beginning  of 
the  history  of  Dutchess  county  the  Van- 
Wycks  have  been  prominent  in  the  professions, 
and  in  the  public  service,  as  judges,  legislators, 
congressmen,  senators,  and  soldiers  of  all  the 
wars  of  our  country,  including  that  for  Amer- 
ican independence. 

Theodorus  Van  Wyck,  son  of  Cornelius 
Barents   Van  Wyck  and   Ann  Polhemus,  was 


born  in  Flatbush  in  1667.  He  married  Mar- 
garet Brinckerhof;  took  oath  of  allegiance  at 
New  Amsterdam  in  1687. 

Theodorus  Van  Wyck,  son  of  Theodorus 
Van  Wyck  and  Margaret  Brinckerhof,  was  the 
surveyor  and  original  purchaser  of  a  tract  of 
900  acres  of  land  in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill. 
He  was  a  very  prominent  man  of  his  time. 
Together  with  Col.  John  Brinckerhof,  he  was 
appointed  one  of  the  first  judges  of  the  Court 
of  Common  Pleas,  on  the  24th  of  February, 
1752,  by  George  Clinton,  Captain  General 
Governor,  and  Chief  of  the.  Province  of  New 
York,  and  the  territories  thereon  depending  in 
America,  under  King  George  H.  [This  old 
document  is  now  in  the  Armory  Museum  at 
Poughkeepsie.]     He  married  Elizabeth  Creed. 

Theodorus  Van  Wyck,  son  of  Theodorus 
Van  Wyck  and  Elizabeth  Creed,  was  born  in 
1730,  and  died  in  1797.  He  married  Altje, 
daughter  of  Col.  John  Brinckerhof  and  his 
wife,  Janetje  Van  Voorhees.  He  was  a  physi- 
cian, and  the  earliest  in  the  county;  he  was 
among  the  first  to  renounce  his  allegiance  to 
King  George,  and  because  of  his  outspoken 
sentiments  was  compelled  by  his  Tory  neigh- 
bors, in  1775,  to  leave  Fishkill.  He  removed  to 
New  York  City,  and  was  elected  a  delegate  to 
the  Second  Provincial  Congress  in  that  year. 
The  patriots  becoming  more  bold  and  out- 
spoken throughout  the  county,  he  returned  to 
his  farm  in  the  early  part  of  1776,  and  was 
again  elected  to  Congress  in  that  year  from 
Dutchess  county.  During  the  Revolution  he 
was  an  active  patriot.  His  family  have  from 
time  to  time  held  many  offices  of  trust.  The 
sons  of  Dr.  Theodorus  Van  Wyck  and  Altje 
Brinckerhof,  his  wife,  were  Abraham  Van- 
Wyck,  John  Brinckerhof  Van  Wyck,  and 
William  Van  Wyck. 

Abraham  Van  Wyck  held  the  commission 
of  major-general  in  the  war  of  1812;  he  was 
a  large  landowner  in  Fishkill.  William  Van- 
Wyck  was  elected  to  Congress  from  Dutchess 
in  the  early  part  of  the  century.  John  Brinck- 
erhof Van  Wyck  married  (first)  Gertrude 
Brinckerhof,  and  (second)  Susan  Schenck;  his 
sons  by  his  second  wife  were:  Alfred,  John, 
William  and  Edmund.  He  was  a  large  land- 
owner in  Fishkill,  and  was  a  general  in  the 
State  militia.  He  was  elected  to  the  Assem- 
bly of  this  State  in  181 2  and  1816;  was  a 
successful  breeder  of  Merino  sheep,  and  made 
a  fortune  in  wool  and  land.  Old  documents 
in  possession  of  the  family  show  that  he  held 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPEICAL  RECORD. 


319 


several    civil  appointments    from    Governors 
John  Jay  and  Dewitt  Clinton. 
j         Alfred  Van  Wyck,  eldest  son   of  John   B. 
I  Van  Wyck  and  Susan  Schenck,  was  a  farmer 
'  in  the  town  of    Fishkill,    occupying   the    old 
homestead.      In   i860    he  moved    to   Illinois, 
[  buying  a    tract  of  land    that    afterward    be- 
came a  part  of  the  town  of  Clifton.      He  died 
in  1894,  aged  ninety-two  years.      He  married 
Miss  Charlotte  Viets,   by  whom  he   had    one 
son,  John  B.,  and  two   daughters,    Mary    and 
Charlotte. 

John  Van  Wyck,  second  son,  had  an  in- 
clination toward  a  mercantile  life;  he  became 
a  partner  in  a  large  dry-goods  house  in  New 
York  City,  and  remained  there  for  some  years. 
He  afterward  retired  from  business,  and,  return- 
ing to  Dutchess  county,  purchased  a  handsome 
place  at  New  Hamburg,  where  he  died  in  1878. 
He  married  Miss  Sarah  Mesier;their  family  were 
ten  in  number:  four  daughters — -Kate,  Cor- 
nelia, Sarah  and  Mary;  and  six  sons — Mesier, 
Abraham,  Henry,  Edmund,  John  and  Will- 
iam. 

William  Van  Wyck,  third  son,  studied  law 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  died  from 
an  accident  in  1854.  He  married  Miss  Augusta 
Forman;  they  had  no  family. 

Edmund  Van  Wyck,  fourth  son,  was  born 
January  31,  18 18;  he  was  a  farmer,  and  always 
ived   in    Dutchess    county.      After    attending 
Drivate  schools  in  Poughkeepsie  and  New  York 
City  he  traveled  to  some  extent  through  the 
West.     He    married,   January   9,    1845,   ^^'ss 
[osephine  Barnes,  a  daughter  of  the  late  David 
Barnes,  and  the  following  children  were  born 
o  them:     William  (died  in   1870  unmarried), 
3avid  Barnes,  Stephen,  Paul  Schenck,  Joseph, 
ind  Alex.   W.      Mr.    Van   Wyck  lived  upon  a 
arm  in  the  town   of   Poughkeepsie.      In  1852 
le  moved  to  the  town  of  Lagrange,  where  he 
esided   until   his  death,  September  10,  1888. 
■Irs.  Van  Wyck  died  in  1861. 
^_  David  Barnes,  second  son,  a  physician  of 
H||;range.  was  born    in    that    town  April  24, 
>     0^2.      His  early  education    was    received  at 
"le  little  "Red  School  House"  near-Manches- 
ir  Bridge,   and   later    he    attended  the  Cary 
nstitute,  a    Quaker  school    in   Poughkeepsie. 
pon  leaving  school  he  entered  the  drug  store 
f   Van   Valkenburg  &   Brown,  where  he  re- 
lained  seAeral  years.      He  was  also  with  Hop- 
ins  &  Arnold,  Chas.  S.  Bowne,  and  Webb  & 
herwood.      He  next  went  to  Kansas,  remain- 
:  there  nine  years;    studied  medicine  in  the 


Omaha  Medical  College,  and  then  went  to  the 
Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College,  New  York, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1889.  He  is 
a  member  of  Stissing  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  Poughkeepsie  Chapter  No.  172,  R.  A.  M.; 
also  of  the  Dutchess  County  Medical  Society. 

Stephen,  third  son,  was  born  June  28, 
1854;  his  education  was  obtained  at  Pelham 
Institute  and  at  Manchester.  He  lived  at 
home  until  188 1,  when  he  removed  to  Kansas 
to  enter  the  sheep  business  with  his  brothers, 
David  and  Paul.  He  gave  this  up  after  a  few 
years  to  enter  upon  the  study  of  law,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  in  the  State  of  Kansas. 
In  1886  he  was  elected  Probate  Judge,  and  re- 
elected in  1888.  On  December  25,  1890,  he 
married  Miss  Helen  Dicken,  and  they  have 
three  children:  Edmund,  William  and  Harlan. 

Paul  Schenck,  fourth  son,  was  born  May 
19,  1856.  He  was  educated  at  the  district 
school  and  Pelham  Institute.  In  1880  he 
went  to  Kansas,  where  he  began  sheep  breed- 
ing. He  returned  to  Dutchess  county  in  1886, 
and  here  remained  until  1895,  when  he  entered 
into  business  in  the  city  of  Buffalo. 

Joseph,  fifth  son,  was  born  October  8, 
1858;  was  educated  at  the  same  institution  as 
was  Paul;  and  has  always  resided  upon  the  old 
homestead  in  Lagrange.  On  January  i,  1880, 
he  married  Miss  Charlotte  Bartlett,  and  they 
have  the  following  children:  Jennie  L.,  Jo- 
sephine, Edmund,  and  Paul  Schenck.  Mr. 
Van  Wyck  is  a  Republican,  and  in  1896  he 
was  elected  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Lagrange 
for  two  years;  he  has  always  followed  the  occu- 
pation of  farming. 

Alex.  W.,  sixth  son,  was  born  March  5, 
1861;  was  educated  with  his  brothers,  and  in 
1 88 1  went  to  Nebraska,  where  he  remained  a 
year.  He  then  went  to  Washington  Territory 
(now  State),  settling  at  New  Whatcom,  and 
was  elected  city  treasurer.  On  July  21,  1888, 
he  married  Miss  Annie  Kalloch,  daughter  of 
the  late  Hon.  I.  S.  Kalloch,  mayor  of  San 
Francisco,  Cal.  In  1 896  he  was  elected  county 
auditor  after  one  of  the  hottest  political  battles 
in  the  record  of  the  county.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican. He  and  his  wife  have  two  children: 
Phillip  and  Catherine. 

Other  well-known  members  of  the  family, 
descendants  in  the  same  line,  and  residents  of 
Dutchess  county,  are:  S.  Miller  Van  Wyck, 
lawyer,  residing  at  Fishkill-on-Hudson;  B.  W. 
Van  Wyck,  of  Poughkeepsie;  Abraham  Van- 
Wyck  and  James  Van  Wyck,  of  East  Fishkill. 


820 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


An  examination  of  the  family  coat  of  arms 
shows  that  an  ancestor  was  in  the  Crusades, 
which  commenced  about  the  year  1096  under 
Pope  Urban  II. 


ISAAC  HAIGHT,  Jr.  (deceased).  For  sev- 
_  eral  generations  the  family  name  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  has  been  a  familiar  one 
in  this  locality.  The  first  of  the  family  in  di- 
rect line  to  emigrate  to  America  was  Simon 
Haight,  who  arrived  in  the  New  World  in 
1628.  Originally  the  Haights  lived  in  Wales. 
Simon  Haight  was  the  father  of  Nicholas  (i) 
Haight,  who  in  turn  had  a  son  Samuel. 
Samuel  Haight  resided  on  Long  Island, 
and  there  his  son  Nicholas  (2),  the  great-great- 
erandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born. 

Nicholas  (2)  became  the  father  of  Jacob 
Haight,  who  was  born  on  Long  Island  in  1705. 
Jacob,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  Hicks, 
and  to  them  the  following  children  were  born: 
Elizabeth,  born  in  1734;  John,  1736;  Stephen, 
1738;  Nicholas,  1740;  Jacob  (2)  1742;  Pa- 
tience. 1744;  Sarah,  1746;  Samuel,  1748;  and 
Phcebe,  1750. 

Jacob  (2)  was  married  to  Miss  Phcebe 
Haviland,  who  was  born  in  1745,  and  they 
reared  the  following  children:  Charity,  born 
in  1769;  Patience,  born  in  1771;  James,  de- 
ceased in  infancy;  Sarah,  born  in  1775;  John, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  born  in  1777;  Eliza- 
beth, born  in  1779;  Jacob,  born  in  17S2,  and 
Isaac,  born  in  1784. 

John  Haight  was  born  in  Hart's  Village, 
where  he  married  Miss  Elsie  Thorne  and  set- 
tled on  a  farm  on  which  a  part  of  Millbrook 
now  stands.  Four  children  were  born  to  him 
and  his  wife,  namely:  William,  who  was  a 
farmer  on  the  old  homestead;  Isaac,  our  sub- 
ject; Jacob,  who  died  in  1845;  and  Anna,  who 
married  Jacob  H.  Allen,  a  farmer  at  Skaneat- 
eles,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  father  was  a 
farmer;  in  religious  faith  he  and  his  wife  were 
Quakers.      He  died  April  26,  1836. 

Isaac  Haight,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  June  26.  1807,  in  what  was 
then  called  Hart's  Village,  town  of  Washing- 
ton. After  passing  his  youth  on  his  father's 
farm,  he  clerked  in  a  store  in  Poughkeepsie, 
and  also  at  Hart's  Village. 

In  1835  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Hannah  L.  Wintringham,  who  was  born  in 
New  York  City  in  1812,  a  daughter  of  Thomas 


and  Ruth  (Lawton)  Wintringham.  After  their 
marriage  our  subject  and  his  wife  located  on  a 
farm  on  the  present  site  of  Millbrook.  Four 
children  were  born  to  them:  William  Ed., 
who  died  in  the  Civil  war;  Sidney  W.,  who 
died  in  1882;  Frances;  and  Emily  R.  Mr. 
Haight  was  a  Democrat,  and  held  the  office  of 
supervisor  of  his  town;  he  was  a  substantial 
and  progressive  citizen,  a  leader  among  men, 
and  is  well  remembered  as  a  kind  and  gener- 
ous citizen.  His  death  occurred  November 
15,  1864;  his  wife  survived  until  February  15, 

1893. 

Thomas  Wintringham,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Haight,  was  born  in  Holmpton,  Yorkshire, 
England,  in  1775.  He  came  to  America  and 
located  in  New  York  City,  where  he  was  a 
vintner.  He  married  Miss  Ruth  Lawton,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: David  L. ;  Hannah  W.,  wife  of  our 
subject;  Sidney,  deceased  in  infancy;  Sidney 
(2);  Jeremiah;  and  Ruth.  Of  these.  David  wa» 
a  retired  citizen  of  Jersey  City;  Sidney  lived  in 
Brooklyn,  retired;  Jeremiah  was  also  a  retired 
citizen  of  Brooklyn;  Ruth  married  Heniy 
Clement,  a  merchant  of  Flushing,  L.  I.  Mrs. 
Wintringham  came  from  Rhode  Island,  where 
her  family  were  Quakers. 


C,HARLES   A.    STORM    (deceased;    was  a 
J  man  of  the  strictest  integrity,  whose  hon-i 
oTable,  upright  life  won  the  commendation  of  1 
all.      His  birth  took  place  in  the  town  of  East  i 
Fishkill,  September  16,  1846.  and  he  belonged 
to  a  family  which  had    for    many   years  been 
prominently    identified    with    the    history  of 
Dutchess  county.      His   grandfather   was  Col. 
John  G.  Storm,  a  native  of  Dutchess  county, 
and  the  son  of  Charles  G.  Storm. 

Charles  G.  Storm,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  also  born  in  Dutchess  county,  and 
here  devoted  his  entire  life  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits. He  wedded  Mary  Adriance,  a  daughter 
of  Isaac  Adriance,  and  after  their  marriage 
they  located  upon  a  farm  in  the  town  of  East 
Fishkill,  where  they  reared  their  family  of  five 
children:  Susan  M.,  the  widow  of  William 
P.  Storm,  who  was  a  merchant  of  New  York 
City,  but  in  later  life  engaged  in  farming 
John,  a  resident  of  White  Plains,  N.  Y.,  whc 
married  Henrietta  Albro,  a  native  of  Ne« 
York  City:  Margaret,  who  died  unmarried 
George,  who  married  Emma  Haight,  a  nativ( 
of  White   Plains;   and   Charles    A.,  of  this  re 


I 


^^  c^^;  X^c/^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


821 


view.  The  father  always  turned  his  attention 
to  farming,  was  an  unfaltering  Republican  in 
politics,  and  with  his  family  held  to  the  belief 
of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church. 

Like  most  farmer  boys,  our  subject  passed 
his  childhood,  in  assisting  his  father  in  the 
work  of  the  home  farm,  and  in  attending  the 
district  school;  later  he  was  a  student  in  the 
Bisbee  school  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  After 
finishing  his  education  he  returned  to  the  farm, 
and  January  24,  1872,  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Elizabeth  B.  Storm,  a  daughter  of 
John  V.  Storm,  and  a  sister  of  Abram  J.  Storm, 
Joseph  H.  Storm  and  W-.  J.  Storm.  They 
began  housekeeping  upon  his  father's  place, 
which  he  operated  for  five  years,  and  the  fol- 
lowing two  years  were  spent  upon  her  father's 
farm.  In  1879,  he  purchased  the  farm  on 
which  Mrs.  Storm  now  resides,  and  where  Mr. 
Storm's  death  occurred  June  22,  1892.  His 
attention  was  devoted  exclusively  to  his  farm- 
ing interests,  and  his  political  support  was  ever 
ijiven  the  Republican  party,  which  had  in  him 
a  most  earnest  advocate.  No  man  in  the  town 
of  East  Fishkill  gained  and  retained  more 
friends,  or  was  held  in  higher  esteem  by  his 
(allow  citizens  than  Charles  A.  Storm. 


CHARLES  DOUGHTY  (deceased)  was  one 
'  of  the  representative  and  honored  citizens 
3f  the  town  of  Beekman,  where  his  birth  oc- 
curred, April  I,  1841.  He  was  a  descendant 
of  Rev.  Francis  Doughty,  who  about  the  year 
1633  emigrated  from  England  and  located  at 
Taunton,  Mass.,  which  places  him  among  the 
earliest  of  the  Puritan  fathers  following  in  the 
footsteps  of  the  "  Mayflower  "  pioneers.  The 
Doughty  family  in  England  is  of  ancient  ori- 
:?in,  dating  back  before  the  Norman  conquest. 
The  name  was  originally  spelled  Doghtig,  and 
■-he  family  motto  was  "  Palma  non  sine  pul- 
I'ere." 

Joseph  Doughty,  the  great-grandfather  of 
3ur  subject,  was  a  native  of  Long  Island,  and 
was  the  first  of  the  family  to  come  to  Dutch- 
ess county,  locating  upon  the  farm  in  the  town 
■>i  Beekman,  between  Greenhaven  and  Pough- 
luag,  now  occupied  by  John  Brill.  Upon 
hat  place  he  erected  a  log  house,  and  spent 
;he  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  united  in 
narriage  with  Miss  Psyche  Wiltsie,  who  was 
3orn  September  16,  1736,  and  they  became 
he  parents  of  twelve  children,  whose   names 

■vith  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows:   Mary,  March 
21 


23.  1754;  John,  June  8,  1757;  Thomas,  April 
27.  1759;  Jane,  July  4,  1761;  Joseph,  Octo- 
ber 14,  1763;  Psyche,  March  6,  1766;  Martin, 
March  14,  1768;  William,  November  5,  1770; 
Jacob,  October  20,  1772;  Elizabeth,  October 
18,  1774;  Cornwell,  October  28,  1776;  and  Ne- 
hemiah,  October  14,  1780. 

William  Doughty,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Beekman, 
and  there  carried  on  farming  throughout  his 
life.  He  married  Mrs.  Sarah  (Van  Wyck) 
Vanderburg,  and  in  their  family  were  six  chil- 
dren: Phebe,  born  August  18,  1805;  John  J., 
April  12,  1807;  Psyche,  July  9,  1809;  Will- 
iam, June  7.  181 1 ;  Sarah,  June  22,  18 13;  and 
George  T.,  October  26,  1815.  The  father  of 
these  died  in  1854,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four 
years;  the  mother  died  in  1865,  at  the  age  of 
ninety-four  years. 

William  Doughty,  Jr.,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  spent  his  entire  life  in  the  town  of 
Beekman,  and  after  reaching  years  of  maturity 
devoted  his  time  and  attention  to  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Jane 
F.  Brock,  also  a  native  of  the  town  of  Beek- 
man, and  to  them  three  sons  were  born: 
Charles,  subject  of  this  review;  Walter,  who 
was  born  in  1844,  and  is  now  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  a  company  at  the  Union  Stock 
Yards  at  Chicago,  111.;  and  Edgar,  who  died 
in  1865.  The  mother's  death  occurred  in  De- 
cember, 1874,  that  of  the  father  on  June  i, 
1893.  In  religious  belief  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Society  of  Friends. 

In  the  district  schools  near  his  home 
Charles  Doughty  secured  his  education,  and 
he  always  remained  upon  the  homestead  farm 
in  the  town  of  Beekman,  dying  there  Novem- 
ber 13,  1884.  He  took  a  lively  interest  in 
political  affairs,  being  one  of  the  most  earnest 
supporters  of  the  Republican  party,  and  after 
the  civil  war  served  as  revenue  collector  of 
Dutchess  county.  He  also  held  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace  of  Beekman  township,  and 
discharged  his  duties,  whether  public  or  private, 
with  promptness  and  fidelity  which  won  him 
the  commendation  of  all.  Socially  he  affili- 
ated with  Hopewell  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.  He 
was  universally  respected,  and  his  word  was 
considered  as  good  as  his  bond.  By  his  death 
the  county  lost  one  of  its  most  honored  and 
and  useful  citizens. 

On  May  23,  1865,  Mr.  Doughty  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Mary  E.  Brown,  a  lady  who  is 
greatly    respected   in    the    community.     Two 


i 


"822 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPUIUAL  RECORD. 


children  blessed  this  union:  Morton  B.  and 
Christopher  Brown.  The  former  was  born 
January  lO,  1868,  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools,  also  in  the  Pingry  school,  at  Eliza- 
beth, N.  J.,  and  was  reared  on  a  farm.  On 
August  14,  1895,  he  married  Miss  Lillian 
Tormoehlan,  daughter  of  William  and  Louise 
(Sherbourne)  Tormoehlan,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  Germany,  the  latter  in  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.  The  mother  died  December  9,  1882, 
the  father  on  June  5,  1892.  The  family 
reside  in  Chicago,  where  Mrs.  Morton  Doughty 
was  born.  Christopher  Brown,  the  second 
son  of  Charles  and  Mary  E.  Doughty,  was 
born  June  30,  1871,  and  at  the  present  time 
is  steward  of  the  "  Garden  City  Hotel,"  New 
York  City. 

Christopher  Brown,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Doughty,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  where  he 
learned  the  trade  of  a  miller,  and  in  early 
manhood  he  came  to  America,  locating  in  the 
town  of  Beekman,  Dutchess  county,  where  he 
made  his  home  for  forty-five  years,  during 
which  time  he  followed  milling  at  Greenhaven. 
At  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Nancy  Griffen,  and  they 
had  two  daughters:  Mary  E.  and  Phebe, 
the  latter  of  whom  married  Homer  Chapman. 
The  parents  were  both  widely  and  favorably 
known,  and  enjoyed  the  confidence  and  respect 
of  all.  The  father  died  March  5,  1883,  the 
mother  on  February  18,  1896. 


M  LBERT  J.  AKIN,  of  Pawling,  Dutchess 
.^k^  county,  one  of  the  ablest  financiers 
which  this  section  has  produced,  has  rendered 
important  service  to  his,  community  by  pro- 
moting various  enterprises  which  have  devel- 
oped its  commercial  relations,  and  led  the  way 
to  the  expansion  of  its  business  interests. 

He  is  descended  from  a  long  line  of  Quaker 
ancestry,  the  head  of  the  American  branch  of 
the  family  being  John  Akin,  who  was  born  in 
Scotland  in  1663,  and  about  the  year  1680,  or 
earlier,  on  account  of  religious  persecutions, 
emigrated  to  America.  He  located  in  Dart- 
mouth, Mass.,  when  about  seventeen  years  of 
age.  He  married  Mary  Briggs,  who  was  born 
August  9,  1 67 1,  the  daughter  of  Thomas 
Briggs,  and  they  had  eight  sons  and  seven 
daughters.  Their  eldest  son,  David  Akin, 
born  September  19,  1689,  was  the  next  an- 
cestor in  direct  line  of  descent,  and  the  first  of 


the  name  to  settle  at  Quaker  Hill,  where  he 
probably  occupied  the  property  now  owned  by 
the  family  of  Mr.  Gould.  He  had  a  record  for 
good  service  during  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  his  death  occurred  in  1779.  In  171 1  he 
married  Sarah  Allen,  of  Portsmouth,  R.  I., 
and  removed  to  Quaker  Hill  (formerly  called 
the  Oblong),  in  1741.  Six  sons  and  four 
daughters  were  born  to  them,  and  their  son, 
John  Akin,  born  September  15,  1718,  became 
the  next  in  line  of  descent.  He  married  Mar- 
garet Hicks,  who  was  born  in  Portsmouth, 
R.  I.,  January  12,  17 13,  and  they  had  three 
daughters  and  one  son,  as  follows:  Anna, 
Mary,  Abigail  and  John. 

John  Akin  was  born  November  11,  1753, 
and  December  27,  1775,  married  Molly  Ferris, 
who  was  born  April  20,  1759,  daughter  of 
Reed  Ferris.  They  had  two  sons  and  four 
daughters:  Albro  (our  subject's  father),  Sarah, 
Margaret,  Ann,  Daniel  and  Amanda. 

Albro  Akin  was  born  March  6,  1778,  at 
Quaker  Hill,  and  became  one  of  the  most  in- 
fluential and  distinguished  citizens  of  his  day 
in  this  section,  a  contemporary  of  Taber,  Kirby 
and  others  of  note.  He  was  a  successful  mer- 
chant and  agriculturist.  On  March  24,  1815, 
he  was  appointed  judge  of  the  court  of  com- 
mon pleas  of  Dutchess  county  by  Gov.  Daniel 
D.  Tompkins.  On  the  organization  of  the 
Poughkeepsie  National  Bank,  he  became 
member  of  its  first  board  of  directors.  H( 
was  married  three  times,  first  in  1801, 
Pauline  Vander  Burgh,  who  was  born  in  1783, 
and  they  had  three  children:  Albert  John, 
born  August  14,  1803,  married  Jane  Williams 
Almira,  born  February  3,  1806,  married  Josbus 
L.  Jones;  and  Helen  M.,  born  July  4,  1810, 
married  John  W.  Taylor.  The  mother  of  thi 
family  died  in  18 10,  and  Mr.  Akin  marriec 
Sarah  Merritt,  who  died  leaving  no  children 
On  December  4,  181 8,  Mr.  Akin  married  i 
third  wife,  Miss  Jemima  Jacacks,  and  theii 
pleasant  home  at  Quaker  Hill  was  brightenet 
by  seven  children,  as  follows:  Mary  J.;  Will 
iam  Henry ;  Cornelia;  Gulielma  Maria;  Amanda 
who  married  Dr.  C.  W.  Stearns;  Annie  E.i 
who  married  W.  H.  Ogden;  and  Caroline 
who  married  Adolph  Wilm-Beets. 

Albert  John  Akin  left  home  when  ninetee 
years  of  age,  going  to  New  York  City,  wher 
he  served  a  clerkship  of  two  years  with  Wil 
iam  and  Charles  Underbill,  and  then  con 
menced  business  on  his  own  account  under  tl" 
firm  name  of  Seaman  &  Akin.     After  contii 


tc 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


823 


uing  successfully  for  several  years  he  was  com- 
pelled, on  account  of  ill   health,  to   retire  to 
the   country    under    advice   of    his    physician. 
With  health   restored,  he   re-entered   business 
I  life,  at  the  age  of  thirty,  engaging  in  farming 
upon  200  acres  of  land  which  his  father  had 
given  him,  continuing  in  this  calling  exclusively 
until  about   1849,  when  he  began  to  give  his 
attention    to    railroading.     The  Harlem   rail- 
road was  projected  at  that  time,  and  Mr.  Akin 
helped  to  secure  the  right  of  way,  and  was  one 
of  the  committee  appointed  to  raise  $100,000 
for  the  road,  John  Ketcham  being  also  a  mem- 
ber.    Later   Mr.  Akin  was  appointed   to   pay 
out  the  installments   of   money  received,  and 
his  own  high  reputation  did  much  to  assist  the 
credit  of  the  road.      Two  years  were  occupied 
in  this  work,  and.  no  one  being  willing  to  fur- 
nish ties  or  timber  for  the  road,  Mr.  Akin  ad- 
vanced   money    for   the   same.      It    was    also 
through  his  influence  that  the  present  refresh- 
ment house  was   located    at    Pawling,   which 
contributed  much  indirectly  to  the  growth  and 
prosperity  of  the  town.     After  the   road  was 
finished,   December   30,  1849,  there  being  no 
depot  building,  Mr.  Akin   put  up  the  first  one, 
and  also,  in  company  with  other  business  men, 
furnished   money  for  a  small  hotel.      In  1849 
he  organized  the  Pawling  National  Bank,  and 
svas  elected  president  of  the  institution,  which 
prospered  under  his  management.     This  posi- 
tion he  held  until  January,  1895,  when  he  re- 
igned on  account  of  his  advanced  age.     Busi- 
ness has  been  a  pleasure  to  him.     He  has  been 
a  director  of  the  Harlem  railroad  for  fifteen 
sears,  when  Commodore  Vanderbilt  was  con- 
lected  with  it,  and  has  also  been  a  stockholder 
n  the   Utica  &   Schenectady  railroad,  and  in 
he  New  York  Central.      His  enterprise  and 
oresight  have    done   much   for    Pawling  and 
Juaker  Hill,  and  he  owns  500  acres  of  land  at 
he  latter  place.      He  built  Akin  Hall,  and  en- 
lowed  the  Akin  Hall  Association  with  $150,- 
500,    and    erected    the    "  Mizzentop    Hotel," 
vhich  helped   to  develop  the  place  as  a  sum- 
ner  resort,  also  erected  four  or   five  cottages 
or  renting  purposes. 

In  religion  Mr.  Akin  is  non-sectarian,  with 
itrong  inclination  toward  the  faith  of  his  fore- 
athers.  Politically  he  is  an  Independent,  has 
eschewed  partisan  work,  but  served  as  a  Presi- 
iential  elector  in  the  electoral  college  which 
)laced  the  lamented  Garfield  in  the  White 
iouse.  On  December  21,  1835,  he  married 
ane  Williams,  who   was  born   in   New   York 


City.  They  have  no  children.  For  the  last 
thirty  years  his  winter  residence  has  been  in 
New  York  City. 


C\ORYDON  WHEELER.  Among  the  self- 
^1  made  men  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 
county,  who  have  attained  a  high  rank  in  their 
various  callings  by  their  own  unaided  exertions, 
may  be  found  this  gentleman,  who  has  become 
widely  known  as  an  architect  of  ability.  He 
was  born  December  21,  1837,  in  the  town  of 
Boonville,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  son 
of  Albert  and  Mary  (Hitchcock)  Wheeler,  the 
former  of  English  descent. 

Albert  Wheeler,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  in  New  Hampshire,  in  1803,  and  was 
reared  upon  a  farm.  Removing  to  Oneida 
county,  he  there  carried  on  farming  during  his 
entire  life,  becoming  one  of  the  thrifty  and 
well-to-do  men  of  that  locality,  and  highly  re- 
spected in  his  community.  He  was  possessed 
of  literary  tastes,  and  was  well  informed  on 
all  current  topics.  In  politics  he  was  an  Old- 
line  Whig.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Hitchcock 
(daughter  of  Pownell  Hitchcock),  who  was  born 
in  Schoharie  county,  N.  Y.,  in  181 2.  Five 
children  were  born  of  this  union,  as  follows: 
Almarine,  who  became  the  wife  of  Nathan  W. 
Jones;  Mary  Ann,  married  to  Austin  Walcott; 
Corydon;  Elbridge,  who  died  when  nineteen 
years  old;  and  Caroline,  married  to  Francis 
M.  Reed,  of  Boonville,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y. 
The  father  died  in  1859,    and  the   mother  in 

1873- 

Corydon  Wheeler  had  but  limited  oppor- 
tunities for  an  education  in  his  early  days,  his 
only  schooling  being  obtained  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  locality,  which  he  attended  until 
fourteen  years  of  age.  He  was,  however,  very 
fond  of  reading,  and  when  a  young  man  be- 
gan collecting  a  library,  at  present  owning  a 
fine  assortment  of  books.  He  has  improved 
every  opportunity  of  acquiring  an  education, 
and  is  to-day  one  of  the  well-informed  men  in 
the  county.  On  leaving  school  he  worked  on 
his  father's  farm  until  eighteen  years  of  age; 
but  his  tastes  inclining  to  mechanical  pursuits 
he  took  up  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  later  be- 
came a  contractor  and  builder,  erecting  some 
of  the  large  stores  and  residences  in  Pough- 
keepsie. During  this  time  he  had  been  study- 
ing the  profession  of  an  architect,  and  since 
1884  has  devoted  himself  to  that  line  of  busi- 
ness.     He  has  made  the   plans  for  some  large 


824 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPniCAL  RECORD. 


buildings  in  various  places,  among  these  being 
a  large  structure  in  Chicago,  an  extensive  hotel 
in  Sheffield,  Ala.,  and  Trinity  Methodist 
Church  in  Poughkeepsie.  In  all  his  work  he 
shows  intelligence,  artistic  taste  and  careful 
attention  to  the  purposes  for  which  the  build- 
ings are  to  be  used,  making  his  work  satisfac- 
tory, both  ornamentally  and  practically — con- 
sequently he  has  been  successful  in  his  enter- 
prises, and  is  among  the  foremost  in  his  pro- 
fession. 

On  October  8,  i860,  Mr.  Wheeler  was 
married  to  Miss  Celia  A.  Kellogg,  of  Trenton, 
Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  and  four  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  two  of  whom  survive: 
Jessie  L. ,  the  wife  of  William  P.  McNeil,  of 
Poughkeepsie;  and  Winthrop  R. ,  a  carpenter, 
residing  in  Poughkeepsie.  Chester  A.  died 
when  a  little  over  two  years  old,  and  Lauretta 
at  the  age  of  seven  months.  Mr.  Wheel- 
er was  for  some  years  a  Republican,  and  cast 
his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lin- 
coln, but  in  1874  joined  the  Prohibition  party, 
his  sympathies  being  with  the  advocates  of  to- 
tal abstinence.  He  is  a  man  of  strong  convic- 
tions, and  is  governed  by  principle  in  all  his 
actions.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Trinity  M. 
E.  Church,  and  one  of  its  official  board.  He 
has  also  been  a  member  of  the  Church  choir 
for  many  years,  and  is  always  ready  to  assist 
in  Church  work.  In  public  matters  he  is  a 
worthy  citizen,  and  may  be  counted  on  to  do 
his  share  in  whatever  is  proposed  for  the  wel- 
fare and  progress  of  the  community. 


lEV.  TERENCE  F.  KELLY.  The 
powers  of  a  consecrated  life  extend  far 
beyond  the  reach  of  the  spoken  word,  setting 
at  naught  all  differences  of  creed,  and  Rev. 
Father  Kelly,  of  St.  Joachim's  Church,  Mattea- 
wan,  while  working  quietly  in  his  appointed 
sphere,  has  gained  the  esteem  and  regard  of 
all  classes  in  the  community.  The  history  of 
this  devoted  worker  will  be  read  with  interest, 
and  will  convey  its  own  lesson. 

Father  Kelly  was  born  in  New  York  City, 
December  26,  1855,  the  son  of  William  and 
Ann  (Dowling)  Kelly,  who  were  natives  of 
Dublin,  Ireland.  The  father  was  a  carpenter 
by  trade,  following  that  occupation  in  the  old 
country,  and,  for  a  short  time,  in  New  York 
City,  but  later,  on  moving  to  Montreal,  Can- 
ada, he  engaged  in  mercantile  business,  in 
which  he  was  very  successful,  owning  several 


stores.  His  last  days  were  spent  in  New  York 
City,  to  which  place  he  and  his  wife  returned 
when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  about 
eleven  years  old.  They  reared  a  family  of 
children,  among  whom  was  a  son,  Michael, 
who  was  a  mechanical  genius,  and  was  famous 
throughout  the  United  States  for  his  work  in 
that  line,  being  employed  by  the  Goulds  and 
others.  He  died  February  i,  1895,  ^^  his 
residence  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina. 

Until  the  age  of  fourteen  Father  Kelly  at- 
tended the  public  schools  of  his  native  city, 
and  he  then  entered  St.  Francis  College,  in 
Brooklyn.  A  first  cousin,  Bishop  Phelan,  of 
Kingston,  Canada,  first  awakened  in  the  young 
lad's  mind  the  consciousness  of  his  vocation, 
and  the  long  course  of  preparation  was  pur- 
sued by  Father  Kelly  with  the  same  ardor 
which  has  since  characterized  his  pastoral 
work.  At  nineteen  he  became  a  student  at 
St.  Lawrence  College,  Montreal,  Canada,  and 
on  May  30,  1878,  he  was  ordained  to  the 
priesthood.  Since  that  time  his  lot  has  been 
cast  in  this  section,  his  first  appointment  being 
at  Matteawan  as  assistant  pastor  to  Father 
Henry.  He  had  been  there  about  two  years 
when  the  Dominican  Fathers  resigned  the 
charge  of  the  New  York  Catholic  Protectory, 
and  Father  Quinn,  the  Vicar  General,  ap- 
pointed Father  Kelly  to  the  post,  with  an  as- 
sistant. About  a  year  later  came  an  appoint- 
ment to  a  charge  which  included  Staatsburg, 
Hyde  Park,  and  Clinton  Corners,  and  while 
there  Father  Kelly  built  churches  at  Staats- 
burg and  Clinton  Corners,  and  enlarged  and 
improved  the  parsonage  at  Hyde  Park.  Six 
years  after  his  transfer  to  this  post  Archbishop 
Corrigan  added  the  care  of  the  parish  of  Rhine- 
cliff,  which  had  become  financially  embarrassed, 
and  gave  Father  Kelly  two  assistants,  Fathers 
White  and  Fagan.  His  present  appointment 
dates  from  December  i,  1890,  when  he  suc- 
ceeded Father  McSwyggan,  and  during  that 
time  he  has  done  much  to  build  up  and 
strengthen  his  congregation  in  both  numbers 
and  influence.  In  the  refurnishing  and  decor- 
ation of  the  church  edifice,  and  in  various  im- 
provements in  the  other  property  of  the  parish 
one  may  see  the  results  of  his  wise  manage- 
ment; but  to  rightly  judge  of  his  work  one 
must  visit  the  schools  where  the  Sisters  of 
Charity  and  the  Franciscan  Brothers  train  the 
children  of  the  parish,  and  must  view  the  un- 
ceasing labors  in  the  pastorate  through  which 
the  spiritual  life  of  the  people  is  quickened  and 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


825 


developed.  Modest  and  unassuming  in  man- 
ner, and  ever  ready  to  give  to  his  efficient 
assistants  tiie  credit  for  the  work  which  is 
being  done,  Father  Kelly's  personality  reveals 
the  quiet  strength  which  unobtrusively  yet  ef- 
fectively inspires,  directs,  and  molds  the  lives 
of  all  whom  his  influence  touches.  By  his 
people  he  is  greatly  beloved,  and  on  the  occa- 
~  sion  of  the  fifteenth  anniversary  of  his  ordi- 
nation they  presented  him  with  a  handsome 
purse,  in  token  of  their  affectionate  ap- 
preciation. 

Outside  of  his  own  fold  Father  Kelly  is 
known  and  honored  in  a  remarkable  degree, 
and  he  numbers  among  his  friends  Gov.  Mor- 
ton of  this  State.  During  his  stay  at  Rhine- 
cliff  he  was  elected  trustee  of  the  local  schools, 
a  fact  which  speaks  more  loudly  than  words 
could  do  of  the  impression  which  his  worth 
makes  upon  all  who  know  him,  and  since  go- 
ing to  Matteawan  he  has  been  appointed  a  di- 
rector of  the  village  hospital.  In  his  clerical 
work  Father  Kelly  is  efficiently  assisted  by  Rev. 
James  A.  White  and  Rev.  P.  C.  Gary. 


n   MASA    DARIN    GOLEMAN   (deceased), 

.Ml  after  whom  Goleman  Station  was  named, 

ind  who  for  a  number  of  years  was  a  leading 

igriculturist  of  the  town  of  Northeast,  Dutch- 

;ss  county,  was  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  old- 

;st  families  in  this  country,  the  record  reach- 

ng  back    to  the   year    1635.       In    Hinman's 

"atalogue   of    Early  Settlers    of    Gonnecticut 

ve  find  the  following:      "  Thomas  Goleman,  of 

larlborough,   England,   farmer,    embarked  at 

4ampton   in  the    'James,'   of  Lundon,  about 

\pril,  1635.     Thomas  Goleman  died  at  Had- 

ey,   Mass.,  in    1674.     The  births  of  children 

re  not  recorded  at  Westfield,  but  Noah  and 

ohn   are   his  sons.      Noah  died  at  Hadley  in 

676."     John  had  sons,  Noah  and  Ebenezer, 

'ho  removed  to  Golchester,  Gonn.,  about  the 

ear  1700.      Ebenezer  married  Ruth  Niles,  of 

'olchester,  in  1705,  and  they  had  a  son,  Niles, 

ho  had  a  son,  Josiah,  born  at  Hebron,  Gonn., 

^pril  4,  1733,  who  married  Elizabeth  Root,  of 

lebron,  November  6,    1755,  and  removed  to 

■  haron,   Gonn..   about   1771,   and  represented 

hat  town  in  the  Legislatures  in    1783,    1784 

nd  1788.     He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 

)n  November  6,  1755,  he  married  Elizabeth 

loot,  of  Hebron,  and  had  five  sons:     Josiah, 

'ho  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  died  in 

lilford,  Conn.,  in  1777;  Aaron,  a  physician  at 


Warren,  Gonn.;  Elihu;  Jesse:  and  Amasa,  our 
subject's  father.  The  latter  was  born  in  Shar- 
on, Gonn.,  March  21,  1772.  He  was  a  farmer 
at  the  old  homestead  there  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  March  23,  1805,  when  he  was 
but  thirty-two  years  old,  before  his  fine  capa- 
bilities had  an  opportunity  for  full  development. 
He  was  married  December  25,  1799,  to  Achsa 
Dakin,  who  survived  him  many  years,  dying 
December  2,  1846.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Caleb  Dakin,  and  a  granddaughter  of  Simon 
Dakin,  a  pioneer  settler  of  Northeast,  N.  Y. , 
who  had  much  to  do  with  the  early  history  of 
the  town.  Of  the  two  children  of  this  mar- 
riage, our  subject  was  the  younger.  Myra  C., 
born  October  16,  1800,  married  Gerard  Pitch- 
er, of  Northeast,  New  York. 

Amasa  D.  Coleman  was  born  June  28, 
1804,  at  Sharon,  but  owing  to  his  father's 
death,  his  home  from  the  age  of  nine  months 
was  with  his  grandfather,  Caleb  Dakin.  Here 
he  received  a  fair  education  for  those  times, 
in  the  district  schools,  and  as  he  possessed 
good  mental  ability  and  was  fond  of  reading, 
he  in  later  years  acquired  a  large  fund  of  in- 
formation. He  came  into  the  possession  of 
the  Dakin  homestead  before  the  death  of  his 
mother,  buying  out  the  other  heirs,  and  con- 
tinued to  cultivate  it  until  his  death.  This 
tract  consists  of  more  than  150  acres  of  land, 
and  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  town.  As  a 
farmer  he  was  very  successful,  securing  his 
estate  largely  through  his  own  efforts.  In  all 
movements  for  local  improvements  he  was 
among  the  leading  supporters,  and  he  was  al- 
ways greatly  interested  in  the  success  of  the 
Republican  party,  which  he  joined  in  the  first 
years  of  its  existence,  having  previously  been 
an  ardent  Abolitionist.  His  interest  in  poli- 
tics was  wholly  unselfish,  as  he  never  sought 
official  preferment.  His  family  had  been  ad- 
herents of  the  Congregational  Church,  although 
few  were  Methodists,  and  it  is  probable  that 
his  father  belonged  to  that  body;  but  Mr. 
Goleman  united  with  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Amenia,  and  remained  throughout  life  an  ac- 
tive and  consistent  member. 

On  September  28,  1843,  Mr.  Coleman 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Rugg,  daughter  of 
Seth  Rugg,  a  prominent  resident  of  New  Marl- 
boro, Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.  They  had  two 
children,  of  whom  the  elder,  Josiah,  born 
July  23,  1848,  died  July  31,  1872.  Elizabeth, 
born  June  19,  1850,  married  a  Mr.  Welsh, 
October   8,    1896.      Mr.  Coleman's  death   oc- 


826 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPEWAL  RECORD. 


curred  October  7,  1876,  and  brought  a  serious 
loss  to  the  community,  his  excellent  judg- 
ment, public  spirit  and  manly  character  hav- 
ing gained  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all 
who  knew  him.  His  widow  passed  away 
May  12,  1896. 


CAPTAIN  ISAAC  H.  WOOD,  the  well- 
^  known  steamboat  agent  at  Poughkeepsie, 
Dutchess  county,  and  the  proprietor  of  the 
"Exchange  Hotel"  of  that  city,  enjoys  in  a  re- 
markable degree  the  esteem  and  affection  of 
all  classes  of  people,  his  heroism  as  a  life-saver 
gaining  friends  for  him  far  and  near.  He  and 
his  four  sons  have  saved  123  persons  from 
death  by  drowning  in  the  Hudson  river,  and 
in  recognition  of  their  courage  and  unselfish 
devotion  the  citizens  of  Poughkeepsie  pre- 
sented each  of  them  with  a  diamond  medal  a 
few  years  ago,  the  tokens  being  of  great  value 
and  beauty. 

The  family  originated  in  Holland,  but 
Stephen  Wood,  our  subject's  grandfather,  was 
probably  born  in  Dutchess  county.  He  was 
for  many  years  a  resident  of  Poughkeepsie, 
where  he  reared  a  family  of  five  children,  of 
whom  our  subject's  father,  Stephen  Wood  (2), 
was  the  only  son.  He  grew  to  manhood  in 
Poughkeepsie,  and  after  establishing  himself 
in  business  as  a  shoemaker  married  Eliza  Dis- 
brow,  a  native  of  New  York  City,  and  the 
daughter  of  a  leading  detective  there.  This 
family  is  also  of  old  Holland-Dutch  stock.  On 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Mexican  war  Stephen 
Wood  enlisted,  and  he  met  his  death  in  the 
battle  of  Buena  Vista.  His  widow  survived 
him  until  1878.  Of  their  three  children  the 
youngest  died  in  infancy,  and  the  eldest,  Mary 
J.,  married  the  late  George  Valentine,  of 
Poughkeepsie. 

Capt.  Wood,  the  second  member  of  this 
family,  was  born  in  Poughkeepsie,  October  23, 
1822,  and  after  passing  his  boyhood  there 
went  to  New  York  City  and  lived  with  an 
uncle  for  some  time,  and  later  spent  four  years 
in  Yonkers,  N.  Y.  In  1840  he  returned  to  his 
native  city  to  make  his  permanent  home.  He 
started  the  first  express  business  in  the  place, 
known  as  Wood's  Original  Express,  and  then 
entered  the  employ  of  the  American  Express 
Co.  for  a  time.  About  1856  he  engaged  in 
the  steamboat  business,  and  is  now  the  agent 
for  the  daily  lines  of  boats.  For  many  years 
he  has  been  the  proprietor  of  the  "Exchange 


Hotel"  also,  and  he  has  won  a  high  reputation 
for  business  ability. 

In  1854  the  Captain  formed  a  matrimonial 
union  with  Miss  Maria  Rodman,  daughter  of 
William  Rodman,  a  prominent  boat  builder 
and  leading  Democrat  of  New  York  City. 
The  Rodmans  were  among  the  early  settlers  of 
Dutchess  county,  and  were  probably  of  Hol- 
land-Dutch descent.  Six  children  were  born 
of  this  marriage,  and  the  four  sons  are  all  in 
business  in  Poughkeepsie,  where  they  are  held 
in  great  esteem  as  worthy  descendants  of  their 
honored  father,  as  well  as  for  their  individual 
excellence.  Edward  A.  is  a  machinist  by 
trade;  Rodman  H.  is  in  the  express  business; 
George  is  a  commission  merchant,  and  Amarr 
is  a  barber.  Of  the  two  daughters,  Eliza 
married  Hiram  Wood,  a  commission  merchant 
of  New  York  City,  and  Ida  M.  (deceased)  was 
formerly  the  wife  of  John  Westfall,  of  Syra- 
cuse, New  York. 

Capt.  Wood  is  an  active  worker  in  thej 
Democratic  party;  was  alderman  for  one 
year,  and  supervisor  of  the  First  ward  for 
three  terms.  He  has  been  a  leader  in  the 
fire  department  for  many  years,  serving  as 
chief  engineer  for  four  years  and  assistant  for 
three  years.  He  was  vice-president  of  tht 
Veteran's  Dept. ,  for  some  time,  and  is  now 
the  president  of  the  Veteran  Fire  Association, 
an  insurance  order.  In  fraternal  society  worl 
he  has  also  taken  an  interest  at  times,  and  h« 
belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  as  well  a: 
to  other  orders  of  less  note. 


ORGAN    L.    MOTT    (deceased).      "N. 
man  in  an  unofficial  position  was  mor 
widely  known  in  this  city  or  county  or  by  th 
past  and  passing  generation  in  the  metropol 
itan  portion  of  the  State.      No  man  was  mor(( 
deeply  respected  wherever  known   for  his  ac 
mirable  simplicity    of   character   and   sterlir 
honesty.      He  was  the  very  embodiment  of  ir| 
tegrity.      His  habits  were  those  of  a  thorough^ 
self-respecting  man,  and  in  speech  and  actio 
he  was  irreproachable. "     These  words  of  welJ 
deserved  praise  appeared  in  a  leading  joum: 
of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ,  concerning  the  subjeij 
of  this  memoir  at  his  death,  which  occurr(l 
April  24,  1 89 1,  and  to  those  who   knew  hi| 
they   convey   but    a    faint    impression    of  til 
qualities  of  mind  and  heart  which  bound  the  I 
to  him  in  the  ties  of  friendship  and  esteem. 
Mr.  Mott  was  of  English  descent,  his  a  I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHWAL  RECORD. 


327 


cestors  being  among  the  followers  of  the  Quaker 
faith  who  found  freedom  of  conscience  in  this 
country  at  an  early  period.  His  father,  Will- 
iam B.  Mott,  was  a  native  of  Long  Island,  but 
his  life  was  spent  mainly  in  New  York  City, 
where  he  engaged  in  mercantile  business.  He 
married  Miss  Mary  Milton,  who  was  born  in 
that  city  January  14,  1790,  and  died  at  New 
Hackensack,  the  home  of  her  son,  Morgan, 
November  26,  1894,  at  the  age  of  105  years. 
Her  father,  a  Hollander  by  descent,  was  a  man 
of  great  importance  and  influence  during  the 
rule  of  Petrus  Stuyvesant.  Her  mother  was  a 
member  of  the  famous  Cox  family  of  Long 
Island.  Shortly  after  their  marriage,  our  sub- 
ject's parents  came  to  Dutchess  county,  and 
located,  in  181 3,  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of 
Hyde  Park,  where  their  five  children  were 
born.  After  a  few  years  they  returned  to  New 
York  to  reside.  Their  children  all  settled 
there.  Jehu  was  a  butcher  by  occupation ; 
Mary,  the  only  surviving  member  of  the  fam- 
ily, married  (first)  Robert  Wilson,  a  merchant 
in  New  York,  and  (second)  John  Francis; 
John  was  a  wheelwright;  and  William  B.  was 
a  painter. 

Morgan  L.  Mott,  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth,  was  born  April  14,  1818,  and  was  only 
1  few  years  old  when  his  parents  moved  to 
N'ew  York.  On  leaving  school  he  engaged 
n  the  grocery  business,  and  before  many  years 
Decame  prominent  in  the  Democratic  party 
here.  He  was  warden  at  Blackwell's  Island 
for  several  years.  In  1849  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia with  a  party,  among  whom  was  Senator 
Broderick,  of  New  York,  who  was  afterward 
assassinated.  Mr.  Mott  was  in  business  in 
3an  Francisco  until  1853,  during  which  time 
le  was  active  in  promoting  order,  being  one 
3f  the  first  aldermen,  and  serving  for  several 
Tionths  as  president  of  the  board  and  as  act- 
ng  mayor  of  the  city.  He  also  made  a  trip  to 
San  Diego,  and  brought  back  nearly  2,000 
lorses  and  cattle.  On  his  return  to  New  York 
16  conducted  a  hotel  there  until  1863,  when 
le  moved  to  a  farm  at  New  Hackensack, 
.vhere  he  spent  his  remaining  years. 

Mr.  Mott  married  Miss  Jane  Mcintosh,  a 
lative  of  New  York  City,  whose  father  was  a 
Scotchman.  Of  their  several  children,  two 
Had  in  childhood;  William  B.,  a  farmer,  died 
it  the  age  of  forty-five;  Morgan  L. ,  Jr.,  is  a 
armer  at  the  old  homestead;  Edmond  died  at 
ifteen;  Robert  lives  at  home,  and  with  his 
brother  manages  the  farm;  Mary  Elizabeth,  a 


lovely  girl  of  beautiful  character,  died  when 
just  budding  into  womanhood.  The  home 
farm  is  a  fine  estate  of  about  200  acres  of  level 
land,  beautified  by  trees,  and  the  buildings  and 
other  improvements  speak  well  for  the  enter- 
prise and  good  taste  of  its  owners. 


LOUIS  C.  FEIERABEND.  Among  the 
'  prosperous  and  popular  citizens  of  foreign 

birth  who  made  their  homes  in  Poughkeepsie, 
Dutchess  county,  will  be  found  the  gentleman 
whose  name  introduces  this  sketch,  and  who 
was  born  at  Wimpfen-on-the-Neckar,  Hessen- 
Darmstadt,  Germany,  July  13,  1849. 

Jacob  Feierabend,  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  at  Wimpfen,  Hessen-Darmstadt, 
Germany,  July  4,  1780,  and  died  September 
20,  1846;  was  a  farmer  by  occupation;  he 
married  Johanna  Bramminger,  who  was  born 
June  I,  1786,  and  died  March  20,  1847. 

Fredrick  Feierabend,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  April  16,  181 1,  also  at  Wimpfen, 
and  learned  the  business  of  comb-making, 
which  he  followed  all  his  life.  On  September 
6,  1838,  he  married  Miss  Eva  Christina  Hess, 
who  was  born  June  20,  18 18,  at  Biebrach 
O.  A.  Heilbrom,  Wurttemberg,  Germany,  and 
children,  as  follows,  were  born  to  them:  (i) 
Christoph  F.,  born  February  19,  1840,  mar- 
ried Miss  Louisa  C.  Weying,  of  Wimpfen, 
December  18,  1866.  (2)  Christina  Johanna, 
born  February  14,  1841,  married  Carl  Speer, 
a  locksmith,  of  Wimpfen,  March  14,  1865. 
(3)  Christoff  Ludwig,  born  June  6,  1842,  died 
July  17,  1842.  (4)  Christina  Louise,  born 
September  10,  1844.  (5)  Elizabeth  Louise, 
born  October  31,  1846,  came  to  America,  Oc- 
tober 15.  1872,  and  married  William  Kraft,  of 
Laufen  O.  A.  Heilbrom,  Wurttemberg,  Ger- 
many, April  20,  1874;  and  (6)  Louis  Christian, 
our  subject.  The  father  of  this  family  died 
November  19,  1892;  the  mother  is  still  living. 

Louis  Feierabend,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  review,  learned  the  comb-making  business 
with  his  father,  but  afterward  took  up  butcher- 
ing as  an  occupation,  following  same  for  two 
years  in  Germany.  On  September  i,  1868, 
he  came  to  the  United  States  and  located  in 
Poughkeepsie,  where  he  had  an  aunt  living. 
Here  he  worked  for  various  persons  in  the 
butchering  business  until  May  i,  1874,  when 
he  started  a  meat  market  of  his  own,  on  the 
corner  of  Jefferson  and  Church  streets.  As  a 
partner  in  the  concern    he  received    William 


M 


328 


COMMEMORATTYE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Kraft,  which  connection  lasted  until  1877, 
when  Mr.  Feierabend  took  entire  charge.  In 
1 88 1  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Charles 
Haberman,  which  continued  for  four  years. 
His  present  partner  is  William  Knauss,  and 
the  firm  is  well  known  as  an  enterprising  and 
reliable  one.  They  do  a  large  retail  business 
in  meats  of  all  kind,  also  some  wholesaling. 

On  May  6,  1874,  Mr.  Feierabend  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Miller, 
of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  daughter  of  Valentine 
Miller,  and  four  children  blessed  their  union'. 
Peter  C,  born  August  29,  1875,  died  July  8, 
1896;  Louis  Frederick,  born  July  22,  1877; 
William  Henry,  born  June  11,  1882;  and 
Louisa  Elizabeth,  born  March  29,  1885.  Mr. 
Feierabend  has  been  very  successful,  finan- 
cially, and  owes  his  prosperity  solely  to  his 
own  hard  work  and  good  management.  He 
came  here  a  poor  young  man,  working  at  first 
for  eight  dollars  a  month;  to-day  he  is  the 
owner  of  a  good  business,  and  much  valuable 
property,  comprising  his  brick  business  block 
and  handsome  brick  residence,  two  stores  ad- 
joining his  meat  market;  and  two  tenement 
houses  on  Jefferson  street.  He  stands  high  in 
business  circles,  and  is  popular  with  all  classes 
of  people.  In  politics  he  has  always  been  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  in  religious  faith  is  a 
member  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church,  in 
which  he  has  been  a  trustee  for  ten  years.  As 
a  loyal  citizen  he  takes  an  active  interest  in  all 
matters  of  public  improvements,  and  what- 
ever is  projected,  tending  to  the  welfare  of  the 
city  and  county,  receives  his  ready  support. 


lEV.  EDWARD  J.  CONROY,  pastor  of 
St.  Mary's  Church,  Poughkeepsie,  Dutch- 
ess county,  was  born  July  10,  1853,  in  New 
York  City.  His  primary  studies  were  made  in 
St.  Bridget's  Parochial  school,  and  his  gram- 
mar course  in  the  old  school  on  West  24th 
street,  and  in  the  new  school  house  on  West 
20th  street.  In  1866  he  entered  St.  Francis 
Xaviers  College,  West  15th  street,  and  after  a 
full  collegiate  course  graduated  in  1873. 

On  October  4,  1873,  our  subject  sailed  for 
Europe  on  the  Cunarder  "Batavia,"  and  No- 
vember 5th  entered  the  American  College,  at 
Rome,  Italy,  where,  after  attending  the  lec- 
tures in  the  Propaganda  four  years,  he  was 
raised  to  the  priesthood  May  26,  1877.  After 
several  months  "  doing"  Europe,  he  returned 


to    America   on    the    then    crack    Cunarder, 
"  Russia." 

Rev.  Father  Conroy's  first  missionary  work 
was  in  the  Cathedral  on  Mott  street,  New  York 
(now  St.  Patrick's  Church),  and  after  filling, 
temporarily,  a  few  missions  was  assigned  per- 
manently to  St.  Michael's  Church,  West  32nd 
street,  under  the  charge  of  Rev.  Arthur  J. 
Donnelly,  afterward  the  vicar-general.  After 
three  years'  duty  in  St.  Michael's,  Father  Con- 
roy  was  assigned  to  St.  Monica's,  East  79th 
street,  at  that  time  a  new  parish  under  the 
charge  of  Rev.  James  J.  Dougherty,  LL.  D, 
Almost  ten  years  were  spent  by  him  in  this 
new  field  of  labor,  when  he  was  assigned  to 
the  rectorship  of  the  Church  of  St.  Francis  ol 
Assissi,  Mt.  Kisco,  N.  Y.  After  the  comple- 
tion of  the  church  building,  which  was  effected 
in  five  months,  he  was  transferred  to  the 
charge  of  St.  Joseph's  Church,  Kingston,  N.  Y. 
Three  years  were  spent  by  him  in  the  spiritual 
and  temporal  labor  of  that  parish,  about  the 
end  of  which  time  he  received  word  to  take  up 
his  present  charge,  and  finish  the  new  church 
building  that  had  been  commenced  under  the 
administration  of  Father  Earley. 

The  congregation  of  St.  Mary's  was  organ- 
ized in  1873,  when  the  edifice  on  Cannon 
street,  for  many  years  occupied  by  the  Univer- 
salists,  was  purchased.  This  building,  now 
torn  down,  was  erected  by  the  Presbyterians  in 
1826.  The  building  was  purchased  for  the 
Catholics  by  the  Rev.  Patrick  F.  McSweeny, 
D.  D.,  then  pastor  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  of 
this  city,  now  pastor  of  St.  Brigid's  Church, 
New  York  City. 

The  first  pastor  of  St.  Mary's  was  the  Rev. 
Edward  McSweeny,  D.  D.,  now  of  Mount  St. 
Mary's  College,  Emmittsburg,  Maryland.  The 
old  building  was  dedicated  by  His  Grace  Arch- 
bishop (afterward  Cardinal)  McCloskey.  The 
clergymen  who  assisted  the  Archbishop  were 
Rev.  John  M.  Farley,  his  secretary,  now  assist- 
ant Bishop  and  Vicar-General  of  the  Archdio- 
cese of  New  York;  Rev.  Edward  McGlynn,  D. 
D.,  then  of  St.  Stephen's  Church,  New  York; 
Rev.  R.  L.  Burtsell,  D.  D.,  now  of  Rondout; 
Rev.  P.  F.  McSweeny,  D.  D.;  Rev.  Edward 
McSweeny.  D.  D.;  Rev.  J.  C.  McSweeny; 
Rev.  Patrick  Rigney;  and  Rev.  Fathers  Shee- 
han  and  Briody. 

In  1879,  all  the  church  property  belonging 
to  St.  Mary's  was  transferred  by  the  Archbishop 
to  a  corporation,  consisting  of  the  Archbishop, 
his  Vicar  General,  the  pastor,  and  two  laymen. 


C-   ^i2^,2XZ«'7'--^C__^L)( 


^ 


* 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


829 


In  1880,  the  pastor,  Rev.  Edward  McSweeny, 
being  absent  in  Europe,  the  Rev.  Michael  Mc- 
Swiggan,  then  acting  pastor  of  St.  Mary's,  su- 
perintended  the  erection   of  a   new  parochial 
school,  on  South  Hamilton  street,  which  was 
opened  in   September  of  that  year,  with  one 
hundred  pupils.      Up  to  the    year  1881,   the 
pastor  had  no  regular  assistant.      In  that  year, 
the  Rev.  John  B.  Creeden,  now  pastor  at  Sing 
Sing,  began  his  mission  in  the   priesthood  as 
the  first   assistant  pastor  of  St.    Mary's.      In 
1883,  the  Decennial  was  celebrated,  and  it  was 
then,   after    ten  years   of  steady  growth,  and 
prosperity,  that   the  nucleus  for  a  new  edifice 
was  commenced.      In   1885,  the  Rev.  Edward 
McSweeny  resigned  from  parish  work  to  accept 
a  professorship  in  Mt.  St.  Mary's  College,  Em- 
mittsburg,  where  he  has  since   been,  with  the 
exception  of  a    short    time   spent  in  St.  Paul, 
Minnesota.     Then  came    the   Rev.    Cornelius 
Donovan  (since  deceased),  who  acted  as  pastor 
for  a  short  time.      On  May  13,   1887,  the  third 
pastor  of  St.    Mary's  was   appointed,  the  Rev. 
Terence  J.  Earley.     It  was  under  the  adminis- 
tration of  Father  Earley  that  the  present  new 
edifice  was  begun.      He  labored  for  four  years 
with  incessant  industry,  and  was  then  promoted 
to  the  charge  of  the  parish   of  St.    Peter's,  at 
New  Brighton,  Staten  Island. 

The  present  pastor,  the  Rev.  Edward  J. 
Conroy,  whose  portrait  appears  here,  was  ap- 
pointed pastor  of  St.  Mary's,  on  April  23,  1891, 
and  under  his  management  the  work  of  com- 
pleting the  new  church  edifice  has  been  brought 
to  its  present  satisfactory  state.  Thus,  after 
a  quarter  of  a  century,  the  congregation  of  St. 
Mary's  takes  possession  of  one  of  the  hand- 
somest church  edifices  in  the  city. 

The  general  design  of  the  building  is  of  the 
Gothic  order,  of  the  simple  rather  than  the 
ornate  style.  The  principal  fa(,ade  is  faced 
with  Indiana  limestone,  treated  in  the  rock- 
'  faced  order,  with  just  sufficient  dressed  stone 
trimming  to  relieve  the  monotony  of  the  gen- 
eral rough  stone.  The  front  has  been  extended 
to  embrace  porch  and  tower  entrances,  and 
from  the  tower  access  to  the  organ  and  choir 
gallery  is  had  by  means  of  a  solid  ash  staircase, 
trimmed  in  cherry.  On  the  choir  level,  or  second 
floor  of  porch,  is  a  choir  meeting  room,  lighted 
by  a  system  of  small  Gothic  windows  which  ex- 
tend continuously  across  the  entire  front.  The 
ceilings  of  the  porches,  tower,  and  under  side 
^i  organ  gallery  have  been  finished  in  the  old 
t-nglish  style  of  exposed  rafter  and  deep  panel- 


work.  The  main  church  ceiling  has  been 
treated  in  the  open-work  type  of  truss,  the  sur- 
faces between  trusses  laid  off  in  deep  panels, 
diagonally  sheathed  and  heavily  molded.  Each 
truss  is  finished  with  cherry-molded  tracery 
work,  and  bracketed  cornice.  The  aisle  ceil- 
ings are  treated  to  match  main  roof,  but  of  a 
more  simple  style.  The  entire  body  of  the 
church  has  been  wainscoted  nearly  six  feet 
high  with  Gothic  panel  work,  in  combination 
of  cherry  and  white  wood,  with  neat  molded 
capping  and  base.  The  columns  are  wains- 
coted to  match  the  walls,  as  also  the  face  of 
the  gallery.  The  entire  floor  surface  of  the 
church  has  been  laid,  first  with  one  and  one- 
eighth-inch  white  pine  flooring,  and  on  top  of 
this  a  two-inch  thick  floor  of  the  best  clear 
long-leaf,  comb-grain  Georgia  pine. 

The  plaster  work  of  the  church  is  one  of  its 
principal  merits.      It  is  done  in  a  pearl  gray 
tint  stucco   plaster,  tracery  moldings  over  all 
windows  and  other  openings,  as  well  as  over 
the  interior  arches.     The  iron  columns  were 
first  encased  in    fire-proof   clay  tile,  and  the 
finished    plaster    work    then    applied.       Each 
column  is  surmounted  by  an  ornate  Corinthian 
capital,    from    which    the    clere-story    arches 
spring  in  succession.      Owing  to  the  large  num- 
ber and  size  of  the  windows,   it  was  deemed 
advisable  not   to   assume  the  expense  at  this 
time  of  ornamental  figured  windows  in  leaded 
glass  work,  and  for  this  economic   reason  the 
windows  have  been    temporarily  glazed   with 
plain  amber-tinted  glass  of  several  shades,  the 
foliated  tracery  work  of  the  upper  parts  being 
treated  in  brighter  color  effects.      The  building 
is  heated    by  steam    by  means   of   handsome 
radiators.      The  gas  fixtures,  of  polished  brass, 
are  very  handsome,  and  the  gas  is  lighted  from 
an  electric   battery  placed  under  the  gallery. 
Any  required  number  of  the  fixtures  may  be 
lighted,   one,  a  dozen,  or  the  entire   comple- 
ment, as  may  be  desired — by  a  simple  turn  of 
the  battery  crank.      There  are  over  three  hun- 
dred lights  in  the  church.    Taken  in  its  entirety, 
the  Church  of  St.  Mary's,  so  near  to  completion, 
is  a  grand  tribute  to   the  untiring   zeal    and 
ability  of  its  pastor.  Rev.   Edward  J.  Conroy. 


QTEPHEN  A.  PERKINS,  a  well-known 
>^  merchant,  holds  a  leading  place  among  the 
enterprising  and  prom.inent  men  of  Poughkeep- 
sie,  where  his  birth  occurred  May  i,  1846, 
having  always  identified  himself  with  its  inter- 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ests.  He  belongs  to  a  family  of  English  or- 
igin, whose  members  mostly  belonged  to  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, Warren  Perkins,  was  a  farmer  of  the 
town  of  New  Paltz,  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  and 
his  family  included  two  sons:  Alexander  W., 
the  father  of  our  subject;  and  Stephen,  a  car- 
riage maker,  of  Washington,   Pennsylvania. 

The  former  was  born  March  i,  1818,  upon 
a  farm  in  the  town  of  New  Paltz,  Ulster  coun- 
ty, where  the  first  seventeen  or  eighteen  years 
of  his  life  were  passed.  He  then  came  to  the 
town  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  and 
entered  into  agricultural  pursuits,  which  he 
has  followed,  with  very  few  years  exception, 
his  entire  life;  he  has  held  several  town  offices. 
He  enjoys  in  a  marked  degree  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  his  neighbors;  his  vote  al- 
ways being  cast  with  the  Democratic  party. 
He  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife,  the 
mother  of  Stephen  A.  Perkins,  was  in  her 
maidenhood  Miss  Rebecca  M.  Ackerley,  a  na- 
tive of  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie,  where  her 
father,  Lemuel  Ackerley,  engaged  in  farming. 
She  was  of  English  lineage,  and  was  called  to 
her  rew&rd  in  1856.  By  her  marriage  she  be- 
came the  mother  of  six  children:  Jacob  A.,  a 
business  man  of  Poughkeepsie,  who  is  inter- 
ested with  our  subject  in  the  ice  business;  Syl- 
vester, who  was  a  carpenter,  of  Pine  Plains, 
Dutchess  county,  and  died  in  November,  1893; 
Stephen  A.,  of  this  sketch;  Jane  A.,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  J.  L.  Donaldson,  of  Ulster 
county,  who  died  in  March,  1894;  Elizabeth 
H.,  who  died  unmarried;  and  William  J.,  a 
resident  of  Poughkeepsie,  who  is  interested 
with  our  subject  in  the  coal  business. 

Upon  a  farm  about  three  miles  outside  the 
city  limits  of  Poughkeepsie,  Stephen  A.  Per- 
kins grew  to  mg^nhood,  attending  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  the  neighborhood,  and  finished 
his  education  at  the  Dutchess  County  Acad- 
emy. For  one  year  he  was  then  employed  as 
teacher  of  a  district  school,  after  which  be 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  following  that 
occupation  for  about  five  years.  He  next  be- 
came connected  with  the  Poughkeepsie  & 
Eastern  railroad,  serving  in  a  number  of  differ- 
ent capacities  for  about  eighteen  years.  In 
1888,  in  connection  with  his  brother  Jacob  A., 
he  entered  into  the  ice  business,  leasing  the 
Morgan  Lake.  He  conducted  this  business 
very  successfully  and  made  many  friends  for 
himself  and  brother.  In  May,  1894,  he  formed 
a  co-partnership  with    his  brother,  William  J. 


Perkins,  and  Herman  King  in  the  coal  trade, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Perkins,  King  &  Co. 
They  now  do  a  flourishing  business,  their 
courteous  treatment  of  customers,  and  upright, 
honorable  dealings,  having  won  them  a  liberal 
patronage. 

In  1875  ^^tr-  Perkins  was  married,  the  lady 
of  his  choice  being  Miss  Charlotte  Holmes, 
who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley, 
Dutchess  county,  and  is  a  daughter  of  George 
Holmes,  also  a  native  of  that  county,  and  a 
farmer  and  merchant  by  occupation.  He  died 
about  1886.  One  child  blesses  the  union  of 
our  subject  and  his  wife:  Bertram  R.,  who  is 
now  a  dentist  by  profession.  They  are  mem- 
bers and  contribute  to  the  support  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  while  socially,  Mr.  Perkins 
is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  Order, 
and  politically  votes  the  Democratic  ticket. 


SAMUEL  HILTON  AMBLER,  who  is  nowl 
^  practically  living  retired  in  the  village  of 
Stissing,  Dutchess  county,  was  for  a.  quarter  of 
a  century  a  prominent  merchant  of  the  place. 
The  Ambler  family,   of  which  he  is  a  worthy 
representative,  was  founded  in  America  durins; 
its  early  history.     The  first  to  locate  in  New 
England  was  Richard  Ambler,  who  was  borr 
in  Somersetshire,  England,  in    1609,  and  wa? 
one    of    twenty-four    men    who  organized  the 
town   of  Watertown,   Conn.,  taking  deed  foi 
the  same  from  the  Indians,   and  he  became  ; 
leading  resident  of  that  town.      He  was  twicf 
married,  and  became  the  father  of   three  chil 
dren:  Sarah,  Abram  and  Abraham.      Hisdeatl 
occurred  in    1699.      Of  his  family,   Abraham; 
who  was  a  Baptist  minister  in  Bedford,  Conn.  I 
was  born  in  1642,  and  he  was  also  twice  mar 
ried,  his  union  with  Mary   Bates   being  ceie 
brated  in  1662;  they  made  their  home  in  Stam 
ford.  Conn.     Their  son  John  was  born  in  i668j 
and  in  his  family  were  three  children:    John 
Stephen  and  Martha.     The  birth  of  John  Anj 
bier,    of    this    family,    occurred  at    Stamforc 
Conn.,  in  1695,  and  he  became  a  resident  c 
Danbury,   in  the  same  State,  where  he  diec 
By  his  will  he  bequeathed  his  gun  and  swor' 
to  his  only  son,  John.      He  was  the  father  ( 
seven  children:  John,  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Mar 
Martha,  Anna  and  Rachel.      The  only  son  w< 
born  in  1733,  and  died  October  21,  1814.    E 
his  marriage  with  Huldah  Fairchild  he  had  eigl 
children:       Peter,    Squire,    Stephen,     Gilea' 
Diodote,    Silas,    Huldah  and   Deborah.      TI 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


831 


father  of  these  was  sergeant  of  a  company  of 
lOO  men  raised  in  Danbury,  May  17,  1775, 
which  joined  the  6th  regiment,  commanded  by 
Col.  David  Waterbury. 

Peter  Ambler,  of  the  above  family,  was  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject.  He  was  born  at 
Danbury,  Conn.,  September  20,  1759,  and 
there  continued  to  engage  in  farming  through- 
out life,  owning  the  land  on  which  the  Dan- 
bury fair  is  now  held.  During  the  Revolution- 
'  ary  war  he  served  as  artificer  in  the  Colonial 
army,  and  later  took  a  prominent  part  in  pub- 
lic affairs,  being  a  member  of  the  State  Legis- 
lature for  one  term.  He  held  membership 
v;ith  the  Baptist  Church,  in  which  he  served 
as  deacon,  and  died  in  that  faith  March  7, 
1836.  On  October  21,  1784,  he  had  married 
Miss  Hannah  Shove,  who  was  born  October 
27,  1 76 1,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Deacon 
Benjamin  and  Sarah  Shove,  and  their  family 
included  the  following  children:  Fairchild, 
Benjamin,  David,  Thomas,  Joseph,  Silas, 
Sarah,  Rachel  and  Hannah.  The  mother  of 
these  died  April  22,  1843. 

Rev.  Silas  Ambler,  Baptist  minister,  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  at  Danbury,  Conn., 
March  12,  1798.  He  was  married  August  29, 
1822,  to  Miss  Eunice  D.  Olmstead,  who  was 
born  October  28,  1800,  at  Wilton,  Conn.,  and 
died  October  3,  1892,  at  Stanford,  N.  Y. 
They  had  a  family  of  seven  children:  Samuel 
H.,  our  subject;  Mary  E.,  who  makes  her 
home  in  Greene  county,  N.  Y. ,  is  the  widow 
of  Ezekial  Griffin;  Augustus,  born  April  19, 
1829,  died  April  22,  1852;  Catherine,  born 
May  23,  1 83 1,  is  the  widow  of  Levi  Boyce,  of 
Greeneville,  N.  Y. ;  Sarah,  born  January  31, 
1835,  's  the  wife  of  Henry  Knickerbocker,  of 
Bangall,  N.  Y. ;  Emeline,  who  was  born  April 
6,  1837,  ^nd  died  April  3,  1869,  was  the  wife 
of  Charles  Sheldon,  now  deceased;  and  John 
P.,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere.  The 
father  was  for  a  time  a  minister  in  the  Baptist 
Church,  having  charge  of  congregations  at 
Cornwall  and  Norfolk,  Conn.,  but  in  1840,  on 
iccount  of  ill  health,  he  gave  up  preaching  and 
■ocated  upon  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Stanford, 
Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  near  Stissing,  which  is 
now  owned  by  our  subject.  He  there  spent 
his  remaining  days,  dying  November  22,  1857, 
honored  and  respected  by  all. 

The  birth  of  Mr.  Ambler,  the  subject  of 
this  review,  occurred  at  Danbury,  Fairfield 
Co.,  Conn. ,  June  3,  1824,  but  most  of  his  early 

te  was  passed  at  Norfolk,  in  the  same  State, 
L 


where  he  attended  school  and  remained  a 
member  of  the  parental  household  until  his 
marriage,  March  20,  185 1,  in  the  town  of 
Stanford,  Dutchess  county,  to  Miss  Olive 
Boyce,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Olive  (Morse) 
Boyce.  To  our  subject  and  wife  have  come 
the  following  children:  Franklin  A.,  born  De- 
cember 31,  1856,  died  at  San  Jose,  Cal.,  June 
11,  1884;  he  had  married  Hattie  Vassar 
(daughter  of  John  E.  Vassar),  by  whom  he 
had  two  children — Alice  May  and  Edward 
Vassar.  Emma  D.  was  born  May  20,  1858. 
Asa  T. ,  born  March  i,  i860,  wedded  Mary 
Deuell,  and  they  have  two  children — Chester 
Franklin  and  Olive  Martha.  Charles,  born 
February  2,  1864,  married  Elizabeth  Vande- 
water.  Alfred  Silas,  born  November  25, 1867, 
is  now  the  medical  superintendent  of  the 
Kingston  Avenue  Hospital,  at  Brooklyn,  New 
York. 

For  twenty  years  after  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Ambler  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  but  in 
1870  he  sold  his  farm,  as  he  had  been  ap- 
pointed agent  on  the  N.  D.  &  C.  R.  R.,  and 
erected  a  store  building  at  Stissing,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  general  merchandising  for 
twenty-five  years,  which  store  is  now  con- 
ducted by  his  sons,  Charles  and  Asa  T. 
was  made  postmaster  of  the  village,  and 
served  as  agent  for  the  P.  &  E.  R.  R. 
politics,  Mr.  Ambler  casts  his  ballot  is  support 
of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  has  held  the  office  of  excise  commis- 
sioner. For  forty  years  he  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  at  Bangall,  and  his 
genial,  social  nature  makes  him  a  popular 
citizen. 


He 

also 
In 


It  LFRED  ALLENDORF  (deceased)  was 
^k^  born  September  17,  1829,  a  son  of  Philip 
and  Elizabeth  (Stickle)  Allendorf,  prosperous 
farming  people  of  the  town  of  Red  Hook, 
Dutchess  county. 

After  completing  his  literary  education  Mr. 
Allendorf  began  his  mercantile  career  as  a 
clerk,  and  gradually  worked  his  way  upward. 
At  the  close  of  a  few  years  of  preparatory 
labor  in  this  line,  he  left  the  firm  by  whom  he 
was  employed,  and  established  a  general  mer- 
chandise store  at  Upper  Red  Hook,  which 
they  conducted  some  three  years,  then  coming 
to  Red  Hook,  they  opened  a  store  under  the 
firm  name  of  Conkling  &  Allendorf,  which  ven- 
ture proved  highly   successful.     Through  hon- 


832 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


i 


orable  and  upright  dealing  they  soon  gained 
the  confidence  of  the  public,  which  they  suc- 
ceeded in  holding  for  over  twenty  years,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  the  partnership  was  dis- 
solved, Mr.  Allendorf  taking  the  store  and  Mr. 
Conkling  the  lumber  and  coal  business. 

On  October  ii,  1854,  our  subject  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Catherine  A.  Shook,  who  was 
born  July  6,  1830,  at  the  old  homestead  of  the 
Shook  family,  where  her  father  was  engaged 
in  farming.  Two  daughters  blessed  this  union: 
(i)  Nellie  S.,  born  at  Red  Hook,  February  28, 
1856,  who  became  the  wife  of  Silas  S.  Schoon- 
maker,  October  30,  1878,  and  they  now  re- 
side at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ;  they  have  one 
child — A.  Allendorf,  born  January  14,  1880. 
(2)  Fannie  L. ,  born  at  Red  Hook,  April  27, 
i860,  married  Charles  B.  Hoffman,  and  they 
have  two  children — Bessie  C,  born  November 
II,  1 881;  andE.  Marjorie,  born  May  15,  1885. 
Mrs.  Schoonmaker  and  Mrs.  Hoffman  received 
their  primary  educations  at  the  schools  of  Red 
Hook,  completing  their  studies  at  the  De- 
Garmo  Institute,  Rhinebeck. 

John  Shook,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Allendorf, 
was  also  a  native  of  the  town  of  Red  Hook, 
where  his  entire  life,  was  devoted  to  agricult- 
ural pursuits.  He  wedded  Miss  Nellie  Shoe- 
maker, daughter  of  George  Shoemaker,  of 
Red  Hook,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:     George   Adam,  born  May 

3,  1803,  was  educated  for  the  ministry  of  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church,  at  Carlisle,  but  ow- 
ing to  ill-health  was  prevented  from  accepting 
a  call,  and  died  in  1836;  Anna  Maria,  born 
March  18,  1805,  became  the  wife  of  Moses 
Ring;  Cornelia,  born  June  22,  1807,  married 
Lewis  Elseffer;  Helen,  born  September  20, 
1809,  wedded  Everet  Traver;  Aaron,  born  Sep- 
tember 6,  181 1,  married  Catharine  Cramer; 
Gertrude  C,  born  December  21,  181 3,  re- 
mained single;  Walter,  born  April  4,  18 16, 
married  Eliza  A.  Alienford;  Alonzo,  born  May 

4,  1818,  died  in  infancy;  Archibald,  born  July 
24,  1820,  wedded  Elizabeth  Lamoree;  Alex- 
ander, born  October  6,  1822,  married  Clar- 
issa Squires;  John  A.,  born  July  3,  1825,  mar- 
ried Frances  Lathrop;  and  Catherine  A.  (wife 
of  our  subject)  completed  the  family. 

The  integrity  of  Mr.  Allendorf  stands  as 
an  unquestioned  fact  in  his  history — endowed 
by  nature  with  a  sound  judgment  and  an  accu- 
rate, discriminating  mind,  he  did  not  fear  the 
laborious  attention  to  business  so  necessary  to 
achieve  success.     This  essential    quality  was 


ever  guided  by  a  sense  of  right  which  would 
tolerate  the  employment  only  of  the  means 
that  would  bear  the  most  rigid  examination, 
by  a  fairness  of  intention  that  neither  sought 
nor  required  disguise.  He  was  a  thorough 
Christian,  a  devout  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  and  was  prominently  identified  with 
the  Masonic  fraternity  and  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  being  at  the  time  of 
his  death  one  of  the  members  of  Christian 
Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Red  Hook. 


4 


HO 
.1 


ON.  EDWARD  HARRIS  THOMPSON. 
^HL«The  family  of  which  the  subject   of  this 
sketch   is  a  distinguished  representative  orig- 
inated in  England,  where  it  has  held   an  hon 
ored  position  from  an  early  period,  its  coat  of 
arms   bearing  the  motto,    "/«  liiminc  luce'\ 
being  an  interesting  reminder  of  the  olden  time, 
The   head  of  the   American  branch,  Anthony 
Thompson,  came  to  this  country  with  his  wife, 
two  children  and  two  brothers,  John  and  Will- 
iam, in  the  company  of  Governor  Eaton,  Rev. 
Mr.  Davenport  and  others  of  Coventry,   Eng- 
land, arriving  at  Boston,    June   26,    1637,  ac- 
cording  to  Winthrop's   Journal,   or  July  23, 
1637,    as  stated    by    Cotton    Mather.     Like 
many  other  dissenters  from  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land   at    that    day,    they  sought   in  the  New 
World  freedom  to  worship  in  accordance  with 
their  own  faith,    and  relief  from  the    persecu- 
tions   and    burdensome   taxation    which   were 
their  lot  in  their  native  land.     The  party  led  by 
Messrs.  Davenport  and  Eaton  had  a  larger  pro- 
portion of  wealthy  and  energetic  men  than  any 
other  which  had  arrived  up  to  that  time,  and 
several    towns  made    tempting   offers    to  the 
emigrants,  but  it  was  Quinipiac,  or  New  Hav- 
en, that  was  finally  decided  upon  as  a  location. 
Anthony  Thompson  signed   the   Colony  Con- 
stitution June  4,    1639,    and   all  ihe  brothers 
soon   secured   farms    in    the  vicinity.     John's 
estate  at  New  Haven,  where  he  died  Decem- 
ber  II,  1674,  is  said  to  be  still  in  the  posses- 
sion   of  some  of  his  numerous    descendants. 
Anthony  and  William  resided  at   New  Haven. 
Anthony  died  March  23,  1647,  and  left  a  largei 
estate,  which  was  divided  under  his  will  be- 
tween  his  six   children  and   his  second  wife. 
His  original  purchase  and  the  house  thereon 
was  given  to  his  son  John,  and  the  lands  after- 
ward acquired,  to  Anthony,  Jr.,  while  with  the 
exception  of  a  certain   sum    to    his  daughtei 
Bridget,  a  chUd  of  his  first  wife,  on  conditior 


\ 


^c 


CAyC^'- 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


388 


that  she  would  marry  in  accordance  with  the 
wishes  of  the  deacons  of  the  Church,  the  re- 
mainder was  left  to  his  wife,  Catherine,  and 
her  three  daughters.  The  wife's  share  was 
conditional  upon  her  widowhood,  and  as  she 
married  Nicholas  Camp,  July  14,  1652,  it 
probably  reverted  to  this  family.  Anthony, 
Jr.,  made  his  will  December  26,  1682,  while 
on  a  visit  in  Milford,  and  died  three  days 
later.  The  greater  part  of  his  property  was 
left  to  his  brother,  John.  William  Thompson 
was  probably  a  bachelor  as  at  his  death  in 
1682  his  will,  which  was  made  Ocfober  6th  of 
the  same  year,  distributed  his  property  among 
his  relatives,  particular  mention  being  made  of 
his  nephew  John. 

John    Thompson    seems    to  have   been  a 

;ea  captain.      He  died  June   2,  1707,  and  an 

nventory  of  his  estate  is  on  record.     Three 

;hildren  are  named  in  the  registry  of  the  town, 

•\z.:  Mary,  born  September  9,  1667;  Samuel, 

:)orn  May  12,  1669;  and  Sarah,  born  January 

6,  167 1,  but  he  probably  had  two  or  three 

ireviously.      Samuel  was  married,   November 

4,  1695,  to  Rebecca  Bishop,  daughter  of  the 

lieutenant  Governor,  and  lived  at  the  Beaver 

ond,  now  Westville,  about   two  miles   from 

-^w  Haven.      He  was  captain  of  the  military 

ipany  in  New  Haven,  and  must  have  been 

man  of  great  physical  vigor,  as  in  his  eighty- 

cond    year    he    rode    from    New    Haven    to 

oshen,  about  fifty  miles,  on  horseback,  this 

ip   being   among    the    reminiscences    of    his 

andson    Hezekiah,    who    rode   behind    him. 

imuel  died  at  Goshen.      His  children's  names, 

th  dates  of  birth,  are   as  follows:  Samuel, 

ticember    2,    1696;    James,    June    5,    1699; 

nos,  March  3,  1702;  Gideon,  December  25, 

04;    Rebecca,    February  23,    1708;    Judah, 

ne    10,  1 7 10  (died  August   5,  1712);  Judah 

U|i|i  October  5,  17 13;  and  Enos,  August   18, 

^■ft.     Most  of   this  family   lived  to   an  ad- 

^|Bed  age,  and  some  settled  in  what  is  now 

^■Bown  of  Stanford,  Dutchess  county,  others 

^BKonnecticut.      Samuel  located  on  the  east 

^|Lof  the  town  of    Stanford,   near   Federal 

^Pb,  and  in  1785  he,  or  Ezra  [Enos.'],  built 

■  'rick  house,  which  has  been  occupied  by  the 

ily  ever  since.      In  1783  his  son  Caleb  built 

rick  house    in   the    same   locality.     James 

:)mpson  died  in    1737,  as  a  result  of  a  fall 

f  m  a  cherry   tree,   and   his  son,  Hezekiah, 

n   two   years    old,   was    placed    under  the 

rdianship  of  his   uncle   Enos,   who  bound 

'  out  at  the  age  of  fourteen  to  learn  the 


saddler's  trade.  The  boy  had  higher  ambi- 
tions, however,  and,  as  soon  as  he  could, 
began  the  study  of  law  at  Woodbury,  where 
he  rose  to  prominence  in  the  profession  and 
built  himself  a  stately  residence.  He  died  in 
March,  1803,  leaving* two  sons:  William,  who 
lived  in  Sullivan  county,  N.  Y.,  was  the  first 
judge  of  that  county,  and  died  December  9, 
1847;  and  John,  an  Episcopal  clergyman  at 
New  Durham,  Greene  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  died 
August  4,  1864. 

Amos  Thompson  settled  near  Thompson's 
Pond,  now  Hunn's  Lake,  in  the  town  of  Stan- 
ford, Dutchess  county,  about  1746.  He  and 
his  wife  Sarah  (Allen),  whom  he  wedded  in 
1726,  had  seven  children:  Allen,  born  in 
1727;  Rebecca,  in  1729;  Amos,  in  i73i:Ezra, 
in  1734;  Sarah,  Eunice  and  Mary.  Allen 
died  soon  after  the  removal  to  Dutchess  county. 
Amos  was  educated  at  a  college  in  New  Jersey, 
and  became  a  Presbyterian  minister,  locating 
first  at  North  Canaan,  Conn.,  and  later  in 
Loudoun  county,  Va.,  where  he  died  in  1804. 
He  married  Miss  Jane  Evans,  of  Maryland. 

Gideon  Thompson  lived  at  Goshen,  Conn. 
Rebecca  married  Mr.  Austin,  of  New  Haven, 
and  had  a  son,  Deacon  Austin,  who  became  a 
citizen  of  that  place.  Judah  (2d )  probably  liv.ed 
and  died  in  New  Haven.  Enos  had  a  son. 
Smith  Thompson,  who  became  a  judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  and  later 
was  secretary  of  the  navy.  Enos  Thompson 
Throop,  a  grandson  of  Enos,  was  governor  of 
New  York  State  and  charge  d' affairs  at  Naples. 

Amos  Thompson,  born  in  1731,  married 
Mary  Smith,  of  Sufifield,  Conn.  Asa  Allen 
John,  their  son,  born  January  12,  1760,  married 
Mary  Knap,  January  19,  1783,  and  died  May 
28,  1 81 3.  Their  son,  Allen  Thompson,  our 
subject's  grandfather,  was  born  August  10, 
1783,  on  the  old  homestead  at  Thompson's 
Pond,  now  known  as  Hunn's  Lake,  in  the  town 
of  Stanford,  and  passed  a  considerable  portion 
of  his  life  there,  following  his  chosen  work  of 
farming,  in  which  he  was  unusually  successful. 
In  later  life  (in  1825)  he  moved  to  a  farm  in 
the  town  of  Pine  Plains,  now  occupied  by  C. 
C.  More,  where  he  died  May  20,  1849.  His 
wife,  Eliza  (Pugsley),  to  whom  he  was  married 
March  18,  i8o6,  died  December  29,  i86i. 
They  had  five  children,  whose  names,  with 
dates  of  birth,  are  here  given:  Edward  P., 
born  February  6,  1807;  John  Allen,  November 
6,  1808;  Cornelius  Allerton,  December  20, 
1 8 10  (died  November   15,    1832);  and  Corne- 


884 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


lius,  March  lo,  1824.  John  Allen  Thompson, 
our  subject's  father,  was  born  at  Thompson's 
Pond,  but  his  Hfe  was  spent  mainly  in  the  town 
of  Pine  Plains,  Dutchess  county,  where  he 
owned  a  farm  of  120  acres  southwest  of  the 
village  of  Pine  Plains.  From  a  business  stand- 
point, he  was  very  successful,  accumulating  a 
fine  property,  and  he  was  also  prominent  and 
influential  in  local  affairs.  He  was  a  leading 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  holding 
office  for  many  years;  but  he  never  sought  or 
held  political  place,  although  he  supported 
stanchly  the  principles  of  the  Whig  party  in 
early  life,  and  later  espoused  with  equal  ear- 
nestness the  Republican  faith.  An  earnest 
student  of  his  times,  he  was  well-informed  on 
all  the  topics  of  general  interest.  On  May  9, 
1855,  he  was  married  to  Lucy  Ann  Viele,  a 
member  of  one  of  the  most  prominent  families 
of  Washington  county,  N.  Y. ,  and  her  father, 
Stephen  L.  Viele,  was  a  member  of  the  State 
Assembly  in  1836.   . 

The  subject  of  the  sketch,  the  only  son  of 
this  marriage,  was  born  at  Pine  Plains,  Sep- 
tember 25,  1856,  and  was  educated  at  the 
Hudson  Academy.  In  1882  he  entered  the 
Millerton  National  Bank  as  bookkeeper,  George 
S.  Frink  being  president,  and  William  M. 
Dales,  cashier.  On  the  death  of  the  latter  in 
1883,  Mr.  Thompson  was  elected  to  the  vacant 
position,  and  in  1886  he  was  chosen  president, 
which  office  he  held  until  1895.  On  June  9, 
1886,  he  married  Rachel  Irene  Carpenter, 
daughter  of  Hon.  Edmund  T.  Carpenter,  who 
was  mayor  of  Hudson  City,  N.  J.  They  have 
had  three  children:  Harry  Scott,  Lucy  Irene, 
and  John  Allen. 

Mr.  Thompson  is  a  man  of  fine  physique 
and  great  industry.  His  energy  and  ability 
have  not  been  confined  to  business  life,  his 
success  there,  combined  with  his  high  reputa- 
tion for  integrity,  winning  him  the  confidence 
of  the  people,  and  leading  to  his  election  on  the 
Republican  ticket  to  various  positions  of  pub- 
lic trust  and  responsibility.  His  interest  in 
local  movements  has  always  been  recognized  as 
a  strong  influence  for  progress,  and  E.  H. 
Thompson  Hose  Co.  was  named  in  his  honor. 
He  was  a  trustee  of  the  village  for  five  years, 
and  was  its  president  at  the  time  for  the  build- 
ing of  the  water  works  of  which  he  was  one  of 
the  chief  promoters.  In  1892  he  was  elected 
supervisor  of  the  town  without  opposition,  and 
in  the  same  year  he  was  chosen  to  represent 
the  first  district  of  Dutchess  county  in  the  As- 


sembly by  419  plurality  over  James  H.  Rus- 
sell,   Democrat,  and   Tiel,  Prohibitionist.      In 
1893  Mr.  Thompson  submitted  to  the  Assem- 
bly a  bill  amending  the  charter  of  the  city  of 
Poughkeepsie,  and  one  relating  to  the  Mattea- 
wan  State  Hospital  for  Insane  Criminals.     On 
returning  to  the  Assembly  in  1894,  having  been 
re-elected  in  1893,  by  a  plurality  01843  over 
Oakly  I.  Norris,  Democrat,  and  V.  M.  Buck, 
Prohibitionist,  he  was  appointed  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  Banks  and  a  member  of  the 
committee    on    Railroads,  and  the  committee 
on  Charitable  and  Religious  Societies.     Thai 
year  he  introduced  a  bill  amending  the  bank- 
ing law,  and  one  incorporating  the  Poughkeep- 
sie and  Wappinger  Falls  Electric  Railway  Co 
He    was  again  re-elected    in    1894,    receiving 
4,692   votes    against   3,418    cast    for    S.    M 
Davidson,  Democrat,  and  210  for  C.  N.  Nich 
ols.  Prohibitionist.     In  1895  he  was  chairmai 
of  the  committee  on  Commerce   and  Naviga- 
tion, and  a  member  of  three  important  com 
mittees — on  Ways  and  Means,  on  Banks  ano 
on  Military  Affairs.     In   1895  Mr.  Tbompsoi 
introduced  a  bill  largely  increasing  the  scoj 
of  investments  of  savings   banks  of  the  Stat 
The  banks  had  for  years  endeavored  to  secu 
such  legislation,  but  failed.      By  his  untiriii 
efforts  the  bill  became  a  law,  and  is  known 
the  "Thompson  Law,"  and  is  highly  regarde 
by  the  banks.     On  May  i,  1896,  Hon.  F. 
Kilburn,  superintendent  of  banks  of  the  Stat 
of  New  York,  appointed  Mr.  Thompson  a  bar 
examiner,  located  in  the  City  of  New  York. 


ARVEY  BRETT,  a  venerable  and  highl 
^_  respected  resident  of  Matteawan,  is  a  di 
scendant  of  one  of  the  oldest  families  of  Dutcl 
ess  county,  being  a  direct  descendant  of  Mai 
ame  Brett,  whose  ability  and  forceful  chara 
ter,  no  less  than  her  extensive  landed  posse 
sions,  made  her  a  leading  figure  among  tl 
early  settlers  of  this  section.  She  was  tl 
only  daughter  and  heir  of  Francis  Rombot 
the  patentee  of  the  Rombout  tract,  which 
ent  was  granted  to  him  October  17,  1685, 
from  whom  the  first  titles  to  lands  in  Fishk 
were  derived  by  the  settlers.  He  was  a  nati 
of  Holland,  and  was  sent  as  supercargo 
New  Amsterdam  (New  York)  by  the  Dut 
East  India  Company.  At  the  expiration  ofl' 
apprenticeship  he  engaged  in  business  in  th 
city  with  Gulian  Verplanck,  forming  a  c^ 
partnership  which  lasted  several  years.     Ip 


bot 

pa 

I  ai 


COMMEMORATirS  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


385 


was  for  several   years  alderman  of  New  York, 

and  mayor  of  that  city  in  1679.      In  Septem- 

I  ber,  1683,  he  married   Mrs.   Helena  Van  Bal- 

'  leu    {ncc   Teller),    whose    first    husband    was 

named  Bogardus.      Only  one  child  graced  this 

union:     Catharyna,    who    was    born    in    New 

York,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  married  Roger 

'I  Brett,  an  Englishman,  and  a  merchant  of  New 

York  City.     A  few   years    later    she    and  her 

husband  took  up   their   residence   in  Fishkill, 

on  lands  which,    after  the  death  of  her  father 

in   1 69 1,  became  her  heritage.     The   precise 

yearol  their  settlement  here  is  not  known;  but 

January    10,    1709,   they    gave    a   joint    bond 

(they  previously  partitioned  the  tract  between 

themselves  so  as    to    hold    it   in   severalty)  to 

iCapt.  Gylob  Shelly,  of  New  York  City,  to  se- 

(cure  payment  of  ;{,399,  6s,  with  which  it  is  be- 

ilieved  they  built  a  dwelling  house  and  a  grist- 

Imill  the   following  year.      The   house,  built  in 

M709,  is  still   standing  in   Matteawan,  in  good 

preservation,    and    is    known    as  the   "Teller 

Mansion."     The  gristmill  was  located  at  the 

inouth  of  the  Fishkill,  on  its  north  bank.      It 

was  the  first  of  its  kind  in  the  town  or  county, 

md   exerted   an    immense    and    beneficial  in- 

luence    on    the    settlements    in    the    locality. 

Jadame  Brett  died  in   1764.     She  had  three 

ons — Francis,  Robert   and    Rivery — and   one 

laughter,  married  to  Jacobus  Depuyster.     Of 

he   sons,     Francis    married     Margaret    Van- 

\  ck,  and  had  two  daughters — Hannah  (mar- 

-d  to   Henry   Schenck),    and    Margaret   (the 

oungest;  married  to   Peter  A.  Schenck) — and 

wo   sons — Theodorus    and    George.      Rivery 

the  youngest   son  of   Mrs.  Brett)  died  at  the 

e  of  seventeen. 

George    Brett,   our  subject's    grandfather, 

^as  born  in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  and  passed 

-  life  there  engaged  in  agriculture.      He  and 

-  wife,     whose    maiden    name    was    Marie 
oper,    were    devout    members    of    the    Re- 

rmed  Dutch  Church,  although  George  had 
his  youth  been  identified  with  fhe  English 
hurch.  Their  children  were:  Deborah  and 
!argaret  (deceasedj,  who  never  married; 
rancis  G.,  the  father  of  our  subject,  and  Sal- 
,  who  married  a  Mr.  Willett,  a  cabinet- 
aker. 

Francis  G.  Brett  was  t>orn  in  the  town  of 
ishkill,  in  1775,  ^"d  for  many  years  operated 
■  mill  at  Matteawan,  belonging  to  the  Brett 
tate.  He  was  a  Whig  in  politics,  and  was 
iuential  in  local  affairs.  His  wife,  Margaret 
impbell,  who  was  born  in  1777,  probably  in 


Dutchess  county,  died  April  9,  1835,  and  Mr. 
Brett's  death  occurred  August  14,  1835.  They 
were  highly  esteemed  among  their  associates, 
and  while  not  members  they  inclined  toward 
the  Reformed  Church.  They  reared  a  family 
of  eight  children:  William,  a  machinist  of  Mat- 
teawan, died  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  James,  also 
a  machinist  (now  deceased),  was  a  resident  of 
Matteawan;  Alfred,  a  silk  dyer,  of  Matteawan, 
passed  away  in  early  manhood;  Harriet  and 
Jane  Ann  (deceased)  did  not  marry;  Harvey, 
our  subject,  is  mentioned  more  fully  below; 
Edgar,  who  died  in  Albany,  was  prominent  in 
religious  work  as  a  member  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  and  in  later  life  was  a  local  preacher; 
Charles  is  a  pattern  maker  in  Newark,  New 
Jersey. 

Harvey  Brett  was  born  January  15,  181 3, 
and  throughout  his  eighty-four  years  he  has 
had  his  home  in  the  beautiful  little  city  of 
Matteawan.  At  an  early  age  he  displayed 
mechanical  ability  of  a  high  order,  and  in  1830 
he  began  to  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade,  which 
he  followed  until  June  28,  1873.  He  then  re- 
tired from  business,  but  his  active  mind  and 
still  vigorous  physique  have  occasionally  found 
congenial  exercise  in  the  creation  of  some 
article  of  use  or  ornament.  He  works  in  all 
kinds  of  metals,  also  in  wood,  some  beautiful 
pieces  of  furniture  in  his  home  giving  evidence 
of  his  skill  in  that  line.  Among  the  choice 
specimens  of  his  works  in  metals  is  an  elegant 
jewel  case  of  copper.  Mr.  Brett  has  always 
taken  an  intelligent  interest  in  public  ques- 
tions, and  in  politics  is  a  Republican.  For 
many  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  M. 
E.  Church.  On  October  10,  1837,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Susan  Colman,  a  native  of  Orange 
county,  N.  Y. ,  a  daughter  of  Abram  Colman, 
a  well-known  resident  of  Orange  county.  She 
passed  away  in  1880,  the  mother  of  four  chil- 
dren: Charles  is  a  merchant  at  Matteawan; 
Abram  died  in  1893;  Wesley  is  employed  with 
his  brother  Charles;  Emily  died  at  the  age  of 
six  years. 

Before  closing  this  sketch  we  give  the 
copies  of  two  original  letters  from  Lord  Corn- 
bury,  governor  of  New  York,  in  possession 
of  Miss  Hannah  Teller,  and  dated  "  New 
York,  I  over  4,  1709,"  the  other  in  the  pos- 
session of  Mrs.  Hannah  Wiltse,  Fishkill  Land- 
ing, and  dated  December  15,  1709. 

Sir: — The  nurse  telling  me  a  boat  was  going  up  to 
you,  I  was  not  willing  to  omit  the  opportunity  of  writing 
to  you,  though  we  have  no  news  here,  only  of  a  great  hat- 
tie  in  Flanders,  where  my  Lord  Marlborough  has  obtained 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHWAL  RECORD. 


a  ureal  victory.  I  expect  to  hear  everyday  of  the  arrival 
i)f  the  \'irj;inia  Fleet,  by  which  I  hope  to  have  news  from 
Enj^land.  In  the  meantime,  I  wish  you  and  Mrs.  Brett  all 
the  health,  happiness  and  .satisfaction  of  a  merry  Christ- 
mas and  liappy  New  Year,  and  am,  sir. 

Your  most  humble  Servant. 

CORNBURY. 
My  service  to  Mrs.  Brett. 


Sir:  -Yours  of  the  0th  of  the  last  came  safely  to  my 
hands,  for  which  I  return  you  thanks.  I  would  have  sent 
an  answer  sooner,  but  I  can't  tind  one  master  of  a  sloop 
that  will  undertake  to  deliver  a  letter.  There  is  no  news 
of  the  fleet,  and  by  wliat  I  liear  from  other  parts,  I  believe 
we  shall  see  no  fleet  this  year;  nor  do  I  yet  know  what  our 
people  here  will  resolve  upon.  I  have  not  yet  heard  one 
line  from  England,  since  my  Lord  Lovelace  arrived.  I 
hope  my  daughter  is  arrived  there  safe  before  this  time. 
I  am  glad  she  did  not  go  with  the  last  fleet,  for  Cai)t.  Rid- 
dle, who  commanded  the  Kalmouth,  in  which  she  mu.st 
have  gone,  was  attacked  by  a  French  man-of-war  of  twenty 
guns,  who  boarded  him,  hut  Riddle  got  clear  of  him  and 
got  safe  into  Plimouth  with  all  his  fleet.  We  have  no 
news  to  entertain  you  with;  as  soon  as  I  have  any  you 
shall  have  it.  I  am  sorry  to  hear  Mrs.  Brett  has  not 
been  well.     I  hope  before  this  time  you  are  all  well. 

I  was  in  hope  before  this  time  I  should  have  seen 
you  or  Mrs.  Brett  here,  where,  with  my  short  commons, 
you  will  always  find  a  most  hearty  welcome.  I  entreat 
you  to  give  my  humble  service  to  Mrs.  Brett,  and  do  me 
the  justice  to  believe  that  I  am,  sir. 

Your  humble  servant, 

CORNBURV. 


E 


^\DWARD    W.   SIMMONS,    of    Millerton, 

one  of    the    most    prominent   citizens  of 

Dutchess  county,  is  distinguished  for  his  ability 
in  educational  work,  and  in  public  affairs,  and 
as  a  lawyer,  his  labors  in  these  widely  different 
lines  being  equally  able  and  effective. 

His  ancestors  for  three  generations  have 
been  farmers  of  that  locality,  his  great-grand- 
father, Peter  Simmons,  having  come  from 
Holland  in  the  eighteenth  century,  and  settled 
in  the  northern  part  of  Dutchess  county,  or 
possibly  in  the  adjoining  portion  of  Columbia 
county.  Nicholas  Simmons,  our  subject's 
grandfather,  was  born  in  Dutchess  county,  and 
although  he  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade  his 
attention  was  mainly  devoted  to  agriculture. 
He  married  Christina  Snyder,  and  th^y  had 
eight  children.  He  and  his'  wife  both  died  in 
1840,  and  their  remains  were  buried  in  Broome 
county,  New  York. 

William  Simmons  was  born  in  Pine  Plains, 
in  17S7,  and  grew  to  manhood  there.  He  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  the  town  of  Northeast  for 
a  time,  until,  in  181 8,  he  moved  to  Ancram, 
Columbia  county,  and  purchased  a  farm  where 
he  lived  for  five  years.  He  then  returned  to 
Northeast,  and  in  1824  settled  on  the  old  Roe 
homestead,  remaining  there  until  1831,  when 
he  rented  a  farm  of  the  Winchell  heirs,  where 


Millerton  now  stands,  subsequently  purchasing 
the  Thomas  Paine  farm,  which  he  sold  in  1 S37. 
In  that  year  he  moved  to  Broome  county,  and 
there  lived   until    1864,   when    he   returned  to 
Millerton  to  end  his  days.      He  was  a  success- 
ful farmer,  and   ranked   among  the  leaders  in 
local  affairs,  holding  various  official  positions. 
He  entered  the  war  of  181 2  as  a  private,  and 
became  a  non-commissioned  officer.     His  wife, 
Clarissa  Roe,    a   lady    of    Scotch    and    Irish 
blood,   whose  parents,   Silas  and  Mercy  (Har- 
vey) Roe,  reared  a  family  of  ten  children :  Uziel, 
Amos,  Alva,  Harvey,  Jeduthan,  Lyman,  Anna, 
Laura,  Clarissa  and  Amanda.     Mrs.  Simmons 
was  killed  September  13,   1827,  by  a  fall  from 
a  wagon;  her  husband  died  February  14,  1868. 
They  had   five  children,    whose    names   withi 
dates  of  birth  are  as  follows:     Harvey  Roe, 
September  29,    18 14;    Edward   W.,   April  14, 
1 8 16;- Julia   (Mrs.   Lewis    Barnes,   of  Broome 
county),    February    5,    18 19;    Amanda    (Mrs. 
Henry  Wheeler,   formerly    of  Amenia,  now  ot 
Morris,    111.),    October    19,    1822;   and  James, 
April  17,  1827,  who  is   now  a  leading  ministe 
of  the  Baptist  Church.      Owing  to  his  motherl 
premature  death  he  was  placed  in  the  care  ol 
his  brother  Edward  at   an   early  age,  and  was 
prepared  for  college  by  him.      He  was  grad* 
uated  from  Brown   University,    also   from  the 
Newton  Theological  Seminary,   at  Rochesterj 
and  has  since  been  given  the  honorary  degree 
of  D.  D.,  by  Brown  University.    His  first  pas- 
torate was  in  Providence,    R.  I.,  and  later  h« 
was  in   charge  of    Churches   in    Indianapolis; 
Philadelphia    and    New    York.      In    1866,  hi 
went  to  New  York   City   as   secretary  of  |^ 
American  Baptist  Home   Mission  Society,  an< 
a  few   years  afterward   was    called   to  Triniti 
Baptist  Church,  on  Fifty-tifth  street.      He  ha 
since  entered  the  service  of  the  Baptist  Publi 
cation  Society  of  Philadelphia,  and  has  charg 
of    their    interests    in    New   York    and    othei 
States.      He  has  been  a  devoted  worker  inthi 
cause  of  Home  Missions,  and  in  the  building  ( 
schools  in  the  Southern  States,  the  institutio 
at   Abilene,   Texas,    known    as  Simmons  Coi 
lege,  having  been  established  through  his  el 
forts. 

Edward  W.  Simmons  was  born  on  the  ol 
farm,  about  one  mile  from  the  village  of  Millei 
ton,  and  with  the  exception  of  a  few  month 
at  the  academy  at  Hudson,  his  schooling  \\c 
limited  to  the  district  schools  of  the  neighboi 
hood.  He  made  the  best  of  his  opportunities 
however,  and  also  studied  diligently  in  privat( 


I 


ly'/4^4A<XHAj^ 


I 


.5i 

V 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


887 


and  in  the  winter  of    1832-33  began   teaching 
at  Lime  Rock,  Conn.      From  that   time  until 
1848  he  followed  this  occupation  with  marked 
success,  his  thorough   mastery  of    the  studies 
through  which   he  had  plodded  without  assist- 
ance enabling  him   to    understand  and  relieve 
the  difficulties  of  his   pupils.      In    1838-39  he 
taught   a    school    of    high    grade   at    Greene, 
Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  from  there  went  to 
Great     Barrington,    Mass.,    and    conducted  a 
large   and   prosperous    school  for   two  years. 
He  then  spent  two  years  at  Sheffield,  Mass., 
teaching  Latin  and  Greek  in  addition   to  the 
higher  English  branches.      His    health  failing, 
he  returned  to   Millerton  in   1843,  and  opened 
a  private  school   with   an  able    assistant,  the 
late  Alexander   Winchell,    who   afterward  be- 
came  eminent    as    a   geologist,    and    was    for 
many  years  a  professor  in  the    University  of 
Michigan.      Mr.   Simmons  spent   the   most  of 
his  time  for  the  next  two  years   in    Broome 
county,  and  in  1851,  his  health  being  restored, 
he  built    the    store   now    occupied    by  James 
Finch,  which  was  the  first  building  erected  in 
Millerton.      He  opened   a  general  store  there, 
vhich    he    conducted     for    twenty-five    years, 
hen  he  transferred  the  business  to  Mr.  Finch, 
vho  had  been  his  clerk  for  fifteen  years. 
^_  Mr.  Simmons  gained  a  practical  knowledge 
■fcurveying  in  his  youth,  and  did  a  great  deal 
HBwork  in  that  line  at  different   times,  and  as 
pMwide  range  of  studies  had  already  included 
ome  reading  on  legal  subjects,  he  was  often 
mployed    in  conveyancing.      The    confidence 
^hich  his  clear  judgment   and  accurate   infor- 
lation  inspired  caused  him  to  be  consulted  more 
nd  more  frequently  upon  general  legal  points, 
nd  upon  the  suggestion  of  Judge  Hogeboom, 
e  engaged  in   the   practice  of  law,  being  ad- 
litted  to  the  bar  in    1867,  while  still   in   mer- 
antile  business.     He  has  been  very  successful, 
as  a  large  number  of  substantial  clients,  and 
as  taken  a  notable  share  in  public  affairs.    He 
as  financial  secretary  of  the  New  York  State 
onstitutional    Convention,  in   1867,  of  which 
liliam  A.  Wheeler  was  president,  and  Samuel 
Tilden,    Horace   Greeley    and    other    well- 
lown  men  were  members.     In  local  affairs  it 
ould  be  difficult  to  enumerate  his  varied  serv- 
es.    He  was  supervisor  for  five  terms,  being 
lairman  of  the   board  during  the  first  year, 
id  he  was  one  of  the  committee  to  go  before 
e  State  board  of  assessors  to  secure  a  reduc- 
'H  in  the   assessment   of    Dutchess  county, 
■eir  action  resulting  in  a  saving  to  the  county 


of  $200,000  in  three  years.  He  has  been  an 
unwearied  advocate  of  good  schools,  and  every 
measure  for  local  improvement  has  found  in 
him  a  champion.  He  was  a  Free-soil  Demo- 
crat in  early  years,  but  voted  for  Fremont  in 
1856,  and  since  that  time  has  been  a  Repub- 
lican. 

On  April  23,  1839,  Mr.  Simmons  was  mar- 
ried to  Harriet  N.  Winchell,  daughter  of  John 
Winchell,  and  had  two  sons:  Alfred,  who  was 
born  November  8,  1842,  and  died  August  6, 
1864;  and  James,  born  in  185 1,  and  died  in 
1853.  Mrs.  Simmons  died  December  29,  1868, 
and  June  16,  1869,  Mr.  Simmons  married 
Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Trowbridge,  ne'e  Mead,  a 
daughter  of  Deacon  John  K.  Mead,  of  Amenia. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church 
for  sixty-three  years;  belongs  to  Webatuck 
Lodge  No.  480,  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  which  he  has 
held  the  office  of  senior  deacon,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  New  York  State  Bar  Association. 
Although  now  eighty-one  years  old,  Mr.  Sim- 
mons enjoys  comparatively  good  health,  and 
attends  daily  to  his  profession. 


JAMES  B.  SIMMONS,  D.  D.  The  subject 
of  this  article  is  a  native  of  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, and  the  youngest  brother  of  Edward 
W.  Simmons.  Exiled  from  home  in  his  early 
boyhood,  Edward  took  him  into  his  own  fam- 
ily to  live,  and  into  his  academy  to  fit  him  for 
college.  Not  only  so,  but  he  admonished  him 
as  a  father,  helped  him  when  in  trouble,  guided 
him  in  counsel,  and,  above  all  else,  led  him 
savingly  to  Christ.  The  two  have  been  greatly 
attached  all  their  lives,  and  for  the  best  of 
reasons. 

The  only  account  we  have  been  able  to  se- 
cure of  James  is  the  following  by  a  Confeder- 
ate soldier  now  residing  in  one  of  the  Gulf 
States.  The  author  of  this  sketch  is  an  emi- 
nent Doctor  of  Divinity,  widely  known  not 
only  throughout  the  United  States,  but  in  other 
lands  also.  Speaking  of  Dr.  Simmons  as  "A 
Foundation  Builder,"  he  says: 

"When  a  small  edifice  or  a  temporary 
structure  is  to  be  erected,  one  man  frequently 
plans,  erects,  completes,  and  uses  the  building. 
But  when  the  great  cathedral  at  Cologne  was 
finished,  the  man  who  had  conceived  the  plan, 
and  laid  the  foundation,  had  lain  in  his  grave 
over  five  centuries.  The  glory  of  the  cathe- 
dral, however,  is  a  sufficient  monument  to  his 
memory.      For  a  large  structure,  there  must 


888 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPniCAL  RECORB. 


be  breadth  of  thought  and  work  in  the  founda- 
tion. Dr.  Simmons  is  pecuUarly  gifted  in  the 
ability  to  plan  wisely,  and  lay  such  broad 
foundations  that  future  generations  may  suc- 
cessfully build  thereon. 

"This  is  illustrated  in  his  work  in  behal/ 
of  Christian  education.  He  does  not  believe 
in  working  for  one  race,  or  one  caste,  or  one 
section,  but  has  distributed  his  labors  to  differ- 
ent races  and  different  sections,  and  made 
them  so  broad  that  the  capstone  must  of  ne- 
cessity be  laid  long  after  the  founder  has  ceased 
to  live  on  the  earth. 

"  Under  his  wise  administration,  as  Corres- 
ponding Secretary  of  the  American  Baptist 
Home  Mission  Society,  locations  were  secured 
for  seven  Christian  schools  for  the  negroes  of 
the  South;  one  each  in  Washington,  Rich- 
mond, Columbia,  Raleigh,  Augusta,  Nashville 
and  New  Orleans.  These  are  well  chosen, 
strategic  points,  every  one  of  them.  Six  of 
these  institutions,  on  the  very  localities  pur- 
chased by  Dr.  Simmons,  have  had  marvelous 
growth.  The  properties,  to-day,  are  vastly 
more  valuable  than  when  he  acquired  them. 
For  the  thirty  acres  of  the  Roger  William  Uni- 
versity at  Nashville  which  he  purchased  for 
$30,000,  the  Home  Mission  Society,  as  I  am 
told,  could  since  have  taken  $200,000,  had 
they  been  willing  to  sell. 

"  It  was  deemed  advisable  to  remove  the 
school  located  at  Augusta  to  Atlanta,  and  it  is 
doing  a  magnificent  work  there.  Dr.  A.  E. 
Dickinson,  editor  of  the  '  Religious  Herald  of 
Virginia,'  has  well  said:  '  Those  seven  institu- 
tions of  learning  for  the  colored  people  of  the 
South,  which  Dr.  J.  B.  Simmons  was  instru- 
mental in  establishing,  will  be  a  better  monu- 
ment to  his  memory,  than  seven  towering  shafts 
of  granite.' 

"  Seven  streams  of  light  and  knowledge  for 
over  a  quarter  of  a  century  have  been  flooding 
the  South  with  blessings  from  these  young  Col- 
leges. And  these  streams  have  been  broaden- 
ing and  deepening  as  the  years  roll  on,  and  will 
doubtless  continue  to  bless  generations  yet  un- 
born. These  schools  were  not  founded  for  a 
day,  a  year,  or  a  generation,  but  for  all  time. 

' '  Here  we  have  the  example  of  a  man,  who 
was  the  grandson  of  a  New  York  slaveholder,* 
devoting  seven  years  of  the  most  intense  toil, 

*Silas  Roe  is  liere  referred  to.  He  was  the  maternal  grandfather 
of  James  B.  Simmons,  and  owned  five  hundred  acres  about  one  mile 
southwest  of  where  Millerton  now  stands.  When  the  Act  of  Emanci- 
pation for  tlie  State  of  New  York  went  into  effect,  on  July  4,  1827, 
Silas  Roe  was  the  owner  of  two  negro  slaves,  whose  names  were 
Simon  West  and  Samuel  Bowen. 


anxiety,  and  labor  to  the  Christian  education 
of  those  who  had  been  slaves,  and  succeeding 
in  establishing  seven  institutions  of  learning, 
and  raising  money  to  secure  properties  ample 
for  their  use  in  the  long  years  to  come.  The 
foundations  were  well  laid,  not  on  the  sands  of 
popular  enthusiasm  or  partisan  prejudice,  but 
on  the  firm  rock  of  Christian  duty,  in  loyalty 
to  Jesus  Christ. 

"Rev.  H.  M.  Tupper,  D. D.,  president  of 
Shaw  University  at  Raleigh,  N.  C,  used  to 
say  that  Dr.  Simmons  had  the  best  concep- 
tion of  any  man  he  knew,  as  to  the  sort  of 
schools  needed  for  the  education  of  the  Freed- 
men.  And  it  is  not  too  much  to  add  that  the 
seven  original  Freedmen  Colleges,  which  were 
fashioned  under  his  molding  hand,  became  in 
no  small  degree  the  models  for  those  that  have 
been  added  since.  At  the  same  time  he  praises 
in  most  emphatic  terms  the  good  men  who 
have  preceded  him,  as  well  as  the  good  men 
who  have  followed  him  in  the  work. 

"When    Dr.    Simmons    retired    from    h- 
office    as     Corresponding    Secretary    of    tli 
American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society,  tha: 
organization,    in    annual    meeting   assembleti 
adopted  the  following  minute: 

'  The  present  condition  of  our  educational  work  ; 
the  Southern  States  bears  a  most  impressive  testimony  • 
the  wisdom,  the  energy  and  the  consecration  exhibited  1 
Rev.  James  B.  .Simmons,  D.D.,  in  the  location  and  cmi 
duct  of  the  Freedmen's  Schools,  and  in  the  developmi' 
of  Christian  enterprise  and  liberality  in  their  behalf.  \\ 
has  written  his  name  upon  the  religious  history  of  a 
emancipated  race.     The  future  will  be  his  monument.' 

"But  Dr.  Simmons  was  too  broad  a  ma 
to  confine  his  work  to  one  race.  He  saw  th 
need  of  the  colored  people,  and  gave  his  heari 
throbs,  tears  and  prayers,  accompanied  i 
every  instance  by  his  monied  contributions,  t 
help  them.  Many  years  before  this,  howevei 
he  had  laid  his  vigorous  hand  to  the  work  ( 
helping  the  cause  of  education  among  tb, 
white  race.  As  early  as  1859,  nearly  adecac 
before  he  was  called  to  be  Secretary  of  Honi 
Missions,  and  when  he  was  not  worth  as  muc 
as  fifteen  hundred  dollars  all  told — he  pledge 
one  thousand  dollars  of  that  amount  to  assi 
in  founding  an  institution  for  the  higher  educ 
tion  of  young  ladies  in  Indianapolis,  Ind 
where  he  was  then  settled  as  pastor.  And  i 
paid  every  cent  of  that  money.  The  comii 
on  of  the  war,  and  other  causes,  led  to  tl 
discontinuance  of  the  school,  and  this  thousai 
dollars,  with  other  property  of  the  Institut 
was    afterward    turned    over   to    the   Divini 


i 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


339 


School  at  Morgan  Park,  which  is  now  a  part  of 
the  great  Chicago  University,  and  is  still  doing 
good  in  the  cause  of  Christian  education  there. 
"In  1874,  when  there  was  a  crisis  in  the 
financial  affairs  of  Columbian  University,  lo- 
cated at  the  national  capital,  he  threw  himself 
in  the  breach,  at  the  call  of  his  brethren,  and 
raised,  in  six  months,  sixty-four  thousand  dol- 
lars, to  complete  the  required  conditions  for 
an  endowment  of  three  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars ($300,000),  thus  establishing  the  perma- 
nency of  that  institution  for  Christian  educa- 
tion in  the  heart  of  the  nation. 

"In  1 89 1  the  writer  of  this,  from  his  official 
position,  chanced  to    know  that  Dr.  Simmons 
was  not  content  with  what  he  had  done  for  the 
:ause  of  Christian  education,  but  was  looking 
iround  for    further   opportunity  to   do  good. 
\bout  this  time  I  received  a  letter  from  Rev. 
J.  \V.  Smith,    of  Abilene,    Texas,    asking  if  I 
;new  of  any  source  from  which  help  could  be 
ibtained  in  founding   a  much-needed  institu- 
ion  of  learning  in  that  rapidly-growing  section 
f  central  Texas.      I  gave  him  the   address  of 
''".  Simmons,  and   correspondence  was  begun 
ween  them.      Dr.  Simmons  and  his  son  vis- 
ed the  field,  and  the  result  was  that,  through 
le  benefactions  of  himself  and  family,  Sim- 
ons College,  at   Abilene,  Texas,   has   begun 
ireer  of  blessing  in  the  great  Southwest, 
ited  in    a   fertile   country,  with    a   field  to 
from  as  large  as  the  entire  State  of  New 
I,  and  which   is   rapidly   filling   up  with  a 
ior  population,  it  is  difficult  to  estimate 
'future  possibilities    of  Simmons    College. 
a  name  forthis  new  school,  Dr.  Simmons 
!e  'Christlieb  College,'  which  means  '  Col- 
of  Christ's  Love.'     But   his  family,  and 
vote    of  the    College   Trustees,  overruled 

xh  Northern  man,  a  strong  opponent  of 

ry,  and  one  who   had  given  so    much  of 

|Hitne  to  aid  the   negroes  in  education,  Dr. 

aons  now  gave  his  means  to   found  a  col- 

le  for  white  people  in  one  of  the  old  Slave 

^tes.      He  has  helped    ten  colleges  all  told. 

th  him  the  question  was  not  whether  a  man 
•-1  white  man,  a  negro,  an  Indian,  an  Arme- 
"n,  or  a  Chinaman;  not  whether  he  is  a 
"^rthern  man,  a  Southern  man  or  a  Western 

'  11,  but  was  he  a  matt,  and  was  help  needed, 
*>  could  it  be  given.'  The  foundations  he 
^'  endeavored  to  lay  are  as  broad  as  the  needs 

liumanity,  without  reference  to  race  or  con- 

l')ns.     Strong  in  his  convictions    and  out- 


spoken in  the  expression  of  them  when  neces- 
sity requires,  he  is  the  soul  of  courtesy  to  all, 
and  charitable  toward  the  opinion  of  others. 
He  always  leans  toward  mercy's  side. 

"  The  following  incident  beautifully  illus- 
trates this  characteristic.  Rev.  John  S.  Ezell, 
a  Baptist  minister  of  South  Carolina,  was  con- 
fined in  the  military  prison  at  Albany,  New 
York,  having  been  convicted  of  complicity 
with  Ku-Kluxism  in  his  native  State.  South- 
ern papers  were  denouncing  his  incarceration. 
But  Dr.  Simmons,  instead  of  stopping  to  talk, 
went  straight  to  Albany,  visited  the  imprisoned 
minister,  encouraged  him  to  tell  his  story, 
went  to  Washington  and  personally  laid  the 
matter  before  Gen.  Grant,  then  President  of 
the  United  States,  and  obtained  his  release. 
He  then  took  Bro.  Ezell  to  his  home,  which 
at  that  time  was  in  Brooklyn,  and  treated  him 
with  Christian  hospitality,  and  sent  him  on 
his  way  rejoicing.  Dr.  Simmons  did  not 
sympathize  in  the  least  with  the  spirit  of  Ku- 
Kluxism,  or  any  other  lawlessness,  but  he  de- 
lighted to  assist  a  Christian  gentleman  in  dis- 
tress. No  wonder  that  Bro.  Ezell  has  often 
written  him  with  gratitude,  saj'ing:  '  I  was 
in  prison  and  you  visited  me.' 

"Rev.  J.  L.  Reynolds,  D.  D.,  of  South 
Carolina,  referring  to  Dr.  Simmons  having 
secured  from  President  Grant  a  pardon  for 
Ezell,  says:  'This  was  well  and  nobly  done. 
Such  a  deed  appeals  to  the  South,  and  will 
do  more  toward  bringing  about  the  era  of  good 
feeling,  than  all  the  resolutions  that  could  be 
written,  or  harangues  that  could  be  spoken. 
We  thank  Bro.  Simmons.' 

"I  have  spent  months  in  Dr.  Simmons' 
company.  We  differed  widely  upon  many 
questions,  and  discussed  them  freely  without 
the  slightest  acrimony  or  ill  feeling.  Tena- 
cious of  his  own  opinions,  and  firm  in  his  con- 
victions, he  is  yet  so  broad  and  full  of  Chris- 
tian love  and  courtesy,  that  he  is  the  finest 
example  I  ever  knew  of  the  ' fortitcr  in  re,  et 
suaviter  in  iiiodo ' — (Vigor  in  execution,  ac- 
companied by  gentleness  of  manner). 

"We  may  learn  three  lessons  from  his 
life: 

"I.  A  poor  boy,  thrown  upon  his  own  re- 
sources at  fifteen  years  of  age,  he  has  attained 
great  distinction  as  a  man  of  learning,  and 
wide  influence.  Let  no  boy  despair  of  mak- 
ing a  full-grown  man  because  he  is  poor. 

"2.  Hehasoften  told  methat  he  nevercould 
have  accomplished  a  tithe  of  what  he  has  but 


840 


COMldEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


for  the  educational  training  which  he  received. 
He  spent  three  years  in  the  preparatory 
school,  four  years  in  college,  graduating  at 
Brown  University,  and  three  years  in  his  theo- 
logical course,  graduating  at  Newton — ten 
years  in  all.  Let  no  man  rush  into  his  life- 
work  without  thorough  preparation.  Rather 
than  work  with  dull  tools,  make  any  sacrifice 
to  sharpen  them. 

"3.  Dr.  Simmons  has  a  loving  place  in  the 
hearts  of  the  people  of  all  sections,  and  of  the 
different  races  of  the  country,  because  he  loved 
them  all.  Let  no  man  despair  of  being  es- 
teemed and  loved  just  as  broadly  as  he  es- 
teems and  loves  others.  I  am  proud  to  num- 
ber Dr.  James  B.  Simmons  among  my  warm- 
est friends,  on  account  of  his  great  learning, 
his  true  heart  and  his  broad  Christian 
Charity." 


'\BBE  P.  WING,  one  of  the  honored  and 
jj  respected  citizens  of  the  town  of  Dover, 
Dutchess  county,  is  still  residing  on  the  old 
homestead  farm,  where  his  birth  occurred  in 
1806,  and  although  he  has  reached  the  age  of 
ninety  years,  he  is  yet  an  active,  well-pre- 
served man.  On  completing  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  near  his  home,  he  turned 
his  attention  to  farming,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-four  years  purchased  a  farm  near 
Poughkeepsie,  which  he  operated  some  three 
years.  He  then  returned  to  the  old  home- 
stead, where  he  has  since  remained. 

Thomas  Wing,  his  paternal  grandfather, 
was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born  near  Cape 
Cod,  where  he  was  educated,  and  when  still  a 
boy  he  learned  scythe  making  in  Boston. 
Coming  to  Webatuck,  town  of  Dover,  Dutch- 
ess county,  he  there  engaged  in  that  business 
for  himself.  Previously  to  his  removal  he  had 
married  Miss  Hannah  White,  and  in  Rhode 
Island  one  child  was  born  to  them,  but  the  births 
of  the  nine  others  occurred  in  Dover  town; 
they  were  Thurston,  George,  Jackson,  Benja- 
min, Rhoda,  Mary,  Katie,  Annie  and  Deborah. 
The  eldest  son,  Thurston,  was  two  j'ears  of 
age  when  brought  to  Dover  town,  where  he 
attended  the  common  schools  and  engaged  in 
farming  as  a  life  work.  By  his  marriage  with 
Miss  Mary  Young  he  has  seven  children: 
Archibald,  Elijah,  Thurston,  Phoebe,  Rhoda, 
Sallie  and  Mary  Ann.  George,  the  second 
son,  was  also  educated  and  engaged   in  farm- 


ing in  Dover,  his  native  township,  wedded 
Miss  Martin,  and  to  them  were  born  eight 
children:  Theodorus,  John,  Martin,  Shed- 
rick,  Thomas  and  Agrippa  (twins),  Hiram 
and  Maria. 

Jackson  Wing,  the  third  son,  and  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  born  on  Christmas 
Day,  1 77 1,  received  a  common-school  educa- 
tion, and  from  the  age  of  seventeen  carried  on 
farming  in  connection  with  his  father  until  his 
marriage,  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight.  He 
wedded  Miss  Hannah  Preston,  daughter  of 
Ebenezer  and  Phcebe  (Odel)  Preston,  who  had 
six  children:  John,  Abijah,  Smith,  Ebenezer, 
Hannah  and  Mary.  Her  grandparents  were 
Ebenezer  and  Hannah  (Smith)  Preston.  After 
his  marriage  the  father  of  our  subject  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  on  his  own  account, 
which  proved  very  successful,  and  also  con- 
ducted a  mill  which  came  into  his  possession 
through  his  wife.  The  large  brick  house 
which  still  belongs  to  the  family  was  built  by 
him  in  1806.  Later  in  life  he  conducted  the! 
tavern  at  South  Dover  known  as  the  ' '  Moose 
Head,"  for  fifty  years.  He  was  a  man  of  re- 
markable memory  and  of  good  business  ability. 
In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  was  once 
elected  poor  master. 

Our  subject  is  the  third  in  order  of  birth  in 
the  family  of  seven  children,   of  whom  John 
and  Daniel  died  in  infancy.      Phcebe,  born  in 
1808,  became  the  wife  of  Egbert  Sheldon,  b\ 
whom  she  had  two  children,  William  and  Or- 
viile.      Alfred,     born    in    1811,    wedded    Mis; 
Mary    Tabor,    daughter   of    Russell    Tabor,  r 
farmer  of  Dover  town,  and  they  had  one  child 
Hannah,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty  years 
Preston,  born  in  181 3,  never  married.     Obed 
born   in   18 17,  married    Miss  Ann  Vincent,  0 
Dover  Plains. 

Like    his    father,    Mr.   Wing,   the    subjec 
proper  of  this  review,  always  votes  the  Demo 
cratic  ticket,  and  is  one  of  the  prominent  an( 
representative  citizens  of  the   township.     0| 
reaching  man's  estate  he  was  united  in  maii 
riage  with  Miss  Maria  Sheldon,  and  they  be 
came  the  parents  of  three   children:     Hanna 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Dover,  in  1831,  inai 
ried  Theodore  Preston,  by  whom  she  had  twj 
children — John,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Mar} 
who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty  years;  Sheidoi 
a  well-known  farmer  of  Dover  town;  and  Ed 
gar,  born  in  1841,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty 
four  years. 

Agrippa  Sheldon,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Win , 


yg^^l/e.'J^A^ 


1 

i 


i 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


841 


was  also  a  native  of  Dover  town,  where  on 
reaching  manhood  he  engaged  in  cattle  drov- 
ing and  as  a  general  farmer.  He  married 
Polly  Palmer,  and  to  them  were  born  eight 
children:  Egbert,  Levina,  Hebern,  Abbie, 
Maria,  Palmer,  Emeline  and  Ann. 

Jackson  S.  Wing,  grandson  of  the  gentle- 
man whose  name  introduces  this  sketch,  was 
born  May  23,  1858,  reared  on  the  farm,  and 
educated  at  the  common  schools,  also  at  Ame- 
nia  seminary.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  com- 
menced working  in  a  store  at  Wings  Station, 
where  his  present  place  of  business  is,  and  for 
live  years  clerked  there,  during  the  winters  at- 
tending school.  In  1880  he  took  an  interest 
in  the  mercantile  firm  of  Chapman  &  Wing, 
which  continued  three  years,  at.  the  end  of 
which  time  Mr.  Wing  sold  out  his  interest,  and 
then  clerked  a  short  time  in  Poughkeepsie; 
but  owing  to  impaired  health  he  had  to  aban- 
don work  for  a  time.  On  February  15,  1882, 
he  married  Miss  Mary  O.  Straight,  who  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Kent,  Litchfield  Co. , 
Conn.,  and  was  educated  in  Amenia  Semi- 
nary, and  in  1893  one  daughter,  Winifred 
Straight,  was  born  to  them.  In  1887  he  was 
appointed  mail  agent  on  the  run  between  New 
York  and  Chatham,  in  which  capacity  he  re- 
mained some  eighteen  months,  in  1890  estab- 
lishing his  present  extensive  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Wings  Station.  In  politics  he  was 
originally  a  Democrat,  but  for  some  years  back 
he  has  voted  the  Prohibition  ticket;  he  is  at 
present  serving  his  second  term  as  postmaster 
at  Wings  Station,  and  was  town  clerk  one 
term.  In  religious  faith  he  is  a  member  of  the 
M.  E.  Church.  Mr.  Wing  has  traveled 
throughout  the  United  States  considerably, 
md  is  a  man  of  good  solid  information. 

Henry  Straight,  the  great-grandfather  of 
Mrs.  J.  S.  Wing,  went  from  Rhode  Island  to 
-itchfield  county.  Conn.,  locating  first  in  the 
own  of  New  Milford,  and  later  in  the  town  of 
■ient,  where  he  followed  his  occupation  of 
arming.  He  was  three  times  married,  his 
rst  union  being  with  Miss  Peet,  and  to  them 
vere  born  four  children:  Catharine,  Polly, 
■■arah  and  Hannah.  He  next  wedded  Mrs. 
errei,  a  widow  lady  who  had  two  daughters, 
nd  to  them  was  born  a  son,  Augustus.  After 
he  death  of  the  second  wife  he  married  Mrs. 
lartha  Hendricks. 

Henry  Augustus  Straight,  the  grandfather, 
■as  born  in  the  town  of  New  Milford,  Litch- 
eld  Co.,  Conn.,   was  there   educated   in   the 


common  schools,  and  engaged  in  farming.  He 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Friends 
Church,  as  was  also  his  wife,  taking  an  active 
part  in  their  services  at  the  old  Branch  meet- 
ing house  at  South  Dover,  Dutchess  county. 
He  married  Miss  Abigail  Sherwood,  of  New 
Milford,  Conn.,  by  whom  he  had  four  chil- 
dren. 

(i)  Marshall  Straight,  who  was  born  in 
1 816,  in  Kent,  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  followed 
farming,  and  for  his  first  wife  wedded  Mary 
Buckingham,  by  whom  he  has  four  children: 
Carl,  who  was  killed  in  the  army;  Alice,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Theodore  Wick  wire;  and 
Fred  and  Orin,  the  former  of  whom  married 
Enima  Beech.  After  the  death  of  the  mother 
of  these  children,  Marshall  Straight  married 
Miss  Asenith  Wilbur,  and  after  the  latter 
passed  away  he  married  her  sister.  Miss  Han- 
nah Wilbur.  His  fourth  wife  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Sophia  Terrel,  and  after  her  death  he 
married  Miss  Josephine  Wakeman. 

(2)  Olive  Straight,  who  was  born  in  Kent, 
Conn.,  in  18 19,  became  the  wife  of  William 
D.  Hoag,  a  farmer  of  Quaker  Hill,  Dutchess, 
county,  and  they  had  three  children:  Mary 
E.,  who  remained  single;  Ira,  who  married 
Sarah  Hoag,  and  Aurelia,  who  married  Ed- 
mund Post. 

(3)  Henry  Straight  was  born  in  Kent,  July 
4,  1825,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools, 
and  also  followed  farming.  He  married  Miss 
Roccelanie  Peet,  daughter  of  Riley  and  Sarah 
Peet,  agriculturists  of  the  town  of  New  Mil- 
ford, Litchfield  Co. ,  Conn.  Three  daughters 
were  born  of  this  union:  Helen  S.,  who  re- 
mained single;  Augusta,  who  married  Seymour 
Woolsey;  and  Abbie,  who  married  Chester 
Wittlesey. 

(4)  John  Straight,  the  father  of  Mrs.  J.  S. 
Wing,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Kent,  Litch- 
field county,  in  October,  1831,  and  like  the 
rest  of  the  family  received  a  common-school 
education,  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits. By  birthright  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Society  of  Friends,  was  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, and  held  a  number  of  township  offices. 
He  married  Miss  Rachel  A.  Peet,  a  daughter 
of  Riley  and  Sarah  Peet,  of  New  Milford, 
Conn.,  and  to  them  were  born  three  children: 
Flora  A.,  who  was  born  in  Kent  town,  in  1856, 
and  married  John  R.  Judd,  a  farmer  of  that 
township;  Mary  O.,  who  was  born  in  i860, 
and  is  now  the  wife  of  Jackson  S.  Wing;  and 
and  Walter  A.,  an  agriculturist,  who  was  born 


842 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  1865,  in  Kent  town,  and  married  Miss  Min- 
nie Sheldon,  daughter  of  William  and  Frances 
(Ward)  Sheldon,  farming  people  of  South  Do- 
ver, Dutchess  county.  Walter  Straight  and 
his  wife  have  two  children:  Walter  A.,  born 
in  1886,  and  Mae  B.,  born  in  1888. 

On  the  maternal  side,  Mrs.  Jackson  S. 
Wing  traces  her  ancestry  back  to  three  broth- 
ers who  came  to  this  country  from  England — 
Samuel,  John  and  William  Peet.  The  first 
named  was  her  ancestor.  Her  great-grand- 
father, who  bore  the  same  name,  was  born  and 
educated  in  Connecticut,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming,  and  married  Miss  Lucy  Bostwick,  by 
whom  he  had  si.x  children:  Ebenezer,  who 
married  a  Miss  Beacher;  Samuel;  Luna,  who 
married  Anson  Sperry;  Elijah,  who  remained 
single;  Ryley;  and  Carlos,  who  died  when 
young. 

Ryley  Peet,  the  grandfather,  was  born  at 
New  Milford,  Conn.,  in  1787,  was  there  edu- 
cated, and  also  followed  farming  as  a  lifework. 
A  strong  Democrat,  he  served  in  the  Legisla- 
ture of  his  native  State  for  one  term.  He 
married  Miss  Sarah  Terrill,  daughter  of  James 
and  Sarah  Terrill,  agriculturists  of  New  Mil- 
ford,  and  to  them  were  born  eight  children: 
(1)  Luna  M.,  who  married  Abel  Bristol,  has 
two  children — Andrew,  who  married  Hannah 
Camp;  and  Eleanor  P.,  who  first  became  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Woodhull,  and  after  his  death 
married  Rufus  Leavitt.  (2)  Sarah  F.  is  the 
wife  of  Horace  Merwin,  and  had  five  children 
— Carlos  F.,  who  married  Alice  Monroe;  Gar- 
wood, who  died  in  the  army;  Sarah,  wife  of 
Daniel  Marsh;  Orange,  who  married  Mary 
Beach;  and  Florence  C. ,  wife  of  Henry  Lemon. 
(3)  Lucy  A.  married  Anan  Marsh,  and  has  one 
child — Alice  G.,  who  married  Walter  B.  Bost- 
wick. (4)  Roccelanie,  as  before  stated,  mar- 
ried Henry  Straight.  (5)  Samuel  R.  married 
Laura  Tompkins,  and  has  four  children — Ed- 
gar A.,  who  wedded  Hattie  Squires;  Don  C. , 
who  married  Urania  Buckingham;  Adelaide, 
who  never  married;  and  Sarah,  who  married 
Charles  Tabor.  (6)  Rachel  A.  married  John 
Straight,  and  is  the  mother  of  Mrs.  J.  S.  Wing. 
(7)  Mary  A.  wedded  Benone  Camp,  and  has 
one  daughter — Mary,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Franklin  Gibson.  (8)  Lehman  H.  married 
Justina  Howland,  and  had  four  children — Mer- 
ritt,  who  married  Cadelia  Lake;  Garwood,  who 
married  Maude  Bi.xbee;  Hattie,  who  married 
Walter  Hatch;  and  Ralph,  who  wedded  Mary 
Newton. 


M'\NOS  J.   CHASE  (deceased).     Among  the 
ij  influential  citizens  in  his  day,  in  the  town 

of  Pine  Plains,  Dutchess  county,  and  one  of  its 
most  prosperous  and  successful  business  men 
was  this  gentleman.  He  was  entirely  a  self- 
ade  man  in  the  truest  sense  of  the  word,  hav- 
ing been  the  architect  of  his  own  fortune,  and 
for  thirty-three  years  he  was  at  the  head  of  a 
large  general  mercantile  store  in  Pine  Plains, 
which  grew  from  a  very  humble  origin. 

Mr.  Chase  was  born  at  Hibernia,  Dutchess 
county,  May  22,  1840,  and  was  of  German  de- 
scent.     His  father,  Edward  Chase,  was  a  mil- 
ler by  occupation,  and   at   one   time  was  quite 
prosperous,  but  later  in  life  lost  all.      He  mar- 
ried Sarah  Ann    Carhart,    and  to   them  were 
born  three  children:     Enos  J. ;  Thomas  H.,  of 
the  town   of  Stanford,   Dutchess  county;  and 
Sarah,  wife  of  Isaac  Butler,  who  is  from  Mora- 
via.     The  father's   death  occurred  at  Bangall, 
Dutchess  county,  in  July,  1874.     Our  subject 
received  excellent  educational  advantages   for 
those  early   days,    having  attended  the  public 
schools   at    Bangall,    also    the   Nine  Partners! 
school   near  Hibernia,   and   became  a  well-in- 
formed man.     On  starting  out  in  life  for  him-J 
self  he  commenced  as  clerk  for  Elias  August,] 
with  whom  he  remained  for  one  year,  and 
1863  began   business    for  himself  in  the  stoil 
which    he    occupied    some  thirty-three  yeass^ 
At  first,  as  his   capital    was  quite  limited, 
carried  a  small  stock   of  drugs  and  groceries! 
but  he  kept   adding    thereto    until  he  becamfl 
the  proprietor  of  a  large  general  mercantile  1 
tablishment.      For  about    three  years,  durii 
the  early  seventies,  he  had  a  partner;  but  witi 
that  exception  he  carried  on  business  alone  fol 
thirty-three  years  with  most  gratifying  results! 
He  was  a  man  of  even  temperament  and  exi 
cellent  judgment,  and  these,  together  with  in! 
domitable    energy     and     laudable    ambitionJ 
brought  him  success.      As  he  had  concentrated 
his  whole  attention   upon  his  business,  he  ha«i 
little  time  to    devote   to    politics,    aside  fror 
casting  his  ballot  in  support  of  the  Democrat!^ 
party,  and  he  always  refused  to  accept  publiJ 
office.     He   was  reared    amid    the   Society  cl 
Friends,  and  grew    up    to    be    a   man  of  higi 
moral  standard.      For  several  years  he  serveij 
as  treasurer  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  PinI 
Plains. 

In  1866,  Mr.  Chase  was  united  in  marriagl 
with  Miss  Augusta  Ham,  daughter  of  Fredeil 
ick  T.  Ham,  and  to  them  were  born  threl 
children:     Frederick  H.,   who  is  in  charge  cl 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


343 


the  store;  Jennie;  and  Frank  Edward,  also  in 
the  store.  Mr.  Chase  died  February  22, 
1893. 

The  Ham  family  was  one  of  the  oldest  in 
Pine  Plains.  Peter  F.  Ham,  the  grandfather 
of  Mrs.  Chase,  was  a  large  land  owner  in  the 
western  part  of  the  township.  He  married 
Catherine  Trumpour,  who  died  October  8, 
1848,  and  his  death  occurred  in  1865.  Their 
enly  child,  Frederick  T.  Ham,  was  a  farmer 
in  his  earlier  days,  about  1846  removing  to 
Pittsfield,  Mass.,  where  he  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising tor  two  years.  Until  1 867  he  carried 
on  farming,  but  in  that  year  went  to  Rhine- 
beck,  Dutchess  county,  where  he  was  indirect- 
ly interested  in  business  for  a  short  time. 
Going  south  in  187 1,  he  located  upon  a  large 
plantation  in  Georgia,  and  was  there  engaged 
in  cotton  raising  until  his  death  in  1879.  He 
had  married  Susannah  Fulton,  daughter  of 
Ephraim  Fulton,  and  their  family  consisted  of 
four  children:  Fulton  P.,  who  died  in  1874; 
Sarah  A.,  wife  of  W.  B.  Vibbert,  of  Pine 
I  Plains;  Augusta,  Mrs.  Chase;  and  Newton, 
who  is  living  upon  the  plantation  in  Georgia. 
The  mother's  death  occurred  in  1881. 


« 


JONATHAN    M.    GARRATT    (or   Jonathan 
Miller  Garrett)  is  a  native  of  Albany  county, 
N.  Y.,born  at  Westerlo,  January  21,  1821, 
!nd  is  a  son  of  Levi  Garratt,  whose  birth  oc- 
irred  in  the  town  of  New  Baltimore,  Greene 
o. ,  N.  Y.     His  great-grandfather  was  a  farmer 
f  Saratoga  county,  N.  Y.,  and  by   his   mar- 
iage  with  a  Miss  Potter,  of  Bristol,  R.  I.,  had 
I  family  of  sixteen   children — ten  sons  and  six 
laughters.     Two  of  the  sons  located  in  Prince 
dward  county,  Canada,  two  in  Maryland  and 
irginia,  two   in  Saratoga  county,  N.  Y.,  two 
n  Greene  county,  N.  Y. ,  and  one  in  Maine, 
vhile  one  died  in  youth.     The  sisters  married 
nd  settled  in  Greene,  Albany  and  Columbia 
ounties. 

Simeon  Garratt,  the  grandfather  of  our 
object,  was  born  in  Saratoga  county,  where 
'le  was  reared,  and  married  Lois  Curtis,  but 
iter  became  a  resident  of  Greene  county, 
here  following  farming  until  his  death,  which 
ccurred  when  he  was  ninety-four  years  old. 
hs  family  included  si.\  children,  as  follows: 
-evi  (the  father  of  our  subject).  Potter,  Pet- 
^r,  Samuel  and  Elim,  all  agriculturists,  and 
ada,  who  married  Daniel  Gregory,  a  black- 
nith. 


Levi  Garratt  married  Lydia  Miller,  also  a 
native  of  Greene  county,  daughter  of  Jona- 
than and  Lydia  (McCabe)  Miller.  Her  father 
was  born  in  Putnam  county,  N.  Y. ,  of  English 
descent,  where  he  learned  the  tanner's  trade; 
but  after  his  marriage  he  drove  with  a  double 
team  from  his  native  county  to  Greene  county, 
becoming  one  of  its  pioneer  settlers,  and  in 
the  midst  of  the  wilderness  took  up  600  acres  of 
land,  where  he  ever  afterward  made  his  home, 
dying  at  the  age  of  seventy-five,  his  wife  when 
ninety-six  years  old.  He  was  the  father  of 
eight  children:  Mathew,  a  farmer  of  Saratoga 
county;  Jonathan,  Jesse  and  Sherod,  agricultur- 
ists of  Greene  county  (the  last  mentioned  mar- 
ried a  Miss  Garratt,  and  had  two  children); 
Hannah,  wife  of  Ephraim  Garratt,  a  farmer  of 
Albany  county;  Sarah,  who  married  a  Mr. 
Greene,  of  Greene  county;  Lydia,  the  mother 
of  our  subject,  and  Rhoda,  wife  of  Rev.  Levi 
Hathaway,  a  minister  of  the  Christian  Church, 
and  a  man  of  great  power  and  energy. 

Shortly  after  their  marriage  the  parents  of 
our  subject  removed  to  Albany  county,  N.  Y., 
where  they  located  on  a  farm.  Eleven  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them:  Elmina,  the  eldest, 
married  Ab.  Seaman,  a  farmer  of  Albany 
county;  the  twin  of  Elmina  died  in  infancy; 
Roxey  Ann  married  Thomas  C.  Seaman,  a 
stone  dealer;  Edward  W.  married  Miss  Bedell, 
and  was  a  farmer  of  Greene  county;  Jonathan 
M.  is  the  next  child;  Simeon  C.  married  Miss 
Fish,  and  is  a  farmer  of  Ulster  county,  N.  Y. ; 
Rhoda  wedded  George  Lee  Shear,  a  farmer  of 
Albany  county;  Caroline  became  the  wife  of 
Albert  Bedell,  also  a  farmer  of  Greene  county; 
Lydia  M.  married  Smith  Powell,  a  farmer  of 
Greene  county;  Alzada  married  Albert  Holen- 
beck,  a  carpenter  and  builder  of  Coxsackie, 
Greene  Co.,  N.  Y.;  and  one  child  died  in  in- 
fancy. The  parents  were  conscientious,  ear- 
nest Christians,  and  in  politics  the  father  was  a 
Democrat.  His  death  occuri^ed  in  1885,  when 
he  was  aged  about  ninety-eight  years;  the 
mother  died  October  2,  1866,  aged  seventy- 
five  years. 

On  the  home  farm  in  Albany  county  Mr. 
Garratt,  the  subject  proper  of  this  review, 
passed  his  early  life,  and  he  followed  teaching 
in  the  winter  seasons  for  ten  years,  his  summer 
months  being  devoted  to  agriculture.  During 
the  following  seven  years  he  was  engaged  in 
the  cultivation  of  a  farm  of  200  acres;  but  in 
the  spring  of  1867  he  came  to  Poughkeepsie, 
and    formed   a  partnership    with    Thomas   C. 


S44 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Seaman,  his  brother-in-law,  in  the  stone  busi- 
ness, which  connection  lasted  about  fifteen 
years. 

On  September  3,  1873,  Mr.  Garratt  mar- 
ried Mrs.  Lydia  G.  Doty  {nee  Smith),  of 
Poughkeepsie,  a  widow  lady,  and  is  a  native  of 
Dutchess  county.  Mr.  Garratt  is  identified 
with  the  Democratic  party,  and,  though  past 
his  three-score  years  and  ten  (seventy-six),  is 
still  well-preserved,  both  mentally  and  physic- 
ally. He  is  an  intelligent,  well-informed  man, 
possessed  of  sound  common  sense,  and  has  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  all  who  know  him. 
Mr.  Garratt,  after  losing  his  wife,  who  died 
February  22,  1896,  bought  a  farm  in  the  town 
of  Lloyd,  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  to  assist  his 
brother  and  sister  (Simeon  and  Lydia)  in  their 
financial  difficulty,  with  whom  he  is  making 
his  home,  post  office  address:  Highland,  Ulster 
Co.,  N.  Y.  The  family  name  was  originally 
Garratt,  but  is  now  usually  spelled  Garrett. 


SHELDON  WING,  a  prominent  and  pro- 
_j  gressive  agriculturist  and  stock  dealer  of 
Dutchess  county,  and  the  only  living  son  of 
Ebbe  P.  Wing,  of  the  town  of  Dover,  was  born 
December  10,  1833,  in  Manchester,  a  village 
of  the  town  of  Lagrange,  Dutchess  county. 

Mr.  Wing  received  a  liberal  education  at 
the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood  of  his 
boyhood  home,  subsequently  taking  two  terms 
at  a  Quaker  boarding  school.  AiFter  he  was 
fourteen  years  of  age  he  worked  on  a  farm 
during  the  summer,  and  when  he  was  twenty- 
one  he  commenced  for  his  own  account  on  his 
present  farm,  which  at  that  time  comprised 
270  acres,  and  so  continued  eight  years.  In 
1855  he  paid  a  four-months'  visit  to  Ohio  and 
Iowa,  and  in  February,  1861,  he  gave  up  farm- 
ing, and  proceeding  once  more  to  the  latter 
State  embarked  in  the  stock  business,  buying 
cattle  and  hogs  and  shipping  same  to  Chicago 
and  New  York.  This  line  of  trade  he  prose- 
cuted with  great  success  some  four  years,  or 
until  1865,  when,  owing  to  the  sickness  of  his 
brother  Edgar,  he  returned  to  the  town  of 
Dover,  and  was  induced  by  his  father  to  re- 
main, although  he  was  strongly  inclined  to  go 
back  to  Iowa.  He  has  since  conducted  the 
old  homestead,  which  now  comprises  about 
600  acres  of  prime  land,  whereon  he  keeps 
1 10  cows,  shipping  the  milk  to  New  York,  be- 
sides engaging  in  general  farming,  and  he  has 
also  done  a  considerable   amount  of  commis- 


sion business  in  that  city — buying  and  ship- 
ping all  kinds  of  produce;  and  during  the  thirty 
years  has  paid  several  more  business  visits  to 
the  West.  Of  the  many  well-to-do-farmers  of 
Dutchess  county,  he  is  among  the  most  pros- 
perous and  influential,  active  and  enterprising, 
and  highly  respected  for  his  straightforward 
dealings  and  uniform  integrity.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Democrat,  and  has  been  urged  many  times 
by  his  friends  to  stand  for  office,  but  on  ac- 
count of  his  business  interests  has  invariably 
declined;  he  was  nominated  for  sheriff  in  the 
fall  of  1894,  refusing  to  run,  however,  and  he 
has  served  as  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Dover 
two  terms.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
F.  &  A.  M.,  No.  666,  Dover  Plains. 

On  October  21,  1856,  Mr.  Wing  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Jane  L.  Chapman,  who  was  bom 
in  1837  at  Dover  Plains,  Dutchess  county,  the 
only  daughter  of  Reuben  W.  and  Murilla  (Ward) 
Chapman,  by  which  union  there  were  two  chil- 
dren: Jackson  S.  (mention  of  whom  is  made 
in  the  sketch  of  Ebbe  P.  Wing),  and  Anna  F. 
(who  resides  at  home). 

Reuben  W.  Chapman,  father  of  Mrs.  Wing, 
and  a  farmer  and  carpenter  by  occupation,  was 
born  in  the  town,  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county, 
December  28,  1798,  a  son  of  William  and  Ra- 
chel   Chapman.       On    September    28,    182& 
Reuben  W.  married    Murilla  Ward,  and  the 
had  four  children — three  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter:  (i)Higham  W.,  a  merchant,  born  Jan uarj 
9,  1829,  married  Cordelia  Sheldon  January  9 
185 1,  and  died  January  16,  1882;  he  had  thre( 
children — George   T.,  William  T.,  and  Allie, 
who    married    William    Arnold.      (2)    Georg( 
W.,  born  May  9,  1833,  married  Sabina  Haff, 
February   7,  1866,  of  which   union   there  are 
two  daughters  living — Ella   L.  and  Adelaide 
the  father  died  July  15,  1885,  and  the  mothei 
is  also  deceased.      (3)  Mrs.  Wing  comes  next 
(4)    Homer  W..    born    November    23,    1843 
married   Phoebe  Brown  on   October  13,  1869 
and  they  have  two  children — Cora  (now  Mrs 
Richard  Brill)  and  Edna  (at  home).      Reubei 
W.   Chapman   died  July  27,  1859;    his  wife 
Murilla,    born  July   4,    1807,   died   Decembe 
30,   1873. 


GEORGE  STORM  (deceased).  As  an  e.\ 
^  tensive  land  owner  and  successful  agricult, 
urist,  the  subject  of  this  memoir  held  a  protn 
inent  place  among  the  business  men  of  thj 
town  of  East  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county.     Bii 


I 


I 


j^^-e-i^M^  yT't^o 


f 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


845 


1  IJ 

It 


in  the  estimate  of  his  character,  his  ability  in 
financial  affairs  counts  far  less  than  the  quali- 
ties which  as  an  upright  and  public-spirited 
citizen  identified  him  with  the  high  interests  of 
the  community. 

The  Storm  family  is  widely  dispersed,  yet 
the  different  branches  can  all  trace  connection. 
Mr.  Storm's  parents,  Charles  and  Mary  (Adri- 
ance)  Storm,  were  both  natives  of  the  town  of 
East  Fishkill,  and  his  mother  was  born  in  the 
house  which  is  now  occupied  by  the  family. 
They  had  children  as  follows:  Susan,  the 
idow  of  William  P.  Storm,  formerly  a  tea 
erchant  in  New  York  City;  John,  a  farmer  in 
East  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county;  George,  our 
subject;  Charles  (deceased),  formerly  a  farmer 
in  East  Fishkill. 

I'      George  Storm  was  born  August  1 1,  1839,  at 
'the  present  homestead,  and  passed  his   entire 
life  there.      On  September  23,  1868,  he  mar- 
ried, for  his  first  wife,  Miss  Emma  Haight,  of 
Westchester  county,  who  bore  him  four  chil- 
dren:    Mary    (i),    Henrietta,    Maria    H.,   and 
Mary  (2);  of  whom,  Maria  H.,  now  at  home, 
^  the  only  survivor,  the  others  dying  in  early 
>outh.     The  mother  passed  away  March  11, 
1880,   and    on    October   10,  1883,    Mr.  Storm 
narried  her  sister,  Carrie  Haight,  a  native  of 
\Vestchester  county.      She  is  the  daughter  of 
he  late  Epenetus  Haight,  a  well-known  farmer, 
ind   granddaughter   of    Daniel   Haight.      Her 
nother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Maria  Hunt, 
vas  a  daughter  of  William    Hunt,  and  a  de- 
cendant  of  an  old  English  family.     No  chil- 
Iren  were  born  of  the  second  marriage. 

Mr.  Storm  owned  about  430  acres  of  land, 
rem  which  he  raised  a  variety  of  crops.  The 
ome  is  a  beautiful  one,  and  the  estate  very 
aluable.  Politically,  he  was  a  Republican,  and, 
'hile  he  was  not  a  politician,  he  took  great  inter- 
stin  all  publicquestions.  He  was  actively  help- 
j1  in  religious  and  philanthropic  movements, 
nd  he  and  his  wife  were  leading  members 
f  the  Reformed  Church.  His  death  oc- 
urred  November  4,  1893,  and  in  his  taking 
way  a  loss  was  felt  throughout  a  wide  circle 
[  friends,  to  whom  his  quiet  but  steadfast 
hristian  character  had  endeared  him. 


^ILLIAM  J.  MERWIN  (deceased)  was 
descended  from  an  old  Connecticut 
mily.  His  grandfather,  Capt.  John  Merwin, 
as  born  and  reared  in  that  State,  and  became 
prominent  agriculturist  at  New  Milford  (now 


Bridgewater).  His  first  wife,  Mercy,  was  born 
in  1706,  and  died  November  7,  1776.  On 
December  31,  1777,  he  married  Mrs.  Ruth 
Welsh,  a  widow,  who  was  a  member  of  the 
well-known  Gaylord  family,  of  Gaylord's 
Bridge.  She  died  March  16,  18 16.  Capt. 
Merwin  had  seven  children  by  his  first  mar- 
riage, and  six  by  his  second. 

Daniel  Merwin,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  March  28,  1788,  at  the  old  home  at 
Bridgewater,  and  was  educated  in  the  local 
schools.  He  followed  agricultural  pursuits 
there  throughout  his  active  business  life.  On 
November  22,  181 5,  he  married  Miss  Amy 
Peck,  who  was  born  in  1799,  the  daughter  of 
Andrew  Peck,  of  Newton,  Conn.,  and  they 
had  eight  children,  as  follows:  (i)  Ruth, 
born  April  7,  1817,  was  married  four  times. 
(2)  John  H.,  born  September  7,  1821,  married 
(first)  Miss  Julia  Buckley,  and  (second)  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Starr,  but  had  no  children.  (3) 
Sarah,  born  June  3,  1823,  married  (first)  Oli- 
ver Smith,  and  had  children — Fred,  Ella, 
Josephine,  Almon  (who  married  Delia  Rug- 
gles),  Cornelius,  William  and  Ida;  she  married 
(second)  Clover  Sanford,  a  man  of  wealth  and 
prominence,  of  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  a  manu- 
facturer of  hats.  (4)  Daniel  G.,  born  Novem- 
ber 28,  1825,  married  Miss  Susan  Atwood,  and 
they  had  three  daughters — Emma,  Alma  and 
Nellie.  (5)  George  A.,  born  May  20,  1828, 
married  Miss  tharlotte  Tompkins,  and  had 
three  children — Homer,  Florence  and  Frank. 
(6)  Frederick  S.,  born  October  2,  1830,  mar- 
ried Miss  Lucy  J.  Carter,  and  is  proprietor  of 
a  hardware  establishment  in  Pawling.  (7) 
William  J.,  our  subject,  comes  next  in  order 
of  birth,  and  will  be  more  fully  spoken  of 
presently.  (8)  Harriet  O.,  born  November 
12,  1834,  married  Charles  S.  Trowbridge,  a 
paper-box  manufacturer  of  South  Norwalk, 
Conn. ;  they  have  three  children — George, 
Flora  and  Nellie. 

William  J.  Merwin  was  born  in  Bridge- 
water,  Conn.,  November  3,  1833,  and  attend- 
ed the  schools  of  his  native  town  until  he  was 
about  sixteen  years  old.  He  possessed  good 
literary  taste,  and  was  always  fond  of  substan- 
tial reading,  history  being  his  favorite  study. 
Soon  after  leaving  school  he  went  to  Savannah, 
Ga.,  and  engaged  in  mercantile  business  for 
for  some  years,  later  removing  to  Barcelona, 
Spain,  for  his  health,  where  he  spent  one  year. 
After  his  return  to  Connecticut,  he  again  went 
to   Savannah,  as  clerk    in    a    large    dry-goods 


846 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


house;  but  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  caused 
him  to  come  north  again,  his  sympathies  being 
with  the  Union  cause.      In  i860  he  located  at 
Pawling,  purchasing  an  interest  in  the  firm  of 
J.  W.  Stark  &  Co.,  dealers  in  dry  goods   and 
groceries,    Mr.    Merwin  and   Mr.  Wilde  being 
the    junior    members.      Later,     Mr.     Holmes 
bought  Mr.    Wilde's   interest,  and  on  the  dis- 
posal of  the  Stark  interest  some  time  afterward, 
the  firm  became  Merwin  &  Holmes.    This  was 
one  of  the  largest  establishments  of  the  kind  in 
that  part  of  the  county,  and   its   success  was 
due  in  a  large  measure  to  Mr.  Merwin's  efforts. 
His  genial   nature,    even    temper    and   gentle- 
manly manner,   made   for  him   many  friends, 
and  he  held  a  gift  for  dealing  with  the   public 
which  served  him  well  on  many  occasions.    He 
was  much  interested  in  the  success  of  Republic- 
an principles,  and  took  an  active  part  in  local 
politics.     Previous  to   1884  he  held  the  office 
of  postmaster  at  Pawling  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  was  supervisor.of  the  town  also,  for  several 
terms.     As  treasurer  of  the  Pawling  Savings 
Bank  from  its  organization,  in    1871,  until  his 
death.  1892,  he  was  the  responsible  official  of 
the  institution,  and  it  was  largely  through  his 
instrumentality  that  it  gained   its  present  high 
reputation.      In  early  years  he  was  an  Episco- 
palian, but  there  being  no  Church  of  that  de- 
nomination   in   Pawling,    he    united    with    the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  later  life.      So- 
cially he  was  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity.    A    self-made    man,    his    experiences 
have  served   to  broaden  his  natural  sympathy 
for  the  unfortunate,  and  by  his  counsel  and  as- 
sistance helped    many  a    deserving  person   to 
prosperity.      Mr.  Merwin  married  Miss   Eliza- 
beth Mitchell  Campbell  Van  De  Burgh,  daugh- 
ter of  Hexton  Van  De  Burgh,  and  had  one  son, 
William  J.,  who  is  now  a  student  in  Wesleyan 
University. 

Hexton  Van  De  Burgh,  born  in  181 5, 
was  a  merchant  in  Pawling  and  Beekman, 
later  a  farmer,  and  was  always  interested  in 
public  affairs.  He  was  a  son  of  Gen.  George 
Van  De  Burgh,  who  was  an  officer  in  the  war 
of  18 12,  and  was  one  of  the  prominent  men 
of  the  county.  He  was  a  brother  of  Dr.  Van 
De  Burgh,  of  Rhinebeck,  a  noted  homeopathic 
physician.  Hexton  Van  De  Burgh  married 
Catharine  R.  Campbell,  daughter  of  Archibald 
and  Elizabeth  (Mitchell)  Campbell,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Archibald  Campbell,  the  first  of 
that  family  to  come  to  America.  He  came 
over  here   as  an  officer   in  the  English  army, 


and  was  killed  at  the  skirmish  of  White  Plains 
on  the  night  before  the  battle.     He  lived  here 
as  an  officer,  and  was  granted  a  large  tract  of 
land  in  Putnam  and   Dutchess  counties,  N.  Y. 
Col.  Archibald  Campbell  married  Jane   Mon- 
roe, and  had  three  children:  Archibald;  Dun- 
can, born  in    1767,  who  was  a  surgeon  in  the 
English  army  in  the  West  Indies;    and  Mary, 
who   was  born   in   1776,   and   never   married. 
Archibald  Campbell  was  born  in  the  year  1769, 
near  the   depot   in  what  is   now  the  town  of 
Pawling,  and  as  a  son  of  an  officer  in  the  En- 
glish  army  he  was  taken   to   England   to  be 
educated;  but  after  a  few  years,  becoming  tired 
of  that  country,  he  returned  to  America  with 
a  cargo  of  merchandise.      About    1791  he  en- 
gaged  in  mercantile  business  at  what  is  now 
Pawling,    and  was  thus  employed    for   some 
years.      He  then  bought  the  home   on  which 
Irving  Hurd,  his  grandson,  now  lives,  and  kept 
adding  to  his  landed   possessions  until  he  had 
about  one  thousand  acres.      He  was  a  man  01 
strong  character,  great  executive   ability  and 
fine  mental  gifts,  and  was  much   consulted  as 
an   arbitrator.      He  was   one   of  the  foremost 
men  of  the   M.  E.  Church.      As  a  Jacksoniar 
Democrat,  he  was  somewhat  prominent  in  lo- 
cal  politics,  and,  taken   all   in   all,   he   was  i 
unique    character.        He    married    Elizabetl 
Mitchell,    daughter  of  Thomas   Mitchell,  anc 
had   children   as  follows:    Archibald,   born  ii 
1793;  Jane  married  Rev.  Cyrus  Foss,  and  hac 
three    sons    who    were    ministers,    one    beini 
Bishop  Foss,  of   Philadelphia;    Eliza  marrie(j 
Daniel   Calhoun,  a   merchant;    Mary  marriec' 
Benjamin  Hurd;  Stacia  married  Cushion  Green 
Duncan  C.  was  the  father  of  Henry  Campbell 
Sarah  married  Samuel  Merrick;    Harriet  mar 
ried  (first)  Dr.  Fowler,  and  (second)  Rev.  Joh; 
Pierpont,  of  Boston,  the  well-known  poet  an 
preacher,  and  grandfather  of  J.  Pierpont  Moi 
gan;  Thomas  C,  a  lawyer  in  New  York,  mai| 
ried  Cordelia  Noxon,  of  Beekman.      Archibal] 
Campbell  died  in  1847,  his  widow  on  Januar 
27,  1858. 


JOHN  H.  VAN  KLEECK,  one  of  the  leac 
ing  insurance  men  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutcl 
-  ess  county,  was  there  born  December  2, 
1837,  and  is  a  son  of  George  M.  and  Eli; 
(Wilson)  Van  Kleeck,  the  former  also  a  nati^ 
of  Poughkeepsie,  and  the  latter  of  Englan. 
The  Van  Kleeck  family  was  founded  in  th 
country  by  Holland  emigrants  who  located 


COMMEMORA  TIVE  BIOORAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


847 


the  Empire  State,  and  in  Poughkeepsie  John 
M.  Van  Kleeck,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  born  and  reared.  As  a  life  work  he  fol- 
lowed freighting  on  the  Hudson.  In  his  fam- 
Uy  were  the  following  children:  Robert  .M., 
who  was  a  farmer  iu  the  town  of  Fishkill, 
Dutchess  county;  George  M.,  the  father  of  our 
subject;  Edgar  M.,  a  dry -goods  merchant  of 
Poughkeepsie,  who  early  went  to  California, 
but  returned  to  that  city,  where  he  died;  and 
Hester  P.,  who  died  unmarried. 

The  entire  life  of  the  father  was  spent  in 
Poughkeepsie,  where  for  many  years  he  en- 
gaged in  the  dry-goods  business.  Our  subject 
is  the  eldest  in  his  family  of  four  children,  the 
others  being:  Robert  (now  deceased),  who  was 
teller  in  the  Savings  Bank  of  Poughkeepsie; 
Richard,  who  is  now  a  resident  of  California; 
and  Hester  M.,  the  wife  of  Jacob  V.  Overock- 
er,  who  carried  on  farming  near  Poughkeepsie. 
The  parents  were  both  communicants  of  the 
Episcopal  Church,  and  in  politics  the  father 
was  first  a  Whig  and  later  a  Republican.  He 
■leparted  this  life  in  1884,  his  wife  in  1892, 
respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  them. 
The  boyhood  days  of  John  H.  Van  Kleeck 
were  spent  in  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  attended 

ivate  schools,  and   after  finishing  his  educa- 

n  he  entered  his  father's  dry-goods  store  as 
I  clerk.  He  there  remained  from  the  age  of 
ifteen  until  forty-five,  being  for  some  time  a 
lartner;  but  in  1879  they  disposed  of  their 
tock,  and  entered  into  the  fire-insurance  busi- 
less  under  the  name  of  George  M.  Van  Kleeck 
v  Son,  which  they  carried  on  until  the  death 
'f  Geo.  M.  Van  Kleeck,  since  which  our  sub- 
ect  has  continued  it.  Their  first  office  was 
n  Market  street,  whence  they  removed  to  the 
savings  Bank  building,  and  later  to  the  present 

ice  on  Garden  street. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Van  Kleeck  is  a  Republican, 
iipporting  the  men  and  measures  of  that  party. 
nd  religiously  is  connected  with  the  Episcopal 
hurch.  He  leads  a  moral,  honest  and  upright 
fe.  and  as  a  result  has  won  the  respect  and 
steem  of  the  community  in  which  he  lives. 


JON.  JAMES  ADDIS  SEWARD  (de- 
•i  ceased).  Few  among  the  able  sons  of 
'Jtchess  county  have  displayed  the  versatile 
lents  and  business  acumen  which  character- 
e'i  the  subject  of  this  memoif.  In  politics 
"^1  finance  he  was  a  leader,  and  his  influence 
ocial,  religious  and   educational  affairs  was 


no  less  pronounced.      His   family  was   among 
the  oldest   of  New  England,  the  head  of  this 
branch   having  come  from  England   in    1638. 
His  grandfather,  William  Seward,  was  born  in 
Guilford,     Conn.,     but    settled    in    Dutchess 
county,    town   of    Fishkill  (now   Wappinger), 
where  his  son.  Philander,  our  subject's  father, 
was  born.      Philander  Seward  was  a  prominent 
farmer  and   mill  owner  at  New  Hackensack, 
where   he  died   in   1853.      He  marr-ed  Susan 
Montfort,  by  whom  he  had  si.x  children:  Will- 
iam H.  was  drowned  in  Te.xas  in  early  man- 
hood; P.  George,  an  enterprising  young  busi- 
ness man,  who  conducted  grist   and  saw  mills 
in  his  native  town,  died  at  an  early  age;   Mau- 
rice D wight  will  be  fully  spoken  of  presently; 
Caroline  A.  died  at  fourteen;  James  A.  is  our 
subject;    Ogden  T.    was  a  banker    at   Elgin, 
111.,  and  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-four. 

Maurice  Dwight  Seward  was  born  October 
10,  1830,  at   New  Hackensack,  N.  Y.,  where, 
in  June,  1854,  he   married    Mary  Marvin,   and 
in  September  of  that  year  he  moved  to  Elgin, 
111.,  where  he  engaged  in  the  agricultural-im- 
plement  business.      His  health   failing,  he,   in 
1S57,   removed  to  Rosemond,    111.,    where  he 
lived    on    a    fruit    farm    until    the    latter    part 
of    1865.      In  the   spring  of    1866  he   removed 
to  Normal,  that  State,  where  he  engaged  (first) 
in  a  general  merchandise  business,  and  (after- 
ward) in   a  loan  and  real-estate  business.      In 
1 87 1  he  was  one  of  the  originators  and  organ- 
izers of  the  company  known  as  the  Blooming- 
ton    Stove   Co.,   Bloomington,    111.,   in    which 
business  he  remained  until  his  death,  October 
27,  1876.      In  his  position   as  superintendent 
of  sales  of  the  company,  and  also  as  inventor 
of  a  number  of  stoves  and  furnaces,  he  placed 
the  company  in  the  fore  ranks  with  their  com- 
petitors.     During  all  his  life  he  was  interested 
in  Church  work,  being  an  organizer  of  several 
of  the  Churches  of  which  he  was  a  member, 
and  latterly  was  quite  prominent  in  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Church,    Bloomington,    111.      He 
was  held  in  high  regard  by  his  business  asso- 
ciates, and  by  those  with  whom  he  had  busi- 
ness dealings,  for  his  strict  integrity  and  busi- 
ness qualities.      His  home  life  was  an   unusu- 
ally happy  one;   he  was  of  gentle  manners,  and 
his  thoughtfulness  for  others  made  him  greatly 
looked    up   to  and   revered,    not    only  by  his 
family,  but  by  all  with  whom  he  came  in  con- 
tact. 

James   A.   Seward,  the   subject    proper   of 
this  memoir,  was  born  in  New   Hackensack, 


848 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


January  3,  1836,  and  acquired  his  education 
in  part  at  the  neighboring  district  schools,  in 
part  at  those  of  the  village  of  Fishkill.  At 
seventeen  he  went  to  New  York  City  and  spent 
two  years  as  clerk  in  a  cloth-importing  house. 
He  then  visited  Illinois,  and  was  engaged  in 
photography  at  Elgin,  but  after  a  short  time 
returned  east.  On  October  12,  1858,  he 
married  Miss  Mary  B.  Piatt,  a  native  of  the 
town  of  Wappinger.  Three  brothers  by  the 
name  of  Piatt  came  to  this  State  from  Con- 
necticut at  an  early  period,  of  whom  one  set- 
tled at  Plattsburg,  and  one,  Zephania  Piatt 
(Mrs.  Seward's  grandfather),  located  in  Dutch- 
ess county,  in  the  town  of  Wappinger,  where 
her  father,  Hervey  D.  Piatt,  was  born.  He 
was  a  Whig  in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church.  He  married  Miss 
Phoebe  F.  Cary,  a  member  of  one  of  the  old- 
est families  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  and  made 
his  home  upon  a  farm  in  his  native  town, 
where  he  died  in  1877,  ^"d  his  wife  in  1862. 
Mrs.  Seward  was  the  eldest  of  three  children. 
The  others,  Ebenezer  C.  and  Elizabeth  R. , 
are  both  deceased.  After  their  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Seward  lived  for  two  years  on  a 
farm  at  East  Mills,  Dutchess  county,  and  then 
moved  to  Poughkeepsie,  where  Mr.  Seward 
was  interested  in  various  business  enterprises. 
He  was  also  for  a  time  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  carriages  in  Baltimore,  Md.  Later 
was  in  the  furniture  business  at  Poughkeepsie 
and  New  York  City;  but  he  finally  returned  to 
his  native  town,  where  his  death  occurred  May 
I,  1892.  A  man  of  great  public  spirit  and 
wide  sympathies,  he  entered  heartily  into  all 
movements  in  which  he  saw  good.  He  and 
his  wife  contributed  liberally  to  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church,  and  his  interest  in  religious 
work,  as  well  as  in  educational  movements,  was 
shown  in  many  ways.  He  was  active  in  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  and  in  the  Republican 
party,  holding  several  prominent  offices  at 
various  times,  including  two  terms  as  Assem- 
blyman from  the  First  District  of  Dutche.ss 
county.  He  was  also  the  first  supervisor  of 
the  town  of  Wappinger,  serving  in  that  capacity 
for  two  consecutive  terms. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seward  had  three  children: 
Irving  P.  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years;  Carrie 
A.  married  John  C.  Kingman,  of  Cedar  Falls, 
Iowa,  and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine, 
leaving  one  child,  Arthur  S.  Kingman;  and 
Sarah  S.,  the  wife  of  Robert  Johnston.  The 
family   has    always  occupied    a  high    position 


socially,  and  their  home  at  New  Hackensack 
is  one  in  which  cultured  tastes  and  wealth 
combine  to  make  it  charming. 


C>.OL.  SAMUEL  LEITH.  To  a  patriotic 
_^  American  there  can  be  no  badge  of  honor 
equal  in  merit  to  a  title  won  by  gallant  service 
in  the  field  of  battle  for  the  cause  of  freedom 
and  union.  The  subject  of  this  sketch,  now 
a  prominent  resident  of  Matteawan,  Dutchess 
county,  enjoys  this  distinction,  and  though  of 
foreign  birth  has  demonstrated  his  devotion  to 
his  adopted  country  in  bloody  combat,  in  toil- 
some marches,  in  the  camp,  and  in  the  loath- 
some prisons  of  the  South,  in  which  so  many 
brave  souls  found  death  a  welcome  relief  from 
intolerable  suffering. 

The  many  friends  of  Col.  Leith  will  be  glad 
to  find  a  permanent  record  made  of  a  life  so  well 
worthy   of  emulation.      He  was   born  August 
22,  1839,  in  Dumfriesshire,  Scotland,  but  his 
family  has  long  been  identified  with  Leith,  one 
of  the   oldest   cities  in   Scotland,  his  ancestry 
being  traced  back  to   about    1200  A.  D.     His 
grandfather,  Andrew  Leith,  was   a  butcher  by 
trade,  and   in  fact  that  occupation  seems  to 
have  been  hereditary  in   the  family.     Andrew 
Leith  married    a   ^Iiss    MacGregor,    and   had 
seven  children:     James,  David,  Andrew,  John, 
Samuel,  Walter  and   Margaret,  none  of  whom 
came  to  America.      David  Leith,  our  subject's 
father,  was  born  in  Leith,  Scotland,  and  dur- 
ing his  active  business   career  was  a  butcher 
and  drover,  his  trade  in  the  latter  line  extend- 
ing into  England  and  Ireland,  where  much  ol 
his  buying  was  done.      He  was  killed  by  acci- 
dent, in  1840,  while  traveling  on  a  mail  coach. 
His  wife,  Margaret  (McMaster),  who  like  him- 
self   was  a   devout    Presbyterian,   had   passet 
away  the  previous   year.      Six   children  were 
born  to  them,  of   whom   our  subject  was  tin 
only  one  to  settle  in   America:     David  died  ii 
Scotland;    Andrew,    a    retired    butcher    am 
drover,  is  living  in  the  old  country;  John  diei 
there;   Margaret   married  James  McKnight, 
celebrated  artist  in   Edinburgh,  Scotland,  bu 
neither    is    now  living;    Elizabeth    (deceased 
never  married. 

Col.  Leith's  boyhood  was  spent  in  his  n£ 
tive  land  until  the  age  of  eleven  years.  H 
was  trained  to  habits  of  industry,  and  whi! 
attending  school  would  spend  some  time  befoi 
and  after  the  daily  sessions  in  driving  a  butcl 
er's  cart.      In  1850  he  started  from  Liverpoi 


II 


^^>*^7':^, 


-^^ 


.^/^ 


II 


r 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


349 


on  the  sailing  vessel,    "William   Nelson,"  for 
the  New  World,  and  on  landing  in  Ne\V  York 
worked  at  such  employment  as  he  could  find. 
He  drove   a  butcher's   wagon   for  a  time,  and 
then,  after  a  short   service  in  a  tin  shop,  was 
employed   by  Julius    Closs    in    the    wholesale 
butchering  business  until  1858,  when  he  located 
at  Fishkill  Landing,  and  established  a  butcher 
shop.     The  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war  found 
him  eager  to  defend  the  Union,  and  at  Fish- 
kill  he  recruited  Company  C,  i8th  N.  Y.  V.  I., 
becoming  lieutenant   April   23,    1861.     There 
being  no  time  to  wait  for  "  red  tape  "  in  those 
:)erilous  days,  he  paid  the  railroad  fare  of  his 
:ompany  to  Albany  in  order  to  get  them  to  the 
rent  at  once.      For  this  generous  expenditure 
le    was    re-imbursed   seventeen    years    later, 
hrough  the   efforts   of   Hon.    James  Mackin. 
^rom  Albany  they  went  to  Virginia,  via  Wash- 
ngton,    and    they   took   part   in   the  battle  of 
vlanassas  Junction.      The   regiment  then  re- 
urned   to    Alexandria    for    drill,    and    in  the 
pring  of    1862  participated  in  the  seven-days' 
ight  on  the  peninsula  near  Richmond.      About 
his  time  Col.  Leith,  on  account  of  not  receiv- 
ng  the  promotion  he  felt  he  was  entitled  to, 
esigned    his    position,    and    returning    to  the 
>orth  helped  to  raise  a  new  company  in  New 
ork  and  Brooklyn,   known  as  Company  H, 
32d  N.  Y.  V.  I.     On  this  he  held  the  rank  of 
rst  sergeant,  and  after  passing  an  officer's  ex- 
Tiination    he    was    made    orderly    sergeant, 
his  regiment  took  part  in  the  battle  of  An- 
etam,  and  our  subject's  gallantry  won  him 
promotion    to    the    rank    of    second    lieu- 
nant.     After  the  battle  of   Blackwater,  Va., 
;  was  made  first   lieutenant,  and  soon  after 
IS  regiment  was  ordered  to  rejoin  the  army  of 
le  Potomac  for  the  campaign  through  Penn- 
Ivania  and  Maryland.     He  was  in  the  battle 
Gettysburg    during  the  first   three  days  of 
;ly,  1863,  and  was  wounded  there.     On  being 
,anted  a  thirty-days'  furlough  he  came  home, 
id  on  his  return  to  his  regiment  was  promoted 
captain.     Not  having  fully  recovered  from 
5  injuries,  he  could  not  safely  resume  active 
ork  in  the  field,  and   he  served  six  weeks  as 
ost   marshal    of    Newbern,   N.   C. ,  before 
-ing  charge  of  his  company,  which  was  then 
that  State.      From  there  he  was  ordered  to 
ashington    for    an    examination,    which    he 
issed  with  honors,  and  he  was  then  commis- 
ned  colonel  of  the  49th  U.  S.  Colored  Troops; 
it  preferring  to  remain  with  his  old  comrades, 
'M  not  take  the  position.     After  his  return 


to  his  regiment  he  saw  much  active  service  in 
the  battles  of  Kington,  Woodbury,  Whitehall 
and  Goldsboro,  and  in  the  running  fight  known 
as  the  Tarboro  and  Newbern  raid,  his  conduct 
on  the  field  winning  him  new  honors,  he  being 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  major.  At  the  battle 
of  Bachelor's  Creek,  February  i,  1864,  he  was 
wounded  and  captured,  and  then  began  what 
was  for  him  the  hardest  experiences  of  his  long 
service.  He  was  incarcerated  in  Libby  Prison 
until  Grant  had  fought  the  battle  of  the  Wil- 
derness, when  Major  Leith  was  transferred, 
with  other  prisoners,  to  Danville,  Va.,  and 
later  to  Greensboro,  N.  C,  and  Macon,  Ga. , 
where  they  were  kept  in  a  stockade.  While- 
there  a  money  broker  from  the  South  bought 
from  Mr.  Leith  a  note  on  the  Newburg  (N.  Y.) 
Bank  for  $100  in  gold,  paying  him  $10,000 
in  Confederate  money,  with  which  he  bought 
provisions  and  shared  them  with  his  comrades. 
A  little  later  he  gave  another  note  of  like  value 
and  obtained  $50,000  in  Confederate  money 
for  same,  with  which  he  again  fed  his  starving 
friends.  By  his  generosity  he  must  have  saved 
hundreds  of  lives.  After  Sherman  captured 
Atlanta  another  transfer  took  the  prisoners  to 
the  jail  at  Charleston,  S.  C. ,  where  they  re- 
mained for  a  short  time  before  removal  to  An- 
napolis, Md.  Afterward  they  were  taken  to  Wil- 
mington, N.  C,  and  here  Major  Leith  was  final- 
ly liberated;  but  he  was  so  weakened  by  suffer- 
ings that  he  was  obliged  to  spend  two  weeks  in 
hospital  at  Annapolis  before  he  could  return 
home,  where  he  arrived  in  March,  1865.  On 
April  5,  he  reported  for  duty  at  Annapolis;  but 
fortunately  the  long  struggle  was  nearing  its 
end,  and  on  June  29,  1865,  he  was  mustered 
out  of  the  U.  S.  service  at  Raleigh,  N.  C,  and 
later  was  discharged  from  the  State  service  at 
Harts  Island,  N.  Y.  At  that  time  he  held 
the  rank  of  brevet  colonel,  and  his  popularity 
with  his  old  company  is  shown  by  a  gift  from 
them  of  a  gold  watch  as  a  token  of  their  affec- 
tion and  their  admiration  of  his  bravery.  A 
beautiful  silk  flag  had  been  presented  to  the 
company  through  Col.  Leith  by  ladies  of  Fish- 
kill,  including  Mrs.  Samuel  Ver  Planck,  Mrs. 
Charles  M.  Wolcott,  Mrs.  Walter  Brett,  Mrs. 
James  Mackin  and  Mrs.  John  G.  Monell.  After 
entering  active  service  Col.  Leith  found  the 
caring  for  the  flag  too  much  of  a  responsibility; 
so,  when  he  was  at  Alexandria,  Va. ,  he  sent 
it  by  express,  addressed  to  Hon.  James  Mackin, 
of  Fishkill  Landing.  On  hie  return  home  he 
found,  however,  that  the  flag  had  never  reached 


850 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


its  destination,  and  no  trace  of  it  has  ever  been 
discovered.  Our  subject  holds  a  commission 
as  colonel  of  the  49th  Reg.  U.  S.  Colored 
Troops,  signed  by  President  Lincoln. 

After  his  return  to  the  paths  of  peace  Col. 
Leith  carried  on  the  butcher  business  at  Fish- 
kill  Landing  until  1873,  when  he  was  employed 
as  watchman  of  the  Glenham  Carpet  Mills. 
This  position  he  has  now  held  for  nearly  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  his  fidelity  making  him 
invaluable  to  his  employers.  His  services 
have  also  been  in  demand  by  the  people  for 
various  public  offices,  and  he  is  at  present  the 
collector  of  taxes  for  the  village  of  Matteawan. 

On  January  i,  1861,  Col.  Leith  was  mar- 
ried to  Elizabeth  Miller,  of  Fishkill.  She 
died  July  16,  1889,  leaving  five  children: 
Emma,  Samuel,  Jr.,  David,  William  and 
Walter.  Of  these  all  are  single  except  Will- 
iam, who  married  Catherine  Ward;  he  resides 
at  Matteawan. 

Col.  Leith  is  a  steadfast  Republican,  and 
has  never  wavered  in  his  allegiance  to  that 
party.  His  sterling  qualities  of  character  com- 
mand the  esteem  of  all  who  know  him,  and  his 
influence  is  felt  for  good  in  local  affairs. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  Freemason,  having  joined 
the  order  nearly  thirty  years  ago,  and  for 
twenty-eight  years  he  has  been  a  member  of 
the  G.  A.  R.,  Holland  Post  No.  48,  in  which 
he  has  held  the  office  of  commander,  and 
various  other  offices.  At  present  he  is  in- 
spector of  the  G.  A.  R.  for  Dutchess  and  Put- 
nam counties. 


CHARLES  H.  ROBERTS,  United  States 
_  appraiser  of  cigars  and  tobacco  at  the 
Port  of  New  York,  is  a  prominent  resident  of 
Pawling,  Dutchess  county,  and  has  done  much 
to  advance  the  educational  interests  of  that 
town,  and  to  encourage  progress  in  other  lines. 
Mr.  Roberts  is  a  native  of  Utica,  Oneida 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  born  in  1856,  and  was  educated 
in  New  York  City,  attending  the  public  schools 
for  some  years,  later  taking  a  collegiate  course. 
On  entering  business  life  he  first  secured  em- 
ployment with  the  Weed  Ore  Mines,  later 
with  J.  M.  Childs  &  Co.,  of  Utica,  and  after- 
ward spent  some  time  as  bookkeeper  for  a 
large  paper  factory.  In  1883  he  was  appoint- 
ed to  his  present  position,  in  which  he  is  re- 
garded as  an  expert.  In  political  faith  he  is  a 
Republican,  but  he  has  never  taken  an  active 
share  in  party  work   or  aspired   to  a  place  on 


the  ticket.  His  hearty  assistance  is  given  to 
any  effort  for  the  benefit  of  Pawling,  and  he 
was  one  of  the  first  school  trustees  under  the 
union  free  school  movement,  and  aided  in 
bringing  the  schools  under  the  control  of  the 
regents.  He  is  a  Master  Mason,  a  member  of 
White  Plains  Lodge,  and  of  Lodge  No.  330, 
K.  T.,  of  New  York.  On  February  22,  1882, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  A.  Bangs, 
and  they  have  had  five  children:  Arthur  B. 
born  February  14,  1886;  Lucy  K.,  May  11, 
1889;  Deane  J.,  June  15,  1891;  Donald,  Apri 
23,  1894;  and  Helen  M.,  January  2,  1896. 

Mr.    Roberts  is  a    son    of    Thomas  Davie 
Roberts,  a  well-known  mechanical  engineer  o 
New  York  City,   and   his  wife,  Catherine  Ma- 
tilda (Dana),  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  oldes 
and  most  distinguished   families  of  this  couD: 
try.     The    first    of  the  line,    Richard   Dana 
settled    at    Cambridge,    Mass.,   in   1640,    an( 
his    son,     Jedediah,     was    one    of    the    pio 
neers    of    Ashford,     Conn.       Jedediah   Dans 
and    his  wife    Elizabeth    had    a    son    Jamesj 
our  subject's  great-great-grandfather,  who  woi 
high  honors  by  his  gallantry  as  a  soldier  in  th( 
Revolutionary  army.      He  was  born   at  Ash 
ford.  Conn.,  October  10,  1732,  andappearsti 
have  commenced  his  military  career  among  th 
Provincial  troops  under  Sir  William  Johnson 
He    assisted    in    building    the    fort    at    Lak 
George,  and  was  at  the  battle  of  Lake  Champ 
lain  when  the  fortification  there  was  attacke> 
by  the  French,  and  Gen.  Johnson  was  wounded 
At  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution  he  was  cap 
tain  in  Col.  Storr's  regiment.  Gen.  Putnam' 
brigade  of  Connecticut  Militia.      He  arrived  a 
the  American  camp  in  Cambridge  immediatel 
after  the  battle  of  Lexington,  joining  the  force 
under  Gen.  Ward,  and  was   among  the  troop 
who  were  detailed  to  throw  up  breast-works  o 
Bunker  Hill,  where  during  the  night  a  fortif 
cation  of  earth  was  hastily  constructed.     Co 
Prescott  was   the    engineer,  and  he   requeste 
Capt.  Dana's  orderly  sergeant  to  assist  in  la' 
ing  out  the  redoubt.     The  British  forces  crosse 
the  river  at  Urummesset  Ferry,  and  when  tf 
second    division    of     500    men    landed    the 
marched  up   Maiden   river  to  gain  the  rear  > 
the  fortifications.     This   movement  was   fir 
perceived  bj'  Capt.  Dana,   who  informed  Gei 
Putnam.      By  his  order  500  of  the  Continent 
troops  marched  to  meet  the  British,  and  toe 
up  their  position  in  two  lines  behind  a  fenc 
Capt.  (afterward  Col.)  Knowlton  wasin  chan 
of  the  detachment,  with  Capt.  Dana  secon  ' 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


351 


command.     Gen.  Putnam  in  givinp^  his  direc- 
tions to   these   officers,  asked  :     "  Do  you  re- 
member my  orders  at  Ticonderoga.' "      "  Yes," 
was   the    reply,    ' '  you    told    us    not    to    fire 
until    we    could    see   the   whites   of    the   ene- 
my's   eyes."      "Well,"    said    Gen.    Putnam, 
"I  give  the  same  order  now."     The  British 
advanced  with  muffled  drums  and   soft   fifes, 
and  soon  passed  over  the  fence  south   of  the 
3ne    where    the    Americans   were    drawn  up. 
Capt.  Dana  was  directly   in    the   line   of  the 
British  forces,  and  the  men  awaited  their  com- 
ng  in  perfect  quiet,    word  having  been  given 
hat  it  would  be  death  to   any  man  to  fire  be- 
ore  Capt.  Dana.     When  the  column  was  eight 
ods  distant  the  Captain  ordered  the  rear  rank 
0  lie  down  fiat,  and  at  this  word  the  British 
jflficers  faced  about  and  ordered  their  men  to 
leploy  from  the  center.      On  the  instant  Capt. 
)ana,  Lieut.  Grosvenor  and  Ord-Serg.  Fuller 
ired,  and  the  British  commander,  supposed  to 
l>e  Maj.  Pitcairn,  fell  mortally  wounded.     The 
?ritish  troops  broke  and  retreated,  but  formed 
nd  advanced  again,  the  movement  occupying 
lerhaps  twenty  minutes.     When  they  reached 
le  fence  they  fired,  and  Lieut.  Grosvenor  was 
ounded  in  the  hand,  and  a  bullet  which  had 
assed  through  a  rail    lodged  upon   his  shirt, 
attened    and    harmless.      He    bound    up    his 
iand  and  retired  from  the  field.      Capt.  Knowl- 
n's  musket  was  broken  by  a  cannon  ball,  and 
ithin  five  minutes  after  Lieut.  Grosvenor  was 
jured  a  cannon  ball   struck  a  rail   which  hit 
ipt.  Dana  in  the   breast   and   knocked   him 
Avn,    breathless.       He  recovered,    however, 
'  remained  until  the  line  was  ordered  back; 
after  his   arrival    at    the  quarters    he  was 
:tined  to  his   room    for   several   days.      The 
-t  countersign  given  by    Gen.    Washington 
ter  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  was  Knowlton, 
'  the  first  parole  was  Dana.      In  July  of  the 
'■  year  an    oration    was  delivered  by  Dr. 
nard.   Gen.  Washington's  chaplain,  and  a 
aration  read,  and  at  the  conclusion  of  these 
cises  an  aid  of  Gen.  Washington  advanced 
1  headquarters  bearing  the  American  stand- 
with  an  order   from   Washington  to  Capt. 
I'lia  to  carry  it  three   times   around  the  fort 
''  1  interior  circle  of  the  army,  with  the  injunc- 
that  he  must  not  let   the  colors  fall,  as  it 
'd  be  considered  a  bad  omen  for  the  Amer- 
cause.      The    Captain    declined,    doubting 
ability  to  perform  the  duty  in  the  proper 
luer,  and  the  aid  returned  to  headquarters 
^' h  his  apology.      He  soon  came  back,  how- 


ever, with  Gen,  Putnam,  who,  in  his  familiar 
way,  clapped  Capt.  Dana  on  the  shoulder,  and 
said  with  an  old-fashioned  oath:  "  Dana,  you 
look  like  a  white  man,  take  the  colors  and 
clear  away!"  and  the  army  immediately  opened 
right  and  left  to  make  a  passage  for  Gen. 
Washington  and  the  officers.  The  ne.xt  day, 
in  his  orders,  Washington  expressed  the  most 
flattering  approbation  of  the  manner  in  which 
Capt.  Dana  had  performed  his  part  in  dis- 
playing the  flag. 

The  Captain  was  six  feet,  one  inch  in 
height,  and  his  presence  was  noble  and  com- 
manding. His  manners  were  modest  and  re- 
tiring, and  although  he  was  frequently  offered 
promotion  in  the  army  he  uniformly  declined. 
For  a  time  he  had  in  his  service  as  a  waiter 
and  secretary  a  boy  who  afterward,  as  Capt. 
Eaton,  distinguished  himself  in  the  war  with 
Tripoli,  his  father  having  placed  him  at  the 
age  of  fifteen  under  Capt.  Dana's  care.  At 
the  close  of  the  Revolution  Capt.  Dana  settled 
at  Cobleskill,  Schoharie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
occupied  a  small  log  cabin,  but  notwithstand- 
ing his  humble  circumstances  the  Legislature 
appointed  him  brigadier-general,  the  first  of 
that  rank  in  Schoharie  county.  On  the  death 
of  Gen.  Washington,  Gen.  Dana  and  Reding- 
ton  held  a  funeral  service  at  the  house  of  the 
latter  under  the  Masonic  ritual,  the  ceremony 
being  one  of  the  most  imposing  ever  witnessed 
in  that  part  of  the  State.  The  coffin  was 
placed  upon  a  bier,  and  a  heavy  pall  thrown 
over  all,  with  flowers  and  evergreens  in  pro- 
fusion. The  two  heroes  were  chief  mourners 
in  this  solemn  rite. 

Gen.  James  Dana  and  his  wife  had  four 
sons — Joseph,  William  (our  subject's  great- 
grandfather), Thomas  and  Alvin — and  five 
daughters — Mrs.  Anna  Garvie,  Mrs.  Nancy 
Brigham,  Mrs.  Sophia  Scripter,  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth Butler  and  Polly.  William  Dana  was 
born  at  Cobleskill,  June  2,  1770,  and  died 
February  2,  1852.  He  was  married  Septem- 
ber 27,  1795,  to  Anne  Southworth,  who  was 
born  April  17,  1773,  and  died  April  30,  1846. 
They  had  eight  children:  Luman,  Horace, 
Hiram.  Elizabeth,  Bradley,  Lydia,  Eli  and 
Nancy. 

Horace  Dana,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
was  born  at  Cobleskill,  March  2,  1799,  and 
after  acquiring  an  education  in  the  district 
schools  there  he  engaged  in  farming  at  Law- 
yersville,  N.  Y.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  poli- 
tics, and  prominent  in   Masonic   circles.      On 


I 


852 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPHWAL  RECORD. 


December  22,  18 19,  he  married  Miss  Eleanor 
Van  Dreser,  who  was  born  at  Cobleskill,  May 
10,  1797,  and  died  August  I2,  1881.  They 
had  nine  children:  William,  Hiram,  Lydia, 
Catherine  Matilda,  Nancy,  Gilbert,  Elizabeth, 
Emma  and  Thomas.  Catherine  M.  Dana  was 
born  in  Cobleskill,  January  16,  1832,  and  was 
educated  there;  but  after  her  marriage  to  Mr. 
Roberts  her  home  was  in  New  York  City.  Our 
subject  was  the  eldest  of  four  children,  the 
others  being  Eleanor,  born  in  1858,  died  in 
i860;  Elizabeth  D.,  born  in  i860;  and  Thom- 
as E.,  born  January  28,  1867. 

Mrs.  Charles  H.  Roberts  is  a  granddaugh- 
ter of  the  Rev.  John  Bangs,  who  was  one  of 
three  brothers,  viz.:  Nathan  H.,  Heman  and 
John,  who  were  all  ministers  prominent  in 
Methodism.  Her  father,  Rev.  Nathan  H. 
Bangs,  named  for  his  uncle,  was  born  in  1825 
at  Kortright,  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y.  In  1853 
he  joined  the  "  New  York  Conference,"  and 
until  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1884,  he  was  a 
fearless  advocate  of  all  the  great  questions  of 
reform.  He  was  a  brilliant  and  forcible  speaker, 
as  well  as  being  an  energetic  and  untiring 
worker  in  the  profession  he  had  chosen.  He 
married  Miss  Lucy  Jane  Pinney,  and  had  five 
children:  Hervey  Pinney,  who  never  married; 
Margaret  A.  (Mrs.  Roberts);  Arthur  E. ,  who 
married  Annie  Ketcham;  John  A.,  who  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Dobson;  and  Grace  M.,  who 
remained  unmarried.  Mrs.  Bangs  was  a  lin- 
eal descendant  of  Humphrey  Pinney,  who  came 
from  England  in  1630  in  the  ship  "Mary  and 
John,"  and  settled  at  Dorchester,  Mass.  His 
son,  Capt.  Nathaniel  Pinney,  born  in  1671, 
had  a  son,  Capt.  Abraham  Pinney,  who  died 
in  1780.  He  was  the  father  of  Capt.  Abram 
Pinney,  who  had  nine  children:  Ruth,  born 
in  1774;  Azariah;  Martha;  Abner  Putnam; 
Hulda;  Levi;  Chester  H. ;  Betsy;  and  John, 
Mrs.  Bang's  grandfather,  who  was  born  in 
1787.  Hervey  Pinney,  Mrs.  Bang's  father, 
was  a  well-known  farmer  at  Bethel,  Sullivan 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  her  mother's  name  was  Mar- 
garet Everard. 


>EV.  JOHN  J.  McGRATH.  The  indom- 
EL  itable  energy  which  has  ever  character- 
ized the  priesthood  of  the  Catholic  Church  is 
well  exemplified  in  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
who  during  his  pastorate  in  the  Church  of  St. 
John,  the  Evangelist,  at  Fishkill,  has  not  only 
quickened   the  spiritual  life   of  his    flock,  but 


has  established  outward  zeal  in  new  and  com- 
modious buildings  devoted  to  the  uses  of  thei 
parish.  I 

Our  subject  is  of  Irish  descent,  his  grand- 
father Dennis  McGrath,  having  been   a  native 
of  Waterford,  Ireland,  where   he  remained  all 
his  life.      D.  J.  McGrath,  our  subject's  father, 
left  his  old  home  in  Ireland,  about    1854,  foi 
America,  and  on  reaching  this  country  settlea 
in  New  York  City,  where  he  was  engaged  in  al 
wholesale   trade    in    coffee,    tea,    and   similaJ 
commodities  until  a  few  years  ago,  when  he  re* 
tired  from  business.      His  wife,  Ann  (Boland; 
who    died    November    22,    1896,    was    also 
native   of  Ireland.     John  Boland,  her  father 
a  carpenter  by  trade,  came  to  America  to  see 
better  opportunities  than  his  own  land  afforded 
and  became   very  successful,  his   work  givin 
employment    to    a    number   of  men.     Of  th 
twelve  children   of  D.   J.    and  Ann  McGrath 
six  are  now  living,  our  subject  being  the  eldes 

(2)  Michael  is  a  physician  in  New  York  Cit} 

(3)  Thomas  is  a  real-estate  dealer  in  the  sani 
city;  (4)  Margaret  is  at  home;  (5)  Joseph 
studying  medicine;  and  (6)  Mary  is  the  wife  < 
Dr.  John  T.  Reilly,  of  Matteawan,  New  Yor 
State. 

Father   McGrath   was   born   in  New  Yoi: 
City,  February  7,  1855,   and  passed  his  bo} 
hood  there.      His  parents,  being  devout  Cath(, 
lies,  sent  him  to  the  parochial  schools,  whic 
he  attended  until  he  reached  the  age  of  sixteei 
In   1876  he   entered   Niagara   College,  and  c 
completing  his  course  went  to   Allegany,   ^ 
Y.,  where  his  preparation  for  the  priesthot 
was  continued  in  St.  Bonaventura    Semina 
under  the  Franciscan  Fathers.      On  June  i 
1880,  he  was  ordained  by  Bishop  Stephen  ' 
Ryan,  of  Buffalo,  and  his  first  appointment  w 
at  St.   James  Church,  in  New  York  City.     C 
November  4,  1880,  he  went  to  Matteawan,  '. 
Y. ,  as  assistant  to  Rev.   John  C.  Henry,  fo; 
years  and  a  half  being  spent  there  before  11 
transfer    to  St.   Mary's  Church,  at  Newbuij 
which  was  then  under  Father  Henry's  char^ 
There  he  passed  four  and  one-half  years,  at  t 
close  of  which  incumbency  Archbishop  Cori- 
gan  appointed  him  to  St.   Joseph  Church,  • 
Croton  Falls,  our  subject's   first  independ(. 
charge.     The   influence    of  his  zealous  wci 
was  soon  apparent,  in  the  village  of  Katon;l 
an  out-mission  of  Croton  Falls,  grounds  be  g 
purchased  for  a  new  church,  which  was  bit 
during    Father  McGrath's  brief    pastorate  f 
twenty  months.      The   new   edifice  stands  1 


I 


V\w^JL\^wt^,ato 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


858 


an  eminence  overlooking  the  limpid  waters  of 
the  picturesque  Cross  river,  and,  while  there 
has  been  no  pretense  at  architectural  grandeur, 
it  stands  to-day,  in  its  simplicity,  one  more  ev- 
idence of  man's  desire  to  glorify  the  Omnipres- 
ent and   Omnipotent  God.      On  October   14, 
1890,  it  was  solemnly  dedicated  to  Almighty 
God  under  the  title  of  St.  Mary,  by  His  Grace 
Michael    Augustine    Corrigan,    Archbishop    of 
New  York.      Father  McGrath's  administration 
3f  parish  affairs    was  characterized    by  good 
judgment  and  financial  ability,  and,  therefore, 
le  was  promoted  to  a  larger  and  more  promi- 
lent  parish  at  Fishkill   Landing,  N.   Y.      On 
December  4,  1890,  he  was  installed  as  pastor 
n  present   congregation  at  Fishkill,   and  the 
vork  of  improvement  was  at  once  begun  there, 
L  beautiful  new  church  being  erected  in  the 
ollowing  year.      Later  the  rectory  and  school 
vere  built,  making  a  notable  record  of  prac- 
ical  work.      But  while  these  results  may  at- 
ract  the  attention  of  the  casual  observer  to 
he  exclusion  of  all  others,  it  is  in  the  unifica- 
ion  and  inspiration  of  his  people  that  Father 
fcGrath  finds  his  best  reward  for  the  past  la- 
ors,  and  a  hope  for  the  future  widening  and 
eepening  of  the  spiritual  influences  which  pro- 
jiote  true  prosperity. 


rHOMAS  HENRY  NELSON  (deceased), 
who  in  his  lifetime  was  a  prominent  rep- 
itsentative  of  the  farming  interests  of  the  town 
Red  Hook,  Dutchess  county,  where  he  pos- 
ssed  one  of  its  model  homesteads,  embrac- 
^  210  acres  of  rich  and  fertile  land,  was 
rn  October  21,  1822,  and  died  November 
,  1896. 

The  homestead  is  supplied  with  all  modern 
■nveniences  and    accessories,    the   fields  are 
ill  tilled,  the   buildings   are  of  a  substantial 
'  aracter,  and  the  whole  place  denotes  the  late 
A'nerto  have  been  a  man  of  progressive  spirit, 
's'etic  and  industrious,  and  a  capable  man- 
This  pleasant  home  is  presided  over  by 
sister.   Miss   Sarah  C.    Nelson.      Our  sub- 
was  a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  born  in 
town   of  Poughkeepsie,  and   had  been  fa-. 
I  liar  with  the  various  employments  of  farm 
'::  since  a  boy,  having  been  reared  in  the  ag- 
I  altural  districts  of  Dutchess  county,  mostly 
i  the  town  of  Red   Hook,  where  he  acquired 
1  education  in  the  academy  of  that  place. 
The  ancestry  of  our  subject  is  traced  back 


to  Polycarpus  Nelson,  who  came  from  Eng- 
land about  1725  or  1730,  and  purchased  a 
tract  of  land  in  the  town  of  Clinton  (now  Hyde 
Park),  Dutchess  county.  In  1736  he  deeded 
this  to  his  son,  Francis  Nelson.  The  latter 
wedded  Miss  Mary  Skinner,  of  Mamaroneck, 
Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  to  them  were 
born  fourteen  children— seven  sons  and  seven 
daughters:  Reuben,  Samuel,  Mephobosheth, 
Mary  Ann,  Catherine,  Anna,  Lucretia,  John^ 
Theophilus,  Joshua,  Justus,  Frances,  Christi- 
anna  and  Charity.  Of  this  family,  John  Nel- 
son in  1743  married  Elizabeth  Davenport,  of 
Cold  Spring,  Dutchess  county,  and  to  then> 
were  born  two  children:  Thomas,  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject;  and  Elizabeth,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Abner  Armstrong,  and  eleven 
children  grace  their  union.  For  his  second 
wife  John  Nelson,  in  1748,  wedded  Rebecca 
Scott,  of  Kinderhook,  Columbia  Co..  N.  Y., 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  four  children: 
Anna,  born  in  1750,  married  Thomas  Barker 
in  1 77 1 ;  William  married  Nancy  Emory,  the 
daughter  of  a  major  in  the  British  army; 
Francis  married  Miss  Wright  in  1775,  and 
John  married  Sarah  Reed. 

Thomas  Nelson,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Clinton, 
Dutchess  county,  March  17,  1744,  and  was 
united  in  marriage  April  11,  1769.  with  Miss 
Sarah  Wright,  daughter  of  Jacob  Wright,  who 
came  to  Dutchess  county  from  Long  Island 
prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Haight,  daughter  of  John  Haight,  of 
Stephentown,  N.  Y.,  and  to  them  were  born 
seven  children:  Jacob,  who  was  killed  during 
the  Revolution;  Nathan,  who  wedded  Mary 
Vail;  Joseph,  who  was  killed  while  aiding  the 
Colonies  in  their  struggle  for  independence; 
Elizabeth,  who  became  the  wife  of  Seth  Whit- 
ney; and  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Nelson. 
Thirteen  children  were  born  to  the  grandpar- 
ents of  our  subject,  several  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy. The  following  grew  to  maturity:  Wright 
was  born  February  2,  1770;  John,  born  July  31, 
1 77 1,  married  Celia  Pells  September  18,  1794, 
and  they  had  four  children;  Elizabeth,  born 
May  II,  1773,  became  the  wife  of  George 
Parker,  of  Lancashire,  England,  December 
22,  1798,  and  they  had  six  children;  Jacob,, 
born  May  8,  1779,  is  known  to  have  left  sev- 
eral children,  although  there  is  no  authentic 
knowledge  concerning  him;  William,  born 
June  29,  1784,  who  became  a  lawyer  of  prom- 
inence, and  served  two  years  in  Congress,  left 


854 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPfflCAL  RECORD. 


a  large  family,  several  of  whom  are  still  living; 
Joseph,  born  April  i,  1786,  left  a  number  of 
children,  none  of  whom  now  survive,  but  there 
are  several  of  his  grandchildren  living;  Sarah 
married  John  Nalross;  and  Samuel,  the  young- 
est, was  the  father  of  our  subject. 

Of  this  family  Samuel  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Clinton,  February  14,  1793,  and  November 
15,  1820,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Christina 
Banner,  who  was  born  May  11,  1799,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Hendrick  Benner.  The  following  chil- 
dren blessed  their  union:  Thomas  Henry, 
whose  name  introduces  this  sketch;  Sarah  C, 
born  December  10,  1824;  Theodore  Ten 
"Broeck,  March  22,  1827;  Arthur,  June  15, 
1829;  Christina  J.,  January  27,  1832;  and 
Elizabeth,  April  4,  1835. 


JOHN  T.  SMITH  has  been  identified  with 
the  business  interests,  progress  and  growth 
of  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  for  a  period 
covering  nearly  forty  years.  His  ancestors  on 
the  father's  side  were  originally  from  England 
and  Holland,  but  have  been  natives  to  the 
soil  for  five  generations.  During  the  war  of 
the  Revolution  they  shared  the  privations  and 
hardships  of  the  Continental  soldiers.  Thomas 
Smith  was  born  on  alarm  in  the  town  of  Kent, 
Putnam  county,  in  1782;  his  father,  Philip, 
and  his  grandfather,  Edward,  were  farmers, 
and  he  followed  in  their  footsteps.  His  father 
left  an  estate  of  considerable  value,  but  it 
was  largely  spent  in  litigation.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1802  to  Helliche,  the  daughter  of  John 
and  Rachel  (Daniels)  Smith;  the  family  came 
originally  from  Holland. 

Thomas  and  Helliche  Smith  had  two  sons: 
Philip  T.  and  Silas  G.  The  latter  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Kent,  Putnam  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  in 
1 8 16,  and  his  early  life  was  spent  on  the  farm. 
In  1835  the  familj'  removed  to  Matteawan, 
and  he  became  a  clerk  in  the  Matteawan  Com- 
pany's store,  then  under  the  management  of 
David  Davis.  In  1839  he  was  married  to 
Jane  A.  Alexander,  daughter  of  John  and 
Margaret  (McDowell)  Alexander,  of  the  town 
of  Butternuts,  Otsego  Co. .  N.  Y. ;  the  fam- 
ily emigrated  from  the  North  of  Ireland. 
Thomas  Smith  purchased  a  farm  in  Steuben 
county,  and  removed  there  in  1838.  He  died 
at  the  home  of  his  son  Silas,- in  1852,  his  wife, 
Helliche,  died  also  at  the  home  of  Silas  in 
1866. 


Silas  G.  Smith  removed  to  Pulteney,  Steu- 
ben Co.,  N.  Y.,  in   1840,  and   was  engaged  in 
selling  merchandise  and  buying  grain   for  the 
New  York  market  until  1853,  when  at  the  re- 
quest of  Mr.  David  Davis,  his  former  employ- 
er, he  returned   to    Matteawan,  and   formed  a 
co-partnership  with  him  in   the  store  formerly 
owned    by    the    Matteawan    Company.       For 
three  years  they  conducted  a  successful  busi- 
ness, but  the-company  operating  the  mills  be- 
came financially  embarrassed,  and  Mr.  Smith 
disposed  of  his  interest  in  the   business  to  Mr. 
Davis,  and  purchased  the  property  at  Fishkill-f 
on-Hudson  since   occupied  by  the  firm  of  S. 
G.  &  J.  T.  Smith.      When  the  village  of  Fish-j 
kill  Landing  was   incorporated,  he  served  asal 
a  member  of  the   first   board   of  trustees,  an^ 
was  re-elected  several   times,  but   was  alwa 
averse  to  accepting  public  office.     He  was  pre 
dent  of  the  Mechanics  Savings  Bank  for  te 
years  previous  to   his   death.      In  politics  h^ 
was  a  Whig  in  early  years,  and  became  a  Re 
publican    on    the    organization   of    the  partgp^ 
He  was  a  man  of  a  high  sense  of  honor  and( 
the   strictest   integrity,    and   was   a   consistenf 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church.      He  died  Feb 
ruary   9,    1883,   leaving  a  reputation   withouil 
blot,  or  blemish. 

John  T.  Smith  was  born  in  Matteawal 
July  15,  1840,  in  the  house  opposite  thi 
"  Beacon  Hose  Co.  House,"  at  the  corner  cl 
Fountain  and  Liberty  streets.  While  still  al 
infant  his  parents  removed  to  Pulteney,  Stetl 
ben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  from  the  time  he  was  oil 
enough  he  attended  the  public  schools  il 
Pulteney  until  the  family  returned  to  Mattesl 
wan,  in  1853.  In  1854  he  attended  a  privail 
school  in  Matteawan  kept  by  Mr.  Oliver,  acl 
in  1855  and  1856  the  private  school  of  G.  l\ 
Caswell.  After  his  father  commenced  busl 
ness  at  Fishkill  Landing,  in  the  fall  of  185! 
his  time  was  entirely  devoted  to  business,  ail 
in  1 861  the  firm  of  S.  G.  &  J.  T.  Smith  w| 
formed.  The  business  was  successful  frol 
the  first,  being  conducted  on  such  lines  thatJ 
won  the  confidence  and  support  of  the  coil 
munity,  and  it  was  gradually  extended  until  f 
the  present  time  it  occupies  the  buiMij 
25  X  200  feet  fronting  on  Main  street  and  ru| 
ning  through  to  Spring  street,  and  also 
annex  on  the  east  side  of  45  feet,  used  afl 
shoe  department,  and  the  second  story  of  tl 
Savings  Bank  building,  used  as  a  carpet  (| 
partment.  In  1873  a  branch  store  was  o| 
on  Fountain   Square,    Matteawan;  in  1878I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


855 


•as  removed  to  the  corner  of  Main  and  North 
:reets,  and  now  occupies  the  double  store  at 
lis  location. 

Mr.  Smith  was  married  at  Northfield,  Ver- 
lont.  Septembers,  1866,  to  Carrie  A.,  daugh- 
;r  of  Rev.  John  B.  and  Mary  A.  (Cady)  Pit- 
lan.  They  have  had  five  children,  one  of 
'horn  died  in  infancy,  the  others  are:  Bar- 
ram  L.,  who  graduated  from  Williams  Col- 
;ge  in  1894,  and  Arthur  Raymond,  who  was 
ducated  at  Mount  Beacon  Academy,  both  of 
horn  are  associated  with  their  father  in  busi- 
ess;  Clarence  A.  is  a  student  at  Trinity  Col- 
ge.  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  Elsie  A.  is  attend- 
ig  De  Garmo  Institute. 

The  family  attend  the  Reformed  Church. 

Ir.  Smith  has  been,  since  early  life,  a  member 

It  Beacon  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.      He  has  served 

i:veral  years  as  trustee  of  the  public  schools, 

id  a  number  of  terms  as  trustee  of  the  village, 

ich  he  was  president  from  1877  to    1882. 

as  elected  supervisor  of  the  town  in  1882, 

as  re-elected  the  three  succeeding  years. 

;;  as  chairman  of  the  board  in  1883  and 

)     mention     the    business    operations    in 

a  Mr.  Smith  has  been  engaged,  would  be 

t  make  a  list  of  the  most  important  undertak- 

!ii  his  locality  since  he  entered  business 

He  was  largely  instrumental  in  securing 

cation  of  the  Dutchess  Hat  Works  in  the 

e.      In  1 879  he  joined  with  several  gentle- 

of  the  town  in    organizing    the  Fishkill 

hone  Co.,  and   was  the    active  manager 

the  company  was  merged  in  the' Hudson 

Telephone  Co.      Lines  were  built  in  the 

pie  streets  of  Fishkill  Landing  and  Mat- 

.n,  and  extended  to  Fishkill  Village,  Wap- 

13  Falls,  New  Hamburgh,  and  Newburg, 

le  being  laid  across  the  river  at  the  latter 

The  company  had  a  larger  number  of 

ribers,  and   a  generally  more  satisfactory 

:e  than  has  been  had  since.     The  Fishkill 

and  Shoe  Company  is  another  enterprise 

|Which  he  was  associated;  but  this  proved 

Jportunate  venture.      He  was  one  of  the 

:  nizers  and  a  trustee  of  the  Mount  Beacon 

■my  Association.     On  the  organization  of 

lechanics  Savings  Bank,  in  1866,  he  was 

d  secretary,  and  served  in  that  capacity 

the  death  of  his  father  in    1883,  when  he 

;lected  president,  which  position  he  has 

lied  since;   he  is  the  only  charter  member 

11  the  board.    He  succeeded  James  Macken 

esident  of  the  First  National    Bank,    in 


1886,  and  still  holds  the  position.  The  banks 
have  always  retained  the  full  confidence  of  the 
public,  and  never  during  time  of  the  most  seri- 
ous financial  panic  and  disaster  has  there  been 
a  run  or  any  indication  of  want  of  faith  in  their 
stability.  The  National  Bank  has  recently 
erected  one  of  the  finest  and  strongest  Safe  De- 
posit Vaults  between  New  York  and  Albany. 
The  average  line  of  deposits  in  the  National 
Bank  is  about  $300,000,  and  it  has  a  surplus 
of  about  $80,000.  The  Savings  Bank  has  one 
million,  four  hundred  thousand  dollars  on  de- 
posit, with  a  surplus  of  one  hundred  and  eighty 
thousand. 

Up  to  1892  the  local  transportation  be- 
tween the  villages  of  Fishkill  Landing,  Mattea- 
wan  and  Glenham,  and  the  depots  and  ferry, 
was  by  hack,  stage  or  omnibus.  Mr.  Smith 
and  some  of  his  friends,  believing  that  the  in- 
terests of  the  town  required  a  more  e.xpeditious 
and  convenient  mode  of  transit,  undertook  to 
supply  the  deficiency  by  an  electric  street  rail- 
way, and  accordingly  the  Citizens  Street  Rail- 
way Company  was  organized,  with  Mr.  Smith 
as  president  and  general  manager.  Work  was 
commenced  May  27,  1892,  and  the  first  car 
ran  over  the  line  August  27,  1892,  the  success 
of  the  enterprise  justifying  fully  the  judgment 
of  those  who  planned  and  built  it.  In  1895 
the  Fishkill  Electric  Railway  Co.  was  organ- 
ized, and  Mr.  Smith  was  elected  president.  A 
road  four  and  one  quarter  miles  long  joining 
the  Citizens  at  the  Fountain  Street  crossing, 
Matteawan,  and  running  to  Fishkill  village, 
was  laid  out  and  completed  June  13,  1895. 
This  road  was  leased  to  the  Citizens  Company, 
and  the  two  are  now  operated  under  one  man- 
agement. Notwithstanding  the  great  depres- 
sion in  business  for  the  last  three  years,  the 
roads  have  proved  a  success,  and  have  earned 
a  reputation  for  enterprising  management  and 
prompt  and  efficient  service  second  to  none  of 
the  roads  in  the  smaller  cities  of  the  country. 
As  may  be  inferred,  Mr.  Smith  is  devoted  to 
business  and  is  an  indefatigable  worker,  mas- 
tering all  the  details  of  every  duty  he  assumes. 
Systematic  and  thorough  in  all  his  undertak- 
ings, his  knowledge  of  affairs  and  close  obser- 
vation allows  little  to  escape  his  notice,  and 
keeps  him  closely  in  touch  with  the  numerous 
duties  that  demand  his  attention.  He  is  par- 
ticularly fortunate  in  his  family  relations.  His 
home  erected  in  1871  comprises  about  five 
acres  of  lawn  and  garden,  commanding  a  mag- 
nificent view  of   mountain   and  river,    and   is 


856 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


presided  over  by  a  lady  whose  kindliness,  cul- 
ture, refinement  and  devotion  to  her  family 
makes  an  ideal  home. 


CHARLES  SHERMAN  (deceased)  was  a  na- 
_'  tive  of  the  town  of  Beekman,  Dutchess 
county,  born  October  24,  182G,  and  belonged 
to  a  family  that  for  several  generations  has 
been  prominently  identified  with  the  interests 
of  Dutchess  county.  Benjamin  Sherman,  his 
great-grandfather,  was  born  February  3,  1736, 
and  died  in  1805,  while  his  grandfather,  Uriah 
Sherman,  was  born  in  1765,  and  died  February 
26,   1822.     The  latter  married  Paulina  Hurd. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  who  also  bore 
the  name  of  Benjamin  Sherman,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  Decem- 
ber 29,  1798,  but  passed  most  of  his  life  in  the 
town  of  Beekman,  dying  there  November  10, 
1862.  He  married  Miss  Hannah  Brill,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  seven  children: 
John  B.,  who  is  engaged  in  business  at  the 
stock-yards  in  Chicago;  Charles  amd  Alexan- 
der, both  deceased;  Maria,  wife  of  James 
Ashly,  of  Chicago;  I.  N.  Walter,  of  Chicago; 
Phebe  E.,  wife  of  George  Brill,  of  Chicago; 
and  William  W.,  of  the  same  city.  By  trade 
the  father  was  a  blacksmith. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  a  good 
district-school  education  in  the  town  of  Beek- 
man, where  his  early  life  was  passed,  and 
when  a  young  man  he  went  to  Chicago,  111., 
becoming  connected  with  the  stock-yards,  in 
fact  helping  to  found  the  stock-yards  at  what 
was  then  the  foot  of  Madison  street  and  the 
southwestern  plank  road  (now  Ogden  avenue). 
He  was  engaged  in  that  business  for  many 
years,  and  in  1865  returned  to  the  town  of 
Beekman,  where  he  carried  on  farming  during 
the  remainder  of  his  life. 

In  the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  Dutchess 
county,  Mr.  Sherman  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  A.  Rogers,  and  to  them  were  born  a 
daughter,  Caroline  Adriance,  and  a  son,  George 
Benjamin,  born  April  28,  1867,  died  April  22, 
1876.  Stephen  Rogers,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Sherman,  was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Beek- 
man, as  was  also  his  father,  John  Rogers. 
The  former  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and 
was  killed  by  a  runaway  before  his  daughter 
was  born.  Her  mother  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Caroline  Adriance.  There  were  only  two 
children  in  the  family,  the  brother  of  Mrs. 
Sherman  being  Jacob  A.  Rogers  (now  deceased). 


In  politics  Mr.  Sherman  first  affiliated  with 
the  Whig  party,  later  becoming  an  ardent  Re- 
publican, while  socially  he  was  a  member  of 
Hopewell  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.  Throughout  his 
career  his  duties  were  performed  with  the 
greatest  care,  and  his  personal  honor  and  in- 
tegrity were  without  blemish.  His  memory 
will  be  a  sacred  inheritance  to  his  relatives, 
and  will  be  cherished  by  a  multitude  of  friends. 
As  a  husband  and  father  he  was  a  model  wor- 
thy of  all  imitation,  unassuming  in  his  manner, 
sincere  in  his  friendships,  steadfast  and  un- 
swerving in  his  loyalty  to  the  right.  He  died] 
October  15,  1882. 


GEORGE  LOCKWOOD,  a  retired  carriag 
manufacturer  and  well-known   citizen 
Poughkeepsie,   Dutchess  county,   was  born  il 
Yorkshire,   England,   near   Huddersfield,   Juljl 
17,    1823,   and  was  a  six-year-old    boy    whej 
brought  to  this  country  by  his  parents. 

Our  subject  spent  his  boyhood  in  the  cit'j 
of  Poughkeepsie,  and  in  1842  was  apprenticeJ 
to  Lewis  F.  Streit  for  two  years,  after  whicil 
he  went  into  partnership  with  Mr.  Streit  il 
the  manufacture  of  carriages,  remaining  witi 
him  until  the  business  was  discontinued  il 
1888.  Since  then  Mr.  Lockwood  has  led  a  rfj 
tired  life.  He  was  married  in  Poughkeeps:! 
November  i,  1853,  to  Miss  Alvira  Mason  Jenksj 
by  whom  he  had  three  children:  Alma  KatiJ 
who  married  William  Oscar  Poole;  Ella  Paul 
ine;  Edgar  Streit,  who  married  Miss  May  ll 
Howard,  and  they  have  one  child — GeorJ 
Howard,  born  March  14,  1887.  Mr.  Locf 
wood  is  a  member  of  the  Veteran  Firemen's  A| 
sociation,  and  of  Niagara  Steamer  Co.  No. 
of  which  latter  he  has  been  a  member  sini 
1843.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and 
1863  was  elected  alderman  from  the  Sixth  wai| 
he  also  served  as  Alms  House  commissioner. 

William  Lockwood,  the  father  of  our  stl 
ject,  was  born  in  Yorkshire,   England,   wh«| 
he  received  his  early  education,  and  later  wl 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  woolen  clo'l 
He  was  married  in  Yorkshire  to  Miss  HannI 
Hurst,  and    they   had   the  following  childnfi 
Rachel,  married  to  Joseph  Eastmead;  SarJ 
married  to  William  Knight ;  George ;  John,  ml 
ried  to  Margaret  Wigg;  Henry;   Margaret,  ml 
ried  to  Theron  Shaw;  Jane,  married  to  J. 
Dakin;  and  Mary,  married  to  Henry  Godf 
(now  deceased).     They  are  all  now  decea 
except  George,  Jane  and  Mary.     In  1829, 


^^ 


\cy 


COMMEMOBA  TIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


357 


father  came  to  this  country,  and  to  Poughkeep- 
sie,  where  he  worked  in  the  Williams  factory 
for  several  years,  and  then  went  to  Titusville, 
in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  where  he  lived  for  a 
time.  From  there  he  set  out  by  boat  for  Michi- 
gan, with  the  intention  of  buying  a  farm  in 
that  State;  but  while  sailing  up  the  lake  he  was 
drowned  near  Detroit.  This  was  in  1850.  His 
wife  died  in  Titusville,  N.  Y. ,  in  1876. 

George  Jenks,  the  father  of  Mrs.  George 
Lockwood,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Amenia, 
Dutchess  Co.  ,N.  Y.,  June  24,  1795.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Catherine  Knickerbocker,  who  was 
born  in  Amenia  October  8,  1803,  and  to  them 
came  four  children,  namely:  Alvira  Mason, 
Sarah  Ann,  Andrew  M.,  and  Lucy  Maria,  the 
latter  of  whom  is  now  deceased.  Mr.  Jenks, 
who  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  died  August 
19,  1832;  his  wife  departed  this  life  in  Novem- 
ber 30,  1 88 1. 

William  Jenks,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Lockwood,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Amenia.  He  married  Miss  Sarah  Mygatt,  and 
they  followed  the  occupation  of  farmers.  Both 
were  natives  of  Rhode  Island. 


TOSEPH  G.  FROST,  a  leading  undertaker  of 

I    Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  is  also  one 

of  the  most  popular  officials  of  that  city, 

laving  the  distinction  of  being  the  only  Re- 

;)ublican  candidate  to  be  elected  at  one  of  the 

;lections  on  the  city  ticket.      His  family  is  of 

,l2nglish  origin,  and  he  is  a  descendant  of  one  of 

i  hree  brothers  of  that   name  who  came  from 

England  in  early  times,  one  settling  in  Massa- 

husets,  one  on  Long  Island,  and  one,  his  an- 

estor,  near  Rensselaerville,  Albany  Co.,  N.Y. , 

vhere  many  descendants  now  live. 

George  Frost,  our  subject's  grandfather,  a 

armer  by  occupation,  was  a  life-long  resident 

here,  and  three  of  his  six  sons  settled  in  the 

;ieighborhood.    Of  the  others  one  located  near 

xladison,  Wis.,  and  two  in  Poughkeepsie,  one 

ngaging  in  the  confectionery  business.     The 

;ither,    William    Frost,    our    subject's    father, 

itorn  in  1799,  was  nineteen  years  old  when  he 

■  ent  to  Poughkeepsie  and  found  employment 

s  a  clerk  with  his  cousin,  Solomon  B.  Frost. 

lie  was  admitted   to   partnership  after  a  few 

ears,  but  later  formed  the  firm  of  Frost  & 

an  Wyck,  and  was  in  the  dry-goods  business 

jt  No.  316  Main  street  at  the  time  of  the  great 

re.     He  rebuilt  the  store,  which  is  nowoccu- 

d  by   Quintard   Bros.,    and    continued    his 


business  there  until  1849,  when  he  disposed  of 
it  and  went  to  Washington,  then  called  Nine 
Partners,  the  location  of  the  well-known  board- 
ing school,  and  conducted  a  store  there  for  two 
years.  In  1851  he  returned  to  Poughkeepsie 
and  resumed  his  business  there,  but  after  the 
death  of  his  brother,  Stephen,  in  1854,  he  sold 
out  and  took  his  brother's  store,  which  he  sold 
four  years  later  to  Mr.  Atkins  and  his  son  Rob- 
ert. He  then  purchased  the  business  of  R.  D. 
C.  Stoughtenburgh,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Garden  streets,  continuing  it  at  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Crandall  streets,  occupying  three 
stores.  This  was  one  of  the  largest  stores  in 
the  city  at  the  time  of  his  death,  January  13, 
1878.  He  was  a  Hicksite  Quaker,  and  his  up- 
right character  made  a  friend  of  every  ac- 
quaintance. In  early  life  he  was  an  Old-line 
Whig,  but  the  introduction  of  the  slavery 
question  into  politics  made  him  an  earnest  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  party  from  its  very 
beginning.  He  married  Sarah  H.  Woolley, 
daughter  of  Joseph  P.  Woolley,  a  prominent 
resident  of  Dutchess  county,  and  they  had  three 
children,  of  whom  our  subject  was  the  young- 
est. Robert  W.  was  a  well-known  business 
man  of  Poughkeepsie,  who  died  in  1892.  Mary 
E.  is  now  the  wife  of  George  G.  Berry,  of 
Brooklyn.  New  York. 

Joseph  G.  Frost  was  born  February  6, 
1839,  in  Poughkeepsie,  at  No.  302  Mill  street, 
in  the  house  now  owned  by  Mr.  Pelton.  He 
received  a  good  education  for  the  time,  at- 
tending the  Dutchess  County  Academy  under 
Prof.  P.  S.  Burchan  and  Prof.  McGeorge.  In 
1854  he  began  the  study  of  dentistry  with  Dr. 
Charles  H.  Roberts  and  remained  with  him 
until  the  spring  of  1859,  when  he  opened  an 
office  for  himself  at  No.  292  Main  street.  In 
1862  he  was  obliged  to  abandon  all  work  on 
account  of  ill  health,  and  after  two  years  of 
rest  he  engaged  in  clerical  labor  in  the  office 
of  Provost  Marshal  W.  S.  Johnson,  where  he 
remained  until  his  appointment  in  1865  to  the 
office  of  city  chamberlain.  In  1866  he  was 
reappointed  to  the  common  council,  and  in 
1867  and  1868  was  elected  city  collector  on 
the  Republican  ticket.  In  1868  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  Robert  H.  Woolley,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Woolley  &  Frost,  and  pur- 
chased the  harness  business  of  James  Bogardus, 
which  he  continued  until  1874,  the  firm  name 
being  changed  several  times,  however,  first 
to  Frost  &  Parrish,  then  to  Frost  &  Davis, 
and  finally  to  J.  G.  Frost.     On  disposing  of 


858 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


this  enterprise  to  Overocker  Bros,  in  1874, 
Mr.  Frost  engaged  in  tiie  undertaking  business 
with  Mallory  &  Doughty,  and  later  with  Nel- 
son &  Seward,  and  in  1876  he  established  a 
business  in  his  own  name  at  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Academy  streets,  which  he  has  since 
continued  successfully,  removing  five  years 
ago  to  his  present  location.  No.  319  Main 
street.  In  1881  he  was  elected  coroner  for 
three  years,  and  has  held  the  office  for  five 
consecutive  terms.  His  last  election  falling  at 
a  time  when  the  Republicans  encountered  re- 
verses everywhere,  he  was  the  only  one  on  the 
ticket  to  win  the  day.  He  has  held  the  office 
of  supervisor  of  the  Third  ward  for  two  years, 
1877  and  1878.  He  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Hudson  River  Driving  Park  Association 
and  its  secretary  for  several  years,  and  has 
taken  an  influential  part  in  many  local  move- 
ments. 

In  1865  Mr.  Frost  married  Miss  Rebecca 
C.  North,  daughter  of  Reuben  North,  who  was 
for  many  years  the  cashier  of  the  Poughkeepsie 
National  Bank.  They  have  six  children: 
Helen  North,  Mina  Louise,  Raymond  Mott, 
Allen,  Marion  North  and  Louis  North.  Mr. 
and  Mrs .  Frost  are  members  of  Christ 
Church  (Protestant  Episcopal),  and  he  is  an 
active  supporter  of  its  various  lines  of  effort. 
In  his  younger  days  he  was  much  interested  in 
the  fire  department,  and  he  is  now  a  member 
of  the  Veteran  Firemen's  Association.  He 
also  belongs  to  the  F.  &  A.  M.  and  the  K.  of  P. 


M' 


fRS.  MARY  MELVILLE  WATKINS.  As 
a  substantial  citizen  of  Pawling,  Dutch- 
ess county,  the  late  Alexander  Watkins  was 
widely  known,  and  his  high  character  as  a  man 
drew  to  him  the  friendship  and  warm  esteem 
of  those  whom  business  relations  had  brought 
into  acquaintance.  For  many  years  he  had 
been  engaged  in  business  as  a  blacksmith,  win- 
ning a  reputation  as  a  leading  worker  in  his 
line,  and  his  death  from  pneumonia,  in  1891, 
caused  sincere  grief  among  the  people  who  had 
known  him  as  neighbor  and  friend,  as  well  as 
among  the  closer  circles  of  the  home,  where 
the  loss  fell  heaviest.  He  left  a  widow,  Mrs. 
Mary  Melville  Watkins,  and  six  children  by  his 
first  wife,  Miss  Ella  Dougherty,  also  survive 
him,  namely:  Harry,  Charles,  William,  Agnes, 
Alexander  and  George. 

Mrs.  Watkins  is  a  native  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. , 
and  her  education  was  acquired  in  the  schools 


of  that  city.      Her  family  is  of  Irish  origin,  tHel 
home  of  her  ancestors  being  at  Dublin,  where f 
her  grandfather,  John  Melville,  was  born,  livedl 
and   died.      He  was  educated   in  the   schools! 
there,  and  became  a  carpenter  by  occupation. 
He  and  his  wife,  Madge  Farrell,  reared  a  familyj 
of  children,  among  whom   was  John  Melville, 
Mrs.  Watkin's  father,  who  was  born  in  Dubliin.l 
but  was  brought  to  America  at  a  very  early  age.  I 
His  education,  which  had  already  been  began] 
in  the  schools  of  his   native   place,  was  com-l 
pleted  here,  and  he  then  engaged  in  businesfj 
as  a  ship  carpenter,  and  was  employed  in  thall 
capacity  for   about   thirty   years  in   the  navjj 
yard  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ,  where  his  death-  oc| 
curred  in  1863.      He  married  Miss  Mary  Howl 
ard,  and  of  their   four  children  Mrs.  Watkinij 
is  the  only  survivor,  the  others — James,  Johtj 
and  Bessie — having  died  in  childhood. 


ICHARD  TITUS  (deceased)  was  born  ir 
EL  the  town  of  Lagrange,  Dutchess  county 
February  4,  1838,  and  was  a  well-known  citi 
zen  of  that  locality.  [A  history  of  his  ancestrl 
will  be  found  in  the  sketch  of  his  brother  Rob 
ert.]  His  boyhood  days  were  spent  in  Titus 
ville,  where  he  attended  the  district  school 
and  he  later  became  a  student  at  the  privat 
school  of  E.  R.  Roe,  in  Cornwall. 

Mr.    Titus  learned   the  business  of   pape 
manufacturing  in  Columbia  county.  N.  Y.,  bu 
for  many  years  was  a    member  of  the  firm  c 
E.   Titus   &    Sons,    manufacturers    of    woole 
goods.      When  the  Civil  war  broke  out  he  re 
sponded  to   the  call  for  volunteers,  and  in  Oc^ 
tober,   1862,  enlisted   in  the  150th   Regiment 
N.  Y.  V.  I.,  which  was  assigned  to  the  Arm 
of  the  Potomac.      He  served  until  the  close  c 
the  war,  and  his  record  as  a  brave  soldier  is 
truly  precious  legacy  to   his  family.     He  er 
tered  the  army  as  first  lieutenant,   was  pr( 
moted  to  captain,  and  for  gallant  conduct  W£ 
breveted  major.      The  war  ended  he  returne; 
to  Lagrange,  and  resumed  his  business,  whic 
he  carried  on  until  his  death,  March  19,  188: 
He  was  a  quiet,  unostentatious  man,  fond  (' 
his  home  and  family,  and  universally  liked  ar 
respected  by  his  associates.      He  was  marrif 
in  the  town  of  Lagrange  September  5,  186 
to  Miss   Harriet    Hopkins,    whose    birth  toe 
place  in  that  township   May  18,   1841,  and 
this  union    six    children    were    born,   name! 
Elias,  Elizabeth,  Florence,  Alida,  Marion  ar| 
Richard  William.  * 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


359 


Dr.  \\'illiani  H.  Hopkins,  the  father  of 
Mrs.  Titus,  was  born  in  Carmel,  Putnam  Co., 
N.  Y. ,  February  3,  18 13.  He  was  graduated 
from  the  Medical  Department  of  Yale  Univer- 
sity in  1837,  and  in  the  following  year  passed 
as  physician  and  surgeon  of  the  State  prison 
at  Sing  Sing.  In  1838  he  located  at  Sprout 
Creek,  in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  Dutchess 
county,  taking  the  practice  of  Dr.  Sleight. 
On  February  5,  1840,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Jemima,  daughter  of  Elias  T.  Van- 
Benschoten,  and  the  following  children  blessed 
their  union:  Harriet,  born  May  18,  1841; 
Elias  T.,  September  3,  1843;  John,  July  8, 
1845;  Elizabeth,  May  10,  1848;  and  William 
G.,  February  28,  1850. 

Dr.    Hopkins   remamed   at    Sprout   Creek 

jntil  1868,  then  went  to  Providence  for  a  year. 

(n  1S70  he  removed   to    Hyde   Park,  where  in 

:onnection  vvith  his  practice   he   carried  on  a 

Irug  store  until  his  death,  which  took  place  in 

1890.      Dr.   Hopkins'   ancestors  came  over  in 

he  •' Mayflower "   and    he   inherited   the    best 

:haracteristics  of  his  Puritan  forefathers.      He 

vas  a  man  of  much  ability,  and  held  an  hon- 

>red  place  in   his   profession.      In  politics  he 

vas  a    Republican;  socially    a    member  of  the 

I   Jasonic  order;  in  Church   connection,  a  vest- 

ri  yman  and  treasurer  of   St.    James  Episcopal 

,1  "hurch  at  Hyde  Park. 


'OSEPH  D.    HARCOURT  (deceased).      In 

1866  J.  W.    Harcourt,   of  Albany,  N.    Y., 

obtained   the  escutcheon  and   genealogical 

iiart    of   the    Harcourts,    which    traces    that 

imily  back  to  the  remote  period  of  A.  D.  876, 

nd  shows  it  to  have   been  one   of  the  most 

icient,   honorable  and   wealthy  in   England. 

urther  research  having  been  made,  it  has  de- 

rloped  that  Richard  Harcourt  (i)  was  the  son 

,  a  sister  of   Francis  Weston,  and  settled  in 

ick,    R.    I.,    about    1650.      He  married 

abeth,   daughter   of    Robert    Potter,    who 

as  an  ancestor  of  Bishop  Potter.      Richard 

arcourt  (i)  removed  with  the  Townsends  to 

)ng  Island  about  1656,  and  afterward  became 

le  of  the  first  settlers  qf  Oyster  Bay.      He 

■^  twice  a  member  of  the  Court  of  Commis- 

ners,    and    at   Oyster    Bay    was  constable, 

'ice  of  the  peace  and  surveyor,  appointed  to 

:ifer  with  the  governor,  which  offices  in  those 

'  ys  were  among  the  very  highest.      His  chil- 

;n  were  Daniel,  Benjamin,  Isabel,  Elizabeth, 

iry  Dorothy,   Sarah,    Mercy   and    Meribah. 


^r  a  51 

■TTfzab 


Of  Daniel  nothing  is  known  except  that  his 
wife's  name  was  Sarah,  and  that  he  moved  to 
New  Jersey.  Benjamin  married  Hannah  Dick- 
enson, and  had  two  sons,  Nathaniel  and  Rob- 
ert. In  his  will  Nathaniel  speaks  of  his 
' '  mother  Esther, "  probably  Esther  Townsend, 
of  Oyster  Bay,  as  she  was  married  to  a  Har- 
court. The  residence  of  Richard  Harcourt  (i) 
was  situated  about  200  yards  from  the  present 
steamboat  landing  at  Oyster  Bay,  a  beautiful 
spot.  The  family  gra\'eyard  has  been  ploughed 
up,  and  all  traces  of  the  headstones  lost.  The 
Harcourt  family  has  always  been  prominent 
in  the  history  of  Wappingers  Falls,  and  its 
member  are  worthy  of  place  in  the  records  of 
Dutchess  county. 

Richard  Harcourt  (2),  father  of  Joseph  D.. 
was  born  September  27,  1779,  in  Milton, 
Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.,  a  son,  it  is  supposed,  of 
Nathaniel  Harcourt,  above  mentioned.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Merrit,  who  was  born  De- 
cember 26,  1788,  in  the  town  of  Marlboro, 
Ulster  county,  and  eight  children  were  born  to 
them,  their  names  and  dates  of  birth  being  as 
follows:  Jane,  1805;  Nelly  M.,  1807;  John 
W. .  1809;  Caroline,  181 1;  Elizabetli,  1815; 
Mercy,  1819;  Joseph  D.,  1822,  and  Sarah  A., 
1824.  The  father  of  these,  who  had  been  a 
farmer  all  his  life,  died  July  12,  1827,  the 
mother  on  January  13,  i860. 

Joseph  D.  Harcourt,  the  subject  of  this 
memoir,  was  born  in  Milton,  Ulster  Co. ,  N.  Y. , 
January  6.  1822,  and  received  his  education 
there.  His  first  employment  was  as  a  clerk  in  a 
store  at  Clintondale,  from  which  place  he  went 
to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where,  for  about  five  years, 
he  was  superintendent  of  a  steamboat  house, 
which  ran  a  steamboat  over  the  People's  Line 
on  the  Hudson  river.  His  next  location  was 
at  Wappingers  Falls,  whither  he  removed 
after  his  marriage,  and  with  whose  interests 
he  was  identified  for  over  half  a  century.  He 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  which  he 
carried  on  until  his  death,  October  13,  1882. 
He  was  married,  March  4,  1844,  to  Miss  Mary 
E.  Woolsey,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Lloyd,  Ulster  county.  September  4,  1823. 
Her  father,  Daniel  Woolsey,  was  from  the 
same  township  as  was  his  father,  Moses  Wool- 
sey. The  latter  married  Miss  Kilsey,  and  had 
several  children.  Daniel  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Deyo,  the  daughter  of  Noah  Deyo,  of 
one  of  the  old  families  of  Ulster  county.  Of 
this  union  seven  children  were  born,  as  fol- 
lows:    Abby,     who    married    Monroe    Deyo; 


I 


860 


COMMEMORATIVE!  BIOOliAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Phebe,  who  became  the  wife  of  James  Elting; 
Mary  E.,  who  became  the  wife  of  our  subject; 
Warner,  married  to  Sarah  Allen;  Roenna,  who 
married  Orlando  Elting;  Anthony,  married  to 
Phebe  Curtis;  and  Charles,  married  to  Hattie 
Carmon. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harcourt 
settled  in  Wappingers  Falls,  where  Mrs.  Har- 
court still  makes  her  home.      Here  the  follow- 
ing children  were  born  to  them:    Jay  D. ,  who 
is  interested  in  the  machine  and  foundry  busi- 
ness  in   Poughkeepsie;  Mary   E.,   married  to 
Denis  Van  Wyck,  a  native  of  Hopewell  Junc- 
tion,  Dutchess   county  (Mr.  Van   Wyck   died 
August    4,    1880,   leaving   one    child,    Nellie) 
Emma  W.  and   Carrie,  who  died   in  infancy 
Elizabeth  W. ,  married  to  Dr.  I.  M.  Cornell 
Israel  T.  N.,  a  merchant  at  Wappingers  Falls. 

During  his  active  life  Joseph  D.  Harcourt 
was  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  his  village, 
and  took  part  in  all  matters  of  public  interest, 
such  as  schools,  churches,  etc.,  and  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Wappinger  Savings  Bank.  He 
was  a  liberal  contributor  to  all  worthy  enter- 
prises, and  did  much  to  promote  the  growth 
of  the  town.  He  was  a  kind  husband  and 
tender  father,  and  had  many  warm  personal 
friends  who  deeply  mourned  him.  His  widow 
is  a  most  estimable  woman,  and  his  children 
rank  among  the  best  people  of  the  village  where 
their  parents  spent  so  many  years. 


T^HOMAS  REED,  one  of  the  oldest  mem- 
hers  of  the  New  York  Stock  Exchange, 

and  a  well-known  business  man,  now  residing 
at  Rhinebeck,  was  born  in  that  village,  Sep- 
tember 14,  1822. 

For  many  generations  his  ancestors  resided 
in  Cumberland,  England,  and  his  grandparents, 
Thomas  and  Anna  (Hall)  Reed,  reared  there  a 
family  of  three  children:  Stephen,  Mary  and 
John.  Stephen  Reed  died  in  1785.  His  son, 
John,  our  subject's  father,  was  born  in  1777, 
and  received  his  education  in  his  native  place. 
In  1 8 1 1 ,  inspired  with  a  desire  to  try  his  for- 
tunes in  the  New  World,  he  came  to  America, 
and  locating  at  Rhinebeck,  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. He  was  a  Baptist  in  religious  faith,  and 
ever  active  in  furthering  the  cause  of  religion. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Scott,  a  daughter  of 
Robert  Scott,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Rhine- 
beck, who  came  to  the  county  in  1795  from 
Lincolnshire,  England.  Robert  Scott  was  a 
man  of  fine  talents,  and  his  excellent  education 


enabled  him  to  become  a  very  successful 
teacher;  in  1796  he  opened  a  school  at  Rhine- 
beck, and  enrolled  the  children  of  some  of  the 
best  families  in  New  York  City,  many  of  the 
pupils  becoming  men  of  note.  Before  coming 
to  this  country,  Robert  Scott,  though  of  a  family 
belonging  to  the  Established  Church,  had  be 
come  a  \\'esleyan,  and  traveled  about  his  na- 
tive country  preaching  as  a  minister  of  that 
denomination.  He  later  became  a  Baptist, 
and  then  followed  his  trade,  that  of  cabinet- 
making,  until  his  coming  to  this  country,  and 
also  for  a  few  weeks  after  he  reached  New 
York.  He  became  the  founder  of  the  Baptist 
Church  at  Rhinebeck,  and  was  the  first  pastor. 
He  died  September  24,  1834,  and  his  wife, 
Elizabeth  Kitching,  survived  him  twenty  years, 
dying  at  the  age  of  ninety-four.  Of  their  four 
children,  Mrs.  Reed  was  the  eldest;  Ellen  mar- 
ried O'Hara  D.  T.  Fox,  of  Ulster  county;  Ann 
married  Charles  Logan,  of  Rhinebeck,  and 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine  years;  Mary  mar- 
ried William  Hughan,  and  died  at  Rhinebeck 
in  1 831;  and  Jane  married  Jacob  Dedrick,  and 
died  at  Saugerties.  John  Reed  died  in  1857, 
and  his  wife  in  1852.  Of  their  two  children 
Thomas,  our  subject,  is  the  elder,  and  Mary  is 
now  the  wife  of  Cornelius  A.  Rynders,  of 
Rhinebeck. 

Thomas  Reed  received   a  good  education 
for  his  time  in  the  schools  of  his  native  town,j 
and    his  later    reading    has    made    him    un-| 
usually    well   informed    upon    current    topics.' 
His  first    employment    was    in   the  dry-goods 
store  of  William  B.  Piatt,  as  a  clerk  and  lateij, 
as  a  partner,  in  all  covering  a  period  from  183/I 
to  1850;  he  then   clerked  in  New  York  in  the: 
wholesale  dry-goods    store  of    L.  &  V.  Kirbj 
for    two    years,    thence    going  to    Saugerties' 
where  under  the  firm  name  of  Wilbur,  Reed  6 
Russell  he  was  engaged  in  the  wholesale  Blue 
stone  and  general  merchandise  businesses  unti 
1864,  since  which  time  he  has  been  connectec 
with  the    New    York    Stock    Exchange.     Hi 
first  partner  as  a   stock  broker  was  C.  N.  Jor 
dan  (the  firm  being  Reed  &  Jordan),  the  pres 
ent  sub-treasurer  of  New  York. 

On  June  7.  1851,  Mr.  Reed  was  united  i 
marriage  with  Julia  A.  Van  Keuren,  a  daugl' 
ter  of  Garrett  Van  Keuren,  and  a  granc 
daughter  of  Abram  Van  Keuren,  an  early  se' 
tier  at  Rhinebeck,  and  a  soldier  in  the  war  c 
the  Revolution.  Abram  Van  Keuren  bougl 
the  estate  now  occupied  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reec 
in  1782,  and  built  the  house  in  which  they  no 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD 


361 


live,  and  in  which  his  death  occurred  in  1817. 
To  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born 
six  children,  namely:  Cora  married  Rev. 
Lewis  A.  Mitchell,  of  Niagara  Falls;  Anna 
Hall  is  at  home;  Thomas  Reed,  Jr.,  an  attor- 
ney and  counselor  at  law,  is  a  member  of  the 
New  York  Stock  Exchange;  Sarah  married 
Frank  Herrick,  of  Rhinebeck;  Henry,  Helen 
(a  member  of  the  class  of  '86  of  Vassar  Col- 
lege) and  Julia  are  at  home.  Mr.  Reed  is  now 
located  on  his  charming  estate  at  Rhinebeck, 
and  there,  with  his  wife  and  family,  is  now 
enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  past  labors.  He  is  a 
man  of  much  public  spirit,  a  Republican  in 
politics;  and  he  and  his  family  are  members  of 
the  Baptist  Church,  taking  a  generous  interest 
in  its  various  lines  of  work.  Mr.  Reed  is  also 
a  member  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society. 


GEORGE  T.  BELDING,  who  passed  from 
earth  December  19,  1888,  at  the  age  of 
tifty-eight  years,  was  one  of  the  prominent 
citizens  of  Dover  Plains,  Dutchess  county, 
where,  as  a  leader  among  men,  his  name  is 
held  in  reverence  and  honor.  He  was  born 
January  28,  1830,  the  son  of  Dr.  Silas  T. 
Belding,  of  Dover  Plains,  who  was  quite  a  Ht- 
erary  man  in  his  day.  Previous  to  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  war  our  subject  had  estab- 
lished a  clothing  store  in  Chicago,  111.,  but 
after  the  close  of  that  struggle  he  returned  to 
Dover  Plains,  and  purchased  the  William  H. 
[Selding  farm  in  the  town  of  Dover,  which  he 
conducted  for  some  time.  He  afterward 
erected  a  three-story  building  in  the  village, 
where  he  carried  on  merchandising  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death. 

During    his  residence    here,    Mr.    Belding 

■vas  very  influential  in  public  affairs,  as  by  his 

itrong  force  of  character  and  undoubted  integ- 

ity,  he    gained  the  confidence  of  the  people, 

vho  saw  in  him  a  man  whom  they  could  trust 

IS  a  guide,  and  well  fitted  to  hold  public  office. 

4e  filled  many  positions  of  honor  and   trust, 

eluding  that  of  supervisor,  which  he  held  for 

veral  terms.      His  death  left  a  vacancy  hard 

'  be  filled,  and  was  considered  a  severe  blow 

'  the  material  interests  of  the  town. 

Mr.  Belding  was  united  in  marriage  with 
■liss  Sarah  E.  Adriance,  who  was  the  only  one 
f  the  three  children  born  to  John  and  Eliza 
Storm)  Adriance  that  lived  to  adult  age. 
'Oth  parents  had  been  previously  married. 
"0  our  subject  and   his  estimable   wife   were 


born  five  children:  Elias  S.,  who  was  born  in 
Chicago,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Henry  Has- 
brouck,  superintendent  of  the  Ralston  Brick 
Company;  Walter  A.,  who  married  Caroline 
Lawrence,  by  whom  he  has  two  children — 
George  T.  and  Chester  L.;  Fred  K.,  who  is  an 
employe  of  the  Harlem  road;  and  Mary  B.  and 
Harriet  C,  who  died  in  infancy. 

The  Adriance  family  are  of  Dutch  descent 
and  were  among  the  early  Holland  people 
who  came  to  America.  Mrs.  Belding  has  the 
coat  of  arms  that  was  worn  by  Heinrich  von 
Adriance,  who  was  bourghermeister  of  Frei- 
burgh  in  1 549,  and  who  is  described  in  the 
records  as  Friheir  or  Baron.  The  arms  are  a 
cross  upon  a  rock  between  two  grape  vines 
supporting  two  wolves. 

Abraham  Adriance,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Belding,  was  a  native  of  Hopewell,  Dutchess 
county,  born  April  6,  1766,  and  after  com- 
pleting his  education  in  the  common  schools 
always  devoted  his  time  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits. On  July  13,  1788,  he  married  Miss 
Anna  Storm,  whose  birth  occurred  in  1760, 
and  five  children  were  born  to  them:  John, 
the  father  of  Mrs.  Belding;  Edwin,  who  mar- 
ried Eliza  O'Connor;  Albert;  Eliza,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Richard  Parmalee;  and  Cath- 
erine, who  wedded  Charles  Carmen. 

John  Adriance  was  also  born  at  Hopewell, 
his  birth  occurring  January  10,  1795,  where  he 
graduated  from  the  public  schools,  and  after 
learning  the  trade  of  silversmith  established 
himself  in  that  business  at  Poughkeepsie.  He 
was  associated  with  a  Mr.  Hayes,  under  the 
name  of  Hayes  &  Adriance,  and  this  firm  did 
a  successful  business.  As  the  firm  was  one  of 
the  best  and  most  reliable,  much  of  the  solid 
silverware  in  use  in  this  part  of  the  country 
was  stamped  with  their  name.  Mr.  Adriance 
was  always  of  an  inventive  turn  of  mind,  and 
it  was  through  his  efforts  that  the  famous 
Buckeye  Mower  was  placed  upon  the  market. 
He  established  the  first  plant  for  manufactur- 
ing that  machine  at  Poughkeepsie,  where  he 
also  made  plows  and  other  agricultural  imple- 
ments, but  made  a  specialty  of  the  mower  and 
he  always  conducted  that  business  alone.  As 
previously  stated,  he  was  twice  married,  his 
first  union  being  with  Miss  Sarah  Harris,  a 
daughter  of  Capt.  Joseph  Harris,  of  Pough- 
keepsie, and  to  them  were  born  five  children: 
George  H.,  Walter,  John  P.,  Anna  E.  and 
Blandena. 

(i)  George  H.  Adriance,  deceased,  the  first 


862 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


son  of  John  Adriance,  Sr. ,  was  born  in  Pough- 
keepsie  sBid  was  educated  there  and  at  Dover 
Plains.  He  married  Miss  Matilda  Ross  and 
they  had  three  children :  George,  Anna  and 
Nellie.  In  religious  belief  Mr.  Adriance  was  a 
devout  Methodist. 

(2)  Walter  Adriance,  the  second  son,  was 
born  and  reared  at  Poughkeepsie,  there  ob- 
taining his  education,  and  on  reaching  man- 
hood was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Cor- 
delia Brinckerhoff,  a  daughter  of  Derrick 
Brinckerhoff,  who  was  an  agriculturist,  and 
belonged  to  one  of  the  oldest  families  of 
Dutchess  county.  Four  children  were  born  of 
this  union,  as  follows:  William  died  in  in- 
fancy: Sarah  B.  married  Stanley  Kipp.  by 
whom  she  has  three  children;  Anna,  who 
wedded  Henry-  Raynor.  also  has  two  children; 
and  Nellie  died  in  infancy.  Both  daughters 
now  make  their  home  in  Rutherford.  New 
Jersey. 

John  P.   Adriance.  the  third  son,  was  also 
bom    in    Poughkeepsie,    where    he    attended 
school,  and  was  later  a  student  in  the  Dover 
Plains  Academy,    from    which    he   graduated. 
Going  to   New   Preston.    Conn.,    at  an    early 
age,   he  there  engaged   in   merchandising  for 
sometime  and  was  very  successful.     On  sell- 
ing out  thkt  business  he  went  to  New  York 
City,  where  he  conducted  a  hardware  estab- 
lishment, associating  with  him  Mr.  Piatt,  the 
firm  being  known  as  Adriance  &  Piatt,  who 
were  located  at  165  Cortland  street.     Previous 
to  his  removal  to  that  city,  however,  he  had 
conducted  a  similar  business  in  New  Hamp- 
shire.    The  firm  of  Adriance  &  Piatt  became, 
in  a  short  time,  one  of  the  leading  bosiness 
booses  of  the  city,  and  always  held  a  high  rep- 
otalioo.    Owing  to  pressing  business  in  Poogb- 
keepne.  at  the  Bncke>'e  Mower  plant,  which 
was  coodocted  by  his  father.  Mr.  Adriance  re- 
moved to  that  city,  tboogfa  he  still  kept  bis 
brterest  in  tbe  New  York  firm.     Being  a  man 
of  sapeiior  bosiness  ability  and  good  manaf^- 
ment.  be  assomed  control  of  tbe  works.    Many 
of  bis  relatives  find  employment  in  diflferent 
ways  witb  tbe  firm.     He  always  took  a  deep 
interest  in  political  affairs,  bat  ooold  never  be 
pfevailed  opon  to  accept  public  positions.    He 
took  ffreat  pleasore  in  i»A  bones,  and  owned 
some  fine  stock.     An  active  Cbmch  worker, 
an  woftbf  pfojects  and  deservii^  people  al- 
ways fomd  in  ham  a  willing  and  ready  helper, 
bat  bis  cbaiities  were  always  performed  in  a 
c|aiet  way. 


On  June  22,  1891,  John  P.  Adriance  was 
called  from  this  life,  and  the  following  ser- 
mon, which  was  preached  at  his  funeral, 
plainly  indicates  the  character  of  the  man: 

The  greatness  of  sewing— Mark  x;4:i-44.  Whosfiever 
will  be  great  among  you,  shall  be  your  minister;  and 
whosoever  of  you  will  be  the  chiefest,  shall  be  servant  of 
all. 

Throughout  the  preaching  of  this  sermon,  I  am  sure 
there  has  l^en  in  your  mind,  even  as  there  was  in  mine 
throughout  the  preparation  of  it,  the  thought  of  on<-,  who 
with  abundant  and  most  sincere  sf)rrow  was  laid  to  r.st, 
only  six  days  ago.  Our  loss  is  so  fresh  and  deep  tliii  it 
will  force  itself  upon  our  attention  at  every  turn,  an' i  to 
take  no  notice  of  it  this  morning  here  in  this  ch^irch 
which  he  loved  so  well,  and  helped  so  richly,  wer<  will 
nigh  imp<«sible.  Words  of  praise  oiiKerning  hit: 
nwJless  for  me  to  speak. 

The  silent  sorrow  pf-r"—^"""  't.<-  u.i,.l.-  ntv 
quant;  and  the  spontanei.  '1 

by  all  who  were  aa^uainv  'S 

of  those  who  bad  been  privilcgeil  Uj  sbare  lii»  fru-ii'Liliin; 
and  abrjve  all  the  tender  benedictions  of  the  many  to 
whom  he  had  been  a  generous  benefactor  are  his  licit 
eulogy.    Nor  would  words  of  public   prai.«e   fje   tittinK. 

He  never  sought  them,  nay,  he  rather  ^    -  -    •'   

On  these  days  when  ortenution  and  floi. 
are  found  so  often,  «rven   in  f/bilan'*''" 
aaivity,  it  was  delightful  to  meet 
f  re»:  from  them — one  who  obeyed  s^i  ' 
injunction  :  "When  thou  doest  alms  let  not  t^ 
know  what  thy  right  hand  doeth,"    And  u>  i. 
goijd  deeds  openly  now,  pleasant  as  the  tasV 
were  a  violatKjn  of  the  modest  secrecy  wit 
covered  them.     But  tbe  l«s«on  of  his  life  i»  planiiv 
us  and  may  be  spitkea  tA,  though  very  briefly,  fr 
pulpit  t*>-day. 

John  P.  Adriance  was  unriuestionably  " 

chiefest  among  our  citizens.    FuDlic  winion.  '     -> 

•entjng  voice,  declares  that  no  man  held  a  r 
in  tbe  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fell'/ws.  •"■ 

a  wider  inSuence.  or  will  be  more  •©!» 
secret  of  bis  supremacy  is  tbe  same  wh 
broi^^iit  before  us.    There  have  been  arru. 
men  more  weaftby  than  be,  just  as  wise  and  a 
acss  maners,  equally  Messed  witb  tbe  grace* 
a  dianiiiiig  socul  Ide.    Bat  his  endowment 
nnasaai  degree,  be  constantly  employed  in  ti: '  ^ 

odien^    Weatefa  to  him  was  a  sacredtrust.  and  in  JMi' 
gifts,  and  still  more  in  private  charities,  know«  oaqf  < 
tbe  redpienttand  to  Heaven,be  made  bis  w 
ice  to  ail.    Becaose  be  ibososed  it  be  fo<. 
power  wbicb  bcs  in  iarce  poMeaHons:  and  t 
tbe  bittencns  wbicb  ricfae*  often  bcf  et  were  : 
toward  bim.    Tbe  poor  rejoiced  in  his  prospe- 
Atf  feft  ft  in  a  certain  sense  to  be  meir  <r/ 
manner  bis  practical  wisdom  and  hnsineas  af - 
tbe  service  at  ail  who  needed  it.    Tbe  man 
perplezjtj  and  needed  safe  coonsei  came  c^ 
ten:  begave  it-wt  as  men  often  givcvc^ 
inpnlsiv^lF-bM witb  tbe  aane  doe  amm^.- 
deep  tbou^  as  if  tbe  matter  woe  bis  /wr. 
wbofoMJdbwmtf  amidtbebreafcesof  ib 
ter.  bMt  Hrfeai  MMK  sBanccram  aWeogler 
tafcedKbeln,iowMl  MC&  in  bam.    There  ^ 
mento-dajr.in  this  dtjr  anddsewhere,towh(/^ 
of  greatest  danger  be cameas  an  angd  of  «af 
And  Ae  jays  of  private  hie  woe  o<  I 
him.  save  as  he  conid  share  them  widiothcrf 
wa*  Kke  a  home  to  the  manf  to  wfaoMi  be  g" 
ihimjnfnlnisi.  a  bralbcr's  ktve.    Has  aeu 
service  to  ^ae  who  were  in  Mnow.or  trial, ' 
orneed  of  aajr  kind,  were  nnmhrrirsf     To^ 
degnee  he  pat  hhMdf  in  fonr  place,  and  act' 


COMXEMORATn'B   BIOGRAPHICAL   SBCORD. 


388 


C1I\  • 
a' 

an\  .' 
aif'N 
C:  -  - 
b-. 

N         s 

ntt> ;  \ 


to  thf  revelation  thus  given.     He  was  a  grreat  man-  great 
because  he  renderetl  great  Service.     Up  from  the  wbole 
•    "  'he  heans  of  poor  and  rich  ahke,  from  all  sons 
ns  of  men,  conies  the  cominon  testimoay — 
-    ret!  to  me."     Is  not  this  true  iiTvatness  ?  Can 
i.er  cvmiivare  with  it .'    The  secret  of  such  a  life  of 
'-?  which  humble  themselves  to  help  others,  lies  in 
It  IS  possible  only  to  oae  wbo  walks  hum- 
'\-ant  oJ  God,  who  loves  Christ,  and  seeks  to 
n;:n.  andwho  lixiks  upon  all  men  as  suffering, 
helpless  brethren  of  the  dear  Lord  and  Master  of 
us  .1        .May  each  ivf  us  learn  the  lessoo  which  lies  in  the 
be.v.;:.tul  years  of  hini  we  nntum  to-dav;   and  mav  a 
douh.t  portiua  of  his  snirit  rest  upi^i  all  who  take  up 'the 
service  fn^m  which  he  has  been  calleri  to  receive  reward. 
While  in  New  York  City,  John  P.  Adriance 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Ruth- 
ven  Piatt,  dauphter  of  Isaac  Piatt,  a  "wealthv 
and  retired  merchant  of  that  city.     To  them 
were  born  the  following  children:     Isaac  R.. 
who    married    Ada   Campbell;    John   EL,  w^o 
wedded     Mar>-     Hasbroucfc;    Harris   E..    who 
wedded  Sarah  Holmes  and  is  a  minister  in  the 
German  Reformed   Church:  William  A. .  who 
married  Minnie  Horton:  James  Ruthveo.  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one:   Francis,  who 
married  Marj-  Hampton;  and   Marion  R..  who 
became  the  wife  of  Silas  Woodell.     All  of  these 
children  were  college  graduates. 

James  R.   .Adriance   was  the  first   of  the 
hbove  family  to  pass  away.     He  was  bom  in 
ptew  York.  June  8,  1856.  but  when  only  tw^ 
pwrs   of   a|!e  was  taken  by    his    parents  to 
Pbu^hkeepsie,  and  in  that  beautiful  ciiv  on  the 
>anks  of  the  Hudson,  his  childhood  and  j-outh 
J«wre  passed.     He  was  fitted  for  collie  under  , 
_be  cire  of  Otis  Bisbee.   Esq..  at  Riverview  ' 
^c:-  nd  in  the  summer  of  1871.  with  an 

•Wt  ...iT  and  another  \-oung  man.  sailed  , 

wr  Europe  in  chaise  of  Rev.  .Alfred  E.  Myefs. 
*ey  spent  a  year  in  foreign  tra»d,  extendii^' 
|h«r  t  >f!r  as  far  east  as  Athens.  Constantinople 
returning  the  following  sommer. 
:  .v;ed  his  prepaiatocy  studies  and  ea- 
!?  heshman  class  of  Williams  Collie 
— iber.  1874.  In  the  early  sprii^  of 
.  his  sopboooR  year,  he  entered 
Chnstian  life,  connecting  himself  at  a 

-  tbe  SeoQod  Refonned  Choich 

He  gndnated   with  honor 

^vas  elected  by  his  class. 

t:  .    ...-rshab.      He  again  sailed 

toward  the  close  of  the  iwiniui. 

the  lenainder  of  the  Piaris  Expo^ 

of  bosiness  connected  with 

„  paiticidarly  fond  of 

^  •*"6"«Res.  he  at  ooce  entered 

o>  instrnctioa.  with  the  riewof 

hmwetf  in  the   French   ku^oage. 


nd 


He  remained  in  Paris  through  the  winter  for 
j  that  purpose,  and  in  Februar>-  joined  a  party 
;  of  friends  who  were  visiting  the  south  of 
France  and  Italy,  spending  a  few  davs  in 
Rome  at  the  time  of  the  Cami\-al.  He'there 
contracted  the  fatal  fever,  which  developed 
Itself  soon  after  his  return.  He  spent  a  short 
time  in  Paris,  and  ten  days  in  England,  sail- 
ing for  home  Monday,  .April  7.  After  a  ds- 
agreeable  voj-age  they  arrived  on  the  following 
Monday,  .\fter  reaching  home  he  was  stricken 
down,  and.  notwithstanding  the  best  of  care, 
he  died  on  .\pril  21.   i  S79. 

(4)  .\nna  E.  .Adriance.  the  oldest  daughter, 
married  Dr.  F.  H.  Simpson,  who  was  a  prom- 
;  ment  dentist  of  Poughkeepsie.  and  was  also 
quite  a  musician,  being  a  member  of  the  -Men- 
delssohn Musical  Society  of  that  place.  They 
removed  to  the  far  West.  In  their  family 
were  five  children:  .Annie,  who  died  in  infancy; 
-Albert  A.;  Sarah  E..  who  married  William 
Egbert;  Louis,  who  died  in  infancv;  and  Harry 
Adnance.  The  second  child.  .Albert,  is  now 
employed  in  the  Buckeye  Works  of  Pough- 
keepsie.  He  married  Miss  Lizxie  Campbell, 
and  they  have  a  son.  .Albert  Simpson. 

yl\  Blandena   .Adriance   married   Zebulon 
Rudd.  teller  of  the  Fallkill  bank  of  Poughkeep- 
sie.    He  was  made  cashier  of  the  Dover  Plains 
National  Bank  at  the  time  of  its  organisation, 
was  later  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  ol 
[  Pboghkeepsie,  and  afterward  engaged  in  the 
brokerage  business  for  himself.     Three  chil- 
dren   were  bom  to  him:     Charles   -A.,    who 
j  married    Miss    Ella  Robinson,  died   in   1894; 
jjohn  .A.  has  been  quite  a  traveler,  and  at  one 
time  was  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  at 
■  Seattle.  Wash.,  bat  now  makes  his  home  in 
'  Ptoughkeepsie  (he  married  Miss  Bertha  Motgan. 

of  Nebraska,  and  they  have  one  daughter 

Helen  U. »;  Arthur  B-  attended  Williams  Col- 
lie, and  is  now  a  theological  student  in  New 
y^  City,  preparing  for  the  Episcopal  min-  ' 
istiy. 

Mrs.  Sarah  (Harris)  .Adriance  died  June  ?. 
1838.  and  for  his  second  wife  Mr.  Adriance 
was  married  to  Mrs-  Elisa  (Storm)  Orton. 
wbose  birth  oocorred  in  1804.  a  dai^ter  of 
Abran  G.  and  Mar>-  (Adriance)  Storm,  and 
who  by  a  former  marriage  had  one  son.  who 
died  Febmaiy  5.  1828.  To  the  second  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  -Adriance  were  bora  at  POwih- 
keepsie,  N.  Y-.  the  foUowi^:  Sarah  E., 
Se^«nb»  37.  1843;  and  Susan  and  Mary! 
twins,  who  died  in  infancy.     The  mother  of 


864 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


these    children    died  in    1845  and    the  father 
April  19,  1873. 


PHILIP  HOAG  is  a  worthy  representative 
of  a  family  long  identified  with  the  history 

of  Dutchess  county.      His  grandfather,  Benja- 
min Hoag,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Dutchess  county,  born  at  Pawling,  and 
was  a  son  of  John  Hoag.      Being  a  member  of 
the  Society  of  Friends,  he  could  not   take  up 
arms  during  the   Revolutionary   war,  but  was 
ever  a  patriotic  man.      He  married  Miss  Abi- 
gail Wing,  of   Quaker   Hill,  Dutchess  county, 
and  to  them  were  born  seven  sons:    (i)  Elihu, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  who  will  be  spoken 
of  presently.      (2)  Philip  married  Barbara  Lys- 
ter,    and   had  two  children — Peter  and  Abby 
Jane  (of  these,  Peter   married  Hannah  Tomp- 
kins, and  had  five  children:     Sarah  Elizabeth, 
Mahala  Allen,   Philip  Henry,   Jane  and   Mary 
Frances,  the  sons  being  in  Ohio,  the  daughters 
in  Missouri.    Abby  Jane  married  Alfred  Haight, 
and  had  two  children:  Amanda  and  Cornelius, 
the  latter  of  whom  lives  in  Michican,  and  has 
two  children — Alfred  and  Edith;  Amanda  mar- 
ried  Joseph  Van  Voorhes,  and  had  five  chil- 
dren— Mariam,  Alfred,  Court,  Emily  and  Wil- 
lis).     (3)   Eliab  died  in  infancy.    (4)   Sanford 
married    Mahala    Allen,    and    had   one    son — 
Charles,  now  deceased.    (5)   Matthew  married 
Sallie  Spalding,  and  has  two  children — George 
and  Phoebe,    both  deceased.      (6)  Willet  mar- 
ried Jane  Shears,  and  has  one  son — Benjamin, 
living  in  Palmyra,  Neb.,  of  which   city  he  has 
been  mayor.     (7)    Abraham    married    Phoebe 
Ferris,  and  had  two  children — Edith  and  San- 
ford.   The  last  named  (Sanford  Hoag)  married 
Lydia  Benson,  and  three  children  graced  their 
union:     Edith,  Elihu  and  Charles;  Elihu  mar- 
ried Ida  Benton,  and  they  have  four  daughters 
— Gertrude,  Eda,   Ida,  and  Annie. 

Elihu  Hoag  (the  father  of  our  subject),  who 
was  always  known  as  "  Squire  Hoag,"  was  a 
native  of  the  town  of  Pawling,  followed  the 
vocation  of  farming,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He  wedded 
Arabella  Marsh,  daughter  of  Joseph  Marsh,  of 
Connecticut,  and  five  children  graced  their 
union:  Philip,  the  subject  of  this  review;  Lang- 
don  (deceased),  who  married  Mary  Dorland; 
Hannah  and  Arabelle,  both  single,  who  reside 
at  the  old  home  in  South  Dover;  and  Nora 
A.,  deceased  in  infancy.  Langdon,  the  sec- 
ond   son,  was   born    and    educated    in   Dover 


town,  where  he  carried  on  farming  for  some 
time,  but  the  latter  part  of  his  life  was  passed 
in  Poughkeepsie. 

In  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county, 
Philip  Hoag,  our  subject,  was  born  June  23, 
1 818.  He  attended  the  common  schools,  la- 
ter a  select  school  at  Warren,  Conn.,  where 
he  paid  $3.00  a  term  for  tuition,  and  $1.25 
for  board,  with  flour  at  $11.00  per  bar- 
rel. After  leaving  school  he  assisted  his  fa- 
ther upon  the  farm  till  the  latter's  death,  after 
which  event  he  and  his  sisters  remained  on  the 
homestead  by  their  father's  desire,  and  he  has 
ever  since  followed  agricultural  pursuits,  to 
which  he  was  reared.  He  has  held  numerous 
town  offices  with  credit  to  himself,  and  to  the 
satisfaction  of  all  concerned.  In  politics  he  is 
an  Old-line  Democrat,  and  from  boyhood  has 
been  possessed  of  strong  Prohibition  tenden- 
cies. Always  a  great  reader,  he  is  well-in- 
formed on  the  general  questions  of  the  day,  as 
well  as  history.  He  has  been  executor  for 
many  estates,  both  among  his  neighbors  and 
at  a  distance  from  home. 

Mr.  Hoag  has  been  twice  married,  first 
time  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Ward,  by  whom  he  had 
three  children:  (i)  Nora,  born  in  Dover,  mar- 
ried Gilbert  Taber,  a  farmer,  and  has  four  chil- 
dren— George  (married  to  May  Stevens),  Will- 
iam, Wright  (married  to  Ida  Hufcut),  and  Mary 
(married  to  G.  A.  Stripling).  (2)  Martha, 
who  was  born  in  Dover  town,  married  Rozell 
Meade,  a  farmer  of  that  town,  and  they  have 
children — S.  Jennie,  Nora  B.,  MaryL.,  Morris 
P.  and  Jerry  L.  (3)  Frank,  also  born  in  Dover 
town,  is  there  engaged  in  farming;  by  his  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Elizabeth  R.  Stark,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Cyrus  Stark,  of  Dover,  he  has  two  chil- 
dren—Mary E.  and  Frank  P.  After  the  death 
of  his  first  wife,  our  subject  married  her  sister, 
Miss  Sarah  A.  Ward. 

Mrs.  Hoag  traces  her  ancestry  back  tc 
Peltiah  Ward,  who  was  born  in  England,  anc 
who  was  one  of  five  brothers — Ichabod,  Pel 
tiah,  Ebenezer,  John  and  Nathan — who  in  ai 
early  day  sailed  from  Ireland  to  America 
Peltiah  locating  in  Massachusetts,  where  hi 
died.  He  was  born  December  21,  1689.  and 
was  married  December  20,  1725,  at  Killing 
worth,  R.  I.,  to  Jerusha  Kelsey.  A  son,  Ich 
abod,  later  moved  to  Killingworth,  R.  I.,  ans 
thence  to  New  York  State,  locating  in  Dutch' 
ess  county.  He  was  a  captain  in  the  Revolu 
tionary  war.  Ichabod,  the  son  of  Peltiah,  an 
a  farmer  by  occupation,  was  the  great-granc 


PHILIP    HOAG. 


ELIHU    HOAG-. 


f^ 


FRANK    P.    HOAG. 


FRAHK   HOAG. 


i 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


365 


P"d 


father  of  Mrs.  Hoag.  He  was  born  in  1743, 
in  Kiiiingworth,  R.  I.,  and  died  December  30, 
1822,  in  Dutchess  county.  He  married  Me- 
hetabie  Marcy,  and  to  them  were  born  nine 
children:  (i)  Griffin  married  and  had  fourchil- 
dren — John,  who  wedded  Miss  Carhart,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  Carhart;  Spencer,  who  marr;ed 
Miss  Pattie  Soule;  Annie,  who  became  the  wife 
of  a  Mr.  Traver;  and  Mehitabel,  who  married 
Wilham  Lee.  (2)  Peltiah  (the  grandfather  of 
Mrs.  Hoag)  was  born  in  1770,  and  educated 
in  the  town  of  Dover,  and  was  a  farmer  and 
cattle  drover;  he  was  married  February  27, 
IJ91,  to  Miss  Anna  Soule,  who  was  born.  Sep- 
ber  24,  1774,  a  daughter  of  Ichabod  Soule, 
d  to  them  were  born  five  children — Henry, 
who  married  Almeda  Beardsley;  Ira;  Edward 
P.  (father  of  Mrs.  Hoag);  Griffin;  and  Sarah, 
who  married  Miron  Preston.  Peltiah  Ward, 
the  father  of  these,  died  November  2,  1830, 
his  wife  on  July  20,  1840.  Henry  Ward  and 
wife  have  four  children,  namely:  George,  born 
December  18,  18 14,  married  Elizabeth  Somers, 
and  they  had  a  daughter,  Frances,  who  mar- 
ried William  Sheldon;  Jane,  born  November 
17,  1819,  never  married;  Peltiah,  born  Decem- 
ber 31,  1821,  married  Jane  Hermance,  of 
Poughkeepsie,  and  to  them  were  born  six 
children.  He  was  first  an  attorney  and  later 
a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war  was 
the  presiding  elder  of  the  Ellenville  district,  N. 
Y.  He  immediately  recruited  a  company,  of 
which  he  became  captain,  went  to  the  front, 
and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  Vir- 
ginia, falling  with  the  flag  of  the  regiment, 
which  he  was  carrying  at  the  time.  Martha, 
the  fourth  child  of  Henry  Ward,  was  born 
March  27,  1826,  and  married  Jackson  Bow- 
dish,  by  whom  she  has  one  child,  a  daughter, 
Cornelia,  who  married  A.  Wing.  The  latter 
was  cashier  of  the  Pawling  Bank  for  thirty 
vears.  His  death  occurred  at  Poughkeepsie, 
.\.  Y.  (3)  Ichabod,  an  agriculturist,  married 
Rachel  Hurd,  and  they  have  one  child,  Myron. 
4)  Joseph,  also  a  farmer,  wedded  Eliza  New- 
on,  and  they  had  seven  children:  Phcebe; 
Marilla,  who  married  Reuben  Chapman;  New- 
ton and  Alfred  (twins);  Mrs.  Eliza  Flower; 
Mrs.  Sallie  Sweet;  and  Mrs.  Hetty  Pool.  (5) 
Ebenezer,  an  agriculturist,  married  Miss  Abba 
Sheldon,  daughter  of  Agrippa  Sheldon,  by 
whom  he  had  seven  children:  Waldo,  Aman- 
la,  Lodesca,  Ebenezer,  Polly,  Henry  and 
Jneida.     (6)   John,    an   agriculturist,  married 


Miss  Cynthia  Cyher,  daughter  of  Peter  Cyher, 
and  they  had  one  son.  Griffin.  (7)  Jerusha 
became  the  wife  of  Reuben  Wooster,  by  whom 
she  has  five  children:  Peter,  Ichabod,  Will- 
iam, Oliver  and  Hannah.  (8)  Mehitabel  mar- 
ried Edmond  Varney,  a  farmer,  and  they  had 
seven  children:  Alfred;  John,  who  married 
Alma  Stone;  Milton;  Ann;  Mrs.  Almeda  Still- 
well;  Clarinda,  who  married  Dr.  D.  T.  Mar- 
shall; and  Frances.  (9)  Polly  married  Dan- 
iel Cutler,  a  farmer,  and  they  had  seven  chil- 
dren: John,  Fannie,  Elma,  Mrs.  Jane  Dru- 
fee,  George,  Ward  and  Amor. 

Edward  P.  Ward,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Hoag, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess 
county,  November  10,  1796,  was  there  edu- 
cated, and  was  employed  as  a  carpenter  and 
millwright.  In  February,  18 17,  he  married 
Miss  Amy  Pray,  who  was  born  March  3,  1796, 
a  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Mary  (Duncan) 
Pray,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  ten 
children:  (i)  Andrew,  who  lives  in  Eden, 
Fond  du  Lac  Co.,  Wis.,  was  born  December 
20,  1 8 17,  married  Miss  Almere  Sheldon, 
daughter  of  Luther  and  Mary  Sheldon,  by 
whom  he  had  four  children — Annie,  Mary, 
Delilah  and  Sarah  L. ;  after  the  death  of  his 
first  wife,  he  wedded  her  sister,  Miss  Amanda 
Sheldon,  and  they  had  two  children — George 
and  Hasley.  (2)  Mary  A.,  born  January  20, 
1820,  was  the  first  wife  of  our  subject.  (3) 
Hannah,  born  March  17,  1822,  married  Har- 
rison Sheldon,  and  they  had  two  children — 
Marion,  who  became  the  wife  of  William  D. 
Williams;  and  Emily,  who  married  George 
Preston  (after  the  death  of  her  first  husband 
Mrs.  Sheldon  married  Cornell  Waite,  and 
they  had  four  children — Mary  A.,  unmarried; 
Henry,  who  married  Adda  Kingsbury,  from 
Alliance,  Ohio;  William,  who  married  Annie 
Davis;  and  Irving,  unmarried;  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Waite  live  in  Dutchess  county).  (4)  Thad- 
deus,  born  February  4,  1824,  married  Lois 
Dean,  daughter  of  Zenus  Dean,  of  Deposit, 
Broome  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  and  they  had  one  son- 
George,  who  married  Ella  Rosencroft,  of 
Ithaca,  N.  Y. ;  Thaddeus  is  deceased,  and  his 
family  reside  at  Deposit,  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y. 
(5)  Francis  M.,  born  March  27,  1826,  married 
Charlotte  Northrup,  and  they  had  four  children 
— Josephine  (who  married  Charles  Lawrence), 
John,  Jesse  and  Bennie;  Francis  M.  resides  at 
Newton,  Sussex  Co.,  N.  J.,  and  has  been  in 
the  Legislature  three  years,  both  as  assembly- 
man and  senator.      (6)  Louisa  M.,  born  Feb- 


866 


COMMEMOIiATIYE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ruary  20,  1829,  died  unmarried.  (7)  Sarah 
A.,  born  September  17,  1831,  is  tiie  wife  of 
our  subject.  (8)  Henrj',  born  September  11, 
1835,  married  Bathsheba  Barnes,  and  had  six 
children — Amy,  single;  Sarah  E.,  wife  of  Wal- 
lace Freeman,  of  Norfolk,  Va. ;  Henry  B., 
single;  Mary  L.,  wife  of  Albert  H.  Prentice; 
Edna  G. ;  and  Edward  P.  Henry,  the  father 
of  these,  has  for  the  past  twenty-eight  years 
been  a  Presbyterian  minister  in  Buffalo,  where 
he  has  built  a  fine  church,  and  has  a  congre- 
gation numbering  over  1,200.  (9)  Martha, 
born  November  4,  1837,  died  in  infancy.  (loj 
Edward,  born  January  14,  1840,  wedded  Mary 
Mygatt  (whose  parents  were  from  Amenia, 
Dutchess  county),  and  had  three  children — 
Charles  and  Clinton,  both  unmarried;  and  a 
daughter  who  died  in  infancy;  Edward  lives  at 
Deposit,  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y.  Edward  P. 
Ward,  the  father  of  this  numerous  family,  died 
August  15,  1855,  and  his  wife  on  April  17, 
1869. 

Mrs.  Philip  Hoag  has  been  a  member  of 
the  W.  C.  T.  U.  of  Dutchess  county  for  the 
past  twenty  years;  is  serving  her  fifth  year  as 
vice-president  of  same;  has  been  a  delegate  to 
the  National  Convention  of  that  society,  three 
times,  and  to  the  State  Convention  nearly 
every  year. 


EDWARD  BUCHANAN  MANNING,  the 
1  superintendent  of  the  extensive  works  of 

C.  S.  Maltby  at  Millerton,  Dutchess  county, 
was  born  November  i,  1847,  o"  the  Shenan- 
doah river  in  Jefferson  county,  W.  Va. ,  than  a 
part  of  the  Old  Dominion.  The  family  is  of 
English  origin,  the  first  of  the  name  settling  in 
Virginia  about  the  year  1774.  Nathaniel 
Manning,  our  subject's  great-grandfather,  was 
born  in  New  Jersey  in  1738,  was  graduated 
from  Princeton  College  in  1762,  and  became  a 
physician  and  surgeon.  Later  he  went  to 
England  and  was  ordained  as  a  minister  by  the 
Bishop  of  London,  and  on  hiS  return  to  the 
colony  settled  in  Hampshire  county,  Va. , 
where  he  was  in  charge  of  a  parish  until  his 
death  in  1776. 

Jacob  Manning,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and  became  a  suc- 
cessful farmer.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Ruth- 
erford, lu'e  Darke,  a  widow,  the  daughter  of 
Gen.  William  Darke,  an  officer  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary army,  and  a  representative  of  one  of 
the  wealthiest  and  most  aristocratic  families  in 


the  State.  He  was  a  large  landholder,  and 
his  daughter  inherited  from  him  an  immense 
estate.  He  took  a  prominent  part  in  public 
affairs  and  in  military  operations  at  various 
times,  and  he  and  a  son  were  with  St.  Clair  at 
the  time  of  his  defeat  in  1791,  when  the  son 
was  killed  and  the  General  wounded.  Darke 
county,  Ohio,  is  named  in  his  honor.  The  fol- 
lowing extract  from  a  biographical  sketch  of 
Gen.  William  Darke  appears  in  Vol.  XVII  of 
Harper's  Magazine:  "Hi's  name  belongs  to 
the  Biography  of  American  Heroes;  nor  is  it 
unknown  in  the  early  statesmanship  of  Vir- 
ginia. Gen.  Darke  was  in  the  State  Conven- 
tion of  1788,  and  voted  for  the  Federal  Con- 
stitution. He  was  badly  wounded  at  St. 
Clair's  defeat  and  his  son,  Capt.  Joseph  Darke, 
was  slain.  He  served  previously  in  the  Revo- 
lution and  suffered  long  as  a  prisoner.  He  was 
one  of  the  Rangers  of  1755  (then  nineteen 
years  old),  serving  under  Washington  in  Brad- 
dock's  ill-managed  march  toward  Fort  Du- 
quesne.  He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  but 
came  to  Virginia  in  1741,  when  six  years  old. 
The  splendid  estate,  where  he  reared  his  fam- 
ily, was  on  Elk  Branch,  Duffield's  Depot  be- 
ing included  in  it."  This  sketch  also  states 
that  Darke  was  one  of  the  few  officers  who 
served  uninterruptedly  throughout  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  and  the  subsequent  struggle  with 
the  Indians  in  the  Northwestern  Territory — a 
fact  which  is  shown  by  the  large  grant  of  land 
in  this  county  (Jefferson)  made  to  him  by  the 
Commonwealth  of  Virginia.  Jacob  Manning 
was  not  active  in  public  affairs,  but  was  prob- 
ably a  Whig  in  politics.  He  died  about  1824 
and  his  wife  in  1842.  They  had  four  children: 
Jacob,  Mary,  Nathaniel  W.  and  Monroe. 

Nathaniel  William   Manning,  our  subject's 
father,  was  born  in  1814,  in  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  and   followed  the  occupation  of  fann- 
ing,   in   which  he  was  fairly   successful.      He 
was  a   man   of   fine   intelligence   and  studious 
habits,  and  at  one  time  studied  medicine  with  j 
Dr.    Briscoe,    a    brother-in-law,    although    he 
never  practiced.     In  the  political  affairs  of  his 
locality  he  was  a  leader,  holding  various  offices,   , 
including  that  of  sheriff  of  Jefferson   county.   ; 
He    married     Martha    Craighill,    daughter   of 
Price  and  Eliza  (Little)  Craighill.     This  fam-  i 
ily  was  of  Scotch  descent  and  among  the  most  [ 
prominent  of  that    region.     The    eldest   son,  j 
William  Nathaniel  Craighill,  was  the  father  of  j 
William  Price  Craighill,  who  is  chief  of  engi-  ; 
neers  in  the  United  States  army  with  the  rank 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


867 


of  brigadier-general.  He  was  second  in  his 
class  at  West  Point  an»l  was  a  professor  there 
for  a  number  of  years.  The  other  children 
were  Addison,  Martha  (xMrs.  Manning),  John 
Little,  Samuel  and  Fenton.  Mrs.  Manning 
died  in  1876,  and  her  husband  survived  her 
only  two  years.  Six  children  were  born  to 
Nathaniel  William  and  Martha  Manning: 
Fannie,  Mary,  William,  Edward  B.,  Addison 
and  Lucy,  all  of  whom  are  living. 

Edward  B.  Manning  was  unfortunate  in  his 
«arly  educational  opportunities,  as  the  war  in- 
terfered with  the  schools  of  his  neighborhood 
during  the  years  when  he  might  have  found 
them  most  helpful.  He  had  no  schooling  after 
the  age  of  thirteen,  but  his  naturally  quick  and 
mtelligent  mind  has  enabled  him  to  remedy 
the  deficiency  to    a  great  extent  and    gain  a 

Sod,  practical  education.      Among  his  recol- 
;tions  of  the  exciting  scenes  of  his  boyhood, 
Ae  trial  and  execution    of   John    Brown   are 
prominent  and  he  also  visited  him  in  his  prison 
cell.      At  the  age  of  twenty  he  left    home  and 
secured  employment  as  a  fireman  on  the  Balti- 
more &  Ohio  railroad,  in  the  west  division,  and 
a,year  later  he   went   to  Jefferson  county  and 
for  five  years  ran  a  steam  sawmill  in  the  Shen- 
andoah Valley,  in   which    he   had  an  interest. 
»the  spring  of  1873  he  began  to  work  for  C. 
Maltby,  as  engineer  at  his  iron   furnace  in 
Knoxville,   Md.,  and  in  the  fall   of   the  same 
year  he  came  to   Millerton  as  assistant  engi- 
neer.     He  soon  became  first  engineer,  and  also 
founder  in  charge  of  the  furnace.      In  1884  he 
was  appointed    superintendent    of    the    entire 
-'ant,    and  this    responsible    position    he  still 
>lds  with  satisfaction   to  his  employers  and 
pat  credit   to  himself.     The  furnace  is  now 
[fctosed  and  Mr.  Manning  takes  charge  of  the 
•Wie.      He    is   actively    interested    in    public 
iffairs  and  has  a  wide  acquaintance   with  the 
admg  men  of  his  native  State,  ex-Postmaster 
^_^eral    \\ilson  being  one.     Although   he   is 
ntewn  as  a  Democrat,  he  is  inclined  to  be  in- 
■B^endent,   being  an    advocate  of   protection 
fPjmd  sound   money.      He  was  elected  highway 
-mmissioner   in    1889,    1890    and  1891,    and 
ter  was  appointed  to  fill  a  vacancy,  and  he  is 
'W  the  nominee  of  his  party  for  the  office  of 
'ipervisor.      He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Order 
ebatuck    Lodge    No.   480,   F.   &  A.   M.,   of 
■llerton,  of  which  he   has  been    master    for 
iree   years,    and    also    to    the  Poughkeepsie 
napter  No.  72. 

tin  1880  Mr.  Manning  married    Miss    lose- 


phine  Traver,  who  was  born  in  Frederick 
county,  Md.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Freeman 
Traver,  a  well-known  citizen  of  Columbia 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Manning  have  seven 
children:  William,  Lucy,  Perry,  Nathaniel, 
Virginia,  Elizabeth  and  Freeman. 


[^//ILLIAM  B.  PLATT  (deceased).     The 
subject  of  this   memoir,  who  was  for 
many  years  a  prominent  merchant  of  Rhine- 
beck,  Dutchess  county,  and    later   was  presi- 
dent of  the  First  National  Bank  of  that  place, 
was  a  native  of  Poughkeepsie,  born  February 
I.  1799-      His   family  originated    in   England, 
and  his  father,  John  Piatt,  who  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation, was  an  early  settler  in  Dutchess  county, 
coming  from    Long   Island,  where  a  branch  of 
the  family  had  located  some  time  before.      He 
married   Catherine  Barnes,  by  whom    he  had 
three  children,  our  subject   being  the  second. 
Isaac,   the    youngest   son,   was    a    resident  of 
Poughkeepsie,  while  Eliphalet  became  a  prom- 
inent physician  at   Rhinebeck   and  was  noted 
for  his  varied  talents  as  well  as  for  his  skill  in 
his  profession.      There  was  also  a  half  brother, 
Henry. 

William    B.    Piatt    engaged    in  mercantile 
business  in  Hyde  Park  at  an  early  age  and  in 
1 830  removed  Rhinebeck  and  opened  a  general 
store  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Montgomery 
and  W.  Market   streets.      After  conducting  it 
alone  for  several  years  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  Christian  Schell,  which  lasted  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  when  Mr.  Piatt  retired.     He  then 
became  interested  in  the  First  National  Bank 
as  director,  and  was  soon  after  chosen    presi- 
dent, which  position  he  held  with  marked  abil- 
ity until  his  death.      He  was  never  active  in 
politics,  although,  first  as  a  Whig  and  latej  as 
a  Republican,    he    took    keen   interest    in   the 
questions  of  his  time.      In  various  religious  and 
philanthropic  movements  he  was  a  helpful  fac- 
tor, and  he  was  for  many  years  a>  leading  offi- 
cial in  the  Reformed  Church. 

On  December  6,  1826,  Mr.  Piatt  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Sarah  C.  Stoutenburgh,  born  in 
1807,  the  daughter  of  John  I.  and  Sally  (Grif- 
fin) Stoutenburgh.  of  Hyde  Park.  Two  chil- 
dren blessed  this  union:  John  H.  (deceased), 
born  in  1827,  was  a  well-known  lawyer  of  New 
York;  and  Elizabeth,  born  in  1830,  married 
Charles  H.  Adams,  a  prominent  manufacturer 
of  knitted  goods  at  Cohoes,  N.  Y.      They  had 


868 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


two  children  —  a  daughter,  Mary  Egberts 
Adams,  now  the  widow  of  Robert  Johnston, 
who  was  interested  in  the  Harmony  Mills  at 
Cohoes  (she  has  one  son,  Robert,  born  in  1 882), 
and  a  son,  William  Piatt  Adams,  formerly  in 
the  knitting  business,  but  now  retired. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  departed  this  life 
in  1879,  his  death  bringing  a  sense  of  loss  to 
all  who  had  ever  come  within  his  influence. 
Nine  years  later  his  wife  followed  him,  and  the 
remains  of  both  now  rest  in  the  cemetery  at 
Rhinebeck.  Thoroughly  progressive,  and  ever 
loyal  to  the  interest  of  his  town,  Mr.  Piatt  was 
a  leading  citizen  of  his  day,  and  was  esteemed 
and  loved  by  everyone  for  his  mental  ability 
and  moral  worth.  His  personal  appearance 
was  most  prepossessing,  his  manners  genial, 
courtly  and  refined,  and  his  kind  heart  and 
well-stored  mind  made  him  a  valued  friend 
and  companion. 


J 


T'OHN  G.  WAIT,  a  prominent  dairyman  and 
agriculturist  residing  near  Dover  Plains, 
Dutchess  county,  was  born  July  8,  1829, 
in  the  town  of  Unionvale,  where  his  family 
has  been  well  known  for  many  years.  He 
was  educated  there,  and  in  early  manhood 
engaged  in  his  present  business,  which  he  has 
conducted  twenty-eight  years,  keeping  as  many 
as  fifty  cows:  In  local  affairs  he  has  takeq 
an  influential  part,  holding  various  township 
offices  at  times,  and  supporting  the  prmciples 
of  the  Republican  party.  He  married  Miss 
Catherine  Van  Wagoner,  a  descendant  of  one 
of  the  old  families  of  Clinton,  Dutchess  county, 
and  has  had  six  children  :  Hattie,  the  wife  of 
Arthur  Benham;  Sophia  and  Joseph,  who  are 
not  married;  Franklin,  who  married  Sarah 
Schermerhorn,  and  they  have  one  child — Eva; 
Minnie,  who  is  at  home;  and  Isaac  P.  (de- 
ceased). 

The  ancestors  of  the  Wait  family  were 
early  settlers  of  Rhode  Island,  where  Joseph 
Wait,  our  sirbject's  grandfather,  was  born  and 
educated.  He  settled  in  Unionvale,  town  of 
Dover,  and  he  and  his  wife,  Sarah  (Draper), 
reared  a  family  of  eight  children,  of  whom, 
Joseph  Wait,  our  subject's  father,  was  the 
eldest.  Of  the  others,  George  married  Lucinda 
Beatty;  Patience  married  Robert  Cornwall; 
Catherine  married  William  McDowell;  Mahalie 
never  married;  Helen  was  the  wife  of  Beria 
Suthern;  Mary  married  a  Mr.  Hall;  and  Sarah 
was  the  wife  of  Braria  Austin. 


Joseph  Wait  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Unionvale,  Dutchess  county,  in  1797,  and 
after  acquiring  the  education  afforded  by  the 
time  and  locality  he  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade,  and  engaged  in  house  building.  He  was 
the  leading  builder  of  the  day  there,  having 
erected  most  of  the  houses  in  the  township, 
besides  the  churches  in  Dover  and  the  resi- 
dence now  occupied  by  our  subject.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Amelia  Applebee,  by  whom  he  had 
ten  children  :  Helen,  Catherine,  Edgar,  Mary, 
Oliver  and  Nannie,  all  six  now  deceased;  the 
others  are:  Charles,  who  married  (first)  Susan 
Bertram,  (second)  Anna  Kelley,  and  (third) 
Sarah  Porter;  John  G.,  our  subject;  William 
M.,  who  married  Louisa  Russell,  and  JamesE., 
who  married  Carrie  Rozell. 

Mrs.  Waite's  ancestors  have  been  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Clinton  for  several 
generations,  and  her  grandfather,  Solomon 
Van  Wagoner,  was  born  there.  He  married 
Hannah  Ham,  and  had  eight  children,  of  whom 
two  died  in  infancy;  the  six  who  lived  to  ma- 
turity were:  Perlee,  our  subject's  father; 
Alonzo,  who  married  Mary  Dart;  Lewis,  who 
married  Polly  Finks;  Margaret,  the  wife  of 
Stephen  Harris;  Mary,  who  never  married; 
and  Julia  A.,  the  wife  of  Stephen  Hoag.  Per- 
lee Van  Wagoner  was  also  a  lifelong  resident 
of  Clinton,  where  he  was  well  known  and  highly 
respected.  He  and  his  wife,  Hattie  (Traver), 
had  four  children,  Mrs.  Wait  being  the  eldest; 
Mary  J.  married  Chancey  Isabell;  Theron  is 
not  married ;  and  Cornelia  is  the  widow  of  Dyer 
Holdridge. 

Our  subject  owns  a  fine  farm  of  219  acres 
of  land  at  Lithgow,  in  the  town  of  Washington, 
Dutchess  county,  which  he  farms  in  connection 
with  the  place  of  365  acres,  on  which  he  has 
resided  some  twenty-one  years.  He  has  a 
beautiful  home,  and  he  can  look  upon  his  pos- 
sessions with  pride,  as  he  came  by  them  through 
his  own  efforts. 


FRANKLIN  LENT  HAIGHT,  a  well-knovvni 
teacher  of  this  section,  is  at  present  the 

superintendent  for  eastern  New  York  and  north- 
ern New  Jersey  of  the  business  of  the  Centra 
School  Supply  House,  of  Chicago,  111.,  th( 
largest  dealers  in  school  specialties  in  th(' 
United  States.  In  this  occupation,  as  well  a;i 
in  his  previous  career  as  a  teacher,  Mr.  Haigh 
has  been  eminently  successful,  his  work  in  es 
tablishing  agencies,  meeting  school  boards  am 


COMMEMOBATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


369 


superintendents,  and  others  interested  in  the 
purchase  of  suppHes,  being  performed  with 
tact  and  abihty,  and  the  introduction  of  many 
new  and  valuable  methods  and  appliances  into 
the  schools  of  this  section  may  be  attributed 
'  largely  to  his  judicious  exposition  of  their 
worth.  Apparatus  for  teaching  physiology, 
'  and  a  new  series  of  relief  forms  showing  the 
topographical  features  of  the  earth's  surface, 
are  the  main  specialties. 

The   Haight  family  appears  to   have    de- 
scended from  Baron  Johanus  Von  Height,  who 
went   from    Normandy   to   Britain    during  the 
thirteenth  or  fourteenth  centuries.    The  imme- 
"ate  ancestors  of  the  American  branch  were 
long  the  earliest   settlers  of  Massachusetts, 
Simon  Haight  (or  Height,  as  it  appears  on  dif- 
erent  records),  with  his  wife  and  three  or  four 
:hildren  arriving    from   England   on  the  ship 
•Abigail,"  in  1628  or  '29,  and  settling  at  Sa- 
em,  Mass.,  under  Endicott.     The  descendants 
ire   now    very  numerous,  and   are  located  in 
■arious  parts  of  the  country,  many  of  them-,  in 
)ast,  as  well  as  present  times,  occupying  places 
f  trust  and  honor. 

Mr.  Haight  was  born  at  Fishkill,  Dutchess 

ounty,  November  7,  1853,  the  son  of  Sylva- 

us   Haight,  a   well-known  agriculturist.      He 

as  a  native  of  Putnam  county,  N.  Y. ,  born 

larch  20,  1823,  and  his  wife,  Margaret  Lent, 

as  born  in  Westchester  county,  September  17, 

25.     Both  are  living,  as  are  seven  of  their 

,ht  children,  viz:    Anna  A.,  Mary  Z. ,  Eugene 

I.,  Frederick  C. ,  Franklin  L.,  Sherman  and 

loward.      Katie,  the  si.xth  child,  died  at  the 

^,;e  of  six  years.     After  attending  the  Fishkill 

lols  for  a  time   Mr.  Haight,   in  1874,  en- 

the  State  Normal  School  at  Albany,  and 

graduated  in  1876.      He  then  taught  suc- 

uUy  in   the    public   schools   of    southern 

he.ss  county  for  nearly  fifteen  years,  and 

1893  he  accepted  the  position  which  he  now 

jls  so  ably.     In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

Mr.  Haight  has  a  charming  home,  known 

"Sylvan  Place,"  an  estate  of  about  twenty 

^^es,    located    on    Hopewell    avenue,    three- 

^■tths  of  a  mile  east  of  Fishkill  Village.    The 

^Bpe  is  spacious,  and  the  grounds  in  front  of 

^^825x225  in  extent,  are  beautified  by  large 

'  pies  and  other  shade  trees.     There  are  two 

hards  on  the  property,  containing  a  variety 

ruit,  including  seventy  apple  trdes  and  five 

ndred  peach   trees,   with   some  pear  trees. 

Haight  married  Miss  Anna  Snook,  daugh- 

1    of  Gilbert   Snook,  a  life-long  resident  of 

24 


Fishkill,  and  his  wife,  Antoinette  (Young), 
formerly  of  Westchester  county.  Two  chil- 
dren were  born  of  this  union:  May  Elizabeth, 
in  1883,  and  Clifford  Lent,  in  1884.  Both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haight  are  active  members  of 
the  M.  E.  Church  at  Fishkill,  with  which  he 
has  been  connected  as  trustee  and  steward  for 
several  years. 


J  CORNELIUS  HAIGHT.  The  Haight 
family,  which  has  been  prominent  for 
many  years  in  this  section,  both  numerically 
and  by  virtue  of  their  ability  and  energy  \n 
various  lines  of  effort,  is  of  Puritan  ancestry, 
and  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  a  well-known 
retired  business  man  of  Fishkill-on-Hudson,  is 
of  the  eighth  generation  in  direct  descent  from 
Simon  Halt,  or  Hoyt,  or  Hoit,  who  was  born 
in  1595,  in  Dorsetshire,  England,  and  died 
September  i,  1657,  at  Stamford,  Conn.  He 
was  one  of  the  Puritans  who  left  their  native 
land  for  America  on  October  6,  1628,  in  the 
vessel  "Abigail,"  with  Col.  John  Endicott,. 
who  was  afterward  appointed  Governor  of  the: 
colony. 

Second  Generation:  John  Hoyt,  the  eld- 
est son  of  Simon,  was  born  in  Dorsetshire, 
England,  in  1614,  and  died  September  i, 
1684,  at  Rye,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.  He 
was  fourteen  years  old  when  he  landed  in  this 
country,  and  lived  for  some  years  in  Massa- 
chusetts, later  at  Fairfield,  Conn.,  and  in  1665 
moved  to  Westchester  county,  N.  Y.,  being 
one  of  the  grantees  who  purchased  land  of  the 
patent  of  Thomas  Pell.  He  married  Mary 
Budd,  and  had  five  children:  Samuel,  Mary^ 
Rachel,  John  and  Simon. 

Third  Generation:  John,  the  fourth  child 
of  John  and  Mary  Hoit,  was  born  at  East 
Chester  in  1665.  On  June  26,  1696,  he  was 
chosen  town  clerk  of  Rye,  Westchester  coun- 
ty ;  as  constable  in  1 702 ;  as  supervisor  in  1 7 1 1 ; 
served  as  a  representative  or  member  of  the 
Assembly  from  1712-13-14-1 5.  In  1716  he 
was  justice  of  the  peace,  and  was  honored 
with  the  distinctive  title  of  "Mr."  John 
Haight.  He  was  again  chosen  supervisor  in 
1717-19-20.  He  was  chosen  churchwarden 
of  Grace  Church,  at  Rye,  in  17 19.  He  had 
been  a  vestryman  in  17 12.  On  February  11, 
171 5,  he  was  one  of  a  committee  appointed  to 
lay  out  the  tract  of  land  purchased  from  the 
Indians,  and  on  March  13,  1721,  he  obtained, 
from  King  George  II,  Royal  letters  of  Patent 


370 


COmfEJfORATirE  BIOORAPmCAL  RECORD. 


to  the  Charter  of  White  Plains.  His  father, 
in  company  with  Joseph  Budd  and  Daniel 
Purdy,  had  also  received  letters  of  patent  from 
the  crowned  King  George  I,  to  a  large  tract  in 
Westchester  county,  containing  about  1,560 
acres.  Mr.  John  Hoit  married  Elizabeth 
Purdy,  daughter  of  Daniel  Purdy,  and  had 
eight  children,  as  follows:  John,  Samuel, 
Jonathan,  Joseph,  Daniel,  Elizabeth,  Eunice 
and  Mary. 

Fourth  Generation:  Daniel,  fifth  child  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  Haight,  was  born  about 
1688,  died  at  Yorktown,  Westchester  Co., 
N.  Y. ,  in  1772,  a  prominent  Episcopalian. 
He  married  in  171 8  Elizabeth  Norton,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  Norton,  and  had  nine  children: 
Joseph,  James,  William,  Daniel,  Jonathan, 
Rachel,  Jemimah,  Elizabeth  and  Charity. 

Fifth  Generation :  Joseph,  born  at  York- 
town,  Westchester  Co.,  17 19,  died  in  Phillips- 
town,  July  30,  1776;  married  Hannah  Wright, 
daughter  of  John  Wright,  of  Yorktown,  West- 
chester Co. ,  N.  Y.  They  both  died  of  smallpox 
on  the  same  day,  only  an  hour  and  forty-eight 
minutes  apart.  Their  twelve  children  were: 
Mary  (or  Polly),  John,  Joseph,  Sylvanus, 
Stephen,  William,  Daniel,  Beverly,  Hannah, 
Phebe  and  Esther  (twins),  and  Martha.  Phebe 
married  Col.  Zebulon  Butler,  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary army.  Daniel,  the  father  of  Joseph, 
purchased  a  tract  of  land  on  the  water  lot  of  the 
Phillips  patent,  called  Phillips  Precinct,  old 
Dutchess  (now  Putnam)  county,  in  1748,  con- 
taining 640  acres.  Joseph  (his  father  having 
given  him  a  deed  in  1750)  moved  from  Rye, 
Westchester  county,  to  Phillipstown  in  1751, 
and  erected  a  log  house  by  the  old  Indian 
ipath  on  the  west  side  of  Clove  creek.  In 
J  765  he  built  the  first  frame  house  on  the  east 
•side  of  Clove  creek,  all  the  material  for  it 
being  made  on  the  farm,  which  at  that  time 
.contained  a  sawmill,  blacksmith  shop  and  car- 
penter shop.  Joseph  and  two  of  his  sons  were 
■carpenters. 

Sixth  Generation:  Capt.  John  Haight, 
son  of  Joseph  and  Hannah  (Wright)  Haight, 
was  born  at  Rye,  August  18,  1743,  and  on 
March  20,  1770,  in  the  old  Col.  Beverly  Rob- 
inson house,  in  Putnam  county  (from  this  house 
the  traitor  Arnold  made  his  flight),  was  mar- 
ried to  Merriam  Swim,  who  was  born  Decem- 
ber 25,  1749,  at  Highland  Falls,  daughter  of 
Cornelius  Swim,  of  Highland  Falls,  Orange 
county.  Mr.  Haight  was  a  prominent  man,  a 
captain  in  the  Revolutionary  army  in  the  Sev- 


enth Regiment,  otherwise  called  Col.  Henr 
Luddington  Regiment  (John  Haight,  captair 
date  of  appointment  May  28,  1778),  and  serve 
throughout  the  war.  In  1807  and  1808,  h 
was  a  member  of  the  Assembly  from  01 
Dutchess  county  (comprising  both  Dutches 
and  Putnam).  In  1813  he  was  associate  jus 
tice  of  Putnam  county,  and  in  1820  served  a 
judge  of  the  Putnam  Court  of  Common  Pleas 
In  religious  affiliation  he  was  a  member  of  th 
old  Presbyterian  Church  of  Brinckerhoff,  an 
held  the  office  of  ruling  elder  for  forty  years 
which  incumbency  he  filled  with  satisfaction  t 
his  constituents.  His  death  occurred  July  15 
1836,  in  the  old  Haight  homestead  at  Phillip; 
town,  Putnam  county.  To  Mr.  Haight  an 
his  wife  were  born  the  following  children 
James,  Joseph  I.,  Cornelius  I.,  Sylvanus 
Henry  (deceased  in  infancy)  John,  Henrj 
Mary,  Stephen,  Jacob  I.,  Hannah,  and  Mirian 
widow  of  Capt.  John  Haight,  March,  184:1 
Beverly  Haight,  son  of  Joseph  and  Hanna 
(Wright)  Haight,  and  brother  of  Capt.  Job 
Haight,  was  born  in  1763,  and  married  Chaj 
ity,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Larrabei 
Hustis.  They  had  eight  children,  as  followj 
Elizabeth,  Joseph,  Joshua,  Mary,  Davi< 
Esther,  Beverly,  and  John. 

Seventh  Generation:  Beverly  Haight,  sc 
of  Beverly  and  Charity  (Hustis)  Haight,  ai 
father  of  our  subject,  was  born  at  the  0 
homestead  in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  Dutche 
county,  March  30,  1801,  and  passed  his  11 
there,  being  actively  engaged  in  farming  un 
his  sixty-fifth  year,  when  he  retired, 
served  as  assessor  of  the  town  of  Fishkl 
1859-60.  He  was  twice  married,  his  first  wj 
being  Eleanor  Burroughs  Haight,  who  was  tl 
daughter  of  Cornelius  I.  and  Hannah  (Bil 
roughs)  Haight,  granddaughter  of  Capt.  Jol 
Haight.  She  was  born  February  10,  iSc 
in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  Dutche.ss  counj 
and  died  January  24,  1866,  in  Phillipstovj 
Putnam  county.  They  were  the  parents  of  ( 
subject.  For  his  second  wife  Beverly  Haijj 
was  married,  November  16,  1868,  to  his  si 
ond  cousin,  Susan  A.  Mead,  daughter  of  R| 
ert  and  Sarah  (Purdy)  Mead,  of  Newbuj 
Orange  county.  She  died  in  Newburg  Oc|i 
ber  2,  1882,  leaving  no  issue. 

Eight li  Generation:     J.  Cornelius  Haig| 
our  subject;  was  born  at  the  old  farm  July 
1835,  !irid  was  the  only  child  of  his  pareil 
His  early  education  was  acquired  in  the  j'l 
district  schools  of  Fishkill  and  Phillipstowr  I 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


871 


the  academy  at  Fishkill  Village,  and  in  the 
English  Classical  school  kept  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Pingree,  at  Roseville,  N.  J.  On  completing 
his  course  of  study,  he  returned  home  and 
worked  for  his  father  during  the  following 
season.  The  next  two  winters  were  spent  in 
teaching  at  Davenport's  Corners,  Putnam 
county,  and  then,  after  a  few  months  as  clerk 
in  the  store  of  Daniel  J.  Haight,  of  Peekskill, 
N.  Y. ,  he  went  home  for  a  time.  He  has  been 
twice  married:  In  the  winter  of  1858  he  wed- 
ded Miss  Sarah  Jane,  daughter  of  Henry 
Warren  and  Jane  (Mekeel)  Haight,  and  a  lin- 
eal descendant  of  Uriah  Mekeel,  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  near  Cold  Spring,  Putnam  Co. , 
N.  Y.  In  the  spring  of  1859  Mr.  Haight  was 
employed  in  a  store  at  Union  Corners,  near 
Hyde  Park,  but  after  a  few  months  he  moved 
to  Matteawan  and  entered  the  service  of  the 
Seamless  Manufacturing  Co.,  of  which  D.  W. 
Gitchell  was  manager.  He  remained  there 
two  years,  when  the  attractions  of  the  old 
home  and  the  free  life  of  a  farmer  led  him  to 
return  to  the  homestead.  His  first  wife,  Sarah 
Ijane,  died  December  4,  1873,  and  September 
15,  1877,  he  married  Julia  Matilda  Raynor,  who 
vas  born  in  New  York  City  September  9,  1842, 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  A.  (Bijatall)  Ray- 
iior,  of  the  same  city.  One  child,  Willie  Ray- 
iior,  was  born  to  this  union,  August  18,  1878, 
put  died  in  infancy. 

Until  1880  Mr.  Haight  assisted  his  father, 
I  nd  then  bought  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Wapping- 
Ir,  for  four  years  enaging  in  horticulture  there. 
lieHing  out  in  1884  he  moved  to  Fishkill  Plains 
|;)r  one  year,  and  then  to  Arthursburg,  where 
rjt  a  year  he  was  in  the  dairy  business,  and 
I'jf  the  year  following  was  engaged  in  garden- 
and  in  carrying  the  mails  from  Arthurs- 
irg  to  the  station.  In  1886  he  went  to  Fish- 
lU  village,  spending  a  year  with  a  son-in-law, 
>hn  R.  Phillips,  then  removed  to  Phillipstown, 
id  lived  at  the  homestead  of  his  mother's 
mily  untilMay,  1895,  when  having  purchased 
tract  of  land  in  Fishkill-on-Hudson  from  Mrs. 
>phia  Grohl,  and  built  a  residence  thereon, 
removed  to  that  place.  He  now  owns  ten 
lilding  lots  there. 

As  an  ardent  Republican  Mr.  Haight  takes 
:  active  share  in  party  work,  and  has  been  a 
'  legate  to  several  county  conventions.  Since 
56  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  M.  E. 
•lurch,  of  which  he  has  now  been  a  steward 
':  eight  years  and  trustee  for  six  years.  He 
'"I  his  wife  are  both  helpful   in  Church  work, 


and  are  teachers  in  the  Sunday-school.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. Of  his  nine  children  by  his  first  wife 
five  died  in  infancy,  and  a  brief  record  of  the 
others  is  as  follows:  Eleanor  A.,  the  eldest 
survivor,  married  John  R.  Phillips,  of  Fishkill, 
and  died  March  20,  1886,  leaving  one  son, 
Charles  H.  Edgar  Holden  resides  at  the  Bev- 
erly Haight  homestead.  Beverly  W.  is  in  the 
grocery  business  at  Newark,  N.  J.  Grace  A. 
married  Charles  D.  Rogers,  a  farmer  and  dairy- 
man near  Fishkill  village.  Mr.  Haight  has 
been  engaged  for  several  years  past  in  the 
compilation  of  a  genealogy  of  the  Haight 
Family  with  the  expectation  of  publishing  it 
in  book  form. 


W  KIN  FAMILY,  whose  name  both  in  past 
,x«^  and  present  times  has  been  closely  asso- 
ciated with  the  most  important  events  in  the 
history  of  this  section,  is  of  Scotch  origin. 

John  Akin,  the  first  ancestor  of  whom  there 
is  a  definite  account,  was  born  in  Scotland  in 
1663,  and  when  about  seventeen  years  of  age 
he  came  to  America  and  located  at  Dartmouth, 
Mass.  He  married  Mary  Briggs,  who  was 
born  August  9,  1671,  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
Briggs.  Of  their  ten  children,  the  eldest  son, 
David,  born  September  19,  1689,  at  New 
Bedford,  Mass.,  engaged  in  farming,  and  after 
his  marriage  to  Sarah  Allen  came  to  Dutchess 
county  and  made  his  home  at  Quaker  Hill. 
Two  children  were  born  to  him,  John  and 
Jonathan.  John  Akin,  the  great-grandfather 
of  Miss  Mary  J.  Akin,  of  Pawling,  married 
Margaret  Hicks,  by  whom  he  had  one  son, 
John;  that  son,  John,  married  Mollie  Ferris, 
and  had  the  following  children:  Albro,  Sarah, 
Margaret,  Ann,  Daniel  and  Amanda.  John 
Akin  also  had  three  daughters:  Ann,  Mary  and 
Abagail. 

Albro  Akin,  our  subject's  father,  was  born 
at  Quaker  Hill,  March  6,  1778,  and  in  his  day 
was  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Dutchess 
county.  On  March  24,  1815,  Gov.  Daniel  D. 
Tompkins  appointed  him  to  the  office  of  judge 
of  the  court  of  common  pleas  for  life,  as  was 
the  custom  in  those  days.  When  he  was  sixty 
years  old  he  resigned,  having  been  judge  for 
twenty-three  years.  This  position  he  filled 
with  distinguished  ability.  His  first  wife, 
Paulina  Vanderburgh,  who  was  born  Decem- 
ber 15,  1783,  died  in  18 10,  leaving  three  chil- 
dren:   Albert  John,   who   married   Jane  Will- 


872 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPEICAL  RECORD. 


iams;  Almira  V.,  the  wife  of  Joshua  L.  Jones; 
and  Helena  Maria,  who  married  John  W.  Tay- 
lor.     Mr.  Akin's  second  wife,  Sarah  (Merritt), 
died  without  issue,  and  he  married  a  third  wife, 
Jemima  Thorne  Jacacks,    daughter  of  David 
and  Mary  (Thorne)  Jacacks.     Seven  children 
were   born   of  this  union:     (i)  Mary  J.,  who 
has  always   been  a  leader  in  the  social  life  of 
the  locality,  filling  every  duty  with  grace  and 
dignity.     Among  other  events    in   which  she 
took    part   was    the    ceremony  attending   the 
opening  of  the  Harlem  railroad,  where  she  was 
chosen   to   hand   the   shovel   to   the   one  who 
broke  the  first  sod  for  that  undertaking.     (2) 
William   Henry,    who  married    (first)   Martha 
Taber,    and    (second)   Sarah   Miller,   and  had 
two  children:  Albro,  who  married  Emma  Read, 
and  has  two  children — Albert  and  Helen;  and 
Amy,    who   married  Benjamin  Aymer  Sands, 
and  has  one  daughter— Mary  E.      (3)  Cornelius 
is   still   single.      (4)  Gulielma   Maria  Sprmget 
Penn   was  named  after  William   Penn's  wife, 
whose    name    was    Gulielma    Maria    Springet 
Penn.     (5)  Amanda,  who  married  Dr.  Charles 
W.    Stearns.      (6)  Annie,    who   married  Will- 
iam Hamilton  Ogden,  and  has  one  daughter- 
Harriet  Hamilton.      (7)  Caroline,  who  married 
Adolph    Wilm-Beets,    from    Hamburg,    Ger- 
many. 

LEACH   FAMILY,   THE,    which  has  long 
held  a  prominent  position  in  the  town  of 

Pawling,  Dutchess  county,  is  one  of  Colonial 
stock,  and  by  intermarriage  it  is  related  to 
others  of  our  leading  pioneer  families,  notably 
the  Akin  and  Ferris  lines,  so  well  known  in  the 
history  of  this  region.  The  genealogical  rec- 
ords of  these  families  give  interesting  data  of 
the  early  times. 

Amos  Leach  (I),  the  head  of  the  Leach 
family,  came  from  Wales  to  America  with  two 
brothers,  and  landed  in  Massachusetts.  After 
living  there  for  some  time  he  moved  to  Con- 
necticut and  settled  in  Leach  Hollow,  town  of 
Sherman.  He  married  Mercy  Martin,  of  Do- 
ver, Dutchess  county,  and  to  their  union  were 
born  seven  sons  and  five  daughters,  as  follows: 
(1)  Amos  Leach  (H)  married  Deborah  Wan- 
zer,  November  25,  1752.  (2)  John  Leach 
married  (first)  Martha  Wanzer,  April  2,  1760, 
and  (second)  Hannah  Page,  July  9,  1772;  he 
removed  in  1785  to  New  Fairfield,  Vt.,  with 
his  large  family  of  children,  where  many  of 
his  later  descendants   are   still   living;  he  was 


the  executor  of  his  father's  will,  which  is  now 
on  file  at  Danbury,  Conn.      (3)  Simeon  Leach 
married  Elizabeth  Prindle,  January  22,  1766. 
(4)  Ephraim  Leach  married  Dorothy  Bennett, 
February    8,    1762.       (5)   Ebenezer  Leach  is 
more   fully  spoken   of   farther  on.      (6)  James 
never   married.       (7)  Ichabod  Leach  married 
Ruth   Marsh,    January    1,    1776-      C8)    Mercy 
Leach  married   Ebenezer  Wright.      (9)  Sarah 
Leach   married   Silas  Hall,    January  4-  1757 
(10)  Jemima  Leach  married   David    Pnndle, 
January  19,  1763.      (11)     Miriam  Leach  mar- 
ried Samuel  Marsh.  November  13,  1 77' •     (12) 
Johannah   Leach   married  Thomas    Northup, 

August  25,  1757-  ^    .  ,        . 

Ebenezer  Leach,  fifth  son  of  Amos  Leach 
(1),  married  Mary  Marsh,  daughter  of  Ehhu 
and  Mary  Marsh,  whose  children  were:  Elihu, 
Joseph,  Samuel,  John,  Daniel,  Amos,  Sophia, 
Eunice,  Lydia,  Mary  and  Ruth.  Ebenezer 
Leach  and  his  wife  Mary  (Marsh)  had  three 
children:  Lucy,  who  married  Husted  Wan- 
zer;  William,  who  is  mentioned  below;  an 
Susanna,  who  married  Gilbert  Lane,  and  hai 
eleven  children. 

William  Leach  (I),  second  child  of   Ebe 

nezer  Leach,  was  married   25th   of  the    lotl 

month,  1792,  to  Charlotte  Stedwell,  who  was 

born    19th   of    5th    month,  1772.   daughter  0 

Gilbert  and  Mary  Stedwell.     To  William  Lead 

and  his  wife  were  born  the  following  children 

(I)  Anna  Leach,  born  27th  of  9th  month,  1793 

married    Abraham    Wanzer    (no    issue).      (2 

Mary  Leach,  born  nth  of   lOth  month,  1795 

died  November   30,  1875,  aged   eighty  year; 

she  married  Philo   Woodin,  of  Columbia,  N 

Y.,  February   26,  1822,   and   had    three  chil 

dren.     (3)  Moses  W.  is  more   fully  spoken  c 

below.      (4)    Lucy    Leach,  born    4th    of   7t 

month,  1800,  died  May  28,  1885,  aged  eightj 

five  years  lacking  five  weeks,  married   Eben< 

zer   Wanzer,    October    26th,    1820,    and   ha 

three  children.     (5)    Susan   Leach,  born  21 

of  I  St  month,  1803,  died  February  27,  i 

married  George  Mooney,  November  17,  182 

and  had  five  children.      (6)  Phebe  Leach,  bo 

13th   of  6th   month,  1805,  died    January    i 

1867,    married    Jacob    Wanzer,    October  2 

1826,  and   had   six   children.      (7)   Ira  Lea 

born  4th  of    loth   month,  1807,  died    May 

1857,  married  Elizabeth  Haviland,  Novem 

12,  1830,  and  had  three  children.      (8)  Merr 

H.    Leach,  born    nth   of    12th   month,  i8c 

I  died  October  13,  1850,  aged  forty-one  yea 

I  ten  months;  he  married  (first)  Phebe  Dorla^ 


MARTIN    LEACH. 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIC'AL  RECORD. 


878 


rdy,  and  (second)  Susan  W.  Marriot,  Octo- 
ber lo,  1838,  by  whom  he  had  three  children. 
(9)  Pauhna  Leach,  born  26th  of  12th  month, 
181 1,  died  July  14,  1882,  in  the  seventy-first 
year  of  her  age;  she  married  Dr.  David  Sands, 
of  New  York  City,  June  16,  1834,  and  had 
eleven  children.  (loj  William  Leach  (II),  born 
4th  of  6th  month,  181 5,  died  October  19, 
1874,  aged  fifty-nine  years,  four  months  and 
thirteen  days,  married  Catherine  Peck,  of 
Brookfield,  Conn.,  and  had  three  children. 
(ix)Jane  Charlotte  Leach,  born  31st  of  ist 
month,  1818,  died  March  9,  1852,  aged  thirty- 
four  years,  one  month,  married  David  Sanford 
Dunscomb,  of  Reading,  Conn.,  and  had  three 
children.  The  father  of  this  family  died  No- 
vember 20,  i860,  aged  eighty-nine  years  and 
thirteen  days.  The  mother  passed  to  her  final 
rest  in  September,  1846,  aged  seventy-four 
years  and  four  months. 

Moses  \V.  Leach,  third  child  of  William 
Leach  (I),  was  born  i8th  of  3rd  month,  1798, 
died  October  18,  1848,  aged  fifty  years  and 
seven  months.  He  married  Phebe  Akin,  Sep- 
tember 26,  1 82 1,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  seven  children,  as  follows:  (i)  Peter  A.,  born 
January  16,  1824,  died  March  29,  1888,  aged 
sixty-four  years,  two  months  and  sixteen  days. 
(2)  Anna  A.,  born  October  19,  1825,  died  Au- 
gust 31,  i860.  (3)  LiLLius  Cornelia,  born 
August  22,  1829,  is  the  one  who  furnished  the 
data  for  this  memoir.  (4)  Isaac  A.,  born  No- 
vember 20,  1833,  died  July  22,  1855.  (5  &  6) 
Elizabeth  F.  and  Abigail  (twins),  born  April 
9.  1837;  the  former  died  May  17,  1856,  aged 
nineteen  years,  one  month  and  four  days,  the 
latter  died  August  8,  1837,  aged  four  months. 
(7)  Martin,  whose  portrait  here  appears,  was 
born  September  6,  1839,  at  Kinderhook.  Co- 
lumbia Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  the  only  male  de- 
scendant living  of  this  Leach  family.  He  had  a 
high-school  education,  is  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion; he  is  living  at  the  old  Akin  homestead,  as 
is  also  his  sister,  Lillius  C.  In  religion  and 
politics,  father'and  son  represent  the  same. 

Moses  W.  Leach,  the  father  of  this  inter- 
esting family,  was  of  an  ingenious  tarn  of 
mind,  and  invented  the  first  mowing  machine. 
He  had  a  good  education  for  his  day,  and  was 
well-informed  on  all  questions  of  the  times  in 
which  he  lived.  In  religious  faith  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Friends  Society,  and  in  politics 
he  was  a  stanch  Democrat,  but  no  office- 
-seeker. 
HI   Jonathan  Akin  (I),  son  of  David  and  Sarah 

I 


Akin,  of  Quaker  Hill,  the  great-grandfather  of 
L.  C.  Leach  and  her  brothers  and  sisters,  was 
represented  in  the  government;  also  his  grand- 
son, Jonathan  Akin  (II),  the  son  of  Isaac  A.  and 
Anna  Wing  Akin,  of  Pawling.  The  fore- 
fathers were  people  of  large  estates,  and  agri- 
culturists by  profession.  The  Akin  family  were 
people  of  high  standing,  and  were  well  known 
at  home  and  abroad. 

Genealogy  of  the  Akin  Family,  of 
Dartmouth. — John  Akin,  of  Scotland,  emi- 
grated to  America  about  1680,  and  settled  at 
Dartmouth,  Bristol  Co.,  Mass.  He  died  June 
13,  1744,  aged  eighty-three  years.  He  was 
twice  married,  first  to  Hannah  Briggs,  and 
(second)  to  Miss  Sherman.  He  had  fifteen 
children,  namely:     (i)  David,  born  September 

19,  1689,  married  Sarah  Allen,  and  they  set- 
tled on  Quaker  Hill.      (2)  Thomas,  born  March 

20,  1702,  married  Abigail  Allen,  of  Dartmouth, 
in  1727.  (3)  James,  born  August  i,  1706, 
married,  November  14,  1728,  Anne  Fish;  his 
second  wife  was  Ruth  Sandford.  (4)  Benjamin 
married  Eunice  Taber,  September  13,  1739; 
second  wife,  Lydia  Almy;  third  wife,  widow 
Barker,  from  whom  he  separated  in  about  one 
year;  he  died  in  1800,  aged  eighty-seven  years. 
(5)  Ebenezer,  who  was  a  militia  captain,  died 
November  16,  1770.  (6)  Timothy,  born  June 
6,  1695,  died  a  bachelor.  (7)  Elihu,  born  Au- 
gust 6,  1720,  married  Ruth  Penny,  in  1744; 
for  his  second  wife  he  married  Miss  Wilcox, 
when  he  was  seventy  years  old.  (8)  Joseph 
was  lost  at  sea.  (9)  Deborah,  born  December 
30,  1692.  (10)  Mary,  born  January  23,  1697, 
married  a  Mr.  Aldin,  and  died  aged  over  ninety 
years.  (11)  Hannah,  born  March  12,  1699. 
(12)  Judith,  born  January  i,  1691,  married 
John  Getchel,  April  10,  1727;  she  died  aged 
ninety-three  years.  (13)  Elizabeth,  born  May 
20,  1704.  (14)  Susanna,  born  September  27, 
1718,  married  Hicks,  of  Fall  River.  (15) 
Abigail. 

David  Akin,  eldest  son  of  John  Akin,  came 
to  Quaker  Hill  and  there  settled.  He  and  his 
wife  Sarah  (Allen)  reared  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  (i)  John  Akin  married  Mar- 
garet Hicks,  of  Portsmouth,  R.  I.,  January  29, 
1742,  she  died  October  8,  1803,  and  he  passed 
away  April  7,  1779.  (2)  Mary  Akin  married 
Abraham  Thomas,  at  Dartmouth,  July  24, 
1740.  ^3)  Elisha  Akin  married  Elizabeth 
Tripp,  July  5,  1734.  (4)  Josiah  Akin  married 
Judith  Hurdleston,  of  Dartmouth,  in  1746.  (5) 
Abigail  Akin  married  Murry  Lester.      (6)  Sarah 


874 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Akin  died  young.  (7)  Hannah  Akin  married 
James  Birdsall.  (8)  James  Akin  married 
Patience  Howard.  (9)  David  Akin  (II)  mar- 
ried Deborah  Gray.  (10)  Jonathan  Akin 
(born  July  26,  1737)  married  Lillius  Ferris, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  (I)  and  Phebe  (Beecher) 
Ferris.  They  had  eight  children,  whose 
names  and  dates  of  birth  and  their  matrimon- 
ial partners  are  here  given:  Elizabeth,  April 
3,  1758,  married  Peleg  Howland,  son  of  Na- 
thaniel Howland.  (2)  Isaac,  August  27,  1759, 
married  Anna  Wing  (daughter  of  Jersham 
Wing  and  Rebecca,  his  wife),  moved  to  Canada, 
and  their  two  children  were — Martha,  who 
married  Daniel  Merritt,  and  Jonathan  Akin  (II), 
who  married  Harriet  Taber.  (3)  Martha, 
March  i,  1761,  married  William  Taber,  son 
of  Thomas  Taber.  (4)  Benjamin,  October 
26,  1762,  married  Martha  Palmer,  daughter 
of  John  and  Hope  Palmer;  moved  to  Green- 
bush;  Benjamin  Akin  was  drowned  in  the  Hud- 
son river.  (5)  Abigail,  March  9,  1764,  mar- 
ried Mathew  Pendergast,  and  had  two  children 
— William  and  Lillius.  (6)  Sybil,  November 
26,  1767.  married  William  Field.  (7)  William, 
June  13,  1769,  married  Matilda  Gary,  daughter 
of  the  eldest  Dr.  Ebenezer  Gary  (lived  in 
Greenbush).  (8)  Peter  is  more  fully  referred 
to  below. 

Peter  Akin,  of  Pawling,  Dutchess  county, 
was  the  youngest  child  of  Jonathan  and  Lillius 
(Ferris)  Akin,  grandson  of  David  and  Sarah 
(.-Mien)  Akin,  of  Quaker  Hill,  and  great-grand- 
son of  John  Akin,  of  Scotland,  who  came  to 
America  about  1680,  and  settled  at  Dart- 
mouth, Bristol  Co.,  Mass.  He  was  born  Jan- 
uary 8,  1 77 1,  and  married  Abigail  Ferris,  only 
child  of  Mathew  and  Sarah  (Kelly)  Ferris. 
They  became  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: (i)  Sarah  Akin  married  Jesse  Skid- 
more,  and  had  four  children,  viz.:  Peter  A., 
who  married  Ruth  Moore;  Andrew  J.,  who 
married  Fannie  Wing;  and  Elizabeth  and  Abi- 
gail (both  deceased).  (2)  Mathew  F.  Akin. 
(3)  Phebe  Akin,  born  September  i,  1803, 
married  Moses  W.  Leach,  died  February  21, 
1858,  aged  fifty-four  years  [record  of  children, 
etc.,  given  in  Leach  genealogy].  (4)  Lillius 
Akin  married  Daniel  P.  Haviland,  and  had 
nine  children,  as  follows:  Elizabeth  F.  mar- 
ried Thomas  Wetherald;  William  T._  married 
Elizabeth  D.  Hoag;  Abigail  A.  married  Philip 
H.  Haviland;  Isaac  H.  died  August  15,  1858, 
aged  eighteen  years;  Jonathan  A.  married 
Angeline  Hungerford;  Daniel  J.  was  drowned; 


Lydia  W.  married  Merritt  Haviland;  Lillie  A. 
married  Samuel  R.  Neave;  and  Joseph  H. 
married  Ella  Patchen.  (5)  William  P.  Akin, 
born  July  23,  1810,  died  August  16,  1882, 
aged  seventy-two  years  and  twenty-three  days; 
he  married  Lydia  Moore,  October  23,  1833, 
and  to  their  union  came  the  following  chil- 
dren: Ruth  M.  Akin  married  Franklin  Haight 
(deceased);  Abigail  F.  Akin  married  Charles 
Wild;  Jonathan  Akin  married  Anna  Tweedy 
(both  now  deceased);  Lydia  Akin  married 
Cyrus  Hiliker  (deceased);  Anna  M.  Akin  mar- 
ried Daniel  Edward  Wanzer  (both  now  de- 
ceased). (6)  Isaac  Akin  (2)  died  February  17, 
1863,  aged  forty-nine  years.  (7)  John  Akin 
died  March  -28,  1829.  (8)  Peer  Akin  died  in 
October,  1805.  (9)  Infant  son,  died  1797. 
(10)  Infant  daughter,  died  1799.  The  father, 
Peter  Akin,  died  December  2,  i860,  aged 
eighty-nine  years,  ten  months  and  twenty-five 
days.  The  mother,  Abigail,  passed  away  July 
16,  1844,  aged  seventy  years. 

Genealogy  of  the  Ferris  Family. — 
Samuel  Ferris  and  Jerusha  Reed,  Presbyterian 
or  Puritans,  came  from  Reading,  England, 
probably  about  the  year  1678.  There  are 
records  in  Stratford  showing  that  the  Ferris 
family  were  in  America  in  1650. 

Zachariah  Ferris,  son  of  Samuel  Ferris, 
married  Sarah  Noble  in  1698,  and  had  eight 
children,  whose  names  with  dates  of  birth  are 
as  follows:  (i)  Deborah,  June,  1700;  (2)  Jo- 
seph Ferris,  September  27,  1703,  married 
Hannah  Weltch,  November  11,  1725;  (3)  David 
Ferris,  May  10,  1707;  (4)  Benjamin  Ferris, 
November  10,  1708;  (5)  Sarah  Ferris,  Novem- 
ber 10,  17 10  (the  first  white  child  born  in  New 
Milford.  Conn.);  (6)  Hannah  Ferris,  August  6, 
1712;  (7)  John  Ferris,  February  6,  17 14, 
more  fullj'  spoken  of  below;  (8)  Zachariah, 
September  30,  1717.  Five  children  of  this 
family,  viz. :  David,  Benjamin,  Hannah,  John 
and  Zachariah  became  eminent  and  valuable 
Quaker  preachers.  Their  lovely  mother  also 
became  a  Friend  or  Quaker  in  the  early  days 
of  that  society. 

Benjamin  Ferris,  fourth  child  of  Zachariah 
Ferris,  married  Phebe  Beecher,  of  Litchfield, 
Conn.  They  had  eight  children,  whose  name 
with  dates  of  birth  are  here  given:  Zebulon, 
born  March  19,  1729;  Reed,  born  August  16, 
1730,  married  Anna  Tripp;  Susannah,  bori 
September  8,  1731,  married  Elijah  Doty 
Lillius,  born  July  9,  1736,  married  Jonath 
Akin,  son  of  David  Akin;  Benjamin,  born  Sep 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


375 


tember  25,  1738;  Gilbert,  born  March  15, 
1740;  Phebe,  born  and  died  1734;  and  Ed- 
mond,  born  July  4,  1748. 

Benjamin  (III)  Ferris,  son  of  Benjamin  (II), 
married  Mary  Howland,  and  seven  children 
were  born  to  them,  as  follows:  Walter,  Jan- 
uary I,  1768;  Lillius,  September  25,  1769; 
Wayman,  September,  1771;  Edwin,  February 
20,  1778;  Peleg,  January  21,  1781;  Ebor,  May 
26,  1784;  Phebe,  January  28,   1788. 

John  Ferris,  seventh  child  of  Zachariah  (I), 
and  grandson  of  Samuel  Ferris,  was  tortured 
and  killed  by  the  Indians  betwen  1740  and 
1750.  He  married,  and  had  two  children — 
Zachariah  and  Huldah  (the  last  named  married 
a  Mr.  Beardsley).  Zachariah  married  Huldah 
Adams,  granddaughter  of  John  Adams,  from 
Wales,  who  lived  to  the  age  of  1 10  years.  To 
;:heir  union  were  born  the  following  children: 
I  i) 'Mary,  who  married  Seth  Whittock,  and 
lad  one  daughter — Nannie,  who  married  Philo- 
nen  Prindle,  and  had  eleven  children;  (2) 
j3etsey,  who  married  Ebor  Ferris,  son  of  Ben- 
jamin Ferris,  of  Quaker  Hill,  thus  bringing  to- 
,|;ether  the  two  branches  of  the  family.  They 
jiad  twelve  children,  of  whom  three  died  in 
ihildhood,  and  one,  Zachariah,  in  1825,  at  the 
'ge  of  seventeen.      (3)  Julia  Ann,  married  Cal- 

iin  Hyde,  and  had  nine  children. 

1 




EWIS  D.  HEDGES  (deceased)  was  for 
<^  several  years  one  of  the  leading  merchants 
I  Pine  Plains,  Dutchess  county.  He  is  a  na- 
ve of  that  section,  born  at  Jackson  Corners, 
)wn  of  Milan,  Dutchess  county,  in  1812,  and 
n  both  the  paternal  and  maternal  sides  was 
ascended  from  old  English  families,  who  lo- 
ited  on  Long  Island  at  a  very  early  day  in  the 
story  of  this  country.  His  grandfather,  John 
edges,  was  there  born,  and  his  farm  on  Long 
land  is  now  owned  by  one  of  his  grandsons. 
e  there  married  Jerusha  Hunting,  daughter  of 
ev.  Hunting,  the  first  Presbyterian  minister 
that  island,  who  had  seven  daughters. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hedges  were  born  seven  chil- 
Mrs.  Jerusha  Huldred;  Mrs.  Lucinda 
es;  Mrs.  Harriet  Hand;  Stephen;  John; 
and  Harriet,  who  died  unmarried. 
"Prior  to  18 12,  Josiah  Hedges,  the  father  of 
"subject,  removed  to  Dutchess  county,  lo- 
ng in  the  town  of  Milan,  where  he  engaged 
1  farming,  and  was  one  of  the  prominent  and 
laresentative  men  of  the  community.      He  was 


united  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Dibble, 
daughter  of  Christopher  and  Eliza  Dibble,  and 
to  them  were  born  two  children:  Mary,  wife 
of  Isaac  Smith,  whose  descendants  now  live  at 
Millbrook,  Dutchess  county;  and  Lewis  D. 
The  father  was  called  from  this  life  in  1844, 
and  his  wife  died  in  1851. 

In  the  district  schools  of  the  town  of  Milan, 
Lewis  D.  Hedges  secured  his  elementary  edu- 
cation, and  being  a  great  reader  he  became  a 
well-informed  man.  In  1840  he  began  general 
merchandising  in  Pine  Plains,  and  later  formed 
a  partnership  with  William  Davis,  which  con- 
nection was  contmued  for  about  a  year.  He 
carried  on  m'ercantile  pursuits  up  to  the  time 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  on  January  4, 
1859,  and  met  with  a  well-deserved  success. 
His  first  location  was  where  the  opera  house 
now  stands,  but  he  later  removed  to  the  store 
which  is  now  owned  by  W.  S.  Eno.  He  was 
one  of  the  foremost  merchants  of  the  place,  and 
was  highly  respected  by  all  with  whom  he  came 
in  contact. 

On  August  I,  1844,  Mr.  Hedges  led  to  the 
marriage  altar  Miss  Mary  Pulver,  daughter  of 
Andrus  and  Margaret  (Thomas)  Pulver,  who 
were  of  English  descent.  Her  paternal  grand- 
father, Nicholas  N.  Pulver,  resided  on  a  farm 
east  of  the  village  of  Pine  Plains,  and  by  his 
marriage  with  Polly  Parks  had  children  : 
Andrus,  Nicholas,  Filer,  Mary,  Sutherland, 
Matilda,  Lewis  and  Julia.  His  death  occurred 
in  1850,  and  his  wife  died  in  December,  1856. 
The  father  of  Mrs.  Hedges  was  born  in  1800, 
and  in  later  life  purchased  of  Dr.  Reynolds 
what  is  now  known  as  the  "  Stissing  Hotel," 
but  was  then  called  the  "  Pulver's  Hotel,  " 
which  he  conducted  for  many  years.  He 
stood  very  high  in  the  estimation  of  his  fellow- 
men,  and  had  the  confidence  of  all  who  knew 
him.  In  his  family  were  three  children  who 
grew  to  years  of  maturity:  Mary;  Frances 
Thomas,  wife  of  Henry  Myers;  and  Cornelia 
B. ,  wife  of  Egbert  Van  Wagner.  The  mother 
of  Mrs.  Pulver  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Den- 
ton, and  her  mother  was  a  Peck.  Mrs.  Pulver 
for  her  second  husband  married  Henry  C. 
Myers.  Two  daughters  blessed  that  union: 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  B.  C.  Rizedorf,  and  Mar- 
garet, who  married  (first)  Eben  Husted,  and 
(second)  William  Juckett. 

Three  children  blessed  the  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hedges:  Lewis  M.,  of  Chicago, 
who  married  Catharine  O.  Crononin;  Henry  C, 
who  is  at  the  head  of  the  advertising  agency  of 


876 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Barnum's  circus;  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Isaac 
Rollins,  of  the  town  of  Milan,  by  whom  she 
has  two  children — Mary  H.  and  Lewis  H.  H. 
In  politics,  Mr.  Hedges  affiliated  with  the 
Whig  party,  was  very  positive  in  his  views,  and 
was  greatly  interested  in  all  local  political 
affairs.  He  was  public-spirited  and  progress- 
sive,  giving  his  support  to  all  measures  for  the 
benefit  of  the  community,  and  was  an  impor- 
tant factor  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  locality. 
He  was  one  of  the  reliable  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  was  a  conscientious 
Christian  gentleman. 


J  WATSON  VAIL,  a  prominent  citizen  and 
leading  photographer  of  Poughkeepsie, 
Dutchess  county,  whose  gallery  is  located 
at  Nos.  254  and  256  Main  street,  is  a  native  of 
Dutchess  county,  born  May  18,  1849,  on  a 
farm  in  the  town  of  Unionvale,  where  the 
family  have  lived  for  several  generations. 
They  were  of  English  origin,  and  the  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject,  who  served  as  a 
captain  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  was 
born  probably  on  the  old  family  homestead  in 
Unionvale. 

There  the  birth  of  Israel  Vail  occurred,  and 
on  attaining  adult  age  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  a  Miss  Hall,  also  a  native  of  Dutch- 
ess county,  by  whom  he  had  nine  children: 
Hiram,  who  became  a  builder  and,  later,  a 
banker  of  Amenia,  Dutchess  county;  Jarvis,  a 
farmer  of  Dutchess  county;  Isaac,  who  was 
also  an  agriculturist;  Edmond,  the  father  of 
our  subject;  Hubbard,  a  mason  by  trade;  Alan- 
son,  who  carried  on  farming;  Mary,  wife  of 
Alfred  Van  Black,  a  miller  of  Unionvale;  Re- 
becca, who  never  married;  and  Phcebe,  wife  of 
James  Losee,  a  farmer.  On  the  old  homstead 
the  father  of  this  family  departed  this  life. 

Edmond  Vail,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  and  reared  there,  and  educated  in 
the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood.  He 
wedded  Martha  Husted,  who  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Washington,  Dutchess  county,  and 
was  a  daughter  of  Lewis  Husted,  a  farmer  by 
occupation  and  a  native  of  Dutchess  county, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  the  same  house 
where  his  father  was  born.  The  parents  of  our 
subject  began  their  domestic  life  upon  a  farm 
in  the  town  of  Unionvale,  but  later  removed 
to  Poughkeepsie,  where  the  father  was  en- 
gaged in  the  insurance  business  until  his  death 
in  1884.      In  politics  he  was  an  ardent  Repub- 


lican. The  parental  household  included  fiv 
children,  namely:  Lewis  H.,  who  is  presiden 
of  the  Dutchess  County  Insurance  Co. ;  Her 
bert,  now  engaged  in  clerking;  J.  Watson,  th< 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Alonzo  H.,  who  is  ii 
partnership  with  our  subject,  and  is  also  in  th 
insurance  business;  and  Dr.  Edwin  S.,  a  spc 
cialist,  who  is  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medi 
cine  at  Enfield,  Connecticut. 

Until  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age  J 
Watson  Vail,  whose  name  introduces  thi 
record,  remained  upon  the  home  farm,  assist 
ing  in  its  cultivation  and  attending  the  con: 
mon  schools  of  the  locality.  His  first  inde 
pendent  effort  in  life  was  as  an  employe  in 
carriage  factory  which  he  entered  in  1865,  an 
there  remained  for  about  a  year  and  a  hal 
He  then  took  instructions  in  photography  ur 
der  Isaac  N.  Van  Wagner  for  about  fiftee 
months,  after  which  he  went  to  Fishkill,  N.  Y 
where  he  opened  a  small  gallery;  but  at  tl 
end  of  five  months  he  returned  to  Poughkeej 
sie.  On  May  20,  1868,  he  opened  his  presei 
gallery,  where  he  has  since  successfully 
gaged  in  business. 

On  April   5,  1876,  Mr.  Vail  was  unitec 
marriage    with    Miss    Flora    H.    Sterling, 
Poughkeepsie,  a  daughter  of  Junius  Sterling 
dry-goods  merchant  of  that  place.      Her  fat 
was    born  in  Salisbury,   Conn.,   and  was 
son  of  William  C.  Sterling,  who  owned  lar| 
iron   interests  in   that  State,  but  later  in 
came   to  Poughkeepsie,  and  was   president 
the    Fallkill    National    Bank.     The    politic 
support  of   Mr.  Vail   is  given   the  Republic 
party,  in  the  success  of  which  he  takes  a  dfr 
interest.      In  manner  he  is  pleasant  and  gen 
in  disposition  kindly,  and  is  universally  helc 
the  highest  regard. 


ei 


JL 


*  SA  B.  CORBIN.  The  Corbin  family 
L  well  known  in  the  town  of  Pawlir 
Dutchess  county,  and  its  members  in  evf 
generation  have  given  evidence  of  thequalit 
which  constitute  good  citizenship. 

John  Corbin,  the  father  of  the  subject 
this  sketch,  was  a  native  of  that  town  a 
passed  his  life  there,  acquiring  his  education 
its  public  schools,  and  eogaging  in  agriculto 
pursuits  on  arriving  at  manhood's  estate, 
was  a  devout  Methodist,  working  actively 
advance  the  cause  of  religion,  and  was  belo'jj 
throughout  the  community.  He  married 
phia  Burdick,  and  had  three  children,  of  wh<i 


ASA  B.  CORBIN. 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


377 


Asa  B.  was  the  second.  The  eldest,  John 
Corbin,  Jr.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Pawling, 
and  his  education  was  obtained  in  the  public 
schools.  He  was  engaged  in  business  as  a 
carpenter  and  wagon  maker  during  the  greater 
portion  of  his  life.  He  and  his  wife  Matilda 
(Ferris),  had  one  daughter,  Alice,  who  was 
born  in  Pawling,  is  now  the  wife  of  Mr.  Gar- 
ner, a  farmer  in  Connecticut,  and  they  have 
one  child.  The  youngest  of  the  three  children 
of  John  Corbin,  Sr. ,  Betsy,  born  1813,  mar- 
ried Horace  Haviland,  and  died  March  28, 
1894. 

Our  subject  was  born  December  16,  18 14, 
was  educated  at  the  common  schools,  reared 
on  a  farm,  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter, 
later  also  that  of  wagon  maker.  Some  forty 
years  ago  he  established  that  business,  in  con- 
nection with  undertaking,  in  Pawling,  and  con- 
tinued same  up  to  his  death  which  occurred 
February  28,  1887.  He  was  a  man  of  good 
executive  ability,  and  accumulated  a  fine  prop- 
erty. On  December  16,  1859,  he  married 
Mary  L.  Allen,  and  they  had  one  daughter, 
Grace  A.,  born  September  22,  1866,  now  the 
I  wife  of  Alonzo  M.  Leach.  The  mother  died 
June  16,  1889;  she  was  born  April  25,  1835,  a 
daughter  of  Horatio  and  Hannah  (Pendley) 
Allen,  farming  people  of  the  town  of  Pawling, 
who  had  a  family  of  four  children:  Susan, 
Ruth,  Gideon  and  Mary  L.  Asa  B.  Corbin 
was  a  progressive  man,  originally  a  Whig,  and 
later  a  Republican  in  politics,  finally  joining 
the  Prohibition  party  on  its  formation,  and  in 
i860  he  served  as  supervisor  of  his  county.  In 
temperance  work  he  was  extremely  active, 
giving  freely  to  the  cause  of  his  time  and 
money,  and  he  was  a  zealous  member  of  the 
M.  E.  Church. 

Alonzo  M.  Leach  was  born  January  18, 
1855,  in  Sherman,  Conn.,  a  son  of  David  W. 
and  Samantha  M.  (Hawes)  Leach,  who  were 
the  parents  of  three  children,  Alonzo  M.  being 
the  youngest.  Florence,  the  eldest,  married 
Edward  P.  Briggs,  a  merchant  of  Sherman, 
Conn.,  and  they  have  one  child.  Belle. 
Charles  L,  the  second  in  David  W.  Leach's 
family,  married  Ida  H.  Wanzer,  and  they  have 
had  two  children,  Ray,  and  one  that  died  in 
infancy.  They  live  on  the  old  farm  in  Leach 
Hollow,  Conn.  The  Leach  family  are  of 
Scotch  extraction,  and  trace  their  pedigree 
back  to  Ichabod  Leach,  who  was  one  of  three 
brothers  (sons   of    Moses    Leach)    who   came 

Scotland.      David  W.  Leach,   the  father 


of  Alonzo  M.,  was  born  in  1822,  a  son  of 
David  Leach.  He  was  a  Democrat,  served  as 
a  captain  in  the  old  State  militia,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  State  Legislature,  besides  hold- 
ing other  minor  offices  at  various  times.  Sa- 
mantha M.  (Hawes)  Leach  (the  mother  of  Al- 
onzo M.)  was  the  third  in  the  family  of  thir- 
teen children  born  to  David  Hawes  and  his 
wife.     She  died  in  1877. 

Alonzo  M.  Leach  received  his  primary  ed- 
ucation at  the  common  schools  of  the  neigh- 
borhood of  his  boyhood  home,  afterward  at- 
tending the  Golden  Hill  Institute,  Bridgeport, 
Conn.,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1874.  He 
then  worked  on  a  farm  until  1882,  in  which 
year  he  came  to  Pawling,  where  he  entered 
the  employ  of  Merwin  &  Holmes,  general  mer- 
chants, with  whom  he  has  remained  ever  since, 
with  the  exception  of  one  year  he  spent  in 
Bridgeport.  On  October  19,  1892,  he  and 
Miss  Grace  A.  Corbin  were  united  in  marriage. 
They  have  one  child,  Helen  M.,  born  Decem- 
ber 31,  1894.  In  his  political  preferences  Mr. 
Leach  is  a  Republican. 


COURT  B.  CUNLEY,  the  well-known  to- 
bacconist of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, was  born  near  Hillsdale,  Mich.,  November 
13,  1838,  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Sarah  Ann  (Van- 
Voorhees)  Cunley. 

Our  subject  spent  his  boyhood  at  Fishkill, 
attending  the  public  schools.  He  learned  the 
tobacco  trade  of  the  John  Jay  Cox  Co. ,  at 
Fishkill,  and  then  went  to  New  York  City, 
where  he  finished  his  trade.  Returning  to 
Fishkill  he  again  worked  for  the  John  Jay  Cox 
Co.,  subsequently  going  to  Red  Hook  and 
again  to  New  York  City.  In  1867  he  came  to 
Poughkeepsie,  and  started  business  at  the  old 
stand  established  by  Rudolph  Griner  in  1835. 
Mr.  Cunley  began  the  manufacture  of  cigars 
in  1879.  and  in  1882  moved  into  the  store  he 
now  occupies. 

Our  subject  was  married  at  Fishkill,  June 
II,  1858,  to  Sarah  J.,  a  daughter  of  Morgan 
Owen,  and  their  children  were:  Frank  G., 
Minnie  V.  and  Fred.  Mr.  Cunley  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Poughkeepsie  Lodge  No.  266,  F.  &  A. 
M. ;  Poughkeepsie  Chapter  No.  172,  R.  A.  M. ; 
Commandery  No.  43,  Knights  Templar;  King 
Solomon's  Council  of  Royal  and  Select  Mas- 
ters; member  of  the  N.  Y.  Mystic  Shrine  of 
Mecca  Temple;  thirty-second  Degree  of  Aurora 
Grata   Consistory  of  the  Valley  of  Brooklyn, 


878 


OOMMEMOBA  TIVE  BIOORAPHWAL  RECORD. 


N.  Y. ;  past  exalted  ruler  of  the  Elks;  member 
of  the  K.  of  P.  No.  43;  and  of  Fallkill  Lodge 
No.  297, 1.  O.  O.  F.  He  attends  the  services 
of  the  Hedding  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
In  politics  our  subject  is  a  Republican,  and  for 
six  years  represented  the  Third  ward  in  the 
city  council.  He  was  on  the  water  board  for 
three  years,  and  for  the  same  length  of  time 
on  the  Alms  House  board.  He  was  a  pro- 
moter of  the  Electric  Light  &  Power  Co.,  in 
Poughkeepsie,  and  was  chairman  of  the  light- 
ing committee  in  the  council.  As  it  was 
through  his  zeal  that  the  plant  was  put  in,  he 
was  called  the  "electric  light  alderman."  He 
has  always  taken  a  great  interest  in  politics. 
Since  living  in  Marshall  street  he  has  built 
three  houses,  and  he  also  owns  property  on 
College  avenue  and  Grand  avenue. 

Daniel  Cunley,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  June  12,  1801,  in  Stuttgart,  Ger- 
many, where  he  received  his  schooling.  He 
was  in  the  German  army  for  five  years.  In 
1822  he  came  to  Fishkill  and  worked  in  a 
woolen-mill  as  dyer,  and  was  married  in  that 
town  to  Miss  Sarah  Ann  Van  Voorhees,  who 
was  born  in  Fishkill,  October  20,  1809.  They 
went  to  Hillsdale,  Mich.,  soon  after  their  mar- 
riage, making  the  journey  by  packet  on  the 
•  canal  and  across  Lake  Erie.  In  Hillsdale  he 
bought  a  farm  of  about  352  acres,  but,  becom- 
ing afflicted  with  the  ague,  he  sold  out  and 
moved  to  Allegany  county,  N.  Y. ,  and  farmed 
there;  but  on  account  of  the  fever  and  ague  he 
again  sold  out  and  returned  to  Fishkill,  where 
he  remained  until  his  death,  September  25, 
1885.  Mrs.  Cunley  died  February  29,  1884. 
They  had  the  following  children:  Court  B., 
our  subject;  William  H..  born  in  1840;  George 
A.,  born  in  1843;  and  Mary,  John  Wesley  and 
Fletcher,  who  are  deceased. 

The  following  is  the  pedigree  of  the  Van- 
Voorhees  family,  taking  only  our  subject's 
branch.  The  full  record  of  this  family  makes 
a  volume  of  over  700  pages.  The  English 
meaning  of  the  Holland  name  of  Van  Voor- 
hees is  "from  before  Hees, "  Van  meaning 
"from"  and  Voor  meaning  "before."  Hees 
being  a  small  village  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
south  of  the  town  of  Ruinen,  in  the  province 
of  Drenthe,  Holland,  which,  in  1660,  con- 
tained nine  houses  and  about  fifty  inhabitants. 
The  earliest  of  the  family  of  whom  we  have 
any  definite  information  is  Coert  Alberts  of 
Voorhees,  the  father  of  the  emigrant  ancestor, 
Steven  Coerte  Van   Voorhees,    and  from  the 


fact  of  his  second  name  being  Albert,  with  the 
terminal  "s, "  we  know  that  his  father's  first 
name  must  have  been  Albert. 

I.  Coert  Alberts  Van  Voorhees  had  seven 
children,  of  whom  Steven  Coerte  Van  Voor- 
hees was  the  eldest. 

II.  Steven  Coerte  Van  Voorhees  was  born, 
in  1600,  at  Hees,  Holland,  and  died  February 
16,  1684,  at  Flatlands,  Long  Island.  He 
married  ( i )  in  Holland  (wife's  name  not  known) ; 
(2)  prior  to  1677  on  Long  Island,  Willempie 
Roelofse  Senbering,  born  in  1619,  died  in 
1690.  He  emigrated  from  Hees,  April,  1660, 
in  the  ship  "  Bontekoe  "  ("Spotted  Cow  "j, 
November  29,  1660.  He  purchased  from  Cor- 
nells Dircksen  Hoogland  nine  morgens  of  corn 
land,  seven  morgens  of  woodland,  ten  morgens 
of  plain  land,  and  five  morgens  of  salt  meadow 
in  Flatlands,  Long  Island,  for  3,000  guilders. 
He  also  bought  the  brewery.  He  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  Dutch  Church  of  Flat- 
lands. 

III.  Coert  Stevense  Van  Voorhees  (third  I 
child  of  No.  II),  born  1637,  died  1702,  mar- 
ried 1664  to  Marretje  Gerritse  Van  Comoen- 
hoven,  born  April  10,  1644,  died  1709.  He 
was  a  representative  of  Flatlands  in  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  at  New  Amsterdam  city  hall 
April  10,  1664,  and  delegate  to  the  convention 
of  March  26,  1674,  at  New  Orange,  to  confer 
with  Governor  Colve.  He  was  deacon  of  Dutch 
Church,  magistrate  1664  to  1673,  and  captain 
of  militia  in  1689.  He  had  nine  children,  of 
whom  Johannes  Coerte  Van  Voorhees  was  the 
youngest. 

IV.  Johannes  Coerte  Van  Voorhees,  born 
April  20,  1683,  married  (i)  November  19,  1703, 
Barbara  Van   Dyck,  (2)    May   2,  1744,  Sarah 
Van  Vliet,  died  October  10,  1757.      After  his 
first  marriage  he  left  Flatlands  and  settled  at 
Freehold,  N.  J.,  on  a  farm  of  200  acres.     From 
there   he   moved   to  Rombout    precinct,    no\v| 
Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  buying  2,790  acres' 
of  land  of  Philip  Verplanck,  of  the  manor  o\ 
Courtlandt.      He  was  one  of  the  organizers  am 
many  years  elder  of  the  Dutch  Church  at  Fish 
kill    village.      The    tombstone    in    the    Dutcl 
church-yard    bears    this    inscription:     "  Heit 
lyes  the  body  of  John  Van  Voorhis,  aged  sev 
enty-five  years.      Deceased  October   10,  Ami' 

I757-" 

V.  Coert  Van  Voorhees  (second  child  o 
No.  IV)  was  born  April  5,  1706,  married  Jun^ 
16,  1727,  Catherine  Filkin,  died  March  I'j 
1785.      He  lived  at  Fishkill. 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


879 


VI.  Zachariah  Van  Voorhees  (tenth  child 
of  No.  V)  was  born  March  25,  1748.  Mar- 
ried (i)  February  12,  1772,  Anna  Lawrence, 
born  .\ugust  27,  1751,  died  December  10,  1781 ; 
(2)  November  25,  1786,  to  Nancy  Springsteen, 
who  was  born  May  1 5,  1 763,  and  died  February 
9,  1 85 1.  He  died  July  3,  181 1.  He  resided 
at  Fishkill. 

Vn.  Coert  Van  Voorhees  (third  child  of 
No.  VI)  was  born  July  15,  1777,  married  May 
8,  1803,  to  Elizabeth  Palmer,  born  1787,  died 
December  17,  1869.      He  died  in  181 8. 

VIII.  Sally  Ann  Van  Voorhees  (third  child 
)f  No.  VII)  was  born  October  20,  1809.  She 
narried  Daniel  Cunley,  and  died  February  29, 
1884. 

IX.  Court  B.  Cunley  (eldest  child  of  No. 
/Ill)  was  born  November  13,  1838. 


SAMUEL  VAN  COTT  (deceased).    Among 
i^  the  sturdy,  energetic  and  successful  farm- 
irs  of  Dutchess  county,  who  thoroughly  under- 
hand   the    vocation    they   follow,  and    conse- 
uently  are  enabled  to  carry  on  their  calling 
ith  profit  to  themselves,  was  the  subject  of 
as  sketch,  who  was  actively  engaged  in  agri- 
iltural  pursuits  in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  some 
urteen  years. 
Our  subject  was  born  in  the  town  of  Dover, 
itchess  county,  February  8,  1826,  and  came 
Holland   lineage.      His    grandfather,   John 
lu  Cott,  who  was  born  in  Long  Island,  N.  Y. , 
ied  a  Miss  Titus,  and  in  their  family  was 
hen    Van  Cott,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  also  born   on  Long  Island,  and   en- 
i  in  farming,  in  the  town   of  both    Dover 
Washington,  Dutchess  county.      He    was 
d  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Doty, 
to  them  were  born  the  following  children: 
on    (deceased),      Martha,    Jane,     George 
iiel,   and   Caroline  and  Oliver    (both    de- 
-  .cd). 

muel  Van  Cott  was  reared  amid  the  hills 

town  of  Washington,  and  there  breathed 

pirit  of  freedom  and  independence  which 

so  largely  characteristic  of  him.      He  se- 

1  his  education  in   the    common   schools, 

■arly  in  life  received  a  home  training  upon 

arm,  which  well  fitted  him  for  the  calling 

J   long   followed.      He    was   born    in   the 

'  of  Dover,  but  most  of  his  boyhood  days 

spent  in  the  town  of  Washington,  where 

rnained  until  nineteen  years  of  age,  when 

■went    to    Onondaga    county,    N.  Y. ,  there 


conducting  a  store  for  a  short  time.  For  five 
years  he  was  engaged  in  farming  in  Broome 
county,  N.  Y. ,  after  which  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia, where  he  remained  in  the  mining  dis- 
tricts some  three  years.  Returning  to  New 
York  State,  he  again  located  in  Broome  county, 
where  for  some  time  he  followed  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  was  also  engaged  in  the  same  oc- 
cupation in  Herkimer  county  several  years. 
Later,  for  seventeen  years,  he  conducted  a 
farm  in  Onondaga  county,  but  in  1882  he  re- 
turned to  Dutchess  county,  and  made  his 
home  in  the  town  of  Lagrange  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  February  6,  1896. 

On  Long  Island  in  i860,  Mr.  Van  Cott 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  R.  Velsor,  daughter  of 
John  Velsor,  and  the  following  named  five 
children  blessed  their  union:  John,  Valentine, 
Henry  R.,  George  S.  and  Charles  P.  A 
stanch  adherent  to  the  Republican  party,  Mr. 
Van  Cott  took  an  active  interest  in  politics. 


[jENRY  JOSEPH  TAYLOR,  a  highly-re- 
spected citizen  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutch- 
ess county,  is  a  native  of  New  York,  born  at 
Highland  Falls,  December  4,  1862.  Many  of 
the  ancestors  of  our  subject  were  natives  of 
Dover,  Dutchess  county,  where  his  paternal 
grandfather's  birth  occurred;  but  most  of  his 
life  was  passed  in  Danbury,  Conn.,  at  which 
place  he  was  employed  as  a  hatter. 

The  father,  Ezra  Taylor,  was  also  born  at 
Dover,  where  his  early  education  was  received, 
and  for  ten  years  he  there  worked  as  a  me- 
chanic, after  which  he  removed  to  Spuyten 
Duyvel,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade 
for  several  years.  He  then  went  to  West 
Point,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  was  employed  by  the 
government  until  1885,  and  during  the  Civil 
war  enlisted  there  in  the  Union  service,  but 
did  not  leave  that  post.  For  over  twenty 
years  he  made  his  home  at  Highland  Falls,  N. 
Y. ,  where  he  was  highly  respected  by  his  fel- 
low citizens.  He  was  a  man  of  e.xcellent  edu- 
cation, with  scarcely  an  enemy  in  the  world,  of 
a  retiring  disposition,  and,  though  often  ten- 
dered public  office,  would  never  accept.  At 
Dover,  Dutchess  county,  Ezra  Taylor  married 
Deborah  Lee,  daughter  of  Thomas  Lee,  but 
she  died  in  April,  1892,  leaving  five  children: 
Royal  E.,  a  carpenter  of  Peekskill,  N.  Y. ; 
Martha  A.,  wife  of  Capt.  H.  H.  Meeks,  of 
Yonkers,  N.  Y. ;  Warren  Madison,  who  is  con- 
nected with   the   Ansonia   Clock  Company,  of 


880 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


South  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.;  Henry  J.,  subject  of 
this  review;  and  William  E.,  head  salesman 
for  C.  Crum,  furniture  dealer,  at  Newburg, 
New  York. 

The    boyhood    days  of    Henry    J.    Taylor 
were  spent  at  Highland   Falls,   where  he  at- 
tended school  until  sixteen  years  of  age,   when 
he  came  to  Poughkeepsie  and  for  three  years 
worked  for  his   uncle,  William  Taylor,  in  the 
grocery  business.     He  then  went  to  New  York 
City,  where  he  remained  five  years,  being  em- 
ployed by  the  New  York,  New  Haven  &  Hart- 
ford Steamboat   Company,  and  on  his  return 
to  Poughkeepsie  was  in  the  grocery  store  of  R. 
B.    Cary   for  one   year.       The    following  five 
years  he   worked  for  Holmes  &   Boice,  after 
which  he  went  to  Arlington,  where  he  and  his 
uncle,  William  Taylor,  engaged  in  the  grocery 
trade,  under  the  firm  name  of  Taylor  &  Tay- 
lor, for  a  couple  of  years.     On  selling  out  his 
interest  to   his  uncle,  our  subject  entered  the 
employ  of  E.  S.  Craft,  with  whom  he  has  re- 
mained since  July,  1894. 

On  October  24,  1888,  at  Highland  Falls, 
Mr.  Taylor  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Olive  T.  Faurot,  daughter  of  Capt.  Theodore 
Faurot,  and  their  union  has  been  blessed  with 
two  children:  Lee  Faurot,  born  in  July,  1889. 
and  Henry  Earle,  born  in  October,  1892.  Mr. 
Taylor  has  made  many  friends  since  coming 
to  Poughkeepsie,  and  by  all  who  know  him  he 
is  held  in  the  highest  esteem. 


While  attending  medical  college  in  New 
York,  the  Doctor  met  Miss  Sarah  Elizabeth 
Sand's,  daughter  of  Dr.  Samuel  Sands,  of 
Darien,  Conn.,  to  whom  he  was  married  June 
5,  1878.  On  April  3,  1885.  he  became  a  resi- 
dent of  the  town  of  Beekman,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, having  bought  the  practice  of  Dr.  Clark  A. 
Nicholson,  who  soon  afterward  died.  He  was 
the  leading  physician  of  the  locality,  and  Dr. 
Tripp  has  proven  himself  a  worthy  successor: 
Successful  from  the  start,  he  has  a  large  ant 
growing  practice,  not  only  in  the  town 
Beekman,  but  in  the  towns  adjacent  on  I 
west.  He  stands  high  among  the  medical  fra 
ternity  of  the  county,  and  is  a  member  of 
Dutchess  County  Medical  Society. 


th 


Be.  TRIPP,  M.  D.,  the  leading  physician 
)  and  surgeon  of    the  town  of    Beekman, 

was  born  July  6.  1848,  at  Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  the 
only  child  of  F.  W.  and  Rebecca  (Taber) 
Tripp,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  native  of 
Pawtucket,  R.  I.,  the  latter  of  New  York. 
The  father  owned  and  operated  a  machine- 
shop  at  Ithaca,  where  the  iron  work  for  canal 
boats,  etc.,  was  turned  out. 

Our  subject,  after  completing  his  educa- 
tion at  the  schools  of  his  native  town,  entered 
the  office  of  Dr.  S.  P.  Sackett,  where  he  com- 
menced the  study  of  medicine.  Subsequently 
he  attended  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College, 
New  York  City,  where  he  was  graduated  in 
1875.  For  a  time  he  practiced  on  Twenty- 
fourth  street,  that  city,  while  taking  a  post- 
graduate course,  but  being  persuaded  by  his 
relatives  to  return  to  Ithaca,  he  did  so,  and  for 
the  following  seven  years  was  in  active  prac- 
tice there. 


JUDGE  ANDREW  COLE  (deceased), 
man's  reputation  is  the  property  of 
world.  The  laws  of  nature  have  forbidde 
isolation.  Every  human  being  either  submi 
to  the  controlling  influence  of  others,  or  as 
master  spirit  wields  a  power  either  for  good  1 
for  evil  on  the  masses  of  mankind.  There  ca 
be  no  impropriety  in  justly  scanning  the  ac 
of  any  man  as  they  affect  his  public  and  bus 
ness  relations.  If  he  is  honest  and  eminent  1 
his  chosen  field  of  labor,  investigation  w 
brighten  his  fame,  and  point  the  path  th 
others  may  follow  with  like  success.  Fro 
among  the  ranks  of  quiet,  persevering, 
prominent  citizens  there  is  no  one  more  d 
serving  of  mention  in  a  volume  of  this  char 
ter  than  Andrew  Cole,  who  departed  this 
at  his  late  residence  in  Pleasant  Valley,  D 
cember  3,  1896. 

Judge  Cole  was  a  native  of  Dutchess  ecu 
ty,  born  in  the  town  of  Unionvale,  July  I 
1825,  and  was  the  son  of  William  Cowlesj 
the  name  was  spelled  by  his  ancestors), 
father  was  also  born  in  the  town  of  Unionva 
the  date  of  his  birth  being  October  14.  '7! 
and  was  the  only  child  of  John  M.  Cowl 
who  was  of  Holland  descent,  and  a  promiii' 
farmer  of  Unionvale  town,  where  both  he 
his  wife  passed  the  remainder  of  their  liv 
They  were  earnest  members  of  the  Societj. 
Friends.  William  Cowles  was  united  in  mi 
riage  with  Miss  Charlotte  Lake,  who  wasb 
September  30,  1792,  in  the  town  ofLagran 
Dutchess  county,  where  her  father,  James  LjI 
was  a  lifelong  agriculturist.  The  young  cm 
began  housekeeping  upon  a  farm  in  Lagra 
town,  and  later  became  residents  of  the  ti 


^<^  q7^.^ M.^ 


I 


f 


t 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPEICAL  RECORD. 


881 


?f  Unionvale,  and  upon  the  old  homestead 
:here  the  father  died  February  20,  1845;  his 
,vife  passed  away  February  23,  1871.  They, 
;oo,  were  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
is  were  also  the  maternal  grandparents  of  our 
iubject,  and  in  politics  the  father  was  a  Dem- 
jcrat. 

Andrew  Cole,  whose  name  opens  this 
ilcetch,  was  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth  in  the 
amily  of  seven  children,  the  others  being 
.lilton,  who  engaged  in  farming  in  the  town 
if  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  where  his 
eath  occurred;  James,  who  followed  the  same 
■ursuit  in  Lagrange  town,  where  he  died; 
'arleman,  a  conductor,  who  died  in  Pennsyl- 
ania;  Elizabeth,  who  became  the  wife  of  Jar- 
is  Emigh,  a  miller  and  the  postmaster  at 
lyde  Park,  Dutchess  county,  and  now  makes 
er  home  in  Poughkeepsie;  Mitchell,  who  is 
ngaged  in  wagon  making;  and  William  H., 
'ho  at  one  time  followed  carpentering  in 
•utchess  county,  later  in  Brooklyn,  where  he 
lied. 

In  the  usual  manner  of  farmers'  boys  our 
ibject  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth,  receiving 
is  literary  education  in  the  old  district  school, 
id  at  the  Nine  Partners  School,  in  which  he 
light  for  a  time.      He  then  entered  the  law 
nee  of  Varick  &  Eldridge,  Poughkeepsie,  where 
remained  some  time,  from   there   proceed- 
!^  to  LaCrosse,  Wis.,  where  he  was  admitted 
the  bar,  and  tried  his  first  suit   in  that  now 
nving  city.      It  was  then  a  mere  hamlet,  the 
uses  being  all  made  of  logs,  and  he  built  the 
5t  frarme  house  on  what  is  now  Second  street. 
;  was  also  one  of  the  first  lawyers  of  Winona, 
:nn. ;  here  he  was  appointed  district  attorney, 
'  afterward  elected  probate  judge  of  Winona 
ty,  there  remaining  until   1857,  when  on 
I  count  of  ill  health   he  returned   to   Pleasant 
'illey,   where  he   passed   his  declining  days. 
"nile  a  resident  of  Winona   he  was  one  of  its 
-'  active  and  influential  citiatens,  and  served 
torney  for  the  owners  of  the  city. 
II  1852  Judge  Cole  was  united  in  marriage 
Miss  Sarah  A.  Mastin,  a   native  of  New 
.  City,  and  a  daughter  of  James  B.  Mastin, 
>  'J  finally  became    a    resident    of    Pleasant 
Nlley,  where   his   death   occurred.     The  an- 
C;tors  of  the  Mastin  family   were  from    Eng- 
1;  d.     By  the  union   of   our   subject  and  wife 
born  three    children:     Lilly  N.,  ZodaA. 
1 .  Wilhelmina,  all  of  whom  died   in   child- 
bed. 
Although  Judge  Cole   was  not  engaged  in 


active  practice  of  law  after  his  return  to  Dutch- 
ess county,  his  services  were,  nevertheless, 
frequently  sought  in  legal  matters,  and  he  took 
a  lively  interest  in  everything  pertaining  to  the 
legal  fraternity.  He  was  prominently  identi- 
fied with  the  Democratic  party,  but  was  never 
prevailed  upon  to  accept  office,  though  often 
urged  to  do  so.  His  estimable  wife  holds 
membership  with  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
but  he  always  adheres  to  the  faith  of  his  an- 
cestors, being  a  Friend  to  the  day  of  his 
death.  In  the  taking  away  of  Judge  Cole, 
the  Dutchess  county  Bar  has  lost  one  of  its 
most  able  members;  Pleasant  Valley,  one  of 
its  most  prominent  and  most  highly  esteemed 
citizens;  and  those  of,  his  own  household,  a 
genial  companion  and  sympathetic  adviser. 


JOHN  C.  SICKLEY,  the  city  librarian  of 
Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  is  a  native 
of  Springfield,  N.  J.,  born  August  29,  1855, 
and  is  descended  from  John  Sickley,  Sr.,  a 
sea  captain,  of  Holland  birth.  John,  Sr. ,  was 
married  in  Holland;  his  wife  was  drowned  at 
sea.  Their  only  child,  John  Sickley,  Jr.,  was 
born  at  Schooley's  Mountain,  N.  J.,  and  in 
that  State  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
By  his  marriage  with  Sarah  Allen  he  became 
the  father  of  nine  children:  Margaret;  James; 
John,  who  was  shot  during  the  Revolutionary 
war,  at  Millstonebridge,  N.  J. ;  Archibald,  the 
grandfather  of  our  suoject;  William;  Catherine; 
Obediah;  Eliza  and  Robert. 

By  occupation  the  grandfather  was  a  farmer 
and  successfully  followed  that  pursuit  in  New 
Jersey,  his  native  State,  but  his  death  oc- 
curred in  California.  He  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Sarah  Hazen,  of  the  same 
State,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  six 
children:  John  C,  the  father  of  our  subject; 
Ziba  H.,  who  was  a  merchant  of  Spring- 
field, N.  J. ;  Jane,  who  married  Theodore 
Pearson,  a  farmer,  millwright  and  county  judge 
of  Union  county,  N.  J. ;  Clarissa,  who  wed- 
ded Halsey  Burnett,  a  boot  and  shoe  mer- 
chant; James,  a  farmer  of  New  Jersey;  and 
Andrew  J.,  a  farmer  of  the  Empire  State. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Spring- 
field, N.  J.,  and  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  that 
State.  On  reaching  manhood  he  there  kept  a 
country  hotel  for  some  time.  The  lady  who 
became  his  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Mary 
C.  Bradbury,  and  she  was  also  a  native  of 
Springfield.      Her  father,    Samuel    Bradbury, 


882 


OOMMimnilATIVE  BWOItAI'IIWAL  liKCOJiD. 


was  a  paper  manufacturer  of  that  place,  and 
was  tile  son  of  John  Hradbury,  who  was  born  in 
Knj^hmcl  and  sent  out  by  that  country  to  travel 
throuf^h  America  and  report  on  the  condition  of 
the  country.  Mc  published  a  work  on  his  trav- 
els, entitled,  "  liradbiiry's  Travels  in  America  in 
1809-10-I1."  After  their  marriage  the  par- 
ents of  our  subject  located  on  a  farm  in  Spring- 
field, where  six  children  wore  born  to  them, 
namely:  Ellen  and  Clarissa,  both  of  whom 
died  in  childhood;  John  C,  subject  of  this 
review;  George,  who  died  while  young;  and 
James  and  Mary,  who  are  living  with  their 
mother  upon  the  old  homestead.  The  father, 
whose  life  was  passed  in  farming  and  hotel 
keeping,  died  in  August,  1865.  In  politics  he 
was  an  unswerving  Democrat,  and  held  sev- 
eral important  offices  in  his  locality. 

Our  subject  spent  his  early  days  upon  the 
homefarm,  aiding  in  itsoperation,  and  attending 
the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood ;  liis  edu- 
cation, however,  was  completed  in  the, schools  of 
I'oiighkcepsie,  where  his  mother  removed  with 
her  family  in  1870.  He  began  the  study  of 
law  with  Judge  Nelson,  and  later  was  with  Mr. 
Crummey.  On  being  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1877,  he  began  the  |)ractice  of  his  chosen  pro- 
fession, whicii  he  continued  for  sometime;  but 
in  1883  was  appointed  city  librarian,  and  is 
still  serving  in  that  capacity  to  the  satisfaction 
of  all  concerned. 

Mr.  Sickley  married  Miss  Olivia  M.  Town- 
ley,  a  native  of  New  Jerst^,  and  a  daughter  of 
Albert  Townley,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  who 
is  of  English  lineage.  One  child  blesses  this 
union,  Katherine  O.  The  parents  attend  the 
Episcopal  Church,  and  are  widely  and  favor- 
ably known. 


COKNEEIUS  R.  VAN  WYCK  (deceased) 
was  one  of  the  iniluential  and  highly  re- 
spectetl  citizens  of  the  town  of  East  Fishkill, 
wluMc  almost  his  entire  life  was  passed.  There 
his  Ijirth  occurred,  March  28,  1814,  and  there 
his  great-grandfather,  Richard  Van  Wyck,  a 
native  of  Long  Island,  located  at  an  early  day, 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Cornelius  R. 
Van  Wyck,  being  born  there  January  26,  1753. 
C,  R.  Van  Wyck  was  a  lineal  descendant  of 
Cornelius  Baruse  Van  Wyck,  who  emigrated 
from  Holland  in  ifijo,  and  settled  in  New 
Amstcrdvim. 

Col.  Richard  C.  Van  Wyck,  the  father  of 
our  subject,  was  also  a  native  of  the  town  of 


East  Fishkill,  born  June  11,  1783,  and  through- 
out life  engaged  in  milling,  farming  and  mer- 
chandising, in  Dutchess  county.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Thorn,  and  to  them  were  born  the 
following  cliildren:  Rynier,  a  farmer  of  Fish- 
kill, who  married  Elizabeth  Van  Wyck;  Cor-i 
nelius  R.,  subject  of  this  review;  Jane  E.,  who 
became  the  wife  of  John  Adriance,  a  farmer; 
Anna,  who  married  Jacob  Horton,  a  farmer  1 
East  Fishkill;  Phiube,  who  married  Cornelili 
S.  Van  Wyck,  also  an  agriculturist;  HenriettaJ 
who  married  James  Du  liois,  a  farmer  of  Hudj 
son,  N.  Y. ;  and  Mary,  who  wedded  Roberj 
McMurry,  a  merchant  of  New  York  City. 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  agricultural  pur| 
suits,  but  for  a  short  time  during  early  life  hn 
was  engaged  in  merchandising  in  Poughkeepsiej 
after  which  he  again  turned  his  attention  til 
farming.  He  continued  to  operate  his  farm  ill 
the  town  of  East  Fishkill  with  the  exceptioj 
of  seven  years,  when  he  carried  on  the  samJ 
occupation  in  Culpeper  county,  Va.,  and  waj 
quite  successful  in  his  undertakings. 

On  January  11,  1843,  Mr.  Van  Wyck 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Phoebe  C.  Wor 
man,  who  was  also  born  in  the  town  of  Eas 
I'ishkill,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Denis  an| 
Elizabeth  (Rapalje)  Wortman,  the  former 
native  of  Westchester  county,  N.  Y. ,  and  thjl 
latter  of  East  p-ishkill  town,  this  county.  H(| 
mother  was  the  daughter  of  Jeromus  and  Eli;| 
abcth  (Bedell)  Rapalje,  the  former  born  oh 
Long  Island,  while  her  paternal  grandfathel 
James  Wortman,  was  a  native  of  WestchesttI 
county,  and  a  farmer  and  architect  by  occupij 
tion.  James  Wortman,  father  of  Dr.  Den 
Wortman,  was  a  descendant  of  Dirck  JanscI 
Wortman,  who  emigrated  from  Holland  in  l6/| 
and  settled  in  Brooklyn,  and  was  of  Huguenf 
descent.  After  their  marriage  her  paren 
located  at  East  Fishkill,  N.  Y.,  where  h[ 
father  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  fl 
the  long  period  of  forty-seven  years,  and  wl 
a  most  successful  physician.  He  died  greatl 
lamented  May  2,  1864,  surviving  his  wife  or 
a  few  months,  her  death  having  occurred  Ja 
uary  14,  1864.  They  were  earnest  membi 
of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  and  reared 
family  of  four  children:  Elizabeth,  who  m: 
ried  John  P.  Flagler;  Ph<ebe,  widow  of  c 
subject;  Denis,  a  prominent  Reformed  Dut 
minister  of  Saugerties,  N.  Y. ;  and  Ann  Alet 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Wyck  commenced  th 
married  life  at  iMshkiil  Plains,  N.  J.,  aflerw;i 
moving  to  the  home  in   Hopewell,  N.  V..  (I 


i\ 


COMMEMURATIVK  niOUUAPUICAL  ItECOlW. 


»»U 


merly  the  home  of  Dr.  Wortman  and  wife 
(the  father  and  mother  of  Mrs.  Van  Wyck). 
Ten  children  were  born  to  them:  Richard  C, 
a  prominent  and  beloved  physician,  who  mar- 
ried Charlotte  Underbill,  and  died  January  28, 
1896;  Denis  W.,  a  merchant  of  Wappingers 
Falls,  N.  Y.,  who  married  Mary  E.  Harcourt, 
and  they  had  one  child,  Fhebe  Ellen  (he  died 
August  4,  1 8801;  Eliza,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
five  years;  Anna;  Eliza  Janelte;  Mary,  who 
died  August  18,  1873;  Ph(jebe  Jane;  Margaret 
W. ;  James  C,  a  merchant  of  Matteawan,  N. 
Y. ;  and  Henrietta  Du  Bois. 

Richard  C.  Van    Wyck,  M.  D.,  eldest  son 
,  of  Cornelius  R.  and  Phcebe  C.  Van  Wyck,  was 
'{a  protninent  and  beloved  physician.     He  was 
rriduated    in   medicine  from    the    College    of 
liysicians  and  Surgeons   in    New  York  City, 
March    12,    1867,  after  which   he  served  two 
I  ars    in    Bellevue    Hospital    on  the  Surgical 
taff.     He  then  went  to  Europe  for  the  pur- 
se of  perfecting  himself  in  his  chosen  profes- 
11.      Returning,  he  practiced  awhile  in  Den- 
r,  Col.,  and  afterward  in  Virginia  (where  he 
'  nt  on  account  of  his  health).      Recovering 
^  health,  he  settled  in   Hopewell,    and   con- 
iiied  in  active   practice   until  his  death.      He 
.is  thrown  from  his  carriage,  his  horse  taking 
Iftht  at    a  railroad   crossing,  and   fatally   in- 
■Rd  January  25,  1896.  and  died  January  28, 
IK6.     There  are  few  physicians  who  possess 
H^ve  completely  the  confidence  of  their   pa- 
H^Bts  than  he  did,   and   few   have  been   more 
iely  missed  or  so  sincerely  mourned.    Denis 
Vortnian  Van  Wyck,  second  son,  was  greatly 
'loved  and  respected,  and  was  a  merchant  at 
\\'appingers  Falls. 

The  parents  were  both  devout  members  of 
lie  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  and  in  political 
ntiriient  Mr.  Van  Wyck  was  an  ardent  Demo- 
it.     His  death  occurred  June  14,   1879,  and 
IS  mourned  by  many  warm  friends.    He  was 
active,  public-spirited  citizen,  who  had  the 
ct  of  all  who  knew  him,  and  took  a  prom- 
pt part  in  those  matters  relating  to  the  best 
iuresls  of  the  community. 


% 


II.LIAM  PLATTO.      Among  those  who 

followed  the  old  Hag  on  Southern  bat- 

'ields  is  this  gentleman,  now  one  of  the  lead- 

'   business  men  of  Poughkeepsie,    Dutchess 

inty,   where  he  is  conducting  a    successful 

iiage  manufactory.      He  was  born  in  that 


city,  December  23,  1845,  and  is  the  son  of 
Thomas  Platto,  a  native  of  Schenectady,  N. 
Y.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Thomas  Platto, 
who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  was  born  in 
the  Mohawk  Valley,  and  became  the  father  of 
five  children.  It  is  a  family  tradition  that 
great-great-grandfather  Thomas  Platto  was 
killed  by  Indians  at  Tribes  Hill  in  the  Mohawk 
Valley. 

In  Schenectady,  Thomas  Platto,  Jr.,  pa.ssed 
his  boyhood  days  midst  play  and  work,  and 
learned  the  carriage  maker's  trade.  When 
about  twenty  years  of  age  he  came  to  Pough- 
keepsie, where  he  met  and  married  Mary 
Proper,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Milan, 
Dutchess  county,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Isaac 
and  Mary  Proper,  agriculturists  of  that  locality. 
The  young  couple  began  their  domestic  life  in 
Poughkeepsie,  where  the  father  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  carriages  during  the  remainder 
of  his  active  career.  He  died  there  in  1872, 
and  his  wife  in  189 1.  He  was  first  a  Whig  in 
politics,  and  later  cast  his  ballot  with  the  Re- 
publican party;  both  he  and  his  wife  were  de- 
vout members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  The 
family  of  this  worthy  couple  consisted  of  live 
children,  (i)  James  H.,  who  was  engaged  as 
a  bookkeeper  in  Chicago,  III.,  died  in  1881; 
he  belonged  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  frater- 
nity, and  was  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order.  (2)  Charles  V.  L.  is  an  assistant  edi- 
tor of  some  newspaper,  and  a  resident  of  Hoos- 
ick  Falls,  N.  Y.  (3)  William  is  ne.xt  in  order 
of  birth.  (4)  Sarah  married  F'rank  Kennedy, 
of  Syracuse,  N.  Y. ;  (5)  Catherine  G.  is  the 
wife  of  Charles  H.  Baker,  of  the  same  city. 

William  Platto,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review,  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  Pough- 
keepsie. receiving  his  education  at  the  Dutch- 
ess County  Academy,  but  when  a  youth  of  only 
seventeen  summers,  the  Civil  war  having  broken 
out,  he  enlisted  in  July,  1862,  in  Company  D, 
128th  N.  Y.  V.  I.  After  participating  in  many 
hotly-contested  engagements,  and  making  for 
himself  an  honorable  war  record,  he  was  dis- 
charged and  returned  to  his  home  in  Pough- 
keepsie. In  1866  he  took  charge  of  his  father's 
carriage  business,  and  was  very  successful  in 
its  operation.  The  plant  was  located  at  Nos. 
7,  9  and  1 1  South  Hamilton  street,  and  our 
subject  still  owns  that  block,  which  has  been 
in  the  hands  of  the  family  for  about  sixty  years. 

Mr.  Platto  is  an  unswerving  Republican, 
taking  an  active  part  in  political  affairs,  and  m 
January,  1895,  was  appointed  chief  of  the  po- 


384 


COMifEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


lice  department  of  Poughkeepsie,  in  which  of- 
fice he  is  still  serving  with  credit  to  himself 
and  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned.  He 
is  an  active  worker  in  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  belonging  to  Hamilton  Post,  of  which 
for  three  terms  he  served  as  commander,  and 
is  numbered  among  the  valued  citizens  of 
Poughkeepsie  who  have  been  devoted  to  the 
public  welfare.  He  has  manifested  the  same 
loyalty  in  days  of  peace  as  in  days  of  war,  and 
all  who  know  him  have  for  him  the  highest 
regard. 


WILLIAM  H.  SHELDON,  in  whose 
death    Poughkeepsie   lost   one    of   her 

brightest,  most  progressive  and  useful  young 
business  men,  was  born  October  29,  1859,  in 
Beekman,  Dutchess  county.  New  York. 

Jeremiah  Sheldon,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess 
county,  of  English  ancestry,  and  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation.  A  stanch  Whig  and  Repub- 
lican, he  took  an  active  part  in  political  mat- 
ters. He  married  Miss  Sophia  M.  Doughty, 
also  born  in  Dutchess  county,  daughter  of  Jo- 
seph Doughty,  and  their  children  are  as  fol- 
lows: Amelia  B. ,  married  to  Kromaline  An- 
drews (they  make  their  home  on  the  old  farm); 
Mary  J.,  unmarried;  and  William  H.,  the  sub- 
ject of  these  lines.  The  father  died  May  19, 
1882,  the  mother  on  February  i,  1886. 

William  H.  Sheldon  passed  his  early  days 
on  his  father's  farm,  attending  the  district 
school,  and,  later,  the  academy  at  Moores 
Mill.  Subsequently  he  entered  Claverack 
(Columbia  county)  College,  and  completed  his 
education  at  Wilbraham  (Mass.)  Academy;  then 
returned  to  the  farm,  where  he  remained  until 
his  uncle,  Wilson  B.  Sheldon,  was  elected 
county  clerk,  when  he  became  his  assistant  in 
ihe  office,  there  remaining  some  time.  Our 
subject  then  formed  a  partnership  with  R.  D. 
Cornell  in  the  hay,  straw  and  feed  commission 
business;  but  after  a  short  time  this  partner- 
ship was  dissolved,  and  in  the  fall  of  1881  Mr. 
Sheldon  embarked  in  the  coal  business.  He 
began  in  a  very  small  way,  but  was  so  success- 
ful, and  his  trade  grew  so  rapidly,  that  he  be- 
gan wholesaling,  supplying  coal  for  the  Har- 
lem Railroad  Company.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  the  largest  wholesale  and  retail 
dealer  in  the  vicinity,  and  had  a  prosperous 
future  before  him,  his  well-known  integrity  and 
fair  dealing  making  him  popular  throughout  the 


county,  and  bringing  him  customers  from  all 
parts.  Besides  attending  to  his  regular  busi- 
ness he  acted  as  general  manager  of  the 
Poughkeepsie  &  Eastern  railroad,  which  was 
purchased  some  years  ago  by  Russell  Sage, 
who  appointed  Mr.  Sheldon  general  manager 
of  that  road.  So  faithfully  and  thoroughly 
did  our  subject  do  his  work,  that  his  employer 
took  him  into  his  confidence,  and  was  influ- 
enced by  him  in  his  business  probably  more 
than  by  any  other  man.  Too  close  applica- 
tion to  business,  however,  and  his  earnest  de- 
votion to  the  many  societies,  etc.,  of  which  he 
was  an  active  member,  began  ultimately  to 
make  inroads  upon  his  health,  and  for  some- 
time prior  to  his  death  evidences  of  a  breaking 
up  of  his  constitution  became  apparent  to  his 
friends,  and  even  to  himself.  The  close  of  the 
year  1894  found  him  engaged  in  a  more  than 
usual  amount  of  work,  preparing  for  the  ensu- 
ing year,  thereby  necessitating  additional  ex- 
ertion from  his  already  impaired  system;  nev- 
ertheless, unflinchingly  he  worked  early  and 
late,  carrying  all  his  duties  to  a  successful  ter- 
mination. The  strain,  however,  was  more 
than  exhausted  nature  could  stand,  and  one 
evening,  while  at  the  home  of  a  neighbor,  his 
tired  brain  refused  longer  to  work.  Kind  hands 
guided  Mr.  Sheldon  to  his  home,  where  the 
best  of  care  was  given  him  for  a  time,  but  his 
frenzies  became  so  wild  and  uncontrollable 
that,  for  the  better  protection,  he  was  taken  to 
the  State  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  where,  in 
spite  of  all  that  science  and  medical  skill  could 
accomplish,  he  grew  weaker  everj'  day,  till 
January  19,  1895,  death  relieved  him  from  his 
sufferings. 

The  earthly  career  of  William  H.  Sheldon  ; 
was  cut  short  just  when    most  promising,  and 
when  he  had  made  the  reputation  of  being  one 
of  the  ablest  and  most   enterprising  business 
men  in  Poughkeepsie.      In  his  home  circle  and 
among  his  personal  friends  his  untimely  de-i 
parture  from  their  midst  was  most  deeply  felt. 
Full  of  life  and  energy,  buoyant  in  spirits,  and 
of    a    loving,    generous    disposition,    he    wasi 
missed  as  few  men  are,  and  his  place  will  be 
hard  to  fill.      He  was  a  member  of  nearly  al' 
the  fraternities  in  the  county,  and  also  of  thf 
New  Manhattan   Athletic   Club   of   New  Yorl 
City;  was  a  Thirty-second  degree  Mason  inhigi 
standing,  and  also  a  member  of  the  Methodis 
Church.      In  politics  he  was  a  stanch  Repub 
lican,  and  he  served  as  alderman  of  the  Fiftl 
ward  of  Poughkeepsie.      No  better  citizen',  0 


*4 

I 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


885 


one  more  highly  esteemed,  has  left  his  impress 
upon  the  community. 

On  December  26,  1883,  Mr.  Sheldon  was 
married  to  Miss  Augusta  Baright,  who  was 
born  in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ,  January  27, 
1863.  Her  father,  Daniel  S.  Baright,  who 
was  a  native  of  the  same  township,  born 
March  25,  1838,  married  Mary  Wing,  who  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  June  15,  1840, 
and  their  children  were:  Augusta,  William 
M.,  Irvingj  G.  and  Frederick.  Mr.  Baright  is 
a  farmer,  and  also  deals  in  agricultural  im- 
plements. His  grandfather  was  a  native  of 
Holland,  and  his  father,  Elijah  Baright,  born 
in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  N.  Y.,  was  a 
wealthy  farmer.  He  married  Amy,  daughter 
of  Samuel  Carpenter,  and  a  relative  of  J.  Du- 
Bois  Carpenter,  elsewhere  represented  in  this 
volume.  In  religious  faith  the  Barights  were 
all  Hicksite  Quakers,  and  in  politics  were 
Whigs  or  Republicans.  The  maternal  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Sheldon,  Alexander  Wing,  a 
quiet,  unassuming  man,  spent  his  entire  life 
jOn  a  farm  in  Clinton;  he  was  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  and  attended  the  Christian  Church. 
One  child.  George  B.,  born  December  3,  1891, 
lis  all  the  family  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
kvife,  whose  all  too  short  happy  married  life  was 
prought  to  so  sad  a  close. 


pHARLES  EDGAR  FOWLER,  of  Pough- 

sj!  keepsie,    Dutchess   county,    was    born  in 

;armel,    Putnam  Co.,  N.   Y. ,   April  6,    1841. 

le  is  a  son  of  Ammon  Merrick  Fowler,  who 

vas   a    son    of    James    H.    Fowler,    of    Car- 

nel,  and  a   grandson  of  Ammon  Fowler,   of 

Sedford,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  and  a  great- 

randson  of  Joseph  Fowler,  of  West  Patent. 

Ammon    Fowler    (the   father   of    Charles) 

ived  near  Lake  Mahopac,  in  the  town  of  Car- 

lel,  Putnam  county.      He  was  an  upright,  un- 

ssuming  man,  of  noble.  Christian  character, 

nd  for  many  years  was  an  elder  in  the  Gilead 

resbyterian    Church  of    Carmel.      His    wife 

he  mother  of  Charles)  was  a  woman  of  clear 

telligent  Christian  faith,  and  a  worthy  mem- 

ir  of  the  same  Church  as  her  husband.     She 

as  Charlotte  Louisa  Crane,  daughter  of  Na- 

laniel  Crane,    of  the   town   of  Carmel,    and 

randdaughter   of    John  Crane,    of    the  same 

wn.     John  Crane  held   a  captain's  commis- 

n    under    the    Provincial    Congress    of    the 

rovince  of  New  York,  and  after  the  Declara- 

^on   of    Independence     received    a    captain's 


commission  from  George  Clinton,  then  Gov- 
ernor of  New  York,  and  held  it  through  the 
war.  John  Crane's  grandfather  was  Joseph 
Crane,  and  Joseph  Crane's  grandfather  was. 
John  Crane,  from  England. 

Charles  E.  Fowler  received  a  common- 
school  education,  and  from  1857  to  1861 
worked  at  wagon-making;  from  i86ito  1869  at 
mill  construction  and  repairs,  and  the  develop- 
ment of  water  powers.  During  this  latter 
period  he  pursued  the  study  of  mechanical,, 
hydraulic  and  civil  engineering.  In  1869  he 
married  Louisa  Maria  Richards,  daughter  of 
David  Belden  Richards,  of  the  town  of  South- 
east, Putnam  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  a  man  of  marked 
integrity  of  character.  D.  Belden  Richards' 
wife,  mother  of  Louisa,  was  Delia  Foster,, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Foster,  of  the  town 
above  mentioned.  She  was  a  most  worthy 
woman,  and  a  consistent  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  Thomas  Foster,  father  of 
Delia,  was  the  son  of  James  Foster,  grandson 
of  Thomas  Foster,  and  great-grandson  of  Chil- 
lingworth  Foster.  Chillingworth  was  the  son 
of  John  Foster,  and  grandson  of  Thomas  Fos- 
ter, who  came  from  England  in  1634. 

In  1869  Charles  E.  Fowler  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Peekskill  Manufacturing  Co., 
of  Peekskill,  N.  Y.,  as  draughtsman,  and  me- 
chanical engineer.  In  1871  he  began  the 
practice  of  land  surveying  and  civil  engineer- 
ing, in  connection  with  the  work  of  the  Manu- 
facturing Co.  In  1872  he  opened  an  inde- 
pendent office,  but  continued  the  work  for  the 
Manufacturing  Co.  This  practice  continued 
until  1 88 1.  During  this  period  he,  as  chief 
engineer,  designed  and  supervised  the  con- 
struction of  the  public  water  works  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Peekskill,  also  a  system  of  water  works 
for  the  village  of  Tarrytown,  N.  Y.  He  was- 
also  corporation  surveyor  for  the  village  of 
Peekskill  during  several  years  of  this  period. 
In  January,  1881,  he  was  appointed  superin- 
tendent of  the  water  works  and  sewers  of  the 
city  of  Poughkeepsie,  which  office  he  held 
until  May,  1896,  when  the  water  works  and 
sewers,  under  a  revised  charter,  became  a 
part  of  the  public  works  of  the  city,  and  he 
was  appointed  superintendent  of  public  works, 
which  office  he  now  holds. 

In  1857  he  united  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Carmel,  and  in  1870  with  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Peekskill.  He  was  an 
elder  in  the  latter  Church  from  1874  till  his 
removal  to   Poughkeepsie  in   1881.      In    188 1 


886 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he  united  with  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Poughkeepsie,  was  chosen  an  elder  in  that 
Church  in  1891,  and  still  retains  that  office. 

The  water  and  sewer  systems  of  the  city  of 
Poughkeepsie,  with  which  Mr.  Fowler  has  so 
long  been  identified,  are  worthy  of  note  for  the 
fact  that  they  were  constructed  by  the  same 
commission,  at  the  same  time,  were  designed 
to  work  in  harmony  and  have  continued  under 
the  control  of  one  department  of  the  city  gov- 
ernment, thereby  securing  the  best  attainable 
sanitary  results.  The  water  system  is  further 
notable  for  being  the  first  in  this  country  to 
adopt  artificial  purification  by  means  of  sand 
filtration  on  the  European  method.  The 
Hudson  river  is  the  source  of  supply,  the 
water  being  pumped  from  the  river  to  the  sand 
filters,  and  thence  to  a  reservoir  on  College 
Hill,  at  an  elevation  of  280  feet  above  mean 
high  water  in  the  river.  The  works  were 
built  in  1869-1872,  and  originally  comprised 
about  seventeen  miles  of  water  mains  and 
about  thirteen  miles  of  sewers.  Seven  miles 
of  water  mains  and  three  and  one-quarter 
miles  of  sewers  have  been  added  during  Mr. 
Fowler's  term  of  service.  The  original  water 
commissioners,  in  1869,  were  Stephen  M. 
Buckingham,  Edward  Storm,  Edward  L. 
Beadle,  Edgar  M.  VanKleeck,  James  H. 
Weeks  and  Abram  Wright. 

The  water  commissioners  held  their  final 
meeting  on  May  2,  1896;  the  last  commis- 
sioners being  Charles  L.  Lumb,  Edmund 
Piatt,  Howard  W.  Welles,  Abraham  S. 
Humphrey  and  Charles  H.  Shurter.  The 
numerous  commissioners  holding  office  be- 
tween the  years  1869  and  1896  comprised 
some  of  the  most  esteemed  citizens  and  busi- 
ness men  of  Poughkeepsie.  The  Board  of 
Public  Works,  having  charge  of  the  water 
works,  sewers,  streets,  bridges  and  parks,  was 
organized  May  2,  1896.  The  commissioners 
were  James  E.  Dutcher,  James  B.  Piatt  and 
Walter  R.  Case. 


CHARLES  M.  WOLCOTT  (deceased).  The 
_  Wolcott  family  have  held  a  distinguished 
place  in  the  history  of  this  country  from  the 
earliest  times.  Colonial  records  showing  vari- 
ous members  to  have  occupied  high  positions, 
and  one  of  the  name  is  enrolled  among  the 
immortal  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence. 

The  first  of  the  family  to  leave  the  ances- 


tral home  in  Somersetshire,  England,  was  the 
Puritan  Henry  Wolcott,  who  crossed  the  ocean 
with   his  son   Simon   in    1630,  and   settled  in 
Windsor,    Conn.     The   town   of  Wolcottville 
(now  Torrington)  was   named  in  honor  of  the 
family.     These  early  pioneers  were  men  of  in- 
dependent means,  and  Henry  and  Simon  were 
active  in  the  administration  of  the  public  busi- 
ness of  the  colony.      Simon's  son,  Roger  Wol- 
cott, who  was  born  in  Connecticut,  was  elected 
Governor  in  1750,  and  served  for  four  years. 
Oliver  Wolcott,  a  son  of  Roger,  and  the  grand- 
father of   the  gentleman  whose   name   opens 
this  sketch,  was  one  of  the  representatives  of 
the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  whose  names  are 
affixed   to   the   Declaration   of   Independence, 
and  during  the  Revolutionary  war  he  held  the  < 
rank  of  brigadier-general  in  the  patriot  forces. 
His   part   in   the   struggle  was  a  notable  one, 
and  the   histories  of  that  time   make  frequent 
mention  of   him.     An  incident  in  his  life  was 
interesting.       A    leaden    equestrian    statue  of 
George  III  stood  in  the  Bowling  Green,  in  the 
city  of  New  York.     At  the  breaking  out  of  the 
war    this    was    overthrown,    an^,    lead   being 
highly  valuable,  it  was  sent  to  Gen.  Wolcott's 
at  Litchfield,  Conn.,  for  safe  keeping,  where, 
in  process  of  time,  it  was  cut  up  and  run  into 
bullets  by  hi?  children  and  their  friends.     Oli- 
ver Wolcott  was  elected  Lieutenant-Governoi 
in    1786,  and   Governor  in   1796,  which  office 
he  held  until  his  death,  December  i,  1797. 

Judge  Frederick  Wolcott,  the  father  of  oui 
subject,  preferred  the  practice  of  law  to  public 
life,  and  on  two  occasions  declined  a  nominal 
tion  as  a  gubernatorial  candidate.  His  brothe 
Oliver,  however,  did  not  share  this  disinclina 
tion  for  official  duties,  and  not  only  served  a 
Governor  of  Connecticut  but  was  Secretary  o 
the  Treasury  under  President  Washington 
Judge  Frederick  Wolcott  was  a  graduate  t 
Yale  College,  and  prepared  for  the  bar  in  earl 
manhood;  later  he  engaged  actively  in  pn 
fessional  work,  and  served  as  judge  for  man 
years.  He  was  one  of  the  leaders  in  the  Whi 
party  of  his  day,  and  despite  his  reluctance  t 
enter  political  life  was  elected  to  various  pos 
tions,  which  he  filled  ably,  including  the  po; 
of  representative  in  the  State  Legislatun 
He  married  (first)  a  Miss  Huntington,  daugl 
ter  of  Joshua  Huntington,  a  well-known  cit 
zen  of  Connecticut,  and  (second)  Mrs.  Ann 
Cook,  daughter  of  Samuel  Goodrich,  of  Berln 
Conn.,  a  member  of  another  old  and  influenti 
family  which  has  been  prominently  representt 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


387 


in  political,  social   and  business  life,  and   has 
produced  a  number  of  eminent  clergymen. 

Charles  M.  Wolcott  was  one  of  a  family  of 
twelve  children,  his  birth  occurring  in   Litch- 
'  field,  Conn.,    November  20,  18 16.      On  com- 
pleting his    education    he   left    home    to     en- 
1  gage  in  commercial  life,  entering  the  commis- 
Ision  business  in  Philadelphia.      After  a  time  he 
I  transferred  his  offices  to  New  York  City,  form- 
ing a  partnership  with  his  brother  Henry,  who 
went  to  China  in  the  interests  of  the  firm.   On 
November  26,  1849,  he  married  Catharine  A. 
Rankin,   daughter  of  Henry   Rankin,   Esq.,  a 
prominent  merchant  of  New  York  City,  who 
was  a  native  of   Scotland,  and  for  forty  years 
was    an    elder    in    the    Scotch    Presbyterian 
Church,  under  the   pastoral  care  of  the  cele- 
brated   divine,    Dr.    John    Mason.     After   his 
marriage  Mr.  Wolcott   settled  at   Fishkill-on- 
Hudson,    upon  an   estate    known   as   "  Rose- 
neath,"  where  his  wife  had  previously  resided. 
iFrom  that  time  his  attention  was  chiefly  occu- 
pied  with  the   management  of    his  extensive 
i  landed  interests,  and  he  was  identified  with  all 
he   progressive    movements    of    the    locality, 
'.hether  in  agriculture  and  manufacturing  or  in 
he  no  less  important  fields  of  art  and  litera- 
are.     In  politics  he  was  an  Independent.    His 
'  ife  passed  away  June  24,  1889,  and  he  sur- 
ived  her  but  a  short  time,  breathing  his  last 
•n  November  20,  of  the  same  year. 

Three  children  were  born  to  this  union: 
lenry  Goodrich,  a  well-known  attorney  at 
ishkiil;  Katharine  Rankin,  wife  of  Samuel 
erplanck;  and  Annette  Rankin,  who  is  not 
larried.  Mrs.  Verplanck  still  resides  at  the 
mily  homestead  "  Roseneath,"  which  is  a 
harming  place  overlooking  the  Hudson,  the 
legant  residence  and  extensive  grounds  dis- 
laying  in  their  appointments  a  refined  and 
iltured  taste. 


\  BRAHAM  W.  IRISH.     The  early  ances- 
A,  tors  of   our  subject   were  French,   were 
litary    men,    and    served    in   the    first    and 
jnd    Crusades;    the    name    was    originally 
U'Irey."     The   family  moved   to  Germany, 
here  the  D'  was  dropped,  and  the  name  he- 
me Irey.     In  the  wars  between  Germany  and 
;'Iand  the  Ireys  espoused  the  cause  of  the 
,'lish.     They    were    successful  as  generals, 
'  one  of  them  was  knighted  on  the  field  of 
ciden. 

When    the    family    went    to    England    the 


name  was  changed  to  Irish,  and  one  of  the 
members  became  sheriff  of  London,  holding 
the  office  for  nine  years.  Another  member  of 
the  family  came  to  this  country  as  a  common 
soldier  under  Miles  Standish,  and  it  is  from 
this  ancestor  that  the  family  in  America  are 
descended. 

Abraham  W.  Irish  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Pleasant  Valley  March  31,  1825,  and  after  his 
mother's  death  was  taken  by  his  uncle,  Abra- 
ham   Wing,   and   his   wife,   by  whom  he  was 
brought  up  and  educated,  and  who  were  the 
only  parents  our  subject  ever  lived  with.      Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wing  were  Quakers.     Abraham  lived 
with  them  until  he  was  of  age,  when  he  went 
to  New  York  City  ahd  secured  a  situation  in  a 
store  in  Bleecker  street,  remaining  there  during 
the  summer  of  1844.      In  the  summer  of  1845 
he    went    to    Matteawan,    and    taught    school 
there  for  six   years.      In    185 1   he    was    mar- 
ried in  that  city  to  Miss  Caroline  West,   and 
began  farming.      His  health  failing  him  from 
overwork,  he  bought  a  store  on  his  grandfa- 
ther's place  in  the  town  of  Lagrange.      This  he 
sold  in  1863  and  moved  to  Poughkeepsie,  where 
he  took  a  position  as  cashier  for  Smith  Broth- 
ers.     In    politics   Mr.    Irish   is   a   Republican. 
He   was  in  the  county  clerk's  office  for  nine 
years,  and  in   the   surrogate's  office  for  eight 
years.       He    is  now    clerk  of    the  surrogate's 
court,  which  position  he  has  held  for  six  years, 
during  which  time  he  has  not  missed  a  day  at 
the  office  on  account  of  sickness.     When  he 
was  out  of  office  Mr.    Irish  was  in  the  millin- 
ery   and    fancy-goods    business,   and    at    one 
time  was  with  a  Mr.  Sisson,  dealer  in  second- 
hand furniture.      Mrs.  Irish  died  in  1887,  and 
our  subject  subsequently  married  Mrs.  Rachel 
Le  Roy. 

Amos  Irish  (grandfather  of  our  subject),  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  was  a  Quaker,  and  was 
greatly  persecuted  during  the  Revolutionary 
war.  His  children  were  as  follows:  Jedediah, 
Charles,  Joseph,  Asa,  Ruth,  Rachel,  Esther, 
Jonathan  and  David,  all  of  whom  are  now 
deceased. 

Joseph  Irish  (our  subject's  father)  was  born 
in  Pawling,  where  he  spent  his  youth.  He 
was  married,  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  to  Miss 
Phcebe  Dorland,  a  daughter  of  Enoch  Dor- 
land,  and  they  had  the  following  children: 
Edmund,  Catherine,  Jane,  all  now  deceased, 
and  Abraham  W.  (there  were  also  half  broth- 
ers, Charles,  and  William  and  Henry,  twins). 
Our  subject's   mother  died  when  he  was  two 


888 


COMMEMOBA  TIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


weeks  old.  Joseph  moved  to  Pleasant  Valley 
after  his  first  marriage,  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. After  the  death  of  his  wife  he  moved  to 
New  York  City  and  worked  at  trucking.  He 
was  married  there  to  Miss  Jane  Stephenson, 
who  was  born  at  Gaylords  Bridge,  Conn. 
None  of  their  children  are  living.  Mr.  Irish 
died  in  Pawling  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years. 


FRANK  B.  VAN  DYNE,  one  of  the  prom- 
inent  business  men  and  leading  undertak- 
ers of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  was 
born  in  Milton,  Ulster  Co..  N.  Y.,  October  lo, 
1857,  but  belongs  to  a  family  of  Holland  ori- 
gin that  has  been  connected  with  the  history 
of  Dutchess  county  for  several  generations. 
Here  his  grandfather,  Oliver  Van  Dyne,  was 
born,  reared  and  engaged  in  farming  through- 
out life.  He  wedded  Susan  Smith,  by  whom 
he  had  two  sons:  James  A.,  a  carpenter  by 
trade;  and  William  H.,  the  father  of  our 
subject. 

The  birth  of  the  latter  occurred  in  Dutch- 
ess county,  December  18,  1832,  and  he  early 
became  familiar  with  the  duties  that  fall  to  the 
lot  of  an  agriculturist,  as  his  boyhood  days 
were  passed  upon  his  father's  farm.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Anna  C.  Brevoort  (a  lady  of  Holland 
descent),  who  was  born  in  Fishkill,  N.  Y. , 
where  her  father,  Benjamin  Brevoort,  was  em- 
ployed at  shoemaking.  Five  children  were 
born  to  this  union,  namely:  James  H.,  a  sign 
painter  of  Poughkeepsie;  Frank  B.,  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Susan,  wife  of  Arthur  Rockwell,  a 
silk  manufacturer  of  Matteawan,  N.  Y. ;  Min- 
nie, who  died  in  infancy;  and  Edward,  a  resi- 
dent of  New  York  City.  Shortly  after  his 
marriage  the  father  went  to  Milton,  Ulster 
county,  where  he  formed  a  co-partnership  with 
his  brother  in  a  general  store.  He  next  re- 
moved to  Hackensack,  N.  Y. ,  but  at  the  end 
of  two  years  came  to  Poughkeepsie,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  He  is  an  earnest  supporter 
of  the  Democratic  party,  and  holds  to  the 
faith  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  in  which 
he  was  reared.  His  faithful  wife  departed  this 
life  July  3,  1S93. 

Frank  B.  Van  Dyne  was  two  years  old 
when  he  left  his  native  village,  and  in  1864  he 
came  to  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  attended  the 
public  schools.  On  the  completion  of  his  edu- 
cation, he  was  employed  in  various  ways  until 
1875,  when  he  began  working  for  different  un- 


dertakers. In  1888  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  John  Mellady,  at  No.  391  Main  street,  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Van  Dyne  &  Mellady, 
which  connection  lasted  until  May,  1893,  when 
it  was  dissolved,  and  our  subject  removed  to 
No.  406  Main  street,  where  he  has  since  been 
alone  in  business.  He  is  exclusively  engaged 
in  undertaking,  and  thoroughly  understands  his 
business  in  its  various  departments. 

On  June  30,  1891,  Mr.  Van  Dyne  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Minnie  C.  Cox. 
daughter  of  William  A.  Cox,  of  the  town  of 
Clinton,  Dutchess  county,  where  he  was  born. 
One  child  blessed  their  union,  Ruth,  born  Oc- 
tober 23,  1892;  but  March  11,  1893,  the  wife 
and  mother  was  called  to  her  final  rest,  leav- 
ing many  friends  as  well  as  relatives  to  mourn 
her  death.  Mr.  Van  Dyne  is  a  representative 
business  man,  enterprising  and  industrious,  and 
holds  a  high  place  in  the  estimation  of  his  fel- 
low citizens.  He  is  prominently  identified 
with  several  clubs  and  social  orders,  among 
which  are  the  F.  &  A.  M.,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  the  Elks  and  the  Royal  Arcanum, 
while  his  political  connection  is  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  whose  principles  he  earnestly 
advocates. 


CHARLES  M.  COLWELL,  a  well-known 
_  business  man  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 
county,  is  noted  for  his  accurate  and  practical 
judgment  of  values,  his  high  reputation  in  this 
regard  making  him  an  acknowledged  expert  in 
the  appraisal  of  property  and  the  adjustment 
of  insurance  claims. 

The  Colwell  family  is  of  Scotch  origin,  and 
four  geneiations  have  been  residents  of  Dutch- 
ess county.  Samuel  Colwell,  our  subject's 
great-grandfather,  was  a  native  of  the  town  of 
Washington;  his  son,  Archibald  Colwell,  was 
born  in  1794,  in  the  town  of  Washington, 
Dutchess  county,  and  in  early  life  was  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  cotton  goods,  being  em- 
ployed as  foreman  in  the  factories  at  Pough- 
keepsie, Pleasant  Valley,  Hart's  Village  and 
Verbank.  In  his  later  years  he  followed  agri- 
culture. He  was  an  old-fashioned  Methodist, 
and  often  served  as  an  unlicensed  preacher. 
His  wife,  Abigail  Hall,  was  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut and  a  relative  of  the  Hubbards  of  that 
State.  He  died  in  January,  1877,  and  his 
wife  in  August.  1866.  They  had  eight  chil- 
dren: Hubbard;  Louisa  (Mrs.  Nathan  Beach); 
Archibald  L. ;  Julia  (Mrs.  John  Burnett);  Sam- 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


389 


fl;  Edwin;  Mary  (Mrs.  William  Ackernian); 
d  Sarah  (Mrs.  Henry  H.  Seaman). 
Archibald  L.  Colvvell,  our  subject's  father, 
I  was  born  March  22,  1819,  in  the  town  of 
Washington.  His  early  life  was  passed  in 
Poughkeepsie,  but  for  the  last  fifty-five  years 
he  has  lived  at  Verbank,  following  the  occupa- 
tion of  shoemaker  and  dealer.  He  has  always 
been  quiet  in  his  tastes,  but  is  a  man  of  good 
natural  powers,  and  has  been  successful  in 
business.  Before  the  war  he  was  a  Whig,  and 
later  a  Republican,  and  he  has  served  one 
term  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  two  terms  as 
postmaster  at  Verbank.  Like  the  majority  of 
his  family,  he  is  a  Methodist.  In  1841  he 
married  Sarah  Seaman,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Seaman,  a  well-known  resident  of  the  town  of 
Washington.  Her  family  is  of  English  de- 
scent, and  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  county. 
Mrs.  Colvvell  died  in  August,  1893,  but  her 
husband  still  survives.  They  had  five  children, 
to  whom  they  gave  e.xcellent  educations,  (i) 
Seaman  A.  was  graduated  from  the  Albany 
Normal  School  in  1862,  and  for  some  time 
was  a  teacher  and  county  superintendent  of 
schools  in  Pulaski  county,  111. ;  he  is  now  a 
successful  farmer  and  horticulturist  there.  (2) 
Charles  M.  is  our  subject.  (3)  Mary  M.,  who 
is  a  graduate  of  Claverack  College,  Columbia 
county,  N.  Y.,  married  Dr.  A.  G.  Paine,  of 
Chicago,  111.  (4)  Armeda  J.,  who  was  gradu- 
ated from  Amenia  Seminary,  married  Charles 
T.  Bird,  of  Wilkesbarre,  Penn. ;  both  have  been 
dead  for  a  number  of  years.  (5)  Phoebe  mar- 
ried B.  F.  Conkright,  a  leading  real-estate 
dealer  of  Chicago,  Illinois. 

Charles  M.  Colwell,  the  second  in  order 
of  birth,  was  born  January  4,  1847,  in  the 
town  of  Unionvale.  He  acquired  the  rudi- 
ments of  knowledge  in  the  district  schools  at 
Owego  village,  which  were  unusually  good, 
and  afterward  studied  at  Claverack  College 
one  year.  At  eighteen  he  left  school  and  went 
to  Poughkeepsie  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade 
with  Nelson  Seaman.  He  followed  this  occu- 
pation for  twenty  years,  and  that  of  contractor 
and  builder  for  about  twelve  years.  He  was 
superintendent  of  construction  of  the  U.  S. 
Government  Building  at  Poughkeepsie  under 
appointment  of  Charles  J.  Folger,  Secretary  of 
the  Treasury.  About  1 887  he  became  engaged 
in  the  insurance  business  as  appraiser  of  dam- 
aged buildings,  and  his  services  have  been 
called  into  requisition- in  different  parts  of  the 
State.     He  has  done  a  great  deal  of  work  be- 


fore the  State  Board  of  Assessors,  and  in  con- 
demnation proceedings  in  railroads  acquiring 
real  estate. 

A  strong  Republican  in  principle,  he  has 
been  active  in  political  work.  In  1873  he  was 
elected  assessor,  and  served  for  nine  consecu- 
tive years;  in  1888  he  was  elected  supervisor 
of  the  Fifth  ward,  and  held  that  office  one 
term.  At  the  beginning  of  President  Har- 
rison's administration  he  was  appointed  clerk 
in  the  Revenue  office  of  the  Fourteenth  Dis- 
trict, and  held  this  throughout  Harrison's 
term.  When  a  successor  was  appointed  he 
became  deputy  revenue  collector  for  the  coun- 
ties of  Dutchess  and  Columbia  for  six  months. 
In  1894,  three  days  before  the  expiration  of 
his  term,  he  was  elected  clerk  of  the  board  of 
supervisors  of  Poughkeepsie,  which  office  he 
yet  holds,  and  January  i,  1895,  he  was  ap- 
pointed president  of  the  board  of  civil  service 
for  the  city.  He  has  always  taken  an  interest 
in  affairs  of  a  non-political  nature,  and  was  in 
the  National  Guard  for  eight  years,  serving  as 
first  lieutenant  of  Company  A,  21st  Regi- 
ment. 

On  March  22,  1868,  Mr.  Colwell  married 
Miss  Mary  F.  Hayman,  daughter  of  Richard 
R.  Hayman,  a  prominent  resident  of  Pough- 
keepsie, and  they  have  three  children:  Grace 
F.,  the  wife  of  Charles  J.  Knapp,  of  Pough- 
keepsie; and  May  M.  and  Richard  H.  at  home. 
The  family  attend  Trinity  M.  E.  Church. 


FRANK  VAN  KLEECK,  a  well-known 
merchant     of     Poughkeepsie,      Dutchess 

county,  was  born  in  that  city  June  25,  1857. 
Here  also  his  paternal  ancestors  for  six  gener- 
ations back  lived. 

Baltus  Barentszen  Van  Kleeck,  who  was 
the  first  of  the  name  to  emigrate  from  Holland 
to  this  country,  bought  a  farm,  in  1697,  where 
the  city  of  Poughkeepsie  now  stands,  and  later 
built  the  first  stone  house  in  the  place,  which 
was  situated  on  Mill  street,  near  Vassar.  This 
was  in  1702,  at  which  time  the  present  fine 
city  consisted  of  only  a  few  huts,  no  houses. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Colonial  Assembly, 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Johannes.  Six 
children  constituted  his  family,  namely: 
Barent,  Johannes,  Lawrence,  Peter,  great- 
great-great-grandfather  of  our  subject;  Sarah 
and  Elizabeth.  Of  these  Peter  became  the 
father  of  Baltus,  and  he  the  father  of  Peter 
B.,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject.      His 


890 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


son,  Tunis  Van  Kleeck,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  June  14,  1773,  in  Pough- 
keepsie,  where  he  was  reared  to  manhood  and 
learned  the  trade  of  a  hatter,  estabHshing  him- 
self in  business  there  in  1799,  his  first  store 
being  situated  opposite  Crannell  street.  His 
second  location  was  where  Joseph's  clothing 
store  now  stands,  while  the  third  was  on  the 
site  of  the  present  store,  which  was  occupied 
in  1854.  On  January  15,  1792,  he  married 
Irene  Bacon,  and  nine  children  were  born  to 
them,  of  whom  the  following  record  is  given: 
Sally  A.  married  B.  Davis  Noxon,  a  lawyer  of 
Syracuse,  N.  Y. ;  Cornelia  married  George  W. 
Somarindyck,  of  Poughkeepsie;  Eliza  became 
the  wife  of  Rufus  Cossit,  a  lawyer  of  Syracuse; 
George  married  Mary  E.  Tallmadge,  a  mer- 
chant in  Poughkeepsie;  Edgar  who  was  a  mer- 
chant in  New  York  City,  and  married  Nancy 
Graham  (he  died  in  Orange  county);  Albert 
was  our  subject's  father;  Mary  became  the 
wife  of  Willett  Raynor,  of  Syracuse;  Louisa 
married  Edward  Beach,  a  merchant  in  Pough- 
keepsie; William  H.,  who  was  a  wholesale 
grocer  in  New  Yoik  City,  married  for  his  first 
wife  a  Miss  Mary  Haight,  and  for  his  second 
wedded  Miss  Margaret  Hardenburg.  On  the 
death  of  the  father  of  this  family,  which  took 
place  September  i,  1831,  the  business  was 
continued  by  his  son  Albert,  and  has  been  in 
the  family  ever  since.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Whig. 

Albert  Van  Kleeck,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  December  27,  1807,  in  Poughkeepsie, 
where  (as  has  been  stated)  he  carried  on  his 
father's  business  as  a  hatter  until  his  own  death, 
November  7,  1866,  and  he  was  succeeded  by 
his  son  Edward,  who,  on  February  i,  1890, 
took  his  brother  Frank  in  as  a  partner.  Ed- 
ward died  November  13,  1890,  and  his  widow 
and  Frank  continued  the  management  of  the 
establishment  until  February,  1894,  since 
which  time  the  latter  has  assumed  full  control. 
On  September  25,  1833,  Albert  Van  Kleeck 
was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  Green,  a  native  of 
England,  and  of  this  union  ten  children  were 
born,  as  follows:  Davis.  Edward,  Harriet, 
Elizabeth,  Julia,  Cornelia,  Albert.  Augustus, 
Irene  and  Frank.  The  mother  of  these  died 
in  1863.  Mr.  Van  Kleeck  was  a  prominent 
man  in  his  community.  In  1857  he  was  elected 
treasurer  of  Dutchess  county,  and  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster  under  Lincoln.  He  was  re- 
appointed under  Johnson,  and  died  during  that 
administration.      In  politics  he  was  originally 


a  Whig,  becoming  a  Republican  on  the  forma- 
tion of  that  party. 

Frank  Van  Kleeck  was  married  September 
24,  1 89 1,  to  Miss  Sarah  P.  Sleight,  who  was 
born  in  Dutchess  county,  a  daughter  of  Henry 
A.  Sleight.  Mr.  Van  Kleeck  is  a  Republican, 
a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  the  Holland 
Society,  and  of  the  Amrita  Club,  a  social  or- 
ganization, of  which  he  has  been  president. 


HON.  AUGUSTUS  MARTIN  (deceased). 
Among  the  able  men  who  have  repre- 
sented Dutchess  county  in  the  State  Assembly 
the  late  Hon.  Augustus  Martin  will  always  hold 
a  notable  place  in  the  history  of  the  locality; 
his  integrity  and  high  sense  of  honor,  no  less 
than  his  practical  sagacity  in  public  affairs, 
winning  and  retaining  for  him  the  esteem  of 
all  classes  of  people. 

His  family  has  had  in  the  past  many  mem- 
bers whose   lives   have  been   conspicuous  for 
the   same    admirable  qualities,  and  his  direct 
ancestors  were   among  the  pioneer  settlers  in 
this  section.      Hendrick  Martin,  who  came  to 
America  in  1727,  built   at  the  village  of  Red 
Hook,  Dutchess  county,  a  residence  which  is 
one  of  the  oldest  houses  in  the  State;  occa- 
sional repairs  and  alterations  have  still  left  in- 
tact a  large  portion   of  the  original  structure. 
It  is  located   about  one-eighth  of  a  mile  frona 
the  old  New  York  &  Albany  post  road,  upon 
land  leased  from  the  Beekman  patentee.     In 
1751  Hendrick  Martin  leased  some  adjoining' 
lands  from  the  Van  Benthuysen  patentee.     It 
is  related  that  when  his   son  Gotlob  married, 
the  father  took  a  large  stake,  and  walking  to  ;; 
suitable  spot  drove  it  into  the  ground,  remark 
ing   to  the  son  that   it  was  time  for  him  t( 
"swarm  for  himself."     Here  Gotlob  built,  ii 
1776,  a  stone  house  of  the  substantial  Colonia 
type,  which  is  still  standing.      At  the  momen 
when  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  be 
ing  read   in    Philadelphia,  the   rafters  of  thi 
historic  mansion  were   being   put  in  place  b; 
the  workmen.      Gotlob's  son  John  married,  ii 
1789,  Isabella    Fulton,   a    relative    of    Rober 
Fulton,  the   inventor,   and  had   ten    children' 
Philip,  Michael  S.,  Augustus,  Robert.  Claudiui 
G.,  James.  Edward,  Joseph.  John  and  Serena 
Their  grandfather  willed  the  estate  to  them 
but  they  were  not  willing  to  take  it  from  thei 
mother,  and  after  her  death  it  was  purchase 
by  Edward  as  a  home  for  his  sister,  who,  lik 
himself,  never  married.     Edward  Martin,  wh 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


891 


was  born  February  i8,  1811,  and  died  Decem- 
ber 3,  1893,  made  a  large  fortune  as  a  civil 
engineer,  some  real  estate,  which  he  took  in 
payment  from  a  railroad  for  his  services,  prov- 
ing very  valuable,  a  portion  of  it  lying  within 
the  present  limits  of  Chicago. 

The  late  Augustus  Martin  was  born  in  Red 
Hook,  December  13,  1808,  and  although^is 
early  educational  opportunities  were  limited  to 
the  common  schools  of  that  town,  his  fine 
mental  endowment  enabled  him  to  acquire  a 
wide  and  liberal  education  through  the  channels 
of  observation  and  private  reading.  While  a 
young  man  he  was  elected  on  the  Democratic 
ticket  to  the  State  Assembly,  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  that  body  for  two  years  (1852-53)  un- 
der Gov.  Seymour.  In  local  affairs  he  held  a 
prominent  place,  and  was  chosen  to  many 
positions  of  trust,  including  that  of  supervisor, 
and  his  interest  in  educational  affairs,  and  de- 
sire that  children  of  all  classes  should  have 
ready  access  to  the  paths  of  knowledge,  led  to 
years  of  faithful  service  as  a  school  trustee. 
He  was  an  active  helper  in  religious  movements, 
and  was  a  trustee  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  at 
Red  Hook,  of  which  he  was  a  member.  His 
wife,  Lydia  Maria  (Benner),  was  born  in  Red 
Hook,  December  28,  181 1,  the  daughter  of 
j  judge  Jacob  Benner,  a  leading  member  of  the 
l^egal  fraternity.  She  died  February  23,  1864, 
'and  Mr.  Martin  followed  her  January  14,  1875. 
jOf  their  si.x  children  the  first  two — Margaret 
|M.  and  Marian  M.,  died  in  infancy;  the  others 
are:  Cora  A.  (Mrs.  John  B.  Scott);  Ella  A.; 
ilsabella  (now  Mrs.  Luther  L.  Stillman);  and 
.Serena. 


MRS.   JANE   M.    CHAPMAN.      The   late 
_  Frank   Chapman,   whose  sudden   death 
in    1893,  from   heart  disease,  cut  short  a  life 
which  had  been  filled  with  quiet  but  effective 
endeavor,  was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Dover, 
Dutchess  county,  where  he  received  his  educa- 
tion.    As  a  young  man  he  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile business  in  Pawling,  Dutchess  county;  but 
fter  some  years  he  went  to  New  York  City, 
=  s  bookkeeper   for  J.    B.    Dutcher,   and   held 
that  responsible  position  until  his  death.      His 
"How,    formerly   Miss  Jane   M.    Bishop,    was 
n  in   the   town    of    Washington,  Dutchess 
inty,  in  1831,  and  was  educated  in  the  town 
Amenia.      Their   marriage    took    place    in 
1861,  but  no  children  were  born  of  the  union. 

k Chapman  now  resides  in  Pawling. 


The  Bishop  family  was  known  in  New 
England  at  an  early  day,  and  Abiah  Bishop, 
Mrs.  Chapman's  grandfather,  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Revolutionary  war.  He  was  born  and 
educated  in  Rhode  Island,  and  in  early  man- 
hood learned  the  cooper's  trade.  His  wife, 
Ruth  (Wilbur),  was  a  native  of  the  town  of 
Washington,  Dutchess  county,  and  a  descend- 
ant of  a  prominent  Quaker  family.  Two  sons 
were  born  of  their  union:  Archibald,  who  mar- 
ried Angeline ;  and  George  (Mrs.  Chap- 
man's father),  who  was  born  in  the  tpwn  of 
Washington,  in  1809,  and  after  availing  him- 
self of  the  advantages  afforded  in  the  common 
schools  learned  the  trade  of  wagon  making. 
He  followed  this  for  some  time,  later  becom- 
ing station  agent  at  Wassaic,  Dutchess  county, 
in  which  position  he  continued  until  his  death, 
in  1874.  He  married  Miss  Desire  Northrop, 
whose  father,  Samuel  Northrop,  was  a  promi- 
nent farmer  of  the  town  of  Washington.  Her 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Mary  Benham. 

Mrs.  Chapman  was  the  eldest  in  a  family 
of  eight  children;  the  others  were  born  and 
educated  in  the  town  of  Amenia.  (2)  Seneca 
S.  followed  the  sea  from  early  manhood,  and 
since  sailing  for  the  West  Indies  has  never  been 
heard  from;  it  is  not  known  whether  he  mar- 
ried or  not.  (3)  Mary  A.  married  (first)  John 
Clark,  and  had  two  children  who  died,  and 
after  his  death  she  wedded  Joseph  Hobbs,  by 
whom  she  had  one  son,  Amos  A.  (4)  George 
W.  was  a  machinist  by  trade,  and  became 
master  mechanic  of  the  New  York  &  New 
Haven  railroad;  he  married  Miss  Isabella  Mc- 
Connell,  and  had  six  children:  George,  Jen- 
nie, Isabella,  Hattie,  Minnie  and  Ida  F.  (5) 
Charles  W.  was  engaged  in  business  in  New 
York  City  at  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  war;  he 
enlisted  in  the  6ist  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  and  lost  his 
life    ih  the  seven-days'  struggle  at  Bull  Run. 

(6)  Catherine  M.  married  Edward  Brown,  an 
engineer  of  Amenia;    they  have  no  children. 

(7)  William  G.  was  connected  with  the  con- 
densed milk  factory  at  Wassaic;  he  married 
Miss  Josephine  Nichols,  and  had  one  son, 
Harry,  who  died  in  infancy.  (8)  Noah  L.  was 
superintendent  of  the  Gail  Borden  Condensed 
Milk  factory  at  Wassaic;  he  married  (first)  Miss 
Hattie  Noyce,  and  after  her  death  he  wedded 
Miss  Jennie  Jones;  by  his  first  marriage  he  had 
one  son,  Frank,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  by 
the  second  there  were  three  children:  Lena, 
the  wife  of  Dr.  Fred  Brace;  Cora  L. ,  who  is  at 
home;  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 


S92 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPUICAL  RECORD. 


JAMES  VAN  WYCK.  The  Van  Wyck  family 
is  prominent  in  this  region  not  only  by  rea- 
ison  of  the  number  of  its  members,  but  for 
the  ability  and  public  spirit  shown  by  many  of 
them  in  past  and  present  times.  The  first  of 
this  branch  of  the  family  to  locate  in  Dutchess 
county  was  Theodorus  Van  Wyck,  our  sub- 
ject's great-grandfather,  who  was  born  at 
Hempstead,  Long  Island.  He  purchased  900 
acres  of  land  of  the  Madame  Brett  patent  in 
the  town  of  Fishkill  (now  East  Fishkill), 
Dutchess  county,  and  in  1740  built  the  house 
which  is  still  occupied  by  his  descendants. 

Although  this  old  homestead  has  rarely  ap- 
peared in  print,  there  are  few  of  our  old  places 
more  permanently  associated  with  the  pleasant 
social  life  of  the  early  settlers,  and  with  the 
personal  presence  of  the  prominent  actors  in  the 
Revolutionary  period.  Dr.  Dorus  Van  Wyck, 
on  his  marriage,  abandoned  the  homestead  to 
a  tenant  farmer,  and  took  up  his  residence  on 
the  north  side  of  the  Fishkill  creek,  near  Gen. 
Swartwout's.  At  this  time  the  Jay  family,  in- 
cluding the  distinguished  patriot.  Governor  and 
Chief  Justice  John  Jay,  moved  north,  seeking 
refuge  from  the  threats  and  depredations  of  the 
Tories  and  "cowboys"  who  infested  the  lower 
counties,  under  the  protection  of  the  British  at 
New  York.  The  Van  Wyck  homestead  being 
vacant,  it  was  hospitably  offered  them  by  its 
owner,  and  it  was  occupied  by  Gov.  Jay  for 
about  two  years.  It  was  during  his  residence 
here  (the  family  fortunately  being  absent),  that 
a  band  of  "cowboys"  crossed  the  mountains 
one  night  and  robbed  them  of  a  quantity  of 
silver  plate.  A  "  spontoon,"  or  rude  lance, 
dropped  by  the  robbers,  is  now  preserved  at 
Washington's  headquarters,  at  Newburg.  It 
was  from  this  house  that  John  Jay  set  off  on 
his  mission  to  France,  to  aid  in  negotiating  a 
treaty  of  peace  with  England. 

Theodorus  Van  Wyck  was  a  man  of 
marked  ability,  a  farmer  and  surveyor,  and 
was  so  greatly  interested  in  ■  the  development 
of  the  locality  that  with  his  negroes  (slaves) 
he  opened  up  highways  through  the  forests  in 
many  directions.  His  maps  of  Poughkeepsie 
and  the  Nine  Partners  tracts  are  still  in  ex- 
istence. He  was  an  active  worker  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  In  1752  he  was  ap- 
pointed judge  of  the  court  of.common  pleas  of 
Dutchess  county,  by  George  Clinton,  then 
governor  of  the  Province  of  New  York.  His 
death  occurred  in  1755.  His  wife  was  born 
on  Long  Island,  of  English   descent,  and  they 


reared  a  large  family,  consisting  of  two  sons 
and  a  "  noble  group  of  girls,"  whose  married 
names  were  Piatt,  Hoffman,  Graham,  Bailey 
and  Adriance,  respectively.  The  daughter  of 
one  of  these  became  the  wife  of  Chancellor 
Kent.  Of  the  sons,  the  elder,  William,  was  a 
farmer  in  East  Fishkill,  while  the  other,  Dorus, 
our  subject's  grandfather,  became  a  leading 
physician  in  the  same  locality.  He  married 
Diana,  a  daughter  of  Col.  John  Brinckerhoff, 
and  made  his  residence  at  the  old  Brincker- 
hoff estate.  They  had  several  daughters,  and 
three  sons — John  B.,  Abraham,  and  William 
— who  settled  upon  farms  in  East  Fishkill. 

Gen.  Abraham  Van  Wyck,  our  subject's 
father,  married  Miss  Susan  Haight,  the  daugh- 
ter of  a  prominent  farmer  of  Westchester  coun- 
ty, N.  Y. ,  and  reared  a  family  of  five  children: 
Henry,  a  farmer  in  Hughsonville,  who  married 
Miss  Ann  Lee,  of  Yorktown;  James,  our  sub- 
ject; Ann,  who  married  Ralph  Mead,  a  mer- 
chant in  New  York  City;  Louisa,  the  wife  of 
the  Rev.  Samuel  Van  Vechten;  and  Susan, 
who  married  Robert  Lane,  a  merchant  in  New 
York  City. 

James  Van  Wyck  was  born  September  4, 
1 8 10,  at  the  residence  built  by  his  father,  Gen. 
Abraham  Van  Wyck,  higher  up  on  the  ridge, 
and  now  in  the  possession  of  the  family  of  his 
grandson,  the  late  Richard  T.  Van  Wyck. 
On  his  marriage  in  1834  James  Van  Wyck  re- 
modeled the  old  mansion  for  his  own  abode, 
which  was  again  enlarged  and  renovated  a  few 
years  since,  and  here  he  has  happily  resided 
for  more  than  three  score  years. 

On  arriving  at  man's  estate  our  subject  en- 
gaged in  farming,  succeeding  to  414  acres 
which  belonged  to  his  father.  He  has  been 
largely  interested  in  raising  stock  and  grain, 
although  not  giving  exclusive  attention  to  them. 
He  has  been  twice  married:  First,  on  No- 
vember 12,  1834,  to  Miss  Cornelia  Ann  Van- 
Wyck,  daughter  of  Richard  T.  Van  Wyck,  a 
leading  resident  of  Fishkill.  To  this  union 
were  born  two  sons:  Abraham  J.,  who  was  a 
Methodist  minister  at  Casenovia,  Mich.,  and 
died  January  9,  1887;  and  Richard  T.,  whc 
was  a  farmer  in  his  native  township,  and  died 
January  2,  1892,  leaving  a  widow,  two  son; 
and  a  daughter.  On  October  3,  1849,  Mr 
Van  Wyck,  for  his  second  wife,  married  Mis.' 
Elizabeth  M.  Van  Brunt,  of  Brooklyn,  a  de 
scendant  of  one  of  the  old  Dutch  families  oi 
Long  Island;  her  father.  Nicholas  \'an  Brunt | 
was  a  well-known  merchant  of  New  York.    Ii 


I 


/i<^^>:;^<n^j!^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


398 


politics  Mr.  Van  Wyck  is  a  Republican,  and 
in  religious  faith  he  adheres  to  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church,  he  and  his  wife  attending  serv- 
ices at  Hopewell  Junction.  Both  as  a  sub- 
stantial business  man  and  a  progressive  citizen, 
he  commands  the  esteem  of  the  people  of  the 
vicinity. 


THOMAS  H.  SEAMAN.  As  an  enterpris- 
__  ing  and  wide-awake  business  man  of 
Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  and  one  who, 
through  his  own  efforts,  has  established  him- 
self among  the  prominent  men  of  the  city,  we 
take  pleasure  in  giving  a  brief  biography  of  this 
gentleman.  He  is  engaged  in  the  stone  busi- 
ness, taking  contracts  for  street  work  and  build- 
ing purposes. 

Mr.  Seaman  was  born  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y., 

June  13,    1849,  'ind  is  of  Holland  extraction. 

His  father,  Thomas  C.   Seaman,  was  a  native 

of  Albany   county,    N.  Y. ,  and  was  a  son  of  a 

farmer  of  that  locality.     On  starting  out  in  life 

;for  himself  he  engaged  in   teaching,    and    on 

'leaving  his  native  county  went    to   Syracuse, 

•tvhere  for  a  short  time   he  followed  farming. 

He  then  located  at  Coeymans,  N.  Y. ,  engag- 

ng  in  the  stone  business  at  that  place  until  his 

removal  to  Wilbur,  where  he  was  similarly  em- 

jjloyed.      In  1861  he  established  himself  in  that 

line  of  trade  in  Poughkeepsie,  which  he  contin- 

led   to   follow    until    his  death   in    November, 

888.     His    political    support  was    given    the 

Republican  party.      He  had  married  Miss  Roxey 

\.  Garratt,  a  native  of  Greene  county,  N.  Y. , 

nd  a  daughter  of  Levi  G.  Garratt,  an  agricult- 

irist.      Five  children  were  born  of  this  union: 

-ydia    M.,  who  married  George  Stoddard,   a 

,  ruckman,   of    Poughkeepsie;  Annie    E.,    who 

ied   unmarried;    Alvena    H.,  wife    of    Daniel 

Vhite,   a   moulder   of  Poughkeepsie;   Ursula, 

.ho  wedded  Henry  Warner,  an  engineer;  and 

"homas  H.,  of  this  review. 

The   childhood  days  of    our  subject  were 

ostly  spent  in  Wilbur,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was 

ducated,  and  early  began  to  learn  the  stone 

usiness  with  his  father,  with  whom  he  con- 

nued  operations  until  the  latter's  death.      He 

ill  continues  to  deal  in  stone  at  Poughkeepsie, 

'  has  built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  business. 

Mr.  Seaman  was  united  in  marriage  with 

^  Catherine  DuBois,  a  native  of  Dutchess 

-inty,  where  her  father,  James  DuBois,  fol- 

'wed  the  occupation  of  farming.     One  child 

-  been  born  to  them:     Mary  N.,  now  the 


wife  of  William  L.  Dobbs,  of  Poughkeepsie. 
The  parents  are  earnest  Christian  people,  faith- 
ful members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  take  an  active  interest  in  everything  in- 
tended to  promote  the  moral  or  material  ad- 
vancement of  the  community.  Politically,  Mr. 
Seaman  votes  the  Prohibition  ticket,  as  the 
platform  of  that  party  embodies  his  principles 
on  the  temperance  question. 


MARTIN  FENDEL,  the  well-known  and 
_  popular  proprietor  of  the  "Old  German 

Tavern",  No.  229  Union  street,  Poughkeepsie, 
Dutchess  county,  was  born  at  Bingen-on-the- 
Rhine,  Germany,  March  7,  1864.  He  spent 
his  boyhood  in  German}',  attending  school  in 
the  town  of  his  birth,  and  was  then  in  the  coal 
business  with  his  father  for  two  years. 

In  1885  Mr.  Fendel  came  to  America  on  a 
visit,  and  traveled  throughout  the  United 
States  selling  wines  to  wholesale  dealers,  and 
he  traveled  back  and  forth  between  the  two 
countries  thirteen  times.  He  was  married  in 
New  York  City,  in  1889,  to  Miss  Messerschmidt, 
a  native  of  that  place.  Of  this  union  the  fol- 
lowing children  were  born:  Freddie,  born  in 
Bingen;  Josephine  and  Kate,  born  in  New  York 
City;  and  Gertie,  born  in  Poughkeepsie.  There 
was  also  an  adopted  child,  Joseph,  who  died 
when  three  months  old.  After  his  marriage 
our  subject  spent  one  year  in  Germany,  and 
two  and  a  half  years  in  New  York  City,  en- 
gaged in  selling  wines  to  the  wholesale  trade. 
In  March,  1894,  he  came  to  Poughkeepsie  and 
opened  the  "Old  German  Tavern,"  a  typical 
German  inn. 

Mr.  Fendel  is  a  member  of  Concordia 
Lodge,  Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor,  and  at- 
tends the  Catholic  Church.  He  is  a  natural- 
ized citizen,  but  takes  little  interest  in  politics. 


C<HARLES  H.  BUCKINGHAM,  a  promi- 
J  nent  resident  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 
county,  whose  extensive  travels  have  made 
him  at  home  in  nearly  every  country  on  the 
globe,  is  in  direct  descent  of  the  eighth  gener- 
ation from  one  of  the  earliest,  settlers  of  Con- 
necticut. 

The  name  Buckingham  is  derived  from 
"Bucan,"  "Becen,"  or  "Beechen" — beech 
trees — and  "ham" — a  village — as  a  family 
name  it  doubtless  has  its  origin  in  the  county 
of  Buckingham,  England,  whose  shire  town  is 


394 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


also  Buckingham.  Many  members  of  the 
American  branch  of  the  family  have  filled  po- 
sitions of  honor  and  importance  in  various 
fields  of  effort.  Thomas  Buckingham,  the 
Puritan  ancestor  of  this  line,  was  one  of  the 
company  to  which  Eaton  and  Hopkins,  two 
London  merchants,  and  two  ministers,  Daven- 
port and  Prudden,  belonged.  They  arrived  at 
Boston  June  26,  1637,  in  the  ship  "Hector," 
and  on  March  30,  1638,  sailed  for  Quinnipack 
(now  New  Haven),  where  such  records  as  this 
are  found  on  the  old  town  books:  "Mr.  Wilke 
is  ordered  to  pay  Thomas  Buckingham  five 
bushels  and  a  half  of  Indian  Corn  destroyed 
by  Mr.  Wilke's  hogs." 

In  1839  Thomas  Buckingham  settled  in 
Milford,  Conn.,  where  his  name  stands  fifth  on 
the  list  of  Free  Planters,  and  he  was  one  of 
the  "  seven  pillars  of  the  church  "  there.      He 

was  married   twice,    first   to  Hannah  — , 

by  whom  he  had  five  children:  Hannah, 
Daniel,  Samuel,  Mary  and  Thomas.      For  his 

second    wife  he  married    Ann .       His 

youngest  son,  Rev.  Thomas  Buckingham,  was 
born  November  8,  1646,  and  began  preaching 
in  Wethersfield  when  only  eighteen  years  old. 
In  1665  he  preached  in  Saybrook.  He  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  Yale  College,  and  a 
Fellow  of  that  institution.  Among  the  clergy- 
men of  his  time  he  held  a  high  rank,  leading 
in  all  the  efforts  for  the  prosperity  of  the 
Church,  and  he  was  one  of  the  Moderators  of 
the  famous  Synod  of  1708,  which  convened  at 
Saybrook,  and  formed  the  platform  for  the 
Churches.  On  September  20,  1666,  he  mar- 
ried his  first  wife,  Hester  Hosmer,  by  whom 
he  had  nine  children:  Hester.  Thomas,  Daniel, 
Stephen,  Samuel  (i),  Samuel  (2),  Hezekiah, 
Temperance  and  Anne.  His  second  wife, 
whom  he  married  August  10,  1703,  was  Mary 
Hooker.      He  died  April  i,  1709. 

Thomas  Buckingham  (3)  was  born  Sep- 
tember 29,  1670,  and  lived  to  be  nearly  one 
hundred  years  old,  dying  September  12,  1769. 
He  was  a  landholder  in  Lebanon,  Conn.,  and 
a  prominent  man  in  town  affairs,  being  ap- 
pointed to  mbny  offices  of  trust,  and  was  also  a 
leading  member  of  the  Church.  On  Decem- 
ber 16,  1691,  he  married  Margaret  Griswold, 
and  had  eight  children  :  Thomas,  Samuel, 
Jedediah,  Margaret,  Mary  (i),  Mary  (2),  Jo- 
seph and  Sarah. 

Thomas  Buckingham  (4),  the  great-great- 
grandfather of  our  subject,  was  born  January 
24,  1703,  and  became  a  seafaring  man.     On 


April  5,  1722,  he  married  Mary  Parker,  by 
whom  he  had  four  children,  whose  names  with 
dates  of  birth  are  as  follows:  Jedediah,  Janu- 
ary 20,  1727;  Stephen,  September  20,  1729; 
Mary,  July  27,  1732;  and  Sarah,  1734.  He 
died  December  13,  1760,  and  his  wife  survived 
him  at  least  eleven  years. 

Jedediah  Buckingham,  our  subject's  great- 
grandfather, was  born  at  Saybrook,  Conn., 
married  Martha  Clark,  of  Lebanon,  and  set- 
tled in  Columbia,  Conn.,  where  he  died  July 
9,  1809,  his  wife  surviving  him  until  May  20, 
1 82 1.  They  had  children:  Sarah,  Thomas, 
Joseph  and  Mary  (twins),  Jedediah  P. ,  Sarah, 
Stephen,  Esther,  Martha  and  Nancy  Ann. 

Stephen  Buckingham,  our  subject's  grand- 
father, born  May  12,  1763,  was  a  farmer  and 
large   land    owner   at    Columbia,    Conn.      He 
served  three  years  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
was  sent  to   France  to  effect  an  exchange  of 
prisoners,  and  was  absent  about  a  year,  being 
shipwrecked  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay.      On  Janu- 
ary 2,  1798,  he  was  married  to  his  first  wife. 
Polly  Dorrance,  of  Lebanon,  who  died  Janu- 
ary 26,  1799,  and  on  June  30,  1807,  he  mar- 
ried, for  his  second  wife,   Polly  Brewster,  ol 
Exeter  Society,  Lebanon,  a  descendant  in  tht 
sixth  generation  from  Elder  William  Brewster 
of  Plymouth,  Mass.,  and  daughter  of  Ishaboc 
and  Lucy  Brewster.     She  was  born  August  12 
1777,  and  in  1869  was  living  in  Poughkeepsit 
in  her  ninety -second  year,  in  good  health,  abli 
to  walk  about  the  house  without  assistance 
Stephen  Buckingham  died  February  26,  1814 
leaving  four  children  whose  names  with  date; 
of  birth  are  here  given:     Mary  Dorrance,  Jam 
uary   26.   1799;   Stephen    M.,    July   12,    1808; 
Charles  J.,  July  7,   1810,  and  Ichabod  B.,  Aii 
gust  3,  1813,  who  died  November  8,  1819.     I 

Charles  J.  Buckingham,  the  father  of  oij 
subject,  passed  his  childhood  at  the  old  hon-j 
in  Columbia,  Conn.,  and  prepared  for  collefi 
at  Boston  Academy,    Colchester,    Conn.     H' 
entered  Trinity  College  in    1829,  with  a  vie 
to  the  ministry  of  the  Episcopal  Church;  bu 
his  health  failing,  his  studies  were  remitted  f 
a  time.      On  resuming  them,  he  again  found ' 
necessary  to   desist.     After  a  long  voyage 
the   Mediterranean  he  made  a  third  attenif 
but  was  finally  compelled  to  relinquish  his  1 
erary  pursuits.      He  made  another  voyage  > 
Europe,  and  on  regaining  his  health  engagJ 
in  the  mercantile  business  there  and  in  Nif 
York  City,  where  he  resided  until  his  remo'l 
to   Poughkeepsie   in    1849.      During  the  la  r 


OOMMBMORATIVE  BIOOHAPUWAL  HEOOIiD 


»05 


years  of  his  life  he  devoted  much  of  his  time 
to  the  public  schools  of  the  latter  city,  and  to 
other  educational  interests. 

On  October   i6,  1839,  he  was  married,  at 

I   Poughkeepsie,  to  Emily  Williams,  a  native  of 

New  York  City,  born   January  2t,    1818,  the 

:  daughter    of    Josiah    and     Martha    (Loomis) 

j  Williams.     She  died  in  Poughkeepsie,  January 

1  26,  1848,  and  he  survived  her   until   October 

I  2,    »88q.      They    had    four   children:     Emily 

Adelia.  who  was  born  November  7,   1840,  and 

died  December  30,  1840;  Charles  Henry,  our 

subject,   born   September    13,    1842;   Richard 

Cook,  born  January   11,   1844,  who  died   July 

20,  1845,  and  Martha  Williams,  born  Septeni- 

l>er  26.  1845,  who  was  married  December  27, 

'87 1,  to  George  W.  Wood. 

Charles  H.  Buckingham,  our  subject,  was 

rn  at  Bowling  Green,  New  York  City.      His 

yhood   was  mainly  spent   in   Poughkeepsie, 

where   he   attended  the  College   Hill    School. 

At  the  age  of  twenty  he  went  to  New  York  and 

>  engaged  in  the  dry -goods  commission  business 

, jwith  Hunt,  Tillinghast  &  Co.,  with  whom  he 

I  remained  eight  years.     He  was  also  interested 

{in  mining  in  Colorado  and  ranching  in   Ne- 

jbraska.     Since  1870  he  has  spent  most  of  his 

(time  traveling,  and    has  circumnavigated  the 

learth  once,  and  been  partly  around  it  several 

(times.     He  was  on  the  first  merchant  steamer 

jthat  entered  the  harbor  of  Osaki,  Japan,  and 

Kvas  one  of  the  first  Americans  to  visit  the  city 

iPekin,  after  it  was  taken  by  the  English  and 

in   r86o.     Some   years  were  spent  in 

points   in    France,     South    America, 

;ico,  Java,  the  island  of  Juan  Fernandez, 

other  places  of  interest,  and  he  has  been 

arly  every   country   on   the  globe.     On 

lb    22,     1888,    in    Poughkeepsie,    he    was 

"^rricd  to  Elizabeth   Van  Loan,  daughter  of 

tijamin  Van  Loan,  a  well-known  resident  of 

!   Village.     His  wife  has  accompanied 

^^     I  many  long  journeys,  but  they  are  now 

lltoring  the  comforts  of  their  elegant  home  in 

■^EWIS  CARMAN  rddceased),  who  in  his 
L^  lifetime  was  a  well-known  business  man 
Bangall.  Dutchess  county,  a  dealer  in  coal 
I  farm  produce,  and  the  efficient  agent  of  the 
I).  &  C.  K.  K. ,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Stan- 
rd  February  i,  r86o. 
The  family  name  was  originally  Preston, 
'  bis  paternal  grandfather,  Martin  Preston, 


I 


was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Milan,  Dutcheis 
county,  where,  in  his  later  years,  he  followed 
farming.  He  was  a  Quaker  in  religious  faith; 
married  and  had  three  children:  Ada  M. ,  who 
died  in  1886;  Leonard  L.,  our  subject's  father, 
and  Nathan  C,  who  was  in  the  United  States 
naval  service  for  many  years,  including  the 
stirring  times  of  the  Civil  war.  He  died  in 
1886. 

Leonard  L.  (Preston)  Carman,  our  sub- 
ject's father,  lived  in  New  York  City  until  the 
age  of  seven,  later  moving  to  Stanfordville, 
where  he  spent  some  years,  meanwhile  attend- 
ing the  schools  of  that  village;  for  two  win- 
ters he  studied  at  the  Nine  Partners  lioarding 
School,  in  the  town  of  Washington.  At  the 
age  of  nineteen  he  was  adopted  by  an  uncle, 
Leonard  L.  Carman,  of  the  town  of  Stanford, 
his  name  being  changed  by  act  of  Legislature 
from  Preston  to  Carman.  At  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-one he  took  charge  of  the  farm,  on  "  Bangall 
Lane,"  relieving  his  adopted  parents  of  care 
during  their  later  years,  and  on  their  death,  in 
i860,  he  succeeded  to  the  estate,  where  he 
continued  to  reside  until  his  death,  October 
30,  1892.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Society.  In  his  earlier  years  he  was  a  Whig, 
later  becoming  a  Republican.  He  was  twice 
married,  first  to  a  Miss  Sackett,  who  died  leav- 
ing no  children.  His  second  wife  was  Miss 
Emma  J.  Preston,  a  daughter  of  Ebenezer 
Preston,  a  leading  resident  of  the  town  of 
Stanford.  Two  children  were  born  of  this 
union:  Lewis,  our  subject,  and  Ada  M.,  who 
married  Joshua  R.  Traver  (deceased). 

Lewis  Carman,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
attended  the  district  schools  of  the  town  of 
Sanford  during  early  boyhood,  and  later  studied 
at  a  private  school  in  the  same  locality.  After 
he  had  learned  all  that  they  were  prepared  to 
offer,  he  studied  for  some  time  at  the  Pelham  In- 
stitute, Poughkeepsie.  Returning  home,  he 
assisted  upon  the  farm  until  1884,  when,  hav- 
ing learned  telegraphy  at  home,  he  accepted 
the  position  of  agent  of  the  N.  D.  &  C.  R.  R. 
at  Bangall.  He  also  dealt  extensively  in  coal 
and  farm  produce.  Politically  he  was  a  Re- 
publican and  was  one  of  the  leaders  among 
the  younger  members  of  the  party  in  his  vicin- 
ity. For  several  terms  he  served  as  town 
clerk,  and  April  1,  1889,  he  was  appointed  by 
President  Harrison  postmaster  at  Bangall,  re- 
tiring August  I,  1893.  He  was  married  April 
12,  1887,  to  Miss  S.  Jeannettc  Cranipton,  a 
daughter  of   H.  E,  Crampton,  M.  D. ,  of  New 


896 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


York  City,  and  four  children  were  born  to 
them:  Lewis  C,  Jeannette,  Leonard  and 
Ward.  Mr.  Carman  was  a  leading  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church,  and  he  belonged  to  the 
K.  of  P.  Lodge  No.  43.  at  Poughkeepsie.  He 
died  September  27,  1896,  of  typhoid  fever, 
after  an  illness  of  only  two  weeks. 


TfULIUS  BENEDICT,  a  prominent  resident 
I;  of  the  town  of  Northeast,  and  proprie- 
*^  tor  of  an  extensive  iron  foundry  in  New 
York  City,  is  a  direct  descendant  in  the  eighth 
generation  from  Thomas  Benedict,  who  was 
born  in  Nottinghamshire,  England,  in  16 17, 
and  came  to  America  in  1638,  settling  on  Long 

Island. 

His  son  Samuel,  from  whom  this  branch  01 
the  family  traces  their  descent,  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of    Danbury,    Conn.     Samuel's 
son,   Nathaniel,   born  March  27,    1679,  had  a 
son  Nathaniel,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary   war.       He    had    a    son    Nathaniel, 
whose    son,    Nathaniel,    our   subject's   grand- 
father, was  born  January  i,  1768,  and  became 
a  farmer  at  Salisbury,   Conn.,  where  he  died 
January  23,    1835.      He    was    married    (first) 
August  24,  1787,  to  Jerusha  Terry,  who  died 
at  Sharon,  Conn.,   October   10,  1822,  and  he 
married  (second)   Rebecca  Darrow.      By    his 
first  wife  he  had  eight  children,  whose  names 
with   dates  of    birth  are    as    follows:     Ethel, 
November  15,  1788;  Abel,  November  3,  1789; 
Delia,   November  23,    1791,   married  January 
30,  i8i7,to  Nathaniel  Cady;  Benjamin,  March 
7/1793,   moved    to  the    town   of   Northeast, 
Dutchess  county,  where  he  became  a  well-to- 
do  miller,  owning  the  stone  mill  now  belong- 
ing to  Martin  Paine;  Nathaniel,  who  married 
Polly  Fuller,  and  lived  in  Connecticut  and  later 
in  Yellow  Springs,  Ohio,  was  an  iron  founder, 
and  a  man  of  political  and  military  prominence, 
being  a  member  of  the  Connecticut  Legisla- 
ture in  1833,  '34.  '38  and  '51;  a  justice  of  the 
peace  at  Salisbury.  Conn.,   in   1830,   '43  and 
'49;  assessor    in   1850;    captain    of    the   Con- 
necticut Militia  in   1820,   major   in   1828,  and 
lieutenant-colonel    in    1835;    Asahel,    also    an 
iron    founder,    married     Betsey,    daughter  of 
Charles  Belden,  of  Canaan.  Conn.,   and  died 
in  May,  1839;  Olive,   April  6,  1803,  was  mar- 
ried   (first)    on    April     24,    1825,    to    Horace 
Wheeler,   and  (second)  to   Ammon  Williams; 
James,    May,    1805,    was    married    April    n, 
1 83 1,  to  Maria,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Eliza- 


beth Kellogg,   of  Sharon,   Conn.,  and  resided 
at  Wellington,  Ohio,  where  he  died. 

Abel  Benedict,  our  subject's  father,  was  a 
native  of  Bethel,  Conn.,  but  spent  most  of  his 
life  at  Sharon,  where  he  and  his  brother  Na- 
thaniel owned  an  iron  foundry.  He  was  of 
an  inventive  turn  of  mind,  and  was  the  main 
factor  in  the  success  of  the  enterprise.  In 
later  years  he  engaged  in  farming  at  Sharon. 
He  was  never  active  in  politics,  but  was  much 
interested  in  local  improvements  and  in  re- 
ligious movements.  He  married  Wealthy 
Wheeler,  daughter  of  Amos  Wheeler,  and  hac 
SIX  children,  as  follows:  Angeline  marriec 
Francis  Rogers,  of  Parma,  Mich.;  Caroline 
married  Charles  Lamb;  Julius,  born  Novembei 
3,  1818;  Horace;  Lucy  A.  married  Edwii 
Hartwell,  of  Sharon:  Mary  married  Lee  Can 
field,  Jr.;  and  Matilda  M.  married  Charle 
1  Lamb,  of  Sharon. 

Julius  Benedict  was  born  at  Sharon,  Conn. 
and    during  his  early  years  he   attended  tb 
public  schools  there.     He  also  studied  for  < 
short  time   at  Salisbury,  and  acquired  a  fai 
English  education,  which  he  has  supplemente 
by  a  generous  course   of  reading   on   currer 
topics.      He  remained  with  his  father  until  h 
was  about  twenty-four  years  of  age,  learnin 
the  details    of  work    in   the    foundry,  and  1 
1845  he  established  a  foundry  at  Falls  Villa§ 
on  his  own  account.     This  he  carried  on  su. 
cessfully  until  1854,  when  he  removed  to  Iroi 
dale,  Dutchess  county,  and  built  a   blast  fu 
nance,  which    employed    eight    or   ten   msic 
workmen  and   several    colliers.      In    i860,  1 
disposed  of  this,  and   then  conducted  a  sm: 
foundry  at  the  same  place  for  two  years,  ma  | 
ufacturing  shot  and  shell  for   Mr.  Hotchkis 
the  inventor.     The  exigencies  of  the  war  cr 
ating  a    large  demand  for  these  articles,  t , 
business    was    transferred  to  New  York,  a  I 
conducted  on  a  larger  scale,  and  Mr.  Bened  ; 
leased  the  foundry  on  East  Seventeenth  stren 
where  he  remained  three  years,  removing  aft' ■ 
ward  to  West  Forty-sixth  street.      In  1878  ; 
bought  the  property  at  No.  548   West  Fil  - 
fifth    street,  where    his    foundry    now  stan  j. 
Since  1867  he  has  been  engaged  principally  1 
manufacturing  sash  weights,  and  grate  bars  t 
steam  boilers,  and  for  some  years  he  has  m;;e 
the  patent  grate  bar  of  W.  W.  Tupper  &  <^^ 
He  employs  a   force  of  about  thirty-five  nn 
usually,  and  enjoys  an   extensive  and  prot  - 

ble  trade.  _        ,■  ,.    .c 

On   January   5.    1846,    Mr.   Benedict    is 


I 


^:i^ULtM^<^    //cl.-e^n.^^.^x_dLt^— 


COMMEMOBATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


397 


married  to  Maria,  daughter  of  Lee  Canfield, 
of  Falls  Village,  Conn.,  and  made  his  perma- 
nent home  on  the  old  Wheeler  homestead, 
near  Coleman  Station,  a  fine  farm  of  140 
acres,  which  he  purchased  in  1887.  His  wife 
died  June  9,  1885,  leaving  one  son,  William 
|B.,  who  was  born  April  13,  1848,  was  a  banker 
in  New  York  City,  but  died  in  Denver,  Colo., 
in  February,  1886;  there  was  also  a  daughter, 
Clara  Maria,  born  February  2,  1855,  and  died 
in  February,  1872.  Mr.  Benedict's  close  at- 
tention to  business  has  prevented  him  from 
taking  an  active  part  in  political  life,  but  he  is 
a  generous  sympathizer  in  all  movements  for 
the  public  welfare.  In  early  life  he  was  a 
Whig,  voting  for  Gen.  Harrison  in  1840,  and 
ind  he  became  a  Republican  on  the  formation 
:if  that  party. 


fOHN  J.  BAHRET,  a  well-known  business 
man  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  is 

a  native  of   that  thriving   city,   born   May 
5,  1840. 

Jacob  Bahret,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
iorn  in  1809  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  was 
:ducated  in  the  schools  of  Burgstal,  and  learned 
he  tailor's  trade.  In  1835  he  came  to  Amer- 
;a,  locating  first  in  New  York  City,  where  he 
jmained  three  years.  He  then  moved  to 
'oughkeepsie  and  engaged  in  merchant  tailor- 
ig  at  the  head  of  Jay  street,  near  Market, 
'ut  after  a  time  he  entered  the  employ  of 
•mith  &  Fineley  at  No.  280  Main  street,  and 
1  1844  he  bought  their  business,  which  he 
arried  on  until  his  death,  in  1865.  He  was  a 
lan  of  sterling  qualities,  fully  identifying  him- 
elf  with  the  best  interests  of  his  adopted  coun- 
ry,  and  during  the  Civil  war  he  was  an  active 
lember  of  the  Union  League.  He  was  mar- 
led in  New  York  City  in  1836  to  Miss  Dor- 
"hea  Furch,  a  native  of  Germany,  by  whom 

had  six  children:  Julia  Caroline,  the  wife  of 
ugust  Koch;  John  J.,  our  subject;  Phoebe  R. 
low  living),  who  married  C.  Buechler  (now 
.ceased);  Mary  C.  and  August  P.  (twins 
oth  deceased);  and  George,  a  resident  of  St. 
•ouis.  Mo.  The  mother  of  these  died  in  1849 
nd  the  father  subsequently  married  Miss  Fred- 
rica  Dietz.  Seven  children  were  born  of  this 
nion,  of  whom  only  three  are  now  living  : 
misa  Nesbit,  Charles  H.  and  Frederick,  all 

idents  of  Poughkeepsie. 

John  J.  Bahret  received  his  early  education 
,1  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city,  also  at 


the  Lancaster  school.  At  the  age  of  thirteen 
he  became  a  salesman  for  his  father,  as  time 
passed  learning  the  trade,  and  after  the  death 
of  his  father  he  took  charge  of  the  business  in 
partnership  with  August  Koch,  at  Nos.  276 
and  262  Main  street.  In  1882  the  partnership 
was  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Bahret  continued  the 
business  at  No.  262  until  1894,  when  he  moved 
to  No.  174  Main  street,  where  his  sons,  A.  H. 
and  P.  E.  Bahret,  now  conduct  it.  For  over 
thirty  years  Mr.  Bahret  held  a  prominent  place 
in  business  circles,  and  was  for  some  time  a 
director  in  the  Farmers'  &  Manufacturers'  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Poughkeepsie.  He  was  twice 
married,  first  on  Septembers,  1863,  to  Miss 
Mary  Grififin,  of  West  Redding,  Conn.,  who 
died  in  October,  1869.  Two  children  were 
born  to  them,  Willie  G.  and  Dora,  both  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Bahret  was  mar- 
ried the  second  time  September  5,  1870,  in 
Saugurties,  Ulster  county,  to  Miss  Sarah  T. 
Allard,  and  their  children  are  Adella,  James 
L.,  Arthur  H.,  Percy  E.  and  Ruth  E.  He 
and  his  wife  are  leading  members  of  Trinity 
M.  E.  Church,  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  the  fam- 
ily have  taken  an  influential  part  in  many 
philanthropic  movements  within  and  without 
the  Church. 


A 


BRAM  B.  CRAPSER,  the  well-known 
^  engineer  of  the  steamer  "Hasbrouck," 
was  born  November  21,  1832,  in  Pleasant 
Plains,  town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess  county,  and 
is  of  German  origin.  His  great-grandfather 
was  a  native  of  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  and 
on  coming  to  America  his  passage  was  paid  by 
his  mother.  On  his  arrival  he  bound  himself 
out  to  a  man  living  in  Wurtemburg,  town  of 
Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county,  which  village 
was  named  for  his  birthplace.  At  that  time 
he  had  some  money,  and  as  his  employer  was 
in  need  of  financial  assistance,  he  aided  him. 
Later  he  became  a  large  property  owner  in 
Clinton  town,  Dutchess  county.  He  was  mar- 
ried at  Wurtemburg,  N.  Y.,  and  became  the 
father  of  four  sons,  one  of  whom  was  John 
Crapser  (the  grandfather  of  our  subject),  who 
was  born  May  20,  1750. 

On  February  19,  1778,  John  Crapser  was 
married  to  Charity  Ostrum,  who  was  born 
March  12,  1760,  and  fourteen  children  were 
the  result  of  this  union,  their  names  and  dates 
of  birth,  etc.,  being  as  follows:  John  J.,  July 
5,  1780,  died  September  12,  i860;  Anna,  Oc- 


898 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tober27,  1781,  d.  December  7,  1859;  Albertus, 
January  14,  1784,  d.  September  4,  1880;  Fred- 
erick, September  20,  1785,  d.  March  i,  1861; 
Cornelius,  August  30,  1787;  Catherine,  August 
23,  1789,  d.  May  8,  1832;  Elizabeth,  Septem- 
ber 25,  1791,  d.  August  21,  1854;  Margaret, 
January  24,  1794;  Mary,  June  1,  1796,  d.  Jan- 
uary 12,  1823;  Levi,  July  14,  1798,  d.  May 
21.  1855;  Gertrude,  August  25,  1800,  d.  Jan- 
uary 5,  1852;  Philip,  June  3,  1803,  d.  Sep- 
tember 19,  1872;  Sarah  Ann,  March  27,  1805, 
d.  July  3,  i860;  and  Elias,  June  21,  1807,  d. 
February  7,  1786.  The  father  of  this  family 
was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and 
devoted  his  life  to  agricultural  pursuits  in  the 
town  of  Clinton  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
February  24,  1824.  His  wife  was  called  from 
earth  December  28,  185 1. 

Elias  Crapser,  the  youngest  in  their  family, 
and  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Clinton,  where  his  early  life  was  passed 
in  rural  pursuits.  In  1830  he  went  upon  the 
river,  at  first  as  the  owner  of  a  sailing  vessel, 
and  afterward,  for  half  a  century,  as  pilot  and 
captain  on  steamboats,  for  many  years  being 
with  the  Commercial  Transportation  Co.  From 
1850  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  he  made  his 
home  at  Poughkeepsie,  passing  the  last  four 
years  with  his  son,  Abram  B.  Crapser.  He 
was  married  January  14,  1830,  to  Rebecca  C. 
Nickel,  of  the  town  of  Rhinebeck,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Anna  M.,  born  September  22,  1830,  became 
the  wife  of  Abram  Wallace,  December  2, 
1847;  Abram  B.,  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch,  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth;  Emeline 
G.,  born  November  15,  1835,  married  Ransom 
La  Paugh,  January  6.  1855  (he  died  May  16, 
1896);  Catherine  E.,  born  April  5,  1838, 
wedded  George  Clarke,  February  12,  1861; 
Levi,  born  April  8,  1841,  married  Mary  J. 
Ackert,  June  29,  1864;  William  H.,  born  No- 
vember 3,  1843,  married  Catherine  Whitner, 
of  Brooklyn,  August  15,  1868;  Henrietta  was 
born  September  22,  1846;  Rebecca,  born  De- 
cember 7,  1849,  died  July  23,  185 1;  Nelson, 
born  March  15,  1852,  married  Julia  Fraleigh, 
October  i,  1873;  and  Charles,  born  Novem- 
ber 4,  1854,  wedded  Rose  Golden,  January  5, 
1882.  The  mother  of  these  died  April  18, 
1879. 

Our  subject  spent  his  boyhood  in  New 
York  City,  where  he  was  educated,  and  at  the 
early  age  of  ten  years  began  boating  with  his 
father  during  the  warmer  months,  while  in  the 


winter  he  attended  school.  At  the  age  of  six- 
teen he  secured  a  position  as  deck  hand  on  a 
steamer,  where  he  remained  for  nearly  one 
year,  and  then  was  made  assistant  engineer  on 
the  "Cygnet,"  being  thus  employed  by  the 
Commercial  Transportation  Co.  of  the  Phila- 
delphia and  Albany  line  for  four  years.  At 
the  age  of  twenty  he  was  made  chief  engineer, 
filling  that  position  on  the  "-Swan,"  "  Pa- 
troon,"  "Commerce,"  "Tempest,"  "Consti- 
tution," "Commodore  Foote,"  "Commodore 
Du  Pont,"  "William  H.  Aspinwall,"  "Col- 
umbus," "Francis  King"  and  "Reliance." 
During  the  Civil  war  he  was  chief  engineer  on 
the  ' '  Vidette, "  in  the  Burnside  expedition,  and 
for  three  years  was  in  the  government  service. 
Since  the  close  of  the  struggle  he  has  been  chief 
engineer  of  the  steamer  "John  L.  Hasbrouck, " 
all  of  which  will  indicate  his  faithful  discharge 
of  duty,  and  the  high  regard  in  which  he  is 
held  by  his  employers.  He  is  the  pioneer  en- 
gineer of  the  Crapser  family,  and  he  now  has 
four  brothers,  a  nephew,  son-in-law  and  two 
sons,  who  are  also  engineers,  raised  by  him  to 
the  trade,  besides  a  brother-in-law  (now  de-| 
ceased.)  '  ' 

On  December  13,  1855,  Mr.  Crapser  wasj 
married,  to  Adaline  Ackert,  who  was  born  inl 
Pleasant  Plains,  town  of  Clinton,  September  i, 
1833,  and  seven  children  blessed  their  union, 
namely:  Lester  A.,  born  February  22,  1858. 
and  married  Carrie  Falk  June  5,  1882;  Ethel- 
ward  v.,  born  December  12,  1859,  marriecj 
Mary  Tracy,  March  18,  1885;  Ida  M.,  borr 
February  12,  1862,  became  the  wife  of  Walte: 
L.  Simmons  July  i,  1883;  Ella  R..  born  Apri 
25,  1865,  died  February  19,  1868;  IraE.,  bori: 
October  18,  1868,  died  February  2,  1869;  Lilj 
lie  Belle,  born  August  26,  1872,  married  Sami 
uel  H.  Miller  November  14,  1894;  and  Freddii 
B.,  born  June  3,  1874,  died  on  the  26th  0' 
July  following.  The  children  that  married  ali 
have  families. 

Mr.  Crapser  is  one  of  the  oldest  member 
of  Lodge  No.  266,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Poughkeep 
sie,  which  he  joined  February  21,  1859,  an  [ 
also  belongs  to  and  is  one  of  the  charter  meffl 
bers  of  the  Masonic  Mutual  Benefit  Associf' 
tion,  and  a  member  of  the  Marine  Engineei; 
Beneficial  Association.  His  courteous,  geni; 
manner  has  gained  him  a  large  circle  of  wan 
personal  friends,  and  he  justly  deserves  th 
confidence  and  esteem  of  all  with  whom  1 
comes  in  contact  either  in  a  business  or  soci: 
way. 


IrOHN    p.   AMBLER,   wholesale    and    retail 
I   dealer  in  books,  stationery  and  fancy  goods, 
Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  was  born 
ine  25,  1 841,  in  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutch- 
is  county,  and  is  the  son  of  Rev.  Silas  and 
unice  D.  (Olmstead)  Ambler. 
The  Ambler  family,  of  which  our  subject  is 
a  worthy  representative,  was  founded  in  Amer- 
ica during  its  early  history.     The  first  to  locate 
in  New  England    was   Richard  Ambler,    who 
was  born  in  Somersetshire,  England,  in  1609, 
and  was  one  of  twenty-four  men  who  organ- 
td  the  town   of  Watertown,   Conn.,  taking 
id  from  the  Indians,  and  he  became  a  lead- 
resident  of  that  town.      He  was  twice  inar- 
and  became  the   father  of  three  children: 
h,  Abram  and  Abraham.      His  death  oc- 
■ed  in  1699.      Of  his  family,  Abraham,  who 
a  Baptist  minister  in  Bradford,  Conn.,  was 
»rn  in  1642,  and  he  was  also  twice   married, 
union  with  Mary  Bates  being  celebrated  in 
12;   they    made    their    home    in    Stamford, 
in.     Their  son  John  was  born  in  1668,  and 
his    family    were    three    children:      John, 
sphen  and  Martha.     The  birth  of  John  Am- 
ir,  of    this   family,    occurred    at   Stamford, 
inn.,  in  1695,  and  he  became  a  resident  of 
mbury,  in   the  same  State,  where  he  died, 
his  will  he  bequeathed   his  gun  and  sword 
his  only  son,  John.      He  was  the  father  of 
ven  children— John.  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Mary, 
Vtha,  Anna  and  Rachel.      The  only  son  was 
"■n  in  1733,  and  died  October  21,  18 14.      By 
marriage  with   Huldah   Fairchild  he  had 
rht  children:    Peter,  Squire,  Stephen,  Gilead, 
idote,    Silas,    Huldah  and   Deborah.     The 
:herof  these  was  a  sergeant  of  a  company  of 
~  men  raised   in   Danbury   May    17,    1775. 
lich  joined  the   6th   Regiment,  commanded 
Col.  David  Waterbury. 
Peter  Ambler,  of  the  above  family,  was  the 
indfather  of  our  subject.      He  was  born  at 
lanbury,    Conn.,    September    20,    1759,    and 
^re.continued  to  engage  in  farming  through- 
»  hfe.  owning  the  land  on  which  the  Dan- 
Fair  is  now  held.      During  the  Revolu- 
ary  war,  he  served  as  artificer  in  the  Colo- 
il  army,  and  later  took  a  prominent  part  in 
iblic  affairs,  being  a   member  of  the   State 
igislature  for  one  term.      He  held  member- 
ip  with  the   Baptist   Church,   in   which    he 
rved  as  deacon,  and  died  in  that  faith  March 
I  M^'     ^"  October  21,   1784,  he  had  mar- 
'J  Miss  Hannah  Shove,  who  was  born  Octo- 
^7.  1761,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Deacon 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Benjamin  and  Sarah  Shove,  and  their  family 
included  the  following  children:  Fairchild, 
Benjamin,  David,  Thomas,  Joseph,  Silas,' 
Sarah,  Rachel  and  Hannah.  The  mother  of 
these  died  April  22,  1843. 

Rev.  Silas  Ambler,  Baptist  minister,  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  at  Danbury,  Conn. , 
March  12,  1798.      He  was  married  August  29, 
1822,  to   Miss   Eunice   D.  Olmstead,  who  was 
born  October  28,  1800,  at  Wilton,  Conn.,  and 
died  October  3,  1892,  at  Stanford,  N.  Y.    They 
had  a  family  of  seven  children:     Samuel  H., 
a  sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere;   Mary  E.i 
who  makes  her  home  in  Greene  county,  N.  Y., 
is  the  widow  of  Ezekial  Griffin;  Augustus,  born 
April  19,  1829,  died  April  22,  1852;  Catherine, 
born  May  23,    183 1,    is    the    widow   of    Levi 
Boyce,    of    Greenville,    N.     Y. ;    Sarah,    born 
January  31,  1835,  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Knick- 
erbocker, of  Bangall,  N.  Y. ;  Emeline,  who  was 
born   April    6,   1837,  and    died    April  3,  1869, 
was  the  wife  of  Charles  Sheldon,  now  deceased'; 
and  John  P.,  born  June  25,  1841,  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  book  store  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 
The  father  was   for  a  time   a   minister  in  the 
Baptist  Church,  having  charge  of  congregations 
at  Cornwall   and  Norfolk,  Conn.,  but  in   1840 
on  account  of  ill  health  he  gave  up  preaching, 
and  located  upon  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Stan- 
ford, Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  near  Stissing,  which 
is  now  owned  by  our  subject.      He  there  spent 
his  remaining  days,  dying  November  22,  1857, 
honored  and  respected  by  all. 

John  P.  Ambler  spent  his  boyhood  days  on 
his  father's  farm  in  the  town  of  Stanford,  and 
when  fifteen   years  of  age  entered  Greenville 
Academy,  where  he  spent  two  years.      He  then 
taught  school  in  Stanford  for  one  year,  and  the 
following  year  drove  a  market  wagon.      During 
the  winter  of   1860-61    he   attended   Eastman 
Business    College,    at    Poughkeepsie,    and  in 
i86r  entered  the  bookstore   of  J.  H.  Hickok, 
in   Poughkeepsie,   as    clerk,    remaining    there 
some  si.x  years.      He  was  next  employed  in  a 
similar  business  with  H.  A.  Reed,  and  on  July 
12,  1869,  he  purchased  a  small  news  business 
on  Market  street.      From  this    modest  begin- 
ning he  has  built  up  an  extensive  and  prosper- 
ous trade,  and  now  owns  a  large  building  facing 
on  both  Market    and   Main  streets.      Here  he 
has  a  fine  assortment  of  fancy  goods,  a  com- 
plete line  of  stationery;  his  establishment  is  the 
headquarters  for  all    the    latest    publications. 
His  industry,  enterprise  and  undoubted  integ- 
rity, as   well    as  his  courteous   manners,  have 


400 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


made  him  popular  with  all  classes  of  people 
and  have  brought  him  well-deserved  success, 
and  a  host  of  warm  friends. 

On  November  i6,  1870,  Mr.  Ambler  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Tracy,  a  native  of 
Shelburne,  Vt. ,  and  daughter  of  Hon.  Guy 
Tracy,  a  farmer  of  that  place.  They  have  one 
child,  Donna  Louise.  Mr.  Ambler  is  a  Demo- 
crat and  in  1884  was  a  candidate  on  that  ticket 
for  county  treasurer,  being  defeated  by  only 
fifteen  votes.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
board  of  health  for  two  terms.  Socially,  he 
belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  Royal  Arcanum, 
and  of  the  Reform  Club,  of  New  York  City, 
while  in  religious  faith  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  First  Reformed  Church. 


JOHN  U.  ABEL  (deceased)  was  numbered 
among  the  prosperous  and  skillful  farmers 
of  the  town  of  Unionvale,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty. Here  his  grandfather,  Daniel  Abel,  reared 
his  family  of  seven  children:  Jacob,  John, 
Lawrence,  William,  Peter,  Mary  (who  became 
the  wife  of  Daniel  Uhl)  and  Gideon.  Jacob 
Abel,  the  father  of  our  subject,  spent  his  en- 
tire life  in  Unionvale,  devoted  to  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  married  Miss  Margaret  Uhl,  and 
in  their  family  were  three  children:  (i)  Will- 
iam W.,  who  married  Helen  Cornell,  and  had 
two  children — Mary  Elizabeth,  deceased;  and 
Evaline,  who  married  Henry  Brill,  by  whom 
she  has  two  children — Theodore  R.  and  Helen. 

(2)  Our  subject  is  the  next   in  order  of  birth. 

(3)  Mary  wedded  Luman  B.  Odell,  who  was 
killed  by  accident,  and  they  had  three  children 
— Daniel,  Wright  and  Flora. 

In  the  town  of  Unionvale,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, John  U.  Abel  was  born  October  11,  1821, 
and  he  acquired  such  an  education  as  the 
common  schools  of  the  locality  afforded,  and 
for  one  year  attended  school  at  Quaker  Hill. 
For  some  time  he  followed  the  profession  of 
teaching;  but  his  time  was  mainly  devoted  to 
his  farming  interests,  which  were  quite  exten- 
sive, and  at  his  death,  which  occurred  Novem- 
ber 6,  1893,  he  left  a  large  estate.  He  was  a 
popular  and  influential  citizen,  one  who  easily 
gained  the  friendship  of  those  with  whom  he 
met  either  in  a  business  or  social  way,  was 
charitable  and  benevolent,  and  took  a  com- 
mendable interest  in  the  welfare  and  prosper- 
ity of  those  around  him.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  served  as  supervisor  of  his  township, 
was  president  of  the  Agricultural  Society,  and 


held  several  other  positions  of  honor  and  trust. 
He  was  prominently  identified  with  the  Ma- 
sonic order,  in  which  he  took  an  active  inter- 
est. On  June  4,  1846,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Esther  Odell,  who  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Unionvale,  March  9,  1829,  and 
was  educated  there  and  in  Amenia.  She  still 
survives  her  husband,  and  like  him  is  held  in 
the  highest  respect. 

Uriah  Odell,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Abel 
was  a  native  of  Pawling  town,  Dutchess  coun 
ty,  and  followed  the  vocation  of  a  farmer.  Hi 
married  Miss  Esther  Sheldon,  and  to  then 
were  born  the  following  children:  John,  Dan 
iel,  Benjamin,  Isaac,  Abijah  (who  married  An 
Hubbard),  Ann,  Lamira  (who  married  Davi 
Hubbard),  Sallie,  and  Polly  (who  marrie 
Daniel  Butler). 

Daniel  Odell,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Abel,  wa 
born  in  Pawling  town   in  1781,  attended  th 
common   schools  of  Delaware  county,  N.  Y. 
and    later   carried    on    farming    in  Unionva' 
town.      In  the  old  training  days  he  served  a 
captain  of  a  company  of  militia,  and  took 
prominent  part  in  public  affairs.      For  his  fir; 
wife  he  married  Miss  Esther  Stevens,  daughtf 
of  Archibald  Stevens,  of  Dover  town,  Dutcl 
ess  county,  and   to  them  were  born  two  chi 
dren:     (i)  Samuel,    born   December   3,  1801 
married   Hannah   Hunt,   and   had  three  chi 
dren — Duane,  Sheldon  and  Adeline.      (2)  E' 
enezer,  born  August   23,  1812,  married  Sail 
A.  Baker,  and  had  two  children — Ann  E.,  wl 
married  Duane  Odell;    and  Levina,  who  di(| 
unmarried.  1 

On  June  20,  18 17,  his  first  wife  died,  ai; 
November  17,  181 7,  Daniel  Odell  married  Mi 
Esther  Cole,  a  daughter  of  Royal  and  Hann  j 
Cole.  During  the  Revolutionary  war  her  I' 
ther  aided  the  Colonies  in  securing  their  incf 
pendence,  and  lived  to  be  over  ninety  years  t 
age,  dying  on  the  Fourth  of  July.  Seven  chf- 
dren  graced  the  second  marriage,  namei: 
(i)  Olive  A.,  born  June  2,  18 18,  marril 
Henry  W.  Uhl,  a  farmer  of  Unionvale,  / 
whom  she  had  a  son,  Daniel  H.,  who  da 
when  young;  her  death  occurred  in  18.. 
(2)  Daniel  W.,  born  April  28,  1821,  wa:a 
farmer  by  occupation,  and  married  Hanin 
Devine,  daughter  of  Abel  Devine,  by  whonie 
had  a  daughter,  Mary  E. ,  who  died  at  the  e 
of  seventeen  years.  For  his  second  wife,  D,<- 
iel  wedded  Elizabeth  Giddley,  of  the  towrpf 
Lagrange,  Dutchess  county,  and  they  had  0 
children:     Ardell  E..  who  married  Robert  ' )- 


*' 

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1^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


401 


:ey,  and  later  became  the  wife  of  Zachariah 

Oorland;  and  Willis  B.,  who   married   Annie 

Baker.      (3)  Newton    B. ,    born    January   18, 

823,  married  Christina  Baker,  and  they  had 

jne  child:    Ida,  who  married  Frank  Akerley. 

^fter  the  death  of  his  first  wife  he   wedded 

^nnie  Morey,  and   to  them   was  also   born  a 

laughter:     Levina  M.      (4)   Luman    B. ,   born 

'ebruary   23,  1826,  wedded    Mary  Abel,    and 

ad  three  children:  Daniel  J.,  who  married  Hat- 

le  Coe;  Wright,  who  married  Inez  A.  Brill; 

nd  Flora  M.,  who   married  Charles  Brill,  Jr. 

Mrs.  Esther  Abel  is  next  in  order  of  birth. 

Alexander  J.,  born  April  17,  1832,  wedded 

lary   L.    Taber,    of    Washington    town.     (7) 

'   nnah    L. ,    born    March     6,    1840,    married 

\.  S.  W.  Butler,  a  minister  of   Fall  River, 

.  Y. ,  who  is  now  living  in  Nebraska.     They 

id  two  children:    Wright  A.;  and  Odell  C, 

ho  was   born   at   Fall    River,    February  22, 

v"4,  was  educated  in  the  De  Garmo  Institute, 

Fishkill-on-Hudson,   and    is    now  engaged 

farming. 


%  BIAH  W.  PALMER,  who  was  called  from 
^_  this  life   in    January,  1882,   was    widely 
vvn    throughout    Dutchess    county,   having 
it  most  of  his  life  in  Amenia,  and  by  all 
held  in  the  highest  regard.     He  was  born 
Hilary  25,  1835,  at  Amenia,  on  the  old  home- 
id  which  was  deeded  to  his  father  by  the 
J  Partners,  the  son  of  Abiah  Palmer,  Sr., 
' ! 0  removed  from  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutch- 
(couhty,  to  Amenia,   in    1789,  and  immedi- 
;:lytook  an  active  part  in  public   business, 
1  ig  a  successful    farmer    and  mine   owner. 

I  died  before  his  son  was  born,  and  the 
her  of  our  subject  passed  away  when  he 
only  nine  years  old.      He  then  made  his 

le   with    two  half  brothers    and    two   half 
rs. 

Mr.  Palmer  pursued  his  academical  course 
^;he  Amenia  Seminary,  later  was  a  student 

II  he  Cazenovia  Seminary,  and  at  the  age  of 
t'  tity  years  entered  Union  College,  which 
"  attended  for  two  years.      On  account  of  ill 

th  he  was  not  permitted  to  graduate,  be- 

!i  compelled  to  relinquish  his  studies  in  1856, 

"•    soon   afterward    he    started   for    Europe, 

re  the  following  two  years  were  passed  in 

-1.     On  his  return  home  he  was  not  strong 

■horoughly  well,   but  greatly  improved  in 

th.     Being  nominated  by  the  Republican 

.    y  in  1859,  he  was  elected  to  represent  his 

26 


district  in  the  General  Assembly,  receiving 
over  seven  hundred  majority,  and  at  once  took 
high  rank  in  that  body.  In  the  following  year 
he  was  unanimously  renominated,  an  honor  he 
was  compelled  to  decline;  but  later  he  was  in 
the  Senate  for  two  consecutive  terms,  taking 
there,  also,  a  prominent  and  active  part,  and 
serving  on  several  important  committees. 

Among  the  valuable  property  owned  by 
Mr.  Palmer  was  the  iron  mine  at  Amenia, 
which  he  sold  just  before  the  Civil  war  broke 
out.  For  years  he  served  as  president  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Amenia,  and  was  re- 
elected to  that  position  the  day  after  his  death, 
as  the  news  of  that  sad  event  had  not  reached 
the  village.  He  was  always  a  strong  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  socially  was  connected  with 
Amenia  Lodge  No.  672,  F.  &  A.M.,  and  was 
a  man  of  deep  religious  convictions,  but  not  a 
member  of  any  Church.  Public-spirited  and 
progressive,  he  was  one  of  the  most  popular 
citizens  of  the  community,  and  no  words  are 
needed  to  assert  his  high  and  delicate  sense  of 
honor — his  blameless  integrity,  both  in  public 
and  private  life.  In  1 860  he  received  the  nomi- 
nation for  comptroller  of  New  York  State,  but 
was  defeated.  At  Westfield,  Mass.,  in  1872, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Jeanette  Yeamans,  a 
daughter  of  Roland  Yeamans,  and  two  children 
were  born  to  them:  Roland  Swift  and  Katha- 
rine. 

Mr.  Palmer  was  a  man  of  great  influence, 
his  advice  being  often  sought  and  deferred  to 
by  far  older  men,  and  no  one's  opinion  in 
the  community  on  any  subject  of  business 
action,  or  social  expediency,  carried  greater 
weight  than  his.  He  had  a  marvelous  faculty 
of  seeing,  in  any  emergency,  the  precise  thing 
that  should  be  done.  His  sympathetic,  genial 
nature  put  him  often  in  confidential  relations 
with  all,  and  no  person  was  so  unpopular  or 
so  obscure  as  to  forfeit  his  kind  attention.  For 
a  number  of  years  prior  to  his  death  he  was  in 
very  poor  health,  and  often  made  trips  to  the 
South  and  to  Colorado.  A  year  before  his 
death  he  located  permanently  at  Manitou 
Park,  Colo.,  hoping  that  the  high  latitude  and 
pure  air  would  give  him,  at  least,  a  partial 
restoration  of  health.  But  it  was  decreed 
otherwise,  and  he  would  have  been  glad  to 
have  returned  to  Amenia;  but  the  condition  of 
his  health  rendered  it  imposible.  He  breathed 
his  last  at  Manitou  Park,  and  his  remains  were 
brought  back  to  Amenia  and  interred.  We 
cannot  better  close  this  brief  record  of  his  life 


402 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


than  by  quoting  a  letter  written  by  Bishop  H. 
N.  Powers  in  tribute  to  him: 

"  I  wish  that  I  might  stand  up  among  those 
who  gather  at  Mr.  Palmer's  grave,  and  pay  a 
tribute  to  his  youth.  I  knew  him  from  his 
early  childhood  to  the  years  when  he  bore 
great  public  trusts  with  distinction  and  honor, 
and  my  recollection  of  him  is  singularly  delight- 
ful. All  through  his  boyhood  and  youth  I  can 
recall  nothing  about  him  but  what  is  suggestive 
of  rare  qualities  and  a  noble  nature.  His  in- 
clinations from  the  first  were  good.  With  his 
unfolding  intelligence  he  seemed  instinctively 
drawn  to  what  was  morally  wholesome,  refin- 
ing, uplifting. 

"From  his  incipient  boyhood  he  showed 
those  traits  and  that  disposition  which  are 
prophetic  of  an  honorable  and  useful  manhood. 
As  time  went  on  he  developed  into  the  thought- 
ful, gentle,  ingenuous,  studious  youth  of  high 
aims  and  most  attractive  presence.  His  nat- 
ural talents  were  remarkable.  His  sympathies 
led  him  into  the  best  associations.  His  spirit 
was  lovely.  There  is  no  face,  among  those  of 
my  early  acquaintances,  more  clearly  stamped 
upon  my  memory  than  his,  and  every  linea- 
ment of  it  indicated  sincerity,  sensibility,  a 
keen,  bright  intelligence.  His  deep,  soft, 
luminous  eyes,  so  trustful  and  searching,  seem 
looking  upon  me  now,  with  meanings  that  go 
to  my  heart. 

"  I  thank  God  that  it  has  been  my  privilege 
to  see  and  live  in  contact  with  a  young  life  so 
fair  and  lovely  as  his.  The  very  thought  of  it 
is  refreshing,  and  I  shall  carry  its  sweetness 
with  me  while  I  live." 


■^^FENDEL  STROBEL  (deceased).  Many 
jl/jk  of  the  best  class  of  citizens  of  Dutchess 
county  have  come  from  over  the  sea,  particu- 
larly from  the  empire  of  Germany.  They 
have  transported  to  this  country  the  industry, 
thrift  and  economy  of  their  native  land,  and 
have  been  important  factors  in  the  upbuilding 
and  advancement  of  the  land  of  their  adoption. 
Of  this  class  of  honest,  alien-born  citizens, 
none  have  occupied  a  more  prominent  place 
than  Mr.  Strobel  and  his  family.  He  was 
born,  reared  and  educated  in  Germany,  and 
was  one  of  the  twelve  children  of  Peter  Stro- 
bel and  wife,  who  were  also  natives  of  the 
Fatherland. 

In    the    year  1826,    in   Hessen-Darmstadt, 
Germany,   Mr.   Strobel  was  married   to   Miss 


Christina  Kuth,  who  had  received  an  excellent 
education  in  her  girlhood.  Three  children 
were  born  to  them,  the  birth  of  the  eldest  oc- 
curring before  they  left  their  native  land. 
They  are  as  follows:  Peter,  who  served  as  a 
soldier  in  the  German  army;  Mary;  and  Will- 
iam, who  married  a  young  lady  of  Barrytown, 
Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  by  whom  he  has  four 
children.  In  1846,  with  his  family,  Mr.  Stro- 
bel left  Germany  for  America,  and  in  Barry 
town  made  his  home  until  called  from  this  lit; 
about  four  years  ago.  He  enjoyed  the  esteen 
and  regard  of  the  entire  community,  and  at  hi  g 
death  was  deeply  mourned. 

Henry  Hirtsel,  the  maternal  grandfather  oj 
Mrs.  Strobel,  was  born  in  Hessen-Darmstadt  j 
Germany,  and  there  married  Barbara  Metz.  o| 
the  same  place.  They  had  both  received 
common-school  education  in  their  native  landl 
and  in  the  same  province  where  their  birtbl 
occurred  were  born  their  two  children:  Peteii 
who  married  Eliza  Stormf;  and  Susan;  the  la^ 
ter  was  given  excellent  educational  advantage 
in  the  Fatherland,  and  there  she  married  Va| 
entine  Ruth.  They  always  made  their  hor 
in  Germany,  where  were  born  to  them  fiv| 
children,  as  follows:  Mary,  who  remaine 
single;  Catherine,  who  married  Anthony  Hail 
sey;  Christina,  widow  of  our  subject;  EliitcJ 
beth,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years;  ail 
Valentine,  who  was  also  married.  Mrs.  Strcl 
bel  and  the  other  children  were  all  born  at| 
married  in  Germany. 


€\HARLES   L.  FLETCHER,   M.   D.     T!| 
_^i  first  of  the  Fletcher  family  to  come  to  tl 
New  World  was  Cotton  Fletcher,  a  Congr( 
tional  minister,  who  was  born  in  England.     I 
reached  the  shore  of  this  country  in  1630,  Ii 
ing  at    Plymouth,    Mass.,  with   which   coloi 
was    his    mission,  and    from    him    sprang  t 
present  family  of   Fletcher,  of  which  oursi 
ject  is  a  worthy  representative. 

Calvin    Fletcher,    the   grandfather   of  t 
Doctor,  was  born   at   Poultney,  Vt.,  in  17; 
but  in  childhood  removed  with  his  parentSi 
Grand  Isle  county,  of  the  same  State.     He 
ceived   a  common-school  education,  and 
came  a  very  successful    farmer.      He  tool' 
prominent   part   in  political   affairs,   and 
called  upon  to  serve  in  numerous  town  offic 
By  his  marriage  with  Miss  Eunice  Davidson, 
Vermont,  he  had  nine  children:  Asenith,  v 
married  Benager  Phelps;  Olive,  who  man 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


403 


her  Ames;     William,    who    married    Mary 

Landon;  Thomas,  who  married  a  Miss  Phelps; 

tton,  who   married   Ann   Landon;   Edward,' 

father  of  our  subject;  Ruth,  who  married 

:ijamin    Boardman;     Lydia,    who     married 

vin  Robison;  and   Eunice,  who  married  G 

1  Rice. 

Edward  Fletcher,   the  father,  was   born  in 
iid  Isle  county,  Vt.,  in  1819,  and  after  the 
ipletion  of   his   education  turned  his  atten- 
to  mercantile   pursuits  for  a  number  of 
rs.      He  then  engaged  in  farming  for  a  time, 
u  afterward  returned  to  merchandising.      He 
as  one  of  the  active  and  leading  members  of 
Republican  party  in  the  community  where 
nade  his  home,  and  at  different  times  filled 
he  town  offices  with  credit  to  himself  and 
the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 
Edward    Fletcher    was    married    to    Miss 
liza  M.  Landon,  a  daughter  of  Baldwin  and 
-erva    (Phelps)    Landon,     agriculturists    of 
iiont.     Ten    children   were    born    to    this 
•hy  couple,  as  follows:     (i)  Arelia  E.  mar- 
Edwin   Phelps.     (2)  Henry  C.  engaged  in 
ranch  business  in  Montana,  and  was  there 
ried.      (3)  Edward  C.  died   at    the  age  of 
-n  years.      (4)  Charles   L.  is  the   next  in 
ner  of  birth.      (5)  Edgar  E..  who  was  born 
Vermont  m  1853,  was  educated  in  the  same 
!emy  and  university  as  our  subject,  and  is 
V  engaged  in  the   practice  of  medicine  at 
lider,  Mont.      He  married  Miss  Emma  Rob- 
;i,  and  they  have  three  children.      (6)  Fred 
-  now    engaged   in  civil  engineering,  and 
s  a  foundry  at  Bozeman,  Mont.    (7)  Frank 
tudied  law,  but  never  engaged  in  its  prac- 
for  some  time  he  followed  farming,  but 
later  connected  with  the  Eagle  Condensed 
factory  at  Wassaic,    N.   Y. ;  he  married 
Came  Rozwell,  and   has  four  children— 
1 :  Dara,    Leon,    Edna   and  Francis.     (8)  El- 
'  '  IS  now  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business 
■■w  Bedford,    Mass.      (9)  Kate    M.    is  the 
of  Hegiston  Hoag,  a  prosperous   farmer, 
they  have  three  children.      (10)  Ernest, 
oungest  of  the  family,  is  now  engaged  iri 
inch  business  at  Boulder,  Montana. 
he  birth  of  our  subject  occurred  in  the 
of  Milton,  Chittenden  Co.,  Vt.,  while  his 
iry  education   was  obtained  in  the  public 
Is,  and  he  supplemented  the  knowledge 
acquired  by  a  course  in  the  academy  at 
I  Hero,    Vt.,   from  which    he  graduated 
en  entered  the  medical  department  of  the 
ont  University,  graduating  with  the  class 


of  '73,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two.     The  follow- 
ing year   he    commenced  the    practice  of  his 
chosen    profession    in     the    town    of    George 
Franklin  Co.,  Vt.,  but  in   the   fall  of  1881  lol 
cated  at  South  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  and 
has  since  been  one  of  the  most  successful'phy- 
sicians  of  the   community.     In    1892  the  Doc- 
tor purchased  a  fine  farm  of  335  acres  on  what 
IS  called  Chestnut  Ridge,  which  is  well  stocked 
and  highly  improved.     Before   coming  to  this 
county  he  held  a  number  of  town  offices  in  his 
native  State.     As  a  Master  Mason,  he   is  con- 
nected with  Dover   Plains    Lodge  No.  666,  F. 
&  A.  M.    He  stands  deservedly  high  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  medical  fraternity,  and  as  a  private 
citizen  also  holds  an  enviable    position  in  the 
estimation  of  his  fellowmen. 

Dr.  Fletcher  was  married  to  Miss  Helen 
Corwin,  and  to  them  were  born  four  children- 
Helena  and  Edward,  who  died  in  infancy;  C 
Harold,  who  was  born  in  1880,  and  is  now 
preparing  for  college;  and  Alice  C,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  nine  years. 


qp^HOMAS  K.   CRUSE,   A.    M.,    M.  D.,   a 
Jl     leading  physician   and   surgeon  of  VVap- 
pingers  Falls,    Dutchess  county,  was   born  in 
Baltimore,  Md.,  March  3,  1849,  and  is  a  son 
of  Isaac  Cruse,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Alex- 
andria,   Va.,    in    1806.      His  paternal   grand- 
father, Thomas  Cruse,  was  a  native  of   Dub- 
lin, Ireland,  by  occupation   a  linen  merchant 
and  he  there  married  a  Miss  Hamilton,  of  the 
same  city.     About  1 798,  a  continuance  of  resi- 
dence in  Dublin  having  become  impossible  by 
reason  of  his  affiliation  with  the   fomenters  of 
Emmet's  rebellion,  Thomas  Cruse  and  family 
emigrated  to  Virginia,  and  there  he  started  a 
successful  business  in  the  importation  of   Irish 
linens.      In  religious  belief  he   was  an  Episco- 
palian, and  in  politics  a  Federalist.      His  fam- 
ily comprised  four  children,    namely:     Mary, 
who  became  the  wife  of  a  Mr.  Power,  of  Car- 
lisle, Penn. ;  Eliza,  who  married  James  Creigh- 
ton,  of  Philadelphia;  Franklin,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; and  Isaac,   the  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch. 

On  reaching  manhood  Isaac  Cruse  left  the 
Old  Dominion  for  Baltimore,  Md.,  where  he 
engaged  in  merchandising.  He  there  wedded 
Mary  W.  Kelso,  a  native  of  Pittsburg,  Penn 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Joseph  Kelso,  sur- 
geon to  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital,  Philadel- 
phia, he  being  of  Scotch   descent  through  the 


404 


COMMEMOBATTVE  BTOORAPHWAL  RECORD. 


Q^lbraiths  of  Revolutionary  fame.  Six  chil- 
dren were  born  to  Isaac  and  Mary  W.  Cruse: 
Anna  E.,  who  married  David  H.  Paige  (vice- 
president  Texas  &  Houston  Central  railway),  of 
New  York  City;  Bertha,  wife  of  Charles  H. 
Currier,  of  the  same  city;  Mary  W.,  married 
tq.  Edward  J.  Peters,  also  of  New  York  City; 
Virginia,  wife  of  Eugene  W.  Watson,  captain 
United  States  navy;  Emmeline  H.,  widow  of 
Graham  Blandy,  long  a  member  of  the  New 
York  Stock  Exchange,  and  Thomas  K. ,  subject 
of  this  sketch.  On  leaving  Baltimore,  Isaac 
Cruse  removed  to  New  York  City,  where  for 
twenty-five  years  he  was  an  active  member  of 
the  Produce  Exchange,  and  at  one  time  its 
president.  Throughout  life  he  was  a  stanch 
Democrat,  and  a  pillar  of  the  Madison  Square 
Presbyterian  Church,  now  under  Dr.  Park- 
hurst's  charge. 

When  a  child,  Thomas  K.  Cruse  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  New  York  City,  where 
through  five  years  he  attended  old  ward  school 
No.  45,  in  Twent3'-fourth  street.  Leaving 
school,  he  was  successful  in  gaining  entrance 
to  the  College  of  the  City  of  New  York,  from 
which  institution  he  took  his  Bachelor  of  Arts 
degree  in  1868.  Having  thus  completed  a 
sound  literary  and  scientific  education,  he  began 
the  attendance  of  lectures  at  Bellevue  Hos- 
pital Medical  College,  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated as  Doctor  of  Medicine  in  1870,  when 
barely  twenty-one  years  of  age.  Immediately 
after  graduation,  and  after  a  hard  competitive 
examination,  he  was  appointed  resident  sur- 
geon to  Bellevue  Hospital,  subsequently,  also, 
receiving  the  appointment  of  surgeon  to  the 
Bellevue  Hospital  Bureau  of  Relief  for  Out- 
Door  Poor.  These  positions  kept  the  Doctor 
hard  at  work  during  most  of  the  first  four 
years  of  his  professional  life,  although  for  a 
few  months  of  that  period  he  served  also  as 
surgeon  to  the  White  Star  line  of  transatlantic 
steamers. 

After  a  term  of  hospital  attendance  in  Lon- 
don, England,  Dr.  Cruse  started  private  prac- 
tice in  New  York  City,  later  at  Tarrytown, 
N.  Y.,  and  in  1876  took  up  his  residence  at 
Wappingers  Falls,  N.Y.,  where  he  has  made 
his  permanent  home,  although  for  a  year  he 
was  absent  in  England  and  France,  and  later 
in  Florida,  traveling.  For  a  time  also  he  held 
the  post  of  protessor  of  genito-urinary  diseases 
in  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  at 
Chicago,  111.,  and  in  1886,  after  competitive 
civil-service  examination,  was   appointed  Med- 


ical Examiner  at  Washington,  D.  C,  in  the 
Pension  Office.  After  serving  for  awhile  in 
Washington,  he  resigned  his  position,  and  has 
since  given  all  his  energies  to  his  Dutchess 
county  practice. 

On  November  3,  1883,  Dr.  Cruse  was  mar- 
ried to  Florence  S.  Warhurst.  of  Brooklyn,  N. 
Y. ,  she  being  a  daughter  of  Thomas  War- 
hurst, the  veteran  dramatic  agent.  They  have 
had  two  children,  boys,  one,  Thomas  Gal- 
braith,  born  in  1893,  died  in  1895;  the  other. 
Creighton,  born  in  1896,  survives. 

The  Doctor  is  an  independent  in  politics, 
is  a  member  of  the   I.   O.    O.    F..  and  of  the 
Foresters  of  America,  of  various  professiona' 
organizations,  of  the  Dutchess  Club,  of  Pough- 
keepsie,  of  the   Chi  Psi  Alunmi  Association  0 
New  York  City,  and  of  the  Society  of  Alumn 
of  Bellevue  Hospital  Internes.      He  is  surgeor 
to  the  Foresters,  to   the  Hudson  River   Stone 
Supply  Co.,  and  from  1885  to  1893  served  thi 
village  as  health  officer,  during  which  time  hi 
was  zealous  and  impartial  in  his  efforts  to  en- 
force  strict  isolation  of  persons  suffering  front 
contagious  diseases.      At  one  time  Dr.  Cruse 
gave  a  big  slice  of  his  time  to  writing  papers  fc 
medical  journals  and   others — original  paper 
and  criticisms.      Two  of   his  productions  hav 
been  honored  with  prizes.     One,  on  "  Ruptur 
of  the  Bladder,"  took  the    one-hundred-dolla 
prize  of  the   Alumni   Association  of   Bellevu 
Hospital  Medical  College,  and  was  publishe 
in  the  Medical  Record  in  1871 ;  the  second,  0 
"  Injuries  which  happen   to  the  Wrist  Joint, 
especially  dislocations  and   fractures,  receive 
the  one-hundred-dollar  prize  of  the  New  Yor 
State  Medical  Society  for    1874,  and  was  pul 
lished  in  the  volume  of  transactions  of  the  S( 
ciety  for  that  year. 

Dr.  Cruse,  although  not  in  the  metropoli 
has  won  an  enviable  reputation  as  an  up-ti 
date  operative  surgeon,  and  the  great  estee 
in  which  his  abilities  are  held  by  his  professio 
al  brethren  is  the  best  testimony  to  his  wort 


ILLER  BROTHERS  is  the  name  off 
well-known  firm  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutc| 
ess  county,  dealers  in  marble  and  grani'l 
whose  place  of  business  is  located  at  Nos.  i^ 
and  102  Market  street.  In  1894  Philip  al 
Valentine  M.  Miller  formed  a  partnership,  sire 
which  time  they  have  conducted  their  presft 
business   with   remarkable   success,  combin  ? 


:^ 


a 


i 


VOMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


405 


the  virtues  of    energy  and  perseverance  with 
excellent  judgment  and  industrious  habits. 

Valentine  Miller,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Germany  in  1825,  and  was  there 
reared  to  habits  of  thrift  and  economy,  which 
principles  characterized  his  whole  life.  Hop- 
ing to  better  his  financial  condition,  he,  in 
1855,  emigrated  to  the  New  World,  locating 
finally  at  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  first  worked 
with  Peter  Joy  in  the  bluestone  business. 
Not  long  afterward  he  became  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Nellson  &  Miller,  in  the  marble 
business,  which  connection  continued  until  the 
death  of  Mr.  Nellson,  when  Mr.  Haxby  was 
received  as  a  partner.  On  the  latter's  death, 
the  firm  became  Miller  &  Van  Wyck,  which  so 
continued  until  Mr.  Miller  was  called  from 
earth,  in  August,   1877. 

Valentine  Miller  married  Elizabeth  Dilge, 
also  a  native  of  the  Fatherland,  and  a  family 
of  eight  children  were  born  to  them:  Feier- 
abend  and  Peter,  residents  of  Poughkeepsie, 
where  the  former  is  in  the  butchering  business; 
Phillipina,  deceased;  Philip  and  Valentine  M. 
I  {who  comprise  the  firm  of  Miller  Brothers), 
land  Maggie  (wife  of  John  Hall,  a  coal  dealer), 
Kate,  (wife  of  Valentine  Hall),  and  Jacob  (a 
printer),  all  of  Poughkeepsie.  The  mother  of 
these  died  in  August,  1893;  the  father  was  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
thoroughly  identified  with  its  interests,  and  in 
politics  he  afifiliated  with  the  Republican  party, 
lioth  he  and  his  wife  were  highly  respected  and 
esteemed  as  valuable  members  of  the  com- 
munity. 

Philip  Miller,  the  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Miller  Bros.,  was  born  at  Poughkeep- 
sie January  17,   1861,  and   in   the  city  schools 
acquired  his  education,  subsequently  learning 
-he  marble  business  with  his  father.      In  1891 
went  to    Jersey   City,  where   he  was  em- 
oyed   in   that   line    until    1894,  when   he  re- 
urned  to  Poughkeepsie  and  formed  the  part- 
lership  with  his  brother,  Valentine  M.,  in  the 
narble  and  granite  business  at  their  present 
ocation  on    Market  street,  since  which  time 
hey  have  done  an  extensive  business. 

Philip  Miller  was  married  to  Miss  Mamie 

^^hner,  a  member  of  the  Zither  Club. 

^pi  Valentine   M.  Miller,  the  junior   mem- 

";r  of  the  firm  of  Miller  Bros.,  was  born  April 

■  1864,  at  Poughkeepsie,   N.    Y.,  where  he 

eceived  his  education.     He  wedded  Miss  Cath- 

""ine  Laufersweiler,  and  one  daughter,  Viola 

ay,  has  been  born  to  them.      Valentine  M. 


Miller  is  a  member  of  the  order  of  Chosen 
Friends  and  of  Fallkill  Lodge,  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

Although  still  young  men,  the  Miller  Broth- 
ers are  very  liberal  and  public-spirited  men, 
taking  a  foremost  position  in  every  movement 
or  enterprise  promising  to  accrue  to  the  bene- 
fit of  the  people  in  general.  In  politics  they 
follow  in  the  footsteps  of  their  father,  and 
hold  an  equally  high  position  in  the  regard  of 
their  fellow  citizens. 


ICHARD  BRIMSON  CARY  (deceased). 
Few  among  the  business  men  of  Dutchess 
county,  past  or  present,  have  devoted  to  com- 
mercial life  as  many  years  as  did  the  subject 
of  this  biography.  Born  November  26,  18 14, 
in  East  Fishkill,  he  began  his  mercantile  career 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  and  not  until  the 
early  part  of  1896  did  he  lay  aside  his  active 
responsibilities. 

His  ancestry  is  an  honorable  one.  His  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  Joseph  Cary,  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Colonial  army  during  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  enjoyed  the  unique  distinction  of 
having  first  seen  the  light  February  22,  1732 — 
the  day  and  year  of  Gen.  Washington's  birth. 
The  parents  of  our  subject,  Isaac  and  Nancy 
(Burrow)  Cary,  were  highly  respected  residents 
of  East  Fishkill,  and  he  and  a  younger  brother, 
Uriah,  constituted  the  family. 

Richard  B.  Gary's  early  education  was 
such  as  the  district  schools  of  the  locality  af- 
forded in  his  day,  and  although  they  do  not 
compare  favorably  with  those  of  to-day,  yet 
he  managed  to  secure  a  good  foundation  for 
later  progress  through  reading  and  observation. 
His  first  business  venture  was  in  a  general 
merchandise  store  at  Johnsville,  N.  Y. ,  in  part- 
nership with  William  Pierce,  and  on  the  dis- 
solution of  the  firm  seven  or  eight  years  after- 
ward Mr.  Cary  went  to  Glenham,  N.  Y. ,  the 
manufacturing  village  between  Fishkill  village 
and  Matteawan,  and  carried  on  a  similar  busi- 
ness for  three  years,  with  Thomas  Burroughs 
as  a  partner.  Mr.  Cary  then  moved  to  Fish- 
kill village,  where  he  and  Jacob  G.  Van  Wyck 
opened  a  general  store,  and  after  a  time  Mr. 
Gary  purchased  Mr.  Van  Wyck's  interest,  and 
for  many  years  continued  the  business  alone. 
During  the  past  twenty-five  years  he  was  a 
commercial  traveler,  representing  a  firm  of 
paper   manufacturers;  but  failing  health  com- 


406 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


pelled  him  to  retire,  and  he  died  a  few  months 
after,  August  25,  1896. 

Mr.  Gary  was  married  October  22,  1844, 
to  Miss  M.  Garetta  Washburn,  daughter  of 
Jarvis  and  Hettie  (Fuller)  Washburn.  Mrs. 
Gary  passed  away  December  26,  1891,  in  her 
sixty-fifth  year,  mourned  as  a  loving  wife  and 
mother,  and  by  many  as  a  cherished  friend. 
They  had  five  children:  Jarvis,  Edgar,  Mary, 
Frank  and  Arthur,  of  whom  all  are  living  ex- 
cept Frank,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Edgar, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-six  years  leaving  a 
widow  and  two  daughters.  Politically  Mr. 
Gary  was  a  Republican,  but  he  did  not  take 
an  active  share  in  party  affairs. 


;^\DWARD  BRAMAN,  of  Hyde  Park, 
Dutchess  county,  is  the  representative  of 
a  well-known  family  there,  connected  with  the 
Sextons,  Van  Vliets,  and  others,  whose  gen- 
ealogies are  of  unusual  interest. 

The  name  of  Braman  first  appears  in  New 
England  in  1653,  at  Taunton,  Mass.,  where 
the  first  settlers  were  mostly  from  Somerset- 
shire and  Devonshire.  The  name  belonged  to 
Plymouth,  in  Devonshire,  in  that  day,  but 
there  were  also  Bramans  in  London  and  Ghi- 
chester,  then  and  later.  Thomas  Braman,  of 
Taunton,  1653,  is  believed  to  be  the  ancestor  of 
all  bearing  the  name  in  this  country. 

The  immediate  ancestor  of  the  family,  who 
came  to  live  in  Dutchess  county,  was  James 
Braman,  of  North  Kingston,  R.  I.  He  also 
owned  lands  in  Voluntown  and  Preston,  near 
Norwich,  Gonn.,  and  about  1733  he  took  up  his 
residence  in  Voluntown,  where  he  died  about 
January  i,  1741,  leaving,  by  his  wife  Eliza- 
beth, seven  children:  Elizabeth,  b.  March 
2.  1730;  John,  b.  April  12,  1731;  James,  b. 
October  13,  1732  (ancestor  of  the  Bramans  of 
Richfield.  N.  Y.);  Anna,  b.  August  28,  1734; 
Thomas,  b.  May  25,  1736;  Benjamin,  b.  June 
6,  1738,  unmarried;  and  Esther,  b.  Febru- 
ary 1,  1741.  Of  these,  John  and  Thomas  died 
in  Dutchess  county.  Thomas,  after  serving 
in  the  "old  French  war"  (he  was  at  Fort 
Edward  in  August,  1756),  bought  land  near 
Old  Attlebury,  in  Stanford,  in  1761  and  1765. 
His    wife,    Anna,    born    December    21,     1735, 

died  February  9,  1799.      He  died 26, 

1808  (tombstone  injured),  and  they  were  buried 
in  the  ground  he  gave  for  a  church  long  since 
extinct.  He  left  no  children,  but  made  his 
nephew,  Braman  Barlow,  his  principal  heir. 


John  Braman,  eldest  son  of  James  and 
Elizabeth,  was  born  in  North  Kingston,  R.  I., 
April  12  (O.  S.),  1 73 1,  and  died  at  Hyde 
Park  September  6,  1810.  He  married,  Feb- 
ruary 5,  1763,  Eunice,  eldest  daughterof  Ben- 
jamin Adams,  of  Lexington,  Mass.,  baptized 
June  3,  1 73 1,  died  August  15,  1774.  They 
had  five  children:  Anna,  b.  December  6, 
1763,  d.  1846,  second  wife  of  the  Hon.  Ben- 
jamin Fitch,  of  Pawlet,  Vt. ;  Cyrus,  b.  No- 
vember 28,  1766  [See  below];  Lucy,  b.  June 
14,  1768,  d.  August  20,  1796,  first  wife  of 
Benjamin  Fitch,  above  mentioned;  Eunice,  b. 
September  15,  1770,  d.  November  21,  1836, 
m.  Samuel  Palmer,  of  Preston;  and  Mary,  b. 
May  18,  1772,  d.  1809,  m.  Job  Wickes,  of 
Burlington,  Otsego  Go.,  N.  Y.  John  Braman, 
settled  in  the  East,  or  "  Long  Society,"  of 
Norwich  (which  was  set  off  to  the  adjoining 
town  of  Preston  in  1786),  near  the  junction  of 
the  Quinebaug  and  Shetucket  rivers.  After  a 
residence  of  forty  years  in  a  very  pleasant  lo- 
cality, all  his  children  being  married,  he  sold 
his  property  there,  in  order  to  make  his  home 
with  his  only  son,  with  whom  he  removed  to 
Glinton.  now  Hyde  Park,  in  April,  1800. 

Gyrus  Braman,   born   at  Norwich,  Novem- 
ber 28,  1766,  died  at  Hyde  Park,  October  10, 
1850.      He    first    married,   on    December  26, 
1793,  Elizabeth  Dunbar,  only  child  of  Capt. 
Joseph  Teel    and    Elizabeth   Searle,   born  at 
Gharlestown,  Mass..  July  9,  1775,  died  at  Hyde 
Park  December  4,  1801.    Her  mother  was  of  the 
family  of  the  Rev.  John  Searle,  of  Stoneham; 
and  her  father  was  descended  from  one  of  the 
oldest  families  of  Maiden,  Mass.     Gapt.  Teel 
fought  at  Bunker   Hill,  and  was  in  the  Massa- 
chusetts Line  in  the  succeeding  war,  was  pres 
ent  at  White  Plains  and  at  Burgoyne's  surren 
der,  etc.      At  one  time  he  was  a  paymaster 
He   died   at   his  son-in-law's   house,  at  Hydf 
Park,    February    14,    1843,    aged  ninety-eigh 
years.      He  was  long  an  elder  in  the  Reformat 
Dutch  Church.     Gyrus  Braman   married,  sec 
ond,  on  April  11,  1802.  Mary,  born  February 
27,  1772,  died  October  26,  1849,  only  surviv| 
ing  daughter  of    Samuel   Hitt   and  Ruth,  hii 
wife,    daughter   of    William     and    Magdalen: 
(Woolsey)  Dusenbury,  of  Harrison's  Purchase 
Westchester  county.     The  Dusenbury  homej 
stead  was  in  the  family  nearly  a  century  and  | 
half.      It  was  later  owned  by  Benjamin  Hall:( 
day  and,  since,  by  the   Hon.   Whitelaw  Rt\d\ 
Samuel   Hitt  was  the   only    child  of   Samuf 
Hitt,  of  Harrison  (then  a  part  of  Rye),  wh 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


407 


died  in  1742,  when  the  son  was  only  a  year 
old.  He  received  a  classical  education,  and 
inherited  a  considerable  estate,  which  was 
much  diminished  by  the  vicissitudes  of  the 
Revolutionary  days,  as  he  lived"  between  the 
lines"  and  suffered  from  both  sides.  His 
daughter  was  old  enough  to  remember  some  of 
the  events  of  those  troublous  times. 

After   the    war   he    removed    to   Dutchess 
county,  and  for  some  years  lived  on  the  place, 
late  of  Elias  Butler,  then  the  property  of  Judge 
David  Johnston,  of  Lithgow.      Here  his  wife 
died,  March  20,  1807,  aged  sixty-one;  he  died 
August  3,  1 8 10,  aged   sixty-nine.      By  his  first 
wife  Cyrus  Braman  had  four  children:  Joseph 
Teel,  b.  January  29,  1796,  c1.  August  i,  1869, 
unmarried.      Elizabeth   Dunbar  Teel,  b.  June 
22,-  1797,   d.    January   16,    1875;  ^-   '"   1816 
John   Church,  of  Yates  county,    N.  Y.     John 
Adams,  b.  January  18,  1799,  d.  September  13, 
1886,   unmarried;    some   time   a   merchant  in 
New   York    and    Syracuse.       Cassandana,    b. 
October   24.    1800,    d.    December    12,     1801. 
By  his    second    wife    he    had  seven  children: 
Ruth   Hitt,    b.    January  8,    1803,   d.    in  New 
York   December  8,  1846;   m.  in  1821  William 
Elsworth,  of    New   York,   afterward   of   Hyde 
Park,  and  had  four  children.      Mary  Smith,  b. 
March  8,  1805,  d.    May   12,   1881,  unmarried. 
Samuel  Hitt,   b.   January  20,  1807,  of  whom 
nention  will  presently  be  made.      Catharine, 
J.  February  12,  1809,  d.  in  Poughkeepsie,  Jan- 
:ary  30,    1890;    became    the    second   wife    of 
\Villiam    Elsworth;    no   children.       Cyrus,   b. 
^larch  17,  181 1,  d.  June  i,  181 2.      Phebe  Ste- 
enson,  b.  May  23,  1813,  d.  August  15,  1861, 
inmarried.      William  Henry,  b.  December  27, 
815,    d.    in  New  York    February  24,     1876; 
le  was  a   merchant  in    New    York;  he  mar- 
led Sarah,   daughter  of   John  W.    Elsworth, 
nd  sister  of  William  Elsworth,   and  by  her 
who  is  living,   1897)  had  one  child,  Adelaide, 
■  ho  married  Dr.  William  Brinck,  now  of  New- 
^^tfg.     Cyrus  Braman  was  educated  at  a  high 
^PpDol  at  Norwich.     After  his  first  marriage  he 
-ed  in  Norwich  for  several  years,  but  in  1 796 
^eph    Teel    bought    property  in    Rhinebeck 
ifterward owned  by  Freeborn  Garrettson,  Jr., 
nd  since   by  the  Astors),  and  this  led  to  the 
;moval  of  the  Braman  family  to  Hyde  Park. 
November,  1799,  Cyrus  Braman  bought  of 
linehas  Eames  "Lot  No.    2,"  of  the  Hyde 
rk   Patent.     This    had    belonged    to    Anna 
agdalen  Valleau,  wife  of  Lucas  Lesier  (com- 
nly  called  "  Madame  Lesier  "),  sister  to  the 


wife  of  Dr.  John  Bard;  and  thus  an  heir  of 
Peter  Fauconnier's  estate.  She  built  the  stone 
house,  part  of  which  stood  until  1894.  At  an 
early  date  this  place  was  named  "  Belgrove  ", 
perhaps  by  Madame  Lesier.  In  1800  Mr. 
Braman  bought  the  adjoining  farm,  "Lot  No. 
3,"  of  Capt.  Samuel  Cook,  both  purchases 
comprising  together  212  acres,  with  a  frontage 
of  about  half  a  mile  on  the  river.  This  was 
his  home  for  fifty  years.  In  1824  he  built 
barns,  still  standing,  considered  a  marvel  of 
convenience  in  their  day;  and  in  1832  he  built 
a  new  residence,  having  a  fine  river  and  moun- 
tain view.  He  was  a  Federalist,  and  later  a 
Whig,  but  was  averse  to  taking  any  part  in 
political  affairs.  He  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
four,  and  his  portrait  shows  him  a  man  of 
venerable  and  dignified  appearance.  In  1853 
his  executors  sold  the  estate  to  his  son-in-law, 
William  Elsworth,  who  died  here  in  1870,  aged 
seventy-four,  leaving  three  sons,  Cyrus  B., 
William  H.  and  Eugene.  His  executors  sold, 
in  1873,  to  Nathaniel  P.  Rogers. 

Samuel  H.  Braman  was  born  at  Belgrove, 
January  20,  1807,  and  died  there  June  16, 
1846.  He  married.  May  16,  1832,  Helen, 
daughter  of  Cornelius  Van  Vliet,  Jr..  of  Staats- 
burg,  and  Mary  Russell,  born  at  Staatsburg, 
June  22,  1807,  and  died  there  October  i,  1857. 
They  had  six  children:  (i)  Edward  (now  of 
Hyde  Park),  b.  December  13,  1833.  (2) 
Caroline,  b.  May  20,  1836,  m.  Samuel  J.  M. 
Sexton.  (3)  Hiram  Van  Vliet  (of  Pough- 
keepsie, and  No.  321  Clinton  avenue.  Brook- 
lyn, late  importer,  of  New  York),  b.  June  12, 
1838,  m.  Irene  Barlow,  daughter  of  Charles 
Thomas  Newcomb,  of  Pleasant  Valley,  and 
Elizabeth  A.  T.  Sexton,  and  has  had  seven 
children — Helen  Elizabeth  (died  in  infancy), 
Mary  Newcomb  (m.,  June  11,  1896,  to  Francis 
L.  Noble,  counselor  at  law,  of  New  York), 
Charles  Francis  (died  aged  fourteen  years), 
Irene  Moir,  William  Reginald  (died  aged  three 
years),  Hiram  Van  Vliet,  Jr.  (d.  April  8,  1896, 
aged  eighteen  years),  and  Emily  Louise.  (4) 
Emily  Bailey  (living  at  Hyde  Park),  b.  Sep- 
tember 22,  1840.  (5)  Samuel  H.,  Jr.,  b. 
April  13,  1842,  d.  February  14,  1869.  (6) 
Helen,  b.  November  13,  1845,  d.  May  27, 
1864.  Samuel  H.  Braman  took  some  interest 
in  military  affairs.  He  was  a  captain,  major 
and  finally  colonel  of  the  Eighty-fourth  Regi- 
ment of  Militia.  His  sons  all  went  early  to 
New  York,  and  (later  with  their  sisters)  made 
their  home  there  many  years. 


408 


OOMMBMORA  TIVB  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


.The  ancestry  of  the  Sexton  Family*  is 
fully  set  forth  in  Stiles'  "Ancient  Windsor." 
The  first  of  the  name  who  came  to  live  in 
Dutchess  county  was  the  late  Samuel  J.  M. 
Sexton,  of  Hyde  Park.  His  line  of  descent 
from  the  first  George  Sexton,  of  Windsor, 
Conn.,  and  Catharine,  is:  Capt.  Joseph  (1666- 
1742)  and  Hannah  Wright;  Joseph,  Jr.  (1694- 
17 — ),  and  Sarah  Parsons;  Deacon  Joseph 
(1726-1819)  and  Rebecca  Chapin;  Joseph 
(1753-1823)  and  Hannah  Cadwell,  of  Wilbra- 
ham  and  Monsoon,  Mass.,  whose  eldest  son 
was  Francis  Sexton,  born  at  Wilbraham,  No- 
vember 22,  1779;  a  merchant  in  New  York, 
where  he  died  August  7,  1839;  he  lived  many 
years  at  No.  28  Dey  street,  where  all  his  chil- 
dren were  born.      He  married,  December   14, 

1809,  Sarah  Mills,  born  March  10,  1792,  died 
September  21,  1862,  daughter  of  William 
Ross  and  Johanna,  his  wife,  daughter  of  Capt. 
Alexander  Leslie  (who  was  lost  at  sea)  and 
Sarah  Tufts  (who  married,  second,  John  Mills, 
of  New  York).  Mrs.  Leslie-Mills  came  of  a 
distinguished  ancestry.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  Joshua  Tufts  and  Abigail  Ellery 
(cousin  of  William  Ellery,  signer  of  the  Dec- 
laration of  Independence),  both  of  whom 
died  at  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  in  1766.  Her 
grandfather,  the  Rev.  John  Tufts,  of  Newbury, 
Mass.,  was  the  first  to  publish  a  collection  of 
psalm  tunes  in  New  England,  thereby  greatly 
improving  the  singing  in  Churches.  He  was 
son  of  Capt.  Peter  Tufts,  of  Medford,  and 
Mercy,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Seaborn  Cotton, 
of  Hampton  (son  of  the  Rev.  John  Cotton,  of 
Boston),  by  Dorothy,  daughter  of  Gov.  Simon 
Bradstreet,  and  Anne,  his  wife  (the  poetess), 
daughter  of  Gov.  Thomas  Dudley.  Mrs. 
Mills  (Sarah  Tufts)  was  born  November  24, 
1744,  and  died  in  New  York,  September   19, 

18 10.  She  lived  in  New  York  during  the 
British  occupation,  being  then  a  widow,  and 
with  her  bounty  relieved  the  wants  of  many 
unhappy  prisoners  of  war  confined  there.  She 
and  her  husband  were  prominent  members  of 
the  Brick  Church,  and  she  was  very  active  in 
benevolent  and  charitable  works,  and  a  co- 
worker with  the  celebrated  Mrs.  Isabella  Gra- 
ham.     Mr.  Mills  died  in  1815. 

Francis  and  Sarah   M.  Sexton   had  sixteen 

♦The  arms  of  Sexton,  called  "of  London,"  by  Burke,  are: 
"Argent,  three  chaplets  in  bend  gules,  between  two  bendlets  of  the 
last:  Crest,  out  of  a  ducal  coronet  or,  a  dexter  arm  in  armour  em- 
bowed  proper,  garnished  of  the  first,  holding  in  the  gauntlet  an 
anchor  sable,  fluke  and  cable  or."  An  ancient  seal  engraved  with 
the  above  crest  has  come  down,  as  an  heirloom,  to  the  present  S,  B. 
Sexton,  of  "Torham;"  and  it  furnished  an  appropriate  design  for 
his  private  yacht  signal. 


children,  eight  of  whom  died  young.     Thost 
who  survived  were:     (i)  Sarah   Mills,  b.  De 
cember  30,  1810,  d.  at  Hyde  Park  Novembei 
23,  1872;  m.  John   H.  Newcomb,  of  Pleasan 
Valley,  and  late  in  life  of  Hyde  Park,  and  ief 
two  surviving  children,  Thomas,  and  Johanna 
now  widow  of   Walter  Allen  Seymour.     Th( 
first  of  this  family  in  the  county  was  Thoma; 
Newcomb,  who  bought  "the  greater  part"  o 
Lot   No.    8,   Great   Nine   Partners.     His  son 
Zaccheus,  built  the  well-known  ' '  Brick  House, ' 
and  Thomas,  son  of  the  latter,  was  father  o 
John     H.    and    Charles    T.    Newcomb     [Sei 
Newcomb    Genealogy,    by   J.    B.    Newcomb] 
(2)  Francis  William,  b.  i8i2,d.  1849,  unmar 
ried.      (3)  Elmira,  b.  181 5,  d.   1865;    m.  Johi 
Mills  Tufts,    of    Woodbridge,  N.   J.,  and  ief 
no  surviving  children.      (4)  Johanna,  b.  1818 
d.  1883,  unmarried.      (5)   Elizabeth  Ann  Tufts 
b.  October  17,  1819,  d.  January  20,  1889;  m 
(first)  Charles  Thomas  Newcomb,  of  Pleasan 
Valley,  and  (second)  Col.  Charles  Stiles  Phelpsi 
of  Brooklyn  [See  Stiles'  "Ancient  Windsor"^ 
By  her  first  husband  she  had   Irene  B.,  m.  I! 
V.  V.  Braman,  and  Mary  E. ,  who  died  unmar 
ried.      (6)  Mary  Jane,   b.    1823,   d.    1885;  m 
Charles  Morgan,  of  New  York.     (7)  Emily  H. 
m.  William  Moir,  of  New  York.      (8)  Samufl 
John   Mills,  b.  August    11,  1832,   d.   at   Hyd 
Park    May    3,    1873.     Samuel    J.    M.    Sexto 
married.  May  30,  1866,  Caroline,  daughter  ( 
Samuel  H.  Braman,  of  Hyde   Park,  and  ha 
one   child:     Samuel  Braman   Sexton,  now  < 
"Torham,"  Hyde  Park,  born  July   19,  i86( 
married  at  Grace  Church,  New  York,  Noven 
ber  2,  1893,  Jean    Hunter  Denning,  daughti 
of    the  late   Edwin   James   Denning,   of  Ne 
York. 

The  name  of  Van  Vliet  can  be  traced  ve; 
far  back  in  the  annals  of  the  Netherlands.  ] 
the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries,  ai 
later,  several  of  the  name  achieved  distinctii 
in  the  fields  of  literature  and  art,  and  in  mi 
tary  and  civil  life,  the  relation  of  which  is  n  ^ 
here  necessary.  That  branch  of  the  faniij 
which  settled  in  this  country  came  from  til 
diocese  or  Province  of  Utrecht.  Their  pi 
morial  bearings,  as  given  by  Reitstap,  a 
"D'or,  a  trois  losanges  de  gules:  Casq| 
couronne:  Crest,  une  tete  et  col  du  chej 
braque  de  gules."  In  the  Documentary  H; 
tory  of  New  York  [Vol.  II,  Colonial  Doc 
ments]  is  an  account  of  the  powder  used 
the  authorities  in  New  Amsterdam,  givi 
some  interesting  glimpses  of  passing  even 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHWAL  RECORD. 


409 


On  July  i8,  1661,  Governor  Winthrop  arrived 
in  New  Amsterdam,  to  proceed  to  "  Fatbier- 
land,"  in  the    "Trouw";  July   21    the    ships 
"Arent,  "  "Hope  "and  "  Trouw  "  sailed  hence 
for  Fatherland,  and  eighteen  pounds  of  powder 
were    fired.      The    "Trouw"  sailed   again,  on 
her    return    to    New   Amsterdam,    March    21, 
1662,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Jan  Jansen 
Bestevan,  and  arrived  on  June   13,  following, 
when  six  pounds  of  powder  were  fired.    Among 
the  passengers    on    this  voyage    were   Adrian 
Gerritsen,  agriculturist,  from  the  Province  of 
Utrecht,  with  his  wife  and  five  children,  aged 
thirteen,  twelve,  eleven,  eight  and  seven  years. 
That  he  was  the  Adrian  Gerritsen,  or  Adrian 
Gerritsen  Van  Vliet,  who  shortly  after  appears 
at  "the  Esopus"  (Kingston),  there  can   be  no 
doubt.      At    marriage  some  of  his  children  are 
recorded  as  "geboren  in  't  Stigt  Van  Uytrecht " 
(born    in    the    Diocese    of    Utrecht).      In    the 
Indian    attack  of   June,    1663,   a  daughter  of 
Adrian  was  one  of  the  prisoners  taken,  but  was 
soon  recovered   with  the  rest.      On  April  28, 
1667,  Adrian'  signed,  with   others,  reasons  for 
being  in  arms.     By  grant  and  purchase  Adrian 
became  the  owner  of  several   parcels  of  land 
in  Kingston  and   the   adjacent  parts  of  Ulster 
county  [See  Doc.  Hist,  of   N.  Y. ;  Sylvester's 
Hist,  of   Ulster  County;   Schoonmaker's  Hist, 
of  Kingston;  N.  Y.  G.  &  B.  Record,  1871,  p. 
145,  &c.].      On  September  i,  1689,  at  Kings- 
;  ton,    "  Gerritt  Van  ffliett"  and   "John   Van- 
!  ffliett "  (sons  of  Atlrian)  took  the  oath  of    alle- 
1  giance;  but  it  is  recorded  that  "Arre  Gerritt 
I  Van   ffliett"   and  "Derrick   Van  Vliet"    (his 
I  other   son)   did    not   appear.      [Doc.    Hist,   of 
N.  Y.,  Vol.  I.,  p.   173].     The  wife  of   Adrian 
;was  Agatha  Jans  Spruyt,  doubtless  a  descend- 
]ant  of  the  ancient  family  of  Spruyt,  of  Kriek- 
'cnbeck   and    Utrecht.       She    was    frequently 
a  witness  at  baptisms  in  Kingston.      Their  five 
children  were:    (1)  Gerrit,  or  Gerard,  ancestor 
of   the    Fishkill    branch.      (2)    Jan   (or   John) 
married  Judith,  daughter  of  Frederick  Hussey, 
m   English    settler   and   large    landholder  at 
Kingston;   most    of    this    branch  remained  in 
Ulster  county,  but  one  son,  Frederick,  settled, 
n  1725,  in  Somerset  county,  N.  J.,  where  his 
loscendants    write    the    name   "Van   Fleet." 
ice-Chancellor  Abraham  Van  Fleet,  recently 
iecea.sed.  was   a  descendant  of  Thomas,  son 
f  this  I^rederick  Van  Vliet.      (3)  Dirck  [See 
rther  on,  "  line  of   Dirck   Van  Vliet  "].      (4) 
-eertruyd  married   Gysbert  Crom,  of   Marble- 
own,  the  owner  of  a  large  estate  there,  and  a 


brother  of  Floris  Willemse  Crom,  of  Flatbush, 
Long  Island,  patentee  of  the  "  Crom  Patent  ", 
at  Haverstraw.  (5)  Machteld  married  (first) 
Barent  Van  Borsum,  son  of  Egbert  Van  Bor- 
sum,  of  New  York  [See  N.  Y.  Gen.  &  Biog. 
Record,  1895-96],  and  (second)  Jan  Jacobsen 
Stol,  son  of  Jacob  Jansen  Stol,  one  of  the 
earliest  magistrates  at  the  Esopus.  [The  wife 
of  Jacob  was  Geertruyd  Andriese  Van  Does- 
burg.  She  married  (second)  Aert  Martensen 
Van  Doom;  then  she  died,  and  he  married 
Aeltie  Lansing,  widow  of  Gerard  Slegtenhorst, 
and  mother  of  Elizabeth  Slegtenhorst,  wife  of 
Nicholas  William,  son  of  Governor  Stuyves- 
ant.] 

Litie  of  Gerrit  Van  Vliet — Gerrit  Van- 
Vliet,  probably  the  eldest  son  of  Adrian  and 
Agatha,  married  Pieternelle,  daughter  of 
Teunis  Cornelissen  Swart,  of  Albany,  etc., 
and  Elizabeth  Van  der  Linde.  Their  children 
were:  Cornelia,  bapt.  August  28,  1681;  tn. 
Andries  Davidsen.  Agatha,  born  about  1683; 
m.  Marcus  Van  Bommel,  of  Poughkeepsie. 
Teunis,  bapt.  July  19,  1685,  died  young.  Eliz- 
abeth, bapt.  October  2,  1687;  m.  Nathaniel 
Davenport,  of  Kingston.  Jannetje,  bapt.  Oc- 
tober 30,  1692;  m.  Lewis  DuBois,  of  Pough- 
keepsie. Geertje,  bapt.  November  11,  1694; 
m.  ChristolTel  Van  Bommel,  of  Poughkeepsie, 
one  of  the  judges  of  the  "  Inferior  Court  of  the 
County  of  Dutchess."  Neeltje,  bapt.  Febru- 
ary 21,  1697;  m.  Johannes  Ter  Bos,  of  Fish- 
kill.  Arie  Gerritse,  bapt.  March  26,  1699 
[See  next  family].  Teunis,  bapt.  June  14, 
1702;  m.  Sara,  daughter  of  Evert  Van  Wag- 
enen  and  Hillegond  Van  Heyningen.  [For 
his  family  see  N.  Y.  G.  &  B.  Record,  1891,  p. 
154].  Nelly  (also  Neeltje,  perhaps  originally 
Pieternelle),  presumed  to  be  a  daughter,  m. 
Christian  DuBois,  of  Fishkill. 

Gerrit  Van  Vliet  was  one  of  the  petitioners 
for  a  minister  at  Kingston,  1676.  He  settled 
first  at  Marbletown,  but  removed  to  Fishkill, 
probably  about  1709.  His  name  appears  in 
the  first  census  of  Dutchess  county,  in  17 14, 
with  a  family  of  eight  persons.  At  that  time 
there  were  only  si.xty-seven  heads  of  families 
in  the  county.  His  sons,  Arie  and  Teunis,  sub- 
scribed toward  calling  a  minister  for  Pough- 
keepsie and  Fishkill  in  1745.  [Hist,  of  the 
Reformed  Church,  Poughkeepsie.] 

Adrian  Van  Vliet  ("  Arie  Gerritse"),  bapt. 
March  26,  1699,  m.  Janneke,  daughter  of 
Frederick  Cloet,  of  Albany  and  Kingston,  and 
Francina  Du  Mont.      Children:    Nelly  (Pieter- 


410 


COMMEMOBAriVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


nelle)  m.  Isaac  Van  Bunschoten;  Francina  m. 
Petrus  Low,  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  was  dead  in 
1769;  Garret,  living  1792  (Dutchess  county 
deeds);  Petrus,  bapt.  January  i,  I737  [See  next 
family];  Teunis,  bapt.  October  7,  1740,  m. 
Lam.aetje  Romeyn,  1762;  Frederick,  living 
1792,  m.  Catharina  Van  de  Water,  1779. 

Catharine  Brett,  of  Fishkill,  widow,  sold, 
31  August,  1726,  to  Adrian  Van  Vliet,  of  the 
same  place,  yeoman,  for  £9^,  New  York 
money,  a  piece  of  land  at  a  place  called  the 
"Steen  Vlackte,  or  Stony  Plain,"  lying  upon 
Wappingers  creek,  "containing  80  acres  and 
noe  more."  It  is  found  that,  later,  he  owned 
other  lands  adjoining  this  purchase.  His  will, 
dated  27  September,  1769,  was  proved  3  July, 
1778,  and  recorded  in  New  York.  He  gives 
all  his  estate,  real  and  personal,  to  his  wife 
"Janakye,"  for  life;  then  to  be  sold;  and  to 
eldest  son  Garret  ";^25  and  my  gun;"  to 
daughter  Nelly,  wife  of  Isaac  Van  Bunschoten, 
£30;  to  the  three  children  of  deceased  daugh- 
ter (Francina),  wife  of  Petrus  Low,  ;^30;  and 
all  the  remainder  among  his  four  sons,  equally: 
Garret,  Petrus,  Teunis  and  Frederick,  the  first 
three  executors.  Garret,  Peter  and  Frederick 
Van  Vhet,  and  Peter  Low,  signed  the  "  Revo- 
lutionary Pledge"  in  1775,  in  Poughkeepsie 
Precinct.  Garret  and  Petrus  Van  Vliet  were 
deacons  in  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  in 
Poughkeepsie,  and  both  first  elected  in  1778. 
[Hist,  of  Ref.  Church,  Poughkeepsie.] 

Petrus  Van  Vliet,  son  of  Adrian  and  Jan- 
neke,  bapt.  January  i,  1737.  m.  Johanna, 
daughter  of  Johannes  Van  Wormer,*  of  Al- 
bany, and  Engeltje,  his  wife,  daughter  of  John 
Concklin,  of  Poughkeepsie.  Her  tombstone, 
at  Fishkill  Landing,  says  "  Hannah  Van  Vliet, 
died  March  4,  1834.  aged  eighty-four  years." 
Children:  Engeltje  (Angelica),  afterward  called 
"Anne,"  bapt.  April  6,  1766,  d.  May  18,  1851; 
m.  first  John  Cromwell,  second  Peter  Bogar- 
dus.  Jane,  b.  July  26,  1768,  m.  Jeremiah 
Myers,  of  Fishkill.  Johannes  Van  Wormer 
(known  as  John),  b.  September  25,  1770  [See 
next  family].  Arie,  b.  July  20,  1773.  m-  a 
Miss  Borgardus,  removed  to  Western  New 
York.  Petrus,  b.  October  31,  1775.  of  Char- 
lotte, Vt.  [See  farther  on].  Garret,  b.  Decem- 
ber 23,  1777,  of  Fishkill,  d.  December  27, 
1843,    unmarried.       Alida,    b.    February    25, 


♦Thewillof  Johannes  Van  Wormer,  of  Albany.  23  October,  1,d2, 
proved  18  October.  1753.  names  wife  Engeltje  and  three  daughters, 
Hannah,  Alida  and  Mary.  Executors,  his  -  beloved  father  (in  law), 
lohn  Concklin,  and  "  beloved  brother  "  (in  law),  Henry  G.Liviiig- 
ston.  The  latter  married  Susanna  Concklin;  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  H. 
Livingston  was  their  son. 


1780,  m.  William  Higbee,  removed  to  Ver- 
mont. Francina  (later  Cynthia),  b.  August  i, 
1782,  m.  Jacob  Bartley,  removed  to  Ver- 
mont. Teunis  removed  to  Vermont,  then  to 
Canada,  and  finally  to  the  West.  Frederick 
removed  to  Vermont,  and  later  to  Westfield, 
N.  Y.  Christian,  b.  January  21,  1790,  m.  (first) 
Rachel  Hough,  of  Ferrisburg,  Vt.,  and  (second) 
Maria  Cromwell,  of  Fishkill.  He  lived  sev- 
eral years  in  Vermont,  but  returned  to  Fishkill. 
Gen.  Stewart  Van  Vliet,  U.  S.  A.  (grad.  West 
Point  in  1840),  is  a  son  by  his  first  wife  [See 
Appleton's  Cyclopedia  of  American  Biography]; 
and  a  son  by  his  second  wife  was  the  late 
Lieut.  Frederick  VanVliet,  U.  S.  A. 

John  Van  Vliet,  son  of  Petrus  and  Johanna 
(or  Hannah),  b.  September  25,  1770,  d.  in 
Fishkill  October  25,  1847.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth Cromwell,  b.  February  25,  1769,  d.  May 
17,  1837.  Children:  Rachel,  b.  November 
27,  1793,  d.  January  1 1,  1874;  m.  Peter  Brett, 
of  Fishkill.      Peter,  b.  July  20,  1795,  d.  March 

20,  1846;  m.  Phebe  Rickey;  line  extinct, 
Joseph  Cromwell,  b.  April  24,  1797,  d.  May 
27,  1803.  Hannah,  b.  June  5,  1799,  d.  June  2, 
1879,  atGalesburg,  Ill.,m.  Benjamin  C.  Weeks. 
Cornelia,  born  June  19,  1801,  d.  October  6, 
1 886,  at  Matteawan ;  m.  William  Brett.  John, 
b.  April  7,  1803,  of  Fishkill,  living,  1897;  m. 
(first)  Hannah,  daughter  of  Isaac  Bogardus,  anc 
(second)  Henrietta  Wiltsie;  by  his  first  wife  ht 
had:  Adelaide,  d.  young;  Jacob  Sebring,  d 
young;  Granville,  of  Low  Point,  m.  Mary  C 
Lounsbury,  and  has  children;  Amelia,  d.  Marcl 

21,  1877;  Theodore,  of  Matteawan,  m.  Caro 
line  Allen,  and  has  children;  Charles  B.  R.,  d: 
young;  and  Sarah  Sebring.  Benjamin  Crom; 
well,  b.  August  14,  1805,  d.  February  25 
1 85 1,  of  Poughkeepsie;  m.  first,  Sarah  A.  Da 
kin,  and,  second,  Persis  Balding  [See  Russel 
Genealogy].  Phebe  Ann,  b.  September  7 
1807,  d.  March  16,  1836;  m.  Dr.  Roderic 
Royce,  of  Monticello;  no  surviving  issue.  By 
vanus,  b.  March  5,  18 10,  d.  April  8,  1889,  ( 
Fishkill  Landing;  not  married.  William  Henr^! 
b.  February  18,  1813,  living  1897.  at  Fishkill 
m.  Sarah  A.  Cromwell,  and  has  childreij 
Cornelius  Westbrook,  b.  October  i,  1815,  ' 
April  10,  1889;  of  Birmingham,  Conn. ;  r 
Eveline  Hurst,  and  left  children. 

Peter  Van  Vliet,  son  of  Petrus  and  Johann 
born  October  31,  1775,  went  to  Vermont  wb 
he  became  of  age  and  settled  at  Charlott 
near  Burlington,  where  he  died,  September  i 
1853.      He   married    Sarah    Hough,   and   h 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


411 


fifteen    children,   some    still    living.      None  of 
these  are  connected  with  Dutchess  county  ex- 
cept his  son   Aaron  (Arie),   b.    December   lo, 
1804,  who  returned  to  Fishkill,  where  he  set- 
I   tied,   and  died    March   4,    1839.      He  married 
,   (first)  Anne  Catharine,  daughter  of  Peter  Bo- 
I  gardus    and    Anne    Van    Vliet    (no    surviving 
.  issue),  and  (second)  Matilda,  daughter  of  Peter 
Brett  and  Rachel  Van  Vliet,  by  whom  he  had 
one  son,  Benson  Van  Vliet,  of   Poughkeepsie. 
Benson  Van  Vliet,  born  at  Fishkill   Landing, 
August  22,  1837;  m-  October  12,  i860,  Kath- 
arine B.  Saxton.      Children:     Bertha,   Annie, 
Helena  and  Florence.      He  is  business  mana- 
ger of  Vassar  College. 

Line  of  Dirck  Van  Vliet — Dirck  Van  Vliet, 
son  of  the  first  Adrian   and   Agatha,  died  in 
Kingston  in  1702.    He  married,  April  23,  1685, 
Anna,  only  surviving  child  of  Andries  Barent- 
sen  and  Hilletje  Hendricks,  from  Meppel,  in 
Drenthe,  who  arrived  in  the  "Trouw, "  in  De- 
cember,   1659.      Andries  was  wounded  in  the 
Indian  attack  on  "Wiltwyck,"  in  June,  1663, 
md,  dying  soon  after,  his  widow  married  Albert 
[ansen  Van   Steenwyck.     Anna  was   baptized 
n  Kingston,  September   10,  1662.      She  long 
urvived  her  husband,  and   her  Bible,  printed 
n  1629,  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Henry  R. 
an  Vliet,  of   Clinton.      Children:     Arie  (Ad- 
lan),  b.  June  10,  1686.      Hilletje,  bapt.  Janu- 
ry  I,  1688;  m.  Gysbert  Peele,  son  of  Paulus 
'eele.      Andries,    bapt.    November    5,    1691, 
I  .  unmarried   after  1722.     Agatha,    b.    1693'; 
■h,    Teunis,   son   of  Adam    Swart.     Cornelia, 
IJEipt.    June     7,     1695;     m.    Matthew  Edward 
hompson;  he  was  still  living  when   Kingston 
iis  burned  in  1777;  his  house,  corner  of  John 
.d  East  Front  streets,  shared  the    common 
te;  he  rebuilt  the  house  with  the  same  walls, 
id  it  stood  until  recently.     Gerrit,  bapt.  July 
1697;  d.  young.    Rachel,  bapt.  May  7,  1699; 
Teunis,  son  of   Cornelius  Swart,  cousin  of 
tha's  husband;  both  nephews  of  the  wife  of 
rit  Van  Vliet.       Dirck,    bapt.    January    i, 
i;m.   Marritje  Crispel;   left  one  daughter! 
tharina,  b.  November   12,    1702,  "between 
and  12  o'clock." 

Arie,   or  Adrian,    Van   Vliet   was   born   in 

i?ston,   June    10,  1686,  and   was   the   only 

of  the  first   Dirck  who   left  sons  to  carry 

'■  name.      He  married,  February   26,  171 1, 

'  -ntje,    daughter  of   Cornelius  Masten    and 

'i-^abeth  Van  VVagenen.      Cornelius  was  son 

John   .Marston  fas  he  wrote   his  name),  an 

^f,'lishman  (of  New  York,  and  afterward  one 


of  the   patentees  of   Flushing),  and  Dievertje 
Jans  Van    Langendyck,    from   St.    Martins,  in 
North  Holland.      He  was  probably  named  for 
Cornelius  Wynkoop,  who  married  his  mother's 
sister,  Marritje,  and  settled  in  Ivingston,  where 
Cornelius  Masten  also  came  to  live.     Adrian 
and  Gerritje  had   nine  children:    Anna  Cath- 
arina,  b.  June  30,  1712,  d.  young.      Elizabeth, 
b.  August  8,   1713;  m.  Gerrit  Freer,  of   Ulster 
county.      Catharina,    b.    August    i,    171 5,   m. 
William  Wood,  of  Ulster  county.      Cornelius, 
b.  October    13,    1716,    d.  unmarried  in   1764. 
Marritje,  b.  February  17,  I7i8;m.  her  cousin, 
Arthur  Masten.      Dirck,  b.  November  26,  1 72 1 , 
of  Clinton,  Dutchess  county  [See  farther  on]. 
Johannes  (twin),  b.    November   26,  1721,  m., 
first,  his  cousin,  Cornelia,  daughter  of  Teunis 
Swart   and  Agatha  Van   Vliet,    and,    second, 
Seletje,  daughter  of  Juriaan  Snyder,  and  sister 
of  Col.  Johannes  Snyder,  of  the  Revolutionary 
army.      Benjamin,  b.  May  20,  1723;  m.  Mach- 
teld,    daughter   of   John    Ostrom.     Anna,    b. 
April  5,  1726;  m.  John  Ostrom,  son  of  Roelof 
Ostrom.       Adrian  Van   Vliet,    about    1740  to 
1750,  bought  several  parcels  of  land  in  Dutch- 
ess county,  mostly  in  the  Nine  Partners  Pat- 
ent, on  which  he  settled  his  four  sons.      From 
their  new  homes  they  could  still  see  the  Cats- 
kill  mountains,  on   which  four  generations  of 
the  family  had    now    looked.     Cornelius   and 
Dirck    remained    where    they    settled,     near 
Pleasant  Plains;  but    John    soon  returned    to 
Ulster   county,    where    he    settled    on    other 
lands  of  his  father,  near  the  present  Eddyville; 
while   Benjamin,  about  1772,  removed  to  the 
Mohawk  Valley,  near  Schenectady.   Cornelius, 
in    his    will,  i    June,    1763,  proved    20   June, 
1764,  styles  himself  "of  Charlotte  Precinct,  in 
Dutchess    County,    gentleman,"    and    besides 
other  bequests  gives  two  nephews  named  for 
him,  each  ^200. 

Dirck  Van  Vliet,  born  November  26,  1721, 
settled  in  the  present  town  of  Clinton  (then 
Crumelbow,  and  afterward  Charlotte  Precinct), 
where  his  great-grandson.  Lewis  Van  Vliet, 
now  lives,  and  died  there  September  26,  1800. 
He  was  buried  in  the  Reformed  Churchyard, 
at  Rhinebeck,  of  which  Church  he  had  been  a 
deacon.  [Historical  Address,  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Drury.]  He  married  (first)  December  21, 
1741,  Rachel,  daughter  of  Tjerck  Van  Keuren 
and  Marytjen  Ten  Eyck,  and  great-grand- 
daughter of  Tjerck  Claesse;i  DeWitt,  bapt. 
February  18.  1722;  by  her  he  had  one  child, 
Marytjen.  bapt.  August  8,  1742,  who  d.  young. 


412 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


He  married  (second)  February  i,  1754,  Helena, 
daughter  of  Johannes  Weaver  and  Catharina 
Elizabeth  Denmarken  (of  Palatine  families), 
born  July  24,  1733,  and  died  in  Clinton  July 
27,  1805;  buried  at  Rhinebeck.  Children: 
Catharine,  b.  September  15,  1755,  d.  Septem- 
ber 29,  1804;  m.  Col.  John  DeWitt,  son  of 
Capt.  Petrus  DeWitt,  of  Wittmount  and 
Rocksdale,  in  Staatsburg,  and  Rachel  Rad- 
clifT.  Gerritje,  b.  April  15,  1757;  m.  Abraham 
Freligh,  and  removed,  after  the  Revolution,  to 
Frelighsburg,  Lower  Canada.  Anna,  b.  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1759;  m.  (first)  Denis  Relyea,  Jr. 
(of  Huguenot  descent),  and  (second)  William 
Brink,  and  removed  to  Broome  county.  Cor- 
nelius, b.  December  21,  1760,  of  Clinton  [See 
farther  on].  Elizabeth,  b.  October  20,  1762; 
m.,  first,  Benjamin,  brother  of  Denis  Relyea, 
and,  second,  Conrad  Sharpe,  and  removed  to 
Chenango  county.  Helena,  b.  August  19,  1764; 
m.  EbenezerBabcock,  of  Poughkeepsie.  John, 
b.  July  2,  1766,  d.  at  Odelltown,  Lower  Can- 
ada, September,  1851;  m.  Helena,  daughter 
of  Charles  Traver  and  Jemima  Garrison.  Rich- 
ard (Dirck),  b.  June  23,  1768,  d.  at  Schodack 
December  9,  1841;  m.  Sarah  Masten.  Lydia, 
b.  March  18,  1770,  d.  July  3,  1828;  m.  Jacob 
Sleight,  of  Clinton.  Mary,  b.  September  17, 
1773,  d.  April  13,  1839;  m.  Henry  Sleight,  of 
Clinton.  Henry,  b.  July  9,  1775;  m.  Mary 
Seaman;  removed  to  Aurora,  Erie  county. 

When  the  Revolution  came,  and  every  man 
was  expected  to  choose  one  side  or  the  other, 
many  respectable,  law-abiding  men  were  not 
ready  for  extreme  measures.  The  list  of 
those  classed  as  "  Loyalists  "  shows  the  names 
of  some  members  of  most  of  the  best  families 
in  all  the  Colonies,  and  the  greater  number  of 
these  were  men  who,  honestly  differing  in 
opinion,  took  no  active  part,  and  wished  as 
well  for  their  country  as  did  the  other  party. 
Yet  they  suffered  banishment  or  confiscation, 
or  both,  rather  than  do  what  they  considered 
wrong.  One  of  this  class  was  Dirck  Van- 
Vliet.  He  had  held  an  office,  and  had  taken 
the  oath  of  allegiance  to  "  the  Crown."  Now 
when  asked  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
tne  newly-constituted  government,  he  said 
"he  could  not  break  his  oath."  Then  he  was 
required  to  retire  within  the  British  lines,  and 
did  so.  He  remained  in  banishment  on  Long 
Island  five  years,  "without  seeing  one  of  his 
family,"  as  a  grandson,  in  Canada,  records. 
Sabine,  in  his  "American  Loyalists,"  states 
that  he  was  permitted  to  return  "on  the  peti- 


tion of  Whigs,  "in  1784.  The  names  of  some 
of  these  are  known.  They  believed  his  banish- 
ment as  needless  as  it  was  cruel.  He  escaped 
confiscation,  and  so  fared  better  than  many 
others.  While  some  of  his  descendants  may 
wish  his  record  had  been  different  at  this  time, 
they  may  feel  some  satisfaction  in  contemplat- 
ing his  character,  as  a  man  who  was  willing  to 
suffer  rather  than  do  what  he  thought  was 
wrong. 

Cornelius    Van    Vliet,    son    of    Dirck    and 
Helena,  born  in  Clinton,  December  21,  1760, 
died  there  February  7,  1848.      He  settled  near 
his  father,  just  east  of  Pleasant  Plains  Church. 
He    married    (first)  Helena,  daughter   of   Jost 
Garrison  and  Magdalena  Van  Dyck,  born  March 
12,   1757,  died  June    10,    1801.      Among   her 
ancestors  are  the  names  of  De  Groot,  Montross, 
Van  Dyck,  of  New  York,  and  Van  Egmont,  of 
Albany.     He  married  (second)  Susanna,  daugh- 
ter of  Epenetus    Piatt,    of    New   Milford,  and 
Susanna  Mervyn,  born  August  25,  1762.  died 
January  23,  1852.      He  had  nine  children  by' 
his  first  wife,  and  one  by  his  second,  viz. :  Cor- 
nelius,   b.    February  10,    1783;  of    Staatsburgi 
[See  next  family].      Levi,  b.  January  6,  1786,1 
of  Clinton  [See  farther  on].      Rachel,  b.  April 
30,     1788,    d.    March    15,     1810,    unmarried.^ 
John,  b.  December   3,  1789  [See    farther  on] 
Elizabeth,  b.  December   15,  1791,  d.  July  13.; 
1795.     William  Benthouse,  b.  September  27  ' 
1793.  <3-  July  28,  181 1   (he  was  thrown  fron 
a  horse).      Clarissa  Maria  (twin),  b.  Septembe 
27,  1793,  d.   January  26,  1871;  m.  John  Gas ^ 
well,  of  Poughkeepsie.      Henry  Hiram,  b.  Au 
gust  19,   1796,  d.    June  15,   1855;   merchant  ii 
New  York,   m.  Jane,  daughter  of  Capt.  Josepl 
Harris,    of    Poughkeepsie,    d.    December   31 
1855,  aged  fifty -two;  they  had  seven  daughter 
^Cornelia  (m.    William    H.  Nevins,  of   Ne\ 
York),  Jane(m.  Henley  W.  Chapman,  ofGree 
Bay,  Wis.),  Josephine  (m.  Van   Buren  Broir! 
ley,  of  Green  Bay),  and  four  who  died  younfi 
Richard   Garrison,   b.   June   10,  1801,  d.   Df 
cember  5,  1801.      Piatt   Garrison   (by  secon 
wife),  b.  May  15,  1807  [See  below]. 

Cornelius  Van  Vliet,  Jr.,  of  Staatsburg,  so 
of  Cornelius  and    Helena,  was   born  Februaij 
10,  1783,  and  died  April  22,  1863.     He  mai 
ried   Mary,   daughter    of    Capt.  Isaac    Russr 
and  Hannah  Fairbanks,  who  was  born  at  She 
burne,  Mass.,  April  15,  1783,  and  died  April 
1849.      Isaac  Russell   fought  at  Bunker  Hi 
and  was  in  the  succeeding  war.      He  was  a  s( 
of   Thomas   and    Hannah    (Coolidge)   Russi 


COMMEMORATIVE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


413 


[For  his  ancestry  see  "Descendants  of  John 
Russell,  Sr.  (of  Woburn),"  by  John  R.  Bart- 
lett].  Children:  Helen,  b.  June  22,  1807,  d. 
October  i,  1857;  m.  Samuel  H.  Braman. 
Hannah,  b.  March  16,  1809,  d.  December  21, 
,  1892,  unmarried.  Hiram,  b.  January  27, 
181 1,  d.  August  26,  1837,  unmarried.  Clar- 
\  issa  Maria,  b.  April  9,  1813,  d.  February  20, 
1881,  unmarried.  William,  b.  June  i,  1815, 
d.  in  New  York,  February  25,  1872;  m.  Caro- 
line, daughter  of  David  Mulford,  and  had,  Jane 
Augusta,  m.  John  C.  Shaw,  counselor  at  law, 
of  New  York,  James  Mulford,  d.  young,  and 
Frederick,  d.  unmarried.  Susan,  b.  October 
7,  1817,  d.  July  21,  1 891;  m.  the  Rev.  Will- 
iam Barham  Heath,  and  had  one  child,  Cor- 
nelius V.  V.  Heath.  James  Russell,  b.  April 
4,  1820,  d.  April  28,  1893,  of  Staatsburg;  un- 
married. Isaac  Fiske,  M.  D.,  b.  June  11, 
1822,  d.  February  23,  1876;  of  Rhinebeck 
[See  below].  Mary  Asenath,  b.  April  13, 
1827,  d.  February  13,  1892,  unmarried.  Mr. 
Van  Vliet  and  his  brother  John  bought  the 
( Rocksdale  estate,  about  500  acres,  formerly 
'  the  property  of  Capt.  Petrus  De  Witt,  and 
divided  it  between  them,  John  taking  the  west- 
erly portion  (now  Mr.  Alfred  De  Witt's),  and 
Cornelius  the  easterly,  with  the  old  mansion; 
and  this  remained  the  home  of  the  family  until 
1866. 

Dr.  Isaac  F.  Van  Vliet  settled  at  Rhine- 
beck. He  married,  in  1847,  Susan,  daughter 
of  David  C.  Benjamin,  of  Fishkill,   who  died 

n  Poughkeepsie  February  10,  1893,  and  had 

our  children:  Ella,  m.  the  Rev.  Henry  L. 
Ziegenfuss,  D.  D.,  Archdeacon  of  Dutchess. 
She  died  in  Poughkeepsie.  January  23,  1894, 

ind  he  died  February  8,  following.  William 
13.,  now  of  Johnstown,  N.  Y.,    m.  Frances  S., 

laughter  of  Judge  Fowler,  of  Milford,  Conn.; 

10   children.     Edward   B.,    d.    February    19, 

1875,   aged  nineteen.      Frank  B.,  d.  in  Hon- 

luras,  December  6,  1893,  aged  twenty-seven; 

inmarried. 
^^,    Levi  Van  Vliet,  son  of  Cornelius  and  Hel- 
^H|a,    was   born   January   6,    1786,    and    died 

August  25,  i860.  He  married  Mary,  daughter 
f  Capt.  Frederick  Uhl  and  Huldah  Mulford, 
orn  February  10,  1792,  died  January  27, 
869.     Children:     George,   b.  July  21,  1816, 

1.  July  12,  1845;  of  Poughkeepsie,  civil  engi- 

leer;  m.  Helen,  daughter  of  John  Bard  and 
'.liza    Helen    Russell,   and    granddaughter    of 

\nthony    Bard,    of    Rhinebeck;   no    children. 

.ewis,  b.  March   18,   1827;  late  justice  of  the 


county  court;  m.  (first)  Jane  A.,  daughter  of 
William  I.  Brown,  and  (second)  Mary  J., 
daughter  of  John  Caswell;  no  children.  Henry 
Richard,  b.  December  8,  1833;  m.  Hannah, 
daughter  of  John  Le  Roy,  Jr.,  and  has  one 
son,  George  S.,  who  m.,  in  1894,  Mercedes, 
daughter  of  Jacob  L.  Tremper,  of  Rhinebeck. 
Levi  Van  Vliet  became  the  owner  of  the  home- 
stead of  his  grandfather,  and  later  that  of  his 
father.  The  former  he  left  to  Lewis,  and  the 
latter  to  Henry.  In  1847  he  built  a  new 
house  on  the  site  of  the  one  built  by  his  grand- 
father, Dirck,  in  1753.  The  old  house  was  of 
stone,  similar  to  many  yet  remaining  in  King- 
ston. 

Col.  John  Van  Vliet,  son  of  Cornelius  and 
Helena,  born  December  3,  1789,  died  at  El- 
bridge,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  in  1874.  He 
married  (first)  Maria  E. ,  daughter  of  John 
Beadle,  of  Pleasant  Valley,  and  sister  of  Dr. 
Edward  L.  Beadle,  who  died  March  8,  1827; 
and  (second)  Ann,  daughter  of  Thomas  Thurs- 
ton, of  Lagrange,  and  widow  of  Baltus  Over- 
ocker.  By  his  first  wife  he  had:  Ann  Maria, 
m.  Edward  Y.  Barnes,  and  d.  August  3,  1886, 
aged  sixty-six.  John  Beadle,  merchant  in  New 
York;  m.  Abbie  J.,  daughter  of  Alexander 
Purdy,  of  Macedon,  and  had,  Purdy,  of  New 
York;  counselor  at  law,  and  William,  d. 
young.  Henry  Edgar,  of  Elbridge,  N.  Y. ,  d. 
September  27,  1873,  aged  forty-nine;  m. 
Mary,  daughter  of  James  Gillies,  and  had,  John 
and  Mary.  Erastus  Lockwood,  accidentally 
killed,  while  hunting,  near  Fremont,  Kans., 
September  28,  i860,  aged  thirty-four,  un- 
married. In  1836  John  Van  Vliet  sold  his 
property  at  Staatsburg,  and  removed  to  Mace- 
don, Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  but  late  in  life  he  re- 
sided at  Elbridge,  to  be  near  his  son;  and 
there  he  and  his  second  wife  died. 

Piatt  G.  Van  Vliet,  son  of  Cornelius  and 
Susanna,  born  May  15,  1807,  died  Decem- 
ber I,  1873;  married  Nancy,  daughter  of 
Timothy  Lamoree,  of  Pleasant  Valley,  who 
died  April  11,  1891,  aged  eighty-two.  Chil- 
dren (only  one  of  whom  survived  the  parents): 
Catharine  E.,  d.  July  i,  1854,  aged  nineteen 
years.  Susan  E.,  d.  October  13,  185 1,  aged 
fifteen  years.  De  Witt,  d.  October  i,  1872, 
aged  thirty-four;  m.  Elma  Marshall,  and  left 
two  children,  George  Piatt,  who  m.,  in  1894, 
Florence  Aldrich,  of  Whitfield,  N.  J.,  and  Caro- 
line, d.  1889,  aged  nineteen.  George  L.  d.  Sep- 
tember 30,  1871,  aged  thirty-one;  m.  Emily 
C.    Dale;  no  children.      Elmer  Piatt  (of  Hud- 


414 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


son),  b.  January  26,  1843;  m.  (first)  Han- 
nah E.  Uoty,  and  (second)  Mary  E.  Allen, 
and  has,  by  his  second  wife,  Ethel  and  Cor- 
nelius. John  Henry,  d.  February  11,  1846. 
aged  ten  months.  Theodore,  d.  February  11, 
1857,  aged  nine  years.  Alice,  d.  December 
29,  i860,  aged  eleven  years.  After  his  father's 
death,  that  homestead  being  purchased  by 
Levi  Van  Vliet,  Piatt  G.  Van  Vliet  removed 
to  Salt  Point,  where  he  had  purchased  a 
farm,  mills,  and  other  property,  and  there  he 
resided  until  his  decease. 


WILLIAM  E.   BADGLEY,  a  well-known 
agriculturist,   residing  near  Arlington, 

Dutchess  county,  is  descended  from  one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  highly  esteemed  families  of 
the  county;  and  although  he  has  passed  the 
limit  of  three-score  years  and  ten  he  still  main- 
tains his  own  well-deserved  reputation  as  a 
progressive,  liberal  and  public-spirited  citizen. 
He  is  a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  born  in  the 
town  of  Clinton,  September  21,  18 16.  His 
great-grandfather,  Anthony  Badgley,  came  in 
early  manhood  to  Rhode  Island,  where  his  son 
George,  our  subject's  grandfather,  was  born  in 
1752. 

George  Badgley  married  Elizabeth  Moss,  a 
native  of  Dutchess  county,  and  purchased  a 
farm  in  Pleasant  Valley,  where  they  passed 
the  remainder  of  their  lives.  He  died  Septem- 
ber 10,  1825,  his  wife  on  August  28,  1828. 
They  had  twelve  children:  Phoebe,  who  mar- 
ried Mr.  Peters,  a  farmer  of  Pleasant  Valley; 
Joshua,  a  farmer  of  the  same  locality;  John, 
who  was  also  a  farmer,  first  in  the  town  of 
Clinton,  and  later  in  Oneida  county;  Eliza- 
beth, the  wife  of  Peter  Welling,  a  farmer  near 
the  old  home;  Mary,  who  never  married;  An- 
thony, a  merchant  in  Pleasant  Valley;  Jona- 
than, a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Clinton;  Stephen, 
a  farmer  in  Saratoga  county;  Ann,  who  mar- 
ried John  Weeks,  a  farmer  in  Delaware  coun- 
ty; George,  our  subject's  father;  and  Joseph 
and  Elisha,  neither  of  whom  married. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 8,  1 79 1,  and  grew  to  manhood  at  the 
old  farm  in  Pleasant  Valley.  He  married 
Emma  Seelye,  who  was  born  September  15, 
1794,  and  was  the  eldest  of  the  five  children  of 
Dr.  Lewis  Seelye,  a  prominent  physician  of 
Wayne  county,  where  he  was  born,  and  his 
wife.  Desire  Mott.  Of  the  others,  Saphira 
never    married;    Polly    was  the    wife    of    Mr. 


Town,  a  farmer  in  Wayne  county;  Milton  was 
a  merchant  in  New  York;  and  Lewis  was  a 
prominent  resident  of  Rochester,  and  repre- 
sented his  district  in  Congress.  (He  was  a 
blacksmith  by  trade).  After  their  marriage 
our  subject's  parents  settled  upon  a  farm  in 
the  town  of  Clinton,  where  they  made  their 
permanent  home.  They  were  Presbyterians 
in  religious  faith,  and  politically  Mr.  Badgley 
was  a  Democrat.  He  died  November  3,  1881, 
and  his  wife  on  May  5,  1878.  Of  their  five 
children  our  subject  is  the  eldest.  The  others 
were  George  L.,  who  died  in  infancy;  Mary 
E. ;  George  E. ,  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Pleas- 
ant Valley;  and  Emma  C. ,  who  married  J.  G. 
Pells,  a  farmer  in  Pleasant  Valley. 

William  E.  Badgley  attended  the  district 
schools  of  his  locality  for  some  years,  and 
later  the  Dutchess  County  Academy.  His 
first  employment  was  as  a  clerk  in  New  York, 
where  he  remained  fourteen  months,  but  after 
that  his  attention  was  devoted  to  farming. 
On  November  27,  1839,  he  married  Jemima 
Thurston,  a  lady  of  English  descent,  who  was 
born  February  9,  18 19,  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
Thurston,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Pleasant  Val- 
ley. He  was  also  a  surveyor,  and  laid  out 
many  of  the  towns  of  his  vicinity  and  some  of 
the  streets  of  Poughkeepsie;  he  was  a  leader  in 
political  affairs,  being  elected  to  the  State 
Legislature  in  1823.  In  the  spring  of  1840 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Badgley  purchased  a  farm  of 
175  acres  five  miles  from  Poughkeepsie,  ad- 
mirably adapted  to  general  farming.  Ten 
children  were  born  to  them:  Catherine  died 
in  infancy;  Mary  E.  married  Edward  Van- 
Wagner,  of  Newburg;  George  manages  two 
large  farms,  and  is  proprietor  of  a  "  Temper- 
ance Hotel"  at  Washington  Hollow;  Calvert 
Jerome  is  a  milkman,  residing  near  Pough- 
keepsie; Eliphalet,  a  farmer,  is  living  on  the 
old  homestead,  adjoining  farm  to  his  father; 
William  E.  is  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Clinton; 
Flora  and  Minerva  died  in  early  womanhood; 
Charles  is  a  grocer  in  Newburg;  Emma  J.  lives 
at  home.  Mrs.  Badgley  died  December  11, 
1 89 1,  after  more  than  half  a  century  of  wed- 
ded life.  They  celebrated  their  Golden  Wed- 
ding with  their  children  and  grandchildren 
November  27,  1889.  There  are  four  genera- 
tions now  living,  there  being  a  great-grandson, 
Wm.  E.  Van  Wagner,  of  Newburg. 

In  all  the  helpful  activities  of  his  com- 
munity Mr.  Badgley  has  always  been  a  promi- 
nent factor;  he  is   a   member  of  the  Presby-| 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


415 


terian  Church,  and  an  ardent  worker  in  the 
temperance  cause,  in  later  years  voting  the 
Prohibition  ticket. 


ADRIAN  M.  CORNELL.  The  Cornell 
family  is  of  French  ancestry.  The  mem- 
bers went  to  Holland  on  account  of  religious 
persecution,  and  from  there  came  to  America 
in  the  seventeenth  century.  They  were  origi- 
nally Huguenots. 

Adrian   Martense   Cornell,  the    subject    of 

this  sketch,  was  born  in  the  town  of  LaGrange, 

Dutchess   county,    April    i,    1818.      His   early 

life  was  spent  there  on  the  home  farm  and  in 

attending  school.     At  the  age  of  twenty- five 

years  he  left  home  and  bought  a  farm  in  the 

town  of  Clinton,  and  engaged  in  farming.      In 

the  fall  of  1 841  he  was  married  to  Miss  Melissa 

Diamond,  who  was  born  in  Lagrange,  and  who 

was  a  daughter  of  Henry  Diamond.     Of  this 

marriage  two  children  were  born:     Margaret 

Jane,    who    married    George    K.    Brand,    and 

I  Henry,  an  insurance  agent  in  New  York  City. 

In  the  spring  of   1864  Mr.  Cornell  gave  up 

ifarming,  after  an   experience  of  twenty-three 

vears,  as  his  health  began  to  fail,  and  came  to 

i'oughkeepsie,  where,  in   1873,  he  engaged  in 

he  dry-grocery  business,  carrying  a  stock  of 

ea,  coffee,  spices,  etc.,  in  which  he  has  con- 

inued  for  twenty-two  years.      For  twenty-one 

f   these  he   has  been  located  at  227^   Main 

;reet.      He  is  an  enterprising  citizen,  a  con- 

:ientious  business  man,  and  a  member  of  the 

'resbyterian  Church.      Mrs.  Cornell  departed 

ais  life  in  1871. 

Cornelius  Cornell,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ct,  was  born  on  Long  Island,  and  his  parents 
lOved  to  Lagrange  when  he  was  seven  years 
Id.     He  married  Miss  Deborah  Van  Kleeck, 

I  native  of  Lagrange,  and  a  daughter  of  Peter 
U  Kleeck.  Her  father  died  forty  years  ago, 
H  her  mother  twenty-five  years  ago.  Mr. 
tnell  spent  his  life  in  farming,  and  was  said 
pave  been  the  best  farmer  and  to  have  had 
e  best  farm  in  the  town  of  Lagrange. 

Peter  Cornell,  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
IS  born  on  Long  Island.  He  married  Miss 
ary  Mesoole,  and  si.x  children  were  born  to 
em:  Cornelius.  Isaac,  Jane,  Eliza,  Sarah 
id  Margaret.  Mr.  Cornell  was  in  the  gro- 
ry  business  at  Flat  Bush,  L.  I.,  where  they 
vre  kept  prisoners  at  the  time  of  the  Revolu- 
jnary  war.  Aft.er  the  war  was  over  he 
oved   with     his    family    to    Lagrange,    and 


bought  a  farm  of  400  acres,  on  which  he  lived 
the  rest  of  his  life.  He  owned  a  number  of 
slaves,  which  he  freed  after  going  to  Lagrange. 
He  was  an  elder  in  the  old  Dutch  Church,  and 
was  much  respected  in  the  community. 

Gideon  Cornell,  the  great-grandfather,  who 
was  born  in  France,  enngratedto  America,  re- 
siding in  Long  Island  until  the  opening  of  the 
Revolutionary  war,  when  he  moved  to  Bucks 
county,  Penn.,  where  he  died.  He  came  to 
America  in  the  year  1736. 


WILLIAM  C.  ALBRO.      The  Albro  fam- 
ily,  of  which  this  well-known  resident 

of  Pokeepsie  is  a  worthy  representative  in 
this  generation,  has  a  notable  history,  as  will 
be  seen  by  the  following  chronological  record: 
(I)  John  Albro,  born  in  England  in  1617, 
died  December  14,  1712,  at  Portsmouth, 
R.  I. ;  married  Mrs.  Dorothy  Potter,  widow  of 
Nathaniel  Potter. 


Embarked  on  ship  "  Francis"  from   Ipswich, 
under  care  of  Wilham  Freeborn,  landing  at 

Went  with  Freeborn  to  the  Colony  of  Rhode 


16:M. 
England, 
Boston. 

1638. 
Island. 

1644.  Served  as  corporal  in  the  Colonial  militia, 
rising  successively  to  lieutenant,  captain  and  major. 

1649.  Was  chosen  to  view  cattle;  was  clerk  of 
weights  and  measures,  and  member  of  the  town  council. 

1660.  Was  commissioner  and  member  of  the  com- 
mittee to  receive  contributions  for  agents  in  England. 

1666.  Appointed  with  two  others,  to  take  areas  of 
highways  and  driftways  not  set  off. 

1670.  With  three  others,  loaned  the  Colony  seven 
pounds  on  account  of  town  of  Portsmouth. 

1671.  Elected  assistant  in  some  public  office. 

1676.  With  three  others,  was  the  committee  for  the 
care  and  disposal  of  a  barrel  of  powder  for  the  supply  of 
Portsmouth;  also  with  others,  was  a  commissioner  to 
order  watch  and  ward  of  the  Island  during  King  Philip's 
war;  also  a  member  of  a  court  martial  at  Newport  to  try 
certain  Indians. 

1677.  Committee  with  others  in  the  matter  of  injur- 
ious and  illegal  acts  of  Connecticut. 

1679.  One  of  a  committee  to  draw  up  a  letter  to  the 
King,  giving  account  of  the  Territory  of  Mount  Hope,  and 
of  the  late  war  with  the  Indians;  also  appointed  with  one 
other  to  lay  out  the  western  line  of  the  Colony. 

168.5.  Major  John  Albro,  assistant  and  coroner,  sum- 
moned a  jury  in  the  case  of  an  Indian  found  dead  in  Clay 
Pit  Lands,  the  verdict  being  "That  said  Indian,  being 
much  distempered  with  drink,  was  bewildered,  and  by 
the  extremity  of  cold  lost  his  life." 

1686.  Member  of  -Sir  Edmund  Andros'  council,  and 
present  at  its  first  meeting  in  Boston,  December  30,  1686. 

1697.    Allowed  twenty  shillings  for  going  to  Boston. 

1710.  By  his  will,  dated  December  28,  proved  1713, 
he  divided  a  considerable  amount  of  real  and  personal 
property  among  his  sons  and  daughters,  and  their  chil- 
dren. He  was  buried  in  his  own  orchard.  His  children 
were:     Samuel,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  John  and  Susannah. 

(II) — John  Albro,  born  16 — ,  died  De- 
cember 4,  1724.     He  married  Mary  Stokes  in 


■ 


416 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1693.  1677 — He  was  among  those  who  were 
granted  5,000  acres  of  land,  to  be  called  East 
Greenwich.  1687 — He  was  fined  6s.  8d.  for 
refusing  to  take  oath  as  a  grand  juror.  1720 
—  His  will  proved,  December  14,  1724,  left  a 
good  estate,  both  real  and  personal.  His  chil- 
dren were:      John,  Mary,  Sarah   and  Samuel. 

(HI) — John  Albro,  born  August  23,  1694, 
died  17 — .  He  married  Abigail  Ballou  in  1713. 
In  1717  became  a  Freeman.  In  1739,  moved 
from  Portsmouth  to  New  Kingston.  Some  of 
his  children  subsequently  going  to  Exeter. 
His  children  were:  John,  Samuel,  Mary, 
Maturin,  Sarah  and  Peter. 

(IV) — -Samuel    Albro,    born    October     10, 

1716,  died  in  1767.      He  married  Alice . 

He  went  from  N.  Kingston  to  Exeter,  where 
he  passed  the  rest  of  his  days.  His  widow 
died  in  1787.  He  was  an  elder  in  the  Baptist 
Church  at  Exeter.  His  children  were:  Alice, 
Thomas,  Samuel,  Martin  and  Waite. 

(V) — Samuel  Albro,  born  October  12,  1749, 
died  in  1816.  He  married  Patience  Bull.  He 
migrated  from  Exeter  to  the  Clove  Valley, 
about  eighteen  miles  east  from  Pokeepsie, 
N.  Y.  He  returned  to  Rhode  Island  for  a 
wife,  who  was  a  descendant  of  Henry  Bull, 
Colonial  Governor  of  Rhode  Island  in  1685- 
1686.  He  introduced  an  apple  called  the 
Rhode  Island  Greening  into  Duchess  county, 
where  it  thrived  and  became  very  popular,  and 
is  still  a  marketable  winter  apple.  His  chil- 
dren were:  Thomas,  Samuel,  Waite,  Alice 
and  Hannah. 

(VI) — Thomas  Albro,  born  May  9,  1779, 
died  September  24,  1852.  He  married  Ever 
Tice.  He  lived  a  very  uneventful  life,  never 
moving  from  the  farming  section  in  which  he 
was  born.  Was  elected  a  constable  at  one 
time,  which  seems  to  have  satisfied  his  polit- 
ical ambition.  His  children  were:  Joseph, 
Samuel,  John,  Louisa,  Catherine,  William, 
and  Philo  and  Zeno  (twins). 

(VII) — Zeno  Albro,  born  June  10,  1809, 
died  November  25,  1883.  He  married  Mary 
A.  Clark  in  1847.  He  lived  in  many  different 
places  in  New  York  and  Pennsylvania;  he  was 
a  man  of  thorough  integrity,  and  much  trusted 
by  other  men.  He  did  not  seem  to  inherit  a 
taste  for  farming,  but  cast  about  for  opportuni- 
ties to  buy  and  sell  horses,  cattle,  carriages, 
merchandise  and  real  estate,  in  most  of  which 
transactions  he  showed  shrewdess  and  good 
judgment.  At  one  time  he  owned  a  farm  upon 
which  the  present  City  of  Scranton,  Pennsyl- 


vania, is  in  part  built.  His  children  were: 
William  C,  Louise  (deceased),  John  P.,  Mary 
E.,  and  Merlin. 

(VIII) — William  Clark  Albro,  born  August 
16,  1848,  married  Theodora  Rogers,  Novem- 
ber 3,  1875.  He  attended  Wesleyan  Acad- 
emy, at  Wilbraham,  Mass. ,  and  Cornell  Uni- 
versity and  Columbia  College  Law  School, 
then  under  the  management  of  Theodore  W. 
Dwight,  receiving  at  the  latter  institution  the 
degree  of  LL.  B.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
New  York  Bar  in  1874,  and  has  since  resided 
at  Pokeepsie  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. He  enjoys  a  general  practice,  and  has 
been  executor  or  administrator  of  several  im- 
portant estates.  Since  1891  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Pokeepsie  board  of  education, 
and  is  deeply  interested  in  the  public  schools. 
His  children  were:  Florence,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy, and  Edna  Clark,  who,  after  completing 
a  course  at  Lyndon  Hall  School  at  Pokeepsie. 
entered  Vassar  College  in  1895. 


EV.  JOHN  B.  WESTON,   D.  D.,  Presi- 

dent  of  the  Christian  Biblical  Institute  at 

Stanfordville,  Dutchess  Co. ,  N.  Y.,  was  born  in 
Somerset  county,  Maine,  July  6,  1821,  the  son 
of  Stephen  and  Rebecca  Weston. 

His   grandparents,    Stephen    and    Martha  1 
Weston,  were  among  the  earliest  members  of! 
the   Christian  Church  in  that  part  of  Maine,! 
and  his  parents  belonged  to  the  same  denomi-j 
nation,  his  grandfather  and  father  both  being 
deacons.      In  his  fourteenth  year  the  subject! 
of  our  sketch  was  converted,  and  baptized,  ancj 
united  with  the  same  Church.      Reared  uporj 
a   farm,  his  earlier  years  were  spent  in  harc| 
work,  to   which  he   is  indebted,  however,  foi 
the  habits  of  industry  which  have  made  his  lift 
fruitful.      His  opportunities  for  schooling  wen 
meagre,  but  he  learned  easily,  and  by  faithfu 
use   of  such   advantages  as   he   had,  and  im 
proving  his  leisure  moments  at  home,  he  mad) 
unusual  progress  in   study,    standing  high   i 
ordinary    branches,    and    gaining    a   thorougi 
knowledge  of  algebra,  geometry,  trigonometr}' 
surveying  and  navigation  by  private  study,  wit 
his  father's  aid.     At  seventeen  he  began  teacl 
ing  school  in  winters;    and   from   eighteen  i 
twenty-two,  at  other  seasons  of  the  year,  1 
attended  the  Academy  at  Bloomfield,  Main 
when  he  could  be  spared  frqm  the  farm  wor 
making  the  equivalent  about  four  terms  in  a 


I 


IF 


.    yj^  %^2dti^^^^ 


I 


f 


r 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


417 


In  this  time  he  prepared  for  college  in  Latin 
and  Greek,  and  gained  proficiency  in  French 
and  other  advanced  branches  of  a  college 
course;  but  his  means  would  not  permit  him 
to  go  to  college  at  that  time.  He  attended 
the  first  Sunday-school  organized  in  his  native 
place,  and  at  sixteen  years  of  age  he  became  a 
teacher  of  a  class.  At  about  the  same  age  he 
assisted  in  organizing  the  Young  People's  Total 
Abstinence  Society,  the  first  society  pledged  to 
total  abstinence  that  he  had  ever  known,  and 
was  one  of  its  first  officers.  He  has  from  that 
time  taken  an  active  interest  in  Temperance 
work.  From  the  time  of  his  conversion,  and 
especially  from  his  seventeenth  year,  he  was 
interested  in  all  religious  work,  and  had  a 
strong  impression  that  it  was  his  duty  to  enter 
the  ministry,  though  his  natural  timidity  made 
him  shrink  from  the  work.  This  conviction 
oecame  so  urgent  that  in  1843,  before  he  was 
:wenty-two,  he  united  with  the  Maine  Central 
Christian  Conference,  and  was  approved  as  a 
icentiate.     In  August  of  that  year  he  accepted 

I  call  to  a  small  church  in  West  Newbury, 
tiass.  In  1844  he  was  ordained,  and  con- 
inued  to  minister  to  his  first  charge  until 
846,  spending  some  time  in  Boston,  however, 

II  the  study  of  Hebrew  with  Dr.  Eli  Noyes, 
nd  of  elocution  with  James  E.  Murdoch,  the 
tagedian.     In  1846  he  was  called  to  be  office 

litor  and  publishing  agent  of  the  "Herald  of 

lospel   Liberty,"  then   published  at   Exeter, 

'.  H.     After  seven   months  there  he  moved 

ith  it  to  Newburyport,  Mass.,  and  in  the  fol- 

vving  year  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  Christian 

hurch  at  Skowhegan,  Maine,  where  hepreached 

ree  years.     He  was  married  in   1849  to  his 

rst  wife,  Miss  Nancy  McDonald,  who  proved 

1  him  a  true  helper. 

In  1830  he  was  a  delegate   to,   and  one   of 

Rp  vice-presidents  of,  the  Christian  Convention, 
|i  at  Marion,  N.  Y.,  where  the  denomina- 
m  determined  to  establish  Antioch  College. 
;irly  in  1852,  he  became  pastor  of  the  Chris- 
n  Church  in  Portland,   Me.,   and  remained 

I  til  October,  1853,  when,  to  fulfill  his  long- 
layed  wish  for  a  collegiate  education,  he  en- 
fed  the  first  class  in  Antioch  College,  of  Yel- 
»  Springs,    Ohio,    of  which    Hon.    Horace 
inn  was  president,  graduating  in   1857.     At 
?  end  of  his  third  year  he  was  invited  by 
sident  Mann  to  take  the  position  of  Princi- 
]!  of  the  Preparatory  Department;  but  he  de- 
<ned,  accepting  the  appointment,   however, 

<  er  his  graduation,   when  it  was  again  ten- 
27  ° 


dered.  During  the  war  the  entire  responsibil- 
ity of  the  College  was  on  his  shoulders.  At  the 
close  he  became  professor  of  Greek,  remaining 
until  1 88 1,  making  twenty-eight  years  at  An- 
tioch. In  October,  1 881,  he  was  elected  Pres- 
ident of  the  Christian  Biblical  Institute,  as  suc- 
cessor to  Dr.  Austin  Craig,  and  assumed  the 
position  January  i,  1882.  During  the  fifteen 
years  in  which  he  has  held  this  position  the 
Institute  has  had  a  steady  growth  and  improve- 
ment. The  endowment  funds  have  been  more 
than  quadrupled;  two  resident  professors  and 
one  non-resident  professor  have  been  added  to 
the  Faculty;  the  courses  of  study  have  been  re- 
organized, and  the  standard  of  requirements 
raised.  Students  have  gone  out  every  year 
from  the  school,  who  are  doing  valuable  service 
and  holding  important  positions  as  ministers  of 
the  Gospel.  Besides  being  the  President  of  the 
school  and  giving  daily  lectures,  he  has  done 
other  professorial  work  usually  devolving  upon 
several  Chairs.  Since  1891  he  has  also  been 
the  Treasurer  of  the  Institute,  and  the  oversight 
of  the  property  and  the  management  of  its 
funds  have  been  in  his  hands,  and  important 
improvements  have  been  made  in  the  buildings 
and  grounds.  Both  these  positions  he  still 
holds,  and  now  (1897)  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
six,  he  is  in  vigorous  health,  and  actively  dis- 
charging the  multiplied  duties  of  his  positions. 
Dr.  Weston's  first  wife  died  in  May,  1858, 
and  in  June,  i860,  he  married  a  classmate. 
Miss  Achsah  E.  Waite,  of  Chicago,  who  has 
been  his  assistant  at  Stanfordville,  as  she  was 
at  Antioch.  He  has  never  been  athletic,  but 
has  always  enjoyed  good  health,  and  had  great 
capacity  for  endurance.  During  his  forty-three 
years  of  school  work  he  has  never  once  missed 
meeting  his  classes  on  account  of  his  own 
health,  and  never  has  called  in  a  physician  to 
see  him,  except  on  the  occasion  of  a  single  ac- 
cident. Possessing  rare  intellectual  ability, 
united  with  practical  judgment  and  force  of 
character,  he  could  have  made  his  way  in  any 
sphere  of  life;  and  his  unswerving  devotion  to 
the  interests  of  the  Christian  Church,  local  and 
general,  has  made  him  a  helpful  influence  in 
many  of  her  most  important  enterprises. 


STEPHEN  HOLMES  IRELAND  (de- 
ceased) was  one  of  the  leading  and  pro- 
gressive agriculturists  of  the  town  of  Clinton, 
Dutchess  county,  where  his  entire  life  was 
passed,    his  birth  occurring  there  October  7, 


418 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1834.  The  family  was  founded  in  the  United 
States  by  three  brothers— Isaac,  William  and 
Edward  Ireland — natives  of  Wales.  The  first 
named  (who  was  grandfather  of  our  subject) 
was  married  in  Westchester  county,  N.  Y.,  to 
Phoebe  Keil,  whose  father,  Christopher,  was 
born  October  15,  I747.  and  when  eighteen 
years  of  age  came  from  Germany.  Six  children 
were  born  of  this  union,  all  now  deceased, 
namely:  Deborah,  Mary,  Hannah,  James, 
Phoebe  Eliza,  and  Ann.  Isaac  afterward 
married  Mary,  sister  of  Phoebe.  He  was  a 
Quaker,  and  carried  on  farming  for  many  years 
in  Westchester  county ;  but  the  latter  part  of 
his  life  was  passed  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of 
Clinton,  Dutchess  county. 

James  Ireland,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Westchester  county,  December  29, 
1806,  and  was  three  years  of  age  when  brought 
by  his  parents  to  the  town  of  Clinton,  where 
he  attended  school,  and  received  his  instruc- 
tion in  farming  upon  the  old  homestead  under 
the  able  direction  of  his  father,  remaining  there 
until  the  latter's  death.  In  1856  he  bought  a 
farm  of  his  own  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  which 
he  continued  to  cultivate  and  improve  until 
called  from  this  life,  June  26,  1882.  In  that 
township  he  had  married  Caroline  Hoag  (for- 
merly of  Saratoga,  N.  Y.,  and  daughter  of 
Isaac  and  Martha  (Hatfield)  Hoag),  who  died 
in  1877. 

Our  subject  was  an  only  child,  and  after 
completing  his  education  in  the  district  schools 
remained  upon  his  father's  farm  until  his  mar- 
riage, January  6,  1863,  at  White  Plains, 
Westchester  Co. ,  N.  Y.,  to  Miss  Elmira  A. 
Horton,  a  daughter  of  John  H.  and  Arna  H. 
(Park)  Horton  (Quakers),  of  White  Plains. 
Six  children  graced  this  union:  Ella  A.  and 
Irving  H.  H.,  both  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ; 
Vernon  A.,  of  Clinton  Corners,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty; Edwin  Park  Horton;-  Harry  G. ;  and  Zera 

Jay. 

Mr.  Ireland  continued  to  farm  his  father's 
place  until  1875,  when  his  wife  bought  the 
present  home  of  the  family,  where  he  remained 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  June  20,  1892. 
He  was  a  worthy  member  of  the  Christian 
Church  of  Schultzville,  and  in  politics  was  a 
Republican  after  the  war,  previous  to  which 
event  he  and  his  father  and  grandfather  were 
all  stanch  Democrats.  He  never  took  an  ac- 
tive part  in  political  affairs,  preferring  rather  to 
devote  his  time  to  his  business  interests.  He 
supported  all  feasible  plans  for  the  moral  and 


intellectual  advancement  of  the  community, 
and  was  an  important  factor  in  promoting  its 
welfare.  A  valued  citizen,  a  kind  father  anc 
affectionate  husband,  his  memory  should  be 
cherished  and  perpetuated  by  all.  He  had  in- 
herited his  father's  farm,  which,  together  with 
the  home  place,  his  widow  and  sons  now  oper- 
ate very  successfully.  Mrs.  Ireland,  a  mos' 
estimable  lady,  is  demonstrating  her  busines. 
genius  by  the  able  manner  in  which  she  is  nov 
conducting  her  affairs,  and  the  farms  now  yiel 
a  handsome  income  as  the  result  of  her  goo 
management  and  sound  judgment. 


JOHN  H.  LAMBERT  (deceased).  Amen: 
the  prosperous  agriculturists  of  the  town  ( 
Rhinebeck,  Duchess  county,  the  subject  ( 
this  sketch  took  a  leading  rank.  He  was  a  d( 
scendant  of  an  old  German  family,  who  can: 
from  the  city  of  Bredenfeld,  Mecklenbur§ 
Strelitz.  I 

John    Lambert,    his    grandfather,    settle 
upon  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Rhinebeck,  and  1[ 
and  his  wife  (formerly  Miss  Elizabeth  Sipperl;, 
were  prominent  members   of   the   communiy 
and  devout  adherents  of  the  Lutheran  Churci 
Their  only  child,  Henry  Lambert,  oursubjecij 
father,  grew  to  manhood  at  his  father's  far| 
in  that  township,  and  married  Eliza  Fraleig 
a  daughter  of  John  Fraleigh,  a  wealthy  farm 
of  Red  Hook.     After  their  marriage  they  1 
cated   upon   a   farm   in   that  township,  whe 
their  only  son,  our  subject,  was  born  Septet 
ber  18,  1820.     Their  second  child,  Emelin 
married  John  V.  Benner,  a  farmer  and  wag' 
maker. 

During  his  boyhood,  our  subject,  like  ma 
another    farmer's    boy,    desired    a    mercant 
pursuit   in   preference  to  the  routine  of  fa: 
work,  and  for  some  time  he  was  employed 
a  store  as  clerk.       Even  in  youth  he  display 
the  qualities  of  leadership,  and  became  capt; 
of  a  company  of  State  militia.      He  was  a  f 
specimen  of  manhood,  and  while  on  parade  11 
one  occasion  Gov.  Seward  singled  him  out  i 
complimentary  notice.     On  November  9,  18  L 
he  married  Miss  Louisa  Schultz,  a  native  of  te 
town  of  Clinton,  and  granddaughter  of  Ja<)b 
Schultz,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Rhinebeck.  l|r 
father,  Peter  Schultz,  spent  his  later  years  u]  n 
a  farm   in   Rhinebeck.     (The  Schultz  fany 
came  from  Mecklenburg- Strelitz.)     Her  mch- 
er's  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Sheak, 
she  was  a  representative  of  one  of  the  olist 


a 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


419 


families  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  her  ancestors 
coming  originally  from  Holland.  After  his 
marriage  Mr.  Lambert  became  a  farmer,  set- 
tling in  the  town  of  Rhinebeck.  He  tried  va- 
rious farms  at  first,  but  in  1850  he  established 
his  home  permanently  on  a  beautiful  estate  of 
1 50  acres  near  the  village  of  Rhinebeck,  and 
was  engaged  in  farming  forty-four  years,  mak- 
ing a  specialty  of  raising  hay  and  grain.  He 
was  an  active  supporter  of  any  local  improve- 
ment, his 'fine  abilities  and  public  spirit  giving 
him  wide  influence,  and  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred January  23,  1894,  was  felt  to  be  a  blow 
to  the  entire  community.  He  and  his  wife 
had  long  been  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  and  even  in  the  midst  of  his  business 
cares  he  could  always  find  time  to  assist  in 
Church  affairs.  Politically  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat, but  he  did  not  covet  office,  and  more  than 
once  declined  to  permit  the  use  of  his  name  as 
a  candidate.  His  wife  and  two  daughters, 
Addie  H.  and  Irene,  survive  him,  and  now 
conduct  the  estate  with  marked  success. 


GEORGE  W.  KETCHAM,  one  of  the 
_  prominent  and  influential  business  men  of 
Dover  Plains,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  has  for 
many  years  been  connected  with  its  banking 
interests,  holding  the  office  of  president  of  the 
Dover  Plains  National  Bank  since  1875.  The 
safe  conservative  policy  which  he  has  inaugu- 
rated commends  itself  to  the  judgment  of  all, 
and  has  secured  a  patronage  for  the  bank 
_which  makes  the  volume  of  business  transacted 
""per  its  counters  one  of  no  small  magnitude. 
Tie  success  of  the  institution  is  certainly  due 
I  a  large  measure  to  Mr.  Ketcham,  and  to-day 
ptands  among  the  strongest  financial  con- 
rns  in  the  State.  The  other  officers  are 
Bwin  Vincent,  vice-president;  Richard  P. 
etcham,  cashier;  and  George  T.  Barrett, 
ok-keeper. 

James  Ketcham,  the  paternal  grandfather 
t  the  subject  of  these  lines,  was  a  native  of 
'Ong  Island,  where,  owing  to  the  limited  means 
f  the  family  and  scarcity  of  schools  at  that 
me,  he  received  but  a  meagre  education.  At 
he  age  of  twelve  years  he  came  to  Dover 
'lains,  Dutchess  county,  poor  in  purse,  but 
ch  in  energy  and  progressiveness.  His  uncle, 
no  at  that  time  was  conducting  a  general 
ore  near  the  village,  observing  the  remark- 
l^le  energy  and  brightness  of  the  boy,  took 
iminto  his  employ  at  one  shilling  per  day; 


but  from  the  small  beginning  he  rapidly  rose. 
During  the  war  of  18 12  he  commanded  a 
company  of  militia  as  captain,  and  lent  valu- 
able aid  to  the  United  States.  In  politics  he 
was  a  Whig,  and  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Assembly  from  Dutchess  county;  also  held  the 
office  of  postmaster  at  Dover  Plains  for  over 
fourteen  years,  and  served  in  several  other 
public  positions.  His  very  eventful  life  was 
ended  in  1871,  when  he  had  attained  the  pa- 
triarchal age  of  ninty-four  years.  He  had 
married  Miss  Lois  Belding,  by  whom  he  had 
three  children:  John  M.,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject; David,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty  years; 
and  Maria,  who  became  the  wife  of  Seneca 
Mabbett. 

John  M.  Ketcham  was  born  in  the  village 
of  Dover  Plains,  Dutchess  county,  February 
14,  1807,  and  after  completing  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  he  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising at  that  place,  becoming  very  successful. 
In  the  vicinity  of  the  village  he  purchased  a 
fine  piece  of  farming  land  containing  a  marble 
quarry,  which  property  had  previously  be- 
longed to  his  father-in-law.  His  farm  was 
operated  mostly  by  hired  help,  but  he  gave 
considerable  personal  attention  to  the  conduct- 
ing of  the  quarry  in  connection  with  his  other 
business.  A  man  of  the  strictest  integrity,  and 
upright  in  all  his  dealings,  he  held  the  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  all.  He  greatly  increased 
the  fortune  left  by  his  father,  becoming  the 
possessor  of  a  handsome  property.  Like  his 
father,  he  was  a  leader  in  politics,  but  was 
the  only  one  of  the  entire  family  to  support 
the  Democratic  party;  was  three  times  elected 
a  member  of  the  Assembly,  and  was  also 
elected  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Dover  a  num- 
ber of  times. 

On  May  20,  1828,  John  M.  Ketcham  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Stevens,  daughter  of 
Ebenezer  and  Elizabeth  Stevens,  of  Dover 
Plains.  Her  maternal  grandfather,  Stephen 
Gushing,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Dover, 
Dutchess  county,  July  8,  1749,  and  July  12, 
1773,  he  married  Miss  Rachel  Foster,  who 
was  born  in  the  same  town,  July  13,  1752,  a 
daughter  of  Stephen  and  Rachel  Foster.  Mr. 
Gushing  was  called  from  this  life  October  16, 
1825,  his  wife  on  December  12,  1824.  In 
their  family  were  eleven  children,  whose  names 
and  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows:  William, 
April  30,  1774;  Jane,  May  18,  1776;  Stephen, 
May  3,  1779  (at  one  time  he  was  attorney- 
general  for  the  State  of  New  York);   Milton, 


420 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Februarys,  1781;  Elizabeth,  October  4,  1782; 
Jeremiah,  June  i,  1784;  Thomas,  December 
15,  1785;  Milton  (2),  September  7,  1787;  Deb- 
orah, November  15,  1789;  Rachel,  April  23, 
1791;  and  Catherine,  July  31,  1793.  Of  this 
family  Elizabeth  Gushing  was  a  native  of 
Dutchess  county,  and  on  June  5,  1803,  she 
became  the  wife  of  Ebenezer  Stevens,  who 
was  born  in  Dutchess  county,  April  4,  1776, 
and  died  in  1843;  her  death  occurred  Decem- 
ber 22,  1840.  In  their  family  were  six  chil- 
dren, namely:  Maria  T. ,  born  October  30, 
1804,  married  Benjamin  K.  Delevan;  Herman, 
born  May  12,  1806,  married  Miss  Lucy  Beld- 
ing;  Elizabeth  A.,  born  October  16,  1808,  was 
the  mother  of  our  subject;  Catherine,  born 
June  26,  1810,  was  married  October  11,  1831, 
to  John  R.  Preston;  William,  born  August  26, 
1 82 1,  was  married  in  June,  1842,  to  Miss 
Mary  E.  Ross;  and  Ebenezer,  born  July  27, 
1824,  was  married  in  1845  to  Miss  Sarah  K. 
Beldon. 

To  John  M.  Ketcham  and  his  estimable 
wife  were  born  nine  children,  as  follows:  (i) 
William  S.  was  born,  reared  and  educated  at 
Dover  Plains,  and  on  reaching  manhood  he 
married  Miss  Emily  Titus,  daughter  of  Judge 
Titus,  of  the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess 
county ;  he  always  took  an  active  part  in  poli- 
tics, as  a  stanch  Democrat,  and  held  several 
local  offices,  among  them  that  of  supervisor  of 
the  town  of  Dover.  (2)  John  H.  was  also 
born  in  Dover  Plains.  (3)  Maria  L.  married 
William  R.  Butts.  (4)  George  W.  is  ne.xt  in 
order  in  birth.  (5)  James  C.  and  (6)  Ebenezer 
both  died  at  the  age  of  six  years.  (7)  Eliza- 
beth C.  married  Romine  Waterbury.  (8) 
James  C.  married  Miss  Alice  F.  Meeker.  (9) 
Morris  married  Miss  Rosie  H.  Lowery,  of 
Washington,  D.  G.  The  father  of  this  family 
died  June  17,  1853,  the  mother  on  December 
21,  1888. 

George  W.  Ketcham,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  memoir,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Dover,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  in  1838,  and  re- 
ceived an  excellent  education  at  Brown  Uni- 
versity, Providence,  R.  I. ,  where  he  graduated 
in  i860.  He  then  engaged  in  the  marble  busi- 
ness at  Dover  Plains,  and  also  conducted  a 
large  farm  near  the  village  ;  but  most  of  his 
attention  was  devoted  to  the  former.  Like  his 
brothers,  he  has  always  taken  a  deep  interest 
in  political  affairs,  and  has  served  as  super- 
visor of  his  native  town.  Through  his  busi- 
ness he   has   not  only  promoted  his  own  in- 


terests, but  has  aided  in  the  advancement  and 
welfare  of  his  town  and  county.  He  stands 
high  in  financial  circles,  and  is  exceedingly 
popular  with  all  classes  of  citizens.  Generous 
and  strictly  conscientious  and  upright  in  all  his 
dealings,  his  career  is  one  that  he  can  look 
back  upon  with  just  and  pardonable  pride. 

On  February  20,  1867,  George  W.  Ketcham 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Schofield,  of  Brock- 
ville,  Canada,  in  which  city  her  father,  Augustus 
Schofield,  was  engaged  in  merchandising.  Her 
grandfather.  Dr.  Peter  Schofield,  was  a  native 
of  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  married 
Miss  Deborah  Gushing  ;  but  a  few  years  after 
the  birth  of  their  first  child  they  removed  to 
Canada,  where  he  followed  his  profession. 
Four  children  were  born  to  them  :  Augustus, 
Milton,  Elizabeth  and  Herman.  Augustus 
Schofield  was  born  at  Pawling,  Dutchess  county, 
and  was  four  years  old  when  taken  by  his  pa- 
rents to  Canada,  where  he  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools.  After  laying  aside  his  text 
books  he  commenced  merchandising  in  Brock- 
ville,  and  successfully  conducted  his  store  for 
a  number  of  years  ;  he  was  also  United  States 
consul  at  Brockville  some  twelve  years.  He 
married  Miss  Electa  Breckenridge,  daughter  of 
David  Breckenridge,  an-  officer  in  the  British 
army,  who  for  his  services  had  been  granted 
considerable  valuable  farming  land  in  Canada. 
Three  children  were  born  of  this  union  :  Will- 
iam H.  (deceased);  Elizabeth,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  seven  years,  and  Elizabeth  A.,  the  wife 
of  our  subject. 


WILLIAM  D.  BUDD,  a  prominent  man- 
ufacturer  and  speculator  of  Dutchess 

Junction,  Dutchess  county,  has  been  for  many 
years  a  leading  worker  in  the  development  of 
that  locality,  having  participated  in  some  of 
the  most  important  constructions  and  enter- 
prises undertaken  there.  He  is  a  native  of 
Phillipstown,  Putnam  county,  the  youngest i 
son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Haight  Budd, 
the  other  children  being  Martha,  Hannah, 
Jane,  Mary,  John  and  Underbill. 

During  his  childhood  his  parents  removed) 
to  Matteawan,  and  his  education  was  acquired! 
in  the  public  schools  of  that  town.  He  beganj 
to  display  his  business  ability*  at  an  early  age. 
by  speculating  in  real  estate,  improved  and; 
unimproved,  and  also  engaged  in  the  woodj 
business.  In  1848  and  1849  he  assisted  in| 
the  construction  of  the  Hudson  River  railroad, 


I 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


421 


and  was  one  of  the  first  men  to  ride  on  cars 
from  Fishkill  to  New  Hamburg,  or  "Old 
Troy, "  as  it  was  then  called.  This  was  the 
season  of  the  great  cholera  epidemic,  and  was 
marked  also  by  the  loss  of  the  steamer  "  Em- 
pire," and  the  drowning  of  many  of  her  pas- 
sengers and  crew.  The  coroner,  who  was 
called  to  hold  an  inquest  on  the  bodies,  died 
of  cholera  before  he  had  completed  the  task. 
In  1868,  the  same  year  in  which  ground  was 
broken  for  the  construction  of  the  N.  D.  &  C. 
R.  R.,  Mr.  Budd  began  the  manufacture  of 
brick,  in  partnership  with  Charles  Griggs, 
whose  interest  he  purchased  four  years  later 
for  $12,000.  He  continued  the  business  alone 
for  some  time,  and  then  sold  a  share  in  it  to 
the  Terry  Brothers,  the  partnership  then 
formed  lasting  six  years,  when  the  business  was 
put  up  for  sale  at  auction.  Mr.  Budd  bought 
in  the  plant,  and  for  the  last  eighteen  years 
has  carried  on  the  business  alone.  The  yards 
are  located  upon  a  tract  of  twenty-si.x  acres  of 
land  originally  bought  from  the  railroad,  and 
have  recently  been  enlarged  and  much  im- 
proved. He  has  always  continued  his  real- 
estate  speculations  more  or  less,  and  is  still 
interested  in  some  important  transactions  in 
that  line.  He  has  taken  part  at  times  in  vari- 
ous other  business  enterprises,  and  was  for 
many  years  a  trustee  of  the  Fishkill  Landing 
Savings  Bank. 

Mr.    Budd    married    Miss   Ann    Rogers,   a 
'laughter   of   Samuel    and    Catherine    (Scott) 
Rogers,  and   they    have    two   children,  Lizzie 
Kate,  and  Ella.     The  family  attend  the  Meth- 
odist Church,   and  Mr.   and  Mrs.  Budd    have 
always  shown  an  active  interest  in  whatever 
oncerned  the  welfare  and  advancement  of  the 
ivvn.     They  have  a  pleasant  home  at  Dutchess 
I  unction.      In  early  manhood  Mr.  Budd  was  a 
Democrat  in  politics,   later  becoming  a  Whig, 
in  1 860  he  cast  his  ballot  for  Abraham  Lin- 
coln, since  which  time  he  hasgivenhis  support  to 
lie  Republican  party.      He  held  the  office  of 
[^Hector  for  his  town  for  three  years— 1858, 
S59,  and  about   1877 — and  has  been  trustee 
)f  the  schools  of  Matteawan,  his  interest  in 
rnproved  educational  advantages  being  shown 
'y   his   able  discharge  of  the  duties   of    that 
)osition. 


^Der 


'CHARLES  F.  SEGELKEN,  the  efficient 
w^  manager  of  the  Western  Union  Telegraph 
'ffice  at  Dover  Plains,  Dutchess  county,  is  one 
'f  the  leading  residents  of  that  town.      He  is  a 


native  of  Germany,  and  was  born  in  1835,  in 
the  Grand  Duchy  of  Oldenburg,  where  his 
family  had  been  prominent  for  many  genera- 
tions. His  grandfather,  Herman  Segelken, 
was  a  highly  educated  man,  and  held  the  posi- 
tion of  captain  of  a  vessel.  He  married,  and 
reared  a  family  of  four  children:  Mary;  Ann; 
Theresa;  and  Herman,  our  subject's  father. 
Herman  Segelken,  too,  was  born  in  the  Grand 
Duchy  of  Oldenburg,  Germany,  and  after  re- 
ceiving a  liberal  education  became  a  grain  mer- 
chant and  hotel  keeper.  His  wife  was  Cath- 
erine S.  Luhrs,  also  a  native  of  Germany,  and 
our  subject  was  the  eldest  of  their  three  chil- 
dren; Heinrich  died  in  infancy;  and  Herman 
was  the  third. 

Our  subject  enjoyed  excellent  educational 
advantages  in  his  youth,  and  in  1854,  at  the 
age  of  eighteen,  he  came  to  the  United  States 
to  seek  his  fortune.  His  first  employment  was 
in  New  York  City,  where  he  remained  five  years, 
and  he  then  entered  the  service  of  the  old 
American  Telegraph  Company,  first  as  battery- 
man  and  then  as  lineman.  In  1861  he  was 
sent  to  Dover  Plains  as  a  line  repairer  and  in 
1864,  having  learned  the  ait  of  telegraphy,  he 
was  appointed  operator,  and  assistant  agent  of 
the  Harlem  road.  In  the  following  year  he 
was  appointed  agent  by  J.  C.  Buckhouse,  su- 
perintendent, and  later  was  made  the  manager 
of  the  western  office  at  that  place,  under  Geo. 
B.  Prescott,  superintendent.  He  takes  an  ac- 
tive part  in  local  affairs,  and  is  well  liked  wher- 
ever he  is  known.  In  politics  he  is  an  ardent 
Republican,  and  he  has  served  as  health  officer 
of  the  town.  He  is  prominent  in  Masonic  cir- 
cles, and  is  a  charter  member  of  Dover  Lodge 
No.  666,  which  was  organized  in  1867,  and  he 
has  held  the  office  of  secretary  for  twenty-six 
years. 

In  1866,  Mr.  Segelken  married  Miss  Jean- 
nette  L.  Talladay,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the 
old  families  of  the  town  of  Dover,  and  four 
children  have  blessed  their  union:  Herman, 
born  December  15,  1866;  Charles  F.,  Jr., 
August  19,  1879;  George  W.,  September  16, 
1882;  and  Harrison,  June  13,  1884.  All  are 
living  except  George  W. ,  who  died  in  1883. 

Isaac  Talladay,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Segelken,  was  born  and  educated  in  the  town 
of  Dover,  where  he  engaged  in  agriculture. 
He  married  Miss  Martha  Griffin,  and  had  eight 
children:  Isaac;  Jacob,  who  died  in  childhood; 
Seneca;  John;  Neilson,  father  of  Mrs.  Segel- 
ken;    Alex;    and    Martha.      Neilson  Talladay 


422 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


was  also  a  native  of  Dover,  where  he  carried 
on  carpentering.  He  married  Miss  EHzabeth 
Colby,  the  daughter  of  a  prominent  farmer  of 
the  same  town,  and  had  five  children:  Phoebe; 
Jeannette  L. (Mrs.  Segelken);  Mary;  Elizabeth; 
and  Frank,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  else- 
where. 

MEV.  JOSHUA  COLLINS,  a  well-known 
retired    minister     of     the     Presbyterian 

Church,  has  been  for  nearly  twenty  years  a 
resident  of  Wappingers  Falls,  where  his  quiet 
but  earnest  and  effective  work  in  various  move- 
ments tending  to  moral  and  intellectual  prog- 
ress is  a  recognized  influence  for  good. 

He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Val- 
ley, Dutchess  county,  July  lo,  1814,  and  his 
ancestry  on  both  sides  was  of  English  origin. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  Joshua  Collins  (for 
whom  he  was  named),  was  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island,  but  settled  in  Dutchess  county  in  earlj' 
manhood.  He  married  Mary  White,  who  was 
also  of  English  descent,  and  reared  a  family  of 
six  children:  Martin  W. ,  our  subject's  father; 
Oliver,  a  leading  resident  of  Pleasant  Valley,  a 
school  teacher  by  occupation,  and  for  many 
years  a  Justice  of  the  Peace;  Joshua,  a  farmer 
in  Illinois;  Gideon,  a  farmer  in  Franklin 
county,  N.  Y. ;  Martha,  who  married  Mr. 
Viele,  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  and 
Susan,  the  wife  of  Caleb  Angeline,  a  business 
man  of  Poughkeepsie. 

Martin  W.  Collins  was  born  at  the  old 
homestead  in  the  town  of  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess 
county,  and  lived  there  until  his  marriage 
to  Anna  Foreman,  a  daughter  of  Isaac 
Foreman,  a  prominent  agriculturist  of  Pleas- 
ant Valley.  The  early  ancestors  of  this  fam- 
ily also  came  from  England.  Shortly  after 
his  marriage,  Mr.  Collins  settled  upon  a  farm 
in  Pleasant  Valley,  and  he  became  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  that  locality,  taking  great  inter- 
est in  the  work  of  the  Democratic  party,  and 
other  public  movements,  holding  the  office  of 
Alms  House  Keeper,  and  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  many  years.  He  and  his  wife  were  Presby- 
terians in  faith.  He  died  in  1876,  and  Mrs. 
Collins  survived  him  ten  years.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  the  eldest  of  their  four 
children;  Isaac  is  a  well-kmown  resident  of 
Poughkeepsie,  where  his  son,  Martin  Collins,  is 
also  attaining  to  a  prominent  place;  Mary  Ann 
married  William  Gurney,  a  business  man  of 
New  York  City,  but  both  are  now  deceased, 
and  Rhoda  lives  at  Wappingers  Falls. 


Rev.  Mr.  Collins  spent  his  youth  upon  the 
farm;  but  his  abilities  and  inclinations  fitted 
him  for  a  wider  sphere  of  action,  and  at  the 
age  of  twenty-three  he  entered  Yale  College; 
but  his  eyes  failed  him,  and  after  one  year 
there  he  was  compelled  to  give  up  his  inten- 
tion of  graduating.  From  1842  to  1847  he 
was  in  charge  of  the  Mathematical  and  Clas- 
sical departments  of  West  Point  College;  but  he 
then  retired  to  the  old  homestead  in  Pleasant 
Valley.  In  1877  he  moved  to  Wappingers 
Falls,  and  in  1880  he  was  united  in  matri- 
mony with  Miss  Isabella  Johnston,  a  lady  of 
Scotch  descent.  Although  unfortunately  de- 
terred from  carrying  out  his  plans  in  early  life, 
Mr.  Collins  has  been  a  thorough  student,  fol- 
lowing many  branches  of  learning  as  oppor- 
tunity afforded,  and  his  years  have  been  faithful 
in  good  works.  He  was  ordained  a  clergyman 
of  the  Congregational  Church  in  1859,  at 
Arlington,  Vt.,  and  two  years  later  was  takeni 
into  the  North  River  Presbytery,  and  he  ha 
preached  effectively  in  several  places.  H^ 
takes  an  active  and  intelligent  interest  in  pul 
lie  affairs,  is  a    Democrat  in  politics,  and  ha 


been    for    many    years 
temperance  reform. 


a    leading    worker 


IDl 


DR.  ISAAC  NEWTON   MEAD.      Many  0 1 
'  the  most  prominent  citizens  of  Dutches.'! 

county  served  their  country  during  the  dart 
days  of  the  Rebellion,  making  a  record  hon-j 
orable  and  glorious.  Among  these  brave  boy; 
who  "  wore  the  blue  "  is  the  gentleman  wh 
name  introduces  this  sketch.  He  is  now  ail 
honored  resident  of  Amenia,  where  for  manjl 
years  he  has  been  successfully  engaged  in  busi-j 
ness. 

The  Doctor  is  a  native  of  Dutchess  couni 
ty,  born   in   the  town    of  Amenia,  Septembel 
13,   1840,  and  traces  his  ancestry  back  to  Nal 
than   Mead,  who  died   February  24,  1777,  al 
the    age  of  eighty-six  years.     Job  Mead,  thf 
son    of  the   latter,  came  to    Dutchess   count! 
from  Horse   Neck,  Long   Island,   at   an  earl 
date,  and  bought  a  farm  from   the  Nine  Pan 
ners  in   the   town  of    Amenia,   where,  durin 
the  remainder  of  his  life,  he   carried  on  agr 
cultural  pursuits.     When  the  colonies  resolve 
to  throw  off  the   British  yoke,  he  joined  ll 
Continental  army,  and  served  through  the  w;| 
of    the   Revolution   as  captain.      He   marri(| 
Miss  Mercy  King,  and  to  them  were  born  fi' 


L 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


428 


children:  Job,  Jr.,  the  grandfather  of  the 
Doctor;  Nathan;  Joshua;  Mercy  and  AHce. 
The  mother  of  these  children  died  August  28, 
1812,  and  the  father  passed  away  April  23, 
1819,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years. 

Job  Mead,  Jr.,  spent  his  boyhood  days  on 
the  home  farm  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  and, 
like  his  father,  he  also  took  up  arms  against 
Great  Britain,  serving  in  the  war  of  1812. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ruth 
Hebard,  who  died  January  29,  1808,  at  the 
age  of  forty-six  years,  and  they  had  six  chil- 
dren: Nancy,  Sarah,  Mary,  Henry,  John  K. 
and  Barak.  The  grandfather's  death  occurred 
January  12,  1838,  when  he  was  aged  seventy- 
seven  years. 

John  K.  Mead,  the   father  of  our  subject, 
was  born   September  6,  1799,  on  the  home- 
stead farm  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  where  his 
early  life  was  passed  in  aiding  in  the  work  of 
the  fields,  and  in  attending  the  district  schools 
of  the  neighborhood.      All  of  his  active  busi- 
ness life    was  devoted  to  the  improvement  and 
cultivation  of  the  home  farm.     On  February 
28,    1827,   he  married  Miss  Jane   A.    Suther- 
land, who  was  born  November   17,  1807,  and 
died   April    20.    1885.      Six    children    blessed 
their  union:     Sarah  Esther,  born  September 
II,    1829,    married   E.    \V.    Simmons;    Mary 
Jane,  born  July  3,  1832,  married  Rev.  E.  W. 
Clark,  a  missionary  to   India;  John  F.,  born 
March    16,    1834,    died  September  29,    1888; 
Isaac   N.    is    next   in    order  of    birth;  Henry 
Sutherland,    born  May    25,  1842,    is  living  in 
Millerton,  N.  Y. ;  Ruth  Alida,  born  June   11, 
S53,   married  Charles  Benham,    of  Amenia. 
i-ieligiously,  the  father   was  a  Baptist,  taking 
an  active  part  in  the  work   of  his   Church,  in 
^vhich  he  served  as  deacon  for  many  years, 
■nd  was  also  quite  prominent  in  public  affairs, 
eing  a  member  of  the   New  York  Assembly 
1  1844,  and  serving  as  supervisor  of  Amenia 
nd  justice  of  the  peace.      His  first   vote  was 
:ast  in  support  of  the  Whig  party,  and  on  its 
iissolution  he  became   a  stalwart  Republican. 
le  died  March  27,  1873,  passing  away  at  the 
nd  of  a  long  and  well-spent  life. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  Dr.  Mead  were 
assed  upon  the  old  home  farm,  and  he  ob- 
ained  his  literary  instructions  in  the  district 
chools  and  the  Amenia  Seminary.  In  1857 
le  entered  a  store  in  Smithfield,  town  of  Amenia, 
^here  he  clerked  for  one  year,  and  then  was 
imilarly  employed  by  Oliver  Chamberlain  at 
vmenia.     In  the  spring  of   1859  he  began  the 


study  of  medicine  at  Millerton,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, with  Dr.  Lucius  P.  Woods,  and  the  follow- 
ing fall  took  a  partial  course  in  the  Berkshire 
Medical  College,  at  Pittsfield.  Mass.  In  1859- 
60  he  attended  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons  at  New  York  City,  after  which  he 
returned  to  study  at  Millerton. 

In  response  to  the  call  of  the  general  gov- 
ernment for  volunteers  to  defend  our  national 
life.  Dr.  Mead  enlisted  in  the  fall  of  1862  as  a 
private  in  Company  A,  150th  N.  Y.  V.  I.;  on 
the  following  Christmas  Day  was  transferred 
from  this  regiment  to  the  5th  N.  Y.  C.  as  hos- 
pital steward,  and  in  the  fall  of  1864  was  pro- 
moted to  assistant-surgeon.  He  remained  in 
active  service  with  that  command  until  August, 
1865,  when  he  was  mustered  out  at  Harts 
Island.  He  escaped  uninjured,  but  had  two 
horses  shot  under  him — one  at  Hanover,  Penn., 
June  30,  1863,  and  the  other  at  Winchester, 
Va.  He  was  always  found  at  his  post  of  duty, 
gallantly  defendmg  the  old  flag,  and  saw  much 
hard  service,  participating  in  the  following 
battles:  Upperville  and  Aldie,  Va. ;  Hanover, 
Penn.;  Gettysburg;  Barnesboro;  Hagerstown, 
Md. ;  Falling  Waters;  Culpeper;  Brandy  Sta- 
tion; Wilderness;  Spottsylvania;  North  and 
South  Anna  River;  Cold  Harbor;  Petersburg; 
raid  to  Richmond;  Winchester;  Cedar  Creek; 
Fisher's  Hill;  Waynesboro;  Charlotteville;  Ap- 
pomatox;  and  Five  Forks.  The  5th  N.  Y.  C. 
served  under  Gens.  Sheridan,  Kilpatrick  and 
Custer.  When  hostilities  had  ceased.  Dr. 
Mead  returned  to  New  York,  and  again  en- 
tered the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons, 
where  he  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1866.  For 
one  year  he  then  engaged  in  practice  in  Amenia, 
then  in  1868  removed  to  Millerton,  where  he 
practiced  for  the  same  length  of  time,  when 
he  again  came  to  Amenia. 

On  January  13,  1869,  the  Doctor  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Julia  Mygatt,  daughter  of  Abram 
P.  Mygatt,  and  they  now  have  one  child,  Alice. 
Since  his  marriage  the  Doctor  has  successfully 
followed  his  chosen  profession  in  Amenia.  In 
1873  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Bart- 
lett  &  Mead,  handling  drugs,  groceries,  hard- 
ware, agricultural  implements,  grass  seeds, 
etc.,  which  connection  continued  until  1889, 
when  Horace  B.  Murdock  bought  out  the  in- 
terest of  Mr.  Bartlett. 

Socially,  Dr.  Mead  holds  membership  with 
Amenia  Lodge  No.  672,  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  which 
he  served  as  first  master;  with  John  M.  Greg- 
ory Post,  G.  A.  R. ,  Department  of  Connecticut, 


424 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHWAL  RECORD. 


No.  59;  and  Cavalry  Society  of  the  Army  of 
the  United  States.  In  politics  the  Doctor 
affiliates  with  the  Democratic  party,  although 
his  first  vote  for  President  was  cast  for  the 
martyred  Abraham  Lincoln.  In  religious  be- 
lief he  is  a  Presbyterian,  belonging  to  the 
Church  of  that  denomination  in  Amenia.  He 
has  won  his  way  to  the  regard  of  the  people 
with  whom  he  comes  in  contact  in  his  daily 
rounds  by  his  ready  tact  and  kindly  sympathy, 
and  is  as  faithful  to  his  country  in  days  of 
peace  as  in  the  dark  days  of  the  Rebellion. 


E 


\DGAR  M.   VANDERBURGH,    a    farmer 


and  stock  raiser,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Canaan,  Columbia  county,  August  26,  1820, 
and  is  the  son  of  Martin  and  Mary  (Halstead) 
Vanderburgh. 

Col.  James  Vanderburgh,  great-grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  a  farmer  in  the  town  of 
Beekman.  His  father  was  of  Dutch  descent, 
and  was  probably  born  in  Holland.  Col.  Van- 
derburgh served  all  through  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  Washington  and  La  Fayette  made 
his  home  their  stopping  place.  The  Vander- 
burgh mansion,  which  was  built  some  time 
prior  to  the  Revolution,  was  the  first  substan- 
tial house  in  Beekman.  It  stood  about  one- 
quarter  of  a  mile  northeast  of  the  village  of 
Poughquag,  and  was  torn  down  in  i860.  It 
was  built  of  wood  and  stone,  and  a  broad,  cov- 
ered veranda  extended  across  the  front  of  it. 
The  slaves  had  quarters  in  the  basement.  In 
this  house  Col.  James  Vanderburgh  had  eight- 
een children  born  to  him,  all  of  whom  reached 
maturity,  and  whose  descendants  are  reckoned 
among  the  solid  and  substantial  residents  of 
Dutchess  county  to-day.  It  is  said  that  a 
"Tory"  plot  was  once  hatched  to  kill  him  in 
his  own  house,  but  was  frustrated  by  his  wife, 
who  barricaded  the  mansion  so  effectually  that 
the  "Tories  "  despaired  of  their  purpose  and 
ran  away.  It  was  after  that  event  that  Col. 
Vanderburgh  entertained  Gen.  Washington  at 
his  hospitable  table.  Many  traditions  clustered 
around  this  old  house,  and  it  is  a  pity  such  a 
historic  spot  should  have  been  blotted  out. 

Col.  Vanderburgh  was  born  September  4, 
1729,  and  died  April  4,  1794.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Margaret  Noxon  on  September  29, 
1753,  and  to  them  the  following  children  were 
born  :  Elizabeth,  Henry,  Bartholomew,  James, 
Magdalen,  Peter  and  Stephen.      Mrs.  Vander- 


burgh died  August  9,  1766.  On  October  25, 
1767,  Col.  Vanderburgh  married  Miss  Helen 
Clark,  and  these  children  were  born  :  William, 
Margaret,  Richard,  Gabriel  L.,  Egbert  B., 
Clarissa,  George  W.,  Paulina,  Almira,  Federal 
and  Caroline.  In  "The  Surrogate",  a  maga- 
zine published  in  New  York,  March,  1891,  ap- 
pears the  following:  "Col.  James  Vander- 
burgh was  one  of  the  most  influential  citizens 
of  Beekman,  Dutchess  county,  and  was  de- 
scended from  Holland  ancestors,  who  settled 
at  an  early  day  in  that  region.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Provincial  Congress  in  1776, 
and  during  the  Revolutionary  war  was  a  zeal- 
ous friend  of  the  patriot  cause,  and  while  Gens. 
Washington  and  La  Fayette  were  in  his  vicin- 
ity he  entertained  them  and  their  staffs  at  his 
home."  In  later  life  he  followed  farming  in 
Beekman,  where  he  died. 

Henry  Vanderburgh,  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Beekman.  He 
married  and  located  in  the  town  of  Hyde  Park, 
where  he  reared  the  following  family  of  chil- 
dren: Lewis,  Margaret,  Martin,  Fannie,  John, 
Richard,  Lucinda,  Eliza,  Maria  and  Katherine. 
The  grandfather  died  in  Hyde  Park  in  May, 
1 841;  his  wife  had  passed  away  several  years 
previous.  Henry  Vanderburgh  was  a  captain 
in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  participated  in 
the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 

Martin  Vanderburgh  attained  his  majoritj 
in  Hyde  Park,  and  was  a  merchant  and  schoo 
teacher.      He    married    Miss    Mary  Halstead, 
who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Clinton.     Hei 
father,    Richard    Halstead,    was    a    native  o 
Westchester  county;  he  married  a  Miss  Griffin 
and  they  had  a  large  family  of  children.     Afte 
their    marriage     Mr.    and    Mrs.    Vanderburgl 
moved  to   Canaan,  Columbia  county,  locatinj 
on  a  farm;  they  became  the   parents  of   nim 
children,    namely:      Emeline,    Susan,    Oscar 
Edgar  M.,    John,   Richard,   Annie  E.,  Maria 
and  Lucinda.     Of  these,  Emeline  died  unmar 
ried;  Susan  married  V.  J.  Wilcox,  a  farmer! 
Columbia  county;   Oscar  is  a   retired  farme 
in  the  town   of    Chatham,   Columbia  count}; 
John  (deceased)  was  a  farmer  and  merchanlj 
Richard  was  also  a  farmer  and  merchant,  ani 
is  now  deceased;  Annie  E.  became  the  wife  (j 
Sylvester  S.  Kady,  a  merchant  of  Jamestowi 
Maria   married    Rev.    C.    W.   Havens,   and    ! 
now    deceased;  Lucinda    became   the  wife  < 
E.  W.  Levensworth,  a  farmer  and  landlord  i 
Columbia  county.     The  parents  of  this  fanii  I 
went  to  Columbia  county  in   1820,  where  i\ 


ft 


*ll 


o.  /re  €/ti/^icA 


4 


« 
I 


i 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


425 


father  died  in  1864,  and  the  mother  in  1866; 
in  politics,  Mr.  Vanderburgh  was  a  Whig,  and 
in  religious  faith  both  he  and  his  wife  adhered 
to  the  Society  of  Friends. 

Edgar  M.  Vanderburgh,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  the  farm  in 
Columbia    county,   and    attended   the   district 
school   until  fourteen  years  of   age,  when  he 
went  to  Canaan  Center    Academy.      He  was 
obliged  to  earn  his  own  living,  so  taught  school 
in  winters  and  attended  them  in  summers;  but 
failing  health  prevented  him  from  completing 
the  classical  course.      He  married   Miss  Han- 
nah Sutherland  in   1844,  and  they  had  three 
:hildren:     Anna,  who  married  Philip  J.  Sher- 
man,  a    farmer    and    school    teacher;  Amelia 
Tiarried  Rev.  U.  Symonds,  and  died  in  1882; 
Henry  is  at  home.      In  1845  our  subject  moved 
0  the  town  of    Stanford,    where  he  farmed, 
ind  where  his  wife  died  in  1853.      In  1870  he 
narried  Mrs.    Kate   (Sackett)  Lockwood,   the 
vidow  of  John   F.    Lockwood,  and   moved  to 
lis  present  place  at  Lithgow.      His  wife  is  a 
lescendant  of  one  of  the  old  families.      Mr. 
anderburgh   was  originally   a   Whig,   voting 
rst  for   Henry  Clay,  and  since  the  organiza- 
bn  of  the  Republican  party  he  has  supported 
at  every  National  election,  including  that  of 
;^96.     He  was  elected  superintendent  of  com- 
lon  schools  in  1849,  and  again  in  1850,  '51, 
\2,  and  '53;  in   1857-58,  he  was  elected  su- 
crvisor  of  the  town  of  Stanford;  in  1864  he 
IS  elected  superintendent  of  the  county  poor, 
ng  the  first  incumbent  to  that  office  in  the 
junty,    and    he   held    it   for    si.x    consecutive 
;ars. 

Mr.  Vanderburgh  is  a  firm  believer  in  the 

hristian  religion;  that  Christian  unity  should 

nbrace  the  faithful  of  all  denominations;  that 

rist  is  more  than  creed;  that  Christianity  is 

Ein  sect;  and  that  Christian  character 
je  the  test  of    Christian    fellowship, 
lowing   lines    represent   some   of    his 
axims: 
: 


M 


What  conscience  dictates  to  be  done, 

Or  warns  me  not  to  do, 
This  teach  me  more  than  hell  to  shun, 

That  more  than  heav'n  pursue. 


■^, 


each  me  to  feel  another's  woe, 
To  hide  the  faults  I  see; 
That  mercy  I  to  others  show, 
That  mercy  show  to  me. 

f  I  am  right,  Thy  grace  impart! 
Still  in  the  right  to  stay; 
If  I  am  wrong,  ohi  teach  my  heart 
To  find  that  better  way. 


RS.  MATILDA  VAIL  NOXON.  Among 
the  well-known  pioneer  families  of  the 
town  of  Unionvale,  Dutchess  county,  the  Vails 
have  always  held  an  honored  place.  Each 
generation  has  been  engaged  mainlj'  in  tilling 
the  soil,  and  industry,  frugality,  and  progress- 
ive spirit  of  the  typical  American  farmer  have 
been  marked  characteristics. 

Moses  Vail,  the  grandfather  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  born  and  educated  in  the 
town  of  Unionvale,  and  established  his  home 
there  upon  a  farm.  He  and  his  wife,  Phcebe 
Losee,  had  eleven  children:  (i)  James,  a 
farmer,  married  Anna  Montfort,  and  had  six 
children,  of  whom,  Stephen  M.,  a  clergyman, 
married  Louise  Cushman;  Isaac  M.  married 
Mary  Wheeler;  Susan  L.  married  Rev.  James 
Runyon;  Phoebe  A.  married  Henry  Segine; 
Cordelia  E.  married  John  Segine;  and  James 
W.  died  in  young  manhood.  (2)  Isaac  mar- 
ried Rebecca  Vail,  ajid  had  one  child — 
George  W.  (now  deceased;.  (3)  Stephen  died 
at  an  early  age.  (4)  Thomas  married  Susan 
A.  Barlow,  and  had  five  children — Elisha  B., 
who  is  single;  Phoebe  (Mrs.  Charles  Elmore); 
Maria  J.,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Pultz;  Caroline  (Mrs. 
Presten);  and  Louisa,  unmarried.  (5)  John 
is  mentioned  below.  (6)  Lavina  married  Tunis 
Van  Benschoten,  and  had  seven  children — - 
Phoebe  Ann  (Mrs.  James  Thurston);  Mary 
(Mrs.  Elisha  French);  Sarah  (Mrs.  Jones); 
Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Bronson);  Jennie;  Catherine 
White;  and  Phcebe  (Mrs.  Philo  Vincent).  (7) 
Mary  married  Levi  Vincent,  and  had  eleven 
children — Phebe  (Mrs.  J.  Velie);  Isaac  (de- 
ceased); Deborah  (deceased);  Gideon;  Piatt 
Thomas  (deceased);  Lavina  (Mrs.  Brown) 
Edwin;  Chester  (deceased);  Albert  (deceased) 
and  Mary  Ida  (Mrs.  Phelps).  (8)  Elias  mar- 
ried Jane  A.  Cook.  (9)  Simon  married  Mary 
Potter,  and  had  six  children — Henrietta  (Mrs. 
Helms);  Fredrick;  Edwin  (deceased); Clarence, 
who  married  Maria  Bartlett;  Alice  (deceased); 
and  Evelenia  (unmarried).  (10)  Moses  mar- 
ried Hester  Bussing,  and  had  no  children;  he 
was  well  educated,  and  practiced  law  in  New 
York  City,  but  died  at  Saratoga,  N.  Y. ,  in 
1888.  (11)  Piatt  married  Amelia  A.  Davis, 
and  had  five  children — James  D.,  who  mar- 
ried Phoebe  Vincent;  Julia  and  Lavina,  who 
are  not  married;  Jesse,  who  died  in  the  army 
in  18(64;  and  Moses  (deceased). 

John  Vail,  our  subject's  father,  was  born 
at  Verbank,  Dutchess  county,  in  November, 
1800,  and  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  the 


426 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


town.  His  main  occupation  was  farming,  but 
he  was  also  engaged  in  mercantile  business,  and 
conducted  a  woolen-mill  at  Verbank  for  some 
time.  He  married  Elizabeth  Vincent,  and 
had  ten  children:  (i)  Sarah,  born  February 
8,  1828,  married  Jacob  Baker,  a  blacksmith 
of  Freedom  Plains,  and  is  now  deceased.  (2) 
Matilda  is  mentioned  below.  (3)  Loretta,  born 
April  4,  1 83 1,  remained  single  all  her  life.  (4) 
Samuel,  born  July  4,  1832,  was  a  carpenter 
by  trade,  and  had  four  children — Libbie  (wife 
of  Leonard  Secord);  Charles  (who  married 
Carrie  Cass),  William  and  Abbie  (both  de- 
ceased). (5)  Mary,  born  October  13,  1834, 
married  Simon  Losee,  and  has  two  children — • 
Lizzie  and  Wesley.  (6)  Martha,  born  January 
14,  1836,  was  educated  in  Amenia  Seminary, 
became  a  successful  teacher,  and  is  now  de- 
ceased. (7)  Rebecca  (deceased),  born  Octo- 
ber I,  1837,  married  Richard  Hall,  a  farmer 
of  the  town  of  Beeknian,  Dutchess  county, 
and  had  four  children — Everett;  Libbie  (de- 
ceased); Herbert  and  Minnie.  (8)  Stephen, 
born  February  23,  1839,  is  a  carpenter  by  oc- 
cupation. (9)  James  (deceased),  born  Febru- 
ary 22,  1 84 1,  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and 
he  and  his  wife  had  one  daughter,  Sarah  (now 
Mrs.  Richard  Case).  (10)  George,  born  May 
23,  1843,  is  a  well-known  dairyman  of  Union- 
vale;  he  married  Miss  Phoebe  Noxon,  and  has 
three  children — Henry,  Hettie  and  John. 

Matilda  Vail  first  saw  the  light  September 
14,  1829,  at  the  old  home  in  Verbank.  She 
was  educated  there,  and  later  became  the  wife 
of  Dewitt  C.  Noxon,  son  of  Abram  Noxon,  a 
well-to-do  farmer.  Mr.  Noxon  followed  mer- 
cantile pursuits  in  early  life,  and  then  for  a 
time  engaged  in  farming,  but  he  spent  his  later 
years  in  New  York  City  on  the  police  force. 
He  bravely  served  his  country  in  the  Civil  war 
as  a  member  of  Company  L  128th  N.  Y.  V.  L, 
but  was  discharged  on  account  of  ill  health. 
He  died  in  1870.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Noxon  had 
two  children:  Emma  and  Ada,  of  whom  the 
latter  died  at  an  early  age;  Emma  (now  also 
deceased)  married  John  G.  Duncan,  and  had 
two  children — J.  Davis  and  Emma. 


C CLEVELAND  H.  TITUS,  general  mer- 
^Jj  chant,  and  the  popular  postmaster  of 
Webatuck,  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county, 
was  born  on  January  29,  1843,  in  New  York 
City.  There  the  birth  of  his  grandfather, 
Richard  Titus,  occurred,  and  as  an  occupation 


he  followed  trucking  in  that  city.  In  his  fam- 
ily were  five  children  :  Joseph  R.  and  Ben- 
jamin J.  (twins),  Richard,  Alonzo  and  Sarah. 

Joseph  R.  Titus,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  in 
1809,  but  received  his  education  in  New  York 
City,  and,  like  his  father,  engaged  in  trucking. 
He  spent  two  years  in  the  West,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming;  but  owing  to  ill  health  returnee 
to  New  York.  He  married  Miss  Ruth  Ameli; 
Titus,  daughter  of  Samuel  J.  Titus,  a  farme 
of  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess  county. 

The  parental  household  included  fourtee 
children,      (i)  Adaline  C,  born  November  ^^ 
1841,  died  in  1851.      (2)  Cleveland  H.  is  ne> 
in  order  of  birth.      (3)  Stanley,  December  2; 
1844,  died  July  27,  1861.      (4)  Agnes  I.,  bor 
August    24,     1846,    died   July    22,    1847.     (.' 
Eugene,  born  June  29,  1848,  died   Novembt 
27,  1849.     (6)    Albert,    born    June    15,    185' 
died    March    9,     1853.      (7)    Louisa   J.,   bor 
August  13,  1852,  died  October  20,  1857.     (!■ 
Mary  A.,  born    April    3,  1854,   in   New  Yor 
City,  was  there  educated,  and  married  Ferd 
nand    Blackenhorn,     of    Poughkeepsie,     \vh 
served  as  cashier  of  the  Third  National  Bar 
of  New  York  City,  but  is  now  deceased  — dyii 
in    1893.       Six   children   were    born    of   the 
union  —  Barbara,  Amie,  Jacob  F.,  Ethel,  E 
gene  and  Ruth.      (9)  Ida,  born  April  15,  185  j 
died  April  i,  1862.     (10)  Stephen,  bornApl 
17,  1858,  in    New   York    City,  where  he  w 
educated,  married  Miss  Agnes  O'Neill,  of  th- 
place,  and   they  have  three  children — -Rut 
Albert  and  Cornelius  B.      (11)  Frank  L.,  bo 
December  5,  1859,  m  New  York,  married  Mi 
Ellen  Diamond,  of  that  city,  and  they  are  nc 
located    at    Palouse,   Wash.,  where  he  is  e 
gaged  in    merchandising.       They   have   thr 
children  —  Joseph,  Stanley  and  Margaret,  (i 
Mellie   S.,  born    July   7,    1861,   in   New  Yet 
City,  completed  her  literary  education  in  t^ 
New  York  Normal  College,  and  after  studyij 
law  in  the  office  of  Mr.  Hildreth,  of  New  Yo  . 
was  admitted   to   the  bar  in  1 894  to  pract  3 
in  the   Supreme  Court.      However,  she  is  nv 
engaged  in  teaching  in  the  Eighty-sixth  strjt 
grammar  school.      (13)  Eliza  I.,  born  May   . 
1864,   was   also    a    school    teacher,   and  dJ 
(14)  George  I.,  born  Novc  - 
New  York   City,  is  now  f- 
agent  on  the  Second  Aveie 


April  15,  1896. 
ber  14,   1865,  in 
ployed  as  ticket 
Elevated  road. 

Our   subject 
common  schools 


pursued    his 
of  the  town 


studies   in 
of  Dover, 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


427 


was  employed  in  merchandising  for  his  uncle 
i[or  some  time.  After  the  latter's  death,  he 
turned  his  attention  to  farming  until  about 
eight  years  ago,  since  which  time  he  has  con- 
ducted a  general  store  in  Webatuck,  where  he 
ilso  served  as  postmaster.  He  carries  a  full 
lind  complete  stock,  and  secures  a  liberal  share 
of  the  public  patronage.  Socially,  he  is  a 
;harter  member  of  Dover  Lodge  No.  666,  F. 
k  A.  M.,  of  Dover  Plains. 

On  May  17,  1868,  Mr.  Titus  was  united  in 
narriage  with  Miss   Sarah  E.    Allis,  daughter 
'f  Huram   and   Mary   J.  (Hoag)  Allis,    of  the 
own  of  Dover,    Dutchess  county,    and    they 
ow   have    two    sons:      (1)  Joseph    A.,    born 
ipril  17,  1869,  in  Dover,  received  a  common- 
:hool  education,  and   followed  the  mercantile 
usiness  with  his  father  until  his   marriage  in 
892,  to  Miss  Matie  Orton,  daughter  of  Judson 
id  Susan  (Wheeler)  Orton,  agriculturists  of 
'over  Plains  (he  is  now  engaged  in  carrying 
le  mail).   (2)  Stanley  H.,  born  July  23,  1879, 
,  the  town  of  Dover,  was  there  educated,  and 
now  in  the  store  with  his  father  at  Webatuck. 
David  Allis,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Titus, 
^  also  a  native  of  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutch- 
county,   and    after  leaving  school  always 
iged  in  agricultural  pursuits.      He  married 
s  Sarah  Burton, and  they  had  three  children, 
whom  Huram  was  the    eldest.     Alva,   the 
nd  son,  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
)\ved  farming,  but  previously  he  had  mar- 
I  ■]  Miss  Mariette  Briggs,  of  Amenia,  Dutchess 
c.inty,  by  whom  he  had  two  children — Sarah 
J  and  one  who  died  in  infancy.      Phoebe,  the, 
cly  daughter,  was  born  and   educated  in  the 
t  vn  of  Dover.     She  became    the  wife    of  a 
^.  Sherman,  a  farmer  of  that  town,  and  they 
one  son,  Ebenezer. 

Buram  Allis,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Titus,  was 
in  the  town  of  Dover,  April  8,  1802,  and 
life-work  also  followed  farming.   Religious- 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
wedded  Miss   Mary   G.  Hoag,  daughter  of 
I  and   Hannah   Hoag,  the   former  a  farmer 
blacksmith    of    Dover.       Three    children 
d   their   union:     Phcebe,  born    February 
1840,   married  Elias  H.    Deuel,  by  whom 
had  one  daughter,  Nellie  L.,  wife  of  Eg- 
Slocum,    and    the    mother   of   one    son, 
er;  Martin  A.,  born   December  23,  1842, 
at  the  age  of  three  years;  Sarah  E.,  born 
1   24,  1849,  is   the    honored    wife   of  our 
ect. 
-leveland  H.  Titus  and  his  wife  are  the 


possessors  of  some  165  acres  of  land,  which  is 
rented  for  farming  purposes.  In  politics,  Mr. 
Titus  is  a  Democrat. 


n^LIAM  A.  BREWSTER.  Esteemed 
M^l^  and  respected  by  all,  there  is  no  man 
in  the  business  circles  of  Wappingers  Falls, 
Dutchess  county,  who  occupies  a  more  promi- 
nent position  than  this  gentleman,  not  alone 
on  account  of  the  success  he  has  achieved,  but 
also  on  account  of  his  honorable  and  straight- 
forward dealings.  He  was  born  September 
17,  1854,  in  Hughsonville,  town  of  Wappin- 
ger,  this  county,  and  has  always  made  his 
home  in  that  locality. 

Mr.  Brewster's  paternal  grandfather  was 
William  Brewster,  of  Bloomingburg,  Sullivan 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  whose  son,  William  H.  Brewster 
(the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch),  was 
born  in  that  village  in  1812.  When  a  young 
man  he  came  to  Hughsonville,  Dutchess  Co., 
N.  Y. ,  where  he  engaged  in  his  occupation  as 
carpenter  and  contractor,  afterward  accepting 
the  position  as  foreman  of  the  carpenter  de- 
partment of  Garner  &  Co. 's  print  works  at 
Wappingers  Falls,  N.  Y. ,  which  position  he 
held  for  about  thirty  years.  He  was  married 
September  18,  1852,  to  Mary  Eliza  Hoyt, 
daughter  of  William  and  Maria  (Roe)  Hoyt, 
and  is  still  living  at  a  ripe  old  age;  but  his  wife 
died  July  i,  1863. 

Our  subject's  maternal  grandfather  was 
William  Hoyt,  whose  parents  came  from  Sau- 
gerties,  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  he  married  Maria 
Roe,  daughter  of  Joseph  C.  Roe,  who  was  a 
tanner  and  currier,  and  owned  and  conducted 
that  business  at  Gayhead,  Dutchess  Co., 
N.  Y.  William  Hoyt  died  August  3,  1885; 
his  wife  still  survives  him,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
five. 

W.  A.  Brewster,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
review,  is  the  only  child  of  this  union.  His 
boyhood  days  were  spent  at  Hughsonville, 
where  he  began  his  education,  which  was  com- 
pleted at  Poughkeepsie.  On  laying  aside  his 
te.xt  books,  he  was  employed  in  the  print 
works  at  Wappingers  Falls,  at  the  carpenter's 
trade,  for  about  two  years.  On  January  i, 
1875,  he  became  bookkeeper  in  the  Bank  of 
Wappingers  Falls,  a  deposit  bank,  where  he 
remained  until  he  became  cashier  of  a  private 
bank  of  the  same  place,  although  at  that  time 
he  was  only  twenty-six  years  old.  After  fill- 
ing that  position  for  a  short  time  he  was,  on 


428 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQBAPHJCAL  BEOORD. 


April  15,  1 88 1 ,  elected  treasurer  of  the  Wappin- 
gers  Savings  Bank,  and  November  i,  1884,  was 
elected  trustee  of  the  same  institution.  He  is 
also  a  local  fire  insurance  agent,  representing 
ten  of  the  largest  American  and  foreign  com- 
panies. 

Mr.  Brewster  was  married  October  19, 
1 88 1,  to  Miss  Sarah  S.  Siddle,  who  was  born 
in  Clinton,  Iowa,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Abram 
Siddle,  a  paper  manufacturer  of  that  place. 
The  Siddle  family  is  of  English  origin.  A 
daughter,  Helen,  graces  the  union  of  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife.  As  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
Mr.  Brewster  takes  great  interest  in  political 
questions,  and  has  served  as  trustee  of  the 
Hughsonville  school  district,  was  town  clerk 
of  Wappinger,  and  also  represented  his  town 
on  the  board  of  supervisors.  He  is  an  hon- 
ored and  valued  member  of  Wappinger  Lodge 
No.  671,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  a  past 
master;  of  Evening  Star  Lodge  No.  98,  K.  of  P. ; 
and  of  Lafayette  Lodge  No.  18,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
He  stands  high  in  social  as  well  as  commercial 
circles,  and  his  career  has  ever  been  such  as 
to  warrant  the  trust  and  confidence  of  all. 


S\TEPHEN  T.  DEUEL.    Prominent  among 
!>  the  leading   and   influential    farmers   and 

stock  raisers  of  the  town  of  Washington, 
Dutchess  county,  is  the  gentleman  of  whom 
this  sketch  is  written.  He  has  one  of  the 
finest  farms  in  the  township,  comprising  250 
acres  of  valuable  and  productive  land,  which 
he  has  placed  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
and  made  thereon  many  substantial  and  useful 
improvements.  The  passerby  is  at  once  at- 
tracted by  its  neat  and  thrifty  appearance, 
and  knows  the  owner  to  be  a  man  of  industry 
and  of  progressive  methods. 

Mr.  Deuel  was  born  in  the  town  of  Wash- 
ington, May  27,  1833,  and  can  trace  his  an- 
cestry back  to  William  Deuel,  who  emigrated 
to  this  country  August  3,  1640.  The  family 
is  of  French  origin,  the  name  being  originally 
spelled  Davol,  and  later  assuming  the  present 
mode.  Jonathan  Deuel,  the  son  of  William, 
was  born  at  Dartmouth,  Mass.,  and  died  in 
1709.  His  son,  Jeremiah  Deuel,  was  also 
born  at  Dartmouth,  and  died  November  29, 
1753.  In  direct  line  to  our  subject,  he  was 
followed  by  Timothy,  who  was  born  at  Bristol, 
R.  I.,  January  i,  17 14,  and  married  Lydia 
Mosher,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children, 
namely:       Lydia,     Philip,     Hannah,     Rhoda, 


Juele,  Silas,  John  and  Benjamin.  For  manv 
years  he  engaged  in  farming  in  Rhode  Island 
and  about  i/'SO  came  to  Dutchess  county,  lo 
eating  on  a  tract  of  land  near  Millbrook. 

The  seventh   in   that   family,  Silas  Deuel 
was  born  at  Bristol,  R.  I.,  July  13,  1748,  anc 
by  his  marriage    with   Hannah   White  becaoK 
the  father  of  eleven  children:     Eunice,  Sarah 
John,  Ruth,  Lydiii,  Silas  S.,  Hannah,  Phoebe 
Benjamin,    Isaac    and    Malessa.     The  fathei 
who  was  an  agriculturist,  lived  to  quite  an  ai 
vanced  age,  dying  January  9,  1825.     His  tent 
child,  Isaac  Deuel,  who  was  born  in  Washinj 
ton  township,  Dutchess  county,  November  2\ 
1798,  became  the  father  of  our  subject.     B 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Cynthia  Thorn' 
and  five  children  blessed    their  union:     Wil 
iam,  Josephine  and  Henry,  deceased;  Thorn' 
a  farmer  in  Washington   town;    and    Stepht 
T. ,  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch.     Tl 
father  followed  the  various  pursuits  of  farme 
miller  and  merchant,  and  died  in  1854. 

Our  subject  was  reared  upon  his  father 
farm,  and  educated  in  the  district  schools  ' 
the  neighborhood.  After  attaining  his  m 
jority  he  commenced  farming  for  himself,  whi( 
occupation  he  made  his  life  work.  As  a  cot 
panion  and  helpmeet  on  life's  journey  he  oho 
Miss  Louise  M.  Allen,  a  native  of  Washingtt 
town,  born  August  6,  1840,  and  their  marria 
was  celebrated  in  that  town,  February  i,  185 
She  was  the  daughter  of  Norton  Allen,  a  n 
five  of  Connecticut,  who  became  a  mercha 
of  Hart's  Village.  After  their  marriage  M 
and  Mrs.  Deuel  located  on  a  farm  near  Mi 
brook,  where  the}'  resided  about  five  yea; 
and  where  she  died  January  24,  1864.  d 
child  blessed  their  union,  Isaac  N.,  who  mr 
ried  Miss  Katie  F.  Maroney,  who  was  born  . 
Washington  town,  a  daughter  of  Patrick  a 
Margaret  (Whalen)  Maroney.  To  Isaac  j 
Deuel  and  his  wife  have  been  born  three  cl''- 
dren:  Stephen  T.,  Isaac  M.,  and  Olive  ■ 
For  his  second  wife  Stephen  T.  Deuel  marr  1 
Miss  Kate  Maroney,  a  lady  of  Irish  desce!. 
and  a  native  of  Washington  township. 

In  1866  Mr.  Deuel  removed  from  M- 
brook,  and  settled  at  Little  Rest,  where  e 
purchased  the  homestead  and  an  adjoin  g 
farm,  where  he  now  lives.  On  his  land  isn 
old  mill,  which  was  once  a  school  building;" 
used  for  that  purpose  125  years  ago,  and  "S 
at  that  time  an  old  building.  He  also  Hj  a 
deed  for  the  first  land  owned  by  the  Deuel  n 
Dutchess  county,    the  date  whereof  is  1;}. 


I 


i>il- 


2^^ 


^r 


M 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


429 


and  the  signature  that  of  Daniel  Wood.  Mr. 
Deuel  is  entirely  independent  of  party  lines  in 
politics,  considering,  in  the  exercise  of  his 
elective  franchise,  rather  the  fitness  of  the  man 
for  the  office  than  the  party  who  placed  him  in 
lomination.  Public-spirited  to  a  high  degree, 
lie  takes  great  interest  in  every  measure  cal- 
culated to  benefit  the  community. 


riLLIAM  RECORD,  a  prominent  mer- 
chant of  Dover  Plains,  Dutchess  coun- 
and  one  of  the  most  public-spirited  citizens 
■[  that  town,  is  related  by  descent  or  marriage 
ifith  several  of  the  oldest  families  of  the  local- 
:y.     On  the  paternal  side  of  his  grandfather 
/as  John  Record,  a  native  of  South  Mountain, 
)utchess  county,  where  he   passed  his  entire 
fe,  receiving  his   education   in  the  common 
:hools  of  the  town  of  Dover,  and   later  en- 
aging  in  the  manufacture  of  chairs,  in  which 
usiness  he  won  a  notable  success.     The  name 
f  his  wife  is  not  known,  and  of  their  children 
iree  only  are  now  remembered:  George  VV. ; 
lary,  who  married  Fred  Shafer;  and  Amanda, 
ho  married  Mr.  King.     George  W.  Record, 
r  subject's  father,  was  reared  in  his  native 
lage  of  South  Mountain,  attending  the  pub- 
schools  and  learning  the  blacksmith's  trade. 
-r  a  number  of  years  he  conducted  a  shop 
1  Chestnut  Ridge,  and  then  he  moved  to  the 
ilage  of  Dover,  where  he  became  a  leading 
)rker  in  that  line  of  business.      He  always 
ok  great  interest  in   religious   matters,  and 
s  an  active  member  of  the  Baptist  Church 
Dover  Plains.      He    married    Miss    Susan 
rlingame,    daughter   of    John    and     Phoebe 
rlingame,  well-known  residents  of  the  town 
Washington,  Dutchess  county,  who  reared 
imiiy  of  children  as  follows:    Susan,  born 
rch  28,    1816;   Salina,  January   11,    1818; 
s  and  Miles,  twins,  May  11,  1821;  Harriet, 
y  13,  1823;  John,  April  3,  1825;  Mary,  No- 
iber  7,  1827;  and   Philip,  May   10,    1830; 
i'  youngest  child,  Phcebe.  was  born  in  183  i. 
^  jrge  W.  Record  and  his  wife  had  five  chil- 
li:   Mary  (Mrs.  Samuel  Hobson);  Amanda 
IS.  William  G.  Evans);  William,  our  sub- 
';   Charles,    who    died    in  the    army;    and 
I  ima,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years. 
The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  June  i, 
'  15,  at  the  old  homestead  in  Dover  Plains, 
^  i  received  a  good  education  in  the  public 
')ols  there.      His  first  experience  in  business 
^5  gained  as  a  clerk  in  a  general  store,  which 


he  entered  at  the  age  of  fifteen.  After  a  few 
years  in  this  employment  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, continuing  with  marked  success  until  1872, 
when  he  returned  to  mercantile  pursuits,  estab- 
lishing a  flour,  feed,  coal  and  lumber  business. 
This  is  one  of  the  principal  enterprises  in  the 
place,  his  trade  having  increased  at  a  gratify- 
ing rate  as  time  has  passed.  Mr.  Record  is 
progressive  in  ideas,  and  has  the  advancement 
of  the  town  at  heart.  He  has  always  been 
identified  with  the  Republican  party,  and  has 
held  a  number  of  town  offices,  including  those 
of  supervisor,  collector  and  commissioner,  hav- 
ing been  elected  to  the  last-named  position 
several  times.  He  belongs  to  the  Masonic 
Lodge,  No.  666,  of  Dover  Plains.  In  1871 
he  was  united  in  matrimony  with  Miss  Adelia 
Lee,  and  they  have  four  children:  (i)  George, 
born  in  1871,  is  now  his  father's  partner  in 
business,  and  one  of  the  leading  young  men  of 
the  town.  On  June  20,  1894,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Martha  Moore,  daughter  of  the  late 
Henry  Moore,  once  a  professor  of  penmanship 
in  the  Eastman  Business  College  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  and  later  a  well-known  farmer  of  the 
town  of  Dover.  He  died  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
four  years,  and  his  wife.  Amy,  at  the  age  of 
thirty-six.  (2)  William  Record,  Jr.,  born  in 
1873,  married  Anna  Weaver.  (3)  Theo,  born 
in  1876,  is  at  home.  (4)  Obed,  born  in  1878, 
died  in  infancy. 

Mrs.  Record  was  born,  in  1849,  in  the  town 
of  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  and  was  educated 
there.  Her  grandfather,  William  Lee,  was  a 
native  of  Gaylords  Bridge,  Conn.,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  farming  for  some  years.  He 
married  Miss  Mehitabel  Ward,  by  whom  he 
had  six  children:  Jane  (Mrs.  Edward  Ferris); 
Louisa  (Mrs.  Oliver  Warner);  Ward  (Mrs. 
Record's  father);  Egbert,  who  married  Abbie 
J.  Carey;  Emily,  who  married  (first)  George 
Travers,  and  (second)  Ira  Bowlby;  and  Emiline, 
the  wife  of  George  Wickham.  Ward  Lee  was 
also  born  at  Gaylords  Bridge,  but  he  was  edu- 
cated in  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county, 
his  parents  removing  to  that  locality  when  he 
was  a  child.  He  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade,  and  followed  it  all  his  life  with  the  ex- 
ception of  ten  years  which  he  spent  in  farming, 
and  many  houses  in  the  town  of  Dover  were 
built  by  him.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat; 
was  road  commissioner  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  held  other  offices  at  various  times.  In 
1846  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Cutler,  and 
had    four    children:       Adelia    (Mrs.    Record); 


480 


COMMEMOBA  TIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECOBD. 


Emily  (Mrs.  Alvin  Marcy);  William,  who  died 
in  infancy;  and  Angeline  (Mrs.  Darwin  War- 
ner). Mr.  Lee  died  August  12,  1886,  in  the 
sixty-eighth  year  of  his  age,  and  while  his 
death  was  keenly  felt  among  a  large  circle  of 
friends  it  left  the  deepest  sorrow  within  the 
home  where  his  qualities  of  mind  and  heart 
were  best  known.  Mrs.  Record's  mother, 
Mary  Cutler  Lee,  was  born  in  1828,  in  South 
Dover,  Dutchess  county,  where  her  ancestors 
were  early  settlers.  Her  grandfather,  Will- 
iam Cutler,  was  a  native  of  that  place,  and 
passed  his  life  there  as  a  well-to-do  farmer. 
He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Hiller,  and  had 
eight  children:  (i)  Rhoda  (Mrs.  Isaac  North- 
rup);  (2)  Abigail  (Mrs.  Thomas  Tompkins); 
(3)  Mahala,  who  never  married;  (4)  Thursie, 
who  died;  (5)  Bigelow  and  (6)  Thomas,  the 
names  of  whose  wives  are  unknown;  (7)  Will- 
iam, who  married  Irene  Brush;  and  (8)  Calvin, 
the  father  of  Mrs.  Lee.  He  was  born  in  South 
Dover  in  1799,  and  after  obtaining  an  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  that  place  engaged  in 
agriculture.  His  wife  was  Miss  Keziah  Varney, 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Rodgers)  Varney, 
prosperous  farmers  in  Connecticut.  Eight 
children  were  born  to  this  marriage:  John 
and  Jerome,  who  died  in  infancy;  Elihu,  who 
married  Lydia  Wilcox;  Elezer,  who  married 
Maranthy  Eggleston;  Francis,  who  married 
Elizabeth  Carey;  Priscilla  (Mrs.  William  Hall); 
Mary  (Mrs.  Ward  Lee);  and  Sarah  (Mrs.  Will- 
iam Hooker). 


i^'ILLIAM  S.  TRIPP.     As  an  enterpris- 


Jf/M  ing  and  wide-awake  citizen  of  Mill- 
brook,  Dutchess  county,  engaged  in  the  butch- 
ering business,  we  take  pleasure  in  giving  this 
brief  biography  of  the  gentleman  whose  name 
introduces  this  sketch.  He  is  a  native  of 
Dutchess  county,  born  \n  the  town  of  Wash- 
ington, near  Millbrook,  on  June  24,  1856,  and 
is  a  son  of  Daniel  Tripp,  who  was  born  at  the 
same  place  in  1833.  On  that  farm  his  great- 
grandfather, Samuel  Tripp,  had  located  after 
his  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Howard,  and 
there  reared  their  family  of  eleven  children, 
whose  names  and  dates  of  birth  are  as  fol- 
lows :  Phoebe,  January  29,  1779;  John,  No- 
vember 27,  1780;  Hannah,  March  i,  1782; 
Susanna,  January  31,  1784;  George,  Novem- 
ber 16,  1785;  Howard,  December  5,  1787; 
Patience,  October  20,  1789;  Mary,  November 
21,    1791  ;  Samuel,   April  6,    1794;  Wasson, 


July  8,  1796,  and  Isaac,  October  7,  1798 
The  father  of  this  family  was  born  Novembe 
15,  1751,  and  his  wife  on  November  8,  1757 
In  religious  belief  the  family  were  Friends. 

Wasson  Tripp,  the  grandfather  of  our  sul 
ject,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead,  where  h 
was  reared,  and  which  he  continued  to  culti 
vate  after  reaching  man's  estate.      In  1818  h 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Sally  Buckbee,  b 
whom  he  had  two  children  :     Edward  B.,  wh 
was  born  October  7,  18 19,  and  followed  farn 
ing  as  a  means  of  livelihood,  and  Malvina,  vvl 
was  born  August    17,    1821,   and  became  tl 
wife  of  Henry  C.  Haight,  also  an  agriculturis 
Both  are  now  deceased.     For  his  second  wi 
Wasson  Tripp  chose  Hannah  Tompkins,  ai 
their  wedding  was  celebrated  May  18,  182 
Seven  children   blessed  their  union,  namel; 
Howard,  born  June  26,  1826,  became  a  m( 
chant  and,  later,  station  agent   at  Millbroo 
Charles,  born  July  27,  1828,  was  for  a  time 
merchant  in  New  York  City,  but  now  mak 
his  home  in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ;  Sarah,  bo 
August  8,  1830,  married  Edwin  Curtis,  a  m( 
chant,   but   both  have  passed  away  ;  Dani 
born   October  28,  1833,  is  the  father  of  c 
subject  ;   Maria,  born  May  7,  1836,  is  the  w 
of  William  Rust,  a  contractor  of  Poughkeeps 
George,   born   February   23,  1839,   is  a  ci} 
merchant  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  Mary  E.,  be 
January  3,  1842. 

After  reaching  manhood,  Daniel  Tripp  \  > 
married  to   Miss   Mary  E.  Seeley,  a  native  f 
the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess  county,  anp 
daughter  of  William  Seeley,  who  in  early  e 
followed    farming,    but  his    later   years  \v . 
passed  in  retirement  at  Poughkeepsie.     A:  1 
their  marriage  they  located  upon  the  old  f;  - 
ily  homestead,  where  they  reared  their  fan } 
of  nine  children:  Wasson,  who  died  inMai^, 
1865;  William  S.,  of  this  review;  E.  Bennf, 
who  makes  his  home  in  Poughkeepsie;  Flit 
a  resident   of    Millbrook;     Gertrude,    \\ 
Clark  Barmore;  Edward  and  Daniel,  wh 
in  Moores  Mill;  Kate,  wife  of  Frank  Tayl 
the  same  place;  and  Elizabeth,  at  home.     1 
father  still  carries  on  farming  at  Moores  .^  1. 
and    in    politics    is    an    ardent    Democrat  ly 
which  party  he  has  been    elected  to  sev  al 
positions  of  honor  and  trust. 

The  boyhood  days  of  William  S.  Tip 
were  spent  upon  the  home  farm  until  six  -n 
years  of  age,  when  he  started  out  to  fight  !"S 
battle,  being  employed  as  a  farm  hand  'til 
he  was  twenty-two.      He  then  came  to  ."11- 


) 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


481 


brook,  and  for  a  year  and  a  half  worked  at  the 

butchering  business   for   Hiram  Warner.      He 

has  since  made  that  business  his  life  work,  and 

iias  met  with  a   fair  degree   of  success,  estab- 

ishing  his  present  shop  in   September,  1881. 

is    numbered  among  the  promment  busi- 

-  men  of  Millbrook,  and  stands  high  in  the 

Illation  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

On  January  18,  1882,   was  celebrated  the 

iiarriage  of  Mr.  Tripp  and  Esther  M.  Smith, 

nd  one  daughter  was  born  to  them — Esther; 

It  the  mother  was  called  from  this  life  April 

1884.      For  his  second   wife    our    subject 

ded  Frances  La  Due,  a  native  of  the  town 

Pleasant  Valley,    and  a  daughter  of  Ale.x- 

tider  La  Due,  who  is  of  French  descent  and 

farmer  by  occupation.     The   lady  is  a  con- 

stent  and  faithful   member  of  the  Methodist 

Episcopal  Church,  while  in  political  sentiment 

Ir.  Tripp  is  a  Democrat. 


'kJTRS.  ANN  A.  HAYES.    It  is  not  alone  by 

*Jl.  eloquence  of  speech  and  force  of  argu- 

nt   that  the   modern   advancement    in    the 

atus  of  women — which  means  the   advance- 

nt  of  the  human  race — has  been  brought 

lit.     The    changes    in    public     sentiment 

hich  have  made  it  possible  for  the  women  of 

day  to  extend  their  activities   to  every  line 

effort  have  found  their  most  potent  justifi- 

-ion  and  cause  in  the  lives  of  thousands  who 

ve  quietly  taken  their  places  in  public  life, 

'  proved  the  wisdom  of  their  course    by  an 

iiistakable    success.     The    subject    of   this 

tch,  a  descendant  of  two  of  the  oldest  and 

1  3t  highly  esteemed  families  in  the  county, 

!  ~  spent  more  than  forty  years  in  the  service 

he  government  as  assistant  postmaster  at 

tker  Hill,  Dutchess  county;  a  fact  which  in 

If  speaks  volumes  for  her  ability,    energy 

independence  of  character,  for  in  the  be- 

ling  of  this  long  term  the  employment  of 

lien    in   such   positions  was  by  no   means 

imon.     It  is  well  for  the  present  aspirants 

ifficial  places  that  the  pioneers  labored  so 

cessfully  as  to  disarm  the  objections  of  the 

:;t  conservative. 

Mrs.  Ann  Akin  Hayes  was  born  at  Quaker 
i,  where  her  grandfather,  John  Toffey,  set- 
'  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  was 
ative  of  England,  born  June  — ,  1748,  and 
arly  years  was  a  hatter  by  trade,  but  later 
irmer,  his  estate  at  Quaker  Hill  being  the 
le  that  is  now  occupied   by   Mrs.   Hayes. 


He  was  married  January  i,  1776,  to  Abigail 
Akin,  daughter  of  John  Akin,  of  the  well- 
known  Quaker  family,  whose  various  members 
have  held  conspicuous  posts  of  honor  and  use- 
fulness. Mrs.  Toffey  was  a  member. of  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends,  to  which  her  husband  in- 
clined. He  was  a  man  of  strong  character, 
and  was  prominent  in  the  locality.  His  death 
occurred  in  1825;  that  of  his  wife  in  1829,  when 
she  was  in  her  eighty-first  year.  They  have 
five  sons,  who  in  manhood  had  not  a  pound 
of  difference  in  their  weight.  Their  names  and 
dates  of  birth  are  as  follows:  Hewlett,  De- 
cember 5,  1776,  who  married  Miss  Scofield, 
and  settled  in  Canada;  Akin,  June  28,  1781, 
who  lived  at  Quaker  Hill;  George,  June  15, 
1783,  a  resident  of  the  town  of  Beekman; 
John,  January  21,  1786,  Mrs.  Hayes'  father; 
and  Daniel,  May  i,  1788,  who  settled  at 
Quaker  Hill. 

John  Tofiey  inherited  the  homestead,  and 
for  many  years  carried  on  a  general  mercantile 
business  in  a  store  adjoining  his  farm,  erecting 
a  new  building  in  1 823.  He  was  a  thrifty  man, 
successful  both  as  a  farmer  and  as  a  merchant, 
and  was  also  prominent  in  local  politics,  hold- 
ing the  office  of  postmaster  for  many  years. 
His  honesty  and  generosity  were  noticeable 
traits,  and  he  was  highly  respected  by  the  peo- 
ple of  his  locality.  Although  he  was  a  Friend  in 
principle,  he  never  united  with  the  Society. 
He  was  married  September  18,  1814,  to  Es- 
ther H.  Akin,  daughter  of  James  Akin,  of 
Quaker  Hill,  and  had  three  children.  Polly, 
born  April  4,  181 5,  married  DeWitt  C. 
Thomas,  and  settled  near  Delhi,  Delaware 
county,  N.  Y. ;  John  James,  born  March  3, 
1819,  died  January  12,  1838;  Ann  Akin,  our 
subject,  was  born  March  12,  1821.  The  father 
died  March  15,  1867,  in  his  eighty-second 
year;  his  wife  passed  away  July  12,  1879,  •" 
her  eighth-third  year.  In  1847  the  subject  of 
our  sketch  was  united  in  matrimony  with  John 
P.  Hayes,  who  took  charge  of  the  store  and 
continued  the  business  successfully  for  many 
years.     They  have  no  children. 


MATTHEW  V.  B.  SCHRYVER,  a  lead- 
ing citizen  of  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, and  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of 
that  village,  is  a  member  of  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  influential  families  of  that  locality. 

John  T.  Schryver,  his  grandfather,  was  born 
about  1788,  in  Dutchess  county,  and  was  one 


482 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  the  principal  workers  in  securing  the  incor- 
poration of  the  village,  and  was  the  first  to 
hold  the  office  of  president,  which  his  grand- 
son now  fills  so  ably.  John  T.  Schryver,  who 
was  of  German  descent,  married  Miss  Helen 
Conklin,  a  native  of  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county, 
born  about  1780,  and  a  descendant  of  a  well- 
known  Holland-Dutch  family.  Their  son, 
George  W.  Schryver,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  in  Rhinebeck,  in  1810,  and  spent  the 
greater  portion  of  his  life  there.  His  wife, 
Maria  E.  Fellows,  was  born  in  18 19.  They 
had  six  children,  of  whom  two  died  in  infancy. 
Matthew  was  the  youngest  of  the  four  who 
lived  to  maturity,  the  others  being  :  Helen, 
Mrs.  E.  Marshall  Pavey,  of  New  York  (de- 
ceased); Kate,  Mrs.  Edward  D.  Cowman,  of 
New  York  (deceased);  and  Georgia,  now  Mrs. 
D'Linton  W.  Greenfield,  of  Rome,  New  York. 
Matthew  V.  B.  Schryver  began  his  mortal 
career  January  12,  1859,  in  Rhinebeck.  He 
was  carefully  educated,  and  completed  his  lit- 
erary studies  at  De  Garmo  Institute,  gradu- 
ating in  1875.  He  prepared  for  the  legal  pro- 
fession, receiving  the  degree  of  LL.  B.  in 
1880,  from  the  law  department  of  Columbia 
College,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  immedi- 
ately after  graduation.  He  began  to  practice 
in  New  York  City,  and  after  two  years  went  to 
Stevens  Point,  Wis.,  where  he  spent  one  year 
in  professional  work.  In  comparison  with  other 
places  the  old  home  acquired  new  attractions, 
and  he  returned  to  Rhinebeck,  where  he  is  now 
engaged  in  insurance  business  in  connection 
with  certain  lines  of  legal  work.  For  nine 
years  past  he  has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace 
—  his  logical,  well-trained  mind  making  him  a 
most  valuable  official.  He  is  identified  with 
the  progressive  movements  of  the  locality  and 
is  especially  prominent  in  municipal  affairs,  as 
is  attested  by  his  successful  administration  of 
his  office  as  president. 


UFUS  S.  CRAIG,  engineer  and  engine 
dispatcher  on  the  Harlem  railroad,  with 
residence  at  Dover  Plains,  Dutchess  county,  is 
descended  from  a  worthy  Scotch  family.  Alex- 
ander Craig,  his  grandfather,  was  born  in 
Scotland,  and,  having  joined  the  British  army 
as  a  commissioned  officer,  came  to  the  United 
States  with  Gen.  Burgoyne,  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  years,  being  with  that  commander  at 
the  time  of  his  surrender  to  Gen.  Gates.  He 
served  as  lieutenant,  and  participated  in  seven 


battles  in  this  country.  He  wedded  Miss  Mar 
Newton,  of  Groton,  Mass..  and  to  them  wen 
born  eight  children:  Thomas,  who  marriec 
Sarah  Allard;  Carrie  and  George,  who  wen 
also  married;  Silas,  the  father  of  our  subject 
Aaron,  who  married  Olive  Allen;  Rebecca 
married  to  Devilla  Lawrence;  Mary,  who  mar 
ried  Chester  Cooley;  and  Elizabeth,  marrie< 
to  Isaiah  Lawrence. 

Silas  Craig  was  born  at  Westfield,  Mass. 
August  29,    1792,   and    was    educated    in  th( 
common    schools.      By  occupation  he    was  ; 
farmer,   and    in    politics    was    an    unswervinj 
Republican,  but  cared  nothing  for  public  office 
He  was   united    in    marriage    with   Miss  Mar 
Wood,    a    daughter    of    Hezekiah    and    Mar; 
(Savage)  Wood,   farming  people  of  Vermont 
in  whose   family  were   eight  children:     Joel; 
Peter,  who  married  Laura  Hitchcock;  Thomas i 
who  married  Mary  Cooley;  John,  married  t 
Betsey  Clark;    Betsey,    who  married   Dudlt 
Hayes;   Mary,  the  mother  of  our  subject;  Haj> 
riet,  who  married  William  Clark;  and  Levioa 
who  married  John  Livingston.      Eight  childre 
were  born  to   the  parents  of   our  subject, 
follows: 

(i)  Obediah,   born  at  Highgate,   Frank!' 
county,  Vt.,  in  1824,  worked  at  the  carpenter 
trade  and  at  bridge  building  there  throughoi 
life.     He  married  Miss  Arvilla  Fuller,  daught< 
of  Rodney  Fuller,  a  farmer,  and  they  had  t\s 
children — Frank  and  Flora.     Of  these,  Frar 
was  born  at  Dorchester,  Mass.,  in  1858,  ar 
was  educated  in  the  schools   of   Lowell,  th 
State.      He  entered  the  railroad  service  wi 
the  Vermont  Central  at  Lowell,  and  from  the 
went  to  Santa   Fe,  N.  M. ,  being  an  engine 
on   the  Atchison,   Topeka  &   Santa    Fe   ra 
road,  on  which   road   he  was  killed   in  189 
He  was   a  charter  member  of  Fort  Madis' 
Lodge  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  served 
master  of  a  lodge  in  Iowa.      In  that  State 
also  held  membership  with  the  Order  of  R. 
Men,  and  was  grand  high  sagamore.      Hewi 
one  of  the  leading  railroad  men  of  the  We, 
and  served  as  chief  engineer  of  the  Broth  • 
hood  of  Locomotive   Engineers.      He  marri 
and  had  two  children  —  Ida,  who  died  at  t! 
age  of  nine  years  ;  and  Frank  B.      Flora,  ife 
daughter   of    Obediah  Craig,    was   also   b(|i 
at    Dorchester,    Mass.,    and    married  ChaiS 
Shearer,  a  railroad  employee,  formerly  of  Np 
Hampshire,  and  they  have  three  children. 

(2)  Eunice,    a  sister  of    our  subject,  ^is 
born   at   Highgate,   Vt.,    and   married   Josfi 


■ff 


<^( 


/^ 


'ipy^^^:^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


438 


1  Clark,  a  farmer  of  that  State.      They  have  no 
children  living. 

(3)  Richard  Baxter,  also  a  native  of  the 
Green  Mountain  State,  was  there  educated 
and  followed  farming  and  milling.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Agnes  Daniels,  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Agnes  Daniels,  in  whose  family  were  five 
children:  Ezra,  Margaret,  Ira,  Agnes  and 
Joseph.  Richard  Baxter  Craig  and  his  wife 
had  three  children:  Sewell,  born  in  1862;  and 
Darwin  and  Baxter  (twins),  born  in  1868. 

(4)  Abraham  was  born  in  Vermont,  and 
there  engaged  in  farming.  He  married  Miss 
Laura  Allen,  and  had  five  children:  Rufus  S., 
Joshua  C,  Emma,  Annie  and  Ellen. 

(5)  Rufus  S.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is 
next  in  order  of  birth.  (6)  Harlo,  a  native  of 
Vermont,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Canada, 
married  Miss  Marion  Davis,  and  has  two  chil- 
dren: Warren  and  Ida.  (7)  Myron  enlisted 
in  the  Second  Vermont  Cavalry,  becoming  a 
member  of  Company  M,  during  the  Civil  war; 
was  also  in  the  navy  for  three  years,  and  now 
draws  a  pension  for  both  army  and  navy  serv- 
ice. He  was  also  married.  (8)  Flora  married 
}ohn  Whiting,  an  agriculturist,  of  Highgate, 
Vt.,  and  they  have  four  children. 

Rufus  S.  Craig,  the  subject  proper  of  this 

ketch,  was  born  at  Highgate,  Franklin  Co.,Vt., 

lanuary  10,  1834,  and  there  secured  his  educa- 

ion.     At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  started 

in  life   for    himself,    going   to    Michigan, 

re  for  one  year    he  was   fireman  on  the 

higan  Southern  railroad.      He  then  went 

ake  Erie,  as  assistant  engineer  on  the  old 

nited  States,"  where  he  remained  for  two 

TS.     At  Boston,  Mass.,  he  next  secured  a 

tion  on  the  Boston  &  Providence  railroad, 

g  with  that  road  for  two  years  as  fireman 

engineer.      On  March  6,  1865,  he  came  to 

^over,  Dutchess  county,  and  has  since  been 

ith   the    Harlem    railroad    as   engineer    and 

igine  dispatcher.      His  long  continued  service 

ell  indicates  his  faithful   discharge  of  duty, 

id  he  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  all  who 

low  him.      On  June  13,  1866,  he  joined  King 

avid  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Taunton,  Mass., 

hose  charter  dates  back  to  1798,  being  one  of 

le  oldest  lodges  in  the  country,  and  assisted  in 

le  establishment  of  Dover  Plains  Lodge  No. 

^     He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Brotherhood 

i  Locomotive  Engineers. 

Mr.  Craig  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
arriet  M.  Thornton,  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
id  Mary  Thornton.      Her  father,  who  was  a 

28 


native  of  Nantucket,  Mass.,  was  a  mason  by 
trade,  but  became  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Ded- 
ham,  that  State.  She  was  the  third  in  order 
of  birth  in  a  family  of  five  children,  the  others 
being  Susan,  who  married  James  Kinney  ; 
Louisa,  who  married  John  Johnson  ;  Mary  J., 
who  married  George  Varney;  and  Mrs.  Lu- 
cretia  Taylor.  Mr.  Craig  has  been  called  upon 
to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  faithful  wife,  who  died 
July  16,  1886,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  Brook- 
vale  cemetery,  Dedham,  Massachusetts. 

Sewell  Craig,  a  nephew  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Franklin  county,  Vt.,  in  1862,  and  is 
the  son  of  Richard  Baxter  and  Agnes  ( Daniels  ) 
Craig.  After  finishing  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  that  State,  he  became  con- 
nected with  a  brass  foundry,  but  later  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Harlem  railroad  in  the  round 
house.  He  was  promoted  to  engineer  on  that 
road,  a  position  he  now  fills,  and  is  one  of  their 
most  trusted  and  careful  men,  as  his  long  serv- 
ice of  fifteen  years  indicates.  He  holds  mem- 
bership with  the  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive 
Engineers,  and  also  with  Dover  Plains  Lodge 
No.  666,  F.  &  A.  M. ,  while  politically  he  is  a 
Republican. 

In  1886  Sewell  Craig  was  married  to  Miss 
Alice  Dennis,  who  was  born  in  England,  and 
in  1 88 1  came  to  the  United  States.  They 
have  two  children  :  Richard  B.,  born  August 
25,  1887;  and  Cora  E.,  born  October  1 1,  1888. 
Thomas  Dennis,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Craig, 
was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  England, 
where  he  also  learned  the  carpenter's  trade, 
which  he  followed  throughout  his  life.  He 
married  Miss  Emma  Godfrey,  and  they  always 
made  their  home  in  England.  Their  only  child 
was  Benjamin  (the  father  of  Mrs.  Craig),  also 
a  carpenter  by  trade  ;  he  married  Miss  Sarah 
E.  Dennis,  a  distant  relative,  and  they  had  two 
daughters:  Alice  (Mrs.  Craig)  and  Maude, 
who  was  also  born  and  educated  in  England. 
She  married  a  Mr.  Beardwell,  of  that  country, 
where  they  still  reside,  and  have  one  child, 
Charlotte  Rose. 


MOAH    L.   BISHOP,  a   worthy  citizen   of 
Wassaic,    Dutchess    county,    was    there 

born  June  20,  1848,  his  father,  George  Bishop, 
being  depot  agent,  and  a  local  preacher  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  that  time. 
George  Bishop  was  twice  married,  having  by 
the  first  union  two  daughters  and  three  sons, 
namely:     Jennie,    wife   of   Francis  Chapman, 


IL 


484 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHWAL  RECORD. 


deceased,  of  Pawling,  Dutchess  county;  Mary 
A.,  wife  of  Joseph  S.  Hobbs,  of  Centralia,  111.; 
Seneca  Smith,  who  was  a  sailor  and  is  sup- 
posed to  have  died  at  sea;  George  W.,  a  me- 
chanic, who  died  and  was  buried  at  sea  while 
on  his  way  to  Japan,  where  he  was  going  to 
superintend  the  erection  of  some  buildings  (he 
left  a  wife  and  four  children  at  New  Haven, 
Conn.);  and  Charles  Wesley,  formerly  a  busi- 
ness man  in  New  York  City,  who  died  in  the 
army.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  George 
Bishop  wedded  Miss  Louisa  Butts,  and  to  them 
were  born  three  children:  William  G.,  now 
deceased;  Catherine  M.,  wife  of  Edward 
Brown;  and  Noah  Lent. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  such  as 
the  district  schools  near  his  home  afforded;  but 
at  the  early  age  of  ten  years  he  laid  aside  his 
text  books  and  began  work  for  Gail  Borden  as 
an  errand  boy  in  the  condensed  milk  factory, 
where  he  has  since  remained,  serving  as  super- 
intendent since  1870.  His  promotion  was 
gradual;  after  serving  as  errand  boy  for  a  time 
he  worked  at  filling  cans  by  hand  in  the  fore- 
noon, putting  up  all  the  milk  there  made;  next 
heated  up  the  milk  in  the  wells  as  received, 
and  was  then  engaged  in  sealing  the  milk.  In 
the  tin  shop  he  was  next  employed  at  general 
work;  later  fired  the  boilers,  then  became 
operator  at  the  vacuum  pans,  and  subsequently 
served  as  milk  inspector  until  appointed  to  his 
present  responsible  position  in  1870.  His 
long-continued  service  well  indicates  his  faith- 
ful discharge  of  duty,  the  confidence  and  trust 
reposed  in  him,  and  the  capable  and  efficient 
manner  in  which  he  conducts  the  business. 

At  Wassaic  Mr.  Bishop  was  married  to  Miss 
Jennie  A.  Jones,  daughter  of  Jarvis  Jones,  and 
they  now  have  two  children:  Lena  M. ,  wife 
of  Dr.  F.  Bruce,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  and  Cora 
J.  Mr.  Bishop  takes  quite  an  active  interest 
in  civic  societies,  being  a  member  of  Amenia 
Lodge  No.  672,  F.  &  A.  M. ,  and  the  Royal 
Arcanum  at  Wassaic,  while  politically  he  uses 
his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the  men 
and  measures  of  the  Republican  party. 


GEORGE  T.  WILLSON,  senior  member 
_  of  the  well-known  firm  of  Willson  &  Eaton, 
wholesale  grain  dealers  of  Amenia,  Dutchess 
county,  belongs  to  that  class  of  reliable  and 
trustworthy  citizens  to  whom  may  be  attrib- 
uted the  stable  welfare  and  prosperity  of  a 
community.     A  native  of  Dutchess  county,  he 


was  born  February  3,  1837,  in  the  town  oi 
Northeast.  His  paternal  great-grandfather, 
Robert  Willson,  a  native  of  Scotland,  was  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  that  town,  securing  his 
land  from  the  Indians. 

The  grandfather,  who  also  bore  the  name 
of  Robert  Willson,  was  born,  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  the  town  of  Northeast,  and  on  reach- 
ing manhood  there  followed  farming.  He  was 
one  of  the  heroes  of  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  was  a  Presbyterian  in  religious  belief,  serv- 
ing as  deacon  in  his  Church.  He  married  Miss 
Sarah  Thompson,  and  to  them  were  born  nine 
children,  namely:  John,  Hiram,  Theron,  Sam- 
uel, Edmund,  Henry,  Barak,  Sarah  and  Re- 
becca. 

Theron  Willson,  the  father  of  our  subject 
was  also  born  in  the  town  of  Northeast,  anc 
spent  his  boyhood  days  upon  the  home  farm 
By  occupation  he  was  also  a  farmer,  and  was 
a  strong  temperance  man.  He  married  Mis: 
Eliza  Collins,  daughter  of  Capt.  James  Collins 
of  Northeast,  and  they  became  the  parents  o'j 
five  children:  Collins,  who  lives  at  Pine  Plains 
Dutchess  county;  Eli,  of  Northeast;  Sarah 
wife  of  Joseph  Belding,  of  Amenia;  George  T. 
of  this  review;  and  Lydia,  wife  of  Samue 
Guernsey,  of  Northeast.  The  mother  wa 
called  to  her  final  rest  in  1856,  and  the  fathe 
died  in  January,  1862. 

George  T.  Willson  was  reared  on  the  honi 
farm,  and  acquired  his  education  in  the  di- 
trict  schools.  On  the  breaking  out  of  th 
Civil  war,  he  joined  his  country's  service,  er 
listing  in  Company  A,  150th  N.  Y.  V.  I.;  th 
regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Eastern  arm 
until  after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  when 
was  transferred  to  Gen.  Sherman's  commanc 
Our  subject  continued  with  his  regiment  a 
through  the  war  without  receiving  a  furlougi 
At  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  he  was  wounde 
in  the  head,  and  taken  up  for  dead;  on  asce 
taining  that  life  was  not  extinct,  he  was  take, 
to  the  hospital,  and  a  few  days  later  was  ab| 
to  rejoin  his  command,  with  which  he  serve  I 
until  mustered  out  at  Poughkeepsie.  He  pai 
ticipated  also  in  the  battles  of  Nashville,  Chai 
tanooga,  Resaca,  and  in  the  Atlanta  campaigj 

Returning  to  the  town  of  Northeast,  he  i 
sumed  work  upon  the  home  farm,  where 
remained  for  three  years,  and  then  remov 
to  the  village  of  Amenia  to  engage  in  the  hori 
and  cattle  trade.  In  March,  1878,  he  assum 
control  of  the  feed  and  grain  business  heret 
fore   run   by  B.  Willson  &  Co.,  taking  as  I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


435 


partner  Lewis  F.  Eaton,  and  the  firm  has  since 
been  Willson  &  Eaton.  They  were  the  first 
to  sell  hominy  chop  in  the  locality,  and  they 
are  now  at  the  head  of  an  extensive  and  con- 
stantly increasing  business,  their  wholesale 
trade  extending  throughout  several  counties  in 
New  York,  while  they  carry  on  a  retail  trade 
at  Amenia,  Wassaic  and  Shekomeko. 

In  the  town  of  Amenia,  in  May,  1876,  Mr. 
Willson  was  married  to  Mrs.  Emma  (Darke) 
Reed,  daughter  of  Charles  Darke,  and  they 
now  have  four  children:  Charles  T.,  Bessie, 
Georgia  and  Lee.  Mr.  Willson  is  public-spir- 
ited and  progressive,  and  faithfully  discharges 
every  duty  of  citizenship  with  the  same  fidelity 
that  he  displayed  on  Southern  battlefields, 
when  he  followed  the  stars  and  stripes  to  vic- 
tory, and  thus  aided  in  the  perpetuation  of  our 
glorious  republic.  In  political  sentiment  he  is 
a  Republican. 


JOHN  J.  HUMESTON,   who  is  practically 
living  retired  in  the  town  of  Washington, 
Dutchess  county,  is  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent citizens  of  the  community.      He  was  born 
a  that  town  on  July  5,  1835,  ^"^^  'S  a  son  of 
lames  E.  Kumeston,  whose  birth  occurred  in 
he  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  Decem- 
eri,  1795,  while  his  grandfather,  Eli  Humes- 
on,  and  his  great-grandfather,  JoytonHumes- 
c>n,  were  both  natives  of  East  Haven,  Conn. 
Vfter  his  marriage,  the  grandfather,  who  was 
wagon-maker,  removed  to  the  town  of  Dover, 
vhere  he  reared  his  family  of  five  children,  of 
vhich  the  father  of  our  subject  was  the  eldest. 
e   was   followed    by    Hannah,  who   married 
')seph  Palmer,  a  farmer  of  Dover;  Edwin  and 
oseph,    both    wagon-makers   of    Dover;    and 
iariett,  wife    of    George    Bassett,    a    railroad 
an  of  Chicago,  111.     The  family  belonged  to 
e  Society  of  Friends. 

James  E.  Humeston  grew  to  manhood  in 
le  town  of  Dover,  where  he  learned  the 
igon-maker's  trade,  and  there  married  Eliz- 
eth  Perry,  by  whom  he  had  two  children: 
homas  P.  (deceased  July  22,  1885);  and 
atherine  E.  (deceased  October  ig,  1895), 
ho  became  the  wife  of  George  T.  Underbill, 
farmer  of  the  town  of  Washington.  Mrs. 
umeston  died  June  12,  1831,  and  for  his  sec- 
id  wife  Mr.  Humeston  wedded  Lydia  V.  Un- 
■rhill,  the  ceremony  taking  place  February  5, 
'32.  She  was  born  in  the  town  of  Washing- 
11,  September  24,  1804,  and  was  a  daughter 


of  Nathaniel  Underbill,  a  native  of  the  town  of 
Stanford,  Dutchess  county,  and  of  English 
descent.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Humeston 
located  upon  a  small  farm  near  Hibernia  Mills, 
where  our  subject,  the  only  child  by  the  second 
union,  was  born.  In  politics,  the  father  was 
a  Whig  and  for  several  years  served  as  justice 
of  the  peace.  His  death  occurred  in  the  town 
of  Washington,  July  31,  1872,  and  his  wife 
departed  this  life  October  4,  1881. 

The  earliest  years  of  John  J.  Humeston 
were  spent  near  Hibernia  in  the  uneventful 
manner  of  most  farmer  boys,  and  in  early  life 
he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade.   On  February 

20,  1 86 1,  Mr.  Humeston  was  married  to  Miss 
Lydia  A.  Deuel,  a  native  of  the  town  of  Dover 
and  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Charity  (Gould) 
Deuel,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  January 

21,  1797,  on  the  same  farm  where  his  daugh- 
ter's birth  occurred,  and  the  latter  May  24, 
1804,  in  Ballston,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Deuel  were  farming  people,  and  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  namely:  Anna  M., 
who  died  November  10,  1876;  Lydia  A.,  hon- 
ored wife  of  our  subject;  Phoebe  G.,  who 
wedded  Jonathan  Benham,  a  farmer  living 
near  Lithgow,  Dutchess  county;  Mary  G. 
(twin  sister  of  Phcebe),  who  died  May  11, 
1856;  Elias  H.,  a  farmer  and  landlord  at  South 
Dover,  Dutchess  Co. ;  Myra  J.,  who  died  March 
10,  1854;  Emily  H.,  wife  of  E.  W.  Benson,  a 
farmer  of  South  Dover;  and  Obed  J. ,  also  a 
farmer  of  that  locality,  who  married  Charlotte 
Horton,  has  always  remained  on  the  home- 
stead. The  father,  who  supported  the  Democ- 
racy, was  elected  road  commissioner  and  town 
assessor,  and  in  religious  belief  both  he  and  his 
wife  were  Quakers.  He  was  called  to  his  final 
rest  October  27,  1879,  and  his  wife  died  June 
2,  1895.  He  was  a  son  of  Joshua  Deuel  (a 
farmer  of  the  town  of  Dover),  whose  father 
and  grandfather  both  bore  the  name  of  Benja- 
min. The  maternal  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Humeston  was  Joel  Gould  (a  son  of  Adam 
Gould),  who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Washing- 
ton, where  on  reaching  manhood  he  engaged 
in  farming. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Humeston  took  his 
bride  to  Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  where  he 
followed  his  trade  for  two  years,  and  then 
went  to  Dover,  where  he  engaged  in  the  same 
occupation  for  some  thirteen  years,  after  which 
he  came  to  the  town  of  Washington.  For  the 
past  three  years  he  has  resided  upon  his  pres- 
ent farm,  where  to  a  limited  extent  he  engaged 


436 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  agricultural  pursuits,  but  is  practically  liv- 
ing retired.  He  has  a  beautiful  home,  and  is 
surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  and  many  of 
the  luxuries  of  life.  In  the  family  are  two 
children — Mary  C.  and  Phebe  A. — and  they 
hold  a  high  position  in  the  social  circles  of  the 
community,  where  true  worth  and  ability  are 
received  as  the  passports  into  good  society. 
In  politics,  Mr.  Humeston  is  entirely  inde- 
pendent of  party  lines,  preferring  to  vote  for 
the  man  who,  he  thinks,  will  best  fill  the 
position. 


^\^RTHUR  V.  ROCKWELL,  "silk  tljrow- 
.£^L^  ster"  of  one  of  the  leading  manufactories 
of  Matteawan,  was  born  February  14,  1866, 
at  Millbrook,  Dutchess  county,  the  only  son  of 
the  late  Ralph  Rockwell  and  his  first  wife, 
Elizabeth  Broadhurst. 

It  seems  quite  in  the  natural  order  of  things 
that  Mr.  Rockwell  should  be  engaged  in  the 
silk  business,  his  father  having  been  prominent 
in  that  line  of  work,  while  his  ancestors  on  the 
mother's  side  were  even  more  closely  identi- 
fied with  that  industry,  being  among  its  earli- 
est promoters  in  this  country.  John  Broad- 
hurst, Mrs.  Rockwell's  father,  wove  the  first 
piece  of  broad  silk  goods  ever  made  in  Amer- 
ica, and  her  brothers  were  masters  of  every 
detail  of  the  art  of  silk  manufacturing  as  it 
was  carried  on  in  their  day,  having  perfected 
their  knowledge  in  the  great  silk  mills  of  Mac- 
clesfield, England.  But,  if  these  pioneers 
should  to-day  visit  the  extensive  warp  spinning 
works  at  Matteawan,  they  would  find  much  to 
interest  them  while  examining  its  highly  im- 
proved machinery  so  delicately  adjusted  that 
the  breaking  of  a  single  fibre  of  silk  stops  the 
"  take  up. "  Formerly  both  warp  and  filling 
were  spun  at  this  establishment,  but  now  its 
16,000  spindles  are  devoted  exclusively  to  the 
making  of  warp,  and  turn  out  about  33,600,- 
000  yards  per  day. 

Arthur  V.  Rockwell,  the  presiding  genius 
of  this  busy  place,  a  courteous  yet  business- 
like young  man,  was  educated  at  Poughkeep- 
sie,  graduating  from  the  high  school  in  1884, 
and  from  the  Eastman  Business  College  a  year 
later.  He  then  engaged  in  the  silk-throwing 
business  with  his  father,  who  was  a  partner  in 
the  firm  of  J.  Silbermann  &  Co.,  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  and  in  1890,  when  the  father  moved 
to  Matteawan  and  established  the  present 
plant,  in   partnership    with    John    Cummings, 


our  subject  took  charge  of  his  interests  in 
Poughkeepsie.  In  1892  he  also  moved  to 
Matteawan,  took  Mr.  Cummings'  interest  in 
the  firm,  and  has  since  remained  there,  carry- 
ing on  the  business  for  the  estate  since  his  fa- 
ther's death,  December  27,  1894.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Susie  Van  Dyne,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam H.  and  Anna  C.  (Brevoort)  Van  Dyne,  of 
Poughkeepsie.  They  are  members  of  the  First 
M.  E.  Church  of  Matteawan,  and  are  promi- 
nent in  social  life.  Mr.  Rockwell  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  and  he  belongs  to  the  Mattea- 
wan Club,  the  Hudson  River  Lodge  No.  57, 
K.  of  P..  and  is  president  of  the  Beacon  En- 
gine Co.,  of  Matteawan. 

The  late  Ralph  Rockwell  was  born  Septem- 
ber 27,  1837,  in  the  town  of  South  Windsor, 
Conn.,    and  at  an  early  age  engaged  in  the 
woolen  business  at  South  Manchester,  Conn., 
remaining  three    years.      He   then   began    his 
long  experience  as  a  silk  manufacturer,  enter- 
ing the   factory  of  Cheney  Bros.,  well-known 
pioneers  in  this  business,  where  he  spent  seven 
years  learning  the  trade   in  all   its' branches. 
On  leaving  them  he  went  to  Yonkers  as  super 
intendent  of   G.  B.  Skinner's  mills,  and    aftei 
six  years   there  he  moved  to  Paterson,  N.  J. 
the    "Lyons  of  America,"  and,  with  Willian 
S.  Archer  as  a  partner,  purchased  the  factor; 
known   as  the   Benson   Mills,  now  one  of  thi 
old  landmarks  of  this  business.      He  sold  hi 
interest  in  this  plant  in  the  following  year,  ant 
for  some  time  occupied  the  famous  old  "  Rei 
Mill"  at  Poughkeepsie;  but  the  failure  of  th 
water  power  there  led  to  his  removal  to  Hart' 
Village,  in    i860,   where  he  took  the   factor 
owned  by  Abraham  Swift  at  the  Upper  Pone 
The  death  of  his  first  wife  occurred  Feb.  ic 
1866,  and  shortly  afterward  Mr.  Rockwell  re 
turned  to  Yonkers  and  embarked  in  businesi 
there,  remaining  about  six  years.     While  theij 
he  married  Miss  Clara  J.    Du  Bois,  who  su  j 
vives   him.     On  leaving  Yonkers  he  resumcj 
business  at  Paterson,  and  after  four  years  r] 
turned  to  New  York  City,  and  established  fil 
J.  Silbermann  a  factory  for  "silk  throwing! 
on  Tenth   avenue,  which    was    transferred 
Poughkeepsie  four  years  later.     The  partnt] 
ship  with  Mr.    Cummings,  referred  to  abovj 
was  succeeded  by  the  firm  of  Rockwell  &  So 
which  continued  until  the  death  of  the  sen! 
member;  but  for  some  years  previous  the  acti 
management  of  the  works  devolved  upon  c ' 
subject,  his  father  retiring  to  an  estate  at  Mi 
brook,  where  he  died  of  heart  disease  Thu  I- 


c^/^< 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPHIGAL  RECORD: 


487 


day  afternoon,  December  27,  1894,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-seven  years. 

Though  not  lacking  in  public  spirit,  Mr. 
Rockwell  never  sought  public  office,  and  was 
best  pleased  when  he  could  remain  quietly  at 
home.  His  business  associates  speak  highly 
of  his  fairness  and  liberality,  and  say  that  he 
took  more  pleasure  in  paying  them  than  in 
collecting  debts.  His  circle  of  acquaintances 
in  this  vicinity  was  not  large,  but  those  who 
knew  him  best  speak  most  highly  of  his  excel- 
lent qualities  of  head  and  heart.  As  a  friend, 
neighbor  and  citizen,  his  death  was  deeply 
mourned.  He  was  a  Master  Mason,  a  charter 
member  of  Manchester  Lodge,  at  South  Man- 
chester, Conn.,  and  was  one  of  the  oldest 
members  of  the  fraternity  in  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut. His  remains  now  rest  in  the  ceme- 
tery at  Wapping,  Conn.,  his  birthplace. 

Russell  Rockwell,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
was  a  prominent  resident  of  Windsor,  Conn., 
the  owner  of  a  sawmill,  and  a  pioneer  in  the 
cultivation  of  tobacco  in  that  section.  At  one 
time  he  had  the  option  of  purchasing,  for  $300, 
the  entire  site  of  the  present  village  of  Rock- 
rille.  Conn.,  including  the  remarkable  water 
|i)Ower  at  that  point,  a  property  now  worth 
lions  of  dollars. 


ILLIAM    K.   ROY,   the  popular  post- 
master of  Wappingers  Falls,  Dutchess 
,  and  one  of  the   most  prominent   citi- 
s  of  that  village,  was  born  there  December 
•I,  1853. 

James  Roy,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
'orn  in  Belfast,  Ireland,  in   18 16,  learned  the 
business  of  calico   printing,  and  became  fore- 
nan  of  his  father's  works,  when   only  a  boy. 
iVhen  eighteen  years  old  he  came  to  America, 
ind  for  a  short  time  lived  at  Stockport,  N.  Y., 
eing  foreman  engraver  in  the  print  works  at 
aat  place.      In    1837,   he  removed  to    Wap- 
ingers  Falls,  and  took  a  position  in  the  print 
'  orks  there,    retaining   same    for    nearly    ten 
ears.     In  1848  he  opened  a  drugstore,  which 
le  carried  on  until  his  death,    which   occurred 
n  1868.     James   Roy  was   married    May   25, 
843,  to  Susanna  Darling,  who  was  born  at 
Cumberland  Hill,    Mendon,    Mass.,    in    181 8. 
■he  was  the  daughter  of  Seth  Darling,  a  native 
f   Cumberland,    Mass.,    and  Susanna  Clark, 
ho  was  also  born  in  Massachusetts,   on   both 
des   the    families  were    of    English    descent. 


The  Clarks  came  to  America  at  a  very  early 
period  and  settled  in  Rhode  Island,  where  our 
subject's  mother  spent  a  part  of  her  childhood 
on  the  old  homestead.  When  she  was  eight 
years  old  her* parents  removed  to  Fall  River, 
Mass.,  where  she  grew  to  womanhood. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roy 
came  to  Dutchess  county,  and  settled  at  Wap- 
pingers Falls,  where  they  reared  a  family  of 
eight  children,  of  these,  James  S.  married  Car- 
rie A.  Orr,  and  has  two  children;  Emma  Dar- 
ling married  Edward  Griffith,  of  Newport,  R.  I. ; 
William  K. ,  the  subject  of  thissketch ;  Albert  M., 
who  is  in  the  drug  business  with  his  brother  in 
Wappingers  Falls  (he  graduated  with  honors  in 
the  class  of  1 88  5  from  the  College  of  Pharmacy, 
New  York  City,  taking  two  prizes);  Elizabeth 
Clark  married  George  H.  Kelley,  of  Newport, 
R.  I.,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  old  and  lead- 
ing families  of  that  State.  Three  other  chil- 
dren died  in  infancy.  Since  the  death  of  her 
husband  Mrs.  Roy  has  conducted  the  drug 
business  in  which  he  was  engaged,  and  has 
made  a  great  success  of  it.  She  is  thoroughly 
conversant  with  all  its  details,  and  so  high  does 
she  stand  in  the  estimation  of  medical  men, 
that  when  the  State  Board  of  Pharmacy  was 
organized,  she  was  sent  a  certificate  authoriz- 
ing her  to  practice  pharmacy  without  taking 
an  examination.  She  is  one  of  the  best  known 
business  woman  in  Dutchess  county,  and  pos- 
sesses unusual  ability  in  that  direction,  besides 
being  a  lady  of  refinement  and  culture. 

Mr.  Roy  took  an  active  part  in  all  matters 
of  public  interest,  especially  in  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation. He  was  instrumental  in  building  up 
the  present  excellent  school  system  in  the 
county,  and  was  one  of  the  principal  promoters 
in  the  establishment  of  the  high  school;  he  was 
one  of  the  small  number  who  secured  the  ground 
and  laid  out  the  beautiful  cemetery  at  Wap- 
pingers Falls,  and  was  the  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  the  association  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  in 
all  the  relations  of  life  proved  himself  a  most 
loyal  and  honorable  man,  whose  influence  will 
be  felt  many  years  to  come. 

William  K.  Roy  was  graduated  from  the 
Union  Free  School  No.  i,  Wappingers  Falls, 
Dutchess  county,  in  1870,  and  in  1872  entered 
Cornell  University,  taking  two  courses,  those 
of  civil  engineering  and  chemistry,  and  was 
graduated  with  high  honors  in  the  class  of  '76. 
During  the  Centennial  at  Philadelphia,  in  1876, 
he  was  in  charge  of  some  of  the  chemical  ex- 


488 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


hibits.  Of  late  years  he  has  been  connected 
with  his  brothers  in  the  drug  business.  Mr. 
Roy  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  belief,  and 
has  held  a  number  of  responsible  offices.  He 
was  town  clerk  for  two  terms  ili  the  town  of 
Poughkeepsie;  was  supervisor  for  one  term  in 
1887;  was  clerk  of  the  village  board  two  years; 
and  was  made  postmaster  at  Wappingers  Falls 
in  May,  1887.  This  position  he  held  until 
July,  1892,  when  he  resigned  to  become  Index 
Clerk  of  the  State  Assembly  at  Albany,  serv- 
ing in  that  capacity  for  two  years.  On  Janu- 
ary 30,  1896,  he  was  again  appointed  post- 
master, and  is  now  tilling  that  office  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  public  and  with  honor  to 
himself;  he  has  made  many  improvements  in 
the  arrangements  and  handling  of  the  mails. 

Mr.  Roy  has  always  taken  much  interest 
in  everything  pertaining  to  the  grov/th  and 
welfare  of  his  community.  He  was  one  of 
those  instrumental  in  building  the  bridge  across 
the  river  at  Wappingers  Falls;  was  influential 
in  getting  the  electric  road  built,  and  is  a  di- 
rector in  the  company.  He  is  also  secretary 
of  the  board  of  park  commissioners,  and  was 
a  prominent  factor  in  having  the  park  legally 
located  in  the  village.  For  the  past  twenty 
years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Democratic 
County  Committee,  and  for  ten  years  was  one 
of  the  e.xecutive  board,  at  present  its  secretary. 
He  is  one  of  the  directors  and  a  member  of 
the  e.xecutive  committee  of  the  Wappingers 
Falls  Savings  Bank,  and  is  trustee  and  secre- 
tary of  the  board  of  the  Grinnell  Library  in 
that  village.  No  man  is  more  closely  identi- 
fied with  the  best  interests  of  the  place,  and 
none  is  held  in  higher  esteem   than   Mr.  Roy. 

James  S.  Roy,  the  eldest  brother  of  our 
subject,  has  efficiently  managed  the  drug  busi- 
ness since  the  death  of  his  father,  in  1867,  and 
has  been  prominent  in  the  public  affairs  of 
Wappingers  Falls.  He  was  secretary  of  the 
board  of  health,  and  chairman  of  the  board  of 
highway  commissioners.  Mr.  Roy,  after  serv- 
ing several  terms  as  village  trustee,  was  elected 
president  of  the  village,  and  is  now  serving  his 
seventh  consecutive  term  as  village  president. 
The  good  roads  of  the  town  are  a  monument 
to  his  zeal  in  this  direction;  the  purchase  and 
embellishment  of  the  beautiful  village  park  was 
mainly  effected  through  his  efforts;  he  has  also 
been  treasurer  of  the  village;  is  a  trustee  and 
first  vice-president  of  the  Wappingers  Falls 
Savings  Bank,  and  a  member  of  its  funding 
committee,  and  has  held  other  minor  offices. 


These  sons  of  a  worthy  father  have  followed 
in  his  footsteps,  and  none  are  more  deserving 
of  a  place  in  this  record  of  the  county. 


tune 
don. 


ILLARD  W.   HICKS.      On   the    nth 

of  November,  162 1,  the  ship  "  For- 
arrived  at  Plymouth,  Mass.,  from  Lon- 
She  followed  the  "Mayflower,"  bring- 
ing over  the  parts  of  families  left  behind  by 
those  who  came  in  that  famous  vessel  the  year 
before.  In  the  "Fortune"  with  this  second 
body  of  Puritans  came  Robert  Hicks,  the  an- 
cestor of  the  family  in  America.  He  was  a  ■ 
leather-dresser  from  Bermondsey  street.  South-  •■ 
wark,  London.  His  father,  James  Hicks,  was 
lineally  descended  from  Elias  Hicks,  who  was 
knighted  by  Edward  the  Black  Prince  on  the 
battlefield  of  Poictiers,  September  9,  1356,  for 
bravery  in  capturing  a  set  of  colors  from  the 
French. 

Margaret,  the  wife  of  Robert  Hicks,  and 
her  children,  came  over  in  the  ship  "Ann," 
which  arrived  at  Plymouth  during  the  latter 
part  of  June,  1622.  This  family  settled  in 
Duxbury,  Mass. ;  but  two  of  the  sons,  John 
and  Stephen,  subsequently  (about  1642)  came 
to  Long  Island.  In  October,  1645,  Gov.  Kieft 
granted  a  patent  to  Thomas  Farrington,  John 
Hicks  and  others  for  the  township  of  Flushing, 
Long  Island.  John  Hicks  seems  to  have  taken 
a  leading  part  in  the  affairs  of  the  settlement, 
and  was  appointed  at  various  times  to  fill  tht 
most  important  offices.  His  name,  also  thai 
of  his  son  Thomas,  appears  in  connection  with 
almost  every  public  measure  for  many  years. 

Robert  Hicks  married  (first)  Elizabeth  Mor 
gan,  and   had   the  following  children:     Eliza 
beth,  Thomas,  John,  Stephen.     For  his  seconc 
wife  he  married  Margaret  Winslow,   and  hat! 
children,  viz:  Samuel,  Ephraim,  Lydia,  Phoebe 
His  son,  John  Hicks,  and  the  third  child  of  hi^ 
first  marriage,  married  Rachel  Starr,  and  haij 
three  children:     Thomas,  Hannah  and  Eliza  1 
beth.       Their   son,    Thomas    Hicks,    marriei 
May  Washburn, and  had  two  children:  Thotna' 
and  Jacob.      He  married,  for  his  second  wife; 
Mary   Doughty,    and   had  the   following  chili 
dren:    Isaac,  William,  Stephen,  John,  Charle5| 
Benjamin, 1  Phebe,  Charity,    Mary   and  Eliza 
beth. 

Jacob  Hicks,  the  second  child  of  the  firs 
union,  married  Hannah  Morgan,  and  had  th 
following  children:   Samuel,  Stephen,  Thomas 


COMMEMOBATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


439 


Joseph,  Jacob,  Benjamin,-  Elizabeth,  John, 
Sarah  and  Hannah.  Their  son,  Joseph  Hicks, 
married  (first)  Elizabeth  Desler,  and  had  the 
following  children:  Mordecai,  Thomas,  Ber- 
nard, Elizabeth.  For  his  second  wife  he  mar- 
ried Catharine  Filkins,  and  has  the  following 
children:  Isaac,  Benjamin,''  Catharine,  John, 
Joseph,  Abraham,  Sarah,  Samuel  and  Stephen. 
— Benjamin  Hicks  ^  married  Deborah  Doty, 
and  had  the  following  children:  Elias,  Joseph, 
Benjamin,*  David,  Amy,  Elizabeth,  Sarah, 
Deborah,  and  Annie. — Benjamin  Hicks*  mar- 
ried Hannah  Couse,  and  had  the  following 
children:  Samuel,  Ury,  George,  Annie,  Ed- 
ward, Asa,  Zadieann,  Perry,  Elizabeth,  Cath- 
arine, and  Benjamin. ■' — Samuel  Hicks  married 
Eliza  Ann  Link,  and  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: Emily,  Willard  W.  (our  subject),  Esther, 
Jasper,  Irving,  and  Samuel  E. — Willard  W. 
Hicks  married  Fannie  H.  Smith,  daughter  of 
Egbert  Smith,  a  well-known  citizen  of  Pine 
Plains,  and  has  had  two  children:  Iduma  E. 
ind  Emma  Z. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  the  leading  residents 
)f  the  town  of  Pine  Plains,  Dutchess  county, 
ind  was  born  May  i8,  1844,  in  the  town  of 
»Iilan,  near  Fayetteville.  Until  the  age  of 
i^hteen  he  attended  the  district  schools  of  that 
ijjhborhood,  and  then  spent  one  term  at  the 

Ie  Nine  Partners  School  at  Millbrook.       At 
jteen  he  taught  a  term   of  four  months  in 
Bartlett  district,    town   of   Milan,   also  a 
ter  term  in  his   home  district,  and  the  fol- 
ding year  he  spent  nearly  two  terms  as  a  stu- 
jiit  at    Charlotteville,    Schoharie  county,   to 
rther  prepare  himself  for  the   work  of  teach- 
in   this  calling  he   was  very   successful, 
ving  natural   talent   and   inclination   for  it, 
d  he  became   known  as  one  of  the  leading 
ucators    of  the   locality.      He   taught  three 
ccessive  terms  at  home,  several  years  in  the 
jrmain  district,  two  terms  in  the  Carroll  dis- 
ct,  in  the  town  of  Stanford,  and  one  in  Mt. 
iss  district,  but  he  has  also  given  his  atten- 
m  toother  pursuits.      In  the  summers  of  1865 
id  1866  he  was  engaged  in  carpentering,  and 
has  followed  this  trade  intermittingly  since 
U  time.     Since   1873,  the  year   of  his  mar- 
ge, he  has  owned   and  cultivated  a  farm  of 
3  acres  in   the  western   part  of  the  town  of 
ne  Plains,  to  which  he  added  ninety-si.x  acres 
)re  in  1 883.      He  is  quite  e.xtensively  engaged 
a  dealer  in  sheep  and  cattle,  Michigan  sheep 
ng  his  preference  on  account  of  their  thrift, 
1  rdiness,  quiet  and  orderly  inclinations.   From 


that  State  he  has  brought  many  car-loads  to 
his  locality,  where  at  all  times  he  finds  a  ready 
market.  He  is  also  engaged  somewhat  as  an 
auctioneer,  and  has  the  credit  of  succeeding  in 
securing  first-class  prices  for  goods  which  he 
sells.  He  says  his  motto  is  "Better  wear  out 
than  rust  out,"  and  that  he  has  no  affinity  with 
idleness  or  inactivity — "God  helps  him  who 
helps  himself." 

Mr.  Hicks  is  a  director  in  the  Farmers  Mu- 
tual Insurance  Company,  of  Milan,  Pine  Plains 
and  Stanford  townships.  As  a  well-read  man, 
versed  in  legal  forms,  he  is  often  engaged  by 
his  neighbors  to  draw  up  contracts,  leases, 
deeds,  mortgages,  wills,  and  other  papers,  and, 
as  may  well  be  supposed,  he  is  a  very  busy 
man.  Enterprising  in  private  business  he  is  no 
less  so  in  public  affairs;  and,  having  in  mind 
the  difficulties  with  which  he  contended  in  gain- 
ing his  education,  he  has  been  especially  active 
in  the  interests  of  the  local  schools,  serving  as 
trustee  for  a  number  of  years.  On  national 
questions  he  has  always  been  a  stanch  supporter 
of  the  Democratic  party,  but  in  local  matters 
he  votes  independently,  choosing  the  best  man. 
He  has  been  town  assessor  for  five  years.  He 
and  his  wife  are  leading  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church  of  West  Pine  Plains,  in  which  Mr. 
Hicks  holds  the  office  of  deacon. 


MRS.  MARY  J.  (VELIE)  TRAVER.  The 
_  name  of  Velie  is  a  reminder  of  the  early 
days  to  any  one  familiar  with  the  history  of 
the  development  of  Dutchess  county,  the  an- 
cestors of  this  respected  Holland-Dutch  family 
having  been  pioneer  settlers  in  the  town  of  La- 
grange. Minard  B.  Velie,  the  grandfather  of 
the  lady  whose  name  appears  at  the  opening 
of  this  sketch,  was  born  and  educated  in  that 
town,  and  at  an  early  age  engaged  in  agricult- 
ural pursuits,  which  he  continued  throughout 
his  life.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Baldwin,  and 
had  seven  children:  Isaac,  who  married  Pam- 
alie  Wheeler;  Baltus,  who  remained  single; 
Mary  A.,  who  never  married;  Richard,  our 
subject's  father;  Susan  (Mrs.  Elias  Tompkins); 
Carrie,  the  wife  of  Peter  Pells;  and  Phoebe 
(Mrs.  John  Losee). 

Richard  Velie  was  born  in  the  town  of  La- 
grange, and  after  receiving  an  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  that  town,  he  engaged  in 
farming,  as  had  his  father  before  him.  His 
wife,  Rebecca  Traver,  was  a  daughter  of 
David  and  Catherine  (Pells)  Traver,  who  were 


440 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


prominent  among  the  agricultural  residents  of 
the  town  of  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county.  Of 
their  two  children,  our  subject  was  the  elder. 
The  younger,  Phcebe  R. ,  was  born  and  edu- 
cated in  the  town  of  Unionvale,  and  has  never 
married. 

Mrs.  Mary  J.  Traver  was  also  a  native  of 
the  town  of  Unionvale,  and  her  education  was 
obtained  in  the  common  schools  of  that  local- 
ity. She  married  (first)  Albert  Ingraham,  a 
farmer  of  the  same  locality.  They  had  no 
children.  By  a  second  marriage,  to  Herbert 
L.  Traver,  also  a  farmer  and  well-known  citi- 
zen of  Unionvale,  she  has  one  son,  Arthur  E. 

Another  branch  of  the  Velie  family  in  this 
section  traces  its  descent  from  William  Velie, 
who  lived  and  died  in  the  town  of  Lagrange, 
Dutchess  county,  where  his  son,  Baltus,  was 
born  February  19,  1785.  The  latter  also 
passed  his  life  in  that  town  and  died  there  May 
25,  1 87 1.  His  early  years  were  spent  upon 
his  father's  farm  with  the  common-school  ad- 
vantages of  that  time,  and  later  he  learned  the 
details  of  tanning  and  shoemaking  at  Pleasant 
Valley,  Dutchess  county,  but  his  main  business 
throughout  his  active  career  was  agriculture. 
He  owned  an  excellent  farm,  upon  which  he 
built  a  comfortable  residence  and  other  build- 
ings. He  was  a  self-made  man  and  a  good 
citizen,  taking  a  hearty  interest  in  public  ques- 
tions; the  Whig  party  received  his  support 
until  the  Republican  organization  was  formed, 
when  he  became  one  of  its  steadfast  adherents. 
He  was  married  at  Pleasant  Valley  to  Miss 
Nancy  Losee,  a  lady  of  French  descent,  who 
was  a  devoted  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Ten  of  the  fourteen  children  of  this 
union  have  joined  the  silent  majority,  and 
their  names  with  dates  of  birth  and  death  are 
as  follows:  Simon,  July  12,  1808  —  Novem- 
ber 4,  1876;  Hepsibeth,  April  5,  1807 — March 

14,  1867;  Egbert,  December  12,  1809,  died 
in  childhood;  Zacheus,  March  12,  181 1 — June 
29,  1885;  Eliza  Ann,   March  21,    18 13 — July 

15,  1849,  (married  John  Pells);  Catherine, 
June  4,  181 5  —  November  16,  185 1,  (married 
Jacob  Baker);  Jacob  O.,  February  26,  18 17 
— 1829;  Mary  Rebecca,  August  26,  1819 — 
August  2,  1869;  Alonzo  B.,  July  8,  1822 — 
February  26,  1896;  Isaac,  January  5,  1825 — 
October  16,  1829.  Four  of  the  family  are 
still  living:  William  Morris,  December  31, 
1826,  resides  on  Main  street,  Poughkeepsie; 
William  J.,  May  17,  1829;  Susan  Jeannette, 
March    29,  1831,     is    mentioned    below,    and 


George  Edward,  September  28,  1833,  lives  at 
Poughkeepsie. 

Susan  J.  Velie  was  married  January  28, 
1857,  to  John  Henry  Brinkerhoff,  who  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county, 
in  September,  1835,  son  of  John  H.  Brinker- 
hoff, a  prominent  agriculturist  residing  in  Dow 
Point.  Mr.  Brinkerhoff's  boyhood  was  spent 
in  his  native  town,  and  on  learning  the  car- 
penter's trade  he  settled  in  business  there,  re- 
maining until  1869,  when  he  moved  with  his 
family  to  Lagrange,  where  they  lived  for  sev- 
eral years.  The  onlj'  son,  Clarence  V.,  was 
educated  at  Leslie's  private  school  at  Pough- 
keepsie, and  became  a  pharmacist  in  that  city, 
first  with  Strickler  &Swartz,  and  later  with  A. 
M.  Doty.  On  January  28,  1891,  he  wedded 
Miss  Stella  Van  Wyck,  daughter  of  Abram  C. 
Van  Wyck,  and  granddaughter  of  James  Van- 
Wyck,  of  Unionvale.  Two  children  were 
born  of  this  union:  George,  March  11,  1892; 
and  Frank  Raymond,  January  14,  1894. 


OHN  REDMAN,  an  enterprising  and  pros- 
perous business    man   of    Fishkill-on-Hud- 
son,  is  one  of  the  leading  plumbers  of  the 
count}',  and  a  member  of  the  New  York  State 
Master   Plumbers'    Association,    also    of    tht 
National   Plumbers'  Association.      His  exten 
sive  establishment  at  Fishkill  contains  a  shov* 
room  fitted  up  with  all  the  latest  appliances  fo 
gas,  steam,  and  hot  water  plumbing,   and  fo 
arrangement  and  workmanship  it  will  con]par( 
favorably  with  any  in  the  United  States. 

Robert  Redman,  our  subject's  father,  wa 
a  native  of  Bradford,  Yorkshire,  England,  aiii 
followed  the  occupation  of  a  plumber.  H 
married  Rhoda  Jennings,  who  was  a  descend 
ant  on  the  maternal  side  of.  an  old  and  well 
known  family,  the  Ogdens.  To  their  unio 
were  born  two  children:  Susanna,  who  mai 
ried  John  Horrocks,  and  resided  in  Fishkil 
where  she  died  in  November,  1895;  and  John 
our  subject.     The  father  died  in  1842. 

John  Redman,  our  subject,  was  born  1 
Bradford,  Yorkshire,  England,  in  1839,  an 
was  baptized  in  Haworth  Church  by  Charlott 
Bronte's  father.  He  was  left  fatherless  at  tl 
age  of  three  years,  and  received  but  litt 
schooling,  his  attendance  being  limited  I 
half-days  from  his  ninth  to  his  twelfth  yea 
the  other  half  of  his  time  being  spent  in  worl 
ing  in  a  factory.  From  twelve  to  fifteen  1 
was  employed  full  time  in  a  woolen-factor 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPEICAL  RECORD. 


441 


and  then  he  began  to  learn  the  plumbing  busi- 
ness, receiving  seventy-five  cents  per  week 
during  his  apprenticeship.  He  worked  at  his 
trade  in  different  shops  until  1870,  when  he 
and, in  1871,  he  opened  a 
which  he  carried  on  with 
In  1895  he  built  his  pres- 
with   a   workshop    adjoining 


came  to  America, 
shop  in  Fishkill, 
gratifying  success. 
ent   show  room, 


show  room,  that  are  considered  models  in  con- 
struction, fitting  and  arrangement. 

In  1864  Mr.  Redman  married  Miss  Susan 
Taylor,  daughter  of  John  and  Jemima  Taylor. 
Their  only  daughter,  Rhoda,  married  Dr. 
James  Richard  English,  of  Matteawan.  The 
family  are  all  members  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  take  a  leading  part  in  the  social 
life  of  the  locality.  Mr.  Redman  votes  the 
Republican  ticket,  but  is  not  an  active  political 
worker.  He  is  interested  in  fraternal  society 
work,  and  is  a  member  of  the  K.  of  P.  Our 
subject  is  the  only  Redman  of  his  branch  of 
the  family  living.  In  1880  he  made  an  ex- 
tended tour  throughout  England,  visiting 
|among  other  places  the  scenes  of  his  child- 
hood. In  1 88 1  his  wife  and  daughter  (the 
latter  being  but  eight  years  of  age)  made  a 
similar  tour. 

Dr.  James   Richard    English,    our  sub- 
ject's son-in-law,  one  of  the  leading  physicians 
and  surgeons  of  Fishkill,  was  born  August  27, 
1865,  at  Constabieville,  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.,  the 
;on  of  Dr.  R.  S.  English  and  his  wife  Marga- 
et  (Gormully).      He  was  the  youngest  of  four 
;hildren,  the  others  being  John  Bernard,  Gus- 
avus  Pierce,    and    Alice   E.      His    academic 
;ducation  was  obtained  in   the  public  schools 
A  his  native  town,  and  after  graduating  from 
he  high  school  he  began  the  study  of  medi- 
ine  at  the  Long  Island  College  and  Hospital, 
n  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  from  which  hewasgradu- 
ted   in  1892.      He  began  the  practice  of  his 
■rofession  at  Fishkill-on-Hudson,  and  has  al- 
t:ady  established  a  large   and   lucrative  busi- 
ess.     In  politics  he  is   neutral.      Socially  he 
nd  his  wife  are  prominent,  and  he  is  a  mem- 
er  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  the  R.  A.,  and  I.  O.  F., 
f  the  home  lodge  of  which  latter  organization 
is  a  ph  sician. 


I 


EORGE  HUFCUT   has   been    a   leading 

f  and  prominent  citizen  of    Dover   Plains, 

itchess    county.     His    father,    who    was    a 

vyer   and  surrogate,  practiced  his  profession 

Dover  Plains  for  many  years;  was    also  a 


politician  of  ability,  and  a  leader  in  his  party. 
He  was  honored  with  a  number  of  town  offices, 
and  was  a  prominent  worker  in  Masonic  cir- 
cles, taking  a  great  interest  in  that  order. 

Our  subject  was  born  at  Dover  Plains,  and 
in  early  life  entered  upon  a  mercantile  career, 
engaging  in  that  business  for  some  years. 
Later  he  conducted  the  mill  of  his  father  in  the 
town  of  Dover,  but  at  the  latter's  death  the 
plant  was  sold  to  a  Mr.  Reiner.  He  has  been 
called  upon  to  serve  in  several  local  offices,  in- 
cluding that  of  assessor  of  his  township. 
Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, and  is  affable  and  pleasant  in  manner, 
winning  friends  wherever  he  goes.  The  house 
in  which  the  family  lived  for  years  was  burned 
to  the  ground  in  March,  1897. 

Mr.  Hufcut  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Jennie  Flinn,  who  was  born  and  educated 
in  New  York  City,  and  they  have  become  the 
parents  of  two  children:  William  M.,  and 
Sara  B.  Her  father,  John  Flinn,  was  a 
native  of  Dublin,  Ireland,  and  belonged  to  the 
nobility  of  that  country,  his  father  being  a 
titled  gentleman  and  one  of  the  large  land 
owners  there.  The  son  was  highly  educated 
in  his  native  city,  and  had  in  his  own  right  a 
large  income  after  he  had  reached  man's  estate. 
Owing  to  his  love  of  adventure,  he  with  his 
valet  and  fortune,  embarked  for  the  United 
States  without  the  knowledge  of  his  family. 
He  located  in  New  York  City,  where  he 
established  himself  in  the  crockery  and  glass- 
ware business  on  an  extensive  scale.  This 
venture  proved  very  successful,  and  after  con- 
ducting the  business  for  a  number  of  years,  he 
laid  aside  business  cares,  and  lived  a  retired 
life.  Mr.  Flinn  married  Miss  Sarah  Powell, 
daughter  of  William  Powell,  a  prominent  and 
wealthy  lawyer  of  England,  and  to  them  were 
born  six  children:  Morris  R.,  Charles  B.  and 
John  I.,  all  of  whom  died  in  infancy;  Mary  T., 
who  became  the  wife  of  George  Terry,  of  Bos- 
ton, Mass.;  Sarah,  who  died  in  infancy;  and 
Jennie  A.,  the  estimable  wife  of  our  subject. 


P)ETER  V.  W.  MONTFORT,  a  leading 
agriculturist  of  the  town  of  Wappinger, 
Dutchess  county,  is  the  owner  of  one  of  the 
choicest  farms  in  that  vicinity,  a  tract  of  450 
acres,  which  has  been  in  the  possession  of  his 
family  for  more  than  a  century.  He  is  a  de- 
scendant of  two  of  the  oldest  and  most  dis- 
tinguished   families    in    the    county.      On    the 


442 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


I 


paternal  side,  his  great-great-grandfather,  Peter 
Montfort,  was  a  native  of  Holland,  coming  to 
America  in  Colonial  times  with  three  sons,  one 
of  whom  located  on  Long  Island,  and  the 
other  in  New  Jersey.  Our  subject's  great- 
grandfather, Peter  Montfort,  who  about  1735 
settled  in  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  upon  land 
of  which  the  present  homestead  is  a  part  fit 
being  then  known  as  the  Verplank  Patent), 
was  born  in  171 1  and  died  in  1791.  The  farm 
consisted  of  370  acres,  and  he  built  and  oc- 
cupied the  stone  house  still  standing.  He  had 
five  children:  Mary,  who  married  Albert  Mont- 
fort, from  Long  Island;  Peter,  who  will  pres- 
ently be  spoken  of;  Magdalene,  who  married 
Cornelius  Van  Wyck;  Jacobus,  married  to 
Ruth  Van  Voorhis;  and  Jeanette,  wife  of 
Major  Fort. 

Peter  Montfort,  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  born  December  14,  1760,  on  the  home- 
stead just  referred  to,  and  passed  his  entire  busi- 
ness life  as  a  farmer.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  war, and  our  subject 
has  the  musket  which  he  carried  at  that  time, 
and  a  fowling  piece  which  in  those  days  cost 
a  hundred  bushels  of  wheat,  rated  at  $3  per 
bushel.  For  a  short  time  after  the  close  of 
that  struggle  grandfather  Montfort  lived  near 
Harlem,  where  he  married  Susan  Waldron. 
Returning  home  after  his  father's  death  to  his 
half  of  the  farm,  he  there  built  a  residence  on 
the  site  of  the  one  now  occupied  by  our  sub- 
ject, and  which  was  burned  in  i860,  and  he 
also  added  ninety  acres  to  the  farm.  He  died 
in  1824.  His  brother  Jacobus  lived  in  the 
original  stone  house  until  1825;  he  had  five 
sons:  Cornelius,  Elias,  Peter  J.,  James  and 
Abraham. 

Peter  P.  Montfort,  our  subject's  father, 
was  the  only  son  of  his  parents,  and  was  born 
at  the  old  homestead  November  10,  1795. 
After  the  death  of  Jacobus,  Montfort,  his  uncle, 
he  bought  the  stone-house  part  of  the  farm. 
Agriculture  was  his  principal  occupation 
throughout  his  life;  but  he  was  also  engaged 
for  some  time  in  boating  and  in  mercantile 
business.  He  was  a  man  of  great  force  of 
character,  active  in  local  affairs  as  a  member 
of  the  Whig  party,  and  at  his  death,  February 
26,  1854,  he  was  a  member  of  the  State  Leg- 
islature. His  wife,  Maria  Du  Bois,  to  whom 
he  was  married  November  26,  18 17,  was  a 
native  of  Fishkill,  born  April  22,  1798.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Garret  Du  Bois,  and  a 
granddaughter  of  Christian  Du  Bois,  both  in 


their  time  leading  residents  of  Fishkill,  the 
family  being  descended  from  the  old  Huguenot 
stock  which  has  been  represented  by  so  many 
able  and  prosperous  citizens  in  Dutchess  and 
Ulster  counties.  She  died  October  13,  1836, 
and  of  the  family  of  four  children  our  subject 
is  the  only  survivor.  Susan,  born  July  i,  18 19, 
married  George  Brinkerhoff,  and  both  died  at 
an  early  age;  Garret,  the  twin  brother  of  our 
subject,  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen;  and  Han- 
nah, born  May  13,  1825,  died   in  September, 

1855- 

The  subject  of  our  sketch,  the  second  child 
of   this    union,  was  born    January    19,    1821, 
and    has  always  lived  at  the  old    farm.     On 
December  27,  1843,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Julia  A.    Stockholm,   daughter  of  John  C. 
Stockholm,  a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  and 
a  prominent  farmer  of  the  town  of  Fishkill, 
and  his  wife,  Eliza  Underbill,  who  was  fromi 
Eastchester,  Westchester  county.    Mrs.  Mont-i 
fort  died    November    5,    1871,    leaving   sever! 
children,  all  of  whom  are  still  living:  John  P. 
is  a  traveling  man,  and  resides  in  New  Paltz.j 
Ulster  county;  Charles  D.  B.  is  a  farmer  inthcj 
town   of   Wappinger;    Maria  L.  is    at   home; 
Eliza    is    the    wife    of    Jeremiah    Fowler,    o' 
Providence,     R.     I.;    Meta     married    Georgt 
White,    of  the  town  of  Wappinger;  Julia  A 
married  Milo  J.  White,  a  lawyer,  of  Mt.  Ver 
non,  and  Eugene  is  a  farmer  in  the  town  0 
Wappinger. 

Mr.  Montfort's  time  has  been  mainly  em 
ployed  in  the  supervision  of  his  farm,  upoi 
which  he  raises  a  variety  of  crops.  He  ha 
always  been  prominent  in  local  affairs,  ani 
although  he  has  never  sought  political  office  ii 
an  influential  member  of  the  Republican  part)  I 
The  Montforts  have  always  been  zealous  sup | 
porters  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  an 
their  influence  has  been  a  helpful  factor  i 
every  line  of  progress.  ! 


RS.   MARY  LEE  is  the  widow  of  Waij 
Lee,  who,  prior  to  his  death  at  Dov 
Plains,  Dutchess  county,  a  few  years  ago,  w; 
one  of  the  well-esteemed   and  earnest-heart( 
men  of   that    village    whose    influence  alwa 
count  for  social    well-being  and  advanceme 
in  the  community  in  which  they  live.     Hewj 
unassuming  in   manner,  but  was  called  by  1, 
fellow-citizens  to  serve  in  various  local  office 
among  which  were  those  of  commissioner 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


448 


'highways   for    three    terms    and    collector  for 
two  terms. 

Mr.  Lee  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  where 
!he  was  born  in  1820.      His  parents  were  Will- 
iam and  Mahetable    ( Ward )  Lee,  who  were 
descendants  of  New  England  people.     Ward 
jLee  was  a  boy,  in  his  early  "  'teens,"  when  he 
left  his  native  State  and  settled  in  the  town  of 
Dover,  Dutchess  county.      He   was  the  eldest 
)f  six    children,   as  follows  :     Ward,  Egbert, 
'ane,  Louise,  Emily  and  Emiline  ( twins  ).    He 
vas  married    at    South    Dover,   November  7, 
848,   to   Miss   Mary  Cutter,    who    was    born 
:  Dover   Furnace,    and    is   the    daughter    of 
Calvin  and  Kesiah  ( Varney )  Cutter,  of  Amer- 
:an  ancestry  for   generations.      Four  children 
.'ere  born  to  Ward   and  Mary  (Cutter)  Lee, 
amely  :     Adelia    Ann,    born    July    14,   1849  I 
Imily  S. ,  who  was  born  July  i,  1850,  married 
Ivin  Maray,  and  has  since  died,  her  husband 
irviving  ;  William,  born  November   17,  1851 
\v  deceased);  and  Angeline  K.,  born  Janu- 
26,  1853.      By  trade   Mr.  Lee  was  a  car- 
iter,  and   he   followed  this  calling  through 
His  political    affiliations  were  with  the 
-mocratic  party.      He  died  August  12,  1888, 
:ed  sixty-eight  years,  and  was  buried  at  South 
over.      Mrs.  Marj^   Lee,  his  widow,  survives 
n,  and  is  now   living  at   Dover  Plains  in  a 
t  asant     home  which   is   her    own  property, 
:  among  friends  whom  she  has  known  almost 
m  her  childhood. 


fRS.  MARY  FLAGLER  FOOTE,  now  a 
resident  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  coun- 
pends  a  portion  of  the  season  at  her  resi- 
de at  Green   Haven,    town    of    Beekman. 
I  property  owned  by  her  is  a  portion  of  the 
tract  of  land  owned  by  her  great-great- 
ifather,  Joshua  Carman,  who  came  from 
Island  and   settled  here,    being   a  large 
owner  and  prominent  in  the  early  history 
Btchess  county. 

ler    great-grandfather,     Capt.     Cornelius 

Wyck,  married  Sarah  Carman,  and  lived 

iopeweil,    Dutchess   county.      He    served 

distinction  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and 

killed  in  the  battle  of  White  Plains,  Octo- 

31,  1776.      Her  other   great-grandfather, 

eph  Doughty,  was  born  in  England  in  1744. 

'  came  to  this  country  when  a  boy  with  his 

"ither  (then  a  widow),    and  settled  on  Long 

nd.     His  mother,  for  her  second  husband, 

"Tied  John   Carman,    and    moved  to  Green 


Haven,  town  of  Beekman.  Joseph  Doughty, 
married  Psyche  Wiltsie,  of  Fishkill,  and  paid 
;^ioo  for  the  right  to  settle  on  a  tract  of  land 
adjoining  the  Carman  estate.  He  had  the 
honor  of  entertaining  Gen.  La  Fayette  when 
on  his  travels  through  Beekman  about  the  year 
1824.  Her  grandfather,  William  Doughty, 
married  a  widow,  Sarah  Van  Wyck  Vander- 
burgh, and  was  a  highly  respected  citizen  of 
his  time.  The  above  are  ancestors  on  her 
mother's  side. 

On  her  father's  side,  her  grandfather, Zach- 
ariah  Flagler,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Beekman. 
His  first  wife  was  a  Miss  Wilkinson,  by  whom 
he  had  one  daughter,  Mary.  His  second  wife, 
Catherine  Collins,  was  a  native  of  the  town  of 
Unionvale,  and  to  them  were  born  ten  chil- 
dren: Collins,  John,  Zachariah,  David,  Frank- 
lin, Enoch,  Philip,  Shadrach,  and  George  and 
Gilbert  (twins).  Religiously  the  family  were 
members  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 

Gilbert  Flagler,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Foote, 
was  also  a  native  of  the  town  of  Beekman. 
He  married  Psyche  Doughty,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam Doughty,  and  after  his  marriage  located 
on  a  farm  near  Green  Haven.  To  them  were 
born  five  children:  Mary,  Martha  R.,  who  is 
the  widow  of  John  Peters,  and  resides  in  Fish- 
kill  village,  Dutchess  county;  Theodore  V.  W. 
(now  deceased)  married  Helen  Jones;  Henry 
died  unmarried;  and  Sarah  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  Flagler  was  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  dying  in  that 
faith  in  1873.  His  widow  passed  away  in 
1894  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eight-six  years. 
They  had  many  warm  friends,  and  were  held 
in  high  esteem  in  the  locality  which  was  so 
long  their  home. 

Mary  Flagler  was  married  September  10, 
185 1,  from  her  home  in  the  town  of  Beekman, 
to  George  Benton  Foote,  of  New  Haven,  Conn. 
Mr.  Foote  was  a  merchant  in  New  York  City 
for  a  number  of  years,  engaged  in  the  import- 
ing of  fine  cloth.  The  latter  part  of  his  life 
was  passed  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  where  he 
died  December  1 1,  1871.  Two  sons  were  born 
to  them:     Gilbert  F.  and  George  B.,  Jr. 

Gilbert  Flagler  Foote  married  Clara  Will- 
iams, of  Poughkeepsie,  December  5,  1893, 
and  to  them  two  children  were  born:  Andrew 
Giraud,  February  2,  1895;  and  Gilbert  Flag- 
ler, Jr.,  September  i,  1896. 

George  Benton  Foote,  Jr.,  married  Ida 
Williams,  of  Poughkeepsie,  June  14,  1894,  a 
sister  of  Clara  Williams,  and  daughter  of  Orren 


444 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


A.  and  Josephine  Giraud  Williams,  both 
families  being  prominently  known  in  Pough- 
keepsie  society. 

All  of  Mary  Flagler  Foote's  ancestral  fam- 
ilies have  been  prominent  in  the  history  of 
Beekman  and  Dutchess  county.  Mrs.  Foote 
merits  and  receives  the  esteem  of  all  who  know 
her,  and  is  beloved  by  all  with  whom  she 
comes  in  contact  for  her  noble  traits  of 
character. 


jRS.  MARY  H.  ROSS,  like  many  of  the 
_  A   prominent  and  highly  respected  citizens 
of  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  comes 
of  an  honored  family  that  was  early  established 
in  Connecticut.     There   her    paternal    grand- 
father,  Josiah  Hungerford,  was  born,  on  Sep- 
tember 15,  1774,  in  the  town  of  New  Milford, 
Litchfield  county.     On  the  completion  of  his 
literary  studies  he  began   harness  and  saddle 
making,  which  he  continued  to  follow  through 
life.      He   married  Miss    Hannah   Miles,    who 
was  born  November    18.  1779,  and   to   them 
was  born  a  son,  Abner  G.,  the  father  of   Mrs. 
Ross.     The  wife  and  mother  died  September 
12,  1805,  and  Mr.  Hungerford  was  again  mar- 
ried, his  second  union  being  with  Miss  Mary 
Miles,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife;  she  was  born 
August  19.  1786.      His  death  occurred  Decem- 
ber 25,  1852,  and  that  of  his  wife,  Mary  Miles 
Hungerford,  March   5,    1829.     They  had  two 
sons:  (i)  Averil,  born  February  14,  1808,  in  the 
town  of  New  Milford,  Litchfield  county,  mar- 
ried and  had  one  child  that  died  in  infancy; 
his  second  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Cor- 
nelia Demorest;  his  death  occurred  December 
28,  1878,  and  that  of  his  second  wife,  Decem- 
ber 27,  1879.      (2)  Fred  G.,  born  October  18, 
1812,  married  Miss  Mary  M.  Freer,  and  they 
had  one  daughter,  Mary  Frances,  who  married 
George  Neilson,  a  prominent  lawyer  of   New 
York  City,  and  died  one   year  later;  Fred  G. 
died  February  26,  1881. 

Abner  G.  Hungerford,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Ross,  was  also  born  in  the  town  of  New  Mil- 
ford, Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  February  21,  1805, 
and  in  the  district  school  near  his  home  ac- 
quired his  education.  Learning  the  harness 
maker's  trade,  he  followed  that  occupation 
during  early  life,  but  later  turned  his  attention 
to  farming'.  As  early  as  1830  he  removed 
from  Quaker  Hill,  Dutchess  county,  to  a  farm 
which  he  had  purchased  in  the  town  of  Dover. 
On  May   7,  1828,  he  was  joined  in   marriage 


with  Miss  Maria  Sabin,  born  June  10.  1803, 
daughter  of  Jeptha  and  Anna  Sabin.  Her  fa- 
ther was  a  harness  maker  of  Brookfield,  Conn. 
Jeptha  Sabin  was  born  January  5,  1770,  and 
on  March  17,  1794.  married  Anna  Starr,  who 
was  born  April  23,  1773;  his  death  occurred 
June  26,  1838,  and  that  of  his  wife  January 
24,  i860.  The  death  of  Abner  G.  Hungerford 
occurred  October  4,  1892,  and  that  of  his  wife, 
December  9,  1888. 

Mrs.  Ross,  the  only  child  of  her  parents, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Dover,  July  20,  1833. 
During  her  girlhood  she  attended  the  public 
schools  of  the  locality,  where  she  acquired  i 
good  education.  She  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Duncan  Ross,  whose  birth  occurred  in  th( 
same  township,  March  8,  1827.  In  his  nativ. 
county  he  always  followed  farming  and  butch 
ering,  but  at  one  time,  for  seven  years,  ha( 
charge  of  stables  at  the  Union  Stock  yards,  a 
Chicago.  He  dep&rted  this  life  September  23 
1883.      In  politics  he  was  a  Republican. 


I  LFRED    E.    HALL,    one  of   the   mof 
^._  valued  and  reliable  citizens  of  the  tow 
of    Amenia,    Dutchess  county,   purchased  th 
Jacob  Rundall  farm,  between  Amenia  and  Was 
saic,  in  1889,  a  most  beautiful  place,  where! 
has    since    resided,    and    during    the   summ< 
months  he   keeps  boarders,   easily   accomnr 
dating  twenty.      Mr.    Hall  was  born   in  Ber 
shire  county,    Mass. ,  near  Monterey,    Nover 
ber  21,  1854,  and  for  several  generations  tl, 
family  have  made  their  homes  in  that  Stati 
Luke   Hall,    his  great-grandfather,    emigrat.j 
from  England  to  New  London,  Conn.,  butlat: 
became  a  resident  of  Marlboro,   Mass.     T 
grandfather,   George  Hall,   was  born  at  N> 
Marlboro,   and  for  a  companion  and  helpnit 
on  life's  journey  chose  Miss  Cynthia  Fargo. 

Their  third  son,  William  A.  Hall,  is  t^ 
father  of  our  subject,  and  is  still  living  : 
Monterey,  Mass.  His  educational  privilejj 
were  such  as  the  common  schools  afforded,  a  I 
as  a  young  man  he  worked  at  the  carpent.s 
trade.  However,  he  later  turned  hisattent  1 
to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  also  specula 
in  timber.  He  is  a  devoted  member  of  e 
Congregational  Church,  and  in  politics  la 
stalwart  Republican,  always  supporting  e 
candidates  offered  by  that  party.  He  js 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Fannie  E.  CI;- 
of  Sheffield,  Mass.,  and  they  became  the  jr- 


DUNCAH   ROSS. 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


445 


!;nts  of  three  sons — Alfred  E.,  William  B.  and 
iFrank — and  one  daughter — Georgia  A. 
I  Until  eighteen  years  of  age  Alfred  E.  Hall 
emained  at  home,  attending  the  common 
;chools  of  Monterey,  and  then  became  a?  stu- 
lent  in  the  Connecticut  Literary  Institute,  at 
Nuffield,  Conn.,  taking  a  three-years'  course. 
The  following  two  years  he  passed  at  home, 
.nd  was  then  for  the  same  length  of  time  fore- 
nan  of  a  farm  at  Great  Barrington,  Mass. 
jubsequently  he  worked  on  a  farm  on  shares 
t  Kent,  Conn.,  for  two  years,  whence  he 
ame  to  Dutchess  county,  and  operated  the 
arm  of  George  W.  Ketcham,  at  Dover  Plains, 
"jr  six  years,  since  which  time  he  has  resided 
n  his  present  place.  In  connection  with  the 
ultivation  and  improvement  of  his  land,  he 
Iso  handles  agricultural  implements  for  D.  M. 
)sborne  &  Co.,  in  which  he  has  built  up  a 
ood  trade. 

At  Monterey,  in  1881,  Mr.  Hall  was  mar- 

ed  to  Miss  Minnie  V.  Langdon,  daughter  of 

ihauncey    D.    Langdon,   and  they  now  have 

our  children:     Mary,    Laura,    Chauncey  and 

I'illiam.     On   April    15,    1895,    ^Ir.   Hall  re- 

Mved  the  appointment  of  county  deputy  of  the 

itrons  of  Husbandry,   and  during  the  winter 

1895-6  he   organized   five    granges  in  the 

unty.     Although    his    residence    here  is  of 

;mparatively  short  duration,  he  takes  an  ac- 

ve  interest  in  the  public  affairs  of  the  locality, 

d  to  all  improvements  of  a  substantial  na- 

re  he  gives  a  generous  aid.      Like  his  father, 

also  supports  the  Republican  party,  and  in 

'ious  belief  is  a  Presbyterian,  holding  mem- 

-;hip  in  the  Church  at  Amenia,  of  which  he 

an  elder,  and  one  of  the  trustees. 


N.    BULLIS.      No    country    has    afforded 
greater  opportunities  for  the  poor  man  than 
our   own;    it   is,    indeed,    the  poor    man's 
ntry.      Here,   an    industrious,    frugal    man 
a  chance  to  accumulate  wealth.      Many 
i  to  do  so,  but  the  best  of  our  population  lay 
•^ome  of  their  earnings,  and  soon  find  them- 
es in  the  possession  of  a  handsome  prop- 
•y;    among  them   is   the    gentleman   whose 
1  me  introduces  this  article.      He  is  a  native 
'  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess  county,  and 
■  A'  makes  his  home  at  Bangall. 
His  father,  David  Bullis,  was  the  only  child 
Thomas  Bullis,  and   always  resided  in  the 
n  of  Stanford,  where  he   engaged  in  farm- 
•       There    his   death   occurred   in    1845,  at 


the  age  of  fifty  years.  Politically  he  was 
identified  with  the  Whig  party.  By  his  mar- 
riage with  Deborah  Reed  he  became  the  fa- 
ther of  the  following  children:  Thomas  has 
now  passed  away;  Jane,  deceased,  was  the 
wife  of  Robert  Hoffman;  Peter,  deceased, 
married  Permelia  Carroll;  Julia  is  the  wife  of 
Edward  Walters,  of  Mclntyre,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty; John  N.  is  next  in  order  of  birth;  and 
George  W.,  deceased,  married  Emma  Den- 
ozell. 

During  his  boyhood  John  N.  Bullis  attended 
the  district  schools  of  the  town  of  Stanford, 
and  as  his  parents  both  died  when  he  was  quite 
small,  he  was  early  thrown  upon  his  own  re- 
sources, being  compelled  to  seek  his  own  live- 
lihood while  still  quite  young.  He  worked  by 
the  month  for  various  farmers,  his  first  em- 
ployer being  Stephen  G.  Guernsey,  Sr.,  and 
was  thus  engaged  until  seventeen  years  of  age, 
when  he  began  clerking  in  the  store  of  Moses 
Denney,  at  Hull's  Mills.  At  the  end  of  eight 
months,  however,  he  went  to  Stissing,  where 
he  conducted  a  store  on  shares  for  two  years, 
and  for  the  following  seven  years  clerked 
for  N.  Halsted  and  G.  G.  Sharpenstein,  at 
Bangall.  Going  to  Poughkeepsie,  he  was  there 
engaged  in  the  spring-bed  business  with  E.  L. 
Bushnell  for  two  years,  and  for  the  same  length 
of  time  he  was  in  the  employ  of  Arnold  Con- 
stable &  Co. ,  of  New  York  City.  Purchasing 
a  store  at  Bangall,  he  conducted  the  same  for 
seven  years  with  good  success,  but  at  the  end 
of  that  time  sold  out  the  stock  and  has  since 
rented  the  building.  He  also  purchased  his 
present  residence  there. 

On  December  6,  1858,  Mr.  Bullis  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  Husted,  daughter  of  Henry  D. 
Husted,  of  Washington  Hollow,  Dutchess 
county.  Three  children  were  born  to  them: 
Henry  D.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine  and  a 
half  years;  May,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four 
months;  and  John  N.  Mr.  Bullis  has  now 
retired  from  the  active  labors  of  life,  and  is 
spending  his  later  days  in  the  ease  and  com- 
fort to  which  he  is  justly  entitled.  Politically 
he  affiliates  with  the  Republican  party. 


J^  LBERT  L.  RIDER,  the  efficient  and 
_  L,  popular  postmaster  at  Rhinebeck,  Dutch- 
ess county,  and  one  of  the  most  prominent 
citizens  of  that  locality,  was  born  July  11, 
1842,  at  Westkill,  Greene  county. 

The  American  branch  of  this  family  origi- 


h 


446 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


nated  with  three  brothers  who  came  from 
Holland  and  located  in  Connecticut,  from 
whence  some  of  their  descendants  came  to  New 
York  State.  Our  subject's  father,  Lewis 
Rider,  was  a  native  of  Schoharie  county,  born 
March  i6,  1808.  He  married  Celia  La  Ment, 
a  lady  of  French  descent,  but  a  native  of 
Westkill,  where  Mr.  Rider  engaged  in  the  tan- 
ning business.  In  1844  he  moved  to  Poland, 
Herkimer  county,  and  a  few  years  later  went 
to  Florence,  Oneida  county,  continuing  the 
same  business,  which  he  followed  in  all  forty- 
five  years.  In  1871  he  and  his  wife  came  to 
Rhinebeck,  and  for  some  years  he  was  engaged 
in  contracting  in  partnership  with  a  son-in-law, 
John  O'Brien,  and  contracted  the  R.  &  C.  R. 
R.,  and  many  miles  of  the  D.  &  H.  canal,  but 
he  afterward  retired  from  active  business  and 
died  November  15,  1896,  at  the  ripe  old  age 
of  eighty-eight  years.  He  held  a  prominent 
place  in  every  community  in  which  he  was 
known,  and  represented  the  town  of  Florence 
in  the  board  of  supervisors  of  Oneida  county 
for  many  years,  and  in  1851  he  was  elected 
from  Florence  (Third  Assembly  District),  to 
the  Assembly  on  the  Democratic  ticket.  Of  six 
children  only. two  are  now  living.  George  has 
been  for  some  years  employed  in  developing 
his  father's  mining  interests  in  California,  but 
is  now  at  home;  Adelbert  died  at  the  age  of 
four  years;  Albert  L.  is  the  subject  of  our 
sketch;  Sarah  married  John  O'Brien,  men- 
tioned above,  arid  died  in  1886;  John,  Lucy 
and  Elijah  died  in  infancy. 

Albert  L.  Rider  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  academy  at  Mexico,  Otsego  county, 
and  the  Walworth  Commercial  College,  at 
Rome,  N.  Y. ,  and  then  entered  the  tanning 
business  with  his  father,  carrying  it  on  until 
1875;  in  1 867-1 868  was  supervisor  from  Flor- 
ence, Oneida  county,  when  he  came  to  Rhine- 
beck.  After  a  short  time  he  went  to  Kingston 
as  agent  of  the  American  Express  Co. ;  but  he 
soon  became  interested  in  organizing  a  com- 
pany to  build  the  "  Grand  Hotel  "  in  the  Cats- 
kill  Mountains,  and  was  engaged  for  two  years 
in  its  construction.  He  then  began  to  contract 
for  different  important  enterprises,  among 
which  may  be  noted  especially  the  Catskill 
to  Burden  Iron  Mine  railroad,  Utica  &  Bing- 
hampton  and  several  others;  the  dredging  of  a 
part  of  the  D.  &  H.  canal,  the  building  of  one 
and  one-half  miles  of  aqueduct  at  Yonkers, 
and  the  Sodam  dam  at  Brewsters,  which  was 
the  largest  o^its  kind  in  the  country  at  the  time. 


In  1895  he  returned  to  Rhinebeck  to  reside, 
and  he  has  since  identified  himself  with  the 
best  interests  of  the  town.  He  was  married 
February  9,  1864,  to  Cynthia  Comstock,  a 
daughter  of  Abner  Comstock,  a  leading  farmer 
of  Williamstown,  Oswego  county.  Her  family 
is  of  English  origin,  the  first  of  the  American 
line  settling  in  Connecticut,  and  among  their 
descendants  are  some  of  the  most  prominent 
residents  of  New  York  City.  Two  childrer 
were  born  of  this  union:  Sarah  Mosella  anc 
Celia  Alberta,  both  at  home. 

Mr.  Rider  is  an  influential  counsellor  in  thu 
Democratic  party  in  his  vicinity,  and  is  activi 
in  all  local  affairs  lending  his  aid  to  any  bene 
ficial  measure.  In  1867-68  he  was  supervise 
from  Florence,  Oneida  county.  On  May  I 
1 894,  he  was  installed  as  postmaster  of  his  town 
and  has  since  discharged  the  duties  of  the  ofl&Ci 
with  signal  success. 


CHARLES  C.  GARDNER,  now  one  of  th. 
_    most  progressive,  energetic  and  successfu 
farmers  of  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  coun 
ty,  is  a  native  of  Connecticut,  where  the  fam 
ily    was    founded  at    an  early  day.     Thoma 
Gardner,  his  grandfather,   was  born   in    Ne\ 
Fairfield,  Fairfield  Co.,  Conn.,  and   after  fin 
ishing  his  literary  course  in  the  common  school 
of  that  locality,  he  learned  the  tanner's  trade 
which  he  followed  throughout  life.      He  mai 
ried  Miss  Johanna  Pepper,  and  to  them  war 
born  eight  children:    Seth,  who  married  Poll 
Bullard;    Michael,    who  married  Anna  Davi; 
Humphrey,  who  married  Ruth  Morris;  Thoma- 
who  married  Jane   Morris;  Lois,  who   marrie 
Allen    Joyce;    Zuba,     who    married    Franc 
Sturges;  Ann,    who   married  Benjamin  Welj 
man;  and  Hannah,  who  died  in  infancy.     Aftt; 
the  death   of  his  first  wife,  Thomas  GardiK 
wedded   Hannah  Chase,   daughter  of  Gidec 
Chase,  and  they  had  three  children:     Gideoi 
who  died  when  young;  Franklin,  who  marrit 
Christina  Eggleston;  and   Mary,  who  marrii 
Milan  Steddel. 

Michael  Gardner  (the  father  of  our  subject 
who  passed  away  May  16,  1884,  at  the  age 
seventy  years,  was  born  in  the  town  of  N< 
Fairfield,  Fairfield  Co.,  Conn.,  where  he  p 
tended  the  common  schools  and  was  reared 
farm  life.  The  first  land  which  he  owned  w 
in  the  town  of  Sherman,  that  county,  whe 
he  made  his  home  for  twenty-five  years,  a 


> 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


447 


hen  purchased  a  farm  in  South  Dover,  Dutch- 
;ss  county.  During  the  old  training  daj's  he 
ierved  as  a  drummer  in  the  militia. 

On   October    15,    1837,    he    married  Miss 
\.nna    Davis,     whose     grandfather,     Stephen 
iavis,  was  a  native  of  England,  whence  at  an 
;arly  day  he  came  to   New  Fairfield,  Conn., 
vhere    he  engaged  in  farming.     He   married 
Miss  Hannah  Leach,  and  to  them  were  born 
light  children:       William,  who  married  Sailie 
^uimby;  Daniel,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Gardner; 
'aul,    who    married  Miss    Morehouse;    Lucy, 
vho  married  Holman  Marsh;  Rilla,  who  mar- 
ied    Eli    Brush;    and    three  who    died    when 
oung.      Daniel  Davis  was  born  May  6,  1797, 
,1  New  Fairfield,  was  there  educated  and  en- 
aged  in  farming.     His  death  occurred  Febru- 
ry  5>  1835.       He  had  married  Miss  Mermelia 
lodge,  who  was  born  January  16,  1797,  and 
ied  October  23,  1887,  when  over  ninety  years 
if  age.     To   them   were  born   four  children, 
[rs.   Gardner  being  the  eldest.     The  others 
|-e  as  follows:     Miner,  who  was  born  in  Con- 
icticut,    engaged    in    farming,    and    married 
iss  Mary  Osborn,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons 
-Stephen,  who  died   at  the   age  of  fourteen 
;ars;  Charles  and  Marshall.     Julia,  also  born 
Connecticut,  married   Daniel  Whaley,  and 
id  three  children — Daniel  and  Leander,  who 
cd  in    infancy;  and  Gertrude,  who   married 
eodore  Carter.    Flora,  born  in  Connecticut, 
ried  George  Abbot,  and  had  six  children — 
iielia,  who  died  in  infancy;  Emeline,  who 
U.rried  Thomas  Hoyt;   Henry,  who  married 
liura   De  Camp;   Julia,   who    married    John 
tdlop;  Hannah,  who  married  Myron   Knapp; 
;d  Stephen,  who  married  Cora  Roberts. 
To  the  parents  of  our  subject   were  born 
children:     (i)  Edward  D.,  born  in  1842, 
-  ^    educated     in    the    public    schools,    and 
l«rned    the    trade    of  tinsmith,  at  which   he 
wrked  during  the  greater    part    of  his    life. 
-:ially,    he    was  a   member  of  the    Ancient 
:r  of  United  Workmen.     He  married  Miss 
ta  Brewer,  and,  as  they  had  no  children  of 
own,    adopted    two  sons,    Howard    and 
or  Gardner.      He  died  very   suddenly  on 
-1st  of  November,  1893.      (2)  George  K. 
born  in  1845,  at  Sherman,  Conn.,  where 
quired  his  education,  and  is  now  follow- 
; arming  in  the   West.     He  wedded    Miss 
'  Wilbur,  of  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  and  they 
two  children — Eliza,  who   was   born  May 
■'79.  and  died  at  the  age  of  five  years;  and 

Iie    C,    born    November    14,     1885.      (3) 
I 


Charles  C,  subject  of  this  review,  is  next  in 
order  of  birth.  (4)  Martha,  born  at  Sherman, 
Conn.,  in  1840,  married  William  F.  Wildman, 
a  farmer  of  Brookfield,  Conn.,  and  had  two 
children — Carrie  Bell,  who  was  born  June  8, 
1868,  and  married  Charles  Jackson,  but  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty  years;  and  Ray  Clifford, 
born  March  23,  1882.  (5)  Lydia,  born  in 
1843,  married  Stephen  A.  Barnum,  a  carriage 
trimmer  of  New  Fairfield,  Conn.,  and  they  had 
eleven  children,  whose  names  and  dates  of 
birth  are  as  follows — Effie  Arminta,  March  4, 
1862;  Charles  E.,  November  21,  1863;  Anna 
E.,  November  14,  1865;  Emma  P.,  April  i, 
1868;  Mary  J.,  February  5,  1870;  Julia  G., 
March  5,  1872;  Lottie  M.,  May  17,  1874; 
Hattie  E.,  February  5,  1876;  Stephen  D., 
September  18,  1879;  Grace  L.,  May  i,  1882; 
and  Kittie  M.,  September  21,  1883. 

Charles  C.  Gardner  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Sherman,  Fairfield  Co.,  Conn.,  in  1847, 
and  during  his  boyhood  and  youth  he  pursued 
his  studies  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
place.  As  a  life  work  he  chose  the  occupation 
of  farming,  which  he  has  always  followed  very 
successfully.  He  has  served  as  collector  of 
the  town  and  on  the  board  of  excise  of  the 
town  of  Dover,  and  has  held  other  minor 
offices.  His  political  support  is  always  given 
the  Republican  party,  and,  socially,  he  holds 
membership  with  Dover  Plains  Lodge  No. 
666,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  has  made  many  friends 
since  coming  to  the  county,  and  has  the  high- 
est regard  of  all  who  know  him.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Kate  Dennis,  and 
they  have  one  son,  Chester  C,  born  Septem- 
ber 3,  1883. 

Robert  Dennis,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Gardner,  was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Union 
Vale,  Dutchess  county,  where  on  reaching 
maturity  he  followed  farming  and  married  a 
Miss  Rozell.  Mrs.  Gardner's  father,  Lewis 
Dennis,  was  born  in  the  same  township,  in 
1837,  was  there  educated  and  also  engaged  in 
farming.  He  wedded  Miss  Mary  Stillwell,  of 
Union  Vale,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
five  children:  George  married  Ida  Sweet,  by 
whom  he  has  two  children — Mary  and  Sarah; 
Royal  married  Kate  Oliver;  Phcebe  married 
Isaac  Vermilyea,  by  whom  she  has  three  chil- 
dren— Irving,  Grace  and  Arthur;  Nathaniel 
married  Angeline  Van  Scay,  by  whom  he  has 
five  children — George,  Mary,  Emma,  Lewis 
and  Edna;  and  Kate,  the  wife  of  our  subject, 
completes  the  family. 


448 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


riSS  MARGARET  B.  MONAHAN.  It  is 
JKl.  said  that  in  the  Hebrew  language  there  is 
no  word  which  corresponds  to  our  word 
"charity",  but  that  a  term  is  used  instead 
which  signifies  justice.  In  this  distinction, 
with  its  deep  lessons,  the  philosopher  may  see 
one  reason,  if  not  the  reason,  for  the  close 
union  and  general  prosperity  of  that  wonder- 
ful race.  With  such  an  idea  of  helpfulness,  a 
Hebrew  who  sees  another  in  need  says  to  him- 
self, "There  is  something  wrong  that  this  my 
brother,  my  sister,  should  be  in  want  in  this 
beautiful  world.  It  is  my  duty  to  right  this  in- 
justice as  far  as  I  can,  and  so  help  to  establish 
that  order  of  things  which  will  make  such  a 
deplorable  evil  no  longer  possible."  And  so 
he  does  not  carelessly  deal  out  a  few  dimes  or 
dollars  in  self-righteous  satisfaction,  and  dis- 
miss the  matter  from  his  mind;  but  he  inter- 
ests himself  in  the  case  as  if  it  were  his  own, 
devoting  his  wisdom,  his  experience,  and  influ- 
ence to  the  task,  and  gives  that  friendly,  prac- 
tical assistance  which  he  would  wish  for  were 
he  in  the  same  plight. 

What  a  different  world  this  would  be  if 
such  a  conception  of  our  duties  to  each  other 
were  to  prevail!  Here  and  there  we  see  in- 
stances of  it,  and  their  quiet  but  effective  work 
contrasts  nobly  with  that  of  some  of  our  loudly- 
advertised  charities  although  their  beneficent 
influences  may  attract  little  or  no  attention. 

Miss  Margaret  B.  Monahan,  whose  mind, 
prompted  by  the  kindly  impulses  of  her  char- 
itable nature,  originated  the  plan  of  giving  a 
cultured  rest  to  the  weary  working-girl,  was 
born  in  New  York  City,  the  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Mary  A.  (Beers)  Monahan,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  the  same  city.  She 
was  educated  at  a  private  school. 

John  Monahan,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  at  Banbridge,  in  the  linen  dis- 
trict of  Ireland,  and  was  there  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Campbell,  also  a  native  of  that  place, 
and  they  early  came  to  this  country.  He  had 
received  a  good  education  in  the  "Emerald 
Isle,"  and  on  arriving  in  New  York  taught 
school  for  a  time.  Several  years  later  he 
moved  to  English  Neighborhood,  N.  J.,  now 
called  Fairview,  where  he  engaged  in  farming, 
and  where,  also,  his  death  occurred.  To  him 
and  his  wife  were  born  the  following  children: 
Arthur,  Hugh,  Thomas,  all  three  deceased; 
William  (retired),  now  living  in  Brooklyn; 
Catherine,  deceased,  unmarried;  and  John,  a 
retired  merchant  of  New  York,  never  married. 


Thomas  Monahan  was  born  in  New  York 
City  August  27,  1813.      When  he  was  fifteen 
years  of  age  he   began  to   fight  the   battle  of 
life  alone,  by  entering  the  employ  of  Cyreneus 
Beers,  a  commission   merchant  of   New  York 
City.      In  this  place  he  remained  ten  years,  «i 
until  1838,   when   he  started  out  in  the  same 
business  for  himself.     On  March  15,  1848,  he 
was    united    in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  A 
Beers,  one  of  the  thirteen  children  of  his  forme 
employer.     On  her  mother's  side  she  was  a  dc 
scendant  of   an  old   Dutch   family.  Van  Ant 
werp,    well  known   in  the    early  days  of   th 
Dutch  colonies.     Her  father  was  a  native  c 
Newtown,  Conn.,  coming  to  New  York  whe 
quite  young,  and   by  industry  laying  the  found 
ation  of  the  fortune  that  made  him  one  of  th 
foremost    business    men     of    his    day  in  Ne- 
York. 

Thomas  Monahan  continued  in    the  corr 
mission  business  until   1858,  when  his  natur; 
abilities  as  a  financier  were  pdblicly  recognise 
by  his  election  to  the  presidency  of  the  Fulto 
National    Bank,  New   York   City,  which  pos 
tion  he  held  until  his  death.  May   13,  188' 
followed  November  28,    1890,    by  his  faithf 
and  devoted  wife.     The  union  of  this  wort! 
couple  was  graced  by   two  children — one 
whom  died  in  infancy,  and  Margaret  B.     .M 
Monahan  was  the  architect  of  his  own  fortun 
accumulating  his  property  by  slow  and  cc 
servative  methods  rather  than  by  speculatio 
He  was  a  man  of  quiet,  retiring  disposition,  b 
ever  ready  to  aid  in  anything  for  the  genei 
good  of  the  community.      In  early  days  he  w 
a  member  of  the  old   Volunteer  Fire  Depa 
ment,  of  New  York,  and  was  one  of  those  w 
fought  the  great  fire  of  1835.      He  united  w 
no  Church,  but  his  wife  belonged  to  the  Dua: 
Street    Presbyterian    Church,    now  Dr.  Jo. 
Hall's. 

After  Mr.  Monahan's  death,  his  wife  a  I 
daughter  continued  to  be  residents  of  N  ' 
York  City  until  1890.  At  that  time  ti:' 
purchased  a  farm  at  Quaker  Hill,  Dutch  5 
county,  intending  to  make  it  their  sumi  r 
home,  but  after  Mrs.  Monahan's  death,  in  3 
following  November,  her  daughter  decidct'J 
live  there  permanently. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Monahan  were  ni  'i 
interested  in  the  life  of  working  girls  in  >  v 
York,  and  were  in  cordial  sympathy  with  tit 
daughter's  work  among  them  ;  so,  when  n 
June,  1893,  Miss  Monahan  rented  a  quae, 
little,  century-old  cottage  near  her  own  pl;p> 


i 


/ 
< 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


449 


Broadfields,  and  opened  it  to  a  small  party  of 
working  girls  from  New  York,  it  was  but  the 
carrying  out  of  long-talked-of,  and  much-cher- 
ished, plans.    The  invigorating  air,  the  charm- 
ing views  of  hill    and  valley  and  open  skies, 
the  drives  and  picnics,  the  refinements  of  that 
delightful    home,  and,   above    all,  the  cordial 
friendship  of  their  hostess,  were  a  revelation  to 
these  over-worked  and  under-paid  girls  whose 
lives  were  clouded  by  the  experiences  of  the 
dreary  tenement  houses  and  noisy  workshop. 
Heroic  in  spirit  these    girls  are,  working  un- 
complainingly year  in  and  year  out,  many  of 
them  supporting   some    helpless  relative,  and 
who  can  estimate  the  benefit  that  this  bright 
experience  gave  them  .'     The  good  work  thus 
begun  could  not  be  abandoned  by  one  who  had 
he  heart  to  begin  it  at  all.     The  house  rented 
.vas  the  summer  residence  of  Mrs.  E.  M.  Scott, 
I  well-known  New  York  artist,  who  was  then 
ibroad  ;  but,  as  she  intended  to  occupy  it  on 
ler  return,  other  quarters  had  to  be  provided. 
^  house  was,  therefore,  built  for  the  e.xclusive 
ise  of   the    girls;    and    every   summer  "Hill 
iope  ",  as  it  is  called,  holds  group  after  group 
»ho  come  to  stay  two  weeks  or  more  and  then 
eturn  to  their  weary  routine.     The  invitations 
ive  thus  far  been  extended  through  the  New 
'ork  City  Mission  ;  but  all  the  expenses  con- 
ected  with  the  outing  are  met  by  the  hostess, 
xcept  the  railroad  fares,  which  are  paid  by  the 
ribiuic  Fresh  Air  Fund  at  the  City  Mission. 
he  guests  at  Hill  Hope  write  their  names  in 
visitors'    book,   with    their  occupations  —  a 
range  and  motley  list,  including  the  making 
[   fishing   tackle,  hat    frames,   rubber   coats, 
.rfumes,  casket    lining,   dresses    and    under- 
ear,  and  embroidery,  polishing  jewelry,  filling 
It  bags,  washing  (by  a  girl  of  fourteen),  bar- 
ng  button-holes,  ten  thousand  a  day.     One 
rl  stirs,  constantly,  a  steaming  cauldron  at  a 
tiolesale  chemist's,  watching  lest   it  boil  up 
id  explode.      "It  did  twice  last  year,"  said 
e  girl,  "  and  hurt  a  lot  of  people,  but  that," 
added,  "  was  before  I  came." 
There  is  no   matron   at   Hill   Hope;     the 
house  mother,"  as  the  girls  love  to  call  her, 
lan  experienced  trained  nurse,  and  associated 
Uh  her  is  some  younger  lady,  who,  being  free 
fim  household  responsibilities,  has  leisure  to 
'vote  herself  to  the  girls,  and  her  constant 
igh  unobtrusive  presence  among  them  does 
ly  with   the   most  objectionable   feature   of 
ordinary    vacation    home.       The    King's 
ighters,    of    Quaker    Hill,   are    more    than 

29 


kind   to   their  sisters,  taking  them  into  their 
hearts  as  well  as  their  Circle. 

About  eighty  girls  are  usually  entertained, 
in  all,  and  many  more  such  homes  could  be^ 
filled  with  those  who  are  equally  needy.  Miss 
Monahan  has  plans,  or  rather  hopes,  for  the 
enlargement  of  the  work,  in  time,  to  include 
industrial  training.  Perhaps  abetter  idea  can- 
not be  given  of  the  present  scope  of  the  enter- 
prise than  by  some  extracts  from  a  report  made 
in  1893: 

Beautiful  for  situation  is  Hill  Hope.  Eight  hundred 
feet  above  the  Harlem  Valley,  and  1,500  feet  above  sea 
level,  it  stands  facing  the  sunset,  with  the  beauty  of  the 
Shawangunk  Mountains  before  it  and  the  lovely  fertile 
valley  at  its  feet.  A  good  garden  supplies  fresh  vegeta- 
bles and  berries,  while  the  Jersey  milk,  eggs,  butter  and 
home-cured  hams  come  from  Broadfields,  the  farm  of 
which  Hill  Hope  is  an  offshoot. 

Over  the  ninety  acres  of  this  farm,  including  a  bit  of 
woodland  divided  by  a  pebbly  brook,  the  girls  liave  free 
range  to  come  and  go  as  they  please.  During  haying  sea- 
son the  fields  are  alive  with  girls;  they  run  after  the 
mower,  toss  the  hay,  ride  the  ropes,  and  come  home  on 
the  loads  of  fragrant  hay,  driving  the  horses  and  chatter- 
mg  to  "Chris"  in  his  native  German. 

The  daily  routine  at  Hill  Hope  is  very  simple.  An 
hour  each  morning  is  devoted  to  care  of  rooms  and  other 
housework,  and  arranging  flowers  for  the  table;  half  an 
hour  at  noon,  the  same  at  night.  Every  Saturday  a  thor- 
ough cleansing  of  rooms  takes  place,  in  anticipation  of  the 
incoming  party  of  girls  in  the  afternoon;  this  completes 
the  work  required.  Family  worship  morning  and  even- 
ing; and  who  among  the  girls  but  will  recall  the  pleasant 
little  talks  and  the  prayers  offered  at  this  time?  For 
evenings  and  rainy  days  there  are  books  and  music, 
games,  quiet  and  noisy,  without  end,  with  croquet,  bean- 
bags,  etc.,  and  hammocks  and  lounging  chairs  for  the 
long  summer  evenings.  They  enjoy  even  the  chill  rainy 
days,  because  they  offer  an  excuse  for  a  wood  fire  in  the 
fireplace  in  the  dining  room.  An  occasional  candy-pull, 
also,  enlivens  the  wet  days.  Many  of  these  girls  have 
never  been  in  the  country  before;  very  many  see  cows 
milked  and  horses  groomed  for  the  first  time;  and  the 
hay-scented  barn,  at  milking  time,  with  the  long  rows  of 
soft-eyed  Jersey  cattle,  and  the  farmer  and  his  assistants 
answering  questions,  is  an  inexhaustible  fund  of  amuse- 
ment. Each  set  walks  to  the  old  Quaker  Meeting  House, 
a  relic  of  ante-Revolutionary  days,  and  listens  to  the 
thrilling  stories  of  events  which  happened  "on  the  spot;" 
and  they  often  walk  to  the  post  office,  where  a  gentle 
Quaker  lady  and  her  daughter  entertain  them,  bringing 
out  Quaker  bonnets  many  years  old,  and  relating  their 
history. 

Then  there  are  picnic  days,  when  "  Chris  "  and  the 
horses  arrive  early,  and  all  are  off  for  a  drive  through 
shady  woods  to  the  lake,  a  long  day  of  boating,  fishing 
and  lunching  in  the  woods,  and  at  sunset  a  drive  home 
"over  the  hills."  Through  the  kindness  of  a  gentleman, 
whose  lovely  home  crowns  the  hill,  the  freedom  of  the 
lake  was  one  year  extended  to  Hill  Hope;  boats,  fishing 
tackle,  bathing  suits,  ice,  lemonade,  etc.,  being  freely  ten- 
dered to  the  girls  at  any  time.  Through  the  kindness  of 
another  gentleman  from  a  distance,  an  outing  fund  was 
provided,  so  the  girls  might  have  driving  when  the  home 
teams  were  not  available.  A  lady  has  devoted  many  aft- 
ernoons and  evenings  to  our  girls,  reading  and  walking 
with  them,  taking  tea  in  the  woods,  and  making  barn  pic- 
nics for  them.  Many  of  the  summer  residents  have  shown 
thoughtful  kindness  by  sending  in  quantities  of  fresh 
vegetables;  and,  once,  the  girls  were  invited  to  one  of  the 


450 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


finest  gardens  in  the  place  to  pull  all  the  flowers  they 
wished.  Said  one  pallid,  sickly-looking  girl:  "I  never 
saw  a  sweet  pea  growing  before."  She  and  her  compan- 
ions gathered  almost  a  bushel  that  morning,  and  in  the 
afternoon  assisted  the  King's  Daughters  Circle  to  arrange 
them  to  send  to  the  New  York  Flower  Mission. 

Another  set  were  invited  by  the  manager  of  the 
"  Dutcher  House,"  in  Pawling,  to  hear  the  band  play. 
After  a  drive  of  six  miles  and  an  hour  spent  m  rambling 
through  the  hotel  grounds,  they  were  served  with  ices  in 
the  music  room. 

One  lovely  September  afternoon  another  set  was  asked 
by  a  lady,  owner  of  a  beautiful  summer  residence,  to  take 
tea  at  her  home,  and  there  charmingly  entertained  for  two 
hours;  after  which  they  went,  also  by  invitation,  to  walk 
through  the  garden  and  grounds  of  the  gentleman  who 
gave  them  the  use  of  the  lake,  and  whose  wife  Jias  taught 
the  successive  parties  of  girls  faithfully  in  the  Sunday- 
school  all  summer,  winning  the  heart  of  everyone  of  them 
by  her  sweet  graciousness  of  manner  and  her  earnest 
teachings.  Who  can  estimate  the  influence  of  this  sim- 
ple, kindly  hospitality  and  friendliness  upon  the  toilful, 
cramped  lives  of  our  poor  girls,  except,  indeed.  He  who 
spoke  the  "  Inasmuch'  ? 


Go.EORGE  H.  CRAMER,  the  proprietor  of 
_j  a  well-known  meat  market  at  Red  Hook, 
Dutchess  county,  is  a  representative  of  several 
of  the  oldest  families  of  the  vicinity.  His 
ancestors  on  the  paternal  side  settled  here  at 
an  early  date  and  bought  land  which  succeed- 
ing generations  cultivated.  His  grandfather, 
George  Cramer,  married  Miss  Allendorf,  of 
Red  Hook,  and  had  seven  children  :  Frederick, 
George,  Henry  A. ,  Gettie,  Lydia,  Caroline 
and  Bailey. 

Henry  A.  Cramer,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  in  1804,  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
Red  Hook,  and,  like  his  forefathers,  became  a 
farmer.  He  married  Miss  Catherine  Wal- 
dorph,  and  to  their  union  were  born  the  fol- 
lowing children  :  Balinda  A. ,  in  1827;  John 
V.  R.,  in  1830;  George  H.,  in  1834  ;  James  A., 
in  1836  ;  and  William  C. ,  in  1845.  The 
mother  died  in  1895,  ^t  the  age  of  eighty-three 
years  ;  the  father  in  1880.  Our  subject's 
mother  was  a  descendant  of  another  pioneer 
family  which  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in 
the  history  of  that  locality.  The  old  house, 
which  has  been  the  home  of  the  family  for 
generations,  is  still  standing,  a  landmark  which 
is  looked  upon  with  interest  at  this  day.  Mrs. 
Cramer's  father,  John  Waldorph,  was  an  influ- 
ential man  of  his  time.  He  succeeded  to  the 
fertile  acres  which  composed  the  family  estate, 
and  early  in  life  married  Miss  Regina  Benner, 
a  daughter  of  Peter  Benner,  a  leading  farmer 
of  Red  Hook.  Seven  children  were  born  of 
this  union:  William,  John,  Christopher,  David, 
Maria,  Catherine  and  Elizabeth. 


George  H.  Cramer,  our  subject,  attended 
the  schools  of  his  native  place  during  his  youth, 
and  assisted  his  father  upon  the  farm.  He 
was  married  in  October,  1862,  to  Miss  Sarah 
C.  Allendorf,  a  daughter  of  Philip  Allendorf,  a 
well-known  resident  of  Red  Hook,  and  one 
child  blessed  this  union  :  Emma  A.,  born 
October  30,  1866,  who  married  Dr.  William 
E.  Traver,  a  promising  young  dentist  of  Red 
Hook.  In  1876  Mr.  Cramer  gave  up  agricult- 
ural pursuits  to  engage  in  the  meat  trade  ir 
partnership  with  Philip  Stickel.  A  year  later,  i 
brother-in-law,  P.  A.  Allendorf,  succeeded  Mr 
Stickel,  but  three  years  afterward  he  died  an< 
Clarence  Shook  took  his  interest,  continuing  fo 
ten  years,  when  C.  N.  Hicks,  then  an  employi 
of  the  firm,  purchased  his  share.  Two  year 
afterward  Mr.  Cramer  bought  out  Mr.  Hicks  | 
and  has  since  conducted  the  business  in  hi 
own  name,  his  energy  and  fine  business  abilit; 
assuring  his  continued  success. 


ILLIAM  A.  SHOOK,  of  "  Ardmore 
IIW  farm,  the  well-known  horticulturisi 
and  dairyman,  whose  large  and  admirably-cor 
ducted  farm  near  Wappingers  Falls,  Dutches 
county,  is  considered  a  model  of  its  kind, 
one  of  the  most  progressive  citizens  of  th 
county. 

His  family  has  been  prominent  in  tl 
vicinity  of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess  county,  f( 
several  generations,  and  many  of  the  nan 
still  reside  there,  among  them  being  Sherido 
Shook,  a  second  cousin  of  our  subject. 

John  Shook,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
native  of  Red  Hook,  was  a  leading  agricultu 
ist  in  his  day,  and  an  influential  Democra 
He  married  Miss  Nellie  Shoemaker,  and  th' 
reared  a  family  of  ten  children,  as  follou 
Christina,  Maria,  Helen,  Cornelia,  Aaro 
Archibald,  John,  Walter,  Alexander  and  Cat 
erine.  The  parents  were  both  members 
the  Lutheran  Church.  Aaron  Shook,  the  I' 
ther  of  our  subject,  grew  to  manhood  at  t 
old  homestead,  and  married  Miss  Catheri: 
Cramer,  a  descendant  of  an  old  Holland  fa  ■ 
ily,  a  daughter  of  Frederick  Cramer,  aleadi: 
carpenter  of  Red  Hook.  They  settled  on 
farm  there,  and  seven  children  were  born  5 
them:  Lucetta,  now  the  widow  of  Sylvan r 
Teator,  a  farmer;  Cornelia,  the  wife  of  ChaiS 
Schryver,  a  harness  maker  by  trade;  He!;, 
who  married  Robert  W.  Lewis,  a  farni; 
William  A.,  our  subject;  Gordon  L.,  a  fari,r 


.J 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


451 


by  occupation  (now  deceased);  Lydia  E.,  who 
is  at  home;  and  Frederick,  a  resident  of  Rhine- 
beck.  Aaron  Shook  died  at  the  old  home  in 
1884,  his  wife  some  five  years  later.  He  was 
an  active  worker  in  local  affairs,  and  in  the 
Democratic  party,  and  held  the  offices  of  col- 
lector and  poor  master. 

William  A.  Shook,  our  subject,  was  born 

April  24,  1837,  and  spent  his  early  years   at 

'.he  old  homestead.       In  1862  he  married  Miss 

Sarah  D.  Stickle,    a  daughter  of    Stephen  P. 

Stickle,  and  granddaughter  of  Halley  Stickle, 

)oth  of  whom  were  natives  of  Columbia  coun- 

;y,    N.   Y.      Her    mother,    Elizabeth    fCouse) 

Stickle,  was  also  born  in  that  county,  and  both 

,iamilies  traced  their  lineage  to  earlj'  Holland- 

Outch  settlers.      Mr.    and  Mrs.   Shook    made 

heir  first  home  upon  a  farm  in  Red  Hook,  but 

S89  they   moved   to  their  present  home, 

..:Jmore  "  farm,  a  fine  estate  of  400  acres. 

lince  that  time  Mr.    Shook  has  made  many 

nprovements.       His     specialties     are    fruit, 

ottled  milk  and  cream,  and  garden  produce, 

nd  he  has  about  fifty  cows,  mostly  Jerseys, 

csides  other    cattle.     Among    his    extensive 

rchards  there  are  4,000  peach  trees. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shook  have  three  sons: 
rank  B.,  manager  of  "  Ardmore  "  farm,  who 
larried  Miss  Louise  R.  Hendricks;  Edgar  A., 
10  married  Miss  Mary  Scofield,  and  lives  in 
le  village  of  Fishkill;  and  Alfred  E.,  at 
'ine. 


3  OBERT  M.  GREENE,  a  prominent  hor- 

!._  ticulturist    of   the    town    of    Rhinebeck, 

itchess   county,    was    born    December    23, 

V.  in  the  town  of  Milan.      His  family  is  of 

lish  extraction,  and  the  first  to  come  to 

rica  were  Quakers  in  religious  faith,  and 

ed  at  an  early  period  in  Rhode  Island — 

'  refuge  of  the   persecuted  for  conscience 

His  grandfather,  Tobias  Greene,  was 

itive  of  that  State,  and  passed  his  life  there. 

John  R.  Greene,  our  subject's  father,  was 

Im  Hear  Providence,  R.  I.,  April    16,  1788, 

arly  manhood  came  to  Dutchess  county, 

re  he  married  Sabrina   Martin,  a  lady  of 

lish  descent,  born  April  8,  1793,  a  daugh- 

i  of  George  Martin,  a  leading  farmer  of  the 

<^n  of  Milan.     After  his  marriage  he  settled 

n  a  farm  in  the  same  town,  where  he  re- 

iied  a  number  of  years,  removing  later  to  a 

1  in  the  town   of   Rhinebeck.      He  was  a 

i  inocrat  of   the  old-fashioned   sort,  and   he 


I 


and  his  wife  belonged  to  the  Christian  Church, 
and  were  among  the  leaders  in  their  vicinity  in 
many  of  the  progressive  movements  of  their 
time.  They  had  thirteen  children:  Mahala, 
who  married  (first)  Mr.  Hicks,  and  (second)  Mr. 
Piatt;  Sarah  J.,  the  wife  of  Peter  Welch,  a 
farmer;  Emeline,  who  married  William  C. 
Rikert,  a  butcher;  Margaret  A.,  the  wife  of 
Edward  Knickerbocker,  of  Albany,  who  was, 
in  early  life,  a  teacher,  but  later  on  was  a  lum- 
berman; Martin  T.,  a  retired  merchant,  of 
Kane  county.  111.;  George  N,,  who  died  in 
childhood;  John,  who  was  a  farmer  in  the  town 
of  Clinton;  Elizabeth,  who  married  Andrew  J. 
Fish,  a  retired  mechanic,  in  Iowa;  Robert  M., 
our  subject;  Theron,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Martha,  who  married  (first)  Mr.  H.  Gray,  and 
(later)  Mr.  Foster,  of  Hiawatha,  Kans. ;  Walter 
N.  (deceased),  a  lumber  merchant  at  Burling- 
ton, Vt.;  and  Edmund,  a  wagon  maker  in  the 
State  of  Washington.  The  father  of  this  fam- 
ily died  in  1867,  his  wife  July  2,  1882. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  seven  years 
of  age  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  his 
present  home,  where  he  has  now  lived  for  sixtj'- 
two  years.  He  was  married  November  5, 
1 85 1,  to  Ann  Eliza  Vail,  a  native  of  the  town 
of  Stanford,  born  April  10,  1829,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Aaron  Vail,  a  leading  farmer  there. 
They  have  had  seven  children:  Evelyn,  the 
wife  of  H.  J.  Lown,  a  farmer  of  Rhinebeck; 
Alice;  Bertha;  Hubert,  a  resident  of  the  same 
township,  and  married  to  Miss  Susie  Harris; 
Delbert,  who  married  Bertha  V.  L'Homme- 
dieu;  Fanny;  and  Anabel,  who  married  Reuben 
F.  L'Hommedieu  November  25,  1896. 

Mr.  Greene's  farm  comprises  138  acres  de- 
voted to  fruit  raising,  in  which  he  has  made  a 
marked  success.  In  politics  he  is  a  supporter 
of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party,  but 
he  takes  no  active  share  in  political  work. 


BENJAMIN  H.  FRY,  a  wide-awake,  ener- 
.    getic    and    progressive    business    man    of 

Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  in  that 
village  April  2,  185 1.  His  father,  Simeon  Fry, 
was  a  native  of  Winchendon,  Mass.,  born  in 
1817,  and  on  reaching  manhood  was  married 
to  Miss  Phebe  Harris,  of  Pine  Plains,  Dutchess 
county,  whose  death  occurred  in  1852.  In 
1846  the  father  established  the  tin  and  ptove 
business  in  Amenia,  which  he  successfully  con- 
ducted until  1870,  when  the  management  was 
turned   over  to    our   subject,    who   ten    years 


452 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPUWAL  RECORD. 


later,  on  the  death  of  his  father,  assumed  full 
control  of  the  business.  Politically,  he  was 
first  a  Whig,  and  later  supported  the  Repub- 
lican party,  while  socially  he  was  identified 
with  Amenia  Lodge  No.  672,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Mr.  Fry,  of  this  sketch,  was  an  only  child, 
and  his  boyhood  and  youth  were  spent  in 
attendance  at  the  district  schools  and  the 
Amenia  Seminary^  where  he  completed  his 
literary  course.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he 
left  the  schoolroom  to  learn  the  tinner's  trade 
with  his  father.  In  February,  1876,  he  was 
married  in  the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess 
county,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Ida 
B.  Warner,  daughter  of  Frederick  Warner, 
and  to  them  have  been  born  four  children: 
Clara,  Louie,  Helen,  and  Florence. 

The  Amenia  Foundry  was  established  by 
Mr.  Fry  in  1890  for  the  manufacture  of  gen- 
eral castings,  making  a  specialty  of  sash 
weights,  since  which  time  the  foundry  has 
been  in  continuous  operation,  producing  1,500 
tons  of  castings  per  year.  As  a  manufactory 
of  sash  weights  it  ranks  as  one  of  the  best  in 
the  country. 

In  connection  with  the  foundry,  Mr.  Fry 
also  has  the  largest  and  best -equipped  tin  and 
stove  store  on  the  line  of  the  Harlem  railroad. 
There  a  specialty  is  made  of  the  manufacture 
of  copper  wash  boilers,  making  7,000  a  year, 
for  which  he  has  a  large  wholesale  trade 
throughout  the  Eastern  States  as  far  north  as 
Portland,  Maine.  He  employs  forty  men  and 
eight  teams,  with  a  pay-roll  of  $1,500  per 
month.  Although  one  of  the  infant  industries 
of  the  county,  it  seeks  not  the  protection  of  a 
high  protective  tariff,  but  owes  its  success  to 
the  untiring  perseverance  and  able  manage- 
ment of  Mr.  Fry.  The  Amenia  Foundry  is  one 
of  the  few  enterprises  which  furnish  the  life 
and  prosperity  of  the  village  of  Amenia.  In 
1895  o^^r  subject  established  a  similar  foundry 
at  Waterbury,  Conn.,  in  connection  with  Julius 
Benedict,  one  of  the  oldest  manufacturers  of 
sash  weights  in  this  country,  and  they  there 
employ  from  twenty  to  thirty  men. 

The  different  industries  with  which  Mr.  Fry 
has  been  connected  have  been  crowned  with 
success.  Many  of  the  men  employed  in  the 
foundry  when  started  are  there  at  the  present 
time,  some  of  them  having  been  with  Mr.  Fry 
for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  which  fact  speaks 
well  for  the  judgment  of  the  employer  and  the 
capabilities  of  the  employes.  From  the  time 
of  the  establishment  of  the  business,  in  1846, 


up  to  the  present  time,  a  period  of  fifty  years, 
a  Saturday  pay-day  has  never  been  missed,  at 
which  time  the  men  find  the  cashier  as  free  to 
give  as  they  to  receive.  The  fact  that  Mr. 
Fry  is  at  the  head  is  a  guarantee  for  the  pros- 
perity and  success  of  any  enterprise,  and  we 
take  pleasure  in  expressing  our  admiration  for 
his  remarkable  business  ability. 

Socially,  Mr.  Fry  affiliates  with  Amenia 
Lodge  No.  672,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which  he  has 
been  master,  and  is  also  connected  with  Pough- 
keepsie  Chapter,  Council  and  Commandery, 
and  Mecca  Temple  of  Mystic  Shrine  in  New 
York  City.  He  is  president  of  the  Amenia 
Water  Company,  of  which  he  is  one-third 
owner. 


m  LBERT  W.  CORBIN  (deceased).  On 
^k^  the  4th  of  August,  1893,  there  passed 
away  at  his  home,  in  the  town  of  Pawling, 
Dutchess  county,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
whose  life  of  quiet  and  consistent  usefulness 
had  endeared  him  to  a  large  circle  of  friends. 
Although  by  choice  he  followed  the  peacefu 
life  of  agriculture,  he  took  a  helpful  part  in  the 
various  local  enterprises  which  marked  the  so- 
cial, religious  and  educational  advance  of  th( 
community,  and  his  sympathies  were  alwayi 
given  to  the  side  of  progress. 

Born    in  Patterson,    Putnam   Co.,   N.  Y. 
Mr.  Corbin  was  reared  in  Dutchess  county,  an(, 
as  he  reached  manhood's  estate  he  identifie( 
himself    completely     with    the     interests     0 
this  locality.      His  family  was    already  well : 
known     here,      his   grandfather,     Jabez  Cor, 
bin,    having   come    to  the   town    of   Pawlinj 
in    the   latter  part   of  the  last  century,    fron 
Long    Island,     where    the    first    ancestor   c 
the    American     branch    had    settled     at   a 
early    period    on  his   arrival    from     England 
Jabez  Corbin  probably  located  at  Quaker  Hi) 
He  married   Lucy  Cheeseman,    and    reared 
family  of  eight  children — Isaac,    our  subject 
father;  William,    a   blacksmith   at  Johnsvilli, 
George,     a    carpenter    at    Sherman,     Conn' 
Thomas,  who  lived  near  Fishkill;  Benjamin, 
farmer    in    Pennsylvania;   Tallman,    who  al: 
went  to  Pennsylvania;  Lawrence,  a  resident 
Putnam    county;     and    Sarah,    who    marrii 
Harry  Case,  of  Matteawan. 

Isaac  Corbin   was   born    at    Quaker   Hi 
November   10,     1790,    and   in  early    manho' 
lived  for  a  time  at  Patterson,   but    in  1823 
returned  to  his  native  county  and  establish 


A^'^  PH^cn^^ 


I 


l\ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


458 


his  home  in  the  village  of  Pawling,  in  the  house 
occupied  later  by  James  Ferris.  He  was  a 
blacksmith  by  trade,  his  shop  being  located 
just  south  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  his  in- 
dustry and  successful  management  gained  for 
him  a  fine  competence.  At  one  time  he  owned 
all  that  portion  of  the  village  site  which  lies 
west  of  the  railroad.  He  wielded  great  influ- 
ence in  local  affairs,  and  was  a  strong  sup- 
porter of  the  Democratic  party.  His  wife, 
Martha  (Haynes),  was  born  January  8,  1796, 
a  daughter  of  Archibald  Haynes,  a  well-known 
resident  of  Patterson.  They  had  four  children, 
whose  names  with  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows: 
Jane,  February  17,  1817,  married  John  Ferris; 
Emeline,  October  8,  1819,  married  Sheldon 
Haynes;  Albert  \V.,  August  27,  182 1;  and 
Helen  M.,  December  11,  1825,  married  Henry 
vV.  Wright,  of  Beekman,  and  is  now  the  only 
mrviving  member  of  the  family.  The  father 
iied  February  10,  1878,  the  mother  on  Oc- 
tober 28,  1882. 

Albert   W.    Corbin    attended    the    district 

ichools  of  the  town  of  Pawling,    and  a  select 

:chool   at   Quaker   Hill   conducted  by  Serenus 

ones;  but  although  his  advantages  were  the 

est  which  the  time  and  the  locality  afforded, 

e  was  in   a   large  degree    self-educated,    his 

iading  in  later  years  being  unusually  broad  in 

5  scope,  history  being  his  favorite  study.     He 

;arned  the  blacksmith's  trade  with  his  father, 

lit  did  not  follow  it,    preferring  agriculture. 

(e  began  by  working  a  farm  east  of  the  village, 

n  shares,  and  gradually  acquired  large  tracts 

i  farming  land,    among  them    the    Howland 

irm,    upon    which    he  made    his    home,    the 

tockholm   farm,   the  Cook  farm,  and  the  one 

hereon  Mrs.  Corbin  now  resides,  making  him 

le  of  the  most  extensive  real-estate  holders  in 

le  town.     He  also  at  one  time  owned  the  ore 

-d  at  the  top  of  the  mountain,  and  was  a  stock- 

Ider  in  the  lower  ore  bed,   of  which  he  was 

perintendent    for  some  years.      He  was   an 

xellent  business  man,  cautious,  yet  enterpris- 

%.   and    of   unquestioned  integrity,    and   his 

ivice  was  asked  and  followed  in  many   im- 

irtant  enterprises.      He  was  one  of  the  orig- 

al    incorporators    of    the    Savings    Bank  at 

iwling,  of  which  institution  he  held  the  office 

"rustee  until  the  time  of  his  death;  and  he 

-  often  called  upon  to  assist  in  the  settle- 

nt  of  estates.    Possessing  much  public  spirit, 

I;  took  a  generous  interest  in  local  affairs,  and 

'^s  a  leader  in  the  Republican  organization  of 

fe  town,  serving  for  several  terms  as  assessor, 


and   for  five  terms  in  succession   as  township 
supervisor. 

In  1842  Mr.  Corbin  married  Miss  Julia  A. 
Beardsley,  a  lady  of  English  descent,  and  the 
daughter  of  Lewis  Beardsley,  a  prominent 
resident  of  New  Fairfield,  Conn.  Two  chil- 
dren came  of  this  union,  viz.:  Isaac  L.,  born 
October  5,  1849;  and  Anna  E. ,  born  January 
12,  1851,  now  the  wife  of  Edwin  B.  Dodge,  a 
leading  citizen  of  Pawling.  Lewis  Beardsley, 
father  of  Mrs.  Corbin,  was  born  January  17, 
1798,  in  New  Fairfield,  Conn.,  and  November 
10,  1817,  married  Paulina  Barnum,  by  whom 
he  had  five  children:  (i)  Eliza  married  Will- 
iam H.  Wright,  and  had  nine  children:  Will- 
am  H.,  John  L. ,  Thomas  E.,  George  W., 
Harriet  E.,  Paulina,  Albert  W.,  Daniel  B., 
and  Albert  D. ;  (2)  Julia  A.  (Mrs.  Corbin) 
comes  next;  (3)  Daniel  H.  married  Mary  Lind- 
ley,  and  had  three  children:  Huldah  A.,  Alice 
and  Lewis  D. ;  (4)  Huldah  deceased  when 
eighteen;  (5)  Paulina  married  Orris  Haynes, 
and  had  two  children:  Lewis  I.,  and  Mary 
(deceased.)  The  mother  of  this  family  died 
October  7,  1832,  and  February  17,  1833,  Mr. 
Beardsley  .wedded  Miss  Harriet  Barnum  (a 
sister  of  his  first  wife),  and  one  child  was  born 
to  them,  named  Hannah;  her  mother  died  in 
1886.  Mr.  Beardsley  passed  from  earth  April 
24,  1843,  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  By  occupation  Mr.  Beardsley  in  his 
younger  days  was  a  farmer,  later  a  speculator 
and  merchant  for  some  ten  years,  also  bought 
and  sold  cattle. 

Edwin  B.  Dodge,  son-in-law  of  Mrs.  Cor- 
bin, was  born  August  18,  1851,  in  the  town  of 
Pawling  ,  Dutchess  county,  a  son  of  John  B. 
and  Julia  (Allen)  Dodge,  farming  people,  the 
other  children  in  the  family  being  Charles  S., 
Priscilla  F.  and  Ida  A.  The  father  of  these 
died  in  1861;  the  mother  is  yet  living.  Ed- 
win was  married  February  12,  1874,  and  they 
had  two  children:  Essie  A.,  born  September 
2,  1876,  died  September  24,  1877;  and  Albert 
E. ,  born  November  11,  1878,  at  present  hold- 
ing a  lucrative  position  in  the  general  passen- 
ger agent's  office  New  York  Central  &  Hud- 
River  R.  R.,  city. 

Edwin  B.  Dodge  has  served  as  collector  of 
taxes,  commissioner  of  public  works,  elected 
twice  supervisor  from  Pawling,  was  nominated 
for  member  of  Assembly  in  the  First  district  of 
Dutchess  county,  but  declined  the  nomination; 
is  also  a  composer  of  religious,  comic,  and 
sentimental  music. 


454 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Isaac  L.  Corbin,  eldest  child  of  Albert 
W.  and  Julia  A.  Corbin,  married  Jennie  Sher- 
man, June  14,  1871,  and  three  children  came 
of  this  union:  Albert  I.,  born  November  6, 
1872;  Annie  Maud,  February  12,  1875,  died 
April  23,  1875;  Charles  L. ,  born  March  3, 
1876.  The  mother  of  these  children  died 
May  2,  1882,  and  Isaac  L. ,  in  June,  1883, 
married  for  his  second  wife  Mary  F.  Allison, 
of  Canada.  The  children  by  this  marriage 
are  six  in  number:  Willie  A. ,  born  April  4, 
18S4;  Frank  B.,  born  September  11,  1885; 
Cecil  I.,  born  June  12,  1887;  Ethel  B.,  born 
May  II,  1889;  Lewis  D. ,  born  April  2 1 ,  1891; 
Clement  W.,  born  April  27,  1896. 

I.  L.  Corbin  has  large  farming  interests  in 
Pawling,  has  always  confined  himself  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  and  is  a  conceded  authority 
on  up-to-date  farming. 


CHARLES  H.  SLOCUM,  a  traveHng  sales- 
man for  the  wholesale  grocery  house  of 
Wright,  Depew  &  Co.,  Nos.  103-105  Murray 
street.  New  York  City,  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Pawling,  Dutchess  county,  in  i860,  and  is 
about  eight  generations  removed  from  Roscom 
Slocum,  the  founder  of  the  family  in  the  New 
World.  He  was  a  wealthy  planter,and  his  wife, 
a  Miss  Fitzgerald,  belonged  to  a  prominent  and 
well-to-do  Irish  family;  she  ran  away  from 
home,  and  her  future  husband  paid  her  pas- 
sage in  cattle. 

Hiram  Slocum,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  1834,  in  the  town  of  Dover, 
Dutchess  county,  where  the  birth  of  his  father. 
Pardon  Slocum,  also  occurred,  and  there  the 
latter  devoted  his  life  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
Hiram  Slocum's  mother  died  when  he  was  an 
infant,  and  he  was  reared  bj'  an  uncle  living 
near  Cornwall  Bridge,  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn., 
where  he  received  only  a  limited  district-school 
education.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  years  he 
started  out  in  life  for  himself,  coming  to  Dover, 
where  he  engaged  in  shoemaking  for  a  time. 
There  he  wedded  Mary  Olivett,  by  whom  he 
has  five  sons:  William  E.,  of  Poughquag; 
Hiram,  a  builder  of  the  same  place;  Charles 
H.,  of  this  sketch;  and  Henry  D.  and  Fred, 
also  of  Poughquag.  After  his  marriage  the 
father  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits in  the  town  of  Dover,  where  he  remained 
until  1867,  when  he  removed  to  his  present 
farm  in  the  town  of  Beekman.  He  is  a  self- 
made  man,  his  possessions  being  the  result  of 


his  diligence,  enterprise  and  perseverance,  am 
he  well  deserves  the  success  that  has  come  ti 
him.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  re 
ligiously  his  wife  is  an  earnest  member  of  thi 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

In  the  town  of  Beekman,  Charles  H 
Slocum  attended  the  district  schools,  and  afte 
completing  his  education  clerked  in  the  ston 
of  H.  Colwell  for  two  years.  At  the  age  0 
nineteen  years  he  bought  out  his  employer 
and  conducted  the  business  from  March,  i88c 
until  November  10,  1894,  when  his  propert 
was  destroyed  by  fire,  but  he  rebuilt  the  ston 
which  he  now  rents  to  S.  L.  Davis  &  Dibbk 
Since  June,  1895,  he  has  been  on  the  road  i 
the  wholesale  grocery  business  as  the  outsid 
financial  agent  for  the  firm.  He  was  at  or 
time  treasurer  and  manager  of  the  America 
Electric  Light  Company.  As  a  business  ma 
he  is  winning  success,  and  his  unabating  energ 
and  diligence  are  important  factors  in  his  pro: 
perity.  \ 

At  South  Amenia  Mr.  Slocum  was  marric* 
to  Miss  Ella  M.  Odell,  daughter  of  George  V| 
Odell,  and  to  them  have  been  born  two  ch  j 
dren:     Blanche  and  Russell.      Like  his  fathe 
our   subject    also    supports    the    Democrat 
party;  was  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Beekm; 
in  1885,    being  the  youngest   member  of  t' 
board;  and  in  the    fall  of   1886  was  nominat 
as  a   member  of  the   General    Assembly,  b 
declined  the  honor.      Since   1884  he  served 
postmaster  of  Poughquag   except  when  Be 
jamin    Harrison    was    filling    the    President 
chair,  and  in  both  public  and  private  life  he  li 
ever  discharged  his  duties  in    a  prompt  a 
efficient    manner.      Socially    he    is   connect 
with  Hopewell  Lodge  No.  596,  F.  &    A.  ^ 
and  holds  membership  in  the  Methodist  Ep 
copal    Church    at    Poughquag.     Although    : 
sustained    a    heavy    loss  at  the    time  he  "  ■ 
burned  out,  he  was  able  to  pay  all  his  credit'  \ 
one  hundred  cents    on    the    dollar.     All  vv  > 
know  him  esteem  him   for   his  sterling  wor 
his    unimpeachable     integrity     and     his     - 
right  life. 


CHARLES  B.  MORGAN,  one  of  the  hig  y 
respected  citizens  and  leading  busir  s 
men  of  Amenia,  was  born  at  his  present  r  - 
dence  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  Dutchess  com  1 
June  28,  1852,  and  is  a  son  of  George  Morg  , 
whose  birth  also  occurred  on  the  old  ho  '■■ 
stead,  June  14,  1823.     There  William  Mori.  1. 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


455 


the  grandfather,  had  located  on  coming  from 
Redding,  Conn.,  in  1806.  On  June  3,  1805, 
he  married  Miss  Polly  Wood,  who  was  born 
September  8,  1786,  and  died  October  2,  1876. 
In  their  family  were  eleven  children,  whose 
names  and  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows  :  Nel- 
son, September  i,  1806  ;  Caroline,  September 
20,  1808  ;  Evaline,  October  10,  18 10;  an  infant 
son,  October  8,  1812  ;  Russell,  December  8, 
1813  ;  Amanda,  July  18,  1816  ;  Minerva,  No- 
vember 18,  1818  ;  Benson  W.,  March  25,  1821; 
George,  June  14,  1823  ;  Mariette,  September 
15,  1826  ;  and  Andrew  J.,  December  12,  1827; 
ill    are    now    deceased    except    Amanda    and 

I  Mariette. 
The  grandfather,  who   was  of   We!sh   de- 
scent, was  born    November  26,    1782,  and  in 
;arly  life   learned   the  carpenter's  trade.      He 
ind  his  wife  migrated  on  horseback  to  Dutch- 
ess county  in    1806,   having  scarcely  enough 
iioney  at  that  time  to   pay  for  the  one  acre  of 
ijound  which    he    purchased    in  the  town  of 
\menia.      Here    he  established  the  manufac- 
ure  of  grain  cradles,  which  is  now  carried  on 
>ur  subject,  and  also  engaged  in  the  manu- 
ure  of  coffins.      He  was  entirely  a  self-made 
.an  and  became  quite  well-to-do,    leaving  a 
ood  property  at  his    death,   which  occurred 
inuary  21,  1859. 

George  Morgan,  the  father,  spent  his  boy- 

jod  days  in  Amenia,   attending   the   district 

hools.  and  with    his    father   learned  cradle- 

aking,  which  he  continued  to  follow  through- 

iit  life,  having  a  good  trade  in  the  Hudson 

1  alley  and  in  western  Connecticut.     A  capable 

usiness  man,  he  deserved  the  success  which 

warded  his  efforts  ;  in  politics  was  a  Demo- 

at,  and  was  a  member  of  the  old  militia.    At 

udson,  N.  Y. ,  he  was  married  November  18, 

S,  to  Laura  B.  Hood,  a  daughter  of  Samuel 

jd,    and    to    them    were    born    two    sons  : 

iiarles  B.,  of  this  sketch  ;  and  William,  who 

'  born  June  27,  1850,  and  died  March  30, 

;2.     The  death  of  the  mother  occurred  May 

■B91,  and  the  father  passed  awav  October 

^B94. 

After  attending  the  public  schools,  our  sub- 
t  entered  the  Amenia  Seminary,  where  he 
ipleted  his  literary  education.  He  then 
ned  the  trade  of  cradle-making,  which  his 
idfather  and  father  followed,  and  since 
9  has  had  complete  charge  of  the  business, 
ch  he  is  now  successfully  conducting.  In 
year  1896  he  also  manufactured  cider  from 
000  bushels  of  apples,  and  also  evaporated 


over  5,000  bushels,  thus  using  over  17,000 
bushels,  and  is  engaged  in  farming  to  a  small 
extent.  Politically,  he  follows  in  the  footsteps 
of  his  father,  supporting  the  Democratic  party, 
and  is  now  serving  as  school  trustee  in  his 
district. 

At  Smithfield,  in  the  town  of  Amenia, 
October  9,  1874,  Mr.  Morgan  was  married  to 
Miss  Cora  Van  Hovenburg,  daughter  of  John 
Van  Hovenburg,  and  they  have  two  children: 
Clara  Belle  and  Harry  B.  The  family  holds 
an  enviable  position  in  social  circles,  and  has 
many  friends  throughout  the  community. 


CHARLES  A.  FLINT.  The  name  Flint 
_  '  was  given  to  a  minor  Saxon  god  represented 
by  a  great  flint  stone.  It  appears  in  old  Colo- 
nial records  asFflint,  Fflynt,  Flinte  and  Flynt, 
and  the  latter  form  should  have  been  retained 
by  the  family.  The  first  to  come  to  America 
were  Thomas  and  William  Flint,  who  became 
early  settlers  of  Salem,  Mass. ,  probably  locat- 
ing there  before  1638.  The  former,  from  whom 
our  subject  is  descended,  purchased  1 50  acres 
of  meadow  and  pasture  land  from  John  Pick- 
ering, in  1654,  and  in  1662  bought  fifty  acres 
from  Robert  Goodall.  That  farm  is  still  in  the 
possession  of  his  descendants.  By  his  mar- 
riage with  Anne  Sutherick  he  had  six  children 
— Thomas;  Elizabeth,  born  in  1650;  George, 
who  was  born  in  1652,  and  died  in  1720;  John; 
Anna,  who  was  born  in  1657,  and  died  in  1663 ; 
and  Joseph,  born  in  1662.  The  father  died 
April  15,  1663,  and   the  mother  on  March  20, 

1673- 

John  Flint,  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth, 
was  born  in  1655,  was  made  a  freeman  of  Salem 
in  1690,  and  died  in  1730.  He  took  up  arms 
in  defense  of  the  colonists  during  King  Phillip's 
war.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth  Putnam,  and  to 
them  nine  children  were  born:  Samuel,  John, 
Hannah, Stephen,  Joshua,  Joseph,  Lydia,  Sarah 
and  Elizabeth. 

Joshua  Flint,  the  fifth  child  of  John,  was 
born  October  28,  1689,  and  in  1716  removed 
to  Windham,  Conn.  He  lost  his  life  at  sea. 
Twelve  children  were  born  of  his  marriage  with 
Miss  Deborah  Ingalls:  Sarah,  Mary,  Joshua, 
James,  Asher,  Bartholomew,  Huldah,  Eliza- 
beth, Abner,  Eliphalet,  Aikelas  and  Theodora. 

Asher  Flint,  of  this  family,  was  born  at 
Windham,  Conn.,  June  6,  1724,  and  the  year 
1 77 1  witnessed  his  removal  to  Willington,  that 
State.      On  August  20,   1752,  he  was  married 


k 


456 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIC'AL  RECORD. 


I 


to  Sarah  Bingham,  who  died  in  1754,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-two  years.  Later  he  married 
Luc5'  Kimball,  whose  death  occurred  October 
20,  1800,  and  he  passed  away  in  January,  1803. 
In  his  family  were  the  following  children  :Jabez, 
Lucy,  Aaron,  Sarah,  Elisha,  Enoch  and  Asher. 

Jabez  Flint,  the  eldest,  was  born  May  2, 
1756,  at  Windham,  and  when  the  colonists 
took  up  arms  against  the  mother  country  he 
joined  their  forces,  faithfully  serving  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  He  was  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  and  was  the  first  of  the  family 
to  migrate  to  Dutchess  county,  locating  in  the 
town  of  Amenia  about  1782,  and  erecting  the 
present  residence  of  Charles  A.  Flint  in  the 
summer  of  181 5.  There  his  death  occurred 
March  28,  1844.  He  was  married  May  16, 
1782,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth Merritt  Willson,  who  died  August  28, 
1790,  and  on  May  10,  1792,  he  was  again  mar- 
ried, his  second  union  being  with  Elizabeth 
Paine.  He  was  an  Old-line  Whig  in  politics, 
and  ably  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  from 
1797  until  18 12.  His  family  included  nine 
children,  namely:  Merritt  P.,  Maurice  Kim- 
ball, Alfred,  Philip,  Eliza  M.,  Mary  Paine,  Ed- 
ward, Augustus  and  Jane  Maria. 

Augustus  Flint,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  March  28,  1807,  and  acquired  his 
education  in  the  district  schools  of  the  town  of 
Amenia,  Dutchess  county.  After  he  had  at- 
tained two  years  of  maturity  he  served  as  colo- 
nel in  the  State  militia,  and  was  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  dying  in 
that  faith  October  29,  1881.  He  first  wedded 
Catherine  J.  Bockee,  who  was  born  in  181 1, 
and  died  April  9,  1843,  leaving  three  children: 
George  Peters,  who  was  born  August  29, 
1836,  and  died  at  Camp  Douglas,  Chicago, 
October  27,  1862;  Jacob  Bockee,  who  was 
born  December  12,  1838,  and  died  in  1844; 
and  Martha  B.,  born  August  8,  1841.  For 
his  second  wife,  Augustus  Flint  chose  Julia 
Lord,  their  wedding  being  celebrated  March 
4,  1847.  Her  birth  occurred  A'pril  10,  1814, 
and  she  survived  her  husband  until  November 
16,  1895. 

Charles  Augustus  Flint,  of  this  review,  was 
the  only  child  born  of  the  second  union,  his 
birth  taking  place  at  his  present  residence,  De- 
cember 20,  1847.  He  spent  his  early  life  in 
much  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  boys,  ac- 
quiring his  primary  education  in  the  schools 
near  his  home,  was  later  a  student  in  the 
Amenia  Seminary,  and  completed  his   literary 


training  by  a  course  at  Fort  Edward  Collegiate 
Institute  in  Washington  county,  N.  Y.  On 
laying  aside  his  text  books  he  returned  to  the 
old  homestead,  where  his  entire  life  has  been 
passed. 

On  October  6,  1880,  Mr.  Flint  was  mar- 
ried to  Matilda  P.  Hall,  who  was  born  Novem- 
ber 20,  1848,  and  they  have  four  children: 
Gilbert  A.,  born  March  27,  1883;  Julia  Mi- 
nerva, born  February  5,  1885;  Charles  Hall, 
born  March  8,  1887;  and  Dorothy  Lord,  born 
November  4,  1893.  Mr.  Flint  is  an  advocate 
of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party,  and 
displays  his  allegiance  thereto  by  casting  his 
ballot  for  its  nominees,  while  religiously  he  is 
an  earnest  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Smithfield.  He  is  public-spirited  and  pro- 
gressive, devoted  to  the  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity, and  his  standing  among  his  fellowmen 
is  high. 


ILLIAM    J.    STORM,    of   Stormviile, 

[''Itf'  Dutchess  county,  is  the  senior  member 
of  the  firm  of  W.  J.  and  W.  B.  Storm,  dealers 
in  flour,  feed,  coal,  lumber,  builders'  materials, 
and  other  commodities.  In  addition  to  the 
management  of  his  extensive  trade,  he  owns 
and  conducts  a  farm  of  330  acres  in  the  town 
of  East  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  the  old 
homestead  of  his  family. 

The  family,  of  which   he  is   a  member,  in 
this  country  dates  back  to  Derrick  Storm,  whc 
came  to  America  in  1662  from  the  Mayorality 
of  Borch,  Holland,  and,  being  both  intelligent 
and   well-educated,    speedily    arose   to  promi 
inence,  being  secretary   of  Brooklyn  in  1670, 
town  clerk  of  Flatbush,  and  clerk  of  session; 
in  Orange  county,  from    1691    to   1703.     H(: 
also  filled  the  important  office  of  school  masteij 
in  different  places.      He  owned  land  and  paic' 
taxes  when  Peter  Stuyvesant  was  Governor  0| 
New   Amsterdam.      He   and   his   wife,  Mariij 
Pieters,  reared  a  family  of  four  children:  Goris| 
Peter,  David  and  Maria.     Goris  married  An. 
geltey  Van   Lyck,  daughter  of  Thomas  Van 
Lyck,  of  New   Utrecht,    and  had  two  sons- 
Derick,   born  in    1695,   ^"^    Thomas  T. ,  ou 
subject's    great-great-grandfather,     who     wa 
born  in  1697.     He  purchased  a  large  tract  c 
land  from  Col.  Phillips,  of  the  Manor  of  Phil 
lipsburg,   in  Westchester   county,    N.  Y.,  an 
settled  at  Tarrytown,  where  many  of  the  de 
scendants  now  live,  and  where  he  was  buriec 
His  wife's  name  was  Annie ,  and  the 


I 

c 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIOAL  REOORD. 


457 


nine  children  were  Thomas,    Jacob,  Garrett. 
Goris,  Abraham,   John,    Isaac,  Catherine  and 
Angeltey.     Two  of  the  sons  died  in  early  man- 
hood, leaving  children.     In  a  will  dated  June 
17,    1763,  now   on   record  in    the    surrogate's 
office  in  New  York  City,  he  makes  division  of 
a  large  amount  of    property.     The    will    was 
made  and  executed  in  Dutchess  county,  where 
he  was  probably   visiting  his  children,  and  it 
was  probated   before   Bartholomew   Cronnett, 
in  Dutchess  county,   January    15,  1770.     To 
his  grandson,  Abraham,  son  of  Isaac,  he  gave 
one  hundred  pounds,  and  to  his  granddaugh- 
ters, Christina  and  Anna,   forty  pounds.     To 
his  sons,  Garrett  and  Goris,  he  gave  the  lands 
vvhich  he  had  purchased   from  Madame  Brett, 
n  Rombout  Precinct,   lying  on  the  north  side 
)f  the   Fishkill,  and  containing  406  acres,  of 
.vhich  Garrett  received   204    acres    and  Goris 
;02.     This  was  known  as  the  "  first  purchase. " 
To  his  son  Abraham  he  gave,  with  the  exception 
if  ten   acres,    the  lands  of    his  "  second  pur- 
hase, "  lying   south    of   the   Fishkill,    and    to 
saac  he  gave   his  improved    estate  at  Phillips 
lanor.      Later  these  two    exchanged  posses- 
ions, and  Isaac  came  to   Fishkill.     The  fact 
,;  especially  worthy  of  note  that  now,  after  a 
eriod  of  more   than   one    hundred   and  fifty 
,ears,  these  lands  still  remain   almost  intact, ' 
]i  the  hands  of  the  descendants. 

Isaac  Storm,  great-grandfather  of  William 
,  married  Elizabeth  Locy,  and  their  son 
braham  (grandfather  of  William  J.),  who 
I  as  born  October  i,  1772,  married  Sarah  Vin- 
';nt,  daughter  of  Philip  and  Catherine  (Haleck) 
incent,  and  had  five  children  :  Isaac,  Will- 
m,  John  v.,  Charlotte  and  Elizabeth. 

John  V.  Storm  (father of  William  J.),  now 
e  only  survivor  of  this  family,  was  born  No- 
mber  24,  1800,  and  was  educated  in  the 
strict  schools  of  Stormville.  His  manhood 
5  been  passed  mainly  in  the  management  of 
le  ancestral  estate,  which  is  beautifully  situ- 
;;:d,  surrounded  by  primeval  forests,  andcom- 
1  nding  a  view  of  Nicopee  and  the  Beacon 
J-ights,  of  the  Highlands,  in  the  distance, 
'ider  his  hands  the  property  has  assumed  new 
lauty  and  fertility  until  even  the  passing 
Sanger  is  attracted  by  its  appearance.  His 
*.bleshave  always  held  some  of  the  best  horses 
Mthe  country,  and  his  fields  have  been  cov- 
e;d  with  waving  crops  of  the  finest  grain  ever 
g'wn  in  the  rich  and  productive  valley  of  the 
r;hkill.  He  has  held,  too,  various  positions 
otrust  and  responsibility  ;  for  many  years  he 


was  a  civil  magistrate,  and  also  supervisor  of 
the  town,  and  at  the  organization  of  the  Fish- 
kill Savings  Bank  he  was  chosen  a  director 
and  the  first  president  of  that  institution. 

On  December  4,  1839,  John  V.  Storm  was 
united  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Jeannette  E. 
Wooley,  a  lady  of  English  descent,  and  daugh- 
ter of  William  Wooley,  a  leading  farmer  of  the 
town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess  county. 
She  died  in  June,  1886,  leaving  three  sons  and 
four  daughters.  The  eldest,  Abraham  J.,  a 
civil  engineer  and  extensive  land-holder,  be- 
sides being  largely  interested  in  the  cattle  busi- 
ness in  Texas,  was  married  October  29,  1878, 
to  Miss  Kate  Fowler.  Joseph  H.,  the  owner 
of  a  fine  farm  at  Green  Haven,  Dutchess 
county,  was  married  September  4,  1867,  to 
Miss  Sophia  Sheldon,  and  has  two  children  — 
Wilson  and  Jeannette.  William  J.  is  the  sub- 
ject proper  of  this  sketch.  Of  the  four  daugh- 
ters the  eldest,  Sarah  Frances,  was  married 
June  7,  1876,  to  Sylvester  Southard,  of  Fish- 
kill, and  has  one  daughter  —  Jane  Wooley 
Southard.  Elizabeth  B.  was  married  January 
24,  1873,  to  Charles  A.  Storm,  of  Hopewell. 
Helen  and  Cornelia  Storm  (twins)  are  at  home. 

The  reminiscences  of  Mr.  Storm,  the  pa- 
triarch, would  make  an  interesting  book.  He 
takes  an  especial  delight  in  talking  over  the 
incidents  of  the  more  primitive  conditions  in 
which  his  youth  was  spent.  When  he  was 
about  eighteen  years  old  he  and  his  father 
drove  to  Kingston  to  get  a  load  of  shingles, 
crossing  the  ice  at  Rhinecliff,  and  by  starting 
at  2  A.  M.,  they  made  the  entire  distance, 
eighty  miles,  in  one  day,  arriving  home  before 
midnight.  Fortunately  his  advancing  years 
have  not  brought  with  them  the  usual  tokens 
of  old  age,  and  with  the  exception  of  impaired 
eyesight  his  health  is  excellent  and  his  facul- 
ties undimmed.  His  mind  is  clear,  and  his 
memories  of  the  past  make  his  conversation 
most  interesting  to  his  hearers  of  later  gener- 
ations. He  is  an  honored  resident  of  Fishkill 
village,  Dutchess  county. 

William  J.  Storm,  the  subject  proper  of 
these  lines,  was  born  July  9,  1845,  and  re- 
ceived his  first  instruction  in  the  school  of 
District  No.  5;  later  he  attended  Dutchess 
Academy  and  the  Albany  High  School,  and  at 
nineteen  returned  home  to  engage  in  farming. 
In  1872  he  married  Miss  Isabel  Harpel,  a 
native  of  New  York  City,  and  a  daughter  of 
George  M.  Harpel.  Shortly  after  his  marriage 
he  settled  at  the  old  homestead,  and  in  1873 


458 


COMMEMOBATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he  purchased  the  estate  from  his  father.  Four 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Storm: 
G.  Harpel,  who  was  with  G.  A.  Benedict,  in 
New  York  City,  and  Ethel  M.,  William  R. 
and  Isabel  M.,  all  three  at  home. 

Mr.  Storm  does  not  make  a  specialty  of 
any  particular  branch  of  agriculture,  raising  a 
variety  of  crops  and  stock.  On  his  farm  is  a 
beautiful  lake  of  about  twenty-five  acres  in  ex- 
tent, that  is  fed  by  bubbling  springs,  but  has 
no  visible  outlet.  On  the  banks  of  this  lake  is 
situated  a  creamery  from  which  is  sent  forth 
115  cans  of  milk  daily.  In  1885  he  carried 
on  lumber  and  coal  business  on  commission 
for  another  party,  and  in  1895  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  W.  B.  Storm.  The  firm  has 
a  fine  office  and  well-managed  yards,  and  does 
an  extensive  and  lucrative  business.  A  Demo- 
crat in  principle,  Mr.  Storm  gives  his  influence 
to  his  party  in  a  quiet  way,  and  has  never 
sought  office.  His  parents  were  adherents  of 
the  Reformed  Church,  and  he  and  his  wife  are 
now  among  the  leading  members  of  that  de- 
nomination in  their  vicinity. 


JSACKETT  ALLING  is  a  prominent  and 
influential  agriculturist  of  the  town  of 
Stanford,  Dutchess  county.  Asa  Ailing, 
his  grandfather,  came  to  Dutchess  county  from 
New  Haven,  Conn.,  at  an  early  date,  and  lo- 
cated near  Hunns  Lake,  in  the  town  of  Stan- 
ford, where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  during 
the  remainderof  his  life.  He  married  Jemima 
Purdy,  by  whom  he  had  five  children :  Stephen, 
Sally,  Anna,  Rhoda  and  Asa,  the  last  named 
being  the  father  of  our  subject. 

Upon  the  homestead  in  the  town  of  Stan- 
ford Asa  Ailing  was  born  in  1789,  and  there  he 
spent  his  entire  life.  In  18 12  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Cornelia  Sackett,  the  eldest 
daughter  of  Jehiel  Sackett,  of  the  town  of 
Stanford,  and  to  them  were  born  four  children: 
Emily  (deceased)  was  the  wife  of  Jordan 
Phillips,  of  Hudson,  N.  Y. ;  Samantha  E.  was 
the  wife  of  Jeremiah  W.  Payne,  of  the  town 
of  Northeast,  Dutchess  county  ;  J.  Sackett  is 
the  next  in  order  of  birth;  and  Laura  H.  is  the 
widow  of  William  D.  Humphrey,  of  Jackson 
Corners.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  Mr. 
Ailing  wedded  Mary  Thompson,  daughter  of 
Asa  A.  Thompson,  and  to  them  were  born  two 
children:  John  T.,  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y., 
and  Cornelia  S.,  widow  of  G.  F.  Butts,  for- 
merly of  Stanford.     The  latter  gave  his  alle- 


giance to  the  Democratic  party,  and  served  as 
supervisor  and  justice  of  the  peace,  while,  re- 
ligiously, he  held  membership  with  the  Bap- 
tist Church. 

J.  Sackett  Ailing,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
spent  his  boyhood  days  upon  the  home  farm, 
attending  the  district  schools  of  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  later  was  a  student  in  Amenia  Sem- 
inary and  the  Jacob  Willets  Boarding  School, 
in  the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess  county. 
He  was  born  May  17,  1822,  and  remained  a 
member  of  the  parental  household  until  twenty 
years  of  age,  working  on  the  farm  during  the 
summer  months,  while  during  the  winter  sea- 
son he  taught  school.  In  1845  he  went  tc 
New  York  City,  where  he  was  engaged  in  th( 
carpet  business  some  twenty  years,  when  he  j 
returned  to  the  old  homestead,  of  which  he 
purchased  170  acres,  and  has  since  lived  upor 
that  place. 

In    1855,   in  New   York  City,    Mr.    Allinfi 
married  Miss  Ann  Eliza  Bertine,  who  was  borr 
in    1835  in  that  city,   of    Huguenot  ancestry 
This   worthy    couple    became  the    parents  o 
nine  children:     Charles  Sumner,  who  died  a 
Seward,  Neb.,  in  1893;  Frank  P.,  of  Bangall 
Dutchess  county;  Robert  B.,  a  lawyer  of  NeV| 
York  City;  Samuel  D.  (deceased);   Jehiel  S. 
of   Great   Falls,    Mont.;   Newton  D.,   who  i 
connected  with  the  Nassau  Bank.  New  Yor! 
City;  Asa  A.,  of  the  legal   firm  of  Kennessey 
Grain  &  Ailing,  corner  of  South  William  an 
Beaver  streets.    New   York   City;   Lewis  W 
bookkeeper  for  the  above  firm;  and  Mary,  wh 
died  in  childhood.     Although   Mr.  Ailing  hs 
reached  the  age  of  seventy-five  years,  he  issti 
well-preserved  and  quite  active.      He  has  a 
ways  been  successful  in  his  business  undertal 
ings,  and   by  his  fair  and  honorable  dealing 
has   won   the   esteem   and  regard  of  all  wit 
whom  he  has  come  in  contact.     Politically,  1 
is  a  member  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  1 
adheres    closely    to    the  lines  drawn  by  th 
organization. 


CHARLES  C.  ANDREWS.  The  subje 
__/  of  this  narrative  is  one  of  the  leading  ag 
culturists  of  the  town  of  Unionvale,  Dutcht 
county,  and  has  contributed  his  quota  towa 
advancing  the  interests  of  the  locality.  I 
grandfather,  Thomas  Andrews,  also  engag 
in  farming  in  the  same  town,  and  at  an  early  ti ' 
carried  the  mail  through  this  section  of  t ; 
county.      He  married  a  Miss  Cline. 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


459 


Philip  S.  Andrews,  a  native  of  the  town  of 
Unionvale,  was  the  father  of  our  subject. 
I  There  he  secured  his  education,  and  early  be- 
gan to  assist  in  the  labors  of  the  farm.  As  a 
life  work  he  has  since  followed  that  occupation, 
and  has  served  his  fellow  citizens  as  overseer 
of  the  town.  He  married  Miss  Cornelia  Krom, 
daughter  of  Lucas  Krom,  of  Ulster  county,  N. 
Y.,  and  by  their  marriage  they  had  six  children: 
Charles  C. ,  of  this  sketch;  Mary  E. ;  Kroma- 
line,  who  married  Amelia  Sheldon;  Anna  M., 
wife  of  Eliphus  Delamiter;  James  Emmet,  who 
married  Josephine  Woodward;  and  Isaac,  who 
married  Carrie  VanBlack. 

Charles  C.  Andrews  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Unionvale,  in   1850,   and,    after  there  com- 
pleting his  elementary  education,  took  a  course 
of  study  at  Poughkeepsie.      After  completing 
his  education,  he  went  to  California,  where  he 
remained  for  five  years  greatly  enjoying  the 
delightful  climate.      On  April  4,  1878,  he  mar- 
I'ied  Miss  Minnie  M.  Vincent,  daughter  of  John 
AV.   Vincent,    and   they  have  four  children — 
ssie   M.,  Gordon   Schuyler,    Mabel  R.    and 
Norman  C.     Since   his  marriage    he  has  fol- 
jwed    agricultural  pursuits    exclusively    with 
nost  gratifying  results.     Their  pleasant  home 
-  the  center  of  attraction   to  a  large  circle  of 
!  iends  and  acquaintances,  whose   esteem  and 
jnfidence    they    have  won    by    their   cordial 
iianners,  kind  acts  and  hearty  sympathy  with 
1. 

Jonathan  J.    Vincent,    the  grandfather  of 

rs.  Andrews,  spent  his  entire  life  in  the  town 

Unionvale,    and  married  Miss  Loretta  Will- 

ims,  daughter  of  Squire  Williams,  a  surveyor 

I  that  town,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 

:ven  children — Elizabeth,   who  married  Reu- 

en  L.  Cole;  Rebecca,  who  married  Dr.  David 

napp;  John,  who  married  Rhoda  Butler,  and 

ley  became  the    parents    of    Mrs.   Andrews; 

ilbert,  who  married  Kate  Ule,  and  after  her 

Kth  wedded  Eliza  Ham;  Lewis;  Michael, who 
Tied  Estella  O'Neil;  and  Mary  A.,  who 
rried  Orin  Able. 

7REDERICK  J.  CORN  WELL,  of  Rhine- 
cliff,  Dutchess  county,  is  a  self-made 
;in.  one  who,  without  any  extraordinary 
mily  or  pecuniary  advantages  at  the  com- 
•  ncement  of  life,  has  battled  earnestly  and 
irgetically,  and  by  indomitable  courage  and 
tegrity  has  achieved  both  character  and  suc- 


cess in  business.  By  sheer  force  of  will  and 
untiring  effort  he  has  worked  his  way  upward, 
and  is  now  at  the  head  of  the  largest  general 
store  in  his  village. 

Mr.  Cornwell  is  a  native  of  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, born  October  5,  1852,  at  Rock  City,  in 
the  town  of  Milan,  and  is  the  son  of  James 
B.  Cornwell,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Stanford,  Dutchess  county,  in  1820.  The 
family  is  of  English  descent,  being  founded 
on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic  by  three  brothers 
who  located  on  Nantucket  Island,  and  on  sepa- 
rating took  the  names  of  Conell,  Cornwall 
and  Cornwell.  William  Cornwell,  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  was  a  son  of  the  latter. 
He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  lived  for 
many  years  in  the  town  of  Milan,  Dutchess 
county.  He  was  married  to  a  Miss  Bernard, 
and  to  them  were  born  four  children:  Reuben, 
James  B. ,  Eliza  (wife  of  Walter  Crandall),  and 
Amy. 

When  a  young  man  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject learned  the  wagonmaker's  trade  in  La- 
Fayetteville,  Dutchess  county,  and  for  many 
years  followed  that  occupation  at  Rock  City. 
He  was  an  expert  workman,  and  had  the  re- 
spect and  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens.  He 
married  Helen  Emeline  Cramer,  daughter  of 
Frederick  Cramer,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  five  children:  Frances,  wife  of  Henry 
D.  Ostrom,  a  merchant  of  Rock  City;  Julius 
W. ,  of  Wurtemburg,  N.  Y. ;  Frederick  James, 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Charles  Bernard,  of 
Fonda,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  is  engaged  in  book- 
keeping; and  Byron  H.,  a  painter  and  paper 
hanger,  of  Troy,  N.  Y.  Members  of  the 
family  belong  to  the  Friends  and  New  Light 
Churches.  The  father  was  called  from  this 
earth  in  1872,  but  his  wife  still  survives  him. 

Although  Frederick  J.  Cornwell  received 
but  a  limited  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  Rock  City,  which  he  was  compelled  to 
leave  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  he  has  be- 
come a  well-informed  man  by  reading  in  sub- 
sequent years.  On  leaving  the  school  room  he 
entered  the  employ  of  his  brother-in-law,  H. 
D.  Ostrom,  with  whom  he  remained  eight 
years,  and  August  23,  1875,  became  to  Rhine- 
cliff,  where  he  established  a  general  store,  in 
partnership  with  Mr.  Ostrom.  At  the  end  of 
a  year  and  a  half  he  removed  his  stock  to  an- 
other store  building,  where  he  remained  for 
four  and  one-half  years,  and  in  April,  1882, 
came  to  his  present  site.  He  is  a  careful,  con- 
servative business  man,  and  well  deserves  the 


460 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPBICAL  RECORD. 


success  which   has  come  to   him,  as   he  gives 
the  closest  attention  to  his  affairs. 

On  August  17,  1875,  Mr.  Cornwell  was 
married  to  Miss  Cora  Fero,  daughter  of  Eli 
Fero,  of  Rock  City,  and  to  them  has  been 
born  a  daughter,  Edna  B.  They  also  have 
an  adopted  son,  Fred  R. ,  a  son  of  Mrs. 
Cornwell's  brother.  Our  subject  casts  his 
ballot  with  the  Republican  party,  but  takes 
no  active  part  in  political  affairs  as  his  busi- 
ness occupies  his  entire  time.  He  has  served 
as  postmaster  of  Rhinecliff,  for  three  and 
one-half  years  under  President  Harrison,  and 
four  years  under  President  Cleveland,  and 
is  still  serving  as  postmaster  under  President 
McKinley.  For  two  terms  he  was  one  of  the 
assessors  of  his  township.  He  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  of  Rhine- 
cliff,  of  which  he  has  served  as  trustee  and 
steward  for  many  years. 


JOHN  H.  DRAPER,  a  worthy  representative 
of  the  commercial  interests  of  Poughquag, 
Dutchess  county,  where  he  has  engaged  in 
merchandising  for  twenty-three  years,  belongs 
to  that  class  of  American  citizens  who  take 
advantage  of  surrounding  opportunities,  and 
working  their  way  upward  have  attained  a 
competence.  In  the  spring  of  1873  he  arrived 
in  Poughquag,  where  he  purchased  the  store  of 
Daniel  F.  Brill,  which  he  has  since  conducted 
with  good  success,  and  in  the  spring  of  1889 
erected  his  present  building. 

George  W.  Draper,  his  father,  was  born 
about  18 16,  in  the  town  of  Dover,  where  he 
acquired  his  education  in  the  district  schools, 
and  was  bound  out  to  Ephraim  Cronkright,  a 
farmer  of  that  township;  but  he  bought  his 
time  and  began  work  for  Elihu  Hoag.  Having 
secured  a  little  money  he  entered  Jacob  Wil- 
let's  boarding  school,  in  the  town  of  Washing- 
ton, Dutchess  county;  and  after  completing  his 
education  he  engaged  in  teaching  in  the  town 
of  Unionvale,  Dutchess  county,  and  continued 
for  twenty-four  consecutive  years,  becoming 
one  of  the  most  able  instructors  in  the  county. 
He  also  served  as  school  commissioner  for 
three  terms.  In  Unionvale  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Ruth  E.  Hall,  who  died  in  April, 
1867,  and  his  death  occurred  twenty  years 
later.  In  their  family  were  three  children: 
Maria  C,  wife  of  Gilbert  H.  Purdy,  of  Pough- 
keepsie;  Angeline,  who  died  in  infancy;  and 
John  H.     The  father  belonged  to  Shekomeko 


Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M. ,  of  Washington  Hollow, 
and  in  politics  was  a  Democrat  until  the  war 
of  the  Rebellion,  when  he  joined  the  Repub- 
lican party. 

John  H.  Draper,  our  subject,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Unionvale  January  4,  1849,  and 
his  literary  education  was  obtained  under  the 
able  instruction  of  his  father.  For  one  term, 
in  1865-66,  he  attended  Bryant  &  Stratton 
Business  College,  at  Poughkeepsie.  He  began 
his  business  career  as  a  clerk  in  the  store  of 
David  D.  Vincent,  of  Unionvale,  where  he  re- 
mained during  1864  and  1865,  and  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1866  was  employed  in  the  drug  store 
of  Wood  &  Tittamer,  of  Poughkeepsie,  while 
in  the  following  fall  he  was  engaged  in  teach- 
ing in  the  town  of  Unionvale.  He  next  oper- 
ated the  home  farm  in  that  town  until  1873, 
during  which  time  he  served  as  school  trustee, 
and  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  1872. 
Since  leaving  the  farm  he  has  carried  on  his 
present  business,  and  he  well  deserves  the  lib- 
eral patronage  accorded  him.  Besides  his 
store,  in  which  he  carries  a  stock  of  $10,000, 
he  does  an  extensive  business. 

In    1870,    in    the    town   of  Beekman,  Mr. 
Draper   was    married    to    Miss    Jane    Noxon, 
daughter   of    Alfred    and    Deborah    (Ganung) 
Noxon,  farming  people  of  Delaware  county, 
who  had  a  family  of  three  children:  Elizabeth. 
William  and  Jane  (Mrs.  Draper).     The  mothei 
oJ  this  family  died   in   1878,  the  father  is  ye' 
living.      Mr.  and  Mrs.  Draper  have  two  chil , 
dren:     Fred  and    Elizabeth,    both    at    hornet 
Politically,  Mr.   Draper  is  an  ardent   Repub 
lican,  and  is  a  public-spirited,  progressive  citi 
zen,  deeply  interested  in  all  that  pertains  t( 
the  welfare  and  advancement  of  the  town  anc 
county  with  which  he  is  identified.     In  187 
and  1878  he  served  as  supervisor,  and  at  th 
present  time  is  the  efficient  town  clerk,  havin 
been  elected  in  1894  and  again  in  1896.     Fc 
the  past  four  years  he  has  been  a  member  c 
the  county  committee.      During  Harrison's  at 
ministration  he  served  as  postmaster. 


fflLES  BUCKLEY.  The  Buckley  fan 
jpyi  ily,  of  Wassaic.  Dutchess  county,  is 
remarkable  one,  whose  history  is  as  honorab 
as  it  is  unique.  Joseph  Buckley,  the  gran 
father,  was  born  in  England  in  1792,  ai 
when  only  ten  years  of  age  was  brought 
America  by  his  uncle  and  aunt,  Mr.  and  Mi 


^^---^cJrn^^'i^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


461 


Hinchcliff.      In  the  district  schools  of  Amenia, 

Dutchess  county,  he  acquired   his  education, 

land   during    his  youth    learned    the    weaver's 

trade,  at   which   he   worked   for   many  years. 

His  death  occurred   in   1864.      He  was  united 

]in  marriage  with  Miss  Julia  Chapman,  daugh- 

'ter   of    Robert    Chapman,  of    Sharon,  Conn., 

ind  to  them  were  born  eight  children:    Henry, 

Benjamin,  Betsy,  Robert,  Joseph,  Sarah,  Sey- 

nour  and   Miles,  all   now   deceased  with  the 

;xception  of  Betsy,  who  is  the  wife  of  Charles 

lall,  of  Cornwall  Bridge,  Connecticut. 

Benjamin  Buckley  was  born  in  the  town  of 

Vmenia,  November   20,  1812,  and   was    there 

eared,  attending  the  district  schools  of   the 

leighborhood.     When  a  young  man  he  went 

0  Ohio,  where  he  lived  for  three  years,  and 

m  his  return  east  located  in  New  York  City, 

vhere  he  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade,  which 

e  followed  for  some  time  at   Sharon,  Conn. 

'here,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years,  he  was 

larried  to  Miss  Sally  Ingraham,  by  whom  he 

ad  one  daughter,  Julia,  who   was  born   May 

13,  1834,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Gilbert  Lake, 

|f  Sharon.     After  a  six-years'  residence  at  that 

|lace  the  father  removed  to  Amenia,  Dutchess 

i:)unty,  where  the  death  of  his  first  wife  oc- 

':rred.     At  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess  Co.,  N. 

,  June  24,  1840,  by  Rev.  B.  F.  Wiles,  Ben- 

min  Buckley  was  married  to  Harriet  Lewis, 

ughter    of    Hezekiah    Lewis,    of    Amenia. 

.velve   children — ten    sons   and   two   daugh- 

rs — blessed  this   union,  namely:     Seymour, 

rn  March  24,  1841.  lives  at  Amenia;  Albert 

,  born  June    15,  1842,   resides  at   Dundee, 

.;  Louisa  L.,  born  February  8,  1844,  is  the 

fe   of    George    Berch,   of    Wassaic;    Lewis, 

irn  March  29,  1845,  also  lives  in   Wassaic; 

^enry,  born  January    10,  1847,  is  a  carpenter 

South  Dover,  Dutchess  county;  Elijah  S. , 

n  June  13,  1848,  makes   his  home  at  New 

1  riin,  N.  Y. ;  Benjamin  Franklin,  born  Sep- 

t  nber  17,  1849,  resides  in  Elgin,  111. ;  Charles, 

1  rn  February  27,  1851,  is  a  resident  of  Was- 

jc;    Miles,   born    December    16,    1852,    also 

1  es  in  Wassaic,  N.  Y. ;    Edward,  born   June 

41854,  also  lives  in  Wassaic;  Catharine,  born 

^ptember  10,  1855,  died  May  26,  1865;  and 

trman  R. ,  born  September  5,  1856,  is  living 

Dundee,  111.     The  children  were  all  born 

hin  the  space  of  fifteen  years,  and  received 

hiest,  sensible  names.      Elijah,  Charles,  Ed- 

'  rd,  Lewis,  Albert  and  Norman  are  all  in  the 

ploy  of  the  New  York  Condensed  Milk  Co. 

are  now  married,  and  are  thrifty,  enter- 


prising citizens,  owning  comfortable  homes  of 
their  own. 

For  three  years  after  his  second  marriage, 
Benjamin  Buckley  continued  to  make  his  home 
at  Amenia,  and  then  removed  to  Ellsworth, 
Conn. ,  where  he  lived  for  eight  years,  at  the 
end  of  which  time  he  located  in  the  village  of 
Amenia,  there  passing  the  following  four  years. 
After  six  months  then  passed  at  Sharon,  Conn., 
he  removed  to  Wassaic,  where  most  of  the 
family  have  since  resided.  His  death  occurred 
March  6,  1893,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty- 
one  years.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  an  honored  veteran  of  the  Civil  war.  The 
war  record  of  the  family  is  one  of  which  they 
may  be  justly  proud,  four  of  its  members  enter- 
ing the  Union  army  to  defend  the  country  in 
its  hour  of  peril.  Although  over  fifty  years  of 
age,  the  father  enlisted  in  Company  A,  150th 
N.  Y.  V.  I.,  in  which  he  faithfully  served  until 
the  close  of  the  war;  while  of  his  sons,  Sey- 
mour was  a  member  of  the  13th  Connecticut; 
Albert,  of  the  48th  New  York,  and  Lewis  of 
the  2nd  Massachusetts  regiment. 

The  mother  died  June  13,  1896,  at  the  age 
of  eighty  years,  while  she  looked  to  be  not  over 
sixty.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Hezekiah  and 
Lydia  (Perry)  Lewis  (the  former  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  the  latter  of  Amenia,  Dutchess 
.county),  and  was  the  third  in  a  family  of  six 
children,  all  now  deceased.  They  were  Sarah, 
wife  of  John  Church;  Louisa,  wife  of  Calvin 
Day;  Abigail,  wife  of  Norman  Bates;  Lydia 
Ann  (unmarried);  and  Catherine,  wife  of  Will- 
iam McArthur.  Her  father,  who  was  a  soldier 
in  the  war  of  1812,  always  lived  in  the  town  of 
Amenia,  where  he  followed  the  trade  of  a  car- 
penter. Her  grandfather,  Joseph  Lewis,  was 
a  resident  of  Great  Barrington,  Mass.,  and 
a  Revolutionary  soldier,  faithfully  serving 
throughout  the  entire  struggle  for  independ- 
ence. 


¥IRGIL  G.  WINANS,  one  of  the  most 
energetic  and  enterprising  agriculturists 
of  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess  county, 
where  he  operates  a  good  farm,  is  a  native  of 
the  county,  born  in  Pine  Plains,  February  15, 
1867,  the  only  son  of  Seymour  and  Caroline 
A.  (Guernsey)  Winans.  He  obtained  his  early 
education  in  the  district  schools  near  his  home, 
later  attending  the  Seymour  Smith  Institute, 
in  the  village  of  Pine  Plains. 

Mr.  Winans  began  life  for  himself,  in  1888, 


462 


OOMMEMORA  TIVE  BIOORAPEICAL  RECORD. 


on  the  Desault  Guernsey  farm,  where  he  has 
since  resided,  and  has  placed  the  land  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation.  On  June  7,  1893, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Susie 
Conklin,  a  daughter  of  Isaac  P.  Conklin,  of 
the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess  county. 
Mr.  Winans  is  a  prominent  member  of  Stan- 
ford Grange.  Although  yet  a  young  man,  he 
is  rapidly  growing  into  the  esteem  and  respect 
of  his  neighbors,  and  bids  fair,  in  the  near 
future,  to  assume  a  prominent  and  influential 
position  in  the  community. 

Calvin  P.  Guernsey,  his  maternal  grand- 
father, was  born  in  the  town  of  Stanford,  No- 
vember I,  181 1,  and  was  a  son  of  Ezekiel 
Guernsey.  His  boyhood  days  were  spent  upon 
the  home  farm,  near  Hunns  Lake,  and  in  the 
district  schools  of  the  neighborhood  he  secured 
his  education.  He  studied  medicine  with  Dr. 
Haight,  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess 
county,  and  also  with  Dr.  Peter  Guernsey,  of 
New  York  City.  After  practicing  for  some 
time  at  Clinton  Corners  he  removed  to  Schultz- 
ville,  Dutchess  county,  but  finally  returned  to 
the  town  of  Clinton,  where  he  continued  in 
successful  practice  up  to  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred December  3,  1855. 

On  October  30,  1839,  in  the  town  of  Clin- 
ton, Dr.  Guernsey  was  married  to  Miss  Louisa 
A.  Arnold,  who  was  born  May  5,  1822,  and 
died  December  4,  1853.  They  became  the 
parents  of  two  children,  namely:  Welcome 
A.,  who  was  born  March  4,  1841,  married 
Laura  Morris,  of  New  York  City,  and  died 
January  22,  1867;  and  Caroline  A.  (mother  of 
our  subject),  who  was  born  June  29,  1846,  and, 
December  7,  1864,' became  the  wife  of  Sey- 
mour Winans.  Since  i860  she  has  been  a 
faithful  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  is 
a  most  estimable  lady.  Her  mother  was  the 
daughter  of  Welcome  Arnold,  who  was  born 
September  11,  1783,  and  died  October  2, 
1 88 1.  He  wedded  Mary  Rowe,  by  whom  he 
had  three  children  (all  now  deceased),  namely: 
Archibald  H.  R. ,  Melinda,  and  Louise.  The 
mother  was  born  November  27,  1788,  and  de- 
parted this  life  March  24,  1876. 


GEORGE  HENRY  SWIFT,  one  of  the 
representative  and  highly  respected  busi- 
ness men  and  farmers  of  the  town  of 
Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  is  descended  from 
William  Swift,  who  came  from  England  in  the 
great  Boston  immigration  of  1630-163 1.      He 


was  born  in  the  county  of  Essex,  England, 
and  on  his  arrival  in  Massachusetts  located  at 
Watertown.  In  1637.  however,  he  sold  his 
possessions  there,  and  removed  to  Sandwich, 
Mass.,  on  the  cape,  where  he  purchased  the 
largest  farm  in  the  locality,  which  is  to-day 
still  owned  and  occupied  by  his  lineal  de- 
scendants. In  his  family  were  three  children: 
William,  Hannah  and  Esther. 

William  Swift,  the  son,  was  born  in  Eng- 
land, and  accompanied  his  father  to  America 

He  married  Miss  Ruth ,  by  whom  he  ha( 

eleven    children:      Hannah,    William,     Jireh  1 
Josiah,  Temperance,  Esther,  Dinah,  Ephraim  I 
Samuel,  Ruth  and  Mary.     Ephraim  Swift  wa 
born   at  Sandwich,  June  6,  1656,  and  died  ii 
January,  1742.      By  occupation  he  was  a  car 
penter  and  cooper.      He   married  Miss  Sara, 

,  who  died  in  August,  1734,  and  to  then 

were  born  seven  children:  Elizabeth,  Johann 
Samuel,  Ephraim,  Sarah,  Hannah  and  Moses 
Samuel  Swift,  the  third  son,  was  born  a 
Sandwich,  Mass.,  April  9,  1686,  and  by  trad 
became  a  carpenter  and  blacksmith,  whic ; 
pursuits  he  followed  up  to  his  death  in  Decerr 
ber,  1757.  At  Falmouth,  Mass.,  Decemk 
24,  17 1 2,  he  had  married  Miss  Ruth  Hatcl 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  nine  chiJdrei 
Ephraim,  Manasseh,  Judah,  Reuben,  Mose 
Mary,  Joanna,  Joan  and  Lydia. 

Judah  Swift,  the  third  child   of  the  abo\ 
family,  was   born  at  Sandwich,  September 
1716,  and  December  14,  1738,  was  united 
marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Morton,  of  Fs 
mouth,  Mass.,  where  they  continued  to  resi( 
until  1769.      In  that  year  they    became  re: 
dents  of  Dutchess  county,  traveling  the  enti 
distance  to    Amenia   with    an  ox-team.     .M 
Swift  there  purchased  what  is  now  known 
the  Barlow  farm;  but   desiring  a  larger  trac 
he  exchanged  it   for  the   farm  now  owned 
Nathan  W.  Smith.     He  became   one   of   t 
most   extensive  land    owners    of   the    couni 
owning  at  the  time  of  his  death   (January  1 
1807)  1,800   acres  of  valuable  land.      Polit 
ally  he  was  a  Tory.      In  his  family  were   eii 
children:     Lois,     Samuel,    Nathaniel,   Mo? 
Rebecca,  Seth,  Elizabeth  and  Moses. 

Seth  Swift,  the  sixth  of  the  family,  v- 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject.  He  was  bi  1 
at  Falmouth,  Mass.,  March  16,  1757,  and  d  I 
November  12,  1823.  He  erected  a  house  uf  1 
a  portion  of  his  father's  vast  estate,  and  th  ■ 
continued  to  carry  on  agricultural  pursuits  in  I 
his  death.      In   1782  he  wedded  Mary  Wc  . 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


468 


y  whom  he  had  six  children:     Henry,  Moses, 
i.  Morton,  Ann  W. ,  Maria  and  Thomas. 

Henry   Swift,   the   father  of    our  subject, 
vas  born  in  the  town  of  Amenia  February  5, 
784,  and,  after  attending  the  district  school 
lear  his  home,  entered  Yale  College,  where  he 
raduated  in  1804.      He  then  studied  law  with 
'an  Ness  &  Livingston,  of  Poughkeepsie,  N. 
'.,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1807.      He 
egan  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  at 
Vashington    Four    Corners,    in    the    town    of 
Vashington,    Dutchess  county,   where  he  re- 
lained  until  December,  1816,  at  which  time  he 
\  amoved  his  office  to  the  three-story  brick  build- 
ig  opposite  the  Farmers'  and  Manufacturers' 
ank,  Poughkeepsie,  there  successfully  engag- 
.  ig  in  practice  until  his  death,    November  5, 
366.     From  1841  until  called  from  this  life  he 
issided  inthe  house  now  occupied  by  Dr.  A.  P. 
'  an  Gieson,  on  Cannon  street.      Socially,  he 
las  identified  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and 
^Id  a  high  position  in  the  regard  of  his  fellow 
tizens.     At  Poughkeepsie,   July  23,  1807,  he 
;irried  Rebecca  Warner,  who  was  born  there 
iiie  26,    1785,    a   daughter  of  Thomas  and 
.  ida  Warner,  and  died  October  7,  1855.      In 
r    family    were    the    following    children : 
lies  Wells,  born  June  27,  18 12,  died  No- 
ber  19.  1877;  Maria,  born  September  22, 
,4,  died  June   2,  1841;  John  Morton,  born 
:  ptember  18,  1816,  died  April  3,  1887;  George 
1  nry,  of  this  sketch,  is  next  in  order  of  birth; 
!  mces,  born   November  29,  1821,  died   No- 
ber   13,    1887,    and  James   Harvey,   born 
1  23,  1825,  died  September  27,  1889. 
lieorge  Henry  Swift,  the  only  one  of  his 
^   ler's   family   now  living,    was  born  at  the 
'    ily  residence  on  Market  street  in  Pough- 
isie,   February  8,    1820,   and  acquired  his 
y  education  at  the  Dutchess  County  Acad- 
,  and  at  Judge  Hall's  private  school,  Elling- 
Conn. ,  while   he  completed   his  literary 
se  at  Yale  College,  entering  in   1837  and 
luating  in  1840.      Returning  to  Poughkeep- 
he  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of 
father,   and   was  admitted  to  the   bar  at 
a,  N.  Y.,  in  1843.     He  at  once  began  the 
tice  of  his  profession  at  Poughkeepsie  in 
nection  with  his  father  and  brother,  Charles 
and  there  remained   until   the   spring  of 
',  when  he  sold  out  to  them  and  came  to 
town  of  Amenia,  for  one  year  making  his 
ie  with  his  brother  John.      He  then  pur- 
eed the  farm  on  which  he  has  since  lived, 
Jting  his  attention  mainly  to  agricultural 


pursuits,  though  he  still  engages  in  the  prac- 
tice of  law  to  a  limited  extent.  He  is  now 
president  of  and  attorney  for  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Amenia.  A  conscientious, 
earnest  Christian  gentleman,  he  has  for  many 
years  served  as  local  preacher  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  at  Amenia  Union,  and  in  all 
the  relations  of  life  he  has  faithfully  discharged 
his  duties  to  himself,  his  neighbor  and  his 
country. 

On  January  28,  1844,  at  Poughkeepsie, 
Mr.  Swift  married  Emily  Eddy  Babcock, 
daughter  of  Elder  Rufus  Babcock,  pastor  of 
Lafayette  Place  Baptist  Church,  and  they  had 
one  son,  Rufus  Eddy,  who  was  born  October 
25,  1844,  and  died  July  3,  1870.  The  wife 
and  mother  departed  this  life  November  5, 
1844.  At  Amenia,  March  17,  1847,  Mr.  Swift 
was  again  married,  his  second  union  being 
with  Pamela  Forrest  Paine,  daughter  of  Har- 
vey and  Hannah  Paine,  of  that  place.  Six 
children  graced  this  union:  Emily  Eddy,  born 
January  21,  1848,  died  June  20,  1855;  Eliza- 
beth R.,  born  July  23,  1849,  's  the  wife  of 
Samuel  L.  Brengle,  of  New  York  City,  a  ma- 
jor in  the  Salvation  Army,  and  they  have  two 
children — George  S.  and  Elizabeth  S. ;  George 
P.,  born  March  26,  1851,  died  November  19, 
1864;  Harvey  W. ,  born  July  23,  1855,  died 
December  10,  1864;  Maria  R. ,  born  May  12, 
i860,  died  November  29,  1864,  and  Susan  F., 
born  July  10,  1862,  graduated  at  Vassar  in 
1883,  and  is  now  a  brigadier  in  the  Salvation 
Army,  and  stationed  at  National  headquarters. 
New  York  City.  The  mother  of  this  family 
passed  away  June  20,  1896. 

Politically,  Mr.  Swift  is  a  Republican,  and 
in  1854,  at  Washington  Hollow,  he  took  a 
prominent  part  in  the  mass  meeting  that  organ- 
ized the  Republican  party  in  Dutchess  county, 
and  he  has  ever  been  one  of  its  active  sup- 
porters. He  has  efficiently  served  as  super- 
visor and  clerk,  but  has  never  been  an  office- 
seeker. 


^Jf  ATHAN  SMITH,  a  reliable  and  energetic 
business  man  of  Dutchess  county,  is  now 
successfully  conducting  a  general  store  at 
Amenia  Union,  where  since  1891  he  has  effi- 
ciently served  as  postmaster.  A  native  of  the 
county,  he  was  born  in  the  town  of  Amenia, 
April  21,  1848,  and  is  a  son  of  John  H.  and 
Maria  (Reed)  Smith.  His  father,  who  was  a 
well-known  wagon  maker  of  Amenia,  traces  his 


464 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ancestry  back  to  Nehemiah  Smith,  who  came 
to  this  country  from  England  some  time  before 
1637.  He  married  Annie  Bourne,  and  their 
only  son,  who  also  bore  the  name  of  Nehemiah, 
married  Lydia  Winchester.  Their  son  Nehe- 
miah married  Dorothy  Wheeler,  by  whom  he 
had  twelve  children,  the  seventh  being  Isaac, 
who  wedded  Esther  Denison.  Of  their  family 
of  eleven  children,  William  was  the  ninth  in 
order  of  birth.  He  married  Sarah  Smith,  and 
to  them  were  born  eleven  children,  Nathan 
Smith,  the  seventh,  being  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject.  By  his  marriage  with  Nancy 
Waterman,  he  had  five  children,  of  whom  John 
H.  was  the  youngest. 

At  the  public  schools  of  Wassaic,  our  sub- 
ject acquired  his  education,  and  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years  he  began  working  on  the  farm 
of  Homer  Hitchcock.  The  following  winter 
he  passed  at  Schenectady,  N.  Y. ,  after  which 
he  returned  to  Dutchess  county  and  was  em- 
ployed on  the  farm  of  his  uncle,  Nathan  W. 
Smith,  for  a  year.  Subsequently  he  clerked 
for  two  and  a  half  years  for  Oliver  Chamber- 
lain, and  was  again  with  his  uncle  Nathan  for 
three  years.  Four  years  later  he  spent  in  farm- 
ing at  Cornwall  Bridge,  Conn.  In  1872  he 
married  Miss  Josephine  L.  Hufcut,  a  daughter 
of  William  Hufcut,  of  the  town  of  Dover, 
Dutchess  county,  and  by  her  had  one  daughter, 
Josephine.  The  wife  and  mother  was  called 
to  her  final  rest  in  1875,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1877  Mr.  Smith  was  married  at  Amenia  to 
Miss  Sarah  Barrett,  and  they  have  one  son, 
Nathan  Collins. 

After  his  second  marriage,  Mr.  Smith  went 
to  Poughkeepsie  township,  Dutchess  county, 
where  for  two  years  he  operated  the  farm  of 
Lawyer  Weeks,  and  on  his  return  to  Amenia 
town  he  conducted  his  uncle's  farm  for  two 
years.  He  was  next  superintendent  of  D.  H. 
Sherman's  farm  for  a  year,  and  the  following 
four  years  he  rented  land  of  W.  A.  Sherman. 
On  leaving  that  place  he  purchased  the  Jacob 
Rundall  farm,  between  Amenia  and  Wassaic, 
where  he  made  his  home  for  three  years,  and 
at  the  end  of  that  time  sold  out  to  A.  E.  Hall. 
In  the  spring  of  1889,  he  purchased  of  A.  D. 
Buckley  the  old  Lambert  store  at  Amenia 
Union,  and  has  since  engaged  in  general  mer- 
chandising at  that  place,  carrying  a  large  and 
well-selected  stock.  His  courteous  treatment 
of  his  customers,  and  his  systematic  methods  of 
doing  business,  have  won  for  himself  a  liberal 
patronage,  so  that  he   now  enjoys  a  lucrative 


trade.  Politically,  he  supports  the  men  an< 
measures  of  the  Republican  party,  and  is  promi 
nently  connected  with  Webatuck  Grange,  whih 
in  religious  belief  he  is  a  Baptist,  being  a  lead' 
ing  member  of  the  Church  of  that  denomina' 
tion  at  Amenia. 


f 


WRIGHT   DEVINE,  the  efficient  post 
master  of    Pleasant   Valley,  Dutches: 

county,  who,  in  relation  to  the  village,  ha 
largely  promoted  its  interests  and  supports 
all  measures  calculated  to  prove  of  publi 
benefit,  was  born  December  13,  1838,  in  tha 
locality. 

In  the  early  Colonial  days  there  came  fror 
Holland  to  America  the  founder  of  the  famil 
in  the  New  World.      He  was  the  great-grand 
father  of  our  subject,  and  his  son,  the  grand 
father,  Abram  Devine,  was  born  in  New  Jar 
sey.     The  latter    married    Ann    Devine,   anc 
located    on   a  farm   in   the   town  of  Pleasan 
Valley,  where  he  reared  a  family  of  seven  chi) 
dren,  as  follows:  Daniv^l,  a  farmer  of  Pleasan 
Valley;  Abel,  who  carried  on  agricultural  pui 
suits  in  the  town  of  Washington;  Jonathai 
father  of  our  subject;  Joshua,  also  a  f armer  ( 
Washington;  Phcebe,  who  married  Abram  Vai 
Vlack,  a  farmer  of  Dutchess  county;  Nanc} 
who   married  William   Welling,    of    Dutche; 
county;    Joel,    a    physician  of    Poughkeepsii 
Grandfather  Devine  made  farming  his  lifewoi 
and  died  on  the  old  homestead  in  1850,  a  lif 
long  Democrat,   his  wife  passing  away  son 
years  previous. 

Jonathan  Devine,  the  father  of  our  subjeC; 
was  born  and   reared  on  the  old   home  placi 
and  became  a  shoemaker  by  trade.     In  18: 
he  married  Catherine  Van  Vlack,  a  native 
Dutchess  county,  and  a  daughter  of  Andre 
and  Elizabeth  Van  Vlack,  the  former  of  who 
was   also  descended    from    Holland  ancestr. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.    Devine  took  up  their  residen , 
upon  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valie 
and  reared  a  family  often  children :  Abram  a 
Albert,  who  follow  farming  in  Pleasant  Valie 
Mary  E.,  deceased;    Sarah  J.;    Bartlett,  vv 
operates   the  old    homestead;    Reuben  C, 
farmer    of   Lagrange    township;    Erastus  a 
Theodore,  both  deceased;  Anna  E. ,  wife  of 
C.  Drake,  a  merchant  of  Pleasant  Valley;  a 
Wright.     The  father  died  October  3,  1881. 
the  age  of  eighty-four,  the  mother  on  Octol " 
29,  1890,  aged  eighty-one  years.     He  wa=- 
Democrat    in    politics,    and    for   thirty   ye^ 


I 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPEICAL  RECORD. 


465 


served  acceptably  as  justice  of  the  peace,  dis- 
:harging  his  duties  in  a  highly  creditable  and 
satisfactory  manner. 

Throughout  his   life   Wright   Devine,    our 

subject,  has  lived  in  Pleasant  Valley.      Farm 

vork  and  study  in  the  public  schools  occupied 

nost  of  his  time  during  childhood,  and  after 

caving  the  district  school  he  engaged  in  teach- 

ng  in   the  town   of  Lagrange   for  one  year. 

ie  afterward  continued  his  education  in  the 

sine  Partners  School,  and  later  resumed  teach- 

ig,  after  which  he  was  employed  as  a  sales- 

lan  in  a  general  mercantile  store  at  Four  Cor- 

ers.     His  next  service  was  in  the  employ  of 

fire  insurance    company,    which    he    repre- 

jnted  in  Ulster  county.      He  is  now  serving 

s  postmaster    of  Pleasant    Valley,  to  which 

osition  he  was  appointed  by  President  Cleve- 

md,  and  his  administration  of  the  affairs  of 

le  office  commends  him  to  the  respect  and 

)nfidence  of  all.      He  has  been  justice  of  the 

;ace  some  twelve  years,  and  town  clerk  for 

veral  years.      Mr.  Devine  was  married  Sep- 

imber  lo,  1866,  to  Miss  Julia  M.  Way,  daugh- 

r  of  James  Way,  a  carpenter,  and  they  have 

o  children:  Grace  E.  and  Seward  W.     The 

other  died  in  1893,  a  devout  member  of  St. 

Jiul's  Church. 

In  the  spring  of    1867  Mr.  Devine,  in  con- 

i  ction  with  his  brother  Albert,  purchased  his 

jisent  store,  and  after  a  partnership  of  two 

jars  became  sole  proprietor.      He  is  an  enter- 

psing,    progressive   merchant,   and  his  large 

;d  carefully  selected  stock  receives  the  pat- 

r  age  of  the  public  in  a  liberal  degree.     Mr. 

I  vine  is  never  too  busy  to  devote  a  portion 

0  his  time  to   the  public  welfare.     He   was 

liijely  instrumental  in  building  the  sidewalks 

ii Pleasant  Valley  village,  and  is  interested  in 

a  that  pertains  to  the  upbuilding  of  the  com- 

anity.       In    religious    faith    he    attends    St. 

F  il's  Church,  of  which  he  is  vestryman  and 

tr  surer.     Socially,   he   is   a   member  of  the 

r  of  F.  &  A.  M. ,  and  for  two  years  was 

ter  of  Shekomeko  Lodge  No.  458,  and  he 

iow   treasurer  of  that  lodge.      His  innate 

nullity  of  character,  and  his  devotion  to  every 

frtnly  principle,  have   made   him  one  of  the 

t  highly  esteemed    residents  of    Pleasant 

'  'ey.  

IDWIN  BROWN,  a  well-known  artist,  re- 
_  siding  near  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county, 
nrs  much  of  the  inspiration  for  his  beautiful 
lalscapes  in  the   picturesque  scenery  which 


surrounds  his  home.  His  farm  had  been  in 
the  possession  of  his  family  for  several  gen- 
erations. 

Bastian  Brown,  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject,  and  who  was  one  of  three  brothers 
who  came  from  Holland  about  1730,  leased  a 
large  tract  of  land  from  Col.  Beekman  soon 
after  his  arrival,  and  a  portion  of  it  comprises 
Mr.  Brown's  present  estate.  Bastian  Brown 
married  Margaret  Schultz,  and  had  three  chil- 
dren: Peter  (our  subject's  grandfather),  Elea- 
nor, and  John.  Peter  Brown  married  Eleanor 
Paulding,  and  settled  at  the  old  homestead. 
Si.x  children  were  born  of  this  union:  Sebas- 
tian (our  subject's  father),  John  (who  died  in 
childhood),  Margaret  (Mrs.  Camp,  of  Newark, 
N.  J.),  William  and  Edwin  (who  never  mar- 
ried), and  Abigail  (who  married  James  Clear- 
man,  of  New  York). 

Sebastian  Brown  was  born  at  the  old  farm 
in  1795.  He  married  Eliza  Bard,  a  daughter 
of  Anthony  Bard,  a  prominent  butcher  of 
Rhinebeck.  He  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
and  the  name  of  the  family  was  originally 
Barth.  For  some  years  after  their  marriage 
our  subject's  parents  lived  upon  a  farm  in 
Hyde  Park,  but  in  1844  they  returned  to  the 
old  homestead,  where  they  spent  their  remain- 
ing years.  They  had  eight  children:  Peter, 
a  painter  in  Rhinebeck;  Helen  (deceased), 
formerly  the  wife  of  Harry  Wheeler,  a  carpen- 
ter; Emily,  who  married  Levi  Baker,  a  mer- 
chant; Eliza  (deceased);  Lewis,  a  carpenter 
(now  deceased);  Edwin,  our  subject;  John  C, 
a  resident  of  Rhinebeck;  and  Henry  H.,  who 
lives  in  Philadelphia.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject died  September  i,  1850,  the  father  on  Oc- 
tober 21,  1883.  He  had  been  a  Whig  in  his 
younger  days,  later  becoming  an  adherent  of 
the  Republican  party,  and  still  later  voting  the 
Prohibition  ticket. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  De- 
cember 21,  1833,  in  the  town  of  Hyde  Park, 
and  he  was  eleven  years  old  when  his  parents 
moved  to  the  homestead,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  He  was  married,  July  7,  1863,  to 
Miss  Geraldine  F.  Pultz,  a  daughter  of  the 
late  Philip  Pultz,  a  prosperous  butcher  of  the 
town  of  Rhinebeck.  They  have  had  five  chil- 
dren: Nettie  married  David  L.  Parliman; 
Emily  is  at  home;  Charles  H.  married  Augusta 
Pless,  and  lives  in  New  York;  Robert  B.  is  at 
home;  and  Mabel  died  "in  childhood.  The 
early  generations  of  his  family  adhered  to  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church,  but  our  subject  and 


466 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
In  every  movement  for  the  educational  or 
social  improvement  of  the  community  they 
take  deep  interest,  and  they  are  prominent 
supporters  of  the  temperance  cause,  Mr.  Brown 
giving  his  vote  of  late  years  to  the  Prohibi- 
tion party. 


JOHN  L.  HAMMOND,  an  honored  and 
worthy  representative  of  one  of  the  pioneer 
^  families  of  Dutchess  county,  is  a  true  type 
of  the  energetic  and  progressive  farmers  of  the 
present  day.  He  is  a  native  of  the  county, 
his  birth  having  taken  place  in  the  town  of 
Northeast,  August  7,  1850,  and  he  is  a  son  of 
James  Hammond,  who  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Washington,  January  31,  18 10. 

Benjamin  Hammond,  paternal  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  of  English  lineage,  and  be- 
came a  leading  farmer  of  the  town  of  Wash- 
ington. By  his  marriage  with  Anna  Fitch,  he 
had  six  children,  namely:  Cyrus,  a  farmer  of 
Washington  town;  John,  who  also  engaged  in 
farming  in  that  township,  but  died  in  Niagara 
county,  N.  Y. ;  Isaac,  who  was  a  harness 
maker  of  this  locality,  and  died  unmarried; 
James,  the  father  of  our  subject;  Andrew  B., 
also  an  agriculturist  of  Washington  town;  and 
Lydia,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Lockwood,  a  farmer 
of  the  same  township. 

After  reaching  man's  estate  James  Ham- 
mond married  Lucinda  B.  Washburn,  a  native 
of  Erie  county,  N.  Y. ,  and  a  daughter  of  Sol- 
omon Washburn,  who  was  of  English  descent, 
and  a  blacksmith  by  trade.  They  began  their 
domestic  life  upon  a  farm  in  the  town  of 
Northeast,  where  they  reared  their  four  chil- 
dren, who  in  order  of  birth  are  as  follows: 
Anna  M.  is  the  wife  of  Calvin  Bryan,  a  farmer 
of  the  town  of  Northeast;  Henry  C.  died  un- 
married in  1872;  James  E.  spent  his  life  on 
Wall  street,  New  York,  and  died  in  the  town 
of  Stanford,  Dutchess  county;  and  John  L.  is 
the  subject  of  this  review.  Throughout  his 
entire  life  the  father  carried  on  the  occupation 
of  farming,  and  was  quite  prominent  in  politic- 
al circles,  being  a  leader  in  the  Republican 
party  in  his  community.  In  1847-48  he  was 
a  member  of  the  General  Assembly  of  New 
York,  and  he  held  many  minor  offices,  being 
sheriff  of  Dutchess  county  in  1859-60-61.  Re- 
ligiously he  was  a  "member  of  the  Friends 
Church,  to  which  his  widow  also  belongs.  His 
death  occurred  in  1867. 


Our  subject  received  the  benefits  of  a  gooc 
common-school  education,  and  was  otherwise 
fitted  for  the  battle  of  life.  On  attaining  his 
majority  he  left  the  parental  roof,  going  tc 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  where  for  two  years  he  was 
employed  by  R.  L.  Howard  in  the  Howard 
Iron  Works;  in  1872,  however,  he  returned  to 
the  farm  in  the  town  of  Northeast,  where  he 
remained  until  1883,  when  he  removed  to  his 
present  farm.  It  comprises  170  acres  of  rich 
and  arable  land,  and  besides  general  farming 
he  is  also  extensively  engaged  in  the  dain 
business,  which  proves  to  him  a  profitable 
source  of  income. 

Mr.    Hammond  was  married,  in    1877,  t( 
Miss  Josephine  M.  Bertine,  who  was  born  ij 
New   York  City,   a    daughter  of    Robert   an< 
Mary  Bertine.     The  family  is  of  French  origin 
Two  sons  have  been  born  of  this  union:    Jame  j 
E.  and   Robert  B.      Mr.  and   Mrs.  Hammoni, 
are  members  in  good  standing  of  the  Reformei 
Church,  and  number  their  friends  by  the  scofi 
in  that  locality.      He  uniformly  votes  the  Re 
publican  ticket,  and  has  materially  assisted  ii 
the  progress  and  development  of  the  countr' 
around  him.  1 


CHARLES  J.  VAN  WYCK,  a  leading  undei 
taker  of  the  town  of  Unionvale,  Dutches 
county,  is  a  worthy  representative  of  a  famil 
that  has  long  been  identified  with   the  inte 
ests   of  the    county.      He   is    descended   froi 
Cornelius  Van  Wyck,  who  was  born  and  edi 
cated  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  and  when  tl 
Revolution  broke  out  he  entered  the  Continei 
tal  army   and   was  made  captain  of  his  con 
pany.     At  the  time  of  his  enlistment,  in  177' 
he    was    living   at    Green    Haven,    Dutche 
county.     He    proved    a    brave    and    fearle 
officer,  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Whii 
Plains.     As  an  occupation  he  followed  farr[ 
ing  and  milling  throughout  life.      In  his  fami 
were  two    children:     Theodorus,    the    grea 
grandfather  of  our  subject;   and  Sarah,    wlf 
married  William  Doughty. 

Theodorus  Van  Wyck  was  also  a  native  j 
the  town  of  Beekman,  in  early  life  folloti 
farming,  but  later  turned  his  attention  to  hoi 
keeping  and  milling.  He  married  Miss  Clarid 
Vanderburgh,  daughter  of  George  and  — f 
(Clarke)  Vanderburgh,  of  the  town  of  Beekin;' 
and  to  them  were  born  eight  children:  Robci 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject;  James,  w* 
married  Ann    Cline;   Cornelius;  George,   w' 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


467 


married  Jane  A.  Scriber;  Gilbert,  who  married 
'Rebecca  White;  Almira,  who  became  the  wife 
of  G.  Washington  Waite;  Caroline,  who 
wedded  Robert  Miller;  and  Clarissa,  who  mar- 
iried  William  Miller. 

Robert  Van  Wyck  was  born  in  the  town 
lof  Beekman  in   1800,  was  there  educated  and 
learned  the    carpenter's    trade,   at    which    he 
worked    until    1828,    when    he    took    up  the 
Dccupation    of   farming.      He    became    a    Re- 
Dublican  in  politics,  and    was  called  upon  to 
ill   some   minor  offices    in    his  locality.     He 
narried  Miss  Caroline  Van  Sicklin,   daughter 
)f  Court  and  Sarah  (Van  Wyck)  Van  Sicklin, 
md  they  became  the  parents  of  seven  children : 
ohn  S.,  the  father  of  our  subject;  Sarah  A., 
vho  married    Joseph    Vincent;  William,  who 
narried  Catharine  Lawrence;  Mary,  who   first 
narried  Gilbert  J.  Vincent,  and  after  his  death 
/added  Benjamin  Shelley;  Caroline,  who  mar- 
led   Charles    White;    Clarissa,    who    married 
)liver    Lawrence;    and   Phcebe,   who  married 
ohn  L.  Wright. 

The  birth  of  John  S.  Van  Wyck  took  place 
1  Pearl  street,  in  New  York   City,    in    1827, 
it  he  was  educated  in  Dutchess  county,  and 
;  starting  out  in  life  he  engaged  in  the  hutch- 
ing business.      Later  he  has  been  employed 
milling,    hotel    keeping  and   farming.      He 
13  taken  a  prominent   part  in  public  affairs, 
vays  supporting  the  Republican  party  by  his 
Hot,  and  has  efficiently  served  as  supervisor, 
■vn  clerk,  assessor,  poor  master,  and  in  many 
ler  town   offices,   but  is  now  living  retired. 
ially,  he  is  connected   with  the  Hopewell 
J.i<e  No.  596,  F.  &  A.  M.      In  1848  he  mar- 
id  Miss  Mary  E.   Brill,   daughter  of   Cornell 
1  ill,  and  to  them  were  born  three  children: 
drnell  B.  married  Lottie  Morris,  and  had  six 
Iren — Sarah,     Eddie,    Georgiana,     Edith, 
rbert   and    Ida;    Sarah    A.    married  James 
iance,  and  has  two  children — Frank  and 
■  zabeth;  and   Frank  Van  Wyck  died    when 
V  ing.    After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Mr. 
1    Wyck  wedded    Miss   Mary    A.    Duncan, 
ghter  of  Jacob  and  Sarah  (Gardner)   Dun- 
ci,    and    five    children    graced    their    union: 
'"'He,   who    died    in  childhood;   DeWitt  C, 
'  married  Alice  Vincent,    and  has  two  chil- 
1 — Ida  and  Annie  M. ;  Charles  J.,   subject 
"his  review;    John   G. ;   and  Ida,   now  the 

■  of  William   A.   Ross,   by  whom  she  has 

■  children — Viola  and  Inez. 

Charles  J.  Van  Wyck  was  born  in  the  town 
!  leekman,  and  acquired  a  good  education  in 


the  schools  of  Beekman,  and  at  Poughkeepsie. 
He  began  his  business  career  as  a  farmer,  later 
was  for  three  years  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Os- 
trander,  an  undertaker  of  Poughkeepsie,  and 
since  that  time  has  engaged  in  the  undertaking 
business  on  his  own  account  in  the  town  of 
Uniondale.  He  is  a  popular  and  highly  re- 
spected citizen,  one  who  easily  makes  friends, 
and  has  the  happy  faculty  of  retaining  them. 
He  married  Miss  Lillie  E.  Knapp,  daughter  of 
George  J.  Knapp,  a  farmer  and  miller  of  the 
town  of  Beekman,  and  to  them  has  been  born 
a  son,  Charles  G. 

John  Knapp,  the  great-grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Van  Wyck,  was  a  native  of  England,  where  he 
was  reared  and  educated,  and  on  coming  to  the 
United  States  located  in  Putnam  county,  N. 
Y.,  there  carrying  on  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing. By  his  marriage  with  Nancy  Shaw  he  had 
eight  children:  John,  Isaac,  Israel,  Michael, 
William,  Enoch,  Lizzie  and  Denia. 

William  Knapp,  the  grandfather,  was  born 
in  Putnam  county,  and  there  followed  farming 
throughout  life.  He  married  Statia  Jewell, 
and  nine  children  were  born  to  them,  namely: 
Clarissa  A.,  who  married  John  R.  Knapp; 
Phcebe,  who  married  a  Mr.  Belknapp;  Han- 
nah, who  married  Charles  Van  Dine;  William, 
who  died  in  infancy;  Nancy,  who  married  Will- 
iam Ellis;  George  J.,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Van- 
Wyck;  Catherine,  who  first  married  a  Mr. 
Stricklin,  and  after  his  death  wedded  Henry 
Bush;  Emma,  who  married  Oscar  Budd;  and 
Robert  D.,  who  remained  single. 

In  Putnam  county,  N.  Y. ,  George  J. 
Knapp  was  born  in  1842,  and  received  his 
education  at  Cortlandville,  N.  Y.  The  princi- 
pal part  of  his  life  has  been  devoted  to  agricult- 
ural pursuits,  but  he  is  now  engaged  in  mill- 
ing. He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Sarah  E.  Warner,  and  their  only  child  is  now 
Mrs.  Lillie  E.  Van  Wyck,  who  was  born  in 
1869.  The  mother  was  born  in  New  Milford, 
Conn. ,  and  the  parents  now  make  their  home 
in  the  town  of  Beekman,  Dutchess  county. 

Thomas  Simpson,  the  great-grandfather  of 
Mrs.  Van  Wyck,  of  the  maternal  side,  was  a 
native  of  Dutchess  county,  and  in  early  life 
learned  the  shoemaker's  trade,  which  he  con- 
tinued to  follow.  He  also  was  a  Revolutionary 
soldier.  He  married  Miss  Sarah  Whaley,  and 
to  them  were  born  the  following  children: 
Isaac;  Brunson,  who  married  Clarissa  Pendly; 
Peter;  George,  who  married  Catharine  Sey- 
mour; William  H.,  who  married  Mary  Pattie; 


468 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Neilson;  John;  Abel,  who  married  Rachel 
Clarkson;  Hannah;  and  Cornelia,  who  died  in 
infancy.  Of  this  family  Hannah  Simpson  was 
born  and  educated  in  Dutchess  county,  and  on 
reaching  womanhood  married  Rozell  Warner, 
a  miller  of  Dutchess  county,  by  whom  she  had 
six  children— Harriet;  Isaac  S.,  who  married 
Sarah  Lee;  John  S.  (deceased);  Thomas  S., 
who  married  Lillie  Blithman;  Armette  A.,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Henry  Canaday,  and 
Sarah  E.,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Van  Wyck. 


PRS.   RUHAMER  W.   PULVER  BIRD, 

^  who  is  prominently  identified  with  the 
best  social  circles  of  the  town  of  Stanford,  where 
she  resides  on  a  fine  estate  near  Shekomeko, 
is  a  member  of  a  family  which  has  long  been 
held  in  high  esteem  in  this  locality. 

Her  grandfather,  William  W.  Pulver,  a 
German  by  birth,  was  a  leading  agriculturist 
of  his  day  in  the  town  of  Pine  Plains,  Pulver's 
Corners  being  named  in  his  honor.  He  was 
married  there  to  Christina  Millais,  by  whom 
he  had  eleven  children:  John,  William,  Henry, 
Levi,  Peter,  Jacob,  Catherine,  Mary,  Herman, 
Anthony  and  Esther.  Henry  Pulver,  Mrs. 
Bird's  father,  was  born  January  13,  1806,  and 
passed  his  early  life  at  Pulver's  Corners,  where 
he  attended  the  district  schools,  and  later  pur- 
sued more  advanced  studies  under  tutors  at 
home.  He  was  married  June  7,  1829,  to  Jane 
Eliza  Cook,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  old 
families  of  Amenia,  born  November  23,  1808, 
daughter  of  Lewis  Cook,  and  granddaughter  of 
Col.  Cook,  who  once  kept  the  "Pratt  House" 
at  that  place.  Six  children  were  born  of  this 
union,  whose  names  with  dates  of  birth  are  as 
follows;  Ruhamer  W.  (Mrs.  Bird),  February 
28,  1830;  Frances  S.,  April  10,  1831,  the  wife 
of  Orrin  Wakeman,  of  Millerton;  Mary  J.,  De- 
cember 20,  1832,  who  married  Myron  H. 
Sherman,  of  Beekman,  N.  Y. ,  and  died  No- 
vember 17,  1882;  Henrietta  P.,  March  26, 
1834,  the  wife  of  L.  L.  Barton,  of  Coleman 
Station;  E.  Maria,  November  28,  1839,  who 
married  Collins  Sheldon,  of  Millerton,  and  Del- 
lie  A.,  June  3,  1845,  who  died  May  24,  1879. 
Soon  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Pulver  settled 
upon  a  farm  at  Livingston  Manor,  Columbia 
county,  where  he  remained  until  1839,  when 
he  came  back  to  his  native  county  and  located 
permanently  upon  the  homestead  now  occu- 
pied by  Mrs.  Bird,  her  present  beautiful  resi- 
dence being  erected  by  him.      He  was  promi- 


nent in  local  affairs,  and,  although  never  ai 
office-seeker,  he  took  great  interest  in  politica 
questions,  first  as  a  Whig  and  then  as  a  Re^ 
publican,  and  he  was  a  member  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  at  Bangall,  the  family,  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  at  Smithfield.  His  wife  passec 
from  earth  August  21,  1880,  and  he  survivec 
her  until  July  19,  1894. 

On  February  17,  1858,  the  subject  of  oui 
sketch  was  married  to  the  late  Virgil  Bird,  z 
member  of  an  old  New  England  family,  whos« 
interesting  genealogical  record  is  given  below 
He   was  born   at   Salisbury,    Conn.,  May  31, 
181 5,  but  was  educated  at  the  Nine  Partner 
Boarding  School,  in  the  town  of  Washington 
Dutchess  county.     He  became  a  carpenter  anc 
joiner,   and    followed    that   trade    until   1849 
when  he  went  to  California  and  spent  thre 
years  in  mining.      Returning  to  Dutchess  coun 
ty,  he  engaegd  in  the  cattle  business  at  Amenia 
but  after  his  marriage  he  moved  to  Binghamp 
ton,  where  he  resided  until  1866.     The  follow 
ing    fifteen  years    were  passed    at    Salisbury 
Conn.,    and   in    1881    he    came  back  to   thi 
county,  and  spent  his   remaining  days  in  th 
town   of   Stanford,  where   he   died  March  2; 
1895.      He    was    a    man    of   many  admirabl 
qualities  of   character,    and    was  held  in  thi 
highest  regard  by  all  who  knew  him.      In  pel 
tics  he  was  a  Democrat;  but  he  made  noeffo! 
to  secure  personal  advancement  in  public  lif' 
Of  the  eight  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bird,  a 
but  two  survive:     Cora  C.  married  Myron  1, 
Gillette,  of  Ansonia,  Conn. ;  Henry  P.  marrif  j 
Daisy  Wedge,  of  Naugetuck,  Conn.;  James  I 
married  Grace  Scott,  of  Danbury,  Conn.;  Je:. 
nie  P.  is  at  home;    Virgil  B.  lives  at  Ansoni 
Conn.;     Ruey   W.    died    July  4,'    1892,   ag(| 
twenty-two  years;    Isaac  B.  is  at  home:    aij 
Salome  T.  died  in  infancy. 

The  subjoined  sketch  of  the  Bird  fami 
was  written  by  Rev.  Isaac  Bird,  in  1855,  ai 
was  intended  to  show  mainly  the  male  d 
scendants  of  the  original  ancestor  of  t 
American  line,  omitting,  especially  in  the  eai 
generations,  the  names  of  the  daughters  a  ■ 
such  of  the  sons  as  left  no  issue  that  has  si  ■ 
vived  to  the  present  day.  The  records  co\' 
eleven  generations,  as  follows:  (I) — Thoii> 
Bird,  first  known  at  Hartford  1644,  d' 
about  1660,  leaving  legacies  to  two  sons- 
Joseph  and  James  Bird — and  two  daught  5 
— Mrs.  North  and  Mrs.  Scott. 

(II) — Joseph    and    James    Bird  are  foil 
among   the    first    settlers  and    proprietors  f 


„ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


469 


Farmington,  about  1660,  and  both,  with  their 
wives,  were  members  of  the  Church.     Joseph 
had  eight  children — five  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters— and  died  in  1695.      James  married  Lydia 
Steele,  and  died  in  1708,  leaving  one  son  and 
Isix  daughters,  all  married. 
I       (III) — Joseph,  son  of  Joseph,  married  Mary 
Steele,  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  and 
died  in  1729.     Thomas,  son  of  James,  lived  in 
that    part   of    Farmington     afterward    called 
Northington  (now    Avon),  of    "Shady  Side" 
memory.    He  united  with  the  Church  in  1691, 
married  Mary  Woodford,  July  3,    1693,   had 
three  sons  and  five  daughters,  and  died  1725. 
(IV) — Samuel,  son  of  Joseph,  son  of  Joseph 
(2),  married  Eunice  Wadsworth,  February  13, 
1730,    had    three    sons    and   four  daughters, 
[ohn,  Joseph  and  Jonathan,  sons  of  Thomas,  of 
\von.       The  two  former  were  among  the  first 
settlers    and    proprietors     of    Litchfield,    and 
foseph,    of    Salisbury,    also — John  was   born 
[695,  married  his  second  wife,  Mary  Atwood, 
une  20,  1728,  by  whom  he  had  six  sons  and 
wo   daughters.      He    died   about    1750.      His 
yife  lived  till  1 794,  and  died  at  Bethlehem,  aged 
linety-tvvo.      Joseph  was  born  December  27, 
696,  went  to    Litchfield    in    1718    or  1719, 
larried    (1721)    Dorcas    Norton,  daughter  of 
|Ohn  Norton,    Jr.,   and    of  Ruth   Moore,    his 
vife  (who  was  a  daughter  of  Deacon  Isaac 
'core),  all  of  Farmington;   removed  to  Salis- 
jry,    1748,    lost    his  wife,  Dorcas,  in   1750- 
[,     married     widow     Eldredge,      1752,     by 
I'hom  he  had  one   daughter.     He  died  1754. 
le  had   seven    sons    and    three    daughters — 
jnathan  was  born  December  28,  1699,  mar- 
ed  Hannah  Thomson    1732,  had   three  sons 
:id  four  daughters,  died  in  Kensington,  1748, 
orth  1.600  pounds. 
^^.  (V) — Joseph,    son    of   Samuel,    was    born 
^P^,   had  three    wives    and    many    children. 
;)ns  of  John,  Joseph  and  Jonathan:     (i)     Of 
hn — Seth,  Ebenezer,  Atwood  and  Jonathan. 
:th  was  born  January  4,  1733,    married  sec- 
d  wife,  Hannah  Sheldon,  February  8,  1768, 
:e   surviving   son;    died  1805  at    Litchfield, 
nth  Farms.      He  was  a  physician  of  consid- 
>ble  eminence.      Ebenezer  was  born   1739, 
irried  about    1773,   died   Bethlehem    1789. 
-ft  four  sons — Amos,    David,  Ebenezer  and 
aniel.     Atwood,  born  about  1741,  was  mar- 
'i  twice,    died  Verona,   N.    Y. — a   man  re- 
irkable  for  his  integrity.      He  had   one  son 
first  wife;  had  eight  children  by  his  second. 
':ie  by  the  name  of  Chauncey  was  supposed, 


in  1855,  to  be  still  living.  Jonathan,  born 
1 743,  married  Amy  Humphrey  about  1777;  had 
two  sons  and  four  daughters;  died  1786,  in 
Simsbury,  Conn.,  aged  forty-three.  Was  a 
physician.  The  daughter  left  children  by  the 
names  of  Bodwell,  Everett  and  Goodwin.  (2) 
Sons  of  Joseph  (V) — James  (VT),  Joseph  and 
Amos.  James  (VI)  was  born  in  Litchfield, 
1722;  married  Abigail  Gridley,  of  Kensington, 
1750;  had  two  sons  and  three  daughters;  died 
in  Salisbury,  September  28,  1794,  aged 
seventy-two;  his  wife  died  181 5,  aged  eighty- 
four.  Of  his  three  daughters,  Dorcas  married 
Col.  Noah  Lee,  of  Castleton,  Vt. ;  Abigail 
married  D.  Mcintosh;  and  Eunice,  (first)  J. 
Lord,  fsecond)  William  Mather,  a  physician  of 
Torringford,  Conn.  All  have  numerous  de- 
scendents.  Joseph,  born  in  Litchfield,  June  18, 
1733;  married  HuldahSprague;  had  six  sons  and 
six  daughters  intermarried  respectively  with 
Messrs.  Garfield,  Herrick,  Chapin,  Fowler 
and  Curtis.  Amos  was  born  in  Litchfield, 
May  13,  1 741;  married  Hannah  Swift,  of  Sal- 
isbury; died  greatly  respected,  in  Castleton, 
Vt.,  1773,  leaving  a  young  daughter,  Dorcas, 
who  married  William  Holabird,  of  Canaan, 
Conn.  (3)  Son  of  Jonathan — Jonathan  born 
Avon,    1747;   graduated    Yale   college,     1768; 

married  Hogeboom;  lost  son  and  wife 

early;  died  18 13  in  Hebron,  Conn.,  was  a 
preacher  and  physician. 

(VI) — Benjamin  (son  of  Joseph,  of  Samuel) 
was  born  October  23,  1780;  married  Deborah 
Carrington,  1801;  had  two  sons  and  three 
daughters.  The  daughters  married,  respect- 
ively, Messrs.  Cloyes,  Hammond  and  Lewis. 
Benjamin  still  lives.  His  residence  is  in  Plain- 
ville.  Conn.  (II)  Grandsons  of  John,  of  Litch- 
field— (i)  John  of  Seth;  born  Litchfield,  1769; 
graduated  Yale  College,  1786;  married  (first) 
Eunice,  daughter  of  Col.  Joshua  Porter,  of 
Salisbury,  (second)  Sally  Buell,  of  Litchfield; 
had  two  sons;  died  Troy,  N.  Y. ,  1806,  aged 
thirty-seven.  He  was  a  lawyer  and  politician. 
(2)  Sons  of  Ebenezer,  of  John,  viz. :  Amos, 
David,  Ebenezer  and  Daniel.  Amos  was  born 
Bethlehem,  June  13,  1774;  married  Miss  Cook, 
of  Wallingford,  1797;  now  (1855)  living  in 
New  Haven,  Vt.;  has  had  three  sons  and  six 
daughters;  one  son  living;  the  daughters  mar- 
ried into  the  names  of  Ballou,  Washburn  and 
Hinman.  David  born  in  Bethlehem  1776; 
married  Elizabeth  Church  about  1797;  both 
died  in  1849,  aged  seventy-three.  They  had 
ten  children:  Three  of  the  daughters  took  the 


470 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


names  of  Gaylord,  Thompson  and  Loomis. 
Ebenezer  was  born  June  6,  1778,  married  Lois 
Barber,  1806;  had  five  sons,  among  whom  were 
Daniel,  Ebenezer  M.  and  Newton,  and  six 
daughters.  Four  of  the  latter  married  Thomp- 
son, Eddy,  Gregory  and  Crowley,  Ebenezer 
lives  in  Victory,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.  Daniel, 
supposed  in  1855  to  be  still  living  near  his 
children  at  Prairie  Ronde,  Kalamazoo  Co., 
Mich.,  has  two  sons  and  three  daughters.  One 
of  the  daughters  married  W.  B.  Austin,  of  New 
York.  (3)  Son  of  Atwood,  viz.:  Chauncey 
married  in  Farmington,  resided  a  while  in 
Litchfield;  afterward  removed  his  family  to 
some  part  of  Onondaga  county,  N.  Y.,  and  in 
1838  to  Michigan.  (Another  son  of  Atwood 
married  in  Farmington,  and  lived  in  Cincin- 
nati, where  he  died.  He  was  wealthy,  and 
left  a  son  supposed  to  be  living  in  1855  in  New 
York  City.)  (4)  Son  of  Jonathan,  of  John, 
viz.:  Jonathan,  born  Simsbury,  1775;  married 
Betsey  Grinnell,  of  Greenfield,  Mass. ;  had 
three  sons  and  one  daughter;  died  Greenfield, 
Mass.,  18 1 3,  aged  thirty-seven. 

The  grandsons  of  Joseph  (V)  of  Litchfield 
and  Salisbury,  (i)  The  two  sons  of  James 
(VI),  viz.:  Thomas  and  Isaac  (VII). — Thomas, 
son  of  James,  was  born  Salisbury,  April  22, 
1754;  married  Betsey  Chamberlin,  1777,  of 
South  Canaan,  Conn. ;  had  five  sons  and  three 
daughters.  The  daughters  married  Messrs. 
Dibble,  Rockwell  and  Collamer,  of  Sandy 
Hill,  N.  Y.  Isaac,  brother  of  Thomas;  born 
May  5,  1757;  married  Rhoda  Selleck,  of  Salis- 
bury, February  28,  1780;  had  four  sons  and 
three  daughters.  He  died  Salisbury,  January 
16,  1829.  His  daughters  married  Messrs. 
Covey,  of  Penfield,  N.  Y.,  Wheeler,  of  Salis- 
bury, Conn.,  and  Reed,  of  Bethany,  Penn. , 
respectively. 

(2)  Three  sons  of  Joseph,  of  Tyringham, 
Mass. — (i)  Moore  was  born  October  22,  1756; 
married  Delavergne,  of  Amenia,  N.  Y. ;  had 
four  sons  and  two  daughters;  died  in  Amenia. 
His  daughter,  Julia,  married  Hiram  Brown. 
(2)  Joseph  was  born  August  8,  1759;  married 
Cynthia  Binney;  had  five  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters. He  is  still  living  in  Bristol,  Vt.  His 
daughters  married  into  the  names  of  Keeler, 
Foote  and  Eastman.  (3)  Nathaniel  was  born 
in  Salisbury,  1761;  married  Hannah  Ballard; 
lived  in  North  Marlboro;  removed  to  Westfield, 
N.  Y. ,  1 8 16;  had  five  sons  and  six  or  seven 
daughters.  He  died  at  his  daughter  Foster's 
house,    near  Buffalo,   while  on  a  visit.     His 


daughters  married  into  families  named — Ma- 
comber,  Foster,  Sessions  and  Heminway,  re- 
spectively. 

(VII) — (i)  Son  of  Benjamin — George,  born 
March  10,  1802;  married  first  Elizabeth  Stan- 
ley, of  Plainville,  second  Miranda  Munson,  of 
Plymouth;   resides    New    Haven,    Conn.,    has 
daughter,  Sarah  Ely,  and  a  son,  Norton  Stan- 
ley.    (2)  Great-grandsons  of    John  of  Litch- 
field.— (I)  Sons  of  John,  of  Troy,  son  of  Dr. 
Seth,  of  Litchfield,  viz:     John  Herman,  bom 
1790;  was  killed  on  board  the  frigate  "Presi- 
dent" by  a  ball  from  the  "Belvidere,"  June  23, 
1 8 12.      William  A.,  born  1797;  has  two  sons 
and  two  daughters;  resides  at  Black  Rock,  neai 
Buffalo,    N.    Y.      (2)    Sons  of    Amos,    David, 
Ebenezer    and    Daniel    of    Generation   VI.— 
Canfield,  son  of  Amos,   of  New   Haven,  Vt. 
born     February,     1803;     married     Elizabeth 
Washburn,  of  Leominster,   N.   H.,  Decembei 
30,  1828;  has  three  sons  and  four  daughters; 
resides  in  New  Haven,  Vt. — Harmon,  son  0. 
David,    of    Bethlehem,    Conn.;  born   August, 
1798;    married    November,    1823;    one    son. 
James. — Joshua,  of  David;  born  May  21,  1800 
married   Carol  Jackson    September   5,    1822 
children — five  sons  and  three  daughters;  residi 
in  Bethlehem,  Conn. — David,  of  David,  bori 
March   11,  1804;  married  Miss   Phelps  abou 
1835;  ons  son  and  one  daughter;   resides  \\\ 
Winchester,  Conn. — Daniel,  son  of  Ebenezer  1 
of    Victory;   born   March    20,    1819;   marriec' 
Mary    Thompson,    August,     1840. — Ebeneze 
M. ,  do. ;  born  October  25,  1821;  married  Eliz: 
Barney,  1846. — Newton  L.,  do.;  born  Decern 
ber  4,  1826;   married   Mary  Ann    Martin,  Au; 
gust,  1845. — Sons  of  Daniel,  of  Michigan;  tw- 
in number;  names  unknown;  reside  in  Prairi 
Ronde,  in  Michigan.     (3)  Sons  of  Chauncey 
unknown.      (4)  Sons  of  Jonathan,  son  of  Di 
Jonathan,    of    Simsbury;    these    are    George 
Jonathan  and  Edward,  residing  in  Belleville 
New  Jersey. 

The  great-grandsons  of  Joseph ,  of  Litchfiel 
and   Salisbury:     (i)   Son   of  Thomas,  son  i 
James,  of  Salisbury;  Orren,  born  in  1794.  diet 
1824,    Sandy  Hill,  left  one  son.     (2)  Sons  <j 
Isaac  (VII)  of  James:  James  (VIII),  born  Janij 
ary  27,  1785;  married  Susan  Dauchy;  fivesoij 
and  five  daughters;  died  in  Kirkwood,  N.  \ 
January  25,  1865.      His  daughters  are  all  ma 
ried.     Isaac,  born  June   19,   1793,  graduatej 
Yale  College,  18 16;  a  minister;  married  Arl 
Parker,  of  New  Hampshire,  November,  182 
ten  children — six    living,    two    sons  and  fo 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


471 


daughters;  resides  in  Hartford,  Conn. ;  died 
, Great  Harrington,  Mass.,  May  or  June,  1876, 
iat  the  Sedgewick  Institute,  of  which  he  and 
his  son,  James  Bird,  A.  M.,  were  successful 
principals  many  years  previous  to,  and  at  the 
itime  of,  his  death. 

I      (3)  Sons  of  Moore,  of  Amenia,  N.  Y. :  Au- 

Ijustus,  removed  to  West  Michigan,  near  Kal- 

imazoo;  died  leaving  a  family;  Henry  resides 

n  Amenia  with  a  family;  has  two  sons  married. 

4)    Sons   of    Joseph,    of    New    Haven,    Vt. : 

Thomas   had   two'  sons    and    four   daughters; 

lied  Canton,  N.  Y. — Gustavus  A.,  born  about 

791;  graduated  Middleton  College,  1812;  had 

>ne  son  and   two  daughters;  died  in  Missouri. 

)ne  daughter,  Jane,  married  Lorenzo  D.,  son 

if  Nath.  Bird,  of  Westfield.      Frederic  A.  had 

ight  sons  and  one  daughter.     The  daughter 

larried  H.  Dorrance,  Rutland,  Vt.     The  sur- 

i  ving  sons  are  Roderick  D. ,  Myron  L. ,  Charles 

.  ,    Edwin,    Riley    and    Dr.  Amos,    supposed 

ithout  family.     Anson  is  in  New  Haven,  Vt. ; 

'as  two  sons,  James  and  Joseph. 

(5)  Sons  of  Nathaniel,  of  Joseph,  of  Tyring- 

am,   Mass. :     Amos,  went  from  N.   Marboro 

;  Westfield,  N.  Y.,  1812;  married  Mary  Grif- 

th,    1814;   died    1823.      Surviving  children — 

!vo  sons  and  one  daughter.      Frederick  mar- 

ed  Lovisa  Warren  about    1823;  died   1844; 

it  seven  children;  two  sons  in  California;  a 

arried  daughter  and  the  remaining  children 

ith  their  piother  at  Warrenville.      Ira  R.  was 

irried,  1834,   to  Caroline  Beecher,  niece  of 

-.  Lyman  Beecher;  died  1841;  two  surviving 

Idren — Lorenzo  D. ,   born    18 13;  graduated 

e  College,    1839;  went  to  Missouri,  1842; 

rried  Jane,    daughter  of   Gustavus  Bird,  of 

Genevieve,  Mo.,  practicing  law  in  Weston, 

ivvn  400  miles  up  the  Missouri  river.  Charles 

-,  born  1 8 16;  married  Ellen  Kent;  has  one 

:;    has    lately    gone    to  California  with  his 

i  aily. 

(VIII) — (i)  Children  of    George,   of    New 

1  ven.    Conn.:    Susan   E. ,    Norton    S.,    and 

[rhaps  others.     Two  children  of  William  A., 

t  Black  Rock:    John  H.,  a  physician  in  Chi- 

o;  another  son  educated  at  Union  College. 

10  other  children,  daughters.     (3)  Children 
Canfield,  of  Vermont:  Julia,  born  in  New 
ven,  July  6,  1830;  Amos  Cook,  born  Octo- 
14,    1832;   Ellen  Sophia,  born  December 
1834;  James  ,  born  in  Richland, 
A.,  February  16,  1837;   Elijah  Washburn, 
n   in    New    Haven,    September    30,    1840; 
i^^ma  Melinda,   June  26,  1845;   Mary  Eliza- 


beth, November  16,  1848.  (4)  Son  of  Har- 
mon, of  Bethlehem:  James.  (5)  Children  of 
Joshua,  of  Bethlehem:  Andrew  Jackson,  born 
November  28,  1823,  died  in  1824;  Theodore, 
June  8,  1825,  married  Eliza,  daughter  of  Rev. 
F.  Harrison,  October  9,  1849;  Elizabeth  Mary, 
born  October  9,  1826;  Samuel  Jackson,  born 
August  7,  1828;  David,  died  young;  Stanton, 
born  July  3,  1833;  Caroline  Martha,  born  Oc- 
tober 19,  1837;  Sarah  Imogene,  born  June  26, 
1840. — Son  of  David,  of  Winchester,  Sterling. 

(6)  Grandchildren    of    Daniel,    of    Michigan. 

(7)  Grandchildren  of  Chauncey,  who  moved 
from  Litchfield  to  Onondaga  and  to  Michigan. 

(8)  Son  of  Orren,  of  Sandy  Hill.  (9)  Henry, 
of  Isaac,  of  Salisbury,  has  a  widow  remaining, 
and  a  daughter  married  E.  N.  Hart,  of  Still- 
water, N.  Y.  (10)  Children  of  Agustus  and 
Henry,  sons  of  Moore,  of  Amenia,  N.  Y. ;  the 
former  are  in  Michigan,  the  latter  in  Amenia. 
(11)  Children  of  Thomas,  son  of  Joseph,  of 
Bristol,  Vt. :  One  son,  Joseph,  and  four  daugh- 
ters, now  living  near  Canton,  N.  Y.  (12) 
Children  of  Gustavus  A.,  of  St.  Genevieve: 
One  son  and  two  daughters;  one  of  these 
daughters  married  Lorenzo  D.  Bird,  son  of 
Nathaniel.  (13)  Children  of  Frederick  A.: 
Eight  sons  and  one  daughter,  viz. :  Rhoderick 
D. ,  of  Waynesburg,  Greene  Co.,  Penn.  (who 
has  a  son  and  daughter),  Myron  L.,  Charles 
L.,  and  as  before  mentioned  M.  L.  and  C.  L., 
have  gone  to  California.  (14)  Children  of 
Anson,  viz.:  James,  and  Joseph,  New  Haven, 
Vt.  (15)  Children  of  Amos,  of  Nathaniel,  of 
Westfield,  viz. :  Philander,  merchant,  Roscoe, 
111. ;  Nelson,  of  Chautauqua  county,  a  farmer. 

His  daughter  married Boilvin,  of  Peoria. 

(16)  Children  of  Frederick:  Byron  B.,  and 
Edwin,  in  California;  Ellen  D.,  married  to  a 
physician — with  Henry  and  three  daughters 
all  in  Warrenville,  111.  (17)  Children  of  Ira 
R. :  Two  only  survive,  viz. :  Franklin  (a  printer), 
western  Missouri,  and  William  went  to  Cali- 
fornia and  China. 

(IX) — Children  of  James,  son  of  Isaac,  of 
Salisbury:  Ripley,  Virgil,  Henrietta  married 
B.  Cook,  Annis  married  Eliza  Leach,  Isaac, 
CSlestia  married  John  Leach,  James,  Sarah 
married  J.  Woodruff,  Marion  married  M. 
Langdon,  George,  all  born  in  Salisbury.  The 
family  homestead  is  now  in  Conklin,  near 
Binghamton,  N.  Y.  (10)  Children  of  Isaac, 
son  of  Isaac,  viz. :  William,  born  on  the  island 
of  Malta,  August,  1823;  graduated  Dartmouth 
College,    1844,   married  Sarah  F.  Gordon,  of 


472 


COHMEMOBATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  REGOBD. 


Exeter,  N.  H.,  February,  1853,  resides  near 
Beirut,  Syria;  Emily  Ann,  born  Beirut,  1825; 
married  Rev.  H.  J.  Van  Lennep,  of  Constan- 
tinople, Turkey,  April,  1850;  James,  born 
Beirut,  1826;  Martha  Jane,  born  Malta;  Mary 
E.,  born  Beirut;  Caroline,  born  in  Smyrna. 
(IX)  It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  that  a 
few  representatives  of  the  ninth  generation 
had  begun  to  appear  at  the  time  of  the  prepar- 
ation of  the  record,  among  them  Virgil  Bird, 
the  second  son  of  James,  of  Salisbury.  (X)  The 
children  of  Virgil  and  Ruhamer  Bird.  (XI) 
The  children  of  Cora  C.  and  Myron  E.  Gil- 
lette: Eva  May,  December  20,  1883.  (2) 
Children  of  Henry  P.  and  Daisy  Bird  (none). 
(3)  Children  of  James  E.  and  Grace  Bird: 
Isaac  Knox,  born  July  20,  1896. 

Of  the  other  branches  of  the  family  the 
record,  rapidly  widening,  is  not  yet  written. 
Of  the  early  ancestors,  a  few  incidents  of  more 
than  ordinary  importance  should  be  noted 
here.  The  name  of  Thomas  Bird  appears  in 
different  records  of  Massachusetts,  and  some 
have  isuggested  that  Thomas  B.,  of  Scituate, 
and  of  Dorchester,  Mass.,  of  1642,  might  be 
the  same  man  with  our  ancestor  of  Hartford. 
But  the  Dorchester  Birds  seem  to  have  been  of 
a  separate  origin.  Of  that  family  are  many 
of  the  Birds  in  Boston  and  New  York,  and  of 
the  same  was  the  Rev.  Samuel  Bird,  a  pastor 
of  one  of  the  New  Haven  churches,  just  before 
the  Revolution,  and  who,  though  he  did  not 
graduate,  was  educated  at  Cambridge,  in  the 
class  of  1744,  leaving  college  a  little  before 
the  commencement  that  year.  Thomas  Bird 
came  to  Hartford  some  ten  years  after  its  first 
settlement,  and  was  proprietor  only  of  a  small 
homestead  south  of  the  city  limits,  and  of  a  par- 
cel of  land  of  about  fourteen  acres,  constitut- 
ing, as  the  records  say,  "  an  island  in  the  great 
river  over  against  the  Landing."  Whether  he 
removed  with  his  sons  to  Farmington,  or 
remained  and  died  in  Hartford,  is  unknown. 
It  is  remarkable  how  the  male  descendants  of 
Joseph,  son  of  Thomas,  have  been,  in  the 
providence  of  God,  removed.  He  appears  to 
have  but  three  of  these  representatives  remain- 
ing now  alive,  one  in  the  VI  Generation,  one 
in  the  VII,  and  one  in  the  VIII. 

Thomas  (Generation  III)  was  the  only 
male  heir  of  his  father,  and  was  possessed  of 
an  estate  valued  at  550  pounds,  a  sum  which 
constituted  riches  in  those  days.  As  Noah 
occupied  the  place  of  the  second  great  head  of 
the    Human    family,   so    this  second    Thomas 


Bird  stands  as  the  great  second  head  of  nearlj 
all  the  families  of  Birds. 

John  and  Joseph  (Generation  IV),  sons  ol 
Thomas,  seem  to  have  been   men   of  unusual 
enterprise.     They  were  pioneers  in  the  settle- 
ment of  Litchfield,  and  were  among  the  chiei 
town  officers.     The  two  home   lots  of  land, 
that  fell  to  them  in  the  town,  are  still  pointed 
out  S.  S.  E.  of  the  present  village,  they  being 
designated  on  a  map    published  within  a  few 
years,  with  a  pamphlet,  by  G.  C.  Woodruff 
Esq.,  of  Litchfield.     John  went  on  in  specula 
tion    in  lands   farther  west.      He  was  one  0 
the  company  known  by  the  name  of  The  Littl 
Nine  Partners,  who  purchased  lands  extendin; 
from  the  Connecticut  line  to  the  North  river 
This  company  became  involved,  and  unable  t 
meet  the  demands  of  their  creditors,  and  John 
overcome  by  his  disappointments,  died,   it  i 
said,  in  a  state  of  mental  derangement.       H 
built  a  stone  house  in  Dover  on  land,  probably  J 
which    he    owned    as    one    of   the    compan) 
which  house  is  supposed   to  be  still  standing 
Joseph  must  have  obtained    some  addition  t 
his    means  by    his    marriage.      Deacon  Isaa 
Moore,  one  of  the  wealthiest  farmers  in  Farnrj 
ington,  had  four  children,  all  daughters.   Rut 
was  married   to  John   Norton,   Jr.,    son  of 
very    respectable    settler,    lately    come    froi 
Branford.      Dorcas,  the  youngest  daughter  1 
this  connection,  became    the  wife  of   Josep 
Bird.     She  was  sister  of  Thoma?,  father  ' 
Lot  Norton,  the  elder,  of  Salisbury.     Josepl 
in  ten  years,  while    in  Litchfield,  was  chose 
nine  times  to  the  General  Court  or  State  Le 
islature,  and  was  at  his  death  a  justice  of  tl 
Quorum.      His  grave  in  Salisbury  is  marked  i 
a  tombstone  of  Italian   marble,  lately  erecti 
by  the  children  of  his  grandson  Isaac. 

Dr.  Seth  Bird  (of  the  V  Generation)  w 
one  of  the  most  skillful  physicians  of  his  tin' 
It  is  said  of  him  that  he  lived  on  very  intima[ 
and  friendly  terms  with  one  of  the  neighbori 
physicians,  so  that  they  were  in  the  habit 
generously  recommending  to  each  other,  th( 
own  patients,  whenever  one  thought  the  otf 
to  be  more  skillful  in  the  cure  of  any  particu 
complaint.      He  has  a  marble  monument  in  t 
cemetery  of    Litchfield,  S.  Farms,  erected  i 
his  memory  by  his  son  John. 

Jonathan    Bird,    of    Simsbury,   brother 
Seth,  was  a  physician,  and,  as  it  appears.. 
Freemason.     There  is    said  to    be    extant  1 
eulogy  on  his    character,   prepared    after    > 
death,  and  on  his  tombstone  is  this  inscriptii : 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPSWAL  RECORD. 


478 


In  memory  of  Dr.  Jonathan  Bird,  who  (after 
exhibiting  a  striking  example  of  Philosophic 
iPatience  and  Fortitude  through  a  distressing 
iillness)  departed  this  life  on  the  17th  of  De- 
icember,  A.  D.,  1786,  in  the  forty-third  j'ear 
of  his  age. 

FAITH.     HOPE.     CHARITY. 

Stop,  brother,  atid  impart  a  generous  sigh, 
O'er  one  in  prime  called  to  resign  his  breath; 

''Since  all  your  social  band  this  scene  nnist  try. 
Square  all  your  work   before  the  hour    of 
death. 


Jonathan,  son  of  Jonathan,  son  of  Thomas, 

vas  educated  at  Yale  College,  graduated  1768; 

le  studied    for    the   ministry,   and   became   a 

)reacher  about  1773,  though  he  never  was  or- 

lained,  and  of  course  is  never  called  by  the 

lame  of    "Reverend."     His  brethren   in  the 

ininistry  called  him  a  good  preacher,  and  it  is 

elated  of  him,  that,  happening  late  in  Ufe  to 

e  in  Boston.  Dr.  Griffin  took  him  and  would 

ave  him  preach  to  his  people.      He  addressed 

hem   a   number  of  times  in   the  course   of   a 

eek,  and  they  were  so  well  pleased   and  so 

uch  profited  that  they  presented  him  with  a 

jw  suit  of  clothes.      He  was   a  sound  theo- 

gian,  but  not  an  awakening,  animated  speaker. 

le  was  embarrassed  by  deafness,  so  that,  after 

reaching  a  while,  he  betook  himself  to  the 

lactice  of   medicine.      Near  the  close  of  his 

ie  he  prepared  a  few  of  his  sermons  for  the 

tess,  which,  under  the  direction  of  Rev.  Dr. 

assett,  of   Hebron,  appeared,  in  a  small  vol- 

ne,  after  his  decease.      He  had  had  two  or 

iree  occasional  sermons  published  previously, 

d  was  the  author  of  an  article  in  the  Boston 

anoplist,  on  Infidelity,  it  being  the  substance 

a  letter  actually  written  and  sent  to  one  of 

s  nieces  in   Hartford   in  181 1.      [See   Pano- 

•t,   February,    1873.]     His    place    of    resi- 

nce,    at   the    time    he    died,   was    Conway, 

ss. ,  but  his  death  occurred  in  the  family  of 

^H^  friend.  Rev.  Dr.  Bassett,  at  whose   house 

Hjlhappened   to   be   on   a   visit  when   he  was 

^^ertaken  by  his  last  illness.      He   had    lost 

Ith  his  brothers  and   his   only  son,  and  with 

In  expired   his   father's   male  branch  of  the 

fnily. 

It  seems  a  matter  of  some  doubt  whether 

.    tjsre  was   not  another  son  of  John  Bird  be- 

1  iging  to  this  IV  Generation,  whose  name  is 

;btful,  and  does  not  appear  in  this  sketch. 

'le  following  are  the  words  of  William   A. 


Bird,  Esq.,  of  Black  Rock,  son  of  John  and 
grandson  of  Dr.  Seth,  of  Litchfield:  "In  re- 
lation to  the  brother  of  my  grandfather,  who 
went  to  Philadelphia,  my  mother  knew  very 
well  that  such  a  brother  resided  there.  Will- 
iam, I  think  his  name  was.  Dr.  Seth,  she 
told  me,  once  went  to  see  him,  and  my  father 
once  met  a  son  of  his  in  New  York,  when  he 
was  in  the  Legislature  in  New  York,  say  in 
1796."  May  not  this  be  the  same  case  as  that 
mentioned  by  Gen.  David  B.,  of  Bethlehem, 
who  says  that  Atwood  B.  had  a  son  (name  un- 
known), who  went  to  Cincinnati  [Philadel- 
phia.-"],  became  rich  and  died,  and  has  a  son 
now  living  in  New  York.'  Of  the  Generation 
just  spoken  of  was  Amos,  son  of  Joseph, 
whose  short  life  may  merit  a  few  special  re- 
marks. He  is  spoken  of  as  a  man  of  great 
enterprise,  and  was  the  leader  in  commencing 
the  settlement  of  the  town  of  Castleton,  in 
Vermont,  near  which  a  prominent  mountain 
still  bears  and  perpetuates  his  name.  The 
settlement  was  yet  in  its  infancy  when  it 
pleased  the  Lord  to  remove  him,  and  the  first 
products  of  the  first  sawmill,  which  he  had 
erected  there,  were  made  use  of  for  his  coffin. 
On  a  new  monument,  lately  placed  over  his 
remains,  were  the  following  inscriptions: 

(In  front.) 

Erected  October  ig,    1842,    to  the  memory   of 

Col.   A  mos    Bird, 

By  citizens  of  Castleton,   and  friends,   as  a 

tribute  of  respect  to  a  worthy  man. 

Born  at  Litchfield,  Conn., 

and  died  September  16,  17 J2,  aged  jo  years. 

(On  one  side.) 

Col.  Bird  was  the  first  white  man  zvho  as- 
serted dominion  in  Castleton,  zvhere  he  arrived 
in  Jamtary,  1766.  He  ^vas  the  first  possessor 
of  the  soil  for  civilization,  and  the  first  called 
to  resign  it,  leaving  the  fruits  of  his  bold  en- 
terprise to  others. 

(On  the  east  side.) 

The  mortal  remains  of  Col.  Bird  were  first 
interred  by  his  direction,  near  his  dwelling  in 
the  valley  of  Bird  Creek,  and  after  seventy 
years  disinterred  afid  here  entombed  to  wait 
the  summons  that  azuakes  the  dead. 

It  may  be  added  here  that  the  settlement 
of  the  town  was  continued  by   Noah  (after- 


474 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHTCAL  RECORD. 


ward  Col.)  Lee,  who  married  Bird's  niece,  a 
daughter  of  James,  and  who  had  accompanied 
him  in  his  enterprise.  Lee  entered  into  the 
war  of  the  Revolution,  which  broke  out  about 
this  time,  and  there  continued  to  its  close. 
At  his  own  expense  he  raised  a  company  of 
"Green  Mountain  Boys,"  and  acted  for  a  time 
in  concert  with  Ethan  Allen.  He  was  after- 
ward at  the  battles  of  Trenton,  Princeton  and 
Germantown,  and  witnessed  the  surrender  of 
Lord  Cornwallis.  He  died  atCastleton,  1840, 
aged  ninety-six  years,  leaving  a  large  number 
of  descendants. 

John  B.,  of  the  Sixth  Generation,  son  of 
Dr.  Seth,  was  the  second  of  the  descendants 
of  Thomas,  of  Hartford,  who  was  educated  at 
college.  He  read  law,  it  is  believed,  in  Salis- 
bury, Conn.,  where  he  had  relatives.  After 
this  he  resided  in  Litchfield  for  a  time,  and 
then  removed  to  Troy,  where  he  was  chosen 
repeatedly  to  the  State  Legislature,  and  after- 
ward to  Congress.  He  died  suddenly  at  the 
early  age  of  thirty-seven.  He  is  universally 
spoken  of,  by  those  who  knew  him,  as  a  man 
of  extraordinary  powers  of  mind. 

Chauncey,  son  of  Atwood,  had  the  reputa- 
tion among  his  Litchfield  neighbors  of  possess- 
ing very  eminent  natural  gifts,  not  falling,  if 
any,  in  this  respect,  much  behind  his  cousin 
John.  But  Chauncey  had  not  the  advantages 
of  education  enjoyed  by  John,  and  his  line  of 
life  was  not  such  as  to  bring  him  before  the 
public.  Of  his  later  history  we  have  very  lit- 
tle information.  He  is  supposed  to  be  still 
alive,  and  somewhere  in  the  State  of  Michigan. 

Isaac,  son  of  James,  enlisted  about  the  age 
of  eighteen  under  Col.  Burrall,  of  Canaan,  in 
the  Revolutionary  army  of  the  North  against 
the  Canadas.  The  smallpox  having  broken 
out  in  the  army,  he  was  among  the  number 
that  had  to  be  inoculated.  In  connection  with 
this  disease  he  was  seized  with  remarkable 
swellings,  which  greatly  debilitated  him,  and 
in  this  condition,  by  a  reverse  in  the  fortunes 
of  the  army,  he  was  left,  with  many  other  sick 
men,  to  shift  for  himself,  and  he  resolved  to 
attempt  finding  his  way  to  his  sister's  (Mrs. 
Noah  Lee's)  in  Castleton.  This  he  succeeded 
in  accomplishing,  and  after  begging  his  bread 
through  many  weary  days  and  nights  of  travel, 
he  at  length  presented  himself  at  the  door  of 
the  log  cabin,  in  the  complete  habit  and  con- 
dition of  a  common  mendicant.  Here,  how- 
ever, he  had  all  the  aid  which  a  sister's  care, 
in  a  new  settlement,    could  offer;  but  his  re- 


covery was  too  slow  and  too  imperfect  to  en- 
able him  to  return  to  the  army.     Joseph,  son 
of  Joseph,  of  Tyringham,   with  one  exception 
was,  in  1855,  the  only  living  representative  ol 
the  Generation  to  which  he  belonged.    He  was 
one  of  those  men   to   whom   we  owe  so  much 
for  having,  at  the  expense  of  great  suffering, 
and  hazard  of  life,  defended  our  liberties  and 
achieved  our  national  independence.      He  en- 
listed in  the  army  in  1776  and  spent  the  sum 
mer  at  Ticonderoga.  and  in  autumn,  in  com 
pany  with  others,   was   discharged.      He  sooi 
after  enlisted  for  three  years,   or  during  th 
war,  and  went  during  the  campaign  of  1777  a 
an   attendant   of  Dr.    Binney,   of  Tyringham 
whose   daughter    he    afterward   married.     K ' 
was   in   the    field    at  the  various  battles  wit  ' 
Burgoyne.     When   Gen.    Frazier  was    killed 
and   Maj.    Ackland   wounded   and   taken  pris ' 
oner,  the  latter  was  brought  to  Joseph  Bird  1 
tent,  and  there  it  was  that  Lady  Harriet,  cl 
whose  character  Burgoyne  himself  has  give( 
so  affecting   a  description,    came   and   nursel 
him.     After  the    surrender   of   Burgoyne,  th 
soldiers  of  the   Northern   army  were  sent  tl 
unite    with    forces    of    Washington    at  Vallel 
Forge,  and  Bird  went  with  them.     When  GeiJ 
Clinton  commenced   his   march  from  Philadel 
phia  toward  New  York,  the  Americans  movel 
also  to  attack  him  in  the  rear.     The  accouif 
that  follows  is  in  the  language  of  Roderick  ll 
Bird,  of  Waynesburg,  Penn.,  grandson  of  Jol 
eph.      "My  grandfather,"  he  says,  "was  sef 
with  a  detachment  of  2,000  men  on  thecal 
road,  and   another  detachment   of  2,000  mil 
was  sent  on  the  west  road  to  harass  the  enen>| 
until   the  main   army  arrived.      On  Saturda 
June  27,   Gen.    Lee   joined    us  at  Monmouj 
with  2,000  men,  and  orders  to  attack  Clintoil 
army.    At  that  point,  our  army  retreated.    T| 
British    followed   until    Washington    cam 
and  commanded   to  file  to  the  right  and  le| 
My  grandfather   was   with   the   left  wing, 
this  period  the  cannon  began  to  boom  on  be 
sides,  which  lasted  from  one  and  a  half  to  t'| 
hours.     Grandfather  says  he  caught  a  numb 
of  cannon    balls    in    his    camp-kettle  as  thl 
rolled  upon  the  ground.      The  first  that  hesf 
coming  in  that  way  a  young  soldier  put  out  i 
foot  to  stop,  which  dislocated  his  ankle.   At 
I  o'clock  the  British  right  wing  undertook j 
flank  our  left.     Col.  Selby  called  for  volunte 
to  turn  it.      Grandfather  went  with  others : 
turned  it,  and  charged  and   drove  them  ba 
In   this   charge   he   received  a  wound. 


1 


fr 


COMMEJifORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


475 


Dntending  parties  were  not  more  than  one  or 
.vo  rods  apart.      He  was  shot  through  the  left 
:m,  the  ball  breaking  the  bone  and  leaving  a 
etached  fragment  of  about  one  inch  in  length. 
,he  ball  then  penetrated  his  left  side,  and  re- 
al iis  there  to  this  day.      He  says  he  well  re- 
embers  his  sensations  when  the  ball  hit  him. 
beat  his  breath  from  him,  and  he  staggered 
while  and   fell.     When   he  came  to  he  was 
ing  with  his  face  upward  exposed  to  the  rays 
the  burning  sun;  he  supposed  he  had  simply 
■en    asleep,    but    soon    found    that    he   was 
junded.       That    night    he    was    taken    with 
ihers  to  Monmouth  church,  where  his  wound 
MS  dressed.     He  was  then   carried  to  Eliza- 
ithtown,  where  he  was  left,  through  a  dreary 
'  'bt,  in   a   barn,  having  for   his  companions 
.  ounded  and  dying.      He  suffered  most  for 
\int  of  water,  and  they  had  no  light.    The  next 
fy  they  were  taken   in  wagons  to  Princeton 
C>llege,  where  he  remained,  having  the  best 
'  ^'eatment."    He  was  considered  unfit  to  re- 
the  duties  of  the  army  until  October, 
,  when   he   rejoined  his  regiment  at  West 
'  nt,  and  was  subsequently  employed,  with- 
ny  very  important  military  occurrence,  in 
cting  the  inhabitants  of  the  Mohawk  Val- 
;rom    the    incursions    of  the   British   and 
Ijlians. 
Benjamin  Bird,  of  Connecticut,  and  Joseph 
of   Vermont,   are  now  the  only  living 
bers  of  the  Generation  VI;   the  one   de- 
led  from   the    elder  of    the    two  sons  of 
Tpmas,   of    Hartford,    the    other    from    the 
l^er. 

■  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  while  the  liv- 

Rale  members  of  the  family,  who  stand  as 

ians  of  the  name,  scarcely  exceed,  if  they 

reach,  the  number  of  fifty;  the  descend- 

"'^  of  the  female  lines  probably  far  exceed  a 

r^and.     As  we  look   back  upon   these  sev- 

past  generations  that  have  risen  and  fallen 

ick  succession,  we  are   forcibly  reminded 

e  rapid  flight  of  time  and  the  shortness  of 

"We  have  here  no  continuing  city."    The 

rations  of  men  have  been  aptly  compared 

the  waves  of  the  sea.     They  rise  and  roll 

-ach  urging  his  predecessor   forward,  till, 

on  after  another,  they  dash  upon  the  shore 

an|  disappear.     We   ourselves  are  pressed  on 

byihe  resistless  tide   behind,  and  there  is  no 

>e  for  us  more  than  for  others.      But  there 

ea,  and  there  is  a  shore,  where  no   surg- 

nd  dashing  and  disappearing  exist — where 

rations  of  all  ages  mingle  in  harmony  and 


rest,  and  if  our  days   are  but   spent  in  "Wis- 
dom's ways," 

They'll  waft  us  safely  o'er 

This  life's  tempestuous  sea, 
And  soon  we'll  reach  the  peaceful  shore 

Of  blest  eternity. 


PATRICK  ROGERS  is  numbered  among 
the  stalwart  and   substantial    citizens  of 

the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  who  are 
of  alien  birth.  He  is  a  native  of  County  Ca- 
van,  Ireland,  where  he  secured  his  education, 
and  there  followed  farming  until  emigrating  to 
the  United  States  in  1846.  He  is  the  son  of 
Peter  Rogers,  whose  birth  also  occurred  on 
the  Emerald  Isle,  and  his  mother  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Miss  Mary  Riley.  In  their 
family  were  six  children:  John;  Hugh  and 
Peter,  who  never  married;  Patrick;  Mary,  who 
became  the  wife  of  James  McCarty;  and  Ann, 
who  married  John  Clark. 

On  reaching  the  New  World,  our  subject 
located  in  New  York  City,  where  he  married 
Miss  Margaret  Rogers,  also  of  Ireland,  who 
came  to  America  in  1863.  From  that  city 
they  removed  to  their  farm  in  the  town  of 
Dover,  where  they  now  reside.  They  have 
been  blessed  with  seven  children:  John,  born 
October  9,  1864,  married  Kate  Sheehan;  Pat- 
rick, born  July  4,  1867,  married  Mattie  Kin- 
nie,  by  whom  he  has  one  son.  Hall;  Peter, 
born  April  i,  1869,  wedded  Mary  Hacy;  Mary, 
born  April  6,  1871,  is  the  wife  of  John  Bridge- 
ford,  by  whom  she  has  one  child,  Leo;  Mar- 
garet, born  May  15,  1874,  Catharine,  born 
September  12,  1878,  and  Thomas,  born  Janu- 
ary 10,  1883,  are  all  at  home. 

Charles  Rogers,  the  grandfather  of  the  wife 
of  our  subject,  was  born,  reared  and  educated 
in  Ireland,  where  he  followed  weaving  in  con- 
nection with  agricultural  pursuits.  In  his  fam- 
ily were  five  children:  Philip,  who  married 
Catharine  Lynch;  Lawrence,  who  married 
Margaret  McCall;  Thomas,  who  married  Mary 
Lynch;  John,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Patrick  Rog- 
ers; and  Patrick,  who  married  Elizabeth  Riley. 

John  Rogers,  like  his  ancestors,  was  born 
and  educated  on  the  Emerald  Isle,  where,  dur- 
ing manhood,  he  carried  on  the  pursuit  of 
farming.  He  married  Miss  Ann  Martin,  daugh- 
ter of  Patrick  and  Ann  Martin,  of  the  same 
country,  and  seven  children  were  born  to  them: 
Patrick,  who  married  Catharine  McBrean; 
Thomas,  who   also  married  a   Catharine  Mc- 


476 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPUICAL  RECORD. 


Brean,  no  relative,  however,  of  his  broth- 
er's wife;  Mary,  who  remained  single;  Cath- 
arine, who  married  Philip  McBrean;  Ann,  who 
married  Patrick  Boyle;  Margaret,  who  married 
Patrick  Rogers,  subject  of  this  sketch;  and 
John,  who  married  Mary  Coonie. 


CVHARLES  H.  SHURTER,  a  public -spirited 
i'  and  enterprising  citizen  of  Poughkeepsie, 
Dutchess  county,  whose  place  of  business  is 
located  at  No.  368  Main  street,  is  engaged  in 
plumbing  and  gas  fitting,  and  also  deals  in  hard- 
ware and  house-furnishing  goods.  He  is  car- 
rying on  a  successful  and  well-established  busi- 
ness, occupying  an  important  place  among  the 
various  industries  of  that  thriving  city,  and 
conducted  on  strictly  honest  principles.  He 
is  looked  up  to  as  a  useful  and  honorable  citi- 
zen, one  who  takes  a  commendable  interest  in 
the  welfare  and  progress  of  his  city  and  county. 

Mr.  Shurter  was  born  March  28,  1836,  in 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  and  is  a  son  of  Isaac  H. 
Shurter,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Fishkill, 
Dutchess  county.  His  great-grandfather  came 
to  the  New  World  from  Holland,  and  located 
upon  a  farm  in  Ulster  county,  N.  Y.,  where 
Frederick  Shurter,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born.  After  his  marriage  the  latter 
located  in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, where  he  followed  farming,  and  reared  his 
five  children. 

In  early  life  Isaac  H.  Shurter  learned  the 
shoemaker's  trade,  and  in  the  town  of  Fishkill 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Clorinda 
Wheeler,  a  native  of  that  township,  born  of 
French  descent.  The  young  couple  removed 
to  Poughkeepsie  in  1832,  where  for  about  five 
years  the  father  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness, and  then  began  boot  making,  in  which 
line  he  continued  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
was  called  from  life  in  1875,  his  wife  in  1872. 
They  were  conscientious,  earnest  Christians, 
and  for  about  thirty-five  years  had  been  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Dur- 
ing his  later  years  the  father  was  an  ardent 
Republican. 

Charles  H.  Shurter  attended  the  first  free 
school  ever  held  in  Poughkeepsie,  and  after 
finishing  his  education,  about  the  year  1850, 
began  to  learn  the  tinsmith's  trade,  which  oc- 
cupation he  followed  until  1876.  At,  that  time 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  George  H.  Briggs 
in  the  hardware  trade,  being  located  at  No. 
368  Main  street,  where  he  still  carries  on  busi- 


ness. In  1868  he  married  Miss  Mary  Kidney, 
a  native  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  a  daughter  of 
Charles  and  Maria  Kidney,  the  former  of  whom 
was  a  leading  liveryman  of  Poughkeepsie,  and 
belonged  to  a  family  that  was  early  established 
in  Dutchess  county.  In  January,  1892,  our 
subject  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of 
his  wife,  a  most  estimable  lady. 

Politically,  Mr.  Shurter  votes  the  straight 
Democratic  ticket,  and  he  is  now  a  member  of 
the   water  board   of   Poughkeepsie.      He  was 
one  of  the  seven  men  who  organized  the  0. 
H.  Booth  Fire  Company,  in  1853,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  actively  connected  with  it, 
and  has  held  all  the  positions  in  the  same,  be 
ing  foreman  eight  years,  chief  of  the  fire  de 
partment  three  years,  and  twentj'  years  a  rep 
resentative  of  the  company,  which  position  hi 
still  holds.      He  is  a  member  of  the  Order  0 
American  Firemen,  was  the  first  president  0 
the  local  organization,  and  is  now  past  presi- 
dent.    For   twenty-nine   years    he    has    beei 
trustee  of  the  local   lodge  of  the  I.  O.  0.  F. 
is   a   member  of   the' Encampment,  and  alst 
belongs  to  the  Sons  of  Temperance.     ToTrin 
ity  Church  he  and  his   faithful  wife  were  lib 
eral  contributors. 


CHAPPELL  ROBINSON,  a  well-know 
agriculturist  of  the  town  of  Stanford 
Dutchess  county,  started  in  life  with  nothin 
save  his  own  indomitable  energy,  and  his  ac 
cumulation  of  this  world's  goods  is  attributabl 
to  his  good  judgment,  perseverance  and  indus 
try.  His  word  in  business  transactions  is  cor 
sidered  as  good  as  his  bond,  and  he  is  just! 
recognized  as  one  of  the  energetic  and  reprf 
sentative  citizens  of  Stanford. 

In  the  town  of  Kent,  Putnam  Co.,  N.  Y 
our  subject  was  born  November  23,  i8i(, 
There  his  grandfather,  Chappell  Robinsor 
with  two  brothers,  had  located  at  an  earl 
day,  and  he  continued  to  make  the  town  > 
Kent  his  home  until  late  in  life,  when  he  r 
moved  to  Tompkins  county,  where  his  dea 
occurred.  By  occupation  he  was  a  farme 
He  wedded  Miss  Mary  Sprague,  by  whom  1 
had  five  children:  Stephen,  Sabins,  Squit 
Mary  and  Eli. 

Stephen  Robinson,  the  father  of  our  su 
ject,  was  also  a  native  of  the  town  of  Kei 
Putnam  county,  where  his  education  was  ; 
quired  in  the  common  schools,  and  he  the 
married  Martha  Kelly,  daughter  of  Seth  Kel 


xfLifC^ 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


4.11 


Fo  them  were  born  thirteen  children,  namely: 

3happell,  Seth  Kelly,   Osborn,   Enos,  Emily, 

?illah,  Jarvis,  Ada,  Nathaniel,  Priscilla,  Rob- 

;rt,  Catherine  and  William.     The   father. en- 

;aged  in  farming  in  his  native  township  until 

836,  when  he  removed   to  the  town  of  Stan- 

ord,  Dutchess  county,  where  he  followed  the 

ame  pursuit  for  several  years.      The  following 

welve  years  were  passed   at   Lithgow,  in  the 

own  of   Washington,   Dutchess  county,  after 

;hich  he  returned  to  Stanford  town,  where  he 

ied  in  February,  1876,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of 

ighty  years.      He  had   served   as  a  soldier  in 

he  war  of  181 2.  and  was  a  faithful  Republic- 

n  in  politics. 

The  early  life  of  our  subject   was  passed 

pon  the  home  farm   in  the  town  of    Kent, 

•here  he  attended  the  district  schools,  and  he 

;mained  a  member  of  his  father's  household 

ntil  he  attained  his  majority,  when  he  started 

lut  for   himself  as   a   farm  hand,    working  in 

lat  way  some  three  years.    On  December  13, 

845,  he  was  united  in    marriage  with   Miss 

^ary  Bunnel,    a  daughter  of  Levi  and  Lois 

|4osher)  Bunnel,  the  former  of  whom  was  a 

ktive  of    Hyde   Park,   Dutchess  county,  and 

as   descended    from     Connecticut    Yankees. 

)  our  subject   and   his  wife  were   born   four 

•lildren,  namely:    Charles  H.  and  Enos,  who 

^;d  in  infancy;  Henrietta,   who  became  the 

^fe  of  Seth  K.  Winans;  and  Ida,  who  mar- 

i:d  Almon   Harrison.      Mr.    Robinson    began 

Is  domestic  life  upon  a  farm  near  Stanford- 

•  le,  where  he  lived  until  March,  1880,  since 

viich  time  he  has  resided   upon  his  present 

fcm.    His  time  and  attention  have  always  been 

(jvoted  to  general   farming,  and  he  has  met 

vth  a  well-deserved  success  in  his  undertak- 

i  ;s.     During  the  three  years  he  was  employed 

I  others,  when  a  young  man,    he  never  lost 

U  seven   days  time,  six  being  spent  in  train- 

(or  he  would  have  been   fined)  and  the 

er  in  attending  a   political   celebration  at 

1  jghkeepsie.      His   political  allegiance  is  al- 

V|ys  unfalteringly  given  the  Republican  party, 

al  he  has'  been  called  upon  to  serve  as  assess- 

A  the  town  of  Stanford.     As  a  citizen  of 

-  community  in  which  he  has  so  long  made 

h  home,    Mr.  Robinson   is  highly  respected. 

Cloying  the  confidence  of  his  neighbors  and  a 

wile  circle    of  friends.      Since   1840  he  has 

bftn  an  active  member  of  the  Baptist  Church 

aJBangall,  in  which  he  has  served  as  trustee 

ail  deacon,  and  has  also  been  superintendent 

0  he  Sunday-school. 


GEORGE  E.  PARKS,  owner  and  propri- 
etor of  a  general  mercantile  store  at 
Hibernia,  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  is  one  of  the 
promising  young  business  men  of  Dutchess 
county,  where  his  entire  life  has  been  passed. 
His  father,  Richard  J.  Parks,  was  born  in 
London,  England,  June  22,  1833,  and  is  the 
eldest  in  a  family  of  eight  children  born  to 
Richard  and  Hannah  Parks,  also  natives  of 
that  wonderful  city.  By  trade  the  grandfather 
was  a  shoemaker,  and  when  his  eldest  son  was 
eighteen  years  of  age  he  emigrated  with  his 
family  to  America,  making  his  first  home  at 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  He  later  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Highland,  where  his  wife  died,  and  he 
passed  away  while  in  Poughkeepsie.  After 
coming  to  the  New  World  he  continued  to  fol- 
low his  trade  of  shoemaking. 

In  the  schools  of  London  the  father  of  our 
subject  obtained  his  literary  education,  and  on 
coming  to  Dutchess  county  began  working  on 
a  farm  in  the  town  of  Washington.  Later  he 
purchased  land  in  the  town  of  Stanford,  which 
he  operated  for  twenty  years,  on  the  expiration 
of  which  he  sold  out  and  returned  to  the  town 
of  Washington.  For  thirteen  years  he  was 
engaged  in  farming  there,  and  he  is  now  living 
in  the  town  of  Millbrook,  Dutchess  county. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and 
is  highly  respected  by  all  who  know  him.  In 
Washington  town  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Hannah  Smith,  and  to  them  were  born 
four  children  :  George  E. ,  Charles  (who  died 
at  the  age  of  ten  years ),  Sarah  and  Robert. 

The  birth  of  George  E.  Parks  occurred 
June  20,  i860,  in  the  town  of  Stanford,  where 
his  early  life  was  passed  in  an  uneventful  man- 
ner, the  greater  part  of  the  time  being  spent 
in  the  school  room  or  in  aiding  his  father  in 
the  work  of  the  farm.  He  remained  under 
the  parental  roof  until  twenty  years  of  age, 
when  he  took  up  the  profession  of  teaching, 
which  he  followed  for  twelve  years,  his  first 
school  being  near  Bangall ;  was  then  employed 
at  Stanfordville,  Hibernia,  Pleasant  Valley, Salt 
Point  and  Clinton  Hollow.  In  December, 
1894,  he  started  in  his  present  business,  in 
which  he  is  meeting  with  well-deserved  suc- 
cess, having  secured  a  large  and  lucrative  trade. 
He  is  also  serving  as  deputy  postmaster  of 
Hibernia. 

In  the  town  of  Stanford,  December  24, 
1884,  Mr.  Parks  was  joined  in  wedlock  with 
Miss  Carrie  E.  Vail,  a  daughter  of  George  Vail, 
and  two  children  bless  their  union  :     Charles 


478 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


E.,  born  April  19,  1886;  and  Roy  I.,  born 
July  17,  1887.  Socially,  Mr.  Parks  holds 
membership  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge 
No.  143,  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  He  has  made 
a  very  successful  start  in  life,  and  by  his  sys- 
tematic methods  of  conducting  his  business, 
his  strict  attention  to  it  in  all  its  details,  and 
his  thorough,  upright  dealings,  have  already 
made  him  an  honorable  record  in  the  business 
world. 


m  LFRED  VAN  WEY,  one  of  the  enter- 
.^k^  prising  and  wide-awake  citizens  of  Barry- 
town,  Dutchess  county,  has  held  his  present 
position  in  the  employ  of  the  New  York  Cen- 
tral Railroad  Company  for  thirteen  years. 
He  is  descended  from  one  of  the  early  families 
of  Ulster  county,  N.  Y. ,  where  his  paternal 
grandparents,  Henry  and  Cornelia  Van  Wey, 
were  both  born.  In  their  family  of  five  chil- 
dren were  Mary,  Cornelia  and  De  Witt.  The 
maternal  grandparents,  Zacharia  and  Gertrude 
(Near)  Cole,  were  natives  of  the  town  of 
Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county,  and  in  their 
family  were  thirteen  children,  namely:  Jacob 
married  Catherine  Hapeman;  Frederick  mar- 
ried Sarah  Aldridge;  Edward  L.  married  Eliza 
Traver;  Simon  married  Julia  Broadhead; 
George  W.  married  Catherine  Straut;  Eliza 
married  John  McCurdy;  Catherine  married 
Charles  Riggins;  Susan  married  Henry  Batcher; 
Lydia  married  Alfred  Plass;  Sarah  married 
John  Van  Etten;  Lucy  remained  single;  Delia 
was  the  mother  of  our  subject;  and  Margaret 
married  Frank  Stickle. 

De  Witt  Van  Wey,  the  father  of  Alfred, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess 
county,  and  by  trade  was  a  wagonmaker, 
which  occupation  he  followed  throughout  most 
of  his  life.  He  died  in  1890.  He  had  mar- 
ried Delia  Cole,  who  was  also  a  native  of  the 
town  of  Rhinebeck,  and  was  there  educated. 
Two  children  were  born  to  them:  Alfred,  the 
subject  of  this  review;  and  Charles,  who  wed- 
ded Hattie  Traver,  by  whom  he  has  four  chil- 
dren— Ralph,  Charles,  Marion  and  Minnie. 

Alfred  Van  Wey  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Anna  Albers,  who  was  born  in  New  York 
City  in  1857,  and  in  its  public  schools  acquired 
a  fair  education.  Two  children  have  come  to 
bless  their  union:  Mildred,  born  in  1884;  and 
Clara,  born  in  1885.  Mrs.  Van  Wey  is  the 
daughter  of  Christian  Albers,  who  was  born  in 
Germany.     He  was  an  engineer,  and  on  emi- 


grating to  the  United  States  first  located  in 
New  York  City,  where  he  married  Maria  Wul- 
pin,  also  a  native  of  the  Fatherland,  who  had 
come  to  this  country  for  that  purpose.  They 
became  the  parents  of  five  children:  Anna, 
wife  of  our  subject;  John;  Mary,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Thomas  Quillen;  Lewis,  who  mar- 
ried Emma  Daily;  and  Herman,  who  died  in 
infancy. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Wey  are  pleasant,  in- 
telligent people,  and  well  deserve  the  esteeff 
and  respect  of  those  among  whom  they  makt 
their  home.  Socially,  he  is  prominently  iden 
tified  with  Christian  Lodge,  L  O.  O.  F. ,  0 
Red  Hook,  and  is  also  a  member  of  Shilol 
Encam.pment  of  the  same  place.  He  is  a  pro 
gressive  and  public-spirited  citizen,  taking  ; 
commendable  interest  in  the  advancement  an( 
upbuilding  of  his  town  and  county. 


L 


GUIS  SCHAFER,  a  well-known  busines 
man  of  Dover  Plains,  Dutchess  county 
where  he  has  been  for  many  years  engaged  ii 
the  shoe  trade,  was  born  February  i ,  1 844,  ii 
Brunswick,  Germany,  which  has  been  th 
home  of  his  ancestors  for  many  generations. 

William  Schafer,  father  of  our  subject,  wa 
born  there,  and  received  a  good  education  i 
the  public  schools,  and  after  learning  the  shoe: 
maker's  trade  engaged  in  business  there.  H 
married  Fraulein  Sophia  Schrieber,  and  ha 
six  children:    William,    who   married   Sophi 

;   Henry,  who  died  in  the  U.  S.  armjl 

Louis,  our  subject;  Charlotte,  who  marriec, 
Anna,  who  died  in  infancy;  and  Sophia,  whi 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three. 

Our  subject's   early  educational  opportun 
ties  were  e.xcellent,  and  he  improved  them  we 
during  boyhood.      He  learned  the  shoemaker! 
trade  with   his  father,  but   his  business  care'l 
was  interrupted  by   a  compulsory  service 
three  years  in  the  German   army.     At  the  erp 
of   his  term   he   obtained  a  pass   and  came   | 
the  United  States,  locating  in  Brooklyn,  N.  V 
where  he   followed   his  trade  for  three  yeai 
In  1872  he  moved  to  Dover  Plains,  and  esta 
lished   his  present  prosperous  business.     I 
has  always  been  a  Republican  in  politics,  b 
has  never  aspired  to  office,  and  he  is  a  proii 
nent  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Dov 
Plains.     In  1872  he  was  married  to  Miss  Cat 
erine   Miller,   and   has  two  children:    Albe 
born   November    10,    1875,   and   Lizzie,   bo 
December  16,  1879. 


COMMEMORATIVE  BTOOBAPEICAL  RECORD. 


479 


I       Antonie  Miller,  Mrs.  Schafer's  father,  is  a 

jaative  of  Reichshoffen,  Alsace-Lorraine  (then 

ii  part  of  France),  and  was  educated  there. 

He  was   for  some  time   engaged   in   farming, 

ater  becoming  a  tavern-keeper  there.      His 

.vife  was  Catherine  Bruner,  daughter  of  Michael 

jind    Barbara    Bruner,   well-to-do    farmers    of 

!:ieichshofTen,    and    they    had     four   children: 

'atherine    (Mrs.    Schafer);     Philomane,    who 

narried    George    Durrenburger;     Louis,    who 

lied   at   the   age   of  twenty-three  years;   and 

vnnie,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Mower. 


ENRY    J.   YEOMANS    is    a  wide-awake 

and  progressive  citizen   of   the  town  of 

'nionvale,  where  he  is  successfully  engaged  in 
le  operation  of  his  farm.  He  is  a  native  of 
reene  county,  N.  Y. ,born  in  Cairo  township, 
ugust  22,  1847,  and  is  a  son  of  William  Ira 
eomans,  whose  birth  occurred  in  the  same 
|ace  in  1 8 1 7.  There  the  father  attended  the 
hmmon  schools,  and  after  reaching  years  of 
jaturity  turned  his  attention  to  farming.  On 
ovember  25,  1846,  he  married  Miss  Mary 
aight,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  Haight, 
iming  people  of  Dutchess  county.  Four 
I  ildren  were  born  of  this  union,  but  with  the 
I  :eption  of  our  subject  all  died  when  young. 
'  ley  were  John  H.,  born  August  31,  1849; 
(  arles  W.,  born  May  7,  1852;  and  Sarah 
1  cinda,  born  December  30,  1854.  The  wife 
;  1  mother  died  in  June,  1863,  and  later  the 
f  her  married  Mrs.  Harriet  M.  Green. 

William  Yeomans,  the  grandfather  of  our 
s  'ject,  was  also  a  native  of  Greene    county, 
rpeived  a  district-school  education    and  from 
ej-ly  life  engaged    in    farming.      He    married 
Ii|ss  Lucinda    Blackmer,  and  they    had    nine 
"^  Mren:     Leonard;  Elisha;  George,  who  mar- 
Eliza  Haight;  Henry,  who  died  unmarried; 
vlliam  L;  Hannah,  who  married  Isaac  Place; 
Anis,  who  married  Cornell  White;  Catharine, 
N\o  married  John  Hill;  and  Almira,  who  mar- 
ri-  Emmer  Haight. 
The  advantages  of  our  subject  for  securing 
•ducation  were  such  as  the  public  schools 
IS  native  county  afforded,  and  on  starting 
in  life  for  himself  he  engaged  in  mercantile 
"^iness.     Later    he   purchased    the    farm   of 
niety-four  acres,  of  Mary  Taber,  on  which  he 
^ince  resided,  and  now  has  the  place  under 
?h  state  of  cultivation  and  well-improved 
1  all  modern  conveniences.      He  is  a  man 
'  1,'ood  financial  ability  and  excellent    judg- 


ment, and  since  becoming  a  resident  of  Union- 
vale  has  won  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the 
community,  and  occupies  a  leading  position 
among  its  influential  citizens. 

Mr.  Yeomans  was  united  in  marriage  No- 
vember 4,  1868,  with  Miss  Mary  Jane  Wilber, 
who  was  born  in  1849,  at  Duanesburgh,  Schen- 
ectady county,  N.  Y.  Eleven  children  blessed 
their  union,  whose  names  and  dates  of  birth 
are  as  follows:  William  H.,  March  31,  1872; 
George  D.,  October  23,  1873;  Sarah  Eliza, 
October  14,  1875;  Charles  E. ,  July  20,  1877; 
Bradford  W.,  May  14,  1879;  Edwin  J.,  Jan- 
uary 16,  1881;  EsterD.,  April  4,  1883;  Theron 
J.,  September  21,  1885;  Lizzie  V.,  February 
28,  1888;  Lena  M.,  November  21,  1891;  and 
Florence,  June  4,  1893.  All  are  still  living 
with  the  exception  of  Charles  E.  William  H. , 
the  eldest  son,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Wash- 
ington, Dutchess  county,  was  educated  in  the 
district  schools,  and  is  now  carrying  on  farm- 
ing. On  November  28,  1893,  he  married  Miss 
LaNeta  Colwell. 

Benjamin  Wilber,  the  great-grandfather  of 
Mrs.  Yeomans,  was  a  native  of  Dartmouth, 
R.  I.,  but  became  a  resident  of  Schoharie 
county,  this  State,  where  he  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  which  he  made  his  life  work. 
In  1799  he  married  Miss  Mary  Wilber,  of 
Dutchess  county,  who  though  of  the  same 
name  was  no  relative.  They  became  the  par- 
ents of  seven  children:  Nathaniel  (the  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Yeomans),  Alanson,  Briggs, 
Benjamin,  Joseph,  Rachel  and  Rhoda. 

The  birth  of  Nathaniel  Wilber  occurred  in 
Schoharie  county,  June  i,  1800,  and  there  he 
received  his  education.  In  early  life  he  en- 
gaged in  farming,  but  later  carried  on  the  meat 
business.  In  18 18  he  wedded  Rachel  Brad- 
ford, who  was  born  in  Stanford  in  1797,  and 
by  her  he  had  six  children:  David,  Bradford, 
Benjamin,     Julius,    Nathaniel   and    Sarah    A. 

David  Wilber,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Yeomans, 
was  born  in  Schoharie  county,  in  1823,  and 
after  finishing  his  education  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's trade,  at  which  he  was  employed  through- 
out the  principal  part  of  his  life.  For  his  first 
wife  he  married  Miss  Eliza  N.  Hoag,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Enoch  and  Mary  (Norton)  Hoag,  farm- 
ing people  of  Quaker  Hill,  Dutchess  county, 
and  the  only  child  born  of  this  union  was  Mary 
Jane,  the  wife  of  our  subject.  The  wife  and 
mother  died  in  1850,  and  later  Mr.  Wilber 
married  Miss  Monemia  Levey,  daughter  of 
Philip  and  Monemia  Levey. 


480 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Of  the  nine  children  by  the  second  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Wilber,  Rosa,  born  in  1871,  died 
in  infancy,  and  another  died  in  infancy  un- 
named. The  others  are  as  follows:  (i)  Charles 
E.,  born  March  30,  1853,  in  Duanesburgh 
township,  Schenectady  county,  is  a  carpenter 
and  wagon  maker  by  trade;  on  November  4, 
1882,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  J.  Van  Pelt, 
daughter  of  Alexander  Van  Pelt,  and  they  had 
five  children— Mary,  Avan  (deceased),  Pearl, 
Roscoe  (deceased)  and  Rosie.  (2)  Julius  R., 
born  in  Schoharie  county,  June  22,  1856,  is  a 
conductor  in  the  employ  of  the  Albany  &  Sus- 
quehanna Railroad  Comp&ny;  he  was  married 
February  22,  1883,  to  Jennie  Donahue,  and 
they  have  three  children — Nina,  Ivy  and  Ray- 
mond. (3)  William  J.,  born  January  i,  1858, 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  (4)  Brad- 
ford B.,  born  in  Schoharie  county,  August  11, 
1859,  married  Minnie  Van  Steenburgh,  of 
Dutchess  county,  by  whom  he  has  a  daughter, 
Hazel;  he  is  engaged  in  merchandising.  (5) 
Edwin  P.,  born  in  Schenectady  county,  Sep- 
tember 22,  1861,  is  on  aranchin  Meeker,  Colo. ; 
he  married  Mollie  Watson,  and  has  three  chil- 
dren— Frank  (deceased),  Ella,  and  one  whose 
name  is  not  given.  (6)  Agnes,  born  in  Sche- 
nectady county,  November  7,  1863,  is  the  wife 
of  William  Showers,  who  is  at  the  head  of  the 
electric  works  at  Schenectady,  and  they  have 
two  children- — Flossie  and  Edna.  (7)  Ella 
M.,  born  in  Schoharie  county,  November  24, 
1865,  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Watson,  a  carpen- 
ter of  Meeker,  Colo.,  and  they  have  one  child — 
Everett. 


MYMAN 
of  H.   B.  Rosa  &   Son,  of   Fishkill  and 

Matteawan,  undertakers  and  dealers  in  furni- 
ture, is  one  of  the  oldest  business  concerns  of 
that  locality,  having  been  founded  in  1827  by 
the  father  of  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  John 
H.  Rosa,  who  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  Fish- 
kill  during  the  early  part  of  this  century.  The 
home  of  the  family  had  previously  been  at 
Hurley,  Ulster  county,  where  our  subject's 
grandfather,  Hyman  Rosa,  a  son  of  Jacob 
Rosa,  was  a  leading  resident  of  his  day.  He 
and  his'wife,  Rebecca  Sleight,  reared  there  a 
family  of  six  children :  Jacob,  Jane,  Maria,  John 
H.,  Caleb  Merritt  and  Newkirk.  John  H.  Rosa 
married  Margaret  Crispell,  and  settled  in  Fish- 
kill,  where   he   at  once   engaged   in   business. 


They  had  a  family  of  seven  children:  Abran 
Gaasbeck,  Hyman  B.,  Jane  Ann,  Sarah  C. 
Theodore  A.,  John  C.  and  Mary  D. 

Hyman  B.  Rosa  was  born  in  Fishkill  vil- 
lage, January  26,  1829,  and  after  attending 
the  public  schools  of  that  place  until  the  age 
of  fifteen,  he  began  to  help  his  father  in  the 
store,  acquiring  there  a  complete  knowledge 
of  the  business.  In  1857  he  was  taken  intc 
partnership,  and  at  the  death  of  his  father,  ir 
i860,  he  became  sole  proprietor,  and  contin 
ued  alone  until  his  son,  Frederic  L.,  was  read; 
to  take  a  place  in  the  firm.  Since  that  timi 
the  business  has  been  greatly  enlarged,  ; 
branch  at  Matteawan  having  been  establishei 
under  the  charge  of  his  junior  partner. 

Mr.  Rosa  married  Miss  Sarah  B.  South 
ard,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Elizabeth  South 
ard,  and  their  union  was  blessed  with  fou 
children:  Margaret  C. ,  Frank  (who  died  a 
the  age  of  eight  years),  Laura  and  Frederic  L 
The  family  are  leading  members  of  the  Rt 
formed  Dutch  Church,  at  Fishkill  Village,  an( 
Mr.  Rosa  has  taken  an  influential  part  in  man 
local  movements,  giving  his  support  to  th 
Republican  party  on  all  political  issues. 

Frederic    L.     Rosa,    who    has    alread ' 
given  evidence  in   his  business  career  of  th 
possession  of  that  inherited   ability,  foresight 
and  energy  which  has  built    up  in  past  year 
the  success  of  the  firm  of  H.  B.  Rosa  &  Sor 
was  born  in  Fishkill  Village,  March  15,  186;' 
and    received    his    education    in    the   pub! ' 
schools  there.   At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  entere 
the  store  as  a  clerk,  and    in    1888  became  ; 
partner.     The    wide    acquaintance   and   hig 
reputation  which  his  firm  has  enjoyed  for  moij 
than  half  a  century  justified  the  establishmei 
of  the  branch  store  at  Matteawan,  which  w; 
opened  in  October,  1894,  and  has  since  bee 
carried  on  under  his  supervision.     He  alsoh: 
full  charge  of  their  large  undertaking  busine 
in  Matteawan  and    Fishkill  Landing,  and  h 
the  finest  hearses  and  other  paraphernalia  to  l^ 
found  in  the  county.  | 

In  June,  1893,  F.   L.    Rosa  married  Mi, 
Effie  B.  Coldwell,  daughter  of  Samuel  A.  aij 
Rebecca  (Tompkins)  Coldwell,  and  they  resi ' 
at  Fishkill  Landing,  in  a  pleasant  home  att 
corner  of    Church  street  and   Cottage  plac 
They  are  prominent   in   the   Reformed  Dut 
Church  of  that  locality.    Mr.  Rosa  is  an  acti 
member  of  the  K.  of  P. ,  holding,  at  the  pi 
ent    time,  the  office    of  prelate   in  Melzing 
Lodge  No.  304;  also  a  member  of  Evergrei 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


481 


|,odge  No.  131,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  of  the  Lewis 
"ompkins  Hose  Company.  In  politics  he  ad- 
leres  to  the  Republican  party. 


N\EORGE  FEROE.  Few  men  are  more 
af  prominent  in  the  enterprising  village  of 
ivoli  than  this  gentleman.  He  has  been  an 
iportant  factor  in  business  circles,  and  his 
jpularity  is  well  deserved,  as  in  him  are  em- 
aced  the  characteristics  of  an  unbending 
tegrity,  unabated  energy  and  industry  that 
iver  flags.  He  is  public-spirited,  and  thor- 
( ghly  interested  in  whatever  tends  to  promote 
1e  moral,  intellectual  and  material  welfare  of 
te  community. 

Mr.  Feroe  was  born  in  the  town  of  Red 
)3ok,  October  14,  1825,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry 
Iroe,  also  a  native  of  that  town.  The  birth 
cthe  paternal  grandfather  occurred  in  France, 
ad  on  emigrating  to  this  country  he  located 
iithe  town  of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess  county, 
vere  he  engaged  in  farming  and  reared  his 
t  '  children:  Henry;  and  Betsy,  who  became 
Aife  of  Jacob  Van  Steenburgh,  a  farmer 
J  ;ne  same  township.  The  grandfather  was 
a  aithful  member  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Ciirch. 

;  Although  reared   to   agricultural    pursuits, 
Hiiry  Feroe   learned    the   carpenter's  trade, 
wch  he  followed  exclusively  through  life.    He 
w;  united  in  marriage  with  Maria  Lasher,  a 
nfive  of  the  town  of  Red  Hook,  and  of  Hol- 
la! descent.      Her  father,  Sebastian  Lasher, 
fa)wed   the    occupation  of    farming.      After 
thr  marriage  the  young  couple  located  upon 
a  rm  in  their  native  township,  where   they 
refed  their  family  of  eleven  children:  John  is 
"    tired  carpenter  of  Tivoli;    William    (de- 
d)  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade;   Peter  is 
I  carpenter  of  Tivoli;  Betsie  (deceased) 
he  wife  of  John  Huffman,  a  shoemaker; 
ird  is    a   carpenter   of    Fishkill,    N.    Y. ; 
ne  and  Robert  died  unmarried;  Margaret 
!ed  Stephen  Clum,  a  carpenter;  Matilda  is 
widow   of    Mr.    Leason,    an    undertaker; 
elia,  who  married  Eli  Best,  a  farmer,  now 
s  her  home  in  Tivoli;  and  George,  of  this 
i«v:w,  is  the  eighth  in  order  of  birth.     The 
paints,  who  were  consistent  members  of  the 
-med  Dutch  Church,  have  both  departed 
ife. 

ur  subject  remained  upon  the  home  farm 
i"'t,  reaching  his  majority  when  he  went  to 
Tivli,  where  he  worked  by  the  day.      In  1843 


he  married  Miss  Sarah  J.  Simonson,  a  native 
of  Red  Hook  town,  and  a  daughter  of  James 
and  Julia  Simonson,  the  former  a  merchant. 
The  following  year  Mr.  Feroe  started  west- 
ward, going  by  steamboat  to  Albany,  thence 
up  the  Erie  canal  to  Buffalo,  from  there  to 
Toledo,  Ohio,  and  then  up  the  Maumee  river 
to  Logansport,  Ind.,  but  did  not  long  remain 
there,  returning  to  Red  Hook  in  the  fall. 
After  working  at  the  carpenter's  trade  for  some 
time  he  went  to  New  Jersey,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  four  years,  and  for  two 
years  followed  the  same  occupation  in  Michi- 
gan. Returning  to  New  Jersey,  he  was  there 
employed  at  painting  and  carpentering  for 
some  time,  and  in  the  city  of  Newark  for  four 
years  followed  gardening.  His  next  home  was 
near  Peoria,  111. ,  where  he  engaged  in  agricult- 
ural pursuits  some  four  years,  after  which  he 
followed  the  same  occupation  in  Michigan  for 
thirteen  years.  In  1863,  however,  he  returned 
to  Tivoli,  purchasing  his  present  place,  and 
has  here  since  made  his  home.  In  connection 
with  landscape  gardening  he  is  also  engaged  in 
the  cooperage  business,  and  in  1893  made  60,- 
000  fruit  barrels,  one-half  of  the  whole  amount 
manufactured  in  Dutchess  county. 

Five  children  were  bori\  to  our  subject 
and  his  wife,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy, 
and  Adda  passing  away  in  1893.  Those  living 
are  Clarence,  a  resident  of  Tivoli;  and  Emma, 
wife  of  Montgomery  Queen,  who  also  lives  in 
Tivoli.  The  mother's  death  occurred  May  18, 
1876.  The  present  wife  of  our  subject  was 
Mary  L.  Moore,  of  Dutchess  county,  whom  he 
married  in  1876.  They  contribute  liberally  to 
the  support  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  and  hold  a 
high  position  in  the  social  circles  of  the  com- 
munity. Although  not  very  active  in  politics, 
Mr.  Feroe  keeps  himself  well  informed  on 
current  events,  and  uniformly  votes  the  Re- 
publican ticket. 


E\GBERT  WOODIN,  who  is  pleasantly  lo- 
'I  cated  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  Dutchess 

county,  is  operating  successfully  as  a  farmer, 
and,  although  now  over  eighty-one  years  of 
age,  is  still  numbered  among  the  industrious 
and  enterprising  men  of  the  county.  He  is  a 
native  son  of  Dutchess  county,  born  in  the 
town  of  Pawling,  July  24,  181 5,  and  here  his 
entire  life  has  been  passed,  his  boyhood  being 
spent  in  the  place  of  his  birth,  but  for  thirty- 
five  years  he  has  resided  upon  his  present  farm 


482 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHWAL  RECORD. 


in  the  town  of  Beekman.  Active  and  ener- 
getic, he  has  not  laid  aside  his  business  cares ; 
in  the  spring  of  1896  he  planted  a  large  field 
of  corn. 

Solomon  Woodin,  his  father,  was  also  born 
in  the  town  of  Pawling,  and  was  the  eldest  in 
the  family  of  seven  children  belonging  to  Amos 
and  Lucretia  (Millard)  Woodin,  residents  of 
that  township.  There  the  father  was  reared, 
and  was  married  to  Miss  Annie  Franklin.  In 
1845  they  removed  to  Beekman  town,  where 
he  carried  on  farming  and  where  their  deaths 
occurred.  Thirteen  children  were  born  to 
them:  Ransom,  Esther,  Ira,  Milton,  Sarah, 
Amos,  Federal,  Lucretia,  Egbert,  Henry,  Ben- 
jamin, Ruth  and  Chauncey.  All  are  now  de- 
ceased with  the  exception  of  Sarah,  Federal, 
Egbert,  Henry  and  Ruth. 

The  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were 
passed  in  the  town  of  Pawling,  but  he  was 
married  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  in  1833,  to 
Miss  Mary  Millard,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren: Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Dr.  John  H. 
Doughty,  of  Matteawan,  Dutchess  county; 
Matilda,  widow  of  W.  H.  Wright,  and  Robert, 
of  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.  Since  1838  Mr.  Woodin 
has. been  a  resident  of  the  town  of  Beekman, 
and  has  been  prominently  identified  with  its 
affairs.  He  was  first  a  Whig  in  politics,  and 
now  votes  the  Republican  ticket;  he  has  most 
acceptably  filled  the  offices  of  collector  and 
overseer  of  the  poor.  For  over  forty  years  he 
has  held  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  at  Poughquag,  in  which  he  is  now 
serving  as  steward,  and  is  a  most  consistent 
and  earnest  Christian. 


JACKSON  HUSTED,  who  occupies  a  fine 
and  well-improved  farm  in  the  town  of 
Clinton,  Dutchess  county,  is  numbered 
among  its  prominent  farmers,  who  from  a 
small  beginning  has  built  up  one  of  the  best 
homesteads  within  its  borders.  The  residence 
and  its  surroundings  are  highly  creditable  to 
the  proprietor,  and  indicate  him  to  be  a  man 
of  industry  and  energy,  one  who  has  kept  his 
eyes  open  on  what  is  going  on  in  the  world 
around  him,  and  availed  himself  of  the  most 
approved  methods  of  carrying  on  agriculture. 
Mr.  Husted  was  born  in  October,  1828,  in 
Saratoga  county,  N.  Y.,  where  his  grandfather 
had  made  a  settlement  at  an  early  day.  The 
latter  was  a  native  of  England,  and  on  coming 
to  the   United  States   made  his  first  home  in 


Maine,  whence  he  removed  to  Saratoga  county. 
There  the  father  of  our  subject,  Louis  Husted, 
was  also  born  and  reared,  and  on  reaching 
man's  estate  wedded  Phoebe  Jackson,  by  whom 
he  had  four  children:  Walter  W.  (deceased); 
Jackson,  subject  of  this  review;  Mary  Ann, 
widow  of  John  Robinson;  and  Phcebe  Jane, 
wife  of  John  H.  Miller.  The  father  continued 
to  carry  on  agricultural  pursuits  in  his  native 
county  until  1831,  when  he  brought  his  family 
to  Dutchess  county,  locating  upon  a  farm  in 
the  town  of  Stanford,  where  his  death  occurred 
about  1855,  and  his  wife  survived  him  but  a 
few  years.  He  was  a  sincere  Christian,  and 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Being  only  three  years  of  age  at  the  tin» 
of    his    arrival    in    Dutchess   county,  Jacksor 
Husted  was  here  reared,  attending  the  com 
mon  schools  of  the  town  of  Stanford  durinj 
the  winter  terms,  and  assisting  his  father  01 ; 
the   farm  during  the   seasons  of   sowing  an(  ■ 
reaping.     On  starting  out  in  life  for  himself  h- 
engaged  in  farming  in  the  town  of  Stanford; 
but  later  removed  to  Washington  town,  when 
he  farmed  for  sixteen  years,  and  the  followin: 
two  years  were  passed  in  Pleasant  Valley  town , 
Dutchess  county.      In  1881   he  located  upo  ^ 
his  present  farm  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  to  th. 
cultivation  and  improvement  of  which  he  hai 
since  devoted  his  attention.  | 

In  Stanford  town  Mr.  Husted  was  unite  j 
in    marriage    with     Mary    Elizabeth    Haigh 
daughter  of  George  Haight,  and  to  them  hav, 
been  born  three  children:  Sarah  H.  is  thewi: 
of  Jordan   Cornelius,  of  LaFayetteville,  towj 
of   Milan,   Dutchess  county;  George  L.  w; 
married  in  the  town  of  Washington,  Septan | 
ber  9,  1879,  to  Annie  M.    Sissons,  and  th(| 
now  make  their  home  in  Clinton  town;   ar 
Judson  is  a  resident  of   Stanford  town.     Ml 
Husted,  politically,  votes  with  the  Republic; 
party,  and  he  is  a  man  worthy  of  the  regard  | 
which  he  is  held  by  all. 


LEONARD    L.   MOREY  has  for  the  h\ 
thirty-two  years  been  successfully  op' 

ating  on  a  fine  farm  in  the  town  of  Stanfoj 
Dutchess  county,  with  most  excellent  resul 
The  place,  with  its  tasteful  and  substant^ 
buildings,  and  its  general  air  of  thrift  and  cof 
fort,  forms  one  of  the  most  attractive  spots* 
the  landscape  of  the  township.  As  a  c\\\>} 
and  business  man,  Mr.  Morey  stands  higbji 
the  esteem  of  his  neighbors.     He  is  a  nat? 


ij 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


483 


[  Dutchess  county,  born  in  the  town  of  Wash- 
igton  January  17,  1825. 

John  Morey,  grandfather  of  Leonard  L., 
as  born  about  1767,  in  the  town  of  Lagrange, 
'utchess  county,  where  throughout  life  he 
irried  on  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  a 
linscientious,  Christian  man,  and  a  faithful 
iember  of  the  Reformed  Church.  He  mar- 
led Catherine  Dean,  who  was  born  about 
■70,  and  to  them  were  born  four  children : 
jiizabeth,  Isaac,  Margaret  and  John. 

Isaac  Morey,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 

Irn  in  the  town  of  Lagrange  March  4,  1798, 

cd  there  spent  his  early  days.      On  reaching 

rinhood  he  was  married  in  the  town  of  Hyde 

Irk,  Dutchess  county,   to  Miss  Maria  Pells, 

cughter  of  Evert  and  Deborah  (Lewis)  Pells, 

ad  they  became  the  parents  of  five  children  : 

I  art  P.,  Leonard  Lewis,  Deborah,  Mary  and 

Jin.     Leonard   Lewis,  grandfather  of    Mrs. 

I^ac  Morey,  was  the  first  judge  of  Dutchess 

Ciinty.      For  about  five  years  after  his  mar- 

ri;e  Isaac  Morey  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of 

lad  in  the  town  of  Washington,  at  the  end  of 

^^  r-h  time  he  came  to  Stanford  town,  where 

lowed  farming  during  the  remainder  of 

:e.     In  political  sentiment  he  was  first  a 

and  later  a  Republican,  while  in  matters 

ijion  he  held  membership  with  the  Meth- 

Episcopal  Church  of  Bangall,  N.  Y.      He 

to  an   advanced   age,   dying  in   March, 

his  wife  passed    away    December    20, 

at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years. 

he  early  life  of    our  subject  was  spent 

the   manner  of    most  farmers'  sons,  his 

ition  being  carried  on  in  the  district  schools 

e  town  of    Stanford.      He  continued  to 

in  the  care  and  cultivation  of  the  home 

for  five  years  after  his  marriage,  October 

-^^50,  in  the  town  of  Pine  Plains,  Dutchess 

y,    to    Miss    Elizabeth    L.    Hicks.     This 

able  lady,  who  was  the  daughter  of  Ben- 

and  Hannah  (Cousei   Hicks,  was  born 

1,  1830,  and  died  December  20,  1887, 

many  friends  as  well  as  her  immediate 

to  mourn  her  death.     One  child  came 

union:     Ida  J.,  born  October  26,  1854, 

January  6,  1874,   to  Philip  Dorland, 

cm  she  has  two  children:     Anita,  now 

ife  of  Emmer  Haight,  and  has  one  child 

— Rth   A.,   born    November    29,    1S95;    and 

The  entire  life  of  Mr.  Morey  has  been 

-  ■cd  to  farming  in  the  town  of  Stanford, 

andpere  are  few  men  in  the  community  more 

Wide,   or  favorably  known,   or   who   have   a 


larger  list  of  warm  friends.  In  politics  he  is 
identified  with  the  Republican  party,  and  is  a 
strong  believer  in  its  principles. 


OHN  HOPKINS,  one  of  the  enterprising, 
energetic  and  industrious  citizens  of  Hyde 
Park,  Dutchess  county,  conducts  a  drug 
store  there,  and  has  done  much  toward  pro- 
moting the  welfare  of  the  place.  By  close 
application  to  his  business  and  good  manage- 
ment he  has  built  up  an  excellent  trade. 

Mr.  Hopkins  is  a  native  of  Dutchess  county, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  the  town  of  La- 
grange, July  8,  1845,  and  he  is  a  son  of  Will- 
iam H.  Hopkins,  who  was  born  in  Putnam 
county,  N.  Y.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Will- 
iam G.  Hopkins,  was  also  a  native  of  Putnam 
county,  and  was  one  of  the  leading  physicians 
of  Peekskill,  N.  Y.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Frost,  of  Croton  Landing,  N.  Y.,  and  to  them 
were  born  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  namely: 
William  H.;  Calista,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Reuben  Baldwin,  of  Mahopac,  Putnam  county; 
Phcebe  Jane;  and  Alonzo  (deceased),  who  was 
a  farmer  in  Illinois.  The  grandfather  died 
in  1870. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  educated  at 
Yale  College,  and  began  the  study  of  medicine 
with  his  father,  afterward  graduating  from  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  in  New 
York  City.  About  1838  he  began  practice  for 
himself  at  Sprout  Creek,  N.  Y. .  traveling 
round  to  see  his  patients  on  horseback,  with 
his  saddle  bags.  In  1868  he  removed  to  Provi- 
dence, R.  I.,  where  he  also  followed  his  pro- 
fession, to  some  e.xtent,  until  coming  to  Hyde 
Park,  two  years  later.  Prior  to  1885  he  en- 
gaged in  general  practice,  but  from  that  time 
until  his  death.  May  23,  1890,  he  did  mostly 
an  office  practice,  and  was  one  of  the  leading 
allopathic  physicians  of  the  community,  receiv- 
ing a  liberal  patronage  from  all  the  surround- 
ing country.  As  a  private  citizen  he  took 
quite  an  active  interest  in  politics,  voting  with 
the  Republican  party,  and  for  a  number  of 
years  served  as  postmaster  at  Hyde  Park.  He 
held  membership  with  St.  James  Episcopal 
Church,  of  which  he  was  a  vestryman,  and 
was  serving  as  treasurer  of  same  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  while  early  in  life  he  belonged  to  the 
Masonic  fraternity.  He  was  an  intelligent, 
cultured  gentleman,  thoroughly  conversant 
with  his  profession,  and  kept  well-informed  on 
matters   of   general    interest.       Dr.    Hopkins 


434 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


married  Jemima  Van  Benschoten,  daughter  of 
Elias  Van  Benschoten,  of  Lagrange  town,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  five  children:  Har- 
riet (now  deceased);  Elias,  freight  agent  for 
the  West  Shore  railroad  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ; 
John,  subject  of  this  review;  William  G.,  who 
is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  jewelry  at 
Providence,  R.  I. ;  and  Elizabeth,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  twelve  years. 

John  Hopkins,  the  subject  proper  of  these 
lines,  attended  the  Poughkeepsie  Academy, 
finishing  his  literary  training  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen, and  in  1861  entered  the  drug  store  of 
Wood  &  Tittamer,  where  he  remained  some 
eight  years,  during  which  time  he  thoroughly 
learned  the  trade.  Going  to  Providence,  R.  I., 
in  1869,  he  there  engaged  in  the  drug  business 
for  two  years,  after  which,  for  one  year,  he 
was  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Hopkins  &  Ar- 
nold, conducting  their  store  where  Charles  E. 
Bowne  is  now  located.  Selling  out  to  Charles 
Mitchell,  he  entered  the  drug  store  of  his 
father,  at  Hyde  Park,  and  in  1893  purchased 
the  establishment,  which  is  one  of  the  oldest 
stores  of  the  kind  in  the  village.  Politically, 
Mr.  Hopkins  is  a  stalwart  Republican,  strongly 
endorsing  the  course  of  that  party,  and  takes 
quite  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs,  being 
treasurer  of  his  School  and  Fire  districts. 


TIMOTHY  HERRICK  is  a  prominent  and 
well-known  agriculturist   of  the  town  of 

Hyde  Park,  Dutchess  county,  and  the  capable 
superintendent  of  the  extensive  farm  of  the 
late  William  B.  Dinsmore,  known  as  "The 
Locusts. "  He  traces  his  ancestry  in  this 
country  back  to  Henric  Herrick,  who  was 
born  in  England  in  1604,  and  became  one  of 
the  three  original  ancestors  of  the  Herrick 
family  in  America.  He  was  the  fifth  son  of 
Sir  William  Herrick,  who  was  born  in  1557, 
and  lived  at  Beau  Manor,  in  Leicestershire, 
England.  His  father  was  John  Eyrick  (or 
Heyrick),  who  was  born  in  15 13,  in  the  same 
county,  and  was  a  son  of  Thomas  Eyrick,  of 
Houghton.  The  latter's  father,  Robert  Ey- 
rick, was  born  at  Houghton  about  1450,  and 
was  a  lineal  descendant  of  Erick  the  Forester, 
who  was  a  Danish  chief,  and  one  of  the  in- 
vaders of  England  during  the  reign  of  Alfred, 
the  Saxon  King  of  Britain,  by  whom  he  was 
overcome  and  compelled  to  settle  in  East 
Anglia,  in  which  is  that  part  of   England  now 


called  Leicestershire,  and  where  his  descend- 
ants still  reside  in  great  affluence. 

Joseph    Herrick,    of   Cherry   Hill,    Mass., 
was  the  son  of  Henric  Herrick,  the  founder  of 
the  family  in  the  New  World,  and  was  born  at 
Salem,   in   1645.     Of  him    Upham's  " Salem 
Witchcraft  "  says:      "  He  was  a  man  of  great 
firmness  and  dignity  of  character,  and,  in  ad- 
dition to  the  care  and  management  of  his  large 
farm,  was  engaged  in   foreign   commerce.     As 
he  bore  the  title  of  Governor,  he  had  probably 
been  at   one  time   in  command  of  a  military 
post  or  district,  or  perhaps  at  the  West  India 
Colony.       He    was   the    acting   constable   of 
Salem,   and  as  such    concerned   in  the   earl) 
proceedings    connected    with    the    witchcraft 
prosecutions.      For  a  while  he   was  under  the 
delusion;  but  his  strong  and  enlightened  mine 
soon  led  him  out  of  it.      He  was   one  of  the 
petitioners    in  behalf   of  an   accused    person 
when  intercession  by  any  for   any  was  highlj 
dangerous;  and  he  was  a  leader    in  the  part; 
that  rose  against  the  fanaticism,  and  vindicatec 
the  character  of    its  victims."     His  son  Johr 
was  born  January  25,  1670,  and  was  the  fathe 
of  Josiah,  born  February  6,  1704.     The  nex 
in  direct  line  also  bore  the   name  of  Josial 
Herrick.      He  was  born  November   10,  1733 
and  became  the  father  of  Joseph   Herrick,  c 
Beverly,   Mass. ,  who  was   born   November  3 
1775.     The  father  of  our   subject,  Nathani( 
Brown  Herrick,  was  the  latter's  son,  born  a 
Beverly,   Mass.,  April  23,  181 3,  and  remove 
to  Antrim,  N.  H.,  at  the  age  of  six  years,  witi 
his  p.Trents. 

Timothy   Herrick,  the  subject  of  this  n 
view,  was  born  at  Antrim,  N.  H.,  October  if 
1836,  and  during  his  boyhood  he  supplemente 
the  knowledge  acquired  in  the  common  schoo 
by  a  two-terms'  attendance  at  an  academy  ; 
Francistown,  N.  H.,  securing  an  excellent  e( 
ucation  for  those  times.      He  has  always  bet 
much  of  a   student,  and   has   made  a  speci 
study  of  agriculture  in  all   departments, 
the  age  of  seventeen  years  he  completed  1 
literary  education,  but  continued  working  up' 
his  father's  farm  under  that  gentleman's  nic 
able  instructions,  who  instilled  into  his  son  th' 
ough-going  business  principles.      In  the  wiiii 
of  1856-57  he  was  employed  by  Esquire  Dod 
(of  Bennington,  N.  H.),  an  uncle  of  Willi; 
B.  Dinsmore,   and   upon  the  former's  rec(' 
mendation  he  became  superintendent  of  "T 
Locusts"  for  Mr.  Dinsmore.     The  farm  t!; 
consisted  of  only   100   acres,  and  he  had  1 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


485 


[two  men  under  him;  but  it  has  gradually  grown 
until  it  now  comprises  over  1,000  acres,  and  it 
is  now  necessary  to  employ  forty  men  in  its 
cultivation  and  improvement.  For  the  last 
forty  years  Mr.  Herrick  has  had  entire  control 
pf  the  place,  conducting  it  exactly  as  if 
ft  were  his  own,  and  its  interests  have  ever 
been  forwarded  in  his  hands.  He  possesses 
^reat  executive  ability,  and  is  the  peer  of  any 
n  his  life  endeavor.  The  place  well  indicates 
lis  able  management,  industry  and  progressive 
spirit. 

In    1858,    Mr.    Herrick  wedded   Elizabeth 
vluldoon,  daughter  of  John  Muldoon,  of  New 
I'ork  City,  and  they  have  become  the  parents 
)f   five  children:     (i)  George  A.,  born   July 
:o,  1859,  is  an  engineer  on  the  Hudson  River 
ailroad,  with  residence  at  Croton,  N.  Y.      (2) 
'lary  Elizabeth,  born  July    16,  1861,  married 
Lugene  V.  Daly;  after  graduating  at  a  female 
ledical  college,  she  practiced  her  profession  in 
lew  York  City  for  twelve  years,  during  which 
me  she  became  well  known;  she  is  quite  tai- 
nted, and  is  very  popular  among  heracquaint- 
Rces.     (3)  Luella  J.,  born  August  26,  1864, 
the  wife  of  Dr.  Barker,  of  Woodside,  Long 
•land.      (4)  John  J.,  born  April  5,  1866,  is  a 
aduate   of    Cornell    University,   and   is   now 
perintendent  of    the  Department  of  Docks 
New  York  City.      (5)  Albert  E.,  born  Janu- 
y  19,  1869,  is  connected  with  the  National 
e  Co.,  of  New  York  City. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Herrick  is  a  strong  adher- 

t  of  the  doctrines  of  the  Democratic  party, 

d  takes  considerable  interest  in  local  affairs. 

1871-72,  and   again  in  1884-85,  he  served 

■  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Hyde  Park,  and  has 

i^quently  been  urged  to  accept  other  offices  in 

'e  county.     He  is  prominently  connected  with 

te  Masonic  order,    belonging   to    Rhinebeck 

i'dge  No.  432,  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Rhinebeck;  the 

liyal  ArchChapter  No.  45,  at  Kingston,  N.  Y., 

'  d  of  the  Knights  Templar,  at  Poughkeepsie. 


I'ENRY  S.    MARSHALL,  an   enterprising 

and  progressive  agriculturist  of  the  town 

Washington,  Dutchess  county,  is  of  pioneer 

•='ck,  his  ancestors   in  more  than  one  line  of 

4cent   having   been    early   residents  of    the 

cinty. 

His  grandfather,  Henry  S.  Marshall,  was 
^"n  in   Pleasant  Valley,  and  married  Sarah 

ford,  a  native  of  Stanford,  by  whom  he  had 

children:  Susan,  Ann,  John  Gi£ford.  Theo- 


dore, Caroline  and  Edward  H.,  none  of  whom 
are  now  living,  except  Edward  H.  Marshall, 
of  Millbrook.  He  is  a  leading  farmer  of  the 
town  of  Hyde  Park,  and  a  well-known  auc- 
tioneer; he  is  a  Hicksite  Quaker  in  religious 
faith,  and  in  politics  a  Democrat. 

John  Gif?ord  Marshall,  our  subject's  father, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Hyde  Park,  July  16, 
1824,  and  died  there  March  8,  1892,  having 
always  lived  at  the  old  homestead,  following 
agriculture  as  an  occupation.  His  education 
was  carefully  supervised  at  home  in  early  boy- 
hood, and  later  he  entered  Jacob  Willett's 
Boarding  School  in  the  town  of  Washington. 
Like  his  ancestors,  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Society  of  Friends.  He  was  married  in  Hyde 
Park  to  Phoebe  Jane  Marshall,  daughter  of 
Henry  B.  Marshall,  a  prominent  resident  of 
that  town.  Of  the  three  children  of  this  union 
our  subject  was  the  youngest;  the  others  are: 
(i)  Leonora  married  Oliver  H.  Drew;  (2) 
Theodore,  deceased,  married  Anna  Foreman. 

Henry  S.  Marshall  was  born  April  6,  1861, 
in  the  town  of  Hyde  Park,  and  was  reared  at 
the  old  homestead.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  there  for  some  time,  and  was  then  sent 
to  Gideon  Frost's  school  on  Long  Island,  and 
De  Garmo  Institute  at  Rhinebeck.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Vernie  Smith,  daughter  of  George 
P.  Smith,  a  leading  citizen  of  Clinton  Corners, 
and  has  three  children:  Atherton  G.,  Gifford 
H.  and  George  S.  Mr.  Marshall  has  been 
engaged  in  farming  in  Hyde  Park  and  the  town 
of  Washington  since  he  first  began  in  business 
for  himself.  He  is  active  and  influential  in 
local  affairs,  and  at  present  holds  the  office  of 
school  director  at  Clinton  Corners. 


OHN  H.  ENSIGN,  a  well-known  resident 
of  Dover  Plains,  Dutchess  county,  is  one 
of  the  most  valued  employes  of  the  Harlem 
Railroad  Company,  having  been  in  their  service 
for  a  quarter  of  a  century.  He  was  born  in 
Dover  Plains  in  1845,  and  after  attending  the 
schools  of  that  place  during  boyhood  entered 
the  employ  of  the  railroad  company  as  brake- 
man,  and  his  faithful  discharge  of  his  duties 
soon  led  to  his  promotion  to  the  position  of 
conductor.  He  is  actively  interested  in  local 
affairs,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity. Lodge  No.  666,  of  Dover.  In  1882  he 
married  Miss  Ida  Vincent,  of  Dover,  and  they 
have  one  son,  John  O.  Ensign,  born  in  1885. 
The   Ensign   family   is   of    New   England 


486 


COMMEMORATIVE  BWGBAPEIGAL  RECORD. 


origin,  and  our  subject's  grandfather,  Asa 
Ensign,  was  born  and  educated  in  Massachu- 
setts. He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and 
came  in  early  manhood  to  Dutchess  county, 
locating  in  the  town  of  Dover,  where  he  and 
his  wife,  Catherine,  reared  a  family  of  six 
children:  John,  our  subject's  father;  Samuel, 
who  married  (first)  Julia  Orton,  and  (second) 
Adelia  Hubbel;  Stillman,  who  married  Amy 
Sherman;  Eliza  and  Maria,  who  never  mar- 
ried; and  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Harrison  Sherman. 

John  Ensign  was  born  in  the  town  of  Dover, 
Dutchess  county,  in  1800,  and  on  leaving 
school  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade.  He 
then  engaged  in  contracting  and  building,  and 
followed  this  business  throughout  his  life.  He 
married  Miss  Almira  Manchester,  daughter  of 
Stephen  Manchester  (a  well-known  blacksmith 
of  Dover)  and  his  wife  Elizabeth.  Five  chil- 
dren were  born  of  this  union:  Eliza,  who  is 
not  married;  Emily,  the  wife  of  John  E.  Ben- 
son; Mary,  who  died  at  twenty-six  years  of 
age;  John  H.,  our  subject;  and  Catherine,  who 
died  in  infancy. 

Mrs.  Ensign  is  a  descendant  of  one  of  the 
old  families  of  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess 
county,  her  grandfather,  Jonathan  Vincent, 
having  been  a  native  of  that  locality.  He 
married  Miss  Martha  Duncan,  and  settled  upon 
a  farm  there,  where  their  eight  children  were 
born  and  reared.  William  married  Ann 
Eggleston;  Allen,  Mrs.  Ensign's  father,  is  men- 
tioned below;  Isaac  married  (first)  Jane  A. 
Beers,  and  (second)  Imogene  Butts;  George 
married  Amanda  Coolie;  Leonard  and  Edgar 
are  not  married;  E.  Ann  married  William 
Colby;  and  Amanda  was  the  wife  of  Oscar 
Wilcox.  Allen  Vincent  grew  to  manhood  in 
the  town  of  Dover,  and  engaged  in  agriculture. 
His  wife  was  Miss  Mary  Stage,  daughter  of 
David  and  Mary  Stage,  prominent  residents  of 
Dover  Plains.  Mrs.  Ensign  was  the  eldest  of 
six  children.  Of  the  others,  Addie  married 
George  Vincent;  Mary — Martin  Wilcox;  Mar- 
tha— William  Brown;  Augusta — Fred  Wilcox; 
Daisy  is  not  married. 


JOHN  A.  FRALEIGH.  The  name  of  this 
gentleman  is  well  and  favorably  known 
throughout  the  town  of  Red  Hook,  Dutch- 
ess county,  where  he  is  prosperously  engaged 
in  farming.  The  family  have  long  been  resi- 
dents of  that  locality,  of  which  Peter  Fraleigh 
(2),  (a  son  of   Peter  Fraleigh  (i) ),  the  grand- 


father of  our  subject,  was  a  native  (born  Feb 
ruary  25,  1772,  died  October  8,  1853),  an 
there  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits  through 
out  life.  He  was  twice  married,  his  first  unio 
being  with  a  Miss  Teator,  by  whom  he  ha 
two  children,  both  now  deceased;  Katie,  wh 
became  the  wife  of  William  Feller;  and  Petei 
who  married  Lany  Link.  After  the  death  c 
his  first  wife,  Mr.  Fraleigh  wedded  Mrs 
Catherine  (Coon)  Cooper,  a  widow. 

The  only  child  born  of  the  latter  union  ws 
George  W.  Fraleigh,  the  father  of  our  subjec 
whose  birth  occurred  in  the  town  of  Red  Hooi 
June  6,  1 8 16.     After  completing  his  educatic 
he  took  up  farming,  and  made  that  occupatic 
his  life  work.      In  the  old  training  days  he  w; 
a  member  of  a  company  of  cavalry;   in  ear 
life  held  a  number  of  township  offices,  and  t 
was  a  stalwart    Republican    in   politics.     I- 
was  united  in  marriage  November  28,    183 
with  Miss  Regina  Waldorf  (who  was  born.^p 
23,  1820),  a  daughter  of  Capt.  William  W? 
dorf,   and    five  children   were   born   to  ther 
Peter  W.,  who  married   Helen  Crandall,  ai 
is    now   deceased;    John    A.,    subject    of  th 
sketch;  Monroe,  who  married  Gertrude  Marti 
Rosalie;  and   Philip  E. ,  who  wedded  Phoel 
K.  Conklin.     The   father  of  these   died  Jc 
15,  1866,  the  mother  on  December  28,  187 
and  they  are  both  buried  in  the  M.  E.  cenr 
tery  at  Red  Hook. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  the  town  wht 
he  still  makes  his  home,  and  was  there  ec 
cated.  Reared  beneath  the  parental  roi 
tree,  he  remained  with  his  father  and  moth' 
assisting  in  the  manual  labor  incident  to  t 
life  of  an  agriculturist,  until  1869,  when 
secured  a  position  in  the  New  York  post  off 
under  Postmaster  James,  being  appointed 
Governor  Fenton.  After  leaving  that  empli 
he  returned  to  the  town  of  Red  Hook  £ 
assumed  the  management  of  his  father's  fai 
which  he  purchased  after  the  latter's  death  1 
1 87 1.  He  has  since  conducted  the  farm  wi 
remarkable  success,  and  is  one  of  the  relias 
and  most  esteemed  membersof  the  commun  ■ 
He  makes  a  specialty  of  dairy  and  fruit  fai  - 
ing,  and  by  the  exercise  of  industry  and  - 
cellent  management  his  efforts  have  been  :- 
warded  with  a  well-merited  success.  In  \'f  < 
Mr.  Fraleigh  was  united  in  marriage  \  h 
Miss  Irene  Curtis,  daughter  of  John  Curtis)! 
Red  Hook,  and  three  children  now  grace  t  ir 
union:  Curtis,  born  June  24,  1872;  Rosalie  •. 
born  May  5,  1875;  and  Herbert  E.,  born  ;- 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


487 


;ember  27,  1877.     Of  these,  Curtis  is  a  clerk 
n  the   hardware  store  of  P.   E.  Fraleigh,  at 
Red  Hook;   Rosalie  M.  is  receiving  her  edu- 
;ation    at   Dr.    Clark's,   Tivoli,    and    at    Mrs. 
urrie's,  Albany;  and  Herbert  E.  is  attending 
doody's   school    at    Mt.    Hermon,    preparing 
limself    for   the    study    of    civil    engineering, 
drs.  Fraleigh  was   born   September  2,   1845, 
Q  the  town  of  Red   Hook,  and  received  her 
ducation  at  the  Stocking  Academy  (afterward 
:nown   as  the  De  Garmo  Classical  Institute), 
Ihinebeck.      Her  father,  John  Curtis,  was  a 
ative  of  Rhinebeck,  born  February  17,  18 18, 
larried  Jane  B.  Beaumont,  a  native  of  York- 
hire,  England,  and  to  them  were  born  eight 
hildren,   to   wit:      LeGrand,   in   the   Hudson 
liver  Hospital;   Edwin   S.,  a   captain  in  the 
'.  S.   regular  army,   having  joined  in    1861; 
ene    (Mrs.     John    A.    Fraleigh);     Florence, 
race  and  Willis  (all  three  deceased);  Herbert 
if  Red  Hook;  and  J.  Canfield  (deceased). 
-.  Fraleigh's  grandfather,  LeGrand  Curtis, 
as  a  native  of  Trumbull,  Conn.,  and  was  a 
m  of  Capt.  John  Curtis,  who  was  a  captain 
the  Light  Horse  during  the   Revolutionary 
and  is  interred  at  Barrytown,  in  Dutchess 
..nty. 


p   LATHROP  BARRETT,  one  of  the  most 

.V   progressive  and  enterprising  agriculturists 

the  town  of  Northeast,   Dutchess  county, 

:  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm   near  Coleman 

nation,  was  born   in  that  vicinity  August  30, 

^58.     His  grandfather,  the  late  E.  Lathrop 

lirrett,  a  native  of  Norwich,  Conn.,  came  to 

'  tchess  county  in  early  manhood,   locating 

•  at  Pine  Plains,  and  later  in  the  town  of 

wrtheast.     He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  but 

aer  purchasing  a  tract  of  120  acres  of  land  in 

theast,  he  devoted  his  time  to  its  cultiva- 

,  and  became  noted  for  his  successful  man- 

inent.     He  married  Rhoda  Dakin,  daugh- 

^f  Caleb  Dakin,  and   a  descendant  of  one 

be  earliest  settlers  of  the  town.      He  died 

157,  and  his  wife  in  i860.     They  had  five 

iren:    Sarah   Louise,  Dakin,   Edward  L. , 

jn,  and  Oliver,  our  subject's  father. 

)uring  his   boyhood   the  subject    of    this 

:h  attended  the  district  schools  near  his 

le,  and  a  private  school  in  Sharon,  Conn., 

^r  studying  for  one  year  in  Cazenovia  Sem- 

a  Methodist  institution  at  Cazenovia, 

°Y.,  receiving  a  good   English    education. 

A' he  has  always  been  a  reader,  he  has  ac- 


n 


quired  a  large  fund  of  information  on  subjects 
of  general  interest.  At  nineteen  years  of  age 
he  returned  home,  where  he  remained  for  some 
time,  but  on  June  16,  1881,  he  entered  the 
service  of  the  Harlem  Railroad  Co.,  as  agent 
at  Coleman  Station,  having  the  entire  charge 
of  their  interests  there.  He  remained  twelve 
years  without  interruption,  with  the  exception 
of  a  six-months'  leave  of  absence. 

He  married  Miss  Alice  N.  Clark,  a  member 
of  one  of  the  oldest  families  of  Northeast,  and 
a  daughter  of  Philo  W.  Clark,  a  well-known 
farmer  there.  They  have  one  son,  Raymond 
Lathrop,  born  June  21,  1894,  and  one  daugh- 
ter, Louisa  Alice,  born  April  16,  1896.  In 
1892  Mr.  Barrett  purchased  Mr.  Clark's  farm 
of  215  acres,  and  January  16,  1893,  he  resigned 
his  position  with  the  railroad  company  to  en- 
gage in  agriculture.  He  gives  especial  atten- 
tion to  horticulture,  and  has  a  fine  orchard 
upon  the  estate.  As  a  careful  yet  progressive 
manager  he  has  been  successful  in  his  enter- 
prise. In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  but  he 
has  never  done  any  political  work,  although 
in  local  affairs,  which  do  not  involve  any  par- 
tisan issues,  he  has  at  times  been  a  prominent 
helper.  He  and  his  wife  are  active  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  belonging 
to  Webatuck  Lodge,  of  Millerton,  in  which  he 
has  held  all  the  offices,  Poughkeepsie  Chapter 
No.  172,  and  Commandery  No.  43. 


ISAAC  CORBIN.  Among  the  pleasant  rural 
_  homes  of  the  town  of  Pawling,  Dutchess 
county,  is  that  of  Mr.  Corbin,  a  prosperous 
agriculturist  and  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
the  town.  His  present  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Mary  F.  Allison,  was  born  in  Hast- 
ings county,  Canada,  Aug.  29,  i860,  and  re- 
ceived her  education  in  the  common  schools  of 
her  native  country.  Their  marriage  took  place 
in  1883.  By  his  first  marriage,  to  Miss  Jennie 
Sherman,  Mr.  Corbin  had  three  children:  Al- 
bert J.,  born  November  6,  1872;  Anna  M., 
February  12,  1875;  and  Charles  L.,  March 
3,  1876;  and  there  are  six  children  of  the  sec- 
ond union:  William,  born  April  4,  1884;  B. 
Frank,  September  11,  1885;  I.  Cecil,  June 
12,  1887;  Ethel  B.,  May  11,  1889;  D.  Lewis, 
April  21,  1 891;  and  Clement,  April  27,  1896. 
The  Allison  family  has  been  identified  with 
Prince  Edward  county,  Canada,  from  a  very 
early  period.     Mrs.  Corbin's  grandfather,  John 


488 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Allison,  was  born  in  New  Jersey  and  educated 
there,  and  served  in  the  British  army  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  On  his  return  home  he 
purchased  land  there  and  followed  farming  and 
weaving  throughout  the  remaining  years  of  his 
life.  He  married  Miss  Ann  Sprague,  and  had 
eight  children,  of  whom  Benjamin  I.,  Mrs. 
Corbin's  father,  was  the  first.  Of  the  others, 
Henry  B.  married  Delanie  Schamerhorn;  Da- 
vid wedded  Jane  Smith;  Joseph — Catherine 
Wood;  Phoebe — Griffin  Howell;  Betsy — Myron 
Wood;  Catherine  died  in  infancy;  and  Sophia 
married  Samuel  Parks. 

Benjamin  I.  Allison  was  born  at  the  old 
home  in  Canada  in  1817,  and  after  availing 
himself  of  the  educational  privileges  afforded 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  place,  be- 
came a  farmer  there.  He  was  a  great  sports- 
man, and  was  much  interested  in  political 
questions,  espousing  the  liberal  side,  but  he 
never  aspired  to  public  office.  He  married 
Miss  Eliza  H.  Greeley,  daughter  of  Jonathan 
and  Harriet  (Roblin)  Greeley,  the  former  of 
whom  was  a  well-known  surveyor  and  farmer. 
Twelve  children  were  born  of  this  union,  all 
of  whom  were  educated  in  the  schools  of  Hast- 
ings county:  (i)  Absalom  G.  has  been  a  train 
dispatcher  on  the  Grand  Trunk  railroad  in 
Canada  for  over  thirty  years.  He  married 
Miss  Nancy  Simpkins,  and  has  had  five  children : 
Maude,  who  married  Ned  Dickson,  and  has 
two  daughters — Florence  and  Nettie ;  Florence, 
who  married  Kep  C.  Lyons,  and  has  one  daugh- 
ter— Grace;    Arthur;    Claude;     and     Emma. 

(2)  John  S.,  a  farmer  in  Pennsylvania,  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  Wilson,  and  has  had  four  chil- 
dren:   Benjamin,  William,  Fred   and  Maggie. 

(3)  Jonathan,  a  farmer  in  Canada,  married 
Miss  Sarah  Prentice,  and  has  had  five  children: 
May,  Olive,  Flossie,  Pearl  and  Lena.  (4) 
Harriet  married  William  Toppings,  and  has 
had  four  children:  James,  J.onathan,  Eva  and 
Laura.  (5)  William  H.  has  been  train  dis- 
patcher on  the  Credit  Valley  &  Canadian  Pa- 
cific railroad  for  eighteen  years.  He  married 
Miss  Georgiana  Cole,  and  has  one  son,  Cecil. 
(6)  Benjamin  R.,  a  speculator  in  Canada, 
married  Miss  Kate  Hazzel,  and  has  one  daugh- 
ter, Gertrude.  (7)  Phoebe  E.  married  James 
Ferris,  and  has  had  three  children:  Allison, 
Bessie  and  Greeley.  (8)  Sarah  C.  married 
Charles  Baker,  of  Winnipeg,  Manitoba,  and 
and  has  seven  children:  Dufferin,  Horace, 
Robert,   Elma,  Victoria,  Ruth   and   Florence. 

'  (9)  Eva  H.  married  John  Noble,  of   St.  Paul, 


Minn.,  and  has  had  five  children:  Frank,  Clara, 
Benjamin,  Mabel  and  Marion.  (10)  Mary  F. 
is  the  wife  of  Isaac  Corbin.  (11)  Martha  N. 
married  Benjamin  Frank  Burr.  (12)  Joseph 
C.  died  in  infancy. 


JOHN    OSBORNE    WHITEHOUSE    (de- 
ceased) was    born  July  19,  1817,  at  Gonic, 
a  village  near  Rochester,  N.  H.,  and  was  oi 
French  and  English  descent.      His  father,  whc 
was  a  farmer,  gave  his  son  the  best  educatioi 
which  the  neighborhood  afforded,  but  theyounf 
man  developed  an  early  desire  for  a  wider  field 
and  when  scarcely  more  than  sixteen  years  olc 
went  to  New  York,  which   has  been  so  aptly 
termed  the    "  City  of  Opportunity, "  and  fev 
ever  made  better  use  of  the  city's  opportunity 
Entering  a  jobbing  house  in  boots  and  shoes 
utterly  without   experience,  he   in  a  very  fev 
years  thoroughly  mastered  the  business,  out 
stripping  many  older  employes.      He  went  t( 
live  in  Brooklyn,  and  in  1838,  when  but  twen 
ty-one,  married  Fanny   Smith,  later  buying ; 
house  and   establishing  his   home   in  Clintoi 
avenue.     In  the  meantime    he  started  in  th' 
boot-and-shoe  business  in  Brooklyn  for  him 
self,  as  head  of  the  firm  of  Whitehouse  &  Co 
His  success  was  marked,  and  his  advancemen 
rapid.     Among  other  remunerative  contract 
which  he  had  during  the  next  few  years  was  on 
on  Randall's  Island. 

In  1863,  having  sold  his  Brooklyn  business 
Mr.  Whitehouse  removed  to  Poughkeepsie  an 
built  an  immense  shoe  factory,  which  he  cor 
ducted  with  increasing  success  until  his  deatl 
often  employing  as  high  as  five  hundred  oper; 
fives.      His  close  attention  to  business,  indon 
itable  energy,  skill  in  adapting  himself  to  tl 
needs  of  the  times,  prudence  and  upright  cha 
acter  brought   their    logical   rewards,  and  1 
amassed  a  large  fortune.      Interests  outside 
his  business  attracted  his  serious  attention  b 
once.      In  1872  he  consented  to  become  a  ca 
didate  for  Congress  on  the  Democratic  ticke 
in    the    district    comprising   the    counties 
Dutchess,    Putnam    and  Columbia,   a  distri 
supposed  to   be   hopelessly  Republican.     In 
this  campaign   Mr.    Whitehouse  brought  t 
same    energy  and  sagacity  which  had  mark 
his  business  career,  and  though  skilled  and  t 
perienced  politicians  were  pitted  against  hu 
he  was  elected  by  nearly  a  thousand  majorit 
defeating  John  H.  Ketcham.     The  campai 
was  an    exciting  and    memorable  one,  ami 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


489 


still  spoken  of  as  a  remarkable  instance  of 
what  a  trained  business  man  may  accomplish 
in  politics  when  so  disposed.  Two  years  later 
he  was  re-elected,  but  declined  a  third  nomina- 
tion. His  terms  in  Congress  were  marked  by 
i  hard  and  honest  work,  and  were  satisfactory 
to  his  constituents. 

On  moving  to  Poughkeepsie  Mr.  White- 
house  bought  a  large  estate  on  the  edge  of 
town  and  established  a  country  home,  the 
beautifying  and  enlarging  of  which  became  his 
pride.  This  estate  adjoined  "  Springside," 
the  home  of  Matthew  Vassar.  In  1868  "Spring- 
side  "  was  annexed  and  incorporated  with  the 
Whitehouse  property.  Mr.  Whitehouse  was  a 
stockholder  in  various  financial  institutions, 
and  the  largest  stockholder  and  managing 
director  of  the  Ninth  National  Bank,  of  New 
ifork.  During  the  Civil  war  he  was  loyal  to 
he  Union  and  active  in  promoting  its  cause, 
md  became  a  member  of  the  Union  League 
:iub. 

Mr.    Whitehouse    may    probably    best    be 

iescribed  as  a  typical   American   in    the   best 

ense  of  the  term.     No  trait  of  his  character 

*'as  more  marked  than  his  independence  and 

elf-reliance.       He    made    up  his    mind    on  a 

iven  subject  carefully,  and  from   a  thorough 

nderstanding  of  all  its  details,  and  then  acted 

ith    the    full     courage    of    his    convictions. 

oyalty   to    his    friends    was   another    of    his 

arked  characteristics.      He  died   at   Pough- 

eepsie  August  24,  1881 ;  his  wife  passed  away 

Iiary  13,  1893.      Of  their  si.x  children,  John 
Spencer    S.,    William,    Fanny    A.,    and 
es  H.  are    deceased,    leaving    Mary   Jose- 
le,  wife  of  Eugene  N.    Howell,   as  the 
'  surviving  child.       She,  with  her  husband 
son,  John  Whitehouse  Howell,  reside  dur- 
ig  the  summer  months  at  Poughkeepsie,  on 
e  old  Whitehouse  estate. 


m 


RANK    BENTLEY  WILBUR,   an   expe- 
rienced farmer  and  most  genial  and  com- 
I  nionable  gentleman,  has  made  his  home  on 
I   present  fine  farm  in  the  town  of  Stanford, 
l;tchess  county,  since  1869.      He  is  a  man  of 
Ipat  energy  and  perseverance,  and  has  effected 
riny  improvements  on  his  place  since  taking 
session.     He  is  recognized  as  a  valued  ad- 
")n  to  the  community,  a  man  possessed  of 
f-Uent    judgment,    and    giving    his   support 
a>l  encouragement  to  those  enterprises  calcu- 
Ifed  for  the  general  welfare. 


His  grandfather,  Samuel  Wilbur,  who  was 
a  native  of  Milan  town,  Dutchess  county,  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Hicks,  by  whom  he  had  eight 
children:  George,  Hiram,  Ephraim,  Benjamin 
(father  of  our  subject),  Jeptha,  Cynthia,  Mary 
and  Phcebe,  all  now  deceased  save  Hiram  and 
Phcebe.  The  family  is  of  English  origin,  and 
was  founded  in  this  country  at  an  early  day. 
The  grandfather  of  our  subject  spent  most  of 
his  life  engaged  in  farming  in  Pine  Plains,  where 
he  was  a  well-known  and  highly-respected  citi- 
zen. His  political  support  was  given  to  the 
Whig  party. 

Benjamin  Wilbur,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  the  town  of  Pine  Plains  Jan- 
uary 17,  1815,  and,  after  completing  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools,  taught  there 
for  several  years.  On  December  10,  1842,  in 
his  native  township,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Antoinette  Bentley,  a  daughter  of 
Hiram  Bentley,  of  Pine  Plains,  and  to  them 
were  born  four  children:  Frank  Bentley,  sub- 
ject of  this  review;  Emma  V.,  who  was  born 
January  9,  1846,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Charles 
L.  Carrol,  of  Pine  Plains;  Guliette,  who  was 
born  September  9,  1855,  and  died  December 
24,  1859,  and  Cora  L. ,  who  was  born  March 
I,  1859,  and  died  on  the  28th  of  December 
following.  After  his  marriage  the  father  lo- 
cated upon  a  farm  in  Pine  Plains  town,  where 
he  followed  agricultural  pursuits  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  July  23,  1893.  He 
took  a  leading  part  in  the  affairs  of  the  town- 
ship, served  his  fellow  citizens  in  the  offices  of 
assessor  and  commissioner,  and  was  promi- 
nently identified  with  all  public  interests.  Po- 
litically he  was  an  ardent  Republican  in  later 
years,  and  previous  to  the  organization  of  that 
party  supported  the  Whig  candidates.  He  was 
a  faithful  member  of  the  Christian  Church  at 
Pine  Plains,  in  which,  for  many  years,  he 
served  as  deacon.  His  loving  wife  died  July 
12,  1893,  only  a  few  days  previous  to  his 
death. 

Frank  B.  Wilbur  remained  at  home  until 
his  marriage,  assisting  his  father  in  the  opera- 
tion of  the  farm  during  the  summer  months, 
while  in  the  winters,  during  his  boyhood  days, 
he  attended  the  district  schools,  where  he  ac- 
quired a  practical  education,  and  was  thus 
fitted  for  the  responsible  duties  of  life.  In  the 
town  of  Stanford,  October  19,  1869,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  B.  Sackett,  daughter  of  Phineas 
K.  Sackett,  of  that  township,  and  they  have 
become  the  parents  of  three  children,  namely: 


490 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Nina  B.,  who  was  born  March  12,  1871,  and 
who  was  married  June  20,  1894,  to  Henry  E. 
Cornelius,  of  Stanford  town  (they  have  two 
children:  Elinor,  born  April  26,  1895,  and 
Mary,  born  December  29,  1896);  Mae  S.,  born 
October  9,  1873,  and  Effie  G.,  born  October 
7,  1878.  On  July  17,  1895,  Mr.  Wilbur  was 
called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  estimable 
wife,  who  had  ever  been  a  faithful  companion 
and  helpmeet  to  him. 

Politically  our  subject  is  a  stanch  adherent 
of  the  doctrines  formulated  by  the  Republican 
party,  finding  in  that  organization  what  to  him 
seem  the  principles  most  calculated  to  perpet- 
uate our  form  of  popular  government.  He  is 
one  of  the  prominent  and  representative  men 
of  his  township,  looked  up  to  and  esteemed  by 
the  entire  community. 


J 


JpHN  GOLLENBECK.  Among  the  most 
enterprising  citizens  of  this  country  are 
those  who  were  born  in  Germany,  and  who 
have  brought  to  this  fertile  and  productive 
land  the  thrift  and  economy  of  the  Old  World. 
Among  these  there  is  no  figure  that  stands  out 
more  prominently  in  the  history  of  Dutchess 
county  than  the  gentleman  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  sketch,  and  who  is  now  a  leading 
farmer  in  the  town  of  Unionvale. 

His  paternal  grandfather,  John  Wiseman, 
was  born  in  Liebstadt,  Prussia,  and  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  He  wedded  Miss  Maria 
Linman,  and  to  them  were  born  six  children: 
Stephen,  Harry,  John,  Katie,  Elizabeth  and 
Mary.  Stephen  Wiseman,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  a  natiye  of  the  same  place,  was 
there  educated  and  learned  the  wagon-maker's 
trade,  at  which  he  worked  most  of  his  life. 
His  employer  left  his  business  to  him,  provided 
he  would  take  his  name,  which  was  Gollen- 
beck.  This  he  assumed,  and  took  control  of 
the  property.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Maria  Scheroff,  and  they  had  four  chil- 
dren:    John,  William,  Frank  and  Maria. 

John  Gollenbeck,  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Westphalia,  Germany,  in  1825,  and  in  the 
place  of  his  nativity  attended  school.  In  the 
old  country  he  also  learned  the  v.'agon-maker's 
trade,  at  which  he  worked  until  crossing  the 
Atlantic  to  America  in  1855.  He  at  first  lo- 
cated in  New  York  City,  where  he  worked  at 
his  trade  for  thirteen  months,  but  at  the  end 
of  that  time  came  to  the  town  of  Unionvale, 
Dutchess  county,  and  turned  his  attention  to 


farming.  During  the  dark  days  of  the  Rebel- 
lion, he  resolved  to  aid  his  adopted  country  in 
preserving  the  Union,  and  at  Poughkeepsie  en- 
listed in  Company  A,  150th  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  with 
which  he  faithfully  served  until  hostilities  had 
ceased.  He  now  holds  membership  with  Ham- 
lin Post,  G.  A.  R. 

Mr.  Gollenbeck  was  married  to  Miss  An- 
toinette Austin,  daughter  of  Irving  Austin,  a 
laborer  of  Dutchess  county,  and  they  have  twc 
children:  Mattie  and  William.  Mattie  is  the 
wife  of  Obed  Hewett,  a  butcher,  carpentei 
and  farmer  of  Arthursburg,  Dutchess  county 
and  they  have  six  children:  Robert,  Ephraim. 
Judson,  Lehman,  Mabel  and  Florence.  Will- 
iam was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  the  towr 
of  Unionvale,  where  he  is  now  carrying  01 
farming. 

J.  Austin,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Gol 
lenbeck,  was  one  of  the  Revolutionary  heroes 
He  was  a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  and  ; 
farmer  by  occupation.  By  his  marriage  will 
Miss  Sallie  A.  Mclntyre  he  had  five  children 
Sallie,  who  married  Joseph  Bowman  ;  John 
who  died  when  young;  Irving,  the  father  0 
Mrs.  Gollenbeck;  Jane,  who  married  Jacol 
Rozell,  and  Mary,  who  became  the  wife  0 
Clark  Duncan.  Irving  Austin  was  born  i: 
Dutchess  county  in  1803,  received  a  common 
school  education,  and  during  his  youth  learne 
the  shoemaker's  trade,  but  the  principal  pai 
of  his  life  was  devoted  to  general  farming| 
He  married  Miss  Ann  Sweet,  daughter  c! 
Uriah  Sweet,  a  collier,  of  Dutchess  count)) 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  seven  chi  ( 
dren:  Almira,  who  married  George  VanCof 
Lavina,  who  married  John  Rosterhauft;  Sara, 
A.,  who  married  Romaine  Stevens;  Ameli;; 
George,  who  married  Emily  Dennis;  Henri 
who  married  Hannah  Cooper;  and  Antoinetti 
the  honored  wife  of  our  subject. 


GEORGE  W.  RYMPH.  This  gentlemi: 
_  occupies  no  unimportant  position  amor 
the  leading  citizens  of  the  town  of  Hyde  Pari 
Dutchess  county.  He  is  a  native  of  UlstJ 
county,  N.  Y. ,  born  in  the  town  of  Gardinej 
near  Tuthill,  July  19,  1839,  and  is  a  son  | 
James  Rymph,  whose  birth  occurred  at  tj 
old  Rymph  homestead  on  the  Hyde  Park  rO| 
in  this  county.  The  family  name  was  oriii 
nally  spelled  Rim,  and  the  great-grandfathil 
George  Rymph,  who  was  a  native  of  Witte,- 
berg,  Germany,  came  to  this  country  with  t' 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


491 


Cookinghams,  who  settled  at  Wurtemburg.    He 
arrived  a  few  years  prior  to    1769,  when  the 
house  on  the  old  homestead  was  built,  and  the 
farm,  consisting  of  215   acres,  was  purchased 
'of  Dr.   John   and   Susanna  Bard,  the  Doctor 
i  being  one   of   the  Great  Nine  Partners.      Mr. 
Rymph,  being  a  thrifty  and   enterprising  man, 
added  to  his  land  until  at  the  time  of  his  death 
he  had  600  acres,  and  was  one  of  the  prosper- 
ous and  prominent  citizens  of  the  locality.     His 
sons  were  George,  Abram,  Luke,    James  and 
John,  and,  of  his  three  daughters,  one  married 
a  Mr.    Buckingham,   of  Catskill,    N.    Y. ,  and 
another  married  a  Mr.  Beeman.      George  mar- 
ried and  went  west,   but  the  other  four  sons 
remained  upon  the  old  homestead  in  the  town 
of  Hyde  Park,  where  they  were  held  in  the 
highest  regard.      Slavery  was  still  tolerated  at 
that  time  in  this  section,  and  the  family  owned 
1  few  slaves.      With   the  e.xception  of   John 
Rymph,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,    the 
jther  sons  that  remained  on  the   homestead 
lid    not    marry.      He   wedded   Wyenna   Has- 
prouck,  who  belonged  to   one  of  the   old  Hu- 
l;uenot  families  of  Ulster  county,  and  to  them 
Ivereborn  the  following  children:  James;  John; 
■Villiam  George;  David;  Edward  L. ;  Maria, 
ho  became   the  wife  of  Abram   S.  DuBois; 
largaret,    who    married    Benjamin    L.    Has- 
rouck;  Sarah,  who  wedded  Jacob  Chambers, 
f  Ithaca,   Tompkins   Co.,  N.   Y.,  brother  of 
^>r.  George  Chambers,  of  Stone  Ridge,  Ulster 
Hk   N.    Y.  ;    Rachel,    who   married  John  P. 
WSryver,  of  Hyde  Park;  and   Susan.     All  of 
lis  family  lived  to  quite  advanced  ages.      In 
irly  life  their  father  was  a  captain  and  boat- 
an  on  the  Hudson  river,  but  after  his  mar- 
age  his  time  was  devoted  to  agricultural  pur- 
lits  upon  the  old  homestead  farm. 

James  Rymph,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
as  joined  in  wedlock  with  Hannah  Budd, 
ughter  of  James  Budd,  of  the  town  of  Pleas- 
it  Valley,  Dutchess  county,  and  the  aunt  of 
jv.  James  H.  Budd,  the  only  Democratic 
vernor  elected  in  California;  and  the  sister 

Irjoseph  H.  Budd,  a  justice  of  the  supreme 
•rt  of  that  State.  To  this  worthy  couple 
Jre  born  six  children,  three  sons  and  three 
ughters — Ellen,  who  died  in  infancy;  George 
.,  of  this  review;  Jane,  who  died  unmarried; 
hn  J.,  living  in  Clinton,  Dutchess  county; 
•iryA.,  twin  sister  of  John,  who  died  un- 
'trried;and  Albert  J.,  who  is  living  in  Har- 
fr.  Harper  Co.,  Kans.  During  the  first  two 
0  three  years  of  his  married   life  the  father 


lived  in  what  is  now  Gardiner,  and  then  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  Dutch- 
ess county,  where  he  spent  his  remaining 
years.  For  that  farm  of  148  acres  he  went 
$7,000  in  debt,  but  so  well  did  he  succeed  in 
his  business  undertakings  that  at  the  time  of 
his  death  he  had  two  other  farms,  was  direc- 
tor in  the  City  National  Bank,  and  one  of  the 
original  stockholders  in  both  the  Rhinebeck 
Bank  and  the  City  National  Bank  of  Pough- 
keepsie,  all  of  which  property  was  the  result  of 
his  own  untiring  efforts  and  perseverance.  He 
was  originally  a  Democrat  in  politics,  but  at 
the  time  of  the  Civil  war  he  joined  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  was  ever  afterward  one  of  its 
stalwart  supporters.  He  was  a  well-read,  in- 
telligent man,  a  member  in  good  standing  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Pleasant  Plains,  in 
the  work  of  which  he  took  an  active  part,  and 
was  a  leading  citizen  of  the  community.  His 
earthly  career  was  ended  in  1884. 

Mr.  Rymph,  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch,  was  educated  in  a  private  seminary  and 
the  Dutchess  County  Academy  (the  latter  of 
which  he  attended  a  part  of  two  years),  and 
is  well  informed  on  the  current  events  of  the 
day.  On  leaving  the  school-room  he  returned 
to  his  father's  farm,  where  he  remained  until 
1883,  giving  his  attention  to  its  management 
and  also  to  the  one  his  father  had  given  to 
him.  In  the  spring  of  1884  he  removed  to 
the  latter  place,  on  the  Hyde  Park  road,  then 
comprising  165  acres,  to  which  by  purchase  he 
added  fifty  acres,  making  the  original  215 
acres  which  belonged  to  his  great-grandfather, 
George  Rymph. 

In  December,  1883,  was  celebrated  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Rymph  and  Miss  Estelle 
Pearsall,  of  the  town  of  Hyde  Park,  daughter 
of  Samuel  H.  Pearsall,  and  they  have  two 
sons  and  one  daughter, — George  H.,  James 
G.  B.,  and  Marguerite  E.  Reared  in  the  Re- 
publican party,  our  subject  has  always  adhered 
to  its  principles,  but  at  local  elections  usually 
votes  independent  of  party  ties,  supporting  the 
man  whom  he  thinks  best  qualified  to  fill  the 
position.  In  1875  he  was  elected  assessor  of 
his  town,  and  in  the  spring  of  1 894  was  elected 
justice  of  the  peace  for  a  period  of  four  years. 
Socially,  he  is  connected  with  Poughkeepsie 
Lodge  No.  266,  F.  &  A.  M.;  religiously,  he  is 
identified  with  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church, 
which  he  attends.  He  is  at  present  serving  as 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Farmers  Town 
Co-operative  Insurance  Company,  of  the  town 


482 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  Hyde  Park,  and  is  one  of  the  stockholders 
of  the  Huguenot  Bank  of  New  Paltz,  Ulster 
Co.,  N.  Y.  He  has  aided  in  the  advancement 
of  his  town  and  county  in  many  ways,  and  is 
uniformly  the  friend  of  progress  and  education. 


FRANK  HERRICK,  an  enterprising  and 
prosperous  merchant  of  Rhinebeck,  Dutch- 
ess county,  was  born  February  2,  1852,  in  the 
town  of  Pine  Plains,  where  his  family  has  long 
been  prominent. 

He  is  a  great-grandson  of  Ephraim  Herrick, 
who  had  a  son  Ephraim  Herrick  (2),  whose 
son,  John  A.  Herrick,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  in  18 17,  and  became  one  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  Pine  Plains.  He  followed  farming 
during  his  active  life,  but  is  now  passing  his 
declining  years  in  retirement  in  the  village  of 
Rhinebeck.  His  fine  mental  ability  and  high- 
character  have  made  him  deservedly  popular 
among  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintances,  and  he 
has  often  been  called  upon  to  fill  positions  of 
trust,  and  was  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Pine 
Plains  for  eight  years,  and  for  a  long  period 
was  assessor  and  commissioner  of  highways. 
Politically  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  has  given 
much  of  his  attention  to  the  interests  of  his 
party  in  his  locality.  He  married  Nfiss  Mar- 
garet Sherwood,  daughter  of  Isaac  Sherwood, 
a  well-known  resident  of  Milan.  Of  their  three 
children,  our  subject  is  the  second;  the  others 
are:  Louisa,  the  eldest,  married  John  D. 
Hedges,  of  Milan;  and  Minerva  married  Charles 
Ferris,  formerly  of  Milan,  now  of  Rhinebeck. 

Frank  Herrick  received  a  good  English  ed- 
ucation in  his  youth,  attending  the  district 
schools  near  his  home  for  some  years,  and 
later  the  seminary  at  Amenia,  and  as  he  pos- 
sesses an  active  mind,  and  is  of  an  investigating 
turn,  he  has  since  gained  much  information  by 
reading  and  observation.  On  leaving  school 
he  began  to  learn  the  practical  details  of  mer- 
cantile life  in  "Dibble's  Store"  at  Pine  Plains, 
where  he  clerked  for  one  year,  then,  in  1875, 
went  to  Rhinebeck  as  a  clerk  for  his  uncles, 
I.  &  P.  Sherwood,  leading  grocers  of  that 
town,  and  on  the  death  of  the  senior  partner, 
in  1 88 1,  he  was  taken  into  the  firm,  which 
became  Sherwood  &  Herrick.  In  1892  Mr. 
Sherwood  retired  and  Mr.  Herrick  removed  to 
his  present  stand,  and  added  coal  and  lumber 
to  his  stock,  an  enterprise  which  has  been  jus- 
tified by  its  success.  He  has  one  of  the  most 
complete  stores  in   the   locality,  it  being  ad- 


mirably adapted  in  every  way  to  the  demand; 
of  the  business,  wholesale  and  retail.  His  ex- 
tensive trade  is,  perhaps,  the  largest  in  volume 
of  any  store  in  the  town,  is  evidence  of  the 
confidence  and  esteem  in  which  he  is  held 
throughout  the  community. 

He  is  public-spirited;  in  politics  a  Demo- 
crat, and  always  ready  to  forward  any  meas- 
ure for  local  improvement,  but  he  has  not  beer 
active  in  political  work,  as  his  business  inter- 
ests demanded  his  exclusive  attention.  Ir 
1884  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Reed,  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  Reed,  a  leading  citizen  0 
Rhinebeck;  she  was  born  December  3,  1858, 
in  Saugerties,  Ulster  county,  and  educated  ir 
the  De  Garmo  Institute  at  Rhinebeck.  [Foi 
history  of  her  ancestry  see  sketch  of  Thomas 
Reed,  elsewhere  in  this  volume.]  Mr.  anc 
Mrs.  Herrick  are  active  members  of  the  Bap 
tist  Church,  in  which  he  is  an  official.  H( 
belongs  to  the  Relief  Hook  and  Ladder  Co. 
and  served  as  foreman  for  several  years. 


ffATHAN     W.    SMITH,    residing    upon  ; 

valuable  farm   in  the  town   of  Amenia 

presents  in  his  life  a  splendid  example  of  har 
labor,  close  application  to  business,  and  perse 
verance.  He  commenced  life  at  the  foot  c 
the  ladder,  but  by  his  own  well-directed  effort 
he  is  now  able  to  take  life  easily  and  comforl 
ably,  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  his  earl 
industry. 

Mr.   Smith   was    born    on    the    old   famil 
homestead    at    North   Lyme,   Conn.,   Januai 
12,  1 8 18,  and  is  a  son  of  Nathan  and  Nanc 
(Waterman)  Smith,  in  whose  family  were  fi\ 
children,  the  others   being:      Sarah   M.,  wl 
became  the  wife  of  Columbus  Reed;  Gilbe 
B.;  Nancy  L.  and  John   H.      His  father  w: 
born  at  the  same  place,  November  12,  178 
and  was  four  times  married,  his  first  wife  bi 
ing  the  mother  of  our  subject;  they  were  ma! 
ried  in  1810,  and  she  died  July  2,  1824.     Aft 
her  death  he  married  Hannah  Stark,  by  whc 
he  had  two  children — Fitch  C.  and  Henry 
His  third   wife   was  Nancy  Baker,  widow 
Mathias  Baker,  and  daughter  of  Deacon  E 
phalet  Hillyard,  and  after  her  death  he  m; 
ried  Mary  Gallup.      At  one  time  he  was  ci 
tain  of  a  sloop,  but  the  greater  part  of  his  1 
was  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits  at  Sale 
Conn.      He    lived    to    a    ripe    old    age,  dy  .' 
March  26,  1886.      For  many  years  he  ser\l 
as  deacon    in    the    Baptist   Church  at  No  1 


^5 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


493 


Lyme,  Conn. ;  was  one  of  his  country's  defend- 
ers in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  always  an  up- 
rieht,  honorable  man,  who  had  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  came  in 
contact. 

Our  subject  can  trace  his  ancestry  back  to 
iNehemiah  (i)  Smith,  who  landed  in  Massachu- 
setts prior  to  1637,  and  was  prominently  con- 
nected with  the  early  history  of  Connecticut. 
In  his  family  of  nine  children  there  was  only 
one  son,  Nehemiah  (2),  who  for  several  years 
served  as  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly 
at  Hartford.  His  son,  Nehemiah  (3),  was  a 
farmer  of  New  London  county.  Conn.,  and 
was  the  father  of  Isaac  Smith,  in  whose  family 
was  William  Smith,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject.  The  latter,  who  was  a  farmer  in  New 
London  county,  married  Sarah  Smith,  a  daugh- 
.er  of  Nathan  and  Elizabeth  Smith,  and  to 
hem  were  born  twelve  children:  William, 
sarah,  Elizabeth,  Gurdon,  John  D.,  Edward, 
Nathan,  Phebe,  Charlotte,  Lucy,  Almira  and 
\nsyl. 

N.  W.  Smith,  whose  name  introduces  this 

ketch,  attended  the  district  schools   near  his 

loyhood  home  at  North  Lyme,  Conn. ,  and  com- 

ileted  his  education  at  Essex  Academy.      For 

wo  years  he  then  clerked  in  a  general  store  at 

»'orth  Lyme,  later  was  similarly  employed  at 

lamburg.  Conn.,  for  a  year,   after  which  he 

/ent   to  Saratoga    county,    N.   Y. ,   where  he 

/orked   on    a  farm    for  a  season.      By  stage 

nd   steamboat    he    then    came  to  the    town 

f    Amenia,    Dutchess    county,    to    visit    his 

ster,  Mrs.  Columbus  Reed,  and  subsequently 

as  employed  by  Noah  Gridley  on  a  farm  at 

v^assaic,  where  he  remained  two  years.     For 

le  same  length  of  time  he  worked  for  Mrs. 

icob  Rundall,  after  which  he  went  to  Chicago 

s'  way  of  canal,   railroad  and  Great  Lakes, 

It  after  a  short  time  spent  in  that  city  he  re- 

irned  to  Dutchess  county,  and  for  three  years 

as  in  the  employ  of  William  A.   Benton,  of 

eedsville. 

In  January,  1847,  ^^r.  Smith  was  united  in 

arriage   with    Miss    Adeline    E.    Holly,   who 

ed   in  October,    1848.     To  them  had  been 

rn  one  son,  John  Holly,  who  died  in  infancy. 

the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess  county, 

M   February  4,    1850,  he  was  again  married, 

T  second   union  being  with   Esther  J.  Odell 

orn  in   1828).   one  of  the   four  children  of 

■ter  and  Sarah  Odell,   of   Jefferson  county, 

le  others  being  George,  Levi  and  Elizabeth. 

1847,    Mr.    Smith    removed  to  Northeast 


town,  where  for  two  years  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, but  the  following  year  he  passed  as  a 
clerk  in  the  store  of  Columbus  Reed,  at  Was- 
saic.  He  was  again  on  the  farm  of  Jacob 
Rundall  for  three  years,  and  for  seventeen 
years  operated  the  Noah  Gridley  farm.  In 
1870  he  removed  to  his  present  place  south 
of  South  Amenia,  a  farm  consisting  of  400 
acres,  which  he  purchased  for  $30,000,  but 
mortgaged  it  for  $20,000,  and  also  bought 
several  thousand  dollars  worth  of  stock. 
Three  years  later  he  sold  1 1 5  acres  for  $8, 500. 
So  well  did  he  succeed  in  this  undertaking  that 
by  1883  the  place  was  free  from  indebtedness, 
and  was  yielding  a  handsome  return  for  the 
care  and  the  labor  expended  upon  it.  His 
achievement  was  all  the  more  remarkable  as 
the  man  who  had  previously  lived  upon  the 
place  declared  he  could  not  make  a  living 
there.  Industry,  perseverance  and  energy  are 
numbered  among  his  chief  characteristics,  and 
as  he  has  been  dependent  upon  his  own  re- 
sources from  boyhood,  his  success  is  but  the 
just  reward  of  his  own  unaided  efforts. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  Mr.  Smith 
united  with  the  Baptist  Church  at  Lyme, 
Conn.,  and  now  holds  membership  with  the 
Church  at  Amenia,  of  which  he  is  a  deacon. 
His  father  and  grandfather  before  him  held  the 
same  position  in  the  churches  to  which  they 
belonged.  Since  the  organization  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  he  has  been  one  of  its  most 
earnest  advocates. 


lEVERLY  W.  HOWARD.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  stands  second  to  none  among 
the  well-to-do  farmers  of  the  town  of  Wash- 
ington, Dutchess  county,  whose  record  it  has 
been  deemed  wise  to  preserve  in  this  manner 
for  the  perusal  of  the  coming  generation.  As 
a  judicious  tiller  of  the  soil  he  has  met  with 
success,  and  as  a  man  and  citizen  holds  a 
good  position  among  his  neighbors.  He  be- 
longs to  a  family  long  prominent  in  the  history 
of  Maryland,  where  the  founder  of  the  family 
in  the  New  World  (who  was  from  England) 
located  at  an  early  day.  He  was  born  in  the 
city  of  Baltimore  on  April  21,  1850. 

His  grandfather,  Samuel  Howard,  was  born 
in  Baltimore  county,  Md.,  in  1785,  where  his 
early  life  was  passed.  He  was  a  man  of  lei- 
sure, as  he  was  possessed  of  considerable  wealth. 
By  his  marriage  with  Miss  Ariana  Cole,  also  a 
native  of  Baltimore  county,  he  became  the  fa- 


494 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


therof  eight  children,  as  follows:  Abrani,  de- 
ceased, was  a  farmer  of  Muskingum  county, 
Ohio;  George  W.  is  the  father  of  our  subject; 
Samuel  and  John  died  in  childhood;  Eliza  be- 
came the  wife  of  James  Fulton,  a  merchant, 
but  both  are  now  deceased;  Celia  is  the  widow 
of  William  L.  Rieman,  a  merchant  of  Balti- 
more; Sarah  married  Eli  Beckwith,  a  real-es- 
tate dealer  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  both  have 
now  passed  away;  and  Anna  is  the  widow  of 
Luther  Norris,  a  merchant  of  Westminster, 
Md.  The  parents  of  this  family  were  Meth- 
odists in  religious  belief.  The  grandfather 
spent  his  last  days  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio. 

George  W.  Howard,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Maryland,  October  12,  18 10, 
and  after  reaching  man's  estate  was  for  fifty 
years  a  wholesale  dry-goods  merchant  of  Balti- 
more. In  later  life  he  wrote  a  book  of  that 
city,  entitled  "The  Monumental  City."  He 
was  quite  a  prominent  man,  widely  and  favor- 
ably known.  His  political  support  was  given 
the  Democratic  party.  His  death  occurred  in 
Baltimore,  on  November  26,  1888,  but  his 
wife  is  still  living.  In  that  city  he  had  married 
Carrie  Foreman,  a  daughter  of  Arthur  Fore- 
man, who  was  engaged  in  milling.  They  be- 
came the  parents  of  two  children:  Ella  and 
Beverly  \V.  The  former  wedded  Henry  J. 
Davison,  a  civil  engineer  of  New  York  City, 
who  became  very  wealthy;  he  had  learned  his 
trade  in  the  Novelty  Iron  Works  of  that  city, 
after  which  he  became  connected  with  the  gas 
business,  also  engaged  in  the  building  of  steam- 
boats, and  in  this  way  secured  a  fortune,  so 
that  at  his  death,  which  occurred  July  12, 
1890,  he  left  a  large  estate.  His  wife  had 
died  July  12,  1878.  In  their  family  were  four 
children — George  Howard,  Clarence  B.,  Car- 
rie Theresa  and  Ella  C. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  Beverly  W. 
Howard  were  passed  in  Baltimore,  Md. ,  and 
in  1873  he  came  to  Mabbettsville,  Dutchess 
county,  where  he  purchased  his  present  farm  of 
213  acres  of  valuable  land,  now  under  a  good 
state  of  cultivation,  so  that  it  compares  favor- 
ably with  other  fine  farms  of  the  locality. 

On  October  8,  1878,  Mr.  Howard  was 
married  to  Miss  Laura  H.  Coffin,  a  daughter 
of  R.  G.  Coffin,  and  their  union  has  been 
blessed  by  the  advent  of  eight  children,  name- 
ly: Samuel  B.,  born  November  27,  1879;  an 
infant,  who  was  born  January  21,  1882,  and 
died  March  10,  following;  Robert  C,  born 
March   21,  1883;  Henry  D.  born  August  29, 


1885:  EllaT.,  born  September  4,  1888;  Mar- 
ietta B.,  born  December  5,  1890;  Evlyn,  born 
May  5,  1893;  and  Clarence  K.,  born  Septem- 
ber 2,  1895.  Mr.  Howard  takes  an  intelligent 
and  earnest  interest  in  public  affairs,  actively 
promoting  any  scheme  that  will  benefit  the 
community,  and  is  eminently  worthy  the  trust 
and  regard  in  which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow 
citizens.  He  uses  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party. 


CHARLES  ALBERT  CLINE,  of  the  well- 
_  known  firm  of  Cline  Brothers,  of  Miller- 
ton,  Dutchess  county,  leading  commission 
dealers  in  wholesale  dressed  beef,  was  born  No- 
vember 22,  1857,  in  the  town  of  Amenia.  He 
is  of  Holland-Dutch  descent,  the  family  name 
being  originally  Klein,  then  Ivline  and  later 
Cline.  His  great-grandfather  was  John  Cline, 
of  Amenia,  and  his  grandfather,  Philo  Cline, 
was  born  in  Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  with 
his  three  brothers.  All  four  settled  in  the 
Oblong  valley,  and  all  left  descendants  who 
are  now  living  in  Dutchess  county.  Philo  Cline 
was  engaged  in  mercantile  business  and  in 
conducting  a  hotel  for  some  time,  and  he  also 
owned  large  tracts  of  land  in  the  town.  His 
good  education  and  naturally  powerful  intel- 
lect, united  with  perfect  integrity  and  imparti- 
ality, gave  him  great  influence  in  the  commun- 
ity, and  he  was  often  called  upon  to  settle  dis- 
putes, both  unofficially  and  in  his  capacity  as 
justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  often  employed 
to  conduct  cases  in  court,  and  sometimes  was 
chosen  to  plead  both  sides.  Politically,  he| 
was  first  a  Whig  and  later  a  Republican,  ancj 
in  religion  he  held  liberal  and  tolerant  views ' 
He  died  in  1864,  and  his  wife,  Harriet  Swift 
daughter  of  Moses  Swift,  departed  this  life  ii 
1 86 1.  They  had  two  sons:  Albert,  our  sub  . 
ject's  father;  and  Franklin,  born  in  1833,  whi] 
is  now  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Amenia.  j 

Albert  Cline  was  born  March  3,  1828,  ann 
in  early  manhood  was  a  miller  at  SoutI 
Amenia.  Since  1863,  he  has  been  a  success 
ful  farmer  there,  also  having  a  fine  farm  c 
350  acres  which  he  inherited.  He  has  mad 
many  improvements,  and  is  regarded  as  one  c 
the  leading  agriculturists  of  that  locality.  1 
public  affairs  he  is  active,  giving  his  influenc 
to  the  support  of  the  Republican  party,  and  h' 
has  held  a  number  of  local  offices,  includin 
that  of  supervisor.      He  is  a  member  of  th 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPEICAL  RECORD. 


495 


^Masonic  fraternity,  and  is  progressive  and 
broad  in  his  views  on  all  the  questions  of  the 
day.  He  married  Eliza  Reed,  adopted  daughter 
of  Philo  Reed,  of  Amenia.  She  died  in  1872, 
leaving  four  children:  Hattie,  who  married 
Frank  Baylis,  of  Amenia;  Philo  R.,  of  the 
firm  of  Cline  Brothers;  Charles  Albert;  and 
Maria,  who  married  Walter  A.  Sherman. 

The    subject    of  our    sketch    received    his 

ilementary  education   in  the  district  schools 

lear  his  home,  and  later  attended  Dover  Plains 

Academy,     and    Fort    Edward    Institute,     at 

^■"ort    Edward,    N.  Y.,  for  three  years,   being 

ompelled  because  of  ill  health  to  leave  before 

ompleting  his  course.       Returning  home   in 

876,  he  conducted  the  farm  on  shares  for  one 

ear,  and  then   moved   to   Millerton,  and  be- 

ame  bookkeeper  for  the  East  St.  Louis  Beef 

Company.     A  year  later,  when  Nelson  Morris 

ought  out  the  company,   Mr.  Cline   and  his 

rother  were  made  their   agents,  and   for  the 

ist  five  years  they  have  been  in  the  commis- 

|on  business    under  the    firm  name  of  Cline 

irothers.     They  supply  a  large  section  of  the 

grounding  territory,    including  many  points 

western  Connecticut,  and  for  a  long  distance 

>  and  down*  the    Harlem    railroad,   and    by 

leir  energy  and  enterprise  they  have  accumu- 

ted  a  fine  property.      On    March   20,  1888, 

r.   Cline  was  married  to   Miss   Cornelia  F. 

rman,  daughter  of  Samuel   W.   Sherman, 

they  have  one  son,  Charles  Sherman  Cline. 

citizen  Mr.  Cline  has  shown  great  public 

and  is  a  leader  among  the  younger  men 

le  town.    He  has  always  been  a  Republic- 

nd  takes   an  active   share  in  party  work. 

94  he  was  elected  supervisor  for  a  term 

o  years,  and  performed  his  duties  so  ably 

he  was  re-nominated  in  1896. 


VREDERIC  BOSTWICK,  who   since   the 

J     age  of  twenty  years  has  been  connected 

"  h  banking  interests,  was  born  in  the  village 

Fine  Plains,  on  September  8,  1849,  and  is 

in  of  Reuben  Bostwick.     On  the  paternal 

-  he  traces  his  lineage  in  an  unbroken  line 

\rthur  Bostwick,  who  was  born  in  Tarpaly 

ish,  Cheshire,  England,  in  1603.      He  had 

t^sons:     Arthur,   born  in    1636,   and  John, 

^'n  in  1638.     The  children  of  the  latter  were: 

n,  Zachariah,  Joseph,  Mary,  Elizabeth  and 

Jte.     John,  the  first  of  this  family,  was  born 

ini667,  and  became  the  father  of  the  follow- 


ing children:  John,  Robert,  Ebenezer,  Joseph, 
Nathaniel,  Lemuel,  Daniel  and  Mary.  In  the 
family  of  Nathaniel  Bostwick,  who  was  born 
in  1699,  were  eleven  children,  namely:  Arthur, 
Sarah,  Lois,  Reuben,  Zadock,  Abigail,  Elijah, 
Gideon,  Eunice,  Tamer  and  Ichabod.  Reu- 
ben, of  this  family,  was  born  in  1734,  and  he 
had  three  children:  Benjamin  R. ,  Mabel  and 
Electa.  The  only  son,  Benjamin  R. ,  was 
born  in  1762,  and  in  his  family  were  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Lodema,  Almon  R. ,  Reuben 
W.,  Charles  B.,  William  H.  and  Horatio  N. 
Reuben  W.  Bostwick,  of  this  family,  was  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject.  He  was  born  in 
1788,  and  had  four  children:  Reuben,  Eliza 
Ann,  William  and  Jerusha.  Reuben,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  1823,  and  in  his 
family  were  seven  children:  Frederic,  William, 
Ida,  Hattie,  Walter,  Walker  and  J.  Hunting. 

Our  subject  was  educated  at  Poughkeepsie, 
at  the  College  Hill  Military  Academy,  which 
was  then  conducted  by  Otis  Bisbee,  and  there 
continued  his  studies  for  three  years.  After 
his  graduation  from  that  institution  he  returned 
to  his  home  at  Pine  Plains,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years  entered  the  Stissing  National 
Bank,  being  appointed  cashier  in  1870,  suc- 
ceeding his  fattier  in  that  position.  William 
S.  Eno  was  at  that  time  president  of  the  bank. 
He  continued  to  serve  as  cashier  until  1889, 
when  he  resigned  in  order  to  accept  the  ap- 
pointment of  National  Bank  Examiner,  ten- 
dered him  during  President  Harrison's  admin- 
istration. He  had  charge  of  three  counties  in 
New  York — Columbia,  Dutchess  and  West- 
chester. Later  he  went  to  Massachusetts, 
where  he  examined  banks  for  nearly  a  year, 
and  was  then  detailed  for  the  same  business  in 
what  is  known  as  the  Southern  District  of  New 
York,  comprising  the  counties  of  Rockland, 
Orange,  Ulster,  Greene,  Delaware,  Oneida, 
Erie,  a  part  of  Albany  county,  and  the  coun- 
ties bordering  along  the  Pennsylvania  line. 
For  a  year  after  the  expiration  of  his  term  he 
was  still  retained  in  the  office,  which  fact 
clearly  indicates  the  capable  manner  in  which 
he  filled  the  position. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Bostwick  has  al- 
ways been  a  strong  Republican,  taking  a  deep 
interest  in  the  success  of  his  party,  and  is  now 
serving  as  county  committeeman.  He  has  per- 
sonally promoted  many  of  the  local  enterprises 
of  a  public  nature  in  Pine  Plains,  and  is  one  of 
its  most  popular  and  influential  citizens.  He 
attends  the  Presbyterian  Church,  to  which  his 


496 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


family  all  belong,  and  socially  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Dutchess  Club,  of  Pough- 
keepsie. 


JOHN  M.  HASKINS,  a  well-known  resident 
of  Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  is  now  living 
retired  from  active  labor  and  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  all  the  comforts  and  many  of  the  lux- 
uries of  life.  A  native  of  Dutchess  county,  his 
birth  occurred  February  14,  1824,  in  the  town 
of  Washington.  His  father,  Alexander  Has- 
kins,  was  born  on  Long  Island,  but,  when  a 
young  man  of  about  twenty  years,  located  in 
the  town  of  Washington,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  until  1826,  when  he  removed  to  the 
town  of  Amenia,  there  following  the  same  oc- 
cupation. Politically  he  was  a  decided  Demo- 
crat. He  married  Miss  Deborah  Masten,  a 
native  of  the  town  of  Milan,  Dutchess  county, 
and  their  family  consisted  of  four  children: 
Phebe,  Levi  and  Ezekiel,  all  deceased,  and 
John  Masten,  of  this  review.  The  father's 
death  occurred  August  7,  1848,  and  the  mother 
was  called  from  this  life  in  1857. 

■  At  the  age  of  two  years  our  subject  was 
brought  by  his  parents  to  the  town  of  Amenia, 
where  he  attended  school  until  the  age  of  ten 
years,  when  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself. 
For  six  years  he  worked  in  the  Gridley  Iron 
Mine  at  Amenia,  but  on  the  expiration  of  that 
time,  on  account  of  his  father's  failing  health, 
he  returned  to  the  old  home,  caring  for  his 
parents  until  they  crossed  the  dark  river  of 
death.  Subsequently  Mr.  Haskins  engaged  in 
teaming  for  a  few  years  before  the  railroad  was 
constructed,  and  in  1858  entered  the  Manhat- 
tan Iron  Mine  at  Sharon  Station,  Dutchess 
county,  where  he  remained  for  eight  years. 
He  then  again  entered  the  service  of  the  Grid- 
ley  mine  at  Amenia,  where  for  the  long  period 
of  twenty-one  years  he  capably  served  as 
superintendent,  but  has  now  laid  aside  all 
business  cares. 

At  Pine  Plains,  Dutchess  county,  July  31, 
1850,  Mr.  Haskins  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
M.  Piatt,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Hiram  and 
Matilda  Piatt,  and  died  August  4,  1884.  To 
them  were  born  four  sons — William  and 
George  W.,  deceased;  one  who  died  in  infancy, 
and  John  M.,  Jr.  Since  1868  Mr.  Haskins 
has  been  identified  with  Amenia  Lodge  No. 
672,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  he  is  a  highly-respected 
and  honored  citizen  of  the  community.  He 
was  first  a  Whig  in  politics,  but  since  the  dis- 


solution of  that  party  he  has  been  an  activi 
Republican,  supporting  the  principles  of  hi: 
party  with  all  the  force  of  his  convictions,  anc 
in  1894  and  1895  was  a  member  of  the  excisi 
board. 


DAVID  BRYAN,  a  well-known  and  pros 
perous  agriculturist  of  the  town  of  Amenia 
is  a  worthy  representative  of  a  family  that  foi 
a  century  and  a  half  has  been  prominently 
identified  with  the  best  interests  of  Dutches; 
county. 

The  first  of  the  family  of  whom  there  is  anj 
record  was  Alexander  Bryan,  who  lived  in  Con 
necticut,   where   his  death   occurred  in   1760 
In  his  family  were  two  sons  and  one  daughter 
namely:   Elijah,  Ezra  and  Sarah.    Ezra  Bryan 
the  second  in  this  family,  was  the  grandfathe 
of  our  subject.      He  was  born  November  30 
1740,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  was  mar 
ried,  in  Newtown,  Conn.,  to  Sarah  Peck.   Fron 
there  the    young   couple    made  their  way  01 
horseback  to  the  town  of  Northeast,  Dutches 
county,  where  Mr.  Bryan  took  up  a  farm  0 
400  acres,  and  cultivated  it  in  connection  wit! 
his  trade  of  cabinet  making.      He  was  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  through  hi 
loyalty  to   the    Colonial    government   lost  th 
bulk  of  his  property  in  supporting  the  Revolu 
tionary  cause.      He   died   while  on  his  way  t 
meeting,  July  7,  1825. 

Amos  Bryan,  the  father  of  our  subject,  ws 
born  in  the  town  of  Northeast  (formerly  Anit 
nia),  January  31,  1779,  and  was  the  younges 
in  the  family  of  five  children.      His  educatio 
was  obtained  in  the  district  schools  of  his  n; 
tive  town,  and  on  reaching  manhood  he  pii 
chased  150  acres  of   the  old   homestead  froi 
the  other  heirs,  which  he   operated.     He  al.^ 
carried  on  the  fanning-mill  business,  and,  t< 
gether  with  Calvin  Chamberlain,  originated  tl 
"Chamberlain  Plow  ".     He  took  quite  a  pron 
inent  part   in  public  affairs,  serving  as  assen 
blyman  in   1840,  and   also  as  supervisor  ai 
justice  of  the  peace.     By  birthright  he  was 
Quaker,  and  died  in  that  faith  April  12,  186 
In    the    town     of    Northeast,    Dutchess  Cc 
N.  Y.,  on  October  14,  1804,  Amos  Bryan  w 
married  to  Betsey  Finch,  who  was  born  Oct 
ber  5,  1 78 1,  and  died   May  24,  1863.     Tin 
family  consisted  of  nine  children:   Laura,  bo 
in  1805,  died   in    1831;  Ward  W.,  born  Ap 
12,  1807,  died  December  14,  1863;  Eliza,  bo 
March   16,  18 10,   became    the    wife  of  Hen 


^a-yiruL    /3<^i 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


497 


lisson,  of  the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess 

ounty,  and   died    September  3,    1884;  Ezra, 

orn  March    4,    i8i2,   died    March    22,  1876; 

isaac,  born  August  25,  181 5,  died  September 

!4,  1885;    James,    born    November  27,  18 17, 

lied  March  16,  1839;    David  is  next  in  order 

f  birth;  Mary,  born  December  9,  1822,  died 

ovember  i,  1853;  and  Sarah,  born  April  10, 

325,  died  April  15,  1872. 

i    The  birth  of  David  Bryan  occurred  at  the 

mily  homestead  in    the   town  of  Northeast, 

jptember  22,  1819.     He  began  his  education 

i  the  district  schools,  and  the  knowledge  there 

;  quired  was  supplemented  by  a  term's  attend- 

iice  at  the  Peekskill  Military  Academy  and  by 

i^ourse  in  the  Banks  boarding  schools  at  Do- 

w   Plains,   Dutchess    county.      He  remained 

ion  the  home  farm   and   carried  on  the  fan- 

ng-mill  business  until    i860.     Removing  to 

t;  "Square"  in  the  town  of    Northeast,  he 

tught  the  farm   of  Judge  Smith,  comprising 

41  acres,  where  he  lived  until  the  fall  of  1S84, 

w  en  he  came  to  his  present  place  in  the  town 

oAmenia. 

On  October  21,  1854,  Mr.  Bryan  was  united 
imiarriage  with  Miss  Ann\;ennette  L.  Sackett, 
a  aughter  of  Phineas  K.  Sackett.     Her  death 
o«urred  July  21,  1858,  and  at  Astoria,  Long 
Isind,  March  20,  1867,  he  was  again  married, 
tb;  time  to  Miss  Cornelia  T.  Willson  (daugh- 
teof  John  H.  Willson),  by  whom  he  had  one 
sc    Frederick,  born    August    23,    1868,   and 
June  26,  1872.     In  his  political  views  Mr. 
oan   coincides   with  the   Republican  party, 
wl  se  ticket  he  usually  supports,  and  previous 
to  le  organization  of  the  party  he  was  a  Whig. 
H'has  ever  taken  a  commendable  interest  in 
upbuilding   and  prosperity  of    his  native 
ty,  and    by  his    fellow-citizens   has  been 
1  upon  to  serve   in  several  positions,  in- 
duing those  of  supervisor,  assessor  and  justice 
of  le  peace  in  the  town  of  Northeast.      He  is 
a  S|ickholder  and  at  present  a  director  in  the 
"^  '   National  Bank  of  Amenia. 


F.TER  W.  FUNK.  Prominent  among  the 
_  leading  citizens  of  Barrytown,  Dutchess 
couty,  is  the  gentleman  whose  name  stands 
at  te  beginning  of  this  biographical  notice. 
He's  a  native  of  Columbia  county,  N.  Y., 
bor  in  the  town  of  Clermont,  January  23, 
184^  and  is  of  Holland  origin. 

•avid  Funk,  his  grandfather,  was  born  in 
Holnd,  and  was   a  member  of  the  British 

32 


army  until  coming  to  the  United  States.  Lo- 
cating in  Columbia  county,  N.  Y.,  he  there- 
followed  his  trade  of  shoemaking.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Betsy  Olmstead,  also  of  Holland, 
and  to  them  were  born  eight  children:  Jacob, 
John,  Edward,  Alexander,  Andrew,  Margaret, 
Deborah,  and  a  daughter  that  died  in  infancy. 

The  birth  of  Alexander  Funk,  the  father  of 
our  subject,  occurred  in  the  town  of  Clermont, 
Columbia  county,  in  18 18;  there  he  received 
a  common-school  education,  and  followed 
farming  through  the  greater  part  of  his  life. 
He  wedded  Miss  Nancy  Plass,  a  daughter  of 
Peter  Plass,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Clermont, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  nine  children, 
of  whom  our  subject  is  the  eldest;  Edward 
married  Mary  Van  Tassel;  John  married  Dora 
Brazie;  David  married  Mary  Lasher;  Winiield 
married  Alice  Buck;  Alonzo  married  Jennie 
Vandemark;  Frank  died  in  infancy;  Mary  E. 
was  three  times  married,  her  first  union  being 
with  Alexander  Palmetier,  the  second  Martin 
Drum,  and  the  third  Hiram  Dutcher;  and 
Catherine  died  in  infancy. 

In  the  common  schools  of  his  native  coun- 
ty, Mr.  Funk,  of  this  review,  acquired  his  edu- 
cation, and  after  leaving  the  school-room  he 
worked  at  farming,  but  was  rudely  awakened 
from  his  quiet  dreams  of  the  future,  by  the 
dark  cloud  of  war  that  overshadowed  our  be- 
loved country.  On  August  28,  1862,  his  pa- 
triotism having  been  aroused,  he  enlisted  in 
the  150th  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  which  was  raised  in 
Dutchess  county,  and  participated  in  many  of 
the  famous  battles  of  the  war,  including  Get- 
tysburg, Buzzards  Roost  (which  was  fought 
May  14,  1863),  Resaca  (on  the  15th),  Culps 
Farm  (on  the  22d),  and  Dallas  (on  the  25th  of 
the  same  month),  and  Peach  Tree  Creek  (on 
the  20th  and  22d  of  June  following).  '  The 
following  winter  the  regiment  was  quartered  at 
Savannah,  Ga. ,  and  the  following  spring  was 
in  two  important  engagements,  one  at  Averys- 
boro  and  the  other  at  Bentonville,  N.  C.  He 
was  with  Sherman  on  his  celebrated  march  to 
the  sea,  participating  in  the  capture  of  Atlanta 
and  Savannah,  and  was  in  the  last  engage- 
ments of  the  war.  He  had  entered  the  serv- 
ice as  a  private,  but  for  meritorious  conduct 
had  been  promoted  to  the  non-commissioned 
office  of  corporal,  and  after  the  close  of  hos- 
tilities was  honorably  discharged  in  June,  1865. 

Mr.  Funk  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Delia  Houghtaling,  daughter  of  Jeremiah 
Houghtaling,  of  the  town  of   Milan,  Dutchess 


498 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPEWAL  RECORD. 


county.  They  now  have  a  pleasant  home  in 
Barrytown,  where  our  subject  is  employed  as 
clerk  in  a  mercantile  house.  He  is  a  promi- 
nent member  of  Christian  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F. , 
of  Red  Hook,  which  he  joined  in  1894,  and 
has  filled  several  chairs  of  importance  in  that 
order.  He  is  also  a  charter  inember  of  Shiloh 
Encampment,  of  the  same  place,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Odd  Fellows  Mutual  Benefit  Asso- 
ciation of  Dutchess  county,  with  headquarters 
at  Poughkeepsie.  He  keeps  up  his  acquaint- 
ance with  his  army  comrades  by  his  connection 
with  Armstrong  Post  No.  104,  G.  A.  R.,  of 
Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county.  He  has  mani- 
fested the  same  loyalty  in  days  of  peace  as  in 
days  of  war,  and  all  who  know  him  have  for 
him  the  highest  regard. 


ISAAC  SWIFT  belongs  to  a  family  that  for 
_  many  generations  have  resided  in  this  coun- 
try and  taken  a  prominent  part  in  its  history. 
He  traces  his  origin  back  to  William  Swift, 
who  was  born  in  England  in  1634  and  died  in 
that  country  in  1705.  He  was  followed  by  his 
son  William,  who  was  born  in  1654,  and  died 
in  1 70 1.  The  next  is  Benjamin  Swift,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  West  Falmouth,  Mass.  He 
wedded  Mary  Gilford,  and  died  in  1775.  Their 
third  son,  Zebulon,  wedded  Rebecca  Wing,  of 
Falmouth,  and  Abraham,  their  third  son,  who 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Johanna  Sisson, 
became  the  grandfather  of  our  subject. 

The  earliest  recollections  of  Isaac  Swift 
are  of  the  old  home  farm  where  his  birth  took 
place  November  19,  1822,  and  he  there  early 
became  familiar  with  the  duties  which  fall 
to  the  lot  of  an  agriculturist.  On  reaching 
manhood  he  continued  the  cultivation  and  im- 
provement of  that  place  until  April,  1881, 
when  he  disposed  of  the  same,  and  has  since 
lived  retired,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  former 
toil. 

Mr.  Swift  was  married  to  Miss  Lydia  H. 
Almy,  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  a  daughter  of 
Obediah  and  Rhoda  (Barrett)  Almy,  who  were 
the  parents  of  six  children,  namely:  Helen, 
Lydia,  Rhoda,  Margaret,  Stephen  and  James. 
On  both  the  paternal  and  maternal  sides  Mrs. 
Swift  was  of  English  origin,  and  the  families 
were  all  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 
She  died  November  12,  1857,  leaving  two 
children:  Charles  I.,  a  contractor  and  builder 
of  Milbrook,  Dutchess  county;  and  Henrietta, 
wife  of  W.    L.    Swift,   editor  of  the  "  Round 


Table,"  of  Millbrook.  On  January  5,  185I 
our  subject  was  united  in  marriage  with  Rhod 
A.  Almy,  a  sister  of  his  former  wife. 

As  a  farmer,  Mr.  Swift  was  quite  succes 
ful,  always  fair  and  honorable  in  all  his  dea 
ings,  and  has  the  confidence  and  respect  of  a 
who  know  him.  He  is  a  progressive,  ente 
prising  citizen,  taking  a  deep  interest  in  ever 
thing  for  the  advancement  of  his  town  an 
county.  He  uniformly  casts  his  vote  with  tl 
Republican  party,  and  he  and  his  estimab! 
wife  are  members  of  the  Friends  Church. 


JAMES  H.  WRIGHT.  This  highly  respecte 
citizen  of  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutches 
county,  has  resided  upon  his  present  fari 
since  1853,  and  is  successfully  engaged  in  gei 
eral  agriculture.  His  early  ancestors  em 
grated  from  England  to  this  country,  and  h 
grandfather,  John  Wright,  was  a  native  of  t} 
town  of  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  where  I 
devoted  his  whole  life  to  agricultural  pursuit 
In  his  family  were  twelve  children,  as  follow 
Polly,  Susan,  Lydia,  Ruth,  Isaac  I.,  Johi 
Aaron,  Esther,  Dena,  Peter,  Freelove  ar 
Harvey. 

Isaac  I.  Wright,  the  father  of  our  subjec| 
was  also  born  in  the  town  of   Fishkill,  whe 
he  later  attended  school,  and  learned  the  ca, 
penter's,  wagonmaker's  and  blacksmith's  tradf ; 
In  1836  he  came  to  the  town  of  Stanford,  Jj 
eating  on  a  farm  near  Mclntyre  Station,  whi, 
he  operated  for  a  number  of  years.     The  '■ 
ter  part   of  his   life,    however,    was  spent 
Bangall,  where  he   died  in   1 871,  at  the 
old  age  of  eighty-two  years.      He  was  a 
made  man,  having  made  all  his  possessions! 
his  own  industry,  diligence  and  economy, 
is  entitled  to  high  praise  for  his  commendal 
activity.      He   was   a  member  of  the  Bapt 
Church  at  Bangall,  and  in  politics  was  first 
Whig,  later   a   Republican.      He  was  marr 
in  the  town  of  Fishkill  to  Jennett  Howe,  dau) 
ter  of   Libbens   Howe,  and   they  became 
parents  of  the  following  children:    Maiga 
and    Hannah    Maria  (both    deceased);    Yr* 
(deceased);    James    Harvey,    subject    of 
sketch;    John  (deceased).    Lucy  Ann,  wife 
Joel  Williams;  Rebecca,  wife  of  Clark  Gue 
sey;  Phcebe,  wife  of  Eli  Wright;  and  Geoi 
of  Mount  Ross,  Milan. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  occurred  Apr 
1820,  in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  wher 
began  his  education,  later  continuing  his  1 


SE 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


4m 


ies  in  the  town  of  Stanford,  and  at  the  Jacob 
Willets  Boarding  School  in  the  town  of  Wash- 
ngton,  Dutchess  county.  He  grew  to  man's 
estate  upon  his  father's  farm,  and  as  soon  as 
jld  enough  assisted  in  its  cultivation  until  his 
marriage,  gaining  a  good  practical  knowledge 
j)f  the  business  under  the  wise  guidance  of  his 
lather. 

j      In  the  town  of  Stanford,  Decembers,  1853, 

'dr.  Wright  was  married  to  Mary  A.  Humphrey, 

laughter  of  John  and   Clarissa  Humphrey,  of 

hat  township.     To  them  were   born  six  chil- 

ren,  in  order  of  birth  as  follows:  (i)  John  H. 

larried  Ella  Vandewater,  December  21,  1880, 

nd  they  have   three  children — Ralph,  Maud 

nd  Roy.      (2)  Clara,  of  Yonkers,  is  the  wife 

f  Franklin  Talmadge,  by  whom  she  has  two 

lildren — Mabel  and  Marian.     (3)  Isaac  I.   is 

jceased.      (4)    Charles   W.,    who   makes  his 

)me    at    Clinton  Corners,  Dutchess  county, 

arried   Delia  Stewart,  and  they  have  three 

<iildren — Harold  and  Edith  (twins)  and  Ethel. 

0  Ira  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth.     (6)  Net- 

the  youngest,  is  also  deceased. 

Mr.  Wright  is  a  keen,  practical  man,  well 

d  with  mental  vigor.      His  genial  manners 

la  sturdy  integrity  have  won   him  a  host  of 

f'jnds,  and   he  is  highly  regarded  by  all  with 

s  om  he  comes  in  contact.     He  is  a  sincere 

a  1  earnest  Christian,  a  member  of  the  Bap- 

t ;  Church   for    fifty-four   years.      He  united 

wh  the  Church  in  1842,  and  served  the  same 

fc  several  years  as  chorister  and  superintend- 

e    of  the   Sabbath-school,  and   trustee;  was 

■    ted  clerk  of  the  Church  in  1874,  and  still 

inues  as  clerk;  and  later  was  elected  dea- 

of  said  Church.     On  account  of  his  views 

the  temperance  question,  he   is   a  stanch 

l>orter  of  the  Prohibition  party. 


r  WIGHT  ABEL.  Jacob  Abel,  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Liionvale,  Dutchess  county,  where  he  passed 
hisiays  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  married 
M(  Margaret  Uhl,  by  whom  he  had  three 
chilren:  William  W.,  John  U.  and  Mary. 

.Villiam  W.    Abel,    father  of  our  subject, 

waiborn  March  i,  18 14,  in  the  town  of  Union- 

vaf   and   during   his    boyhood   attended  the 

'  Partners  School,    after  which  he  taught 

111  for  a  time.      Later  he  followed  agricult- 

ipursuits  exclusively,  becoming  one  of  the 

■ioi  extensive  farmers  in  his  township.     He 


took  an  active  interest  in  political  matters,  al- 
ways voting  with  the  Whig  or  Republican 
party,  and  held  a  number  of  township  offices, 
including  those  of  supervisor,  justice  of  the 
peace  and  revenue  collector.  He  was  twice 
married,  first  time  to  Helen  Cornell,  by  whom 
he  had  two  children:  Evaline  and  Mary,  the 
last  named  dying  at  the  age  of  twelve  years. 
Evaline  married  Henry  Brill,  of  Beekman,  N. 
Y. ,  and  two  children  were  born  to  them: 
Theodore  R. ,  who  married  Miss  Emma  Hicok, 
and  Nellie  C.  For  his  second  wife  William 
W.  Abel  wedded  Miss  Mary  Jane  Austin, 
daughter  of  Beriah  and  Sarah  (Waite)  Austin, 
and  four  children  were  born  to  them:  Orlin 
B.,  Dwight,  H.  Clay  and  John  Jacob.  Of 
these  Orlin  B.  is  more  fully  spoken  of  else- 
where; H.  Clay  was  born  in  the  town  of  Un- 
ionvale,  and  received  a  good  common-school 
education,  after  which  he  followed  the  pro- 
fession of  teaching.  He  is  now  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  at  Wappingers  Falls,  Dutch- 
ess county.  Socially,  he  affiliates  with  the  F. 
&  A.  M.  He  married  Miss  Maggie  Traver,  by 
whom  he  had  two  children,  William  C.  and 
Melburn  T. ,  and  after  her  death  he  wedded 
Miss  Mary  Manning. 

Dwight  Abel  was  born  in  1846  in  the  town 
of  Unionvale,  where  his  entire  life  has  been 
passed.  His  elementary  education  was  re- 
ceived at  the  schools  of  the  neighborhood  of 
his  boyhood  home,  and  later  he  pursued  his 
studies  at  Charlotteville,  Schoharie  Co.,  N. 
Y.  He  early  began  to  assist  in  the  labors  of 
the  home  farm,  and  has  since  devoted  his 
time  and  attention'  to  rural  pursuits  with  ex- 
cellent results.  Politically,  he  is  identified  with 
the  Republican  party,  but  has  never  aspired  to 
public  office.  He  is  enterprising  and  public- 
spirited.  On  December  18,  1867,  he  married 
Miss  Adaline  E.  Coe,  daughter  of  Reuben  L. 
Coe,  of  Unionvale,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  three  children:  Charles  H.,  born  Jan- 
uary 27,  1869,  and  who  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years;  Walter  J.,  born  April  25, 
1872;  and  Jennie  L. ,  born  February  25,  1887. 
The  second  son,  Walter  J.  Abel,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Unionvale,  in  1872,  attended  the 
Claverack  College,  and  is  now  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  Dutchess  county. 
He  married  Miss  Anna  C.  Hyzer,  daughter  of 
Abram  Hyzer,  an  agriculturist  of  that  town- 
ship, and  their  union  has  been  blessed  with 
one  child,  Edwin  Dwight,  born  January  11, 
1896. 


500 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1 


EDWARD  M.  SMITH.   In  Munsel's  "Amer- 


ican Ancestry,  giving  the  name  and  de- 
scent of  the  male  Hne  of  Americans  whose  an- 
cestors settled  in  the  United  States  previous  to 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,"  we  have 
the  genealogy  of  Edward  M.  Smith,  the  author 
of  the  History  of  Rhinebeck,  as  follows: 

Edward  Martin  Smith,  of  Rhinebeck,  N. 
Y.,  born  at  Red  Hook,  N.  Y.,  March  29,  1817, 
the  eleventh  of  thirteen  children,  left  home  at 
the  age  of  twelve  to  work  on  uncle's  farm; 
tailor's  apprentice  1 833-1 838;  journeyman 
tailor  in  Rhinebeck  1 838-1 840;  master  tailor 
from  last  date;  co-founder  of  the  Rhinebeck 
Gazette  1846;  merchant  tailor  1850;  president 
of  the  village  1875;  president  of  the  school 
board  1 881-1889;  author  of  the  History  of 
Rhinebeck  1881;  married  September  13,  1842, 
Mary  Elizabeth  Davis,  daughter  of  Jabez  Davis, 
of  Shropshire,  England. 

Son  of  PhiHp  Smith,  born  June  27,  1773; 
died  at  Milan,  N.  Y. ,  December  13,  1851; 
farmer;  spoke  German,  Dutch  and  English 
with  equal  fluency;  possessed  much  mechanical 
skill  and  ingenuity;  married  December 4,  1796, 
Anna  Coopernail,  daughter  of  William  Cooper- 
nail,  of  the  Mohawk  Valley,  descendant  from 
Jan  Van  Koppenol,  who  came  to  America  in 
1659. 

Son  of  Johannes  Schmidt,  born  in  Rhine- 
beck, March  30,  1730;  died  April  18,  181 3; 
married  February  3,  1761,  Elizabeth  Sipperley, 
born  August  12,  1741;  died  March  25,  1804; 
daughter  of  Frederick  Sipperley  and  Catharine 
Wegeler,  daughter  of  Hans  Michael  Wegeler, 
one  of  the  Palatine  founders  of  the  town  of 
Rhinebeck;  married  August  15,  1727. 

Son  of  Zacharias  Schmidt,  born  in  Ger- 
many; was  clerk,  fore-reader,  deacon,  elder 
and  treasurer  of  the  Reformed  German  Church; 
located  on  part  of  his  farm  three  miles  north  of 
the  present  village  of  Rhinebeck;  married 
about  1728  Anna  Maria,  daughter  of  Valentin 
Biiuder,  who  with  his  wife,  Anna  Margaretha 
Stopplebeen,  came  to  America  in  17 10  on  the 
ship  "Midfort,"  Capt.  Fowles,  with  the  Rev. 
Joshua  Kocherthal  and  other  Protestant  re- 
ligious refugees  from  the  Palatinate  on  the 
Rhine. 

At  the  death  of  his  father,  Philip  Smith, 
the  only  one  of  four  sons  who  remained  a 
farmer  and  at  home  at  maturity,  became  the 
owner  of  the  homestead,  with  the  farm-stock 
and  three  slaves,  Tom  and  Flore  and  their  son 
Tobe.      As   the  older  sons  of  the  family  were 


approaching  manhood,  Tom,  an  intelligei 
negro,  made  up  his  mind  that  his  master  coul 
do  very  well  without  him,  and  besought  hin 
very  earnestly,  to  sell  him  to  Peter  Van  Ben 
thuysen,  who  had  expressed  a  wish  to  ow 
him;  which,  after  much  hesitation,  he  finall 
did.  Before  Tom  had  been  a  fortnight  on  tt 
premises  of  his  new  master  he  abscondec 
without  leaving  a  clue  to  his  destination  b( 
hind  him. 

After  1827,  when  New  York  had  freed  a 
her  slaves  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  Toi 
came  into  the  State  from  Massachusetts  wit 
a  good  team  of  horses  and  a  wagon,  his  ow 
property,  with  which  he  was  earning  his  livin 
as  a  teamster.  He  was  on  his  way  to  th 
Hudson  river  for  a  load  of  merchandise,  an 
sought  out  his  old  master,  then  living  in  th 
town  of  Milan,  to  tell  him  that  when  he  in 
portuned  him  to  sell  him  he  had  fully  made  u 
his  mind  to  run  away,  but  preferred  to  do  s 
from  a  new  rather  than  his  old  master,  to  whoi 
and  his  family  he  had  become  greatly  attachec 
and  that  he  was  quite  as  eager  that  he  shouj 
obtain  a  good  price  for  him  as  he  was  that  \ 
should  sell  him. 

Tobe  had  long  been  given  away,  a  ma 
riage  present  to  a  daughter  of  the  family;  Flo: 
had  gone  away,  the  wife  of  a  decent  negr 
able  to  support  her;  at  his  death  she  found 
home  with  her  son,  Tobias,  her  only  offsprin 
who  earned  his  living  mainly  by  fishing  ai 
fiddling.  Old  and  tottering,  she  walked  fo 
miles  to  be  present  at  her  old  mistress'  funei; 

In  1822  Philip  Smith  sold  the  leasehold 
the  old  Red  Hook  home,  and  took  his  fani: 
of  twelve  children  to  a  larger  farm  in  Colui 
bia  county,  N.  Y.,  under  a  Livingston  Lea; 
where  the  thirteenth  child  was  soon  added  ' 
the  family.  Here  the  older  children  so 
found  it  necessary  to  look  beyond  the  farm 
a  livelihood,  and  drifted  away  to  various  oc(|- 
pations.  Before  1830  this  farm  was  also  c  • 
posed  of,  and  what  was  left  of  the  family  '• 
came  the  owners  in  fee  of  a  small  farm  in  '; 
town  of  Milan.  Here  the  father  died,  Dece- 
ber  13,  1 83 1,  his  children  all  living,  and  at  3 
funeral;  the  mother  October  26,  1S64,  r 
thirteen  children  all  living  and  at  her  funei , 
the  youngest  forty-one  years  old,  who  is  n< , 
and  has  been  for  several  terms,  a  justice  of  e 
peace  in  Germantown,  Columbia  Co.,  N  ■ 
The  grandfather,  Johannes  Schmidt,  servec  s 
a  soldier  in  the  French  and  Indian  war;  s 
an  "  Associator"  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Re- 


^ 


^,  ^1/1,   /(^^-^i-c^tS^ , 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPEICAL  RECORD. 


501 


lution,  and  did  what  he  could  for  the  freedom 
and  independence  of  his  country. 
I  On  May  2,  1896,  the  semi-centennial  of  the 
I  Rhinebeck  Gazette,  the  present  editor  and  pro- 
prietor published  what  follows  about  its  founder 
and  his  History  of  Rhinebeck: 

When  Mr.  Smith  disposed  of  the  Gazette  establish- 
ment, and  ceased  to  be  its  editor,  he  did  not  wholly 
abandon  his  literary  work.  The  following  item  copied 
from  Mason's  Illustrated  History  of  Dutchess  County, 
published  in  1882,  gives  due  credit  to  what  he  has  since 
done  in  the  literary  line: 

"During  his  residence  of  forty-three  years  in  Rhine- 
beck, Mr.  Smith  has  collected  from  various  sources  the 
material  included  in  his  history  of  this  old  town.     It  is  a 
.vork  of  years,  in  the  preparation  of  which  much  time, 
abor  and   money  have  been  expended,  and  to  which, 
hrough  the  kindness  of  the  author,  we  are  indebted  for 
learly  all  the  data  relating  to  Rhinebeck.     His  work, 
nore  complete  in  its  minuti^  than  can  be  any  history  of 
he  county  at  large,  may  be  justly  regarded  as  a  valuable 
:ontribution  to  the  historical  data  of  the  county  and  State, 
vir.  Smith's  History  of  Rhinebeck  was  published  in  1881, 
nainly  for  subscribers,  and  the  entire  edition  was  ex- 
austed  in  a  few  months.     No  copies  are  to  be  had  now, 
for  love  or  money."     Persisting  in  his  researches,  we  are 
lid  that  he  is  now  in  possession  of  facts  related  to  the 
^tory  of  the  town  and  its  early  settlers  that  will  enable 
to  revise,  correct  and  greatly  enhance  the  interest  of 
work,  and  that  he  is  accordingly  employing  some  of 
is  leisure  time  in  re-writing  and  enlargmg  it.     Having 
itered  the  eightieth  year  of  his  age,  Mr.  Smith  will  hardly 
ime  the  task  of  its  republication.     We  hope  some  one 
secure  the  manuscript,  and  in  due  time  offer  it  to  the 

I'      
lORGE  W.  CRONK.     Prominent  among 
the  successful  and  enterprising  farmers  of 
^vohess  county  may  be   found  the  subject  of 
lis  biographical  sketch,  whose  home  is  situated 
the  town  of  Unionvale,  and  who  is  consid- 
ed  one  of  the   most   industrious  and  worthy 
izens  of  this  part  of  the  county.      Here  his 
're  life  has  been   passed,  his  birth   having 
urred  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  in  1818,  while 
education  was   obtained   in  the  schools  of 
:,Tange  and   Fishkill  town.      His    paternal 
ndfather,  Jacob  Cronk,  wasa  native  of  Hol- 
1  id,  and   on   coming  to   the  New  World  lo- 
^^^ed  in  the    town  of   Hyde    Park,  Dutchess 
^MDty,  about  eight  miles  from  Poughkeepsie, 
<  d  there  engaged  in  farming. 

Timothy  Cronk,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
vs  born  in  the  town  of  Hyde  Park,  in  1748. 
\:  became  a  resident  of  the  town  of  Fishkill, 
Mere  he  worked  at  his  trade  of  coopering,  and 
\  s  a  faithful  soldier  in  the  war  of  1 8 1 2.  He 
vs  twice  married,  by  his  first  union  having 
tee  children:  Hiram,  Samuel  and  Rhoda. 
J  r  his  second  wife  he  wedded  Deborah  A. 
'wn,  and  to  them  were   born   five  children: 


Sarah,  who  married  Saxon  Raymond;  Harri- 
son, who  was  killed  in  war;  Henry,  who  died 
unmarried;  Nelson,  who  married  Harriet  Mar- 
shall; and  George,  our  subject. 

During  his  youth  George  Cronk  learned 
the  weaver's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  for 
nine  years,  later  for  ten  years  was  in  the  mill- 
ing business,  and  then  turned  his  attention  to 
carpentering  and  masonry.  For  the  past  thirty 
years,  however,  he  has  devoted  his  attention 
exclusively  to  his  farming  interest,  and  though 
enterprising  and  public-spirited,  has  never 
cared  for  office.  He  married  Miss  Emeline 
Howard,  who  was  born  April  26,  1824,  in  the 
town  of  Dover,  and  was  there  educated  in  its 
common  schools. 

Ten  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cronk,  namely:  (i)  Mary,  born  August  10, 
1843,  married  George  Hillker,  a  farmer  of  the 
town  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  they  have  one  son, 
George  Henry,  now  an  operator  on  an  elevated 
railroad  in  New  York  City.  (2)  George  H., 
born  October  18,  1845,  who  engaged  in  farm- 
ing after  completing  his  education.  At  the  age 
of  twenty-one  years  he  enlisted  at  Poughkeep- 
sie in  the  150th  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  and  served  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  being  in  the  battle  of 
Petersburg,  and  also  at  Appomatox  when  Lee 
surrendered.  He  holds  membership  in  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  Carpentering 
is  now  his  occupation.  He  married  Annie 
Harrington,  and  they  have  had  four  children — 
George  B.,  who  married  Agnes  Salter;  Julia 
A.,  who  married  William  E.  Ostram;  William, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years;  and  Her- 
bert. (3)  Helen  A.,  born  April  3,  1848,  died 
May  18,  1849.  (4)  Albert,  born  June  15,  1850, 
went  to  California  as  overseer  of  a  farm  for 
Governor  Stanford,  and  later  was  inspector  in 
gold  mines.  He  married  Sarah  S.  Perry,  of 
that  State,  and  died  May  15,  1884.  (5)  Will- 
iam B.,  born  August  20,  1852,  died  July  8, 
1874.  (6)  Emma,  born  November  27,  1854, 
married  James  P.  Organ,  a  farmer  of  Noxon, 
Dutchess  county,  and  they  have  two  sons — 
Floyd  and  William.  (7)  Martha,  born  July 
26,  1858,  married  Harvey  Van  Dewater,  for- 
merly a  farmer,  but  now  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising at  New  Hackensack,  N.  Y.  (8)  John, 
born  October  23,  i860,  is  by  trade  a  carpenter, 
but  is  also  engaged  in  farming  in  the  town  of 
Washington,  Dutchess  county.  He  married 
Ella  Bostwick,  an  adopted  daughter  of  Henry 
Bostwick.  (9)  Charles E.,  born  May  30,  1862, 
is  an  architect  of  Herkimer,  N.  Y.,  and  is  now 


502 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPniCAL  RECORD. 


finishing  the  plans  for  ex-President  Harrison's 
summer  residence  in  the  Adirondack  Mount- 
ains. He  married  Elizabeth  Risedorf.  (lo) 
Sarah  E. ,  born  October  23,  1864,  completes 
the  family.  On  April  28,  1897,  she  married 
John  E.  Forshay,  a  carpenter  by  trade,  of  New 
York  City.  They  were  all  born  and  educated 
in  the  town  of  Amenia,  Dutchess  county. 

Zebaniah  Howard,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Cronk,  was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Dover,  and 
engaged  in  farming  from  youth  until  his  death, 
conducting  a  good  farm  which  he  owned  on 
Chestnut  Ridge.  In  religious  belief  he  was  a 
Friend.       By   his   marriage   with   Miss   Lydia 

he  had  the  following  children:    John, 

Charles,  Sylvester,  Valirie,  Pontius,  Edward 
and  Silas. 

The  birth  of  Silas  Howard,  the  father  of 
Mrs.  Cronk,  occurred  in  the  town  of  Amenia, 
but  most  of  his  life  was  passed  in  Fishkill 
town,  and  throughout  his  life  he  followed  the 
profession  of  teaching,  being  one  of  the  able 
instructors  of  the  county.  By  birthright  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Amelia  Cash, 
daughter  of  David  and  Amelia  Cash,  farming 
people  of  Columbia  county,  N.  Y.  They  be- 
came the  parents  of  nine  children,  namely: 
William,  born  August  15,  1809,  married  Pau- 
lina Storms;  Rachel,  born  May  28,  181 1,  mar- 
ried Isaac  Harrington;  Aaron,  born  March  26, 
181 3,  married  Harriet  Sweet;  David,  born 
February  21,  1815,  married  Caroline  Sweet; 
Silas,  born  December  21,  18 16,  married  Cath- 
arine Odell;  Asa,  born  September  24,  18 19, 
married  Jane  Northrop;  Lydia,  born  August 
29,  1 82 1,  married  John  Ulrich;  Emeline,  wife 
of  our  subject,  is  next  in  order  of  birth;  and 
Elizabeth,  born  February  28,  1828,  married 
Joseph  Martin. 


J 


JOHN  W.  PULVER,  a  well-known  business 
man  of  Millerton,  Dutchess  county,  and  the 
proprietor  of  extensive  bottling  works,  was 
born  July  23,  1830,  at  Red  Hook,  Dutchess 
Co.,  N.  Y. ,  where  his  ancestors  were  among 
the  pioneer  settlers.  His  grandfather,  David 
Pulver,  was  a  native  of  the  same  place,  and 
became  a  successful  farmer  there,  owning  a 
tract  of  land  near  the  old  post  road  between 
Upper  and  Lower  Red  Hook,  now  belonging 
to  Mr.  Coons.  David  Pulver  was  a  substan- 
tial citizen,  influential  in  local  matters,  and 
prosperous   in    business.      In    addition    to  his 


farming,  he  engaged  largely  in  the  breeding  ol 
running  horses.  He  died  in  1842,  and  his 
wife,  formerly  Catherine  Simmons,  died  in 
Red  Hook,  in  1836.  They  had  seven  children; 
David,  Henry,  Peter  and  Zachariah  (twins), 
Anna  (Mrs.  William  Fredenburgh),  Peggy 
(Mrs.  John  Witherwax),  and  one  who  died  in 
infancy. 

Zachariah  Pulver,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  at  the  old  home  at  Red  Hook,  in  1793, 
and  lived  there  until  1835,  following  farming 
as  an  occupation.  He  and  his  brother,  Peter, 
made  their  home  together  for  sixty  years,  and 
married  two  sisters,  the  daughters  of  Philip 
Teeter,  a  leading  citizen  of  the  town  of  Milan, 
and  a  descendent  of  a  German  family.  Peter's 
wife's  name  was  Maria,  and  Zachariah's  wife's 
name  was  Catherine.  A  few  years  after  mar- 
riage they  moved  to  Columbia  county,  anc 
bought  a  farm  of  209  acres  in  the  town  01 
Chatham,  adding  to  it  later  until  the  farn- 
contained  about  300  acres.  Zachariah  Pulvei 
was  a  strong  Democrat,  and  a  leading  official 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  of  which  this  famil) 
have  been  members  from  early  times.  Ht 
died  in  1873,  his  wife  surviving  him  fourteei 
years.  They  had  five  children,  of  whom  twi 
are  now  living.  Mary  died  in  infancy;  Cather 
ine  at  the  age  of  three,  and  David  Henry  ir 
1874.  The  survivors  are  John  W. ,  our  sub j 
ject;  and  Elizabeth  A.,  who  married  Lewi' 
Smith,  of  Chatham,  New  York.  1 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  received  a  goo.; 
English  education  in  the  district  schools  of  th| 
town  of  Chatham,  and  was  especially  noted  fci 
his  ability  as  a  mathematician,  being  considerei 
the   best    in    Columbia    county.      His  brothei 
David  also  possessed  the  same  powers  to  a; 
unusual  degree.      Mr.  Pulver  left  school  at  thi 
age  of  sixteen,  but  he  has  been  an  unwearie 
reader  and  is  well  informed  upon  general  topic 
He  remained  at  home  until  he  was  twenty-t\\ 
years  old,  and  then  took  charge  of  a  farm  b 
longing  to  his  father,  in  Rensselaer  county,  ar 
three  years  later  he  moved  to  another  at  ti 
head  of  North  Chatham  Village,  where  he  r 
mained  eleven  years.      He  then  sold  out  to 
brother  and  removed    to    Nassau,   Renssela 
county,  and  engaged  in  the  milling  business 
a  rented  mill.      Later  he  bought  the  proper 
and  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Davis,  ti, 
owner  ;  but  this  venture  proved  unfortunat 
and  he  sold  his  interest  to  Mr.  Davis  before; 
year  had  elapsed.      The  following  year  he  vv" 
in  partnership  with  E.  M.  Crum  in  the  mo; 


COMMEMOBATIVB  BIOGRAPEICAL  RECORD. 


508 


ng-machine  business,  and  on  disposing  of  his 
:;hare  in  that  he  bought   a  store  and  followed 
he    business  alone.      In    1871   he    moved    to 
\menia,  and  engaged  in  his  present  employ- 
ment of  bottling  during  the  summer  season, 
nd  cutting  pork  and  making  sausage  in  winter, 
'his  establishment  was  removed   to  Millerton 
1  1877,  and  has  since  commanded  the  largest 
business  of  the  sort  in  this  locality. 
i     Mr.  Pulver  is  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the 
j)wn  of  Northeast,  an  unwavering  Democrat 
■nd  an  earnest  worker  for  local  improvements, 
[e  was  supervisor  in   1888  and   1889,  and  in 
:igo  was  defeated  by  only  one  vote.      In  1852 
f2  was  married  to    Miss  Abbie  Middlebrook, 
lughter  of  Aaron  Middlebrook,  and  has  had  si.x 
lildren:  Luella,  who  married  Collins  Barton, 
Northeast  town;  Elzada;   Elmer;  Anna  M. ; 
eorge  ;   and  Andrew,   the    proprietor  of  the 
Millerton  House  ".      Of  this  family  the  eldest 
id  the  youngest  are  the  only  survivors.      Mr. 
ilverand  his  wife  have  been  prominent  mem- 
1  rs  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  for  many  years, 
'  he  also  belongs  to   Webatuck  Lodge  No. 
F.  &  A.  M. 


1  VAN  NESS    DUTCHER  is  a    prominent 

J  citizen  and  a  worthy  representative  of  one 

if   the    honored    pioneer   families   of     the 

n   of  Dover,  Dutchess  county.     Cornelius 

Ltcher,  his  grandfather,  was  numbered  among 

''  first  settlers  of  the  township,  where  through- 
life  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits.  •    In 

b  family  were  ten  children,  whose  names  and 

•of  birth  are  as  follows:     Simeon,  April 
72;    Gabriel,   July  11,  1773;    Cornelius, 
I  15,  1775;  Priscilla,  December  27,  1776; 
P«er,  July   20,  1779;  Wheaton,  October  20, 
i;  Joshua,  May  12,  1784;  Ruleff,  June  25, 
'>;    Betsy,    March    19,    1788;    and    Sylva, 
I,  1792. 

he  birth  of  Joshua  Dutcher,  the  father  of 

iubject,  occurred   in  the   town  of  Dover. 

cquired    his    education    in    the  common 

Is  and  followed  farming.      He  was  united 

Rrriage  with  Miss  Sarah  Carrington,  daugh- 

if  Daniel  and  Thankful  Carrington,  agri- 

ists,    of    Connecticut.       Three    children 

d  this  union,  namely:    (1)  Jennette,  born 

9,  182 1,  married   Aaron  Butts,  a   police- 

msl  of   New  York  City,  and   they  had  three 

''ran  —  Cora;    Blendina,   married  to  J.  G. 

!am,  of  New  York  City;  and  Joshua,  who 


married  Josephine  Way,  of  Mabbettsville,  and 
had  one  child,  Laura  Jennette,  that  was  left 
an  orphan  at  an  early  age,  its  father  and 
mother  both  dying.  (2)  J.  Van  Ness  is  next 
in  order  of  birth.  (3)  Elizabeth,  born  Febru- 
ary 25,  1826,  became  the  wife  of  James  Fry, 
a  farmer,  of  the  town  of  Dover,  and  to  them 
was  born  a  son,  Frank,  who  married  Miss 
Emma  J.  Wing,  and  has  two  children. 

J.  Van  Ness  Dutcher  was  born  January  31, 
1823,  in  the  town  of  Dover,  where  on  reach- 
ing a  sufficient  age  he  attended  the  public 
schools,  and,  like  his  ancestors,  has  devoted 
his  time  and  energies  to  the  cultivation  of  the 
soil.  He  is  public-spirited  and  progressive, 
taking  a  genuine  interest  in  the  enterprises  set 
on  foot  for  the  advancement  and  welfare  of 
his  native  county. 

Mr.  Dutcher  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Harriet  M.  Benson,  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Sarah  Benson,  farming  people  of  the  town 
of  Dover.  Five  children  came  of  this  union: 
(i)  Mary  Estella,  born  in  February,  1863,  is 
the  wife  of  Alfred  Still,  a  carpenter  of  White 
Plains,  Dutchess  county,  and  they  have  one 
child— Ida  F.,  born  July  26,  1883.  (2)  Ber- 
tha E. ,  born  October  22,  1867,  is  the  wife  of 
George  Cutler,  a  postal  clerk  of  New  York 
City,  and  they  have  one  child — Ethel,  born 
November  26,  1891.  (3)  Harriet  V.,  born 
January  13,  1 871,  is  the  wife  of  Elmer  Dutcher, 
an  agriculturist,  and  they  have  one  child — 
Mabel,  born  September  10,  1895.  (4)  Van- 
Ness,  born  April  2,  1874,  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion, married  Amelia  Rozell,  daughter  of  Obed 
Rozell,  by  whom  he  has  one  child — Mary,  born 
February  15,  1895.  (5)  Cora,  born  October 
27,  1876,  completes  the  family. 


JOHN  CORNELL  SHEAR  was  for  many 
years  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  influ- 
ential citizens  of  the  town  of  Lagrange, 
Dutchess  county.  He  was  born  in  that  town- 
ship, October  12,  181 1,  and  is  the  son  of  John 
C.  and  Margaret  (Cornell)  Shear,  the  former 
born  November  21,  1776,  and  the  latter  Au- 
gust 25,  1 78 1.  The  parental  household  in- 
cluded six  children:  Anna,  born  October  31, 
1800,  died  January  8,  1891;  Catherine  E., 
born  April  8,  1803,  died  in  December,  1888; 
Israel  J.,  born  February  26,  1806,  died  July  7, 
1821;  John  Cornell,  subject  of  this  review; 
Abraham,  born  October  8,    181 5;  and  Sarah, 


S04 


COMMEMORATTVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


born  December  3,  18 18.  The  father  owned 
and  operated  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Lagrange, 
where  his  death  occurred  August  14,  1825,  and 
his  wife,  who  long  survived  him,  passed  away 
November  25,  1868. 

The  educational  advantages  of  our  subject 
were  good  for  that  early  day, as  he  supplemented 
the  knowledge  acquired  in  the  district  schools 
of  his  native  township  by  a  course  in  the  Jacob 
Willets  hoarding  School,  in  the  town  of  Wash- 
ington, Dutchess  county.  He  also  early  be- 
came familiar  with  the  labors  of  the  farm,  and 
in  connection  with  his  brother  Abraham  oper- 
ated land  in  Lagrange  town  until  1888,  when 
their  interests  were  separated,  and  our  subject 
removed  to  his  present  farm  in  the  same  town- 
ship. He  has  always  been  an  energetic,  pro- 
gressive man,  and  secured  through  his  efforts  a 
handsome  competence. 

On  April  27,  1876,  Mr.  Shear  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Catherine  L.  Pierce,  who  is  of 
French  ancestry,  and  a  daughter  of  Caleb 
Pierce,  of  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county.  One 
child  blessed  this  union,  Anna.  Mr.  Shear 
is  recognized  as  one  of  the  valuable  mem- 
bers of  the  community,  giving  his  support  and 
encouragement  to  those  enterprises  calculated 
for  the  general  welfare,  and  has  ever  been 
held  in  the  highest  respect  and  esteem  by  his 
fellow  citizens.  While  engaged  in  active  busi- 
ness, he  was  one  of  the  most  noted  stock-rais- 
ers of  Dutchess  county,  giving  special  atten- 
tion to  the  raising  of  cattle  and  sheep.  On 
February  16,  1874,  he  sold  in  the  New  York 
market  a  couple  of  "  Durhams,"  weighing 
4,616  pounds,  for  $450.  His  sheep  were  of 
the  Southdown  and  Cotswold  breeds,  for  which 
he  received  first  premium  at  the  county  fair 
held  at  Poughkeepsie. 

Johannes  Shear,  the  great-grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  171 8,  in  Germany, 
and  came  to  America  in  1751.  His  son,  John 
C.  Shear,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  America,  in  1751. 


JOHN  WOODBURY  PUTNAM  (deceased). 
The  thanks  of  a  grateful  nation  are  due  to 
the  heroes  who,  in  their  country's  hour  of 
peril,  went  forth  in  defense  of  the  Union,  and 
beneath  the  burning  rays  of  the  Southern  sun 
displayed  their  loyalty  to  the  "  flag  of  the  free 
heart's  hope  and  home."  The  gentleman 
•  whose  name  introduces  this  review  belonged 


to  that  noble  army  that  proved  the  country'; 
salvation,  and  he  well  deserves  a  place  on  the 
pages  of  its  history. 

The  earliest  ancestors  of  the  Putnam  fam- 
ily in    this    land  was   John    Putnam,  who,  ir 
1634,  came  to  America  from  Buckinghamshire, 
England,  bringing  his  wife,  Priscilla,  and  his 
three    sons — Thomas,    Nathaniel    and  John. 
The  sons  grew  to  manhood  in  Salem,  Mass., 
and  became  the   owners  of  large  estates.     Ir 
1 68 1  the  three   paid  one-seventh  of  the  tota 
tax  to  Church  levied  on  the  ninety-four  tax 
payers  in  Salem  village.     Thomas  Putnam  wa 
twice    married,    his    second    wife  being    Mar; 
Veren,  the  daughter  of  a  large  ship  owner.     Ii 
the  family  of  Thomas  Putnam  was  a  daughte 
who  was  one  of  those  accused  of  witchcraft  ii 
1692,  and  only  saved    her  life   by  fleeing  int' 
the  wilderness  until  the  search  was  given  up 
His  son,   Joseph,    born   in    1670,    married,  ii 
1690,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Israel  Porter,  an( 
among   their  eleven    or   twelve    children  wa 
Israel  Putnam,  well-known    and    endeared  t( 
every  American  for  his  gallant  services  duriti; 
the  Revolutionary  war — a  general  who  "  dare( 
to  lead  where  any  dared  to  follow."     He  wa 
born  July  7,  17 18,  and  died  May  19,  1790.    Hi 
wife  was  Hannah  Pope,  a  sister  of  John  Pope 
with  whom,  in  1739,  Israel   Putnam  bought 
large  tract  of  land  in  Connecticut.      David, 
lineal  descendant,  the  grandfather  of  our  sut 
ject,  was  a  native  of    Massachusetts;  but  hi 
active   business  life  was    spent   in  farming  i 
New   Hampshire.      He,  too,  was   a  soldier  i 
the. war  of  the  Revolution,  and  fought  at  Bur 
ker  Hill.      By  his   marriage  with  Miss  Phoeb 
Woodbury  he  had  a  family  of  six  children - 
three    sons    and    three    daughters  —  of  whoi 
John  Putnam,  the   father  of  our  subject,  w; 
the  youngest.      The  latter  was  born  and  reare 
in  the  Old  Granite  State,  and  remained  upo 
the  home   farm,  in   Croydon,  Sullivan  count; 
dying  in  that  town  in  1885.      He  married  A 
mira  French,  whose  death  occurred  in  186; 
Seven  children  were  born  to  them:     James, 
Universalist    minister,    who    for    fifteen  yea 
preached  at  Danvers,  Mass. ,  and  was  the  fatb 
of  two  children  —  Eliza  and  James  H. ;  Luc; 
widow  of  the  late  T.  C.  Eastman,  a  successf 
cattle  dealer  of  New  York  City;  John  W., 
this  review;  Franklin   (deceased),  who  was  £ 
attorney  at  Kansas  City,  Mo. ;  Ellen  (deceased 
Nathaniel  French,  formerly  an  Episcopal  mi 
ister,  and  who  died  at  Salt  Lake  City,  leavii 
four  children  —  Graham,  an  attorney  at  Sj 


^p  f     /^  XS-'^yl^^^z^^^P^^^Zr 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


505 


Lake  City,  married  and  has  one  son,  John; 
John  F.  (deceased),  Louisa  and  Ella;  and 
George  F. ,  a  banker  and  attorney  at  Kansas 
City,  Missouri. 

On   April    6,    1825,    in  Croydon,    Sullivan 

Co.,    N.    H.,    John    Woodbury    Putnam   was 

born,  and  in  the  district  schools  and  academy 

he  secured  a   good  practical    education.     He 

was   married  in  his  native  town  to  Laura  S. 

Hall,  a  daughter  of  Carlton  and   Rhoda  (Fos- 

:er)   Hall,  and    they    became    the    parents    of 

:hree    children:       Minnie,    now    the    wife    of 

toward  Kinney,  a  farmer  in   Stanford  town- 

ihip,  by  whom  she   has  two  children — Laura 

ind  Roswell  P.;  Katharine  B.,  wife  of  Harry 

3.  Conklin,  traveling  salesman  for  the  Ameri- 

an  Brush  and  Broom  Co.,  of  New  York;  and 

)rury  W.,  deceased. 

Carlton  Hall,  the  father  of   Mrs.  Putnam, 

'as  the  son  of  James  and  Hulda  (Cooper)  Hall, 

le  former  of  whom  was  a  soldier  in  the  Rev- 

lutionary  war,   and   the   latter  a  descendant 

'  Roger  Sherman,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration 

Independence.     Carlton  Hall,  a  farmer  and 

ttie    dealer  by    occupation,  married    Rhoda 

ter,  by  whom  he  had  three  children:   Carl- 

F.  died  when  about  fifty  years  old,  leaving 

children;  Mary  Ann  died  at  the  age  of  ten 

;ars;  and  Mrs.  Putnam.     The  mother  died  in 

38;  the  father  on  April  28,  1856.   The  Halls 

ii  descended  from  Edward   Hall,  who  came 

f  m  England  to  Duxbury,  Mass.,  in  1636. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Putnam  lived  upon 
alarm  in  Croydon,  Sullivan  Co.,  N.  H., 
Viere  he  resided  thirteen  years  previous  to  his 
c  ning  to  Amenia,  N.  Y.  Before  his  marriage 
b  had  taught  school  winters,  and  assisted  his 
feher  on  the  farm  summers.  In  1861,  when 
tl  news  spread  throughout  the  North  that 
S  nter  had  been  fired  upon,  the  martial  spirit 
ttt  had  animated   the  breast  of  the  much- 

«k]  "Old  Put"  stirred  the  pulses  of  this 
Bger  generation,  and  John  Woodbury  Put- 
1  enrolled  his  name  as  a  member  of  the  6th 
N H.  V.  I.,  commanded  by  Gen.  Burnside, 
at  was  commissioned  captain  of  Company  G, 
wlch  he  had  enlisted  in  his  own  county;  but 
wile  in  the  swamps  of  North  Carolina,  he 
co;racted  typhoid  pneumonia,  and  in  1863 
WE  honorably  discharged  and  returned  home. 
Hcparticipated  in  a  number  of  skirmishes,  and 
in  le  battles  of  Roanoke  Island  and  Falmouth, 
Va  at  the  latter  of  which  he  was  slightly 
wouded.  In  February,  1866,  he  came  to 
Annia,    Dutchess    county,   and   made    it  his 


home  until  his  death,  which  occurred  February 
5,  1897. 

In  politics  Mr.  Putnam  was  an  earnest  ad- 
vocate of  the  principles  of  Democracy;  served 
his  town  as  supervisor,  assessor  and  commis- 
sioner, and  was  frequently  called  upon  to  pre- 
side at  Democratic  conventions.  He  once  ran 
for  Assembly  in  the  First  District  of  Dutchess 
county,  and  his  great  personal  popularity 
nearly  overcame  the  heavy  normal  majority. 
Fraternally,  he  is  connected  with  Mt.  Vernon 
Lodge,  F.  &A.  M.,  at  Newport,  N.  H.  He 
was  a  man  of  strong  convictions  of  his  own, 
and  knew  how  to  respect  the  opinions  of 
others;  quiet  and  reserved  in  manner,  a  true 
friend,  and  in  all  the  relations  of  life  he  dis- 
charged his  duties  with  loyalty  and  fidelity.  A 
man  whose  word  was  as  good  as  a  bond,  who 
made  no  boast  of  his  religion,  but  practiced  it 
in  his  every-day  life. 


OBERT  D.  BUTLER,  a  well-known  ag- 
riculturist residing  near  Chestnut  Ridge, 
Dutchess  county,  is  one  of  the  most  active  and 
influential  workers  in  local  affairs  in  that  lo- 
cality. He  is  a  native  of  Dutchess  county, 
born  and  reared  in  the  town  of  Unionvale,  and 
he  began  his  business  career  in  Dover  town  in 
early  manhood  as  a  merchant.  After  some 
years  in  that  calling,  he  engaged  in  agriculture 
at  his  present  farm.  Politically  he  has  always 
been  a  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  he  has  held  various  town- 
ship offices.  He  is  actively  interested  in  the 
Masonic  order,  being  a  member  of  Dover 
Lodge  No.  666,  of  Dover  Plains,  with  the  rank 
of  Master  Mason.  His  life  has  so  far  been 
spent  in  single  blessedness. 

The  first  ancestor  of  his  family  to  come 
to  America  was  his  great-grandfather,  Sam- 
uel Butler,  a  native  of  England,  who  lo- 
cated in  Rhode  Island  for  a  time,  and  then 
moved  to  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Unionvale, 
Dutchess  county,  where  his  last  years  were 
spent.  His  son,  Daniel  Butler,  married  Mary 
Hoxsie,  and  had  five  children:  (i)  Allen  mar- 
ried Sarah  Crouse;  (2)  Samuel,  Eliza  Fowler; 
(3)  Peter,  Mary  Haight;  (4j  Elizabeth  died 
in  earlv  youth;  and  (5)  Joseph  married  Amy 
Wolley. 

Peter  Butler,  our  subject's  father,  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Unionvale,  Dutchess  county, 
December  10,  1799,  and  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  that  section.      He  learned 


■ 


506 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  carpenter's  trade  and  worked  at  it  until  his 
marriage,  when  he  engaged  in  (arming.     This 
occupation  he  followed  for  many  years  success- 
fully, and  he  became  a  leading  citizen  of  his 
locality,  and  was  one  of  the  strongest  adher- 
ents of  the  Republican  party  there.      His  wife 
was  Miss    Mary   Haight,  daughter   of    Robert 
and  PhcEbe  Haight,  of  the  town  of  Washing- 
ton; seven  children  were  born  at  the  old  home- 
stead in  Unionvale,  and  received  the  best  edu- 
cation that  the  common  schools  of  that  neigh- 
borhood afforded,      (i)  Elizabeth  has   taught 
school  for  some  time  in  Dover,  and  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  most  successful  educators  of  that 
town.      She  and  her  sister  Julia,  the  second  in 
order  of  birth,  have,  like  their  brother  Robert, 
the  third  child  and  first  son,  chosen  to  remain 
unmarried.      (4)  Joseph   H.  engaged  in    farm- 
ing, but  some  years  later  learned   the  black- 
smith's trade  and  opened  a  shop  at  New  Mil- 
ford,  N.  Y.,  where  he  now  resides.      He  mar- 
ried Maria  Underbill,  and  has  seven  children: 
Peter,  John,  Minnie,   Ella,   Joseph,  Irene  and 
Frank,  none  of  whom  is  married  except  Peter, 
who  wedded  Hattie  Gray  and  has  two  chil- 
dren—Townsend    and    Oscar.      (5)    Benjamin 
F.,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  is   now  married. 
(6)  Rhoda  J.  married  John  Vincent,  a  promi- 
nent resident  of  Poughkeepsie,  who  for  some 
time  held  the  offices  of  justice  of  the    peace 
and    county   clerk.     They    had    four  children 
born  and  educated  in  Poughkeepsie.      (a)  Ella 
married  Obed  Vincent,  a  farmer  of  Dover,  and 
has    one  child.    Hazel,     (b)    Minnie    married 
Charles    Andrews,   a    farmer  in   the  towns  of 
Lagrange  and    Unionvale,  and    has  four  chil- 
dren:    Bessie,    Gordon,   Mabel   and  Norman, 
(c)  Walter  and  (d)  Elisha  V.  are  not  married. 
(7)  Peter  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen. 

On  the  maternal  side  Mr.  Butler  is  a  de- 
scendant of  the  Haight  family,  which  has  long 
been  prominent  in  Dutchess  county.  His 
grandfather,  Robert  Haight,  was  born  and 
reared  in  the  town  of  Washington,  and  estab- 
lished himself  in  business  at  Mabbettsville  as 
a  merchant  and  hotel  keeper.  He  and  his 
wife,  Phoebe  (Tripp),  reared  a  family  of  ten 
children:  Concerning  (i)  Seneca,  (2)  Edward, 
and  (3)  Josiah,  no  particulars  are  given.  (4) 
Morris  married  Miss  Howell,  and  had  three 
children:  Theron,  Julia  and  Alvira.  (5)  Neil- 
son  married  Miss  Hoffman,  and  had  five  chil- 
dren—Milton, Robert,  Abraham,  Hoffman  and 
Edward.  (6)  Deborah,  who  was  born  in  the 
town   of  Washington,   married   Dr.  Benjamin 


S.  Wilbur,  a  leading  physician  and  surgeon  of 
Pine    Plains,    and    they    have    nine    children: 
Robert,  William,   Francis,   Benjamin,  Theron 
(married),  Kate   (Mrs.    Fred   Lewis),  Charles, 
Maggie  (Mrs.    Williams),    and   Henry,  who  is 
not    married,    is   a  physician  and  surgeon   in 
Pine  Plains.       (7)  Julia  was  born  in  Mabbetts- 
ville, and  married    Jacob  Sparks.     Two  sons 
were  born  to  them — Homer  and   Cornelius— 
who,  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war,  en- 
tered the  army  with  their  father,  and  all  three 
lost  their  lives  in  defense  of  the  Union.      Mrs. 
Sparks    married    a    second    husband.     Henry 
Davis,  a  carpenter  in    Poughkeepsie,  and  they 
have  one   daughter,   Lizzie,  now  the  wife  of 
John    Propson,    of     Poughkeepsie,     and    the 
mother   of    five  children.      (8)    Mary   married 
Peter  Butler,  our  subject's  father.      (9)   Eliza- 
beth  married  Cornelius   Lamoreaux;  and  (lO) 
Milton  married  Miss  Howell. 


IK  NDREW  C.  SMITH,  a  leading  merchant 
J%  of  Bangall,  Dutchess  county,  was  born 
July  26,  1865,  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley, 
where  his  ancestors  were  among  the  early  set- 
tlers. The  late  William  S.  Smith,  his  father, 
was  a  lifelong  resident  of  that  town,  andhi 
an^  his  wife,  formerly  Loretta  Husted,  hac 
been  active  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  fo 
many  years  previous  to  their  death.  Thev 
had  five  children :  Egbert  and  Mary  (both  de 
ceased),  Jane  (who  married  Daniel  Albertson) 
William,  and  Andrew  C. 

Our  subject  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  hi 
native  town,  attending  the  district  school,  an' 
later  engaged  in  clerking  as  the  best  possibl 
training  for  a  mercantile  career.  After  on 
year  at  Salisbury,  Conn.,  one  at  Gold  Spnng 
N.  Y.,  and  three  in  Bangall,  he  opened  h: 
present  store,  where  he  carries  a  line  of  get 
eral  merchandise,  his  fine  business  ability  an 
high  character  winning  for  him  a  constant! 
growing  trade.  He  was  married  December  < 
1892,  to  Miss  Martha  D.  Millis,  a  daughter - 
William  Millis,  a  well-known  resident  of  Bai 

gall-  J  u 

In  politics    he  is  a  Democrat,  and  ne 

among  the  foremost  among  the  younger  loc 

workers.     In  1893  he  was  elected  clerk  of  tl 

town  of  Stanford,  and  has  since  filled  the  poi 

tion    with  marked  satisfaction   to  the  publH 

Socially,  he  belongs  to  the  K.  of  P..  Pougi 

keepsie  Lodge  No.  43. 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


507 


UGUSTUS    HOLDRIDGE,   one  of  the 
1^  leading    and    representative    citizens    of 

•ted  with  G.  D.  Chapman,  in  the  firm  of  C. 
Buckley  &  Co. ,  manufacturers  of  the  Buci<- 
ey  water  device.      The  Holdridge  family  has 
ong  been  prommently  identified  with  the  in- 
terests   of    Dutchess    county.      Dr.    Augustus 
toldndge.  the  grandfather  of  our  subjecl  was 
well-known   physician  practicing  in  Union- 
|ale  and   Beekman  towns.      He  was  born  at 
'pencertown,   Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y     and  was 
ery  promment  in  Masonic  circles;  'the  apron 
•hich  he  wore  at  his  lodge  is  still  in  the  pos- 
ission  of  the  family.     He  had  six  children 
amely:  Standish;   Myron,   the   father  of  ou^ 
ibject;    Peter,    who   married    Mrs.    Margaret 
nday;  Mrs^Elsie  Sweet;  Harriet,  wholS! 

'ofi^'Th    ^^"'^''"'  ""^  ^^^^y-  ^ho  died  in 

^90.      1  he  last  named  was  the  wife  of  Sey- 

our   Tomlmson.     proprietor   of    a    hotel    at 

ashmgton    Hollow,    Dutchess  county     who 

'     h"M^^^-     u^"'''  ^^'^^"t'y  'he  county  fair 
~  held  upon  his  land. 

Myron  Holdridge.  the  father  of  our  subject 

born  in  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  coun- 

n  i8o6    was  there  educated,  and  followed 

1  inT^T    ^^  ^^^^   membership    with    Dover 

..ns  Lodge   No.  666.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and   was 

_  oldest  member  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance 

"the  commumty,  being  a  charter  member  of 

«    lodge  to   wnich    he    belonged.       He  was 

Cmocratic  in  politics,  and  at  one  time  he  was 

c  pH      .^'°"Y'  ^"'  '^°"'^  "ot  qualify,  as  he 

b  ?o"°to^  ^°/,P"''"  ^^^-^^^  H-  died  Octo- 
3o  1889.  He  married  Miss  Lucina  Til- 
adaughter  of  Daniel  and  Lucy  (Salisbury) 
n.  of  Deerfield.  Oneida  Co  N  Y 
removed  to  Dover  Plains  whe^  she  wa'; 
two   years   old.      Her    father   was    three 

\v7.k"'  u  I  ^'^^  ""'°"  "^^'"g  with  a 
Wilbur,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons,  Peter 
Wilbur.      By   his  second   wife,  Lucy    he 

two  daughters,  Lucina  and  Mary  His 
wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Abi- 

1-oss,  was  the  sister  of  Rev.  Job  Foss,  a 

^t  mimster  of    Dutchess  county.      Mrs 

ndgedied  May  31,  1895 

'gustus    Holdridge,    the  subject    of   this 

...  who    ,s    an    only    child,  was    born    at 

'    i-lains,    Dutchess  county,  January    c 

llowed  farming  until  1869.  when  he 
1  his  attention  to  railroad  work,  at  first 
employed  on  the  Harlem  road,  but  later 


was  with  the  Long  Island  Railroad  Co  for 
about  sixteen  years  as  conductor.  Like  his 
father  and  grandfather  before  him,  he  is  iden- 
tified with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  having 
joined  Dover  Plains  Lodge  No.  666,  F.  &  A 
M.  m  1868,  but  is  now  connected  with  Peconic 
Lodge,  of  Greenport,  Long  Island.  Like  his 
lather,  he  is  a  Democrat. 

Mr.  Holdridge  was  united  in  marriage,  Sep- 
tember 8,  1870,  with    Miss  Ruth  Rosalie  Gid- 
ley,  who  was   born   at   Hanover,   Chautauqua 
t^c,  N.  Y     December  3,  1848,  and  they  have 
become   the   parents  of  six   children,  namely 
Grace    born  July  9,  1872;  Myron  T.,  who  was 
born  December  9,  1874,  and  died  September 
2«,  1875 ;    Augustus,  born  October   16    1876- 
Harvey  G.,  born  October  4.  1880;  Frank  H  ' 
born  June  11,  1884;    and  Henry  E.,  born  Au- 
gust 20,  1889. 

Jonathan  Gidley,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs 
Holdridge,  was  born  and  educated  in  the  town 
of  Lagrange,  Dutchess  county,  and  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  His  political  support 
was  given  the  Democratic  party.  '  He  wedded 
Miss  Mary  Hall,  and  to  them  were  born  nine 
children:  Elizabeth,  who  married  John  A.  Van- 
yiack;  \yaite,  who  married  Richard  Ferguson; 
Mrs.  Ruth  Moe;  Mrs.  Polly  Morey;  Rebecca 
who  died  unmarried;  Henry,  who  wedded  Mary 
Kelley;  Hall,  who  married  Currence  A.  Daton 
Jonathan,  who  married  Jane  Kelley;  and  Tim- 
othy. 

Timothy  Gidley,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Hol- 
dridge, was  a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  born 
in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  August  27,  1806, 
and,   like  his  father,   engaged  in    agricultural 


pursuits.  He  was  a  stanch  Democrat  in  poli- 
tics, but  cared  nothing  fof  the  honors  or  emolu- 
ments of  public  office.     A  great  Church  worker 

Methodist  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  promi- 
nent member  in  Chautauqua  county,  where  he 
removed  soon  after  his    marriage,   which  oc- 
curred August  27,    1831,    Miss   Mary  Christie 
becoming  his  wife.      She  was  the  daughter  of 
Leonard  and  Ruth  Christie,  of  the  town  of  La- 
grange, Dutchess  county.     By  this  union  there 
were  six  children,  all  born  in  Hanover  town- 
ship, Chautauqua  county.      Catherine  R. ,  born 
October  4,  1835.  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of 
twenty-seven  years;     Hall,    born  August    27 
■A     ^^^'[Penter  by  trade,  married  Miss  Lu- 
anda E    Smith,   daughter  of    Daniel  C.   and 
Cordelia  Smith,  agriculturists  of  Hanover  town- 
ship;   Henry  R.,  born  October  10,  1840,  also 


508 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  farmer,  married  Miss  Ella  D.  Kewley,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Dorcas  Kewley,  farmers  of 
Hanover  township;  Mary  A.,  born  November 
16,  1843,  died  September  29,  1844;  Harvey 
J.,  born  November  22,  1846,  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising in  Dunkirk,  N.  Y.,  and  married 
Miss  Nettie  M.  Ellis,  daughter  of  Frank  and 
and  Abi  Ellis,  of  Forestville,  N.  Y.,  by  whom 
he  has  one  son,  Ellis  Harvey,  born  June  28, 
1885;  Ruth  Rosalie,  the  wife  of  our  subject, 
completes  the  family. 


1' 


EONARD  D.  HALL.  There  is  probably 
JL^/  no  man  in  the  town  of  Beekman  more 
widely  or  favorably  known  than  this  gentle- 
man, who  is  now  a  resident  of  Poughquag. 
In  that  town  he  was  born  December  28,  181 1, 
and  is  the  grandson  of  William  Hall,  a  native 
of  Rhode  Island,  who  became  one  of  the  earli- 
est settlers  of  the  town  of  Beekman,  where  he 
followed  farming  throughout  life,  dying  in 
1822. 

Our  subject's  maternal  grandmother  was  a 
daughter  of  Simeon  Draper,  a  native  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, who  prior  to  the  Revolutionary 
war,  with  thirty- five  others,  bought  near  where 
is  now  Wilkesbarre,  Penn.,  seventeen  town- 
ships of  land.  He  died  there,  however,  very 
soon  after  his  settlement  on  the  place,  and 
later  the  family  were  driven  away  by  the  In- 
dians. Many  years  afterward  our  subject, 
then  a  lad  of  seventeen  summers,  accompanied 
by  his  mother,  drove  with  a  team  from  Union- 
vale,  Dutchess  county,  over  to  this  property 
with  the  intention  of  trying  to  recover  at  least 
a  portion  of  it;  but  as  the  records  had  been 
destroyed  nothing  could  be  done.  Mr.  Hall 
says  the  trip  was  an  arduous  one,  occupying 
some  two  weeks,  and  adds  that  it  was  the  only 
time  he  ever  felt  homesick. 

Israel  Hall,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  Dutchess  county, 
the  second  son  in  the  family  of  ten  children  of 
William  and  Mary  (Vail)  Hall,  and  his  educa- 
tion was  secured  at  the  district  schools  of  the 
neighborhood.  He  married  Catherine  Albro, 
a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  and  a  daughter  of 
Benjamin  and  Eleanor  (Draper)  Albro,  and 
nine  children  blessed  their  union,  as  follows: 
Amy,  who  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
eight  years;  Eleanor,  widow  of  Isaac  Northrup; 
Mary  and  Leonard  D.  (twins),  the  former 
being  the  wife  of  John  Townsend;  Margaret, 
living  at   Unionvale,   on  the  old  homestead; 


Maria  Ann  and  Draper,  both  deceased;  Rutsen 
S.,  a  prosperous  farmer,  living  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Unionvale;  and  Richard  V.,  de- 
ceased. With  the  exception  of  two  years 
passed  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess 
county,  Israel  Hall  devoted  his  entire  life  to 
agricultural  pursuits  in  the  town  of  Beekman. 
In  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  he  had  been  com- 
missioned a  lieutenant,  and  received  160  acres 
of  land  from  the  government  for  his  services. 
In  politics  he  was  an  Old-line  Whig. 

Leonard  D.  Hall,  the  subject  of  our  sketch, 
received    a    liberal   education    at   the    district 
schools  of  his  native  place,  and  remained  un- 
der the  parental  roof  until  he  was  thirty-sever 
years  of  age.     After  he  became  of  age  he  re^ 
ceived  $100  a  year  for  his  time,  his  father  giv- 
ing his  note  for  the  same,  which  note  our  sub 
ject   deposited   in   a  crack  in   the  old  house 
where  it  remained  one  year,  and  was  then  paid 
In  the  fall  of   1849  Mr.  Hall  was   married  t( 
Maria  Lossing,  a  cousin  of  Benson  J.  Lossing. 
the  historian.     In  the  fall  of   1884,  she  wa 
called  from  earth,  and  February  4,  1886,  Mr 
Hall  married  Harriet  Eliza  Hurd,  daughter  0 
Benjamin  D.  and  Mary  (Campbell)  Hurd,  botl 
natives   of    the    town    of    Pawling,    Dutches: 
county,  where  they   passed  their  entire  lives 
the  father  dying  June  16,  1872,  in  the  seventy 
eighth  year  of    his   age,    the   mother  passinj 
away  January  7,  1882,  at  the  age  of  eighty 
one.     They    were    highly    respected    farmin; 
people,  and   Mr.  Hurd  was  a  stanch   Repub 
lican  in  his  political  preference.     They  had  ; 
family  of  seven  children,   as  follows:     Archi 
bald  C,   who,   when  twenty  years  old,  diei 
January    18,   1842,  in  Cuba,   whither  he  hai 
gone  for  the  benefit  of  his  health;  William  T. 
who  married  Mary  Cook,  and  had  three  chil 
dren  (he   died  June  26,  1854);  Harriet  Eliz 
(Mrs.  Leonard  D.  Hall);  Mary  Jane,  who  mat 
ried  Thomas   Brill,   and  died   in  June,   189.' 
leaving  five  children;    Edgar  I.,  a  farmer  1 
the  town  of   Pawling,   who   married  Carolin 
Howard,  and  has  four  children;  Eustacia  A 
who  married   Gerome  Dodge  (now  deceased 
and  had  one  daughter,  Effie,  who  died  whe 
eight  years  old;  and    Julia  G. ,  who  marrie 
James  Longhead  (now  deceased),  and  lives  i 
Pawling  with  her  only  child,  Robert.     To  oi 
subject  and  his  wife   have  been  born  no  chi 
dren. 

On  leaving  the  old  home,  Mr.  Hall  beg«' 
the  operation  of  a  480-acre  farm  in  the  tow 
of  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  on  shares,  wor 


•.Z^-t^-i^,;^^,^    ^2)^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


509 


ing  in  that  way  some  four  years,  and  the  fol- 
lowing eight  years  were  passed  upon  a  farm  of 
700  acres  in  the  town  of  Pawling,  which  be- 
longed to  James  Hooker,  of  Poughkeepsie. 
Returning  to  the  town  of  Beekman  he  pur- 
chased 160  acres,  on  which  he  made  his  home 
for  thirteen  years,  when  he  disposed  of  the 
^ame,  and  for  three  years  boarded  at  Pough- 
keepsie. On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he 
bought  his  present  residence  at  Poughquag, 
where  he  has^ since  lived. 

Mr.  Hall  has  made  his  own  way  in  the 
world,  the  money  he  earned  from  his  father,  as 
before  related,  being  the  sole  pecuniary  founda- 
tion of  his  prosperity.  His  boyhood  ambition 
was  to  become  comfortably  well  off  and  inde- 
pendent, and  his  expectations  have  been  real- 
ized, for  to-day  he  is  a  man  of  wealth,  made 
so,  not  by  speculation,  but  by  industry  and 
good  management.  He  relates  many  interest- 
ing tales  of  adventure  which  his  ancestors  had 
with  the  Indians,  one  being  about  Amos  Spaf- 
ford,  a  distant  relative,  lying  concealed  for 
many  days  in  the  swamps  in  order  to  avoid 
;apture  by  the  Indians,  at  which  time  the  rest 
3f  the  family  escaped.  Mr.  Hall  has  always 
voted  the  Republican  ticket,  and  never  had  a 
desire  to  change;  he  has  never  cared  for  polit- 
cal  preferment,  though  at  one  time  he  served 
IS  commissioner  of  highways  in  the  town  of 
Beekman.  He  has  never  united  with  any  re- 
igious  denomination,  but  is  liberal  of  his 
neans  in  support  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  of 
vhich  his  wife  is  a  member,  while  he  believes 
n  God  and  humanity.  This  honored  couple 
lave  the  esteem  and  friendship  of  all  who 
;now  them — young  and  old,  rich  and  poor — 
ind  their  hospitable  home  is  always  open  to 
he  reception  of  their  numerous  friends.  Mr. 
iall  attributes  his  prosperity  to  hard  work, 
iionesty  and  sound  judgment. 


ycFILLIAM  BURNAP  JORDAN,  a  weil- 
yMW  known  and  reliable  agriculturist  of  the 
own  of  Pine  Plains,  Dutchess  county,  is  a 
ative  of  the  same,  having  been  born  there 
)ecember  4,  1848,  and  is  a  son  of  Josephus 
).  Jordan,  who  was  born  in  Hillsdale  town- 
hip,  Columbia  Co..  N.  Y.,  in  1808.  The 
imily  came  from  Belfast,  Ireland. 

Major   William    Jordan,   the    great-grand- 

ither  of  our  subject,  was  born  at  North  Cas- 

|.e,  Westchester  Co.,,  N.  Y. ,  September  22, 

l?5'.  and  obtained  his  title  while  serving  as  a 


soldier  in  the  war  for  independence.  By  oc- 
cupation he  was  a  farmer,  a  pursuit  he  fol- 
lowed the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  Columbia 
county.  By  his  marriage  with  Ruth  Ferris, 
of  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess  county,  he 
had  eleven  children,  \<'hose  names  and  dates 
of  birth  are  as  follows:  John,  1774;  William, 
1777;  Rebecca,  1 78 1 ;  Benjamin,  1783;  Abram, 
1785;  Nancy,  1787;  Ambrose,  1789;  Daniel 
Gano,  1791;  Lucy,  1793;  Hannah,  1796;  and 
Asa  Allen,  1798.  Of  this  family,  Ambrose 
became  a  prominent  and  leading  lawyer,  hav- 
ing a  State-wide  reputation. 

The  birth  of  William  Jordan,  Jr.,  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  occurred  in  Hills- 
dale township,  Columbia  county,  and  in  1803 
he  was  married  to  Rhoda  Allen,  who  was  born 
in  1782,  the  wedding  being  celebrated  at  the 
old  Allen  homestead,  which  has  been  in  the 
possession  of  the  family  for  over  a  century  and 
a  half.  He  was  a  captain  in  the  war  of  18 12. 
The  names  and  dates  of  birth  of  their  children 
are  as  follows:  Hanna  J.,  1805;  Moors,  1806; 
Josephus  Dunham,  1808;  Ambrose  Latting, 
1809;  Ruth,  181 1 ;  Cornelia  Allen,  181 3;  Polly 
Hoffman,  1814  ;  Sally  Ann,  1816;  James 
Philip,  1 81 8;  Harriet  Tuttle,  1820;  Mathias 
Bragden  Talmadge,  1821;  Jane  Elizabeth, 
1823;  and  William  Howard  Allen,  1826. 

Josephus  D.  Jordan  received  an  academic 
education  at  Claverack,  Columbia  county,  and 
later  studied  law  with  his  uncle,  Ambrose  L. 
Jordan.  After  his  admission  to  the  bar  he 
practiced  his  profession  at  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  later  at  various  places 
in  Columbia  and  Dutchess  counties.  He  was 
one  of  the  leading  attorneys  of  his  time,  was 
a  well-read  man,  understood  civil  engineering, 
and  was  much  interested  in  music,  in  which 
he  was  well  educated.  In  religious  belief  he 
was  a  Presbyterian;  politically,  he  supported 
the  Republican  party.  On  January  13,  1844, 
Josephus  D.  Jordan  was  married,  by  Rev.  W. 
N.  Sayre,  to  Mary  Elizabeth  Knickerbocker, 
who  was  born  at  Poughkeepsie,  October  19, 
1 8 19,  a  daughter  of  John  Knickerbocker. 
Three  children  graced  this  union,  namely: 
Mary  Burnap,  born  in  1846,  died  unmarried; 
William  B.,  subject  of  thissketch;  and  Laura 
Ailing,  born  in  1852,  who  became  the  wife  of 
L.  O.  Pitcher,  of  New  York  City,  but  is  now 
deceased.  The  mother  of  these  children  died 
m  1867,  the  father  in  1885. 

William  Burnap  Jordan  completed  his  edu- 
cation by  one  year's  attendance  at  the  academy 


510 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


conducted  by  Mr.  Bisbee,  known  as  the 
Poughkeepsie  Military  Institute,  and  since 
leaving  the  school-room,  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen years,  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  oper- 
ation of  his  fine  farm  of  150  acres,  one  of  the 
best  in  the  town  of  Pine  Plains.  Being  quite 
a  reader,  he  is  well  informed  on  the  current 
literature  of  the  day.  Public-spirited  and  pro- 
gressive, he  has  always  taken  quite  an  interest 
in  local  affairs,  and  is  a  strong  Republican  in 
politics.  From  1878  until  1880  he  served  as 
supervisor,  and  during  that  time  was  on  the 
equalization  committee,  the  district  attorney 
committee,  and  the  committee  on  the  county 
treasurer's  accounts,  and  the  physician's  and 
coroner's  accounts.  With  the  Presbyterian 
Church  he  and  Mrs.  Jordan  hold  membership, 
and  he  has  served  as  elder  and  trustee  in  same. 
On  December  28,  1876,  Mr.  Jordan  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Elizabeth 
Harris,  of  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  and  three 
children  have  been  born  to  them,  as  follows: 
Mary  Elizabeth,  born  in  1877,  a  graduate  of 
Seymour  Smith's  Academy  in  the  town  of  Pine 
Plains,  class  of  '95,  and  at  present  teaching 
school  in  her  home  town;  Cyrus  Victor,  born 
in  1880,  also  a  graduate  of  Seymour  Smith 
Academy,  class  of  '95,  and  now  attending  col- 
lege in  New  York  City;  and  William  Burnap, 
born  in  1885.  The  mother  of  these  died  in 
1889,  and  in  1894  Mr.  Jordan  wedded  her  half- 
sister  Myra. 

Israel  Harris,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Jor- 
dan, was  a  son  of  John  Harris,  who  came  from 
Lynn,  Mass.,  and  founded  the  Pine  Plains 
branch  of  the  family  in  Dutchess  county.  His 
children  were:  William  and  John,  who  be- 
came residents  of  Onondaga  county,  N.  Y. ; 
Victor  and  Myron,  who  in  1849  removed  to 
Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  where  they  became  ex- 
tensively engaged  in  the  lumber  business; 
Eunice,  the  wife  of  Henry  Akin,  of  Fort  Col- 
lins, Colo. ;  Mary,  wife  of  William  Herrick,  of 
Salt  Point,  N.  Y. ;  and  Silas,  who  made  his 
home  in  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.  Of  these,  My- 
ron was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Represent- 
atives of  Michigan;  Silas  served  as  speaker  of 
the  same  body,  and  Victor  was  a  State 
senator. 

Myron  Harris,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Jordan, 
was  born  in  Dutchess  county,  in  1820.  He 
married  Mary  Gleason,  by  whom  he  had  chil- 
dren as  follows:  Mary  Elizabeth,  first  wife  of 
William  B.  Jordan  (she  graduated  from  Oak 
Hill  Seminary,  New  Haven,  Conn.);  and  Mat- 


tie  Gleason,  who  married  C.  B.  Bogue.  For 
his  second  wife  Mr.  Harris  wedded  Miriam 
Carpenter,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Carpenter, 
of  Lansing,  Mich.,  and  by  her  he  had  four 
children,  viz. :  Abbie,  who  died  unmarried; 
Myra,  second  wife  of  W.  B.  Jordan  (she  grad- 
uated from  Seymour  Smith  Academy);  Lucy 
Carpenter,  wife  of  George  Strayer,  of  Denver, 
Colo. ;  and  I.  Victoria,  of  Fort  Collins.  The 
father  of  this  interesting  family  was  one  of  the 
prominent  Democrats  of  Michigan,  and  con- 
tinued to  make  his  home  at  Grand  Rapids  up 
to  his  death  in  1880. 


AMES  H.  HAIGHT,  a  prominent  miller  ol 
Stanfordville,  Dutchess  county,  was  borr 
December  9,  1851,  in  the  town  of  Wash 
ington.      He  is  of  Puritan  ancestry,  being  0 
the  eighth  generation  in  direct  descent  frotr 
Simon  Hayt  (or  Haight),  who  came  from  Eng 
land  in  1829  and  located  first  at  Salem,  Mass 
He  was  one  of  a  party  to  leave  that  town  ancJ 
settle  at  Charlestown,  Mass.,  where,  previouil 
to  their  coming,  there  was  but  one  white  fani' 
ily.     From  Charlestown  he  went  to  Dorches 
ter,  where  his  name  appears  about  1630,  anc 
from  there  to  Scituate  and  later  to  Windsor 
Conn.,  his  name  appearing  there  in  164®.    H, 
afterward  moved  to  Fairfield,  and  then,  abou 
1649,  to  Stanford,  Conn.,  where  he  died.     H 
had   two    sons — Benjamin    and    Moses.     Th| 
latter  was  born  before   1637,  and  came  froi 
Fairfield,  Conn.,   to    East  Chester,   N.  Y.,  i 
1665.      He    married,    and    reared  one    chile 
Moses,  who  was  born  before    1662,  and  live 
in  East  Chester.    He  married,  and  had  seven 
children,  among  them  a  son,  Moses,  who  w; 
born  in  East  Chester,  October  28,  1696.     H 
was  a   farmer  by  occupation,  and  moved, 
early  manhood,  to  Crum  Elbow,  being  the  firj 
Quaker  to  come  to  this  locality.      He  marriti 
and  reared  a  family,  among  whom  was  a  soi 
Joseph,  born  in  Dutchess  county,  who  marrifj 
and  had  eight  children — Joseph,  Jonathan,  Ob 
diah,  Rachel,  Reuben,  Amos,  David  and  Da 
iel.      Reuben  was  born  in  Washington  tow 
ship,    January    17,    1758.      He    married   Mi 
Mary  Haight,  and  reared   a  family  of  elev' 
children,  whose  names  with  dates  of  birth  a: 
death   are  as   follows:      Stephen,  January 
1788,  died  September  15,  1851;  Silas  R.,  Fe: 
ruary  4,  1790,  died  January   18,  1848;  Jotii 
than,  April  27,  1792,  died  November  13,  18;! 
David,  February  3,  1794,  died  March  31,  i/^t 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


511 


David  (2),  October  17,  1795,  died  March  23, 
1800;  Daniel,  August  24,  1797,  died  in  August, 
i860;  Sarah,  July  10,  1799,  died  October  19, 
1839;  Phcebe,  August  9,  1801,  died  January 
17,  1885;  Walter,  April  26,  1803,  died  May 
27,  1879;  Joseph,  May  31,  1805,  died  Decem- 
ber 7,  1 85 1,  and  John  R.,  June  17,  1808. 

Silas  R.  Haight,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
was  born  in    the    town  of    Washington.      He 
married  Lydia  Congdon,  a  native  of  the  town 
of  Unionvale,  Dutchess  county,  where  her  an- 
cestors were  among  the  early  settlers,  her  great- 
grandfather,   James    Congdon,    coming   from 
Rhode  Island.      His  son  Ephraim,  her  grand- 
father, and  James  Congdon,  her   father,  were 
leading  farmers  in  their  day.     After  their  mar- 
riage Silas   Haight  and  his  wife  moved  to  a 
farm  in  Pleasant  Valley, where  they  lived  eleven 
years,  and  then  came  to  the  town  of  Washing- 
ton to  spend  their  last  days.      They  had  three 
zhildren  :     James,    who    died    in    childhood  ; 
Reuben  S.,  our  subject's  father;  and  Phoebe  J., 
.vho  married  John  Clement,  a  farmer  of  Wash- 
ngton.     Silas  Haight  was  a  Democrat  in  poli- 
ics,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  both  Quakers  in 
eligious  faith.      His  wife  survived  him  thirteen 
ears,  dying  December  25,  1861. 

Reuben  S.  Haight  was  born  in  the  town  of 

'leasant  Valley,  January  24,  1828,  and  moved 

0  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Washington  with  his 

arents  in  1835.      He  married  September  11, 

849,  Marie  Antoinette  Howard,  a  lady  of  En- 

lish  descent,  who  was  born  in  Ontario  county, 

daughter  of  James  Howard,  a  native  of  the 

nvn  of  Pawling,  Dutchess  county.    Her  uncle, 

homas  Howard,  was  a  farmer  in  Washington. 

euben  Haight  and   his  wife  lived  on  a  farm 

jrth  of  Millbrook  for  seven  years,  and  in  April, 

^G6,  after  one  year  on  a  farm  near  Washing- 

n  Hollow,  and  eight  in  the  town  of  Washing- 

n,  Mr.  Haight  bought  a  gristmill  at  Millbrook, 

id  has  since  resided  there.      He  is  one  of  the 

iding  citizens  of  the  place,  and  a  Republican 

politics,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 

"  Reformed  Church,  in  which  he  has  been  an 

!er  for  several  years.     They  have  six  chil- 

in  :     Laura,   who  married    Thorn  Devel,  a 

I  merof  Washington  ;  James  H.,  our  subject; 

<:rtrude,  the  wife  of  Albert  F.  Smith,  a  lum- 

Ir  dealer  in   Millbrook;    Lucy,  who  lives  at 

'me;  and   Howard  and  Jay,  who  conduct  a 

f  fl  store  at  Millbrook. 

James  H.  Haight,  the  subject  proper  of  our 
"^  tch,  attended  the  district  schools  of  the 
•  'D  of  Washington,  and  later  the  Nine  Part- 


ners Boarding  School,  mastering  his  studies 
with  characteristic  energy.  Until  he  was 
twenty-one  he  worked  in  his  father's  mills,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1873  he  started  in  the  same 
business  near  Stanfordville,  although  at  that 
time  he  had  no  capital,  and  paid  interest  on  all 
the  money  invested.  Of  this  he  has  made  a 
success,  and  his  proved  ability,  judgment  and 
enterprise  give  him  a  high  rank  in  business 
circles.  He  was  married  on  June  14,  1876,  to 
Miss  Georgia  A.  Thorne — daughter  of  Dr.  John 
S.  Thorne,  of  Millbrook,  and  has  two  children: 
Francis  T.  and  Thorne. 

Politically,  he  is  a  stanch  Republican,  but 
he  is  not  a  politician  in  any  sense  and  has  not 
held  office.  He  is,  however,  prominent  in 
local  affairs,  and  a  leading  supporter  of  every 
movement  for  the  welfare  of  the  community. 


WILLIAM  TOMPKINS,  who  was  called 
from  this  earth  January  23,  1894,  was 

one  of  the  well-known  and  highly  respected 
native  citizens  of  Dutchess  county,  his  birth 
having  occurred  in  the  town  of  Pine  Plains 
March  9,  18 10,  and  was  a  son  of  Thomas  and 
Judith  (Acker)  Tompkins.  His  father,  who 
was  born  in  Westchester  county,  N.  Y. ,  in 
1778,  devoted  his  entire  life  to  agriculture  in 
that  county  and  in  the  town  of  Pine  Plains, 
Dutchess  county.  He  passed  away  November 
23,  1854.  His  household  included  five  chil- 
dren, namely:  John,  deceased;  Stephen;  Will- 
iam; Jemima,  deceased  wife  of  Smith  Acker; 
and  Thomas,  deceased. 

At  the  age  of  six  years  William  Tompkins 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Westchester  coun- 
ty, where  he  attended  school  and  was  reared  to 
rural  life.  He  contributed  his  share  to  the 
cultivation  and  improvement  of  the  old  home- 
stead, and  later  secured  employment  on  the 
sloops  running  from  Sing  Sing  to  New  York 
City.  He  served  as  foreman  on  the  construc- 
tion when  the  aqueduct  was  being  built  to 
New  York,  but  most  of  his  life  was  devoted  to 
agricultural  pursuit,  in  which  he  was  very  suc- 
cessful. 

In  the  town  of  Mount  Pleasant,  Westchester 
county,  December  20,  1837,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Tompkins  and  Miss  Jane 
Merritt,  daughter  of  John  Merritt,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  three  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Ophelia  was  born  June  5,  1839,  mar- 
ried Arthur  Sherman,  January,  1865,  and  had 
one  child,  Jennie  Sherman;  Uriah  W. ,  an  at- 


512 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


torney  of  New  York  City,  was  born  December 
12,  1840,  married  Hattie  Coons  (she  died 
leaving  three  sons — Harry  L. ,  William  C.  and 
Frank  W. );  Emmet,  of  Staatsburg,  Dutchess 
county,  was  born  October  23,  1842,  and  mar- 
ried Henrietta  Kipp,  by  whom  he  had  the  fol- 
lowing children:  William  (deceased),  Luella, 
and  Sanford  (deceased). 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Tompkins  removed 
to  the  town  of  Pine  Plains,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming  until  1870,  when  he  went  to  Rhine- 
beck,  and  there  lived  for  five  years.  On  the 
expiration  of  that  period  he  went  to  Clinton 
Corners,  where  his  remaining  years  were  passed 
in  retirement.  He  was  one  of  the  self-made 
men  of  the  county,  having  commenced  life 
without  capital  other  than  his  strong  hands 
and  resolute  will,  and  attained  to  a  fine  posi- 
tion, socially  and  financially,  among  his  fellow 
citizens.  He  was  a  man  of  indomitable  energy 
and  perseverance,  and  in  early  life  was  an  un- 
tiring worker,  so  that  he  secured  a  comfortable 
competence,  which  enabled  him  to  lay  aside 
business  cares  and  rest  in  the  enjoyment  of 
his  former  toil.  In  his  religious  views  he  held 
to  the  faith  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  his 
death  was  widely  and  sincerely  mourned.  In 
politics  he  was  an  earnest  Republican. 


K./'ILLET  TITUS.  In  the  year  1635,  o" 
MrML  the  third  of  April,  the  good  ship 
"Hopewell",  William  Burdick,  master,  sailed 
from  London,  England,  for  Massachusetts. 
With  her  came  Robert  Titus  (i),  husbandman, 
of  St.  Katherines,  aged  thirty-five,  and  his  two 
children — John  (aged  eight  years)  and  Edmund 
(aged  five  years).  This  family  at  first  located 
in  Boston,  but  soon  moved  to  Weymouth,  and 
from  there  to  Rehoboth,  where  four  children 
were  born,  namely:  Samuel,  Susannah,  Abiel 
and  Content.  About  1654,  the  entire  family, 
except  the  eldest  son,  John,  went  to  Long 
Island,  and  took  up  land  in  Huntington,  Suf- 
folk county.  The  second  son  had  previously 
(about  1650)  settled  in  Westbury,  L.  I.,  where 
he  had  acquired  a  large  tract  of  land,  and 
erected  the  house  in  which  his  descendants 
still  reside.  Edmund  and  his  wife  were  Quak- 
ers, and  most  of  his  descendants  still  hold  to 
that  faith.  Robert  Titus  (i)  married  Hannah 
— and  had  children:  John,  Edmund  (2),  Sam- 
uel, Susannah,  Abiel,  Content.  Of  these, 
Edmund  (2),  married  Martha  Washburn,  and 
had    eleven    children,    as    follows:     Samuel, 


Phoebe,  Martha,  Mary,  Hannah,  Jane,  John 
(3),  Peter,  Silas,  Patience  and  Temperance. 
Of  these,  John  (3)  married  Sarah  Williams, 
and  the  following  were  born  to  them:  Mary, 
John  (4),  Philadelphia,  Jacob,  William,  Sarah. 
He  married  (second)  Mary  Smith,  and  had 
one  child,  Richard.  Of  these,  John  (4)  mar- 
ried (first)  Sarah  Pearsall,  and  they  had  six 
children:  Henry,  Mary,  James  (5),  Elizabeth, 
Sarah,  Jonathan.  He  married  (second)  PhcEbe 
Thomas,  and  had  no  issue.  Of  these,  James 
(5)  married  Ann  Cook,  and  they  had:  Martha, 
John,  Joshua,  Willett  (6),  Sarah.  Of  these, 
Willett  (6)  married  Ruth  Stratton,  and  the 
following  children  were  born  to  them:  Eliza- 
beth, Anne,  James,  Jonathan  (7),  Sarah,  John, 
Mary.  Of  these,  Jonathan  (7)  married  Nellie 
Roosa,  and  had  the  following  issue:  Willet, 
Ann,  Peter,  Jonathan  (8),  Catherine,  Richard, 
Mary,  William,  Sarah,  John,  Andrew  J.,  Henry 
B.  Of  these,  Jonathan  (8)  married  Helen 
Hasbrouck,  and  children  as  follows  were  born: 
Willet  (9),  Joseph  H.,  Henry  T.,  Sarah  Jane, 
Nellie.  (Of  these,  Sarah  Jane  married  Will- 
iam A.  Wright,  and  the  following  were  the 
issue:  Florence  Fraternity,  Mabel,  Helen  Has- 
brouck, Jennie  M.,  William,  Titus,  Mary,  Adna 
Damerel). 

Willet  (9)  Titus,  our  subject,  was  born  Jul) 
3,  1844,  in  the  town  of  Shawangunk,  Ulster 
Co.,  N.  Y. ,  attended  the  public  schools  of  hii 
native  place,  and  then  for  three  years  studiec 
at    Knox    College,    Galesburg,    111.     He   wa.' 
much  interested  in   mathematics  and  philosoj 
phy,  and  gave   particular    attention   to  thosi 
branches  of  study.     After  his  mother's  deati: 
he  went  to  High  Falls,  and  lived  one  year  witl 
his  uncle,  James   H.  Van   Demark;  then  wa 
apprenticed  for  four  years  to  L.  B.  Van  Wag 
oner,   of    Kingston,   to    learn    the    carpenter' 
trade.      For  Mr.  Van  Wagoner  he    worked  j 
few  months  after   serving  his  apprenticeshifj 
and  in  the  spring  of  1866  went  to  Newburj 
where  he  remained  a  while,  then  returning  t 
Mr.  Van  Wagoner,  continued  with   him  unt 
July,  1 867,  at  which  time  he  went  to  Red  Hot 
and  built    a   house   and   barn   for  William  I 
Teator.     In  Red   Hook  he  remained  about 
year,   and    August    3,  1868,  came  to    Poug 
keepsie,  where  he  was  engaged  in  journeym; 
work  until  1875,  in  which  year  he  commeno 
his  present  business  of  contractor  and  buildt 
He  is  one  of  the  oldest  contractors  in  the  cit 
and  has  built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  busine.' 
employing  not  less  than  fifteen  men  in  the  wi 


"M^. 


i 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHWAL  RECORD. 


518 


ter  and  as  many  as  fifty  men  in  the  summer. 
In  connection  with  Mr.  Rounds  our  subject 
built  the  Vassar  Hospital.  He  has  also  built 
the  library  and  rectory  at  Wappingers  Falls 
(for  $25,000);  Archibald  Rogers'  stables  (for 
$43,000);  State  Hospital,  section  E,  and  Doc- 
tors' residence  and  attendance  house;  the  dor- 
mitory at  Vassar  College,  and  four  cottages  at 
■.he  same  place;  Mrs.  Jackman's  residence  (for 
^23,000);  the  Thorn  memorial  school  at  Mill- 
)rook  (for  $80, 000);  and  the  private  residences 
)f  I.  R.  Adriance  and  William  Adriance.  Mr. 
ritus  has  built  many  of  the  largest  buildings 
11  the  city  and  county.  He  also  had  the  con- 
racts  for  the  building  of  Recitation  hall  at 
^assar  College,  and  the  Adriance  Library. 

Our  subject  was  married  April  17,  1872, 
3  Miss  Sophia  Leslie,  a  native  of  Poughkeep- 
e,  N.  Y. ,  and  they  had  one  son,  Harry  Les- 
e,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years.  In 
olitics  Mr.  Titus  is  a  Democrat,  but  in  local 
atters  votes  independently;  in  religious  faith 
;  is  a  member  of  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church; 
icially  he  is  affiliated  with  Triune  Lodge  No. 
;,  and  belongs  to  all  the  branch  lodges,  chap- 
rs  and  commanderies,  being  a  past  officer  in 
e  order.  He  has  always  been  a  public-spir- 
d  man,  is  an  extensive  reader,  well  informed 
'  all  current  topics,  is  a  typical  self-made 
1  in,  and  in  business  one  of  the  most  suc- 
<:;sful. 

Jonathan  Titus,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
MS  born  in  Shawangunk,  November  20,  1821. 
ioUowed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer  until 
s,  when  he  engaged  in  the  lumber  business 
i  Galesburg,  111.,  together  with  the  carpenter 
t  de,  in  which  he  continued  until  1874,  when 
1^  retired.     He  married  Miss  Helen  Hasbrouck, 

V  0  died  in  November,  i860.     Jonathan  sur- 

V  es  her. 

Jonathan  (7)  Titus,  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
j't,  was  also  a  native  of  Shawangunk;  was  a 
fwner,  and  spent  his  entire  life  in  Ulster 
c  inty.  The  members  of  the  Titus  family  have 
g  erally  been    Democrats   in   their    political 

V  ivs,  and,  although  stanch  citizens,  have  not 
b  n  active  in  such  matters.  They  have  always 
b  n  members  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church, 

fairly  active  in  Church  work. 


(EORGE  T.  CHAPMAN,  the  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  well-known  firm  of  George  T. 
Cipman  &  Co.,  of  Pawling,  Dutchess  coun- 

tyis  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  that  town. 
33 


He  was  born  April  26,  1858,  in  Dover 
Plains,  Dutchess  county,  the  grandson  of 
Wooster  Chapman,  and  son  of  Hiram  W, 
Chapman,  who  first  saw  the  light  in  the  town 
of  Dover  in  1829,  and  was  for  many  years  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  mercantile  business  in 
Dutchess  county.  He  had  a  store  in  Dover 
Plains  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century,  with 
three  or  four  different  partners,  and  for  more 
than  twenty  years  of  the  time  he  was  post- 
master there.  His  home,  however,  was  in 
Dover,  whence  he  removed  toAmenia  in  1865, 
where  he  owned  a  large  farm,  and  after  clos- 
ing out  his  business  at  Dover  Plains  he  spent 
twelve  years  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1877 
he  moved  to  Pawling,  N.  Y. ,  bought  out  the 
assignments  of  Ballard  &  Peck,  and  continued 
in  mercantile  business  until  his  death  in  1882. 
He  was  the  principal  merchant  in  Dover 
Plains,  and  possessing  great  energy  and  nat- 
ural ability,  accumulated  a  fine  property.  He 
was  a  Democrat,  though  not  very  active  in 
politics;  while  in  Amenia,  he  attended  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  but  in  Pawling  he  at- 
tended the  Methodist  Church.  He  married 
Cordelia  Sheldon,  daughter  of  Theodorus  B. 
Sheldon,  also  of  Dover,  and  a  well-known 
farmer  and  blacksmith  in'that  place.  To  this 
union  were  born  three  children:  Allie  T.,  who 
married  William  H.  Arnold;  George  T.  ,our 
subject;  and  William  T. ,  who  was  postmaster 
under  President  Harrison  for  four  years,  and  is 
now  deputy  postmaster. 

George  T.  Chapman  was  educated  mainly 
in  Amenia  Seminary,  and  also  attended  school 
at  Fort  Edward,  N.  Y. ,  for  over  a  year.  On 
leaving  school,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  South  Amenia  for  two 
years;  in  1877  went  to  Pawling  with  his  father 
and  was  with  him  as  clerk  until  the  latter's 
death.  At  that  time  (1882)  Mr.  Chapman  be- 
came the  head  of  the  firm  of  George  T.  Chap- 
man &Co. ,  the  "  Co."  being  the  brother,  Will- 
iam T. ,  and  his  mother.  In  1 889  he  bought  out 
his  brother's  interest,  and  since  that  time  Mr. 
Chapman  and  his  mother  have  been  sole  own- 
ers. Mr.  Chapman  has  enlarged  the  stock  and 
greatly  increased  the  business,  and  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  successful  men  of  his  locality. 
He  has  always  been  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
and  has  taken  quite  an  interest,  in  an  unofficial 
way,  in  the  success  of  his  party.  On  August 
30,  1894,  he  was  commissioned  postmaster  by 
President  Cleveland,  and  later  he  was  appoint- 
ed by  the  President,  the  Senate  confirming  the 


Ik 


S14 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


nomination  on  December  ii,  1894.  He  in- 
clines toward  the  Methodist  faith,  contributing 
to  that  Church,  and  in  many  ways  he  has  shown 
his  loyalty  to  the  best  interests  of  the  town. 

In  1882  Mr.  Chapman  married  Miss  Sarah 
White,  daughter  of  Sewell  and  Nancy  (Emeigh) 
White,  of  Pawling,  N.  Y. ,  and  to  them  have 
been  born  four  children:  Mary  Louise,  Ella 
Cordelia,  Grace  Sophia  and  George  T.,  Jr. 


JAMES  R.  KERLEY.  No  man,  probably, 
in  Dutchess  county  is  more  worthy  of  rep- 
resentation in  a  work  of  this  kind  than  he 
whose  name  introduces  this  sketch.  He  has 
been  identified  with  the  agricultural  interests 
of  the  town  of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess  county, 
most  of  his  life,  and  there  owns  a  fine  farm  of 
100  acres  of  land,  equipped  with  good  and 
substantial  buildings.  The  estate  is  one  of 
the  most  valuable  in  that  section  of  the  county, 
and  indicates  in  all  its  appointments  the  super- 
vision of  a  man  of  intelligence  and  sound  judg- 
ment. 

Our  subject  was  born  December  29,  1829, 
at  Tivoli,  Dutchess  county,  and  is  a  son  of 
James  Kerley,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Red  Hook.  His  great-grandfather  came  to 
the  United  States  from  Scotland,  and  here 
married  a  lady  who  was  a  native  of  Holland. 
The  birth  of  their  son,  James  Kerley,  occurred 
in  Vermont,  and  when  he  had  reached  man's 
estate  he  removed  to  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y. , 
and  wedded  a  Miss  Miller,  by  whom  he  had 
four  children:  Catherine,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Michael  Leonard,  a  merchant  of  Co- 
lumbia county,  N.  Y. ;  John,  a  farmer  of  Red 
Hook  town;  James,  the  father  of  our  subject; 
and  Hannah,  wife  of  Edwin  Greene,  who  was 
q  farmer  of  Dutchess  county  and  represented 
his  district  in  the  General  Assembly. 

The  father  of  our  subject  grew  to  manhood 
upon  the  farm  in  Red  Hook  town,  where  his 
parents  had  located  soon  after  their  marriage. 
He  married  Miss  Sarah  A.  Graves,  a  native  of 
Columbia  county,  where  her  father,  Titus 
Graves,  engaged  in  farming.  After  their  mar- 
riage they  made  their  home  at  Tivoli,  where 
the  father  engaged  in  merchandising  until  his 
death,  in  1830.  His  wife  died  in  1874.  Their 
family  consisted  of  two  sons:  John  D.,  a  phy- 
sician and  farmer  of  the  town  of  Northeast, 
Dutchess  county;  and  James  R. 

Our  subject  was  but  three  months  old  when 
his  father  died,  and  upon  a  farm  he  passed  his 


childhood  days,  attending  the  district  schools 
of  the  locality,  finishing  his  education  at  the 
Hudson  Academy,  after  which  he  returned  to 
the  farm.  In  September,  1854,  he  married 
Eliza  K.  Pitcher,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Red  Hook,  a  daughter  of  Abram  Pitcher,  whose 
ancestors  came  from  Holland.  In  1890  he 
was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  death  of  his 
wife,  who  was  a  most  estimable  lady.  Six 
children  graced  their  union:  R.  D.,  a  farmer 
of  Red  Hook  town;  Abram  P.,  a  chemist  and 
druggist  of  New  York  City;  James  E.,  a 
painter;  Charles  G.,  a  physician  of  New  York; 
JohnG.,  an  agriculturist  of  Red  Hook  town; 
and  Mary  E. 

On  October  i,  1862,  Mr.  Kerley  was  ap- 
pointed Deputy  Internal  Revenue  Collector 
for  his  district,  which  position  he  held  for 
twenty-one  years,  during  which  time  he  also 
engaged  in  the  insurance  business,  and  con- 
tinued the  operation  of  his  land.  Since  that 
period,  however,  he  has  devoted  his  time  ex 
clusively  to  the  cultivation  of  his  farm.  He  is 
an  active,  enterprising  citizen,  taking  a  livelj 
interest  in  Church  and  educational  matters, 
and  is  one  of  the  stockholders  of  the  academy 
at  Red  Hook.  In  politics  he  is  a  stanclj 
Republican. 


ATTHEW  J.   CASHIN  is   a  prominenj 
and  enterprising  merchant  of  Wappinj! 
ers    Falls,  where  he  has  built  up  a  fine  grocery 
trade  by  honest  dealing,  courteous  treatment  c; 
his  customers,  and  by  carrying  the  best  stocj 
that  the  markets  aflord.      He   is   a  nati%'e  (( 
Dutchess  county,  born  in  the  town  of  Pougl' 
keepsie,    December    11,  1859.     The   birth    ; 
his  father,  James  Cashin,  occurred  in  Coun 
Kilkenny,  Ireland,  and  when  a  young  man  1 
bade  adieu  to  the  friends  and  scenes  of  \ 
youth,    and   sailed  for    America,   locating    [ 
the    town  of   Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  countj 
he  here  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  up  | 
the  time  of  his  death.      Here  he  wedded  Catt 
erine  Harold,  also  a  native    of    the    EmenI 
Isle,    and  to    them    were    born    six   childn: 
Matthew  J.,  Thomas  J.,  John  P.,  William  I. 
Edward   C.,  and   a  daughter  who  died  in   - 
fancy.     The  mother  is  still  living.     The  fat' r 
was  a  devout  member  of  the  Catholic  Chur  , 
and  was    a  stalwart  supporter  of  the  Dei  - 
cratic  party. 

Mr.   Cashin,  whose  name  introduces    ts 
record,     was   reared    upon    the    home   fa  1. 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


515 


where  he  was  trained  to  habits  of  usefulness, 
and  after  his  education  was  completed  in  the 
district  schools,  he  and  his  brother  Thomas 
I  carried  on  the  retail  milk  business,  started  in 
the  year  1876  by  their  father,  carrying  on  that 
enterprise  until  April  i,  1886,  when  our  sub- 
ject sold  out  to  his  brother,  and  established 
his  present  grocery  store. 

On  October  31,  1883,  Mr.  Cashin  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Margaret  E. 
Burns,  who  was  born  at  Wappingers  Falls, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Peter  Burns,  a  native  of 
Ireland.  A  family  of  four  children  have  been 
born  to  this  worthy  couple:  Katie,  James, 
Mary  and  Joseph.  The  parents  are  commu- 
nicants of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  are  highly 
respected  people.  In  his  political  views  Mr. 
Gashin  coincides  with  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party,  taking  an  active  interest  in 
:he  local  campaigns  of  that  organization,  and 
vas  trustee  of  the  village  for  one  year,  after 
!vhich  he  resigned,  preferring  to  give  his  entire 
ittention  to  his  business  interests. 


rOHN  R.  SCHULTZ.  a  prominent  agricult- 
I  urist  and  dairyman  of  the  town  of  Rhine- 
beck,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  April  26, 
349,  on  a  farm  which  has  been  in  the  posses- 
ion of  his  family  seventy-three  years. 

His  great-grandfather,  Peter  Schultz,  a  na- 
ve of  Holland,    came  to  America  soon  after 
le   Revolutionary    war,    and    located    in  the 
)wn  of  Rhinebeck.      His  son  Abram,  our  sub- 
ct's  grandfather,    made   his  home  upon  this 
rm  throughout   his  life.      He   married  Miss 
hell,  and   had   four  children:  Margaret,  who 
larried  Edgar  Ratcliff,  a  butcher  at  Yonkers; 
ilia,    who    married   James    Schryver,    also  a 
itcher   at   Yonkers;    Richard,    our  subject's 
ther,  and  one  who  died  in  childhood.     Rich- 
d  Schultz  was  born  October  4,  18 19,  and  al- 
lys  lived  on  the  old  homestead.      He  was  a 
iding  farmer  of  the  vicinity,  a  Democrat  in 
Htics,  and  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
■  urch.     He  married  Frances  Rowe,  a  daugh- 
r  of  William  M.  Rowe,  a  well-known  farmer 
I  the  town  of   Milan.      She  was  a  member  of 
i  M.  E.  Church  from  her  childhood  to  her 
■ath,  which  occurred  February  13,  1895,  her 
sband  surviving  her  only  a  few  months,  dy- 
May  21  of  that  year.     They  had  five  chil- 
-n,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the  eldest.     Will- 
11  M.  is  a  farmer  on  the  old  homestead ;  Edwin 


resides  in  New  York  City;  David  E.  died  in 
Rhinebeck  March  23,  1857,  and  Julia  F.  mar- 
ried Herman  Brown,  of  Dutchess  county,  a 
traveling  salesman  by  occupation. 

John  R.  Schultz  grew  to  manhood  on  the 
old  home,  and  December  15,  1869,  he  married 
Sarah  A.  Cronk,  a  lady  of  Welsh  descent,  the 
daughter  of  Nathaniel  T.  and  Aurilla  (Hall) 
Cronk,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  West- 
chester county,  where  Mr.  Cronk's  father  set- 
tled on  his  arrival  in  this  country  from  Wales. 
Four  children  were  born  of  this  marriage:  Car- 
rie L.,  the  wife  of  William  B.  Traver,  of  Hud- 
son, N.  Y. ;  Hattie  F. ,  who  is  at  home;  Harry 
R.,  who  died  December  12,  1883,  and  Edwin 
B.,  now  at  home. 

In  his  specialty  of  dairying  Mr.  Schultz  is 
among  the  leaders  of  his  locality,  as  was  his 
father  before  him.  For  eighteen  years  he  has 
sold  milk  in  Rhinebeck  at  retail,  but  previous 
to  that  he  wholesaled  it.  His  farm  of  eighty 
acres  is  a  beautiful  one,  commanding  a  fine 
view  of  the  Hudson.  He  and  his  wife  are  ready 
sympathizers  with  all  progressive  movements 
in  their  vicinity,  and  they  contribute  to  the  M. 
E.  Church.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  and 
an  influential  one;  his  intelligence  and  public- 
spirit  making  his  judgment  valuable,  he  has 
been  commissioner  of  the  town  of  Rhinebeck 
for  nine  years. 


HAMILTON  PRAY,  who  is  at  the  head  of 
one  of  the   important  industries  of  the 

town  of  Unionvale,  Dutchess  county,  was 
there  born  in  1844,  and  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  Amenia.  On  starting  out  in  life 
for  himself,  he  first  engaged  in  farming,  but 
later  turned  his  attention  to  blacksmithing. 
In  1890  he  invented  and  patented  an  ice  plow, 
which  has  completely  revolutionized  the  ice 
trade  in  this  country',  and  at  once  sprang  into 
public  favor.  It  is  designed  for  horse  power, 
and  he  established  a  factory  at  North  Clove, 
in  the  town  of  Unionvale,  which  he  has  run 
to  its  utmost  capacity.  In  1892  he  took  out 
other  patents  on  the  improvements  in  the  plow, 
which  is  one  of  the  most  important  inventions 
perfected  in  Dutchess  county,  and  has  lessened 
the  price  of  ice  plows  throughout  the  entire 
country.  Mr.  Pray  can  safely  be  called  the 
father  of  the  two  cutter  beams,  known  as  a 
marker  and  cutter  beam  combined.  He  is 
justly  entitled  to  a  place   among   the  leading 


616 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


inventors  of  the  county,  and  has  more  than 
ordinary  ability  as  a  business  man.  He  is  a 
wide-awake,  progressive  citizen,  fully  abreast 
with  the  times  in  every  particular,  and  his 
career  has  been  one  of  honorable  activity. 

Andrew  Pray,  the  grandfather  of  Hamilton 
Pray,  was  a  resident  of  the  town  of  Dover, 
and  was  a  member  of  Asssembly  from  there. 
He  married  Mary  Duncan,  and  had  ten  chil- 
dren: (i)  Amy,  who  married  Edward  Ward, 
and  had  nine  children,  Andrew,  Thaddeus, 
Mary,  Frank,  Hannah,  Louisa,  Sarah,  Henry 
and  Edward;  (2)  Hannah,  never  married;  (3) 
Sarah,  who  married  William  Ross,  and  had 
six  children,  John,  Mary,  Delia,  Andrew, 
Washington  and  Duncan;  (4)  David,  who 
married  Sarah  Stephens,  and  had  two  children, 
Richard  and  Mary;  (5)  Mary,  who  married 
Josiah  Dickerson,  and  had  three  children,  Will- 
iam H.,  Wilhemina  and  Estella;  (6j  Martha, 
who  married  Isaac  Stephens,  and  had  two 
children,  Mary  and  Henry;  (7)  Albert,  who 
married  Margaret  B.  Wyman,  and  had  six  chil- 
dren, Hamilton  (subject  of  this  sketch),  Mary 
L.,  Emma  P.,  Blanche,  Andrew  and  Alber- 
tine;  (8)  George,  who  married  Nancy  Baker, 
and  had  five  children,  Elias,  Lavinia,  Martha, 
George  and  Seward;  (9)  Andrew,  and  (10) 
John,  who  never  married. 

David  Wyman,  the  maternal  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  a  resident  of  the  town  of 
Clinton,  and  a  mechanic.  He  married  Lorana 
Lapham,  and  had  nine  children,  namely:  Lor- 
anda,  who  married  David  Donald;  Lapham, 
who  married  Susan  Woolsey,  and  had  eleven 
children,  Lorana,  Holmes,  Henry,  Jane,  Lor- 
anda,  Lorenzo,  Alice,  Frank.  Clifford,  Nelson 
and  Charles;  John,  who  never  married;  Tacy, 
who  married  Jacob  Rider,  and  had  one  child, 
Wyman;  David  never  married;  Phebe,  who 
married  Albert  Bullard;  Solon,  who  married 
Mary  Woolsey,  and  had  two  children,  Dick 
and  Don;  Harris,  who  married  Elizabeth 
Tompkins,  and  had  one  child,  George;  and 
Margaret,  who  married  Albert  Pray. 

Hamilton  Pray  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Sarah  E.  Gregory,  who  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  and  was 
educated  at  the  Clove,  in  Unionvale  town. 
Five  children  were  born  to  them,  namely: 
Albert  G.,  born  in  1878;  Mary  L. ,  born  in 
1880;  William  H.,  born  in  1884;  Andrew  G., 
who  was  born  in  1885  and  died  in  infancy;  and 
David  H.,  who  was  born  in  1895,  and  also  died 
in  infancy. 


Philo  Gregory,  the  great-grandfather  of 
Mrs.  Pray,  was  a  native  of  New  London, 
Conn.,  and  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He  had 
two  sons,  Samuel  and  Philo.  The  former  was 
born  and  educated  in  the  town  of  Unionvale, 
Dutchess  county,  and  followed  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  married  Miss  Ann  Burton,  a 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Naomi  Burton,  and  to 
them  were  born  six  children:  Elizabeth,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Orville  Le  Due;  Silas,  who 
first  married  Eliza  Sheldon,  and  after  her 
death  wedded  Phoebe  Emigh;  Sarah,  who  re- 
mained single;  William,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Pray;  Naomi,  who  married  Charles  Brazer; 
and  Charles,  who  married  Lydia  Thayer. 

William  Gregory  is  a  native  of  the  town  of 
Dover,   Dutchess  county,  and  throughout  life 
was  engaged  in  farming  and  minmg.      Socially 
he  holds  membership  in  the  Masonic  Lodge  at 
Shekomeko.      He  was  joined  in  wedlock  with 
Miss  Lucy  J.  Lee,  a  daughter  of  Lyman  anc 
Harriet    (Soule)    Lee,    farming  people   of  the 
town    of    Dover.     Five    children    graced    thi.' 
union,    namely:       Mary    L. ,    born    in    Dovei 
town,  in    1851,  wedded  Theodore  Nickerson 
and  had  two  children,  Ella    and  Willie;  Sarab 
E.,  born  in  1853,  wife   of  the  subject  of  thi 
sketch;    Harriet  A.,    born    in    1855,    marrie( 
Adelbert  Terwilliger,  and  has  three  children 
Leander,   Frank   and   Effie;  George  L. ,  bori 
in  1866,  engaged  in    farming,  and  married  ti 
Lillie  Babcock;  Carrie,  born  in  1869,  the  wif 
of  John  P.  Ham,  by  whom  she  has  one  daugl: 
ter,  Mary. 

On  the  maternal  side,  Mrs.  Pray  traces  he 
ancestry  back  to  John  Lee,  a   native  of  Coi 
necticut.      His  son,  Hezekiah  Lee,  was  borr 
reared  and  educated  in   Connecticut,  and  \v; 
a  farmer  by  occupation.      He  served  his  coui| 
try  in  the  war  of  18 12.     By  his  marriage  wit: 
Miss  Jane  Wilson,  he  had  the  following  chi 
dren — Peter;    Reuben;    Lyman,     the    gram 
father  of  Mrs.  Pray;  Sallie,  who  married  Jol 
Chamberlain;    Rosanna,    who    married    Isa; 
Jordan;   Betsy,  who  first  married  a  Mr.  Bos 
wick,  and  after  his  death  wedded  Jason  Cros 
Lucy,  who  married  John  Benson;  Jeannett 
who  married  William  Atkins;  and  Jennie,  wl 
married  Smith  Perry. 

Lyman  Lee  was  a  native  of  Kent,  Com 
and  was  also  an  agriculturist.  He  marri 
Miss  Harriet  Soule,  a  daughter  of  Henry  a 
Abigail  (Benson)  Soule,  and  they  became  t 
parents  of  ten  children,  as  follows:  Susa 
.who  married  Austin  Frink,  a  farmer,  by  wh(- 


V 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


517 


she  had  five  children,  George,  Arthur,  Albert, 
Henrietta  and  Harriet;  Lucy,  the  mother  of 
Mrs.  Pray ;  Frances,  who  married  Isaac  Greg- 
ory; Hannah,  who  married  Lyman  Benson 
'and  has  three  children,  John,  Hattie  and  El- 
mer; Senaca  never  married;  Henry,  a  rail- 
Iroad  employe,  who  married  Sarah  Raymond, 
land  had  three  children,  Edwin,  George  and 
Clara;  Hezekiah  never  married;  Harriet,  who 
married  Peter  Sliter,  and  has  three  children, 
Ella,  George  and  Mary;  George  remained 
single;  Josephine,  who  married  Charles  Sher- 
.vood,  and  has  five  children,  Frankie  (who 
narried  Earnest  Buckley),  Fred,  Bertha  (who 
narried  Bert  Spencer),  Anna,   and  Maude. 


rOHN    D.     HOWARD,    who    is   now  living 

I    retired  from  active  life  in  his  pleasant  home 

in  Poughkeepsie,  was  born  in  the  town  of 

\'ashington,  Dutchess  county,  September  22, 

^35- 

Edward  Howard,  the  paternal  great-grand- 

ither    of    our    subject,     was    born     Decem- 

'  24,    1724,  and  was  one  of    the  early  set- 

rs    of    the    town     of     Pawling,     Dutchess 

lunty.      He   married  Phoebe   Hart,  who  was 

May  3,  1735,  and  the  names  and  dates 

Irth  of  their  children  are  as  follows:     Ste- 

May  26,  1753;  Matthew,  September — , 

Ruth,  February  i,  1756;  Mary,  Novem- 

,  1757;  Richard,  March  13,  1760;  Sarah, 

ember  20,   1761;  Edward,  April  26,  1763; 

Bnce,  November  8,  1764;  Phoebe,  Decem- 

1767;  Thomas,  May  14,  1770;  Benjamin, 

14,     1773;  John,   December    21,     1774; 

Jam,  March  6,  1777.     All  the  members  of 

family  married.     The  father  died  October 

801,  and  the  mother  on  August  4,  1804. 

Thomas  Howard,  grandfather  of  our  sub- 

t,  was  born  in  Pawling,  and  married  a  Miss 

iynes.      Their    children    were    as    follows: 

jmas,  Patience,   Anna,  Lucy,  Jane,  Laura, 

lia,  and  James  (the  father  of  our  subject). 

James    Howard  was    born   September    2, 

94,  in   Pawling.      On  October  24,  1827,  he 

Ik  married    to  Ann    Dodge,  who   was    born 

ust  24,    1806,  also  in   Pawling.      In   1847 

removed  to  Lagrange,  where  they  spent 

remainder  of  their  lives,  the  father  dying 

Itober  29,  1890,  and  the  mother  about  1879. 

leir  children  were:     Marie  Antoinette,  born 

Irch  26,  1829,  married  September  11,   1849, 

iReuben  S.  Haight;  Lucy  Ann,  born  July  16, 


1830,  died  January  26,  1863;  Frances  Helen, 
born  January  i,  1832,  was  married  August  25, 
1863,  to  Dodge  P.  Blackstone;  Caroline  Au- 
gusta, born  October  23,  1833,  married  E. 
Irving  Hurd,  April  28,  1859;  John  Dodge,  born 
September  22,  1835,  married  Adeline  B. 
Barnes,  October  24,  1 861;  Thomas  N.,  born 
July  19,  1839,  died  May  13,  185 1;  Jay,  born 
March  1 1,  1848,  was  married  in  the  year  1871, 
to  Ruth  A.  Halleck;  Sarah  Jane,  born  Septem- 
ber 10,  1 841,  died  December  22,  1858;  Laura, 
born  August  7,  1844,  died  September  10, 
1854;  Zenobia,  born  January  7,  1845,  died 
February  8,  1851.  One  of  these  sons.  Jay, 
remained  upon  the  farm  in  Lagrange  with  his 
father  until  the  latter's  death,  they  being  as- 
sociated in  their  work  for  nearly  fifty  years. 
Jay  Howard  was  married  in  Stamford,  N.  Y., 
in  1 87 1,  to  Miss  Ruth  A.,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Halleck.  She  died  October  26,  1874,  leaving 
three  children:  Frank,  Kathryn  and  Ruth 
A.,  all  of  whom  are  at  home  with  their  father. 

John  D.  Howard,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
received  a  good  common-school  education  in 
the  schools  of  Lagrange;  and  at  the  Nine  Part- 
ners School,  also  attending  a  private  school  in 
Washington  township.  On  October  24,  1861, 
in  Lagrange,  he  was  married  to  Adeline  B., 
daughter  of  William  Barnes.  The  children 
born  of  this  union  are:  Sophia,  who  married 
Nicholas  Flagler,  and  has  two  children — Ethel 
and  Sophie;  James,  who  married  Ella  Acker- 
man,  and  has  two  children — John  and  Willard 
D. ;  Lucy,  who  married  Charles  Stark,  and  has 
two  children— Howard  and  James;  Annie,  who 
married  Henry  Taylor;  Sally,  Mary  and  Ade- 
line. Of  these,  Sally  was  a  professional  nurse, 
and  for  three  years  was  superintendent  of 
nurses  at  the  Womans  Hospital,  corner  of 
Forty-ninth  street  and  Fourth  avenue.  New 
York;  she  was  married  in  February,  1897,  to 
Dr.  Burch,  of  the  city  of  Washington,  and  re- 
sides there.  Sophia,  Lucy  and  Annie  were 
for  a  time  teachers  in  Dutchess  county,  the 
last  named  being  a  graduate  of  Linden  Hall, 
Poughkeepsie. 

Mr.  Howard  has  spent  the  greater  portion 
of  his  life  in  agricultural  pursuits,  but  in  1890 
left  his  farm  in  charge  of  his  son,  and  went  to 
West  Superior,  Wis.,  where  he  remained  two 
years.  Since  his  return  he  has  made  his  home 
in  Poughkeepsie,  and  is  not  now  engaged  in 
any  active  employment.  His  wife  departed 
this  life  June  14,  1886.  Mr.  Howard  has  been 
a  Republican  ever  since  the  formation  of  the 


I 


518 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


party,  and  has  worked  for  its  interests.  He 
was  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Lagrange  for 
three  terms,  and  has  always  been  an  enterpris- 
ing, public-spirited  man. 


TENRY  VAN  BENSCHOTEN.  The  sub- 
J^i  ject  of  this  sketch,  one  of  the  most  prom- 
inent agriculturists  of  Dutchess  county,  was 
born  on  the  old  homestead  in  the  town  of 
Lagrange,  June  6,  1822. 

Elias  T. ,  father  of  our  subject,  was  also 
born  on  the  old  homestead,  December  27, 
1783.  He  married  Miss  Cynthia  Velie,  Sep- 
tember 10,  1807.  She  was  born  October  5, 
1786.  Their  children  were:  John  E. ,  born 
December  5,  1808,  died  March  6,  1873;  Philip, 
born  February  10,  181 1,  married  on  February 
20,  1840,  to  Miss  Hannah  Thorn,  and  they 
had  one  child.  Thorn,  born  February  17, 
1 841;  Sarah,  born  January  21,  181 3,  died 
February  13,  1830;  Harriet,  born  February 
23,  181 5,  became  the  wife  of  Aris  I.  Vander- 
bilt  October  19,  1841,  and  died  June  13,  1869; 
Eliza,  born  March  3,  18 18,  married  J.  Harry 
Pettit,  September  4,  1844,  and  died  January 
8,  1893;  Jemima,  born  November  29,  18 19, 
married  Dr.  W.  H.  Hopkins  February  5,  1840; 
Henry,  born  June  6,  1822,  married  Miss  Mary 
Jane  Ver  Valen  December  9,  1857;  Cynthia, 
born  May  9,  1824,  married  David  H.  Mulford 
October22,  1857;  Elias,  born  August  15.  1826, 
married  Cornelia  Harris  December  9,  1857, 
and  for  his  second  wife  Sarah  L.  Wooster, 
January  6,  1875;  Jane,  born  in  August,  1828, 
died  December  19,  1866. 

Mr.  Van  Benschoten  was  well  known  and 
highly  respected.  Tall,  erect,  and  remarkably 
active,  physically  he  was  a  type  of  man  with 
whom  we  associate  the  stirring  events  of  the 
early  history  of  the  country.  He  was  an  ex- 
cellent citizen  and  neighbor,  and  his  uniform, 
genial  temperament  made  his  presence  always 
attractive  in  the  social  circle.  By  his  industry 
and  business  capacity  he  acquired  a  handsome 
competence,  and  became  one  of  the  largest 
land  owners  in  his  section  of  the  country.  His 
entire  life  was  spent  on  the  old  home  in  La- 
grange, and  he  was  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church. 

Tunis  Van  Benschoten,  the  grandfather, 
was  born  October  9,  1755,  and  was  married 
August  23,  1775,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Van  Der- 
burgh,  who  was  born  October  13,  1759.  He 
departed  this  life  December  23,  1835,  and  his 


wife  December  31,  18 19.  Their  children  we: 
as  follows:  Jemima,  born  July  13,  1771 
became  the  wife  of  Oliver  Green;  Henry,  boi 
August  30,  1778,  married  Miss  Mary  Jacksoi 
and  died  September  25,  1832;  Elias  T;  Saral 

born     January    8,    ,   died    September    ; 

1803.  Tunis  was  an  elder  in  the  Hackensac 
Church.  He  owned  the  first  one-horse  plea 
ure  wagon  in  Lagrange.  He  was  born  upc 
the  old  homestead  now  owned  by  our  subjec 

The  great-great-grandfather  of  our  subje< 
was  Elias  Van  Banschoten,  as  the  name  w; 
first  spelled.  His  son,  Elias,  Jr. ,  owned  the  ol 
place,  which  was  deeded  to  him  by  his  fathi 
in  1738,  through  Gideon  Ver  Vealin,  grea 
grandfather  of  Mrs.  Van  Benschoten.  Tl 
deed  is  now  held  by  our  subject. 

The  children  of  Dr.  W.  H.  and  Jeminr 
Hopkins  were:  Harriet,  born  May  18,  184 
married  Richard  Titus;  Elias,  born  Septemb 
3,  1843,  married  Miss  Emily  Field;  John,  bo 
July  8,  1845;  Elizabeth,  born  May  16,  184 
died  in  infancy;  William,  born  February  2 
1850,  married  Miss  Ida  Sayles.  These  ch 
dren  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pettit:  Sara 
June  30,  1845,  married  James  O.  Conkli 
James,  October  4,  1846,  married  Miss  El 
Flagler;  Cynthia,  January  27,  1849;  John  H 
November  10,  1850,  married  Miss  Maria  Ba 
cock;  Janie,  January  26,  1862.  The  childr 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Van  Benschoten  wei 
Anna,  born  February  19,  1859,  married  C 
Witt  Bergen  September  16,  1885;  LouiS( 
March  25,  1861,  married  the  Rev.  Jose  i 
Paige  Davis,  who  is  deceased;  Elias,  April  i 
1867;  John  E.,  July  27,  1870.  Mr.  and  M 
Mulford  had  one  child,  Hattie,  who  marrii 
John  Hackett.    She  was  born  October  25, 18; 

Henry  Van  Benschoten  spent  his  boyhol 
days  on  the  old  homestead,  and  attended  t ! 
district  schools.  He  has  held  the  offices  I 
town  clerk,  assessor  and  supervisor,  elecll 
on  the  Democratic  ticket.  He  was  appoinll 
by  the  Legislature  town  auditor  in  i860. 


/p^EORGE  C.  PAYNE,  a  valiant  membei  f 
\Jf'>  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  war  s 
now  one  of  the  prominent  and  representate 
business  men  of  the  town  of  Stanford,  wti  e 
he  is  successfully  engaged  as  a  wholesale  ;d 
retail  butcher.  He  was  born  in  that  townsp 
January  7,  1841. 

The  birth  of  his  father,  Samuel  Payne,  > 


I 


COMMEMOBATIVE  BIOORAPEIOAL  RECORD. 


519 


curred  July  8,  1799,  and  in    Putnam  county, 
N.    Y.,  on   September    18,    1822,    he  married 
Miss  Ann  Hager,  who  was  of  German  ances- 
try.     She   was  born   May  4,  1803,   and  died 
May   5,  1879.     Seven   children  were  born  of 
this  union:  (i)  Rachel  O. ,  born  September  10, 
1824,  became  the  wife  of  David  L.  Thompson. 
(2)  Anthony   H.,    born   December    28,    1826, 
makes  his  home  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.      (3)  War- 
ren C. ,  born  May  31,  1829,  resides  at  Bangall, 
Dutchess  county.      (4)  John  H.,  born  Decem- 
ber   19,  1 83 1,  enlisted   in   Company  B,  128th 
Regiment,  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry,  Au- 
,'ust  20,  1862,  and  was  discharged  November 
19,  1864,  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  on  account  of  dis- 
ability.     He  is  at  present  living  at  Stanford- 
ville,    Dutchess   county.      (5)    Orra    S. ,    born 
August  30,   1836,  became  a  member  of  Com- 
lany  A,  20th  New  York  State  Militia,  October 
12,  i86i,and  was  discharged  March  20,  1863, 
jn  account  of  wounds  received  at  the  battle  of 
,i;hantilly.      (6)    Jehiel    P.,    born   August    30, 
1836,  died  August   17,  1848.     (7)  George  C. , 
abject  of  this  review,  completes  the  family, 
^or  several  years  after  his  marriage  the  father 
emained   in   Putnam  county,  N.  Y. ,  but  later 
•ecame  a  resident  of  Stanford  town,  Dutchess 
ounty,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  until  his 
leath,   which  occurred   November  24,    1865. 
'olitically  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  religiously 
•:as  a  consistent  member  of  the  Baptist  Church 
angall. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  obtained 

he  schools  of  Stissing,  and,  after  completing 

education,  he  was  employed  as  a  farm  hand 

three  seasons.     While  thus  engaged  the 

m  of  war  broke  over  our  beloved  country, 

in  response  to  the  call  for  men  he  enlisted 

ust  20,  1862,  in  Company  B,  128th  Regi- 

t,  New  York  Volunteers,  and  served  until 

South  laid  down  its  arms.     He  participated 

1  the  Red  River  expedition,  the  siege  of  Port 

ludson,   the   expedition  up   the   Pearl    river, 

ad  the  campaign   in  the  Shenandoah  Valley. 

le  was  mustered  out  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  July 

7,  1865.     For  some  time  after  his  discharge 

was  in  poor  health,  having  become  ill  while 

Savannah,  Georgia. 

After  his  return  home   Mr.  Payne  engaged 
farming  for  a  time,  and  then  opened  a  gen- 
store  at  Bangall,  which  he  conducted  for 
'ear.  after  which  he  clerked  a  year  for  C.  H. 
phrey,  at  that  place.      He  then  removed 
e  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess  county, 
ife  for  three  years  he  carried  on  agricultural 


pursuits,  after  which  he  returned  to  Stanford 
town,  and  for  the  past  twenty  years  has  been 
engaged  in  the  meat  business. 

Mr.  Payne  was  married  October  20,  1869, 
to  Miss  Emeline  C.  Mosher,  who  was  born  at 
East  Chatham,  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  January 
12,  1850.  Her  father,  David  Mosher,  was  a 
native  of  Saratoga  county,  N.  Y. ,  where  his 
father,'  Benjamin  Mosher,  was  also  born.  The 
latter  married  Jane  Bloom,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  seven  children:  Joseph,  David, 
Jane,  Mary,  Rennselaer,  Amy  and  Esther. 
The  father  of  this  family  spent  his  entire  life 
in  farming  in  Saratoga  county.  There  his  son 
David  was  educated  in  the  common  schools, 
and  on  reaching  his  manhood  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Alice  Mosher,  by  whom  he 
had  two  children:  Edwin  B.,  who  became  a 
member  of  the  21st  New  York  Cavalry  during 
the  Civil  war,  and  was  shot  by  a  guerilla;  and 
Emeline  C,  the  wife  of  our  subject.  Her 
maternal  grandfather,  William  Mosher,  was 
born  March  5,  1786,  and  wedded  Martha  A. 
Mosher,  by  whom  he  had  ten  children.  His 
father,  Barnabas  Mosher,  was  born  September 
2,  1758,  and  married  Ruth  Mosher,  who  was 
born  July  13,  1757.  In  their  family  were 
eight  children. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Payne  were  born  five 
children:  Edward  Van  Rensselaer,  born  on 
March  24,  1872,  is  now  a  civil  engineer,  lo- 
cated at  Lockport,  N.  Y. ;  Alice  Gertrude, 
born  September  28,  1874;  William  Mosher, 
born  February  22,  1882,  died  April  9,  1885; 
Rose  Cleveland,  born  February  8,  1886,  died 
February  18,  1895;  and  Albert  Henry,  born 
September  19,  1887,  completes  the  family. 

As  a  Democrat  Mr.  Payne  takes  great  in- 
terest in  political  questions,  and  has  served  as 
collector  of  Stanford  town.  In  religious  be- 
lief he  is  a  Baptist,  holding  membership  with 
the  Church  of  that  denomination  at  Bangall, 
and  socially  is  identified  with  Warren  Lodge 
No.  32,  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Schultzville,  N.  Y. 
As  a  soldier  he  displayed  bravery,  sagacity  and 
true  patriotism;  as  a  business  man  his  actions 
have  been  above  reproach  or  criticism,  and  as  a 
citizen  he  is  an  illustration  of  a  high  type  of 
American  manhood.  In  social  circles  he 
and  his  wife  occupy  a  prominent  position. 
She  is  an  earnest  worker  in  the  Woman's 
Christian  Temperance  Union,  and  for  four 
years  has  been  recording  secretary  for  the 
Dutchess  County  Woman's  Christian  Temper- 
ance Union. 


620 


OOMMEMORA  TIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


CiHARLES  W.  HOAG  (deceased)  was  one 
'  of  the  most  genial  and  whole-souled  men 
of  Dutchess  county,  where  was  spent  his  long 
and  useful  career.  The  genealogy  of  the  fam- 
ily can  be  traced  to  John  Hoag,  who  was  born 
in  1643  and  died  in  1728.  On  April  21,  1669, 
John  Hoag  married  E.  Emery,  by  whom  he 
had  the  following  children:  John,  born  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1670;  Jonathan,  born  October  28, 
1671;  Joseph,  born  January  10,  1677;  Ben- 
jamin; Hannah,  born  January  3,  1683;  Judith, 
born  April  20,  1687;  and  Mary. 

For  his  first  wife  Benjamin  Hoag  wedded 
Sarah  Morris,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
six  children:  Mary,  born  April  5,  1704;  John, 
born  September  3,  1706;  Jonathan,  born  in 
December,  1708;  Sarah,  born  May  3,  171 1; 
Benjamin,  born  November  15,  1714;  and 
Judah,  born  April  29,  17 16.  By  his  second 
wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Esther 
Sneatt,  he  had  ten  children,  whose  names  and 
years  of  birth  are  as  follows:  Patience,  1719; 
Daniel,  1720;  Moses,  1721;  Elizabeth,  1723; 
Anna,  1724;  Mary,  1728;  Isaiah,  1730;  Aben- 
ezer,   1 73 1 ;  Theodore,  1732;  and  Esther,  1734. 

John  Hoag,  the  second  child  of  the  first 
union,  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Mary  Hoag, 
who  was  born  January  9,  1706,  and  they  had 
six  children:  Elijah;  Enoch,  born  in  1731; 
John,  born  May  10,  1734;  Abner,  born  in 
1736;  Mary;  Paul,  born  in  1741.  For  his  sec- 
ond wife  John  Hoag  married  Patience  Rogers, 
and  to  them  were  born  four  children:  Isaiah, 
in  17.54;  Rachel,  in  1756;  Jeremiah,  in  1759; 
and  Nathaniel,  in  1765. 

The  next  in  direct  line  was  John  Hoag,  a 
resident  of  the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess 
county.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Mercy  Tripp,  who  was  born  March  16,  1738, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
whose  names  and  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows: 
Abel,  December  12,  1761;  Philip,  December 
6,  1764;  Lucy,  March  17,  1767;  Amy,  June  2, 
1769;  Charles,  December  25,  1771;  Ruth, 
April  22,  1775;  Tripp,  March  6,  1778;  and 
Mary,  May  25,  1782. 

The  fifth  child  of  that  union,  Charles 
Hoag,  was  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  and 
died  January  23,  1840.  On  November  21, 1793, 
he  married  Betsy  Denton,  who  was  born  April 
5,  1772,  and  died  August  30,  1852.  Their 
family  included  nine  children,  as  follows: 
Anna,  born  October  2,  1794;  John  T.,  Sep- 
tember 27,  1796;  James  D.,  February  14, 
1799;  Henry  C,    May  3,    1801;  Phoebe,  Au- 


gust 13,  1805;  Ezra  B.,  December  11,  1807; 
Benjamin,  October  23,  18 10;  Deborah,  Octo- 
ber   18,  1812;  and    Mary,  February  25,  1815. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  John  T.  Hoag, 
spent  his  boyhood  days  at  Pine  Plains,  Dutch- 
ess county;  on  November  30,  1825,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mary  C.  Bedell,  born 
July  20,  1800.  By  this  union  they  had  two 
children:  Charles  W. ,  born  October  7,  1826; 
and  Mary  B.,  born  June  10,  1835.  For  some 
time  the  father  engaged  in  farming  in  Colum- 
bia county,  N.  Y.,  and  on  his  return  to  Dutch- 
ess county  first  located  in  Clinton  town,  bat 
later  removed  to  the  old  homestead  in  Pine 
Plains  town,  which  he  operated  up  to  his  death. 
May  8,  1849.  He  was  reared  in  the  faith  of 
the  Society  of  Friends,  and  was  highly  re- 
spected and  honored.  His  wife  departed  this 
life  on  July  14,  1858. 

Charles  W.  Hoag  passed  his  early  life  in 
the  usual  manner  of  farmer  boys,  in  the  town 
of  Pine  Plains,  and  secured  a  good  education 
at  the  Nine  Partners  Boarding  School,  in  the 
town  of  Washington,  Dutchess  county.  He 
assisted  his  father  in  the  labors  of  the  home 
farm  until  he  was  married,  June  10,  1857,  to 
Laura  Bryan,  whose  birth  occurred  April  21, 
1 83 1.  They  became  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren: Ward  B.,  now  a  physician  of  New 
York  City;  he  was  born  July  3,  1859,  and 
married  L.  Lilian  Sills,  of  New  York  City, 
May  9,  1895;  John  E.,  born  November  2,\ 
1861 ;  Mary  E. ,  who  was  born  November  25, ' 
1863,  and  December  9,  1 891,  wedded  William 
H.  Ulrich,  of  Greenfield,  Mass. ;  Anna  Ger- 
trude, born  July  6,  1868;  and  Charles  Will- 
iam, born  February  14,  1870. 

For  two  years  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Hoag 
remained  in  the  town  of  Pine  Plains,  and  the 
following  eight  years  were  passed  near  Miller- 
ton,  Dutchess  county.     In  April,  1869,  he  re-j 
moved   to   the   town  of  Stanford,   where  hej 
erected   the   large  house  at   the  upper  end  ol 
Upton  Lake,  now  known  as  the  "Upton  Lakc^ 
House,"  and  there  continued   to  live  until  his 
death,  which  occurred   March  4,    1893.     H« 
was  classed  by  his  fellow  citizens  as  one  of  th«, 
public-spirited  and   representative  men  of  th( 
county,  and  merited  and  received  the  warmes 
confidence   and   esteem  of    the   entire   com 
munity. 

The  family  of  Mrs.  Hoag  has  also  lonj 
been  identified  with  the  history  of  Dutches: 
county,  her  great-grandparents,  Ezra  an( 
Sarah  Bryan,  being  residents  of  the  town  o 


^^^^-tz. 


i 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


521 


Northeast.     Their  son,  Amos  Bryan,  who  also 
ived  in  that  township,  married  Betsey  Finch, 
nd  to  them  were  born  nine  children,  of  whom 
Vard  W. ,  the  father  of   Mrs.  Hoag,  was  the 
Idest.      His   entire   life  was  passed  upon  the 
Id  homestead  farm  in  the  town  of  Northeast. 
)n  December  12,  1829,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
jage  with  Elizabeth  Wanzer,  and  they  became 
le  parents  of  eleven  children,  whose  names 
nd  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows:  Laura,  April 
I,  1831;  Calvin,  January  6,  1833;  Elihu  (de- 
based), July  26,  1835;  Amos  (deceased).  Oc- 
iber  9,  1836;  James,  March  25,  1839;  Sarah 
leceased),  November  25,  1840;  Jane,  Febru- 
■y   25,    1843;     Ezra,    December    16,    1844; 
fioebe,  February  5,  1847;    Reuben,  June  20, 
i49;    and   Coralie  (deceased),    February    9, 
153.     The  father,  who  was   a   faithful  mem- 
!r  of  the   Friends   Church,    died   December 
.,  1863;    his  wife  survived  him  till  July  27, 
85. 


''EDWARD  BARMORE,  of  the  town  of  La- 
.4  grange,  Dutchess  county,  is  a  representa- 
t  e  agriculturist,  his  farm,  near  Moores  Mill, 
ting  among  the  best  of  its  size  in  that  locality. 
He  is  a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  but  his 
f  her,  Clark  C.  Barmore,  was  born  May  25, 
1)5,  in  Westchester  county,  N.  Y. ,  and  came 
t  Dutchess  county  with  his  parents  when  he 
V  >  six  years  old.  He  attended  the  district 
Siools  of  the  town  of  Unionvaie,  and  taught 
f(  several  terms  in  early  manhood.  On  De- 
Oiiber  26,  1 83 1,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
»h  Mary  C.  Alley,  who  was  born  December 
S  1810,  the  daughter  of  James  Alley.  For  a 
fe  years  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Barmore  was 
eiaged  in  farming  in  Unionvaie,  but,  in  the 
Sjing  of  1836,  he  moved  to  the  town  of  La- 
ginge,  and  settled  upon  the  farm  now  occu- 
pii  by  his  grandson,  Clark  Barmore.  He  was 
a  Tthright  Quaker,  always  adhered  to  the  old 
foiis  of  speech,  and  was  a  regular  attendant 
athe  Friends'  meetings,  serving  as  clerk  for 
m  y  years.  A  self-made  man,  he  was  very 
su  essful  as  a  farmer,  and  his  fine  character 
ga-  him  great  influence  among  his  acquaint- 
acjs.  He  was  a  life-long  Democrat,  and  held 
•e^ral  offices  in  the  town  of  Lagrange.  His 
de;h  occurred  there  September  30,  1873,  ^nd 
his  wife  followed  him  February  22,  1880. 
Tty  had  nine  children:  Phoebe,  who  mar- 
'■'£  Crumline  Patterson,  of  Arthursburgh, 
•  ;  Edward,  our  subject;  Stephen,  deceased; 


Caroline,  the  wife  of  Andrew  S.  Wanzer,  of 
Moores  Mill;  Eliza  M.,  deceased;  Sarah,  who 
married  Cyrus  Perkins,  of  Moores  Mill;  John, 
deceased,  who  married  Josephine  Phillips; 
Charles,  deceased,  and  Mary  Adelia,  the  wife 
of  Gilbert  V.  Downing,  of  Poughkeepsie. 

Edward  Barmore  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Unionvaie  November  8,  1835,  but  accompa- 
nied his  parents  to  the  town  of  Lagrange  at 
the  age  of  four  months.  He  was  educated  in 
the  district  schools  of  his  neighborhood  and  at 
a  boarding  school  at  Oswego  village.  He 
taught  successfully  in  Lagrange  during  the 
winter  terms  of  1856  and  1857.  On  Novem- 
ber 24.  1858,  he  was  married  in  the  town  of 
Beekman  to  Miss  Lucy  E.  Wanzer,  daughter 
of  Isaac  Wanzer,  and  a  native  of  the  town  of 
New  Milford,  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.  Immedi- 
ately after  their  marriage  they  settled  upon  the 
farm,  where  they  now  reside,  in  a  house  built 
by  Mr.  Barmore.  Three  children  blessed  their 
union:  (i)  Clark,  a  farmer  in  the  town  of 
Lagrange,  born  February  13,  1862,  is  a  grad- 
uate of  Eastman  Business  College;  he  was 
married  December  17,  1885,  to  Gertie  Tripp, 
daughter  of  Daniel  Tripp;  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Lagrange  Farmers  Alliance  and  Industrial 
Union;  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Farm- 
ers' Insurance  Co.,  of  Lagrange,  of  which  he 
is  a  director  and  the  treasurer.  (2)  Mary 
Eliza  is  president  of  the  local  W.  C.  T.  U., 
and  treasurer  of  the  County  Union;  at  the 
time  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  New 
York  State,  in  1894,  she  canvassed  the  town 
of  Lagrange  for  signatures  to  the  Equal  Suf- 
frage petition,  securing  nearly  300  names;  she 
was  also  secretary  to  the  county  campaign 
committee.  (3)  Emma  B.  was  married  Jan- 
uary 2,  1890,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  to  Charles 
Huestis,  of  Unionvaie. 

Mr.  Barmore  is  a  Prohibitionist  politically, 
and  his  wife  is  one  of  the  leading  members  of 
the  W.  C.  T.  U.  of  Lagrange.  He  is  a  non- 
combatant,  and,  having  been  taken  in  the  first 
draft  during  the  war,  he  was  released  by  Pres- 
ident Lincoln,  owing  to  his  conscientious  scru- 
ples against  the  use  of  arms. 


LEWIS  SMITH.  Among  the  young  and 
!  enterprising  citizens  of  Barrytown,  Dutch- 
ess county,  there  is  probably  none  more  ener- 
getic or  thorough-going  than  the  gentleman 
whose  name  introduces  this  sketch.  He  made 
his  appearance  on  the  stage  of  life  at  Rondout, 


522 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1868,  and  acquired  a 
good  practical  education  in  the  schools  of 
Canarsie  and  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  He  learned 
the  art  of  piloting,  and  was  granted  a  license  as 
a  pilot  on  the  Hudson  river,  New  York  harbor 
and  Long  Island  sound.  He  now  follows  that 
calling,  being  mostly  engaged  in  taking  freight 
steamers.  He  is  one  of  the  prominent  and 
representative  young  men  of  Barrytown,  where 
he  now  makes  his  home,  and  has  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  all  who  know  him.  His  estima- 
ble wife  was  Miss  Hattie  Moody,  daughter  of 
George  and  Lucinda  Moody,  of  Clinton  town- 
ship. Dutchess  county. 

Mr.  Smith  is  of  German  descent,  his  par- 
ents, Robert  and  Sophia  (Helm)  Smith,  both 
being  natives  of  the  Fatherland,  the  former 
born  at  Glangstadt  in  1841,  and  the  latter  at 
Maxfeld,  Prussia,  in  1844.  They  were  edu- 
cated in  Germany,  and  in  1865  took  passage 
on  the  same  vessel,  bound  for  the  United 
States.  They  met  on  board  the  ship,  and, 
their  friendship  ripening  into  love,  they  were 
married  on  reaching  Rondout,  N.  Y.  The 
father  had  been  a  sailor  previous  to  his  loca- 
tion in  this  country,  and  had  visited  almost 
every  country  on  the  globe.  At  present  he  is 
a  boatman,  and  makes  his  home  in  Barrytown. 
In  the  family  were  seven  children,  namely: 
William,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years;  Lewis,  subject  of  this  review;  Eliza- 
beth, who  died  in  infancy;  and  Robert,  Mar- 
tha, Rebecca,  and  Albert,  all  at  home. 

John  Helm,  the  maternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  born  at  Mecklenburg,  where 
he  was  educated,  and  there  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Yager,  also  a  native  of  Prussia.  They 
became  the  parents  of  eight  children,  but  the 
names  of  the  oldest  three  are  not  known.  The 
others  are:  William,  who  married  a  Miss  Rus- 
sell; Mary,  who  became  the  wife  of  Charles 
Klopp;  Sophia,  the  mother  of  our  subject; 
Caroline,  who  wedded  August  Heidman;  and 
John,  who  when  a  young  man  served  in  the 
Prussian  army,  and  who  died  of  a  fever  soon 
after  his  return  home. 


PjLATT  V.  AND  JOHN  J.    HALL,    leading 
and    prominent   citizens    of    the  town  of 

Unionvale,  are  worthy  representatives  of  an 
honored  family  of  Dutchess  county.  William 
Hall,  their  grandfather,  was  born  in  what  was 
then  the  town  of  Beekman,  but  is  now  Union- 
vale,  and  secured  his  education  in  its  public 


schools,  after  which  he  followed  the  vocatic 
of  farming.  He  wedded  Miss  Mary  Va]( 
daughter  of  Israel  Vale,  who  held  the  commi: 
sion  of  captain  in  the  Colonial  army  during  th 
Revolutionary  war.  The  following  childre 
were  born  of  this  union  :  Levina,  who  mai 
ried  Solomon  Duncan;  Ruth,  who  became  th 
wife  of  Henry  Deyo;  John,  the  father  of  01 
subjects;  Israel,  who  married  Catherine  Albrc 
Isaac,  who  wedded  Mary  Rogers;  Gideon  an 
Benjamin,  who  remained  single;  Mary,  ^h 
became  the  wife  of  William  Pine;  Willian 
Abigail,  who  married  Isaac  Titus;  and  Rebecc; 
who  married  Joseph  Losee. 

John  Hall,  Sr. ,  who  was  born  in  the  tow 
of  Beekman,  in  1776,  was  educated  in  tl 
schools  near  his  home,  and  there  engaged 
agricultural  pursuits.  He  married  Miss  Ma: 
Waite,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Catherii 
Waite.  Her  father  was  a  lawyer  by  profe 
sion,  and  also  followed  auctioneering,  and  w 
a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  order. 

Thirteen  children  graced  the  union  of  t. 
parents  of  our  subjects,  as  follows:     (i)  Cat 
arine,  born  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  Novei 
ber   10,  1802,  married    David    Hawes.     Th 
had  eight  children:     John   D.,  who  married 
Miss  Fuller;  Daniel;    Charles,  who  married. 
Miss  Briggs,  and,   after  her  death,  wedded 
Miss  Wheeler;  Erthemer,  who  married  a  M- 
Edmonds;  Phoebe,  who  married   George  Hal 
George;    Benjamin;  and   Judson.      (2)    Ma:| 
born  August  3,    1804,   married    Smith   Tit' 
(3)  Phcebe  A.,  born  August  13,  1806,  man  I 
Henry  P.  Emigh,  by  whom   she  had  one  chj 
that  died    in    infancy.      (4)    Pauline   A.,  b( 
August  2,    1808,    married   Levi    Haskel. 
Abigail,    born   March  3,  18 10,  married   Fr 
erick  Davis.     (6)  Levina.  born  December 
181 1,  married    Smith    Titus.      (7)  Ruth,  b 
January  6,  1814,  died  unmarried. 

(8)  Piatt  V.  Hall,  one  of  our  subjects, 
born  in  Beekman,  Dec.  25,  18 15,  and,  a 
completing  a  common-school  education,  turjo 
his  attention  to  farming.  He  was  unitecjn 
marriage  with  Miss  Louise  Paul,  daughteiM 
Alfred  and  Levina  Paul.  Her  father  w;;a 
hotel  keeper  in  Chenango  county,  N.  Y.  fO 
children  were  born  to  Piatt  V.  Hall  and  {is 
worthy  wife,  namely:  Mary  L.,  who  was  Ifn 
September  6,  1865,  and  died  in  infancy;  id 
Alfred  P.,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Um- 
vale,  July  26,  1868.  For  twenty-five  yf 
their  father  served  as  postmaster  of  Mansf  id. 
Alfred    P.    Hall   was   educated   in   the  Ste 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


528 


tormal  School,  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  as  a  life 
:ork  chose  the  occupation  of  farming.  Since 
894  he  has  acceptably  filled  the  office  of  as- 
lessor  of  Unionvale  town,  has  been  inspector 
A  elections  and  held  other  public  positions  of 
lionor  and  trust.  In  1890  was  celebrated  his 
larriage  with  Miss  Loda  K.  Pitcher,  daughter 
f  Charles  J.  and  Wealthy  (Tanner)  Pitcher, 
he  former  a  farmer  and  lumberman  of  Sheko- 
leko,  Dutchess  county.  Two  children  were 
orn  to  Alfred  Hall  and  wife:  Susie  V.,  born 
■pril  6,  1892;  and  Paul  A.,  born  January  8, 
S94,  and  died  in  infancy. 

(9)  Rebecca,  the  ninth  child  of  John  Hall, 

r.,  was    born    April    24,     18 18,  and    married 

leorge  Hopkins,  by  whom  she  had  two  daugh- 

■Ts:     Sarah  and  Mary,  twins,  the  former  the 

ife  of  Egbert  Benson,  and  the  latter  the  wife 

(  George  Tillinghast.     After  the  death  of  her 

rst   husband,    Rebecca  became    the    wife  of 

ictor  Fuller,  who  was   a  soldier  in  the  Civil 

ar,  and   to   them  were    born    two  children: 

uth  and  Estelle,  both  of   whom   died  in  in- 

Incy.     (lO)    Helen,    born    March   31,    1820, 

iarried  Joseph  Benson.     They  had  eight  chil- 

en:     Levina,    deceased;  Mary,  who  became 

le  wife  of  Truman    Case;  Piatt  J.,  who  first 

jarried  Flora  Dickerman.  and  after  her  death 

•added  Louisa  Benson;  Franklin  D.  married 

irmel  Gay;   Homer,   deceased;  Fred    J.,  de- 

ased;  Augusta,  who    married  Clarence  Oak- 

.',  and  Ella,  who  wedded   Fred   Irish.     (11) 

rah  E.,  born  October  26,  1821. 

(i2)  John  J.  Hall,  another  of  the  subjects  of 

is  sketch,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Beekman, 

■bruary  10,  1824,  and  obtained  an  excellent 

ucation    in    the    Staie    Normal    School,    of 

any,  N.  Y.       He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 

1 868,  but  has   never  engaged  in  practice. 

early  life  was  principally  devoted  to  teach- 

i ;,  but  in  later  years  he  has  carried  on  farm- 

i,'  with  good  success.      For  eight  years  he  has 

I  ed  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  having 

t ;  unanimous  vote  of  the  people;  was  also  the 

t  ;t   postmaster  appointed   at  Mansfield,  and 

^  superintendent  of  the  schools  of  Unionvale 

n,  all  of  which  offices  he   creditably  filled, 

1  jving  a  most  trustworthy  and   capable  offi- 

c  1. 

(13)  Fred  D.  Hall,  the  youngest  of  the 
f  nily,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Unionvale, 
^ptember  17,  1827.  After  finishing  his  liter- 
^.  education,  he  entered  the  law  school  at 
'  listen,  N.  Y.,  under  Professor  Fowler,  and 
^  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1852.   He  removed 


to  Chickasaw,  Iowa,  where  he  was  elected  dis- 
trict attorney,  but  is  now  engaged  in  farming. 
He  married  Miss  Harriet  Moore,  by  whom  he 
has  children  as  follows:  Amos,  John  and  Mary 
Emily. 

The  farm  now  occupied  by  Alfred  P.  and 
John  J.  Hall  is  the  old  Hall  homestead,  which 
has  been  in  the  possession  of  the  Hall  family 
from  1767  to  the  present  time. 


JHAVILAND  HAIGHT  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Washington,  Dutchess  county, 
February  12,  1828.  He  spent  his  early 
life  in  Clinton,  where  he  attended  the  district 
and  Quaker  schools,  finishing  his  education  at 
the  Amenia  Seminary,  in  the  eastern  part  of 
the  county. 

After  leaving  school  our  subject  settled  on 
a  farm  in  the  town  of  Washington,  where  he 
remained  two  or  three  years,  removing  then  to 
Poughkeepsie,  and  engaging  there  in  the  coal 
and  lumber  business  for  a  short  time  with  James 
Collingwood,  later  with  Charles  Pearl,  in  the 
saddlery  and  hardware  business.  In  1855  he 
went  to  Iowa,  stayed  there  until  1864,  returned 
to  Poughkeepsie  and  lived  here  until  1 87 1 ,  when 
he  went  to  Kansas  and  engaged  in  farming  for 
some  twenty  years.  In  1866  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Wanzer,  daughter  of 
Dr.  H.  C.  Wanzer,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.  In 
January,  1891,  Mr.  Haight  moved  from  Kan- 
sas to  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  is  now  living  a 
retired  life.  Mrs.  Haight  died  August  23, 
1894.  Although  our  subject  takes  an  interest 
in  politics,  he  is  no  politician,  being  independ- 
ent in  politics  more  than  anything  else.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Hicksite  Quaker  Meeting, 
and  is  interested  in  all  matters  pertaining  to 
the  development  and  improvement  of  the  city 
in  which  he  resides. 

Dr.  Charles  Haight,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Washington,  born 
June  15,  1806.  After  obtaining  a  common- 
school  education  he  went  to  New  York  City 
and  studied  medicine.  He  returned  to  Dutch- 
ess county,  and  at  Four  Corners  practiced  un- 
til 1845,  when  he  moved  to  Poughkeepsie  and 
practiced  there  until  his  death,  September  26, 
1 89 1.  He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Haviland, 
who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Washington,  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  Haviland.  After  their  mar- 
riage Dr.  and  Mrs.  Haight  located  at  Four 
Corners,  which,  with  Hart's  Village,  is  now 
known   as   Millbrook.     Our   subject  was  the 


624 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


only  child.  Mrs.  Haight  died  in  1856.  Dr. 
Haight  was  a  Republican,  and  he  was  a 
highly  successful  physician. 

Jacob  Haight,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, also  born  in  Dutchess  county,  married 
Amy  Clement,  and  they  settled  on  a  farm 
where  they  reared  a  family  of  four  children,  as 
follows:  Charles,  father  of  our  subject;  Alonzo, 
a  prominent  farmer  and  physician  in  Dutchess 
county;  Alexander,  who  was  a  farmer  in  Vir- 
ginia; and  Maria,  married  to  James  Barlow,  a 
merchant  of  New  York,  but  at  one  time  a 
farmer  in  Virginia.  Mr.  Haight  followed  farm- 
ing in  Dutchess  county  until  1840,  when  he 
went  to  Virginia  and  farmed  there  until  his 
death. 

Jacob  Haviland,  father  of  Mrs.  Haight, 
was  a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  where  he 
followed  the  occupation  of  farming.  Daniel 
Haviland,  great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Haight, 
was  a  Quaker  preacher,  and  followed  farming 
as  a  vocation. 


JOSEPH  HARRISON  BENSON  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Amenia,  Dutchess  county, 
Septembers,  181 5,  and  acquired  his  educa- 
tion at  the  district  schools.  At  the  early  age  of 
sixteen  years  he  left  the  home  farm  and  began 
working  by  the  month  and  year  as  a  farm  hand. 
His  attention  has  always  been  devoted  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits. 

While  still  a  young  man  he  and  his  brother, 
Samuel  K.  Benson,  bought  the  Thomas  Swift 
farm.  After  running  this  farm  together  for 
three  years,  he  decided  to  branch  out  for  him- 
self, and,  selling  his  interest  to  Samuel,  he 
bought  the  Reuben  Reed  farm  on  the  hill  near 
the  Steel  works,  where  he  lived  for  twenty-five 
years.  Wishing  to  enlarge  his  farming  opera- 
tions, he  bought  the  farm  known  as  the  Judah 
Swift  farm,  one  and  one-half  miles  south, 
where  he  still  resides. 

In  the  meantime  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage, in  March,  1842,  to  Hellen  S.  Hall,  of 
the  town  of  Unionvale,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y., 
daughter  of  John  Hall,  who  was  an  influential 
member  of  the  Friends  (or  Quaker)  Church  at 
Mechanic,  N.  Y.  Mrs.  Benson  passed  to  the 
better  land  in  June,  1880.  Unto  them  were 
born  eight  children:  Lavina  and  Frederick 
De  Peyster  (both  deceased);  Mary  E.,  wife  of 
Truman  Case,  of  Norwich,  N.  Y. ;  Piatt  J. ; 
Franklin  De  Peyster;  Augusta,  wife  of  Clar- 
ence Oakley,  of  Norwich,  N.  Y. ;  John  Homer 


(deceased);  and  Ellen,  deceased  wife  of  F.  M 
Irish,  of  Wassaic,  New  York. 

Like  his  father,  Mr.  Benson  was  first  i 
Whig,  and  now  advocates  the  principles  of  th( 
Republican  party,  but  has  never  aspired  t( 
political  preferment.  In  1877  he  purchasec 
the  handsome  residence  and  farm  situated  ai 
the  junction  of  Tower  Hill  and  Dover  Plains 
road,  known  as  the  Cal.  Nase  property,  also  a 
place  on  Chestnut  Ridge,  both  of  which  h< 
presented  to  his  two  sons,  Piatt  J.  and  Frank- 
lin D.  He  is  now  in  his  eighty-second  year, : 
living  monument  to  the  coming  generations 
showing  what  a  young  man  with  a  pair  of  will 
ing  hands  and  good  judgment  may  accomplish 

Franklin    De    Peyster    Benson,   one  0 
the  sons  of   Joseph   Harrison  Benson,   and  ; 
thorough  and  systematic  farmer  of  the  towi 
of  Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  ther 
March  22,    1854.      He    belongs    to    a   famil; 
that    has    for  several  generations   carried   0 
agricultural  pursuits  within  the  borders  of  tha 
town.      Samuel  Benson,  his  great-grandfather 
was  a  native    of  Horseneck,  R.  I.,  but  earl 
became  a  resident  of   Dutchess   county,  local 
ing  in  the   southern  portion  of  Amenia  towr 
where   he   engaged    in  farming.      He  marrie 
Rachel  Darling,  and    reared  a   family  of  foil 
sons   and  three    daughters:     Samuel,  Joshu; 
Bethiah,  John,  Abigail,  Phila  and  Polly.     Th 
grandfather,  who  also  bore  the  name  of  San 
uel,  was  born  in  Amenia  town,  where  he  spar 
his     boyhood    days    attending    the     distric 
schools.      He   was   married   at  Otsego,  N.  Y 
to  Sarah  Knapp,  but  soon  afterward  returne' 
to  Amenia  town,  and  there   followed  farmir 
until  his  death.      In  early  life  he  was  a  Whi 
and   on    the    organization    of   the  Republic: 
party  he  joined  its  ranks,  becoming  one  of  i 
faithful  supporters.     There  were  eleven  ch 
dren  in  his  family,  namely:    Joseph  H.,  fath 
of  our  subject;  Samuel  K.  and  John,  decease. 
James  v.,  of   Dover  town,   Dutchess  count 
Ebenezer,  of  South  Dover;  Darius,  of  Amenj 
Charles  and  Sarah  Jane,  both  deceased;  Ac- 
wife  of  J.  G.  Dutcher;    Harriet,  wife  of  Vs- 
Nest  Dutcher.  of  South   Dover;   and  Josht 
deceased. 

Franklin  De  Peyster  Benson  obtained  ' 
literary  education  in  the  district  schools,  F  t 
Edward  Academy  and  the  Amenia  Semina  ■ 
After  attaining  his  majority  he  went  to  west  n 
Kansas,  where  for  five  years  he  was  engagec  ti 
the  stock  business,  and  he  still  owns  a  lae 
cattle  ranch   there.      Returning  to  Amenia,  e 


^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


525 


ocated   upon  his  present   farm  in    1887,  and 
las  since  been  engaged   in  its  cultivation  and 
•nprovement.       He    follows    in    the    political 
DOtsteps  of  his  father  and  grandfather,  voting 
he  Republican  ticket,  and  is  deeply  interested 
1  the  success  of  his  party.      In  Lane  county, 
lans.,  January  24,  1887,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
age  with   Miss  Carmel   Gay,   a  daughter   of 
:ev.   E.  L.  and  Mary  A.  (Massey)  Gay.      Her 
ither,  who  was  from  Boston,  Mass.,  is  now 
;rving  as  pastor  of    the   Baptist  Church  at 
lighten,    Kans.      Three   children    bless    the 
nion     of    Mr.     and    Mrs.    Benson,    namely: 
uther  Joseph,  Frank  De  Peyster  and  Fannie 
ugusta. 

Piatt  J.,  a  brother  of  Franklin  De  Peyster, 
id  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Amenia  town,  was 
)rn  April  29,  1852,  and  attended  the  district 
:hool  and  the  Amenia  Seminary.  In  Amenia 
i;  married  Flora  Dickerman,  who  died  April 
;  1892,  and  to  them  were  born  nine  children: 
Carence,  Sadie,  Helen,  Joseph,  Hadley,  Milo 
(sceasedj,  Anna,  and  Flossie  and  Flora 
(vins).  For  his  second  wife  he  wedded 
buisa  Benson,  daughter  of  Samuel  Benson. 
Mitically  he  supports  the  Republican  party. 


ij  LIVER  BARRETT,  one  of  the  enterpris- 
V  ing  and  prosperous   agriculturists  of  the 
t  vn  of  Northeast,  resides  on  a  farm  near  Cole- 
li  n  Station,  which  has  been  in  the  possession 
o;he  family  without  interruption   for  nearly 
•:  hundred  years.     The  Barretts  are  of  En- 
!  descent,  but  is  not  known  positively  when 
first  of  the  name  came   to  this  country, 
tikiel  Barrett,  our  subject's  grandfather,  was 
bn  September  17,  1742,  in  Norwich,  Conn. , 
were  he  passed   his  entire   life,  following  the 
tide  of  carpenter  and  joiner.      He    was  not 
ninent  in    politics,  nor  was  he  a  Church 
iber,  although  he  was  a  Universalist  in  be- 
On   July    7,    1773,    he    married    Sarah 
irop,  who  was  born  in  Norwich,  April  29, 
,).     She  was  a  descendant  in  the  fifth  gen- 
on  from  Rev.  John  Lathrop,  a  Congrega- 
il  minister,  who  left  England  on  account 
ligious  persecution,  and  arrived  at  Scitu- 
Mass.,  September  28,  1634,  accompanied 
is  six  sons  and   two   daughters.      He  died 
la  653.     His  son,  Samuel  Scudder  Lathrop, 
ha  a  son.  Israel,  who  married  Rebecca  Bliss; 
thrson  William  married  Sarah  Huntington; 
th-r  son  Ezra,  Mrs.  Barrett's  father,  married 
Esier  Clark.     Mrs.  Barrett  died  October  27, 


181 1,  in  her  sixty-third  year,  her  husband  sur- 
viving until  February  10,  1838,  when  he  passed 
away  at  the  age  of  ninety-six  years.  They  had 
four  children :  Mary  B.,  born  May  19,  1774; 
Ezra  Lathrop,  born  September  27,  1775;  and 
Oliver  and  Backus  (twins),  born  April  10, 
1779. 

Ezra  Lathrop  Barrett,  our  subject's  father, 
was  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  and  worked  at  his 
trade  for  many  years.  He  came  to  Dutchess 
county  prior  to  1800,  and,  after  a  short  stay 
at  Pine  Plains,  he  moved  to  Northeast  and 
managed  the  Caleb  Dakin  farm,  now  occupied 
by  Mrs.  Coleman.  Later  he  bought  the  farm 
which  our  subject  owns,  moving  there  in  the 
spring  of  1820.  The  house  he  built  at  that 
time  is  still  in  excellent  repair,  and  he  con- 
structed other  substantial  buildings,  including 
Mrs.  Coleman's  present  home,  built  for  Caleb 
Dakin.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and  very  positive 
in  his  views  on  public  matters,  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Early  in  life  he 
united  with  the  Congregational  Church  at 
Sharon,  Conn.,  but  afterward  assisted  in  the 
establishment  of  the  Northeast  Center  Congre- 
grational  Church,  in  which  he  held  the  office  of 
deacon  until  his  death.  On  January  3,  1805, 
he  married  Rhoda  Dakin,  daughter  of  Caleb 
and  Rhoda  (King)  Dakin,  and  granddaughter 
of  Simon  Dakin,  a  well-known  Baptist  minis- 
ter, and  an  early  settler  of  the  town.  Of  this 
union  five  children  were  born:  Sarah  Louise, 
born  December  6,  1805;  Caleb  Dakin,  born 
November  21,  1807,  married  Caroline,  daugh- 
ter of  Douglas  Clark;  Edward  Lathrop,  born 
July  26,  1 8 10,  married  Sarah  Fish;  Myron, 
born  September  9,  1816,  a  minister  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  married  Emma  Elizabeth 
Ryerson;  and  Oliver,  born  December  9,  18 19. 
Ezra  Barrett  died  November  18,  1857;  his 
wife  died  May  23,   i860. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  has  always  lived 
at  the  old  homestead,  having  been  absent  from 
it  not  more  than  six  months  in  all.  There  are 
two  other  farms  in  the  vicinity,  which  have 
been  owned  by  the  family  for  about  one  hun- 
dred years,  having  been  handed  down  by  in- 
heritance. Mr.  Barrett  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful, his  prosperity  being  attained  by  close 
attention  to  business,  and  he  has  added  to 
his  original  farm  of  123  acres,  the  Smithfield 
farm  of  188  acres,  acquired  from  the  Dakin 
estate.  On  November  21,  1854,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  his  first  wife,  Catherine  Sophia  Horn- 
fager,    daughter   of    Adam    Hornfager.      Five 


526 


COMMEMORA  TIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


children  were  born  to  them:  Charles  Miller, 
October  24,  1855,  a  farmer,  married  to  Jose- 
phine Devoe;  Ezra  Lathrop,  August  30,  1858, 
married  to  Alice  N.  Clark;  Rhoda  Louise; 
Cornelia,  who  died  in  1865;  and  Albert,  the 
railroad  agent  at  Coleman  Station,  married 
Edna  Dodd  Hazard.  The  mother  of  this 
family  died  in  1870,  and  in  1874,  Mr.  Barrett 
married  Julia  Elizabeth  Pulver,  daughter  of 
Nicholas  N.  Pulver,  and  a  descendant  of  one 
of  the  old  Holland-Dutch  families. 

Mr.  Barrett  is  well  informed  on  general 
topics,  and  takes  an  intelligent  view  of  the 
questions  of  the  day.  In  politics  he  has 
always  been  a  Democrat,  and  he  has  taken  an 
active  part  in  local  affairs,  and  served  two 
terms  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He  and  his 
family  have  always  belonged  to  the  Congrega- 
tional Church,  in  which  he  held  the  offices  of 
trustee  and  deacon. 


fILES  SCOFIELD.  The  Scofield  fam- 
IJL  ily  in  this  country  is  descended  from  Sir 
Cuthbert  Scofield,  of  Scofield  Manor,  parish  of 
Rochdale,  Lancashire,  England,  two  of  his 
grandsons,  Daniel  and  David  Scofield,  having 
come  to  America  in  1639,  in  the  ship  "Susan 
and  Ellen,"  settling  in  Stamford,  Conn.  The 
family  history  is  now  in  process  of  completion, 
and,  according  to  present  expectations,  will 
shortly  be  in  print,  giving  a  complete  account 
of  the  many  descendants  of  these  pioneers. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  traces  his  lineage  to 
Daniel  Scofield,  through  a  long  list  of  ancestors. 
His  great-grandfather,  Jacob  Scofield,  mar- 
ried Hannah  Knapp;  his  grandfather.  Miles 
Scofield,  married  Abigail  Hustis,  and  their  son, 
Ephraim  M.,  our  subject's  father,  was  born, 
November  i,  1796,  in  Putnam  county,  N.  Y. , 
south  of  Fishkill,  near  Cold  Spring.  He  was 
a  farmer  in  Fishkill,  and,  January  8,  1824, 
married  a  native  of  that  town,  Catherine  Phill- 
ips, who  was  born  September  24,  1802,  the 
daughter  of  Henrj'  Phillips,  a  Hollander  by 
descent,  and  his  wife,  Sarah  Southard,  an 
English  lady.  Our  subject  was  one  of  a  fam- 
ily of  nine  children:  Emily,  Miles,  Joseph, 
Julia,  Mary,  Sarah,  Catherine,  Ephraim  and 
Cordelia.  The  father  departed  this  life  July 
21,  1878,  and  the  mother  December  29,  1893. 
Miles  Scofield  was  born  August  3,  1827,  in 
the  town  of  Fishkill,  and  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  the  village  of  Fishkill,  un- 
der J.  C.  Howard  and  Rev.  Mr.  Pingree,  and 


in  the  Fishkill  Academy.  He  left  school 
1850,  and  February  5,  1852,  he  sailed  fn 
New  York  for  California  on  the  steamer  "  P 
metheus, "  for  Greytown,  by  the  Nicarag 
route.  On  the  Pacific  coast  he  took  the  < 
steamship  "  North  America,  "  which  w 
wrecked  on  the  coast  of  Mexico  lOO  mi 
below  Acapulco,  the  vessel  being  a  total  lo 
The  passengers  were  taken  by  land  to  Acap' 
CO,  where  they  remained  five  weeks,  and  th 
took  passage  to  San  Francisco  on  the  stean 
"  Independence,"  arriving  April  10,  1852.  N 
Scofield  with  three  others  started  immediate 
for  the  gold  mines  on  the  Yuba  river,  wht 
they  purchased  an  interest  and  went  to  wc 
with  a  will.  After  three  years  of  mining 
Yuba  and  Nevada  counties,  Mr.  Scofield  join 
a  company  in  constructing  the  Excelsior  can 
to  supply  the  hydraulic  works  in  Rose  I 
township,  Timbuctoo  Diggings.  Theybrouj 
the  water  first  from  Deer  creek,  a  distance 
sixteen  miles,  and  later  extended  the  canal 
the  South  Yuba  river,  thirty-one  miles  aw< 
While  in  California  Mr.  Scofield  was  a  strc 
supporter  of  the  Vigilancemovement  in  iS'i 
He  left  the  mines  and  went  down  to  San  Fr, 
cisco,  where  he  offered  himself  to  the  Vigilai: 
committee  to  be  held  in  reserve  for  uses 
needed.  He  remained  in  California  fouryej 
and  a  half,  and  then,  in  the  fall  of  1858,  caJ 
back  to  his  native  place,  where  he  purchaJ 
his  present  farm  of  eighty-five  acres  near  Ffl 
kill  village,  now  known  as  Fruit  Ridge,  tn 
Osborn  Hill. 

In  the  following  year,  October  2,  1859,  e 
married  Miss  Mary  Vail,  daughter  of  Will  n 
R.  and  Sarah  Ann  (Bogardus)  Vail,  highly  ;- 
teemed  residents  of  the  town  of  Fishkill    A 
new  home  was  built  in  the  spring  of  1851;, 
there    Mr.    and    Mrs.     Scofield     began    i  ;r 
wedded  life.      For  some  time  he  devoted  i-^ 
land    to    general    farming    and    dairying,   ut 
gradually  put  it  into  use  in  fruit  growing,  id 
at  the  present  time  he  has  fifty  acres  in  fi  ts 
of  various  kinds,  and  is  considered  one  of  i« 
best  horticulturists  in  that  region.     In  i8(jne 
purchased  a  residence  on  Main  street,  in  he 
village  of  Fishkill,  where  he  has  since  resi  d. 
although  he  still  owns  and  cultivates  his  f  ii> 
His    wife's   father  lived  with  them  for  t  ee 
years  and  died  July  i,  1896,  in  his  ninet)  r.st 
year,   leaving  a  large   estate.      Mr.    and   ri. 
Scofield    have    had    two  children,  of  wli". 
Frank  died  in  infancy;  the  other,  Mary  Lo=a. 
is  the  wife  of  Edgar  A.   Shook,    former  of 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


527 


le   town  of  Red  Hook,  but  now  a  resident  of 
ishkill. 

Mr.  Scofield  and  his  wife  are  leading  niem- 

crs  of  the  Reformed   Church   of   Fishkill,   in 

hich  he  holds  the  office  of  elder.      He    was 

ppointed  to  attend  the  general  synod    of   the 

hurch  at  Kingston  in  June,  1896.      In  poli- 

cs,     Mr.     Scofield    is    a     Republican.       He 

as  elected  assessor  in    1877,  and  he  served 

\o  terms    of   three    years  each.    For  several 

;ars   he    has  held  the  office-  of  school  trus- 

e,  and  he  has  been  a  trustee  of  the   Fish- 

\\  Rural  Cemetery  Association  from  its  organi- 

tion  to  the  present  time.    In  business  circles 

:  is  also  prominent,   and  for  many  years  he 

IS  been  connected  with  the  management  of 

e  Fishkill  Savings  Institute,    and  is  now  its 

■:e-president. 


WESLEY  VAN  TASSELL,  a  leading  citi- 
zen of  the  town  of   East  Fishkill,  is  noted 
no  less  for  his   ability  as  a  business  man 
;  1  political  worker  than   as   an  agriculturist, 
1-  success  in  various  lines  of  effort  showing 
I  usual  grasp  of  affairs. 
His  family  originated  in   Holland,  but  his 
rstors  settled  in  Westchester  county,  N.  Y. , 
in  early  date,  acquiring  extensive  estates 
e.     Henry  Van  Tassell,  our  subject's  grand- 

1  ner,  was  born  there   and  became  a  promi- 
r  It  agriculturist.      He  married  a  Miss  Tickly, 

reared  a  family  of  six  children:    John  L. , 
subject's  father;  Isaac,  Henry,  Jones,  Jane 
Delia. 
John  L.  Van  Tassell,  who  was  born  August 

2  1817,  and  spent  his  early  years  upon  the 
homestead  in  Westchester  county,  married 
s  Catherine  Baker,  a  lady  of  English  de- 
t,  whose  family  had  been  located  inDutch- 
ounty  for  several  generations.  Her  father, 
najah  Baker,  was  a  well-known   carpenter 

ii  1  builder.     After  his  marriage  Mr.  Van  Tas- 

s'  settled  in  Old  Fishkill,  where  he  engaged 

usiness  as  a  farmer,  miller  and  speculator 

!i  attle,  his  shrewd  judgment  enabling  him  to 

n  ke  a  success  of  each.     Politically  he  was  a 

ublican.     His  wife  died   March  16,  1888, 

he  did  not  long  survive,  passing  to  his  rest 

ruary    16,    1895.     They   had  eleven  chil- 

1:    Sarah  (deceased),  formerly  the  wife  of 

iizoTownsend,  a  carpenter  in  Connecticut; 

J-^esley,  our  subject;  James,  who  died  at  an 

"''y  age;    Wilbur,  a  resident  of    Lagrange; 

a,  who  has   never   married;    Benjamin,  a 


farmer  in  Wappinger  town;  Isaac,  who  lives 
at  Fishkill  Plains;  Phcebe,  the  wife  of  John 
Nolin,  a  farmer  near  Matteawan;  Kate,  who 
married  Charles  Dains,  of  Matteawan;  and 
Eugene  and  Charles,  who  are  not  married. 

J.  Wesley  Van  Tassell  was  born  October 
12,  1845,  and  was  educated  in  his  native  town 
of  Fishkill,  attending  first  the  district  schools, 
and  later  the  old  academy  at  Fishkill.  On 
completing  his  studies  he  engaged  in  farming, 
which  he  has  always  followed,  spending  about 
three  years  at  his  first  place,  in  East  Fishkill, 
and  six  upon  another  farm  in  Fishkill  Plains, 
two  in  the  town  of  Northeast,  and  afterward 
returning  to  his  present  farm  in  East  Fishkill. 
On  September  19,  1866,  he  married  Carrie  C. 
Haight,  a  descendant  of  the  well-known  fam- 
ily of  that  name.  She  is  a  native  of  Dutchess 
county,  and  was  the  youngest  daughter  of 
Henry  Haight,  a  leading  agriculturist  of  East 
Fishkill.  They  have  had  seven  children, 
whose  names  with  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows: 
Cora,  October  26,  1867,  married  C.  M.  Dol- 
son,  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Wappinger;  Clin- 
ton W.,  July  15,  1869,  the  manager  of  a  com- 
mission store  in  New  York  City;  Milton  J., 
June  9,  1874,  a  cashier  in  a  restaurant,  No.  1305 
Broadway,  New  York  City;  Howard  C. ,  Octo- 
ber 26,  1875,  a  cashier  in  a  restaurant, iNo.  221 
Sixth  avenue.  New  York  City;  Carrie  Mae, 
September  11,  1879,  at  home;  Orrin,  April  28, 
1884,  died  July  24,  of  the  same  year;  Wesley 
Augustus,  November  5,  1888,  at  home. 

In  addition  to  his  agricultural  interests  Mr. 
Van  Tassell  carries  on  a  fire-insurance  busi- 
ness in  Dutchess,  Putnam  and  Westchester 
counties.  He  has  been  an  able  and  energetic 
public  official,  and  a  prominent  worker  in  the 
Republican  party.  Ever  since  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  Mr.  Van  Tassell  has  been 
closely  identified  with  the  politics  of  the 
county.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to  every  Re- 
publican county  convention  since  that  time, 
and  has  cast  a  vote  at  every  election.  He  was 
elected  assessor  of  East  Fishkill  in  1873,  over 
Abram  Adriance,  for  three  years.  While  on  a 
farm  in  Middleton,  1877-79,  he  investigated 
the  iron  ore  interest  of  J.  V.  W.  Brinckerhoff, 
of  that  town.  In  1880  he  was  elected  com- 
missioner of  highways  in  the  town  of  East 
Fishkill  for  three  years.  In  the  fall  of  1888 
he  was  elected  sheriff  of  Dutchess  county  for 
three  years,  defeating  Storm  Emans  by  a  ma- 
jority of  466.  He  was  elected  supervisor  of 
the    town   of  East    Fishkill    in  1894,  for   two 


528 


COMMBMOBATIVB  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


years,  and  in  the  spring  of  1896  he  was  re- 
elected for  a  similar  term.  He  was  appointed 
in  1886  assistant  superintendent  of  the  State 
Stove  Works  at  Sing  Sing,  and  held  the  posi- 
tion for  two  years. 

While  sheriff  of  Dutchess  Co.,  Mr.  Van  Tas- 
sell  managed  the  twofarnisof  A.  A.  Brush,  and 
was  proprietor  of  the  flour,  feed  and  grist  mill 
at  Hopewell.  He  has  held  school  trusteeship 
in  every  town  in  which  he  has  lived.  In  the 
spring  of  1897  his  name  was  frequently  men- 
tioned as  a  candidate  for  sheriff  on  the  Repub- 
lican ticket. 


FHILIP  KLADY,  who  during  the  greater 
portion  of  his  life  was  an  esteemed  citi- 
zen of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  was 
born  October  22,  1828,  at  Muehlhoffen,  Rhein- 
Pfaltz,  Bavaria,  Germany,  the  son  of  Jacob 
and  Lucetta  (Alexander)  Klady.  His  father 
was  also  born  in  that  town,  and  was  a  member 
of  one  of  its  old  families  which  came  originally 
from  France,  and  are  descendants  of  Hugu- 
nots;  his  mother's  family  were  also  descendants 
from  Huguenots.  The  name  Klady  originally 
was  Kloedy. 

Our  subject  had  one  brother,  Jacob  Klady, 
and  four  sisters,  Catherine  (who  married  Jacob 
Strope),  Elizabeth  (who  became  Mrs.  Philip 
Riedinger,  of  Poughkeepsie),  Mary  (who  mar- 
ried Jacob  Barth),  and  Eva  (who  married  Paul 
Baur,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio).  The  family  were 
Lutherans  in  their  religious  views,  but  became 
members  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church. 
The  father  was  a  carriage  and  wagon  manu- 
facturer by  occupation. 

Philip  Klady  obtained  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  land,  and  then 
learned  the  trade  of  cooper,  at  which  he  served 
an  apprenticeship.  In  1849  he  came  to  the 
United  States,  his  destination  being  Pough- 
keepsie, where  he  had  two  sisters  and  a 
brother  living.  He  was  soon  employed  by  the 
Vassars,  for  whom  he  worked  some  years;  he 
also  spent  a  short  time  in  Hudson,  N.  Y.  Mr. 
Klady  followed  his  trade  as  journeyman  cooper 
until  1857,  when  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Valentine  Frank,  in  the  brewing  business,  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Frank  &  Klady,  and  in 
this  business  Mr.  Klady  was  engaged  until  Oc- 
tober I,  1875,  when  he  retired  from  the  firm. 
During  the  continuance  of  this  partnership  a 
large  business  was  built  up,  it  becoming  one  of 


the  most   prosperous  and   substantial  firms 
the  city. 

Mr.  Klady  was  married,  in  1857,  to  Mar 
etta,  daughter  of  William  Keesler,  one  of  tl 
old  and  prominent  citizens  of  Poughkeepsi 
and  of  this  union  one  child,  George  Robei 
was  born  in  1867. 

Mr.  Klady's  second  marriage  took  place  1 
the  City  of  New  York,  June  10,  1875,  wh« 
he  was  united  with  Miss  Lena  Alexander, 
cultured  and  refined  lady,  daughter  of  Georf 
Alexander,  whose  family  are  also  descendan 
of  Huguenots;  no  children  have  been  born  < 
this  marriage.  The  death  of  Mr.  Klady  o 
curred  September  18,  1892,  at  Lahr,  Bade 
Germany,  whither  he  had  gone  for  his  healtl 
his  remains  being  brought  home  for  burial. 

For  some  years  previous  to  his  decease  M 
Klady  had  not  been  engaged  in  active  busines 
but  spent  his  time  in  retirement  at  his  pleasa: 
home,  and  in  traveling.  He  was  much  d 
voted  to  his  family  and  friends,  finding  h 
greatest  enjoyment  in  their  society.  In  bus 
ness  affairs  he  showed  excellent  judgment,  ai 
a  resolute  will  that  overcame  all  obstacle 
Coming  to  this  country  a  poor  young  man,  1 
accomplished  his  purpose  of  becoming  a  su 
cessful  financier,  and  during  his  active  life  i 
held  an  enviable  position  among  his  busine 
associates  as  a  man  of  integrity  and  uprig 
life.  His  generosity  and  benevolence  wei 
well  known,  and  his  tender  heart  could  nev; 
refuse  assistance  to  those  in  need.  Mr.  Klav 
took  great  interest  in  all  public  matters,  a 
was  a  loyal  citizen  of  his  adopted  countr 
He  belonged  to  the  Royal  Arcanum,  and  w  '• 
an  attendant  of  the  First  Reformed  Churc, 
His  widow  is  yet  a  resident  of  Poughkeeps' 
but  spends  her  winters  at  Tarpon  Sprin:^ 
Florida.  ' 


STEPHEN  C.   VAN    WYCK,   an  agrici 
,^    urist  of  energy   and    ability,  belongs  t 
family  that  long  has   been    prominently  c 
nected  with  the  interests  of  the  town  of  E't 
Fishkill,  Dutchess  county.      His  great-gra- 
father,  Cornelius   R.    Van  Wyck,  was  marirf 
March  2,  1775,  to   Ann   Duryea,   by  whom  e 
had   five    children:      C.    R.,    Annie,    Dur>«, 
Stephen  D.  and  Richard  C.   For  his  second  vje 
he  married  Magdalene  Montfort,  and  they  i^J 
had  a  family  of  five  children:    Stephen  D.    d 
Peter  M.    (twins),   Annie,    Barbara,   and  (r- 
nelius  R. 


I 


i 


'M-7i/a 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


529 


Stephen  D.  Van  Wyck,  grandfather  of  our 
subject,    was  born    in    the    town  of  Fishkill, 
March  3,  1795.      He  was    a    farmer,    and   in 
1840  efficiently  served  as  sheriff  of   Dutchess 
county.     His  death   occurred  June   3,     1879. 
He  was  united  in  marriage   with  Hetty  Purdy, 
a  native  of  Fishkill  Landing,  and  they  located 
in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  where  they  reared  their 
family  of  six  children:    Cornelius  S.,  the  father 
of  our  subject;  Francis   P.,  who  was  a  whole- 
sale dry-goods  merchant  of  Chicago,  and  was 
the  American  minister  to  Turk's  Island  at  the 
time  of  his  death;  Jane  Ann,   widow  of  David 
Heacock,  at  one  time  a  glove  manufacturer  of 
Gloversville,   N.  Y. ;  John  P.,  who  died  when 
a  young  man;  Helen  M.,  deceased,  unmarried; 
and  Tunis  B.,  a  retired   merchant  of  Chicago. 
Cornelius  S.  Van  Wyck,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  born  in  Fishkill  town,  March  9,  1831, 
jrew  to  manhood  on  a  farm,  and  October  14, 
[846,    married   Phcebe  Van  Wyck,    who  was 
lorn  in  the  town  of   Fishkill,  March  9,  1823, 
he  daughter  of  Richard  C.  Van  Wyck,  whose 
ather  was   Cornelius    R.  Van  Wyck,  the  pa- 
lernal  great-grandfather  of  our  subject.     After 
heir  marriage  they  located  upon  the  farm  now 
ccupied  by  Stephen  C,  who  was  the  second 
1  their  family  of  four  children,   the  others  be- 
ig  Robert  M.,  born   May  20,  1848,  and  now 
retired   jeweler  of    Chicago;    John    Adrian, 
3rn  May  23,    1852,  and   died    February    16, 
859;  and   Francis,    born    October  24,  1854, 
id  at  one  time  a  merchant  of  Fishkill  Plains, 
jt  now  living  retired.     The    father  followed 
rming,  but  for  ten  years  lived  at  Poughkeep- 
e,  while  he  was   educating  his    sons,  during 
hich  time  he  served  as   alderman  and  super- 
ior of  the  Sixth  ward.      He  was  a  Republic- 
I  m  politics,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were 
rnest    members    of    the    Reformed    Dutch 
lurch,   while   he    served    as    deacon    in    the 
lurch  in  Poughkeepsie.      She   passed    away 
arch  7,  1880.     Cornelius  S.  Van  Wyck  mar- 
led, for  his  second  wife,  Helen  Josephine  Bar- 
'n,ofEarles,  Yates  county,  in  December,  1883. 
"er  his  marriage  he   united  with  the  Presby- 
lan   Church   in    Balona,    and    was    elected 
ier  of  the  Church,  and  was  elder  at  the  time 
his  death.     He   was    one    of    the  building 
iimittees    of    the    Memorial    Church.      He 
d  June   18,  1895,    and   was    buried  in   the 
■  uily  plot  at    Hopewell,  his    widow  surviving 
In. 

On  June  22,  1850,  in  the  town  of  Fishkill, 
\  s  born  Stephen  C.    Van  Wyck,   the  subject 


of  this  sketch,  and  in  the  schools  of  Pough- 
keepsie he  acquired  his  education.  On  leaving' 
school  he  clerked  for  some  time  for  a  Mr.  Van- 
Wyck.  On  October  23,  1872,  our  subject 
married  Miss  Libbie  Underwood,  a  native  of 
Poughkeepsie,  and  a-daughter  of  Capt.  Charles 
Underwood,  who  was  born  in  Peekskill,  N.  Y. , 
but  has  spent  most  of  his  life  in  Poughkeepsie, 
where  he  is  now  living  retired.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Van  Wyck  began  their  domestic  life  upon  the 
farm,  comprising  120  acres,  which  is  still  their 
home,  and  there  they  have  reared  their  two 
children:  Charles  U.,  born  June  3,  1874;  and 
Robert  M.,  born  January  16,  1876,  the  elder 
of  whom  is  now  studying  law.  In  1879  Mr. 
Van  Wyck  erected  his  present  beautiful  resi- 
dence. His  political  support  is  unwaveringly 
given  the  Republican  party,  and  both  himself 
and  wife  are  faithful  members  of  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church. 


JOEL  N.  BUDD.  The  subject  of  this  no- 
tice is  certainly  entitled  to  be  considered 
"  not  only  one  of  the  enterprising  farmers  of 
the  town  of  Hyde  Park,  Dutchess  county,  but 
one  of  its  representative  and  honored  citizens, 
and  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability.  He 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley, 
Dutchess  county,  August  10,  18 19,  and  is  the 
son  of  James  Budd,  also  a  native  of  the  county, 
born  in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  December  18, 
1781. 

Mr.  Budd's  paternal  ancestors  were  of 
French  descent.  The  exact  date  when  the 
first  of  the  name  emigrated  to  America  is  un- 
known, but  it  was  early  in  the  Colonial  history 
of  the  nation.  John  Budd,  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  born  about  1730,  and  was  an 
early  settler  in  Dutchess  county.  He  moved 
from  the  town  of  Fishkill  to  the  town  of  Wash- 
ington, and  later  purchased  the  farm,  in  the 
town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  now  owned  by  Mr. 
Van  De  Water.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Mer- 
ritt,  who  was  born  September  19,  1741.  The 
twelve  children  of  John  and  Mary  Budd  were 
as  follows:  Gilbert,  born  December  25,  1758, 
settled  in  Columbia  county,  N.  Y. ;  Joseph, 
born  November  14,  1760,  died  of  yellow  fever 
in  New  York  City  October  13,  1795;  Mary, 
born  January  24,  1763,  married  and  settled  in 
Canada;  John,  born  December  28,  1766,  set- 
tled in  Kentucky,  and  there  married;  Abigail, 
born  April  4,  1768,  married  Mr.  Emmans,  and 
settled    in    the    town    of    Fishkill,    Dutchess 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


county;  Daniel,  born  June  27,  1770,  left  home 
May  II,  1799,  and  settled  near  Rochester, 
N.  Y. ;  Elijah,  born  October  11,  1772,  died 
January  28,  1796;  Merritt,  born  March  3, 
1775,  died  June  6,  1795;  Hannah,  born  April 
22,  1777,  died  June  6,  1802;  Underbill,  born 
October  17,  1779,  settled  in  Greene  county, 
N.  Y. ;  James,  father  of  our  subject,  born  De- 
cember 18,  1 78 1,  remained  on  the  home  farm, 
and  Sarah,  born  February  13,  1783.  John 
Budd,  who  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful farmers  of  Dutchess  county,  died  on 
his  farm  in  Pleasant  Valley  October  i,  1813; 
his  wife  departed  this  life  July  31,  1820. 

When  about  sixteen  years  old  James  Budd, 
the  father  of  Joel  N.,  accompanied  his  father 
to  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  and  soon  after- 
ward assumed  the  active  management  of  the 
farm.  His  education  was  mostly  obtained  at 
night  schools,  where  he  became  a  good  mathe- 
matician, and  by  subsequent  reading  and  study 
he  became  a  well-informed  man.  His  whole 
life  was  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  he 
added  to  the  original  farm  until  he  had  over 
208  acres  of  highly  cultivated  and  productive 
land.  He  was  married  November  23,  1805,  to 
Miss  Eleanor  Schryver,  a  daughter  of  John 
Schryver,  and  by  her  he  had  the  following 
children:  Mary,  born  September  30,  1806, 
married  William  Traver;  John,  born  January 
26,  1808;  Caroline,  born  February  20,  1812; 
Gilbert,  born  September  6,  181 3;  Hannah, 
born  June  23,  1815,  wedded  James  Rhymph; 
George,  born  August  6,  181 7;  Joel  N. ;  Joseph 
H.,  born  January  13,  1822;  Jane  Ann,  born 
November  23,  1825,  married  Charles  N.  Cole; 
Elizabeth,  born  September  28,  1826,  married 
Oliver  Stelle,  of  New  Jersey;  and  Albert,  born 
August  16,  1830.  Aside  from  casting  his  bal- 
lot in  support  of  the  Whig  party,  the  father 
took  but  little  part  in  political  affairs,  though 
he  was  always  willing  to  give  his  aid  to  any- 
thing for  the  good  of  the  community,  and  was 
held  in  the  highest  regard  by  all. 

Joseph  H.  Budd,  a  brother  of  our  subject, 
graduated  from  Williams  College  about  1844, 
and  was  the  leader  of  his  class  in  mathematics. 
After  studying  law  in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  he 
went  to  Janesville,  Wis.,  where  he  engaged  in 
practice,  and  also  became  largely  interested  in 
the  manufacture  of  agricultural  implements; 
but  during  the  panic  of  1857  his  business  was 
ruined.  Going  to  California,  he  began  life 
anew,  and  after  winning  a  case  for  his  em- 
ployer he  became  quite  prominent,  and  is  now 


one  of  the  foremost  lawyers  and  leading  Dem 
ocrats  of  the  State.  He  is  now  judge  of  th 
superior  court  of  his  district.  His  son  John  i 
a  prominent  lawyer  of  California;  and  James 
another  son,  is  the  present  governor  of  tha 
State. 

Joel  N.  Budd  entered  the  New  Paltz  Acad 
emy,  where  he  pursued  his  studies  for  two  win 
ters,  thus  acquiring  a  good  practical  education 
He  remained  on  the  home  farm,  which,  afte 
the  death  of  the  father,  in  1844,  was  divide 
between  himself  and  his  brother,  Albert 
There  he  resided  until  1872  when  he  sold,  an 
in  the  spring  of  1876  purchased  the  farm  whic 
he  now  owns,  to  the  cultivation  and  improve 
ment  of  which  he  has  since  devoted  his  tim 
and  attention  with  good  success. 

In  1850  Mr.  Budd  was  married  to  Mis 
Elizabeth  Du  Bois,  daughter  of  Peter  K.  Di 
Bois,  of  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutches 
county,  and  by  her  had  the  following  childrei 
Warren  J. ,  who  died  at  the  age  of  ninetee 
years;  Bertha  M.  and  Frederic  Albert  (twins 
the  latter  of  whom  died  in  infancy;  G.  Gordoi 
Charlotte  DuBois,  who  died  at  six  years  of  agii 
George  N. ;  and  Rosamond,  wife  of  John  Vai: 
De  Water.  On  February  22,  1888,  M 
Budd  married  Mrs.  Mary  Jane  Van  Wagne 
daughter  of  Oliver  Wilber. 

Mrs.  Budd  is  a  descendant  in  the  seven 
generation  of  one  of  the  earliest  New  Englai 
settlers,  William  Wilber  (as  the  name  w 
then  spelled),  who  in  1630  came  to  Ameri 
with  his  uncle,  Samuel  Wilber,  from  Donca 
ter,  Yorkshire,  England.  They  were  Quake 
and,  settling  first  at  Boston,  were  driven  c[ 
by  religious  persecutions.  William  Will" 
settled  at  Portsmouth,  R.  I.,  in  1656,  and  di 
there  in  17 10.  He  had  a  family  of  ten  chi- 
dren,  several  of  whom  settled  at  Little  Con- 
ton,  R.  I.,  where  they  owned  a  large  tract  f 
land,  some  of  which  yet  remains  in  the  p  ■ 
session  of  descendants.  The  seventh  cl:  1 
was  Samuel  Wilber,  born  in  1664;  he  marr(i 
Mary  Potter,  and  died  in  1740;  they  had  eld 
children;  the  farm  where  they  lived  is  si 
owned  by  descendants,  and  includes  the  bii  1 
ground  where  seven  generations  are  at  n  • 
William  Wilber,  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (1- 
ter)  Wilber,  was  born  June  6,  1695,  and  cd 
in  1774;  in  1717  he  married  Esther  Burg' >. 
of  Little  Compton.  Their  children  we 
Thomas,  born  June  i,  1718;  Mary,  bori  n 
1720;  Esther  and  Lydia  (twins);  Wiili:^l 
Daniel;  Samuel  and  Charles.      Samuel  mar  d 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BWOBAPHWAL  RECORD. 


581 


I 

'Elizabeth  Shaw,  and  died  in  May,  1791.    The 
children  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Wilber  were: 
Sylvanus,  born  August  18,  1749;    Clark,  born 
May  3,  1752;    Anthony,  born   July   24,   1759. 
Sylvanus  Wilber,  the  grandfather  of   Mrs. 
IBudd,  was  married  January  20,  1770,  to  Syl- 
>'ia,  daughter  of  James  Chase,  born  in   1749. 
The  twelve   children  of   Sylvanus   and  Sylvia 
Wilberwere:   Huldah,  born  June,  1771;  Eliza- 
jeth,  born   July   16,  1772;    James,  born  Sep- 
ember  5,  1774;    Rhoda,  born  September  22, 
775;    Sarah,  born  March    16,  1778;    Abner, 
>orn  July  16,  1779;    Elsie,  born  November  i, 
780;  Sylvanus,  born  August  i,  1783;    Clark, 
lorn  August  i,  1786;    and  Cynthia,  born  De- 
ember    29,    1788.     All    these    children    were 
orn  at  Little  Compton,  R.  I.,  except  Samuel, 
lie  youngest,  who  was   born   in   the  town  of 
lyde  Park,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.      Oliver  and 
amuel  were  soldiers  in  the  war  of    18 12,  and 
amuel  died  at  Harlem. 

In  May,  1793,  Sylvanus  Wilber  sold  to  his 

irother  Anthony  his  farm  in  Little  Compton, 

.  I.,  and  with  his  wife   and  eleven  children, 

id   the    families    of    Philip    Irish    and  Isaac 

'ood,  came  to  Hyde  Park,  Dutchess  county, 

tiling  on  a  farm  which  his  grandchildren  now 

vn.     It  was   from  a  point  in   Sakonnet  river 

at  the  party  of  Rhode  Islanders  embarked  on 

^loop  and   made  the  journey  by  way  of  the 

iind  to   New  York,  thence   up  the    Hudson 

er  to  the  landing  at  Hyde  Park. 

Oliver  Wilber,   the  father  of  Mrs.  Budd, 

-  a  corporal  in  the   American  army  during 

war  of   181 2.      On   January    15,  18 18,  he 

ried  Maria  Hoffman,  who  was  born  March 

1798.     He   died  July   26,    1869,   his  wife 

'  December  26,  1887.      Eleven  children  were 

trn  to   them,   namely:     (i)    Evas    V.,  born 

Ibruary  20,    18 19,   died   January   10,    1829; 

Benjamin   V.,    born   July   26,  1821,   died 

^y  20,  1828;  (3)   Catherine    H.,  born    Sep- 

HSer  20,  1823,  died  July  27,  1828;  (4)  Syl- 

^^Hnn,  born  April  15,   1825,  died  March  15, 

^Bil;   (5)    Stephen    Pettit,    born    March    18, 

7,  died  April  27,    1856;  (6)  Emeline   E., 

:i  August  2,  1829,  married  William  A.  Lat- 

a  farmer,  February  9,  1848;  they  had  two 

iren:    Henry    W.    (a    wagonmaker,    who 

ried  Mary  Crapser,  and  has  two  children — 

rna  and  Harriet),  and  Ardell  (who  married 

ustus  Cramer,  who  died  in  1889;  they  had 

children— Ethel   and  William  Augustus); 

lohn  A.,    a    farmer,   born   April   6,    1831, 

ried  Emily  Dunn,  and  has  one  child — Lena; 


(8)  Mary  Jane,  born  July  27,  1833;  (9)  Mor- 
gan L.,  a  butcher,  born  October  30,  1835, 
married  Josephine  Ackert;  (10)  Henry  K.,  a 
farmer,  born  December,  1837;  and  (11) 
Amelia  K.,  born  October  5,  1840,  married 
George  H.  McLean,  March  24,  1865,  and 
died  July  13,  1873.  Mrs.  Budd,  the  eighth 
child  of  Oliver  and  Maria  Wilber,  was  first 
married  January  15,  1851,  to  Evert  A.  Van- 
Wagner,  a  farmer,  who  died  October  30,  1 884. 
Their  five  children  are:  (ij  Amelia  C,  who 
married  Silas  W.  Downing,  and  has  four  chil- 
dren— Harry  S.,  Francis  Vivian,  Bertha  M. 
and  Arthur  R. ;  (2)  Theron  C,  a  farmer,  who 
married  Louise  Lattin,  and  has  two  children — 
Libbie  and  Clayton  ;  (3)  Oliver  Wilber,  a 
farmer;  (4)  Christable;  and  (5)  George  M.,  a 
farmer,  who  married  Ernestine  E.  Devine, 
and  has  two  children — Inez  and  Wilber. 

Mr.  Budd  is  a  clear-headed,  intelligent 
man,  with  sound,  common-sense  views  of  life 
and  its  duties.  He  is  active  in  well-doing,  sober, 
industrious,  and  of  good  business  habits;  in 
fact,  possessing  in  an  eminent  degree  all  the 
qualities  that  go  to  make  up  a  good  citizen 
and  honorable  man.  In  politics  he  was 
formerly  a  Republican,  but  is  now  independ- 
ent, usually  supporting  the  Democratic  party. 
He  attends  the  Baptist  Church. 


J^  MULFORD  CONKLIN.  Amongthe  pros- 
perous farmers  of  the  town  of  Stanford, 
"  Dutchess  county,  the  record  of  whose  lives 
fills  an  important  place  in  this  volume,  it  gives 
us  pleasure  to  commemorate  the  name  of  the 
gentleman  here  presented.  One  of  the  native- 
born,  energetic,  progressive  citizens  of  the 
community,  actively  identified  with  all  its  in- 
terests, he  was  born  in  the  town  of  Northeast, 
Dutchess  county,  December  i,  1819. 

Nathan  Conklin,  his  grandfather,  was  born 
in  Amagansett,  Suffolk  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  20, 
1758,  and  in  Long  Island  was  married,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1 78 1,  to  Amy  Mulford,  who  was  born 
July  7,  1759.  Their  family  included  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Nehemiah,  born  January  20, 
1783;  Jeremiah  M.,  born  February  23,  1785; 
Nathan,  born  November  20,  1787;  John  H., 
the  father  of  our  subject;  Henry,  born  April 
16,  1793,  married  May  20,  1818,  to  Mary  Ann 
Hewett;  Betsy,  born  November  9,  1795,  died 
April  9,  1800;  Phebe,  born  October  8,  1798, 
married  September  9,  1823,  to  James  Bowne; 
and  Eliza,  born  August  29,  1802,  married  Au- 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


gust  15,  1820,  to  Stephen  B.  Trowbridge.  All 
of  these  are  now  deceased.  The  grandfather 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  at  its 
close  removed  to  Dutchess  county,  where  he 
purchased  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Northeast. 
He  made  the  journey  from  Long  Island  on 
horseback,  with  his  wife  on  the  pillion  behind 
him,  and  they  came  byway  of  an  Indian  trail, 
as  few  roads  had  been  laid  out  at  that  time. 
Upon  his  farm  here  he  died  April  23,  1827. 
He  was  known  to  every  one  by  the  title  of 
"Major." 

John  Herriman  Conklin,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Northeast, 
July  27,  1790,  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  near  his  home,  where  he  remained 
until  his  marriage.  On  December  24,  18 18, 
he  wedded  Miss  Eliza  Hunting,  who  was  born 
January  25,  1800,  and  died  October  12,  1863. 
They  became  the  parents  of  five  children:  J. 
Mulford,  subject  of  this  review;  Isaac  H.,  born 
July  29,  1822,  died  in  1890;  Elizabeth,  born 
August  12,  1824,  married  Israel  R.  Wilson,  of 
the  town  of  Northeast;  John  N.,  born  August 
12,  1826,  is  a  resident  of  the  same  town;  and 
Nathan,  born  March  1 3,  1 829,  is  now  deceased. 
The  father  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  citi- 
zens of  Northeast,  where  he  successfully  fol- 
lowed farming  through  much  of  his  life.  Po- 
litically he  affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party, 
and  held  a  number  of  local  offices,  including 
that  of  supervisor,  which  he  held  for  two 
terms.  Like  his  father,  he  went  to  the  de- 
fense of  his  country,  serving  in  the  war  of 
18 12,  and  participated  in  the  engagement  at 
Harlem  Heights.  He  was  a  conscientious, 
earnest  Christian,  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  in  which  he  served  as  elder, 
and  faithfully  followed  its  teachings  until  called 
from  life,  September  14,  1870. 

J.  Mulford  Conklin,  whose  name  introduces 
this  record,  was  supplied  with  excellent  edu- 
cational advantages  during  his  boyhood  and 
youth.  After  attending  the  district  schools 
for  a  time,  he  entered  a  private  school  at 
Poughkeepsie,  later  was  a  student  in  College 
Hill  Seminary  under  Charles  Bartlett;  attended 
the  Amenia  Academy,  and  completed  his  edu- 
cation at  Warren,  Conn.  On  laying  aside  his 
text  books  he  assisted  in  the  labor  of  the  home 
farm  until  he  had  reached  his  majority,  when 
he  came  to  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess 
county,  and  located  upon  his  present  farm, 
where  he  has  since  resided. 

In    Stanford    town,   September    12,    1844, 


Mr.  Conklin  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  E 
Husted,  who  was  born  in  that  town,  April  4 
1826,  a  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabet] 
(Harris)  Husted.  She  received  her  educatioi 
at  the  schools  of  Poughkeepsie.  For  ovei 
half  a  century  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Conklin  have  nov 
traveled  together  as  man  and  wife,  and  an 
nearing  the  last  milestone  that  marks  the  enc 
of  life's  journey;  but  they  are  surrounded  h] 
many  loving  kindred  and  friends,  and  can  loci 
back  upon  their  honorable  and  useful  lives 
knowing  that  they  have  accomplished  mucl 
good  in  the  world.  Three  children  were  bori 
to  them:  Mary  Elizabeth  (deceased),  whowa 
the  wife  of  Henry  C.  Thompson,  by  wbon 
she  had  two  sons — Mulford  C.  and  Edward  P. 
Phoebe  E.,  the  wife  of  Frank  Dibble,  by  whon 
she  has  a  daughter, Cora  M.;  and  Ella  M.,  thi 
wife  of  Joseph  Brace, of  West  Hartford,  Conn 
Mr.  Conklin  is  one  of  the  leading  representa 
tive  men  of  the  town  of  Stanford,  one  wh 
merits  and  receives  the  warmest  confidenc 
and  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens,  and  his  pub 
lie  spiritedness  and  charity  are  proverbial.  I 
the  exercise  of  his  elective  franchise  he  invai 
iably  supports  the  candidates  offered  by  th 
Democratic  party,  has  himself  served  as  supei 
visor  for  two  terms,  and  also  been  excise  con  I 
missioner.  He  and  Mrs.  Conklin,  their  chi  i 
dren  and  grandchildren,  are  members  of  thl 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Pine  Plains. 


T'  DE  WITT   VAN   WYCK,    one   of  th 
wealthiest  and  most  prominent  agricul 

urists   in    the  town    of    Wappinger,   Dutche; 
county,   is  a   descendant    of   an    old  Hollanj 
family  whose  representatives  have  held  an  ii 
fluential  place   in  that  locality  for  nearly  t\M 
hundred  years.     The  head   of   this  branch 
the  family  was  one  of  five  brothers  who  can 
to  America  between  1690  and  1700,  his  ance 
tor  settling  in  Fishkill    after   a  short  stay  ( 
Long  Island.     In  an  old  Bible  printed  in  He 
land  in    1690,   we    find   the    following  reco 
in  Dutch:      "In  the  year   1668,  I,  Theodc 
Van  Wyck,  was  born   September   17.     In  t 
year  1675,  the  3d  of  February,  Margerita  Abi 
hams  was  born.      In  the  year   1693,  these, 
of  April,  we  were  married."     The  children 
this  marriage   were  Cornelius,  born  April  : 
1694;  Abraham,    November    7,    1695;  Thi- 
dorus,   October    15,    1697;    Catrina,  July    . 
1699;  Susanna,  March  i,  1701;  Berent,  Maiji 
4,  1703;  and   Altia,  May  19,  1706.     Then* 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


588 


linscription  is  in  English,  as  follows:      "In  the 

year  1717,   I,   Cornelius  Van   Wyck,  married 

my  wife,  Hannah  Thorn.     The  age  of  my  wife, 

she  is  born  in  the  year  1 700,  February  the  1 7th. 

The  following   children    were  born:     Phoebe, 

December  5,    1717,    and  Theodorus,   May  4, 

1720.     In   the    year   1741,  my  wife  died,  the 

127th  of  August.      In  the  year  1753  my  grand- 

ather  Van  Wyck   died,  December  4th;  1761, 

|une   28th,   my  father  Cornelius   died;   1771, 

\ugust  23d,  the   wife   of   Cornelius,  who  was 

riannah,  died."     This   is  the  family  record  of 

•iichard  Van  Wyck,  who  was  born  November 

■5.    I730>   3"d    they    were    married    May   12, 

749.      Four  children  were  born  of  this  union: 

'ornelius,  January  6,  1753:  Catherine,  Novem- 

ler  23,    1756,    the    wife  of  Henry  Boerman; 

'heodorus,  November   18,  1761,  who  married 

lannah  Griffith;  and  Hannah,  June  30,  1764. 

'he  mother  of    this    family  died  August   16, 

807,  and  the  father  three  years  later,  April 

,  1810. 

Cornelius  Van  Wyck,  our  subject's  grand- 
ither,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  was  married 
Hatch  2,  1777,  to  his  first  wife,  Anna  Duryee, 
ho  was  born  October  6,  1758.  She  died 
pril  9,  1 79 1,  and  for  his  second  wife  he  mar- 
ed  Magdalene  Monfort.  His  death  occurred 
ctober  i,  1820,  the  father  of  eight  children, 
aose  names  with  dates  of  birth  are  as  fol- 
ws:  Of  the  children  of  the  first  marriage — 
una,  December  31,  1777,  married  Turnus 
rinkerhoff,  of  Poughkeepsie;  Stephen,  March 
,  1 78 1,  was  a  farmer  in  East  Fishkill;  Rich- 
.  June  1 1,  1783,  was  a  farmer  and  miller  in 
.same  town;  Abraham  D.,  April  11,  1785, 
mentioned  below;  and  Theodorus,  July  15, 
87,  was  a  physician  at  Bloomingburg,  N.  Y. 
le  four  children  of  the  second  marriage  were: 
er  and  Stephen  (twins),  March  3,  1795; 
la,  August  25,  1797;  and  Barbara,  Febru- 
15,  1800. 

Abraham    D.    Van    Wyck,     our    subject's 
f  her,  grew  to  manhood  on   the   old    home- 
id,  and  January  27,    18 10,   was  married  to 
1  (the  Boerum,  who  was  born  May  8,  1790,  a 
(scendant  of  an  old  Dutch  family.      He  then 
stled  upon  a  farm  in  Fishkill,  where   he  be- 
c  ne  prominent  in  local    affairs.      He  was  a 
Song  believer  in  the  policy  of  Prohibition,  but 
ays  voted  the  Republican  ticket  on  national 
■es  in  lateryears,  having  been  a  Whig  previous 
t'thewar.     His  wife  died  July  17,  1851,  and 
•i  survived  her  until  1 866.     They  were  leading 
inbers  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  and 


highly  esteemed  in  the  vicinity.  They  reared 
a  family  of  five  children,  whose  names  with 
dates  of  birth  are  as  follows:  Jane  A.,  March 
10,  1 812  (died  September  24,  1832),  married 
John  Adriance,  a  farmer  of  Fishkill,  who  died 
in  Chicago;  Elizabeth,  November  4,  18 15, 
married  R.  S.  Van  Wyck,  a  farmer  and  miller 
in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill;  T.  DeWitt,  July 
28,  1822;  Duryee,  February  27,  1827,  is  a 
farmer  in  the  town  of  Wappinger;  and  Cort- 
land, March  8,  1829,  is  now  living  in  retire- 
ment at  Dunkirk. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  spent  his  boy- 
hood at  the  old  home  farm,  and  attended  the 
district  school  in  the  neighboring  village  of 
Fishkill  Plains,  until  the  age  of  eighteen,  when 
he  engaged  in  farming.  On  February  28, 
1855,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Catherine  Luyster,  who  was  born  December 
10,  1829,  in  what  was  then  known  as  the  town 
of  Fishkill.  Her  father,  Matthew  Luyster, 
who  was  a  well-known  farmer  there,  was  of 
Dutch  stock,  and  a  descendant  of  one  of  the 
oldest  families  in  the  county.  Four  children 
have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Wyck: 
Abraham  D.,  February  14,  1856;  Mathew, 
May  15,  1858;  Estella,  March  20,  1866;  and 
Charles  H.,  October  9,  1870.  The  daughter 
is  at  home,  and  the  sons  have  all  settled  upon 
farms,  one  in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  and  three 
in  the  town  of  Wappinger,  comprising  in  all 
about  500  acres  devoted  to  general  farming. 
In  politics  Mr.  Van  Wyck  is  a  steadfast  Re- 
publican, and  he  is  always  ready  to  encourage 
any  progressive  movement,  being  especially  in- 
terested in  the  temperance  cause.  He  and  his 
wife  are  prominent  members  of  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church;  he  is  an  elder  in  the  Hopewell 
Church,  and  for  sixteen  years  has  been  a  trus- 
tee of  Fishkill  Plains  Chapel. 


JACOB  S.  ACKERMAN,  a  prominent  and 
influential  resident  of  Low  Point,  Dutchess 
^  county,  is  a  member  of  a  family  that  has 
been  identified  with  that  locality  since  Colonial 
times.  His  ancestors  were  from  Holland 
originally,  and  his  great-grandfather,  John 
Ackerman,  was  the  first  to  locate  in  Dutchess 
county.  His  son,  Peter,  who  was  born  in 
1779,  was  married  March  15,  1801,  to  Eliza- 
beth B.  Lent,  also  a  native  of  Dutchess  coun- 
ty. They  located  upon  a  farm  in  the  town  of 
Fishkill,  where  they  reared  a  family  of  ten 
children,     (i)    John,   a   farmer,   in    Dutchess 


684 


OOMMEMORATIVB  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


county,  married  Ann  Terboss.  (2)  Dorothy 
never  married.  (3)  Abram  L.  was  the  foun- 
der of  the  Matteawan  Cotton  Factory,  and 
with  his  brother,  David  L. ,  was  the  builder  of 
the  first  locomotive  for  the  N.  Y.  C.  R.  R. ; 
he  married  Miss  Hagerman,  and  his  later  years 
were  spent  in  Pennsylvania.  (4)  Peter  S. . 
was  a  farmer,  and  married  Deborah  Vail. 
(5)  Margaret  A.  married  Jacob  Sebring,  a 
farmer.  (6)  David  L. ,  a  farmer  and  machin- 
ist by  occupation,  married  Cynthia  Robinson. 
(7)  Jasper  C,  a  farmer,  married  Susan  Col- 
lins. (8)  Eliphalet  P.,  a  Methodist  minister, 
married  Julia  B.  Hedden.  (9)  Samuel  B.  is 
mentioned  below.  (10)  Sylvester  B.  never 
married. 

Samuel  B.  Ackerman,  our  subject's  father, 
was  born  in  what  is  now  Wappingers  Falls, 
in  1820,  and  was  reared  upon  the  old  home- 
stead. His  wife  was  Delia  Brinkerhoff,  a 
native  of  the  town  of  Fishkill,  born  September 
I,  1822.  Her  father,  John  W.  Brinkerhoff, 
was  a  well-T<nown  farmer  there,  and  later  be- 
came a  merchant  in  Fishkill.  After  their 
marriage  our  subject's  parents  settled  upon  a 
farm  near  Newburg,  Orange  county,  where 
they  reared  a  family  of  three  children,  of 
whom  our  subject  was  the  eldest.  Edward 
F. ,  born  June  7,  1846,  was  a  farmer  and  lead- 
ing Republican  in  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess 
county,  and  died  there  April  20,  1894.  Fred 
E.,  born  June  24,  1856,  is  a  prominent  lawyer 
in  Poughkeepsie.  Our  subject's  father  was  a 
highly-respected  citizen,  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, and  he  followed  farming  all  his  life.  He 
died  in  1889,  and  two  years  later  his  wife  fol- 
lowed him  to  the  grave. 

Jacob  S.  Ackerman  was  born  Nov.  11, 
1843,  in  Newburg,  and  at  the  age  of  four 
years  he  was  taken  to  Low  Point  where  he 
grew  to  manhood,  receiving  his  education 
there  with  the  exception  of  a  short  time  in 
the  schools  of  Schodack.  He  learned  the  art 
of  photography  on  leaving  school,  but  followed 
it  only  a  year  and  a  half,  when  he  began  to 
learn  the  house-painter's  trade.  This  he 
found  uncongenial  also,  and  he  then  returned 
to  the  farm,  and  has  since  given  his  time  to 
the  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  married 
October  9,  1867,  to  Sarah  C.  Eshleman,  a 
daughter  of  Eurich  Eshleman,  a  well-known 
baker  of  Poughkeepsie.  Three  children  were 
born  of  this  marriage,  all  of  whom  reside  at 
Low  Point.  Frank  married  Miss  Eva  Ward; 
Charles   married    Miss    Bertha   Leubert;    and 


Kittie  is  at  home.  Mr.  Ackerman  has  a  smal 
estate  on  the  Hudson  river,  his  pleasant  resi- 
dence commanding  a  charming  view.  He 
also  owns  several  houses  in  the  village.  He 
takes  an  influential  part  in  the  local  work  ol 
the  Republican  organization,  and  has  held  the 
offices  of  pathmaster  and  excise  commissioner. 


ENRY  CHATTERTON.  For  more  thar 
half  a  century  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  upon  his 
late  farm  near  the  village  of  Moores  Mill, 
Dutchess  county,  and  he  was  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  highly  respected  residents  of  that 
locality.  He  was  born  January  4,  1818,  in  La- 
grange, Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  spent  hij 
boyhood  there,  receiving  his  education  in  the 
district  schools  near  his  home.  On  arrivin| 
at  manhood's  estate  he  engaged  in  farming, 
and  always  followed  that  calling,  locating  a 
his  late  home  in  1844. 

His  first  wife,  who  was  Miss  Mary  Am 
Haviland,  of  Unionvale,  died,  leaving  no  chil 
dren,  and  for  his  second  wife  he  was  married 
in  Unionvale,  to  Miss  Helen  Miller  (now  de 
ceased).  One  daughter,  Mary  Ann,  was  bon 
of  this  marriage,  but  she  did  not  long  brighte: 
his  home,  passing  away  at  the  age  of  four  an^ 
one-half  years.  Mr.  Chatterton  always  toot 
an  intelligent  interest  in  public  questions.  I. 
early  life  he  was  an  adherent  of  the  Whij 
party,  later  espousing  Republican  principle!' 
He  died  December  21,  1896.  [ 

Underbill   Chatterton,    father  of  our  sulj 
ject,  was  a  native  of  Dartmouth,  Mass.,  whenc' 
he  was  brought  by  David  S.  Dean  to  Dutche: 
county    when    ten   years    old,   and    afterwai 
made  his  home  there.     By  occupation  he  w: 
a  farmer  and   tanner,  and   his   life  was  spe 
mainly  in  Lagrange.     In  religious  faith  he  w 
a  Quaker.      He   was   married   in  Lagrange 
Miss  Elizabeth  Gidley,  and  they  reared  a  fat 
ily  of  thirteen  children,  all  now  deceased.      1 


1^^ 


,URYEE  VAN  WYCK,  one  of  the  m 
intelligent  and  prosperous  agriculturii 
in  the  town  of  Wappinger,  Dutchess  coun; 
was  born  February  27,  1827,  upon  the  est:  > 
which  he  now  owns.  His  ancestors  came  fn  1 
Holland  about  the  year  1700,  and  were  amc» 
the  early  settlers  of  that  locality,  and  the  fair/ 
has  held  a  prominent  place  there  for  sevejl 
generations,  our  subject's  brother,  T.  DeVii 


r 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


585 


Van  Wyck,  of  the  town  of  Wappinger,  being 
among  its  representatives. 

The  subject  of  our  sektch  received  an  ex- 
cellent education  for  the  time,  supplementing 
the  course  at  the  Fishkill  district  school  by 
an  attendance  at  the  schools  at  Rhinebeck, 
New  Paltz,  and  Middletown  Point,  N.J. .spend- 
ing a  year  at  each,  and  he  afterward  studied 
for  six  months  in  the  Polytechnic  College  near 
Red  Bank,  N.  J.,  which  was  founded  by  O. 
S. Fowler,  the  phrenologist.  Onleavingschool, 
Mr.  Van  Wyck  returned  to  the  old  homestead, 
and  remained  until  1861,  when  he  bought  a  farm 
near  Hopewell,  where  he  lived  about  thirteen 
years.  He  then  returned  to  his  present  home, 
where  he  cultivates  between  250  and  300  acres. 
The  land  is  unusually  level,  and  lies  near  Sprout 
creek. 

In  June,  1863,  Mr.  Van  Wyck  married  Caro- 
line D.  Stockholm,  adescendant  of  an  old  Hol- 
land family,  and  a  daughter  of  Andrew  Stock- 
holm, a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  and  a  promi- 
nent agriculturist  of  near  Hopewell.  The  only 
daughter.  Miss  Ella  Van  Wyck,  is  at  home 
l.vith  her  parents.  In  politics  our  subject  is  an 
ardent  Republican  in  principle,  but  he  has 
lever  been  a  seeker  after  political  honors. 


»/ ILLIAM  C.  HOLMES,  a  prosperous 
farmer  of  Dutchess  county,  was  born 
ear  Washington  Hollow,  in  the  town  of  Pleas- 
nt  Valley,  December  21,  1818.  There  he 
as  reared  and  received  his  education. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-five  Mr.  Holmes  was 

larried,  on  March  6,  1844,  to  Miss  Sarah  C. 

an  De  Water,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of 

lyde   Park,  April    i,  181 8,  and   whose  death 

ccurred  May  31,  1892.     Our  subject  bought 

is  grandfather's  farm  in  1843,  lived  on  it  for 

even  years  and  then  traded  it  for  another  farm 

1   Tompkins   county,   where    he   lived   seven 

■ars.     He  then  rented  a  farm  in  Hyde  Park 

r  a  year,  and  one  in  Bloomingdale,  Pleasant 

alley,  for  two  years.      He  next  went  to  live 

T  the  farm  with  his  father,  and  remained  there 

ntil  the  latter's  death,   when   he  bought  the 

omestead.     After  seven  years'  residence  on 

le  place,  he  traded  it  for  other  property.      In 

^^5  he  moved  to  the  town  of  Lagrange.      His 

iildren  were:     Phcebe  Elizabeth,  born  August 

3,  1845,  married  December  16,  1864,  to  Or- 

ndo  E.  Gazely;  William  V.,  born  September 

\  1847,  married  Miss  Emma  E.  Ayres  De- 

mber  25,  1869;  Lavina  Adelaide,  born  Octo- 


ber I,  1849,  became  the  wife  of  C.  W.  Stout- 
enburg,  December  2,  1874;  Florence  Augusta, 
born  March  5,  1852,  married  April  14,  1875, 
to  John  Welch;  Henrietta,  born  February  22, 
1855,  married  William  B.  Merritt  February 
27,  1884;  Joel  O.,  born  July  7,  1862,  married 
September  23,  1884,  to  Miss  Emma  F.  White, 
who  died  April  10,  1891.  Our  subject  is  a 
stanch  Democrat  in  politics,  but  has  always 
refused  to  accept  public  office. 

Wheeler  C.  Holmes,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley, 
where  he  spent  his  boyhood,  attending  the 
public  school.  He  married  Phoebe,  daughter 
of  William  Allen,  and  moved  to  a  farm  about 
two  miles  from  the  paternal  homestead,  where 
he  lived  for  over  fifty  years  and  reared  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Allen,  Nathaniel,  Phoebe 
Maria,  and  Joel  O.,  all  deceased,  and  William 
C. ,  our  subject.  Mr.  Holmes  was  again  mar- 
ried, his  second  wife  being  Miss  Belsy  Craw- 
ford. Of  their  children  only  one  is  living, 
Isaac,  who  is  in  Colorado.  Mr.  Holmes  was 
a  Democrat,  and  a  member  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church.  Both  the  parents  and  the  step- 
mother of  our  subject  died  in  Pleasant  Valley. 

William  Holmes,  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, came  of  Scotch  ancestors.  He  settled  in 
Pleasant  Valley  before  the  Revolutionary  war, 
being  one  of  the  first  pioneers.  He  married 
Miss  Phoebe  Cromwell,  who  was  of  Holland 
descent,  and  they  had  the  following  children: 
Nathaniel,  Joseph,  Isaac,  Wheeler,  Joshua. 
Mr.  Holmes  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war,  and  lived  to  the  ripe  old  age  of  nine- 
ty years. 


JOHN  B.  FREDRICK,  an  enterprising  and 
successful  business  man  of  Dover  Plains, 
-  Dutchess  county,  and  the  proprietor  of  a 
first-class  meat  market  there,  was  born  in  1856, 
in  the  town  of  Lloyd,  Ulster  county.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  on  enter- 
ing business  life  learned  the  butcher's  trade 
with  J.  H.  Brown.  After  working  at  the 
trade  some  time  for  different  parties,  he 
moved  to  Dover  Plains,  in  1886,  and  opened 
his  present  fine  establishment.  The  firm  was 
at  first  known  as  Shelly  &  Fredrick,  and  then 
Mr.  Fredrick  conducted  the  business  alone  for 
a  time.  Later  the  firm  became  Fredrick  & 
Boyce,  and  then  Fredrick  &  Fox,  but  our  sub- 
ject is  at  present  the  sole  owner.  He  is  a 
public-spirited  citizen,  but  has  never  been  de- 


586 


COMMEMORATTVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sirous  of  political  office,  although  at  one  time 
he  served  as  excise  commissioner.  In  1881  he 
married  Miss  Emma  J.  Terwilliger,  and  their 
home  has  been  blessed  with  eight  children,  of 
whom  all  but  two  are  living.  The  names,  with 
dates  of  birth,  are:  Herbert  J.,  1882;  Lilly 
M.,  1883;  Edith,  1884;  Bessie,  1885  (died  in 
infancy);  Clarence,  1887;  Mabel,  1888;  Arthur 
(deceased),  1891,  and  Clayton,  1895. 

Mr.  Fredrick  is  of  the  fifth  generation  in 
direct  descent  from  Peter  Fredrick,  a  native  of 
Holland,  and  a  miller  by  trade,  who  came  to 
this  country  at  an  early  date  and  settled  in 
New  Jersey.  His  son  Peter,  our  subject's 
great-grandfather,  was  born  and  educated  in 
New  Jersey,  but  he  and  two  brothers  left  home 
and  settled  in  Ulster  county,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  married,  and  reared  a 
family  of  seven  children:  Jacob;  William; 
Catherine,  who  married  Mr.  Decker;  Lucy, 
the  wife  of  Louis  Palmater;  Hannah,  who 
married  John  Banker,  and  two  whose  names 
are  not  known.  William  Fredrick,  our  subject's 
grandfather,  was  born  in  Ulster  county,  and 
after  acquiring  a  common-school  education, 
also  engaged  in  agriculture.  His  wife  was 
Miss  Devoe,  and  they  had  two  children:  Dor- 
cas, the  wife  of  Abram  Tompkins;  and  George, 
our  subject's  father,  who  was  born  in  1836,  in 
the  town  of  Lloyd,  Ulster  county,  and  always 
lived  in  that  neighborhood,  receiving  his  edu- 
cation there,  and  spending  his  later  years  as  a 
farmer.  He  married  Miss  Emerett  Johnson, 
daughter  of  Andrew  Johnson,  a  well-to-do 
farmer  of  Ulster  county,  and  had  six  children, 
of  whom  our  subject  is  the  eldest.  The  two 
youngest  children — William,  and  one  whose 
name  is  not  given — died  in  infancy,  and  the 
others  are:  Maria,  who  married  Warren 
Palmer;  Evelena,  the  wife  of  Joseph  O'Don- 
nel;and  George  W. ,  who  is  not  married. 

Mrs.  Fredrick's  ancestors  were  early  set- 
tlers in  Ulster  county,  and  her  grandfather, 
Cornelius  Terwilliger,  was  a  native  of  New 
Paltz,  and  a  leading  farmer  there.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Wicklow,  and  had  five  children,  of 
whom  Ira  Terwilliger,  Mrs.  Fredrick's  father, 
was  the  youngest.  Hiram  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty;  Elijah  married  Catherine  Freer;  Elmira 
married  David  Dunn,  and  Sarah  was  the  wife 
of  Anthony  Dunn.  Ira  Terwilliger  was  born 
in  New  Paltz  in  1826,  and  passed  his  entire 
life  there,  following  the  carpenter's  trade.  His 
partner  in  life  was  Miss  Harriet  Van  Noy, 
daughter  of  Andrew  J.  Van  Noy,  a  well-known 


wagon-maker  of  the  town  of  Lloyd,  Ulster 
county,  and  Hester  Johnston,  his  wife.  Mrs. 
Fredrick  was  the  oldest  of  five  children — the 
others  being  Annie,  the  wife  of  Wallace  Phil- 
lips; Andrew,  who  married  Alice  Smith; 
George,  who  is  not  married;  and  Carrie,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years. 


lENRY  LIVINGSTON  CAMPBELL  (de- 


ceased), in  his  day  an  honored  and  wor- 
thy citizen  of  the  town  of  Unionvale,  Dutchess 
county,  was  born  March  23,  1829,  in  the  town 
of  Pawling,  in  the  same  county.  He  was  a 
grandson  of  Archibald  Campbell,  who  followed 
farming  and  merchandising  throughout  life. 
He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Mitchell,  of  Pough- 
keepsie,  Dutchess  county,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  ten  children,  as  follows:  (i)  Cap- 
tain Archibald  married  Miss  Samantha  Sher- 
man. (2)  Mary,  born  in  Pawling,  wedded 
Benjamin  Hurd,  and  they  had  six  children — 
Harriet  E.,  who  married  Leonard  Hall;  Irving, 
who  married  Miss  Howard;  William  T. ;  Mrs. 
Mary  J.  Brill;  Stacia,  who  married  Jerome 
Dodge;  and  Julia.  (3)  Harriet  Louise  mar- 
ried Dr.  Fowler,  and  they  had  one  son — Archi- 
bald, who  also  became  a  physician;  after  the 
death  of  her  first  husband  she  married  Rev. 
John  Pierpont,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
John  Pierpont  Morgan,  the  great  railroad  magj 
nate.  (4)  Stacia  married  Cushen  Green.  (5'i 
Jane  became  the  wife  of  Rev.  Dr.  Foss,  fathei 
of  Archibald  Campbell  Foss,  and  Cyrus  Foss, 
Methodist  Episcopal  Bishops.  (6)  Catherine! 
married  Haxton  Van  Deburg.  (7)  Duncan  wa;' 
the  father  of  our  subject.  (8)  Sarah  married;; 
Mr.  Merrick.  (9)  Thomas  Clement  marriec 
Cordelia  Noxon;  he  was  district  attorney  o 
Poughkeepsie  some  time,  but  now  a  prominen 
lawyer  of  New  York;  (10)  Eliza  married  Mrj 
Calhoun. 

Duncan  Campbell  was  born  and  educate  j 
in  the  town  of  Pawling,  and   also  at  Pough' 
keepsie  Academy,  and  engaged  in  farming  i 
Pawling,  becoming  quite  prominent  in  businesi 
affairs.     He  married  Amanda  Ferris,  and  fiv 
children  graced  their  union:     Amanda  Ferri: 
Henry    Livingston;  Priscilla;   Harriet    Louisi 
who  died  when  young;  and  Duncan,  who  die 
in  infancy. 

Henry  Livingston  Campbell  was  educate 
at  Pawling  and  Amenia.  As  a  lifework  t 
took  up  the  occupation  of  farming,  in  whi( 
he  was  successful.      In  public    affairs  he  to( 


HENRY    L.    CAMPBELL. 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  BECORB. 


587 


m  active  and  leading  part,    and  by  his  fellow 
-.itizens  was  called  upon  to  fill   such  offices  as 
upervisor,  justice  of  the  peace,  and  others  of 
:qual  honor  and  trust,  the  duties  of  which  he 
lischarged   in  an  able  manner.      He   married 
rliss    Emeline    C.  Collins,    and    five   children 
vere  born  to  them,  as  follows:     (i)    Duncan 
/as   educated   at  Helmuth   College,   London, 
)ntario,  Canada,   and  at  the  Bisbee  Military 
chool,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ,  graduating  with 
16  highest  honors,   in    1874;  he    is    now    en- 
aged  in  operating  the   home  farm,   also  the 
ither's    farm    in     Pawling.      (2)    Ada    Ferris 
ampbell    was     educated    at    Linden     Hall, 
oughkeepsie,  and  Helmuth  College;  she  mar- 
ed  I.  Reynolds  Adriance,  a  manufacturer  of 
oughkeepsie,  by  whom  she  has  two  children 
-Marion  C.  and  John  P.     (3)  Elizabeth  Bor- 
;n  Campbell  was    educated  at  Linden  Hall, 
Dughkeepsie;  she  is  now  the  wife  of  Albert 
driance  Simpson,  superintendent  of  the  Buck- 
ve  Binder  Department  of  the  Adriance   Piatt 
•  Co.,  manufacturers  of  mowers,  reapers  and 
Inders,  of  Poughkeepsie,  by  whom  she  has  one 
sn — Albert    Adriance.      (4)     George    Collins 
<ii;d  in  infancy.      ( 5)  Harry  Borden  died  at  the 
4e  of  four  years. 

'  Hezekiah  Collins,  the  paternal  great-grand- 
f  her  of  Mrs.  Campbell,  was  the  son  of  Heze- 
iih  Collins,  who  was  the  son  of  Humphrey 
Cllins.  Hezekiah  was  the  father  of  eight 
cildren:  Hezekiah,  Joseph,  Solomon,  Joshua, 
Sonuel,  Jabez,  Nathan  and  Mary.  The  last 
n:ned  Hezekiah  Collins  was  the  grandfather 
o, Mrs.  Campbell.  He  was  born  December 
'  '739.  and  in  1765  married  Miss  Rhoda 
E.~ketson,  whose  birth  occurred  August  8, 
iiiS.  Their  family  included  thirteen  children: 
Gtherine.  born  in  1767,  married  Zachariah 
Figler;  Meredith,  born  in  1768,  married  Gen. 
Erker;  Mary,  born  in  1770,  married  David 
A'old;  Lydia,  born  in  1772,  married  Martin 
Eughty;  Elizabeth,  born  in  1774,  married 
a'?r.  Manney,  of  Poughkeepsie;  Phcebe,  born 

776,  married  Jacob  Doughty;  Rhoda,  born 

777,  married  Morton  De  la  Vergne;  Ricket- 
born  in   1779,  married   Elizabeth  Robin- 

sc.;  Martha,  born  in  1781,  married  Gurline 
A<:erman;  Ann,  born  in  1784,  married  Dr. 
Brows;  Gilbert,  born  in  1786,  married  Miss 
Sian  Bogart;  George,  born  in  1788,  was  the 
fa  er  of  Mrs.  Campbell;  and  Lancelot  Wen- 
dfc  born  in  1792,  never  married. 

George  Collins,  the   father  of  Mrs.  Camp- 
^,  was  born  in  the  town   of   Unionvale,  at- 


tended the  schools  of  that  locality,  and  there 
engaged  in  farming  throughout  life.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  Borden,  by  whom  he  had 
three  children — Phebe  (i)  who  died  in  infancy; 
Phebe  (2)  who  married  (first)  Isaac  Ackerman, 
by  whom  she  had  three  children — Emma, 
George  C.  and  Jacob  H. — and  after  his  death 
wedded  Willis  Case,  by  whom  she  had 
two  children  —  Oscar  and  Olive  A.;  and 
Emeline  C. ,  who  was  born  in  Unionvale' 
April  22,  1835;  she  was  educated  in  Pough- 
keepsie and  New  York  City,  and,  as  already 
related,  married  Henry  Livingston  Camp- 
bell, the  subject  proper  of  this  review.  She 
is  a  most  estimable  lady,  whose  circle  of 
friends  is  only  limited  by  the  circle  of  her  ac- 
quaintances. The  Collins  family  crest  is  two 
doves  and  an  olive  branch,  emblems  of  love 
and  peace. 

Perry  Borden,  Mrs.  Campbell's  maternal 
grandfather,  was  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Peace 
Borden;  Perry  married  Phoebe  Sisson.  His 
nephew,  Simeon  Borden,  was  at  one  time  a 
member  of  the  Massachusetts  Legislature.  In 
1830,  Simeon  Borden  devised  and  constructed 
for  the  State  of  Massachusetts  an  apparatus 
for  measuring  the  base  line  of  the  trigono- 
metrical survey  of  that  State,  which  at  that 
time  was  the  most  accurate  and  convenient  in- 
strument of  the  kind  extant.  Mr.  Borden  as- 
sisted in  the  measurement  of  the  base,  and  in 
the  subsequent  triangulation.  In  1834  he  took 
charge  of  the  work  and  completed  it  in  1841. 
It  was  the  first  geodetic  survey  ever  completed 
in  this  country,  and  its  precision  has  since 
been  proved  by  the  coast  survey. 


J  JACKSON  GIDDINGS,  a  leading  citizen  of 
the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  who 
throughout  his  active  business  career  fol- 
lowed wagon  making,  is  descended  from  a 
family  that  for  many  years  made  their  home 
in  Connecticut. 

At  Chestnut  Sand,  in  that  State,  his  grand- 
father, William  Giddings,  was  born,  reared 
and  educated.  He  was  a  prosperous  tiller  of 
the  soil,  and  during  the  old  training  days 
served  as  captain  in  the  militia.  By  his  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Armida  Noble  he  had  eleven 
children:  (i)  George  married  Phcebe  Hunger- 
ford,  and  two  children  were  born  to  them — 
Orissa,  who  married  Nelson  Hoag;  and  Susan, 
who  married  Edwin  Hungerford.  (2)  William 
was  married,  and  had  two  children.    (3)  David 


588 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


married  Betsy  Salmon,  and  had  two  children 
-^Ammi,  who  married  Augusta  Page;  and 
David  B.,  who  married  Hannah  Beecher.  (4) 
Noble  remained  single.  (5)  Buell  was  the 
father  of  our  subject.  (6)  Daniel,  who  was 
born  in  Connecticut,  married  Betsy  Gorman, 
and  has  three  children — Ralph;  Jay;  and  Pau- 
Une,  who  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years. 
(7)  Sarah  married  Bennett  Picket,  and  had 
five  children — Noble,  who  married  Laura  Gid- 
dings;  William,  who  married  a  Miss  Stewart; 
Daniel;  Eunice,  who  married  David  Strong; 
and  Buell,  who  now  lives  at  Rockford,  111., 
and  is  nearly  eighty-six  years  of  age.  (8)  Dor- 
cas married  William  Leach.  (9)  Lucinda 
married  Abraham  Seaman,  and  had  seven 
children — Hannah,  who  married  Joshua  Mor- 
gan; Eliza,  who  married  Timothy  Holloway; 
David,  who  married  Malissa  Howard,  and  was 
elected  sheriff  of  Dutchess  county  in  the  early 
forties;  Nancy,  who  married  Archibald  Wing; 
Polly,  who  married  Benjamin  Soule,  and  they 
settled  in  Kent,  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn,  (they 
had  three  children — John,  Adaline  and  Sea- 
man; in  1835  they  removed  to  Chemung  coun- 
ty, N.  Y. ;  the  youngest  son.  Seaman,  now 
lives  in  Michigan);  and  Harvey  and  Permelia, 
who  remained  single.  (10)  Ann  became  the 
wife  of  John  Seeley,  and  has  four  children — 
Franklin,  who  never  married;  Morgan,  who 
married  Minnie  Page;  Abel  became  a  merchant, 
and  enlisting  as  a  soldier  during  the  Rebellion 
died  in  the  service;  and  Charlotte.  (11)  Lydia 
married  Samuel  Giddings,  and  has  seven  chil- 
dren— Rebecca,  who  married  Hiram  Giddings; 
Sallie  A.,  who  never  married;  Dorcas,  who 
married  William  Turner;  Alfred,  who  married 
Sophia  Picket;  Henry,  who  married  a  Miss 
Leach;  Ann,  who  remained  single;  and  Caro- 
line, who  married  David  Fuller. 

Buell  Giddings,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  September  20,  1781,  in  the  town  of 
Sherman,  Fairfield  Co.,  Conn.,  and  at  his  na- 
tive place  acquired  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools.  On  leaving  the  school  room  he 
learned  the  wagon  maker's  trade,  at  which  he 
worked  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  On  com- 
ing to  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  he 
established  business  at  Webatuck.  In  early 
life  he  was  connected  with  the  Whig  party, 
and  on  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party  joined  its  ranks,  ever  afterward  being 
one  of  its  stalwart  supporters.  By  his  fellow 
citizens  he  was  called  upon  to  fill  a  few  minor 
offices  in  the  town.      He   was  united  in  mar- 


riage with  Miss  Sarah  Reasoner,  daughter  ( 
Peter  and  Betsey  Reasoner,  farming  people  c 
the  town  of  Beekman,  Dutchess  county.  B 
this  union  five  children  were  born:  (i )  Adeli 
A.  married  Luther  Dutcher,  a  manufacturer,  0 
Dover,  by  whom  she  had  four  children — Hirair 
Gilbert,  George  and  William.  (2)  Jacksor 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  next  in  order  0 
birth.  (3)  Orin  N.  at  the  age  of  sixteen  wer 
to  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  clerked  in  a  drj 
goods  store,  and  married  Miss  Harriet  Cox;  i; 
1835  he  removed  with  her  father's  family  t 
Kalamazoo  county,  Mich.,  and  became  a  mci 
chant;  after  the  financial  crash  of  1837  he  er 
gaged  in  milling,  but  was  soon  after  electa 
clerkof  the  county,  and  removed  to  Kalamazoc 
where  he  is  now  engaged  in  the  insurance  an 
real-estate  business.  He  has  represented  h 
county  in  the  State  Legislature,  and  was  a( 
jutant-general  of  the  State  during  the  Ci\ 
war.  He  has  one  son,  Theron  F.,  now  Sta' 
commissioner  of  insurance  for  Michigan.  (4 
Martin  L.  learned  the  wagon-maker's  trac 
with  his  brother  Jackson,  but  did  not  follow  i 
becoming  a  cattle  drover.  He  married  Mi: 
Mary  Hoag,  and  died  in  1862,  leaving  r 
children.  (5)  William  M.,  the  youngest,  d 
not  marry. 

Jackson  Giddings  was  born  in  the  town  1 
Beekman,  Dutchess  county,  in  i8r2,  and  l 
the  common  schools  of  the  town  of  Dover  rj 
ceived  a  fair  English  education.  Learning  t  j 
wagon  maker's  trade,  he  followed  that  occup' 
tion  until  eighty  years  of  age,  since  which  tiii 
he  has  laid  away  business  cares,  and  is  nc 
enjoying  a  well-earned  rest.  In  early  life 
took  quite  a  prominent  part  in  public  affai 
and  served  as  assessor  and  in  other  toi 
offices.  His  ballot  is  always  cast  in  supportjf 
the  men  and  measures  of  the  Republican  parj. 
Mr.  Giddings  married  Miss  Deborah  Hoagi 
daughter  of  John  and  Delila  Hoag,  of  the  to  i 
of  Dover,  and  to  them  have  been  born  fi  r 
children:  (i)  John  H.  first  married  Amar  i 
Chase,  and  after  her  death  wedded  Mf.a 
Olivet;  (2)  Almira  became  the  wife  of  Jars 
Reynolds,  and  has  two  sons — Jackson  :d 
Harry  B.  (3)  George  W.  marriedjennie  V  - 
inger,  and  has  four  daughters — Grace,  boriii 
1886;  Almira  in  1887;  Laura,  in  1888;  id 
Hazel,  in  1891.  (4)  Andrew  completes  »e 
family. 

Mrs.  Gidding's  ancestors  have  long  bjn 
residents  of  Dutchess  county,  the  birth  of°f 
great-grandfather,  John  Hoag,  occurring  in« 


COMMEXORATIYE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


589 


itown  of  Dover,  where  he  engaged  in  farming. 

In  his  large  family  of  children  was  Nathaniel, 

an  agriculturist,  who  married  Mollie  Rowland, 

and  had  three  children:     Priner,  who  married 

Eliza  Griffin;  John,  father  of    Mrs.   Giddings; 

and  Deborah,  who  wedded  Russell  Tabor. 

I      John  Hoag   was   a  native   of  the  town  of 

Pover,    followed  general    farming   and    stock 

aising.      For  his   first  wife   he  married  Miss 

"3elia  Whitley,  and   to  them    were  born   five 

:hildren:     Almira,  who  married  Isaac  Geroe; 

Deborah,  wife  of  our  subject;  William,  who  first 

narried    Betsy   Baldwin,  and  after  her  death 

vedded    Phoebe     Bowman;    Elizabeth,     who 

lever   married;    and     Mary    J.,    who    wedded 

^iram    Whitley.     After     the    death    of    the 

riother  of  these  children,  Mr.  Hoag  was  united 

T  marriage  with  Phoebe  Preston. 


W  RTEMAS  SACKETT  BARTON,  a  valued 
P^  citizen  and  popular  business  man  of  Pine 
I'lains,  Dutchess  county,  is  a  native  of  Colum- 
bia county,  N.  Y.,  born   at   Ancram   October 
!o,  1838,  and  is  descended  from  an  old  English 
imily  that  long  made  their  home  in  Dutchess 
)unty.       His   great-grandfather    was    Josiah 
arton,  of  the  town  of  Stanford,  and  his  grand- 
ther,  Dr.  Leonard  Barton,  who  was  born  in 
at  town,  was  one  of   the   early  practitioners 
the  county. 

Dr.  Leonard  Barton  married  Rachel  Gale, 
anddaughter  of  William  Gale,  and  daughter 
Josiah  and   Rachel  (Mead)  Gale,  who  lived 
Stanford,  and  had  eight  daughters  and  two 
^^^,  as  follows:    Sarah   Gale,   born   October 
HB767,   married   Henry   Kinney;     Rebecca, 
rn   March  23,  1769,  married   Enoch  Good- 
ie;   Rachel,  born   February   2,   1771,  mar- 
1   Leonard   Barton;    Phebe,   born   April  6, 
"3,  married  Andrew  Finch;  Roba,  born  July 
1775,  married  Lewis  Austin;  Nancy,  born 
ril  19,  1777,  married  Henry  Griffin;  Betsey, 
n  April    19,  1779,  married    Nathan   Beck- 
^-h;    Clorinda,    born    November    12,     1783, 
I  fried   Ebe   Lete;    Josiah,  born   August    11, 
'■!6,   died   in    1809;     and   George  W.,   born 
1  camber  3,  178-,  married   Harriet   Sheldon. 
I    Leonard  Barton   and  his  wife   had  eleven 
Idren,  as   follows:     Hiram;    James  married 
rolineCanfield;  Nelson,  not  married;  George 
V  married  Elizabeth  Hoffman;    Josiah  mar- 
M   Eliza   Briggs;    Edward    married  Malissa 
I  Worthy,  of  Northeast  town;    Eliakim  mar- 
1  Tammy  Germond;  Julia  married   Morgan 


Hunting;  Sally  married  Anthony  Hoffman; 
Rachel  married  Stephen  Sackett;  Nancy  mar- 
ried John  Davis. 

George  W.  Barton,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  also  born  in  the  town  of  Stanford, 
Dutchess  county.  May  14,  1795,  and  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  He  became  quite 
wealthy,  owning  two  farms,  each  of  250  acres, 
in  Columbia  county,  one  in  the  town  of  An- 
cram and  the  other  on  Pugsley's  Hill,  the  old 
homestead.  He  was  a  man  of  great  natural 
ability,  and  was  essentially  self-made.  He 
was  identified  with  the  Democratic  party  in 
politics,  and  attended  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  died  September  17,  1872,  and  his  wife  died 
August  26,  1879.  He  had  married  Elizabeth 
Hoffman,  daughter  of  Henry  Hoffman,  who 
lived  near  Bethel,  N.  Y. ,  and  to  them  were 
born  nine  children:  Mariette,  born  March  i, 
1824,  married  Warden  Hiserodt,  of  New  York 
City,  and  died  September  12,  1873;  William 
H.,  born  August  25,  1825,  married  Cornelia 
Decker,  and  died  January  24,  1879;  George, 
born  May  19,  1827,  married,  first,  Sarah  Col- 
lins, and,  second,  Mary  French,  and  resides 
in  the  town  of  Northeast,  Dutchess  county; 
Catherine,  born  December  15,  1829,  wife  of 
William  McArthur,  of  Wisconsin;  Rachel, 
born  December  16,  1831,  married  James  Col- 
lins, of  the  town  of  Northeast;  Leonard,  born 
December  14,  1834,  married  Henrietta  Pulver, 
and  is  now  living  in  the  same  town;  Anthony 
H.,  born  July  4,  1836,  married,  first,  Emily 
Sackett,  and,  second,  Isaphene  Wilkinson,  and 
resides  in  Pine  Plains  town;  Artemas  S.,  sub- 
ject of  this  review;  and  Frederick,  born  May 
24,  1841,  married,  first,  Libbie  Hoysrodt,  and, 
second,  Zada  Tripp,  and  resides  at  the  old 
homestead  in  the  town  of  Ancram,  Columbia 
county,  which  he  owns,  and  also  a  half  inter- 
est in  the  old  Dr.  Barton  homestead  in  the  town 
of  Stanford.  The  children  were  lovers  of  mu- 
sic, especially  our  subject,  who  organized  a 
string  band,  called  "Barton's  Band,"  com- 
posed of  his  brother,  uncle  and  others,  and 
playing  for  nearly  all  the  public  and  private 
parties  in  northern  Dutchess  and  southern  Co- 
lumbia counties,  from  1865  to  1880,  the  music 
not  so  artistic,  but  the  prompting  excellent. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  such  as 
the  district  school  of  the  neighborhood  afford- 
ed, and  he  early  became  familiar  with  the  du- 
ties of  the  agriculturist.  Being  a  great  read- 
er, he  has  become  a  well-informed  man,  and 
is    posted  on  the  current  events  of  the   day. 


540 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPEICAL  RECORD. 


On  leaving  home  at  the  age  of  twenty-four,  he 
opened  a  general  store  at  Ancram  Lead  Mines, 
which  he  conducted  three  years,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  he  spent  in  Wisconsin  and  Iowa. 
He  was  then  with  the  Van  Ambergh  show  for 
a  year,  and  on  returning  to  Pine  Plains,  he 
worked  on  the  railroad  for  the  same  length  of 
time,  building  fences.  He  was  next  engaged 
in  the  commission  business,  dealing  in  coal 
and  hay  from  1882  until  1893,  when  he  re- 
moved to  his  present  site,  buying  a  part  of  the 
Clark  estate,  where  he  now  carries  on  the 
lumber  trade.  He  has  been  quite  successful, 
and  is  one  of  the  steady-going,  reliable  busi- 
ness men  of  Pine  Plains. 

Mr.  Barton  has  been  twice  married,  his 
first  wife  being  Anna  Rockafeller,  of  Columbia 
county,  who  died  in  1866.  For  his  second 
wife  he  chose  Jane  Tripp,  daughter  of  DeWitt 
Tripp,  who  has  lived  in  both  Pine  Plains  and 
Northeast  town,  Dutchess  county.  Two  chil- 
dren grace  this  union,  Carrie  and  Artie.  So- 
cially, Mr.  Barton  is  prominently  identified 
with  the  Masonic  order,  being  one  of  the  old- 
est members  of  Stissing  Lodge  No.  615,  F. 
&  A.  M.,  in  which  he  has  filled  nearly  all  the 
chairs.  He  is  a  stanch  adherent  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party.  For  three  terms  he  served  as 
'  justice  of  the  peace,  was  pathmaster  two 
years,  and  inspector  of  elections  for  a  number 
of  years  at  Pine  Plains;  while  in  Ancram  he 
served  for  about  three  years  as  town  clerk. 
He  takes  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs, 
and  earnestly  supports  measures  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  community.  He  attends  the  Method- 
ist Church. 

Henry  Hoffman,  father  of  our  subject's 
mother,  married  Catherine  Betesle,  and  lived 
in  Ancram,  Columbia  county.  They  had  the 
following  children:  Margaret,  born  Septem- 
ber 25,  1786,  married  Rowland  Sweet;  Cath- 
erine, born  October  12,  1788,  died  young; 
Eleaner,  born  December  28,  1790,  married 
Walter  Dorchester;  Henry  J.,  born  May  17, 
1793.  married  Almyra  Culver;  Polly,  born  Au- 
gust 27,  1795,  married  Jeremiah  Conklin; 
Catherine  (2),  born  January  28,  1798,  died 
young;  an  infant,  born  in  1799;  Betsey,  born 
May  28,  1800,  married  G.  W.  Barton;  Laura, 
born  June  23,  1803,  married  Artemas  Sackett; 
Anthony,  born  September  15,  1805,  married 
Sally  Barton.  The  father  of  this  family  was 
born  January  6,  1761,  and  died  in  1840;  the 
mother  was  born  January  6,  1762,  and  died  in 
1850. 


Anthony  Hoffman  resided  in  the  town  oj 
Pine  Plains,  and  he  and  his  wife  had  fou 
daughters  and  three  sons,  as  follows:  Henry, 
born  December  26,  1829,  married  Mary  A. 
Strever;  Sarah,  born  December  6,  1831,  mar- 
ried Herman  Snyder;  Leonard,  born  Novem- 
ber 24,  1833,  died  January  8,  1865;  Catherine, 
born  February  22,  1835,  married  J.  C.  Hoag; 
Julia,  born  October  30,  1837,  married  Ellas 
Halsted;  Laura,  born  January  20,  1840,  mar- 
ried Edgar  Eggleston;  and  Anthony,  born  Sep- 
tember 8,  1844,  not  married,  died  Novembei 
21,   1882. 


E\DWIN  SUTTON  (deceased)  was  a  popu 
;'  lar  citizen  of  the  town  of  Washington 

Dutchess  county,  where,  a  leader  among  men 
his  memory  is  held  in  reverence  and  honor 
Almost  his  entire  life  was  passed  in  Dutches 
county,  and  by  his  strong  force  of  characte 
and  undoubted  integrity  he  gained  the  confi 
dence  of  the  people.  His  death,  which  oc 
curred  September  16,  1887,  left  a  vacanc; 
difficult  to  fill,  and  it  was  considered  a  sever 
blow  to  the  material  and  moral  interests  of  th 
township. 

Mr.  Sutton  was  a  native  of   Brooklyn,  N 
Y. ,  born  in  1836,  and  was  a  son  of  Abraman; 
Jane    (Mabbett)    Sutton,    the   former  born  i 
Westchester  county,  N.  Y.,  and  the  latter  0 
Chestnut  Ridge,  in   the   town  of  Washingtor^ 
Dutchess  county.      Shortly  after  their  marriap 
his  parents  removed  to   the   farm  where  Ha 
cyon  Hall  is  now  located.     The  paternal  hous(, 
hold   included   six   children,    three  of   when 
however,  died  in  infancy.     The   two  brothe: 
of  our  subject  who   reached   adult  age  wen' 
William  H.  (now  deceased),  who  was  a  farmi 
and  merchant;    and  Franklin,  who  is  engagf 
in  the  insurance  business  in  Poughkeepsie,  Ne| 
York.  j 

When  but  two  years  old  Edwin  Sutton  w  1 
brought  by  his   parents  to   the  town  of  Was 
ington,  where   his  childhood  was   passed,  ai 
after  finishing  his  education  he  went  to  Nt 
York  City,  where  he  engaged  in  the  retail  fe 
business  for  several  years.     On  the  death 
his   father,  however,  he   returned  to  the  to^ 
of  Washington  and  took  up  farming,  which 
continued  until   his  death.      In  1878  Mr.  S' 
ton  married  Miss  Mary  L.  Donington,  who"' 
born  in   Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  and  is  the  daugh  • 
of  Henry  and  Mary  (Badgley)  Donington,  a  ) 
natives  of   Elizabeth,  where  the  father  li\i 


Cwrm,  KJy^^^-^^t^^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


541 


'itired.  Mrs.  Sutton  is  one  of  their  family  of 
ine  children.  The  father's  death  occurred 
I  1861,  while  his  wife  passed  away  in  1887. 
\.Q  was  a  son  of  Jacob  Donington,  also  a  na- 
ve of  Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  and  of  English  de- 
.:ent.  On  both  sides  of  the  family  Mrs.  Sut- 
\<n  is  descended  from  Revolutionary  heroes, 
iornelius  Badgley,  her  maternal  great-grand- 
ther,  having  been  an  officer  in  that  war,  and 
'illiam  Shute,  her  great-uncle  on  the  father's 
de,  was  a  major  in  the  same  struggle. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sutton 
cated  at  South  Millbrook,  where  Mrs.  Sut- 
n  still  makes  her  home.  They  became  the 
jirents  of  a  daughter,  Carrie  Donington,  born 
!  1879.  Our  subject  was  an  earnest  Chris- 
un  man,  taking  an  active  interest  in  religious 
ifairs,  as  an  adherent  of  the  Hicksite  faith, 
'lile  his  wife  holds  membership  with  the  Pres- 
1  terian  denomination.  His  political  views 
i;re  in  accordance  with  those  of  the  Repub- 
lan  party,  and  for  a  number  of  years  he 
srved  as  postmaster  of  South  Millbrook,  pre- 
\i)us  to  which  time  he  had  been  assistant 
fstmaster,  when  the  office  was  known  as 
'iVashington." 


H^IRAM  H.  BRIGGS,  a  general  merchant 
_  ^  of  Hyde  Park,  Dutchess  county,  has  done 
rich  to  promote  the  commercial  activity,  ad- 
V  ice  the  general  welfare  and  secure  the  ma- 
t  lal  development  of  the  place.  As  a  business 
n  n,  he  is  enterprising,  energetic  and  always 
a  east  with  the  times,  and  has  been  rewarded 
b  success  in  his  undertakings.  He  was  born 
iithe  town  of  Hyde  Park,  Dutchess  county, 
Ecember  27,  1834,  a  son  of  Stephen  D.  and 
Fttbe  T.  (Hewlett)  Briggs. 

His  father  was  born  in  1806,  and  was  the 
S'l  of  Stephen  Briggs,  Sr.  In  early  life  he 
foowed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer  in  the 
n  theast  part  of  the  town  of  Hyde  Park,  and 
tin,  after  living  for  a  time  in  Pleasant  Val- 
U  located  in  the  northwest  portion  of  the 
ti .n,  where  he  carried  on  the  same  occupa- 
tii.  In  1853,  however,  he  came  to  Hyde 
f:k,  where  for  twenty-five  years  he  engaged 
ir::ontracting  and  building,  which  business  he 
iwed  until  the  day  of  his  death,  dying  while 
liiis  work.  He  was  a  man  of  great  energy, 
b;:ame  a  successful  contractor  and  builder, 
a;i  was  widely  known  throughout  the  county, 
wiire  he  had  been  employed  in  the  capacity 
'  mover.     He    was   essentially    a  self-made 


man,  whose  success  was  well  deserved.  In 
politics  he  was  prominently  identified  with  the 
Republican  party,  and  served  his  fellow-citi- 
zens as  collector  of  Hyde  Park  and  school 
trustee.  He  was  reared  amid  the  Society  of 
Friends,  and  ever  held  to  that  faith.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Phcebe  T.  Hewlett,  daughter 
of  Samuel  Hewlett,  of  Hyde  Park,  and  to  them 
were  born  five  children,  who  grew  to  adult 
age:  Hiram  H.,  subject  of  this  sketch;  Mary 
J.,  wife  of  Coster  De  Groff;  Charlotte  H., 
who  married  Ulrick  Eshelman,  of  Poughkeep- 
sie,  but  is  now  deceased;  Sarah  B.,  twin  sister 
of  Charlotte,  who  married  Samuel  Gunn,  and 
is  also  deceased,  and  Martha  C,  deceased 
wife  of  De  Witt  C.  Degolier,  of  Poughkeepsie. 
The  father's  death  occurred  in  1878,  but  the 
mother  is  still  living. 

After  pursuing  his  studies  in  the  district 
schools  of  the  town  of  Hyde  Park  for  some 
time,  Hiram  H.  Briggs  entered  a  boarding 
school  at  Oswego  Village,  and,  on  completing 
his  education  at  the  age  of  twenty  years,  he 
was  well  fitteji  for  the  practical  duties  of  life. 
He  had  previously,  however,  clerked  in  the 
store  of  John  K.  Hewlett,  his  maternal  uncle, 
for  a  year  and  a  half,  and  later  was  with  that 
gentleman  for  about  a  year.  Going  to  New 
York  City,  he  took  a  clerkship  in  the  whole- 
sale dry-goods  establishment  of  Lewis  Havi- 
land  &  Co.,  where  he  remained  for  two  years 
and  a  half,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1863,  began 
clerking  for  H.  N.  Vedder,  in  the  store  which 
he  now  owns  at  Hyde  Park.  For  seven  years 
he  filled  that  position,  and  then  for  about  four 
months  was  in  a  grocery  store  in  New  York 
City;  but  the  following  winter  he  was  with  Uhl 
&  Husted,  of  Poughkeepsie.  The  next  year 
he  was  again  with  Mr.  Vedder,  after  which  he 
returned  to  New  York,  and  was  in  a  retail  gro- 
cery for  three  months.  Later  going  to  Dover 
Plains,  Dutchess  county,  he  there  remained 
for  two  years  and  a  half,  when  he  entered  the 
employ  of  Mark  H. [Hitchcock  of  Poughkeepsie, 
serving  in  that  position  for  four  months.  It 
was  January  i,  1886,  that  he  started  in  busi- 
ness at  Hyde  Park  as  a  general  merchant,  the 
firm  being  H.  H.  Briggs  &  Co.,  but  May  4, 
1895,  the  partnership  was  dissolved,  and  he  has 
since  been  alone  in  business.  He  now  has 
the  largest  store  in  the  place,  and  his  stock  is 
well  selected. 

The  record  of  Mr.  Briggs  is  that  of  a  man 
who  has  by  his  own  unaided  efforts  worked  his 
way   upward  to  a  position  of  affluence.      His 


642 


OOMMEMORATirS  BIOORAPffWAL  RECORD. 


life  has  been  one  of  industry  and  perseverance, 
and  the  systematic  and  honorable  business 
methods  which  he  has  followed  have  won 
him  the  support  and  confidence  of  many. 
Without  aid  of  influence  or  wealth,  he  has  risen 
to  a  position  among  the  most  prominent  busi- 
ness men  of  the  county,  and  his  native  genius 
and  acquired  ability  are  the  stepping-stones 
on  which  he  mounted.  He  is  an  attendant  of 
the  Episcopal  Church;  is  an  honored  member 
of  Poughkeepsie  Lodge  No.  266,  F.  &  A.  M.; 
and  in  political  affairs  takes  an  active  interest 
in  the  success  of  the  Republican  party,  which 
he  always  supports  by  his  ballot. 


WILSON  B.  STORM,  an  enterprising  and 
reliable  business    man    of    Stormville, 

was  born  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  Dutchess 
county,  June  28,  1868,  and  is  the  son  of  Joseph 
H.  Storm,  a  prominent  citizen  of  the  county. 
His  boyhood  and  youth  were  passed  upon  a 
farm,  and  his  education  received.in  the  district 
schools.  Later  he  was  a  student  in  the  Mount 
Beacon  Academy,  at  Fishkill-on-the-Hudson, 
and  subsequently  took  a  business  course  at  the 
Eastman  Business  College,  at  Poughkeepsie, 
graduating  with  the  class  of  1888.  On  laying 
aside  his  text  books  he  worked  on  the  farm  of 
his  grandfather  in  the  town  of  Beekman  for  six 
years. 

On  August  I,  1895,  Mr.  Storm  began  mer- 
chandising at  Stormville,  in  connection  with 
W.  J.  Storm,  one  of  the  leading  business  men 
of  the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  and  the  owner  of 
the  farm  on  which  is  located  Storm  Lake, 
which  is  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water  covering 
twenty-five  acres,  fed  by  springs,  and  in  which 
many  different  varieties  of  fish  abound.  Upon 
the  east  bank  of  the  lake  a  creamery  was  erect- 
ed and  put  in  operation  in  April,  1896,  and  to 
which  the  New  England  railroad  has  built  a 
side  track.  The  business  carried  on  by  these 
gentlemen  has  grown  to  extensive  proportions, 
and  they  deal  in  flour,  feed,  hardware  and 
agricultural  implements.  Since  April  i,  1896, 
Wilson  B.  Storm  has  laid  aside  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  now  devotes  his  whole  time  and 
attention  to  merchandising. 

On  October  24,  1895,  Mr.  Storm  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  T.  Berry,  a  native  of  the 
town  of  East  Fishkill,  where  her  father,  Edward 
W.  Berry,  engages  in  farming,  and  to  this  union 
has  been  born  one  child— Georgia  Sheldon- 


January  26,  1897.  Our  subject  is  a  stanc 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  was  electt 
supervisor  of  the  town  of  Beekman  in  1894,  • 
which  position  he  served  for  two  years  or  unt 
his  removal  to  East  Fishkill,  and  was  the  younj 
est  member  of  that  board.  In  social  as  we 
as  business  circles  he  holds  a  high  positioi 
and  is  a  young  man  of  more  than  ordinal 
ability.  Religiously,  Mrs.  Storm  holds  men 
bership  in  the  Reformed  Church  at  Hopewe 


©■ 


AVID  EDWIN  COLWELL.  a  highly  t 
^J)  teemed  resident  of  Matteawan,  Dutche  ^ 
county,  is  one  of  the  favored  few,  who,  1 
reaching  the  ordinary  limit  of  three-score  yes ' 
and  ten  finds  life  still  enjoyable,  old  age  bei 
but  the  harvest  time  for  their  previous  yes 
of  toil.  He  was  born  in  Pleasant  Valie 
Dutchess  county,  April  i,  1825,  and  is  a  d 
scendant  of  an  old  Scotch  family. 

His  direct  ancestors  lived  in  the  North 
Ireland  for  some  generations,  and  his  gre; 
grandfather  was  the  first  of  the  line  to  come 
America.  He  was  a  Protestant,  and  the  m 
jority  of  the  family  have  been  members  of  t' 
Methodist  Church.  Samuel  Colwell,  oursu| 
ject's  grandfather,  married  Mary  Smith,  who- 
brother  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutiona^ 
war.  Their  son  Archibald,  our  subject's  fat  I 
er,  married  Abigail  Hall,  and  had  eight  ch 
dren:  Calvin  Hubbard  (deceased);  Louis ■ 
now  Mrs.  Reed,  of  Moores  Mill;  Archibij 
L. ,  of  Verbank;  Samuel  Augustus,  of  Peori 
111.;  David  E.,  our  subject;  Julia  Ann,  iki 
Mrs.  Burnett,  of  Connecticut;  Mary  L.  Acl 
erman;  and  Sarah  A.   Seaman.  | 

When  David  E.  Colwell  was  six  years  (^ 
his  parents  moved  to  Verbank,  and  at  an  ea;| 
age  he  began  to  work  in  a  cotton  factory  the  ! 
which  was  the  first  of  its  kind  to  be  operatj 
in  this  State.  In  1845  he  went  into  the  sh^ 
business  with  his  brother  Archibald,  but  1 
1855  entered  the  service  of  the  Fishkill  Lai  • 
ing  Machine  Co.,  and  in  due  time  became i 
skilled  machinist.  For  a  short  time  he  vs 
employed  by  the  late  H.  N.  Swift,  in  the  m: 
ufacture  of  lawn  mowers,  and  then  he  mo\l 
to  Passaic,  N.  J.,  to  take  a  lucrative  positii 
with  the  New  York  Steam  Engine  Co.  Aff 
a  few  years  he  went  to  Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  aP 
was  engaged  in  Waring's  hat  factory  until 
retirement  from  active  business.  He  has 
sided  at  Matteawan  for  many  years,   and  i;:' 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


543 


hiding  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  there. 
•(I.January  14,  1847,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
ne  A.  Beach,  and  on  January  14,  1897,  they 
(ilebrated  their  golden  wedding  anniversary, 
imost  joyous  occasion.  They  have  two  sons, 
'infield  S.  and  Frank  W.,  both  residents  of 
^atteawan. 

I  Frank  W.  Colwell  was  born  in  Mattea- 
>in,  April  9,  1859,  and  after  receiving  an  ed- 
lation  in  the  public  schools  of  that  place, 
\:nt  to  Yonkers  to  learn  the  jewelry  and 
Mtchmaking  business  with  H.  F.  Von  Storch, 
\th  whom  he  remained  for  more  than  four 
jars.  He  then  worked  at  this  trade  in  various 
f  ices,  spending  some  time  with  the  Independ- 
et  Watch  Co.,  at  Fredonia,  N.  Y. ,  four  years 
vth  the  Waterbury  Co..  at  Waterbury,  Conn., 
ad  two  years  with  the  Cheshire  Watch  Co., 
Q Cheshire,  Conn.  In  1888  he  returned  to 
b.  old  home  and  engaged  in  business  for  him- 
s  f  in  a  small  way,  beginning  with  one  window 
iia  millinery  store  on  Main  street.  He  pros- 
p."ed,  and  after  seven  or  eight  months  he 
Rjved  into  a  more  convenient  store  in  a  new 
bilding,  and  has  since  carried  on  his  business 
tl^re  with  a  constantly  growing  patronage. 
I-s  store  is  fully  equipped  with  all  the  modern 
a  )liances,  and  a  complete  stock  of  watches, 
c::ks,  and  jewelry  of  all  kinds.  He  has  a 
pasant  home  at  No.  21  Vine  street,  but  in 
Jauary,  1895,  it  was  darkened  by  the  death 
oliis  beloved  wife,  Carrie  E.  Tiel,  to  whom 
h  was  married  November  10,  1880.  Four 
c.ldren  survive  her:  Minnie  A.,  Jennie  R., 
Fmces  B.  and  Edmund  T. 

Mrs.  Colwell  was  a  member  of  one  of  the 
It  ling  families  of  Matteavvan,  a  granddaugh- 
te  of  the  late  William  H.  Tiel,  and  a  daughter 
o:[.  William   Tiel,  a  well-known   hat   manu- 
faturer.     He  married  a  lady  of  English  de- 
^<ni.  Miss  Julia   Rogers,  a  native   of   Palen- 
Greene   Co.,   N.  Y. ,   and   both   are  still 
-;.     Of  their  eight  children  the   first  two 
the  last  died  in  infancy.      The  others  were 
Arthur  R.  Tiel,  Edson  L.,  J.  William.  Jr., 
e  E.  and  Minnie  A.      In  politics  Mr.  Col- 
is  a   Republican,    and    he    is    an    active 
er  in  the  M.  E.  Church,  holding  at  pres- 
he  office  of  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
j1.     He  is  much   interested  in   fraternal 
ty  work,   belonging  to  the   I.  O.  O.  F. , 
:j,'reen  Lodge,  in  which  he  has  been  a  trus- 
jr  six  years,  and  to  the  F.  &  A.  M.,  Bea- 
I-odge,  having  joined  the  Masonic  order 
e  residing  in  Cheshire. 


E 


'\DWARD  ANTHONY  UNDERHILL,  the 


genial  and  able  station  agent  at  Glenham, 
Dutchess  county,  is  also  well  known  in  busi- 
ness circles  in  that  locality,  being  an  extensive 
wholesale  and  retail  dealer  in  coal.  He  is  a 
native  of  New  Hackensack,  Dutchess  county, 
and  was  born  August  7,  1865.  the  son  of  Dr. 
Anthony  Underbill,  who  practiced  medicine 
successfully  at  New  Hackensack  for  more  than 
forty  years.  Dr.  Anthony  Underbill  first  saw 
the  light  November  12,  1818.  His  death  oc- 
curred September  4,  1889,  and  his  wife,  Char- 
lotte Augusta  Marvin,  who  was  born  Decem- 
ber 22,  1823,  survives  with  their  six  children: 
Charles,  George,  William,  Frank,  Lottie,  and 
Edward  A. 

Our  subject  availed  himself  of  the  usual 
district  school  advantages,  and  then  entered 
the  employ  of  his  brother  William  in  the  coal 
business  at  Fishkill.  After  one  year  he  went 
to  Hopewell  as  assistant  agent  at  the  Union 
Depot  for  the  N.  Y.  &  N.  E.  R.  R.  and  the 
N.  D.  &  C.  R.  R. ,  and  remained  seven  years, 
when  he  was  appointed  agent  at  Glenham  for 
the  N.  D.  &C.  R.  R.  In  the  same  year,  1890, 
he  purchased  the  coal  business  there  from  his 
brother  William,  and  has  combined  the  two 
enterprises  satisfactorily.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican. 

On  July  3 1,  1895,  Mr.  Underbill  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Jane  Edith  Schubert, 
daughter  of  Charles  E.  F.  and  Amelia  W. 
Schubert,  and  made  a  wedding  trip  to  Europe. 
Mr.  Underbill  was  one  of  the  lucky  ten  in  a 
voting  contest  for  a  tour  offered  by  the  New 
York  Press,  standing  second  on  the  list  with 
23,525  votes.  The  Press  gave  its  guests  first 
class  steamer  and  railway  tickets  and  hotel  ac- 
commodations, three  meals  a  day  being  pro- 
vided according  to  the  custom  of  the  hotel, 
and  every  other  necessary  expense  was  liber- 
ally met,  including  omnibuses  between  stations, 
piers,  and  hotels,  carriage  drives  to  points  of 
interest,  fees  to  hotel  servants,  railroad  por- 
ters, and  local  guides  and  care-takers,  while 
there  was  free  transportation  of  the  usual  al- 
lowance of  baggage  on  the  steamer,  and  fifty- 
six  pounds  on  the  railways.  An  experienced 
conductor  accompanied  the  party,  superintend- 
ing the  arrangements  throughout,  and  it  would 
have  been  impossible  to  secure  similar  privi- 
leges for  less  than  $800  each.  The  tourists 
left  >iew  York  August  3,  1895,  on  the  Cunarder 
"  Aurania  "  and  on  August  12  arrived  at  Liv- 
erpool, where  they  stopped  at  the  "Adelphia 


544 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Hotel."  On  the  same  day  they  went  to  Lon- 
don and  spent  five  days  there,  three  being 
given  up  to  carriage  drives  about  the  city;  here 
they  were  quartered  at  the  "Midland  Grand 
Hotel."  They  left  via  Harwich  for  Antwerp 
on  the  evening  of  August  17,  and  arriving  on 
the  following  day,  remained  until  the  afternoon 
of  the  19th,  when  they  made  the  trip  to  Brus- 
sels, which  occupied  one  hour.  A  carriage  drive 
there  on  the  20th  gave  them  a  view  of  the  main 
points  of  interest  in  the  city,  and  on  the  21st 
they  went  to  Rotterdam,  where  they  remained 
until  the  evening  of  the  22d.  The  next  two 
days  were  passed  at  the  Hague,  the  first  in  an 
extended  carriage  drive,  and  on  the  evening  of 
the  24th  they  went  to  Amsterdam,  where  the 
following  day,  Sunday,  August  25,  was  made  a 
day  of  rest  to  the  travelers,  fatigued  by  their 
continuous  sight  seeing.  An  early  train  took 
them  to  Cologne  on  the  26th,  and  that  day  was 
spent  in  visiting  the  wonderful  cathedral  and 
other  places  of  note.  On  the  27th  they  took  an 
express  steamer  on  the  Rhine  for  Mayence, 
and  on  the  next  day  continued  the  trip  by  rail 
to  Heidelberg,  and  after  a  short  stay  there 
they  went  to  Strasburg  by  an  early  afternoon 
train,  and  saw  the  great  wonder  of  that  city, 
the  Cathedral,  with  its  world-renowned  clock. 
August  29,  found  them  en  route  for  Paris,  and 
the  next  five  days  were  spent  there  at  the 
"Grand  Hotel,"  three  days  being  devoted  to 
carriage  drives,  and  on  the  evening  of  Sep- 
tember 3  they  started  via  Dieppe  for  London, 
where  they  spent  one  day,  leaving  in  the  even- 
ing for  Liverpool  to  embark  on  September  5 
on  the  Cunarder  "  Gallia,"  for  Boston.  They 
landed  there  September  15,  and  left  in  the 
evening  by  the  Fall  River  line  for  New  York 
City,  arriving  at  7:30  A.  m.  September  16. 

Mr.  Underbill  had  purchased  a  home  at 
Glenham  before  his  marriage,  and  on  their  re- 
turn he  and  his  wife  immediately  began  house- 
keeping. They  take  a  prominent  part  in  the 
social  life  of  the  village,  and  attend  the  Re- 
formed Dutch  Church. 


SILAS  E.  CARD  (deceased),  in  his  life- 
_;  time  a  prominent  citizen  of  Poughkeepsie, 
Dutchess  county,  and  a  member  of  a  well- 
known  firm  of  Satterlee  &  Card,  merchant 
tailors,  was  a  native  of  Ancram,  Columbia 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  born  July  18,  1845,  and  died 
March  27,  1896. 

He  came  of  old  pioneer  stock,  the  ances- 


tors of  the  American  line  being  two  brothei 
who  came  from  Ireland  in  1600  and  settled  i 
Rhode  Island.  Of  their  numerous  descendan 
many  came  west  from  time  to  time,  followin 
the  advancing  line  of  civilization,  and  Edso 
Card,  our  subject's  grandfather,  who  was  bor 
in  Connecticut,  became  one  of  the  early  sei 
tiers  of  Ancram,  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  whei 
he  was  engaged  in  farming.  He  married  Chaj 
lotte  Witheral,  and  had  nine  children:  Edsc 
(i)  (deceased),  Catherine,  Mary  (deceased 
Eton  H.,  Emma  (deceased),  Sarah,  Edson(2 
Charlotte,  and  William  (deceased). 

Edson  Card,  our  subject's  father,  was  boi 
November  29,  1817,  in  Ancram,  and  was  the: 
married  to  Miss  Mary  Miller,  who  was  born 
1 8 14,  a   daughter  of  Silas   Miller,  of  Copak 
Columbia  county,  who  was  of  Dutch  ancestr 
and  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer  ail  h 
life.     They  had  five  children:     Albert  M.,  ; 
attorney    of    New  York  City,  who    resides 
Sharon,  Conn.;    Silas  E.,  our  subject;  Lett 
H.,  born  in  1848,  now   a  resident  of  Pleasai 
Valley;     Charles    M.,    born   in    1850,    also 
Pleasant  Valley;  George,  born  in  1854,  an  a 
torney  at  Poughkeepsie;  and   Edson,  born 
1856,  who  was  graduated  from  the  College 
Physicians  and  Surgeons,  New  York,  in  188 
and   is   now  a   prominent   physician    at  Lai 
Mahopac,    Putnam    county   (he   married  Mi 
Cora  Badeau,  and  has  one  son,  Badeau  Card 
For  eight  years  after  their  marriage  our  su 
ject's   parents  lived  at  Ancram,  but  in   18. 
they  removed  to  a  farm   in  the  town  of  Stai 
ford,  Dutchess  county.      In  1869  they  went  1 
Pleasant  Valley,  there  to   pass  their  declini 
years.      The  father  was  a  man  of  influence  ; 
his  neighborhood,  possessing  the  esteem  of  j 
classes  of  people,  and  for  many  years  he  W| 
a  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  town  of  Pleasaj 
Valley,  and  held  the  office  of  assessor  for  ma  t 
years.     He  died  May  12,  1888;  his  widowi 
still  living  at  Pleasant  Valley. 

Silas  E.  Card  was  only  two  years  old  wh;! 
he  came  to  Dutchess  county,  and  he  was  ec  ■ 
cated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  vicinity  a  I 
and  in  the  seminary  at  Amenia.  In  1865  i 
came  to  Poughkeepsie  to  engage  in  businel 
and  after  spending  fifteen  years  in  the  store  1 
Seward  &  Hayt  he  bought  an  interest  in  Geo: 2 
P.Satterlee's  merchant-tailoring  establishme , 
at  No.  280  Main  street.  He  was  admira  / 
qualified  for  success  in  his  chosen  line,  a  1 
held  a  high  rank  among  the  enterprising  m  - 
chants  of  his  vicinity.      On  November  4,  18  , 


k 


i 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


545 


1  the  town  of  Stanford,  he  married  Miss  E. 
Selle  Ailing,  a  daughter  of  John  T.  and  Frances 
Mabbett)  Ailing,  and  five  children  were  born 
f  this  union:  John  A.,  born  May  20,  1877, 
raduated  from  the  Poughkeepsie  high  school 
t  the  age  of  sixteen,  and  is  now  completing 
lis  course  in  medicine  at  the  College  of  Physi- 
ans  and  Surgeons,  New  York;  Frank  M., 
ho  died  when  one  year  old;  Mary  E.,  born 
ecember  5,  1882;  George  H.,  born  July  17, 
^86;  and  Albert  N.,  born  May  14,  1890. 

In  politics  Mr.  Card  was  a  Democrat,  and 
;  took  an  influential  part  in  the  work  of  the 
ganization  in  his  locality.  He  was  the  can- 
date  of  his  party  for  mayor  in  1894;  but  that 
as  a  year  of  tribulation  for  Democrats,  and 
i:  with  all  the  others  on  the  ticket  suffered 
I  feat.  He  was  one  of  the  City  Alms  House 
(mniissioners  for  ten  years,  and  was  an  Ex- 
npt  Fireman  of  Phoenix  Hose  Company  No. 
lof  which  he  was  treasurer.  In  the  Masonic 
cier  he  was  a  member  of  Triune  Lodge  No. 
72,  Poughkeepsie  Chapter  and  Commandery, 
ad  of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  and  was  District 
I'puty  of  Dutchess  county.  He  was  a  promi- 
nat  member  of  Washington  street  M.  E. 
Curch,  at  the  time  of  his  death  holding  the 
oca  of  steward. 


J 


.MES  HENRY  HIGNELL,  the  junior 
member  of  the  firm  of  McFarlane  &  Hig- 
nell,  the  well-known  boiler  manufacturers, 
0  ""ishkill  Landing,  Dutchess  county,  is  among 
tl  most  prominent  of  the  younger  business 
nil  of  that  place. 

The  family  name  is  English  in  its  origin, 
ail  our  subject's  paternal  grandfather,  Joseph 
H;nell,   came   from    England  in  early    man- 
ht'd,  and  was  married  in  this  country  to  Mrs. 
R:hel  Lawson,  a  widow.      Their  son,  Daniel 
LHignell,  our  subject's  father,   was  born  at 
B;negat,   N.  Y.,   April  28,  1833,   learned  the 
'>'  ksmith's  trade    in   youth,  and  is  now  the 
kill  Landing  Machine  Company's  foreman. 
ii  married   Miss  Mary  Odell,  who  was  born 
N"  ember   23,  1832,  near  Cold   Spring,    Put- 
county,  the   daughter  of  Elijah  and  Sa- 
a  (Perry)  Odell.     The  Odell  family  is  an 
-nt  one,  and  this  branch  was  established 
inais  country  in  Colonial  times.      Our  sub- 
jei  was  the  eldest  of  three  children,  the  others 
beg  Millard    Fillmore    Hignell;  and   Mamie, 
wl  married  James  E.  Tomlins,  and  resides  at 

TiedoPark. 
35 


James  H.  Hignell  was  born  at  FishkilK 
Landing,  October  22,  1856.  He  has  been 
identified  with  the  village  all  his  life,  receiving 
his  education  in  the  public  schools,  and  at 
thirteen  entering  upon  his  practical  business 
career.  Until  the  age  of  eighteen  he  worked 
at  different  employments,  and  then  followed 
theharness  maker's  trade  about  sixyears;buthis 
health  becoming  impaired  he  left  this  occupa- 
tion in  1880,  to  take  a  position  as  bookkeeper 
with  the  late  John  J.  Herley,  the  boiler  manu- 
facturer. On  the  death  of  Mr.  Herley  in  the 
spring  of  1892,  Mr.  Hignell  formed  his  present 
partnership,  and  purchased  the  business  from 
the  estate.  Their  work  embraces  not  only 
boiler-making,  but  the  manufacture  of  tanks 
and  everything  in  that  line,  and  their  trade  is 
extensive,  reaching  throughout  New  York  State 
and  to  various  portions  of  the  South  and  West. 

On  February  2,  1881,  Mr.  Hignell  married 
Miss  Kate  Chase,  a  native  of  Glenham,  N.  Y. 
Her  father,  Henry  Chase,  came  from  Switzer- 
land; her  mother,  Ann  Roe,  from  Ireland,  and 
their  marriage  took  place  at  Fishkill  Landing. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hignell  are  prominent  members 
of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  at  Fishkill 
Landing,  and  are  interested  in  all  that  pertains 
to  social  and  religious  progress.  They  have 
one  daughter,  Lelia  Ella,  born  August  17, 
1887. 

Politically  Mr.  Hignell  is  a  Republican. 
He  is  a  charter  member  of  River  View  Lodge 
No.  560,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  has  passed  through  the 
chairs,  and  is  now  trustee  and  treasurer.  On 
June  18,  1896,  he  helped  to  organize  a  lodge  of 
the  Improved  Order  of  Redmen  at  Fishkill 
Landing,  and  was  elected  to  the  order  of 
Sachem.  On  March  18,  1897,  he  was  elected 
treasurer  of  the  general  hospital  of  the  town  of 
Fishkill,  N.  Y. ;  was  also  elected  treasurer  of 
the  executive  committee. 


TLLIAM  E.  HAVENS,  the  efficient  su- 
l[W  perintendent  of  the  Fishkill  Electric 
railway  and  the  Citizens  Electric  railway  of 
Fishkill-on-Hudson,  is  one  of  the  rising  young 
practical  electricians  of  his  locality.  His  al- 
ready wide  and  varied  experience  in  the 
mechanical  arts  has  especially  fitted  him  for 
the  understanding  of  the  difficulties  which  at- 
tend the  application  of  electricity  to  business 
uses,  while  he  possesses  also  rare  gifts  as  an 
organizer  and  manager  of  men. 

He   is   a   son   of    William    H.   and  Anna 


64S 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPUICAL  RECORD. 


(Dixon)  Havens,  and  grandson  of  Edward 
Havens.  His  father,  who  is  a  native  of 
Oswego,  N.  Y. ,  born  July  4,  1840,  is  now  a 
well-known  engineer.  He  had  three  sons — 
Frederic  Dare  Havens,  Charles  P.  and  William 
E. — and  one  daughter — Jennie  Lee.  Our 
subject  was  born  in  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  August 
24,  1863.  His  early  education  was  obtained 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city,  also  in 
Rome,  N.  Y. ,  and  at  the  age  of  thirteen  he 
began  to  learn  photography,  at  which  he 
worked  for  about  three  years.  He  then  spent 
a  number  of  years  in  different  pursuits,  learn- 
ing in  each  one  some  lessons  which  were  to 
prove  of  benefit  in  after  life,  possibly  in  unex- 
pected ways.  He  spent  one  year  in  a  machine 
shop,  three  years  in  the  business  of  steam  en- 
gineering at  Rome,  two  years  as  special  col- 
lector of  the  Howe  Sewing  Machine  Co.,  two 
years  in  the  National  Express  Co.,  and  one 
year  with  the  Edison  Electrical  Illuminating 
Co.,  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.  He  then  went  to 
Syracuse,  N.  Y. ,  and  passed  two  years  in  the 
employ  of  the  Third  Ward  Electric  Street 
Railway  Co.,  and  their  successors,  the  Consol- 
idated Street  Railway  Co.,  and  later  held  the 
position  of  night  engineer  of  the  New  York 
Central  &  Hudson  River  railroad  depot  at 
Syracuse  for  six  months.  On  July  6,  1892, 
he  came  to  Matteawan  as  electrician  for  the 
Citizens  and  the  Fishkill  Electric  Railway 
Companies,  and  in  September,  of  the  same 
year,  he  was  appointed  superintendent  of 
those  lines. 

Mr.  Havens  has  a  pleasant  residence  on 
Main  street,  Fishkill-on-Hudson.  His  wife, 
whom  he  married  June  10,  1885,  formerly 
Miss  Minnie  E.  Moore,  is  a  daughter  of  An- 
drew W.  and  Ovanda  (Craig)  Moore,  of  Cohoc- 
ton,  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  and  they  have  three 
children:  Catherine  E.,  Jennie  Lee  and  Will- 
iam Henry.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Havens  are  prom- 
inent members  of  the  Episcopal  Church  at 
Fishkill,  and  are  ever  ready  to  sustain  any  pro- 
gressive movement.  In  politics  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  he  also  takes  an  active  interest  in 
fraternal  society  work  as  a  member  of  Melzin- 
gah  Lodge  No.  304,  K.  of  P.,  and  Court  Bea- 
con No.  296,  F.  of  A. 


B BENJAMIN   HAMMOND,  one  of  the  resi- 
!)  dents  of  the  village  of  Fishkill-on-Hudson, 

Dutchess  county,  is  the  proprietor  of  the  exten- 
sive establishment  known  as  Hammond's  Slug 


Shot  and  Paint  Works,  and  a  manufacturer  anc 
wholesale  dealer  in  paints,  oils,  chemicals  am 
similar  commodities,  his  trade  extending  in  hii 
specialties  to  all  parts  of  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Hammond  was  born  in  Kidderminster 
Worcestershire,  England,  July  12,  1849.     Hi: 
father,  Benjamin  Hammond,  the  son  of  Lev 
Hammond,  was  born  in  that   locality  in  1817 
and  in  1 848  married  Miss  Mary  Twemlow,  foi 
his  second  wife.     Our  subject  is  the  oldest  o 
the  five  children   of   this   union,  the  names  0 
the    others    being    Mary,    Levi,    Sophia   ani 
Sophronia  Warren.      In  1855   the  father  cam 
to    America,    bringing    his    family,    and   afte 
locating  for  a  time  in   New  York  City,  he  re 
moved  to  Carlinville,  Macoupin  Co. ,  111.,  wher 
he  remained  until   1858.      Returning  east,  h 
made  his  permanent  home  in  Brooklyn,  wher 
he  died  in   November,  1876.     The  son  bega 
his  business  life   with  Lazell,  Marsh  &  Card: 
ner,  at  No.  10  Gold  street.  New  York  City,  a 
office  boy,  and  after  nine  years  with  them  b 
went,  in  1873,  to  Mt.  Kisco,  in  company  wit 
Charles  S.  Ware,  who  had  purchased  the  dru 
business  of  Mrs.  Dr.  Fenton,  a  sister-in-law  c 
the    late    Gov.   Fenton,   of    New  York.     Th 
business   was  continued   and   developed  unt 
the  fall  of  1884,  when  Mr.  Hammond  remove 
to  Fishkill  Landing  and  founded  his  presei 
establishment.      Mr.  Hammond  is  one  of  tt 
pioneers  in  the  United  States  in  the  manufa 
ture  of  economic  insecticides,  and  this  partic^ 
lar  branch  of  his  business  is  known  all  over  tl; 
world,   as    he    ships    his   product    to   Lond<i 
(England),    Auckland    (New   Zealand),    No'| 
Scotia,  and  all   other  parts  of  Canada.     H 
works  are  located  on  the  N.  E.  corner  of  Loi 
Dock   Landing,    opposite   the  N.   Y.  &  N.  1 
depot,  and  near  the  H.  R.  R.  depot  and  Nc 
burg  Ferry,  and  the  business  under  his  jud 
cious  and  vigorous  management  has  been  •! 
the  increase  ever  since   its  establishment.     | 
politics  Mr.    Hammond  is   a  Republican. 
Mount  Kisco,  Westchester  county,  in  conni 
tion  with  Stephen   and  Samuel  Carpenter,  ; 
established  a  local   newspaper,    known  as 
Mount  Kisco  Weekly,  of  which  he  was  the  <!• 
itor  for  several  years.      He  was    chairman  ; 
the  Republican  town  committee,    was  elecil 
justice  of  the  peace  of  the  town  of  NewCastl 
and  a  member  of  the  board  of  education  of  } 
Mount  Kisco  Union  Free  School  District.    1 
the  incorporation  of  the  village  of  Mount  Ki  J 
he  took  an  active  part,   and  obtained  the  j- 
briquet  of  "  Prime  Mover."  I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


547 


In  Mount  Kisco   Mr.  Hammond  met   Miss 

sabel    Monilaws    (who    subsequently   became 

lis  wife),  a  woman  of  refinement  and  culture, 

he  daughter  of  the  Rev.  George  Monilaws,  of 

lomers,  Westchester  county,  in  which  village 

he  was  born.     They  were   married   by  Rev. 

i)r.  C.  W.  Baird,  of  Rye,   July  25,  1875,  and 

'tiree   daughters,    all    born    in    Mount    Kisco, 

ere  the  issue  of   this  marriage:     Marion  Isa- 

el,  Grace  Twemlow,  and  Elsie.      Mrs.  Ham- 

lond  died  at  her  home,    "  Spy  Hill,"  Fishkill 

.anding,  N.  Y.,  May  28,  1892,  and  was  buried 

1  the  Fishkill  Rural  Cemetery,  Fishkill,  N.  Y. 

•n  April  6,    1897,   Mr.    Hammond  was  again 

larried,  his  second  wife  being  Miss  Laura  An- 

iony,daughter  of  the  late  Richard  Kip  Anthony 

nd  Ann  Bowie  Dash,  of  New  York,  the  cere- 

ony    having  been    performed  by    the    Rev. 

harles  W.  Fritts,  D.  D.,  of  Fishkill-on-Hud- 

>n,  New  York. 

Mr.  Anthony  took  up  the  ordinary  duties 

a  good  citizen,  and  interested  himself  in  the 

;velopment    of    his    locality.     In    October, 

iSg,    at    the    formation    of  the   Union    Free 

i:hool  District  of   Fishkill   Landing,  he  was 

<!2Cted  a  memberof  the  boardof  education,  and 

{  clerk  to  the  board  took  a  leading  part  in  the 

janning  and  building  of  the  splendid   school 

I  ilding  which  was  erected  in    1890-91.      In 

X  Mr.  Hammond  was  elected   president  of 

i  •  board.     For  three  successive  terms  he  was 

feted    president    of   the    village    of    Fishkill 

linding,  and  close  attention  to  all  the  details 

( the  position  was  the  marked  peculiarities  of 

\  term  of  service.      He  has  served  as  town 

editor,  and  while  a  pronounced    temperance 

rin  was  elected,  after  a  hard  contest,  a  mem- 

1"  of   the   Town   Board    of  Excise,   with    a 

'  idsome  majority.     The  village  of  Fishkill, 

luse  of  its  situation   between  great    brick 

}  ds,  is  proverbial  for  its  many  saloons  and 

li  lor  shops.      Mr.  Hammond  is  a  member  of 

Reformed  Dutch  Church,  and  an  officer  of 

same,    being   for   years   a    Sunday-school 

her,  a  deacon  and  an  elder.    His  residence 

nely  located  on  Park  avenue,    overlooking 

•burg  Bay,  surrounded  with  ample  grounds, 

!-kept  and  planted  with  beautiful  flowers, 

sbs  and  hedges. 


( 


ILMAN  D.    HOLMES,  a  prominent  citi- 
zen of  Matteawan,  Dutchess  county,  has 
n  for  many  years  the   master  mechanic  of 
N.  D.  &  C.'  R.  R.,  in  charge  of  the  build- 


ing and  repair  shops  at  Dutchess  Junction, 
and  has  proved  himself  an  able  executive  of- 
ficer in  that  department,  uniting  in  a  rare  de- 
gree practical  knowledge  of  the  details  of  the 
work  with  the  faculty  of  managing  effectively 
a  large  force  of .  men. 

He  is  a  "Yankee"  by  birth,  his  parents, 
Lewis  and  Mittie  (Osgood)  Holmes,  being  resi- 
dents of  Francestown,  N.  H.,  where  his  fa- 
ther was  a  well-known  farmer  and  miller. 
There  were  three  children:  Sarah  A.,  Mason, 
and  Oilman  D. 

Oilman  D.  Holmes  was  born  November 
29,  1842.  The  public  schools  of  his  native 
place  furnished  educational  advantages,  of 
which  he  made  good  use  until  he  was  twenty 
years  old,  when  he  began  to  learn  the  trade  of 
machinist  in  the  railroad  shops  of  the  N.  N. 
H.  R.  R.,  now -the  Boston  &  Maine  R.  R. 
Eight  years  there  gave  him  a  thorough  mas- 
tery of  the  business  in  all  its  branches,  and  he 
then  came  to  Dutchess  Junction,  and  was  em- 
ployed by  the  N.  D.  &  C.  R.  R.  for  about 
fifteen  years  before  his  appointment,  in  1885, 
to  his  present  responsible  position  in  the  car 
shops.  His  ten  years  of  faithful  work  in  that 
place  completes  a  term  of  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury in  the  service  of  the  same  road.  He  is 
loyal  to  the  interests  of  his  fellow  workers  as 
well  as  to  his  employers,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Engineers. 

Mr.  Holmes  married  Miss  Emma  S.  An- 
son, daughter  of  Nathan  Anson,  a  native 
of  Stanfordville,  and  his  wife,  Catherine 
(Cashner),  a  descendant  of  a  well-known 
family  of  Rhinebeck.  The  pleasant  home  of 
our  subject  on  Ackerman  street,  Matteawan, 
is  gladdened  by  one  son,  Lewis  A.,  born  in 
1884.  In  politics  Mr.  Holmes  is  an  independ- 
ent voter,  supporting  either  party  under  vary- 
ing circumstances  as  his  conscience  dictates. 
He  and  his  wife  are  Methodists  in  faith,  and 
take  a  generous  interest  in  the  work  of  the 
Church  at  Matteawan. 


S\AMUEL  BRYANT,  a  well-known  citizen 
)  of  Matteawan,  Dutchess  county,  was  born 
February  10,  1833,  in  Gloucestershire,  Eng- 
land, where  his  family  has  resided  for  many 
generations.  His  grandfather,  Richard  Bry- 
ant, was  a  prosperous  hat  manufacturer  there, 
and  his  four  sons — George,  Jonathan,  Samuel, 
and  Henry — all    lived    and   died  in  England, 


548 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


and  were  highly  esteemed  members  of  the 
Established  Church. 

Jonathan  Bryant,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  at  the  old  home,  and  learned  the  hatter's 
trade  in  his  father's  factory.  He  followed  this 
business  successfully  until  his  death,  in  1875; 
his  wife,  Esther  (Gardner),  a  native  of  the 
same  place,  died  in  1883.  Her  father,  George 
Gardner,  was  also  engaged  in  hat  manufactur- 
ing. Of  the  thirteen  children  of  this  union, 
nine  are  living:  (i)  George  (deceased)  was  a 
hatter  in  Matteawan,  where  his  son,  Albert  R. 
Bryant,  still  resides;  (2)  Mary  A.,  a  twin  of  (3) 
Samuel,  our  subject,  married  John  Skidmore, 
of  England,  and  lives  in  that  country;  (4) 
Esther  married  John  Connells,    of   Australia; 

(5)  Henry  is  a  resident    of   Sydney,  Australia; 

(6)  Richard  lives  at  Yonkers,  N.  Y. ;  (7)  West- 
ley  resides  in  Sydney.  Austtalia;  (8)  Albert 
died  in  England;  (9)  Clara  married  (name  not 
given),  of  London;  (10)  Eving  and  (11)  Jona- 
than live  in  England;  (12)  Luke  and  (13) 
Richard  died  in  infancy. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  reared  in 
Gloucestershire,  England,  learning  the  anees- 
tral  occupation,  in  which  he  engaged  in  early 
manhood.  In  1855  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  his  first  designation  being  Yonkers, 
N.  Y.  He  remained  there  only  a  few  days, 
and  then  went  to  Riverstreet,  N.  J.,  and 
worked  at  his  trade  for  a  short  time.  In  1856 
he  made  his  permanent  home  at  Matteawan, 
engaging  first  in  the  hatter's  business,  but  since 
1885  he  has  conducted  a  saloon.  He  was 
married,  in  1857,  to  Miss  Charlotte  GiiTord, 
a  native  of  England  and  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
Gifford.  They  have  had  six  children:  Mar- 
tha M.,  now  the  wife  of  Fred  Moore,  of  Mattea- 
wan; Clara  (Mrs.  Richard  Van  Voorhis),  of 
the  same  place;  Jane  (Mrs.  George  Van  Ors- 
dale),  also  of  Matteawan;  Evan  and  Edward, 
who  are  in  the  saloon  business  at  Fishkill 
Landing;  and  Lizzie,  at  home.  The  family 
attend  the  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Byrant  has 
many  friends,  and  takes  a  loyal  interest  in 
public  questions,  voting  independently  both  on 
local  and  national  issues. 


E\  LAKIN  TOMPKINS,    one  of   the    most 
y  prominent  residents  of   Fishkill-on-Hud- 

son,  Dutchess  county,  and  the  able  manager 
of  the  Dutchess  Hat  Works,  was  born  in  Ash- 
land, Greene  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  9,  1842. 

His  family  is  of  English  origin,  and  he  is  of 


the  fifth  generation  in  direct  descent  fro 
Stephen  Tompkins,  who  came  to  America  i 
Colonial  times,  and,  after  a  short  residence  ; 
Connecticut,  settled  in  Winchester  count 
N.  Y.,  where  he  and  two  of  his  sons  did  goc 
service  on  the  side  of  the  colonies  all  throug 
the  Revolutionary  war.  He  had  sixteen  chi 
dren,  and  his  remote  descendants  are  vei 
numerous.  One  of  his  grandsons,  Daniel  E 
Tompkins,  was  vice-President  of  the  Unite 
States  from  18 16  to  1820,  and  many  othc 
members  of  the  family  have  held  positions  c 
honor  and  usefulness.  The  great-grandfathe 
of  our  subject,  James  Tompkins,  supposed  t 
be  a  son  of  Stephen,  rendered  important  serv 
ice  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  served  i 
the  Seventh  Dutchess  County  Regiment  unde 
Col.  Henry  Luddington,  and  in  the  compan 
commanded  by  Capt.  George  Lane.  His  sor 
Solomon,  our  subject's  grandfather,  was  on 
of  the  earliest  settlers  at  Ashland,  being  ac 
companied  by  his  son,  Solomon  (2),  father  c 
our  subject,  who  became  a  prominent  farme 
there  and  married  Elizabeth  Randall,  who  sui 
vives  him  and  now  resides  at  Matteawan. 

E.  Lakin  Tompkins   was  educated  in  th 
public  schools  of  Ashland,  and  in  Septembe 
1862,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  went  to  Matteawa 
to  work  for  the  Seamless  Clothing  Manufactu 
ing  Co.,  with  whom   he  remained  eight  year; 
He  then  clerked  for  a  year  or  two  in  a  clothir 
store  belonging  to   his  brother  Lewis,  and  : 
1872    he    and    John    F.  Gerow  purchased  h 
brother's  interest.      He  disposed  of  this,  hov 
ever,  and  in  July,  1874,  became  superintendei 
of   the    Dutchess    Hat    Works,    which    Lewi 
Tompkins  established  at  that  time.     Our  sulj 
ject   has    managed    this    extensive  plant  ev 
since,  and  much  of  the  time  it  has  been  und; 
his  sole  charge,  owing  to  the  ill  health  of  h 
brother  and  his  absence  abroad.     At  the  dea 
of  the  latter  Mr.  Tompkins  was  appointed  exe 
utor  of   his  estate.      An   able    business  ma 
displaying  in  every  enterprise,  energy  and  goij 
judgment,    Mr.   Tompkins    has   conducted 
assisted    in    various   successful  ventures.      I 
1889  he  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  the  nort| 
ern  part  of  the  village,  and  laid  it  out  in  fill 
building  lots,  many  of   which  have  been  sc 
and  are  now  occupied  by  dwelling  houses.    1 
is  a  director  of  the  First  National  Bank,  anc, 
trustee  of  the   Mechanics   Savings  Bank.     : 
politics  he  is  a  Republican.      In  1878  he  ^^i 
elected   trustee   of  the  village  of  Fishkili-(- 
Hudson,  was  re-elected  to  the  position  for  si- 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


549 


sral  years  in  succession,  and  served  one  year  as 
Dresident  of  the  village.  In  August,  1892, 
President  Harrison  appointed  him  postmaster 
pf  his  village,  and  this  position  he  held  four 
/ears,  three  and  one-half  years  under  President 
Cleveland's  administration.  For  ten  years  he 
Ivas  a  member  of  the  board  of  education,  being 
klected  term  after  term  successively;  but  early 
in  1896  he  resigned  on  account  of  the  demands 
'if  other  important  interests  upon  his  time. 

Mr.  Tompkins  has  a  beautiful  residence, 
■uilt  in  1893,  situated  on  High  street  andcom- 
landing  a  charming  view  of  the  river.  His 
,ife  was  formerly  Miss  Cordelia  E.  Knapp,  of 
rreenwich.  Conn.,  a  daughter  of  the  late  John 
;.  and  Joanna  Knapp.  Her  father  spent  his 
ist  days  at  their  home,  and  passed  from  earth 
"hursday,  March  12,  1896,  in  his  eighty-fifth 
ear.  Two  children  were  born  of  this  mar- 
age,  Reta  I.  and  Harry  K.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
ompkins  are  leading  members  of  the  M.  E. 
hurch,  and  he  is  especially  active  in  its  in- 
i:rest,- being  a  trustee  and  class  leader  at  pres- 
iit,  and  for  many  years  he  served  as  Sunday- 
fhool  superintendent.  He  has  been  a  Free- 
jason  for  about  thirty  years,  and  has  held  the 
ifice  of  master  in  Beacon  Lodge  No.  283,  F. 
■^  M.,  for  two  successive  terms. 

^DMUND  H.   SHEAFF,  the  superintend- 

^  ent  of  the  Fishkill  and   Matteawan  water 

irks,    and    widely   known  as  an    able    and 

^Icient  manager  of  large  enterprises,  was  born 

^Radnor,  Delaware  county,  Penn.,  June  29, 

150. 

His  family  is  of  English  origin,  and  he  is  a 
t  ect  descendant  of  Gen.  Sheaff,  of  the  Eng- 
I'h  army.  His  grandfather,  William  Sheaff, 
vs  a  wealthy  tanner  in  Pennsylvania,  and  his 
f|.her,  William  Sheaff,  Jr.,  born  in  1797,  was 
s(5rosperous  farmer,  and  also  a  prominent 
tsiness  man  of  Delaware  county  for  many 
\  irs  before  he  retired  from  active  business. 
Is  death  occurred  in  Philadelphia  August  25, 
I'l.  On  May  28,  1828,  he  married  Miss 
^rgaretta  Fry  Sinquette  (a  descendant  of  an 
C'  French  Huguenot  family),  who  died  in 
3-  They  had  eleven  children:  John,  Will- 
1  I,  George,  Sarah,  Noah,  Susannah,  Mary, 
Crtrude,  Edmund  H.,  Margaret  and  Adele. 

Edmund  H.  Sheaff  received  his  education 

"part  in  the  Philadelphia    public  schools,  in 

•  inCrittendens  Business  College,  same  city. 


When  a  mere  boy,  he  enlisted,  November  17, 
1864,  in  Company  K,  196th  P.  V.  I.,  under 
Capt.  Edward  Lyster,  for  a  term  of  three 
months,  and  served  until  he  was  mustered  out 
at  the  close  of  the  war.  He  then  went  to  Rio 
de  Janeiro,  Brazil,  and  spent  three  years  on  a 
coffee  plantation,  and  on  returning  to  the  Uni- 
ted States  engaged  in  the  transportation  busi- 
ness in  New  York  City.  In  1870  he  went  to 
Cuba,  and  took  charge  of  sugar  plantations  at 
Sagua  de  la  Grande  and  Cardinas;  but  after 
two  years  went  to  New  Orleans  and  then  to 
San  Francisco,  and  in  the  following  year  en- 
gaged in  mining  at  Virginia  City,  Nev.,  where 
he  remained  several  years.  On  returning  to 
the  East,  he  took  up  his  residence  at  Hoboken, 
N.  J.,  and  for  three  years  was  employed  by 
John  H.  Starin  Transportation  Co.  In  1881 
he  was  engaged  by  Decker  &  Rapp,  as  wharf- 
inger, having  charge  of  their  docks  at  New 
York  City.  In  1884  he  went  to  Mt.  Vernon, 
N.  Y. ,  as  superintendent  and  general  manager 
of  the  Mt.  Vernon  water  works,  remaining 
seven  years,  and  in  1891,  representing  the  in- 
terest of  Taintor  &  Holt,  bankers.  No.  1 1  Wall 
street.  New  York,  he  came.to  Fishkill  to  take 
the  management  of  the  Fishkill  &  Matteawan 
system.  This  duty  he  discharged  most  ably, 
winning  the  respect  and  esteem  of  the  entire 
community.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and 
a  member  of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  of  Mt. 
Vernon,  New  York. 


BENJAMIN  M.  TALBOT,  a  prominent  res- 
ident of  Fishkill-on-Hudson,  is  a  well- 
known  dealer  in  real  estate,  and  the  owner  of 
valuable  property  in  that  vicinity. 

He  is  a  native  of  England,  and  a  descend- 
ant of  an  old  Yorkshire  family.  His  paternal 
grandparents  were  Charles  and  Jane  Talbot, 
whose  son  Thomas,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  a  prosperous  cloth  merchant  at  Holmfirth, 
Yorkshire,  England.  He  married  Judith 
Winter,  daughter  of  Matthias  Winter,  and 
reared  a  family  of  eight  children:  Elizabeth, 
Benjamin  M.  (our  subject ),  Charles,  Jane, 
Richard,  Thomas,  Matthew  and  Emily. 

Benjamin  M.  Talbot  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  town,  and  in  early  man- 
hood came  to  America,  where  he  located  first 
in  Newburgh,  N.  Y.  After  one  year  there  he 
moved  to  Fishkill  Landing,  and  in  1866  en- 
gaged in  the  wholesale  and  retail  liquor  traffic, 


660 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


continuing  until  1886 — twenty  years  to  a  day. 
He  then  sold  his  business  and  partially  retired 
from  active  life,  his  attention  being  given  to 
some  extent  to  dealing  in  real  estate.  He  is 
the  owner  of  several  stores  and  other  property, 
and  in  his  investments  has  always  shown  fine 
business  judgment. 

Mr.  Talbot  has  a  beautiful  home  at  Fish- 
kill-on-Hudson,  on  the  corner  of  Dutchess 
terrace  and  Verplanck  avenue.  His  wife, 
formerly  Miss  Elizabeth  Bates,  whom  he  mar- 
ried November  9,  1868,  is  a  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Mary  Ann  ( Rothwell )  Bates,  of 
Yorkshire,  England.  Five  sons  have  blessed 
their  union,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  and 
another,  Frederick,  at  the  ageof  twenty  years. 
The  surviving  three  are:  James  G.,  a  book- 
keeper in  New  York  City;  William  R.,  a  law 
student  in  the  law  office  of  J.  Hervey  Cook, 
attorney  at  law;  and  Henry  Talbot,  attending 
school.  Mrs.  Talbot  is  a  prominent  member 
of  St.  Luke's  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  at 
Matteawan,  and  interested  in  the  various  lines 
of  parish  work.  In  politics  Mr.  Talbot  is  a 
Republican,  but  he  keeps  aloof  from  partisan 
strife,  and  does  not  seek  official  honors.  He 
belongs  to  the  order  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
Lodge  at  Matteawan. 


SILAS  TERWILLIGER,  a  merchant  of 
Matteawan,  Dutchess  county,  is  well 
known  throughout  the  State  as  an  able  and 
energetic  business  man,  many  years  of  success- 
ful work  as  a  contractor  and  builder  of  impor- 
tant structures  having  established  his  reputa- 
tion. Among  other  enterprises  successfully 
carried  out  by  him  was  the  building  of  large 
flour-mills  and  a  cotton  factory  in  Columbia 
county,  and  for  some  time  was  engaged  upon 
the  Delaware  &  Hudson  canal,  rebuilding  the 
"weighlock"  at  Eddyville,  a  very  particular 
piece  of  work  involving  the  construction  of  the 
"  cradle  "  or  frame,  in  which  the  boats  rest 
while  being  weighed.  He  also  worked  in  the 
State  armory  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y. ,  and  had  a 
contract  from  a  Mr.  Austin,  the  builder,  to  lay 
the  floors. 

His  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most 
prominent  in  the  town  of  Marbletown,  Ulster 
county,  and  his  great-grandfather,  Solomon 
TerwilHger,  was  the  first  patriot  in  that  town  to 
sign  the  following  paper.  [Copied  from  the 
Calendar  of  New  York  Historical  MSS.  Revolu- 
tionary papers] : 


Vol.  1,  Page  6. 

Old  Senate  House,  Kingsto.n. 
Goshen,  Orange  County,  April  29,  1775. 
General  Ansociation: 

Persuaded  that  the  salvation  of  the  Rights  and  Libe 
ties  of  America  depends  under  God  on  the  firm  union 
its  inhabitants,  in  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  measure 
necessary  for  its  safety,  and  convinced  of  the  necessity  . 
preventing  the  anarchy  and  confusion  which  attend  a  <]v 
solution  of  the  powers  of  Government.  We,  the  Fr^ 
Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  the  county  of  1  ' 
being  greatly  alarmed  at  the  avowed  design  of  thi  .\i,, 
istry  to  raise  a  revenue  in  America,  and  shocked  by  th 
bloody  scene  now  acting  in  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  do  i 
the  most  solemn  manner  resolve  never  to  become  slavt 
and  do  associate  under  all  the  ties  of  Religion,  Honor  aii 
Love  to  our  country,  to  adopt  and  endeavor  to  carry  in' 
execution  whatever  measures  may  be  recommended  f 
the  Continental  Congress  or  resolved  upon  by  this  Pr 
vincial  Congress  for  the  purpose  of  preserving  our  Coi 
stitution,  and  opposing  the  execution  of  the  several  arh 
trary  and  oppressive  acts  of  the  British  Parliament,  uni 
a  reconciliation  between  Great  Britain  and  America,  ( 
Constitutional  principles  (which  we  most  ardently  desir 
can  be  obtained;  and  that  we  will  in  all  things  follow  tl 
advice  of  our  respective  Committees,  respecting  the  pu 
pose  aforesaid,  the  preservation  of  peace  and  good  ordi 
and  the  safety  of  individuals  and  private  property. 

From  Calendar  of  New  York  Historical  M.S.S.  Rev( 
utionary  papers.  Vol.  1,  Page  33,  among  the  Associate 
in  Marbletown  appear  the  names  of  292,  that  of  Solomi 
Terwilliger  being  the  very  first. 

Solomon  Terwilliger  and  his  wife,  Heiei 
(Bodly)  had  a  son  Derrick,  who  was  a  farm' 
in  the  town  of  Marbletown,  Ulster  county,  ar 
a  soldier  of  the  war  of  18 12.  He  marrie 
Margaret  Krom,  and  had  a  son  William,  o 
subject's  father,  who  became  a  prominent  ca 
penter  and  builder  of  the  same  locality,  fc 
lowing  that  occupation  until  a  few  years  pr 
vious  to  his  death.  He  and  his  wife,  who 
maiden  name  was  Nellie  A.  Hill,  and  whc 
he  married  August  12,  1829,  reared  a  fam 
of  foursons:  Alfred,  Silas,  Edgarand  Jacob  1,' 

Silas  Terwilliger,  our  subject,  was  be- 
June  23,  1834,  at  Stone  Ridge,  Ulster  count' 
and  after  passing  through  the  common  scho'? 
of  his  native  town  attended  a  select  school  '■: 
two  terms.  At  sixteen  he  began  his  busins 
career,  learning  the  trade  of  mill-vvright  wi 
Fred  Paine,  of  Connecticut,  who  took  c(> 
tracts  in  all  parts  of  the  country.  An  appr  - 
ticeship  of  three  years  familiarized  Mr.  T- 
williger  with  all  the  details  of  the  trade,  wh  i 
he  then  followed  continuously  until  i860,  t- 
ing  many  extensive  contracts  with  entire  sa  - 
faction  to  all  concerned.  In  1862  he  too  a 
contract  from  C.  B.  Morse  to  do  the  W'J 
work  on  all  cotton  and  woolen  machinery  in  e 
at  the  Union  Iron  Works  at  Rhinebeck,  N.  . 
and  after  six  years  there  he  moved  (in  !?•) 
to  Matteawan  to  take  charge  of  thepattn 
shop  of  J.  B.  Schenk  &  Sons,  with  whorr  e 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


651 


emained  one  year,  and  then  entered  the  em- 
)loy  of  the  Matteawan  Manufacturing  Co. ,  to 
uperintend  their  building  and  repairs.  He 
pent  eighteen  years  in  this  position,  and  was 
hen  compelled  by  ill  health  to  resign  and 
ipend  some  months  in  recuperating.  In  1888 
e  purchased  the  property  in  Spring  street, 
pposite  the  Union  Free  School,  where  he  has 
ince  conducted  a  store,  enjoying  a  fine  cus- 
3m.  He  also  owns  three  houses  and  lots  in 
he  village,  and  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  the 
icinity. 

On  June  26,  1852,  he  was  married  to 
Lachel  Hasbrouck,  daughter  of  Garrett  and 
lartha  Hasbrouck.  Her  death  occurred  Jan- 
ary  3,  1873,  and  Mr.  Terwilliger  has  since 
'added  Sarah  E.  Sutherlin,  daughter  of  David 
nd  Maria  (Schoonmaker)  VanWagenen,  who 
ere  natives  of  Ulster  county,  N.  Y.  Of  the 
vo  children  of  this  union  one  died  at  the  age 
f  seven  years,  and  the  other,  Nellie  A.,  is  at 
iDme.  She  and  her  mother  are  members  of 
,16  M.  E.  Church,  but  Mr.  Terwilliger,  who 
|as  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
[hurch,  still  inclines  to  that  belief.  Politic- 
[ly,  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  was  trustee  of 
le  village  of  Matteawan  for  two  years. 


rHOMAS  S.   JUDSON,  one  of  the  leading 
business   men   of    Matteawan,    Dutchess 
unty,  is  the  head  of  the  Beacon  Ice  Com- 
ny,    the   superintendent  of   the   mechanical 
is  department   of   the  New  York  Rubber 
iipany,  and   a  shareholder  in   many  other 
-perous  enterprises. 

Mr.  Judson  was  born  in  Newtown,  Conn., 

.  ptember  i,  1833,  a  son  of  Zenas  and  Fannie 

(orrence)  Judson,  and  grandson  of  John  Jud- 

sn.     He  is  of  English  descent  on  his  father's 

'M,   of   Irish    origin   on    his  mother's.       His 

ler  was  for  many  years  the  proprietor  of  a 

rchant-tailoring  establishment  in  New  York 

'"y.     Our  subject  is  one  of  a  family  of  thir- 

t  n  children,    six    of  whom    are  still   living. 

e  public  schools  of   Newtown  afforded  him 

only  educational   opportunities,  and  as  he 

V  old  enough  to  help  upon  the  farm  his  at- 

lance  was  limited  to  the  winter  terms.     At 

age  of  si.xteen   he   began   to   work  in  the 

ige  of  Sandy  Hook  for  the  New  York  Belting 

'acking  Company,   located  in  the  town  of 

vtown,  and  remained   in  their  employ  until 

i'i,  when  he  came  to  Matteawan  as  foreman 


sition  he  held  some  twenty-four  years,  and 
since  1883  he  has  superintended  the  mechan- 
ical department  of  those  works.  He  is  now  a 
stockholder  in  the  concern,  and  he  has  be- 
come interested  in  various  other  business  ven- 
tures. For  over  twenty  years  he  was  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  Beacon  Ice  Company,  now 
managed  by  his  two  sons,  George  G.  and  Will- 
iam H.,  and  he  is  a  trustee  and  vice-president 
of  the  Matteawan  Savings  Bank,  director  of 
the  Matteawan  National  Bank,  stockholder  in 
the  "  Holland  Hotel,"  and  trustee  of  the  Hotel 
Association.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  in  1879-80  he  was  collector  of  the  town 
of  Fishkill;  in  1881-82  was  township  super- 
visor, and  in  1887-88  he  was  president  of  the 
village  of  Matteawan.  He  is  a  member  of 
Beacon  Lodge  No.  283,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  has 
held  the  office  of  trustee  for  some  years.  His 
sound,  conservative  views,  so  rarely  found  in 
combination  with  such  enterprise  as  he  has 
always  displayed,  make  him  as  valued  an  ad- 
viser and  helper  in  public  affairs  as  in  business 
concerns. 

On  July  30,  1854,  Mr.  Judson  married 
Eliza  Glover,  daughter  of  the  late  Capt.  D.  J. 
and  Pollie  (Briscoe)  Glover,  of  Newtown,  Conn. 
They  have  three  children:  Two  sons,  George 
G.  and  William  H.,  and  one  daughter,  Lillian 
F.,  married  to  C.  E.  Jaynes.  The  family  at- 
tend the  M.  E.  Church  of  Matteawan,  and 
take  an  interest  in  its  varied  lines  of  effort. 
Mr.  Judson  has  a  charming  home  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Sargent  avenue  and  Wincopee  street. 


E\MIL  PARMENTER,  proprietor  of  the 
'I  "Mechanics  Hotel"  at  Glenham,  Dutch- 
ess county,  was  born  August  2,  1851,  at  Strass- 
burg,  Germany.  He  traces  his  descent  from 
a  family  which  has  long  been  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  and  his  grandfather,  Nicolas 
Parmenter,  was  a  farmer  in  the  Province  of 
Lorraine,  where  he  reared  a  family  of  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  lived  and  died  in  their  na- 
tive land. 

Nicholas  Parmenter,  our  subject's  father, 
was  born  in  Lorraine,  in  1823,  and  followed 
agriculture  all  his  life,  his  death  occurring  in 
1895.  His  wife,  Caroline  Weber,  who  is  still 
living,  was  a  native  of  Strassburgand  a  daugh- 
ter of  Anthony  Weber.  Her  grandfather  Weber 
lost  his  property  during  the  Napoleonic  wars, 
and  nearly  lost  his  life.  After  their  marriage 
Nicholas  and   Caroline   Parmenter  settled    in 


552 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Strassburg,  and  eleven  children  were  born 
there,  of  whom  our  subject  was  the  eldest: 
(2)  Caroline,  widow  of  John  Swing,  lives  in 
Strassburg;  (3)  Lewis  resides  at  the  old  home, 
and  is  now  in  the  employ  of  the  government; 
(4)  Charles,  a  resident  of  Nancy,  France,  is  a 
master  carpenter,  and  was  sent  to  the  World's 
Fair  in  Chicago  to  superintend  the  installation 
of  certain  machinery;  (5)  Magdalene  remained 
in  Germany;  (6)  Edward  is  engaged  in  the 
cooper's  trade  in  Strassburg;  (7)  Mary  mar- 
ried Xavier  Vix,  a  restaurant-keeper  at  Nancy, 
France,  and  has  become. thoroughly  French  in 
speech  and  customs;  (8)  Eugene  is  a  cooper 
at  Strassburg;  (9)  Albert  is  a  carpenter  at 
Holyoke,  N.  Y. ;  (10)  August  died  when  about 
nine  years  old,  and  the  eleventh  child  died  in 
infancy. 

Emil  Parmenter  remained  in  his  native  place 
until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one,  and 
there  acquired  a  knowledge  of  the  mason's 
trade.  In  1872  he  crossed  the  ocean,  and  has 
since  made  his  home  at  Glenham,  Dutchess 
county.  For  some  time  he  followed  his  trade, 
and  for  a  few  years  he  was  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business.  Six  years  were  spent  in 
the  wholesale  ale  business,  and  then  he  began 
dealing  in  beer;  but  in  1884  he  opened  the 
hotel  and  saloon  which  he  has  ever  since  con- 
ducted. In  1876  he  married  Miss  Ella  Boyce, 
a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  and  a  daughter 
of  Robert  and  Sarah  Boyce.  Three  children 
have  blessed  their  union:  Emily  and  Ella,  who 
are  both  at  home,  and  Louis,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  four  and  one-half  years. 

Mr.  Parmenter  is  a  public-spirited  citizen, 
taking  great  interest  in  all  improvements.  He 
has  been  a  Democrat,  but  is  now  a  Republican 
in  political  faith.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member 
of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. ,  with  which  order  he  united 
in  1883. 


H' 


rON.  EDWARD  M.  GORING  was  born 
^  in  Manchester,  England,  April  20,  1828. 
No  citizen  of  the  pleasant  and  prosperous  vil- 
lage of  Wappingers  Falls,  Dutchess  county,  is 
more  deserving  of  notice  in  this  Commemora- 
tive Biographical  Record,  and  none  is  better 
known  and  esteemed  than  the  gentleman 
whose  name  introduces  this  sketch,  and  who 
has  spent  almost  his  entire  life  in  the  localit3' 
where  he  still  makes  his  home. 

Robert  Goring,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  England  in  1770,  and 


married  Jane  Morris  on  February  4,  1802 
They  had  four  children:  John  M.,  the  fathe 
of  our  subject;  James,  born  in  1807;  Thomas 
born  in  181 3,  came  to  the  United  States  an 
located  in  Wisconsin,  where  he  died;  and  Jane 
who  died  unmarried. 

John  M.  Goring  was  the  eldest  of  the  fam 
ily,  and  was  born  in  Manchester  in  1804.     H 
learned   the   business   of  engraving  to  calic 
printing,  and  followed  it  all  his  life.      He  ma; 
ried    Miss    Martha    Heald,    who  was  born  i 
Lancashire,  England,  where  her  father  was 
cotton  broker.     One  member   of   the  famil; 
James  Heald,  was  member  of  Parliament  froi 
Stockport,  in  that  county.    Nine  children  we; 
born  of  this  union,  of  whom  the  following  rei 
ord  is  given:     Edward  Morris  is  the  subject  ■ 
this    sketch;  Walter  H.   lives  in  Wappinge 
Falls;    Mrs.    Jane    E.    Myatt,    in  Bridgepor 
Conn. ;  Mrs.  Lucy  A.  Babcock,  in  Haverstra\ 
N.  Y. ;  Thomas  W.,  in  Chicago;  Victoria  A 
Martha  M.    and  John  M.,  Jr.,  of  Wappinge 
Falls;  Anna,  died  in  1852.     The  father  of  th 
family  came  to  the  United  States  in  1832,  fir 
locating  at  Fall  River,  and  later  at  Boston.    P 
was  a  close  friend  of  Alvan  Clark,  the  maker 
the  lenses  for  the  great  Lick  telescope,  and  i< 
the  large   Yerkes    telescope,   of  Chicago. 
1 836  Mr.  Goring  removed  to  Wappingers  Fall 
where  he  died   January  22,    1879.      His  wi 
died    April    15,     1886.      He    was   originally 
Whig,   later  a  Republican,   and  although   ; 
active  politician,  he  never  held  an  office.     I 
was  a  strong  advocate  of  temperance,  and  w 
interested  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  pu 
lie  welfare. 

Edward  M.  Goring,  our  subject,  was  or 
eight  years  of  age  when  his  parents  left  En 
land,  but  had  already  attended  school  for 
time.  His  education  was  completed  in  t 
district  school  at  Wappingers  Falls,  and 
1845  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  tradeoff, 
graving  to  calico  printing,  which  he  follow 
from  1845  to  i860.  For  the  succeeding  ni 
years  he  was  engaged  in  the  coal  business,  a 
in  1869  he  was  a  member  of  the  firm  of  D- 
brow  &  Goring,  iron  founders;  was  in  the  re  • 
estate  business  until  1872,  when  he  built  d- 
ing  Hall  and  opened  a  drug  store.  In  t  j 
business  he  was  engaged  until  1890,  sirj 
which  time  he  has  retired  from  active  busin  5 
pursuits. 

In  1850  Mr.  Goring  married  Miss  Jane  1, 
youngest  daughter  of  Alexander  Thomson,  f 
Pleasant   Valley,    Dutchess   county.     Of  ts 


,\KX,vY^^v 


u 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


553 


lunion  four  children  were  born:     Thomson  E., 

who    is   superintendent  of    the    large  overall 

iactory  of  Sweet,  Orr  &  Co.,  and  whose  sketch 

mmediately    follows;     Maria    J.,    who    mar- 

•ied  Ashley  S.  Worsley,  chief   engineer  in  the 

i'rovidence  Electric    Light    Company's  works; 

r'rescott  C,  a  printer;  and  Ada  M.,  who  died 

n  childhood.      Mr.    Goring    was    an  Old-line 

iVhig,   coming   into   the   Republican  ranks  on 

he  formation    of   the    latter    party.      He  has 

Iways  taken  a  lively  interest  in  public  affairs, 

nd  has  held  a  number  of  important  offices, 

■eing   collector    of    Fishkill    town     in    1862; 

)eputy   Collector  of    Internal    Revenue   from 

865  to  1867;   Assistant  U.  S.  Assessor  Inter- 

al  Revenue    from    1867    to    1871.      He  was 

le  first  Republican  supervisor  elected  in  that 

iwnship  in  ten  years,  and  was  re-elected  by  a 

irge  majority.     In  1871  he  was  a  member  of 

le  New    York    Assembly,    and    sergeant-at- 

rms  of  the  Assembly  in  1872.      He  was  presi- 

sntof  the  village  in  1879,  and  is  its  present  po- 

ce  justice.    In  1 883  he  was  appointed,  by  Presi- 

;;nt  Arthur,  postmaster  at  Wappingers  Falls, 

ihich  office  he  held   four  years.      Mr.  Goring 

lis  been  a  trustee  of  the  Grinnell  Library  for 

dirty  years.     In  local  enterprises,  notably  the 

■  eating  ofthe  town  of    Wappinger    from  the 

■wn  of  Fishkill ;  in  the  incorporation  of  Wap- 

ingers  Savings   Bank,  and   Bank  of  Wappin- 

:  rs;  the  incorporation  of  Wappingers  Falls  as 

village;  in  the  laying  out  of  the  new  road  to 

;vv  Hamburg  as  a  public,  instead  of    a  toll, 

ad,  as  chartered   by  the  Legislature;  in  the 

authorizing  the    erection    of    the  $15,000 

1  Lilic-school  building  in    the    village,   and  in 

cher  kindred  enterprises,    Mr.  Goring  was  the 

itiator  and  earnest   promoter.      In   all  these 

i5ponsible  and    honorable    positions,  he   has 

^quitted  himself  with  credit    to  himself,  and 

the  best  interests  of  the  public. 


IkROMSON    E.    GORING,   eldest   son   of 

Hon.  E.  M.  Goring,  was   born  at  Wap- 

Igers  Falls,  Dutchess  county,  September  27, 

152,  and   after   graduating    from   the  public 

Sjiools  was  for  some  time  associated  with  his 

'■'her  in  the  drug  and  stationery  business  at 

'  ring  Hall.      In  1878  he  entered  the  employ 

w Sweet,  Orr  &  Co.,  who  recognized  his  abil- 

it;S  in  1884  in  appointing  him  to  his  present 

P^ition. 

Mr.  Goring's  abilities  and  kindly  disposition 

e  won  him  a  firm  place  in  the  regard  of  the 


community  at  large,  and,  although  his  views 
on  the  Temperance  question  are  somewhat  in 
advance  of  the  sentiment  in  that  locality,  he 
received  a  hearty  support  as  candidate  for  the 
office  of  president  of  the  village. 

He  is  one  of  the  three  honorary  members 
of  the  K.  of  T.  No.  22,  St.  Andrews  Guild, 
and  is  a  vestryman  of  Zion  Episcopal  Church. 
He  is  also  a  thirty-second  degree  Freemason; 
a  life  member  of  the  Lodge  of  Perfection; 
Council  Princes  of  Jerusalem;  Chapter  of  Rose 
Croix;  the  Consistory  of  New  York  City  —  the 
first  three  named  orders  being  also  of  New 
York.  He  is  also  an  illustrious  noble  of  Mecca 
Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  and  wears  a  past 
master's  jewel  presented  by  the  brethren  of 
Wappingers  Lodge  No.  671,  F.  &  A.  M. ,  on 
his  retirement  from  his  second  term  of  office. 
Mr.  Goring  is  also  a  member  of  Poughkeepsie 
Chapter  No.  172,  R.  A.  M. ;  King  Solomon's 
Council  No.  31,  R.  &  S.  M. ;  and  a  past  senior 
warden  of  Poughkeepsie  Commandery  No.  43, 
K.  T.  At  the  Masonic  fair  held  in  Pough- 
keepsie in  1896  he  was  awarded  a  past  master's 
apron,  which  had  been  offered  to  the  past  mas- 
ter of  any  lodge  in  Dutchess  county  receiving 
the  largest  vote.  Mr.  Goring  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  Lafayette  Lodge  No.  18,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
Lafayette  Encampment  No.  95,  and  Evening 
Star  Lodge  No.  98,  K.  of  P.,  all  of  Wap- 
pingers Falls,  and  also  belongs  to  the  Amrita 
Club  of  Poughkeepsie.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican.  While  fully  recognizing  his  social 
obligations,  Mr.  Goring,  with  all  his  business 
cares,  is  not  without  an  interest  in  the  world  of 
sport  and  recreation,  as  is  shown  by  his  mem- 
bership in  the  Dutchess  County  Golf  Club,  the 
Carthage  Ice  Yacht  Club,  and  the  organization 
known  as  the  Long  Island  Wheelmen  of  the 
City  of  Brooklyn.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
L.  A.  W. 

Mr.  Goring's  first  wife  was  Miss  Mary  J. 
Myatt,  a  daughter  of  James  Myatt,  of  Bridge- 
port, Conn.  Three  children  were  born  of  this 
union:  Myatt  E.,  Maud  A.  (who  died  Sep- 
tember 27,  1888),  and  Ethel  M.  The  mother 
of  these  passed  away  March  11,  1886,  and 
May  21,  1894,  Mr.  Goring  formed  a  second 
matrimonial  alliance,  his  bride  being  Miss 
Martha  Nelson,  of  Wappingers  Falls.  Her 
father.  Justice  Reuben  VV.  Nelson,  was  born  in 
New  Jersey,  of  English  stock,  and  her  mother, 
Mary  A.  Phillips,  was  a  daughter  of  James  A. 
Phillips,  of  French  ancestry. 

Mr.  Goring,  as  the  able  and  popular  sup- 


554 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


erintendent  of  Sweet,  Orr  &  Co.  's  overall  fac- 
tory at  Wappingers  Falls,  Dutchess  county, 
seems  to  have  settled  in  a  satisfactory  manner 
the  difficult  problem  of  maintaining  the  inter- 
ests of  his  employers  efficiently  while  establish- 
ing with  the  workers  of  the  establishment  a 
feeling  of  respect  and  esteem  which  eliminates 
friction.  His  genial  and  generous  temperament 
enables  him  to  find  a  way  to  secure  discipline 
without  sacrificing  harmony,  and  the  affection 
of  the  employes  has  been  evidenced  by  the  valu- 
able testimonials  of  their  regard.  A  genuine 
lover  of  the  beauties  of  nature,  he  has  thought- 
fully striven  to  make  the  factory  an  inviting 
place  to  the  eye;  and  from  spring  to  fall  the 
vine-covered  buildings,  with  their  windows  and 
roofs  brightened  by  a  profusion  of  flowering 
plants,  make  a  refreshing  picture.  In  the 
center  of  the  factory  is  a  court  which  is  made 
a  veritable  bower  in  the  warm  season,  while 
scattered  about  in  the  various  departments 
are  potted  plants,  palms  and  ferns.  There  is 
also  a  greenhouse  containing  a  large  collection 
of  plants  valued  for  their  beauty  and  rarity. 
In  this  connection  it  is  appropriate  to  mention 
that  Mr.  Goring  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Dutchess  County  Horticultural  Society. 


JOHN  HENRY  TIEMEYER.  Among  our 
thrifty,  energetic  citizens  of  German  birth 
the  subject  of  this  biography,  the  well- 
known  proprietor  of  the  "  Union  Hotel"  and 
stables  at  I^ishkill  village,  is  a  notable  figure. 
His  untiring  and  well-directed  energy,  and  wise 
management,  qualities  so  thoroughly  character- 
istic of  his  race,  have  won  for  him  an  enviable 
success  in  life  from  a  start  which  could  scarcely 
have  been  more  discouraging. 

He  was  born  January  9,  1838,  in  Osna- 
bruck,  Hanover,  Germany,  where  his  father, 
John  Gerhard  Henry  Tiemeyer,  owned  a  good- 
sized  farm.  The  mother,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Drietchen  Zurmellen,  died  when  our  sub- 
ject was  only  six  years  old,  leaving  a  family  of 
two  sons  and  two  daughters.  Until  the  age 
of  fifteen,  Mr.  Tiemeyer  enjoyed  excellent  edu- 
cational advantages  in  the  public  school  near 
his  home,  but  after  that  time  he  was  employed 
upon  his  father's  farm.  At  twenty-two  he 
came  to  America,  and  on  landing  in  New  York 
City  he  immediately  secured  a  situation  in  a 
grocery  at  $3.00  per  month  and  board.  Five 
months  later  he  was  offered  $5.00  per  month 
at  another  store,  and  he  spent  four  months  in 


hard  work  there;  but  this  employer  failed,  ai 
he    received    nothing    for  his    efforts    but  h 
board.      At  his  next  place  he  worked  one  yea 
his  wages  being  raised   during  that  time  fro 
$8.00  a  month  to  $12.00,  and   he  then  four 
a  place  where  he  began  at   $13.00  a  montl 
and  stayed  three  years,  receiving  in  the  latt 
part  of  the  term  $15.00  a  month.      His  la 
employer,  Henry  Klute,  furnished  him  moni 
to  engage  in  the  grocery  business  for  himsel 
and  he  accordingly  opened  a  store  on  Twent 
eighth    street,    between  Seventh    and    Eigh 
avenues,  where  he    continued    successfully  f 
a  year  and  a  half.      As  his  landlord   wished 
raise  his  rent,  Mr.  Tiemeyer  moved  to  anoth 
store    near   by,    having    by    this    time    sav 
enough  money  to  be  independent  as  to  his  1 
cation.      About  a  year  later,  his  former  Ian 
lord  having  come  to  terms,  Mr.  Tiemeyer  to 
the  building  again,    and  carried   on   the  t\ 
stores.      Later  he   opened    another,  and  cc 
ducted  the  three  for  a  time  until  a  brother-i 
law  purchased  one,  and  after  a  time   he  sc 
one  of  the  others  to  a  clerk  who  had  been  wi 
him  for  three  years.      He  then  took  a  trip 
the  "  Fatherland,"  and  on  his  return  dispos 
of  his  last  store.      Having  accumulated  abc 
$5,000  he  purchased  the  store  building  beloi 
ing  to  his  first  landlord,  and    carried  on  bii 
ness  there  for  some  time;  but  as  real-estate  ■ 
that  locality  was  depreciating  in  value,  hetc . 
advantage  of  an  opportunity  to  exchange  it 
property   in    Kingston,  N.  Y.       Then    he  (- 
gaged  in  soap-making,  and    later  carried  01 » 
milk  business;   but  after  a  time  he  moved p 
College  Point,  and  while  there  lost  all  he  M 
previously  gained.  I 

He  had  to  begin  life  anew,  and  for  seve  1 
years  he  worked  at  different  kinds  of  empl.- 
ment;  in  1880,  with  the  help  of  a  friend,  p 
bought  out  a  saloon,  where  for  a  year  an  a 
half  he  managed  to  make  a  living.  In  i^,- 
he  purchased,  in  partnership  with  two  oth  ?, 
the  fixtures  and  stock  of  a  saloon  on  the  (;'- 
ner  of  Seventy-second  street  and  Second  3'- 
nue.  New  York  City,  for  $8,000,  with  a  kie 
of  five  years  at  a  yearly  rental  of  $i,-t'- 
Mr.  Tiemeyer  was  a  silent  partner,  and  n  '- 
aged  the  business,  succeeding  so  well  that  0 
years  later  he  purchased  the  interest  of  on  n 
the  active  partners.  As  the  time  drew  i  ir 
for  a  renewal  of  the  lease,  in  1887,  the  1;  J- 
lord  raised  the  rent  to  $2,500,  so  Mr.  e- 
meyer  bought  the  interest  of  his  other  part  r, 
and   removed    the  business  to  the  come  Oi 


COMMEMORA  TIVE  BIOGRAPBIGAL  RECORD. 


555 


Eighty-ninth  street  and  Second  avenue,  where 
16  remained  four  years.  In  1891  he  pur- 
hased  his  present  hotel  property  at  Fishkill, 
where  he  now  lives. 

On    February   i,  1868,  Mr.  Tiemeyer   was 

larried  to  Miss   Rebecca   Meyer,  daughter  of 

"ranz   and   Elizabeth  Meyer.      Of  eight  chil- 

ren  born  to  them  five  are  now  living:     Louise, 

'rank  Henry,  John  M.,  Rudolph  and   Eddie. 

"he  other  three  died  in  childhood.     Although 

Ir.  and  Mrs.   Tiemeyer  are   members  of  the 

rerman  Lutheran  Church,  they  attend  the  Re- 

)rmed  Dutch  Church  at  present,  as  the  Lu- 

lerans  have  no  organization  at  Fishkill.     On 

olitical    questions    Mr.    Tiemeyer    generally 

ves  his  vote  to  the  Democratic  party,  but  he 

not  a  politician  in  the  strict  sense.      He  is  a 

ember  of    the   Knights   of    Honor,    Empire 

ity  Lodge  No.  228. 


EWIS  W.  GENUNG,  a  prominent  citizen 

,u  and  leading  business  man  of  the  town  of 

ast  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  conducting  a 

:ieral  store  at  Johnsville,  was  born  February 

1,  1843,  at  Swartout,  in   the  town  of  Wap- 

mger,  Dutchess  county,  and  comes  from  one 

I  the  good  old   families  of  the   community, 

.ich  is  probably  of  French  origin.      His  pa- 

al  grandfather,  after  his  marriage,  located 

i;un  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  where  he 

iired  his  three  sons:     Adrian,  the  father  of 

f  r  subject;  Joseph,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of 

'  >t    Fishkill;    and    Benjamin,    a    farmer   of 

yne  county.  New  York. 

In  the  town  of  Fishkill  Adrian  Genung  was 

!  "n,  and   on    attaining   to   man's   estate   was 

ed    in    marriage   with   Miss   Susan   Boice, 

se  birth  occurred  in  the  town  of  Wappin- 

Dutchess  county.      Her  father,  Isaac  Boice, 

also  a  native  of   Dutchess  county,  and  a 

^_^enterby  occupation.      After  their  marriage 

^BHyoung   couple    located   at    Swartoutville, 

HlCTe  the  father  engaged  in  merchandising  for 

uny  years,  but  later  in  life  turned  his  atten- 

tjii  to  agricultural   pursuits,  dying  upon   his 

fsm  in  East  Fishkill  town  in  1880.      He  was 

a  lan  of  the  strictest  integrity,  and  a  Demo- 

•.  in  political  sentiment.      His  wife  passed 

ly  in  1885.     Of  the  seven  children  born  to 

ttm,  four  died   in  infancy,  and   Ella  is  also 

n|v  deceased;  Adriana  married  Willet  Pierce, 

^  utcher;  Lewis  W.  completes  the  family. 

Our  subject's  early  life  was  spent  at  Swart- 

ille,  and   after   finishing  his  education  he 


engaged  in  teaching  for  about  ten  years,  prin- 
cipally in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  Dutchess 
county.  In  February,  1866,  he  married  Miss 
Mary  E.  Pierce,  who  was  born  at  Johnsville, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Caleb  Pierce,  a  native  of 
East  Fishkill,  and  a  farmer  and  butcher  by 
occupation.  For  three  years  after  their  mar- 
riage they  continued  to  live  at  Johnsville,  but 
at  the  end  of  that  time  removed  to  Lagrange 
town,  where  Mr.  Genung  followed  the  pro- 
fession of  school  teaching.  Returning  to  Johns- 
ville in  1878,  he  opened  his  present  store, 
which  he  has  since  successfully  conducted,  and 
as  a  business  man  is  straightforward  and  hon- 
orable in  all  his  dealings.  Two  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Genung:  Fred  L. , 
who  assists  his  father  in  the  store;  and  Grace 
E.  Politically,  our  subject  is  identified  with 
the  Republican  party,  and  was  appointed  post- 
master at  Johnsville  shortly  after  the  close  of 
the  Civil  war,  which  position  he  has  held  al- 
most continuously  since;  he  is  also  notary  pub- 
lic.     He  is  a  most  highly  esteemed  citizen. 


ENJAMIN  F.  TREEN,  a  prominent  citi- 
zen of  the  town  of  Fishkill,  Dutchess 
county,  and  superintendent  of  the  extensive 
straw  works,  was  born  in  Wallace,  Nova 
Scotia,  March  27,  1848. 

His  ancestors  came  from  England  at  an 
early  period,  and  his  great-grandfather,  Jo- 
seph Treen,  and  his  grandparents,  Joseph  and 
Mary  Treen,  were  residents  of  Nova  Scotia. 
His  father,  William  Treen,  married  Mary 
a  daughter  of  Benjamin  Cook,  and  had  six 
children:  Joseph,  Benjamin  F. ,  Edward, 
Ellen,  Elizabeth  and  Mary  Jane.  William 
Treen  was  a  prominent  ship  builder,  and  often 
sailed  as  captain  of  one  of  his  vessels.  He 
was  lost  at  sea  in  1855,  his  brig,  the  "Mary 
Jane,"  being  wrecked  off  the  coast  of  Nova 
Scotia. 

Benjamin  F.  Treen  received  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  place, 
and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  entered  the  employ  of 
Thomas  Flynn  to  learn  to  make  fine  custom 
boots  and  shoes.  After  working  at  this  trade 
for  five  years,  he  came  to  the  United  States 
and  found  employment  at  Holliston,  Mass., 
with  Peter  R.  Johnson,  a  boot  and  shoe  manu- 
facturer, for  whom  he  worked  one  year.  For 
the  next  ten  years  he  was  engaged  in  clerking 
for  Timothy  Daniels  in  the  retail  grocery  and 
dry-goods  business,  and  he  then  became  inter- 


556 


COMMEMORA  TIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ested  in  the  manufacture  of  straw  goods,  and 
worked  three  years  with  D.  C.  Mowrey  &  Co., 
learning  the  details  of  hat  making.  This  done, 
he  became  superintendent  of  B.  H.  Spaulding's 
straw  hat  factory  at  Milford,  Mass.,  and  two 
years  later  he  came  to  Matteawan  to  take 
charge  of  the  plant  of  the  Matteawan  Manu- 
facturing Co.  He  resigned  this  position  after 
seven  years  to  accept  a  similar  one  with  W. 
H.  Mase,  but  in  t\yo  years  he  returned  to  the 
former  company,  with  which  he  has  since  been 
connected  as  superintendent.  He  is  now  a 
stockholder  and  the  secretary  of  the  company, 
of  which  Leonard  M.  Hills  and  Frank  E. 
Whitman,  of  Amherst,  Mass.,  are  the  princi- 
pal members. 

On  December  20,  1876,  Mr.  Treen  married 
Miss  Ida  Frances  Blake,  daughter  of  Johnson 
R.  and  Abbie  S.  (Gunn)  Blake,  of  Greenwich. 
N.  Y. ,  and  has  two  daughters,  Marion  Louise 
and  Emma  Gertrude.  The  family  attend  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  take  a  generous  in- 
terest in  various  philanthropic  movements.  In 
politics  Mr.  Treen  is  a  Republican,  and  he  is 
at  present  a  member  of  the  board  of  educa- 
tion. He  is  a  member  of  the  Matteawan  Club, 
andiof  the  Masonic  order,  Beacon  Lodge  No. 
283,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Matteawan;  Highland  Chap- 
ter No.  52,  R.  A.  M.,  Newburg;  Hudson  River 
Commandery  No.  35,  K.  T.,  Newburg,  and 
Mecca  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  New  York 
City. 


|ENJAMIN  W.  VAN  WYCK,  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  senior  part- 
ner of  the  firm  of  Van  Wyck  &  Collins,  which 
owns  the  extensive  marble  and  granite  works 
at  Nos.  175  and  177  Main  street,  was  born  Oc- 
tober 27,  1835,  i"  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley, 
Dutchess  county. 

Theodorus  Van  Wyck,  great-grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  one  of  three  brothers  who 
emigrated  from  Holland,  and,  coming  to  the 
United  States,  settled  on  a  farm  at  Jamaica, 
Queens  county.  Long  Island.  There  they 
were  all  married,  and  two  of  the  brothers, 
John  and  Abram,  remained  and  reared  their 
families;  Theodorus  Van  Wyck  settled  at  Hemp- 
stead, Queens  county,  Long  Island,  and  there 
Samuel,  grandfather  of  Benjamin,  was  born. 
He  married  Katura  Sammis,  who  was  born  in 
that  locality,  and  in  1792  came  to  Pleasant 
Valley,  Dutchess  county,  settling  on  a  farm. 
A  family  of  six  children  were  born  to  this  couple, 


of  which  the  following  names  are  give 
Charles,  Walter,  Cornelia  and  Betsey.  Sar 
uel  Van  Wyck  followed  farming  during  his  lil 
and  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  wa 
He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Presb 
terian  Church. 

Charles  Van  Wyck,  father  of  our  subjec 
was  born   in    1806,   in   Pleasant  Valley.     I 
was  married  in  1822  to  Miss  Eliza  Rugar,  wl 
was"  of  Dutch  descent,  and  was  born  in  Plea 
ant  Valley.     Five  children  were  born  of  tl 
union:     Mary  E.  is   the   wife   of   Henry  I 
Owen,  a  farmer  in  Pleasant  Valley;  Lewis 
is   a  machinist  at   Newburg;   Amelia  died 
1858;    Benjamin   W.   is  our  subject;    Mart 
died  in  infancy.     The  father  was  a  machinr 
and  worked  in  the   mill   at   Pleasant  ValU 
He  was  a  Whig  in  politics,  and  both  parer 
were   members  of   the   Presbyterian    Churc 
He  was   very  domestic  in   his  tastes,  fond 
his  home  and  family,  and  highly  respected 
all  who  knew  him.      He  died  May  15,  18,- 
his  wife  died  July  9,  1896,  at  the  advanced  a 
of  about  eighty-seven  years. 

Benjamin  W.  Van  Wyck,  our  subject,  c 
tained  his  early  education  in  the  schools  of  i 
native  village,  and  when  old  enough  beg 
learning  the  trade  of  a  marble-cutter  at  Fi: 
kill.  Later  he  went  to  Glens  Falls,  where 
perfected  himself  in  the  business,  and  in  181 
finished  his  schooling  at  the  Oswego  Institu 
He  then  went  into  the  marble  business 
Pleasant  Valley;  but  had  hardly  more  thi 
made  a  beginning  when  the  Civil  war  brc; 
out,  and  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  rally  to  the  - 
fense  of  the  Union.  On  September  4,  i8U 
he  enlisted  in  Company  D,  128th  N.  Y.  i 
and  served  throughout  the  war,  being  c- 
charged  July  12,  1865.  He  was  with  Bais 
on  the  Red  River  (La.)  campaign,  and  wli 
Sheridan  during  the  Shenandoah  Valley  cam- 
paign, also  in  the  battle  at  Cedar  Creek,  wh  ? 
he  had  a  narrow  escape  from  death,  and  \  5 
in  other  important  engagements.  On  his  f 
turn  from  the  war  he  took  up  his  residence  n 
Poughkeepsie,  where  he  worked  for  a  timfn 
the  marble  works  of  Haxby  &  Miller.  In  Ap-. 
1867,  he  bought  the  interest  of  Mr.  Hax;, 
the  firm  then  becoming  Miller  &  Van  W)- 
This  partnership  lasted  until  the  death  of  '■ 
Miller  in  1878,  and  for  the  succeeding  th  e 
years  Mr.  Van  Wyck  had  sole  control  of  ^e 
business.  In  1881  he  sold  a  half  interesio 
Mr  Collins,  and  the  present  firm  of  Van  Wk 
&  Collins  was  organized. 


s: 


i 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


557 


In  the  extensive  works  owned  by  this  firm 
11  kinds  of  marble  work  is  done,  such  as  in- 
srior  work  in  buildings,  vault  linings,  wains- 
oting  and  flooring,  table  and  buffet  tops,  as 
ell  as  monuments.  Mr.  Van  Wyck  was  the 
rst  dealer  in  this  part  of  the  State  to  intro- 
uce  granite  work  to  supersede  that  of  marble, 
1  this  line,  and  they  are  well  equipped  with 
:eam  machinery,  etc. ,  to  turn  out  very  fine 
3ecimens,  both  in  design  and  workmanship, 
hey  also  keep  on  hand  all  kinds  of  encaustic 
les,  grates,  fireplaces  and  brass  goods  for  the 
ime.  They  buy  stock  in  the  rough,  and  cut 
ad  polish  to  suit  their  trade.  Their  steam 
lant  and  other  accessories  have  been  twice 
ilarged  so  that  they  have  now  one  of  the 
3st  manufactories  in  the  State,  and  turn  out 
iperior  work  in  every  line  of  their  business, 
he  integrity  and  fair  dealing  of  the  firm  is 
ell  known,  and  it  has  a  high  reputation  in 
isiness  circles. 

Mr.  Van  Wyck  was  married  October    1 1 , 

i65,  to  Miss  Mary  L. ,  daughter  of  Alfred  C. 

an  Vlack,  of  the   town   of  Unionvale.      Her 

ther,  generally  known  as  Major  Van  Vlack, 

of  Dutch  descent  and  a  miller  by  occupa- 

)n.     No   children    have  been    born  to    this 

lion.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Wyck  are  members 

>  the  First  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  and  are 

?hly  esteemed  by  all  who  know  them.      Our 

ibject  is  a  Republican,  but  has  never  con- 

inted  to  hold  office.      He  is  public-spirited,  a 

yal  citizen,    and   always   ready  to   assist  in 

5rthy  enterprises.      He  is  a  member  of  the 

:  &  A.  M.  and  the  G.  A.  R. 


■•^DWARD  EVERETT  HAVENS,  a  well- 
■  4  known  dealer  in  groceries  and  provisions 
f  Main  street,  Fishkill-on-Hudson,  Dutchess 
cunty,  is  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of 
tit  town,  and  is  noted  not  only  for  prudence 
fd  sagacity  in  that  enterprise,  but  for  the 
tergy  which  carries  his  plans  to  successful 
CTipletion. 

He  was  a  native  of  the  beautiful  village  in 
\  ich  he  now  resides.  His  father,  Joseph 
1  Havens,  was  born  in  New  London,   Conn., 

i  he  and  his  wife,  Katherine  O'Shaugh- 
nsy,  are  still  living.  Of  their  twelve  chil- 
t;n,  eleven  survive,  the  eldest  being  now 
ajut  forty  years  of  age,  and  the  youngest 
s,enteen.  Their  names  are:  Rhodolphus 
''eustave;  Joseph  Francis;  Edward  Everett, 
subject;  Catherine,   who   died  in  infancy; 


Adella,  William,  James  Henry,  Maryette, 
Sandford  Wilson,  Lewis  H.,  Herman  and 
Walter. 

The  paternal  grandparents  of  Edward  Ev- 
erett were  Silas  and  Maryette  ( Griffin )  Ha- 
vens. The  former  was  born  February  4,  1794, 
and  died  January  20,  1857;  the  latter  was 
born  December  6,  1809,  and  died  April  18, 
1884.  They  had  twelve  children,  whose  fam- 
ily history  is  as  follows:  (i)  Silas  Nathaniel 
Havens,  born  March  2,  1827,  married  Arabella 
Smith  February  24,  1858;  no  children.  (2) 
Sabroh  Angeline,  born  April  7,  1829,  married 
Samuel  Beckwith  March  15,  1853;  nine  chil- 
dren— Fannie  Maryette,  who  was  born  Octo- 
ber 3,  1855  (married  Jerome  Munger  January 
I,  1882,  and  has  two  children,  Mina  Estella, 
born  July  23,  1883,  and  Emma  May,  born 
May  21,  1885,  died  May  4,  1886);  Wilbur 
Wilson,  born  April  i,  1857;  Albert,  born  April 
28,  1858,  died  April  4,  1886;  Flora  Elvira, 
born  September  4,  1862;  Emery  Melvin,  born 
January  7,  1864;  Angle  Alida,  born  April  27, 
1865;  Effie  May,  born  June  4,  1867;  Emma 
Estelle,  born  April  12,  1869,  died  June  12, 
1884;  Edna  Luella,  born  November  12,   1870. 

(3)  Cynthia  Margett,  born  February  i,  1831, 
married  March  2,  1849,  Nathaniel  B.  Crocker, 
who  died  July  3,  1864;  five  children — Nelson 
Steadman,  born  May  27,  1851,  died  Septem- 
ber 24,  185 1 ;  Allen  Wilson,  born  February  1 1, 
1853,  died  September  6,  1853;  Alfred  Walter, 
born  February  11,  1853,  died  August  12,  1853; 
Ella  Maryette,  born  August  27,  1855,  married 
Edmiind  Smith  May  7,  1873,  and  has  one 
child,  Millie  Smith,  born  October  i,  1874  (Ella 
Maryette  was  again  married,  this  time  February 
8,  1885,  to  Arthur  Baker);  and  Perry  Willis, 
born  March  2,   i860,  died  January  26,    1861. 

(4)  Sanford  Wilson,  born  March  5,  1833,  mar- 
ried October  8,  1857,  Laura  Ellen  Gallup; 
one  child — Walter  Louis,  born  December  29, 
1 86 1.  (5)  Joseph  Francis,  born  April  26, 
1835,  married  Katherine  O'Shaughnessy,  Au- 
gust 5,  1855;  twelve  children — Rhodolphus 
Augustave,  born  June  24,  1856  (married  Ella 
Corcan,  November  25,  1877,  and  has  three 
children,  Katie  A.,  born  December  i,  1878; 
Ella,  born  October  15,  1879,  died  September 
5,  1 881;  and  Mary  G. ,  born  November  25, 
1882);  Joseph  Francis,  Jr.,  born  March  i, 
1858,  married  Jennie  Benedict,  May  9,  1883; 
Edward  Everett,  whose  sketch  appears  below; 
Katie,  born  June  5,  1862,  died  July  6,  1864; 
Adella,  born  June  25,   1864,  married  to  Philip 


558 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Knapp,  May  12,  1883;  William  S.,  born  May 
21,  1866;  James  Henry,  born  March  7,  1868; 
Sandford  W.,  born  December  12,  1869;  Mar- 
getta,  born  August  26,  1870;  Lewis  H.,  born 
January  12,  1873;  Herman,  born  August  5, 
1875;  Walter  Lee,  born  May  21,  1876.  (6) 
Nelson  Monroe,  born  November  12,  1837, 
married  Mary  A.  Luce,  December  14,  1862; 
two  children — Jennie  Marian,  born  June  5, 
1868,  died  April  21,  1869;  and  James  Luce, 
born  August  25,  1871.  (7)  Melissa  Jane,  born 
October  22,  1840,  married  William  F.  Beck- 
with,  March  17,  1858;  two  children — Elmer 
Leslie,  born  April  16,  1866;  and  Elsie  Melissa, 
born  November  12,  1874.  (8)  Alfred  Word- 
ing, born  October  29,  1842,  married  Mary  B. 
Chapman,  May  i,  1872;  one  child — Willis 
Monroe,  born  May  17,  1875.  (9)  Sophia 
Amelia,  born  December  4,  1844,  married 
James  Valentine   Luce,   December   30,    i860. 

(10)  Terrie  Florella,  born  May  18,  1847,  mar- 
ried James  Valentine  Luce,  December  2,  1883; 
one  child — Laura  Sophia,  born  May  12,  1885. 

(11)  Wilbur  Edson,  born  October  29,  1849, 
married  Lottie  Rosella  Jordan,  November  25, 
1875  ;  three  children — Arthur  Edson,  born 
September  26,  1876;  Florence  Rosella,  born 
March  13,  1878;  and  Edith  Gertrude,  born 
November  16,  1879.  (12)  Herman  Edgar, 
born  February  8,  1854,  married  Jessie  Fre- 
mont Beebe,  February  7,  1882;  one  child — 
Myrtle  Sophia,  born  December  23,  1882. 

Edward  Everett  Havens,  the  subject  of  our 
sketch,  was  born  February  9,  1861,  and  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Fishkill.  On 
leaving  school  at  about  the  age  of  fourteen,  he 
secured  a  situation  as  clerk  in  the  grocery  store 
of  R.  H.  Delaney,  in  the  town  of  Beekman. 
He  remained  there  three  years,  and  then  went 
to  work  in  the  A.  T.  Stewart  mill  at  Glenham, 
and  during  the  three  or  four  years  spent  there 
learned  several  different  trades  connected  with 
the  manufacture  of  woolen  cloth.  After  leav- 
ing this  place  he  entered  the  employ  of  Rev. 
Father  McSweegan,  in  Matteawan,  and  for 
about  a  year  worked  on  church  improvements, 
and  the  next  four  years  were  spent  with  James 
A.  Murray,  a  carpenter  and  builder.  In  Oc- 
tober, 1886,  the  business  in  which  he  is  now 
engaged  was  founded,  beginning  in  the  build- 
ing next  door  to  his  present  establishment, 
which  he  erected  in  1892. 

Mr.  Havens'  partner  in  life's  joys  and  sor- 
rows was  Miss  Mary  C.  McCarroll,  a  daughter 
of  Robert   and  Mary   McCarroll.     They  have 


four  children:  John  E.,  Mary  A.,  Robei 
Francis,  and  James  Herman.  They  are  mem 
bers  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  at  Fish 
kill. 

In  politics  Mr.  Havens  is  a  Democrat,  am 
he  has  been  the  candidate   of  his    party  foi 
commissioner  of  the  poor,  and  also  for  truste 
of  the  village.      As  the  town  is  generally  Re 
publican,  and  as  the  years  in  which  he  led  thi 
forlorn  hope  exceptionally  unfavorable  for  th 
Democratic  party,  he  was  defeated.      He  is 
member  of  Dutchess  Council  C.  B.  L. ,  and 
at  present  its  treasurer.      He  is  also  a  membt 
of  the  Catholic  Knights  of  America,  membt 
No.  49120,  of  the  Catholic  Benevolent  Society 
and  of  Court  Queen  of  the  Hudson  No.  81  k 
A.  O.  F.  of  A."' 


FRANK    M.    EDMOND  is  one  of  the  mo 
able  and  enterprising  young  business  me 

of  Matteawan,  Dutchess  county,  the  inventc 
of  a  wire-spring  support  for  upholstered  chaii 
and  car  seats,  which  promises  well,  his  patei 
having  been  obtained  and  a  company  forme 
for  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  the  appliance 
with  Ross  Judson,  president,  Samuel  K.  Phi 
lips,  secretary  and  treasurer,  and  Mr.  Edmonc; 
as  superintendent.  No  one  who  knows  M 
Edmond  will  fail  to  wish  him  well  in  this  ne; 
undertaking,  as  his  courageous  and  energet! 
efforts  during  past  business  reverses  have  wcl 
universal  admiration  and  good  will.  ; 

He  is  a  son  of  the  late  William  Roma,' 
Edmond,  who  for  over  twenty  years  was  j 
stockholder  in  the  Matteawan  Hat  Manufa! 
turing  Co.,  and  the  foreman  of  its  extensi'j 
works.  He  was  a  native  of  Windham,  Greei 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  went  to  Matteawan  at  tli 
time  the  late  Lewis  Tompkins  and  the  Mai 
brothers  began  their  investments  in  the  h! 
business  at  that  place.  He  died  of  paralysl 
July  10,  1889,  his  wife,  formerly  Mary  l| 
Bump,  and  six  sons  surviving  him.  Oursul 
ject  is  one  of  eight  children:  George;  Addij 
who  died  in  childhood;  Nelson;  William;  Fraii 
M.;  James;  Horace;  and  Lucius,  who  died 
early  youth. 

Frank  M.  Edmond  was  born  February  i 
1863,  and  resided  at  Matteawan  throughoj 
his  early  life,  attending  the  public  schools  un 
the  age  of  twenty,  and  later  working  in 
straw-hat  factory.  After  six  or  seven  years 
that  emploj'ment  he  engaged  in  the  furniti 
business   at    Fishkill    Landing  in    partners! 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


559 


ith  Mr.  Otto  Deicke,  one  of  the  best  uphol- 

terers  and  carriage  trimmers  to  be  found  on 

he  Hudson.     This  partnership  was  terminated 

Dur  years  later  by  the  death  of   Mr.  Deicke; 

iut  his  interest  was   taken  by  his  son  Herman 

jnd  the  firm  continued  for  another  year  under 

ke  same  style  of   Deicke   &   Edmond.     The 

jusiness   had    prospered,   and    the    firm    was 

larrying  at  this  time  a  full  line  of  household 

oods,  including  stoves  and  ranges,  but  their 

ade  was  largely  "on   time",  and  when  the 

usiness  depression  came  and  their  customers 

ere  unable  to  meet  their  obligations,  the  firm 

as  forced  to  discontinue.      Mr.  Edmond  was 

lus  compelled  to  make  a  new  start  in  life,  but 

e  had  his  tools  and  an  abundant  supply  of 

pure  grit",  which    in   combination  with  his 

ained  abilities  were  a   sufficient  capital.      In 

S91  he  began  work  in  repairing  bicycles  and 

Dholstering  furniture,  and  his  success  enabled 

m  to  open  a  shop  of  his  own  in  Matteawan 

1  Main  street,  under  the  "Dibble   House", 

I  the   spring   of    1896.      He    also    holds  the 

^ency  for  a  fine  line  of  bicycles,  and  is  at  pres- 

it  the  manager  of  Scharbauer  &  Sargent's 

icycle  Manufacturing  and  Repair  Shops. 

On   June  4,    1890,    Mr.   Edmond    married 
iss  Emma  Deicke,  a  daughter  of  his  former 
]irtner.    Otto    Deicke,    and    his    wife,   Marie 
eicke.     They  have  two  children,  Romain  and 
;rtha,   and    reside    in    a   pleasant    home  on 
ashington  avenue,  Matteawan.      Both  attend 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  Mr.  Edmond  is 
ember  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Evergreen  Lodge, 
itteawan.     He  has  always  voted  the  Demo- 
ticket. 


m 


Jk^ANIEL  H.   MONKS,   a  well-known  resi- 
.y  dent  of   Fishkill,   Dutchess  county,   was 
Irn  August  19,  1858,  in  Dublin,  Ireland.     His 
inily   has    been   prominent    in   that  city  for 
1  iny  years,  and    his   father,  the   late  William 
'  jnks,  a  native  of  the  place  and  a  man  of  in- 
<  pendent  means,  passed   the  greater  part  of 
1'  life  there.     With  his  wife,  Anna  (Murphy), 
;  ci  their  family,  he  came  to  America  to  spend 
b  last  years,  and  his   death  occurred  in  the 
rwn  of  New  Windsor,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.     He 
k  a  keen  interest  in  all  the  questions  of  the 
.  and  especially  in   political   problems,  his 
ipathies  being  with  the  Democratic  party. 
\  religious  faith  he  was  a  Roman  Catholic,  as 
BIS  estimable  wife,  who  survives  him. 
IJOf  their  seven  children,  the  eldest,  James, 


gave  his  life  for  his  adopted  country,  dying  in 
Anderson ville  prison  in  the  latter  part  of  1864. 
He  enlisted  first  in  the  i68th  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  and, 
after  receiving  an  honorable  discharge  at  the 
end  of  two  years'  service,  he  re-enlisted,  this 
time  in  the  15th  N.  Y.  Cav.  He  was  captured 
three  times,  and  the  cruel  hardships  of  the 
historic  stockade  at  Andersonville  finally  proved 
too  much  for  his  gallant  spirit  and  once  strong 
and  healthy  frame.  The  other  members  of 
the  family  were:  Margaret  (deceased),  for- 
merly the  wife  of  James  A.  Dunn,  an  under- 
taker at  Newburgh,  N.  Y.;  Mary,  wife  of  Nich- 
olas Lee,  of  Newburgh;  John,  a  liquor  dealer 
in  the  same  city;  Daniel  H.,  our  subject; 
Fannie,  wife  of  Robert  Greening,  of  New 
Windsor,  N.  Y. ;  and  Anna  (deceased). 

D.  H.  Monks  was  but  a  child  when  his 
parents  came  to  this  country,  and  his  youth 
was  spent  mainly  in  Newburgh.  He  learned 
the  business  of  molding  iron  and  brass,  which 
he  followed  for  some  time;  but  in  1889  he  en- 
gaged in  the  retail  liquor  business  at  Fishkill 
Landing.  Since  1890  he  has  carried  on  a 
wholesale  trade,  making  a  specialty  of  How- 
ard &  Child's  beer. 

Mr.  Monks  was  married,  in  1886,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Smith,  of  Fishkill  Landing,  a  daugh- 
ter of  James  Smith,  whose  ancestors  came 
originally  from  the  Emerald  Isle.  No  chil- 
dren were  born  of  this  union.  In  politics  Mr. 
Monks  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  is  a  prominent 
member  of  St.  John's  Roman  Catholic  Church 
at  Fishkill. 


J.  LEXANDER  HAMILTON  DUDLEY. 
_  L,  The  Dudley  family  is  of  English  origin, 
and  the  branch  to  which  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  belongs  traces  its  lineage  to  Lord  Guil- 
ford Dudley  and  his  wife.  Lady  Jane  Grey. 
The  first  of  the  line  to  come  to  America  left 
Leicestershire,  England,  at  a  very  early  period, 
and  located  in  New  England,  where  his  de- 
scendants have  been  prominent  in  various 
walks  of  life,  some  having  been  Governors  of 
States. 

Asael  Dudley,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
married  Hannah  Woodhouse.  He  died  May 
31,  1830,  in  the  eighty-second  year  of  his  age, 
and  his  wife  on  December  16,  1831,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-three.  Their  son,  Joseph  S. 
Dudley,  our  subject's  father,  was  born  in  Wil- 
ton, Conn.,  in  1786,  and  died  September  16, 
1865.     He  was  a  tanner  and  currier  by  trade, 


560 


COMMEMOBA  TIVE  BIOGRAPEIOAL  RECORD. 


and  owned  a  tannery  at  Hughsonville.  His 
wife,  Betsey  (Cole),  was  a  daughter  of  William 
Cole,  of  Wilton,  Conn.  She  was  born  in 
1790,  and  died  January  10,  1855.  Of  their 
nine  children  only  two  survive.  John  died  in 
infancy;  William  S.  in  1867;  Harriet  in  1891; 
John  G.  on  April  24,  1867;  Charles  H.,born 
October  24,  1823,  and  died  September  17, 
1 850;  Joseph  H.  is  still  living;  George  W. ,  born 
May  21,  1828,  died  January  23,  1848;  Alex- 
ander H.  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Hannah 
M.  died  October  14,  1869. 

Alexander  Hamilton  Dudley  was  born  April 
24,  1830,  in  the  town  of  Peekskill,  Westches- 
ter Co.,  N.  Y. ,  and  was  educated  in  the 
district  schools  of  that  locality,  and  at  Wilton 
Academy,  Wilton,  Conn.,  where  he  remained 
one  year.  On  leaving  school  he  went  to  NeW 
York  City  and  engaged  in  the  business  of  buy- 
ing and  tearing  down  old  buildings,  and  sell- 
ing the  materials.  His  office  was  located  on 
23rd  street,  between  Fifth  and  Sixth  avenues. 
In  1864,  after  eighteen  years  in  this  business, 
he  moved  to  Brinckerhoff,  Dutchess  county, 
and  purchased  the  Starr  gristmill,  which  he 
has  conducted  ever  since.  The  water  privi- 
leges on  this  property  are  excellent  as  he  has 
never  been  obliged  to  shut  down  during  the 
driest  season.  There  is  an  interesting  history 
connected  with  the  mill  also,  as  it  stands  upon 
the  site  of  one  which  was  burned  by  the  Hes- 
sians during  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  was 
built,  by  order  of  Gen.  Washington,  by  a  de- 
tail of  soldiers  belonging  to  the  Colonial  forces. 
There  is  not  a  sawed  stick  in  it,  all  have  been 
hewed  from  solid  hardwood  and  mortised  to- 
gether, and  it  bids  fair  to  stand  as  solidly  as 
ever  through  many  years  to  come.  On  De- 
cember 23,  1859,  Mr.  Dudley  was  married  to 
Miss  Frances  S.  Hamilton,  who  was  born  No- 
vember 27,  1827,  the  daughter  of  William 
Hamilton.  Her  death  occurred  November  14, 
1885,  and  Mr.  Dudley  afterward  wedded  Mrs. 
Mary  (Brett)  Fountain,  daughter  of  James  and 
Helen  (White)  Brett,  and  widow  of  Hosea 
Fountain,  by  whom  she  had  one  child.  Po- 
litically, Mr.  Dudley  is  a  Republican,  and  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  Church  at   Fishkill. 


SALTER  LIVINGSTON  T  E  N- 
BROECK,  an  agriculturist  whose  pro- 
gressive and  scientific  management  has  made 
him  one  of  the  successful  men  ol  the  town 
of    Rhinebeck,    Dutchess    county,    was    born 


July  8,  1830,  at  Livingston,  Columbia  Co., 
N.  Y.  The  district  schools  of  that  day  af- 
forded but  limited  educational  opportunities; 
but  such  as  they  were  he  made  the  most 
of  them,  and  by  intelligent  observation  and 
constant  reading  he  has  since  acquired  thor- 
ough information  upon  many  subjects,  and 
especially  upon  branches  of  science  relating  to 
his  occupation. 

Mr.  Ten  Broeck  remained  at  the  home- 
stead until  he  was  twenty-five  years  of  age, 
and  April  i,  1854,  he  purchased  a  farm  near 
Rhinebeck;  but  two  years  later  sold  this  prop- 
erty and  moved  to  the  estate  upon  which  he 
has  now  resided  for  forty-one  years.  He  pos- 
sesses fine  executive  ability,  and  the  160  acres 
of  land  to  which  he  devotes  his  attention  are 
kept  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  In  1866  he 
became  a  life  member  of  the  New  York  State 
Agricultural  Society,  and  he  has  always  taken 
a  prominent  part  in  local  affairs;  but  althougl: 
he  is  a  firm  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party,  he  has  never  held  public 
office,  having  refused  to  serve  when  elected. 
He  was  married  in  1855  to  Helen  U.  Schultz, 
daughter  of  Peter  I.  Schultz,  of  Rhinebeck,  anc 
has  had  eight  children:  Derrick  Wessel;  Petei 
S.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years;  Heler 
R.  (Mrs.  Wallace  Traver);  Albertina  S.,  whc, 
is  at  home;  Jane  L.,  who  died  at  the  age  0 
twenty-one  years;  and  Mary  E. ,  Lucys  anc' 
Walter  T.  L. ,  who  are  all  at  home.  Mrs ; 
Ten  Broeck  is  a  leading  member  of  the  Re 
formed  Church  at  Rhinebeck,  and  a  generou:, 
worker  in  its  varied  lines  of  effort. 

The  Ten  Broeck  family  is  one  of  the  oldes 
and    most   distinguished   in   America,  and  ou 
subject  is  one  of  the  seventh  generation  fron^ 
Wessel  W.  Ten  Broeck,   of  Munster  (a  city  c 
Westphalia,  Prussia,  situated  near  the  borde 
line  of   Holland),  who  landed  at  New  Amstei 
dam  in  1626  in   company  with  the  Hon.  PetCi 
Minnit,  third  director  of  the  Holland  West  In 
dia   Company.      (Cornelius    May,    of    Hoorr 
having  been    its    first  director,   in    1624,  an 
William  Van  Hulst  its  second  director,  in  1625"' 
And  when  we  reflect  that  the  first  known  ou'; 
line  map  of  New  Belgium  (now  New  York),  ii; 
accurate  as  it  was,   was  made  in   1618;  thr 
Boston  was  only  settled  in  1630,  and  Marylan 
in  1632;  that  when  this  ancestor  of  the  Tet' 
Broecks  came  to   this  country  in   1626,  Nei 
Amsterdam    (now   the    mighty   city    of    Ne| 
York)    contained    only    270    souls,     includirj 
men,  women  and   ohildren;   that  Albany,  tl 


I 


-ICrt 


c<Y 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


561 


lapital  of  our  great  Empire  State,  contained 
nly  twenty-six  inhabitants,  including  one  white 
oman;  it  may  be  truly  said  that  Director 
|[innit  and  his  protege.  Ten  Broeck,  came  to 
'ew  Belgium  when  it  was  a  very  feeble  col- 
ny,  and,  dating  from  that  origin,  this  family 
j  one  of  the  most  ancient  in  the  New  World. 
j  Nor  were  the  early  ancestors  unknown  or 
lidistinguished.  The  first  settler  became  the 
;ost  extensive  merchant  of  his  day  at  Albany; 
;id  the  historical  records  of  New  York  show 
lat  in  1689  Dirck  Wessel  Ten  Broeck,  his 
in,  was  employed  by  Gov.  Dougan  as  em- 
Issador  to  Canada  to  settle  matters  of  Pro- 
\icial  difficulty;  and  that  in  the  same  year  he 
ws  his  majesty's  recorder  of  the  city  of  Al- 
Iny;  and  in  1690  the  same  recorder  is  certi- 
fd  to  with  high  commendation  for  energy  and 
f  ilanthropy  in  relieving  the  people  of  Schen- 
e:ady  from  suffering,  after  the  destruction  of 
t;ir  town  by  the  French  and  Indians;  and 
sjsequently  for  his  great  ^eal  in  furthering 
it  Governor's  designs  against  the  French  in- 
vjdon  then  in  progress.  Guided  by  such 
lihts,  we  can  safely  assume  that  the  father 
a  i  son,  for  that  primitive  day,  were  no  ordi- 
n  y  men;  but  it  is  foreign  to  this  notice  to 
aempt  the  history  of  the  whole  family. 
'  Other  descendants,  too,  have  shared  much 
p  )lic  honor  and  confidence,  and  it  may  not 
b  inopportune  to  say:  That  the  able  and 
p  riotic    correspondence    of    Abraham    Ten- 

ck,  president  of  the  committee  of  safety 

cw  York,  with  Hon.  John  Hancock,  Presi- 
cii;t  of  Congress;  the  polish  and  eloquent 
" 'er  of   Derick  Ten   Broeck,    his    son,    for 

:  sessions  speaker  of  the  House  of  Assem- 
b,  of  the  State  of  New  York;  and  the  gal- 
latry  of  Maj.  Leonard  Ten  Broeck  (the  grand- 
faier  of  our  subject)  at  the  taking  of  Bur- 
'^'  ne,  are  matters  of  history  so  clear  that  no 

rical  scholar  will  question  the  general  tal- 
ei,  influence  or  gallantry  of  the  descendants 

■he  original  emigrant, 
pr.  Ten    Broeck's   father,   the    late   Gen. 
Sard  W.  Ten  Broeck,  served  as  a  member 
o'he  State  Assembly,  and  one  term  as  sheriff 
olumbia  county,  and  was  one  of   the  most 
lential  and  popular  men  of   his  day.      On 
th  maternal  side  our  subject  is  a  grandson  of 
"ilter  T.  Livingston,  of   Clermont,   a   repre- 
seative  of  another  family  distinguished  from 
^earliest  periods  of  our  country's  history. 
Capt.  Samuel  Ten  Broeck,  an  elder  brother 
ur  subject,    born   in    Livingston  June  5, 

38 


1826,  just  200  years  after  the  landing  of  his 
ancestor  in  this  country,  was  a  soldier  in  our 
Civil  war,  and  a  hero  worthy  of  the  patriotic 
blood  of  these  illustrious  families,  identified 
with  the  Declaration  of  Independence  and  the 
stern  trials  of  our  Revolutionary  struggle.  He 
devoted  some  years  of  his  life  to  mercantile 
pursuits,  but  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion 
he  was  one  of  the  first  to  respond  to  the  call  to 
arms,  joining  Company  M,  5th  N.  Y.  V.  C, 
and  from  that  time  his  every  energy  was  given 
to  his  country.  He  died  July  4,  1863,  leaving 
a  wife,  son  and  daughter,  the  parting  from 
them  being  his  severest  trial.  Columbia  county 
mourned  the  death  of  this  generous  and  chiv- 
alric  officer;  on  the  day  of  his  burial  the  flags 
of  the  shipping  and  public  buildings  at  Hudson, 
a  point  twelve  miles  distant  from  his  residence 
and  place  of  burial,  were  lowered  to  half-mast; 
and  a  concourse,  unequalled  by  numbers  in 
that  section  of  country  upon  any  previous  occa- 
sion, escorted  his  earthly  remains  to  their  last 
spot  of  rest  —  and  affection  deposited  in  his 
grave  many  a  sprig  of  evergreen  dedicated  to 
his  virtues  and  his  memory.  But  the  finale  is 
so  graphically  told  by  one  who  knew  and  loved 
him  well,  in  an  obituary  notice  published  the 
day  succeeding  his  death,  that  we  will  close 
this  notice  by  its  insertion  as  follows: 

Capt.  Ten  Broeck  was  one  of  nature's  noblemen  — 
one  of  the  very  few  so  happily  constituted  that  he  had  no 
enemies,  but  many  ardent,  ardent  friends;  his  nature  was 
so  genial,  his  benevolence  so  expansive,  his  affections  so 
enthusiastic,  that,  as  husband,  parent,  brother,  friend,  his 
loss  is  irreparable,  and,  therefore,  deeply  and  widely 
mourned. 

As  Masonic  brother,  his  heart  and  hand  were  in 
many  charitable  offices,  and  the  tear  of  sorrow  has  often 
been  hushed  from  the  or])han's  eye.  As  a  companion,  the 
light  of  many  a  social  circle  has  been  dimmed;  as  hus- 
band, father,  and  friend,  his  voice  of  cheerful  kindness 
has  been  hushed  forever,  to  leave  a  sad  and  aching  void. 

Capt.  Ten  Uroeck  was  widely  known  and  valued  in 
Columbia  county  as  a  judicious  and  ])ubly:-spirited  citi- 
zen, having  served  as  a  member  in  its  board  of  super- 
visors with  marked  ability,  and  as  a  member  of  the 
Assembly  from  its  Second  Di.stnct  in  18-56. 

But  his  brightest  phase  of  character  was  unswerving 
patriotism  which  shone  forth  brilliantly  in  the  first  boom- 
mg  of  rebellious  cannon  upon  the  stars  and  stripes  at 
Fort  Sumter.  Descended  from  a  stock  who  were  among 
the  first  settlers  of  this  country,  and  whose  swords  leaped 
gallantly  from  the  scabbards  in  the  trials  of  1776,  his  soul 
burned  with  native  fire  to  resent  the  impious  insult  to  our 
flag,  and  he  early  volunteered  in  a  New  York  cavalry 
corps,  where,  amidst  other  active  services,  he  endured 
such  exposure  and  fatigue  while  following  his  admirable 
leader  three  weeks  in  the  saddle,  almost  without  inter- 
mj.ssion,  that  he  was  sent  on  a  furlough  to  his  home,  a 
victim  of  severe  typhoid  fever;  and,  after  partial  recov- 
ery, urged  on  by  over  anxiety  to  be  with  his  regiment  and 
in  the  service  of  his  country,  he  returned  too  soon  to  the 
scene  of  conflict,  and  still  too  weak  to  follow  in  the  train 
of  his  intrepid  commander,  was  intrusted  with  command 


562 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  the  camp,  until,  borne  down  by  insiduous  disease,  he 
came  home  on  a  thirty-days  furlough  to  recover,  if  possi- 
ble vet  so  spent  that  in  three  days  after  his  arrival,  sur- 
rounded by  his  loved  ones  and  in  his  own  house,  that 
manly  spirit  took  flight.  Karewell,  dear  Captain;  our 
national  day  of  jubilee  was  a  fitting  one  for  the  death  of 
so  devoted  a  patriot. 


BICHARD   COURTLAND    HORTON     is 
the  owner  of  a   property  in  the  town  of 

East  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  his  handsome 
residence  being  set  off  by  a  back  ground  of 
dense  foliage,  while  the  grounds  are  intersected 
by  winding  paths,  the  whole  presenting  a  most 
attractive  appearance.  The  farm,  which  com- 
prises 1 30  acres,  has  been  brought  to  a  high 
state  of  cultivation  through  the  untiring  efforts 
of  our  subject,  and  yields  bountiful  harvests. 
Mr.  Horton  was  born  at  Gayhead,  town  of 
East  Fishkill,  August  2,  1832,  and  is  a  hneal 
descendant  of  Barnabas  Horton,  who  came 
from  England  to  this  country,  in  1640,  locat- 
ing in  Southhold,  Long  Island.  A  wing  of  the 
old  house  which  he  erected  in  that  year  is  yet 
standing  and  the  property  is  still  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  Horton  family.  He  was  a  minister 
of  the  Gospel,  and  a  most  excellent  man. 

Capt.  Joseph   Horton,    the  great-grandfa- 
ther of  our  subject,    was  born   at  Southhold, 
Long  Island,  and  there  grew  to  manhood.   He 
removed  to  New  York  City,  and  from  there  to 
Moodna,    Ulster   (afterward   Orange)   county, 
where  his  death  occurred.      During  the  Revo- 
lutionary war  he  had  the  pleasure  of  entertain- 
ing Gen.  La  Fayette  and  Gen.  Washington  at 
the  old  home.      He  married   Miss  Jane  Van- 
Voorhis,  and  to  them  were  born  two  sons  and 
several    daughters.       Of     the    former,    Jacob 
never  married  and  lived  but  a  short  time  after 
they  located  at    Gayhead;  Courtland   was  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject.      After  the  death 
of  her  husband,  Mrs.    Horton   purchased   the 
property  at  Gayhead,    in    the    town    of   East 
Fishkill,    Dutchess    county  (now   owned    and 
occupied  by  our  subject),  and  at  her  death  was 
buried  at  Hopewell,  while  her  husband  was  in- 
terred on  Murdners  creek,  or  Moodna. 

Courtland  Horton  was  born  at  Murdners 
Creek,  in  Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  and  was  quite 
a  young  man  when  he  came  to  Dutchess  coun- 
ty. He  wedded  Hannah  VanWyck  Brincker- 
hoff.  who  was  born  at  Hopewell,  in  the  town 
of  East  Fishkill,  where  Mr.  L.  C.  Rapaljenow 
lives.  After  their  marriage  they  located  at  the 
old  homestead,  where  they  reared  their  four 
children:     Richard  Van  Wyck,  who  died  when 


a  young  man;  John  G.,  who  was  also  quit* 
young  at  the  time  of  his  death;  Jane,  wb 
died  unmarried;  and  Jacob,  the  father  of  ou 
subject.  The  three  former  were  never  mar 
ried.  The  grandfather  was  a  prominent  ma; 
of  his  time,  was  a  merchant  at  Gayhead,  an. 
was  also  a  large  landholder  in  the  locality 
Religiously  he  was  a  member  of  the  Reforiiie 
Dutch  Church,  and  his  political  support  w& 
given  the  Whig  party. 

At  the  old  homestead  at  Gayhead  the  birt 
of  Jacob  Horton  occurred,  and  on  reachii 
manhood  he  also  followed  farming  and  me 
chandising  at  that  place.  He  took  an  acti 
part  in  religious  affairs,  assisting  in  the  ere 
tion  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  church,  of  whii 
he  was  a  member,  and  was  first  a  Whig  in  pi 
itics,  later  a  Republican.  He  married  Diai 
Storm,  a  native  of  Hopewell,  and  a  daught 
of  Col.  John  Storm.  Her  death  occurred  \ 
gust  16,  1840,  that  of  her  husband  on  Mar 
9,  1865.  In  the  family  were  six  children, 
all:  Jane,  who  married  Edward  H.  Seely, 
Brooklyn;  Richard  Courtland,  subject  of  tl 
sketch;  John  Storm;  Jacob,  who  was  a  min 
ter  of  the  Gospel,  and  died  in  Bethel,  Mali 
Diana,  who  married  Henry  W.  Brower, 
New  York  City;  and  Elizabeth  Van  Wy^ 
The  last  three  are  brother  and  half-sisters 
our  subject. 

Upon  the  farm  where  he  still  resides.  Kit 
ard  Courtland  Horton  passed  his  early  life, 
tending  the  local  schools,  and  later  pursu:; 
his  studies  at  Danbury,  Conn.,  at  the  Ame  i 
Seminary,  and  at  Newburg,  N.  Y.  After  I  - 
ishing  his  education  he  returned  to  the  ho  3 
place,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He\5 
married  to  Miss  Mary  Brown,  a  native  of  Nt- 
burg,  and  a  daughter  of  Judge  John  W.  Bro\j, 
who  was  born  in  Dundee,  Scotland,  and  h|l 
many  public  offices  in  the  State,  among  tlii 
that  of  Supreme  Court  Judge  for  sixteen  ye; , 
and  latterly  justice  of  the  court  of  appe*. 
Two  children  graced  this  union:  Mary  Bro'^, 
wife  of  William  A.  Adriance,  of  Poughkeep:; 
and  Ralph  Courtland,  of  New  York  City. 

Since  1852  Mr.  Horton  has  given  his  > 
tention  exclusively  to  agricultural  pursH- 
Politically,  he  is  a  Republican,  and  in  1  4 
was  appointed  postmaster  at  Gayhead,  wl  h 
position  he  faithfully  filled  for  thirty  ye^- 
Both  himself  and  wife  are  members  of  "e 
Reformed  Church,  and  they  certainly  wells- 
serve  the  high  regard  in  which  they  are  IW 
by  all  who  know  them.     Their  beautiful  h  « 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


668 


i  licates  the  refined  and  cultured  taste  of  the 
1  nates,  and  its  hospitable  doors  are  ever 
I  en  to  the  reception  of  their  many  friends. 


!:ONARD  V.  PIERCE,  a  substantial  and 
/  progressive  horticulturist  of  the  town  of 
1  St  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  is  one  of  the 
r.)st  extensive  grape  growers  in  this  section  of 
t ;  State,  having  upon  his  place  several  vari- 
ces of  fancy  grapes.  He  has  been  visited  by 
n.ny  of  the  leading  men  engaged  in  that  par- 
t  ular  industry  from  all  over  the  country,  and 
h  fruit  farm  has  often  been  referred  to  in  ar- 
t:les  on  the  grape  subject  in  horticultural 
agazines. 

A  native  of  Dutchess  county,  Mr.    Pierce 

W3  born  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  March   i8, 

1 12,  and  the  family  have  mostly  made  their 

hnes   in  that  county    for  the  last    century, 

'"  grandfather,    Daniel   Pierce,    having  come 

Westchester  county  about  loo  years  ago. 

ollowed   the   vocations  of  carpenter  and 

tv. 

-aac  Pierce,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 

of  the  fourteen   children  born  to  Daniel 

e,  his  birth  occurring  in  the  town  of  East 

xill,  where   he  grew  to  manhood  upon  a 

In   early   life   he  learned   the   tailor's 

.  was  later  an  agriculturist,  and  still  later 

:n  le  conducted  a  general  store  at  Johnsville, 

Dfchess  county.      His  political  support  was 

gi'n  to  the  Whig  party  until   its  dissolution, 

'^  n  he  became  a  Republican. 

^aac  Pierce  married  Jane  E.  Wilco.x,  who 
wi  also  born  in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill, 
an  was  a  daughter  of  Abner  Wilcox,  a 
e  of  Dutchess  county,  and  a  farmer  by 
■v.  pation.  Six  children  blessed  this  union: 
Elabeth,  who  married  Abraham  Stout,  a 
•r  of  the  town  of  East  Fishkill;  Leonard 
>ur  subject;  Louisa,  widow  of  Abraham 
ja  wagonmaker;  Cora,  wife  of  William 
'iffin,  an  agriculturist  of  East  Fishkill; 
itte,  who  married  DeWitt 
are  now  deceased);  Mary  J., 
>rn  Wixon,  a  farmer  of  East 
(ther  died  in  i888,  the  father 
ted  by  all  who  knew  them, 
childhood  of  our  subject  was  passed  in 
'n  of  Beekman,  but  the  greater  part  of 
was  spent  in  East  Fishkill.  For  eight 
l;he  clerked  in  the  store  of  his  father  at 
^ville, since  which  time  he  has  been  engaged 
'1 1 ;  culture  of  fruit  with  most  satisfactory  re- 


Conover 

wife    of 

Fishkill. 

in   1893, 


suits,  upon  his  present  farm  of  seventy  acres. 
He  also  raises  vegetables,  but  gives  his  spe- 
cial attention  to  his  vineyards,  in  which  he 
may  well  take  a  just  pride. 

On  December  31,  1868,  Mr.  Pierce  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  E.  Way, 
who  was  born  at  Johnsville,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Abraham  Way,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of 
East  Fishkill,  and  a  wagonmaker  by  trade. 
At  their  present  comfortable  home,  which  was 
erected  by  Mr.  Pierce,  he  and  his  wife  began 
their  domestic  life,  and  two  sons  came  to 
brighten  the  household:  Walter  S.  and  Henry 
B.  Like  his  father,  our  subject  is  a  Republic- 
an in  politics,  has  served  as  collector  and 
supervisor  of  the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  and 
and  was  postmaster  of  the  village  of  Johnsville 
for  many  years,  which  position  he  held  to  the 
satisfaction  of  all  concerned.  For  about  ten 
years  he  was  vice-president  of  the  Dutchess 
County  Agricultural  Society,  and  was  also  su- 
perintendent of  the  fruit  and  flower  depart- 
ment. 


INTHROP  SARGENT,  of  "  Wodene- 
/Jt_  the,"  a  charming  country  estate  in  the 
town  of  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  finds  in  this 
highly-favored  region  an  environment  most 
congenial  to  a  man  of  fine  culture  and  artistic 
tastes.  He  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
April  3,  1840,  the  eldest  in  a  family  of  four 
children,  of  whom  he  is  now  the  only  survivor. 

Henry  Winthrop  Sargent  (his  father),  of 
Boston,  Mass.,  for  some  years  was  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Gracie  &  Sargent,  agents  in  that 
city  of  Welles  &  Company,  of  Paris,  France, 
the  earliest  American  bankers  in  Europe. 
Samuel  Welles,  the  head  of  the  house,  was 
his  uncle.  The  mother  of  Winthrop  Sargent 
was  Caroline,  only  child  of  Francis  Olmsted, 
a  member  of  the  old  New  York  firm  of  Peter 
Remsen  &  Company. 

When  Winthrop  Sargent  was  but  a  few 
months  old,  H.  W.  Sargent,  having  retired 
from  business,  purchased  a  country  estate 
in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death  in  1882.  He 
soon  became  one  of  the  leading  horticulturists 
of  the  country,  and  exhibited  in  the  gardens 
and  grounds  of  "  Wodenethe  "  the  highest 
skill  in  cultivation,  and  in  the  art  of  landscape 
gardening.  At  the  death  of  his  mother  in 
1887,  Mr.  Winthrop  Sargent  inherited 
"Wodenethe,"  where  he  had  lived  since  in- 


564 


COMMEMORATrVE  BIOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


fancy,  and  where  he  continues  to  spend  his 
summers,  passing  the  winter  months  in 
Boston. 

Winthrop  Sargent  was  graduated  from 
Harvard  College  in  the  class  of  1862,  and  from 
the  Harvard  Law  School  in  1864.  Since  the 
year  1766,  in  this  college,  all  of  the  men  of 
his  family  have  received  their  education. 
After  leaving  Harvard,  Mr.  Sargent  made  an 
extended  tour  in  Europe.  He  was  married  in 
1873  to  Miss  Aimee  Rotch,  daughter  of  the  late 
B.  S.  Rotch,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  and  grand- 
daughter of  the  Hon.  Abbott  Lawrence,  who, 
through  two  administrations,  was  United  States 
minister  to  the  Court  of  St.  James.  The 
Rotch  family  were  old  and  honored  residents 
of  New  Bedford,  Mass. ;  one  of  their  early 
ancestors  was  Francis  Rotch,  the  owner  of  the 
"  Dartmouth,"  the  ship  from  which  1 14  chests 
of  tea  were  thrown  overboard  in  1773,  by  the 
indignant  Colonists  of  Boston,  disguised  as 
Indians. 

Mr.  Sargent's  first  American  ancestor  was 
William  Sargent,  who  came  to  this  country 
from  Exeter,  England,  in  1650,  and  settled  on 
Cape  Ann,  Massachusetts,  where  he  had  a 
grant  of  land.  His  eldest  son  married  a  grand- 
daughter of  John  Winthrop,  first  Colonial 
Governor  of  Massachusetts,  since  which  time 
there  has  been  a  Winthrop  Sargent  in  each 
generation  of  the  family.  A  grandson  of  Will- 
iam Sargent  was  severely  wounded  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Bunker  Hill;  another  grandson,  Win- 
throp Sargent,  commanded  a  sloop  of  war  in 
174s;  his  son,  Winthrop  Sargent,  was  a  dis- 
tinguished officer  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution, 
and  fought  at  the  battles  of  Trenton,  Brandy- 
wine  and  Germantown,  and  endured  the  priva- 
tions at  Valley  Forge.  He  was  at  one  time 
adjutant-general  to  Gen.  Wayne,  and  at  an- 
other time  was  aid-de-camp  to  Gen.  Howe, 
and  was  greatly  distinguished  by  Gen.  Wash- 
ington. Later  he  became  Governor  of  the 
Mississippi  Territory  under  the  administration 
of  President  John  Adams. 

Three  members  of  the  Sargent  family  ren- 
dered distinguished  service  in  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion,  one  of  whom  was  killed  in  battle. 
A  curiously  romantic  story  has  been  handed 
down  through  the  generations  of  the  Sargent 
family  since  1738.  In  the  reign  of  James  I, 
of  England,  there  lived  in  London  one  Mas- 
ter George  Heriot,  goldsmith  to  the  King,  and, 
if  report  has  spoken  truly,  a  lender  of  large 
sums  of  money  to  that  monarch.      Sir  Walter 


Scott  made  him  a  prominent  character  in 
novel  called  the  "  Fortunes  of  Nigel,"  in  wh» 
the    King     familiarly     calls     him     ' '  Jinglij 
Geordie. "     Some  exquisite  specimens  of  golj 
and  silver  work  are  still  shown  in  England  \ 
the  work  of  Heriot.      It  is   related  that  oj 
day,  through  the  carelessness  of  the  attenda 
the  only  daughter  of  Master  Heriot,  a  chitij 
tender  age,  fell  from  the  window  of  his  hoo| 
on  London   Bridge   into  the  Thames  belo'i 
One  of  her  father's   apprentices,  Francis  C I 
borne,  seeing  this,  jumped  from  a  window  irf 
the  water,   and   saved   the  child   from  deatj 
After  some  years  had  passed,  Francis  Osboi 
married  his  master's  daughter,  whose  life  heh 
saved;   succeeded  to    his  business,    became  I 
great  merchant,    and,    like  Whittington,  v| 
thrice  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  and  was  knigh  j 
by  King  Charles  I.      One  of  his  direct  desce 
ants  was  afterward  ennobled,  and  that  braij 
has  held    in    succession    to    the    present  k\ 
the  title  and  estates  of  the  Duke  of  Le<j 
While  this  was  going  on   in   England,  a  ni| 
descendant  of  Sir  Francis   Osborne  found 
way  to  this  country  in  the  early  Colonial  ds 
and  settled  in  Rhode  Island.      One  of  his 
scendants,  Hon.  John  Osborne,  became  a  | 
ident  of  Boston,  and  his  daughter  marriedl 
1738,  a  great -great-grandfather  of  the  sub] 
of  this  sketch. 


DOLPH  G.  HUPFEL.     One  of  the  i\ 

.t^^  beautiful  and  well-appointed  estate 
this  region  of  elegant  country  homes  is  the 
acre  farm,  near  Johnsville,  belonging  to  | 
subject  of  this  sketch.  Nature  did  mucl| 
it,  but  no  expense  has  been  spared  to  ad 
those  attractions  all  the  improvements  wj 
artistic  taste  and  utility  could  desire. 

Mr.  Hupfel  was  born  August  13,  184^ 
Orange  county,  N.  Y. ,  the  son  of  Adolphn 
Catherine  Glaser  {nee  Bross),  the  form  8^ 
native  of  Neviges,  Prussia,  the  latter  beii 
Holland.  The  family  of  Adolph  Glaserw 
some  note  in  Prussia,  he  enjoying  the  dis 
tion  of  Burgomaster  of  Neviges,  and  ho 
other  important  local  offices;  took  partiitbe 
revolution  of  1848,  was  banished,  and  iter 
a  general  amnesty  was  declared  he  return ;  to 
his  native  place  where  he  taught  langiipi 
he  lost  all  through  his  participation  iffNfi 
■1848  trouble.  They  passed  the  first  ye;p'- 
their  residence  in  this  country  in  New  jrK 
City,    where  the   father  worked  as  a  ca|Det^i| 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


565 


aker,  in  1843  removing  to  Orange  county, 
Y. .  where  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
I  fishing  rods,  which  he  continued  until  his 
i'ath  in  1849.  His  widow  conducted  the  busi- 
-  about  three  years,  and  then  married  Anton 
._n{el,  who  took  it  in  charge,  continuing 
sme  until  1854,  when  he  associated  himself 
lith  Roemelt  &  Assheimer,  in  the  brewery 
Isiness,  at  Nos.  223-229  38th  street.  New 
■"jrk.  In  1858  he  bought  out  his  partners, 
£d  carried  on  the  business  alone  until  his  re- 
tement  in  1873,  his  two  stepsons,  Adolph  G. 
id  John  C.  G.  Hupfel,  taking  the  place  in 
prtnership,  under  the  firm  name  of  A.  Hup- 
f's  Sons. 

Adolph    G.  Hupfel    attended    the    district 
siools  of  Orange  county  for  some  years  and 
a  the  age  of  nine  accompanied   his  parents  to 
1  w  York  City,  where  he  took  a  course  in  the 
ic  schools,  graduating  in  1861.      He  then 
=  nt  a  short   time  in  a   private  school,  and  on 
living  this  entered  business  life   at  the  foot  of 
t|:  ladder,  being  employed  as  driver  of  a  beer 
\'£ron  for  two  years.      For  the  five  years  fol- 
ng  he  collected   the    debts    and    kept    the 
luks  of  the  establishment,  and  then  worked 
JKhe  brewery,  learning  the  business  in  all  its 
d.ails.      His   health    failing   at   this   time,    he 
«-  sent  to  Europe  to  recuperate,  and  on  his 
rn  he  took  charge  of  all  the  out-door  in- 
-ts  of   the  brewery.      After  succeeding  to 
business  in   1873,  iMr.  Hupfel  and  brother 
1  acted     it     for  ten    years,     together    with 
ther  establishment,  at   the  corner  of  i6ist 
i.t    and    Third   avenue,  which    their  step- 
Uier  had   purchased   in  1863.      In  1883  John 
CO.  Hupfel  retired  from  the  i6ist  street  and 
d  avenue  plant,  and  our  subject  continued 
e  for  about  six  years,  when  he  sold  a  part 
IS  interest,  but  continued  the  management. 
li.he  following  year  he  bought   his  farm  near 
'  nsville,  then  known  as  the  Du  Bois  prop- 
,  now  called  "Echodale. "     There  were  no 
rovements  of  any  kind  upon  it,  and  he  has 
it  many  thousands   of  dollars  in  bringing  it 
ts    present  state  of  perfection.      His  resi- 
de is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  county,  and  his 
iS  are  models  of  construction  and  arrange- 
it;  he  still  owns  property  in  New  York  City, 
iding  a  residence,  but  he    makes  his  home 
itantly  at  the  farm. 

On  April  11,  1870,  Mr.  Hupfel  married 
T  Catherine  Kentz,  of  New  York  City,  who 
i  in  February,  1871,  with  her  only  child. 
May  II,  1873,  Mr.  Hupfel  wedded  her  sis- 


ter. Miss  Magdalen  Kentz,  by  whom  he  has 
had  four  children:  Catherine  G.,  who  mar- 
ried H.  W.  McMann,  of  New  York  City;  and 
Adolph  G. ,  Jr. ,  Antoinette  G. ,  and  Otto  G. ,  all 
three  at  home.  In  politics  Mr.  Hupfel  is  an 
independent  Democrat. 


ILLIAM  BAKER.  To  the  traveler  of 
{[Mi  to-day  the  voyage  across  the  Atlantic 
is  only  a  short  pleasure  trip,  and  it  is  difficult 
to  realize  the  discomforts  and,  perhaps,  hard- 
ships endured  by  the  emigrants  to  this  country, 
before  the  advent  of  steam   as  a  motive  force. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  John  D. 
Baker,  a  native  of  Germany,  came  to  America 
in  the  early  part  of  this  century  in  a  sailing 
vessel,  spending  six  months  upon  the  way. 
Among  the  other  passengers  was  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Rickerts,  in  whom  he  found  a  sympa- 
thizer in  his  aspirations  for  the  freer  life  in  the 
New  World.  For  some  time  after  landing 
Mr.  Baker  worked  on  Staten  Island  as  a  com- 
mon laborer,  but  later  he  became  a  farmer, 
and  after  marrying  Miss  Rickerts,  settled  in 
the  town  of  New  Paltz,  Ulster  county,  where 
the  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born,  July  16, 
1820,  the  sixth  in  a  family  of  eight  children. 
The  others  were:  Catherine,  who  married 
Hiram  Donaldson,  a  farmer  in  Dutchess 
county,  both  deceased;  Mary,  the  widow  of 
the  late  Alanson  Vail;  Nancy,  who  married 
George  Pray,  a  farmer  in  Dutchess  county, 
both  deceased;  Jacob,  deceased,  a  farmer  and 
blacksmith  at  Freedom  Plains,  N.  Y. ;  John 
deceased,  a  carpenter  and  farmer  at  Freedom 
Plains  and  New  Hackensack;  Henry,  a  miller 
in  the  town  of  Unionvale,  and  Isaac,  a  resident 
of  Lagrange  township.  In  1823  the  father 
moved  to  a  farm  in  Freedom  Plains,  where  he 
passed  his  remaining  years.  In  politics  he 
was  a  Republican,  and  he  and  his  wife  were 
both  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He 
died  in  1854  and  his  wife  in  1852. 

William  Baker  was  only  three  years  old 
when  the  family  moved  to  Freedom  Plains, 
where  he  spent  his  early  years.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  began  to  learn  the  blacksmith's 
trade,  and  followed  it  at  that  place  for  about 
six  years.  In  1851  he  went  to  Sprout  Creek, 
and  later  to  New  Hackensack,  carrying  on  his 
business  successfully  in  both  localities.  He 
purchased  his' present  farm  in  1864,  and  built 
the  house  in  which  he  now  resides.  His  eighty 
acres  of  land  have  been  highly  improved  under 


666 


COMMEMORATIVE  STOGRAPHWAL  RECORD. 


his  judicious  management,  and  make  one  of 
the  best  farms  of  the  size  in  that  section. 

On  January  25,  1849,  Mr.  Baker  married 
his  first  wife,  Miss  Catherine  E.  Meddaugh, 
daughter  of  James  Meddaugh,  a  well-known 
farmer  of  the  town  of  Lagrange.  Two  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them:  Annie  E.,  who  died 
at  an  early  age,  and  Mary,  the  wife  of  Court 
A.  Van  Voorhis,  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Wap- 
pinger.  Mrs.  Catherine  Baker  died  December 
24,  1875,  and  January  17,  1877,  Mr.  Baker 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Harriet  A.  Croft, 
daughter  of  Henry  D.  Needham,  a  farmer  in 
the  town  of  Wappinger. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Baker  is  a  Republican,  but 
he  does  not  take  an  active  part  in  public  af- 
fairs, preferring  a  quiet  home  life  and  the 
peaceful  enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  his  past 
labors. 


WILLIS     DEAN,    a  prominent  agricult- 
urist,  residing  near  Wappingers  Falls, 

Dutchess  county,  is  one  of  the  most  highly 
respected  citizens  of  that  county.  He  is  de- 
scended from  an  old  English  family,  and  his 
ancestors  in  the  American  line  crossed  the 
Atlantic  at  a  very  early  period.  John  Dean, 
his  grandfather,  was  a  leading  farmer  in  the 
town  ot  Kent,  Putnam  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  Niles 
Dean,  our  subject's  father,  succeeded  to  the 
homestead,  and  followed  the  same  occupation. 
He  married  Nancy  Northrup,  also  a  native  of 
Putnam  county,  and  reared  a  family  of  nine 
children:  Milton,  a  farmer  in  Putnam  county; 
Rensselaer,  a  carpenter  in  Patterson,  N.  Y. ; 
Anner,  who  married  Philip  Smith,  a  farmer  in 
Steuben  county,  N.  Y.,  both  now  deceased; 
Willis,  our  subject;  Ursula  (deceased),  who 
married  the  late  Benjamin  Stone,  a  farmer  in 
Steuben  county;  Lafayette,  an  agriculturist  in 
the  same  county;  Jackson,  a  carpenter  in  Lee 
county,  Iowa;  Erastus,  a  machinist  in  Bing- 
hampton,  N.  Y. ;  and  Oliver,  a  comb  manu- 
facturer in  Binghampton.  Our  subject's  father 
was  a  man  of  prominence  in  his  locality,  and 
in  politics  was  a  Whig.  He  died  in  1837, 
and  his  wife  survived  him  many  years,  de- 
parting this  life  in  1858. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  at  the 
old  homestead,  September  10,  1821,  and  re- 
mained there  until  he  attained  his  majority, 
when  he  learned  the  butcher's  trade.  He  fol- 
lowed this  for  two  years  in  the  same  vicinity, 
and  in    1845    moved    to    Glenham,    Dutchess 


county,  and  about  three  years  afterward  settlel 
in  Hughsonville.  He  continued  his  busine>f 
successfully  until  1875,  when  he  retired,  ac 
purchased  the  farm  of  100  acres  upon  whicJ 
he  has  since  resided.  A  good  manager,  b| 
industry  and  thrift  have  enabled  him  to  accumJ 
late  a  competency,  and  in  addition  to  his  farDJ 
he  owns  four  houses  in  Hughsonville. 

On    December   22,    1846,   he    married  hi 
first  wife.  Miss  Catherine  Squires,  a  daughtj 
of  Jonathan   Squires,  a  well-known   farmer 
Putnam  county.      She  died  in  1880,  leaving 
children.      In  1889  Mr.  Dean  married  his  pnj 
ent  wife,  a  lady  of    Holland-Dutch    descei 
Miss   Jeannie    Westervelt.      She    is  a   gran 
daughter  of  George  Westervelt,  andadaught 
of  John  C.  Westervelt,  a  native  of  New  Jersej 
who  has  been  for  years  a  prominent  manuff 
turer  and  coal  dealer  in  New  York  City.     H| 
mother,  Cornelia  Westervelt,  a  native  of  Ni 
York,  is  no  longer  living. 

Mr.  Dean  has  always  endorsed  the  prini 
pies  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  has  h(l 
several  minor  offices.  The  Dean  family  [ 
noted  for  advanced  views  on  the  temperanl 
question  and  other  reforms,  and  has  alwsl 
been  connected  with  the  Baptist  Church,  whi| 
both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dean  attend. 

Seven  brothers  are  living.  The  eldel 
Milton,  is  now  eighty-three,  and  the  young 
Oliver,  is  sixty-si.\.  They  have  their  annvj 
reunion  in  the  month  of  June.  All  facl 
Christian  principles,  using  no  intoxicati 
liquors,  speaking  no  profane  language,  and  i 
straightforward  in  every  respect. 


ENRY  B.   KNICKERBOCKER,  a  rep 
sentative    and  successful    farmer  of    I 
town   of   Pine   Plains,    Dutchess   county,   tl 
born  on  February   28,    1832,   upon  the  fa| 
which  is  still  his  home.    There  his  grandfath 
Benjamin  Knickerbocker,  located  over  a  cJ 
tury   ago,    and  it  has  been  in  the  family  el 
since.      The  grandfather  was  a  man  of  excj 
lent  judgment,   and  was  very  successful  in  ' 
operation    of    his    land.     He  married  Alat) 
Smith,    by  whom  he   had  four  children — ll 
sons    and     two     daughters — namely:     Pe^ 
Alatika,  Henry,  and  Hannah  (who  became  1 
wife  of  Lewis  A.  Pulver). 

The    birth    of    Henry   Knickerbocker, 
father  of  our  subject,  occurred  upon  the  hoa 
stead   in    1798,    and    he  inherited  half  of 
place  from  his   father.      He  followed  agricl 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


567 


al  pursuits  throughout  life,  and  in  his  earlier 
i)s  also  conducted  a  gristmill  upon  the  farm. 
e  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lydia 
iilver,  daughter  of  Peter  Pulver,  and  four 
lildren  were  born  to  them:  Cornelius  and 
ineline  (now  deceased);  Henry  B.,  subject  of 
is  review;  and  Jane,  widow  of  William 
nith.  The  father  died  in  1861,  the  mother 
1886. 

Our  subject  received    a  somewhat  limited 

"Mcation  in  the  district  schools,   but  this  has 

u  greatly  supplemented  by  extensive  read- 

and  observation  in  later  years,  so  that  he 

V  be  termed  a  self-educated    man.      At  the 

je  of  eighteen  he  took  charge  of  his  father's 

Irm,    assuming  the  entire  responsibility,  and 

sice  that  time  has  successfully    managed  the 

;ice.      On  reaching  his  majority  he  came  into 

(ssession  of  109  acres  belonging  to  his  father, 

sd  in    1865  purchased  of  Hiram  Wilson  the 

mainder  of   his  grandfather's   farm,    so   that 

r  now  has  a  valuable  place  of  215  acres.    He 

icareful  and  methodical  in  business,  and  has 

rnverted  his  land  into  one  of  the  most  highly 

-ivated  and  attractive  places  in  his  locality. 

ides  general  farming  he  is  successfully  en- 

jd  in  sheep  raising. 

On  September  26,  i860,   Mr.  Knickbocker 

I  rried    Miss    Phoebe    Stickle,    daughter    of 

j:ob  and  Hulda  (Card)  Stickle,  and  they  have 

home  the  parents  of  two  children:      George 

I,  of  the  town  of  Northeast,  married  to  Julia 

(Uin;  and  Fred,    at   home.      Until   President 

I  icoln  ran  for  his  second  term,  Mr.  Knicker- 

l;ker  had  always  supported  the  Democracy, 

at  that  time  he  voted  for    the    martyred 

sident,   and  was  a  Republican  for  several 

}  irs,  but  now  his  allegiance  is  given  to  the 

'  hibition  party.      He  and  his  wife   and  sons 

members  of  the    Presbyterian   Church  of 

■  Plains,  of  which  he  is  an  officer,  and  takes 

active    interest  in  Church    work.      In   the 

perity  of  his  town  and  county  he  has  been 

iportant    factor,   assisting  in  everything 

Iheir    improvement,   and    throughout  the 

aunity  he  has  many  warm  friends. 


iDGAR  CLARK  (deceased).      The  subject 

of  this  sketch,  formerly  one  of  the  leading 

iculturists  of  the  town  of  Northeast,  Dutch- 

,  county,  was  a  descendant   of  one   of  the 

est  families  in  the  country,  the  head  of  the 

irican  line,   Thomas  Clark,  having  been  a 

snger  on  the  "Mayflower." 


Several  generations  of  the  family  have 
made  their  home  at  Plainfield,  Conn.,  and 
there  our  subject's  grandfather,  Ezra  Clark, 
was  born  in  1748.  He  came  to  Dutchess 
county  in  1795,  and  became  very  prominent, 
owning  large  tracts  of  Jand,  and  taking  an  in- 
fluential part  in  local  affairs.  He  married 
Mary  Douglas,  and  had  ten  children,  among 
whom  was  Moses  Clark,  our  subject's  father, 
who  was  born  May  20,  1785,  at  the  old  home 
in  Connecticut.  He  was  ten  years  of  age  at 
the  time  of  his  father's  removal  to  Dutchess 
county,  and  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  here 
passed.  On  November  3,  1808,  he  married 
Mary  Wiggins,  daughter  of  Arthur  Wiggins, 
of  New  Milford.  This  family  was  of  Scotch 
origin,  but  had  lived  in  the  North  of  Ireland 
for  some  time  previous  to  emigration  to  Amer- 
ica. Soon  after  his  marriage  Moses  Clark 
purchased  the  farm  of  600  acres  near  Miller- 
ton,  now  owned  by  Ambrose  Culver,  and  made 
his  permanent  home  there.  Later  he  bought 
another  farm  of  176  acres,  now  owned  by  his 
granddaughters,  Elizabeth  and  Carrie  D. 
Clark,  and  at  one  time  he  had  about  1000 
acres  of  land  at  different  points.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  energy  and  excellent  judgment, 
and  possessed  much  influence  in  the  commun- 
ity. He  died  August  12,  1854,  and  his  wife 
April  25,  1874.  They  had  eight  children,  a 
brief  record  of  whom  is  as  follows:  Ambrose, 
born  September  11,  1809,  married  Julia  A. 
Collin,  of  Northeast;  Mary  E.,  born  January 
13,  1811,  married  Ambrose  Mygatt,  of  Amenia, 
N.  Y. ;  Edgar,  born  February  22,  1813,  was 
married  (first)  to  Mary  Ann  Holbrook,  of 
Northeast,  and  (second)  to  Emeline  Dakin, 
also  of  Northeast;  Julia  L. ,  born  October  26, 
1 8 14,  was  married  (first)  to  Peter  Righter,  of 
Pine  Plains,  N.  Y.,  and  (second)  to  Solomon 
Weaver,  of  Branchport,  Yates  Co.,  N.  Y. ; 
Emily  A.,  born  June  25,  18 16,  married  George 
E.  Crane,  of  New  Milford,  Conn. ;  George, 
born  May  3,1818,  was  married  (first)  to  Emily 
Rogers,  of  P'ishkill,  N.  Y. ,  and  (second)  to 
Ada  Stevens;  Harriet  J.,  born  April  19,  1827, 
married  Willard  Weed,  of  Torrington,  Conn. ; 
and  Moses  C,  Jr.,  born  April  29,  1833.  None 
of  this  family  are  now  living  except  Mrs.  Emily 
A.  Crane  and  Mrs.  Harriet  J.  Weed. 

The  late  Edgar  Clark  was  a  man  of  wide 
and  accurate  information,  always  interested  in 
the  topics  of  the  day.  He  received  a  good 
English  education  in  boyhood,  attending  the 
common  schools  near   his  home,    and,   later, 


568 


GOMMEMORATIYE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  academy  at  Hudson.  In  1837  he  bought 
the  farm  where  Leonard  L.  Barton  now  lives, 
and  resided  there  until  1853,  when  he  pur- 
chased from  his  father  the  farm  of  176 
acres  above  mentioned,  and  moved  there. 
On  October  18,  1838,  he  was  married  to 
Mary  Ann  Holbrook,  daughter  of  Nicholas  Hol- 
brook,  a  prominent  merchant  of  Northeast 
Center.  She  died  March  3,  1849,  leaving 
three  children:  Mary  Elizabeth,  born  July 
23.  1839,  now  living  at  the  old  farm;  Emily 
Leora,  born  October  8,  1840,  the  wife  of  Mar- 
vin Reed,  of  Lakeville,  Conn. ;  and  Rachel 
H.,  born  June  23,  1844,  who  married  Arthur 
J.  Mead,  of  Fayetteville,  N.  Y.  On  October 
15,  1849,  Mr.  Clark,  for  his  second  wife,  mar- 
ried Emeline  Dakin,  daughter  of  Jacob  Da- 
kin,  in  his  day  one  of  the  most  prominent 
men  of  the  town  of  Northeast,  and  the 
owner  of  about  1,000  acres  of  land.  One 
child  came  of  this  marriage,  Carrie  D.,  born 
December  2,  1850,  who  now  resides  on  the 
old  homestead.  Her  mother  died  December 
25,  1882,  a  little  more  than  five  years  after 
the  death  of  Mr.  Clark,  which  occurred  Sep- 
tember 12,  1877.  He  was  an  excellent  busi- 
ness man,  and  was  often  asked  to  assist  in  the 
settlement  of  estates,  his  integrity  as  well  as 
his  ability  being  unquestioned.  Although  he 
was  not  a  member  of  any  Church,  his  life  dis- 
played in  every  phase  the  loftiest  morality. 
He  took  a  hearty  and  generous  interest  in  all 
worthy  public  movements,  and  in  local  affairs 
was  a  leading  worker,  being  elected  on  the 
Republican  ticket  to  various  offices,  including 
that  of  township  supervisor,  which  he  held 
for  several  terms.  During  the  Civil  war  he 
was  active  in  securing  the  quota  of  men  re- 
quired from  his  township,  and  he  greatly  re- 
gretted the  fact  that  his  advanced  age  pre- 
vented him  from  going  to  the  front  himself. 
He  was  a  member  of  Webatuck  Lodge  No. 
480,  F.  &A.  M. 


EDWIN  BARNES,  M.  D.,  the  well-known 
.  physician  of  Pleasant  Plains,  Dutchess 
county,  is  a  representative  of  one  of  our  most 
prominent  families,  his  own  achievements  in 
the  line  of  his  profession  adding  lustre  to  the 
record. 

His  great-great-grandfather  Barnes  was 
born  on  Tower  Hill,  London,  England,  and 
came   to    America    before    the    Revolutionary 


war,  but    returned    to    England    earlj'    in  tli 
struggle,  his  sympathies  being  with  the  Britis 
government.     His  family,  however,   were  pj 
triots,  and  remained  in  this  country.    His  sor 
Joseph,    our  subject's  great-grandfather,   wa 
born  November  i,  1744,  in  the  town  of  Clir 
ton,  Dutchess  county,   and   became  a  farm* 
there.      He  was  married,  November  7,  177: 
to  Sarah  I3utts,  who  was  born  January  4,  174I 
They  were  Quakers  in  faith,  and  both  died 
18 1 3 — he  on  March  15,  she  on  April  5.     Thi 
teen  children  were  born  to  them,  their  naoM 
with  dates  of  birth  being  as  follows:     Benj 
min,    August    25,   1772;    Thomas,    April     i 
1774;  Joseph,  Jr.  (i),    July  22,  1775;    Most 
November  7,  1776;  Elizabeth,  June  14,  177 
Joseph,  Jr.   (2),    December    10,    1779;    Joh 
April    30,   1782;    William,    October    15,  178 
Stephen   and  Samuel  (twins),  April  19,  178 
Jacob,  April  19,  1787;    Sarah,  July   15,  179 
and  Mary,  March  12,  1793.      Samuel,  our  su 
ject's  grandfather,  lived  for  many  years  at  t 
old    homestead  in    the   town   of  Clinton,  a; 
afterward  in  Livingston  county,  N.Y. .  but 
his  old   age   he  moved   to   Canada,  where 
died.      He  married  Fanny  Armstrong,  who  wj 
born   October  26,  1787,  and   died   in    PougJ 
keepsie,  January    11,  1854.      They  had  thtJ 
children:     Stephen    S.,   born   July    18,    l8i| 
Edwin,  born  September  6,  181 7,  died  April' 
1842;  and  Hannah  (now  Mrs.  Moses  Camaclj 
born  December  2,  1819. 

Stephen  S.  Barnes,  our  subject's  fathj 
learned  the  cooper's  trade  in  early  manhocj 
and  later  became  the  junior  partner  of  l| 
firm  of  A.  B.  Nash  &  Co.,  brewers,  of  Tr(| 
N.  Y.  He  married  Huldah  Britton  Hs 
daughter  of  Camillus  Hall,  of  East  Westmo 
land,  Cheshire  Co.,  N.  H.,  and  children j 
follows  were  born  to  their  union:  Elizabn 
(now  Mrs.  Caleb  C.  Hewlett),  March  2,  i8:j 
Charles  Nash,  February  8,  1840,  a  resident! 
Denver,  Colo. ;  George  Waters,  March  :| 
1842,  died  in  infancy;  Edwin,  July  28,  l8| 
our  subject;  and  Clark  Phillips,  November  1 
1846,  who  resides  near  Denver,  Colo.  11 
family  always  made  their  home  in  Hyde  Pi| 
township,  although  the  father's  business  ot 
required  his  absence.  He  died  in  Ander 
county,  Kans. ,  March  29,  1886,  his  wife  sj 
viving  until  August  6,  1892. 

Dr.  Barnes  was  born  in   Troy,  N.  Y., 
he  passed  his   boyhood    at  the  old  home,< 
tending  first  the  district  schools  of  Hyde  P" 
and  then  a  private  school  at   Pleasant  Pla », 


Cciu'^<^<^  f^ojxH^-^py 


i 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


569 


taught  by  Rev.  Sherman  Hoyt.  He  began  his 
medical  studies  with  an  uncle,  Camillus  Hall, 
M.  D., at  Burlington,  Ohio,  where  he  remained 
)a  year  and  a  half.  He  then  entered  the  Al- 
Ibany  Medical  College,  but,  in  1864,  before  his 
'course  was  completed,  he  joined  the  army  as 
a  cadet  on  the  medical  staff.  He  served  in 
[the  Department. of  the  Cumberland,  of  West 
iVirginia,  and  of  the  East,  until  mustered  out, 
February  3,  1866.  In  the  meantime,  his  de- 
gree of  M.  D.  had  been  conferred  upon  him  by 
Albany  Medical  College,  December  28,  1865, 
while  he  was  on  duty  at  the  Ira  Harris  General 
Hospital.  Ten  days  after  his  return  home  he 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Pleas- 
mt  Plains,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

On  November    13,    1866,    Dr.  Barnes  was 
iiarried  in  Macedon,  N.  Y, ,  to  Matilda  Arms- 
strong,  whose  grandfather,  Jacob    Armstrong, 
is  a  resident  of  Clinton.      Her  father,  Tru- 
man  Armstrong,   was  born   August   15,   1804, 
md    for    the    greater    part  of    his    life   was    a 
larmer  in  the  towns  of  Clinton,  Unionvale  and 
Hfyde  Park;  but  in  1863  he  moved  to  Palmyra, 
\ayne  county,  where  he   lived   a  retired  life. 
;Ie  was  married  Sep'.ember  19,  1833,  to  Eliza- 
''eth    Powell,    who    was    born    February    15, 
04,  and  they  had  four  children:     (i)  Daniel, 
jrn  December  27,  1833,  was  a  machinist  in 
'.'ew  York  and  Chicago,  and  died  January  25, 
891;   (2)    Jacob,    born    August   30,   1837;  (3) 

heodore,    born ,  1845,  who  died  in 

ifancy;  (4)  Matilda,  born  August  11,  1841, 
iid  (5)  Anna,  November  22,  1842.  Jacob  en- 
sted  in  Company  D.  128th  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  and 
:  ved  until  mustered  out  with  the  rank  of  first 
iitenant,  July  28,  1865.  He  took  part  in  a 
jmber  of  important  battles,  among  them  be- 
?  Port  Hudson,  Pleasant  Hill,  Sabine  Cross 
ads,  Winchester,  Cedar  Creek,  being  taken 
isoner  at  the  latter  place,  and  not  again 
ining  his  regiment  until  February,  1865. 
the  war  closed  he  engaged  in  the  real- 
te  and  lumber  businesses  in  Chicago,  where 
died  June  15,  1893.  Mrs.  Barnes'  father 
ed  at  Palmyra,  January  13,  1878,  her  mother 
rviving  until  September  9,  1883.  Our  sub- 
:t's  pleasant  home  has  been  brightened  by 
ree  children,  of  whom  the  first,  Marion,  born 
:bruary  i,  1868,  died  October  25,  l87i;the 
hers  are  Myrta  Elizabeth,  born  August  17, 
'77;  and  Percy  Raymond,  August  9,  1880. 
In  politics  the  Doctor  is  a  Republican,  and 
took  profound  interest  in  the  abolition  of 
'iverv.     Professionally,    he  stands  high,  and 


mt, 

■Idii 

■e 

r 

I 


he  has  been  president  of  the  Dutchess  County 
Medical  Society,  and  vice-president  of  the 
New  York  Medical  Association. 


EDMOND  A.  MOREY  (deceased)  was  one 
:  of  the  popular  and  highly  respected  citi- 
zens of  Dover  Plains,  Dutchess  county,  and 
at  the  time  of  his  death  was  connected  with 
the  Harlem  railroad.  The  Morey  family  was 
founded  in  Dutchess  county  by  his  grandfather, 
Abraham  Morey,  who  was  born  in  Connecticut, 
September  15,  1778,  and  from  his  native  State 
he  removed  to  Dutchess  county,  locating  in 
the  town  of  Washington.  He  was  a  promi- 
nent farmer.  He  was  the  ninth  son  of  Stephen 
and  Sarah  Morey,  who  were  born  in  the  town 
of  Washington,  Dutchess  county.  When  he 
had  attained  to  man's  estate  he  was  married 
on  Christmas  Day,  of  1806,  to  Miss  Phebe 
Boyce,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Wash- 
ington, June  9,  1780,  and  was  the  daughter  of 
Isaac  and  Remembrance  Boyce.  Six  children 
were  born  to  them:  Alonzo,  born  November 
5,  1807,  died  April  5,  i860  (he  served  two 
terms  as  sheriff  of  Dutchess  county);  Barak, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  was  next  in  order  of 
birth;  Alanson  was  born  January  5,  18 10; 
Harriet,  born  February  25,  1812,  was  married 
October  22,  1856,  to  Isaiah  Reynolds,  by  Rev. 
Abram  Davis,  at  her  father's  home,  in  the 
town  of  Washington,  and  she  died  March  4, 
1888,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years;  Julia, 
born  November  27,  1816,  died  November  26, 
1887,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years;  and 
Priscilla,  born  May  13,  1821,  died  September 
7,  1872.  The  father  of  this  family  died  July 
15,  1859,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years  and  ten 
months,  and  his  wife  passed  away  on  Septem- 
ber 18,  1866. 

Barak  Morey,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess 
county,  December  16,  1808,  and  there  received 
his  education  in  the  common  schools.  He 
later,  for  some  time,  engaged  in  merchandising 
at  Hulls  Mills,  Dutchess  county,  and  on  dis- 
posing of  that  business  purchased  a  farm  in 
the  town  of  Amenia,  which  he  cultivated  for 
thirty  years.  He  always  took  a  great  interest 
in  politics,  and  held  a  number  of  town  offices 
to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned.  His 
earthly  career  was  ended  on  April  12,  1886,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-eight  years. 

Barak  Morey  was  twice  married,  his  first 
union  being  with  Miss  Mary  L.  Toby,  daughter 


570 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  Albert  Toby,  of  the  town  of  Stanford, 
Dutchess  county;  she  died  September  1 8,  1847, 
leaving  one  child,  Albert  B.,  who  was  born 
August  29,  1847,  and  died,  unmarried,  No- 
vember 7,  1892,  aged  forty-five  years.  Mr. 
Morey  was  again  married  December  9,  1849, 
the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Sarah  Eliza- 
beth Howes,  a  daughter  of  Edmond  Howes,  a 
farmer  of  Sullivan  county,  N.  Y.  Of  the  five 
children  that  graced  this  union  Edmond  A. 
was  the  oldest.  Alonzo  H.,  born  December 
20,  1853,  never  married,  and  died  February 
23i  1893,  at  the  age  of  thirty-nine  years.  Ira 
A.,  born  September  28,  1856,  died  November 
10,  1880,  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years. 
Cinda  E.,  born  February  28,  i860,  married 
Reuben  A.  Brown,  of  Westfield,  Mass.,  who 
is  now  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cigars  at 
BuiTalo,  N.  Y.  Samuel,  born  June  14,  1862, 
makes  his  home  at  Amenia,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged in  business. 

Mr.  Morey,  of  this  review,  was  a  native  of 
Dutchess  county,  born  in  the  town  of  Stanford, 
on  September  15,  1851,  and  his  education  was 
such  as  the  common  schools  afforded.  Most  of 
his  life  was  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
but  after  his  removal  to  Dover  Plains  he  was 
in  the  employ  of  the  Harlem  railroad.  A 
stanch  Democrat  in  politics,  he  kept  well 
posted  in  regard  to  current  events,  and  held 
a  number  of  minor  town  offices.  Socially, 
he  held  membership  with  the  Odd  Fellows 
lodge  of  Poughkeepsie,  No.  297,  and  also  be- 
longed to  the  Odd  Fellows  Mutual  Benefit  Asso- 
ciation of  Dutchess  county.  He  was  classed 
among  the  best  people  of  the  community,  well 
worthy  of  any  distinction  that  might  have  been 
conferred  upon  him.  Mr.  Morey  was  united 
in  marriage  with  MissThedorah  Odell,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  and  Elmira  Odell,  of  Pleasant 
Valley,  and  to  this  union  was  born  one  child, 
Jennie  E.,  born  September  21,  1874,  and  on 
September  2,  1896,  at  half-past  two  o'clock, 
was  married  by  the  Rev.  S.  J.  McCutcheon 
to  Emanuel  C.  Benson.  Edmond  A.  Morey 
passed  to  the  unseen  world  December  19,  1896, 
at  the  early  age  of  forty-five  years. 

Samuel  D.  Odell,  father  of  Mrs.  Morey, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Washington,  Dutch- 
ess county,  July  3,  1793,  and  was  the  son  of 
Samuel  D.  and  Sarah  Ann  (Doty)  Odell,  the 
former  a  native  of  the  town  of  Washington, 
and  the  latter  of  Salt  Point,  Dutchess  county. 
In  early  life  he  learned  the  hatter's  trade, 
which  he  followed  for  a  number  of  years,  but 


afterward  engaged  in  farming  and  carpenter- 
ing. By  his  marriage  with  Miss  Permelia  Mar- 
shall, he  had  ten  children:  Edwin,  Sallie  A., 
George,  Bartlet,  Marshall,  Lewis,  William, 
Seneca,  Elizabeth  and  Joseph;  of  these,  Sen- 
eca was  made  colonel  of  the  28th  Regiment, 
September  5,  1862,  which  regiment  went  out 
1,600  strong,  and  when  mustered  out,  July 
13,  1865,  numbered  but  400.  After  the  death 
of  his  first  wife  he  married  Miss  Almira  Baker, 
who  was  born  in  1822,  and  was  the  daughter 
of  John  Baker,  of  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley, 
Dutchess  county.  Six  children  blessed  this 
union:  Leander,  born  December  21,  1844, 
married  Miss  Frances  Hustead  (no  children 
were  born  to  them);  Charles  A.,  born  Novem- 
ber 29,  1846,  was  in  the  Union  army  during 
the  Civil  war,  and  is  now  married  and  has 
two  children;  Jacob  J.,  born  May  16,  1849, 
married  Mrs.  Elmira  Finkle,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Mary;  Theodora,  born  May  i,  1851, 
is  the  wife  of  our  subject;  Mary  F.,  born  Oc- 
tober 29,  1853,  wedded  Andrew  Lake,  a  sol- 
dier of  the  Civil  war,  who  now  receives  a  pen- 
sion, and  they  have  nine  children — Oran,  Alex. 
James,  Fred,  Arthur  J.,  Mary,  Alvereta,  Alice' 
and  Ida;  and  Cornelia,  born  April  27,  1858. 
died  August  18,  1866,  at  the  age  of  eight  years. 


POLHEMUS  W.    MYER,  leading  agricult- 
urist of  the  town  of  Wappinger,  Dutchessj 
county,  is    a    member  of    one   of    its  old  anc 
highly  respected  families.      His  ancestors  cami 
from  Holland  at  an  early  period,  and  his  grand 
father,  Reuben  Myer,  was  born  in  that  count; 
and  spent  his  life  there.    He  married  Catherim 
Van  Voorhis,  and  had  seven  children,  none  0 
whom    are    now    living:     (i)  John    R.   was 
farmer  upon  the  estate  now  owned  by  our  sub 
ject;  (2)  Abraham  R.  resided  in  Hughsonvillel 
f  3 )  Zachariah  was  a  hotel-keeper  in  Arlington 
Dutchess  county;  (4)  Egbert  was  a  resident  c 
Hughsonville;  (5)  Ellen  married  William  Var 
Voorhis,  a  carriage  painter;  (6)  Nancy  marrie 
William  Monfort;  and  (7)  Warren  D. 

Warren  D.  Myer,  the  youngest  of  the  fan 
ily,  was  born  and  reared  in  New  Hackensacl 
and  in  early  manhood  began  his  success! 
mercantile  career  by  clerking  for  his  broth' 
in  Hughsonville,  where  he  afterward  conductf 
a  general  store  for  twenty-six  years.  His  wi 
was  Miss  Susan  Lyster,  daughter  of  John  1 
Lyster,  a  well-known  farmer  of  East  Fishki 
and    a    descendant    of    another   old   Hollan 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


571 


;  Dutch  family.  They  attended  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  were  prominent  in  its  work. 
In  later  years  Mr.  Myer  purchased  the  present 
homestead,  near  Hughsonville,  where  he  re- 
sided until  his  death,  in  1872.  His  wife  sur- 
vived him  twenty  years.  Of  their  four  chil- 
dren, the  eldest,  Delancey  L. ,  died  in  1891, 
and  Margaret  and  Olevia  died  in  infancy. 

The  subject  of  this  biography,  the  young- 
est child,  was  born   in  Hughsonville,  July  31, 
1846,  and  after  availing  himself  of  the  educa- 
:ional  facilities  of    his   native  town  settled  at 
he  homestead,  and  the  management  of  its  133 
lores  has  since    occupied  his  attention.     On 
September  6,  1883,  he   married  his  first  wife, 
vliss  Kitty  H.  Denny,  a  native  of  the  town  of 
^yde  Park,  Dutchess  county.     They  had  two 
hildren — Maud   K.  and    Emma   H.,  who  are 
)oth  at  home.     Their    mother   died   October 
2,  1888,  and  on  October  25,  1893,  Mr.  Myer 
vas  again  married,  this  time  to  Miss  Jennie  E. 
utler,  who  was  born  in  Westchester  county, 
|he   daughter    of    Cyrus   Cutler,    a  prominent 
irmer. 

Mr.  Myer  is  a  Democrat,  as  was  his  father 
(efore   him,  but   his   influence   is  exerted  in  a 
t,  though  forceful,  way. 


m 


ENRY  HOFFMAN,  who  was  born  on 
January   26,   1829,  in   the   town    of  Pine 

ns,  Dutchess  county,  was  there  success- 
engaged  in  farming  for  many  years.  He 
as  a  worthy  representative  of  an  old  and 
)nored  family  of  the    locality.      The  founder 

the  family  in  the  New  World  was  Hendrick 
off  man,  his  great-grandfather,  who  was  born 

Germany  about  17 19,  and  on  crossing  the 
ater  located  in  Ancram,  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y., 
here  he  secured  the  farm  now  occupied  by 
5  great-grandson,  Frederick  Barton.  By  his 
arriage  with  Sybil  Magdalene  Yunghans  he 
came  the  father  of  three  children:  Henry, 
10  was  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 

rn  in  Ancram  January  6,  1761;  Matthias, 
married  Anna  Maria  Strever,  and  Marga- 
who  wedded  a  Mr.  Talmadge,  of  Rensse- 

r  county,  N.    Y.,    a   distant   relative  of  T. 

Witt  Talmadge. 

The  grandfather  came  to  the  town  of   Pine 

lins,  Dutchess  county,  in  18 12,  locating  on 

-  hill  where  the  Hoffman    Mills  now  stand, 

1  in  this  town  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
I:,  dying  in  1840.  He  was  one  of  the  most 
iMsperous  farmers  of  the  vicinity,  owning  500 


acres  of  valuable  land.  His  wife,  who  was 
born  January  6,  1762,  survived  him  about  ten 
years.  On  January  15,  1786,  he  had  married 
Catherine  Veterle,  of  Red  Hook,  N.  Y.,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  ten  children, 
namely:  Margaret,  born  September  25,  1786, 
married  Rowland  Sweet,  of  Copake,  Colum- 
bia Co.,  N.  Y. ;  Catherine,  born  October  12, 
1788,  died  unmarried;  Eleanor,  born  Decem- 
ber 28,  1790,  married  Walter  Dorchester; 
Henry,  born  May  17,  1793,  married  Almira 
Culver,  of  Pine  Plains;  Polly,  born  August  27, 
1795,  married  Jeremiah  Conklin,  of  Pine  Plains; 
Catherine,  born  January  28,  1798,  died  in 
childhood;  one  child,  born  June  15,  1799,  died 
in  infancy;  Betsey,  born  May  28,  1800,  mar- 
ried George  Barton;  Laura,  born  June  23, 
1803,  married  Artemas  Sackett,  of  the  town 
of  Washington,  Dutchess  county;  and  Anthony 
was  born  in  Ancram,  Columbia  county,  Sep- 
tember 15,   1805. 

Anthony  Hoffman,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, spent  his  entire  life  upon  the  farm  which 
his  father  had  located  in  the  town  of  Pine 
Plains,  where  the  family  had  long  been  a  lead- 
ing and  prominent  one  in  the  community.  He 
was  a  progressive  and  enterprising  man,  and 
kept  the  old  homestead  property  intact.  He 
was  married  to  Sally  Barton,  of  the  town  of 
Stanford,  Dutchess  county,  and  to  them  were 
born  the  following  children:  Henry,  of  this 
review,  was  the  eldest;  Sarah,  born  December 
6,  1 83 1,  wedded  Herman  Snyder,  of  Gallatin, 
Columbia  county;  Leonard,  born  November 
24,  1833,  died  unmarried;  Catherine,  born 
February  22,  1835,  married  J.  Culver  Hoag; 
Julia,  born  October  30,  1837,  became  the  wife 
of  Elias  Halstead,  of  Ancram;  Laura,  born 
January  20,  1840,  married  Edgar  Eggleston,  of 
the  town  of  Northeast,  Dutchess  county,  and 
Anthony,  born  September  8,  1844,  died  un- 
married. All  of  the  children  are  now  deceased 
with  the  exception  of  Catherine  and  Laura. 
The  father's  death  occurred  September  10, 
1876;  his  wife  passed  away  November  23,  1884. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools  of  the  neighborhood,  and  in  a  select 
school  at  Millerton,  Dutchess  county,  con- 
ducted by  \l.  W.  Simmons,  and  by  reading  in 
subsequent  years  became  a  well-informed  man. 
He  succeeded  to  the  eastern  end  of  the  old 
homestead,  consisting  of  153  acres,  and  on 
that  farm  spent  his  entire  life.  He  was  natu- 
rally a  man  of  good  business  ability,  and  was 
numbered  among  the  substantial  and  industri- 


572 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ous  farmers  of  Pine  Plains.  The  farm  is  now 
occupied  by  his  only  child,  Leonard,  making 
the  fourth  generation  that  has  resided  there. 
In  1866  Mr.  Hoffman  married  Miss  Mary  A. 
Strever,  who  was  born  July  31,  1836,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Adam  and  Eli/;a  (Eno)  Strever. 
Their  son  Leonard  married  Ella  J.  Miller, 
daughter  of  Adam  Miller,  of  Pine  Plains,  and 
they  have  two  children,  Ira  and  Harry.  Mr. 
Hoffman  used  his  right  of  franchise  in  support 
of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  took  an  active  interest  in  public 
affairs.  He  was  straightforward  and  honora- 
ble in  his  dealings,  and  gained  the  high  regard 
of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 

The  Strever  family,  of  which  Mrs.  Hoffman 
is  a  member,  is  of  German  origin,  and  the 
name  was  formerly  spelled  Streibel,  later  cor- 
rupted to  Strevel  and  afterward  to  Strever. 
About  1720  Johannes  Strever  came  to  America 
from  the  Fatherland,  and  on  his  arrival  in  New 
York  City  was  sold  to  pay  his  passage.  A  man 
by  the  name  of  Couse  brought  him  to  the  town 
of  Milan,  Dutchess  county,  where  he  worked 
his  time  out.  He  was  born  December  24, 
1731,  and  married  Maria  Dings,  who  was  born 
in  1742,  the  daughter  of  Adam  Dings.  His 
death  occurred  February  24,  1804,  and  his 
wife  survived  him  about  four  years.  In  their 
family  were  six  children,  namely:  John  Adam, 
born  June  i,  1760,  married  Lizzie  Strever; 
Jacob,  born  June  18,  1762,  married  Anna 
Maria  Hoysradt;  Anna  Maria,  born  April  5, 
1764,  married  Matthias  Hoffman;  Eva,  born 
March  27,  1766,  became  the  wife  of  Hendrick 
Hoysradt;  John,  born  July  4,  1768,  wedded 
Mary  Hoysradt;  and  Benjamin,  born  Novem- 
ber 8,   1 77 1,  married  Maria  Righter. 

The  next  in  direct  line  to  Mrs.  Hoffman  is 
John  Strever,  who  was  born  on  a  farm  near 
Ancram  Lead  Mines,  now  owned  by  Jacob 
Miller,  and  by  his  marriage  with  Mary  Hoys- 
radt had  ten  children:  Polly,  born  October 
23.  1790,  became  the  wife  of  Cornelius  Hoys- 
radt; Henry,  born  March  18,  1793,  married 
Betsey  Snyder;  John,  born  January  13,  1796, 
never  married;  Adam,  born  March  13,  1798, 
was  the  father  of  Mrs.  Hoffman;  Elizabeth, 
born  April  28,  1800,  died  while  young;  Ben- 
jamin, born  June  20,  1802,  married  Cornelia 
Snyder;  J.  Hoysradt,  born  November  24, 
1805,  wedded  Abbie  Marsh;  Tammy,  born  in 
November,  1807,  became  the  wife  of  John 
Silvernail;  Eliza,  born  February  9,  18 10,  died 
unmarried;  and  Fanny,  born  January  18,  1812, 


also  died  unmarried.  On  June  7,  1790,  the 
father  of  this  family  purchased  of  Mr.  Gra- 
ham, one  of  the  Little  Nine  Partners,  700 
acres  of  land,  for  which  he  gave  goo  pounds 
in  English  money,  and  that  property  has  been 
in  the  family  ever  since. 

On  the  family  homestead  Adam  Strever, 
the  father  of  Mrs.  Hoffman,  was  born  and 
reared  his  family.  He  was  an  able  financier, 
being  very  successful  in  business  matters,  up- 
right and  reliable,  and  could  be  depended  upon 
under  any  circumstances.  He  was  naturally  a 
quiet  man,  and  one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed 
men  of  the  community.  He  married  Miss 
Eliza  Eno,  daughter  of  Julius  and  Amanda 
Eno,  of  Schoharie  county,  N.  Y. ,  and  to  them 
were  born  three  daughters:  Mary  Amanda, 
now  Mrs.  Hoffman;  Jane  W.,  born  November 
23.  1837;  and  Julia,  born  August  30,  1840. 
On  August  27,  1872,  the  last  named  married 
Daniel  Poole,  by  whom  she  had  one  son,  Stre- 
ver, and  her  death  occurred  August  6,  1895. 
The  father  passed  away  February  18,  1872, 
and  the  mother  on  July  25,   1845. 

Among  many  heirlooms,  Mrs.  Hoffman  has 
a  German  Bible,  sent  to  Johannes  Strever  some 
time  after  his  arrival  in  this  country,  and  it  is 
now  about  140  years  old.  This  family,  it  is 
quite  evident,  was  one  of  considerable  stand- 
ing in  the  Old  World. 


ARTIN  W.  COLLINS,  a  prominent  busi 

^Jl   ness    man    of   Poughkeepsie,    Dutchess 
county,   was    born    October    14,  1847,  in   th( 
town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y. 
and  is  a  member  of  one  of  the  old  families  0 
that  locality. 

The  following  record   is  given  of  Mr.  Col 
lins'  immediate  paternal  ancestors:     Isaac  F 
Collins,  his  father,  was  born  May  22,  1818,  ii 
Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  Marti:i 
W.  Collins,  his  grandfather,  was  born  in  th ' 
town  of  Rhinebeck,  in  1790;  and  Joshua  Col 
lins,    the    great-grandfather,    was   born    nea 
Providence,  R.  I.      He  was  the  son  of  Josep 
Collins,   who    was   a   native  of  England,  an 
came    to    America,  settling    near  Providenci 
where  he  reared  a  large  family  of  children,  1 
whom    the    sons    were  :     Joshua,    Hezekial 
Joseph,  William  and  Charles.    Of  these,  Ue/.i 
kiah  came  to  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y. .  and  se 
tied  on  a  farm  in  Unionvale;  he  married,  ar 
reared  a  large  family.     Joseph  lived  in  Rhot 
Island,  where  his   family  became  promineii 


^TKonJ^t^     yl^'    CA^lti^ 


i 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPmCAL  RECORD. 


573 


'William  also  made  his  home  in  Rhode  Island, 
and  there  reared  a  family.  Charles  removed 
to  Columbia  county,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  married 
land  settled  on  a  farm;  he  had  two  children, 
one  of  whom,  Charles,  became  a  lawyer  and 
lived  in  Brooklyn. 

Joshua,  the  eldest  of  the  family  above  re- 
corded, and  great-grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  reared  in  Rhode  Island,  where  he  married 
Mary  White,  and  shortly  after  (about  1774) 
came  to  New  York,  settling  in  Rhinebeck, 
Dutchess  county,  and  taking  charge  of  prop- 
erty belonging  to  Gen.  Montgomery.  In  1800 
he  bought  a  farm  in  eastern  Pleasant  Valley, 
where  he  remained  until  his  death  in  1829. 
He  had  a  family  of  seven  children,  namely: 
fi)  Henry,  married  Miss  Cox,  of  Rhinebeck, 
and  followed  farming.  (2)  Gideon  married 
Miss  Sweet,  of  Lithgow,  Dutchess  county, 
moved  to  Chautauqua,  N.  Y.,  and  there  reared 
a  family.  (3)  Joshua  married  Miss  Rowe, 
and  located  at  Coeymans,  N.  Y.,  from  there 
■moving  to  Illinois.  (4)  Susan  married  Caleb 
|Angevine,  a  stock  dealer  in  New  York  City. 
!'5)  Oliver  married  Miss  Ward,  and  lived  in 
Pleasant  Valley  (he  was  a  school  teacher,  and 
ilso  a  merchant).  (6)  Patty  married  Minard 
V'elie,  who  was  a  farmer  and  stockraiser,  of 
l^agrange.  (7)  Martin  W.  was  the  grand- 
ather  of  our  subject. 

Martin  W.  Collins  lived  in  Rhinebeck  until 

en  years  of  age,  but  was  reared   to    manhood 

n  Pleasant  Valley.      He  married   Miss  Nancy 

'"orman,  a  native  of  the  latter  place,  and  for 

)me    time    after  his    marriage    lived    on  his 

ather's  farm.      He  afterward  bought   a  large 

arm    in  the    town    of  Washington,  Dutchess 

junty,  where  he   died   October   i,  1876,   his 

vife  surviving  him  until  November  20,  1886. 

le  served  as  lieutenant  in  the  war  of  1812, 

md  was  very  prominent  with  the  Democratic 

'arty  of  his  locality,  and  held  the  office  of  su- 

lervisor  for  many  terms,  and  also  superintend- 

nt  of  the  County  Poor.     To  the  union  of  this 

vorthy  couple  were   born   four  children:     (i) 

oshua,    the  eldest,  is   living  at    Wappingers 

alls  at  the  age  of   eighty-two  years;  he  has 

:ir  many  years  been  a  minister  of  the  Gospel, 

'resbyterian  Church,  but   is  now  retired  from 

ctive  work.     (2j     Mary  A.  married  William 

R.  Gurney,  who  lived  in  Dutchess  county, 
id  was  a  stockdealer  in  New  York  City.  (3) 
aac  is  our  subject's  father.  (4)  Rhoda, 
ho  never  married,  is  now  seventy-four  years 
'Id.     In  religion  the  family  were  Quakers. 


Isaac  Collins,  father  of  our  subject,  grew 
up  on  his  father's  farm,  and  early  in  life  stud- 
ied surveying  and  engineering,  which  profes- 
sion he  followed  during  the  greater  part  of  his 
life.  He  married  Miss  Phctbe  J.  Holmes,  who 
was  born  at  Pleasant  Valley  August  10,  1822. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  Isaac  Holmes,  a 
farmer,  and  granddaughter  of  Joseph  Holmes, 
who  came  from  Westchester  county,  N.  Y. 
The  family  was  of  German  descent.  Four 
children  were  born  to  Isaac  Collins  and  his 
wife,  as  follows:  (i)  Isaac  H.  died  when  eight 
years  old.  (2)  Mary  Ann  married  James  Ho- 
gan,  of  Rhinebeck,  and  died  December  12, 
1 87 1.  (3)  Martin  W.  is  our  subject.  (4) 
Peters  H.  died  at  five  years  of  age.  The 
mother  passed  away  March  16,  1895;  the  fa- 
ther is  now  living  in  Poughkeepsie,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-seven  years.  He  is  a  Democrat, 
and  was  county  superintendent  of  schools  from 
1868  to  1872,  taking  an  active  part  in  all 
matters  pertaining  to  education.  He  and  his 
wife  contributed  liberally  to  the  support  of  the 
Second  Reformed  Church  at  Poughkeepsie, 
and  have  always  commanded  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  the  community. 

Martin  W.  Collins,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  lived  in  the  town  of  Washington,  where 
he  attended  the  district  school  until  he  was 
fifteen  years  old,  when  his  parents  removed  to 
Rhinebeck.  He  then  entered  the  Dutchess 
County  Academy,  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years,  and  for  one  year  was  a  stu- 
dent in  the  Seminary  at  Amenia.  In  1870  he 
began  teaching  at  Rhinebeck,  continuing  in 
this  occupation  some  five  years.  In  the  fall 
of  1875  he  was  elected  school  commissioner, 
and  was  re-elected  in  1877,  serving  until  Jan- 
uary I,  1882.  At  this  time  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  Benjamin  W.  Van  Wyck  in  the 
marble  and  granite  business,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Van  Wyck  &  Collins,  in  which  busi- 
ness he  is  still  engaged. 

Mr.  Collins  was  married  September  19, 
1870,  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Isaac  F.  Kir- 
by,  of  New  York,  who  died  in  August,  1873. 
One  child  was  born  to  them,  Jennie,  who  mar- 
ried William  R.  Brown,  of  Poughkeepsie.  Mr. 
Collins,  on  December  20,  1877,  married,  for 
his  second  wife,  Miss  Emily  M.,  daughter  of 
William  I.  Foster,  a  farmer  of  Pleasant  Val- 
ley. (The  Fosters  are  of  English  descent,  and 
came  to  Dutchess  county  from  New  Hamp- 
shire). Of  this  union  two  children  have  been 
born:  Mattie  F.  and  Ruth  M. 


574 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mr.  Collins  is  a  Democrat,  and  a  public- 
spirited  man,  one  who  takes  an  active  interest 
in  all  public  matters.  He  is  broad  and  pro- 
gressive in  his  ideas,  and  as  a  loyal  citizen  is 
held  in  the  highest  esteem.  Socially  he  be- 
longs to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  K.  of  P.,  and  he 
and  his  wife  attend  the  Reformed  Church. 


CHARLES  EMERY  BAKER.  As  pioneer 
farmers  of  the  town  of  Pawling,  Dutchess 
county,  the  Baker  family  held  a  prominent 
place  in  the  development  of  that  town  in  early 
days,  and  the  numerous  descendants  of  this  gen- 
eration ably  sustain  the  reputation  won  by  their 
forefathers  for  industry,  business  acumen  and 
public  spirit. 

Henry  Baker,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  born  at  the  old  homestead,  and  became 
the  owner  of  a  farm  of  about  loo  acres,  ad- 
mirably adapted  to  the  dairy  business,  which 
land  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  family.  He 
was  a  successful  man,  and  was  regarded  as  a 
representative  citizen  of  his  town.  He  was 
married,  and  reared  a  family  of  eight  children. 
The  five  sons,  James,  Warren,  John,  Henry  and 
Joshua,  all  followed  agricultural  pursuits.  The 
three  daughters  were  Ann,  who  married  Harry 
Peck;  Betsey,  the  wife  of  Luman  White;  and 
Hulda.  All  lived  to  the  age  of  nearly  sixty 
years  or  more,  but  have  now  joined  the  silent 
majority. 

Harry  Baker,  our  subject's  father,  was  born 
on  the  old  homestead  in  1818,  and  succeeded 
to  it  after  the  death  of  his  father,  buying  out 
the  claims  of  the  other  heirs.  Hisentire  life  was 
passed  there,  and  he  added  to  the  acreage  from 
time  to  time.  Possessing  the  usual  native  abil- 
ity, he  was  even  more  influential  in  public  life 
than  his  father,  for  many  years  taking  active 
part  in  the  support  of  Republican  principles. 
He  served  as  assessor  from  eight  to  ten  years, 
also  held  other  important  offices  of  the  town  at 
different  times,  and  was  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Reynolds- 
ville.  His  death  occurred  in  P'ebruary,  1883, 
and  his  wife,  Rebecca  Jane  Denton,  followed 
him  May,  1893.  She  wasanative  of  Reynolds- 
ville,  a  daughter  of  Josiah  Denton.  Our  sub- 
ject was  one  of  the  family  of  seven  children, 
as  follows:  Josiah  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil 
war,  having  enlisted  in  1 862,  but  only  lived  four 
weeks  thereafter,  dying  of  smallpo.x.  George 
H. ,  the  eldest  living,  and  a  farmer  in  Putnam 
county,  married  Ann  Kent,  but  has  no  children. 


James  H.,  a  resident  of  Pawling,  was  twice 
married,  first  to  Anna  Gage,  and  after  her  death 
he  wedded  her  sister,  Sarah;  by  his  first  wife 
he  had  two  children:  William  and  Anna. 
Charles  Emery,  our  subject,  comes  next. 
Amos  D.  is  deceased.  John  Wesley,  who  resides 
at  the  homestead,  married  Ida  Ballard,  and 
they  have  two  children,  the  elder,  Harry, 
being  now  deceased,  the  younger,  Stanley,  yet 
living.  David  L. ,  the  youngest  brother  of  our 
subject,  a  resident  of  Matteawan,  married 
Emma  Ladue,  and  has  two  children:  Edith 
M.  and  Ralph. 

Charles    E.    Baker,  our  subject,  was  born 
at  Reynoldsville,  April  27,  1849,  and  his  edu- 
cational opportunities  were  restricted  to  an  at- 
tendance at  the  district  schools  of  that  village 
until  the    age  of   twenty,  the    last    four   year.' 
being  limited  to  the   winter  term.     Study  was 
a  pleasure   to  him,   and  he  became  especially 
proficient  in  mathematics,  while  a  wide  course 
of  reading  in  later   years   has    kept    him   well 
abreast  with  the  topics  of  the  time.     At  twenty-l 
one  he  left   home   to  engage   in   farming,   and 
after  his    marriage,  in    1872,  to    Miss   Juliette; 
Mead,   daughter  of  Robert  Mead,  of  Farmer.'^ 
Mills,  Putnam  county,  he  spent  one  year  on  thi 
Mead  homestead.      On  April  i,  1873,  he  settle, 
on  his  present  farm  in  the  town  of  Pawlin;: 
The   place   was  known    as  the   Hillcr  home 
stead,  and   was  owned  by  Alfred  Hiller;  but 
after  nine  years,  Mr.  Baker  purchased  the  prop 
erty,  which  contains   255  acres,  and  is  consid 
ered  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  town.     As  Mr 
Baker  had  only  $300   when  he  moved  to  thi 
farm,  he  may  well  be  proud  of  the  success  whic 
his  industry  and  good  management  have  broughi 
him.     He  is  interested  largely  in  dairying,  keep 
ing  about  sixty  cows.      In  politics  he  has  alwayl 
been  a  Republican  and  an  active  one,  havini 
attended  many  conventions.     In  1891  and  189 
he  held  the  office  of  commissioner  of  highway; 
He  and  his  wife  attend    the  Methodist  Episcc 
pal  Church  of  Pawling.     Socially,  he  is  a  meiii| 
ber   of  Dover  Lodge  No.  666,  F.  &  A.  M.,  c 
Dover  Plains. 

Of  their  three    children,    Charles  H.  is 
graduate  of  the  military  school  at  Claveracl 
in  Columbia  county,  while  Edith  V.  is  attem 
ing  school  at  Chappaqua,  Westchester  count} 
and  Frances  L. ,  the  youngest,  is  at  home. 

Mrs.  Baker,  wife  of  our  subject,  was  bor 
January  14,  1850,  near  Farmers  Mills,  in  Pu 
nam  county,  a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Abb 
M.  (Smith)  Mead,  who  were  the  parents  of  thre 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHWAL  RBCORI). 


575 


ihildren:     Naomi  J.,  who  married  James  W. 

I'ompkins,  a  farmer  of  East  Fishkili,  and  lias 

i,vo  children:     Nellie  and  William  D. ;  Juliette 

,Vlrs.  Bakerj  comes  next;  and  Robert   R.,  who 

larried  Addie  O.  Thomas,  and  resides  at  Mat- 

;;awan,    where  he  is  engaged  at  horse  dealing. 

[he  father  of  these  was  born  in  Putnam  county 

1  1822,  and  died  in  1858.      By  occupation  he 

,as  a  farmer  and  drover,    and  also   conducted 

store.      He  was  a  Democrat.     The  mother 

as  born  in  Putnam  county  in  1819,  and  died 

January,  1894. 


Hh 


sLEMENT  HAIGHT,  who  has  ever  been 
/I  closely  identified  with  the  agricultural  in- 
rests  of  the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess 
iiinty,  was  born  August  27,  18 14,  on  the 
rm  where  he  still  makes  his  home.  His  an- 
•stors  came  from  England  to  America,  the 
under  of  the  family  in  this  country,  Simon 
aight,  landing  in  1628.  He  had  a  son,  Nich- 
i|as  (1 1,  who  married  Susanna  Joyce,  and  had 
ison,  Samuel;  Samuel  married,  and  became 
ii-  father  of  Nicholas  (2),  who  married  Pa- 
■  nee  Titus,  and  had  a  son,  Jacob  (i);  Jacob 
'  by  his  marriage  with  Sarah  Hicks  became 
\c.  father  of  Jacob  (2),  the  grandfather  of  our 
sjbject.  Jacob  (2j  inarried  Phcebe  Haviland, 
ad  to  them  were  born  seven  children,  as  fol- 
1.V3:  Jacob  (3),  who  in  early  life  engaged  in 
i  ming  in  the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess 
cjnty,  but  later   removed   to  Virginia,  where 

Mwned  a  tract  of  land;  John,  who  operated 
\a\  and   engaged   in  cider-making  at  Mill- 
ie,   N.    Y. ;   Isaac,    father  of  our  subject; 
iizabeth,  who  wedded   Philip  Allen,    a  farni- 
^  tanner  and  currier;  Patience,  who  died  un- 
nirried;  Sarah,  who  became  the  wife  of  Abner 
Vng,   a   resident    of   Washington   town,   but 
ise  death  occurred  in  Ohio;  and  Charity, 
J  married  Obediah  Thorne,  an  agriculturist 
I  Washington  town.     The  grandfather  always 
f  'owed  the  pursuit  to  which  he  was  reared, 
i  died  in  the  faith  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 
On  the  old  family  homestead  Isaac  Haight, 
t,;  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  November 
1 1784.     He   married  Johanna   Clement,   a 
we  of  Long   Island,    whose   father  was  a 
-maker  by  trade.     To  them  were  born  five 
'-Idren:    Clement;    Phcebe    is   the   widow    of 
I  niel  B.  Haight,  who  carried  on  farming  in 
^Lshington  town;  Jacob  C,  who  was  also  an 
'  iculturist,  is  now  decea.sed;   Mary  T. ;   and 
J  deceased  in   infancy.     The  father's  entire 


life  was  devoted  to  farm  labor,  and  on  the  old 
home  farm  both  he  and  his  wife  passed  away, 
the  former  in  1856  and  the  latter  in  1855. 
They  belonged  to  the  Society  of  Friends,  and 
in  politics  Mr.    Haight  was  an  Old-line  Whig. 

Clement  Haight  grew  to  manhood  under 
the  parental  roof,  receiving  the  usual  educa- 
tional advantages  afforded  by  the  schools  of 
that  day,  and  was  active,  industrious  and  ca- 
pable in  the  discharge  of  the  farm  duties  fall- 
ing upon  him.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Maria  C.  Almy,  a  native  of  Otsego  coun- 
ty, N.  Y.,  and  a  daughter  of  Clark  Almy,  an 
agriculturist  of  that  county.  Their  entire  mar- 
ried life  was  spent  upon  the  Haight  home- 
stead, which  he  operated,  with  the  exception 
of  three  years  he  was  engaged  in  merchandis- 
ing at  Little  Rest,  Dutchess  county.  Three 
children  came  to  brighten  their  home:  Clark 
A.,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Washington;  Mar- 
ian and  Isaac.  Mrs.  Haight  was  called  from 
this  earth  in  1893,  leaving  many  friends  to 
mourn  her  departure  from  their  midst. 

Our  subject  is  numbered  among  the  sub- 
stantial and  thrifty  farmers  of  his  township, 
where  he  owns  a  valuable  farm  of  1 50  acres, 
which  for  the  care  and  labor  bestowed  upon  it 
yields  a  golden  tribute  in  rich  and  bountiful 
harvests.  His  ballot  is  generally  cast  with  the 
Republican  party,  but  he  is  also  a  strong  Pro- 
hibitionist. He  believes  that  precept  should 
be  accompanied  by  practice,  and  his  exemplary 
life  has  won  the  confidence  and  respect  of  all. 


GEORGE  BROWN,  a  wealthy  agriculturist 
_  residing  near  Fishkili  Plains,  Dutchess 
county,  is  one  of  the  most  progressive  and  sci- 
entific workers  in  that  ancient  calling  to  be 
found  in  this  region,  his  extensive  estate  being 
managed  in  a  model  manner. 

He  is  the  son  of  the  late  David  H.  Brown, 
who  was  born  in  London,  England,  April  20, 
1806,  and  crossed  the  Atlantic  at  the  early  age 
of  twelve  years,  in  the  care  of  a  friend  of  the 
family.  After  a  short  stay  in  Quebec,  Canada, 
he  ran  away  and  joined  a  party  of  Indian 
traders,  with  whom  he  remained  about  five 
years  at  the  head  of  the  Mississippi.  On  leav- 
ing them  he  went  to  Nantucket  and  learned 
the  ship-carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed 
throughout  his  active  business  life,  principally 
in  New  York  City,  but  to  some  extent  in  Geor- 
gia and  New  Orleans,  La.  In  politics  he  was 
in  his  later  years  a   Republican.      He  married 


576 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPniCAL  RECOTiB. 


Miss  Maria  Van  Slyck,  a  lady  of  Holland-Dutch 
descent,  whose  ancestors  were  among  the  earli- 
est settlers  in  Columbia  county,  where  her 
father,  Barant  Van  Slyck,  was  a  prominent 
farmer.  For  some  years  after  his  marriage 
Mr.  Brown  made  his  home  in  New  York  City; 
but  in  1867  he  bought  the  farm  now  owned  by 
our  subject,  and  resided  there  a  few  years. 
His  wife  died  December  12,  1869,  and  in  1872 
he  purchased  another  farm  on  the  banks  of  the 
Hudson  river,  where  he  passed  his  declining 
years  in  retirement.  He  departed  this  life 
September  19,   1889. 

George  Brown,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  New  York  City,  February 
13,  1841,  and  was  the  eldest  of  three  children. 
Henry,  the  second  son,  is  now  a  patient  in  the 
Hudson  River  State  Hospital;  he  succeeded  to 
the  farm  lying  on  the  Hudson.  Catherine,  the 
youngest  child,  died  in  infancy.  After  ac- 
quiring an  education  in  the  schools  of  the 
metropolis,  our  subject  engaged  in  the  retail 
grocery  business;  but  since  1867  he  has  lived 
upon  his  farm,  which  contains  235  acres,  and 
lies  upon  the  line  between  Wappinger  and  East 
Fishkill.  He  raises  a  variety  of  crops,  and 
devotes  much  of  his  time  to  the  care  of  his 
estate.  So  far,  he  has  not  donned  the  matri- 
monial yoke.  Intelligent  and  progressive  in 
his  ideas,  he  stands  high  in  his  locality.  He 
votes  the  Republican  ticket,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  F.  &  A.  M.,  Hopewell  Lodge  No.  596. 


OEORGE  HUGHES.  Among  the  leading 
merchants  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 
county,  is  found  this  gentleman,  who  is  pro- 
prietor of  the  largest  furniture  establishment 
on  the  Hudson  river. 

Mr.  Hughes  was  born  in  County  Armagh, 
Ireland,  February  8,  1843,  and  is  a  son  of 
Francis  and  Rose  (Ward)  Hughes,  the  former 
of  whom  was  born  in  County  Armagh,  in  1 808. 
The  family  is  of  Welsh-Briton  ancestry,  but 
mo&t  of  its  members  have  been  residents  of 
Ireland  for  centuries  past,  and  the  old  home- 
stead in  the  county  mentioned  is  still  in  the 
hands  of  relatives  of  our  subject.  For  many 
years  the  men  of  this  family  have  been  build- 
ers and  contractors,  and  were  the  leaders  in 
this  line  of  business  in  their  locality;  also  had 
contracts  in  England,  Scotland  and  on  the 
continent.  Charles  Hughes,  an  uncle  of  our 
subject,  built  the  cathedral  in  the  city  of 
Armagh,   the   church    and  school   in    Middle- 


town,  and  the  church   and  parochial  school  in 
Ready;   he   was  also    a   great    railroad  bridge 
builder  in  the  British  Isles.      His  son  Charles 
succeeded  him  in  business,  and   owns  the  old 
homestead  yet.      Bernard  Hughes,  a  cousin  ol 
Francis,  is  the  largest  baker  in  the  world,  his 
bread  finding  its  way  to  the  continent,  and  to 
England   and    Scotland;    he   grinds    his   own 
flour,    and    ships    car-loads    of     bread    evcr\ 
morning,  employment  being  given  to  four  Imii 
dred  men  in  his  establishments.      His  popular 
ity  is  great,  and   he   has  served  as  mayor  0 
Belfast,  the  chief  city  in  the  North  of  Ireland 
The  Right-Rev.  John  Hughes,  formerly  Arch 
bishop  of   New  York,  was  of  this  family,  an( 
many  other  Catholic  prelates  originated  fron 
same. 

Owen  Hughes,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub 
ject,  and  who  was  a  farmer  and  builder,  mar 
ried  Miss  Phcebe  Thornton,  a  native,  like  him 
self,  of  County  Armagh,  and  a  member  of  on 
of  the  oldest  families  of  that  section,  of  an 
cient  Briton  ancestors  who  settled  in  Irelaiii 
after  the. Conquest  of  Britain  by  the  Romans, 
This  family  also  had  many  extensive  contract 
ors  and  builders  in  New  York  City,  William 
Bernard,  John,  Peter  and  Hugh  Thornton  be 
ing  of  the  number.  Seven  children  were  bpr 
to  Owen  Hughes  and  his  wife,  as  follows 
Bernard,  who  was  a  large  land  owner.  Georg 
(whom  our  subject  is  named  after),  who  die 
when  a  young  man;  he  was  noted  for  his  gre; 
strength  and  athletic  powers.  Charles,  wh 
remained  in  Ireland.  Francis,  who  came 
America.  Mathew,  who  lived  in  Irelam 
Phcebe,  who  married  a  Mr.  Hagan,  of  Middl' 
town,  County  Armagh.  Bridget,  who  neve 
married,  and  remained  in  Ireland. 

Francis  Hughes,  the  father  of  our  subjec' 
received   a  liberal  education,  for  his  time,  ; 
the  schools  of  Middletown  and  city  of  .Armag 
and    learned    the    cooper's    trade.     Prior    j 
coming  to  America  he  also  followed  farmii 
and  cooperage,  dealing  in  cattle  in  conjunctic, 
with  his   trade.      In  1840  he   built  a  fine  sto 
house  on  his  farm  at  Carriclane.     On  firsts! 
riving  in    this   country   he   lived   for  a  time  ■ 
Rochester,  N.   Y.,   where  Francis   L.  Hughj 
and  Edward   Denney    (a   relative)    lived.     I 
afterward   went  to  New   York  City,  and   w 
engaged  with  the  Thornton  Brothers  in  biiii 
ing  and  contracting  in  that  city  and  in  Broc, 
lyn  for  a    number  of  years.      In    partner.'^l' 
with  George  Clark,  he  erected   several  blqc^ 
of  buildings   in   those  cities,  and   about    iSr 


f 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


577 


took  a  contract  from  Matthew  Vassar  to  build 
\'assar  Row  on  Main  street,  and  for  the  large 
carriage  factory  of  J.  W.  Fredericks,  in  Pough- 
keepsie.  In  all  of  these  contracts  they  did  all 
the  work,    masonry,    carpentering,   etc.,  com- 

fleting  each  job  in   full,  and  turning  the  keys 
ver  to  the  owners. 
On   May   i,    1854,  George   Clark  and   Mr. 
•Hughes  brought  a  boatload  of  building  tools 
ind  material,  twenty-five   workmen  and  their 
amilies,  their  own  families  and  house-furnish- 
ng  goods,  and  Mr.  Hughes   took   up  his   resi- 
jence  in   Poughkeepsie,  where  he   carried  on 
lusiness  the  remainder  of  his  life.      During  his 
ater  years  he  became  a  great  friend  of  Mat- 
hew  Vassar,  acting  as  a  sort  of  manager  and 
onfidential  adviser.      Mr.  Hughes  was  a  man 
f  strong  will  and  great  energy,  and  wassuccess- 
■;1  in  his  enterprises,  becoming  quite  wealthy 
ore  his   death.      In   1842    he    was  married 
.Miss  Rose  Ward,  daughter  of  Bryan  Ward, 
:  County  Monaghan,  Ireland,  the  same  county 
om  which  Gen.  John  A.  Logan  came.     The 
v'ards  were  an  intiuential  family  in  Ireland, 
i  of  old  Irish  stock  going  back  before  the 
lie  of  St.  Patrick,  and  were  largely  engaged 
I    farming    and    stock-raising,    while    Bryan 
.'ard  was   a  great  horse-breeder,  jobber  and 
^^^er.     Col.  James  Kelly,  who  succeeded  Col. 
Hfcoran,   69th  Regiment,   after  the  battle  of 
^Km  Run,  was  of  this  family.     Two  children 
^1^  born  to   Francis   Hughes  and  his  wife: 
'     eorge,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and   Sarah 
^^u,  who  became  the  wife  of  Patrick  Camp- 
^Kti-  of  Brooklyn,  but  is  now  deceased.      Mr. 
mpbell  has  just  retired   from  the  Brooklyn 
ice  force,  in  which  he   made  a  fine  record 
;>ver  twenty  years' service.      Francis  Hughes 
i  February   5,  1882,  and  his  wife  on  April 
1873. 

George  Hughes  obtained  his  early  education 
ihe  schools  of  Middletown,  County  Armagh, 
1  land,  where  he  was  under  the  instruction  of 
'  f.  Afinew,  a  member  of  the  family  of  which 
celebrated   Dr.   Agnew,   of  New  York,   is 
After  coming  to  America  he  attended  St. 
jI's   school,    in    Brooklyn,   of    which   Prof. 
iges  was  in  charge,  and  finished  his  school- 
in  Poughkeepsie.      He  has    been   a    great 
■ler  all  his  life,  has  a  most  retentive  mem- 
and  is  especially    well-versed    in  history, 
is  a  man  of  broad  and  progressive  ideas, 
1-informed  on    a    variety  of  subjects,   and 
ps  abreast  of  the  times. 
After  leaving  school  Mr.    Hughes  learned 


the  trade  of  a  carriage  painter  and  finisher  with 
David  Olmstead,  with  whom  he  was  employed 
until  i860.  He  then  took  charge  of  a  carriage 
shop  at  Libertyville,  Ulster  county,  for  two 
years,  and  the  following  year  worked  for  the 
Brewsters,  in  New  York  City,  at  his  trade.  In 
1864  he  moved  to  Peekskill,  and  took  charge 
of  a  carriage  shop  for  Golding  &  Lent.  On 
October  i,  following  same,  he  came  back  to 
Poughkeepsie  and  went  into  business  for  him- 
self on  Grand  street,  where  he  worked  at  car- 
riage manufacturing,  painting  and  trimming  un- 
til 1867.  He  then  went  into  the  Red  Mill 
building,  his  business  having  largely  increased, 
he  doing  the  painting  and  trimming  work  for 
the  small  wagon  and  carriage  makers  for  from 
thirty  to  forty  miles  around  Poughkeepsie, 
and  making  a  financial  success  of  a  then  new 
business  enterprise. 

In  February,  1870,  Mr.  Hughes  bought 
out  Charles  H.  Wygant,  a  carriage  manufac- 
turer in  Newburgh,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  and 
who  had  just  been  elected  sheriff,  and  carried 
on  the  business  very  successfully  until  1873. 
The  lease  being  broken,  however,  by  the  sale 
of  the  property  by  John  P.  Embler's  creditors, 
Mr.  Hughes  was  obliged  to  give  up  the  prop- 
erty, so  in  1873  he  returned  to  Poughkeepsie, 
and  on  April  29,  of  the  same  year,  purchased 
the  large  building  comprising  Nos.  406,  408 
and  410  Main  street.  Of  this  he  retained  No. 
406  for  his  own  establishment,  as  carriage  re- 
pository, same  year  building  a  three-story  brick 
structure  in  the  rear  of  Nos.  406,  408  and  410, 
for  his  carriage  and  sleigh  manufactory,  and  fit- 
ted up  the  remainder  for  the  furniture  store  and 
warerooms  of  Coe  &  Deyo.  In  1875  he  sold 
out  the  carriage  manufacturing  business  and 
leased  the  building  to  Schoonmaker  &  Bailey  for 
a  term  of  ten  years,  for  a  time  retiring  from 
active  business;  but  his  energetic  nature  would 
not  allow  him  to  long  remain  idle,  and  in  the 
fall  of  the  same  year  he  took  up  the  auction 
and  commission  business,  which  he  carried  on 
until  1880.  In  1887  Mr.  Hughes  purchased 
the  old  George  Carson  property,  known  as  Nos. 
398,  400,  402  and  404  Main  street,  and  Nos. 
4,  6,  8,  10  and  12  South  Hamilton  street,  in- 
cluding the  corner  of  those  two  streets.  The 
buildings  on  South  Hamilton  street  had  been 
old  frame  landmarks,  which  Mr.  Hughes 
caused  to  be  torn  down,  in  their  place  erecting 
the  present  substantial  and  commodious  stores. 
The  South  Hamilton  street  property  consisted 
of  a  solid  rock,  towering  some    twenty-five   or 


578 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


I 


thirty  feet  above  the  level  of  the  street,  a  prop- 
erty that  real-estate  dealers  were  afraid  to  spec- 
ulate in.  Undoubtedly  the  site  was  valuable, 
and  at  one  time  the  former  owner  had  refused 
as  much  as  $40,ocx)  for  it!  Four  years  were 
spent  by  Mr.  Hughes  in  blasting  and  hauling 
away  this  massive  rock  before  it  was  brought  to 
a  proper  level,  and  the  cellar  floor  for  the  block 
of  buildings  about  to  be  erected  there  is  solid 
rock.  The  foundation  and  inside  masonry  of 
the  new  Christ  Church  building  in  Poughkeep- 
sie  is  of  rock  hauled  from  this  "quarry," 
while  the  foundations  for  hundreds  of  houses 
were  made  of  it,  and  thousands  of  loads  of 
"chips  "  and  broken  stone  were  sold  and  de- 
livered to  the  city  at  ten  cents  a  load,  for 
street  improvement  purposes,  which  was  about 
one-tenth  of  their  value.  On  the  corner  of 
Main  and  South  Hamilton  streets  there  now 
stands  a  fine  brick  building,  which  Mr.  Hughes 
concluded  to  put  up  after  doing  some  blasting 
in  the  blue-stone  rock  foundation,  hewing  a  fine 
cellar  out  of  the  solid  rock.  He  owns  the 
large  stores  fronting  on  Main  street,  three 
stories  in  height,  equipped  with  the  largest 
plate-glass  front  in  the  city,  and  occupying  a 
very  prominent  location.  In  the  meantime 
Mr.  Hughes  had  been  gradually  working  into  the 
furniture  trade,  and  in  1880  he  opened  up  a 
furniture  establishment  which  has  constantly 
increased  in  size,  and  volume  of  business,  and 
to  which  he  has  added  the  manufacture  of 
some  of  the  best  of  his  goods,  the  carriage 
factory  having  been  converted  into  a  furniture 
factory  and  store  house.  Twice  each  year 
Mr.  Hughes  takes  a  business  trip  to  the  prin- 
cipal furniture  markets  in  the  country — Grand 
Rapids,  New  York  City,  Chicago,  Detroit, 
Cincinnati,  etc.,  buying  from  manufacturers 
in  car-load  lots,  securing,  also,  exclusive 
agency,  and  choice  of  manufactured  goods, 
something  unusual  for  places  outside  of  large 
cities.  In  1885  Mr.  Hughes  admitted  his  son, 
Charles  F.,  into  partnership,  and  the  concern 
has  since  so  continued,  the  volume  of  business 
steadily  increasing  each  year. 

Mr.  Hughes'  traveling  has  not  always  been 
on  matters  of  business,  for  he  has  made  some 
most  pleasant  and  interesting  journeys  "on 
pleasure  bent."  On  July  8,  1 891,  he  set  out  for 
a  six-months'  tour  across  the  Atlantic,  the  voy- 
age being  made  in  the  "  City  of  New  York," 
on  which  were  Prince  George  of  Greece  (with 
whom  Mr.  Hughes  became  personally  ac- 
quainted) and   retinue.      In   Ireland,  our  sub- 


ject visited  his  old  home  and  birth-place,  saw, 
conversed  and  visited  with  hundreds  of  friends 
and  relatives,  and  made  a  tour  of  the  island 
from  Cape  Clear  to  the  Giant's  Causeway;  in 
Scotland  he  saw,  among  many  other  interest- 
ing sights,  the  celebrated  bridge  over  the  Firth 
of  Forth;  then  toured  through  England  (where 
he  saw  all  the  principal  points  of  interest  in 
London  and  vicinity),  Wales,  France  and  part 
of  Germany.  In  the  summer  of  1896  he  took 
an  ocean  tour  along  the  Eastern  seaboard,  in- 
cluding that  of  the  Canadian'  Maritime  prov- 
inces, visiting  St.  John  (New  Brunswick),  anc 
sailing  up  the  St.  John  river  to  Fredericton 
thence  proceeding  to  Halifax  (Nova  Scotia) 
and  from  there  homeward,  via  Boston  and  Nev 
York. 

On  September  20,   1863,  Mr.  Hughes  wai 
married  to  Miss  Bridget  Carroll,  of  Ohioville 
Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  and  member  of  the  farnil; 
of  "Charles  Carroll   of    Carrollton,"   one  0 
the   signers   of  the   Declaration  of  Independ 
ence,  and  John  Carroll,  first   Catholic  Bisho)' 
of  Baltimore  and  all  America,  and  a  native  0 
Waterford,  Ireland.      Six  children  were  bor; 
of  this  union:     Charles  Francis,  who  will  bi 
spoken  of  more  fully  presently;  Mary  Bridget' 
at  home;  George  Dennis,  employed  in  the  Dc 
partment  of   Public  Printing  at   Washingtor 
D.  C. ;  William   Carroll,  employed  in  his  U 
ther's  business;   Rose   Agnes  (deceased),   an 
Loretta  Anna,  at  home.      Charles  F.  was  bor 
June  29,  1864,  in  Peekskill,  N.  Y. ,  received 
liberal  education,  and  graduated  from  Poupi 
keepsie   High  School,  of  the  Alumni  Associ 
tion,  of  which   institution  he  was  first  seer 
tary.      On  November    19,  1890,  he  was  ma 
ried,  in    Poughkeepsie,   to  Miss  Mary  Skell 
daughter  of  John  Skelly,  and  two  children  a 
living,  viz.:     George  Francis  and  Charles  \\'i 
iam.      In  1885  Charles  F.  Hughes  became  r 
sociated  in  his  father's  business,  as  above  r 
lated.      For  the  past  five  or  six  years  he  li 
been  inspector  of  elections. 

In  1892,  George  Hughes,  our  subject,  pi 
chased  his  residence  property.  No.  51  N.  Cli 
ton  street,  fronting  on  the  Mansion  Squ:; 
Park,  and  in  the  following  year  he  remodel 
and  enlarged  the  building,  making  it  intc^ 
large  suitable  family  residence,  where  his  m  r 
ried  son  also  resides.  In  addition  to  his  maj| 
real-estate  investments,  he  owns  eight  clea  1 
building  lots  on  "The  Heights"  at  Newbur;;, 
and  it  may  be  here  mentionad,  as  another - 
lustration  of  his  shrewdness  and  business  - 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


579 


:acity,  that  in  1866  he  built  the  residence  No. 

S5  Union  street,  a  very  substantial  structure, 

nd  in  1873  sold  it  and   an  adjoining  building 

jt  for  $10,000.      He  has  been  remarkably  suc- 

essful  in  his  various  enterprises,  a  fact  due  to 

is  untiring  perseverance,  good  judgment  and 

jeliable   business   methods,  which    have  given 

ima  deservedly  high  standing   with  the  pub- 

c;  his  word  is  as  good   as  his   note;  he  has 

hvays  paid  one  hundred  cents  to  the  dollar. 

ie  is  progressive  in  his  ideas,  liberal  in  his  aid 

[  all  worthy  objects,  and  has  done  much  to- 

ard  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  his  city.    In 

olitics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  is  a  strong  Pro- 

;ctionist  from  principle ;  has  made  a  study  of  the 

uestion,  and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  calling 

le  attention   of  the   people   to  its  beneficial 

.■suits.      He  served  as  chairman   of  the   first 

epublican  convention  held  during  the  Harri- 

)n    campaign,     of     1880.       Although    giving 

uch  time  and  attention  to  political  matters, 

J  has  never  been  an   office  seeker.      He  and 

s  family  attend  the  services   of  St.  Peter's 

hurch,  Poughkeepsie,  and  take  an  interest  in 

1  Church  work.      He   is  broad   and  open  in 

s  religious  views,  claiming  that   any  religion 

better  than  none.      During  the   war  of  the 

ibellion  Mr.  Hughes  was  captain   of  Com- 

ny  C,  2 1  St  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  which  regiment  was 

anized    in   Dutchess  county.      In    1870   he 

k  an  active  part  in  the  Fenian  raid  on  Can- 

a,    being    District    Center,  at    the    time,  of 

phess,    Columbia,     Orange,    Putnam   and 

kland   counties.      He    was  captain   of    an 

volunteer    military    company,    and    for- 

Jed  over  a  hundred   men   to  Ogdensburg 

inorthern  New  York,    transportation   and 

sage    being  largely    paid  out  of  his  own 

Icet. 

To  the  above  Mr.  Hughes  adds:  "He 
la  firm  believer  at  the  time  that  the  men 
reland  had  a  perfect  right  to  strike  the 
sh  flag  wherever  it  floated,  and  counte- 
ed  the  scheme  of  the  Fenian  Brotherhood 
ipture  Canada  and  make  it  a  base  of  oper- 
to  work  from  for  the  liberation  of  Ire- 
After  the  capture  of  Fort  Erie  and  de- 
of  the  'Queen's  Own'  crack  Canadian 
Sment  by  about  500  of  the  Fenian  volun- 
rs,  who  succeeded  in  crossing  Lake  Erie  on 
its.  President  Johnson  issued  his  neutrality 
[  <clamation,  and  Gen.  Mead,  who  was  in 
nmand  of  the  lakes,  was  only  too  eager  to 
jrce  it.  The  50,000  Fenian  volunteers 
'>  had  then  assembled  on  the  Canadian  bor- 


ders came  to  the  conclusion  that  rather  than 
precipitate  the  United  States  Government  into 
a  war  with  England,  they  gave  up  the  project 
and  returned  to  their  homes,  notwithstanding 
the  fact  that  reinforcements  were  continuously 
arriving  from  all  parts  of  the  United  States, 
the  majority  of  whom  were  men  who  had  just 
been  discharged  from  the  United  States  army, 
after  the  Southern  Rebellion  was  suppressed, 
and  for  love  of  old  Ireland  volunteered  their 
services  without  fee  or  reward.  There  was  no 
power  on  earth  that  could  have  stopped  them 
from  capturing  Canada;  but  the  United  States 
had  just  passed  through  four  years  of  the  great 
Rebellion,  and  Irishmen  thought  too  much  of 
America  to  plunge  her  into  a  war  with  England 
so  soon  thereafter." 


AMBROSE  M.  CULVER,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  agriculturists  of   the   ("own  of 

Northeast,  Dutchess  county,  is  a  native  of  that 
county,  born  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  Septem- 
ber 2,  1869.  His  grandfather,  Bachus  Culver, 
who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Pine  Plains,  was 
a  noted  farmer  of  his  day,  owning  and  culti- 
vating, in  early  life,  a  large  tract  of  land  in 
the  town  of  Pine  Plains.  He  was  also  en- 
gaged in  cattle  dealing,  and,  his  ventures  being 
uniformly  successful,  he  accumulated  a  fine 
property.  By  his  marriage  he  became  the 
father  of  three  children:  Dudley,  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Sherman  &  Culver,  of  New  York 
City;  Lavinia,  who  married  William  Bartlett, 
a  brick  manufacturer  of  the  town  of  Amenia; 
and  Walter  B. ,  our  subject's  father.  Bachus 
Culver  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  to  which  the  later  generations  have 
also  adhered.  His  last  years  were  spent  in 
Amenia  town,  where  he  and  his  wife  both  died. 
Walter  B.  Culver  was  born  at  the  old 
homestead  in  the  town  of  Pine  Plains,  and  re- 
mained there  until  1864,  when  he  married  Miss 
Harriet  Mygatt,  daughter  of  Ambrose  My- 
gatt,  a  leading  resident  of  the  town  of  Amenia, 
and  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  oldest  families 
of  the  town.  For  some  years  prior  to  his  mar- 
riage, Mr.  Culver  located  upon  the  Bartram 
farm,  near  Sharon  Station,  where  he  remained 
several  years,  and  then  removed  to  the  My- 
gatt farm,  in  Amenia,  where  he  now  resides. 
He  has  been  very  successful,  and  is  now  the 
largest  landholder  in  the  township,  owning 
four  farms  besides  the  one  upon  which  he  re- 
sides, comprising  in  all  over  1,000  acres.      He 


530 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


I 


is  a  Democrat,  and  has  been  active  in  local 
politics,  holding  office  as  assessor,  road  com- 
missioner, excise  commissioner  and  school 
trustee.  In  educational  matters  he  has  taken 
great  interest,  and  has  been  ready  to  befriend 
every  movement  foi  the  benefit  of  the  commu- 
nity. He  and  his  wife  are  leading  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Amenia,  of  which 
he  is  a  trustee.  They  have  had  eleven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  eight  are  now  living:  May 
Emily,  Laura  B.,  Ambrose  M.,  Dudley  D., 
Harry  W.,  Arthur  B.,  George  R.  and  Bessie, 
all  of  whom  are  at  home  except  our  subject 
and  Dudley,  who  is  a  farmer  of  the  town  of 
Amenia. 

Ambrose  M.  Culver  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  town,  and  later  at- 
tended Amenia  Seminary  for  about  six  years, 
receiving  a  good  English  education.  After 
leaving  school,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  he 
stayed  with  his  father  four  years,  and  then 
took  the  Wheeler  farm,  just  east  of  his  father's, 
and  conducted  it  on  his  own  account  two 
years.  In  1893  he  purchased  the  George 
Clark  farm,  in  Northeast  town,  George  Clark 
being  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Culver's  mother.  Ac- 
cording to  the  original  survey  of  this  farm  it 
contained  600  acres,  but  it  is  probably  larger 
than  that.  It  is  on  the  State  line,  and  a  por- 
tion of  it  is  in  Connecticut.  Mr.  Culver  has 
made  many  improvements  upon  the  estate,  and 
has  made  it  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  town. 

On  February  15,  1894,  Mr.  Culver  mar- 
ried Miss  Ida  Estelle  Chapman,  daughter  of 
David  S.  Chapman,  of  Millerton,  a  well-known 
traveling  salesman.  They  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church  at  Millerton,  and  are  promi- 
nent in  the  best  social  circles  of  the  locality. 
Being  an  intelligent  and  public-spirited  young 
man,  Mr.  Culver  has  taken  an  active  interest 
in  local  improvement,  and  is  an  active  worker 
in  the  Democratic  ranks,  always  giving  his  in- 
fluence toward  the  selection  of  able  and  relia- 
ble officials. 


FREDERICK  HENRY  STREVER.  There 
_  are  numerous  fine  farms  in  Dutchess 
county  which  will  compare  favorably  with  any 
others  in  the  State,  as  regards  production,  arid 
also  to  the  improvements  that  have  been  made 
upon  them,  many  of  which  places  are  owned 
by  men  comparatively  young  in  years.  As  a 
representative  of  this  class  of  agriculturists, 
great  pleasure  is  taken  in  presenting  the  name 


of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  who  has  always 
lived  in  the  town  of  Pine  Plains.  He  was 
born  on  the  old  Strever  homestead  December 
II,   1861. 

His  paternal  grandfather,  Adam  A.  Strever, 
was  a  native  of  Ancram,  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y., 
born  November  24,  1793.      He  made  farming 
his  life  occupation  and  continued  to  reside  in 
Ancram  until  April,  1835,  when  he  removed  tc 
the  town  of    Pine    Plains,    Dutchess   county, 
and  purchased  a  farm  consisting  of  188  acres 
on  which  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life 
there  dying  July  14,  1866.      He  \tasa  Jackso: 
Democrat,  and  a  loyal,  patriotic  man.    Enlist 
ing  in  the  war  of  18 12,  he  immediately  startC' 
for  Plattsburg,  but  the  battle  was  fought  be 
fore  he  reached   his  destination,  and  he  \va 
discharged.      He  stood   firmly   by   the  Unio 
during  the  late  Rebellion.      A  faithful  membe 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  he  gave  his  sup 
port    to    everything  that   would   advance  th 
moral  and  material  welfare  of  the  community 
and    was    a   public-spirited    and     enterprisin 
man.      In    the   family  to  which   he    belon^e 
were    four   sons    and     four   daughters.       Hi 
brothers  and  sisters  are  as  follows:    Margare! 
who  became  the  first  wife  of  William  Tannei 
Betsey,  wife  of  Joseph  Gillis,  who  located  ; 
Argyle,    Washington  Co.,  N.  Y. ;    Maria,  wis 
of   Abram    Reynolds,    also    of   Argyle;  Sail' 
John;  Uldrick,   who  married  Amanda  Kinnei 
and  lived  in   Argyle;   and   Benjamin  A.,  wh) 
died  unmarried  at  the  home  of  his  cousin,  Job 
B.  Strever. 

Adam  A.  Strever   was  married  to  Clari?: 
Tanner,  who  was  born   January    16,  1797, 
Samuel  and   Rachel   (Mcintosh)  Tanner,  ar 
died   December  4,    1877.     They  became  ti 
parents  of  three  children:     Rachel,  who  w 
born    October    i,    1820,    and   died    unmarrit 
August   2,    1882;   Sylvester,   born   March  2 
1822;  and  Benjamin  A.,  the  father  of  our  su 
ject.      The   father    of  Mrs.    Strever,   Saniii 
Tanner,   was  born  April   4,    1758,    in   Dove 
Dutchess  county,   where  he  lived  some  yeai 
He  first  wedded  a  Miss  Mcintosh  by  whom 
had  five  children:     William,  born  February 
1783,  first  married  Margaret  Strever,  after  h 
death  Mrs.  Finch,  and  his  third  wife  was  Bi 
sey  Davis;  John,  born  March  6,  1788,  fori 
second    wife    chose     Mrs.    Christine    Mosht 
Rachel  was  born  March   20,  1784;  Alexandi 
born  February  20,   1785,  was  married  and  h 
two  children,  one  daughter  marrying  Dr.  PI; 
ner;  and   Margaret,   twin   sister  of  Alexandi 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHWAL  RECORD. 


581 


yas  also  married.      For  his  second  wife  Sam- 

lel  Tanner  chose  Rachel  Mcintosh,  who  was 

'lorn  August  4,   1767,    and  was  a  daughter  of 

\lexander  and  Rachel  (Yonkhonce)  Mcintosh, 

nd  to  them  were  born  ten  children,  namely: 

I)  Mary  Magdalene,  born  November  2,  1790, 

larried  William  T.    Woolridge.     (2)  James, 

orn   January    12,    1793,    was   married   three 

i.mes.      (3)  Reuben  S.   was  born  January  12, 

795.      (4)  Clarissa  was  the   wife  of  Adam  A. 

trever,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject.     (5) 

nthony,    born   August    13,    1799,    was  twice 

larried,  and    died    January    14,     1877.       (6) 

lenry    was    born    November    9,     1801.       (7) 

amuel  was  born  August  6,  1804.      (8)  Morris 

as  born  April   26,    1807.      (9)   Almyra,  born 

[ay  24,   1 8 10,  was  married  to  Jeremiah  Lown. 

o)  Eliza,    who   completed    the   family,   was 

le  twin  sister  of  Almyra,  and  married  Andrew 

ase.       Alexander    Mcintosh,    the    father   of 

rs.  Rachel  Tanner,  was  undoubtedly  a  native 

Scotland,  and  his  parents  died  while  on  the 

ige  to  the  New  World,  and  he  worked  for 

ree  years    to    pay    his  passage.     The  sister 

<|  our  subject  now   has  in   her  possession   a 

11  straw-covered  trunk  which  he  brought 

;  about  1740.      It  is  supposed  that  he  sailed 

II  England,  and  took  the  oath  of  allegiance 

1  the  King  of  England.      Rather  than  break 

t  it  oath  he  went  as  a  baker  in  the  Colonial 

my  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  was 

d  a  Tory   as  he  would  not  take  up  arms 

St  the  mother  country.      He  remained  in 

York  City  for  some  time,  where  he  mar- 

lara  Yonkhonce,  but  November  i,  1786, 

night  land  of  George  Clinton,  and  removed 

le  farm  now  owned  by  his  great-grandson, 

lUel  Tanner.      It  is  said  that  while  looking 

place  to  build  he  accidently  stepped  into 

ng,  and  said    "here   is   where   I  will  put 

ouse. "     His  wife's  parents  located  about 

me  time  on  the  land  now  owned  by  the 

erry  family. 

Benjamin   A.    Strever,    the    father  of  our 

^^!Ject,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in  the 

^Hil  of  Ancram,    Columbia  county,  June  19, 

^^0,  and  in  the  district  schools  of  the  town 

Pine  Plains,    Dutchess  county,   received   a 

g'd     common-school     education.       He    was 

T'red  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  in  connec- 

I  with  that  occupation  also  engaged  to  some 

e  ent  as  blacksmith,  carpenter,  mason,  artist, 

«      In  1884  he  removed  to  the  farm  still  oc- 

ied  by  the  family. 

On     December    26,     1855,    Benjamin    A. 


Strever  married  Amelia  Jane  Collier,  who  was 
born  November  11,  183 1,  the  daughter  of 
Simeon  Mace  and  Maria  (Jones)  Collier,  and 
to  them  were  born  three  children:  (i)  Frank- 
lin Adam  (who  still  owns  and  occupies  the  old 
Strever  homestead  in  Pine  Plains),  born  Oc- 
tober 18,  1857,  was  married  December  5,  1883, 
to  Mary  Elida  Vosburg,  who  was  born  June  26, 
1858,  and  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Rhoda 
Ann  (Scutt)  Vosburg,  and  three  children  blessed 
their  union — Rhoda  Anna,  born  April  16, 
1885;  Raymond  V.,  born  June  24,  1886; 
and  Senella  Blanche,  born  December  17, 
1887.  (2)  Frederick  Henry,  whose  name 
introduces  this  sketch,  is  next  in  order  of  birth. 
(3)  Rachel  Tanner,  born  November  17,  1865. 
Simeon  Mace  Collier,  the  maternal  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  was  born  July  30,  1807, 
and  was  married  December  16,  1830,  to  Maria 
Jones,  by  whom  he  had  two  children:  Amelia 
Jane  and  Gilbert  Henry.  She  was  born 
August  22,  1805,  to  Isaac  and  Sally  (Ross) 
Jones,  and  died  July  18,  1834.  Her  paternal 
grandparents  were  Isaac  and  Anna  Jones,  and 
her  mother,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Sally  Ross,  was  the  niece  of  Captain  Ross, 
who  is  buried  at  Mt.  Ross.  On  December  10, 
1839,  Simeon  Mace  Collier  was  again  married, 
his  second  union  being  with  Eliza  Thomas, 
who  was  born  May  2,  1806,  and  was  the 
daughter  of  John  and  Elsie  (Hollow)  Thomas, 
and  to  them  were  born  five  children:  Frances 
C,  Thomas,  George  M.,  Gertrude  Arnold  and 
Amy  Thomas.  The  father  of  this  family  was 
the  fifth  and  youngest  child  of  Noah  and  Leah 
(Mace)  Collier.  His  mother  was  born  Octo- 
ber 16,  1775,  and  after  the  death  of  Noah 
Collier,  she  became  the  wife  of  John  Benson, 
and  died  in  1857.  She  was  the  second  daugh- 
ter of  Simeon  and  Deborah  (Fillow)  Mace. 
Her  mother  was  born  September  13.  1757, 
and  in  1772  became  the  wife  of  Simeon  Mace, 
who  was  born  January  2,  1752,  and  died  De- 
cember 24,  1822.  Her  death  occurred  Jan- 
uary 17,  1839.  She  was  the  daughter  of  John 
and  Phebe  (Olmsted)  Fillow.  John  Fillow 
was  born  probably  about  1704  and  married 
before  1726.  He  was  the  son  of  John  and 
Sarah  Fillow.  It  is  thought  that  John  Fillow, 
Sr. ,  was  born  in  France  about  1667,  and  was 
about  thirty-three  years  of  age  when  he  came 
to  America,  bringing  his  wife  and  three  sons, 
who  came  here  Huguenot  refugees  to  escape 
religious  persecution.  On  coming  to  the  New 
World    he    located    at    Norwalk,    Conn.      He 


582 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


died  about    1765,  at  the   extreme  old  age  of 
ninety-eight  years. 

In  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads  Fred- 
erick H.  Strever  was  reared  to  manhood,  as- 
sisting his  father  in  the  labors  of  the  farm, 
and  attending  the  schools  of  the  neighborhood. 
He  has  been  quite  successful  in  his  agricultural 
pursuits,  which  he  has  continued  to  follow,  and 
now  has  a  farm  of  140  acres  of  rich  and  arable 
land.  He  takes  quite  an  active  interest  in 
local  political  matters,  voting  with  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  is  interested  in  school  work. 
He  is  one  of  the  representative  young  farmers 
of  the  locality. 


ItSRAEL  R.  WILLSON,  a  prominent  agri- 
_[  culturist  and  dairyman  of  the  town  of  North- 
east, Dutchess  county,  residing  near  Coleman 
Station,  is  a  descendant  of  a  hardy,  long-lived 
Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  whose  shrewd  judgment 
and  upright  character  won  for  them  a  leading 
place  in  this  community.  His  great-grandfa- 
ther, Robert  Willson,  was  one  of  three  broth- 
ers who  came  from  the  North  of  Ireland  at  an 
early  day,  his  ancestors  having  moved  from 
Scotland  to  Ireland  a  number  of  years  before. 
He  settled  upon  a  tract  of  100  acres  west  of 
the  present  residence  of  Mr.  Slee,  where  he 
followed  farming  successfully.  He  was  an  en- 
terprising, public-spirited  man,  and  did  much 
to  develop  the  neighborhood,  being  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Congregational  Church  north 
of  Amenia.  He  died  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  and  his  wife,  Betsey  Hind- 
man,  to  whom  he  was  married  after  coming  to 
this  country,  lived  to  be  over  100  years  old. 
They  had  seven  children,  whose  names  and 
dates  of  birth  are  as  follows:  Reuben,  Octo- 
ber 16,  1755;  Amos,  March  10,  1758,  both  of 
whom  moved  to  Saratoga  county,  N.  Y. ;  Han- 
nah, May  15,  1760;  Mary,  April  i,  1763; 
Thomas,  September  11,  1767,  who  moved  to 
Ohio  in  early  manhood;  Margaret,  September 
9,  1769,  the  wife  of  Reuben  Gaston,  of  Chan- 
tilly,  N.  Y. ;  and  Robert,  May  14,  1772,  our 
subject's  grandfather.  He  inherited  his  fa- 
ther's farm,  but  sold  it  and  purchased  the 
Murdoch  property,  containing  about  400  acres, 
where  he  passed  the  greater  part  of  his  life. 
He  was  a  captain  in  the  State  Militia,  and  a 
man  of  prominence  in  this  region,  active  in 
politics  as  a  member  of  the  Whig  party,  and 
in  business  circles  as  a  successful  manager  of 
his  fine  estate.      He  belonged  to  the  Presbyte- 


rian Church  of  Amenia  City  (now  Smithfield), 
and  was  a  deacon  for  many   years.      He  was 
married  November  11,  1795,  to  Sarah  Thomp- 
son, of  Amenia  City,  born  February  7,  1777, 
and    had    eight    children,    whose    names   and 
dates  of  birth  are  here  given:     John,  June  3, 
1797;  Hiram,  August  12,  1799;  Rebecca,  May: 
17,  1801,  who  was  married  January  6,  1820. 
to  Philip  Flint;  Samuel  T.,  October  3,  1803,1 
who  was  married  February  21,   1833,  to  Eme  i 
line  Shornberger;  Theron,  June  10,  1805,  whi 
was  married  January  8,  1829,  to  tydia  Collin 
Robert    E. ,    March    28,    1807,   a    well-know; 
minister  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  who  wa 
married  February  20,  1838,  to  Mary  Strong 
sister  of  Justice  Strong  of  the  United  State 
Supreme  Court;  Sarah,  August  12,  181 1,  wh 
died   at  an  early   age;   Henry,  July  12,  1814 
who  was  married  to  Sarah  E.  Cady,  Octobf 
25,  1838;  and   Barak,  January  24,  1817,  wh 
married  Cordelia  Collins,  September  24,  184c 
Capt.  Willson  died  October  21,  1854,  and  h- 
wife  survived  him  until  July  6,  1872,  when  sh 
died  at  the  age  of  ninety-five  years. 

Hiram  Willson,  our  subject's  father,  als 
followed  farming  as  an  occupation,  and  sper 
many  years  on  the  homestead  at  Amenia  Git 
He  moved  to  the  town  of  Pine  Plains  in  184. 
and  bought  a  place  known  as  the  Knick'e 
bocker  farm,  where  he  passed  his  remainir 
years,  his  unusual  executive  ability  enablin 
him  to  accumulate  a  fine  property.  ¥. 
was  married  February  18,  1824,  to  Eli; 
Reynolds,  a  lady  of  English  descent,  and 
granddaughter  of  Stephen  Reynolds,  wl 
came  from  Rye,  -Long  Island,  and  located 
Pine  Plains.  Her  father.  Dr.  Israel  Reynold 
was  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  cf  thatlocf 
ity.  He  married  Deborah  Dorr,  of  Lym 
Conn. ,  and  had  three  children — Walter,  wl 
was  an  able  lawyer  of  Pine  Plains;  Julia  ai 
Eliza.  Hiram  Willson  died  June  22,  18; 
and  his  wife  September  30,  1892.  Their  s 
children  were  born  as  follows:  Ellen,  Octobj 
8,  1825;  Israel,  November  2,  1827;  Julia  (Mij 
Isaac  Carpenter),  February  ii,  i830;Edwaj 
P.,  December  26,  1832,  who  married  OH 
Sinks,  of  Leavenworth,  Kans.;  Sarah  R.,  M 
2.  1836,  who  was  the  second  wife  of  Isa 
Carpenter;  Elizabeth  D.,  July  20,  1S38.  w^ 
married  Theodore  Strong,  of  Pittston,  Peni; 
a  brother  of  Justice  Strong,  of  the  Unitll 
States  Supreme  Court.  1 

Israel  Willson  first  saw  the  light  of  day  t 
the  farm  now  occupied  by  John  N.  Conklin^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


583 


the  town  of   Northeast.     He  received  a  good 
academic    education,     attending    the    district 
schools  near  his  home,  and  later  the   schools 
of   Warren,    Conn.,     and     Pittsfield,      Mass. 
He  is  a  very  intelligent  man,   a  great  reader, 
and    has    taken   the    New    York    Tribune   for 
forty    years.     On    leaving    school    in     1852, 
tie  bought  a  farm  of  160  acres  of   Barak  Will- 
;on,  to  which,  four  years  later,   he  added   120 
icres  purchased  of  Stoughton  Moore,  and  sub- 
sequent additions  have  enlarged  it  to  a  tract  of 
320  acres,  making  one  of  the  best  farms  of  the 
own.    The  Harlem  railroad  was  built  through 
t  in   1 85 1,  and,  in  the  following  spring,    Mr. 
^Villson  engaged  in  the  milk  business,    being 
)ne  of  the  pioneers  in  that   line,  and  has  met 
ih  gratifying  success. 
On  September  16,  1852,  he  married  Eliza- 
leth  Conklin,  a  daughter  of  John  Conklin,  and 
granddaughter  of  Major  Nathan   Conklin,   an 
ifficer  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  who  came  to 
)utchess  county  from   East   Hampton,   Long 
sland,    about    1781.     They   have    had    three 
hildren:      Elizabeth   Hunting,    who  was  born 
\ugust  16,    1856,   and  died  June  7,  1878;  and 
ilia,  born  November  1 1,  1858;  and  Helen  F., 
rn  August  14,  1864,  who  married  D.  Dewey 
'  jtwin.      Mr.  Willson  and  his  family  are  lead- 
-,'   members   of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
inenia,  and  he  is  one  of  the  active  workers  in 

(natters  of  local  improvement.  Although 
qever  aspired  to  office  he  was  town  as- 
or  for  si.x  years,  and  he  takes  great  interest 
ational  affairs,  being  in  early  years  a  Whig, 
later  a  Republican. 

THOMAS  O'BRIEN,  one  of  the  most  en- 
terprising   and    prosperous  agriculturists 
the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  resides 
car  Dover  Plains  on  a  fine  farm  of  225  acres, 
.     .-hioh  he  devotes  to  dairy  work  and  stock  rais- 
^■tjL     He  is  a  native  of  Parish  Vancha,  County 
^■Bperary,  Ireland,  where   his  ancestors  have 
^■■de  their  home  for  many  yeaf  s.      His  father, 
^■VDiel  O'Brien,  conducted  a  large  dairy  farm 
^|wre,  supplying   the    neighboring  cities   with 
■Ik.     He  married  Margaret  Dempsy,  and  had 
X  children:   Daniel,  who  died  at  an  early  age, 
remiah,  John,  Thomas,  Margaret  and  Mary. 
Mr.  O'Brien  came  to  the  United  States  in 
~^54,  and  located   for  a  time  upon  a  farm  in 
le  town  of  Beekman,  Dutchess  county.    Later 
■  purchased  his  present   property,  known  as 
■e  Hall  farm.      In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat, 


and  he  has  always  taken  an  intelligent  interest 
in  all  that  concerns  the  welfare  of  his  adopted 
country.  He  was  married  at  Wappingers 
Falls  to  Miss  Mary  Cunningham,  who  was  born 
and  educated  in  the  Emerald  Isle,  and  came 
to  America  in  1850  at  the  age  of  twenty.  They 
have  three  children:  (i)  Mary  T. ,  who  was 
born  in  the  "  Clove  "  in  1862,  married  Thomas 
Mclncram,  a  farmer  in  Amenia,  and  has  four 
sons  —  Thomas,  Joseph,  John  and  Leo.  (2) 
John  who  was  born  in  1863,  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  Dover,  and  is  now  en- 
gaged in  farming  with  his  father.  (3)  Julia  A. 
is  at  home. 

Mrs.  O'Brien's  grandfather,  Thomas  Cun- 
ningham, was  born  in  the  Parish  of  Golden, 
County  Tipperary,  Ireland,  where  he  was  a 
farmer  during  his  mature  years.  He  and  his 
wife,  Bridget,  reared  a  family  of  children, 
among  whom  was  a  son,  Patrick,  Mrs.  O'Brien's 
father,  who  moved  in  early  manhood  to  Tulli- 
mane  Parish,  Lethard,  County  Tipperary,  Ire- 
land, and  engaged  in  agriculture.  He  married 
Bridget  Markley,  daughter  of  Dennis  Markley, 
a  farmer  of  the  same  locality,  and  his  wife, 
Johanna.  Thirteen  children  were  born  to 
them,  of  whom  four  died  in  infancy.  Of  the 
others,  Thomas  married,  first,  Catherine  Hayes, 
and,  second.  Miss  Penneferth;  Patrick  married 
Kate  O'Brien;  Dennis,  Miss  Hayes;  Michael, 
Mary  O'Brien;  John;  Johanna,  Charles  Wat- 
son; Margaret,  Mr.  Kennedy;  Mary,  Thomas 
O'Brien;  and  Bridget  died  at  an  early  age. 


E^UGENE  HAM,  a  progressive  agriculturist 
'I  of  the  town  of  Washington,  is  now  de- 
voting his  time  and  attention  exclusively  to  his 
farming  interests,  operating  the  old  homestead 
where  his  life  has,  for  the  most  part,  been 
passed. 

Conrad  Ham,  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  born  in  the 
town  of  Washington,  in  1757,  and  was  there 
educated  in  the  common  schools.  By  his  mar- 
riage with  Elizabeth  Haight  he  had  six  chil- 
dren: Henry,  George,  Milton,  Lewis,  Jonathan 
(father  of  our  subject)  arid  Hannah.  Of  these, 
Henry  was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  the 
town  of  Washington,  and  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Thorn,  by  whom  he  had  four  children: 
C.  Conrad,  Joseph,  Sarah  and  Elizabeth  (wife 
of  Peter  Mesickj.  George,  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation, married  Miss  Catherine  Marshall,  and 
they  had  two  children:  Stephen  (who  married 


584 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Sarah  Sleight)  and  Hannah  (who  married  Ste- 
phen Angeli).  Milton,  also  an  agriculturist, 
wedded  Miss  Phebe  F.  Ferris,  and  they  had 
three  children:  John  (who  married  Rhoda 
Sleight),  Sarah,  and  George  (who  married 
Miss  Grace  Seymoure);    Lewis  never  married. 

Jonathan  Ham,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Washington,  and 
after  attending  the  common  schools  near  his 
home  took  a  course  in  the  Jacob  Willets  school. 
Quite  early  in  life  he  began  tilling  the  soil,  and 
became  a  very  successful  farmer,  acquiring  a 
large  tract  of  land  in  both  Washington  and 
Unionvale  towns,  on  which  he  carried  on  gen- 
eral farming.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Vincent, 
daughter  of  James  and  Mary  (Sisson)  Vincent, 
prosperous  farming  people  of  the  town  of 
Unionvale,  and  three  children  were  born  to 
them:  Eugene,  Helen  and  Elizabeth  B. 

In  the  town  of  Washington,  Eugene  Ham, 
the  subject  proper  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
1850,  received  his  primarj^  education  in  the 
local  schools,  and  later  was  a  student  at  Col- 
lege Hill,  in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  After  his 
return  he  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  purchasing  the  old  homestead  in  the 
town  of  Washington,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. He  is  a  wide-awake,  progressive  citi- 
zen, taking  a  deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
the  community,  and  is  widely  and  favorably 
known.  On  June  15,  1881,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Mary  I\.  Sleight,  who  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Lagrange,  Dutchess  county,  and  re- 
ceived her  education  at  Poughkeepsie.  They 
have  become  the  parents  of  six  children:  Mary, 
Francis,  Irene,  Edwin  S.,  Lewis  E.  (who  died 
in  infancy)  and  Eugene. 

James  Sleight,  the  great-grandfather  of 
Mrs.  Ham,  was  a  native  of  Ulster  county,  N. 
Y. ,  and  was  a  gallant  Revolutionary  soldier. 
By  his  marriage  with  Miss  Elsie  de  Reimer  he 
had  five  children:  Peter  R. ,  Henry  A.,  Har- 
riet, Elsie  and  James  Edwin.  The  first  named, 
Peter  R.  Sleight,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Poughkeepsie,  July  20,  1804,  and  there  secured 
a  common-school  education.  He  engaged  in 
farming,  and  was  also  president  of  the  Dutch- 
ess County  Mutual  Insurance  Company  at 
Poughkeepsie.  He  took  a  great  interest  in  all 
public  improvements,  and  was  a  highly  re- 
spected citizen.  He  was  twice  married,  his 
first  union  being  with  Sallie  A.  Barnes,  by 
whom  he  had  one  son,  James  Edwin,  the  fa- 
ther of  Mrs.  Ham.  After  her  death  he  wedded 
her  sister,   Miss  Catherine   Barnes,  and  they 


had  three  children:  Sarah  A.,  David  B.  (who 
died  in  the  army  during  the  Civil  war),  and 
Alexander  W. 

James  E.  Sleight,  father  of  Mrs.  Ham,  was 
a  native  of  Lagrange,  and  after  completing  his 
education  engaged  in  farming.  Later  he  con- 
ducted a  mill  and  also  carried  on  farming. 
He  married  Miss  Frances  E.  Titus,  daughter 
of  Elias  and  Annette  (Hoag)  Titus,  the  former 
of  whom  was  a  woolen  manufacturer  of  Pough- 
keepsie. Mrs.  Ham,  who  was  born  in  1854, 
is  the  eldest  of  four  daughters,  the  others  be- 
ing Rhoda,  the  wife  of  John  M;  Ham,  of  Wash- 
ington Hollow,  N.  Y. ;  Sallie,  the  wife  of  Dr. 
Augustus  Angeli,  now  of  Hartford,  Conn.;  anc 
Fannie,  the  wife  of  Henry  Winchester,  a  mer- 
chant of  South  Amenia,  Dutchess  county. 


OBERT  J.    STUART,    proprietor  of  th« 

extensive  foundry  and  machinery  work: 

at  New  Hamburg,  Dutchess  county,  is  wel 
known  throughout  that  county  as  a  prosperou: 
and  thorough-going  business  man.  He  wa: 
born  May  15,  1847,  ^^  Darkley,  County  Ar 
magh,  Ireland,  as  was  also  his  father,  Willian 
Stuart,  and  comes  of  Scottish  ancestry  on  hi 
father's  side. 

William  Stuart  married  Sarah  Harvey,  wh' 
was  also   born   in    County   Armagh,  and  the; 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Ireland,  where  seven  chilf 
dren  were  born  to  them,  namely:    Eliza,  Rob 
ert   J.,  William,    John,    Nathaniel,    Jane  an 
Sarah.      In  1858  the   father  came  to  America 
first  locating  in  New  York  City,  the  rest  of  th 
family  following  in    1862,   and   Emily  J.  an 
Thomas  H.  were  born  in  that  city.      In  186 
they  moved  to  Saugatuck,  Conn.,  where  the 
lived  until  1884;  then  removed  to  Middletowi 
N.  Y. ,  thence  after  two  years  moving  to  the 
new  home  in  New  Hamburg.     The  parents  ai 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church;    in  pol, 
tics  the  father  is  a  Republican.  i 

Robert  J.  Stuart  attended  school  in  his  n; 
five   country,  and  was  fifteen   years  old  whe; 
he  came  to  America.     In   New  York  City  1 
began  to  learn  the   trade  of  a  machinist  wii 
the   Dalton   Knitting  Machine  Co.,  and  wht 
this  firm  removed  to  Connecticut  our  subje 
went  with  them  and  finished  his  apprentic 
ship.      He  then  returned  to   New  York  Git 
and  worked  at  his  trade  for  about  four  year 
For    the   following  twelve  years  he    lived 
Yonkers,   N.  Y.,  and  while  there  became  i 
terested  in    an   automatic   paper-feeding  m 


.^^^^/^'^.-.is^^^.^^- 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHWAL  RECORD. 


585 


which,  after  ten  years  of  hard  and  per- 

i5tent   struggle    and   experimenting,    he    suc- 

;eded  in  perfecting.     This  was  the  first  ma- 

line  of  the  kind  to  be  put  in  successful  opera- 

on  in  this  or  any  other  country,  and  was  the 

iiost  successful  one  seen  at  the  World's  Fair 

|i  1893.      Mr.  Stuart   is  entitled  to  the  credit 

[  bringing  into  practical   use  this  important 

id  wonderful  invention,  which  has  worked  a 

ivolution  in  the  old  methods  of  handling  sin- 

e  sheets  of  paper.      In  1882  Mr.  Stuart  went 

)  Poughkeepsie  and  formed  the  Sedgwick  & 

tuart  Manufacturing  Co.,  for  the  purpose  of 

itting  the   machines  on  the   market,  which 

)mpany  lasted  two   years,  when   he  sold  his 

terest  to  Whitman  &  Barrel,  and  for  the  first 

me  started  in  business  for  himself,  renting  a 

•undry  and  machine  shop  at  Middletown,  N. 

In  two  years  business   had  so  increased 

lat  he  was  compelled  to  find  larger  quarters, 

id  purchased,  of  McArdle  &  Hart,  his  pres- 

it    property    in     New    Hamburg,    Dutchess 

lunty. 

Since  the  date   mentioned  Mr.  Stuart  has 

n  carrying  on  a  large  and   prosperous  busi- 

,3,  in  his  patent  shaft  couplings   and  dryer 

tfits  for  brick,  terra  cotta,  and  various  clay 

'iucts,  salt,   starch,    etc.      He  also  builds 

ous  kinds  of  machinery,  does  all  kinds  of 

liring,  makes  castings  of  every  description, 

Acll  as  patterns,  and,  in  fact,  does  all  kinds 

vork  to  be  done  in  first-class  foundries  and 

:hine  works.      His  trade  is  extensive,  and 

tills  orders  from  all  over  the   country,  his 

:ll-known   skill   and   ingenuity  guaranteeing 

isfaction  to  his  patrons.      As  a  citizen  here 

15  held  in  high  esteem,  and  is  always  ready 

I  assist  in  all  enterprises  tending  to  the  growth 

;d  prosperity  of  the  community. 

In  1 88 1  Mr.  Stuart  was  married  to  Miss 
J  ther,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Ann  (Piatt) 
'  burn,  of  Yonkers.  No  children  have  blessed 
-  union.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stuart  are  members 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  are  liberal 
(ntributors  to  all  its  needs,  as  well  as  active 
^  rkers  in  Church  affairs.  In  politics  oursub- 
]  t  is  a  Republican,  and  in  everything  is  a 
I  al  citizen  to  his  adopted  country. 


)HN  A.  MARSHALL.     Among  the   relia- 
ble, substantial  and  prosperous  farmers  of 
the  town  of  Hyde  Park  there  is  probably 
ine  who  stands  higher  in  the  public  estima- 
t  n  than  the  gentleman  'whose  name  is  here 


recorded.  He  was  born  in  the  northwest  cor- 
ner of  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess 
county,  November  21,  1835,  the  night  of  the 
great  fire  in  New  York  City,  and  is  a  son  of 
Isaac  P.  Marshall,  whose  birth  occurred  in 
1806,  on  the  same  farm,  which  is  known  as 
the  old  Marshall  homestead. 

The  paternal  grandfather,  Zacheus  Mar- 
shall, on  coming  from  England  to  the  New 
World,  first  located  at  Horse  Neck,  Conn., 
whence  he  removed  to  the  town  of  Pleasant 
Valley,  Dutchess -county,  receiving  the  title  to 
the  home  farm  there  from  King  George,  and 
he  was  the  original  ancestor  of  the  Marshalls 
in  that  section.  By  trade  he  was  a  carpenter, 
which  occupation  he  carried  on  to  some  extent 
in  connection  with  his  agricultural  pursuits. 
He  belonged  to  the  Society  of  Friends,  and 
helped  to  erect  their  church  in  his  locality. 
He  was  three  times  married,  his  second  union 
being  with  a  Miss  Dean,  while  his  third  wife 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Jane  Quimby.  She 
was  a  native  of  Westchester  county,  N.  Y. ,  and 
was  a  witness  of  the  battle  of  White  Plains 
during  the  Revolutionary  war. 

The  only  son  of  the  third  union  was  Isaac 
Powell  Marshall,  the  father  of  our  subject,  who 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He  was  a  suc- 
cessful business  man,  of  sound  judgment,  quite 
popular  in  his  neighborhood,  having  the  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him,  and 
did  much  in  the  settlement  of  estates.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Maria  Van  Wag- 
ner, a  woman  of  strong  character,  and  to  her 
was  due  much  of  the  success  of  her  husband. 
Three  children  were  born  to  them:  Culver,  a 
civil  engineer  of  California,  is  a  man  of  great 
natural  ability  and  versatility,  and  was  one  of 
the  brave  and  valiant  Union  soldiers  during 
the  Civil  war;  John  Allen,  of  this  sketch,  is 
next  in  order  of  birth;  and  Albion,  who  died 
in  1893.  The  father  affiliated  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  was  one  of  the  leading  citi- 
zens of  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  where  he 
served  for  many  years  as  supervisor  and  jus- 
tice of  the  peace.  He  took  a  commendable 
interest  in  the  free  schools  of  the  county,  as 
well  as  in  other  worthy  objects  for  the  benefit 
of  the  community.  He  was  a  faithful  member 
of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  spent  his  entire 
life  upon  the  old  Marshall  homestead,  his 
death  occurring  February  24,  1872.  His  wife 
passed  away  February  9,  1892. 

The  primary  education  of  John  Allen  Mar- 
shall was  obtained  in  the  district  schools,  after 


586 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


which  he  attended  the  Friends  school  at  Me- 
chanicstown,  N.  Y.,  and  for  two  years  was 
a  student  at  Claverack,  N.  Y. ,  taking  the  full 
course  in  the  academy  there.  He  thus  ac- 
quired an  excellent  education,  becoming  well 
fitted  for  the  practical  duties  of  life,  and  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one  began  teaching  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  the  towns  of  Pleasant  Valley 
and  Hyde  Park  during  the  winter  season, 
while  in  the  summer  months  he  assisted  in  the 
operation  of  the  home  farm  until  his  marriage, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years.  Going  to 
Brooklyn,  he  there  engaged  in  the  milk  busi- 
ness, which  he  also  followed  in  Jersey  City  for 
two  years.  Since  1866,  however,  he  has  been 
principally  engaged  in  the  cultivation  and  im- 
provement of  his  present  farm  in  Hyde  Park 
town,  though  the  year  1888  was  spent  by  him 
in  the  West,  and  for  another  year  he  was 
in  the  South. 

Mr.  Marshall  wedded  Miss  Elmira  D.  Cul- 
ver, daughter  of  John  A.  Culver,  and  to  them 
have  been  born  live  children:  Nellie,  wife  of 
Benjamin  Haviland;  Edwin  Vincent,  who  is 
still  upon  the  home  farm;  Culver,  who  is  em- 
ployed in  the  New  York  Central  depot,  at  New 
York  City;  Jennie  Maria,  at  home;  and  John 
Allen,  who  is  engaged  in  teaching  in  East 
Park,  Dutchess  county.  The  religious  views 
of  Mr.  Marshall  incline  toward  the  Society  of 
Friends,  in  which  he  was  reared.  In  politics 
he  is  an  ardent  Democrat,  taking  a  warm  in- 
terest in  the  success  of  his  party,  and  during 
the  years  1875  and  1876  he  served  as  super- 
visor of  his  township.  He  is  a  progressive, 
enterprising  man,  broad  and  liberal  in  his 
views,  and  is  very  popular  in  his  neighborhood, 
where  he  numbers  many  friends. 

The  Culver  family,  of  which  Mrs.  Marshall 
is  a  member,  is  of  Scotch  origin,  and  was 
founded  in  America  by  three  brothers,  Jacob, 
John  and  James,  who  located  first  on  Long 
Island,  but  later  bought  farms  in  Hyde  Park, 
Dutchess  county,  the  titles  to  which  came 
from  King  George  at  an  early  date.  John  had 
two  sons,  James  and  Allen,  while  the  other 
brother  became  the  father  of  four  sons,  Sam- 
uel, Cornelius,  Peter  and  John.  Of  the  latter 
family,  John  settled  near  Battle  Creek,  Mich., 
and  the  others  became  prominent  men  of  west- 
ern New  York,  having  located  near  Rochester. 
Until  his  marriage  James  Culver,  Jr.,  remained 
upon  the  family  homestead  in  Hyde  Park  town, 
and  then  for  many  years  lived  in  Orange 
county,  New  York. 


Allen  Culver  spent  his  entire  life  upon  th 
old  home  farm,  in  the  cultivation  of  which  h 
was  very  successful,  and  became  the  owne 
of  over  300  acres.  He  married  Abigai 
Marshall,  daughter  of  Henry  Marshall,  am 
they  became  the  parents  of  eleven  children' 
Marshall,  Hester,  John  A.,  Willet,  Deborah 
Mariam,  Emeline,  Maria,  Catherine,  Hiran, 
and  Jacob,  all  now  deceased  except  John  A. 
Maria  and  Hiram.  In  religious  belief  th( 
family  were  Friends,  and  though  not  an  activi 
politician,  the  father  was  a  strong  Federalis  \ 

John  A.  Culver,   the  father  of  Mrs.   Ma:| 
shall,  was  born  January  10,  1809,  on  the  fan! 
adjoining  the  one  where  our  subject  now  live;! 
and  there  continued  to  reside  until  after  reach 
ing    his    majority.       He    later    purchased  tl 
farm  once  owned  by  his  grandfather  Marshal: 
which  he  operated  for  seven  years,  and  the 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  and  lumber  businesj 
in   the  village  of   Hyde    Park  for  about  foi' 
years.     On  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  pur 
chased  a  farm  in  the  northwest  corner  of  th 
town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  where  he  continue 
to   make  his  home  some  twenty-three  yean; 
and   as  an  agriculturist  was  very  successful 
Going  to  Poughkeepsie  in  1865,  he  there  live 
retired  for  many  years.      On  October  31,  183^ 
Mr.  Culver  married  Miss  Catherine  Skidmon 
daughter    of    Walter    Skidmore,    and    on   tl 
maternal  side  a  granddaughter  of  Jesse  Bel' 
who  served  as  captain  in  the  Continental  arn" 
during  the    Revolution,  and  was  one  of  tl 
honored  citizens  of  Dutchess  county.     Thrfj 
children    blessed    this    union,    Mrs.    Marshal 
being  the  only  one  now  living;  Jane  Ann  die 
at  the  age  of  seventeen;  and  Henry  M.  at  tl 
age  of  seven  years.     The  mother  passed  awc 
February  29,  1840.      For  his  second  wife,  M 
Culver  wedded  Elizabeth  Brown,  on  Februaii 
2,  1842,  and  they  had  two  children:  Charl: 
Wheaton,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  yearj 
and  Amanda,  who  died  when  twenty-one  yearl 
The  mother  was  called  from  this  life  May 
1890.     By  birthright  Mr.  Culver  is  a  menib 
of  the  Friends  Church,  and  has  ever  been  01: 
of  the  leading  and  influential  citizens  of  til 
county,    serving   as   alms-house  conimission| 
while  a  resident  of  Poughkeepsie.  . 


LEONARD  LYON.      Few   sections  of  tli. 
country  can  boast  of  more  charming  an 

quietly   picturesque  scenery  than  that  to 
found  within  the   limits  of  Dutchess  count 


C03IMEM0RATIVE  BIOOBAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


587 


I 


and  nowhere  will  there  be  found  people  more 
progressive  and  companionable.  The  house 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lyon  on  Quaker  Hill,  town 
'of  Pawling,  is  one  of  the  pleasant  spots  of  that 
favored  region,  and  its  occupants  hold  a  high 
place  in  the  esteem  of  the  community.  Mr. 
Lyon  was  formerly  engaged  in  agriculture  in 
Cayuga  county,  N.  Y. ,  but  has  become  fully 
identified  with  the  interests  of  his  adopted 
county. 

Mr.  Lyon  was  born  March  ii,  1843,  in 
herwood,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  a  son  of  Alfred 
and  Harriet  (Valentine)  Lyon,  the  former  of 
whom,  a  native  of  Bedford,  Westchester  Co., 
N.  Y. ,  was  a  merchant  there  in  early  life, 
later  moving  to  Cayuga  county,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming.  He  was  twice  married,  first 
time  to  Lavina  White,  and  by  her  had  seven 
children,  of  whom  five  died  when  young,  the 
two  yet  living  being  George  and  Lavina.  By 
his  second  wife,  Harriet  (Valentine),  Alfred 
Lyon  had  seven  children,  as  follows:  (i)  Hi- 
ram, a  farmer  of  Cayuga  county,  married  to 
Abbie  Gifford,  and  had  si.x  children — Sanford, 
Genevieve,  Edith,  Gertrude,  Lyman  and  Her- 
bert. (2)  Elizabeth  married  Henry  Grimshaw, 
and  had  three  children — Samuel,  Howard  and 
Delia.  (3)  Samuel  married  Delia  Nye,  and 
had  three  children — Howard,  Alfred  and 
Page  ("the  entire  family  live  in  Chicago).  (4) 
Leonard,  our  subject,  comes  next  in  the  order 
of  birth.  (5)  James,  a  farmer  of  Sherwood, 
Cayuga  county,  married  Sarah  Hopkins,  and 
had  three  children — Warren,  Hettie  and 
Rossa.  (6)  Hattie  married  Frank  Fowler,  and 
five  children  were  born  to  them — Mary,  Hom- 
er, Delia,  Stanley  and  Ada.  (7)  Mary  mar- 
iried  William  Avery,  and  they  moved  to  Fort 
iCollins,  Colo.,  where  he  died;  they  had  one 
Ichild — Pearle.  (8)  Charles,  a  dealer  in  horses 
at  Atalissa,  Iowa,  married  Lucy  Avery,  and 
had  one  son — Alfred.     The  father  of  this  fam- 

ty  died  in  1880,    the  mother   in  June,  1893. 

He  was  known  as   Col.  Lyon,  having  served 

as  a  colonel  in  the  State   Militia;  was  a  mem- 

T  of  the  State   Assembly  several  times,  and 

.  justice  of  the  peace  many  years,  besides  hold- 
ing minor  offices.  Politically,  he  was  origi- 
nally a  Whig,  later  a  Republican.  Col.  Alfred 
Lyon  was  of  English  and  Scotch  descent,  the 
present  Lord  Lyon  and  Lord  Howe  being 
relatives.  The  silver  dram-cup  and  cane, 
bearing  the  name  of  John  Lyon  (one  of  three 
brothers  who  came  to  -America,  and  the  one 
from  whom  Col.    Lyon  was    descended)    are 


now  in  possession  of  John  Lyon,  of  Bingham- 
ton,  N.  Y.  Col.  Lyon's  aunt  (his  father's 
sister)  married  John  Jay,  the  first  chief  justice 
of  the  United  States.  The  family  coat  of 
arms  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  family. 

Leonard  Lyon,  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch,  received  a  liberal  education,  and  grad- 
uated from  Cayuga  Lake  Academy,  after  which 
he  took  up  farming,  which  vocation  he  has 
ever  since  followed,  having,  in  1864,  settled  on 
his  present  well-improved  farm  of  220  acres, 
whereon  he  has  erected  some  fine  buildings. 
In  1863  he  was  married  to  Mary  Haines,  a  na- 
tive of  Pawling,  Dutchess  county,  and  they 
have  one  daughter,  Jessie  H. ,  born  in  Pawling 
in  1878,  who  is  now  being  carefully  educated 
by  private  tutors  at  home.  Mr.  Lyon,  our 
subject,  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  but  no 
office-seeker. 

The  ancestors  of  the  Haines  family  were 
among  the  early  settlers  in  Dutchess  county. 
Caleb  Haines,  Mrs.  Lyon's  great-great-grand- 
father, was  born  and  educated  in  Rhode  Island, 
whence  he  came  to  Dutchess  county  in  his 
manhood,  to  engage  in  farming.  At  one  time 
he  owned  most  of  the  land  upon  which  Pawl- 
ing now  stands.  He  married  Deborah  Lewis, 
and  had  two  sons:  Sylvester  and  Caleb.  The 
elder  of  these  married,  and  reared  a  family  of 
ten  children:  Chauncey;  Andrew,  who  married 
Phcebe  Howard;  Charles,  the  grandfather  of 
Mrs.  Lyon;  Peleg,  of  whose  marriage  no  par- 
ticulars are  known;  James,  who  is  mentioned 
below;  William,  who  married  (first)  Eliza 
Smith,  and  (second)  Alma  Betts;  Lewis,  who 
wedded  Maria  Tabor;  Caleb,  who  remained 
single;  Sarah,  wife  of  Benjamin  Sheldon,  and 
Sylvester,  who  never  married. 

James  Haines  was  born  on  the  old  farm  in 
the  town  of  Pawling,  in  1790,  and  after  ac- 
quiring a  common-school  education  engaged  in 
farming.  He  was  a  strong  Republican,  and 
held  some  minor  township  offices.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Hannah  Sheldon,  daughter  of  Jede- 
diah  and  Jerusha  (Hotchkiss)  Sheldon.  Her 
father  was  a  leading  farmer  of  the  town  of 
Dover.  They  had  seven  children:  John,  who 
married  Abbie  J.  Allen;  Sheldon,  who  married 
Emeline  Corbin;  Jane,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Maria,  wife  of  Archibald  Dodge;  Susan,  wife 
of  Aaron  Baker;  Lydia,  wife  of  Cyrus  Baker; 
and  Jackson,  who  married  Lydia  M.  Cook. 

Maria  Haines  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Pawling,  in  18 19,  and  was  educated  there. 
She  married  Archibald  Dodge,  who  was  born 


688 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  1810,  and  educated  in  the  common  schools 
of  that  town,  afterward  engaging  in  farming. 
He  is  now  very  bright  and  active  at  the  age  of 
eighty-eight  years,  and  he  sowed  an  acre  of 
wheat  at  that  age.  They  have  one  daughter: 
Cornelia,  who  married  T.  J.  Arnold,  a  farmer, 
and  has  three  children:  Helen  M.,  Archie 
and  Carrie  H.  Labon  Dodge  married  Miss 
Libbie  Birch,  but  they  have  no  children. 

Charles  Haines,  Mrs.  Lyon's  grandfather, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Pawling,  and  moved 
West  to  engage  in  farming.  He  married  Miss 
Mary  Spaulding,  and  had  three  children:  Albro 
A.,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Lyon;  Harriet,  wife  of 
Simeon  Walters;  and  Eliza,  wife  of  Leonard 
Cole. 

Albro  A.  Haines  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Pawling,  in  March,  1813,  and  educated  there, 
but  later  engaged  in  farming  in  the  town  of 
Pawling.  On  July  7,  1833,  he  married  Miss 
Sarah  Orton,  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah 
Orton,  and  Mrs.  Lyon  is  the  only  child.  Albro 
A.  Haines  died  July  31,  1891,  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican in  his  political  preferences. 


1 


'\LIAS  SPROSS,  a  retired  contractor  and 
builder,  with  residence  in  Poughkeepsie, 
Dutchess  county,  was  born  in  Rhein  Pfaltz, 
Germany,  August  5,  1826. 

Michael  Spross,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
a  farmer  in  the  Fatherland,  and  took  part  in 
the  war  of  18 13,  when  Germany  was  invaded 
by  the  French  under  Napoleon.  He  married 
Miss  Margaret  Handschuh,  and  they  settled 
on  a  farm  whereon  they  reared  children  as  fol- 
lows: Thomas  was  a  mason  contractor,  and 
died  in  1895;  Philip  died  in  Switzerland  at 
the  age  of  twenty-five  years;  Margaret  married 
Conrad  Rissberger,  who  was  a  boiler  maker  in 
Albany,  N.  Y. ,  and  both  are  now  deceased; 
Elias,  our  subject,  comes  next;  Joseph  is  a 
farmer  in  Monroe  county,  N.  Y. ;  and  Michael 
is  a  shoemaker  in  Poughkeepsie,  The  father 
of  this  family  died  in  1872,  the  mother  in 
1842;  both  were  members  of  the  German 
Catholic  Church. 

The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  spent  in 
his  native  land;  in  1851  coming  to  America, 
and  locating  in  Poughkeepsie,  he  followed  the 
mason's  trade,  which  be  learned  in  Germany, 
and  at  which  he  continued  to  work  in  this 
country  until  his  retirement  from  business  in 
1884.  From  1853  to  1858  he  worked  with 
his  brother  Thomas  in   the  Poughkeepsie  Iron 


Works  or  Furnace,  also  in  Cold  Spring,  Man- 
hattan, Peekskill,  and  other  places  until  1858, 
doing  the  mason  work.  In  the  latter  year  he 
took  work  in  Poughkeepsie,  and  began  con- 
tracting on  his  own  account,  in  which  he  con- 
tinued until  his  retirement  as  above  related. 
In  1875  he  did  the  mason  work  on  the  fourth 
section  of  the  Hudson  River  State  Hospital, 
and  in  1876  took  another  big  contract  to  do 
the  mason  work  on  another  section  of  the 
hospital — the  center  building  from  basement 
to  second  story.  He  has  filled  many  other 
contracts  in  Poughkeepsie,  the  last  being  for 
the  building  of  the  post  office  in  18S4,  if  we 
except  his  contract  in  1888,  for  putting  in  the 
foundation  of  St.  Mary's  Catholic  church. 

Mr.  Spross  was  married  July  25,  1851,  to 
Miss  Barbara  Bollman,  who  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, and  who  came  to  America  on  the  same 
vessel  as  did  our  subject.  They  have  no  chil- 
dren. In  1875  they  took  a  trip  to  the  Father- 
land, and  in  1889  Mr.  Spross  again  visited  the 
old  country,  rambling  among  the  scenes  of  his 
boyhood.  He  also  visited  England,  particu- 
larly to  see  an  old  friend,  Frank  Brown,  of 
Castle  Villa,  Keighley,  Yorkshire,  England, 
from  there  going  to  Germany.  The  latter 
country  he  left  August  12,  for  the  Exposition 
held  in  Paris  that  year,  to  meet  Mr.  F.  Brown, 
and  after  a  stay  of  two  weeks  they  went  back 
to  England,  where  he  stayed  until  Septem- 
ber 2.  when  he  left  on  his  homeward  trip  to 
the  United  States,  after  a  three-months'  tour. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spross  have  a  beautiful  brick 
residence  at  No.  8  Garfield  place,  Poughkeep- 
sie, which  he  built  in  1877.  Their  home  has 
always  been  in  that  city  since  June,  1851.  He 
is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  has  served  on 
the  water  board,  and  was  an  alderman  from 
the  Fourth  ward  of  Poughkeepsie.  Socially, 
he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Germania  So- 
ciety for  forty  years,  and  has  devoted  much 
time  and  attention  to  its  welfare.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  German  Catholic 
Church. 


ipEORGE  A.  TROWBRIDGE.     TheTrow- 

\3r  bridge  family  has  been  so  long  and  favor- 
ably known  in  this  section  that  its  history  will 
be  of  unusual  interest  to  riiany.  The  great- 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  Billy  Trow- 
bridge, was  born  November  4,  1748,  the  sor 
of  Deacon  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Seeley)  Trow- 
bridge.      He  received  a  common-school  educa 


(s-'-^-t^^ 


COMMEMORA  TIVB  BIOORAPIITCAL  RECORD. 


589 


tion,   and    then    engaged    in    agriculture.      In 
fune,  1777,  he   married    Miss   Rhoda  Beards- 
ley,    who    was   born  February    14,    1758,  and 
died  February  8,  1844.     A  year  or  two  after 
their  marriage  they  settled  in  Carmel,  Putnam 
;ounty,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1798  moved  to  Truxton, 
Cortland  county;  but  Mr.  Trowbridge  died  two 
iays  before  the  little  party  reached   its  desti- 
lation.     They  had  nine  children,  whose  names, 
,vith  dates  of  birth  and   death,  are  as  follows 
Ephraim,  March  22,  1778,  died  May  5,  1791 
\lvah,  September  4,  1779,  died  June  10,  1856 
:iilly,    March  26,    1781,    died    May    8,    1854 
^evi,  February   16,     1783,    died    1846;  Polly, 
'ipril  3.  1786;  died    1818;  Samuel,  December 
,  1788,  died    1817;  Sally,  February23,  1792, 
lied   1810;    Ephraim,    June    15,    1795,    died 
798;  John  C. ,  October   18,  1797,  died  1831. 
Alvah    Trowbridge,    our    subject's   great- 
randfather,  received  the  education  obtainable 
a  the  common  schools  of  his  day,  and  later 
•ecame  a  farmer.      He  was  married  November 
0.  '797.   to   Miss   Sally    Crane,   daughter  of 
ludge  John   Crane,    of  Carmel,   N.    Y.      She 
i-as  born  June  27,  1780,  and   died  of  measles 
^pril  6,  1833.     Eight  children   were  born  to 
hem,  whose   names,  with   dates  of  birth  and 
ne   names    of    their    respective    partners    in 
patrimony,  are  here  given:      PhineasB.,  De- 
•;mber  4,  1798— Sally  B.  Raymond;  AdaZ. , 
ktober   18,  1800 — Levi    Knox;  Allerton  M., 
i'ebruary   24,    1803 — Letitia   Coe  ;  Aralinda. 
ebruary  26,  1805 — Orrin  Richards;  William 
.,  April  15,  i8o7^Mary  E.  A.  Holley;  Cor- 
diaA. ,  November  8,  1809 — Reynolds  Piatt; 
jh  B.,  March  21,  1821 — David  B.  Rogers, 
'hineas  Beardsley  Trowbridge,  the  grand- 
r  of  our  subject,  was  born   and  educated 
,e  town  of  Southeast,  Putnam  county,  and 
,n   early    age    engaged   in    farming   near 
igs  Station,  later  following  the  blacksmith's 
•ade.     He  was  married  October  28,   1823,   to 
'is8  Raymond,    who    was    born    October   22, 
03.     They  have   six  children,  whose   names 
th  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows;     Edwin  M., 
vember   i,    1824   (died   August    29,    1854); 
anda,  December  5,    1826  (died  August  8, 
;);   John   C,    September  24,    1828;  Cor- 
a    A.,    April     i,    1831    fdied    August    26, 
■  ^)\  William  R. ,  May  6,  1833;  and   George 
.att,   July    19,    1840  ?died   April    15,    1845). 
•ily  two   of  that  family   entered  the  matri- 
lial  state;  Edwin,  who  married  Miss  Sarah 
Marsh,    and    William    R.,    our    subject's 
'  her.     He  was  born  and  reared  in  the  town 


::iia  i 
^Sr 

m 

TVTBg: 


of  Southeast,  Putnam  county,  and  has  been  for 
many  years  a  prominent  farmer  near  Wings 
Station.  He  purchased  his  present  farm  of 
300  acres  about  twenty-seven  years  ago,  and 
makes  a  specialty  of  dairywork.  He  married 
Miss  •  Maria  W.  Sheldon,  daughter  of  Albro 
and  Elizabeth  (Edmond)  Sheldon.  Four  chil- 
dren were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Trowbridge: 
(i)  Cora  B.,  born  September  20,  1858,  mar- 
ried June  II,  1878,  Arthur  Dorn,  a  merchant 
in  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  son  of  Albert  Dorn, 
of  Beekman,  N.  Y.  They  have  one  child, 
Mabel,  born  September  30,  1880.  (2)  George 
A.,  born  September  20,  1861,  is  a  farmer  and 
merchant  at  South  Dover;  he  married,  March 
19,  1889,  Miss  Eva  Dutcher,  daughter  of 
George  W.  and  Nettie  (Hill)  Dutcher,  well- 
known  residents  of  Dover.  He  has  two  chil- 
dren: William  D.,  born  June  6,  1891,  and 
Nettie  A.,  born  March  4,  1894.  (3)  Ada,  born 
December  27,  1863;  and  (4)  Eliza,  born  April 
17,  1866,  are  at  home. 

Mrs.  Trowbridge  is  a  member  of  one  of  the 
old  families  of  the  town  of  Dover,  and  her 
great-grandfather,  Caleb  Sheldon,  was  born 
and  educated  there,  also  passed  his  mature 
years  in  farming.  His  death  occurred  there 
November  22,  1841,  atthe  age  of  ninety-three. 
His  son  Luther,  Mrs.  Trowbridge's  grand- 
father, was  a  blacksmith  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  later  engaged  in  farming.  He  died  Au- 
gust 28,  1 86 1,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years, 
and  his  wife,  formerly  Miss  Mary  Butts,  of 
Delaware  county,  died  October  13,  1863,  aged 
eighty-seven  years.  They  had  eleven  children, 
all  of  whom  married  except  one.  Their  names, 
with  those  of  their  respective  husbands  and 
wives,  are  as  follows:  Phoebe — Abraham  Sher- 
man; Theodorus — Mary  Wing;  the  twins. 
Electa  (died  at  the  age  of  seventeen)  and  De- 
lilah (married  Duncan  McDonald);  Albro — 
Eliza  Edmonds;  Ophelia — Henry  P.  Amey; 
Anner — Wilson  Johnson;  Jeremiah — Sophia 
Doughty;  Wrlson  B. — Hannah  M.  Doughty; 
Harrison — Hannah  Ward;  and  Almeah — An- 
drew Ward. 

Albro  Sheldon,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Trow- 
bridge, was  born  in  1808,  and  became  a  prom- 
inent farmer.  He  was  active  in  local  affairs, 
and  held  a  number  of  town  offices.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Eliza  Edmonds,  daughter  of  Kenedy 
Edmonds  (a  well-known  farmer  of  the  town  of 
Dover)  and  his  wife,  Leah  C.  Edmonds.  Mrs. 
Trowbridge  was  born  in  1840,  the  eldest  of 
four  children.      Sarah   A.    Sheldon,   born  No- 


590 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPUICAL  RECORD. 


vember  ii,  1844,  married  (first)  George  Root, 
by  whom  she  had  one  son — George  S.  Root, 
born  April  23,  1871;  Mr.  Root  died  July 
29,  and  she  married  Myron  Edmonds;  one 
child  came  of  this  union — Carrie  L. ,  born 
March  12,  1882.  Wilson  B.  Sheldon,  .  born 
October  22,  1846,  is  a  prominent  farmer  in 
Dover;  he  married  Nellie  J.  Root,  and  has  two 
children — Albro,  and  Grace  (Mrs.  Frank  Den- 
ton). Almira  Sheldon,  born  August  16,  1848, 
married  William  Wheeler,  a  farmer  of  the 
town  of  Dover,  and  has  five  children;  Carrie, 
born  in  1877;  Maude,  1879;  Phoebe,  i88i; 
Howard,  1883;  and  Allie,    1886. 


fcFALTER  B.  CULVER,  a  worthy  repre- 

t     sentative  of  the  agricultural  interests 

of  the  town  of  Amenia,  and  one  of  the  large 
land  owners  of  Dutchess  county,  is  descended 
from  good  old  Revolutionary  stock,  Joshua 
Culver,  his  great-grandfather,  having  assisted 
the  colonies  in  gaining  their  independence. 
His  grandfather,  who  also  bore  the  name  of 
Joshua,  was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Amenia, 
and  in  early  life  learned  the  tanner's  trade  with 
Capt.  William  Young,  at  Amenia  Union.  Sub- 
sequently he  established  himself  at  Pine  Plains 
in  the  tanning  business,  conducting  it  with  re- 
markable success  and  becoming  a  wealthy  man 
for  his  day.  He  married  Lavinia  Backus, 
whose  birth  also  occurred  in  Amenia,  and  to 
them  were  born  five  children,  all  now  deceased, 
namely:  Elmira,  Eliza,  Backus,  Roxanna 
and  Phebe. 

Backus  Culver,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  at  Pine  Plains,  Dutchess  county,  in 
1806,  was  there  reared  and  educated,  and  later 
turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
From  farming  he  drifted  into  stock  raising, 
becoming  an  extensive  dealer  in  live  stock  be- 
fore a  railroad  had  been  constructed  through 
this  section  of  the  country.  He  married  Miss 
Abbie  Drew,  and  they  had  nine  children: 
Joshua,  Mary,  Laura  and  Sanford  (all  four 
deceased);  Walter  B. ;  Dudley  G. ;  Lavina, 
wife  of  William  H.  Bartlett;  and  Phebe  and 
Henry,  both  deceased.  The  father,  who  was 
an  earnest  Democrat  in  politics,  was  called 
upon  to  serve  in  several  official  positions,  in- 
cluding those  of  supervisor  and  assessor  of 
Pine  Plains.  In  the  spring  of  1 864  he  removed 
to  Amenia,  where  he  lived  until  life's  labors 
were  ended,  in  1870,  in  which  year  his  faithful 
wife  also  died. 


Walter  B.  Culver  was  born  in  Pine  Plains, 
May  7,  1837,  and  in  the  village  schools  he' 
began  his  education,  supplementmg  the  knowl-  < 
edge  there  acquired  by  a  course  at  Dominie 
Benedict's  private  school  at  Patterson,  N.  Y., 
and  also  at  the  Dutchess  County  Academy,  of 
Poughkeepsie,  and  the  Amenia  Seminary.         ' 

He  remained  on  the  home  farm  until  after' 
attaining  his  majority,    and    in    1859  located 
upon  the  old  Culver  place,  south  of  the  depot 
at  Amenia,   where    he  continued  to   live  unti 
the  spring  of  1864.      On   December    17,  1863 
he  married  Harriet  J.,  a  daughter  of  Ambrosi 
Mygatt.      Their  children  are:   Mary  E. ,  Laur: ; 
B.,    Ambrose     M.,    Dudley    D. ,     Harry  W.  j 
Arthur  B.,  George  R.    and   Bessie   H.     Lik  I 
his  father,  Mr.  Culver  has  always  been  an  un  1 
swerving  Democrat  in    his  political  views,  am  I 
has  acceptably  served    as   commissioner   aii' ! 
assessor  of  his  town.      He  is  one  of  the    raos ' 
progressive  farmers  of   the  community,  and  i 
a  straightforward    and  reliable    citizen,    on  J 
whose  word  is  considered  as  good  as  his  bond 


WILLIAM    VAN  DE  WATER  is  num; 
bered  among  the  native    sons   of  th ' 

town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess  county,  an 
for  more  than  a  century  the  family  of  which  h 
is  a  representative  has  been  connected  with  tb 
history  of  that  county.  It  furnished  its  repre 
sentatives  to  the  Revolutionary  war,  tothewa 
of  1 812,  and  to  the  Civil  war,  and  its  merr 
bers  have  ever  been  loyal  and  patriotic  citizen; 
giving  a  hearty  support  to  all  interests  c 
measures  calculated  to  benefit  the  communitit 
in  which  they  have  resided. 

As  the  name  indicates,  the  family  is  of  Ho 
land  origin,  and  was  founded  in  America  b 
Harman  Van  De  Water,  who  with  sever 
brothers  came  from  Holland  to  America.  Or 
of  the  number  located  in  Canada,  another  i 
Fishkill,  and  Harman  on  Manhattan  Islan( 
He  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionai 
war.  After  the  British  had  captured  Ne 
York,  he  removed  to  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutcl 
ess  county,  now  the  town  of  Poughkeepsi 
locating  on  a  farm.  His  death  occurred 
Pleasant  Valley  in  July,  18 16.  He  marri« 
Maria  Barnes,  a  sister  of  David  and  Joshi 
Barnes,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  six  so 
and  one  daughter,  namely:  Benjamin,  wl 
was  born  November  25,  1782,  and  died 
Buffalo,  N.  Y. ;  William,  who  was  born  D 
cember  2,  1784,  and  died  in  Hyde  Park,  N: 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOEAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


591 


ember  30,  1834;  Richard,  born  May  8,  1790; 
Samuel,  born  in  1793;  George,  born  January 
27,  1795;  Joshua,  born  January  21,  1799,  his 
ieath  occurring  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  1877; 
ind  a  daughter  who  died  in  early  life. 

William  Van  De  Water,  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  drafted  for  service  in  the  war  of 
1812,  was  with  the  command  of  Capt.  Valen- 
tine, and  by  him  was  honorably  discharged. 
'\fter  his  death  the  grandmother  received  a 
tension.  Farming  was  his  life  work,  and  both 
le  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Presby- 
erian  Church.  In  their  family  were  ten  chil- 
iren:  Sarah,  who  became  the  wife  of  William 
riolmes,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Lagrange; 
\Iaria,  deceased;  George,  father  of  our  sub- 
ect;  Alexander,  formerly  a  farmer,  now  living 
n  Hyde  Park;  William  A.,  who  was  a  farmer 
ind  milk  dealer,  but  is  now  deceased;  Henry, 
m  agriculturist  in  the  town  of  Hyde  Park; 
rliram,  a  deceased  farmer;  John,  a  farmer  in 
he  town  of  Hyde  Park;  Alfred,  an  agricultur- 
st  of  Kansas;  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

George  Van  De  Water  was  born  April 
J9,  1821,  in  the  town  of  Hyde  Park, 
vhere,  on  his  father's  farm,  he  spent  his 
boyhood  days.      He  married  Elizabeth  Phillips, 

I  native  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  a  daughter  of 
*I.  D.  L.  F.  Phillips,  who  was  named  for  Gen. 
^a  Fayette,  a  friend  of  the  family.  The  an- 
cestry of  the  Phillips  family  is  English.  Upon 
heir  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  De  Water 
ocated  upon  a  farm  in  Pleasant  Vallej',  where 
16  has  now  made  his  home  for  fifty-one  years, 
Jevoting  his  energies  exclusively  to  agricultural 
)ursuits.      He  gives  his  political  support  to  the 

publican  party,  and  has  served  as  assessor. 

>th  he  and  his  wife  are  consistent  Presbyte- 

ns.      Of    their    family    of    seven    children, 

^avina  died   in   infancy,  William    is   the   next 

"unger;  Marquis   P.  is  a   farmer  of    Pleasant 

illey;  Wilson    A.  was  married,  and   both  he 

nd  his  wife  were  killed  by  a  train   in    1890; 

ennie  M.  died  at   the  age  of  nineteen  years; 

larrie  is   the    wife    of    Israel    D.  Marshall,  a 

armer  of    Hyde    Park;  and   Elizabeth  is  the 

'■  ife  of  Charles  Ambler,  a  merchant  of  Stissing, 

Jutchess  county. 

William  Van  De  Water,  whose  name  in- 
duces this  review,  was  born  on  his  father's 
rn,  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  June  4, 
46,  and  to  farm   work  devoted   his  energies 

II  the  summer  months,  while  in  the  winter  he 
ttended  the  district  school   of   the  neighbor- 
ed, completing  his  education  in  the  Colum- 


bia County  Academy,  at  Claverack.  Subse- 
quently he  went  to  New  York  City,  and  en- 
tered upon  his  business  career  as  a  salesman 
for  the  firm  of  Lord  &  Taylor.  He  was  mar- 
ried September  4,  1867,  to  Caroline  E.  Ganse, 
who  was  born  at  Wappingers  Falls,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Ganse,  a  farmer  who  was  of  Hol- 
land lineage.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Van- 
De  Water  located  upon  a  farm  in  the  town  of 
Pleasant  Valley,  where  he  lived  until  1881, 
and  then  embarked  in  the  milling  business  at 
Salt  Point,  which  he  continued  for  five  years. 
On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  purchased 
his  present  farm  of  122  acres,  and  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  cultivation  of  his  land.  He  has 
placed  many  improvements  upon  his  farm,  and 
his  progressive  methods  and  well-directed  ef- 
forts class  him  among  the  leading  agriculturists 
of  the  county. 

Mr.  Van  De  Water  gives  his  political  sup- 
port to  the  Republican  party,  and  both  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  They  are  parents  of  five  children: 
Rosilla  M.,  wife  of  Harry  A.  Russell,  a  farmer 
of  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley;  Cora  A.,  wife 
of  William  H.  Allen,  a  farmer,  and  the  presi- 
dent of  the  Salt  Point  Creamery  Co. ;  George 
H.,  who  was  killed  by  the  kick  of  a  horse,  in 
North  Dakota,  in  1891;  and  Casper  G.  and 
Ethel  M.,  at  home. 


RS.  MARY  J.  WOODIN.  TheWoodin 
family,  which  has  been  identified  with 
the  town  of  Pawling,  Dutchess  county,  from 
early  times,  traces  its  origin  to  three  brothers, 
Amos,  John  and  Daniel  Woodin,  who  came 
from  England  during  the  Revolutionary  war 
as  soldiers  in  the  service  of  the  British  gov- 
ernment. When  the  struggle  for  freedom  was 
ended  they  settled  here — Amos  locating  in  the 
town  of  Pawling,  Dutchess  county;  John  on 
Huckleberry  Mountain;  and  Daniel  in  Ansonia, 
Connecticut. 

Amos  Woodin  married  Lucretia  Miller, 
and  had  six  children:  Solomon;  Joel;  Daniel- 
(who  married  Mary  Pierce);  Henry  (who  re- 
mained single);  Hyal  (who  married  Betsy 
Turner),  and  Esther  (who  married  John 
Brownell).  Solomon  Woodin  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Pawling,  in  1780,  and  his  education 
was  obtained  there  in  the  schools  of  that  time. 
He  married  Miss  Annie  Prosser,  daughter  of 
Dr.  Prosser's  sister.  Thirteen  children  were 
born  to  them,  of  whom    all   married  but  one, 


L 


592 


COIIMEMORATIVB  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


their  names,  together  with  those  of  their  re- 
spective partners  in  matrimony,  being  as  fol- 
lows: Ransom — Charlotte  Brairtain;  Esther — 
Jarvis  T.  Sweet;  Sallie — Duncan  Mead;  Ira — 
Caroline  Woodin;  Chauncey,  who  never  mar- 
ried; Milton — Malonie  Lawrence;  Federal — 
Maria  Brazee;  Benjamin — Esther  Brownell; 
Amos — Naomi  Griffin;  Egbert — Mary  Miller; 
Henry  L. — Laura  Armstrong;  Ruth — John 
Willard;  and  Lucretia — Peter  Brazee. 

Henry  L.  Woodin  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Pawling,  in  1816,  and  on  finishing  his  course 
in  the  schools  there  he  became  a  collier,  which 
occupation  he  followed  some  forty  years;  he 
is  now  engaged  in  farming.  He  and  his  wife 
have  had  four  children:  Ransom  married  Ma- 
rinda  Beers;  Amelia  is  the  wife  of  George 
Squires;  Solomon  married  Alice  Wilco.x;  and 
Coleman  married  (first)  Elizabeth  Sprague, 
and  (second)  Ida  Ett. 

Daniel  T.  Woodin,  the  son  of  Daniel 
Woodin'-,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Pawling, 
in  18 1 2,  and  was  reared  at  the  old  farm,  at- 
tending school  in  the  neighborhood.  He  learned 
the  cooper's  trade,  and  followed  it  for  some 
years,  and  later  engaging  in  farming.  Having 
an  active  mind  with  a  legal  bent,  he  also  prac- 
ticed law  for  some  time.  His  wife,  Mrs.  Mary 
J.  (Clump)  Woodin,  is  a  lady  of  unusual  men- 
tal force  and  abilit}',  and  the  descendant  of  one 
of  the  old  families  of  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie. 
They  have  had  four  children:  (i)  Isabelle  was 
born  and  educated  in  the  town  of  Pawling, 
and  is  now  the  wife  of  Prof.  Edward  T.  Pierce, 
principal  of  the  State  Normal  School  at  Los 
Angeles,  Cal.;  they  have  had  three  children — 
Ethel  Elbora;  Harold,  who  died  in  infancy; 
and  Hilda  Bell,  who  died  when  two  j'ears  old. 
(2)  Daniel  W.  Woodin,  Jr.,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Pawling,  and,  since  he  completed  his 
studies  in  the  schools  there,  has  been  engaged 
in  farming.  (3)  Arvine  was  born  at  the  old 
homestead,  in  1855,  and  like  the  others  ob- 
tained her  education  in  the  local  schools. 
(4)  Gertrude  B.  died  at  an  early  age. 

Mrs.  Woodin's  maternal  grandfather,  Sam- 
uel Lucky,  was  born  and  reared  in  Poughkeep- 
sie, and  in  manhood  became  a  successful 
farmer.  By  his  first  wife,  Miss  Rebecca  Wil- 
sey,  he  had  six  children:  Samuel,  Thomas, 
James,  Robert,  John,  and  Jane,  Mrs.  Woodin's 
mother,  who  was  a  native  of  the  town  of 
Poughkeepsie,  and  was  reared  at  the  old  home 
there.  She  married  Cornelius  Clump,  and 
had  eight  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Woodin  is 


the  youngest.  Rebecca  married  James  Mar- 
tin; Gertrude  married  (first)  Charles  Hoffman 
and  (second)  James  Benson;  John  L.  marrier 
Celia  A.  Tompkins;  Sam  married  Eliza  Phil 
lips;  Peter  died  in  infancy;  Almira  is  the  wife 
of  Walter  Shader;  and  Joanna  married  George 
De  La  Vergne. 


FRANK  B.  LOWN  was  born  at  the  village 
of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  or 
the  first  day  of  January,  1849.  He  is  the  soi 
of  David  and  Jane  M.  Lown,  and  with  his  par 
ents  removed  to  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie  ii 
1857,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

Mr.  Lown  was  educated  in  the  publii 
schools  of  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  ii 
1 87 1  entered  the  law  office  of  Nelson  &  Bake 
as  a  law  student.  After  being  admitted  tothi 
bar,  he  became  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  Thomp 
son  &  Weeks,  then  the  oldest  firm  of  practi 
tioners  in  the  county.  In  1878,  the  firm  o: 
Thompson,  Weeks  &  Lown  was  formed,  ani 
upon  the  death  of  James  H.  Weeks  in  1887 
and  of  John  Thompson  in  1891,  Mr.  Lown  be 
came  the  sole  survivor.  He  is  still  engaged  ii 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  the  city  0 
Poughkeepsie. 


LEWIS  B.    BARTON,    proprietor   of   tb: 
"  Amenia  House, "  at    Amenia,   Dutches  I 
county,    comes  of  a  well-known  and  honora 
ble  family  that  has  long  been   connected  wit! 
the  professional  and   business  interests  of  thi 
county.     Dr.  Lewis  Barton,   his  great-grand' 
father,  was  one  of  the  early  residents  and  siici 
cessful  practitioners  of  the  town  of  Stanford ; 
where  he  served  as  assessor  in  1793,  that  bein; 
the  first  town  meeting  held  in  the  town  of  Stan 
ford   in   the   house   of  Ephraim    Paine.     Th  ] 
farm  owned  by  him  in  that  township  is  still  ii[ 
the    possession    of    the    family.      He  died  ii 
18 1 3,  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine  years. 

Dr.  Leonard  Barton,  the  grandfather,  wa, 
born  there  in    1769,  and  he  also  devoted  hi  | 
life  to  the  practice  of  medicine  in  the  town  cl 
Stanford,  where  he  owned   a  large  farm,  an^ 
was  a  prominent  and  influential  citizen,  hold 
ing  several  important  offices.     As  early  as  179 
he  served  as  town  clerk,  and   was  superviso 
of  his  township  in  18 18,  1819,  1820,  1829  an, 
1830.     His  political  support  was  given  the  Del 
mocracy,  and  socially   he  affiliated    with  thj 
Masonic   fraternity.      He  was  twice  married | 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


598 


his  first  wife  being  Miss  Thompson,  and  to 
them  was  born  a  son,  John.  After  her  death 
he  wedded  Rachel  Gale,  and  they  had  ten 
children:  George;  James;  Eliachim;  Edward 
P.,  of  New  Milford,  Conn.;  Josiah  L. ;  Julia, 
iwho  married  Morgan  Hunting;  Rachel,  who 
imarried  Stephen  Sackett;  Nancy,  who  mar- 
Iried  John  Davis;  Nelson,  who  died  in  1852; 
and  Sarah,  who  married  Anthony  Hoffman. 
.\11  are  now  deceased  with  the  exception  of 
Edward  P. ;  Dr.  Leonard  Barton  deceased  in 
1 84 1,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years. 

Josiah  L.  Barton,  the   father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  August  i,  18 16,  in  the  town  of 
Stanford,  and  acquired  an  excellent  education 
it  the  Nine  Partners  Boarding  School,  in  Wash- 
ngton  township,  Dutchess  county,  after  which 
le  began    the    study    of  medicine,    but   later 
;ave  it  up.      In  1844  he  married  Miss  Annor 
£liza   Briggs,   who   was  born   in  the  town  of 
'linton,  Dutchess  county,  March  29,  1822,  a 
laughter  of  Enoch  Briggs.     They  became  the 
•arents  of  three   children,  of  whom  our  sub- 
act  is  the  eldest;  (2)  Arzelia  is  the  wife  of 
|)ryant  Strever,    of  Ancram,  N.  Y. ,  by  whom 
he  has  one  son,  Henry;  (3)  Julius  L. ,  of  Mil- 
;rton,    Dutchess  county,  married   Annie  Pul- 
er,    and   they   had   two  children,  Ethel  (de- 
jased)    and    Harry.     After  his   marriage  the 
ither  removed  to  Ancram    Lead  Mines,  Co- 
imbia  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ig  from  1844  until  1849,  and  then  removed  to 
»e  village  of  Ancram  Lead  Mines.     There  he 
inducted  a  hotel  until  the  spring  of  1854,  when 
2   came  to  Pulvers  Corners  in  the  town   of 
ine  Plains,  Dutchess  county,  and  carried  on 
le  same  business  for  a  year.      In  the  spring 
1855  he  removed  to   Dover   Plains,  where 
;  ran   the    "Stone   Church   Hotel  "  for   the 
me  length   of  time.     Going  to   Ancram   he 
ed  there  until    1863,    when  he   returned  to 
icram  Lead  Mines,  where  his  death  occurred 
1866,  and  as  he  was  a  member  of  Warren 
jdge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  he  was  buried  with  Ma- 
:nic  honors.      He  was  also  connected   with 
'e  I.  O.  O.  F.  at  Pine  Plains.      He  died  Feb- 
ary  20,  1866,  at  the  age  of  forty-nine  years, 
months  and  twenty  days,  and  at  the  time 
I  was  serving  as  collector  at  Ancram. 
Lewis   Briggs   Barton,  whose  name  intro- 
ces  this  sketch,  was  born   in   the  town  of 
■  icram,  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.,  August  5,  1846, 
id  during  his  early  years  accompanied  his 
f;nts  on  their  various  removals,  attending 
ool  at  Ancram  Lead   Mines,   Pulvers    Cor- 


ners and  Dover  Plains.  On  leaving  the  par- 
ental roof  he  went  to  Lithgow,  in  the  town  of 
Washington,  where  he  carried  on  farming  un- 
til 1 87 1.  On  November  15  of  that  year  he 
was  there  married  to  Miss  Mary  Anna  Tomp- 
kins, daughter  of  Enoch  Tompkins.  He  then 
engaged  at  Lithgow  in  the  butchering  business 
with  Cyrus  Hammond  for  two  years,  after 
which  he  followed  the  same  line  of  trade  at 
Wassaic,  N.  Y.  From  1873  until  1876  he 
conducted  the  "Wassaic  House."  In  the 
spring  of  1880  he  removed  to  Amenia,  where 
he  has  since  had  charge  of  the  "Amenia 
House,"  which  was  opened  forguests  in  1852. 
It  is  conveniently  arranged  and  well  furnished, 
and  in  all  its  appointments,  under  its  present 
excellent  management,  a  first-class  hotel,  and 
is  well  patronized.  Mr.  Barton  holds  mem- 
bership with  the  Hotel  Men's  Mutual  Benefit 
Association,  also  the  New  York  State  Hotel 
Association,  and  since  1868  has  been  connect- 
ed with  the  Masonic  order,  joining  Sheko- 
meko  Lodge  No.  458,  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Mab- 
bettsville,  now  located  at  Washington  Hollow, 
Dutchess  county.  He  makes  a  genial,  popu- 
lar host,  and  as  a  private  citizen  stands  de- 
servedly high  in  the  estimation  of  his  fellow- 
men. 


CORNELIUS  WINNE  GRIFFEN,  the 
_ '  well-known  member  of  the  firm  of  Griffen 
Brothers,  proprietors  of  the  Union  Mills  at 
Leedsville,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  in  New 
York  City,  March  11,  1856.  He  belongs  to 
an  old  and  prominent  family  of  Dutchess 
county,  his  grandfather,  Bartholomew  Griffen, 
who  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  having  been  a 
resident  of  Unionvale.  He  married  Sarah 
Filkins,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children, 
namely:  Bartholomew  (deceased);  George; 
Cornelius  (deceased);  Alonzo;  Mary;  Carolme 
(deceased);  Jane  Ann;  and  Timothy  S.,  the 
father  of  our  subject.    • 

The  birth  of  the  last  named  occurred  in  the 
town  of  Unionvale,  Dutchess  county,  July  19, 
181 1,  and  until  thirteen  years  of  age  he  there 
spent  his  boyhood.  He  then  entered  the  old 
Red  Mill,  near  Pawling,  where  he  learned  the 
milling  business,  which  he  subsequently  fol- 
lowed at  Verbank,  Dutchess  county.  At  that 
place  he  wedded  Mary  LeRoy,  daughter  of 
John  LeRoy,  and  to  them  were  born  three 
children:  Charles  E.,  of  Wassaic,  Dutchess 
county;  Catherine  M.,  of  New  York  City;  and 


594 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Frances,  of  Colorado.  About  1837  Timothy 
S.  Griffen  removed  to  South  Amenia,  where 
he  conducted  a  mill  for  about  three  years, 
after  which  he  returned  to  Verbank  for  a  short 
time,  and  in  1842  moved  to  Leedsville,  here 
running  a  mill  on  shares  for  nine  years.  In 
185 1  he  went  to  New  York  City,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  grocery  and  meat-market  busi- 
ness until  March,  1857,  when  he  removed  to 
Salisbury,  Conn.,  there  operating  the  Long 
Pond  mills  until  1861,  in  the  spring  of  which 
year  he  returned  to  South  Amenia.  He  then 
conducted  the  Weebotuck  mills  until  the 
spring  of  1877,  when  he  again  brought  his 
family  to  Leedsville,  where  his  death  occurred 
June  10,  1885.  He  was  strictly  a  self-made 
man,  honest  and  industrious,  and  in  politics  a 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  while  so- 
cially he  belonged  to  the  L  O.  O.  F.  at  Sharon, 
Conn.,  and  religiously  was  a  member  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  at  Amenia  Union. 

For  his  second  wife,  Timothy  S.  Griffen 
married  Miss  Helen  Beach,  by  whom  he  had 
two  children:  John  and  Helen.  At  Schodack, 
State  of  New  York,  he  was  subsequently  united 
in  marriage  with  Lydia  Ann  Winne,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  eight  children:  William 
A.  (deceased);  George  A.,  of  Leedsville;  Frank 
P.,  of  Chicago,  111.;  Cornelius  Winne,  of  this 
sketch;  Mary  A.,  wife  of  Charles  E.  Still,  of 
Wassaic,  Dutchess  county;  Alonzo  D.  (de- 
ceased); Peter  A.,  of  Leedsville;  and  Ida  S. 

In  1877  our  subject  began  the  milling  busi- 
ness at  Leedsville,  and  two  years  later  took 
his  brother,  George  A.,  as  a  partner.  In 
March,  1886,  they  purchased  the  mill  property 
which  they  still  own,  and  in  the  fall  of  1887 
admitted  their  younger  brother,  Peter  A.,  as  a 
member  of  the  firm,  which  then  assumed  the 
firm  style  of  Griffen  Brothers.  They  are  man- 
ufacturers of  and  dealers  in  flour,  feed,  grain, 
etc.,  and  also  buy  and  sell  hams,  shoulders, 
pork,  lard  and  butter.  In  connection  with 
their  other  business  theyin  1893  established  a 
grocery  store,  which  they  have  since  success- 
fully conducted.  They  are  wide-awake,  ener- 
getic business  men,  and  success  has  come  to. 
them  as  a  just  reward  for  their  labor. 

At  Amenia,  December  23,  1886,  Cornelius 
W.  Griffen  was  married  to  Miss  Georgiana 
Palmer,  daughter  of  Hiram  Palmer,  and  four 
children  have  blessed  their  union:  Clarence 
P.,  Harry  Stephen,  Elsie  Alide  and  Joel  C. 
The  cause  of  education  has  ever  found  in  Mr. 
Griffen  an  earnest  advocate  and  supporter;  for 


four  successive  terms  he  has  been  the  efficient 
trustee  of  his  school  district,  and  is  now  (1897) 
serving  his  fifth  term.  His  life  is  a  living  iU 
lustration  of  what  ability,  energy  and  force  of 
character  can  accomplish,  and  while  promot- 
ing his  own  interests  he  has  materially  ad- 
vanced the  welfare  of  the  community. 


BANIEL  VAN  DE  BOGART,  a  prominent 
'  resident  of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess  county, 

and  one  of  the  leading  contractors  and  builders 
of  that  region,  is  a  descendant  of  one  of  our 
most  distinguished  pioneer  families. 

The  great-great-grandfather  of  our  subject 
was  Myndert  Van  De  Bogart,  who  in  1702, 
with  his  brother,  Jacobus,  emigrated  from 
Amsterdam,  Holland,  and  settled  on  the  site  of 
Poughkeepsie.  They  acquired  a  large  tract  of 
land  and  built  one  of  the  first  eleven  houses  in 
that  city.  Jacobus  Van  De  Bogart  was  one  of 
the  first  sheriffs  of  Dutchess  county,  in  1726. 
The  two  brothers,  Jacobus  and  Myndert,  gave 
the  land  and  contributed  liberally  to  the  first 
church  in  the  village,  which  was  to  be  a  Re- 
formed Dutch  meeting-house.  In  171 5  Jaco- 
bus Van  De  Bogart  leased  land  to  the  county 
for  a  court  house  and  jail,  and  in  1734  it  was 
made  a  county  seat.  Myndert  was  in  1744 
married  to  Gretchert  Kipp,  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Engellge  Pells.  Myndert  Van  De  Bogart, 
Jr.,  was  married  in  1765  to  Miss  Hanna  Velie. , 
Peter,  son  of  Myndert  Van  De  Bogart,  was! 
married  in  1807  to  Mary  Maria  Wilcox. 

James  Van  De  Bogart,  our  subject's  father, ' 
was  a  lifelong  resident  of  Poughkeepsie,  re-; 
ceiving  his  education  there,  and  afterward  fol-i 
lowing  the  trade  of  mason.  He  married  Miss' 
Mary  Ann  Windover,  of  the  same  city,  and  had 
seven  children:  James  K.,  who  died  in  in-' 
fancy,  Ellen,  Lydia  Ann,  Daniel,  Eugene, 
James  and  Harriet. 

Daniel    Van    De    Bogart    was    born    De 
cember   25,  1849,  and,  after  avaihng   himsel ; 
of  the  excellent  educational  advantages  offeree ; 
in  the  schools  of  Poughkeepsie,  he  learned  th(| 
mason's  trade   with  William   Sague,  a  pronii 
nent  mason  of  that  city.      For  a  few  years  hi 
worked  as  a  journeyman  and   then  went  int( 
business  for  himself  at  Verbank,  and  met  wit! 
such    success  that  he  looked  about  for  a  wide 
field  for  operations.      In    1873    he   moved  I 
Red  Hook,  and  since  that  time  he  has  erectei 
many  of  the  finest  structures  in  that  and  othe 
towns.     Among  the  most  notable  are  the  tvv 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


595 


\  elegant  residences  at  Summit,  N.  J.,  built  for 
Miss  Donaldson  and  Mrs.  Bronson;  St.  Paul's 
Lutheran  Church  of  Red  Hook;  the  Methodist 
Church  at  Red  Hook,  erected  in  1893;  the 
beautiful  mansion  of  Johnston  Livingston  on 
the  banks  of  the  Hudson  at  Tivoli;  several 
charitable  institutions  built  by  Gen.  John 
Watts  De  Peyster;  the  De  Peyster  Memorial 
Church  at  Tivoli,  erected  in  1892;  the  St. 
Paul's  Training  School;  the  Hospital  for  Con- 
sumptives at  Verbank,  in  1894-95;  and  the 
anne.x  to  the  Leak  &  Watts  Orphan  House  at 
Yonkers,  N.  Y. ,  1896.  These  and  other  sub- 
stantial and  artistic  buildings  will  stand  for 
ages  to  come  as  a  monument  to  his  skill  and 
ability. 

On  September  3,  1873,  Mr.  Van  De  Bo- 
gart  was  married  to  Miss  Estella  Pulver,  a 
daughter  of  Louis  Pulver,  a  prosperous  farmer 
of  Red  Hook.  Of  this  union  eight  chil- 
dren were  born:  Allard  A.  March  i,  1875; 
Mary,  April  28,  1877;  Edna,  October  30, 
1879;  Dajiiel,  March  19,  1882;  Ernest, 
July  17,  1884;  Lucinda,  May  9,  1887; 
Ralph,  November  7,  1889;  and  Maynard  J., 
April  17,  1892.  In  all  local  movements  our 
subject  takes  an  influential  part  on  the  side  of 
progress,  and  he  has  found  time  to  fill  credit- 
ably several  official  positions,  having  been  col- 
lector of  the  town  of  Red  Hook,  and  one  of 
the  trustees  of  the  village,  when  it  was  incor- 
porated in  1894.  In  1893  he  received  the 
nomination  for  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Red 
Hook.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O. 
F.,  for  many  years  but  is  not  at  present  active 
in  the  order. 


"fe 


EORGE  C.  SMITH,  superintendent  of 
»y  one  of  the  most  important  departments 
n  the  e.xtensive  works  of  the  New  York  Rub- 
ber Company,  and  a  prominent  resident  of 
-ishkill-on-Hudson,  was  born  January  8,  1840, 
It  Shrub  Oak,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.,  of 
English  descent. 

Leonard  Smith,  his  father,  son  of  Jacob 
Jinith,  and  a  well-to-do  farmer  of  Westchester 
:Ounty,  was  born  in  1806,  and  married  Mary 
V.  Carpenter,  who  was  born  April  13,  18 14,  a 
laughter  of  Walter  and  Nancy  (Somerbellj 
-arpenter.  Ten  children  were  born  of  this 
inion,  of  whom  eight  lived  to  adult  age: 
jeorge  C. ,  Ferdinand,  Leonard,  Lewis,  Theo- 
^>re,  William,  Lauretta,  and  Mary  I.  (who 
arried  Charles  E.  Martin,  a  grocer  of  Fish- 


kill-on-Hudson).  The  father  of  these  died 
January  21,  1868;  the  mother  on  March  16, 
1869. 

George  C.  Smith  attended  the  district 
schools  at  Shrub  Oak  in  early  boyhood,  and 
then  pursued  a  wider  course  of  study  in  the 
public  schools  of  Peekskill,  and  the  well-known 
academy  of  the  same  town.  When  he  at- 
tained the  age  of  seventeen  he  left  home  to 
make  his  own  way  in  the  world,  and,  going  to 
Brooklyn,  he  secured  employment  in  a  gro- 
cery and  feed  store,  owned  by  George  &  Alfred 
Wallace.  With  them  he  remained  two  years, 
and  then  came  to  Fishkill  Landing,  where  he  was 
employed  by  William  Teller  &  Co.  until  1861. 
in  whicfr  year  he  entered  the  service  of  the 
New  York  Rubber  Company.  He  began  as  a 
day  hand,  but  so  efficient  and  capable  did  he 
prove  that  he  was  promoted,  from  time  to 
time,  until  he  was  appointed  to  the  responsi- 
ble position  of  superintendent  of  the  hollow- 
goods  department,  which  employs  130  men, 
boys  and  girls,  the  entire  plant  containing  in 
all  about  250  employes.  This  honorable  rec- 
ord of  continuous  service  speaks  more  elo- 
quently of  his  essential  trustworthiness  than 
could  any  words,  and  Mr.  Smith,  who  is  a 
stockholder  of  the  company,  is,  as  may  well 
be  imagined,  a  valued  worker  in  other  business 
enterprises,  being  a  stockholder  and  director 
in  the  Holland  Hotel  Company,  and  for  twenty 
years  past  a  trustee  of  the  Mechanics  Savings 
Bank,  of  Fishkill-on-Hudson.  He  takes  a 
prominent  part  in  local  politics,  also  being  an 
ardent  supporter  of  the  Republican  party.  In 
1875  he  was  elected  trustee  of  the  village,  and 
has  since  held  that  office  almost  continuously. 
In  1895  he  was  elected  president  of  the  vil- 
lage; in  March,  1896,  was  again  chosen  to 
that  office,  and  also  in  1897.  For  a  number 
of  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  21st  Regi- 
ment New  York  State  Militia,  which  was  called 
out  during  the  Civil  war,  and  served  thirty 
days  at  Baltimore.  Socially  he  is  affiliated 
with  Beacon  Lodge  No.  283,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Mr.  Smith  has  a  pleasant  home  overlook- 
ing the  Hudson  river  and  the  city  of  Newburg, 
where  he  owns  two  large  lots  opposite  his  resi- 
dence. His  wife,  whom  he  married  in  August, 
1 86 1,  was  formerly  Miss  Elsie  M.  Bishop, 
daughter  of  Miles  and  Cynthia  (Ives)  Bishop, 
of  Woodbury,  Conn.  Her  ancestors  were 
early  settlers  in  New  England,  and  one  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war;  her  father 
served   in  the    war    of  18 12.       Mr.    and  Mrs. 


596 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQBAPEICAL  RECORD. 


1 


Smith  are  members  of  the  Reformed  Church. 
They  have  one  son,  Walter  A.  Smith,  who  is 
at  home. 


WARREN  S.  DIBBLE,  one  of  the  substan- 
tial  business  men  of  Matteawan,  Dutch- 
ess county,  is  the  proprietor  of  the  popular 
hotel  known  as  the  "Dibble  House,"  aqd  also 
of  the  Dibble  Opera  House,  a  favorite  place 
of  amusement  for  the  best  people  of  that  town. 

His  great-grandfather,  Jonathan  Dibble, 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  army.  His 
grandparents  were  'Seth  and  Diana  (Sherwood) 
Dibble,  and  his  father  was  the  late  Augustus 
N.  Dibble,  a  well-known  farmer  of  Litchfield 
county,  Conn.,  who  was  born  February  20, 
1 8 1 1 .  He  married  Henrietta  Morgan,  and  they 
reared  a  family  of  three  children,  of  whom  our 
subject  is  the  eldest;  Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of 
Robert  Cooley,  of  Albany,  N.  Y. ;  and  Belle 
married  William  Daly,  Waterbury,  Connecti- 
cut. 

Warren  S.  Dibble  wasborn  July  1 1,  1842,  at 
Cornwall,  where  the  schools  afforded  excellent 
educational  advantages,  of  which  Mr.  Dibble 
•availed  himself,  attending  the  public  schools 
for  some  years,  and  later  the  Adelphi  Institute. 
After  his  graduating,  in  1858,  he  taught  for 
several  years  in  different  places,  and  then  went 
"on  the  road"  as  an  auctioneer.  A  few  years 
later  he  engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  first  at 
Cornwall,  Conn.,  and  then  at  Pine  Plains,  N. 
Y. ,  and  in  1877  he  purchased  his  present  hotel 
at  Matteawan,  then  known  as  the  Jaycox 
property.  This  he  has  greatly  improved, 
making  additions  from  time  to  time  until  it  now 
contains  seventy-five  rooms;  and  he  has  also 
built  a  commodious  stable.  In  1886  he  erected 
the  Dibble  Opera  House,  which  he  is  at  present 
managing,  and  is  furnishing  a  high  class  of 
entertainment  to  an  appreciative  public.  He 
has  also  built  several  tenement  houses  which 
he  rents.  Genial  in  manner,  but  possessing 
keen  discrimination  in  financial  matters,  Mr. 
Dibble  holds  the  confidence  of  the  people  in  an 
unusual  degree.  He  is  a  Republican,  politically, 
but  is  not  an  active  worker  in  the  party. 

On  April  11,  1870,  Mr.  Dibble  married 
Miss  Jane  Stoddard,  daughter  of  Jasper  and 
Sophia  (Hubbard)  Stoddard.  She  is  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church.  They  have  one  daughter, 
Daisy  M.,  a  young  lady  of  fine  social  gifts, 
who  attends  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  takes 
an  active  part  in  various  charitable  enterprises. 


JOHN  FLANNERY.  The  "  Flannery 
House  "  at  Fishkill  Landing  is  one  of  the 
finest  and  best  managed  hostelries  in  that 
locality,  and  its  genial  proprietor,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  has  demonstrated  his  business 
sagacity  in  his  liberal  yet  judicious  expendi- 
tures, in  its  building  and  equipment.  When 
he  purchased  the  property,  in  1878,  it  was 
simply  a  marshy  lot  with  an  old  shanty  upon 
it,  but  as  its  location  near  the  dock  made  it 
especially  suitable  for  his  purposes,  he  secured 
it  at  a  cost  of  $10,000,  and  he  has  since  spent 
$25,000  in  the  improvements  which  he  has 
made  from  time  to  time. 

Mr.  Flannery  was  born  March  25,  1849,  in 
Dublin,  Ireland,  but  his  father,  Patrick  Flan- 
nery, a  native  of  the  same  place,  was  for  some 
years  a  farmer  in  County  Tipperary  before 
coming  to  America.  Our  subject's  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Katie  Moore,  was 
also  a  native  of  Dublin,  and  her  death  occurred 
there  in  1854.  Of  their  four  children,  our 
subject  was  the  youngest,  (i)  James  died  at 
the  age  of  four  years;  (2)  Patrick  E. ,  who 
served  as  a  soldier  throughout  the  Civil  war, 
is  now  a  successful  hotel-keeper  at  St.  Paul, 
Minn. ;  and  (3)  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Michael 
Ormand,  a  wealthy  resident  of  Hastings,  Minn. 
The  father,  Patrick  Flannery,  married  a  sec- 
ond wife,  and  for  some  time  after  his  arrival 
in  America  lived  upon  a  farm  at  Goshen,  N. 
Y.  He  is  now  living  in  retirement,  having 
sold  the  place  to  our  subject.  In  religion  he 
is  a  devout  Catholic,  and  he  has  been  an  ad- 
herent of  the  Democratic  party  ever  since  he 
came  to  this  country. 

As  John  Flannery  was  but  a  child  when  he 
made  the  trip  across  the  Atlantic,  his  boyhood 
was   mainly   spent   at   Goshen,    where   he  re-  i 
ceived  his  elementary  education.      He  also  at-  ' 
tended  school  at  Campbell  Hall.  Orange  coun-  > 
ty,  and  in  Poughkeepsie.      His  first  venture  in  , 
the  business  world  was  at  Goshen,  where,  when  ^ 
a  mere  boy,  he  conducted  a  hotel,  and  in  seven  ' 
months  made  $  1 2,000,  a  remarkable  beginning. 
He  continued   in   the   hotel   business  for  two  | 
years,    and   then  spent   one  year  in  rest  and 
recreation,  after  which  he  went  to  Poughkeep- 
sie,   as    mentioned,    and    studied    for  a  year. 
Resuming  business,   he  conducted  a  hotel  at 
Newburg  for  three  years,  and  then  bought  one 
in    the   country,  in  Orange  county,  which  he 
sold   after  two  years,    returning  to  Newburg 
and    continuing   in    business    there   for   three 
years.      In  1876  he   moved  to  Fishkill  Land- 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


597 


ing.  leasing;  the  old  "  Myer's  Hotel,"  near  the 
depot,  where  he  remained  until  he  established 
his  present  place.  Since  taking  up  that  enter- 
prise he  has  purchased  a  wholesale  liquor  busi- 
ness in  Newburg,  and  he  is  also  interested  in 
thoroughbred  horses,  having  owned  many  val- 
uable trotters.  He  is  highly,  respected,  and 
has  always  been  noted  for  his  liberality  in  po- 
litical, educational  or  philanthropical  move- 
ments which  appeal  to  his  judgment,  and  es- 
pecially to  the  Catholic  Church,  of  which  he 
is  a  member.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat, 
and  his  influence  in  the  organization  is  widely 
recognized. 

In  1867  Mr.  Flannery  married  his  first 
wife,  Miss  Mary  Groody,  of  Binghamton,  N. 
Y.,  a  daughter  of  John  Groody,  a  well-known 
brewer  of  ale.  Three  children  were  born  of 
this  union:  John,  Jr. ,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
eighteen;  William,  who  died  at  twenty-four; 
and  Katie,  the  wife  of  Daniel  Glinn,  of  New- 
burg. Mrs.  Mary  Planner)'  died  at  Fishkill 
Landing,  in  1892,  and  on  October  17,  1894, 
our  subject  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  J. 
Faulkner,  an  Episcopalian,  the  ceremony  being 
performed  in  the  Catholic  Church,  by  Father 
T.  F.  Kelly.  One  son,  John  G.,  brightens 
their  home. 

Mrs.  Flannery  is  a  native  of  Newburg,  where 
she  was  born  May   i,  1870.      Her  family  orig- 
inated in  England,  but  her  great-grandfather, 
who  was  a  major  in  the  English  army,  settled 
in  the  North   of    Irelaad,    in  County   Antrim, 
where  her  grandfather,  Richard  Faulkner,  was 
bom,  and  is   still  living  at   an  advanced  age, 
having  passed  his  life    there  as    an  extensive 
,agriculturist.      He  is  a  strict  Episcopalian,  and 
]a  generous    contributor  to    various  charities. 
He   married     Margaret    Ewing,    who   was    of 
Irish  descent,  and  had  the  following  children 
ijohn  and   Jane,  twins,  who  died    in    infancy 
[Richard  fij    deceased;  John  H. ;    James    (i) 
Mary,  wife  of  James  Weir,  of  Ireland;  George, 
1  well-to-do  farmer  there;  Robert  H.,  a  police 
:aptain   at  Derry,  Ireland;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
ijatnes  Walters,  of  Ireland;  William,  a  success- 
ul  farmer  at    the    old    homestead;  Margaret, 
leceased,  formerly  the  wife   of  John  Nesbitt, 
principal  of  a  school  at  Randallstown;  Richard 
2),  and  James  (2j. 

John  H.  Faulkner  was  reared  in  the  old 
:ountry,  attending  school  at  Seymour  Bridge, 
ind  in  early  manhood  engaged  in  the  grocery 
'usiness  at  Belfast.  On  June  25,  1867,  he 
jVedded    Miss  Agnes    Colville,  who   was    born 


August  5,  1844,  at  Ballymena,  County  Antrim, 
Ireland,  daughter  of  Hugh  Colville,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Alexander  Colville.  Her  mother, 
Jane  (Gordon),  was  also  born  there,  and  both 
families  were  among  the  old  residents  of  the 
town.  Mr.  Faulkner  continued  in  business  in 
Belfast  about  three  years  after  his  marriage, 
and  in  1870  he  and  his  wife  came  to  Newburg, 
where  he  became  a  salesman  in  a  wholesale 
liquor  store.  It  was  not  long  before  he  had 
acquired  a  sufficient  acquaintance  with  his 
new  surroundings  to  warrant  him  in  opening  a 
similar  estajalishment  on  his  own  account,  and 
he  has  ever  since  been  engaged  in  the  business. 
In  1 880  he  removed  to  Matteawan,  but  later  he 
transferred  his  interests  to  Fishkill  Landing, 
where  he  has  remained.  Eleven  children  were 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Faulkner,  as  follows: 
Agnes  and  Jennie,  who  died  in  infancy;  Robert 
C. ,  who  graduated  from  the  School  of  Phar- 
macy in  New  York  City,  and  is  now  a  druggist 
at  Cornwall,  N.  Y. ;  Margaret  J.  (Mrs.  Flan- 
nery); Martha,  a  graduate  of  De  Garmo  Insti- 
tute, who  is  at  home;  Richard,  a  publisher  in 
New  York  City,  and  a  member  of  the  Seventy- 
first  regiment,  N.  Y.  N.  G. ;  Esther,  who  died 
in  infancy;  John  G.  and  Esther  (2),  who  are 
at  home;  Agnes,  deceased,  and  another  child 
who  died  in  infancj'. 


FRANCIS  TIMONEY,  a  wealthy  brick  man- 
ufacturer  of  Dutchess  Junction,  Dutchess 

county,  is  one  of  those  business  men  whose  in- 
dustry and  enterprise  seem  limitless,  their  ac- 
tivity in  varied  lines  of  work  appearing  to  be 
an  easy  and  natural  exercise  of  their  inborn 
capacity  for  organization. 

Mr.  Timoney  was  born  August  4,  1829,  in 
County  Fermanagh,  Ireland,  and  is  the  third 
of  his  name.  His  grandfather,  Francis  Tim- 
oney (i),  married  Winifred  Gallagher,  and 
their  son,  Francis  Timoney  (2)  (our  subject's 
father),  married  Abbie  Duffy,  by  whom  he  had 
eight  children:  Dennis,  Patrick,  James, 
Francis,  John,  Winifred,  Mary  and  Bridget. 
The  common  schools  of  his  native  land  did 
not  afford  Mr.  Timoney  the  advantages  that 
he  needed,  and  he  was  partly  educated  by  pri- 
vate tutors.  At  the  age  of  twenty-three  he 
came  to  America,  and  located  at  Verplanck's 
Point,  Westchester  county,  where  he  found 
employment  in  the  brick  yard  of  S.  M.  Dyke- 
man.  After  three  years  he  was  put  in  charge 
of  the  yard  as  foreman,  and  held  that  position 


598 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


I 


for  two  years,  when  he  began  to  work  on 
shares,  Mr.  Dykeman  furnishing  the  plant, 
horses,  carts,  and  implements,  and  Mr.  Tim- 
oney  supplying  the  labor  and  feeding  the 
horses.  This  arrangement  lasted  two  years, 
and  then  Mr.  Timoney  purchased  a  half  inter- 
est in  the  business,  and  four  years  later  he 
bought  the  other  half  and  continued  the  busi- 
ness alone  until  1886,  when  he  purchased  his 
present  property  at  Dutchess  Junction  at  a 
cost  of  $42,000.  There  was  at  the  time  one 
yard  in  working  order,  and  he  has  since  fitted 
up  two  others,  e.xpending  from  $50,000  to 
$75,000  upon  his  improvements.  He  now  has 
three  yards  which  he  would  not  hesitate  to 
compare  with  any  on  the  Hudson.  He  can 
turn  out  a  quarter  of  a  million  brick  per  day, 
and  his  daily  expenditure  for  labor  alone  is 
from  $300  to  $500.  He  owns  two  barges 
which  he  uses  to  convey  his  brick  to  market, 
most  of  which  is  disposed  of  in  New  York  City. 
For  twenty  years  past  he  has  been  a  promi- 
nent member  of  the  Brick  Exchange  in  that 
city,  and  his  thirty-seven  years  of  continuous 
work  in  brick  manufacture  has  made  him  au- 
thority on  all  points  relating  to  the  business. 
But  his  success  in  this  line  of  effort  has  not 
prevented  him  from  engaging  in  others,  and 
while  at  Verplanck's  Point  he  carried  on  a  gro- 
cery and  dry-goods  store  for  over  eighteen 
years,  the  butcher  business  for  two  years,  and 
the  coal  business  for  four  years.  Since  com- 
ing to  Dutchess  Junction  he  has  devoted  his 
attention  to  his  main  line  of  business,  but  he 
takes  an  active  interest  in  the  Matteawan  Na- 
tional Bank,  in  which  he  is  a  stockholder  and 
director. 

In  politics  Mr.  Timoney  is  a  Democrat,  and 
while  living  at  Verplanck's  Point  he  was  for 
two  years  a  member  of  the  board  of  auditors 
of  Cortland  township;  but  his  business  interests 
have  prevented  him  from  taking  a  very  active 
part  in  political  affairs. 

On  July  6,  1855,  he  married  Miss  Margaret 
Reed,  daughter  of  John  and  Margaret  (McKil- 
lup)  Reed,  and  they  have  had  eleven  children, 
four  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Their  eldest 
child,  Mary  Ann,  is  the  wife  of  John  C.  Mc- 
Namara,  a  commission  merchant  of  New  York 
City,  formerly  a  resident  of  Fulton,  N.  Y. ,  but 
now  living  at  Fishkill  Landing.  Francis  A., 
one  of  the  leading  young  business  men  of 
Dutchess  Junction,  is  a  brick  manufacturer, 
merchant,  and  at  present  the  postmaster  there, 
having  been  appointed  in  January,  1894.      He 


married  Miss  Margaret  Grady,  of  Fishkill 
Landing.  Five  younger  children — Theresa, 
Susie,  John,  James  and  Clara — are  still  at 
home.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church. 


OBERT  P.  LAWSON,  a  wealthy  fisher- 
man and  real-estate  holder  of  New  Ham- 
burg, Dutchess  county,  was  born  in  that  village 
about  seventy  years  ago.  His  ancestors  came 
originally  from  Holland,  and  the  family  is  one 
of  the  oldest  in  the  county. 

Cornelius  Lawson,  our  subject's  grand- 
father, was  born  in  Dutchess  county,  and  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  of  farming  all  his  life. 
He  reared  a  large  family  of  children,  among 
whom  was  Cornelius  Lawson  (2),  our  subject's 
father,  who  passed  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
in  the  village  of  New  Hamburg,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  occupation  of  lime  burning.  He 
married  Miss  Amy  Lawson,  a  native  of  that 
village,  and  reared  a  family  of  five  children,  of 
whom  our  subject  (the  third  son)  is  now  the 
only  survivor.  Jeremiah  and  Cornelius  were 
boatmen  on  the  Hudson;  John  was  a  farmer  of 
Dutchess  county;  and  Ann,  the  youngest  child, 
married  Moses  Sensabal,  now  deceased.  The  i 
parents  passed  away  many  years  ago.  ' 

Robert  P.  Lawson  has  spent  his  entire  life 
at  New  Hamburg,  and  has  secured  a  fine  com- 
petence, being  the  owner  of  a  valuable  property 
in  the  village,  and  his  industry  and  thrift  have 
won  for  him  the  high  esteem  of  his  associates. 
In  1855  he  married  Miss  Ann  Orbson,  a  native 
of  Ulster  county,  who  died  in  1893,  leaving  no 
children.      In  politics  Mr.  Lawson  is  a  Demo- 1 
crat,  as  was  his  father  before  him,  and  he  hasi 
never  wavered  in  his  devotion  to  the  principles, 
of  his  party. 


71  LONZO  S.  WILTSE.  a  well-known  citi-' 
.T^  zen  of  Fishkill-on-Hudson,  Dutchess 
county,  proprietor  of  a  grocery  located  on  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Ferry  streets  and  South 
avenue,  is  descended  on  both  sides  of  the 
family  from  old  Holland-Dutch  ancestry.  1 

His  father,  the  late  Benjamin  Wiltse,  wasj 
born  May  4,  1799,  and  became  a  farmer  in 
the  town  of  Fishkill.  He  married  Margaret 
Ann  Tidd,  who  was  born  December  22,  1801, 
and  had  eight  children:  Jane,  Annis,  Oath-; 
erine,  Margaret,  Peter,  Charles,  Cyrus  and 
Alonzo  S.      Of  this    family,  our   subject  and 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


599 


three  daughters  are  the  only  survivors.  The 
father  died  January  i,  1881,  and  the  mother 
on  January  9,  1868. 

Alonzo  S.  Wiltse  was  born  at  the  old 
homestead  in  the  town  of  FishkilJ,  April  24, 
1840,  and  was  educated  in  the  district  schools 
of  the  neighborhood,  his  attendance,  after  he 
reached  the  age  of  twelve,  being  limited  to  the 
winter  terms  as  his  help  was  needed  in  sum- 
mer in  the  work  on  the  farm.  At  nineteen  he 
began  his  business  career  at  Fishkill-on- 
Hudson  as  a  clerk  for  S.  G.  &  J.  T.  Smith, 
dealers  in  dry  goods  and  groceries,  with  whom 
he  spent  six  years.  He  then  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Newburg,  Dutchess  and  Connecti- 
cut R.  R.  Co.,  taking  charge  of  the  buildings 
and  bridges  along  the  entire  line.  This  po- 
sition he  held  until  1880,  when  he  received 
the  appointment  to  the  post  of  engineer  at 
Sing  Sing  Prison,  which  he  held  eight  years. 
In  1888  he  resigned  and  returned  to  Fishkill- 
on-Hudson,  where  he  established  his  pres- 
ent business,  in  which  he  has  met  with  well- 
deserved  success. 

Mr.  Wiltse  married  Miss  Mary  E.  Benson, 
a  descendant  of  one  of  the  prominent  families 
lof  Highland,  Ulster  county,  and  the  daughter 
lof  Capt.  John  Benson  and  his  wife.Priscilla  H. 
Benson.  Two  children  were  born  of  this  union: 
Charles  B.,  who  has  been  for  some  time  a 
train  dispatcher  on  the  N.  D.  &  C.  R.  R. , 
and  Carrie  L.,  a  successful  teacher  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Fishkill.  The  family  attend  the 
•Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Fishkill  Land- 
ing. In  politics  Mr.  Wiltse  has  always  been 
a  steadfast  Republican;  socially,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Beacon  Lodge  No.  283,  F.  &  A.  M. 


J  I  BRAHAM  BRETT  was  a  descendant  of 
_  L  one  of  our  oldest  families.      His  pater- 
nal great-grandfather,  George   Brett,  married 
Hannah  Cooper;  their  son,  Francis  G.  Brett, 
iiarried  Margaret  Camel,  and  their  son,  Har- 
■  ey  Brett,  married  Susan  Coleman,  and  had 
•:hree   sons:     Wesley,   Abraham   and    Charles 
Fletcher,     and    one    daughter — Emma — who 
lied  in  her  seventh  year.     Abraham  Brett  was 
3orn    in    Matteawan   February    i,    1843,    and 
iied  April  13,  1893.      He  attended  the  schools 
the  village  and  the  Tarrytown   Institute  for 
me  years,  and  then  entered   Claverack  Col- 
s'e,    Claverack,     Columbia     county.      After 
aduation   he  at  once  began  a  mercantile  ca- 
er,  spending  two  years  as  a  clerk   for  Mr. 


Wells  in  a  general  store  at  Highland  Falls, 
N.  Y. ,  and  then  went  to  Newburgh,  to  enter 
the  employ  of  Isaac  Wood,  at  that  time  a 
prominent  dry-goods  merchant  there.  After 
one  year  he  returned  to  Matteawan,  and 
clerked  for  David  Davis  in  his  general  store, 
which  was  long  known  as  the  "old  Matteawan 
store."  The  building  has  since  been  torn 
down  and  replaced  by  the  Music  Hall  build- 
ing, now  occupied  by  S.  G.  and  J.  T.  Smith 
as  a  dry-goods  store.  After  learning  the  de- 
tails of  mercantile  business,  Mr.  Brett  opened 
an  establishment  of  his  own  August  i,  1865, 
the  first  e.xclusive  dry-goods  store  in  the  town, 
and  about  a  year  later  his  brother,  Charles  F. 
Brett,  was  taken  into  partnership,  under  the 
firm  name  of  A.  &  C.  F.  Brett.  The  first  lo- 
cation was  in  what  was  known  as  the  Mechan- 
ics Hall  building,  and  from  there  they  moved 
to  the  Phillips  building,  and  remained  until 
1876,  when  they  went  to  a  store  which  they 
had  just  completed,  next  to  the  Howland  Li- 
brary building.  Here  the  business  is  still  car- 
ried on,  C.  F.  Brett  conducting  it  since  his 
brother's  death,  and  retaining  the  same  firm 
name.  In  politics  the  late  Abraham  Brett 
was  a  Republican,  and  in  religion  a  Methodist, 
being  an  active  member  of  the  Church.  In 
1863  he  married  Jane,  a  daughter  of  Solomon 
and  Elizabeth  Randall  Tompkins.  They  had 
three  children:  Albert  V.,  Emma  S.  and 
Harvey,  Jr. 


GEORGE  SILVERS,  a  retired  clothing 
merchant  and  hotel  proprietor,  of  Pough- 
keepsie,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  October 
3,  1824,  in  Hanover,  Germany,  where  he  grew 
to  manhood  and  learned  the  tailoring  business. 
Mr.  Sievers  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Louisa  Frese,  who  was  also  born  in  Han- 
over, and  was  a  daughter  of  Henry  Frese. 
They  were  married  in  Hanover  September  19, 
1847,  and  directly  thereafter  came  to  America, 
locatmg  in  Albany,  where  our  subject  followed 
his  trade  for  three  years.  He  and  his  wife 
then  came  to  Poughkeepsie,  and  have  since 
remained  here.  Mr.  Sievers  worked  at  his 
trade  for  a  year,  and  then  went  into  the  cloth- 
ing business,  his  store  being  located  at  No.  282 
Main  street,  where  he  remained  until  1861, 
and  then  started  a  hotel  on  the  corner  of 
Bridge  and  Main  streets,  carrying  on  at  the 
same  time  a  liquor  business,  until  1870,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  retired.     The  follow- 


600 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ing  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sievers:  Susie,  who  became  the  wife  of  Charles 
Achuster,  a  butcher,  and  died  in  1884;  Charles 
died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years;  Louisa  mar- 
ried Dr.  Harper,  of  Cambridge,  who  is  de- 
ceased; Anna  married  Bonocio  B.  Llensa,  and 
they  own  a  plantation  in  Porto  Rico;  Jeraldine 
is  the  wife  of  Dr.  John  P.  Wilson. 

When  President  Lincoln  called  for  volun- 
teers in  1863,  Mr.  Sievers  answered  the  call, 
and  was  appointed  lieutenant  of  Company  G, 
N.  Y.  S.  M.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  and,  with  his  wife,  attends  the  German 
Lutheran  Church.  He  is  a  fine  German  citi- 
zen, one  who  has  helped  to  promote  mat- 
ters of  public  interest  in  Poughkeepsie.  He 
possesses  considerable  real  estate,  and  is  one 
of  the  leading  men  of  the  city. 

Our  subject's  father,  Christian  Sievers,  was 
born  in  England,  learned  the  tailoring  business 
and  followed  it  all  his  life.  He  married  Miss 
Dora  Tilke,  a  native  of  Hanover,  and  the  fol- 
lowing children  were  born  to  them:  Ch'ristian, 
Henry  and  Carl,  tailors  by  trade,  who  died  in 
Germany;  Dora,  who  died  unmarried;  and 
George,  our  subject.  The  father  died  in  1838 
and  the  mother  in  1831.  The  grandfather 
was  a  French  Huguenot,  born  in  France. 


THOMAS  G.   NICHOLS   (deceased),    the 
founder    of    The     Sunday     Courier,    of 

Poughkeepsie,  now  owned  and  edited  by 
Arthur  G.  Tobey,  was  born  in  Boston,  Mass., 
Januarys,  1827.  While  he  was  quite  young 
his  parents  removed  to  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. , 
where  he  attended  the  common  schools,  and 
then  commenced  an  apprenticeship  to  the 
printer's  trade.  Soon  after  his  apprenticeship 
ended  he  opened  a  job-printing  office,  the  first 
one  in  Poughkeepsie.  In  May,  1852,  in  part- 
nership with  John  H.  Bush  (now  also  de- 
ceased), under  the  name  of  Nichols  &  Bush, 
he  started  the  first  daily  paper  published  in 
the  city,  which  was  called  T/ie  City  Press; 
but  in  1858  it  was  sold  to  Albert  S.  Pease,  who 
changed  its  name  to  The  Daily  Press.  Mr. 
Nichols  then  gave  his  attention  to  job  print- 
ing, and  continued  exclusively  in  that  line  un- 
til 1868,  when  with  the  assistance  of  George 
Innis  and  others  he  established  another  daily 
paper  called  The  Mornifig  Neivs,  which  soon 
became  quite  popular.  Receiving  a  favorable 
offer,  however,  from  Hegeman  &  Wilbur,  Mr. 
Nichols   sold  the    paper   to    them,   and  they 


changed  its  name  to  The  Poughkeepsie  News. 
Subsequently  J.  O.  Whitehouse  purchased  the 
paper,  and  for  a  year  or  two  Mr.  Nichols  re- 
mained looking  out  for  a  good  opportunity  to 
enter  anew  the  field  of  journalism.  The  fav- 
orable time  came,  and  December  15,  1872,  he 
commenced  the  publication  of  The  Sunday 
Courier,  the  first  Sunday  paper  issued  between 
New  York  and  Albany.  Many  of  his  friends 
doubted  the  wisdom  of  his  enterprise;  but  it 
prospered,  thanks  to  his  own  indomitable 
perseverance  and  energy,  as  well  as  the  influ- 
ence and  patronage  of  his  many  friends;  and 
when  in  1888,  owing  to  failing  health,  he  con- 
cluded to  sell  his  newspaper,  he  realized  a 
competence  which  enabled  him  to  retire  from 
business,  and  take  his  ease  for  the  remainder 
of  his  daj's.  He  died  August  26,  1895,  at  the 
residence  of  Mr.  Ackerman,  at  Carthage  Land- 
ing, N.  Y. ,  where  for  some  time  previous  he 
had  been  making  his  home,  having  never  mar- 
ried. He  was  peculiarly  fitted  for  the  profes- 
sion which  he  chose  to  adopt,  was  careful, 
painstaking  and  discreet,  his  editorials,  withal, 
showing  marked  ability  and  thought. 


^  RTHUR  G.  TOBEY,  the  %vell-known 
?Ai,  editor  and  sole  proprietor  of  The  Sunday 
Courier,  was  born  May  5,  .1850,  in  the  city  of 
Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  where  he  lived 
until  eight  years  of  age,  and  then  went  with 
his  parents  to  Utica,  N.  Y.,  where  he  attended 
the  public  schools.  Later  he  was  employed 
in  a  drug  store  at  Rome,  N.  Y.,  remaining 
there  for  about  two  years,  and  subsequently 
returning  to  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  learned 
the  printing  business,  with  T.  G.  Nichols,  who 
was  then  conducting  the  Morning  N'ews  with  j 
singular  ability. 

In  1 87 1  Mr.  Nichols  sold  the  News  to  Hege- 
man &  Wilbur,  and  Mr.  Tobey  was  made  fore- 
man and,  subsequently,  local  editor.  Later 
our  subject  went  to  New  York  City  and  en- 
gaged in  the  restaurant  business.  Disposing 
of  his  restaurant  in  December,  1872,  he  in  the  ! 
following  month  returned  to  Poughkeepsie  and 
assumed  the  position  of  manager  and  local 
editor  of  The  Sunday  Courier,  which  was 
established  December  15,  1872.  He  held 
that  position  until  December,  1888,  when  he 
purchased  the  paper,  which  at  that  time  had  a 
circulation  of  5,000.  This  he  has  increased  to 
8, 500.  Mr.  Tobey  has  never  aspired  to  polit- 
ical or  party  honors,  but  has  devoted  his  entire 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPEICAL  RECORD. 


601 


time  and  attention  to  his  business,  and  has 
always  conducted  his  paper  on  a  non-partisan 
basis  and  with  eminent  personal  popularity 
and  pecuniary  success.  Beside  the  sole  owner- 
ship of  T/u-  Courier  and  a  full  modern  plant, 
he  has  constructed  and  resides  in  an  attractive 
[residence  on  one  of  the  most  pleasant  avenues 
I  in  the  city. 

'  In  1875  Mr.  Tobey  was  married  at  High- 
land, Ulster  county,  to  Miss  Florence  Deyo,  a 
daughter  of  the  late  Monroe  Deyo,  and  they 
have  two  children:  Earle  D.  and  Florence  E. 
Our  subject  is  a  member  of  Triune  Lodge, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Poughkeepsie  Council  No.  391, 
R.  A.,  and  of  Hudson  River  Lodge,  A.  O.  U.  W. 

Henry  L.  Tobey,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  in  Poughkeepsie,  and  was  one  of  the 
editors  of  the  Utica  Herald  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  learned  the  printer's  trade  in  the 
iffice  of  The  Eagle,  in  Poughkeepsie,  going 
'rom  there  to  Kingston,  where  he  was  em- 
jloyed  as  a  writer  on  The  Journal.  He  sub- 
;equently  went  to  Utica,  where  he  died  at  the 
ige  of  thirty-five.  He  was  married  in  Pough- 
keepsie to  Miss  Eliza  A.  Seabury,  and  they  had 
he  following  children:  Heman  A.  (deceased); 
'lara  (deceased;;  Arthur  G.,  our  subject;  and 
(ate  E.,  wife  of  George  R.  Mooney,  of  New 
I'ork. 

Heman  Tobey,  the  grandfather  of  Arthur 
j.,  was  born  in  Sharon,  Conn.,  and  was  at 
aaturity  a  merchant  in  Poughkeepsie,  where 
e  married  Miss  Hannah  Bolan. 


'>,EORGE  WARHURST,  the  present  efifi- 
^  cient  superintendent  of  the  engraving  de- 
lartment  of  the  Dutchess  Print  Works,  at 
Vappingers  Falls,  Dutchess  county,  has  now 
eld  that  position  for  si.xteen  years,  and  the 
)ng  period  of  fifty- three  years  connected 
•ith  that  business  plainly  indicates  his  fidelity 
)  duty.  He  has  been  longer  in  the  employ 
f  the  company  than  any  other  man,  and  his 
ustworthiness  and  capability  have  been  fully 
ppreciated  by  those  over  him. 

Mr.  Warhurst  was  born  at  Newtonmore, 
ngland,  April  19,  1824,  and  is  a  son  of 
eorge  and  Mary  (Wood)  Warhurst,  both 
so  natives  of  England,  the  former  born  in 
■99.  and  the  latter  in  1798.  Their  marriage 
as  celebrated  in  England,  and  some  of  their 
lildren  were  born  there,  while  the  births  of 
,ie  others  occurred  after  their  removal  to 
aerica;  they  were  as  follows:     William,  de- 


ceased, was  a  gold-leaf  manufacturer  of  New 
York  City;  Ann  married  William  D.  Snow, 
who  in  early  life  was  a  block  printer,  and  later 
became  a  shoe  merchant  of  Wappingers  Falls, 
but  both  are  now  deceased;  Thomas  (i)  died 
in  infancy;  George,  of  this  review,  is  next  in 
order  of  birth;  Thomas  (2),  for  several  years 
served  as  agent  on  the  road  for  "  Blind  Tom," 
the  musician,  and  others,  but  is  now  living  re- 
tired in  New  York  City;  Betsy,  deceased,  was 
the  wife  of  Mr.  McGinn,  of  Newburgh,  N.  Y. ; 
James  was  a  carpenter  and  shipyard  superin- 
tendent in  Chicago,  but  has  now  laid  aside 
business  cares;  and  Mary  died  in  infancy.  On 
his  emigration  to  the  United  States,  the  father 
located  first  at  Belleville,  N.  J.,  in  1831,  where 
he  worked  at  his  trade  of  blacksmithing  for  a 
short  time,  and  then  came  to  Wappingers 
Falls,  where  he  followed  the  same  occupation. 
His  death  occurred  in  New  York  City,  and  his 
wife,  who  survived  him,  has  also  departed  this 
life.  The  family  were  earnest  and  faithful 
members  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 

When  seven  years  of  age  George  Warhurst 
was  brought  by  his  parents  to  the  New  World, 
and  at  Wappingers  Falls  grew  to  manhood. 
During  his  youth  he  learned  machine-engraving 
—  to  calico  printing  —  and  has  followed  that 
business  continuously  since,  being  connected 
with  the  Dutchess  Print  Works  for  over  half  a 
century,  as  previously  stated. 

In  1845  Mr.  Warhurst  was  joined  in  wed- 
lock with  Mary  Turner,  who  was  born  near 
Leeds,  England,  and  is  a  daughter  of  William 
and  Mary  (Wood)  Turner.  After  coming  to 
America  her  father  followed  the  leather  busi- 
ness for  a  time,  both  in  New  York  City  and 
Wappingers  Falls,  but  his  last  days  were  spent 
upon  a  farm  in  Wisconsin.  To  our  subject 
and  his  estimable  wife  have  been  born  the  fol- 
lowing children:  William,  who  died  in  Wis- 
consin; Mary,  wife  of  Dan  Ives,  of  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y. ;  Rowena.  wife  of  Dr.  William  Baxter, 
of  Wappingers  Falls;  Esther,  wife  of  William 
J.  Brown;  Lizzie,  wife  of  Dr.  L.  C.  Wood, 
also  of  Wappingers  Falls;  George  and  Joseph, 
both  machine-engravers  of  the  same  place; 
Martha,  who  died  in  infancy;  Violetta,  wife  of 
James  Hunter,  of  Wappingers  Falls;  Edith, 
wife  of  M.  J.  Van  Aden,  a  merchant  of  New 
Hamburg,  Dutchess  county;  Martha;  Frank,  a 
die  maker,  who  is  living  at  home;  and  Louisa, 
wife  of  Richard  A.  Pott,  a  publisher  of  New 
York  City. 

As    neighbors,    friends    and    citizens,    Mr. 


602 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Warhurst  and  his  wife  are  held  in  the  high- 
est regard.  Both  are  members  of  the  Episco- 
pal Church,  in  which  he  is  at  present  a  vestry- 
man. They  are  passing  quietly  down  the 
sunset  hill  of  life,  enjoying  the  esteem  and 
confidence  of  their  neighbors,  and  the  affection 
of  their  children  and  friends.  In  politics  Mr. 
Warhurst  has  been  a  life-long  Republican,  has 
served  as  trustee  of  the  schools  of  Wappingers 
Falls,  and  for  two  terms  was  trustee  of  the 
village.  He  is  a  trustee  of  the  Grinnell  Li- 
brary Association,  and  is  at  present  trustee  of 
the  Wappinger  Savings  Bank.  For  forty  years 
he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  with  the  Masonic 
lodge.  No.  671,  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  which  he  has 
served  as  master,  he  has  been  connected  for 
many  years. 


K 


SAHEL  DENMAN  LYON  was  born 
^  August  12,  1838,  in  the  town  of  Hyde 
Park,  Dutchess  county,  a  son  of  Clinton  and 
Jane  (Denman)  Lyon.  His  father  was  the 
son  of  Aaron  Lyon,  a  surveyor  by  profession, 
who  married  a  Miss  Nelson,  an  ancestor  of  the 
Nelsons  of  Poughkeepsie.  The  Lyon  family 
came  from  England. 

Clinton  Lyon,  our  subject's  father,  was  a 
machinist  and  a  fine  workman.  He  was  a  man 
of  great  natural  ability,  and  when  Henry  Clay 
ran  for  President  he  "  stumped  "  Orange  coun- 
ty in  his  behalf,  and  became  well-known  as  a 
fluent  and  forcible  speaker.  He  was  well 
qualified  to  hold  a  high  position  in  society,  and 
was  a  warm  friend  of  the  historian  Benson  J. 
Lossing,  and  of  Egbert  Kelley.  They  were  all 
members  of  the  same  reading  class,  and  were 
in  accord  in  many  things.  Clinton  Lyon 
worked  on  the  construction  of  the  first  steam- 
boat which  ran  on  the  Hudson  river,  and  on 
many  other  important  structures.  He  was  a' 
liberal  Democrat,  afterward  becoming  a  Whig 
and  a  strong  Protectionist.  He  died  in  1840, 
esteemed  and  respected  throughout  the  county. 
The  wife  of  Clinton  Lyon  was  a  daughter  of 
John  Denman,  and  a  granddaughter  of  Asahel 
Armstrong,  who  was  a  brother  of  Gen.  Arm- 
strong. They  had  seven  children,  namely: 
John  Robert,  Adeline,  Horatio,  Sheridan  and 
Julia  (both  died  when  sixteen  years  old),  Asa- 
hel, and  William  Henry  (born  August  27,  1840, 
lives    in  Susquehanna  county,    Pennsylvania). 

Asahel    D.    Lyon  received  only    a  limited 
education,  but  has  been  a  great  reader,  and  is 


a  man  of  keen  perception,  one  of  close  obsei 
vation,  in  which  way  he  learns  much.  He  i 
well-informed  on  all  current  topics,  and  is 
man  of  sterling  good  sense.  When  Asahe 
was  only  two  years  old  his  father  died,  and  a 
soon  as  he  was  able  to  work  the  lad  was  pu 
out  on  a  farm,  the  wages  of  even  so  small 
boy  of  eleven  years  being  a  help  to  his  widovvei 
mother.  He  worked  by  the  month  until  eight 
een  or  nineteen  years  old,  when  he  startc 
out  for  himself,  running  a  threshing  machin 
for  three  years.  He  was  married  when  twentj 
two,  and  after  working  for  awhile  on  a  fan 
went  into  the  butchering  business,  which  h: 
grown  to  be  quite  extensive,  and  in  which  \ 
is  still  engaged.  He  has  also  for  a  number  < 
years  done  some  auctioneering. 

In  1 87 1  Mr.  Lyon  bought  his  present  fan 
of  120  acres,  which  he  is  carrying  on,  as  we 
as  his  other  business,  and  has   become  a  vei 
successful  agriculturist.      He  is  active  and  eij 
ergetic,  and  puts  through  whatever  he  undei; 
takes,  qualities  which  are  essential  in  a  farnn 
as  much  as  in  any  other  man,  and  which  se 
dom  fail  to  bring  prosperity.      In  politics  he  , 
a  Republican,  and  believes  strongly  in  Protei 
tion.      In  public   matters  he  has  always  bet 
ready  to  assist  in  the  development  and  growii 
of  the  community,  and  has  taken  a  special  i ' 
terest  in  the  schools  of  the  county,  doing  ; 
in  his  power  to  make  them  equal  to  any  in  tli 
State. 

On  February  22,  i860,  Mr.  Lyon  w 
married  to  Sarah  A.  Lawless,  daughter 
Jacob  and  Anna  Lawless,  of  Clinton.  Tv 
sons  have  been  born  to  them:  Asahel  Ans( 
and  George  Morgan.  The  family  are  higbj 
esteemed  by  all  who  know  them.  1 


JOEL   S.    WINANS,  one   of  the  promine 
and  influential  citizens  of  the  town  of  Sta| 
ford,  Dutchess  county,  comes  of  an  old  ■! 
tablished  family  in  the  county. 

James  Winans,    born  in    1715,  first  of  t 
name  in  Dutchess  county,  was  descended  fn 
ancestry  who  came  from  Brabant,  Belgium,; 
1630,      He  and    his  wife  Sarah  migrated  fm 
Horse  Neck,  Long  Island,  to  Dutchess  coun 
about  1770,  settling  in  the  town  of  Stanfo  > 
on  the  late  Dr.  Isaac  M.  Hunting  farm.    Thr 
children  were  as   follows:     James,  Ira,  Ginj- 
dus,  David  and  Sarah.     Of  these,  James  m'- 
ried    Hannah   D.    Groff,  of  Poughkeepsie,  a' 
had  eleven  children;  Ira  married  Mary ■> 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIGAL  BECOBD. 


608 


md  had  children;   Giraudus  ("  Grand  ")  mar- 
iied  (first)    Hannah   Merritt,   and  (second)  Vi- 
ietta  Knickerbocker;  Sarah  married  PeterSmith. 
I      David  Winans  (mentioned  above),   grand- 
lather  of  our  subject,  came  from  Horse  Neck 
|o  Dutchess  county  with  his  father,  and  was  a 
lifelong  agriculturist.      He  served  as  a  soldier 
In  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  gallantly  fighting 
or  the  freedom  of  the  colonies.      He  was  an 
lamest    Ghristian    gentleman,   and  politically 
/as  a  supporter  of  the  Whig  party.     By  his 
larriage  with  Miss  Tammy  Smith  he  had  the 
)llowing  children:    David,    Leonard,    Morris, 
■mith,  Seymour,  Egbert,   Ambrose,   Amanda, 
rertrude.   Tammy,    Maria,  Harriet  and  Eliza- 
eth. 

Upon   the   old   homestead   in  the  town  of 
ine  Plains,    Leonard   Winans,  the  father  of 
ur  subject,  was  reared  to  manhood.      He  was 
larried  in  the  town  of  Stanford  to  Miss  Sally 
nn  Sutherland,  daughter  of  Joel  Sutherland, 
In  early  settler  of  that  township,  and  to  them 
lere  born  six  children,  namely:     Brush  and 
bhn  (deceased);  Joel  S.,   subject  of  this  re- 
jew;  Walter  H.,   of  near  Amenia,    Dutchess 
Ijunty,  a  sketch  of  whom  follows;  William,  a 
iiperanuated  minister  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
I'pal  Church,  now  located  at  Gatskill,  Greene 
3.,  N.  Y. ;  and  Mary.     The  mother  of  these 
ildren  died   in  1828,  and  Mr.  Winans  after- 
lard  married    Miss   Elizabeth  Thompson,    of 
ie  town  of  Stanford.     Four  children  graced 
ieir  union:  Sally  Ann  and  Margaret  (both  de- 
based); Elizabeth,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Robin- 
(n,  of  Poughkeepsie,    N.    Y. ;   and  Isaac  (de- 
based!.     For  many  years   Leonard  Winans 
■  ''rated  the  farm  in  the  town  of  Pine  Plains, 
in  1S30  returned  to  the  old  homestead  in 
i,at  township,  which  is  now  owned  by  Frank 
ho.     At  the  end  of  six  years,  however,  he  re- 
ed to  Stanford  town,  locating  near  Bangall, 
re  he  farmed   for  many  years,  but  finally 
aside  all  business  cares,  and  spent  his  last 
-  in  that   village,    dying  there  in  1868,  at 
age  of  eighty-five  years.      He  was  always 
ijerested  in   the  success   and  welfare  of  his 
'  :ntry,  and   took   part   in  the  war  of    181 2. 
lically,  he  was  first  a  Whig  and  later  a  Re- 
fiblican,    while     in     religious   faith    he    was 
tie  of  the  most  active  and  prominent  workers 
ijthe  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  being  the 
(tinder  of  the  Church  of  that  denomination  at 
Bngall. 

loel  S.  Winans,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
ich,  was   born   November    5,    1820,  in   the 


town  of  Pine  Plains,  Dutchess  county,  where 
he  attended  the  district  schools,  and  aided  his 
father  in  the  cultivation  and  improvement  of 
the  home  farm  until  he  had  attained  the  age 
of  thirty  years.  On  October  2,  1850,  in  the 
town  of  Stanford,  Mr.  Winans  married  Miss 
Lucy  Ann  Wright,  who  was  born  July  29, 
1822,  in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  daughter  of  Isaac 
and  Jeanette  (Howe)  Wright,  natives  of  Dutch- 
ess county.  Three  children  were  born  of  this 
union:  (i)  Tamar  Ella,  who  married  Charles 
H.  Carpenter,  of  Stanfordville,  N.  Y. ,  and 
has  three  sons — George  Irving,  Joel  S.  Wi- 
nans, and  Henry  Sesson;  (2)  Sophie  D.  H., 
married  to  George  E.  Rogers,  by  whom  she 
had  one  daughter,  Sophie,  and  two  sons, 
George  E.,  Jr.,  and  Clayton,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; and  (3)  W.  Irving  (only  son),  who  died 
while  attending  school  at  Fort  Edward  Insti- 
tute, N.  Y.  in  1877. 

Mr.  Winans  first  located  upon  a  farm  at 
Attlebury,  in  the  town  of  Stanford,  where  he 
continued  operations  until  1866,  when  he  re- 
moved to  his  present  farm  near  Stanfordville, 
and  in  connection  with  the  cultivation  of  his 
land  he  also  for  a  year  ran  a  freight  boat  on 
the  Hudson  from  Poughkeepsie  to  New  York 
City.  As  an  agriculturist  he  has  been  quite 
successful,  having  secured  for  himself  a  com- 
fortable competence.  He  has  always  been 
one  of  the  most  progressive,  reliable  and  popu- 
lar citizens  of  the  town  of  Stanford,  where  he 
has  held  a  number  of  prominent  positions  of 
honor  and  trust,  having  been  justice  of  the 
peace  for  the  long  period  of  forty-three  years; 
revenue  collector  for  seven  years,  which  office 
he  filled  during  the  trying  years  of  the  Civil 
war;  and  from  1869  to  April,  1887,  was  bond- 
ing commissioner  for  the  town  for  the  New- 
burgh,  Dutchess  &  Connecticut  railroad.  Po- 
litically, he  early  became  a  stalwart  Abolition- 
ist, and  on  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party  joined  its  ranks,  becoming  one  of  the 
leaders  of  that  party  in  his  locality.  In  re- 
ligious belief  he  and  his  wife  are  Baptists. 

Isaac  Wright,  father  of  Mrs.  Winans,  was 
born  in  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  as  was  also 
her  mother,  he  in  1787,  and  she  in  1791. 
They  had  nine  children,  eight  of  whom  grew 
to  manhood  and  womanhood,  one  dying  at 
the  age  of  eleven  years,  and  five  yet  living. 
The  father,  who  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner 
by  trade,  died  in  1871;  the  mother  died  in 
1873.  Lebbens  Howe,  maternal  grandfather 
of  Mrs  Winans,  served  in  the  war  of  the  Rev- 


604 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


olution.  John  Wright,  her  paternal  grand- 
father, came  from  England,  and  settled  in 
Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  in  a  very  early  day. 


ALTER  H.  WINANS,  a  prosperous 
agriculturist,  residing  near  Amenia, 
Dutchess  county,  is  one  of  our  most  highly  re- 
spected citizens,  the  sturdy  virtues  of  his  Scotch- 
Irish  ancestry  being  well  exemplified  in  his 
character  and  his  successful,  though  quiet, 
career.  [A  sketch  of  his  immediate  ancestry 
will  be  found  in  that  of  his  brother,  Joel  S. 
Winans.] 

Walter  H.  Winans  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Pine  Plains,  Dutchess  county,  April  21, 
1823,  and  the  district  schools  of  the  locality 
afforded  him  the  usual  opportunities  for  instruc- 
tion. Until  the  age  of  twenty-three  he  re- 
mained at  home,  and  then  he  began  farming 
in  the  town  of  Stanford,  where  he  made  his 
home  for  many  years,  and  took  a  leading  part 
in  local  affairs,  and  at  one  time  held  the  office 
of  collector.  In  1870  he  purchased  a  farm  in 
the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess  county. 
April  I,  1892,  he  removed  from  that  farm  to 
his  present  estate.  December  24,  1846,  he 
was  married  in  the  town  of  Stanford  to  Miss 
Emily  Robinson,  with  whom  nearly  a  half- 
century  of  wedded  life  was  passed,  before  she 
was  called  to  the  unseen  world,  her  death  oc- 
curring February  27.  1893.  Six  children  were 
born  to  their  union:  Franklin;  Mary  Eliza- 
beth; Seth  K.,  who  married  Miss  Nettie  Robin- 
son; Brush;  Amy  and  Ellsworth.  Amy  mar- 
ried Christian  Lang,  and  has  had  three  chil- 
dren: Walter,  Miriam  and  Emily.  Ellsworth 
married  Miss  Ida  Wheeler,  and  resides  in  the 
town  of  Washington.  He  is  possessed  of  the 
same  self-reliance  and  industry  for  which  his 
family  is  noted,  and  has  never  had  any  finan- 
cial aid  from  his  father. 

Mrs.  W.  H.  Winans  was  a  descendant  of 
a  well-known  Putnam  county  family,  her 
grandfather,  Chappell  Robinson,  a  farmer, 
having  located  there,  with  two  brothers,  in  the 
early  days.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Sprague, 
and  had  five  children:  Stephen,  Sabins,  Squire, 
Mary  and  Eli.  Stephen  Robinson,  Mrs. 
Winan's  father,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Kent, 
Putnam  county,  and  was  married  there  to 
Miss  Martha  Kelley,  daughter  of  Seth  Kelley. 
Thirteen  children  were  born  to  them  as  follows: 
Chappell,  Kelley.  Osborn,  Enos,  Emily,  Zillah, 
Jarvis,     Ada,     Nathaniel,     Priscilla,     Robert, 


Catherine  and  William.  In  1836,  Mr.  Robii 
son  moved  to  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutche 
count}',  continuing  there  his  chosen  calling  < 
agriculture.  Later  he  spent  twelve  years  i 
Lithgow,  Dutchess  county,  but  returned  to  th 
town  of  Stanford,  where  he  breathed  his  la 
in  February,  1876,  at  the  age  of  eighty  year 
His  patriotism  and  gallantry  were  proved  j 
the  war  of  18 12,  and  the  various  issues  in  n; 
tional  politics  never  ceased  to  interest  him,  b 
influence  in  his  later  3'ears  being  given  to  tl 
Republican  party. 


CORNELIUS  SMITH  VAN  ETTEN,M.E 
_     who  is  distinguished   as  one  of  the  mc 
successful  practitioners  of  Dutchess  county, 
a  descendant  of  one  of  the  oldest  families 
the    State,    being  the  seventh    generation 
direct  line  from  Jacob  Jansen  Van  Etten,  wh 
when  a  young  man.    came    to   America  fro 
Etten,  North  Brabant,  Holland.    He  settled 
Ulster  county,  N.  Y. ,  and  on    January  4,  i6i' 
(according  to  the  record  in  the  First  Reformi 
Church  of  the  city  of  Kingston,  N.  Y. ),  he  ma 
ried    Anna    Ariense    Von    Amsterdam.      Tfi 
union  was  blessed  with  three  sons:     Jan,  Peti 
and  James,  who  lived  and  died  in  Ulster  coui 
ty.     Jan  was   baptized,  January  3,    1666,  an 
about  1690  was  united   in  marriage  with  Jei 
nette  Roosa,  daughter  of  Arien  Roosa.     Th 
had    two  sons — Arien    and   Jacob— besides 
large  family  of  daughters.      Jacob  was  baptiz 
at  Kingston  December   25,    1696,    and   at  t 
same  place  on  April  22,  17 19,  was  married  , 
Autje  Westbrook,   of  Rochester,   Ulster  cou 
ty.      About   the    year   1720  he   settled   in  t 
Delaware  \'alley,  and  reared  a  large  family 
children,  among  whom  was  Johannes,  the  fil 
son,    who   was  born   at  Namanock,  N.  J., 
1 73 1.     When  near  the   age   of  twenty  yea: j 
Johannes  settled  upon  a  tract  containing  1,5  j 
acres  near  Milford,  Penn.,  which  is  still  owni 
by  his   descendants.     He  died   February    ii 
1815,  in  his  eighty-third  year,  and  was  burii 
on  his  own  farm.      He  had  been  twice  marrie 
and  by  his  second  wife,   Rachel  Williams,  hi 
a  son,    Cornelius,   our  subject's   grandfath' 
born  near  Milford,  December  8,  1782. 

Cornelius  Van  Etten  married  Anna  Smii 
and    became    the     father    of   eight   childrt 
Rachel,  Solomon  (our  subject's  father).  Ma 
Amos,     Catherine,     Robert,      Margaret,    al 
Amanda.      This  family  all  settled  near  Milfo : 
and  Catherine,    Robert   and  Amanda  are  sjl 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQEAPHWAL  RECORD. 


605 


jiving.  Amos  Van  Etten  was  the  father  of 
Ldgar  Van  Etten,  who  is  now  general  super- 
ptendent  of  the  New  York  Central  &  Hud- 
fon  River  railroad.  The  Pennsylvania  Van- 
tttens  have  usually  followed  farming,  and 
ave  been  prominent  in  non-political  local  af- 
lirs,  but  have  never  sought  public  office. 

Solomon  Van  Etten  was  born  near  Milford, 
lay  1 8,  1806.      He   married  Hannah  Mettler, 
aughter  of  Mathias  Mettler,  and  a  descendant 
f  one  of  the  oldest  families  of  Hunterdon  Co., 
I.  Y.       They  had   seven  children:     William 
nd  Amos,    who   died   in  infancy;  John  H.,  a 
iwyer  in  Milford;   Cornelius    Smith,  our  sub- 
-ct;  Mathias   M.,    a   farmer  at  Dover,  N.  J.; 
nd  Frank   and   Anna,    both  deceased.     The 
ither  died   in    1873  in   his  sixty-eighth  year, 
lother  in  1894,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years. 
Dr.  Cornelius  Smith  Van  Etten  was  born 
;  the  old  homestead    September    13,    1846. 
e  completed  the  regular  course  of  study  at 
lie  seminary  at  Schooley's  Mountain,  N.  J., 
id  in  1870  entered  the  medical  department 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania  for  a  three- 
;ars'  course.      On  graduating  in   1873  he  lo- 
tted in  the  lower  part  of  the  Wyoming  Val- 
y;  but  after  a  few  months  was  called  home 
'.'  the  death  of  his  father.      He  then  remained 
I  home  until    1876,  when  he  came  to  Rhine- 
f  ok,  and  has  here  engaged  in  general  practice. 
e  has  been  very  successful — his  fine  abilities, 
5  thorough  training,  and  his  firm  but  kindly 
anner,  have  won  for  him  the  entire  confidence 
'  the  community. 

On  June  7,  1882,  the  Doctor  was  united 
1  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  Hill,  who  was 
Irn  June  16,  1849,  ^  daughter  of  Edwin  and 
•itherine  (Cramer)  Hill,  the  former  a  leading 
I  i/en  of  Rhinebeck,  and,  until  recently,  pres- 
t  of  the  First  National  Bank.  To  Dr.  and 
.rs.  Van  Etten  have  been  born  two  sons, 
Hwin  and  Royal,  and  the  home  is  one  of  the 
i)3t  charming  in  the  town,  a  fine  library  be- 
^  an  especial  feature.  The  Doctor  and  his 
Ve  are  active  workers  in  the  Reformed 
Ciurch.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  but 
k  professional  duties  have  never  allowed  him 
tile  to  be  very  active  in  political  affairs.  He 
i|a  director  in  the  First  National  Bank,  a 
tistee  of  the  Savings  Bank,  and  in  municipal 

Jitters  has  taken  a  great  interest,  being  health 
icer  of  the  town,  member  of  the  fire  depart- 
'  lit,  and,  for  ten  years  past,  the  president  of 
^:  school  board.  He  is  a  trustee  of  Starr  In- 
ute,  and  treasurer  of   the   Rhinebeck   Gas 


Company.  In  professional  circles  he  is  equally 
prominent,  and  is  a  member  of  the  New  York 
State  Medical  Association,  and  of  the  United 
States  Medical  Association. 


LEWIS  F.  EATON  is  one  of  the  most  en- 
!  terprising  business  men  of  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, and  is  a  resident  of  Amenia.  His  opera- 
tions as  a  wholesale  grain  dealer  are  extensive 
in  their  scope,  and  he  belongs  to  that  class  of 
representative  American  citizens  who  promote 
the  general  welfare  while  advancing  their  indi- 
vidual prosperity.  For  over  a  quarter  of  a 
century  he  has  been  identified  with  the  inter- 
ests of  Amenia,  and  the  connection  has  been 
as  honorable  as  it  is  long. 

Mr.  Eaton  was  born  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y. , 
May  7,  1850,  and  is  a  son  of  Lewis  Eaton,  a 
native  of  Fayetteville,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y. 
After  completing  his  common-school  education 
the  father  clerked  in  a  store  for  a  time,  and 
subsequently  was  connected  with  the  Syracuse 
&  Oswego  line  of  transportation  in  New  York 
City  and  vicinity  for  about  fifteen  years.  Re- 
turning to  Fayetteville,  he  became  general 
freight  agent  for  the  New  York,  Syracuse  & 
Chenango  railroad,  which  position  he  retained 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1878.  At  Fay- 
etteville he  had  married  Miss  Sarah  Willson, 
daughter  of  John  H.  Willson,  and  to  them 
were  born  four  sons:  Robert  W.,  of  Fayette- 
ville; Frank  H.,  of  Terre  Haute,  Indiana; 
Charles  B.,  deceased;  and  Lewis  F. ,  of  this 
sketch.     The  mother's  death  occurred  in  1875. 

The  primary  education  of  our  subject  was 
received  in  the  village  schools  of  Amenia,  and 
he  later  attended  the  public  schools  at  Astoria, 
Long  Island.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he 
entered  the  Peoples  Line  Transportation  Com- 
pany in  New  York  City,  where  he  remained 
for  one  year,  after  which  he  was  in  the  canal 
collector's  office,  where  he  was  second  clerk 
the  first  year,  and  first  clerk  the  three  succeed- 
ing years. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  Mr.  Eaton  came  to 
Amenia,  becoming  bookkeeper  for  B.  Willson 
&  Co.,  dealers  in  flour,  feed,  lumber  and  coal. 
In  March,  1878,  he  became  manager  for  George 
T.  Willson,  who  had  assumed  control,  and  in 
the  following  May  was  made  a  partner  in  the 
business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Willson  & 
Eaton.  About  1881  the  firm  started  a  whole- 
sale trade,  which  now  extends  through  several 
counties  of  New  York,  Vermont,  Connecticut, 


606 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  and  they  also 
have  three  retail  stores,  one  at  Amenia,  an- 
other at  Wassaic,  and  the  third  at  Shekomeko. 
Their  sales  have  increased  from  $40,000,  in 
1 88 1,  to  three-quarters  of  a  million  in  1895. 
Their  specialty  in  the  wholesale  trade  is  that 
of  feed  and  grain,  and  they  were  the  first  to 
sell  cotton-seed  meal  in  this  vicinity.  They 
have  a  wood-working  factory  in  connection 
with  their  other  business,  manufacturing  house 
trimmings,  doors,  sash,  blinds,  etc.,  and  Mr. 
Eaton  also  handles  life  and  fire  insurance.  He 
is  a  man  of  remarkable  business  qualities,  re- 
sourceful and  energetic,  and  the  scope  of  his 
operations  and  his  varied  interests  show  that 
a  master  hand  and  mind  is  in  control  of  his 
affairs. 

On  October  24,  1877,  Mr.  Eaton  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Julia  Per  Lee,  daughter 
of  Walter  P.  Per  Lee.  He  is  an  earnest  ad- 
vocate of  Republican  principles,  is  connected 
with  the  fire  company  at  Amenia,  and  in  re- 
ligious belief  is  a  Presbyterian.  His  hobby  is 
that  of  stamp  collecting. 


P^ETER  PRATT,  the  popular  proprietor  of 
the  "Pratt  House"  in  Amenia,  Dutchess 

county,  traces  his  ancestry  back  to  Peter 
Pratt,  a  college-bred  man,  who  was  a  resident 
of  Wallingsford,  Conn.  He  married  a  Mrs. 
Ingraham,  widow  of  a  sea  captain,  with  whom 
he  boarded  while  attending  Yale  College,  and 
to  them  were  born  two  children:  Peter,  and 
Sophia,  who  married  Oliver  D.  Cook,  of 
Hartford,  Conn.  When  his  son  was  three 
years  old  he  removed  to  Kent,  Conn.,  where 
for  twenty  years  he  served  as  collector,  and 
his  old  home  there  is  still  in  the  possession  of 
the  family.  He  became  one  of  the  leading 
men  of  that  place  and  an  earnest  worker  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 

Peter  Pratt,  the  son,  was  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject.  He  was  born  at  Wallingsford, 
Conn.,  in  1762,  and  died  at  Kent  in  1845.  At 
the  latter  place  he  attended  the  district  schools, 
and  always  lived  on  the  old  homestead  farm, 
engaging  in  its  operation,  and  in  running  a 
sawmill  and  forge.  He  was  appointed  captain 
in  the  militia,  was  a  Whig  in  politics,  and  a 
Presbyterian  in  religious  belief.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sally  D.  Bard- 
well,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Joel  Bardwell,  who 
was  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Kent 
for  over  half  a  century.      She    was    born  in 


1768,  and  her  death  occurred  in  1849.  Intl 
family  were  nine  children,  all  now  decease 
with  the  exception  of  John  M.,  the  father 
our  subject,  who  was  next  to  the  younges 
the  others  being;  Philo  B.,  Sherman,  Joe 
Ralph,  Peter,  Sophia.  Sarah  and  Cook. 

John  M.  Pratt  was  born  at    Kent,  Conn 
May   22,    1809,    attended   the    public  schoo 
and  completed  his   literary  course  in  an  acai 
emy.      He  remained  at  home    until  Februat 
7,    1838,    when    he    married    Miss    Chariot 
Mills,  who  died  in  1846.     She  was  the  daug 
ter  of   Deacon  Lewis   Mills,   a    merchant  a' 
farmer,  and  was  a  most  estimable  lady.     Th 
had  five  children,   as  follows:     Charlotte   1 
is  the  wife  of  John  D.  Piatt,  of    Farmingto 
Conn. ,   by    whom    she    has   three    children 
Frank,  William  and  John;  Jane,  a  resident 
New  Milford,  Conn. ,  is  the  widow  of  Sheld 
Wheaton,  by  whom  she  had    one  daughter 
Nellie;  Mary    (deceasedj  was  the  wife  of  Se 
Hobson,  and  the  mother  of  one  child — Elii 
beth;   Peter  is  ne.xt    in    order  of  birth;   a 
Sophia  is   the  wife  of  Walter    B.    Camp, 
Ansonia,   Connecticut. 

The  father  carried  on  farming  in  the  to^ 
of  Kent,    Litchfield   Co.,    Conn.,    until    i8f 
when  he  purchased  the  "Putnam  House," 
name  of  which  he  changed  to  the  '  'Pratt  Hous« 
This    hotel  has  been  greatly  improved  sin 
that  time,  and  is  now  one  of  the  best  equipp 
in    the     county,    everything    being     provic 
for    the    convenience    and     comfort    of 
guests.     Since  coming  to  Dutchess  county,  ^ 
Pratt  has  also  engaged  in   buying  and  selli 
sheep,  cattle  and  horses,   and  in  this  line 
business  has  been  quite  successful.     Previc 
to   1857,  he  was  a  Whig,  but  since  that  tii 
has  been  a  firm  supporter  of  Republican  pr 
ciples.     A  strictly  moral,  upright  and  temp 
ate  man,  he  has  never  gambled,  bet  on  a  ho 
race,  or  been  drunk  in  his  life.     He  makes 
home  with  our  subject. 

Peter  Pratt,  whose  name  begins  this  skett 
spent  his  boyhood  days  in  the  town  of  Ke 
Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  attending  the  distt 
schools  and  assisting  his  father  in  the  operat 
of  the  farm.  In  1865  he  married  Julia 
Stone,  of  New  Milford,  Conn.,  and  tf 
have  one  daughter,  Minnie  S. 

Since  1867  Mr.  Pratt  has   successfully 
gaged  in  the  hotel   business   at  Amenia. 
greater    part    of    his    present    hotel    has  b( 
erected  since  locating  there,  so  that  the  pi 
is  now  a  comfortable,  modern  structure,  nea 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


607 


arnished,  and  the  cuisine  is  all  that  could  be 
llesired.  Like  his  father,  he  is  also  an  ardent 
Republican,  and  socially  is  a  member  of 
^menia  Lodge  No.  672,  F.  &  A.  M. 


rOHN  C.  DUBOIS,  one  of  the  leading  mer- 
j  chants  of  Wappingers  Falls,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, combines  energy  and  pluck  with  excel- 
;nt  judgment,  an  embodiment  that  has  brought 
reat  success  to  his  efforts  and  labors.  His 
ntire  life  has  been  passed  at  that  village, 
,here  his  birth  occurred  on  June  20,  1857, 
nd  those  who  have  known  him  longest  are 
umbered  among  his  most  faithful  friends. 

The  paternal  ancestors  of  Mr.  DuBois  were 

'rench.      In   his  native  land  Jacques  DuBois 

larried  Pierrone  Bentyn,  and  April  15,  1675, 

ailed  from    France    to    America,  locating   at 

Kingston,    Ulster  Co.,   N.  Y.,  thus  becoming 

ne  founders  of  the  family  in  the  New  World. 

i"heir  son  Pierre  wedded  Jeannetje  Burhans, 

nd  to  them  was  born  a  son,  Jonathan,  who 

I'as  united  in  marriage  with  Ariantje  Ooster- 

but.     The  son    of   the   latter,   Cornelius  (i) 

HiBois,    married    Charity    Griffin,    and    their 

>n,  Cornelius   (2),  a   farmer  by  occupation, 

:as  the  grandfather  of  our  subject.     He  was 

)rn  at  Saratoga,  N.  Y. ,  and  by  his  marriage 

jith   Deborah    Payne    became   the   father   of 

velve  children,  namely:  Parmelia,  Jane,  Har- 

:'t,  Elizabeth,   Chester,   John,   Charity,  Cor- 

;Iius  G.,  Smith,  Richard,  Harvey  and  James. 

he  family  were  mostly  members  of  the  Pres- 

terian  Church. 

John   DuBois,  the  father  of    our   subject, 
as  born  January  i,  1825,  at  Saratoga,  N.  Y., 
id  upon  the  home   farm  he   remained  until 
neteen  years  of  age,  when  he  began  teaching, 
Ihich  profession  he  continued  to  follow  up  to 
e  time  of  and  several  years  after  his  mar- 
line.    His    wife    bore    the   maiden   name   of 
ary  S.  Scofield,  and  was  a  native  of  Fishkill, 
atchess  county,  where  her  father,  Cornelius 
ofield.  was  also  born.      He  was  of  English 
raction.      Her  mother's   maiden   name   was 
abeth  Warren,  and  she  was  a  relative  of 
..  Warren,  of  military  fame.     After    their 
riage  the  parents  of  our  subject  made  their 
le  at  Wappingers  Falls,  N.  Y.,  where  the 
er  taught  in  the  old  Wappinger  Seminary 
several  years.      In  1857  he  began  merchan- 
:ig  on  Market  street,  having  a  general  store, 
continued  at  his  first  location  until  1863, 
n  he  removed  to  another  building  on  the 


same  street.  Later,  he  conducted  the  busi- 
ness across  the  creek  in  the  Egan  building,  in 
partnership  with  Adam  Bently,  which  connec- 
tion was  continued  until  1868,  when  he  sold 
out.  He  then  opened  a  wholesale  dry-goods 
business,  conducting  same  until  called  from 
this  life,  May  18,  1876.  He  had  just  erected 
his  beautiful  residence,  where  his  widow  now 
makes  her  home.  He  was  a  conscientious  and 
faithful  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
in  the  work  of  which  he  took  an  active  part, 
and  his  political  support  was  unwaveringly 
given  the  Republican  party. 

During  his  early  life  our  subject  aided  his 
father  in  the  store,  under  whose  able  direc- 
tions he  became  a  thorough  business  man. 
After  the  death  of  the  latter,  his  uncle,  James 
B.  Scofield,  had  charge  of  the  store  until  he, 
too,  was  called  from  this  life.  Our  subject 
then  purchased  the  stock,  and  since  1879  has 
successfully  conducted  a  general  store.  He 
carries  a  large  and  well-selected  stock,  and  is 
abundantly  able  to  meet  the  demands  of  his 
customers.  In  November,  1881,  he  married 
Miss  Ada  M.  McKeel,  a  native  of  Cold  Springs, 
N.  Y.,  and  a  daughter  of  Caleb  McKeel,  who 
was  of  English  origin.  One  child  graces  this 
union:     Chester  M.,  born  in  August,  1882. 

Mr.  Du  Bois  is  an  influential  member  of 
the  Republican  party,  and  takes  a  conspicuous 
part  in  public  life.  In  1895  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  village  board,  in  which  position 
he  is  still  serving.  He  is  prominently  identi- 
fied with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  American 
Mechanics,  and  the  American  Legion  of  Honor. 
He  and  his  wife  contribute  to  the  support  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  they  en- 
joy the  esteem  and  respect  of  all  in  the  com- 
munity. 


I  LEXANDER  W.  SLEIGHT,  supervisor 
of  the  town  of  Lagrange,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, was  born  in  that  town  July  4,  1841,  and  is 
the  son  of  Peter  R.  and  Catherine  S.  (Barnes) 
Sleight. 

The  ancestors  of  our  subject  were  original- 
ly Holland-Dutch,  who  came  to  this  country 
in  1652,  and  the  known  record  extends  back 
five  generations,  to  Cornelius  Barentsen  Sleght, 
who  came  from  Worden.  Holland,  on  the 
Rhine,  and  who  married  Miss  Tryntje  Tysen 
Bos,  from  Bue  Stee,  Holland.  The  name 
was  spelled  Sleght  until  the  time  of  James, 
grandfather  of  our  subject.     Matthew  Sleght, 


608 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


son  of 'Cornelius,  married  Maria  Magdalena 
Crespel.  Jan,  son  of  Matthew,  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Smeedes.  Abram,  great-grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Kings- 
ton, where  he  spent  his  boyhood  and  received 
his  early  education.  He  married  Miss  Ariantje 
Elmerndorf,  and  moved  to  what  is  now  the 
town  of  Lagrange,  cleared  the  farm  land, 
built  a  stone  house,  and  reared  his  children 
there.  He  died  October  21.  1800.  She  died 
in  1796. 

James,  or  Jacobus,  Sleight,  our  subject's 
grandfather,  was  born  in  the  old  stone  house 
above  mentioned  April  ig,  1753,  and  died 
September  2,  1833.  He  married  Miss  Elsie 
Deriemer,  and  the  following  children  were 
born  to  them:  James  Edwin,  Peter  R.,  Elsie 
D.,  Harriet  E.,  Henry  A.,  all  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased. In  1776  Mr.  Sleight  served  seven 
months  in  the  Revolutionary  war  at  Fort  Mont- 
gomery, under  Capt.  Borland,  as  orderly  ser- 
geant, and  in  1777  he  served  seven  months  at 
Fort  Constitution,  and  then  went  with  the 
army  as  first  lieutenant  under  Capt.  Henry 
Wynkoop,  and  was  with  it  when  Kingston  was 
burned.  In  1778  our  subject's  grandfather 
served  one  month  under  Gen.  Scott  at  White 
Plains,  and  at  Fort  Independence,  near  King's 
Bridge,  as  quartermaster  under  Zephaniah 
Piatt,  colonel.  He  was  afterward  made  a 
colonel.  [The  foregoing  is  from  the  Archives 
of  the  State  of  New  York,  Vol.  i,  page  473, 
and  is  taken  from  records  left  by  Mr.  Sleight 
in  his  own  handwriting  and  signed  by  him.] 
He  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  affairs  of  La- 
grange, where  he  held  the  office  of  justice  of 
the  peace. 

Peter  R.  Sleight,  father  of  our  subject, 
spent  his  boyhood  days  upon  the  farm,  and  in 
attending  the  district  schools,  also  the  Jacob 
Willets  school,  in  the  town  of  Washington.  He 
was  married  in  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie 
(first)  October  3,  1827,  to  Sarah  K.  Barnes, 
who  was  the  daughter  of  David  Barnes,  of 
Poughkeepsie,  and  one  child,  James  Edwin, 
was  born  to  them,  August  31,  1829,  who  died 
September  16,  1868.  Mrs.  Sleight  was  called 
from  earth  October  20,  1829,  and  Mr.  Sleight 
married  (second)  Catherine  S.  Barnes  (sister  of 
his  first  wife)  December  18,  1832,  and  the  fol- 
lowing children  came  of  this  union ;  Sarah  A. , 
born  September  5,  1835,  was  married  Novem- 
ber 14,  i860,  to  Stephen  M.  Ham;  David  B., 
born  April  30,  1838,  was  killed  in  the  battle  of 
Averysboro,  N.  C,  March  16,    1865   (he  held 


Mr.    Sleigl 
1888,     Mr 


the  rank  of  first  lieutenant);  James  Edwi: 
married  Frances  E.  Titus,  March  9,  1853,  an 
they  had  four  children — Mary  Kate,  Rhoda 
Sallie,  and  Frances.  Peter  R. ,  the  father,  wa 
captain  of  a  company  of  militia,  and  was  as 
sessor,  commissioner  of  highways,  and  railroa 
commissioner  when  the  town  was  bonded.  A 
the  time  of  his  death  he  was  president  of  th 
Dutchess  County  Mutual  Insurance  Co.,  t 
which  office  he  was  elected  in  1881,  and  fo 
several  years  was  a  director  of  the  First  Ne 
tional  Bank.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republicai 
On  December  18,  1882,  he  and  his  wife  ceh 
brated  their  golden  wedding, 
died  in  Lagrange,  March  15, 
Sleight  on  February  11,   1894. 

Alexander  Wheeler  Sleight,  our  subjec 
spent  his  youth  on  the  paternal  farm  in  \.\ 
town  of  Lagrange,  where  he  attended  th 
district  school,  also  the  Dutchess  Count 
Academy,  and  the  Cornwall  Collegiate  Schoc 
He  was  married  in  Lagrange  October  7,  i86> 
to  Miss  Mary  C.  Pells,  a  daughter  of  John  C 
Pells,  and  the  following  children  were  born  t 
them:  Josephine  W.,  March  14,  1875;  Pet' 
R.,  April  19,  1877;  and  David  B.,  Novembi 
27,  1880.  Mr.  Sleight  was  elected  supervis<j 
of  Lagrange  on  the  Republican  ticket  for  tt 
terms.  He  is  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  O.  E; 
or  Elks,  and  is  a  popular  and  public-spirit 
citizen. 


JACOB  GRIFFEN,  a  citizen  who  has  be. 
useful  in  his  community,  and  ever  taken 
prominent  place  in  the  enterprises  tendi 
to  the  enlightment  of  the  people;  the  friend 
education,  and  active  in  all  good  works,  h 
all  his  life  been  a  tiller  of  the  soil,  and  si 
finds  therein  his  great  pleasure. 

Elihu  Griffen,  grandfather  of  our  subjeii 
was  an  early  resident  of  Westchester  couti' 
N.  Y. ,  where  his  entire  life  was  spent  in  agt 
cultural  pursuits.  By  his  marriage  with  Cat,' 
erine  Underbill  he  became  the  father  of  thu 
sons  (all  now  deceased),  named,  respective, 
Daniel,  Jacob  and  Abraham.  He  belonged^ 
the  Society  of  Friends,  and  always  attencl 
the  monthly  meetings  in  New  York  City,  m;- 
ing  the  trip  thither  on  horseback. 

Daniel  Griffen,  the  father  of  our  subje, 
was  born  near  the  city  of  Sing  Sing,  in  Wej- 
chester  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  11,  1790,  and  th « 
attended  the  district  schools  of  the  neighbp 
hood.      He  remained  under  the  parental  r  f 


^ 


s 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


009 


until    his    marriage,     in     1810,    with    Phoebe 
Davenport,   who  was  born    August   17,  1793. 
They  became  the   parents  of    nine    children, 
their  names  and  dates  of  birth  being  as  follows: 
'Mary  D.,  August  11,  181 1 :  Judith  M.,  January 
II,  1 8 14;  Abigail  S.,  April  6,  1817;  Esther  H., 
I  April    19,    1819;   Elihu,   September  6,     1821; 
William  D.,  February  12,    1824;  Jacob,  Octo- 
ber   10,     1825;    Catherine    E.,  December  27, 
11830;  and   Lydia  Sigourney,    April  29,  1834. 
All  are  now  deceased  with  the  exception  of  our 
subject  and  his  sister,   Judith   M.,  who  is  now 
the  widow  of  the    late   Alexander    Haviland. 
The  father  engaged  in  farming  in  North  Castle 
township,    Westchester    county,     until    1826, 
when  he  removed   to  the   present  farm  of  our 
subject  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, and  there  continued  to  make  his  home  un- 
':il  his  death,  August  26,  1858;   his  wife  died 
[une  II,  1874.     They  were  faithful  members 
)f  the  Society  of  Friends,  and   in   a  church  of 
hat  denomination  were  married.     As  was  the 
:ustom  at  that  time,  they  rode  to  the  house  of 
jvorship  on  horseback,    and    our   subject   still 
lias  in  his   possession   the    saddle  used  by  his 
nother.     Although  the   father  started  out  in 
ife  a  poor  boy,   he  worked   his  way    steadily 
ipward  by  persistent  and  untiring  efforts  until 
;e  secured   a    comfortable    competence,    and 
■as  numbered   among  the    well-to-do  citizens 
f  the  town. 

Jacob    Griffen,    our  subject,   was    born    in 

-orth  Castle  township,   Westchester  county, 

hence  when  an  infant  he  was  brought  to  the 

irm  which  is  now  his  home,  and  in  the  town 

f  Clinton  he  began  his  education  under  the 

istruction   of  private   tutors,    and   in  private 

hools.      Later  he  entered  a  boarding  school 

Westtown,  Penn.,  and  completed  his  literary 

lies  at  the  Nine  Partners  Boarding  School, 

the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess  county. 

1  that  town,   October   10,  1878,  Mr.    Griffin 

as  married  to  Miss  Alice  Wilson,   by  whom 

;  had  three  children:    Catherine,   Anna  and 

ranees  Elsie. 

With  the  exception  of  the  twelve  years 
iring  which  he  farmed  an  adjoining  place,  our 
ibject  since  his  infancy  has  lived  on  the  old 
'me  farm,  which  he  successfully  operates. 
e  has  served  as  commissioner  of  highways  in 
e  town  of  Clinton,  to  which  position  he  was 
^cted  on  the  Republican  ticket,  that  being 
e  party  with  which  he  always  affiliates.  The 
're  family  are  members  of  the  Friends 
'irch,  to  the  support  of  which  they  contrib- 


ute liberally,  and  heartily  co-operate  in  its 
good  works.  Mr.  Griffen  is  public -spirited 
and  enterprising,  giving  his  support  to  all 
measures  which  he  considers  beneficial  to  the 
community. 

Mrs.  Griffen  was  born  in  the  town  of  La- 
grange, Dutchess  county,  a  daughter  of  John 
V.  and  Mary  Ann  (Barnes)  Wilson,  and  re- 
ceived her  education  in  the  town  of  Washing- 
ton, where  she  had  her  home  up  to  the  time 
of  her  marriage.  Her  father  was  born  in  Un- 
ionvale  town  in  1832,  and  died  in  1864,  in  the 
army,  while  serving  as  a  member  of  Company 
I,  158th  N.  Y.  V.  L  By  his  marriage  with 
Miss  Mary  Ann  Barnes  he  had  five  children: 
Henry  G.,  Alice,  Thurston  J.,  Clarence  and 
Belle,  the  last  two  being  now  deceased.  Mrs. 
Griffen 's  grandfather,  John  Barnes,  born  in 
1792,  died  when  about  seventy  years  of  age. 
Her  grandmother,  Mary  Wilson,  died  July  5, 
1879,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty  years. 


C>YRUS  F.  HAWLEY,  the  proprietor  of  a 
_ '  large  dry-goods  store  at  Millerton,  ranks 
among  the  leading  merchants  of  northern 
Dutchess  county,  and  the  adjacent  portion  of 
Litchfield  county,  Conn.  His  family  is  of 
English  origin,  and  his  ancestors  were  early 
settlers  of  the  village  of  Hawleyville,  Fairfield 
Co.,  Conn.,  where  Harmon  Hawley,  his  father, 
was  born  about  1809.  His  grandfather,  Haw- 
ley, was  born  probably  at  the  same  place. 
Harmon  Hawley  was  a  hatter  by  trade,  and 
followed  this  occupation  for  a  few  years  at  his 
native  town.  He  married  Emma  Freeman,  a 
prominent  resident  of  the  town  of  Amenia,and 
shortly  afterward  moved  to  Wawarsing,  Ulster 
Co.,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  established  a  sawmill 
and  charcoal  furnace.  He  wrfs  a  man  of  fine 
business  ability  and  great  energy.  He  bought 
and  cleared  large  tracts  of  land,  which  he 
afterward  disposed  of,  and  carried  on  the  two 
enterprises  with  great  success  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  his  forty-eighth  year.  His 
wife  survived  him  with  seven  children:  Will- 
iam, Martha,  Cyrus,  Fannie,  Josephine,  Charles 
and  John. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  at 
Amenia  Union,  March  24,  1846,  and  was  edu- 
cated mainly  in  the  district  schools  of  that 
vicinity,  attending  the  Amenia  Seminary  only 
one  year.  These  somewhat  limited  advantages 
have  been  improved  upon  in  later  years  by 
reading,  and  his    information    covers   a    wide 


610 


COifMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


range.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  began  work 
on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  and  at  six- 
teen he  became  a  clerk  in  Sharon,  Conn.,  for 
G.  A.  Kelsey  and  G.  B.  Reed.  Here  he  re- 
mained ten  years,  acquainting  himself  with  all 
the  details  of  mercantile  life,  and  in  1876  he 
and  two  others  formed  a  partnership  under  the 
firm  name  of  Beach,  Hawley  &Co. ,  and  estab- 
lished a  store  at  Millerton.  After  the  death  of 
Mr.  Beach  in  1886,  the  firm  name  remained 
C.  F.  Hawley  &  Co.  for  three  years, when  Mr. 
Reed  withdrew,  and  since  that  time  Mr.  Haw- 
ley has  conducted  the  business  alone.  In 
1894  he  built  one  of  the  finest  stores  to  be 
found  in  any  town  of  the  size  in  the  county. 
His  trade  is  very  large,  extending  throughout 
a  wide  territory,  where  his  enterprise  and 
sound  judgment  have  won  him  the  confidence 
of  the  people. 

Mr.  Hawley  takes  an  active  interest  in  all 
that  concerns  the  advancement  of  the  commu- 
nity,' and  has  been  ready  to  promote  any  move- 
ment for  the  public  good,  but  although  he  has 
always  been  a  Democrat,  he  never  joins  in  politic- 
al work.  He  married  a  member  of  one  of  the 
oldest  families,  Miss  Martha  Brown,  daughter 
of  Douglass  Brown,  of  Northeast,  and  has  one 
son,  Cyrus. 


E\DWIN  G.VAIL,  ofthetownof  Unionvale, 
'I  one  of  the  younger  members  of  the  board 

of  supervisors  of  Dutchess  county,  was  born 
in  that  town  October  15,  1861,  the  younger 
of  the  two  sons  of  Elias  and  Lavina  (Cornell) 
Vail. 

Isaac  Vail,  our  subject's  great-grandfather, 
was  for  many  years  a  resident  of  Unionvale, 
and  died  August  i,  1 801,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one 
years.  His  wife,  Lavinia(Ketcham), passed  away 
March  i,  1803,  aged  fifty-eight  years.  Their 
son,  Elias,  our  subject's  grandfather,  was  born 
in  Unionvale  in  1775,  and  followed  farming  as 
his  life  work.  He  died  August  3,  1851,  his 
wife  on  July  20,  1851.  She  was  born  in  178 1, 
and  was  a  daughter  of  David  Duncan,  a  na- 
tive of  the  town  of  Dover,  where  he  was  a 
merchant  farmer. 

Elias  Vail,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
September  15,  1823,  and  was  the  youngest  of 
the  thirteen  children  born  to  Elias  Vail,  Sr., 
and  his  wife,  Hannah  (Duncan)  Vail.  He  was 
twice  married,  first  time,  in  1853,  to  Lavina 
Cornell,  by  which  union  were  born  two  chil- 
dren:    W.    C. ,   of  Poughkeepsie,    N.   Y.,  and 


Edwin  G.  It  is  believed  that  ihtir  niothe 
descended  from  Perry  Green  White,  who  cami 
over  in  the  "  Mayflower,"  and  whose  son,  01 
daughter,  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  thf 
New  World.  Mrs.  Vail  died  October  22 
1 86 1,  aged  thirty-six  years,  and  for  his  seconc 
wife  Elias  Vail  married,  January  10,  1867 
Miss  J'ane  W.  Haight,  of  the  town  of  Wash 
ington,  Dutchess  county,  a  daughter  of  Johi 
J.  Haight.  Mrs.  Vail  died  January  21,  1891 
aged  fifty-eight  years. 


JOHN  FRANCIS   MYERS.     To  the  thrift 
industry  and  economy  of  the  German  immi 

grants  this  country  owes  much,  and  find 
among  their  descendants  many  of  our  mos 
substantial  and  respected  citizens,  and  to  thi 
class  belongs  John  Francis  Myers,  of  Ne^ 
Hamburg,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

The  family  to  which  Mr.  Myers  belongs  i 
one  of  the  oldest  in  Dutchess  county,  the  firs 
of  the  American  line   having  come  from  Get 
many  at  an  early  date,  locating  at  what  is  no\ 
known  as  Myers'  Corners,  in  the  town  of  Wap 
pinger,  where  the    homestead    has  ever  sine 
been    maintained.      John    Myers,   the   granc 
father  of  our  subject,  was  a  farmer  and  hotel! 
keeper,  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  a  promineri 
man  in    the    locality.      He    married    Susannl 
Bussing,  and  reared  a  family  of  seven  childrer; 
Joseph,  who  went  to  California  and  died  then 
Peter,  a  resident  of  Hughsonville;  John,  wh 
was  an    extensive    land    holder;    Francis,  01 
subject's    father;     Deborah;     Elizabeth    (d* 
ceased),  formerly  the  wife  of  Henry  Pattersoi 
and  Amelia,  the  wife  of  Edward  Bayard. 

Francis  Myers,  the  father  of  our  subjec 
was  reared  on  the  old  home  farm,  and  marrie 
Ann  Roy,  a  native  of   London,  England,  ar 
an  aunt  of  William  K.    Roy,  of  Wappinge  1 
Falls.       For    some    time    after    his    marria;! 
Francis  Myers   followed  farming  in  his  nati' 
town,  but  in   1855   he   became  employed  in 
grocery  at   Wappingers  Fails,  and  moved  b 
family  there.      In  i860  he  went  to  New  Har 
burg,  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  blac 
ing;  but    later   was    in    the  grocery  businesi 
which   he   carried  on  successfully  until  1S9' 
when  he  retired.      He  has  always  been  a  Der 
ocrat,  and  served  as  supervisor  of  the  town 
Poughkeepsie  for  several  years;  he  and  his  w 
now  live  in  Florida.     To  this  worthy  couj 
have  been  born  five  children:  Anna,  who  (fir 
married  J.  E.  Willard,  of  New  Hamburg,  a 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


611 


after  his  death  wedded  (second)  Walter  Jame- 
son, of   Walden.  N.  Y. ;  Charles  is  the  super- 
intendent of    the    Southern  Express  Co. ;    at 
i  Jacksonville,  Fla. ;  Mary  married  Dr.  Russell 
I  Dean,  of  the  same  city;  James  R.  is  a  farmer 
at    the    homestead;    and   John    Francis,    the 
j  youngest  of    the  family,  is  the  subject  of  this 
review. 

John  Francis  Myers  was  born  December  7, 
1856,  at  New  Hamburg,  and  has  spent  his 
entire  life  in  his  native  place,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  two  years  at  Wappingers  Falls  during 
bis  childhood.  Under  the  careful  tuition  of  his 
father,  he  so  mastered  the  details  of  the  grocery 
business  at  an  early  age  that,  although  one  of  the 
younger  business  men  of  the  place,  he  became 
one  of  the  most  successful  and  enterprising, 
conducting  a  retail  grocery,  which  commanded 
an  extensive  trade,  and  which  is  now  conducted 
by  Mrs.  H.  A.  Myers.  In  1882  he  married 
Miss  Harriet  Scofield,  daughter  of  William 
Scofield,  a  well-known  farmer  of  near  Low 
Point  (formerly  known  as  Carthage  Land- 
ing). Three  children  were  born  of  this 
union:  James  L. ,  Eeleelah  and  Francis  S. 
Mr.  Myers  is  a  public-spirited  citizen,  and, 
I  like  his  ancestors,  is  a  Democrat  in  political 
i faith.  He  and  his  wife  are  prominent  members 
of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  of  which  his 
family  have  always  been  influential  adherents. 


ORTIMER  B.  COLE  is  prominently 
identified  with  the  business  interests  of 
the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  being  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  retail  feed,  grist  and  saw  mill 
businesses  in  Salt  Point,  where  he  also  con- 
ducts a  general  store  and  sells  farming  imple- 
ments, etc.  His  success  has  all  been  achieved 
by  his  own  unaided  exertions,  and  as  the  years 
ihave  passed  he  has  gained  experience  and  busi- 
ness ability,  which  have  secured  him  prosperity 
while  yet  in  the  prime  of  life. 

Mr.  Cole  was  born  in  the  town  of  Pleasant 
Valley,  December  13,  1854,  and  is  a  son  of 
Charles  N.  Cole,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Put- 
nam county,  N.  Y.,  January  i,  1820.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  Elisha  J.  Cole,  also  a 
native  of  Putnam  county,  was  the  son  of  Jesse 
Cole,  who  was  born  in  New  England,  and  at 
an  early  day  located  in  Putnam  county,  where 
he  married  a  Miss  Ogden.  He  there  engaged 
in  the  grist,  saw  and  carding  mill  business. 
In  his  family  of  seven  children,  four  sons  and 


three  daughters,  were  Hiram  and  Jesse  (both 
farmers,)  and  Elisha  J.,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject.  In  his  native  county  the  last  named 
grew  to  manhood,  and  in  1800  married  Lydia 
Frost,  after  which  they  located  upon  a  farm, 
where  they  reared  four  children:  Charles  N., 
George,  and  two  daughters  who  died  while 
young.  He  died  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Val- 
ley, Dutchess  county,  in  1879,  his  wife  having 
preceded  him  to  the  world  beyond.  In  relig- 
ious belief  he  was  a  Baptist;  politically,  he  first 
supported  the  Whig  party,  and  later  the  Re- 
publican. His  youngest  son,  George  Cole,  was 
a  wholesale  liquor  dealer,  but  is  now  living  re- 
tired in  Chicago,  Illinois. 

After  completing  his  own  education,  Charles 
N.  Cole  taught  school  for  a  time.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Jane  Ann  Budd, 
who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley 
in  1827,  and  is  a  sister  of  Joel  and  Albert  J. 
Budd,  prominent  citizens  of  Dutchess  county. 
To  them  were  born  two  children:  Edward,  who 
was  killed  in  infancy;  and  Mortimer  B. ,  of  this 
review.  The  parents  located  upon  a  farm 
which  the  father  operated  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  September  4,  1891,  but  he  also  in- 
vented many  different  articles,  being  of  an  in- 
genious turn  of  mind.  He  was  a  strong  Re- 
publican, and  held  many  local  offices  of  honor 
and  trust.  His  estimable  wife  is  still  living  on 
the  same  farm,  which  is  managed  by  Mortimer 
B.  Cole. 

In  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  boys,  our 
subject  spent  his  childhood,  receiving  his  ele- 
mentary education  in  the  district  schools,  after 
which  he  pursued  his  studies  for  two  winters 
at  Pleasant  Plains,  and  finished  his  education 
in  the  Amenia  Seminary.  Returning  to  the 
farm,  he  later  married  Antoinette  Sands,  a  na- 
tive of  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess  county, 
and  a  daughter  of  Isaac  G.  Sands,  who  was 
also  born  in  Stanford  town,  and  was  of  En- 
glish descent.  For  one  year  the  young  couple 
lived  upon  a  farm,  but  the  following  year  Mr. 
Cole  worked  his  father-in-law's  farm.  The 
next  two  years,  however,  were  spent  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  after  which  he  ran  a  skating 
rink  in  New  Jersey  for  a  short  time,  and  on 
returning  to  this  county  again  worked  his  fa- 
ther-in-law's farm  for  a  couple  of  years.  In 
1887  he  came  to  Salt  Point,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  half  interest  in  a  gristmill  and  flour- 
mill,  but  the  following  year  bought  out  his 
partner,  and  has  since  conducted  the  business 
alone.      He  is  also  engaged  in  sawing  lumber, 


612 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  deals  in  all  kinds  of  general  merchandise 
and  farm  implements. 

Three  children  grace  the  union  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cole,  namely:  Stanley  S. ,  born  Novem- 
ber II,  1881;  Jennie  B. ,  born  May  27,  1884; 
and  Pinnia,  born  December  29,  1886.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Cole  are  active  in  the  community. 
He  is  a  strong  believer  in  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party,  which  he  always  supports 
with  his  ballot. 


CHARLES  H.  DUNCAN.  This  gentleman 
_  bears  the  family  name  that  figures  promi- 
nently in  the  annals  of  Dutchess  county,  his 
ancestors  having  been  long  and  prominently 
connected  with  the  history  of  Pleasant  Valley. 
The  Duncans,  of  whom  we  write,  are  origi- 
ally  of  Scotch  extraction.  The  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  Joshua  Duncan,  was  for  many 
years  assistant  superintendent  of  the  cotton 
factory  at  Pleasant  Valley,  and  was  widely 
known  as  a  straightforward,  honorable  busi- 
ness man.  His  political  support  was  given 
the  Republican  party.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
spent  their  last  days  in  the  locality  where  they 
had  so  long  made  their  home,  and  where  they 
had  reared  their  family  of  six  children,  namely: 
Mary,  wife  of  George  Cramer;  Margaret,  wife 
of  Richard  Cronkrite,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of 
Pleasant  Valley;  Rachel,  wife  of  John  McCord, 
a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  now  living  in 
Denver,  Colo. ;  Jane,  widow  of  Samuel  Bullock, 
and  a  resident  of  Pleasant  Valley;  John  B., 
the  father  of  our  subject;  and  Henry,  a  farmer 
of  the  town  of  Lagrange. 

John  B.  Duncan  was  born  and  reared  in 
Duchess  county,  and  in  his  early  life  learned 
the  machinist's  trade,  which  he  followed  for 
some  years.  After  his  marriage  he  located  in 
Pleasant  Valley,  where  for  many  years  he  en- 
gaged in  general  merchandising,  for  a  short 
time  as  a  part  of  the  firm  of  Duncan  &  Has- 
tings, and  then  as  sole  proprietor  of  his  well- 
conducted  store.  His  last  years  were  spent  in 
retirement  from  business  cares.  He  gave  his 
political  support  to  the  Republican  party;  for 
several  years  served  as  postmaster  of  Pleasant 
Valley,  and  was  also  town  clerk  for  a  number 
of  terms,  and  he  also  acceptably  served  as 
president  of  the  board  of  village  trustees. 
Mrs.  Duncan,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Jane  E.  Cronkrite,  was  a  daughter  of  John 
Cronkrite,  a  farmer  of  Lagrange  town,  de- 
scended from  Holland  ancestry.     The  family 


of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Duncan  included  five  children, 
namely:  Addison  G.,  a  resident  of  Streator, 
111.;  Charles  H.  and  Marsden  P.,  prominent 
merchants  of  Pleasant  Valley;  Grace;  and 
Jennie,  wife  of  I.  D.  Le  Roy,  M.  D.,  of  Pleas- 
ant Valley;  two  children  died  in  infancy.  The 
father  died  May  30,  1880;  the  mother  is  still 
living. 

Charles  H.  Duncan  spent  his  boyhood  days 
under  the  parental  roof,  and  began  his  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools,  which,  later,  he 
continued  in  Pelham  Institute,  Poughkeepsie. 
Returning  to  Pleasant  Valley  in  1875,  he  soon 
after  entered  upon  his  business  career  by 
securing  a  clerkship  with  Heath  &  Co.,  oi 
Poughkeepsie,  in  whose  service  he  remained 
some  four  years.  He  then  entered  the  employ 
of  Solomon  Strauss,  a  dry-goods  merchant, 
with  whom  he  remained  five  years,  and  then 
began  business  on  his  own  account,  in  Pleas- 
ant Valley,  in  partnership  with  his  brother, 
Marsden  F.  Under  the  firm  style  of  Duncan 
Brothers  they  carry  on  business,  and  have  ? 
large  trade,  which  their  honorable  dealing  and 
courteous  treatment  of  their  customers  justly 
entitles  them. 

Charles  H.  Duncan  was  married  June  12,1 
1889,  to  L.  Ida  Pray,  who  was  born  in  La-I 
grange  town,  Dutchess  county,  a  daughter  oi 
George  Pray,  who  followed  farming  in  that  loi 
cality.     The  family  has  long  been   identified  | 
with  the  history  of  this  community.      An  inter- 
esting   family    of    five    children — Ethel   Pray, 
Martha  Lavinia,  Hazel  May,  Virginia  Ida,  anc 
John  Howard — grace   the   union  of  Mr.    anc 
Mrs.    Duncan.       The    parents    are    esteemec 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which 
he    is    trustee   and    treasurer.       His    politica 
support  connects    him    with    the   Republicai 
party,    and    socially     he    affiliates    with    th( 
Masonic  fraternity. 


il 


LFRED      HAVILAND     MOORE.      Ii 

1 812  a  mill  was  erected  in  the  town  o 
Lagrange,  Dutchess  county,  around  which  th 
thriving  village  of  Moores  Mill  has  sine 
grown  up,  its  development  and  prosperity  be 
ing  largely  due  to  the  energy  and  business  sa 
gacity  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  othe 
members  of  his  family. 

His  grandfather,  Stephen  Moore,  a  nativ 
of  Plattsburg,  N.  Y. ,  owned  and  operated  th 
mill  in  his  day.  He  married  Ruth  Clark,  an 
reared  a    family,     among    whom    was    Alfre^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPmCAL  RECORD. 


613 


Moore,  our  subject's  father,  who  was  born  at 
Verbank,  Dutchess  county.  He  was  educated 
in  the  district  schools  of  that  town  and  of 
Moores  Mill.  On  attaining  manhood  he  en- 
I  gaged. in  farming  in  the  western  part  of  the 
I  town  of  Lagrange,  but  after  ten  years  he  re- 
moved to  Moores  Mill,  where  he  conducted  a 
!  farm  and  ran  the  old  mill.  He  was  a  high- 
minded,  progressive  man,  a  Quaker  in  faith, 
'  and  a  devoted  friend  to  Liberty,  his  house 
having  been  a  station  on  the  "  Underground 
railroad,"  by  which  so  m.any  slaves  made  their 
way  to  freedom.  Although  he  never  sought 
political  honors,  he  was  an  earnest  supporter 
of  the  Republican  party.  Deeply  conscious 
of  the  necessity  for  broad  and  thorough  educa- 
tion for  the  masses,  if  our  form  of  government 
is  to  endure,  he  never  failed  to  champion  the 
cause  of  education,  as  a  worker  in  the  Society 
of  Friends,  attending  meetings  regularly  from 
boyhood,  and  often  preaching  to  the  congre- 
gation. He  probably  officiated  at  more  funer- 
als than  any  other  minister  of  his  day  in 
I  Dutchess  county.  His  wife,  Charlotte  Havi- 
llaud.  was  a  daughter  of  Isaac  Haviland,  a 
well-known  resident  of  Quaker  Hill,  and  both 
lived  to  a  ripe  old  age,  Mr.  Moore  departing 
this  life  in  his  seventy-eighth  year,  and  his 
wife  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine.  They  had 
seven  children:  (i)  Lydia,  the  wife  of  Daniel 
Willets,  of  Jericho,  L.  L;  (2)  Ruth  (Mrs.  P. 
A.  Skidmore);  (3)  Susan,  who  resides  at 
Moores  Mill;  (4)  Albert  H.,  our  subject;  and 
three,  Charlotte,  Andrew  and  Annie,  who  are 
Qow  deceased. 

Alfred  H.  Moore,  our  subject,  was  born  at 

the  village  of  Moores  Mill  November  27,  1843, 

and  his  early  education   was  acquired  in  the 

district  schools  there  and  in  a  boarding  school 

n  Unionvale,  N.  Y.      He  has  thoroughly  iden- 

ied  himself  with  the   interests  of  his  native 

.ace,  and  in  addition  to  the  work  of  conduct- 

ng  the  mill  and  farm,  he  started  the  first  store 

n  the  village,  opened  the  first  telegraph  office, 

ind  the  first  post  office,  serving  as  postmaster 

or  several  years.   After  some  time,  he  disposed 

)f  the  store,  and  now  gives  his  attention  to  the 

mcestral  occupation,  and  since  1876  has  been 

he  sole  manager  of  the   mill.     He   has  been 

■xtensively  engaged  in   breeding  fine  Holstein 

attle  on  his  farm. 

In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  he  is  ac- 
ive  in  the  Friends  Meetings.  He  is  a  man  of 
xcellent  ability  and  upright  character,  and  is 

Eigh   esteem.      His  courtesy   is  unfail- 


ing,  and  in  conversation  he  gives  pleasure  not 
less  by  the  wisdom  of  his  remarks  than  by 
their  form,  the  soft  "thee,"  "thou,"  and 
"thy  "  lending  their  grace  to  his  well-turned 
sentences.  He  was  married  at  Jericho,  L.  I., 
to  Phcebe  Willets,  daughter  of  Jacob  Willets, 
and  they  have  three  children :  Herman  Wheeler, 
Jacob  Willets,  and  Daniel  W. 

Miss  Susan  Moore,  our  subject's  sister,  is 
the  proprietor  of  the  "Floral  Home"  at 
Moores  Mill,  a  delightful  summer  boarding 
place.  She  is  a  model  hostess,  untiring  in  her 
efforts  for  the  comfort  of  her  guests,  of  whom 
there  are  usually  about  seventy -five  throughout 
the  season.  The  house  takes  its  name  from 
the  abundance  of  beautiful  roses  and  other 
flowers  which  bloom  there,  making  the  place  a 
charming  retreat. 


E ELMORE  FERRIS,    a  well-known  dealer 
^  in   lumber,    feed    and    coal    at    Pawling, 

Dutchess  county,  is  one  of  the  most  enterpris- 
ing and  successful  business  men  of  that  locali- 
ty. He  was  born  October  19,  1837,  in  Mid- 
dlefield,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  and  was  educated 
in  the  district  schools  there,  his  attendance 
after  the  age  of  twelve  years  being  limited  to 
the  winter  terms.  At  fifteen  he  left  school 
and  began  working  by  the  month  for  farmers, 
and  at  eighteen  he  came  to  Pawling  town, 
Dutchess  county,  where  his  ancestors  have 
had  their  homes  for  several  generations.  .In 
1859  he  began  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade 
with  Mr.  Mclntyre,  and  followed  this  for  nine 
years;  but  in  1867  he  purchased  a  one-half  in- 
terest in  J.  C.  Merritt's  lumber,  feed  and  coal 
business.  Two  years  later  he  bought  Mr. 
Merritt's  share,  and  has  since  continued  the 
business  alone,  building  up  a  large  and  profit- 
able trade.  Energetic  and  self-reliant  in  bus- 
iness, he  is  also  interested  in  local  affairs,  and 
is  regarded  as  one  of  the  leaders  in  the  com- 
munity. He  has  always  been  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, and  although  he  has  never  been  an 
office  seeker,  he  is  at  present  trustee  of  the 
village.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Jane  Holmes, 
daughter  of  James  Holmes,  and  has  four  chil- 
dren: Carrie  M.,  Harriet  E.,  James  H.,  and 
Claude,  all  at  home. 

The  Ferris  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  and 
most  prominent  in  this  section.  The  genea- 
logical record  dates  back  to  John  Ferris,  a  na- 
tive of  Leicestershire,  England,  who  emigrated 
with  his  family  to  Fairfield,  Conn.,  and  after- 


614 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ward,  about  1654,  removed  to  New  York 
State,  dying  in  171 5.  He  is  said  to  have  been 
one  of  five  brothers  who  came  to  this  country 
with  their  families,  one  of  whom,  Jeffrey,  set- 
tled first  in  Massachusetts  in  1635,  and  then 
in  Fairfield,  Conn.,  in  1660.  Another  brother, 
Benjamin,  settled   in  Salem,   Mass.,  in    1640. 

Samuel  Ferris,  a  son  of  John,  was  born  in 
Reading,  England,  and  was  among  the  first 
settlers  of  Groton,  Mass.,  whence  he  removed 
to  Charlestown,  Mass.  His  only  son,  Zach- 
ariah  Ferris,  married  Sarah  Reed,  of  Stratford, 
Conn.,  and  had  eight  children,  of  whom  there 
is  the  following  record:  (i)  Deborah,  born 
June  17,  1700;  (2)  Joseph,  born  September 
27,  1703,  married  a  Hannah  Noble;  (3)  David, 
born  March  10,  1707,  in  Stratford,  died  in 
Wilmington,  Del.,  December  5,  1779;  (4)  Ben- 
jamin, born  in  1708;  (5)  Sarah  Ann,  born  No- 
vember 10.  1 7 10,  married  a  Mr.  Noble;  (6) 
Hannah,  born  August  6,  1712,  married  (first) 
Gains  Talbot,  and  (second)  Dobson  Wheeler; 
(7)  John,  born  February  7,  17 14,  married 
Abigail  Tyron,  of  New  Fairfield,  Conn.;  (8) 
Zachariah,  Jr.,  born  September  30,  1714,  was 
a  Quaker  preacher  of  Wilmington,  Del. ;  and 
Daniel  comes  next  in  order  of  birth.  Zach- 
ariah Ferris,  Sr. ,  was  in  Charlestown  in  1675, 
and  afterward  settled  at  Stratford,  Conn.,  and 
then  about  the  year  1710  removed  to  New  Mil- 
ford,  Conn.  From  him  are  descended  per- 
sons of  that  name  in  different  parts  of  the 
United  States.  Five  of  the  children — David, 
Benjamin,  Hannah,  John  and  Zachariah,  Jr. 
— together  with  the  mother,  joined  the  Society 
of  Friends.  David  was  educated  for  a  Presby- 
terian minister,  but  afterward  became  a  cele- 
brated preacher  among  the  Friends.  He  went 
to  Philadelphia  in  1733,  and  was  there  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Mary  Massey,  and  often  attended 
theOblong  meetings,  visiting  his  brother  Benja- 
min. He  traveled  about  with  William  Rus- 
sell and  Paul  Osborne,  preaching,  being  a 
minister  among  the  Friends  for  twenty-four 
years.  The  Oblong  meeting  house  was  on 
land  owned  half  by  a  R.ussell  and  half  by  a 
Ferris. 

Benjamin  Ferris  was  a  Quaker  preacher, 
and  was  among  the  very  first  settlers  of  the 
Oblong  (now  Quaker  Hill),  Dutchess  county, 
between  the  years  1734  and  1736.  The 
name  "Oblong"  is  derived  from  the  shape  of 
that  portion  of  equivalent  land  that  was  set 
off  from  Connecticut  about  1730.  He  was 
very  prominent  in  the  meetings  there  through- 


out life.  In  his  old  age,  his  son  Zebulan's 
store  (now  occupied  by  William  Clark)  was 
robbed  by  the  cowboys  during  the  Revolution, 
and  he  was  so  far  non-resident  in  his  ideas, 
that  he  desired  those  present  to  "seize  the 
rascals."  Benjamin  Ferris  married  Elizabeth 
Beecher,  and  had  the  following  children:  (i) 
Zebulon,  born  in  New  Milford,  Conn.,  March 

19,  1729,  married  Ruth ;  (2)  Reed,  our 

subject's  great-grandfather,  born  August  15, 
1730,  in  New  Milford,  married  Anne  Tripp;  (3) 
Susannah,  born  in  New  Milford,  in  1732,  mar- 
ried Elijah  Doty;  (4)  Phcebe,  born  in  1734,  in 
New  Milford;  (5)  Lillius,  born  in  1736,  in  Ob- 
long, married  Jonathan  Akin;  (6)  Benjamin, 
born  September  25,  1738,  in  Oblong,  married 
Mary  Howland;  (7)  Gilbert,  born  in  1740,  in 
Oblong;  and  (8)  Edmund,  born  in  1748,  in 
Oblong. 

Reed  Ferris,  tradition  and  history  informs 
us,    freely   offered    his  fine    mansion    (knows 
as  the  "old  Kirby  House  ")  to  Gen.' Washing- 
ton for  his    use   as   headquarters,    at  Pawling, 
N.  Y.      In  James  H.  Smith's  history  of  Dutch 
ess  county  we   find  the  following:      "  The  old 
'  Kirby   House  '   was  built   by  Reed  Ferris  in 
1 77 1,  and    at    the    time    Washington    was  ic 
Pawling  was  a  new  house.     Mr.  Ferris  was 
substantial    farmer,    and    his    house,  like    hia 
means,  was  large.      Mrs.  Akin,  mother  of  th 
late  Judge  Albro  Akin,  and  another  lady  usee 
to  tell  of  its  occupancy.      One  day  two  aides- 
de-camp  rode  up  and  informed  Mr.  Ferris  thai 
Gen.  Washington  would  like  to  make  his  horn* 
there  for  a  while.     Mr.    Ferris  consented,  anc 
to  notify  all   intruders  that  this  was  the  house 
of   the    commander-in-chief,    they   fastened  ; 
paper  to  the  front  door,  reading:      '  Headquar 
ters  of  Gen.  Washington.'     The  Ferris  hous( 
has  been   torn   down,  and   all  that  remains  ii 
the  front  doorstep  with  '  R.  F.'  and  '  1771  'cm 
in  it."     The  farm  is  now  owned  by  Archibalc 
Dodge.       Reed  Ferris  and   Anne    Tripp   hac 
the  following  children:    Edmund,  born  Marcl 
30,    1752;    Benjamin,    July   29.    1754;  Lydia 
July  5,   1756,    married    a  Mr.  Wanzer;  Molly ' 
April   20,    1759,    married  John    Akin;  James 
July   2,    1761;    Warren,    February    19,    1764 
Pitt,  July  4,  1766;  Morris,  October  16,  1768 
Anne,  January    5,    1771,  married  a  Mr.   Havi 
land;  and  Seneca,  February  15,  1773. 

Edmund  Ferris,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub 
ject,  was  married  four  times,  and  had  nineteeil 
children.  On  October  30,  1771,  he  marrie"| 
his  first  wife,    Mary  Akin,  who  was  born  No 


OOMMEMORATTVE  BIOORAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


615 


inber  i,  1747,  and  had  one  son — John  Akin 
t'erris,  born  October  17,  1772,  at  Pawling,  N. 
Y.  The  second  wife,  Hannah  Taber,  became 
the  mother  of  two  children:  Thomas  Taber, 
Ootober  8,  1776,  ani  Hannah,  born  Novem- 
ber 22,  1777.  The  third  wife  of  Edmund 
Ferris  was  Martha  Birch,  born  in  1760,  whom 
he  married  in  1 78 1 ;  she  died  January  22,  1794. 
Their  children  were:  Willett  F. ,  who  was 
born  May  19,  1782,  and  died  April  12,  1853; 
Betsey,  born  November  14,  1783;  Amy,  born 
January  17,  1785;  Ira,  born  October  23,  1788; 
Sophia,  born  May  17,  1789-;  and  Oliver,  born 
December  5,  1793.  For  his  fourth  wife,  he 
married  Sally  Birdsall,  who  was  born  in  1777, 
and  to  them  were  born  ten  children,  whose 
names  and  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows:  Ann, 
February  25,  1796;  Philelus,  November  5, 
1797;  Minerva,  March  18,  1799;  Horace,  Feb- 
ruary 9,  1801;  Ransom,  February  24,  1803; 
Matilda,  December  30,  1804;  Garrett,  May 
28,  1806;  Sally,  April  26,  1809;  Alfred,  Sep- 
tember 29,  1 8 10;  and  Massilla,  September  26, 
ii8i2.  The  third  and  fourth  wives  of  Edmund 
Ferris  are  the  ancestors  of  nearly  all  of  the  name 
inPawJing.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
a  farmer,  and  succeeded  to  a  part  of  the  estate 
of  his  father.  He  lived  on  Quaker  Hill  dur- 
ing a  portion  of  his  life,  and  later  on  the  Daniel 
Dodge  farm.  He  was  quite  a  large  land  holder 
at  one  time,  and  was  prominent  in  his  locality. 
He  served  in  the  war  of  18 12,  and  was  known 
as  MaJQ/  Ferris. 

Horace  Ferris,  our  subject's  father,  was  a 
farmer  who  went  to  Otsego  county,  N.  Y. , 
about  1830,  purchased  a  farm  and  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life  there.  He  had  only  a 
small  estate,  but  was  a  man  of  push  and  en- 
ergy. He  was  a  Whig,  although  he  never  took 
an  active  part  in  politics,  and  he  attended  the 
uMethodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  died  in  1873, 
and  his  wife,  Emeline  Bentley,  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  Bentley,  of  the  town  of  Beekman, 
passed  away  in  1891.  She  was  the  third  in  a 
jtamily  of  five  children,  the  others  being:  El- 
mer; Luman;  Harriet  (who  married  Philo  Fer- 
ris, and  lived  in  Chenango  county,  N.  Y.);  and 
Clarinda  (who  married  Mr.  Garrett,  and  lived 
ind  died  in  Pawling).  The  Bentleys  were  also 
English  origin.  To  Horace  Ferris  and  his 
-y\i&  were  born  children  as  follows:  Clarissa, 
Who  married  (first)  Cyrus  Groves,  and  (second) 
Adam  Dye;  Matilda,  wife  of  John  Corbin; 
Walter  H.,  who  married  Caroline  Terwilliger; 
Ellen,  wife  of  John  Pratt;  Mary,  who  married 


(first)  Albert  Cole,  and  (second)  Emery  Ja- 
quins;  Phcebe,  wife  of  Farren  Pratt;  Edmond, 
who  married  Amanda  Sun;  Elizabeth,  who  died 
in  girlhood;  Elmore,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch;  Alfred,  who  married  Amanda  Chase, 
and  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war;  Levisa,  wife 
of  Isaac  Techout;  Richard,  who  died  from 
wounds  received  in  the  army;  Leroy  (who  also 
served  in  the  Union  army)  married  M.  J.  Do- 
len;  and  twins  who  died  young.  Most  of  the 
family  live  in  Otsego  county. 


ICHARD  A.  SCHOUTEN,  proprietor  of 
a  meat  market  at  Staatsburg,  Dutchess 
county,  is  a  man  of  strong  and  intelligent  con- 
victions and  of  good  business  tact.  He  is  a 
native  of  Dutchess  county,  born  November 
22,  1835,  in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  then 
known  as  Fishkill,  and  is  descended  from  J. 
Schouten,  a  Holland  emigrant,  who  came  to 
Dutchess  county  and  located  in  the  town  of 
Fishkill,  where  his  son,  John  S.  Schouten,  was 
born.  The  latter  was  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  who  lived  upon  one  farm  during  his 
entire  life  and  was  very  successful  in  his  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  He  wedded  Phoebe  Perry, 
who  was  born  in  Fishkill,  in  1777,  and  to 
them  was  born  a  son,  Stockholm,  the  father 
of  our  subject.  In  Hyde  Park,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, the  grandfather  died,  March  22,  1861,  and 
his  wife,  in  1835. 

Stockholm  Schouten  was  born  December 
20,  1803,  on  the  old  home  farm  in  the  town 
of  Fishkill,  which  he  conducted  until  the 
spring  of  1850,  when  he  removed  to  a  farm  in 
Hyde  Park  town,  about  a  mile  north  of  East 
Park  (then  called  Union  Corners),  procuring 
260  acres  of  land  now  owned  by  De  Witt 
Mulford.  That  farm  he  operated  for  about 
seven  years,  when  he  traded  for  a  smaller 
place.  He  spent  his  last  days,  however,  with 
his  son,  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Poughkeepsie. 
He  was  an  intelligent,  well-read  man,  having 
received  good  educational  advantages,  and 
being  possessed  of  much  natural  talent.  He 
took  quite  a  prominent  part  in  local  political 
affairs  in  both  Fishkill  and  Hyde  Park  town, 
always  voting  with  the  Democratic  party,  and 
served  for  many  years  as  overseer  of  the  poor 
in  the  former  town.  In  later  life  he  was  an 
earnest  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  dying  in  that  faith  March  13,  1876, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years. 

Stockholm    Schouten    married    Miss    Ann 


616 


COMMEMORA  TIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Maria  Underbill,  who  was  born  December  i6, 
1810,  and  died  April  7,  1883;  she  was  the 
daughter  of  Absalom  Underbill.  Children  as 
follows  were  born  to  this  union:  Ann  Eliza, 
born  August  19,  1830,  became  the  wife  of 
William  S.  Ladin,  and  died  in  August,  1849, 
the  year  she  was  married.  John  S.,  born  Oc- 
tober 8,  1832,  is  a  farmer  of  the  town  of 
Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess  county;  he  served 
in  the  Civil  war,  enlisting  as  private,  and  was 
promoted  to  sergeant.  Richard  A.  is  next  in 
order  of  birth.  William  Kipp,  born  January 
27,  1839,  became  a  promising  young  lawyer  of 
Poughkeepsie,  but  was  called  from  this  life 
February  18,  1870,  at  the  age  of  thirty-one 
years,  one  month  and  four  days.  Charles  An- 
drew, born  November  23,  1843,  was  a  soldier 
during  the  Civil  war,  and  was  promoted  to  ser- 
geant; most  of  his  life  has  been  spent  in  the 
dry-goods  business  in  New  York  City,  but  he 
is  now  assistant  superintendent  in  a  post-grad- 
uate hospital,  2ist  street  and  2d  avenue,  New 
York.  Phoebe  Helen,  born  October  2,  1847, 
died  in  1866,  the  year  of  her  marriage.  Julia, 
born  March  14,  1850,  married  to  William  Nel- 
son, and  had  two  children — Guy  Lockwood 
and  Grace  Deere;  Julia  died  about  the  year 
1885.  Stockholm,  born  March  27,  1853,  was 
a  printer  of  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  died  Oc- 
tober 6,  1879. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  such  as 
the  common  schools  of  Fishkill  and  Hyde  Park 
towns  afforded,  and  he  is  well  posted  on  the  cur- 
rent events  of  the  day.  For  one  year  after 
attaining  his  majority  he  still  remained  upon 
the  home  farm,  and  then  began  the  butcher- 
ing business  on  a  small  scale,  for  a  few  months 
running  a  wagon.  The  following  year  he 
bought  a  small  place  east  of  Hyde  Park,  where 
he  resided  for  about  four  years,  but  in  1863 
succeeded  to  the  business  of  M.  E.  Lattin,  in 
Staatsburg,  starting  a  small  market  on  the 
west  side  of  the  track.  For  nine  months  he 
conducted  a  shop  at  Red  Hook,  Dutchess 
county,  and  for  about  a  j'ear  one  at  Newburg, 
N.  Y. ,  but  in  1872  he  purchased  his  present 
building  of  William  B.  Densmore,  and  has 
since  successfully  carried  on  a  market  there, 
handling  the  best  meats  and  controlling  the 
trade  of  the  town.  He  is  careful  and  method- 
ical in  his  business  dealings,  and  his  success  is 
the  just  reward  of  his  own  diligence,  enter- 
prise and  good  management. 

In  1857  Mr.  Schouten  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Laura  J.  Velie,  daughter  of  Henry 


Velie,  and  they  have  become  the  parents  of 
the  following  children:  Charles  Henry,  who 
was  born  August  3,  1858,  and  is  now  in  the 
shop  with  his  father;  Alice  L. ,  who  was  born 
January  5,  1863,  and  is  the  wife  of  C.  W.,H. 
Arnold;  Francis  M.,  who  died  May  3,  1879,  at 
the  age  of  thirteen  years;  Richard  U.,  bom 
January  15,  1875,  and  died  in  1894,  at  the  age 
of  nineteen  years;  Laura  Velie,  who  was  born 
February  10,  1870,  and  is  at  home;  Sterling 
Bird,  born  May  17,  1879;  and  Emma  Deere, 
born  May  23,  1882.  Politically,  Mr.  Schouten 
votes  the  straight- Democratic  ticket,  and  has 
served  his  fellow-citizens  as  school  trustee  and 
collector  of  his  town.  He  is  a  devoted  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of 
Staatsburg,  in  which  he  has  officiated  as  trus- 
tee, and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school. 


QRLANDO  JAMES  COWL,  a  retired  mer- 
_^'  chant  tailor  of  Pawling,  Dutchess  county, 
has  been  for  many  years  a  leading  resident  of 
that  town,  and  he  and  his  estimable  wife,  who 
recently  passed  from  earth,  have  been  helpful 
factors  in  the  important  social,  philanthropical 
and  religious  movements  which  have  contrib- 
uted to  the  development  and  progress  of  the 
community. 

Mr.  Cowl  is  a  native  of  New  York  City, 
born  November  14,  1825.  His  family  is  ol 
English  origin,  and  the  home  of  the  American 
branch  may  be  said  to  be  at  Cowl's  ^orners, 
east  of  Patterson,  in  Putnam  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  where 
many  of  the  name  now  live.  Capt.  William 
Cowl,  our  subject's  grandfather,  was  a  promi- 
nent citizen  of  that  locality,  and  was  greatl}; 
respected  for  his  sound  judgment  and  upright 
and  temperate  life.  Possessing  great  energy, 
he  engaged  successfully  in  various  business  en- 
terprises, being  a  merchant,  a  shoemaker,  and 
the  owner  of  a  large  tannery,  and  he  also  tool( 
an  active  share  in  local  politics  as  a  supportei 
of  the  Whig  party.  His  title  was  a  well-earned 
distinction  gained  in  the  war  of  1812.  Hel 
died  in  i860,  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Gorhani, 
in  18 — .  They  had  seven  children:  Eliza' 
Harry;  Orrin;  James;  one  who  went  to  thf 
West;  Mrs.  Flora  Anderson;  and  Anna  (alsc 
married). 

James  Cowl,  our  subject's  father,  was  borr^ 
in  1799,  and  about  1826  engaged  in  the  gro 
eery  business   at   Pawling,  at   what  was  ther 
known  as  Goosetown,  on   the   spot  now  occu- 
pied by  the  residence   of   James   Ferris.     He 


^    t/^/^.n^vv^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


617 


tafterward  moved   to   New  York,  and  followed 
|the  same  business  at  the  corner  of  Church  and 
'Franklin  streets,  but  at  the  age  of  thirty-five 
he  was  compelled  to  abandon  mercantile  pur- 
suits on  account  of  ill  health,  and   from  that 
:ime  he  was   engaged  in  the  real-estate  busi- 
ness.     The    family    has    always   been    distin- 
l^uished  for  excellent  business  judgment,  and 
lis  career  would  serve  to  confirm  that  reputa- 
ion,  his  energy  and  foresight  enabling  him  to 
iccumulate  a   fortune.      He  did  not  care  for 
)ublic    honors,    and    refused     to    become    a 
:andidate  for  ofifice  when  urged;   but  he  was 
nterested  in  political  questions  of  national  im- 
)ortance,  and  was  at  first  a  Whig,  later,  as  a 
trong  opponent  of   slavery,  becoming  a  Re- 
•ublican.      He    was    a    cheerful    giver  to  any 
v'orthy  cause,  and  a  steadfast  adherent  of  the 
'resbyterian  Church  for  many  years  before  his 
eath,  which   occurred    April    15,    1892.      His 
rst    wife,    our    subject's    mother,    was    Miss 
'hoebe  Martin,  a  daughter  of  John    Martin,  a 
'ell-known  resident  of  Quaker  Hill.     She  died 
few  years  after  their  marriage,  and  his  sec- 
)nd  wife,  Mary  (Ludlum),  was  a  victim  of  the 
holera  epidemic  of    1848.      He  then  married 
•  ifrs.  Stanton,  by  whom   he  had  one  son.      In 
p  place  did   the  strong  character  of   James 
owl  show  to  a  better  advantage  than  in  his 
)me  life.     The  best  of  fathers,  he  gave  his 
lildren  good    advantages,  and    started   them 
ell  in  life.     Of  the  three  children  of  his  first 
imily,  Harriet,  the  wife   of  Alexander  Allen, 
as  the   youngest.      Martin   H.,  who  died  at 
e  age  of    forty-five   years,   was  a    carriage- 
aker  by  trade,  and  was    noted    for  his  fine 
ttural  abilities.      George  Cowl,  the  son  of  the 
jird  marriage,  is  a   successful  drug  broker  in 
^B  York  City. 

HBlie  subject  of  our  sketch  received  a  good 
Waaemic  education  in  New  York  during  his 
liyhood,  completing  his  studies  in  the  school 
•  nducted  by  Profs.  King  and  Peaks,  on  Broad- 
liy,  near  Bleecker  street.  At  eighteen  years 
\  age  he  began  to  learn  the  tailor's  trade  in 
\^t  city,  and  when  he  was  twenty-two  years 
cl  he  opened  a  shop  of  his  own  while  living 
^th  his  brother-in-law,  Mr-v  Allen.  In  1865 
\  started  a  merchant-tailoring  establishment 
a  Pawling,  near  the  depot,  which  became  the 
Rncipal  house  in  that  line  in  the  town.  He 
vs  obliged  to  give  this  up  in  1871  on  account 
failing  health,  and  in  the  following  year  he 
tilt  his  present  residence,  and  has  since  given 
_fl  attention  to  the  care  of  his  extensive  gar- 


dens. As  a  business  man  he  has  been  very 
successful,  displaying  force  of  character  com- 
bined with  clear  and  sound  judgment.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  first  a  Whig,  later  a  Republican, 
and  he  is  a  strong  upholder  of  the  temperance 
cause. 

In  1866,  Mr.  Cowl  married  Miss  Phoebe  A. 
Beardsley,  daughter  of  Bennett  Beardsley,  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Poughkeepsie.  She  pos- 
sessed rare  qualities  of  mind  and  heart,  and 
her  death,  which  occurred  July  19,  1894,  was 
deeply  mourned.  The  memory  of  her  efforts 
as  a  devoted  and  self-sacrificing  worker  for  the 
good  of  others  will  always  be  cherished  in  that 
community.  She  and  her  husband  were  both 
active  members  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and 
Mr.  Cowl  has  held  the  office  of  steward  for 
many  years. 


WILLIAM      H.     PARKER     has,     smce 
1872,    been   a   successful  merchant  of 

Hughsonville,  Dutchess  county,  dealing  in 
stoves,  house  furnishing  goods  and  groceries. 
His  fair  dealing  and  systematic  methods  of 
doing  business  have  won  for  him  the  confi- 
dence and  respect  of  all  with  whom  he  comes 
in  contact,  and  his  property  has  been  acquired 
by  the  exercise  of  sound  judgment,  good  busi- 
ness talents  and  industry. 

Thomas  Parker,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
a  native  of  Connecticut,  born  at  Chester,  in 
1800.  The  family  is  of  Welsh  origin,  three 
brothers  having  come  from  that  country  and 
settled  in  America  about  1650.  When  ten 
years  of  age  the  father  became  a  resident  of 
Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  where  he 
learned  the  tin,  sheet-iron  and  copper  trade, 
and  later  followed  his  chosen  occupation  at 
Rochester,  Troy  and  Elmira,  N.  Y.  In  1841 
he  removed  to  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  but  his  last 
days  were  passed  at  Dubuque,  Iowa,  where  he 
died  in  December,  1856.  In  early  life  he  was 
a  Whig  in  politics,  but  later  supported  the 
Democratic  party.  He  was  a  very  religious 
man,  a  faithful  member  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  to  which  his  wife  also  belonged. 
Thomas  Parker  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Sarah  De  Groff,  who  was  born  in  1804, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  where  their  marriage  was 
celebrated,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Cornelius 
De  Groff,  a  native  of  the  same  place.  The 
De  Groffs  were  originally  from  France,  but,  on 
going  to  Holland,  they  intermarried  with  that 
nation,  and  representatives  of  the  family  came 


618 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


to  America  at  a  very  early  period  in  the  his- 
tory of  this  country.  Shortly  after  their  mar- 
riage the  parents  of  our  subject  removed  to 
Troy,  N.  Y. ,  where  part  of  the  children  were 
born,  the  remainder  being  born  at  Rochester. 
They  are  as  follows:  Jeffrey  A.,  a  resident  of 
Dubuque,  Iowa;  Adaline,  deceased  wife  of 
William  R.  Anderson,  a  captain  on  the  Mis- 
sissippi, river;  Thomas,  who  died  in  Milwau- 
kee at  the  age  of  eighteen  years;  Maria  and 
Julia,  who  died  in  infancy;  William  H.,  of 
this  review;  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Thomas 
Prest,  of  Whitinsville,  Mass.  The  mother's 
death  occurred  at  Hughsonville,  N.  Y. ,  in 
1893,  when  in  her  ninetieth  year. 

At  Troy,  N.  Y. ,  on  July  4,  1837,  William 
H.  Parker  first  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light, 
and  was  only  a  year  old  when  taken  by 
his  parents  to  Elmira,  where  they  remained  a 
short  time.  As  early  as  1841  he  became  a 
resident  of  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  where  his  boy- 
hood days  were  passed,  and  there  he  learned 
the  tinner's  and  plumber's  trade  with  Henry 
J.  Nazro  &  Co.  In  May,  1856,  he  started 
overland  to  Kansas  by  cattle  train,  and  was 
three  months  en  route.  He  traveled  exten- 
sively through  the  West  and  South  for  some 
time,  but  finally,  in  1858,  came  to  Poughkeep- 
sie,  Dutchess  county,  where  he  remained  for 
a  short  time.  He  then  worked  at  his  trade  in 
many  large  cities,  including  Cincinnati,  Pitts- 
burg, Philadelphia,  New  York  and  Boston. 
On  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  he  went  to 
Monticello,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  enlisted  in  the 
First  New  York  Mounted  Rifles,  but  because 
of  a  rupture  did  not  enter  into  active  service. 

In  June,  1864,  Mr.  Parker  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Kelly,  a  native  of  Orange  county, 
N.  Y. ,  and  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Kelly,  who 
was  of  Irish  extraction.  Nine  children  were 
born  to  them,  but  four  died  in  infancy.  Those 
still  living  are  Willard,  Fred,  Jennie,  Charles 
and  Addie,  all  at  home.  Shortly  after  his 
marriage,  Mr.  Parker  located  at  Wappingers 
Falls,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for  A.  W. 
Armstrong  for  three  years,  and  the  following 
year  was  in  business  for  himself  at  that  place. 
Going  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  he  engaged  in  the 
wholesale  spice-box  business,  manufacturing 
tinware  there  for  four  years.  Since  1872, 
however,  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Hughson- 
ville, where  he  has  engaged  in  his  present  line 
of  business. 

Politically,  Mr.  Parker  affiliates  with  the 
Republican  party,  being  one  of  its    most  ear- 


nest supporters,  and  betakes  quite  a  prominen 
part  in  public  affairs.  In  1889  he  was  electee 
justice  of  the  peace,  in  which  office  he  servec 
for  four  years,  for  the  same  length  of  time  was 
the  efficient  postmaster  of  Hughsonville;  ir 
1893  was  elected  supervisor  of  Wappingei 
township,  and  at  the  end  of  a  year  was  re 
elected,  serving  in  that  position  until  the  pres- 
ent time,  when  superseded  by  Mr.  Barlow 
He  is  a  very  intelligent  man,  being  well-reai 
on  literary  and  scientific  subjects,  and  is  on 
of  the  prominent  men  in  the  community,  stand 
ing  high  in  the  estimation  of  his  fellow-citizens 


fflLES  HUGHES.       In  past  ages  the  hi; ^ 
XSx   tory  of  the    country  was  the   record  c 
wars  and  conquests;  to-day  it  is  the   record  < 
commercial   activity,  and  those  whose  nam* 
are  foremost  in  its   annals  are  the  leaders  i 
business    circles.     The    conquests    now   mac 
are  those  of  mind  over   matter,  not  man  ovt 
man,  and  the  victor  is  he  who  can  successful! i 
establish,  control  and  operate   extensive  corr 
mercial  interests.       Mr.  Hughes  is  unquestior 
ably  one  of  the  most  successful  men  of  Dutcf 
ess  county.     Tireless  energy,  keen  perceptioi 
honesty    of  purpose,  genius    for    devising  ar; 
executing  the   right  thing  at  the  right  tiirni 
joined  to  every-day  common  sense,  guided  f: 
resistless  will  power,  are   the  chief  charactei 
istics  of  the  man.      He  is  at  the  head  of  a  lar; 
mercantile  establishment  at  Staatsburg,  whe 
he  is  also  engaged  in  handling  grain,  feed  aij 
flour,  having  one  of  the  finest   elevators  in  tl' 
county;  is  president    of    the    Fallkill    Knittii 
Co.,  of  Poughkeepsie;  president  of  the  Dutc  | 
ess  Land    Co.,  vice-president  of  the    Gilbe 
Arnold  Land   Co.,   and   is  also  largely  intt 
ested  in  property  at  Superior,  Wisconsin. 

The  family  is  of  English  ancestry,   beii 
founded  in  America  by  those  of  the  name  w 
took  up  their  residence  in  New   England  di 
ing  Colonial  days.      The    great-grandfather 
our  subject,  Christopher  Hughes,  was  a  nati 
of  New  Haven,  Conn.,  and  in  early  life  wav 
sea  captain.      He  was  the  first  of  the  family 
come  to  Dutchess'county,  where  he  purchas 
about  600  acres  of  land  in  the  town  of  H)  ■ 
Park,  southeast   of  Staatsburg,  also  the  pn  ■ 
erty  on  which  A.  J.  Briggs'  is  now  living.     I' 
son,  Christopher,  the  grandfather  of  our  si  • 
ject,  was  one  of  the  first  officers  in  the  town  t 
Hyde  Park  after  it  was  set   off  from  Clintf 
He  was  born  in  New    Haven,  Conn.,  and  ' 


COMMEyrORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


619 


ccupation  was  a    farmer,  operating  the  land 

/hich   his    father    had    here    purchased.      He 

Vas  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  locality, 

jDok  an  active  part  in  Church   work,  and  was 

ne  of  the   founders  of  St.  James  Episcopal 

■.hurch   at   Hyde   Park.      He   married  Rachel 

'aulding,  belonging    to   the    family  of    which 

ohn  Paulding,  one  of  the   captors  of    Major 

ndre,  was  a  member,   and  also  James  Kirk 

aulding,  the  author  and   statesman.      Of  this 

nion    eight    children    were    born:       Samuel; 

liles;  Christopher,  the  father  of  our  subject, 

ho  is  the   only   one  of  the  sons  now  living; 

rooks;  Elizabeth,  who  married  Mr.  Wade,  of 

Ibany  county,  N.   Y. ;   Harriet,   who  became 

le  wife  of  John  Uhl;  Maria,  who  wedded  Mr. 

kidmore;    and    Lucinda,    wife    of    Hercules 

eed,  of  Hulburton,  New  York. 

Upon  the  family  homestead  in  the  town  of 

lyde  Park,  the  father  of  our  subject  was  born, 

I  July,  1805,  and   has    always   followed  agri- 

iltural   pursuits,  in  which  he   has  been  suc- 

!ssful,  being  a  man  of  good  judgment  in  busi- 

-~  n:;atters.      He  married  Miss  Sarah  Lamo- 

daughter  of  John  Lamoree,  who  belonged 

one  of  the  oldest  families  of  Dutchess  coun- 

.  of  French  origin,  and  was  one  of  the  most 

ccessful  farmers  and  prominent  men  of  the 

immunity.      Mrs.  Hughes  is  one  of  a  family 

seven    children,  the    others    being   Daniel; 

:aac;    George    V.;     Nathaniel;     Millie,    who 

arried    Harris    Marshall;    and    Mary,    -who 

idded  Jeremiah  Shultz,  of  the  town  of  Clin- 

n,  Dutchess  county.     To  the  parents  of  our 

'bject  were  born  four  children:     Sarah,  now 

■vidow  of  Jacob  Cookingham;  Miles,  of  this 

Msw;  Edgar,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
I;  and  Lucinda.      In   his  early  years  the 
ertook  a  great  interest  in  military  matters, 
'ing  captain  of   a    cavalry  company   in   the 
i  Militia,    and   was  always  known  by  his 
ciates  as  Capt.  Hughes.      He  is  still  living 
he  advanced  age  of  ninety-one  years,  while 
:.  devoted  wife  is   in    her  eighty-ninth  year. 
1;  early  became   connected  with  the  Episco- 
[I  Church  of  Hyde  Park,  but  now  holds  mem- 
trship  with  the  Church  at  Staatsburg,  in  the 
^rk  of  which  he   takes  an  active   part,  and 
^i  always  served  as  one  of  its  officers.      Pub- 
1  interests  also   receive   his   attention,  espe- 
Clly  educational  affairs,  and  for  many  years 
served    as    school    trustee.      His    political 
.>ort  has   always  been   unswervingly  given 
i    Democratic  party. 
Miles  Hughes   was   born  April  8,   1836,  on 


the  old  family  homestead  at  Staatsburg, 
Dutchess  county,  and  received  a  good  aca- 
demic education,  finishing  his  literary  studies  at 
Hinsdale,  Mass.,  where  he  went  with  the  in- 
tention of  preparing  for  Williams  College.  At 
the  age  of  eighteen,  however,  he  left  school 
and  began  teaching  in  the  home  school,  hold- 
ing that  position  for  about  six  months.  He 
was  very  successful  in  that  undertaking,  and 
now  looks  back  upon  his  work  there  with  as 
much  satisfaction  as  anything  he  has  accom- 
plished in  life.  For  about  seven  years  after- 
ward he  assisted  in  the  cultivation  of  the  home 
farm ;  but  in  February,  1 864,  he  began  the  gen- 
eral merchandising  in  connection  with  a  Mr. 
Wood,  of  Clinton  town,  and  the  firm  contin- 
ued to  do  business  for  some  seven  years,  when 
our  subject  bought  out  his  partner's  interest, 
and  has  since  conducted  the  concern  alone. 
He  has  one  of  the  largest  trades  in  the  county, 
won  by  the  high  grade  of  goods  which  he  car- 
ries, fair  and  honorable  dealing,  and  his  court- 
eous treatment  of  customers.  He  has  been 
successful  in  all  his  business  ventures,  the  re- 
sult of  his  own  untiring  efforts. 

In  October,  1865,  Mr.  Hughes  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Pier,  of  Upper  Red  Hook,  Dutch- 
ess county,  daughter  of  Benjamin  S.  Pier,  for- 
merly of  New  York  City,  but  later  a  resident 
of  Upper  Red  Hook,  N.  Y.  As  a  coppersmith 
he  made  the  first  pans  for  the  Borden  Con- 
densed Milk  Company.  Five  children  grace 
the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife:  Edwin 
B.,  in  the  store  at  Staatsburg,  and  Marian, 
both  living;  and  Pier,  Mary  and  Emily,  all 
three  deceased.  Mr.  Hughes  is  a  fine  repre- 
sentative of  the  Republican  party,  always  a 
firm  supporter  of  its  principles,  and  has  served 
as  justice  of  the  peace.  He  takes  great  inter- 
est in  St.  Margaret's  Episcopal  Church,  of 
which  he  is  a  member,  and  is  now  senior  war- 
den. Public-spirited  in  a  high  degree,  he  has 
ever  been  loyal  to  his  home  interests,  and  the 
town  owes  as  much  to  Mr.  Hughes  as  to  any 
other  man  for  its  growth  and  stability,  while 
throughout  the  community  no  one  is  more 
widely  or  favorably  known. 


LOUIS  YOUNG  was  born  August  24,  1837, 
;-  at  a  place  called  Oberingelheim,  in  Ger- 
many, and  came  to  America  when  he  was  thir- 
teen years  old.  The  following  eight  years  were 
spent  mostly  in  traveling  through  the  country 
on  pleasure  trips,  and  when  he  had  reached  the 


620 


COMMEMORATIVE  lilOGBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


I 


age  of  twenty-four  years,  he  had  settled  down 
in  Wappingers  Falls,  where  he  was  employed 
for  ten  years  by  John  Barlow  in  the  bakery 
business.  In  1858,  Mr.  Young  purchased  the 
business  from  Mr.  Barlow,  and  carried  it  on 
until  the  time  of  his  death,  which  event  took 
place  November  12,  1889.  He  was  very  suc- 
cessful in  his  undertakings,  being  a  man  of  strict 
honesty,  careful  management,  and  reliable  in  all 
his  methods  of  dealing.  He  started  in  life  in 
the  village  with  a  capital  of  fifty  cents,  and  at 
his  death  left  property  valued  at  $10,000.00. 
He  built  the  brick  store  which  he  occupied,  and 
the  one  now  occupied  by  Matthew  J.  Cashin, 
and  also  two  brick  houses  on  Mesier  avenue. 

On  November  21,  1871,  Mr.  Young  was 
married  to  Miss  Eliza  Smith,  who  was  born  in 
Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
Smith,  a  native  of  England.  Of  this  union  four 
daughters  w'ereborn:  Josephine,  Mary,  Sarah 
and  Wilhelmina.  They  are  all  young  ladies  of 
culture  and  refinement,  and  with  their  mother 
are  popular  members  of  society. 

Mr.  Young  was  a  Republican,  but  never  as- 
pired to  become  an  office  holder.  He  was 
quiet  and  unostentatious,  and  used  his  influence 
in  making  improvements  in  the  village,  and 
doing  good  in  an  unobstrusive  manner,  rather 
than  in  seeking  prominence  for  himself.  He 
will  long  be  remembered  for  his  many  kindly 
deeds.  Socially  he  belonged  to  Wappinger 
Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Lafayette  Lodge,  L  O.  O. 
F.;  and  the  Legion  of  Honor.  The  family  are 
all  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  to  which 
their  father  was  a  liberal  contributor. 


EDWARD  ELSWORTH  PERKINS,  law- 
yer, born  in  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie, 
February  4,  1863,  is  one  of  the  prominent 
young  members  of  the  Dutchess  county  Bar, 
and  a  son  of  Alexander  W.  Perkins  and  his 
wife,  Elsie  A.  Kay. 

The  old  homestead,  known  as  the  "  Spack- 
enkill  Farm"  (now  owned  by  Edward),  stands 
on  the  post  road  between  the  city  of  Pough- 
keepsie and  Wappingers  Falls.  There  Mr.  Per- 
kins had  the  usual  e.xperience  of  a  country  boy, 
attending  thedistrict  school  in  the  neighborhood 
until  the  age  of  fifteen,  when  he  entered  Pel- 
ham's  Institute,  on  Montgomery  street,  in  the 
city  of  Poughkeepsie,  for  a  three-years'  course. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  he  returned  to  the 
farm  for  two  years,  and  then  at  the  age  of 
twenty  commenced  to  prepare  for  his  profes- 


sion in  the  law  office  of  O.  D.  M.  Baker.  A 
the  age  of  twenty-one  he  was  elected  }ustic 
of  the  peace  of  his  town,  which  office  he  helc 
for  three  years.  In  1886  he  was  admitted  ti 
the  bar  at  the  December  term  of  the  Supreme 
Court  held  in  Brooklyn,  having  the  highes 
standing  in  a  class  of  seventy.  He  immedi 
ately  engaged  in  practice  at  the  city  of  Pough 
keepsie,  in  the  office  of  his  preceptor,  and  me 
with  a  degree  of  success. 

Mr.  Perkins  in  1887  was  one  of  the  orgar 
izers  of  the  Poughkeepsie  &  Southeaster 
Railroad  Company  (now  the  Dutchess  Count 
R.  R.),  extending  from  Poughkeepsie  Bridf 
to  Hopewell  Junction,  and  was  elected  its  fir 
secretary  and  treasurer. 

In  1890  Mr.  Perkins  went  to  Texas  f( 
New  York  and  Philadelphia  capitalists,  an 
engaged  in  organizing  and  building  the  extei 
sion  of  the  Fort  Worth  &  Rio  Grande  railroa 
form  Comanche  to  Brownwood.  Completir 
this  work,  he  went  to  Fort  Worth,  Tex.,  an 
associated  with  T.  L.  Marsalis,  of  Dalla: 
Tex.,  in  the  completion  and  extension  of  tl" 
Dallas  &  Oak  Cliff  railroad,  and  later  in  th 
building  of  the  West  Dallas  railroad,  of  whici 
Mr.  Perkins  became  president.  j 

Mr.  Perkins  while  in  Fort  Worth  Wcj 
elected  president  of  the  American  Savin; ' 
Bank  and  Trust  Company,  and  was  chosen  t 
the  Travelers  Insurance  Company,  of  Hari 
ford.  Conn.,  as  their  financial  and  loan  repr  1 
sentative  for  the  State  of  Texas.  In  1893  1 
organized  the  American  National  Bank;  w;| 
elected  a  director  and  its  first  vice-presideni 
In  1893  he  removed  to  his  native  town,  arl 
resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

Mr.  Perkins  is  one  of  the  governors  of  tli 
Dutchess    Club,  member  of   the    Gentlemen; 
Driving      Club     of    Poughkeepsie,     Dutchej 
County  Golf  Club,  Poughkeepsie  Tennis  Clu 
and  is  a  Democrat  in  political  faith. 

On   June   23,  1891,    Mr.    Perkins    marrii 
Miss  Mary   D.  Beard,   daughter  of  Col.  0.  ' 
Beard,  a  prominent  resident  of  Poughkeepsil 
Their    children    are    three  in    number:    Oli 
Elizabeth,  Jeannie  Marie  and  Argenta. 


DOUGLAS  MERRITT,  one  of  our  most  ( 
teemed  citizens,  residing  upon  a  beautil 

farm  called  "  Leacote,"  is  of  the  sixth  genei; 
tion  in  descent  from  Thomas  Merritt,  who  si 
tied  at  Rye,  Westchester  county,  in  1670,  a 
was  a  prominent  citizen,  and  a  deputy  to  t 


I 


COMMEJilORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


621 


lleneral  Court  of  Connecticut  in  1699.  He 
ad  four  sons:  Thomas,  Joseph,  Ephraim  and 
amuel,  of  whom,  Joseph,  who  died  in  1754, 
:ft  three  sons:  Joseph,  Thomas  and  Nehemiah. 
;  Nehemiah  was  born  in  171 5,  married 
linah  Hopkins,  of  Oyster  Bay,  and  in  1758 
lioved  to  Quaker  Hill,  Dutchess  county,  where 
'2  owned  a  large  farm.  He  died  there  in  1 794, 
aving  four  children:  Daniel,  Nehemiah,  Icha- 
Dd  and  Anna. 

Nehemiah,  Jr.,  born  in  1740,  married 
:ioebe  Wing,  in  1760,  and  was  a  merchant  of 
e  town  of  Washington,  where  he  died  in 
•93,  leaving  eleven  children.  His  youngest 
.•n,  Benjamin,  was  born  in  1777,  married 
'nankful,  daughter  of  Col.  Matthew  Scott, 
:id  was  a  merchant  in  New  York  and  Troy. 
'.s  died  in  1854,  leaving  ten  children,  of  whom 
'.e  eldest  son,  George,  was  born  in  Washing- 
In  county  in  1807,  and  married  Julia,  daugh- 
t-  of  Alanson  Douglas  and  Ann  Sutherland. 
h  became  an  eminent  dry-goods  merchant  in 
I;w  York,  and  was  noted  for  his  beneficence. 
Is  death  occurred  at  his  country  seat, 
'Lyndehurst, "  Irvington-on-Hudson,  in  1873. 
C  his  six  children  the  eldest,  Douglas,  was 
trn  at  No.  42  Barclay  street,  New  York,  De- 
cnber  4,  1847,  was  educated  at  the  school  of 
Jin  MacMullen  and  the  Columbia  Grammar 
Saool,  passed  two  years  in  Europe,  and  was 
gduated  from  the  Columbia  Law  School  in 
P4.  He  purchased  his  farm  called  "  Lea- 
ce"  in  1875,  and  was  married  August  3, 
!  '6,  to  Elizabeth  Cleveland,  daughter  of  Rt. 
^v.  Arthur  Cleveland  Coxe,  Bishop  of  West- 
New  York.  They  have  two  children: 
-i  Douglas  and  Alan  Douglas. 

,  Mr.  Merritt  has  always  taken  an  interest 
iri,5ublic  affairs  and  the  progress  of  the  neigh- 
bhood.  He  is  a  trustee  of  St.  Stephens 
Cllege,  Annandale;  St.  Johns  Church,  Barry- 
t(.n;  the  Starr  Institute,  Rhinebeck,  and  the 
P)lic  School  No.  3,  and  was  a  member  of  the 

'  Board  of  Excise.  He  is  also  senior  war- 
A  the  Church  of  the  Messiah,  Rhinebeck, 
ail  has  for  many  years  been  a  delegate  from 
tft  Church  to  the  Diocesan  Convention. 


J)HN  H.   SMITH,    Jr..    was    born    at    the 
Steel  Works  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  Dutch- 
<'ss  county,  March  18,  1863,  and  is  a  lineal 
ndant  of  Nehemiah   Smith,  whose  birth 
''<^'irred    in    England    about    1605,   and  who 
■Afte  to  America  and   made   application  to  be 

I 


admitted  as  a  freeman  at  Plymouth,  Mass., 
March  6,  1637.  For  two  years  he  lived  on 
Long  Island,  but  in  1644  removed  to  Stratford, 
Conn. ,  where  he  kept  a  flock  of  sheep  on  the 
west  bank  of  Oyster  river,  and  was  conse- 
quently known  as  Shepherd  Smith.  Later  he 
removed  to  New  Haven,  Conn. ;  in  the  spring 
of  165 1,  to  Norwich,  L.  I.;  and  two  years 
afterward  to  London,  Conn.  Owing  to  trou- 
ble with  the  Indians  he  continued  to  reside  at 
New  London  until  after  1665,  when  he  re- 
moved to  his  farm  at  Smith  Lake,  Poquonock, 
where  he  doubtless  had  been  making  improve- 
ments for  several  years.  He  was  one  of  the 
original  proprietors  of  Norwich,  buying  the 
land  from  the  Indian  chief,  Uncas,  in  1659, 
and  was  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  several 
new  towns  in  Connecticut.  He  always  took 
an  active  interest  in  Church  affairs,  and,  doubt- 
less, officiated  in  the  absence  of  the  regular 
pastor.  He  died  about  i686.  On  January 
21,  1639,  he  married  Annie.  Bourne,  of  Marsh- 
field,  Mass.,  who  died  in  1684,  and  to  them 
were  born  the  following  children  :  Sarah,  born 
in  1642;  Mary;  Hannah,  born  in  1644;  Mercy 
and  Elizabeth  (twins),  born  in  1645;  Nehe- 
miah, born  in  1646;  Lydia,  born  in  1647;  Ann 
and  Mehitable. 

Nehemiah  Smith,  the  only  son,  was  born 
at  New  Haven,  Conn.,  in  1646,  and  was  bap- 
tized October  24,  of  that  year,  by  Rev.  John 
Davenport,  first  pastorof  the  first  Church  at  that 
place.  When  ten  years  of  age  he  accompanied 
his  father  to  the  farm  at  Poquonock,  Conn. ,  and 
was  seventeen  when  the  latter  moved  to  Nor- 
wich, leaving  him  on  the  farm.  On  October  24, 
1669,  he  married  Lydia  Winchester,  daughter 
of  Alexander  Winchester,  of  Roxbury,  Mass. 
In  that  year  he  was  a  member  of  the  General 
Assembly  at  Hartford,  and  also  in  several  sub- 
sequent years.  He  and  his  wife  became  mem- 
bers of  the  first  Church  at  New  London,  Conn. 
About  1 69 1  or  1692  he  purchased  a  large  tract 
of  land  at  Niantic,  Conn.,  of  Joseph  and  John 
Bull,  of  Hartford. 

Nehemiah  Smith,  a  son  of  Nehemiah  and 
Lydia  (Winchester)  Smith,  was  born  Novem- 
ber 14,  1663,  and  April  22,  1696,  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Dorothy  Wheeler,  who  was 
born  December  6,  1679  (a  daughter  of  Isaac 
Wheeler),  and  died  May  25,  1736.  Soon 
after  their  marriage  they  both  joined  the  first 
Church  at  New  London,  and  he  was  always 
known  as  an  honest  and  highly  respected  farm- 
er; in  17 1 2  and  17 14  he  served  as  townsman. 


622 


COMMEMORA  TIVE  BIOOBAPIIICAL  RECORD. 


His  entire  life  was  spent  upon  the  old  home- 
stead farm  near  Smith  Lake,  Poquonock,  Gro- 
ton,  Conn.,  where  his  death  occurred  Novem- 
ber 21,  1724.  In  his  family  were  twelve  chil- 
dren, namely:  Dorothy,  Hannah,  Elizabeth, 
Nathan,  John,  William,  Isaac,  Mary,  Lydia, 
Jabez,  Anna  and  Sarah. 

Isaac,  the  seventh  child  of  Nehemiah  and 
Dorothy  (Wheeler)  Smith,  was  born  Decem- 
ber 29,  1797,  atGroton,  Conn.,  and  November 
4,  1729,  wedded  Esther,  daughter  of  Deacon 
Daniel  Denison.  Both  became  members  of 
the  First  Congregational  Church  at  New  Lon- 
don, Conn.,  He  departed  this  life  March  14, 
1783,  and  his  wife  died  on  August  17,  1798. 
In  their  family  were  eleven  children,  whose 
names  and  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows: 
Daniel,  December  i,  1730;  Amos,  December 
13,  1732;  Esther,  August  9,  1734;  Hannah, 
August  9,  1734;  Simeon,  June  9,  1738;  Abigail, 
February  15,  1740;  Mary,  November  15,  1743; 
Lucy,  November  11,  1746;  William,  October 
26,  1749;  and  Silas  and  Phebe,  twins,  April 
18,  1752. 

William  Smith,  the  ninth  of  the  family, 
engaged  in  farming  at  Mt.  Archer  and  North 
Lyme,  New  London  Co.,  Conn.,  and  served 
as  deacon  in  the  Baptist  Church,  of  which  he 
was  a  consistent  member.  In  1772  he  mar- 
ried Sarah  Smith,  daughter  of  Nathan  and 
Elizabeth  Smith,  who  died  July  14,  1831,  and 
his  death  occurred  September  i,  1841.  They 
also  had  twelve  children,  whose  names  and 
dates  of  birth  are  as  follows:  William,  Janu- 
ary 22,  1775;  Sarah,  February  1,  1777;  Eliza- 
beth, December  i,  1779;  Gurdon,  December 
4,  1 781;  John  D.,  August  12,  J  782;  Edward, 
August  24,  1784;  Phebe,  August  20,  1786; 
Nathan,  November  12,  1788;  Charlotte,  Jan- 
uary 1,  1 791;  Lucy,  February  14,  1793;  Al- 
mira,  March  i,  1797;  Ansyl,  April  2,  1799; 
and  Edward. 

Nathan  Smith,  the  seventh  in  order  of 
birth,  was  born  at  North  Lyme,  Conn.,  and 
was  the  grandfather  of  our  subject.  In  1810 
he  was  married  to  Nancy  Waterman,  of  Salem, 
Conn.,  who  died  July  2,  1824,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  five  children:  Sarah  M., 
born  August  6,  1814,  married  Columbus  Reed; 
Gilbert  B.  was  born  April  10,  1816;  Nathan 
W.,  born  January  12,  1818,  is  now  living  at 
South  Amenia,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  Nancy 
L.,  born  August  12,  18 19,  died  January  11, 
1874;  and  John  H.,  born  June  i,  1821,  died 
October   13,  1892.      For  his  second  wife  Na- 


than Smith  married  Hannah  Stark,  and  thi 
had  two  children:  Fitch  C,  born  January  v 
1826;  and  Henry  S.,  born  May  20,  1828.  H 
third  wife  was  Nancy  Baker,  widow  of  Mathii 
Baker,  and  daughter  of  Deacon  Eliphalet  Hil 
yard,  and  his  last  wife  was  Mary  Gallup.  Fi 
a  time  he  was  captain  of  a  sloop,  but  most  - 
his  life  was  devoted  to  farming  at  Salem,  Com 
At  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  Marc 
26,  1876,  he  was  serving  as  deacon  of  tl 
Baptist  Church  at  North  Lyme,  Conn.,  ( 
which  he  was  a  faithful  member. 

John  H.  Smith,  the  father  of  our  subjec 
was  born  at  Lyme,  Conn. ,  was  there  educatt 
in  the  public  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  fou 
teen  years  walked  from  his  home  to  Wassai 
Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  resided  with 
sister  for  a  time.  At  Williamstown,  Mass 
he  learned  the  trade  of  wagon  making,  aft 
which  he  worked  in  the  mill  at  Amenia,  whe 
he  continued  to  reside  for  one  year  after  1 
marriage.  Removing  to  the  Steel  Works, 
began  wagon  making,  which  business  he  cc 
tinned  to  follow  up  to  the  time  of  his  deat 
He  was  entirely  a  self-made  man,  havi:! 
started  out  in  life  for  himself  empty-handei 
at  the  early  age  of  fourteen  years,  and  si' 
ceeded  in  accumulating  a  good  property 
persistent  labor  and  well-directed  efforts, 
religious  belief  he  was  a  Baptist,  belonging  \ 
the  Church  at  Amenia,  and  in  politics  he  war 
stalwart  Republican.  He  was  called  upon  ' 
serve  his  fellow  citizens  in  the  offices  of  assess 
and  justice  of  the  peace. 

At  Amenia,  June  i,  1847,  was  celebrate 
the  marriage  of  John  H.  Smith,  Sr. ,  and  M' 
Maria,  daughter  of  Myron  Reed,  and  to  thu 
were  born  seven  children:  Nathan,  who  v6 
born  April  21,  1848,  and  is  now  a  merch;: 
of  Amenia  Union;  Sarah  M.,  who  was  b(i 
September  11,  1849,  and  was  married  Jip 
26,  1879,  to  Charles,  son  of  Philo  S.  Hoyt.f 
Danbury,  Conn.;  Myron,  born  May  12,  iS  , 
who  is  serving  his  third  term  as  superintend  t 
of  the  poor  of  Dutchess  county;  Belinda,  bi|i 
April  II,  1855;  Esther  M.,  born  Septeniir 
22,  1856;  Edwin  D.,  of  Poughkeepsie,  bb 
January  18,  1859;  and  John  H.,  whose  nab 
introduces  this  sketch. 

John  H.  Smith,  Jr.,  spent  his  boyhood d  3 
in  Amenia,  attending  the  district  schools  ;  J 
the  Amenia  Seminary,  and  learned  the  tr« 
of  wagon  making  with  his  father,  who  t  0 
gave  him  an  interest  in  the  business.  Si  e 
the  death  of  his  father  he  has  successfully  c  - 


COMMKMORAriVE  BIOOBAPHWAL  RECORD. 


628 


Jucted  the  trade  alone,  handling  all  kinds  of 
sjoods  in  the  wagon  line,  and  is  now  at  the 
head  of  a  large  and  constantly  increasing  busi- 
ness. Socially  he  affiliates  with  the  Royal  Ar- 
;anum  at  Wassaic,  Dutchess  county,  and  polit- 
ically is  identified  with  the  Republican  party. 
I^t  Plainsville,  Conn.,  December  22,  1887,  he 
Ivas  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Carrie  Grid- 
'ey  Parrish,  a  native  of  Hillsdale,  Columbia 
i3o.,  N.  Y. ,  and  they  have  two  children:  Celia 
M.  and  William  Parrish. 


rifENRY  M.  BARKER,  who  for  the  past 
Hi  five  years  has  been  the  efficient  superin- 
endent  on  the  place  of  Mr.  Mills,  of  the  town 
)f  Hyde  Park,  is  a  native  of  New  Hampshire, 
)orn  at  Antrim,  August  24,  1838,  and  is  of 
Scotch-Irish  lineage,  but  for  several  genera- 
ions  representatives  of  the  family  have  made 
heir  home  in  New  England. 

His  paternal  grandfather,  Capt.  Peter 
barker,  was  born  in  Atkinson,  N.  H.,  and 
vas  the  son  of  Zebediah  Barker.  He  was  a 
loldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  being  captain 
f  the  alarm  list,  and  served  for  seven  years  in 
hat  terrible  struggle.  By  occupation  he  was 
farmer,  and  was  one  of  the  most  successful 
nd  prominent  men  of  the  community  in 
1  hich  he  lived.  He  wedded  Sallie  Wood,  of 
.tkinson,  N.  H.,  and  to  them  were  born  the 
allowing  children:  Samuel,  Hannah,  Peter, 
'|.4aac,  Thomas,  Moody  M.  and  Sallie.  The 
umily  were  all  faithful  members  of  the  Pres- 
lyterian  Church,  and  the  male  representatives 
ere  ardent  Democrats,  very  firm  in  their  polit- 
pal  convictions.  The  death  of  Capt.  Peter 
[arker  occurred  on  the  23d  of  May,  1829. 

Moody  M.  Barker,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ct,  first  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  in  New 
Hampshire,  May  24,  1795,  became  a  promi- 
;;nt  farmer  of  that  State,  and  would  have 
;en  an  honor  to  any  community.  He  became 
iptain  of  the  State  Militia,  and  served  for 
;)out  four  months  in  the  war  of  181 2.  He 
las  married  to  Miss  Nancy  Bixby,  of  Hills- 
Sro,  N.  H.,  a  daughter  of  John  Bixby,  and 
^ey  became  the  parents  of  five  children: 
ohn  B.,  a  paper  maker,  who  became  the 
(reman  of  a  factory  in  Mexico,  where  he  died 
j  1863;  Emily,  who  became  the  wife  of  Sam- 
'1  Brown;  Adeline,  who  married  Charles 
oods;  Miles,  who  is  living  at  Nashua,  N.  H.; 
'  Henry  M.,  of  this  review.  On  March  24, 
]l,  the    father  departed    this  life,   and  his 


loving  wife  only  survived  him  two  days.  They 
were  earnest  Christian  people,  who  had  the 
respect  of  all  who  knew  them. 

Mr.  Barker,  whose  name  introduces  this 
record,  attended  both  public  and  select  schools 
during  his  youth,  and  as  he  is  quite  a  reader,  the 
knowledge  thus  acquired  has  been  greatly  sup- 
plemented, and  he  is  now  a  well-informed  man. 
On  starting  out  in  life  for  himself,  for  five  years 
he  was  clerk  in  a  dry-goods  store  at  Manches- 
ter, N.  H.;  but  in  1864  he  returned  to  the  old 
home  farm,  to  which  he  devoted  his  time  and 
attention  until  1878.  In  that  year  he  came  to 
Staatsburg,  Dutchess  county,  as  manager  for 
Mrs.  Major  Lowndis  on  her  farm,  just  above 
the  one  on  which  he  is  now  located.  At  the 
end  of  a  year,  however,  he  became  superin- 
tendent on  the  farm  of  Maturin  Livingston, with 
whom  he  remained  until  the  latter's  death,  and 
for  the  past  five  years  has  been  on  the  same 
farm  with  Mr.  Mills.  It  is  needless  to  say  that 
he  gives  general  satisfaction,  as  his  long-con- 
tinued service  well  indicates  that  fact. 

For  the  last  two  years  Mr.  Barker  has  taken 
quite  an  active  part  in  local  political  affairs, 
adhering  closely  to  the  principles  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  at  the  election  in  the  spring 
of  1894  was  chosen  supervisor  of  the  town  of 
Hyde  Park.  Since  coming  to  the  county  he 
has  always  held  a  prominent  and  influential 
position,  and  stands  remarkably  high  in  the 
estimation  of  the  community,  as  an  honorable, 
upright  and  trustworthy  man.  In  religious 
belief  he  is  a  Presbyterian,  and  socially  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity  of 
Staatsburg. 

In  November,  1864,  was  celebrated  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Barker  and  Miss  Mary  J.  Colbourn, 
of  New  Boston,  N.  H.,  a  daughter  of  Luther 
Colbourn,  and  three  sons  grace  their  union: 
Herbert  L. ,  a  practicing  physician  of  Wood- 
side,  Long  Island;  Harry  C.,  an  attorney  at 
law,  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ;  and  Fred  M., 
at  home. 


WILLIAM  J.  CAREY,  a  well-known  mer- 
chant  at  Pawling,  Dutchess  county,  is 

one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  successful 
young  business  men  of  the  town,  having  built 
up  his  trade  from  the  start  to  its  present  hand- 
some proportions. 

His  ancestors  have  had  their  home  for 
many  generations  in  Kings  county,  Ireland, 
and  his  grandfather,  Andrew  Carey,  a  farmer, 


624 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


left  there  in  1858  to  come  to  America,  where 
he  followed  his  occupation  first  in  the  town  of 
Pawling,  Dutchess  county,  and  later  at  Clare- 
mont.  N.  H.  His  last  5'ears  were  spent  in  re- 
tirement at  that  place.  He  married,  and  had 
eight  children:  John,  a  resident  of  Manches- 
ter, England,  who  died  in  1896;  Mary,  the  wife 
of  James  Rating,  of  Claremont,  N.  H. ;  Christo- 
pher, formerly  a  farmer,  but  now  a  resident  of 
Danbury,  Conn. ;  Joseph,  deceased,  who  lived 
at  Claremont,  and  has  a  son  practicing  law  in 
Washington,  D.  C. ;  Edward  and  Thomas,  both 
residents  of  Claremont;  Margaret,  the  wife  of 
M.  Fitzgerald;  and  Andrew,  our  subject's 
father. 

Andrew  Carey  was  born  in  the  Emerald 
Isle  in  1844,  and  was  about  fourteen  years  old 
at  the  time  of  the  emigration  to  this  country. 
He  is  now  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  the 
town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  owning  a 
farm  of  160  acres,  gained  by  his  industry  and 
thrifty  management.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  Church  at  Pawling,  and  in  politics  is 
a  Democrat,  and  his  sound  common  sense  and 
public  spirit  have  made  him  influential  in  local 
movements.  Thoroughly  patriotic  in  his  de- 
votion to  the  best  interests  of  his  adopted 
country,  he  enlisted  in  1863  in  the  28th  Con- 
necticut V.  I.,  under  Capt.  Hoag,  and  served 
for  one  year,  taking  part  in  several  important 
engagements.  He  now  belongs  to  Campbell 
Post  No.  66 1 ,  G.  A.  R. ,  of  Pawling.  He  married 
Miss  Mary  Ellen  Donahue,  daughter  of  William 
Donahue,  of  Pawling,  N.  Y. ,  and  they  have 
ten  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the  eldest. 
Mary  Ellen  married  Daniel  J.  Driscoll,  an  en- 
gineer, of  Boston,  Mass.;  John  Edward  is  head 
clerk  in  .the  store  of  his  brother,  William  J.; 
Margaret  is  in  Boston;  and  Elizabeth,  Sarah, 
Andrew,  Alice,  Emma  and  Frank  are  at  home. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  No- 
vember 20,  1865,  in  the  town  of  Pawling,  and 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  near  his 
home,  attending  only  the  winter  terms  after 
he  reached  the  age  of  eleven.  At  sixteen  he 
left  school  and  began  business  life,  but  he  has 
always  taken  a  keen  interest  in  reading,  and  is 
well  informed  upon  the  topics  of  the  day.  His 
first  employment  was  in  a  pleating  shop  in 
Boston,  in  1883,  and  after  some  time  there  he 
went  to  Brooklyn  and  secured  work  as  a  porter 
in  a  chop  house  for  the  winter  season.  In 
March,  1884,  he  took  a  position  as  driver  for 
Dr.  E.  H.  Hasbrook,  and  remained  with  him 
until  November,  1886.     The   next  two  years 


were  spent  at  home,  working  part  of  the  tim 
by  the  day  upon  the  farm,  and  meanwhil 
farming  some  rented  land.  On  December  5 
1888,  he  opened  a  candy  and  cigar  store  a 
Pawling,  at  the  corner  now  occupied  by  Olrr 
stead's  store,  and  continued  there  in  a  sma, 
way  until  April  25,  1889.  when  he  moved  t 
his  present  place  and  added  groceries  to  hi 
stock,  his  business  having  so  increased  as  t 
justify  the  investment.  Since  that  time  h' 
trade  has  extended  until  it  is  regarded  i 
among  the  largest  in  the  town. 

Mr.  Carey's  matrimonial  partner  is  Call 
erine  Lehan,  daughter  of  Daniel  Lehan, 
prominent  resident  of  Pawling,  and  they  ha\ 
one  daughter,  Madeleine.  Like  his  ancestor 
he  is  a  Catholic  in  religion,  and  he  is  an  acti\ 
worker  in  local  affairs,  supporting  the  Deni' 
cratic  ticket,  and  serving  the  community  as 
member  of  the  board  of  education  and  of  tl 
fire  department. 


JAMES  RUSSELL  PAINE,  the  senior  men 
ber  of  the  well-known  firm  of  J.  R.  Paii 
&  Son,  leading  hardware  merchants  of  Mii 
lerton,  was  born  June  20,  1831,  in  the  tow 
of  Northeast,  upon  the  old  Paine  homestean 
which  has  been  in  the  possession  of  the  fami 
since  the  first  settlement  of  the  town  of  Nort , 
east.  He  is  of  English  descent,  the  found ; 
of  the  American  line  being  Thomas  Paine,  wlj 
landed  at  Plymouth  in  162 1.  ' 

Mr.  Paine's  descendants  have  held  a  disti  [ 
guished  place  in  the  early  history  of  the  cou 
try,  Robert  Treat  Paine,  one  of  the  signers 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  being  amoi 
them.     Thomas  Paine  had  a  son,  Elisha,  wl 
settled    at    Canterbury,    Conn.,    and   his   S(| 
Abram    located    in   Amenia   about    1741,   ai| 
was  the  first  to  take  steps  toward  organizing j 
Church  there.     Joshua  Paine,  also  of  Cante! 
bury,    probably    a  son    of   Thomas,  came 
Dutchess  county  in  1749,  and  purchased  lai 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  township,  and  Se 
tion  59  of   the    "  Oblong, "  where   he  follow 
farming  and  blacksmithing.     He  was  the  fatli; 
of  Barnabus  Paine,  Sr. ,  and  of  Judge  Ephra.j 
Paine,  who   was  county  judge  in  1778.  bei  | 
the  first  to  be  appointed  to  that  office  in  Dutc; 
ess  county  after  the  organization   of  the  gc 
ernment  of   the    State  of  New  York.     Eli 
Paine,  our  subject's  great-grandfather,  own{ 
and  cultivated   the  old   farm  in  Northeast,  i 
did   his    son,   Jeremiah,    who,    as  one  of  t 


/^2^^^^f-tj^__^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


625 


aiost  influential  and  prosperous  men  in  the 
:ommunity,  sustained  the  well-deserved  repu- 
tation of  the  family.  He  was  a  justice  of  the 
aeace  for  many  years.  He  married  Betsey 
vVoodard,  and  had  six  children:  Lorinda  (Mrs. 
Zggleston);  Piatt  A.,  our  subject's  father; 
Sarah  Ann  (Mrs.  Bailey  Bowditch);  Rachel 
Mrs.  Mortimer  Worthey);  Jeremiah  W. ;  and 
vlary  (Mrs.  Darius  Penny).  His  death  oc- 
curred about  1855,  and  that  of  his  wife  about 
848. 

Piatt    A.  Paine  was  born  June   19,  1806. 
\t  conducted  the  old  homestead  for  a  time  in 
arly  manhood,  but  later  bought  the  Roe  farm 
f  244  acres,  and  lived  there  for  nearly  twenty 
ears.    He  became  interested  in  Western  lands 
Iso,  and  made  a  number  of  successful  deals, 
n  politics  he  was  a  Republican,  and  an  active 
ne,  holding  various  offices   in  that  town,  in- 
luding  those  of  supervisor  and   justice  of  the 
eace.      He  was  highly  esteemed  in  the  neigh- 
orhood,  and    was  a    deacon    in    the   Baptist 
hurch,  with  which  his  family  has  been  closely 
lentified  from  very  early  times.      He  married 
julietta   Russell,  daughter    of    Eli   Russell,  in 
lis  day  a  leading  citizen  of  Northeast.      Both 
ved  to  a  good  old  age,  and  retired  in  1859  to 
le  village  of  Millerton  to  spend  their  declin- 
g  years.      Mrs.  Paine  died  there  in  1876,  her 
isband  surviving  her  only  three  years.     They 
id  five  children:   James  R. ;  Judson  P.,  now 
Annawan,  111.;  Theron    J.,   of    New   York 
ty;  Martin  W.,  living  in  Millerton;  and  Julia, 
no  married  George  Houston,  now  of  Penn- 
ivania,  but  at  that  time   the  superintendent 
'  Maltby's  furnace  in  the  town  of  Northeast. 
James  R.  Paine  was   educated  mainly  at  a 
:t  school  in  his  native    town,  of  which  E. 
Simmons    was    principal.       He    attended 
tire  until  he  was  nineteen  years  old,  and  at- 
tned  a  good  academic  education.      His  vaca- 
tns  were  spent  in  farm    work,   and  until  his 
rirriage,  at    the    age    of   twenty-two,  he    re- 
1  lined  at  the   old  farm,    assisting  his  father. 
I  1853  he  bought  a   life   lease   of  a  farm  in 
theast,  where  he  lived   for  ten  years,  buy- 
n  the  meantime  another  farm.     In   1863 
old  both    properties,  and   for  three  years 
engaged  with  William  Dayton  in  the  hotel 
ness  at  Millerton.      Later  he  made  several 
L  mges,  moving  to   Canaan,  Conn,  (where  he 
'ned    a    farm  for  a  time),    to    Great    Bar- 
ton and  to  Sheffield,    Mass.,  where  he  en- 
:d  in  speculating  in  real  estate  and   stock. 
-r  a  successful  year  there    he    returned,  in 

40 


1869,  to  his  native  county,  and  established 
himself  in  business  in  Millerton,  buying  out 
Mr.  Merrifield's  interest  in  the  hardware  store 
which  he  had  been  conducting  in  partnership 
with  Darius  Penny.  The  new  firm  continued 
the  business  for  three  years,  when  Mr.  Paine 
purchased  Mr.  Penny's  interest,  continuing 
alone  until  January,  1 878,  when  his  son  became 
a  partner.  This  is  the  oldest  mercantile  house 
in  the  town,  and  commands  a  large  and  profit- 
able trade.  Mr.  Paine's  well-proved  ability 
and  judgment  have  made  him  a  valued  ad- 
viser in  many  business  enterprises;  he  has 
been  a  director  of  the  Amenia  National  Bank, 
and  was  one  of  the  original  directors  of  the 
Millerton  National  Bank,  of  which  he  has  for  a 
number  of  years  past  been  the  vice-president. 
Mr.  Paine  has  been  married  four  times, 
first  to  Miss  Julia  Eggleston,  who  died  leaving 
one  son — Piatt  N. ;  and  second  to  Miss  Julia 
Dayton,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons — William 
H.,  a  resident  of  Roanoke,  Va. ;  and  Lester, 
who  conducts  the  homestead.  His  third  wife, 
who  was  Miss  Ann  Friss,  had  one  daughter, 
Florence,  a  successful  music  teacher  at  Keene, 
N.  H. ;  his  present  wife,  formerly  Miss  Cynthia 
Tripp,  has  one  son,  James  Russell  Paine,  Jr. 
The  family  are  active  and  influential  supporters 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  of  which  Mr.  Paine  has 
been  a  communicant  since  the  age  of  twelve 
years,  and  for  many  years  has  been  a  deacon. 
In  local  affairs  he  has  always  been  a  leader, 
but,  although  he  is  an  influential  Republican, 
he  has  never  cared  to  hold  office.  He  served 
a  term  as  town  assessor,  but  has  since  declined 
to  be  a  candidate  for  any  position. 


PLATT  N.  PAINE  was  born  December  25, 
1854,  and  received  a  good  academic  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  Millerton,  Canaan, 
Great  Barrington,  and  Amenia.  On  leaving 
Amenia  Seminary  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  he 
engaged  in  clerking  for  his  father;  but  in  1876 
he  went  to  Port  Royal,  S.  C. ,  and  became 
interested  in  gardening  and  draying,  with  the 
view  of  supplying  the  government  fleets  at 
Port  Royal  harbor.  .  He  sold  out  after  eight 
months,  however,  and  returned  to  Millerton  to 
make  his  permanent  home.  On  January  i, 
1878,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his  father 
in  the  hardware  business,  and  he  has  also  been 
engaged  in  the  building  of  houses  for  sale. 
Some  of  the  finest  cottages  in  the  town  have 
been    erected   by   him,    five  being   located   in 


626 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Park  Lot.  He  has  already  disposed  of  nine 
houses,  and  has  made  this  branch  of  his  work 
very  profitable.  Some  years  ago  he  under- 
took the  work  of  surveying  with  W.  E.  Sim- 
mons, and  is  now  engaged  in  that  also.  He 
takes  an  active  part  in  public  affairs 
and  is  among  the  leaders  in  the  Re- 
publican organization  in  his  town,  serving 
as  trustee  for  several  terms,  and  as  treasurer 
of  the  village  to  fill  a  vacancy;  he  has  now 
also  held  for  some  time  the  offices  of  justice 
of  the  peace,  sealer  of  weights  and  measures, 
and  superintendent  of  the  water  works.  He 
introduced  the  original  motion  for  the  con- 
struction of  these  works,  and  has  been  one  of 
the  chief  promoters  of  various  other  measures 
for  local  improvement.  He  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
of  which  he  is  a  trustee. 


m  LLEN  H.  DUTCHER,  a  most  genial 
^1%^  and  companionable  gentleman,  has 
through  a  long  and  useful  career  been  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  interests  of  the  town 
of  Dover,  Dutchess  county.  He  is  one  of 
the  representative  and  public-spirited  citizens, 
always  aiding  in  everything  that  will  in  any 
way  benefit  his  town  or  county,  and  has  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  comes 
in  contact. 

The  Dutcher  family  is  of  Holland  origin, 
and  the  first  of  its  members  to  locate  in  the 
town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  was  Christo- 
pher Dutcher,  the  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject.  He  erected  the  first  flourmill  in  this 
part  of  the  county,  and  a  portion  of  it  is  still 
standing.  He  conducted  the  same  during  his 
entire  life,  grinding  much  of  the  flour  that  was 
sold  at  Poughkeepsie  and  other  places  in  the 
locality.  As  Dover  Plains  was  then  the  ter- 
minus of  the  Harlem  road,  which  was  built 
before  the  New  York  Central,  all  the  Pough- 
keepsie freight  and  passengers  were  brought 
to  that  village  by  stage,  and  it  became  quite 
a  center  of  trade.  The  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  Lawrence  Dutcher,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Washington,  Dutchess  county,  where 
his  education  was  later  acquired,  and  he  be- 
came a  farmer  by  occupation.  He  was  twice 
married,  by  the  first  union  having  three  chil- 
dren, and  by  his  second  wife,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Waldo,  had   eleven   children. 

Belden  Dutcher,  the  father  of  Allen  H., 
was    also  born    in  the    town  of  Washington, 


Dutchess  county,  in  the  year  1790,  and  after 
completing  his  education  there  engaged  in  ag- 
ricultural pursuits.  During  the  old  training 
days,  he  served  as  major  of  a  troop  of  militia. 
An  earnest  and  sincere  Christian,  he  took  a 
prominent  part  in  religious  work,  giving  the 
ground  at  Dover  Plains,  on  which  the  Baptist 
Church  was  built  and  still  stands.  He  also 
took  a  prominent  part  in  the  upbuilding  of  the 
village,  erecting  two  good  hotels,  and  he  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  the  first  mechanics  to  locate 
there.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Maria  Hurd,  a  daughter  of  Capt.  Allen  Hurd, 
and  six  children  were  born  to  them:  Egbert, 
Allen  H.,  Elizabeth,  William,  Thomas,  and 
one  that  died  in  infancy.  The  mother  was 
called  from  this  life  in  July,  1862,  and  for  bis 
second  wife,  Mr.  Dutcher  wedded  Mrs.  Abbie 
Burrows. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  occurred  at  Dovei 
Plains,  Dutchess  county,  in  1819,  and  he  ac 
quired  a  practical  education  in  the  academj 
of  that  place.  During  early  life  he  learner 
the  trade  of  a  wagon  maker,  at  which  he 
worked  for  about  eight  years,  when  he  enterec 
upon  a  mercantile  career.  He  has  held  everj 
office  in  his  town  with  the  exception  of  two 
and  it  is  needless  to  say  that  he  ever  dischargee 
his  duties  with  promptness  and  fidelity.  Fo 
seventeen  years  he  served  as  postmaster  0 
Dover  Plains,  and  for  eight  years  was  revenu 
collector.  He  is  at  present  justice  of  th 
peace,  and  his  decisions  are  marked  byfairnesi 
and  impartiality,  being  well  calculated  t, 
serve  the  ends  of  justice.  He  is  also  engage) 
in  the  fire-insurance  business.  | 

Mr.  Dutcher  married  Miss   Maria  Prestor! 
daughter  of  Clark  Preston,    of    Dover  Plain; j 
Dutchess  county,  and  to  them  was  born  a  soil 
Ernest  P.,  who   married    Isabella   Gridley,   < 
New  York,   by  whom   he  has    one  child.  Is: 
bella  E.      In  1856  Mr.  Dutcher  lost  his  wifi 
and   about  four  years  later  he  wedded    Mi' 
Mary  A.  Bricker,  daughter  of  William  Bricke| 
of  England.     To  them  was    born  one   chiM 
that  died  in  infancy.  \ 

James  Bricker,  the  grandfather  of  Mr 
Dutcher,  was  a  native  of  Wotton-under-Edgi 
Gloucestershire,  England — a  most  beautif 
place,  surrounded  by  mountains.  In  his  fari 
ily  was  William  Bricker,  who  was  born  ai 
educated  at  the  same  place.  He  there  ms 
ried  Miss  Hannah  White,  and  in  England  we 
born  to  them  three  daughters:  Mary  A.,  w  j 
of  our  subject;  Caroline,  who  became  the  w 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


627 


William  Beldin,  son  of  Dr.  Beldin,  of  Dover 
ains;  and  Emily.  In  January,  1842,  the 
ther  came  to  the  United  States,  locating  at 
'Dughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county.  When  he  had 
ten  here  a  year  and  nine  months,  he  sent  for 
Is  family,  which  arrived  in  1844,  and  ever 
jterward  made  their  home  in  this  county, 
iter  the  death  of  his  first  wife  in  1850,  he  was 
lain  married,  and  his  death  occurred  in  Fond 
s  Lac,  Wis.,  in  1882.  Although  an  English- 
rin  by  birth,  he  became  a  thorough  American 
cizen,  and  always  stood  by  his  adopted  home. 
I  his  native  land  he  had  engaged  in  the  manu- 
[:ture  of  broadcloth,  but  in  this  country  gave 
b  entire  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits. 


i>HARLES  A.  SIMMONS,  who  occupies  an 
I  influential  and  prominent  position  among 
t;  citizens  of  Stanford  town,  Dutchess  coun- 
t  resides  near  Bangall,  where  he  is  engaged 
iithe  breeding  of  Jersey  cattle  and  raising 
fiicy  poultry.  When  a  young  man  he  learned 
t:!  profession  of  an  architect,  contractor  and 
b  Ider,  which  he  followed  at  Pine  Plains, 
ttchess  county,  for  four  years,  and  then  re- 
ifved  to  his  present  home,  where  he  still  en- 
g;es  in  that  business  to  some  extent. 

Mr.  Simmons  was  born  at  Pine  Plains,  De- 

cober    24,    i860,  and    is  the    only   child    of 

Nrman    and    Emeline    (Eldridge)   Simmons. 

Fj^  father  was  a  native  of  Copake,  Columbia 

C,  N.  Y.,  and  the  youngest  of  a  family  of 

the  sons  and  two  daughters  born  to  John  B. 

ai     Catherine    fHover)    Simmons,    who    for 

V  years  resided  in  Pine  Plains  town,  Dutch- 

wunty.     After  his  marriage,  the  father  of 

ot  subject  made  his  home  in   the   village  of 

Pie  Plains,  where  he  was  one  of   the  leading 

extractors  and  builders,  and    his    wife,   who 

isi  milliner  and  dressmaker,  has  there  carried 

or.hat  business  ever  since.       He    learned  his 

tnle  at  Philmont,  Columbia  county,  where  he 

seied  a  seven-years'  apprenticeship,  and  was 

enrely  a  self-made  man.      In  politics  he  was 

'lent  Republican,  and   held  the  office  of 

;er  of  the  poor.      He  died  in  1881,  at  the 

'f  forty-nine  years,   in   the   faith   of  the 

'■ciist  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  consistent 

nitiber. 

harles  A.  Simmons  spent   his  early  days 

e  village  of  Pine  Plains,  where  he  attended 

th'public  schools,  and  completed  his  literary 

edcation  in  the  Seymour  Smith  Institute,  of 

K  after  which  he  began  his  business 


career.  In  the  city  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  he  was 
married,  August  12,  1892,  to  Miss  Eva  Wilber, 
daughter  of  Zachariah  Wilber,  of  the  town  of 
Milan,  Dutchess  county.  Both  are  highly  re- 
spected in  their  community  and  foremost  in  all 
good  work.  Mr.  Simmons  uses  his  right  of 
franchise  in  support  of  the  men  and  measures 
of  the  Republican  party,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church  at  Bangall. 


JiAMES  R.  BARLOW,  one  of  the  leading 
citizens    of    Wappingers    Falls,    Dutchess 

county,  was  born  in  that  village,  June  4, 
1836,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Bar- 
low, the  former  of  whom  was  born  near  Burn- 
ley, Lancashire,  England,  and  for  many  years 
followed  the  sea.  In  1827  he  came  to  Amer- 
ica, and  located  in  New  York  City,  where,  for 
some  time,  he  followed  the  trade  of  a  dyer. 
He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Holt,  of  Rockland 
county,  N.  Y. ,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Holt,  an 
Englishman,  who  was  one  of  the  first  to  intro- 
duce calico  machine  printing  into  this  country. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
Barlow  settled  at  Wappingers  Falls,  where 
three  children  were  born  to  them:  Patience, 
who  died  aged  twelve  years ;  James  R. ,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch;  and  Sarah  J.,  who  married 
George  Stevenson,  a  merchant  of  Wappingers 
Falls.  About  1854  John  Barlow  became  in- 
terested in  the  manufacture  of  combs,  an  in- 
dustry he  carried  on  until  1858,  when  he  em- 
barked in  the  bakery  business,  which  he  fol- 
lowed during  the  succeeding  ten  years.  He 
then  went  into  partnership  with  George  Stev- 
enson, in  the  hardware  business,  in  which  he 
was  engaged  until  his  death  in  September, 
1892.  His  wife  passed  away  in  February,  1885. 
Mr.  Barlow  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 
both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Episcopal  Church. 

James  R.  Barlow,  our  subject,  spent  his 
boyhood  days  at  Wappingers  Falls,  and  in 
1852,  then  a  lad  of  sixteen,  was  apprenticed 
to  learn  calico  engraving  to  calico  printing,  at 
which  he  worked  for  nine  years.  In  1861  he 
went  to  New  York  City,  and  engaged  in  the 
commission  business  some  eighteen  months, 
then  proceeding  to  Chicago,  was  there  em- 
ployed as  clerk  in  the  Stock  Yards  for  a  short 
time.  His  next  occupation  was  that  of  fore- 
man in  a  cracker  factory  at  Sparta,  Wis. 
After  a  short  tour  through  the  Western  States, 
Mr.    Barlow    returned    to    Wappingers    Falls, 


628 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


where,  on  July  5,  1864,  he  opened  a  grocery 
store;  which  he  carried  on  until  1869,  at  that 
time  going  into  partnership  with  Mr.  Sweet, 
the  firm  becoming  Sweet  &  Barlow.  In  1880 
Mr.  Barlow  went  to  Newburg,  N.  Y.,  and 
started  the  Sweet,  Orr  &  Co.'s  overall  factory, 
of  which  he  took  charge  until  1882,  when  he 
returned  to  Wappingers  Falls,  and  settled  up 
the  business  of  his  own  firm,  which  was  then 
discontinued.  In  the  year  last  mentioned  he 
became  one  of  the  partners  in  the  Eagan  over- 
all factory,  remaining  with  the  firm  until  1884, 
when  he  withdrew,  and  the  following  year  he 
sold  goods  for  Sweet,  Orr  &  Co.,  on  the  road. 
In  1 889  he  became  proprietor  of  the  dry-goods 
store  which  he  is  at  present  carrying  on.  He 
is  a  good  business  man  and  commands  a  large 
trade,  his  acquaintance  throughout  the  sur- 
rounding country  being  extensive,  and  his  many 
sterling  qualities  making  him  numerous  warm 
friends. 

Mr.  Barlow  was  married,  in  September, 
1862,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Hayes,  a  native  of 
Wappingers  Falls,  and  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  Hayes,  who  were  of  English  de- 
scent. Two  children  came  to  this  union: 
Fred,  born  in  1867,  died  in  1872;  and  May, 
born  in  1875.  The  wife  and  mother  died  De- 
cember 29,  1886.  Our  subject  cast  his  first 
Presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  in 
i860,  and  he  has  ever  since  been  a  stanch 
Republican.  He  served  two  terms  as  trustee 
of  Wappingers  Falls,  and  March  3,  1896,  was 
elected  supervisor,  an  office  not  sought  by 
him,  but  for  which  he  received  a  majority  of 
240  votes,  the  largest  ever  given  a  candidate 
in  that  town,  and  which  testifies  to  his  popu- 
larity with  his  fellow-citizens. 

Mr.  Barlow  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  is  clerk  of  the  vestry;  for  three 
years  he  was  secretary  of  the  Cemetery  Asso- 
ciation. He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Order, 
being  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arch  at  Pough- 
keepsie.  In  all  the  relations  of  life  he  bears 
the  reputation  of  an  honorable,  upright  man, 
and  is  highly  esteemed  wherever  known. 


J^ACOB  H.  FEROE.  The  records  of  the 
live?  of  our  forefathers  are  of  interest  to 
the  modern  citizen,  not  alone  for  their  his- 
toric value  but  also  for  the  inspiration  and  ex- 
ample they  afford;  yet  we  need  not  look  to 
the  past.  Although  surroundings  may  differ, 
the  essential  conditions  of  human  life  are  ever 


the  same,  and  a  man  can  learn  from  the  sue 
cess  of  those  around  him,  if  he  will  heed  th 
obvious  lessons  contained  in  their  history 
Turn  to  the  life  record  of  Mr.  Feroe,  stud 
carefully  the  plans  and  methods  he  has  foj 
lowed  in  bringing  about  his  wonderful  succes 
in  business  affairs.  He  is  a  man  of  keen  per 
ception,  of  great  sagacity  and  unbounded  en 
terprises,  who  is  now  at  the  head  of  exten 
sive  business  interests  at  Tivoli. 

He  was  born  October  15,  1841,  at  Tivoli 
then  known  as  Myersville.  His  father.  Job 
K.  Feroe,  was  born  in  the  northern  part  c 
Red  Hook  town,  and  is  the  son  of  Henry  Fe 
roe,  who  was  of  French  descent.  John  K 
Feroe  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Coon,  wh 
was  born  in  Clearmont  town,  Columbia  Co. 
N.  Y. ,  in  1820.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Jaco 
Coon,  also  a  native  of  Columbia  county,  an 
of  Holland  extraction.  Upon  their  marriag 
the  couple  located  at  Tivoli,  where  the  fatht 
has  followed  his  trade  of  carpentering  sine 
that  time;  they  are  faithful  and  devout  men 
bers  of  the  Methodist  Church.  Four  childre 
were  born  to  them:  Sarah,  wife  of  Davi 
Affleck,  station  agent  at  Tivoli;  Jacob  H 
subject  of  this  review;  Frances,  who  marrie 
Rensselaer  Potts,  a  bookkeeper;  and  Libbii 
wife  of  James  Greene,  station  agent  at  Sa  : 
gerties. 

Mr.    Feroe,    whose    name   introduces  thj 
sketch,  spent  his  boyhood  days  at  Tivoli,  a: 
tending  the  district  schools  and  also  a  priva  I 
school,  but  when  only  fifteen  years  of  age  i 
began    teaching    near  the    village.      He  lat 
taught  school   for   two    years   and    a   half  | 
Unionville,  in  the  town   of  Saugerties,  Ulst: 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  after  which  he   clerked   and  kei 
books  for  Gilbert  A.  Melham  for  nearly  aye| 
and    a  half,  and  then   conducted   a  school  ' 
Nevis,  Columbia  county,  for  two  years.     F 
the  same  length  of  time  he  had  a  select  sclu 
at  Tivoli,  and   met    with    great    success   as 
teacher.      For  a  time    Mr.    Feroe  carried   \ 
fruit  farming,  his  principal  product  being  stra' 
berries,    of    which  he   raised  as  high  as  5' 
bushels  per  season,  at  the  same  time  teachif 
at  Tivoli.      After  having  charge  of  a  school  :■ 
Glasco,  Ulster  county,  for  four  years  and  a  h; . 
he  taught  the  public  school  at  Tivoli  for  f  i 
years,  during  the  last   two   years  of  which } 
also  engaged  in  the  coal   and   lumber  busins 
on  the  Tivoli  dock,  and   has  since  carried  1 
the  latter  occupation.      He  has  built  up  an  - 
tensive  trade    along  that  line,  does  a  gent  1 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


629 


reightin^  business,  conducts  a  grist  and  cider 
nill,  and  has  large  real-estate  interests,  renting 
ibout  forty  houses. 

In  September,  1871,  Mr.  Feroe  was  mar- 
iied  to  Miss  Evelin  Cooper.  Her  father, 
3zias  Cooper,  was  a  native  of  Dutchess 
:ounty,  a  miller  by  occupation,  and  the  uncle 
pf  Charles  Davis,  of  Saugerties,  Ulster  county. 
K  family  of  four  children  have  been  born  to 
|)ur  subject  and  his  wife:  Harry  Cooper,  who 
narried  Harriet  Laflin,  and  is  now  a  book- 
:eeper  for  his  father;  Thomas  J.,  also  a  book- 
.eeper  for  his  father;  Millie  and  Florence. 

In  manner  Mr.  Feroe  is  social  and  genial. 
\e  is  the  center  of  a  circle  of  friends,  who 
lonor  and  esteem  him  for  many  manly  virtues 
jaA  genuine  worth.  His  prosperity  cannot  be 
ttributed  to  a  combination  of  lucky  circum- 
tances,  but  has  risen  from  energy,  enterprise, 
itegrity  and  intellectual  effort,  well  directed, 
le  is  a  worthy  representative  of  that  type  of 
merican  character,  that  progressive  spirit, 
hich  promotes  public  good  in  advancing  in- 
'ividual  prosperity. 


■>HARLES    E.    SMITH,    a   skillful    black- 

>    smith  of  Amenia,  Dutchess  county,    was 

^'^  in  that  village,  June  20,  1854,  and  comes 

^^Hamily  that   have  long  been   residents  of 

I^Bounty.     Stephen  Smith,  his  grandfather, 

l|born  in  Pawling,  and  throughout  most  of 

~s  life  was  engaged  in  blacksmithing  at  South 

•over.      He    married     Hannah    Skelton,    by 

hom  he  had  the  following  children:  William 

id   Edward    (deceased) ;  George   W. ;   Sarah 

eceasedj;    Emeline;     Abbie    J.    (deceased); 

manda;  Asa;  and  Mary  (deceased). 

George  W.  Smith,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ct,  was  born  in   Dover.    January   14,  1824, 
pd  in  the  town  of  Dover    he  passed  his  boy- 
bod  and  youth,    acquiring  his  education  in 
e  schools  near  his  home.     With  his  father 
learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  and  about 
47  came  to  Amenia,  where  he  worked  in  the 
jop  of  Clark  Fish.      Subsequently  he  began 
"siness  for  himself  down  by  the  mill  pond  at 
•■nia,  later  removing  to  a  shop  nearly  op- 
te  the  B.  H.  Fry  foundry,  afterward  con- 
ting  business  near  the  present  residence  of 
Rockwell,  and  on  leaving  that  location  he 
iged    in    farming    and     blacksmithing    at 
ron.  Conn.     On  his  return  to  Amenia,  he 
ned  the  shop  now  carried  on  by  our  sub- 
He  was  initiated   into  the  mysteries  of 


the  Masonic  Order  in  Montgomery  Lodge 
No.  14,  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Lyme  Rock,  Conn., 
and  later  became  a  charter  member  of  Hamil- 
ton Lodge  No.  54,  at  Sharon,  Conn.  In  re- 
ligious belief  he  is  a  Methodist,  and  was  serv- 
ing as  trustee  of  the  Church  at  Amenia  when 
it  was  disbanded.  He  cast  his  first  vote  in 
support  of  the  Whig  party,  is  now  an  earnest 
Republican,  and  in  1893  was  collector  of  taxes 
in  Amenia.  He  is  an  upright,  honorable  man, 
devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  his  native 
county,  and  has  a  host  of  warm  personal 
friends  throughout  the  community,  where  he 
has  so  long  made  his  home. 

On  November  25,  1850,  in  the  town  of 
Dover,  Mr.  Smith  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Ann  Van  Tassell,  daughter  of  John  P.  Van- 
Tassell,  and  by  their  union  were  born  eight 
children:  William  H.,  who  was  born  Novem- 
ber 26,  1852,  and  is  now  a  painter  and  decor- 
ator of  Torrington,  Conn.;  Charles  E.,  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch;  Hattie,  wife  of  Walter  S. 
Harrison,  of  Patterson,  N.  Y. ;  George  W. ,  a 
painter  and  decorator,  of  Amenia;  Myra  E. ; 
Frederick  J.,  a  tinsmith,  of  Brewster,  N.  Y. ; 
Frank  (deceased);  and  Helen  A.,  wife  of 
Frederick  Adams,  of  Torrington,  Conn.  The 
wife  and  mother  departed  this  life  in  Septem- 
ber,   1890. 

The  boyhood  days  of  Charles  E.  Smith 
were  passed  in  Amenia,  N.  Y.,  and  Sharon, 
Conn.,  and  in  the  latter  place  he  secured  his 
education.  Learning  the  blacksmith  trade 
with  his  father,  he  has  since  followed  that 
business,  having  entire  charge  since  May  24, 
1886.  He  is  now  at  the  head  of  a  large  and 
constantly  increasing  business,  doing  all  kinds 
of  blacksmithing  and  wagon  repairing.  In 
politics  he  is  a  straight  Republican,  and  so- 
cially, is  connected  with  the  Masonic  Order, 
being  a  member  of  Amenia  Lodge  No.  672, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  and  the  Eastern  Star  at  Sharon, 
Connecticut. 

At  Oxford,  Conn.,  October  10,  1878,  Mr. 
Smith  was  married  to  Miss  Rosella  Russell, 
daughter  of  Theodore  D.  Russell,  and  they 
have  two  sons:  Clarence  Russell  and  Howard 
Alfred. 


J  I  RTHUR  S.  PEACOCK  is  one  of  the 
_  L  prominent  citizens  and  enterprising  young 
business  men  of  Wappingers  Falls,  Dutchess 
county,  where  he  is  successfully  engaged  in 
the    drug    business.      He   is  a  native  of  New 


680 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


\ 


York,  born  at  Haverstraw,  Rockland  county, 
March  24,  i860,  a  son  of  William  M.  Peacock, 
whose  birth  occurred  in  Birmingham,  England. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  who  also  bore  the 
name  of  William,  was  a  native  of  England, 
where  he  was  married,  and  reared  a  family  of 
four  children,  of  whom  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject was  the  eldest.  The  others  are:  Thomas, 
a  carpenter  and  millwright  of  Fishkill  Landing, 
Dutchess  county;  George,  a  fish  and  oyster 
dealer  of  New  York  City;  and  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Robert  Wainright,  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
sylvania. 

When  a  young  man  William  M.  Peacock, 
father  of  our  subject,  emigrated  to  America, 
and  at  Bloomfield,  N.  J.,  learned  the  machine- 
printing  business.  His  marriage  with  Miss 
Minerva  Young  was  celebrated  at  Columbia- 
ville,  Columbia  Co. ,  N.  Y. ;  she  was  born  in 
Columbia  county,  N.  Y. ,  where  her  father  was 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  their  fam- 
ily are  two  children,  who  grew  to  adult  age, 
namely:  Elmira,  wife  of  John  L.  Shrader,  who 
conducted  the  drug  store  in  Wappingers  Falls, 
which  our  subject  now  owns;  and  Arthur  S. 
The  father  still  works  at  his  trade  in  Wap- 
pingers Falls,  where  he  was  employed  by  the 
Dutchess  Company  Print  Works  for  nearly 
half  a  century.  In  his  political  views  he  coin- 
cides with  the  platforms  formulated  by  the 
Republican  party,  and  religiously  he  and  his 
family  are  Episcopalians. 

Our  subject  was  only  four  years  old  when 
brought  by  his  parents  to  Wappingers  Falls, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood,  receiving  his  early 
education  in  the  Hughsonville  district  school, 
and  later  attended  the  public  schools  of  Wap- 
pingers Falls,  where  his  literary  education  was 
completed.  For  some  time  he  was  a  clerk  in 
the  law  office  of  Mr.  J.  W.  Bartram,  and  for 
a  year  and  a  half  was  employed  in  the  Dutch- 
ess Company  Print  Works,  after  which  he  was 
a  clerk  in  his  brother-in-law's  drug  store  for 
about  three  years.  Going  to  New  York  City, 
he  held  a  similar  position  in  the  drug  store  of 
William  Mettenheimer,  at  the  corner  of  Forty- 
fifth  street  and  Sixth  avenue,  being  there  em- 
ployed during  the  day,  until  ten  and  eleven 
o'clock  at  night,  except  on  college  nights, 
when  he  would  attend  lectures,  and  after  go- 
ing to  his  room  at  night  would  study  phar- 
macy. He  then  attended  the  New  York  Col- 
lege of  Pharmacy,  and  during  his  vacations 
clerked  for  F.  C.  Corner,  of  Poughkeepsie,  N. 
Y.      Returning  to   New  York  City,  he  clerked 


in  a  drug  store  while  attending  college  durit 
the  senior  year,  but  at  the  end  of  three  montl 
gave  up  his  position  in  order  to  devote  his  ei 
tire  time  to  his  studies,  and  graduated  wit 
the  class  of  1885.  In  January,  1885,  previoi 
to  his  graduation,  Mr.  Peacock  had  purchase 
his  present  drug  business,  and  since  leavir 
college  has  built  up  an  excellent  trade,  whic 
is  certainly  well  deserved.  His  store  is  one ' 
the  best  of  the  kind  in  the  county,  carryii 
only  first-class  goods,  and  he  attends  strict 
to  the  wants  of  his  customers. 

On  October  14,  1886,  Mr.  Peacock  mj 
ried  Miss  Eliza  Clinton,  of  Catskill,  N.  Y., 
daughter  of  Joseph  Clinton.  Politically,  he 
a  Republican,  a  stanch  adherent  of  the  prini 
pies  of  the  party,  and  for  the  last  two  yet 
has  served  as  collector  of  the  town  of  Wa 
pinger.  He  was  also  nominated  as  preside 
of  the  village  in  the  spring  of  1896,  but  wit 
drew  his  name.  He  is  very  popular  with  i 
fellow  citizens,  and  always  lends  his  suppi 
to  promote  the  best  interests  of  the  comn. 
nity  where  he  makes  his  home.  Socially,  he 
identified  with  the  Masonic  Order  and  the  1 
dependent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  is  a 
an  enthusiastic  yachtsman,  owning  the  yac 
' '  Orient, "  which  is  a  very  fast  one,  and,  taki 
part  in  almost  all  the  regattas  held  in  t  < 
section,  he  spends  the  most  of  his  time  ont: 
water,  as  a  benefit  to  his  health,  as  well  as 
means  of  pleasure. 


BOBERT  JACKSON  HUNGERFORDp 
a  prominent  young  business  man  of  W  • 

saic,  Dutchess  county.      Having  a  large  amoit 
of  industry,  perseverance  and   energy,  he  Is 
made  a  noble  record  as  a  successful  mercha|, 
and    is    one    of    the    reliable    citizens  of 
county.      His  birth  occurred  at  New  Milfo 
Conn.,  November  7,  1866. 

Edwin  Hungerford,  his  grandfather,  wa 
native  of  Sherman,  Conn.,  and  there  devo 
his    entire   life    to   agricultural    pursuits, 
was    an    earnest    Christian    gentleman, 
served  as  deacon  in  the  Congregational  Chur 
By  his  marriage  with  Susan  Giddings  he  \ 
five  children:     George,    of  Sherman,    Cor 
Martin  Luther,  father  of   our  subject;     Ph 
(deceased);  Annie;   and   Linus,    of    Mabbei- 
ville,    Dutchess   Co.,    N.    Y.      Martin    Lut  r 
Hungerford    was   born    at    Sherman,    Coi  . 
January  16,  1841,  there  spent  his  boyhood  W 
acquired  his  education  in  the  district  scho  >• 


;i 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


681 


On  starting  out  in  life  he  began  freighting 
from  South  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  and  Pat- 
terson, Putnam  county,  to  New  York  City,  in 
which  business  he  was  engaged  for  five  years. 
He  then  turned  his  attention  to  the  tobacco 
trade,  raising  and  selling  at  wholesale  at  Gay- 
lordsville,  in  the  town  of  New  Milford,  Litch- 
field Co.,  Conn.,  but  is  now  living  retired, 
looking  after  his  real-estate  interests.  He  is 
an  earnest  member  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  and  a  stalwart  Republican  in  politics. 
At  Sharon,  Conn.,  he  was  joined  in  wedlock 
with  Miss  Julia,  daughter  of  Edwin  Jackson, 
and  to  them  were  born  four  children:  Robert 
Jackson;  John  Edwin  and  Arthur,  of  New  Mil- 
ford,  Conn.,  and  Genevieve. 

In  the  place  of  his  nativity  our  subject  was 
reared,  obtaining  his  education  in  the  district 
schools  and  in  a  select  school  at  Cornwall 
Plains,  Conn.  On  laying  aside  his  text-books 
he  began  the  cigar  business,  buying  and  sell- 
ing at  retail,  later  selling  cigars  on  the  road 
for  two  years,  and  for  one  year  was  on  the 
road  selling  fruits  and  vegetables.  In  March, 
I  1891,  he  began  general  merchandising  at  Was- 
saic,  which  business  he  has  since  successfully 
followed,  and  in  the  spring  of  1894  he  erected 
his  present  store  building.  At  Brookfield, 
Conn.,  June  8,  1887,  Mr.  Hungerford  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Jennie  Simmons  Peck,  daughter 
of  Clark  S.  Peck,  and  they  have  three  inter- 
esting children:  Martin  Luther,  Jessie  Irene 
and  Robert  Jerrold.  Socially,  Mr.  Hunger- 
ford  is  connected  with  Amenia  Lodge  No.  672, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  at  Was- 
saic;  politically,  he  supports  the  men  and 
measures  of  the  Republican  party. 


EBENEZER  J.  PRESTON,  who  is  success- 
:  fully  engaged  in  the  tobacco  business  at 

.Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  March  24, 
1855,  in  the  town  of  Dover,  that  county,  where 
his  branch  of  the  family  was  founded  at  a  very 
early  day  by  Ebenezer  Preston,  who  was 
probably  from  Rhode  Island,  and  came  to  the 
county  with  his  brother  Martin.  The  next  in 
direct  line  also  bore  the  name  of  Ebenezer, 
Hnd  was  born  in  the  town  of  Dover.  His  son, 
^bijah  Preston,  was  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject.  The  latter  took  quite  an  active  in- 
terest in  political  affairs,  served  as  captain  of 
the  militia,  and  as  a  life  work  followed  farm- 
ing in  the  town  of  Dover.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth Ross,  and  to   them   were   born  four  chil- 


dren: John  R. ,  who  became  a  butcher  of 
New  York  City;  Mary;  Phoebe  E. ;  and  Ebene- 
zer A. 

Ebenezer  A.  Preston  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Dover,  September  20,  181 8,  there  acquired 
his  primary  education  in  the  district  schools, 
and  later  attended  the  Amenia  Seminary. 
When  a  young  man  he  was  for  a  time  in  the 
cattle  business  with  his  brother  in  Texas,  and 
engaged  in  driving  cattle  from  the  West  to 
the  East.  Returning  to  Dutchess  county,  he 
carried  on  the  marble  business  at  South  Dover, 
and  also  followed  farming,  being  a  large  land 
owner  in  this  county.  Socially,  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  Dover  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  while  his 
political  support  was  ever  given  the  Democ- 
racy, and  in  1848  he  served  as  supervisor  of 
the  town  of  Dover.  He  wedded  Miss  Marie 
Elizabeth  Jewett,  daughter  of  John  Jewett,  a 
prominent  surveyor  of  the  town  of  Dover,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  five  children, 
namely:  Mary  Ellen,  wife  of  A.  F.  Bates,  of 
Ontario,  Cal. ;  Cornelia  Alice,  wife  of  George 
B.  Upham,  an  attorney-at-law,  of  Boston, 
Mass. ;  Ida,  wife  of  E.  L.  Nichols,  professor  of 
physics  in  Cornell  University,  of  Ithaca,  N. 
Y. ;  Ebenezer  Jewett,  of  this  sketch;  and  Au- 
gusta, wife  of  Stephen  C.  Bedell,  of  New  York 
City.  The  mother  departed  this  life  May  i, 
1887,  and  the  fattier's  death  occurred  Decem- 
ber 20,  1 89 1. 

At  the  old  homestead  in  the  town  of  Dover 
our  subject  spent  his  early  days,  and  was  pre- 
pared for  college  by  private  teachers.  He 
then  entered  Cornell  University,  taking  a 
scientific  course,  and  was  graduated  in  1875. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Delta  Upsilon  fraterni- 
ty. Returning  to  Dover,  he  remained  with  his 
father  until  1882,  when  he  took  a  trip  to 
Europe,  visiting  many  points  of  interest.  Sub- 
sequently, in  connection  with  J.  A.  Thompson, 
he  represented  P.  L.  Van  Wagonen's  interest 
in  the  tobacco  business  at  Poughkeepsie. 
Since  that  time  he  has  engaged  in  the  tobacco 
trade  at  Amenia,  buying  from  the  farmers  and 
packing  the  leaf.  He  is  one  of  the  most  wide- 
awake and  energetic  business  men  of  Dutchess 
county,  and  his  success  was  assured  from  the 
start. 

At  his  present  residence  in  Amenia,  Sep- 
tember 19,  1885,  Mr.  Preston  was  married  to 
Miss  Carrie  A.  Kirby,  who  died  January  17, 
1892,  and  to  them  were  born  three  children: 
Mary  Reynolds;  Elizabeth  Jewett,  and  Eben- 
ezer Kirby.     Mrs.  Preston  also  belonged  to  a 


682 


COMMEMORATTVE  BIOORAPHICAL  BE  CORD. 


family  that  has  been  long  identified  with  the 
interests  of  Dutchess  county.  George  Kirby, 
her  great-grandfather,  was  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island,  but  became  an  early  settler  of  Pawling, 
where  he  followed  blacksmithing,  and  was  a' 
large  land  owner  in  that  section  of  the  county. 
His  son,  Uriah  Kirby,  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Pawling,  and  throughout  most  of  his  life 
carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  in  the  western 
part  of  the  town  of  Amenia,  where  he  died  in 
1855,  ^t  the  age  of  sixty-one  years.  By  his 
marriage  with  Phebe  Gerow,  he  had  five  chil- 
dren: William,  deceased;  George,  the  father 
of  Mrs.  Preston;  Solomon;  John;  and  Amelia, 
deceased. 

George  Kirby  is  also  a  native  of  the  town 
of  Pawling,  born  in  January,  1830,  but  was 
reared  in  the  town  of  Amenia.  He  wedded 
Miss  Mary  E.  Reynolds,  who  died  October  15, 
1874,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  two 
children:  Carrie  A.,  who  was  born  July  31, 
1857,  and  became  the  wife  of  our  subject;  and 
Frank  R.,  who  was  born  November  9,  1858, 
and  died  August  20,  1861.  After  his  marriage, 
Mr.  Kirby  purchased  a  farm  at  South  Ameni  , 
where  he  resided  for  about  three  years,  and 
then  removed  to  the  present  residence  of  Mr. 
Preston.  By  occupation  he  is  a  farmer,  po- 
litically is  an  ardent  Republican,  and  is  one  of 
the  prominent,  representative  citizens  of  the 
community. 

In  connection  with  his  local  business,  Mr. 
Preston  has  also  traveled  through  the  West, 
selling  tobacco  to  jobbers  and  wholesale  deal- 
ers. At  Altoona,  Penn. ,  he  was  again  married. 
Miss  Minnie  Helen  McKean  becoming  his  wife. 
Botti  as  a  business  man  and  true  citizen  he  is 
held  in. high  esteem,  and  in  1885,  on  the  Union 
ticket,  was  elected  supervisor  of  the  town  of 
Dover.  Socially,  he  is  prominently  identified 
with  Triune  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Pough- 
keepsie.  He  was  elected  first  master  of  the 
Pomona  Grange  of  Dutchess  county,  organized 
in  March,  1897. 


'\DWARD  S.    HICKS,  of  Pleasant  Valley. 


U  Dutchess  county,  has  accomplished  satis- 
factory work  as  a  farmer,  and  acquired  a  com- 
fortable competence  so  as  to  enable  him  to  live 
retired  from  active  business  life,  and  he  is  now 
making  his  home  at  the  "Pleasant  Valley 
Hotel  "  in  that  village. 

The  Hicks  family,  cf  which  our  subject  is 
a  member,  was  founded  in    Dutchess  county. 


by  Joseph  Hicks,  who  was  born  on  Long 
Island,  and  after  his  marriage  with  Miss  Fil- 
kins  became  a  resident  of  the  town  of  Clinton, 
Dutchess  county.  From  there  he  and  his  wife 
removed  to  Bloomingdale,  Pleasant  Valley 
town,  and  located  upon  a  farm  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  town,  where  his  death  occurred. 
He  obtained  a  grant  of  title  from  Queen  Anne. 
Twice  married,  he  became  the  father  of  a  large 
family  of  children,  among  whom  was  Samuel 
Hicks  (the  grandfather  of  our  subject),  who 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley.  He 
was  reared  to  agriculture,  which  was  mainh' 
his  life  work;  in  early  life  he  also  followed 
shoemaking  to  some  extent.  He  wedded 
Margaret  Doty,  a  native  of  Dutchess  county, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  three  children: 
Benjamin,  who  carried  on  farming  in  the  town 
of  Washington,  Dutchess  county,  where  his 
death  occurred;  Mary,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Samuel  Halstead,  a  farmer  of  Clinton  town; 
and  Samuels.,  the  father  of  our  subject.  The 
parents  of  both  these  died  in  Pleasant  Valley 
town,  the  father  in  1845,  the  mother  in  1827. 
They  were  Hicksite  Quakers. 

Upon  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  V^al- 
ley,    Samuel   S.  Hicks  was  born   and  reared. 
As  he  was  a  cripple  and  thereby  unable  to  per- 
form much  labor  on  the   farm,    he  was  given 
good  educational  privileges,  and  later  became  a 
teacher  in  Pcughkeepsie  Academy.     On   Sep-j 
tember  4,  1816,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with] 
Mary  Peters,  a  native  of  the  town  of  Pleasant! 
Valley,  where  her  father,  Hewlett  Peters,  was; 
also  born,  and  spent  his  entire  life  in  agricult- 
ural   pursuits.     The    Peters    family    was    of 
French  origin,  and  on  crossing  the  Atlantic  its 
members  first  located  on  Long  Island.     After 
their  marriage  the  parents  of  our  subject  set- 
tled upon   the  old    farm,   where    they   reared 
their  family    of   eleven    children,    as  follows: 
Margaret,  born  June  23,  1817,  married  Thomas 
Smith,   a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Washington, 
Dutchess  county;    Hewlett    P.,    born  April  5, 
1 8 19,  wedded  Sarah  Smith,  and  is  now  living] 
retired  in  the  town  of  Clinton.      Edward  S.  is[ 
the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Elias,  born  Febru- 
ary 20,    1825,    is   a  merchant    in    Rochester,  i 
N.  Y.,   married  to   Miss   Elizabeth  Howland:! 
Burtis,  born  April    3,    1827,    married  Mary  J 
Wiley,  and  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits! 
in  Clinton  town;  Hannah,  born  May  8,    1829, 
became  the  wife  of  Asa  U.  Smith,  who  at  onei 
time  was   a   farmer  of    Dutchess  county,   buti 
died  in  the  West;  and  Mary,  born  June  9,  i83i,| 


r 

.^^P^^^P^^^  -  -.^^a:^ 

^^Sk^ 

\i.\ 

^ 


^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPEICAL  RECORD. 


633 


was  the  wife  of  Solomon  Merritt,  a  carpenter 
of  Rochester,  N.  Y. ,  and  died  in  1862.  The 
mother  of  these  was  called  to  her  final  rest 
June  28,  1831;  the  father  died  March  31, 
1869.  In  religious  belief  they  were  Hicksite 
Quakers,  and  in  politics  he  was  an  earnest 
Whig. 

Upon  the  old  homestead  farm  in  Pleasant 
Valley   town,  Edward   S.    Hicks,  our  subject, 
was  born  March   26,  1823,  and  was  reared  to 
rural  life,  receiving  the  usual  education  of  the 
district  school,  after  which   he  taught  in  the 
neighborhood   for  one  term.      On  September 
25,  1844,  he  married   Emily  Wilber,  a  native 
of  the  town  of  Hyde  Park,  and  a  daughter  of 
Sylvanus   Wilber,    who    was    born    in    Rhode 
Island,  and  devoted  his  entire  life  to  farming. 
Two  children   blessed  their  union:    Sylvanus 
W. ,  a  farmer  of   Pleasant  Valley,   born   De- 
cember 7,  1845,  married  Dorcas  M.  Wood,  of 
Hyde  Park,  September  5,  1866;    and  Barnard 
6.,  a  traveling  salesman,  born  October  4,  1847, 
married  Hannah  A.  Doty,  of   Pleasant  Valley, 
June    13,    1866.     Dr.    Edward   E.    Hicks,   of 
Brooklyn,  son  of  Barnard  B.,  born  November 
18,  1870,  married  Lizzie  Porteous,  of   Pough- 
seepsie  City,  June    i,  1893.     The   mother  of 
these  died   February  4,  1862,  and   November 
;9,  1862,  Mr.  Hicks  married  his  present  wife, 
Jennie  M.  Lattin,  who  was  born  in  Pleasant 
/alley  town,  where  the   birth  of  her  father, 
ohn  W.  Lattin,   also   occurred  (in   October, 
810).     Her  mother  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
lannah  E.  Wilber,  and  was  the  sister  of  our 
ubject's  first  wife.      Four  daughters  were  born 
<  Mr.  and   Mrs.    Lattin,  namely:     Sarah  C, 
ho  died  unmarried;    Ellen  W.,  wife  of  John 
..  Marshall,  a  farmer  of  Pleasant  Valley  town; 
-mily  C.  (the  twin  sister  of  Mrs.  Hicks),  who 
rst  wedded   George   B.  Dale,  a   farmer,  and 
ifter  his  death  became  the  wife  of  George  Van- 
'liet,  a  miller  at  Salt  Point,  Dutchess  county, 
ho  is  now  also  deceased;  and  Jennie  M.,  the 
ife  of  our  subject.     The  Lattin  family  was 
lunded  in  this  country  on   Long  Island,  but 
athaniel    Lattin,    the    grandfather   of     Mrs. 
'icks,  early  became   a   leading  farmer  of  the 
wn  of  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess  county. 

After  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Hicks  located 
pon  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  where  he 
lent  two  years,  the  following  year  being 
issed  on  the  old  home  in  Pleasant  Valley;  he 
len  removed  to  a  farm  in  the  same  town, 
hich  he  occupied  some  four  years.  For 
jghteen  years   he   next   cultivated   a  farm  in 


the  western  part  of  the  town,  and  the  follow- 
ing year  he  was  a  resident  of  Poughkeepsie. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  he  returned  to  the 
town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  where  he  purchased 
a  farm,  on  which  he  made  his  home  until 
1889,  when  he  sold  out,  and  has  since  lived  at 
the  "  Pleasant  Valley  Hotel." 

Politically,  Mr.  Hicks  affiliates  with  the 
Democratic  party,  in  whose  principles  he 
claims  he  finds  the  best  guarantees  for  the 
preservation  of  the  government.  Both  him- 
self and  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  which  for  the  past  sixteen  years  he 
has  been  deacon,  and  for  twenty-five  years  as- 
sistant superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school. 
After  long  lives  of  toil,  surrounded  by  the  love, 
respect  and  esteem  of  a  large  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintances,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hicks  are 
resting  from  their  labors,  and  quietly  and 
pleasantly  passing  their  time. 


r/  ELDON    F.    WESTON,    one    of   the 

['It  leading  citizens  of  Fishkill-on-Hudson, 
Dutchess  county,  and  the  proprietor  of  Wes- 
ton's Express  and  Transportation  line  running 
between  Fishkill,  Newburg,  and  neighboring 
points,  is  a  native  of  Litchfield,  N.  H.,  and  a 
member  of  a  family  which  has  long  held  a 
prominent  place  in  political,  business  and 
social  life.  Jonathan  Weston,  his  great-grand- 
father, served  with  honor  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  enlisting  from  Reading,  Mass.,  three 
different  times. 

Amos  Weston,  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Reading,  Mass.,  April  21,  1767, 
and  was  married  June  i,  1790,  to  Polly  Flint, 
who  was  born  November  8,  1767.  Amos  died 
at  Manchester.  N.  H.,  April  4,  1843,  his  wife 
on  December  4,  1858.  They  had  nine  chil- 
dren, whose  names  with  dates  of  birth  and 
death  are  as  follows:  Amos  (2),  March  18, 
1781,  died  June  i,  1859;  Betsey,  October  17, 
1793,  died  August  27,  1878;  Mary,  December 
29.  1795,  died  August  13,  1838;  Nathaniel  F., 
September  5,  1798,  died  December  29,  1799; 
Sally,  October  26,  1800,  died  May  12,  1881; 
Harriet,  January  23,  1803,  died  April  2,  1892; 
Elbridge,  July  23,  1805,  died  March  7,  1863; 
Achsah,  August  26,  1807,  died  March  17,  1849; 
and  Harrison,  December  17,  1811,  died  June 
19,  1883.  Amos  (2)  was  the  father  of  Hon. 
James  A.  Weston,  who  was  elected  Governor 
of  New  Hampshire  in  1871  and  1874.  The 
esteem  in  which   he  was  held   throughout  the 


684 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


I 


State  is  attested  by  his  election  on  the  Dem- 
ocratic ticket,  he  being  the  only  member  of 
his  party  chosen  to  that  office  in  New  Hamp- 
shire in  nearly  half  a  century.  He  was  mayor 
of  Manchester,  N.  H.,  serving  four  terms,  and 
when  he  died.  May  i8,  1895,  was  president  of 
the  New  Hampshire  Fire  Insurance  Company, 
the  Manchester  National  Bank,  and  was  con- 
nected with  several  other  institutions  in  that 
city.  Elbridge  J.  Weston  was  the  father  of 
Sarah,  who  married  Hon.  George  S.  Merrill, 
of  Boston,  for  many  years  past  the  Insurance 
Commissioner  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts. 
He  is  prominent  in  Grand  .-^rmy  circles,  hav- 
ing been  commander  in  chief  of  the  National 
body. 

Harrison  Weston,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  in  Manchester,  N.  H.,  and  lived  there 
forty-two  years,  removing  thence  to  Litchfield, 
N.  H.,  December  19,  1853.  He  was  a  farmer 
during  the  greater  part  of  his  life,  but  in  early 
years  was  lock-tender  and  collector  of  tolls  on 
the  Merrimac  river  at  Crummell's  Fall  and 
Moores  Fall.  In  those  days  transportation 
was  done  mainly  by  waterways,  railroads  being 
unknown.  He  was  a  man  of  modest  preten- 
sion, possessed  of  sterling  integrity,  and  was 
respected  and  honored  by  all  who  knew  him. 
During  a  brief  stay  in  Fishkill  in  his  later 
years  he  made  many  friends,  who  hold  him  in 
affectionate  remembrance.  In  politics  he  was 
a  Democrat,  always  taking  a  lively  interest  in 
public  affairs,  and  his  townsmen  honored  him 
with  nearly  every  office  in  their  gift.  He  died 
in  Laconia,  N.  H.,  and  was  buried  beside  his 
wife,  Betsey  J.  (Richardson),  at  the  old  home  in 
Litchfield,  in  the  cemetery  which  owed  its 
existence  mainly  to  his  enterprise  and  fore- 
sight, and  which  had  been  improved  under  his 
sole  supervision.  Of  the  five  children  of  this 
estimable  couple  all  are  living.  Their  names, 
with  dates  of  birth,  are  as  follows:  Mary  J., 
September  3,  1848;  Wilbur  Harrison,  Febru- 
ary II,  1851;  Warren  J.,  June  28,  1853;  Wel- 
don  F. ,  April  14,  1856;  and  Ellura  H.,  June 
12,  1859. 

Wilbur  H.  Weston  (popularly  known  as 
"  Maj.  Weston  "  )  resides  in  Newburg,  and  has 
been  engaged  in  the  railroad  industries  in 
Dutchess  and  Orange  counties  throughout  his 
business  life.  In  recent  years  he  has  given 
special  attention  to  the  construction  of  electric 
street  railways  in  Fishkill  and  Newburg,  and 
is  also  connected  more  or  less  intimately  with 
many  other  important  business  ventures  of  his 


city.  He  is  prominent  in  fraternal  and  socia 
circles,  and  has  been  active  in  political  matter 
for  several  years,  having  many  friends  through 
out  the  State.  William  H.  Moore,  for  twent; 
years  general  passenger  agent  and  auditor  0 
the  N.  D.  &  C.  R.  R.,  is  a  half-brother.  A 
the  early  age  of  eighteen  years  he  enlisted  a 
a  private  in  Company  K,  ist  Massachusetti 
Heavy  Artillery;  was  made  quartermaster' 
clerk,  and  served  three  years;  then  re-enlistei 
for  other  three  years,  but  was  discharged  Janu 
ary  7,  1865,  by  reason  of  wounds  received  i 
an  engagement  near  Strawberry  Plains,  Va 
August  15,  1864. 

Weldon  F.  Weston  received  instruction  i 
the  public  schools  of  his    native   place  durin 
boyhood,  and  later  attended  Pinkerton  Acac 
emy,  at  Derry,  N.  H.,  finishing   his  educatic 
at  the  New  Hampshire   Conference   Seminai  \ 
and  Female   College,  at  Tilton,  N.  H.     Aft' 
a  brief  experience  as  a  teacher,  he,  at  the  a; 
of  twenty,  came  to  Newburg,  as  shipping  clei 
for  the  Erie  railroad,  at  the    Homer  Ramsdt 
Transportation     Company's    line    of    barge 
After  two    years  there,  he    returned    to   Ne 
Hampshire  and  engaged  in  mercantile  businej 
for  three  years;  but  in  1879  he  came  back 
his  former  position  at   Newburg,   for  anoth 
season.     The  next  six  years  he  spent  at  M; 
teawan  as  station  agent  for  the  N.  D.  &  C. 
R..  and  in    1888   he  and  his  brother,  W.  1 
Weston,  purchased  the   Matteawan  &  Fishk 
Landing  Stage  Line,  and  were  engaged  in  t 
express  and    trucking  business  in  connectil 
with    the    stage   line,    until    1892,    when  t| 
electric  railroad  superseded  the  stage  route;  \ 
then    purchased    his    brother's  interest  in  tp 
business.      He  is  still  extensively  interested 
transportation  business   with   adjoining  tow  , 
and  is  a  director  of  the  Citizens  Street  railroj 
and  the    Fishkill  Street    railroad.      He  haEi 
pleasant  home  at  No.  42  High  street,  Fishk,!- 
on-Hudson.      His    wife    (formerly    Miss  Ai^ 
Jeanette    Elkins),  to    whom   he    was   marrd 
September  26,   1878,  is  a   daughter  of  Chaib 
M.  and  Elizabeth  A.  (Davis)  Elkins,  of  Wa!- 
field,  Massachusetts. 

Politically,  Mr.  Weston  is  a  Republic- 
In  1 89 1  he  was  elected  president  of  the  vill  e 
of  Matteawan.  and  was  re-elected  in  i 
without  opposition,  being  the  first  incunil 
of  the  office  to  be  chosen  without  an  oppo; 
candidate  since  the  incorporation  of  the  vilkp 
At  the  present  time  he  is  president  of  f^ 
Board  of  Trade  of  Matteawan  and  Fishkillji- 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


685 


Hudson;  president  of  the  board  of  health  of 
Fishkill  Landing;  and  president  of  the  Fairview 
Cemetery  Association.  He  has  taken  an  in- 
terest in  fraternal  society  work,  also,  and  has 
been  warden  of  Beacon  Lodge,  F.  &.  A.  M. ; 
also  chancellor  of  Hudson  River  Lodge,  K.  of 
P.,  has  twice  represented  the  latter  society  in 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State,  and  has  been 
deputy  for  this  district. 


JpHN  V.  O'FARRELL,  who  is  engaged  in 
j  the  ice  business  in  Wappingers  Falls, 
Dutchess  county,  although  a  resident  of 
Hughsonville,  was  born  in  County  Tipperary, 
Ireland,  March  2,  1845. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  James  O'Far- 
rell,  was  a  native  of  the  same  county,  and  a 
baker  and  shopkeeper  by  occupation.  He 
married  Margaret  Laniphier,  and  they  reared 
four  children,  namely:  P.  W.,  who  is  a  gen- 
eral merchant  in  Blackville,  S.  C. ;  Margaret, 
who  married  John  Sullivan,  of  Goshen,  Orange 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  who  is  now  deceased;  John  V.; 
I  and  Elizabeth,  who  died  unmarried.  The  fam- 
ily came  to  America  in  1850,  and  Mr.  O'Far- 
rell,  who  was  then  an  officer  in  the  English 
army,  left  his  family  at  Wappingers  Falls 
while  he  went  to  Canada,  to  which  country  he 
had  been  ordered.  He  died  in  Montreal  in 
1851.  His  wife  survived  him  until  1882.  They 
were  members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and 
their  children  were  brought  up  in  that  faith. 

John  V.  O'Farrell  was  only  five  years  old 
when  his  parents  settled  at  Wappingers  Falls, 
and  in  the  common  schools  of  that  village  he 
obtained  his  education.      When  old  enough  he 
found    employment    in    the    Dutchess    Print 
Works,  and  worked  there  until  1864,  when  he 
enlisted  in  Company  I,  3d  New  York  Cavalry, 
and  served   until   the   close  of   the  Civil  war. 
^Me  was  discharged,  June  17,  1865,  at  Suffolk, 
Hll.,    and    returned    to    his    home,    where  he 
'     learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  for  the  past 
thirty  years  has  been  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful builders  at  the  Falls.      In  1880  he  formed 
i  partnership  with  John  M.  Goring  in  the  fur- 
liture  and   undertaking  business,  which   con- 
lection   lasted  for  four  years.      He  then  sold 
Jut  to  E.  W.  Flynn,  and  engaged  in  the  ice 
jusiness,  which   he  has  since  carried  on,  also 
3eing  interested  in  buying  and  selling  real  es- 
ate.      He  has    been    very    successful,   and  is 
imong  the  prosperous  and  substantial  citizens 
(  Wappingers  Falls. 


On  January  7,  1877,  Mr.  O'Farrell  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Downey,  who  was 
born  in  Wappingers  Falls,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Peter  Downey,  Sr. ,  a  native  of  Ireland.  Of 
this  marriage  six  children  have  been  born,  all 
of  whom  are  living:  Vincent,  Leo,  Joseph, 
Raymond,  Marie,  and  Emmett. 

Mr.  O'Farrell  was  a  Democrat  until  1886, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  in  sympathy  with 
the  Republican  party.  He  was  for  two  terms 
assessor  of  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie,  for  three 
years  chief  of  the  Wappingers  Falls  fire  de- 
partment, and  for  nine  years  one  of  the  village 
trustees.  He  is  a  membfer  of  the  Foresters, 
and  also  of  the  G.  A.  R.  Post,  in  which  he  has 
held  all  the  offices  and  was  commander  for 
three  terms.  He  and  his  family  are  devoted 
members  of  the  Catholic  Church.  Mr.  O'Far- 
rell is  a  man  of  progressive  ideas,  always  ready 
to  assist  in  matters  for  the  public  good,  and  is 
one  of  the  most  loyal  and  enterprising  of  the 
business  men  of  the  village.  He  has  many 
warm  friends,  and  is  popular  with  all  who 
know  him. 


OHN  M.  GORING,  a  leading  and  represent- 
ative business  man  of  Wappingers  Falls, 
where  he  has  a  furniture  and  undertaking 
establishment,  is  a  member  of  the  well-known 
firm  of  Goring  &  Flynn.  He  was  born  in  that 
village,  December  21,  1851,  and  is  a  son  of  J. 
M.  Goring.  There  he  grew  to  manhood,  being 
educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  learned  the 
trade  of  a  tinsmith  and  plumber  with  A.  W. 
Armstrong,  by  whom  he  was  employed  for 
eleven  years.  In  1882  he  started  his  present 
business,  being  at  that  time  connected  with 
John  O'Farrell,  under  the  firm  name  of  O'Far- 
rell &  Goring,  which  partnership  continued  for 
two  years,  when  the  senior  member  withdrew, 
and  Edward  W.  Flynn  became  a  member  of 
the  firm,  which  then  assumed  its  present  style. 
They  have  one  of  the  leading  establishments  of 
the  kind  in  the  town,  and  the  liberal  patronage 
they  receive  is  well  deserved. 

On  November  20,  1876,  Mr.  Goring  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  C.  Downing,  of  Clinton 
Point,  Dutchess  county,  a  daughter  of  Edward 
and  Jane  Downing,  who  were  both  born  in  the 
North  of  Ireland,  and  were  of  Scotch  lineage. 
Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  become  the  par- 
ents of  four  children  (two  pair  of  twins) :  How- 
ard   D.  and   Harold  V.,  born   September  23, 


686 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1884;  and  J.  Morris  and    Mary  C,  born  Janu- 
ary 6,  1897. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Goring  is  identified  with  the 
Repubhcan  party,  and  is  at  present  serving  as 
treasurer  of  his  school  district.  He  is  a  highly 
respected  and  esteemed  citizen  of  the  place, 
and  as  a  merchant  bears  the  reputation  of  an 
honest,  upright  and  trustworthy  man.  His 
gentlemanly  deportment  and  genial  manners 
are  gaining  him  hosts  of  friends,  and  rapidly  in- 
creasing his  business.  He  takes  quite  an  active 
part  in  civic  societies,  belonging  to  Wappinger 
Lodge  No.  671,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which  he  is 
past  master;  Poughkeepsie  Chapter,  R.  A.  M. ; 
La  Fayette  Lodge  No.  18,  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  and 
Evening  Star  Lodge  No.  98,  K.  P. 


JAMES  M.  De  GARMO,  proprietor  of  De- 
Garmo  Institute,  Fishkill  Landing,  Dutch- 
ess county,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Hyde 
Park,  near  Crum  Elbow,  N.  Y. ,  December  22, 
1838,  a  son  of  Peter  and  Sarah  Gilchrist  (Mar- 
shall) De  Garmo.  The  father  was  born  March 
4,  1798,  also  in  the  town  of  Hyde  Park,  the 
mother  on  July  24,  1800,  in  Westchester 
county,  N.  Y.  Peter  De  Garmo,  the  paternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  Septem- 
ber 2,  175 1,  in  New  Jersey,  and  the  paternal 
grandmother,  Mary  D.  Robinson,  on  Novem- 
ber 12,  1763.  James  I.  Marshall,  the  mater- 
nal grandfather,  was  born  January  6,  1773,  the 
maternal  grandmother,  Elizabeth  (Gilchrist), 
on  December  2,  1772. 

On  his  father's  side  James  M.  De  Garmo 
is  a  lineal  descendant  of  French  Huguenots, 
while  his  mother's  family  were  Rhode  Island 
Yankees.  During  the  Huguenot  persecution 
in  France,  the  De  Garmos  of  Normandy  fled 
to  Holland,  where  some  of  them  married  Dutch 
women,  and,  later,  three  brothers  —  Elias, 
Jacob  (or  James)  and  John — with  their  fami- 
lies, came  to  America  and  settled  at  Pompton 
Plains,  N.  J.,  and  from  them  the  whole  De- 
Garmo  clan  in  America  is  descended. 

Peter  De  Garmo  and  his  father  before  him 
were  tanners  and  farmers,  retaining  many  of 
the  physical  and  mental  characteristics  of  their 
French  ancestry,  for  they  were  mostly  men  of 
small  stature,  of  nervous  temperament,  but 
cheerful  and  happy  disposition,  active  and  vig- 
orous in  mind  and  body.  James  was  one  of  a 
family  of  nine  children,  and  was  never  a  very 
hardy,  tough  boy,  like  most   of  his  age.      His 


primary  education  was  obtained  from  the  old- 
fashioned  district  school  of  the  time.      But  at 
eleven  years  of  age  he  was  needed  on  the  farm, 
left  school  and  worked  till  he  was  seventeen; 
then  he  went  three   months  to  the  Dutchess 
County  Academy  at  Poughkeepsie,  under  the 
Scotch  Prof.  William  McGeorge.     After  these 
three   months   he  returned  to  the  farm,  and 
worked  till  he  was   nineteen,  when  he  began, 
in  April,  to  teach   in  the   academy  where  he 
had  studied,  and  at  the  same  time  began  his 
studies  for  college.      In  two  years  and  a  quar- 
ter, as  he  was  about  to  enter  college,  his  health 
failed,  and  he  took  charge  of  a  boarding-school 
at  Oswego  Meeting  House,  near  what  is  now 
Moores  Mill,  under  Quaker    auspices.     In  the 
following  spring  he  was  in  such  ill-health  that 
he  went  home  to  recruit,  spending  some  of  the 
time  in  the  wild  Adirondacks,  and  in  Vermont. 
In  November  he  again  took  charge  of  the  Os- 
wego school,  teaching  till  spring,  when  he  went 
to  Poughkeepsie,  and,  under  private  instruct- 
ors, studied  French,  German,  Latin  and  Greek, 
continuing  till  the   next    February,   when  ht 
entered  a  co-partnership  with  Prof.  McGeorge 
and  Mr.  Stewart  Pelham,  to  conduct  the  Ok 
Academy.      At  that   time   he   was  married  tc 
Emily  L.  Drake,  of  Pleasant  Valley,  and  soor 
began  his  life-work  at  teaching.     The  co-part 
nership,  not  proving  congenial,  was  dissolved 
and   in   April,  1864,   he   went    to    Rhinebeck 
N.  Y.,  and  took  charge  of  the  Rhinebeck  Acad 
emy,  which  he  soon  after  purchased,  change' 
to  De  Garmo  Institute,  entirely  rebuilt  andim 
proved,  and  continued  to  manage  it  until  189CI 
when  he  moved  to  Fishkill  Landing,  where  h  i 
hired    Mt.   Beacon  Academy,  and   has  taugh; 
till   the  present  time.      His   school   has  bee, 
one  of  the  best  known  in  the  county  or  State 
Soon  after  going  to  Rhinebeck,  Princetoi 
College  conferred  upon  Dr.  De  Garmo  the  hor 
orary  degree   of   Master  of  Arts,  and  later,  i 
1878,    Hamilton   College,    at   Clinton,   N.  Y 
gave  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Philosoph]! 
Both  degrees  were  conferred  in  recognition  (| 
his  success  in  preparing  boys  for  college,  anj 
for  his  scientific  studies.      In  October,  186; 
he  was  initiated,    passed   and   raised    a   Fn! 
and  Accepted  Mason,  and   is  now  past  mast' 
of   Rhinebeck  Lodge  No.  432;  past  master 
Beacon  Lodge   No.   283;  grand  representati- 
of  the  Symbolic  Grand   Lodge  of  the  Unit( 
States  of  Me.xico,  near  the  Grand  Lodge  of  tl 
State  of  New  York;  and  a  thirty-second-degr 
Mason  of  the  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  Ri 


COMMEMOBATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


687 


in  the  Valley  of  New  York,  for  the  Northern 
Jurisdiction  of  America. 

Dr.  De  Garmo  has  never  held  any  political 
office,  but  since  his  eighteenth  year  has  spoken 
on  the  Republican  side  in  every  Presidential 
campaign  but  one.  In  the  famous  Greeley 
campaign  he  was  silent.  He  has  lectured  fre- 
quently and  acceptably  on  scientific  topics, 
was  an  active  member  of  the  Poughkeepsie 
Society  of  Natural  Science,  and  later  of  Vassar 
Brothers'  Institute.  He  is  an  after-dinner 
speaker  of  some  reputation,  and  writes  occa- 
sional poems,  which  have  been  well  received. 
But  whatever  he  may  have  of  enduring  reputa- 
tion will  come  from  his  long  and  faithful  work 
as  a  teacher.  Although  a  linguist  by  profes- 
sion, he  has  devoted  much  time  to  scientific 
studies,  is  a  fair  microscopist  and  astronomer, 
and  familiar  with  lepidoptera  and  with  orni- 
thology and  geology,  in  all  which  departments 
he  has  collected  fine  cabinets  and  museums. 
He  has  delivered  many  lectures,  especially  on 
5cience,  is  a  skilled  manipulator  of  apparatus 
either  before  a  class  or  a  public  audience,  and 
lis  a  man,  on  the  whole,  of  rather  versatile 
;alents. 


DAVID  AND  HENRY  RUNDALL  are 
_'  prominent  and  representative  citizens  of 
he  town  of  Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  the 
ormer  residing  in  the  village  of  Amenia,  and 
he  latter  on  the  old  family  homestead  on  the 
oad  between  Amenia  and  Wassaic.  About 
he  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century  the  fam- 
ly  was  founded  in  Dutchess  county,  and  their 
jreat-grandfather  was  buried  in  the  old  aban- 
ioned  cemetery  between  Bangall  and  Mclntyre, 
n  the  town  of  Stanford. 

David  Rundall,  the  grandfather,  was  born 
anuary  4,  1757,  in  the  town  of  Horse  Neck, 
^airfield  Co.,  Conn.,  but  came  to  the  town  of 
Amenia,  Dutchess  county  at  the  age  of  four- 
een  years,  in   company   with   his  brother,  to 
vhom  he  was  bound  out  as  an  apprentice  to 
earn  the  tailor's   trade.     They    moved   their 
ntire  worldly  effects  on  horseback,  and  located 
n  that  part  of  the  town  which  was  then  called 
■leparate.     The  apprenticeship   was  ended  at 
bout  the  time  of  the  inauguration  of  the  Rev- 
lutionary  war,  in  which  the  grandfather  served 
hrough  two  campaigns,  one  in  the  North  and 
he  other  in  the  South,  in  the  years  1775  and 
■76.     After  obtaining    his  discharge   he   re- 
ined to  Amenia,  where  he  followed  his  trade, 


which  was  then  called  "whipping  the  cat," 
being  employed  on  both  sides  of  the  mountains, 
wherever  he  could  secure  work  for  a  few  days. 

After  his  marriage  the  grandfather  lived  for 
six  years  at  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  he  returned  to  Amenia, 
taking  up  his  residence  in  the  old  house  near 
the  H.  W.  Peters  homestead,  and  a  few  re- 
maining apple  trees  standing  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  road  mark  the  stop  of  the  orchard 
which  he  set  out.  There  he  resided  until 
1795.  when  he  removed  to  the  place  now  oc- 
cupied by  Henry  Rundall,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred January  21,  1848.  During  his  resi- 
dence on  the  old  Peters  farm,  the  first  Meth- 
odist Church  was  organized  in  Amenia,  of 
which  he  was  for  several  years  the  only  male 
member. 

The  grandfather  was  thrice  married.  On 
January  7,  1777,  he  wedded  Catherine  Pow- 
ers, who  died  May  14,  1799,  and  they  had  six 
children:  Betsey,  born  February  8,  1780, 
died  February  26,  1829;  Mary,  born  January 
5,  1783,  died  August  15,  1831 ;  Jacob  M.,  born 
May  26,  1785,  died  October  8,  1833;  Abigail, 
born  August  26,  1787,  died  in  December, 
1 871;  William,  born  October  i,  1794,  died 
October  2,  1795;  and  Henry,  born  March  4, 
1799,  died  November  3,  1871.  In  March, 
I  Sot,  he  married  Elizabeth  Cole,  who  died 
July  6,  1 82 1,  and  to  them  was  born  a  daugh- 
ter— Catherine,  born  January  5,  1803,  and 
married  Henry  Ingraham.  His  third  wife  was 
Alice  Allerton. 

Henry  Rundall,  the  father  of  our  subjects, 
during  his  boyhood  attended  the  "Johnny 
Cake  "  school  between  Amenia  and  Wassaic, 
and  throughout  life  operated  the  old  home- 
stead farm.  On  December  12,  1821,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Nancy  T.  Sutherland, 
who  was  born  April  18,  1803,  a  daughter  of 
Roger  B.  Sutherland,  and  died  January  31, 
1869.  Six  children  graced  this  union,  namely: 
Sarah  S.,  born  August  7,  1825,  married  Dr. 
Isaac  M.  Hunting,  and  died  November  29, 
1895;  Elizabeth  M.,  born  August  24,  1827, 
married  George  W.  Center,  of  Amenia,  N.  Y. ; 
David  and  Henry  are  next  in  order  of  birth; 
Mary  B. ,  born  January  10,  1833,  wedded  John 
J.  Harrison,  and  died  in  November,  1882;  and 
Catherine  P.,  born  October  2,  1835,  married 
Henry  C.  Dauchy,  and  died  November  25, 
1895.  For  his  second  wife  the  father  chose 
Susan  Hebard,  who  still  survives  him,  residing 
at  Sharon,  Connecticut. 


638 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPBICAL  RECORD. 


Henry  Rundall,  Sr. ,  was  a  faithful  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  was  the  first 
man  in  the  town  of  Amenia  to  abolish  the  use 
of  liquor  upon  his  farm.  In  early  life  he  had 
belonged  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
He  was  an  active  Democrat  in  politics  previous 
to  1857,  but  at  that  time  became  an  earnest 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  as  in  ante- 
bellum days  he  was  very  much  opposed  to 
slavery. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  commissions 
of  the  father  as  captain,  major  and  colonel 
in  the  New  York  State  Militia: 

The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York,  To  all  to 
whom  these  presents  may  come:  Know  ye,  that  pursuant 
to  the  constitution  and  laws  of  our  said  State,  we  have  ap- 
pointed and  constituted  and  by  these  presents  do  appoint 
and  constitute  Henry  Rundall,  captain  in  the  Twenty- 
ninth  Regiment  of  Infantry  of  our  said  State  (with  rank 
from  May  13,  1826),  to  hold  said  ofifice  in  the  manner 
specified  m  and  by  our  said  constitution  and  laws. 

In  testimony  whereof  we  have  caused  our  seal 
for  military  commissions  to  be  hereunto  affixed.  Witness 
DeWitt  Clinton,  Esquire,  Governor  of  our  said  State, 
general  and  commander-in-chief  of  all  the  militia  and 
admiral  of  the  navy  of  the  same,  at  our  city  of  Albany, 
the  22nd  day  of  June,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty-six. 

DeWitt  Clinton. 
Passed  the  adjutant-general's  office. 

N.  F.  Beck,  Adjutant-General. 

The  commission  of  major  reads  exactly 
like  that  of  captain,  but  dated  July  30,  1827. 
The  commission  of  colonel  of  the  Twenty- 
ninth  Regiment  reads  like  the  other  two,  dated 
July  23,  1830,  and  signed  by  Enos  T.  Troop, 
Esquire,  Lteutenant-Governor  of  the  State, 
and  by  M.  H.  Webster,  Adjutant-General. 
These  papers  are  still  in  the  possession  of 
David  Rundall,  of  Amenia. 

David  Rundall,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review,  was  born  on  the  old 
homestead  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  Dutchess 
county,  August  2,  1829,  and  he  also  began  his 
education  in  the  "  Johnny  Cake  "  school,  but 
the  knowledge  there  acquired  was  supple- 
mented by  a  course  in  the  Amenia  Seminary. 
Until  reaching  his  majority  he  remained  upon 
the  home  farm,  and  then  for  ten  years  oper- 
ated land  near  the  village  of  Amenia,  after 
which  he  engaged  in  farming  for  twenty-one 
years  on  the  road  to  Wassaic.  Since  1888, 
however,  he  has  made  his  home  in  the  village 
of  Amenia,  and  is  now  capably  serving  as  town 
clerk.  He  has  also  been  collector  for  several 
terms,  and  his  duties  are  always  discharged 
with  credit  to  himself,  and  with  satisfaction  to 
all  concerned.  By  his  ballot  he  supports  the 
Republican  party,  and  religiously  himself  and 


family   are    connected   with  the   Presbyterian 
Church. 

At  Amenia,  September  14,  1852,  David 
Rundall  was  married  to  Harriet  P.  Rey- 
nolds, a  daughter  of  Jonathan  P.  Rey- 
nolds. She  died  February  5,  1863,  leaving 
one  son,  William  P.,  who  was  born  in  De- 
cember, 1862,  and  married  Fanny  McHugh, 
by  whom  he  has  a  daughter,  Hattie;  he  is  a 
resident  of  the  town  of  Amenia.  On  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1864,  at  Mechanicsville,  Saratoga 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  David  Rundall  married  Sarah 
Catherine  Barrett,  daughter  of  Henry  E.  Bar- 
rett. Harry  Barrett  Rundall,  the  only  child 
of  the  second  union,  was  born  November  24, 
1864,  and  after  finishing  his  education  in  the 
Amenia  Seminary,  on  March  17,  1 881,  he  en- 
tered the  First  National  Bank  of  Amenia  as 
bookkeeper,  which  position  he  has  since  filled  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  bank  officials.  He  is 
at  present  serving  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
socially  is  a  member  of  Amenia  Lodge  No. 
672,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Henry  Rundall,  of  this  review,  was  born 
July  6,  1 83 1,  on  the  farm  where  he  still  resides, 
and    like    his    brother  was    educated    at    the 
"Johnny  Cake  "  school  and  the  Amenia  Sem- 
inary.     He  has  always  engaged  in  the  cultiva-j 
tion  of  the  home  farm,  and  since  1853  has  also | 
dealt  in  milk.     At   Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ,  Julj| 
G,  1853,  he  married  Lucinda  A.  Ransom,  a  na-i 
tive  of  Highland,  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  and  a  de- 
scendant of  the  Deyo  family,  early  settlers  0: 
that    county.       Seven    children   were  born  tc 
them,   as  follows:    (1)  Herbert   R. ,   pastor  0 
the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Hammonton,  N.  J.. 
first  wedded  Mary  Herrick,  of  Saratoga  coun- 
ty, N.  Y.,  by  whom  he  had  a  daughter,   Milli(( 
R.,  and  after  her  death  married  Elizabeth  Enj 
dicott;  (2)  Clarence   A.  married  Julia  Roberts 
by  whom   he   has   a  son.  Warring  Deyo,  anc 
they  now  live  at  Brewster,  Putnam  Co.,  N.  Y. 
(3)  Arthur   S.    is  with  the  Phcenix    Insuranci 
Company,  of  Chicago,  111.;  (4)  Frank  D. ,  01 
February  10,  1897,  married  Frances  Thompsoi 
Reed,    daughter   of  Henry  V.    D.    Reed,   am 
lives  at  Amenia  Union,    N.    Y. ;   (5)   Bell  H. 
born   July  11,  1864,  died  February  24,  1876 
(6)  Martin   K.   married  Jennie  Rutledge,  am 
has   two  children,   Olin  Rutledge  and  Henr 
T. ;  (7)  Laura  J.    is  the  wife  of  J.  Henry  Hal 
stead,  of  Rye,  Westchester  Co.,  New  York. 

Henry  Rundall  is  one  of  the  prominent  an 
active  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  c 
Amenia,    in    which,    for   thirty  years,  he  ha 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPEICAL  RECORD. 


039 


erved  as  elder,  and  will  continue  to  hold  the 
iffice  through  life.  He  is  connected  with  the 
,^menia  Grange,  in  politics  is  an  ardent  Re- 
)ublican,  and  has  served  as  assessor  of  the 
own  of  Amenia.  In  manner,  the  Rundall 
,irothers  are  quiet  and  unassuming,  yet  their 
iterling  qualities  command  the  respect  and 
jonfidence  of  all,  and  have  secured  for  them 
ihe  high  regard  of  a  large  circle  of  friends, 
"hey  are  numbered  among  the  valued  citizens 
f  the  community,  who  have  been  devoted  to 
he  public  welfare,  and  are  assuredly  worthy 
f  representation  in  a  volume  of  this  nature. 


^ILLIAM  H.    BARTLETT.  one  of  the 

prominent  and  leading  business  men  of 

.menia,  Dutchess  county,  traces  his  ancestral 

ne  back  to  the  Colonial  epoch.      His   great- 

randfather,   Daniel  C.  Bartlett,  was  born  at 

Ledding,     Conn.,     where     his     father.     Rev. 

lathaniel  Bartlett,  a  Congregational  minister, 

ad  located  May  23,    1753.     The  latter  was 

ailed  from    this    life    January  10,  1810.     On 

le  breaking  out    of    the  Revolutionary   war, 

ne  Sabbath  day,     he  presented    his    sword, 

Ihich  he  had  newly  ground,  to  his  son  Daniel 

ith  the  instruction  to  go  and  defend  his  coun- 

•y.     With    Montgomery's  forces  he  went  to 

'uebec,  and  was  at  the   capture  of  Fort  St. 

)hn  in  November,  1775.      He  was  also  pres- 

it  at   the    burning    of    Danbury,   Conn.,    in 

777.     Later  in  life  he  became  a  resident  of 

utchess  county,    N.  Y. ,  in    1803  purchasing 

16  Joel  Gillett  farm  in  the  town  of  Amenia, 

1  which  his  great-grandson,  Sanford  J.  Bart- 

tt,  now   resides.      In    his   family    were    five 

lildren:     William,  Collins,  Mrs.  John  Barker, 

rs.  Thomas  Paine  and  Mrs.  William  Paine. 

William  S.  Bartlett,  the  father  of  our  sub- 

ct,  was  born  upon  the  family  homestead  in 

e   town  of  Amenia,    attended    the    district 

hools  during  his  boyhood  and  youth,  and  in 

ter  life  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  in  his 

itive  township.      His  birth  occurred  January 

;,  1809,  and  October  13,  1830,  he  was  mar- 

■A  to  Miss  Jane  Eliza  Reynolds,  daughter  of 

nathan    P.    Reynolds,     They    became    the 

rents  of  four  children:     Jonathan  R.,  born 

ly  15,  1831,  was  married  October  5,  1863, 

Hannah  L.  Grant,  and   died  September  8, 

72;    Adelaide    Amelia,     born    January    10, 

6,  died    April   27,  1838;    William    Henry, 

lect  of  this  sketch,  is  the   next  in  order  of 

h;  and  Sanford  Jarvis,  Sr.,  born  December 


29,  1842,  was  married  March  12,  1873,  to 
Mary  Lizzie  Hill,  of  Bridport,  Vt. ,  and  they 
are  now  living  on  the  home  farm;  they  have 
two  sons:  William  Edgar,  born  February  14, 
1873,  and  Sanford  Jarvis,  Jr.,  born  August  4, 
1876.  Politically  the  father  of  this  family, 
William  S.  Bartlett,  was  a  Whig  in  early  life, 
later  uniting  with  the  Republican  party,  and 
at  one  time  served  as  assessor  in  his  township. 
He  was  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Amenia,  in  which  he 
served  as  deacon,  and  was  a  generous  contrib- 
utor toward  the  erection  of  the  house  of  wor- 
ship. A  broad-minded  man,  he  was  liberal  in 
his  religious  views  as  well  as  in  other  things. 
After  a  long  and  well-spent  life  he  was  called 
to  his  final  rest  November  6,  1881.  His  wife, 
who  was  born  December  25,  1812,  died  June 
I,  1881. 

In  the  town  of  Amenia  our  subject  was 
born,  February  14,  1839,  and  acquired  his 
education  in  the  Amenia  Seminary.  Later  he 
accepted  a  position  in  the  store  of  William 
Burrell,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  where  he  re- 
mained for  two  years,  and  was  then  engaged 
in  clerking  in  Amenia  for  a  short  time.  While 
thus  calmly  employed,  the  storm  of  war  which 
had  been  gathering  for  so  many  years  over  the 
country  broke  out,  and,  bidding  adieu  to  home 
and  its  influences,  Mr.  Bartlett  enlisted,  in  the 
fall  of  1862,  in  Company  A,  150th  N.  Y.  V.  I., 
and  from  private  was  promoted  from  time  to 
time  until  he  became  adjutant.  He  partici- 
pated in  many  important  engagements,  and  at 
Peach  Tree  Creek,  in  front  of  Atlanta,  was 
wounded.  He  now  holds  membership  with 
Hamilton  Post,  No  20,  G.  A.  R  ,  of  Pough- 
keepsie.  New  York. 

When  the  war  was  over  Mr.  Bartlett  re- 
turned to  Amenia  and  purchased  the  store  in 
which  he  had  formerly  clerked,  conducting  the 
same  until  1888,  since  which  time  he  has  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  brick,  under  the 
firm  name  of  the  Amenia  Brick  Company.  In 
the  town  of  Amenia,  October  30,  1867,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lavina  Cul- 
ver, daughter  of  Backus  Culver.  Our  subject 
is  devoted  to  all  interests  that  are  calculated 
to  advance  the  welfare  of  his  County,  State 
and  Nation,  and  has  done  much  for  the  up- 
building of  the  community  where  he  has  al- 
ways made  his  home.  With  a  strict  regard 
for  business  ethics,  he  has  won  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  all,  and  is  to-day  one  of  the 
most    honored    citizens    of    his  county.       For 


640 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


two  terms  he  served  as  supervisor  of  Amenia, 
and  was  unanimously  nominated  by  the  Re- 
publican party  for  sheriff.  Being  elected,  he 
took  the  office  January  i,  1892,  and  acceptably 
served  until  January  i,  1895.  Socially,  he  is 
connected  with  Amenia  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Benevolent 
Protective  Order  of  Elks  at  Poughkeepsie, 
New  York. 


RAYMOND  RIKERT,  the  editor  and 
proprietor  of  the  Rhinebeck  Gazette,  is 
one  of  the  youngest  journalists  in  Dutchess 
county,  and  at  the  same  time  is  one  of  the 
most  prominent  in  all  the  Hudson  River 
Valley. 

The  Rikert  family  have  long  occupied  an 
honored  place  among  the  old  families  of  New 
York,  the  great-great-grandfather  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  review  being  a  patroon.  George 
I.  Rikert,  his  son,  was  born  in  Clermont,  Co- 
lumbia county,  and  by  occupation  was  a  farm- 
er, operating  one  farm  for  nearly  half  a  cen- 
tury. He  married  Margaret  Snyder,  and  to 
them  were  born  five  children:  Robert,  Reu- 
ben, John,  Mary  (wife  of  Chancellor  Wyllie), 
and  Eliza  (wife  of  John  Kilmer).  Although 
he  enlisted  in  the  war  of  18 12,  he  never  took 
part  in  any  important  engagement. 

John  Rikert,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  at  Rhinebeck  in  181 1,  and  for 
many  years  was  an  employe  at  the  State  dock. 
In  1857  he  began  the  butchering  business  in 
the  village  of  Rhinebeck,  which  he  continued 
to  follow  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  in  i860, 
and  was  quite  successful  in  that  undertaking. 
His  political  support  was  given  to  the  Whig 
party,  and  religiously  he  was  a  Lutheran.  As 
a  companion  and  helpmeet  on  life's  journey  he 
married  Phebe  Dedrick,  daughter  of  Jacob 
Dedrick,  of  Rhinebeck,  who  had  come  from 
Claverack,  N.  Y.  Five  children  blessed  this 
union,  but  Nelson  died  at  the  age  of  three 
years;  the  others  are,  Wellington,  Franklin, 
Calvin  and  Elmore.  The  mother  is  still 
living. 

Franklin  Rikert  acquired  his  education  in 
the  Rhinebeck  Academy,  and  at  the  Flat  Rock 
school,  laying  aside  his  text  books  in  1859  to 
enter  upon  the  more  active  duties  of  life.  He 
served  an  apprenticeship  as  a  butcher  in  Rhine- 
beck, but  on  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  he 
laid  aside  personal  plans  and  interests,  and  on 
President  Lincoln's  second  call  for  troops  be- 


came a  member  of  the  128th  N.  Y.  V.  I.  H 
was  attached  to  the  department  of  the  Gull 
was  in  the  Red  River  campaign,  and  in  i86< 
returned  north  with  Gen.  Sheridan,  being  wit: 
him  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  and  at  the  bat 
tie  of  Winchester.  At  Cedar  Creek  he  wa 
taken  prisoner  October  19,  1864,  was  incar 
cerated  in  Libby  prison.  Castle  Thunder,  ant 
at  Salisbury,  N.  C.,  and  the  following  sprin' 
was  paroled  at  Goldsboro,  that  State.  A 
Annapolis,  Md.,  he  was  discharged  in  Julj 
1865,  under  general  order  No.  "JT,  and  rf 
turned  home  with  an  honorable  war  record. 

On  October  19,  1869,  Franklin  Rikert  w; 
joined  in   marriage    with   Miss    Ellen  Crame 
daughter  of  John  P.  Cramer,  and  to  them  w; 
born  a  son,  R.  Raymond.     On  May  18,  i87( 
he  formed  a  partnership   with  J.  H.  Rikert 
the  butchering  business,  which  connection  coi 
tinned    until    August,    1883,    when   the    latt^ 
died.     Through  his  own  unaided  efforts  he  hi 
achieved  success  in  the  business  world,  and 
oneof  the  most  popular  and  highly  respectedcil 
zens  of  Rhinebeck.      He  takes  quite  an  acti\{ 
interest  in  local   political    matters,    voting  tf( 
straight   Republican    ticket,  and    has    been  ' 
member  of  the  board  of  health  for  many  year. 
He  holds   membership    with   Armstrong   Po} 
No.    104,    G.    A.    R. ;  also    with   the    Mason' 
fraternity;  and  is  an  honorary  member  of  R 
lief  Hook  &  Ladder  Co.      In  religious  faith  1! 
belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

R.    Raymond  Rikert,    the    subject   prop  1 
of  this  sketch,  was  born    November  14,  187 
in  Rhinebeck    village.      He    received  his  ed 
cation  in  the    De  Garmo   Institute,    and  w; 
graduated   from    that    institution    in    1891, 
memberof  the  first  class  to  graduate  from  th 
time-honored    school     after    its     removal 
Fishkill-on-Hudson.       After     completing    \ 
education,  and  until  January  i,  1893,  heactf 
in  the  capacity  of  bookkeeper  for  his  father 
Rhinebeck.      On  the  above  date,  in  connectii 
with  William  R.  Tremper,   he  purchased  t 
Rhinebeck  Ncn's  of  William  N.  Tyler,  and 
the  same  time  assumed  the  management  oft 
Gnsette.     On  July   i,  1894,   the    Gazette  \i\ 
purchased  from  the  estate  of  Lewis  H.  Livinj 
ton,  and  our  subject  bought  out   the  inten 
of  his  partner,  and  is  now  the  sole  owner  | 
the  business,  which  is  rapidly  increasing.     T; 
office  employs  about  six  men   the  year  rour 
and  has  a  weekly  circulation  of  1000. 

Although  young  in  years.  Mr.  Rikert  \.S 
made  a  grand  success  of  his  undertaking,  bcj 


cty^t.^'^^^-^^^^^^^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


641 


from  a  financial  and  from  a  literary  pointof  view, 
and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  strong  men  of 
Dutchess  county.  Politically  the  paper  is  in- 
dependent, but  the  editor  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican. He  is  secretary  of  the  Rhinebeck  Gas 
Company;  and  socially  is  a  member  of  the  F. 
[&  A.  M.,  the  S.  of  v.,  and  of  the  Hook  and 
Ladder  Fire  Company. 


LEONARD  I.   TRIPP,  an  enterprising  and 
prosperous  blacksmith  of  Clinton  Hollow, 

Dutchess  county,    was  born   in    the    town  of 
Rhinebeck,  May  20,   1851. 

The  family  is  of  French  descent,  and  our 
subject's  grandfather,  Smiten  Tripp,  was  one 
of  the  early  residents  of  Clinton.      He  married 
1  Miss  Wicks,  and  had  several  children,  among 
ivhom  was  George  C.  Tripp,  the  father  of  our 
subject.      He  grew  to  manhood  in  the  town  of 
31inton,  and  was  married  there  to  Mary  A.  P. 
riaight,  a  native  of  the   same  locality,  and  a 
ady  of  rare  nobility  of  character.      She  was  a 
laughter  of  Isaac  S.    Haight,  a  Quaker,  who 
was  born   in   Rhode  Island,  where  his  great- 
grandfather had  settled  on  coming  from  Eng- 
and;  but  he  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
arming  in  the  town  of  Clinton.      He  married 
lannah   Bedford,   and  had   five    children,   as 
allows:  Hannah,  Sarah,  Susan,  Leonard  and 
l||wid;    all  are  now  deceased  except  Hannah. 
IB'^^t^i'  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George 
*.  Tripp  settled  upon  a  farm  in  the  town  of 
lyde  Park,  and  later  moved   to   Rhinebeck. 
"hey  had  nine  children:    Julia  F. ;  Helen  Au- 
usta  (deceased);    James  S.,  a  contractor  and 
uilder  at  Rochester,  N.  Y. ;  Jacob  W.,  a  con- 
"actor  and  builder  at  Salt  Lake;    Martin  F., 
'ho  is  in  the  same  business  in  Cole  county, 
to.;    Leonard  I.,  our  subject;    Hiram  M.,  a 
infractor  and  builder  at  Bergen,  N.  Y. ;  and 
Iting  B. ,  a  policeman  in  New  York  City.     To 
s.  Tripp   belongs  the  credit  of  bringing  up 
U.S  family,  and  giving  them   those  industrious 
ibits  and  sound  principles  which  have  marked 
leir  successful  careers.     She  was  a  faithful 
ember   of    the    Christian    Church  for  many 
:ars  previous  to   her  death,  which  occurred 
arch  15,  1895,  when  she  was  aged  seventy- 
X  years. 

The   subject  of    this  sketch   attended  the 

hools  of   Clinton  Hollow  in   his  early  boy- 

*d,  and  at  the  age  of  eleven  he  began  work- 

'  out  on  neighboring  farms.      At  nineteen  he 

-cred  H.  S.  Van  Dyne's  blacksmith  shop  at 
41 


Clinton  Hollow,  and  served  an  apprenticeship 
of  three  years,  receiving  $40  a  year,  with  the 
privilege  of  working  twelve  sunny  days  in  har- 
vest time.  After  learning  his  trade  he  worked 
one  year  at  Washington  Hollow  for  Charles 
McCormick,  also  for  three  years  at  Millbrook 
for  Henry  Shaw,  and  in  March,  1877,  he  re- 
turned to  Clinton  Hollow  and  bought  the  shop 
where  he  had  learned  the  business,  and  has 
conducted  it  since  with  growing  popularity  and 
success.  On  April  19,  1877,  he  married  Al- 
meda  D.  Briggs,  a  daughter  of  George  C.  and 
Margaret  Briggs,  well-known  residents  of  Clin- 
ton Hollow.  Mr.  Tripp  is  a  public-spirited 
citizen,  and  takes  an  influential  place  in  local 
affairs.  He  is  an  active  supporter  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  has  been  inspector  of  elections, 
and  has  held  the  office  of  town  clerk  for  two 
terms. 


J'OSEPH  KLINE,  a  well-known  resident  of 
Pawling,  Dutchess  county,  engaged  in  the 
livery  business,  has  also  been  for  some  time 
in  the  employ  of  the  United  States  Government 
as  mail  clerk  on  the  Harlem  railroad.  He 
learned  the  carriage  maker's  trade  in  early  life, 
but  did  not  follow  it  long  as  a  business.  He 
and  his  wife,  formerly  Miss  Carrie  Mabie,  have 
three  children:  Anna  A.,  Mary  E.  and  Agnes 
J.,  who  are  all  at  home. 

Mrs.  Kline  was  born  and  reared  in  the  town 
of  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  and  is  a  descend- 
ant of  early  settlers  in  Patterson,  Putnam  coun- 
ty, where  her  grandfather,  Samuel  Mabie,  first 
saw  the  light.  His  education  was  acquired  in 
the  common  schools  there,  and  he  engaged  in 
farming  in  early  manhood.  He  was  united  in 
matrimony  with  Miss  Polly  Bolts,  and  had  six 
children,  of  whom  Hiram,  Mrs.  Kline's  father, 
was  the  eldest.  William  married  Laura  Dyke- 
man;  Phcebe  married  Nathan  Dykeman;  Ruth 
was  the  wife  of  James  Dykeman;  Adaline  mar- 
ried J.  B.  Swan ;  and  Sarah  died  at  an  early  age. 

Hiram  Mabie  was  born  in  1823,  inTowners, 
Putnam  county,  and  after  obtaining  a  common- 
school  education  there  followed  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  married  Miss  Julia  Pagsley, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Pagsley,  a  leading  butcher 
of  Patterson,  and  his  wife,  Polly  Crosby.  Mrs. 
Kline  was  the  fourth  in  a  family  of  five  children. 
Of  the  others,  (i)  Mary  E.  has  never  married. 
(2)  Washington  was  educated  in  the  town  of 
Dover,  Dutchess  county,  and  is  now  engaged 
in  farming.      He  married  Miss  Jennie  Fowler 


642 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  had  three  children — Estelle,  Gertrude  and 
Clarence.  (3)  Estelle  was  born  and  reared  in 
the  town  of  Dover,  and  she  is  now  the  wife  of 
John  Haynes,  an  agriculturist  of  the  town  of 
Pawling.  They  have  two  children — Fred  and 
Ruth.  (5)  Florence,  Mrs.  Kline's  youngest 
sister,  married  John  Merrick,  a  resident  of 
Towners,  and  has  no  children. 


JOHN  G.    DOYLE,   the  junior   member  of 
the   well-known  firm,    Lewis   &  Doyle,  of 
Wassaic,  was  born  at  South  Dover,  Dutch- 
ess county,  September  27,  1863. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  Mr.  Doyle  were 
passed  uneventfully  at  Wassaic,  where  he  at- 
tended school,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen 
years  he  entered  the  store  of  M.  K.  Lewis,  with 
whom  he  has  since  remained.  Until  the  25th 
of  July,  1894,  he  served  as  clerk,  but  since 
that  time  has  been  a  partner,  and  the  firm  is 
now  enjoying  a  large  and  paying  business. 
He  has  always  been  a  stanch  Democrat,  and 
in  1893  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Wassaic, 
by  President  Cleveland,  which  position  he  has 
since  capably  filled  to  the  satisfaction  of  all 
concerned.  He  is  a  business  man  of  more 
than  ordinary  ability,  and  justly  deserves  the 
success  which  has  crowned  his  efforts.  So- 
cially, he  is  identified  with  Amenia  Lodge  No. 
672,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  is  a  past  regent  of 
Council  No.  1291,  Royal  Arcanum,  at  Was- 
saic. 

At  Pawling,  N.  Y.,  January  20,  1886,  Mr. 
Doyle  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
F.  Barrett,  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  daughter  of 
Pierce  Barrett.  They  have  had  one  son,  Percy 
Vincent,  who  died  in  infancy.  The  young 
couple  hold  a  high  position  in  the  social  circles 
of  the  community. 


DEWITT  C.  HUSTED,  the  enterprising 
proprietor  of  a  combined  bakery  and  con- 
fectionery store  and  restaurant  at  Millerton, 
Dutchess  county,  and  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful business  men  of  that  village,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess  county,  Jan- 
uary 2,  i860.  His  ancestors  were  early  set- 
tlers in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  where  his 
grandfather,  Nathaniel  Husted,  and  his  father, 
Luther  Husted,  were  born,  the  latter  in  the 
year  1840. 


The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  educated  in 
the  district  school  at  Clinton,  which  was  ex- 
cellent for  that  day,  and  being  fond  of  reading 
he  has  supplemented  this  course  in  later  years 
by  keeping  "  well  posted  "  on  current  events 
and  the  advance  of  scientific  thought.  At 
eighteen  he  left  school  and  assisted  his  fathei 
for  three  years,  when  he  started  out  in  life  foi 
himself,  first  as  attendant  for  Dr.  Knight  at 
Lakeville,  Conn.  Three  years  later  he  and 
his  brother,  Elmer,  took  charge  of  his  father's 
store  at  Wassaic,  the  partnership  continuint; 
two  years.  The  next  two  years,  Mr.  Hustec 
conducted  a  store  of  his  own,  and  then  after  one 
year  of  retirement  from  business  he  came  tc 
Millerton  in  the  spring  of  1892  and  establishec 
the  bakery,  confectionery  and  restaurant  busi- 
ness, which  he  has  since  conducted.  This  i; 
one  of  the  finest  stores  of  its  kind  in  the  town 
and  enjoys  an  extensive  patronage.  A  self 
made  man,  Mr.  Husted  has  always  displayec 
the  energy  and  good,  management  which  wii 
success,  and  every  enterprise  in  which  he  ha 
engaged  has  prospered. 

On  January  25,  1888,  he  was  married  t( 
Miss  Etta  Jenks,  of  Lakeville,  Conn. ;  the; 
have  one  son,  Harry,  born  April  13,  1890 
Mr.  Husted  is  among  the  leaders  in  local  affairs 
and  has  been  at  times  active  in  politics,  andj 
not  being  bound  slavishly  by  party  ties,  he  haf 
always  worked  for  the  nomination  and  electio  1 
of  such  men  as  he  has  considered  best  qualifie  | 
to  carry  out  the  will  of  the  people.  j 

Mrs.  Husted  is  the  only  surviving  daughte' 
of    William    and    Caroline    (Edwards)    Jenk:j 
She  was  born  at  Hillsdale,  N.  Y.,  August  i 
1858,  and    in   her   girlhood   accompanied  hn 
parents  to   Orehill,  Conn.,  where  they  mac 
their  home  some  six  years,  thence  moving ' 
Lakeville,  Conn.      Here  she  attended  the  pu' 
lie  school,  later  taking  a  one-year's  course 
New    Preston,    Conn.     Then,    for   ten   year 
and  until  her  marriage,  she  lived  at  Norfol 
Conn.     Her  father  was  born  October  10,  182 
in  New   York.      Her  mother  was  a  native 
Connecticut,  born  in  New  Milford,  Decemb 
3,  18 1 7.     They  were  married  October  i,  i8<^ 
and  became  the   parents  of  five  children, 
follows:     Rachel  and  Mary  Amanda  (both  c 
ceased);    George,    a    resident    of   Torringtc 
Conn.;    Fred  E.,  of    New   Haven;    and  Ei 
(Mrs.  Husted).    Her  maternal  grandfather  Er 
wards  was  born  September  12,  1784,  and  J 
1803   married  Sarah   Bennett,  who  was  b(j» 
May  2,  1783.      They  had  five  children:     i- 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


648 


;hia,  Abel,  Caroline,  Sarah   and  Rachel.      Of 
hese,  the  last  two  are  yet  living. 

John    Jenks,   the   paternal    grandfather  of 
llrs.  Husted,  was  born  April  9,  1782.     Mary 
'White),  his  wife,  was  born  October  11,  1793. 
'hey  were  married  November  20,  181 3.     The 
prmer   died  September   3,    1833,   the    latter, 
;)ecember    17,    1874.     Their   seven    children 
.ere:     John    Fredrick,    born    September    13, 
814;  Mariette,  born  February   i,  1816;  Ann 
laria,    born     November    24,    181 7;    Harriet 
^mily,  born   October   20,   18 19;   Sarah  Jane, 
orn  June  3,  1821 ;  Clarissa  Amanda,  born  De- 
ember  16,  1822;  and  William  Hunt,  born  Oc- 
jber  10,  1824.     Of  these  only  John  Fredrick 
nd  Clarissa  Amanda  survive.     The  paternal 
reat-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Husted  was  Thomas 
anks,  who  married  Sarah  Barton  and  died, 
^ed  forty-one  years. 

Abel  Edwards,  the  maternal  great-grand- 
ither  of  Mrs.  Husted  was  a  Revolutionary 
)ldier.  He  enlisted  May  4,  1775,  in  the  com- 
any  of  Capt.  Samuel  Whitney,  of  Stratford, 
■.h  regiment.  Col.  David  Waterbury  com- 
manding. He  married,  for  his  first  wife,  Lucy 
awley,  and,  for  his  second,  Sarah  Mann. 

^KoRGE  HAM  ANGELL,  a  leading  citi- 
\$  zen  and  enterprising,  progressive  business 
'an  of  Wappingers  Falls,  is  one  of  the  prom- 
-ent  dry-goods  merchants  of  the  place.  He 
a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  born  January 
1852,  at  Salt  Point,  in  the  town  of  Pleas- 
t  Valley.  The  family  of  which  he  belongs 
■  of  English  origin,  and  its  members  mostly 
Uonged  to  the  Society  of  Friends.  Ephraim 
-igell,  his  paternal  grandfather,  who  was  also 
Irn  in  Pleasant  Valley  town,  located  upon  a 
l^ni  near  Spencertown,  Columbia  Co. ,  N.  Y., 
tier  his  marriage  with  Mary  Thorne,  where  he 
ured  a  family  of  eight  children — Joseph, 
iigustus,  Stephen,  Henry,  Ephraim,  Sarah, 
Inma  and  Martha — and  there  he  continued 
Ericultural  pursuits  until  his  death. 

Upon    that    farm     in     Columbia    county, 
^jphen  T.  Angell,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
born,  October  31,  18 17,  and  when  he  had 
gained  his  seventeenth  year,  he  began  teach- 
er school  in  that  locality.      He  was  united  in 
riage  with  Miss  Hannah  E.  Ham,  adaugh- 
f  George  Ham,  who  was  born  in  the  town 
Vashington,    Dutchess  county,  and  was  a 
er  by  occupation.      After   their  marriage 
parents  located  at  Salt  Point,  where  the 


father  engaged  in  farming  until  called  from  this 
life  in  1889.  His  estimable  wife  still  survives 
him.  Politically,  he  was  in  early  manhood  a 
Whig,  and,  upon  the  abandonment  of  the  old 
party,  cordially  endorsed  the  Republican  prin- 
ciples, which  he  ever  afterward  sustained.  He 
was  prominent  in  the  public  affairs  of  the 
county;  having  served  one  term  as  justice  of 
the  peace  of  Pleasant  Valley  township,  and 
two  terms  as  president  of  the  Dutchess  County 
Agricultural  Society.  He  was  a  man  of  ster- 
ling integrity,  and  possessed  great  force  of 
character,  which  won  for  him  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  the  community  in  whick  he 
lived.  The  parental  household  included  five 
children:  Eva,  George  H.,  Augustus,  a  prom- 
inent oculist  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  who  was 
graduated  from  the  Homeopathic  Medical  Col- 
lege, of  New  York  City;  Milton  H.,  a  well- 
known  physician  of  Salt  Point;  and  J.  Thorne, 
who  is  station  agent  and  telegraph  operator  for 
the  Poughkeepsie  &  Eastern  R.  R.  Co. ,  at 
Pine  Plains,  Dutchess  county. 

At  Salt  Point  our  subject  spent  his  boy- 
hood days,  where  he  attended  the  district 
schools,  and  later  was  a  student  at  a  private 
school  in  New  Hampshire.  Going  to  Chatham, 
Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  he  was  there  employed 
as  a  salesman  in  a  dry-goods  store  for  about 
five  years.  He  was  afterward  with  Luckey, 
Piatt  &  Co.,  and  Donald,  Converse  &  May- 
nard,  of  Poughkeepsie.  On  coming  to  Wap- 
pingers Falls  in  1880,  Mr.  Angell  formed  a 
partnership  with  William  A.  Clapp  in  the  dry- 
goods  business,  which  connection  lasted  for 
three  years,  since  which  time  our  subject  has 
been  sole  proprietor,  and  has  ever  been  prom- 
inently connected  with  the  business  interests  of 
the  place. 

In  1882,  Mr.  Angell  married  Miss  Margaret 
J.  Stevenson,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Steven- 
son, a  comb  manufacturer,  and  a  niece  of 
George  Stevenson,  a  prominent  resident  of 
Dutchess  county.  One  son  graces  this  union, 
Winfield  Thorne.  In  politics,  Mr.  Angell  is  a 
firm  supporter  of  the  Republica  party,  and  has 
taken  a  prominent  part  in  public  affairs,  always 
lending  his  influence  to  promote  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  community.  His  personal  in- 
tegrity, both  in  private  and  public  life,  is  of 
the  highest  order.  He  is  endowed  with  a 
clear,  well-balanced  intellect,  sharpened  by  a 
sound  education  and  keen  powers  of  observa- 
tion. Both  himself  and  wife  are  consistent 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  which 


644 


OOMMEMORA  TIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he  is  serving  as  deacon,  and  he  is  at  present 
one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Grinnell  Library,  at 
Wappingers  Falls. 


E*\DMUND  NELSON  LANDON,  an  enter- 
j^  prising  and  successful  merchant  of  Miller- 
ton,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  November  23, 
1852,  at  Town  Hill,  Salisbury,  Conn.,  which 
has  been  the  home  of  the  family  for  more 
than  one  hundred  years.  The  family  estate 
there  is  at  present  in  the  possession  of  acousin, 
having  been  continuously  passed  from  heir  to 
heir  since  Colonial  times  without  a  single  trans- 
fer by  deed.  Mr.  Landon  is  the  sixth  generation 
in  direct  descent  from  a  Landon  who  came  from 
Wales  to  Connecticut  sometime  in  the  seven- 
teenth century,  and  after  a  short  stay  in  Litch- 
field settled  at  Salisbury.  A  son,  Capt.  James 
Landon,  who  was  born  there  about  1700,  and 
lived  until  1773,  was  a  member  of  the  Colonial 
legislature  in  1759,  and  justice  of  the  peace 
about  the  same  time.  His  title  was  gained  by 
serving  in  the  Colonial  militia.  He  married 
Mary  Reed,  and  had  twelve  children,  three  of 
whom  were  named:  Ashbil,  David,  Joel. 
Capt.  Ashbil  Landon,  our  subject's  great- 
grandfather, who  died  in  1838,  was  also  an 
officer  in  the  militia,  and  was  a  prominent 
man  of  his  time.  He  lived  on  Tory  Hill,  so 
called  from  the  loyalty  of  his  family  to  the 
British  government  during  the  Revolutionary 
war.  He  married  Lorain  Chapman,  by  whom 
he  had  six  children:  Betsey,  Letty,  Wilham, 
Horace,  Edmund  and  James. 

Edmund  Landon,  our  subject's  grandfa- 
ther, was  born  in  1790,  and  died  in  1845.  He 
was  a  farmer,  as  nearly  all  his  family  have 
been,  and  was  fairly  successful  in  that  occupa- 
tion. He  was  twice  married,  first  to  Sylvia 
Fitch,  who  died  leaving  four  children:  Nel- 
son, Fitch,  Abigail  and  Ann.  His  second  wife 
was  Sarah  Lord,  who  survived  him  several 
years,  dying  in  1862.  She  had  four  children: 
Ashbil,  Thomas  Newton,  George  and  Asa. 
Thomas  Newton  died  at  the  age  of  eleven. 

Nelson  Landon,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  in  1817,  and  died  in  1887,  his  life  having 
been  passed  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
owned  a  farm  of  200  acres,  acquired  by  l;iis  own 
efforts,  and  gave  but  little  attention  to  public 
affairs,  preferring  a  quiet  life.  He  was,  how- 
eve'r,  a  well-informed  man  of  broad  ideas,  a 
Whig  in  political  faith  during  his  early  years, 
and  later  a   Republican.      His  wife  was  Mary 


Raymond,  daughter  of  Gershom  Raymond,  o 
South  Norwalk.  This  family  was  of  FrencI 
descent,  the  name  being  at  one  time  Raiment 

The  first  ancestor  of  the  American  line  wa; 
one  of  the  founders  of  South  Norwalk,  and  on( 
of  the  original  patentees  of  the  land  there 
Seven  children  were  born  of  this  marriage 
Fannie  Reed,  Mary  Ella,  Edmund  Nelson 
Raymond  Fitch,  Jennie  (deceased),  Horace 
and  Angeline. 

Edmund  N.  Landon  received   a  good  edu 
cation  in  his  youth,  attending  first  the  distric 
schools    of    the  neighborhood,   and   later   th' 
academies  of  Lakeville  and  Lime  Rock,  Conn 
After  leaving  school,    in    1874,  he  taught  a 
Orr  Hill  (one  term),    Sharon   and   Salisbury 
and  then  Isegan  clerking  for   W.  B.    Hawle} 
at  Sherman,  Conn. ,  in  a  general  store.     Ther 
he  remained  about  six  years,  and  then  becam 
traveling    salesman  for  J.    L.    Clark    &    Sot 
manufacturers    of   carriages,  Oshkosh,    Wis 
and  for  two  years  represented  them  in  the  easi 
ern  and  middle  States.      He  then  traveled  fc 
the   house  of    L    D.    Ware,    of    Philadelphi: 
manufacturer    of    varnishes    and   japans,  an 
later   for  the  Ware  Brothers,  publishers  of  tf 
Carriage     Monthly,     remaining     with     the 
four  years.      In    1887,  he  left  "the   road"    j 
take  a  position  in  the  store  of  C.  B.  Dakin 
Co.,  of  Sharon,  Conn.,  and  early  in  the follo\ 
ing  year  he  came  to  Millerton,  where  he  openn 
a  general  store  on  the  ist  of   April,  under  tl 
firm  name  of  E.   N.    Landon  &  Co.      In  i8< 
he  sold  this  business  to  Hoag  &   Keefer,   ai 
bought  a  store  building  of  Julius  Benedict, 
which  he  established  his  present  business  as 
dealer  in  flour,  feed,  grain  and  coal.    He  ha: 
large  trade,  extending  for  a   considerable  d 
tance    around    Millerton,    and    amounting 
about    forty    thousand    annually.      His    ke 
judgment  and  energetic  methods  have  insur 
his  success  in  his  undertakings,  and  he  has 
high  standing  in  business  circles. 

On  March  30,  1887,  Mr.  Landon  marrii 
Miss  Adelaide  Cross  Barker,  daughter  of  Hei ' 
Barker,  a  well-known  resident  of  White  Crei 
Washington  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  and  they  have  i  ; 
daughter,  Adelaide  Barker  Landon.  On  1- 
tional  political  questions  Mr.  Landon  is  a  I- 
publican,  but  on  local  issues  he  votes  indepei- 
ently,  giving  his  support  to  the  "best  ma 
He  has  repeatedly  been  urged  to  enter  the  - 
litical  field  himself,  but  has  declined  to  do  . 
and  on  one  occasion  when  elected  justice  ' 
the  peace  he   did   not   qualify,  as  he   did    t 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


645 


iwish  to  take  the  office.  He  takes  a  hearty  in- 
terest in  local  improvements,  however,  and  is 
always  ready  to  promote  them  in  a  quiet  way. 


HENRY  BODENSTEIN,  a  prominent  and 
worthy  citizen  of  Staatsburg,  is  exten- 
sively engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  ice  tools, 
'having  a  large  plant  in  that  village.  He  was 
Dorn  September  28,  1852,  in  Nesselreden, 
Hessen,  Germany,  a  son  of  John  H.  and 
Dorothia  (Boerner)  Bodenstein,  natives  of 
he  same  place,  and  of  whom  mention  is  made 
;lsewhere. 

In  1858  our  subject  came  to  America  with 

lis   parents,   and  in  the  common   schools    of 

Staatsburg,   Rockland    Lake,    N.     Y. ,    Jersey 

3ity,  N.  J.,  and  Athens,    N.   Y. ,   he   received 

lis  education.     At  the  age  of  sixteen  he    left 

he  school-room  in  order  to  start  out  in   life 

or  himself,  and  for  two  years   he  worked  at 

ligarmaking    in  Hudson  and    Athens,    N.  Y. 

U  this  time  his  father  was   much  in   need  of 

iclp,  so  he  decided  to  learn  the  trade,  and  ac- 

ordingly    entered    the   establishment    of    his 

ither,  who  was  then  in   the  manufacture   of 

;e     tools     in     Staatsburg.       He      gradually 

orked  his  way  upward  until  he  became  mas- 

;r  of  every  department  of  the  business,    and 

imained  in  his  father's  employ  from    1868  to 

875.     After  the  latter's  death   he,    with   his 

rother,  continued  the  business  for  the  estate 

ntil    1877,   and    then  formed    a    partnership 

nder  the  firm  name   of  J.   G.   Bodenstein   & 

•rother.     In  1887,  the  name  was  changed   to 

G.    &  H.   Bodenstein,   and    the    firm  con- 

nued  to  do  business  until  March  22,     1890, 

hen  the  co-partnership  was  dissolved.      Our 

ibject  has  since  conducted  the  business  alone 

-  the  same  stand  where  his   father  carried  on 

aerations,    and  has    built  up   a    large    trade 

hich     extends     over     the    whole     country. 

■  hile  the  name  Bodenstein  is  a  guarantee  as 

'  workmanship   and  the   quality  of  material 

led  in  the  manufacture  of  their-  tools  by  the 

;e  of  improved  machinery,   he  has   increased 

e  facilities  for  getting  out  ice  tools. 

In  1879  Mr.  Bodenstein  was  united  in 
arriage  with  Antoinette  Podrabski,  and  to 
em  have  been  born  eight  children:  Clar- 
ice Henry,  Charles  Irving,  Morgan,  Harriet 
liza,  Sarah  Margaret,  Ernest  Frederick 
lam,  Laura  Antoinette  and  Louise  Amelia. 
:irmerly  our  subject  cast  his  ballot  with  the 
^publicans,  but  is  now  a  strong  Prohibition- 


ist, as  that  party  embodies  his  views  on  the 
temperance  question.  He  and  his  wife  are 
faithful  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  which  he  has  served  as  trustee  and 
steward.  Socially  he  is  identified  with  Rhine- 
beck  Lodge  No.  432,  F.  &  A.  M. 


riLLIAM  C.  ARMSTRONG  is  one  of 
ifc  the  popular  and  esteemed  citizens  of 
Pleasant  Valley.  Though  his  connection  with 
the  history  of  Dutchess  county  extends  over  a 
period  of  thirty-three  years,  he  was  in  his  ear- 
lier life  an  extensive  traveler,  and  thereby  be- 
came a  man  of  broad  mind  and  liberal  views. 
He  was  born  in  New  York  City  October  24, 
1830,  but  for  many  generations  his  ancestors 
had  lived  in  Scotland.  His  father,  Henry 
Armstrong,  an  only  child,  was  born  in  Glasgow, 
Scotland.  He  wedded  Mary  Clifford,  and 
shortly  afterward  sailed  for  New  York,  where 
both  he  and  his  wife  died  of  cholera  in  1837. 
They  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  people  of  genuine  worth.  Their 
family  included  five  children:  John  A.,  an  en- 
gineer, residing  in  New  York  City;  William  C. , 
subject  of  this  review;  Thomas,  who  carried  on 
harness-making  in  Syracuse,  N.  Y. ,  but  is  now 
deceased;  Henry,  also  deceased,  who  was  an 
engineer  of  New  York,  and  ran  on  several 
river  boats;  and  Elizabeth,  deceased. 

Mr.  Armstrong,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review,  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  his  na- 
tive city,  and  is  indebted  to  its  public  schools 
for  his  educational  privileges.  There  he  re- 
ceived his  training  as  an  engineer,  working  in 
the  Novelty  Iron  Works  for  twelve  years,  and 
in  the  Cold  Springs  foundry  for  three  years. 
He  afterward  became  engineer  on  the  steamer 
"  Golden  Gate,"  running  between  Panama  and 
San  Francisco,  Cal.,  his  service  in  that  line 
covering  a  period  of  one  year.  He  was  then 
employed  to  construct  the  river  passenger  boat 
"Talca,"  for  the  government  of  Chili,  and 
made  his  headquarters  at  Valparaiso  in  that 
country.  He  next  went  to  Cuba,  where  he 
took  charge  of  a  sugar  plantation,  thus  spend- 
ing the  winter  seasons  for  nine  years.  During 
this  period  he  purchased  machinery  to  the 
value  of  many  thousand  dollars  in  Newburg, 
N.  Y. ,  and  sent  to  the  island  of  Cuba.  His 
extensive  travels  gave  him  a  knowledge  of  the 
regions  which  he  visited,  that  any  amount  of 
reading  could  not  have  done,  and  he  can  re- 
late many  interesting  incidents  concerning  the 


646 


COMMEMOBA  TIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


places  he  has  visited.  He  is  a  man  of  com- 
prehensive business  powers,  of  ceaseless  activ- 
ity and  enterprise,  and  the  success  he  has 
achieved  is  the  merited  reward  of  his  own 
labors. 

Mr.  Armstrong  has  been  twice  married. 
He  wedded  Elizabeth  Scott,  a  native  of  New 
York,  who  lived  only  a  few  years.  They  had 
two  children,  but  one  died  in  infancy,  and 
Emma  is  also  now  deceased.  She  was  the 
wife  of  Frederick  J.  Fay,  of  Brooklyn,  pay- 
teller  for  the  Union  Trust  Company,  of  New 
York.  In  1862  Mr.  Armstrong  married  Hes- 
ter I.  Seaman,  a  native  of  Pleasant  Valley, 
and  a  daughter  of  Egbert  C.  and  Eliza  (Van- 
Wagner)  Seaman,  the  latter  a  native  of  Dutch- 
ess county.  The  father  was  a  harnessmaker 
of  Pleasant  Valley.  In  1863  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Armstrong  located  in  this  place,  and  their  home 
has  been  blessed  with  two  daughters,  Clara 
and  Bessie,  the  former  now  the  wife  of  Har- 
vey G.  Ward,  who  is  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  law  in  New  York  City,  but  resides  in  Ridge- 
wood,  N.  J.  Bessie  became  the  wife  of 
George  Rutherford,  a  music  teacher  and  dealer 
in  music,  Poughkeepsie. 

Since  locating  in  Pleasant  Valley,  Mr.  Arm- 
strong has  conducted  a  hotel,  and  his  pleasant, 
genial  and  courteous  manner,  combined  with 
honorable  dealing,  makes  him  a  popular  land- 
lord and  his  house  a  favorite  with  the  travel- 
ing public.  He  is  also  a  dealer  in  coal,  and 
has  an  extensive  trade  among  the  citizens  of 
Pleasant  Valley.  Public-spirited  and  progress- 
ive, he  manifests  a  commendable  interest  in 
everything  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  the 
community,  and  is  found  a  liberal  supporter 
of  all  enterprises  calculated  to  prove  of  public 
benefit.  He  would  be  a  valued  addition  to  any 
community,  and  his  fellow-townsmen  hold  him 
in  high  regard. 


CHARLES  A.  STEPHENS,  one  of  the 
_  most  enterprising  business  men  of  Miller- 
ton,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  December  14, 
1 85 1,  in  Morrisania,  then  in  Westchester 
county,  but  now  a  part  of  New  York  City. 
The  family  originated  in  Scotland,  his  grand- 
father, Thomas  Stephens,  having  emigrated 
from  that  country  in  1821,  accompanied  by 
his  wife,  Margaret  Perkins,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Perkins.  He  located  in  New  York  City,  where 
he  followed  the  trade  of  ship  carpenter  until 
his    death,    in    1835;    his   wife   died  in    1827. 


They  had  three  children — Thomas,  who  wa 
drowned;  John,  our  subject's  father,  and  Mat 
garet,  who  married  H.  Higginson,  a  builder. 

John  Stephens  was  born  in  New  York  Cit 
August  6,  1822,   and   at  an   early   age   foum 
employment  in   the  Morrisania   Railroad  Ca 
Shops.    His  unusual  ability  soon  attracted  th^ 
notice  of  the  officials,  and  he  was  promoted  ti 
a  position  of  responsibility;  in  "1859  was  trans 
ferred  to  Dover  Plains  and  placed  in  charge  c 
the   car  repairing    department,    where  he  rt 
mained  until   he  retired   from  active  businesi 
in  1892.     At  that    time  the  Harlem  road  ac 
cepted  his    resignation    with   reluctance,  no 
withstanding    his    advanced    age.      He  was 
well-read  man,  a  close  observer  and   origin: 
thinker,  and   could   have   made    a    success  i 
almost  any  enterprise.     Although  he  has  a 
ways  been  a  stanch  Republican   in   prinCipl 
he  has  taken  no  part  in  political  work.      He  ' 
an  active    worker    in    the   Masonic   Lodge  > 
Dover,  and  is  a  regular  attendant  of  the  Baj 
tist   Church.      His  first  wife  was    Miss  Am 
Reed,  daughter  of  James   Reed,  of  New  Yor 
City,    who   died  at  the  age  of  twenty-sevei, 
leaving  three  children :     Thomas,  born  in  1 84 
died   in  1869;  Charles   Anthony,  our  subjeci 
and  John  George,  born  in  June,  1856,  is  no 
the  agent  of  the  Harlem   railroad  at  Fordhar 
and  a  dealer  in  electrical  appliances  for  dome 
tic  use.      In    1858  Mr.  Stephens   married,  f ; 
his  second  wife.  Miss  Jane  Reed. 

Charles  A.  Stephens  attended  the  distri 
schools  near  his  home  for  some  time,  and  lat 
spent  two  or  three  years  in  the  Dover  Plai 
Academy.  When  he  was  about  sixteen  yes; 
old  he  became  a  clerk  in  B.  F.  Chapmai 
coal  and  lumber  yard  at  Dover  Plains,  and 
the  following  year  went  to  Poughkeepsie,  ^ 
clerk  in  the  dry-goods  store  of  W.  H.  Bro; 
Here  he  worked  for  a  year  and  a  half,  whej 
his  health  failing,  he  returned  to  Dovj 
While  recuperating,  he  studied  medicine  Wf 
Dr.  Berry,  of  Dover  Plains,  for  two  years,  1^ 
decided  that  he  would  not  follow  the  prof- 
sion.  He  had  also  gained  a  knowledge  i 
telegraphy  in  the  meantime,  and  in  Februa^ 
1873,  was  appointed  agent  of  the  Newbui 
Dutchess  &  Connecticut  railroad,  at  Fishkl 
and  in  the  spring  of  1 874  took  a  similar  positji 
at  Sylvan  Lake.  He  lived  at  that  place  'f 
thirteen  years,  and  was  postmaster  under  Pr|- 
ident  Arthur  and,  later,  under  President  Ha.- 
son.  He  was  also  engaged  in  the  coal  busing 
there,  and  owned  and  operated  a  farm  of  fi/ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


647 


acres  for  about  ten  years,  while  for  some  time 
he  was  a  conductor  on  the  Clove  Branch  rail- 
road. In  1887  he  moved  to  Fordham,  and 
.bought  an  express  business  in  New  York  City, 
'which  he  sold  after  seven  months.  He  then 
took  a  position  as  telegraph  operator  at  White 
Plains,  but  after  four  months  there  he  returned 
to  his  old  situation  at  Sylvan  Lake,  where  he 
remained  until  August,  1894,  when  he  was 
transferred  to  Millerton.  In  addition  to  his 
work  as  station  agent  there,  he  is  the  repre- 
sentative of  the  New  York  Life  Insurance 
Company,  and  since  September,  1894,  has 
been  a  member  of  the  well-known  firm  of 
Landon  &  Stephens,  the  leading  wholesale 
and  retail  coal  dealers. 

Mr.  Stephens  is  a  firm  believer  in  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Republican  party,  and  in  local 
affairs  is  an  active  and  progressive  worker, 
seeking  always  to  secure  the  nomination  and 
election  of  good  men.  He  has  taken  great  in- 
terest in  educational  matters  also.  He  belongs 
:o  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  at  Hopewell, 
iiid  is  a  member  of  and  officer  in  Webatuck 
Lodge  No.  480,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Mr.  Stephens  married  Miss  Helen  E.  West- 

bott,  by   whom    he    has    had    two   children  — 

George  Westcott   and   Helen  Anthony.      Mrs. 

Stephens  is  a  descendant  of  two  of  the  oldest 

families  of  the  town  of  Fishkill — the  Westcotts 

'md  the  Scofields.     Her  father,  the  late  George 

A'.  Westcott,  a  son   of  Abram  W.  Westcott, 

I  pioneer  farmer,  was  a  prominent  man  of  that 

ocality,  the    owner   of    a    fine   farm,   devoted 

argely  to   fruit   raising,  and  for  some  years  a 

eading  merchant  at  Glenham.      His  influence 

n  local  affairs  and  in  the  Democratic  organiza- 

ion  was  marked,  and   he   held  the  offices  of 

Isupervisor  and  assessor  for  a  number  of  years. 

He  died   in  December,  1891,  in   his  seventy- 

linth  year.      He    was   twice  married,  first  to 

Miss  Helen  Mills,  by  whom    he  had  five  chil- 

iren — George,   Elbert,    Matilda,   Adaline,  and 

lAbram;  and,  second,  to   Miss  Jane  E.  Storm, 

)f   Stormville.     Two    children    were    born  of 

his   union  —  John    and  .Helen — the    latter  of 

vhom   and   her  half-sister,    Matilda,   are  now 

he  only  survivors  of  the  family. 


OOBERT  MATTHEWS.  This  gentleman, 
cEt  who  spent  his  early  manhood  in  active 
business,  mainly  in  agricultural  pursuits,  is 
now  living  retired  at  Wappingers  Falls, 
Dutchess  county.     A   native  of  that  county, 


he  was  born  in  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie, 
November  I,  1825.  His  paternal  great-grand- 
father was  born  in  either  Ireland  or  Scotland, 
and,  on  crossing  the  Atlantic  to  America,  lo- 
cated in  Dutchess  county,  where  he  carried  on 
farming  as  a  life  work.  When  the  colonists 
took  up  arms  against  the  mother  country,  he 
joined  the  ranks  of  the  Continental  army,  and 
was  killed  in  battle. 

Samuel  Matthews,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Poughkeep- 
sie, September  25,  1756,  there  grew  to  man- 
hood, and  followed  the  occupation  of  farming 
and  carpentering.  He  married  Mary  Comp- 
ton,  of  Canada,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  four  children:  John,  who  became  a  farmer 
in  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie;  Robert,  the 
father  of  our  subject;  Mary,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Isaac  A.  Willsey,  a  farmer  of  Albany 
county,  N.  Y. ;  and  Jane,  who  died  when 
young.  The  family  were  members  of  the  Re- 
formed Dutch  Church. 

Robert  Matthews,  Sr.,  was  also  born  in 
the  town  of  Poughkeepsie,  on  December  22, 
1788,  and  was  there  reared  upon  a  farm.  He 
was  married  to  Jane  Jaycox,  who  was  born 
March  3,  1794,  in  the  same  town,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Gertrude  Jaycox, 
the  former  a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  and  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  Shortly  after  their 
marriage  they  located  upon  a  farm  in  the  town 
of  Poughkeepsie,  where  they  reared  their  chil- 
dren, six  in  number,  namely:  Samuel,  who 
throughout  life  engaged  in  farming  in  that 
town;  Maria,  who  married  Harvey  Van  Dyne, 
a  farmer  of  the  same  town;  Jane  Ann,  the 
widow  of  Henry  Willsey,  of  Albany  county, 
N.  Y.;  Robert,  of  this  review;  Harriett,  who 
married  H.  Ferdon,  a  farmer  of  Poughkeepsie; 
and  John,  who  still  carries  on  agricultural  pur- 
suits in  that  town.  The  father's  death  oc- 
curred May  4,  1872,  and  the  mother  departed 
this  life  December  20,  1857.  They  were  both 
earnest  members  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church,  and  in  politics  he  was  a  Democrat. 

At  the  schools  near  the  home  farm  our  sub- 
ject received  his  education,  and  on  reaching 
manhood  was  married  December  20,  1865,  to 
Olive  Goodsell,  a  native  of  the  town  of  Dover, 
Dutchess  county,  where  the  births  of  her  par- 
ents, Elliott  and  Beulah  (Thompson)  Goodsell, 
also  occurred.  Isaac  Goodsell,  her  paternal 
grandfather,  came  to  this  country  from  Man- 
chester, England,  and  on  the  maternal  side 
also  she  is  of  English  descent.      Upon  his  mar- 


648 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


riage  Mr.  Matthews  located  upon  a  farm  in 
Poughkeepsie  town,  which  he  operated  until 
his  removal  to  Wappingers  Falls  in  1874, 
since  which  time  he  has  lived  retired  from 
active  labor,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  former 
toil.  He  votes  the  straight  Democratic  ticket. 
Both  himself  and  wife  are  prominent  people 
of  the  community,  and  receive  the  warmest 
confidence  and  esteem  of  their  fellow-citizens. 


LeGRAND  graham,  of  Clinton  Hollow, 
I  a  miller  by  trade,    and   one  of    the  most 

popular  auctioneers  in  Dutchess  county,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Ghent,  Columbia  county. 
May  14,  1847. 

The  late  Virgil  B.  Graham,  our  subject's 
father,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  born 
June  29,  1795.  He  was  educated  in  Rhode 
Island,  and  when  a  young  man  came  to  Ghent, 
where  he  followed  the  trade  of  cradle  and 
wagon  making.  He  possessed  a  fine  intellect, 
and  was  a  great  reader,  taking  especial  inter- 
est in  political  science.  He  was  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  18 12.  After  his  removal  to  Col- 
umbia county,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Miller,  who  was  born  in  1803,  and  died  in 
1896,  in  the  ninety-third  year  of  her  age,  at 
the  home  of  our  subject,  who  is  the  youngest 
of  her  eleven  children.  The  names  of  the 
others  are:  Charles  H.,  Gertrude,  Franklin, 
Abner,  William,  Sarah,  Sylvester,  Eliza,  Jane 
and  Almon.  Of  these  only  Gertrude,  Frank- 
lin, and  the  two  last  named  are  now  living. 

The  early  education  of  LeGrand  Graham 
was  acquired  at  Ghent,  Columbia  county,  and 
at  Clinton,  Dutchess  county.  For  some  time 
he  taught  school,  working  on  a  farm  during 
vacations,  and  for  a  year  and  a  half  he  con- 
ducted a  store  at  Clinton  Hollow.  In  1864 
he  enlisted  in  the  First  New  York  Mounted 
Rifles,  and  his  first  battle  was  on  September 
28,  1864,  at  Chapin's  farm,  Va.  He  was 
mustered  out  of  service  at  Richmond,  Va. ,  at 
the  close  of  the  war,  and  returned  to  Ghent, 
N.  Y.  In  the  spring  of  1867  he  came  to 
Dutchess  county,  engaging  in  farming  and 
merchandising,  and  in  1871  he  began  to  oper- 
ate a  gristmill  and  sawmill  at  Clinton  Hollow, 
in  a  building  which  has  stood  for  one  hundred 
and  fifty  years.  He  is  energetic  and  far- 
sighted,  and  has  won  a  fine  standing  in  busi- 
ness circles.  He  has  been  twice  married,  first, 
on  June  26,  1873,  to  Miss  Jane  M.  Latten, 
daughter  of  Adolphus  D.  Latten,  of  Clinton. 


She  died  January  19,  1878,  leaving  one  daugh- 
ter. Bertha,  and  December  24,  1879,  Mr.  Gra- 
ham married  Miss  Ella  Smith,  daughter  of 
Stephen  H.  Smith,  of  Clinton.  Two  children 
were  born  to  this  union:  Frank  and  Florence. 
In  politics  Mr.  Graham  is  a  Republican, 
and  ne  takes  an  active  share  in  local  affairs, 
having  been  town  clerk  for  five  years  in  all, 
and  at  present  is  holding  the  office  of  excise 
commissioner  of  the  town  of  Clinton.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. ,  Armstrong  Lodge 
No.  104,  at  Rhinebeck,  and  of  the  F.  &  A.  M., 
Warren  Lodge  No.  32,  at  Schultzville. 


^  RTHUR  R.  TIEL,  M.  D.,  a  prominent 

■£^L^  physician  and  surgeon,  of  Matteawan, 
N.  Y. ,  whose  abilities  have  received  recogni- 
tion far  beyond  the  limits  of  his  own  locality, 
was  born  October  14,  1854,  in  Ashland,  Greene 
county,  where  his  family  was  located  for  some 
time. 

His  great-grandfather,  Jacob  Tiel,  settled 
in  Rhinebeck  with  others  from  Holland.  Later, 
his  grandfather,  Henry  Tiel,  moved  to  Greene 
county,  and  was  there  a  resident  for  most  of 
his  life.  His  son,  J.  W.  Tiel,  the  father  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  the 
same  county,  in  1825,  and  remained  there  till 
of  middle  life,  when  he  moved  with  his  family 
to  Newark,  N.  J.  After  living  there  for  some 
time  the  family  moved  to  Matteawan,  where 
they  were  impelle"d  owing  to  the  hatting  in- 
dustry, which  was  the  trade  of  Mr.  Tiel.  A 
little  later  Mr.  Tiel  went  into  the  grocery  busi- 
ness in  Newburgh,  and  at  an  early  age,  and  for 
some  time,  Arthur  acted  as  bookkeeper  for  his 
father.  About  this  time  he  made  up  his  mind 
to  study  medicine,  and  began  this  study  in  the 
office  of  Dr.  William  Jones,  of  Newburgh. 
In  1878  he  was  graduated  from  the  Eclectic 
Medical  College,  of  the  city  of  New  York. 
Since  that  date  he  has  followed  his  profession 
at  Matteawan,  and  has  built  up  a  large  and 
lucrative  practice.  He  located  at  first  on; 
Main  street,  opposite  the  depot,  and  in  1885  j 
he  established  his  office  in  his  newly-built 
residence,  called  "  Beaconview, "  situated  on 
Tioronda  avenue,  in  full  sight  of  North  Beacon. 

In  1880  Dr.  Tiel  was  married  to  his  first 
wife.  Miss  Ella  F.  R.  Brown,  daughter  of 
William  H.  Brown,  a  respected  citizen  ol 
Matteawan.  She  lived  her  married  life  only; 
fourteen  months,  and  in  1885  the  Doctor  mar-i 
ried   Miss   Elizabeth   H.  Badeau,   daughter  ol 


COMifEifORATTVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


649 


oseph  N.  Badeau.  They  have  two  children: 
Arthur  David,  born  in  1887;  and  Helen  Jose- 
)hine,  born  in  1895. 

I     The  Doctor  and  his  wife  are  both  greatly 
nterested  in  various  movements,  social,  relig- 
3US,  educational  and  philanthropical,  and  have 
ibly  assisted  many  a  worthy  enterprise.     We 
nay  note  especially  the  Matteawan  Public  Li- 
brary, of  which  the  Doctor  is  treasurer  and  sec- 
etary  of  the  executive  committee.     They  are 
ctive  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  the 
)octor  is  recording  steward,   member  of  the 
fficial  board    and  president  of  the  Epworth 
,eague,  while  for  eight  years  he  was  superin- 
indent  of  the  Sunday-school.      He  has  always 
een  a  worker  in  the  temperance  cause,  and 
)r  some  years  has  been  a  leader  in  the  Prohibi- 
on  party  in  his  locality,  having  been  nominated 
)r  every  important  office  in  his  town  and  dis- 
ict.     Among  his  professional  brethren  he  is 
so  held  in  high  esteem,  and  he  is  at  present 
tcretary  of  the  Hudson  River  District  Eclec- 
2  Medical  Society;  in  1894  was  treasurer  of 
le  New  York  State  Eclectic  Medical  Society, 
fid  last   year  was  its  president.      He  was  re- 
Jntly  elected  by  the  State  board  of  Regents  as 
!  member  of  the  medical  examining  board,  of 
^ich  he  is  secretary. 


i^HARLES  A.  CARE,  a  well-known  resi- 
Vj  dent  of  Millerton,  Dutchess  county,  was 
Irn  October  15,  1846,  in  Reffroy,  France; 
li  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  that  part  of 
\i  country.  Claude  Care,  his  grandfather, 
v.s  a  cooper  by  trade,  and  followed  this  occu- 
ftion  successfully  during  his  entire  life, 
scumulating  a  fair  competence.  He  married 
hrie  Ann  Boulard,  and  they  had  five  chil- 
<|en:  Marie,  Jannette,  Margarette,  Marie  Ann 
8d  Laurent.  He  died  in  France  in  1861, 
ad  his  wife  in  1859. 

Laurent  Care,  our  subject's  father,  was 
trn  May  19,  18 19,  and  came  to  America  in 
154.  He  married  Justine  Monory,  and  they 
td  three  children:  Aderal,  Charles  A.,  and 
Oirice,  who  married  Charles  Pierson.  Laurent 
Cre  was  a  sawyer  by  trade,  but  had  been 
ejployed  in  France  as  a  common  laborer,  in 
g;ting  timber  out  and  making  charcoal,  and 
oier  work  of  similar  kind,  and  possessing 
g)d  natural  abilities  and  a  laudable  ambition, 
h  determined,  if  possible,  to  better  his  con- 
dion.  On  coming  to  this  country  he  located 
uthe  town  of  Beckett,  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass. 


His  wife  died  August  28,  1862,  and  ten  years 
later  he  accompanied  his  son  Charles  to  Mil- 
lerton, where  he  died  December  16,  1895. 
He  had  been  somewhat  active  in  politics  in 
France,  but  while  heartily  in  sympathy  with 
the  progress  of  his  adopted  country,  he  took 
no  part  in  public  life. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  attended  the 
schools  of  his  native  land  for  a  few  years  be- 
fore coming  to  America,  but  his  education  was 
mainly  acquired  in  Berkshire  county,  Mass., 
at  Beckett  and  Muddy  Brook,  near  Stock- 
bridge.  He  received  a  good  academic  educa- 
tion, and  has  always  been  an  intelligent  reader, 
especially  fond  of  history.  After  leaving 
school  he  assisted  his  father  in  the  lumber 
business,  until  his  enlistment,  August  28,  1864, 
in  Company  G,  Second  Massachusetts  Heavy 
Artillery.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  being  transferred,  however,  to  Company 
A,  17th  Mass.  V.  L  Among  the  engagements 
in  which  this  gallant  compatriot  of  La  Fay- 
ette took  part  were  the  battles  of  Wises 
Forks,  N.  C..  in  March,  1865;  Kingston  and 
Goldsboro.  On  his  return  home  in  July,  1865, 
he  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  at  Pittsfield, 
Mass.,  for  four  years.  In  April,  1872,  he 
came  to  Millerton  and  opened  a  hotel  in  the 
brick  block,  but  after  four  years  there  he  went 
into  the  wood  and  coal  business,  which  he  car- 
ried on  for  three  years.  He  then  became  a 
clerk  in  the  "  Amenia  House,"  in  Amenia,  and 
a  year  later  established  his  present  business, 
in  which  he  has  been  very  successful.  He 
married  Phoebe  Ann  Loring,  daughter  of 
Chester  O.  Loring,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Sheffield,  Mass.,  and  has  had  seven  children: 
Charles  A.,  Jr.,  deceased;  Clarice;  Florence; 
Mamie;  Eugene,  deceased;  Frankie,  deceased; 
and  Fannie. 

In  public  affairs  Mr.  Care  has  taken  an 
active  and  influential  part,  and  has  always 
worked  for  the  welfare  of  the  community.  He 
was  a  Democrat  until  1876,  but  since  that 
time  has  given  his  support  to  the  Republican 
party.  He  is  now  deputy  sheriff  under  J^rry 
S.  Pierce,  and  has  been  constable  for  some 
years;  was  elected  collector  for  the  town  of 
Northeast  by  the  largest  majority  given  any 
candidate  on  the  Republican  ticket.  He  is  a 
member  of  Webatuck  Lodge  No.  480,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge,  No.  319, 
and  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  in 
which  he  now  holds  the  rank  of  adjutant  of 
Henry  Gedley  Post  No.  617. 


650 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


CsHARLES  HAMILTON  DAVIS,  Jr.,  a 
_^  prominent  and  representative  citizen  of 
Ainenia,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  in  Wor- 
cester county,  Mass.,  March  8,  1840,  a  son  of 
Charles  H.  and  Lucinda  (Mundeli)  Davis,  who 
are  the  parents  of  four  children,  of  whom  our 
subject  is  the  eldest.  The  others  are:  George 
H.,  who  died  in  1863;  Ginery  T.,  of  Auburn- 
dale,  Mass.;  and  Frank,  who  died  in  infancy. 
The  father,  also  a  native  of  Worcester  county, 
Mass.,  was  born  in  18 10,  and  has  there  fol- 
lowed farming  most  of  his  life.  He  is  still 
living,  and  enjoys  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
all  who  know  him. 

In  the  district  schools  of  his  native  county 
our  subject  acquired  his  elementary  education, 
and  completed  his  literary  course  at  the  Barre 
Academy,  in  Barre,  Mass.,  after  which  he 
taught  school  for  several  years  in  that  State. 
In  the  spring  of  1864,  he  entered  the  East- 
man Business  College,  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y., 
and  on  leaving  that  institution  secured  the  po- 
sition of  bookkeeper  in  the  City  National 
Bank  of  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  remained  for 
eight  years. 

In  1872,  Mr.  Davis  located  in  Amenia, 
where  he  has  since  served  as  assistant  cashier 
and  notary  public  in  the  First  National  Bank. 
During  President  Cleveland's  first  administra- 
tion, he  was  appointed  national  bank  examiner 
for  a  term  of  four  years,  and  for  many  years 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace  at  Amenia,  in 
fact  holding  the  office  as  long  as  he  would  ac- 
cept of  it.  He  is  public-spirited  and  progress- 
ive, faithfully  discharging  every  duty  of  citi- 
zenship, and  has  hosts  of  friends  throughout 
the  county.  Politically,  he  is  a  stanch  Demo- 
crat, and  has  been  the  nominee  on  his  party's 
ticket  for  county  treasurer  of  Dutchess  county. 
Religiously,  he  holds  membership  with  the  Bap- 
tist Church  at  Amenia. 

While  a  resident  of  Poughkeepsie,  Mr. 
Davis  was  united  in  marriage  with  Lucy  E. 
Harrington,  who  died  in  that  city.  Later,  in 
Worcester  county,  Mass.,  he  wedded  Miss 
Minnie  R.  Harrington,  and  they  have  one  son, 
Robert  S.,  born  June  4,  1883. 


GEORGE  SEDGWICK  NORTON.  The 
_,  history  of  the  American  branch  of  the 
Norton  family  begins  in  the  days  of  the  Pilgrim 
Fathers  with  the  emigration  of  three  brothers 
of  that  name  from  the  home  of  their  ancestors, 
near  the  border  line  between  England  and  Scot- 


land. They  landed  at  Plymouth  Rock,  an 
while  one  son  went  farther  west  to  locate  a 
Whitehall,  N.  Y.,  two  settled  in  Berkshir 
county,  Mass.,  where  their  descendants  hav 
maintained  a  high  reputation  for  ability  an 
public  spirit. 

The  subject   of   this  sketch  is   descendei 
from  this  Berkshire-county  line,  and  his  great 
grandfather,  Jonathan  Norton,  was  among  th 
distinguished   citizens   of  that  locality  in   hi 
day,  owning  between  two  and  three  thousan 
acres  of  land,  and  holding  various  positions  i. 
honor  and  usefulness.      In    1790  he  was  corr 
missioned  captain  in  the  State  militia  by  Job 
Hancock,  the  immortal  signer  of  the  Declar; 
tion  of  Independence,  who  was  at  that  tirr 
governor  of  Massachusetts.     Jonathan  Norte 
was  a  Whig  in   politics,  and,  with   the  excej 
tion  of  one  man  who  voted  for  George  B.  M( 
Clellan,  his   posterity  at   all   times   have  suj 
ported  the  Whig  and  Republican  parties.    H 
married,   and   had   three   sons — Jonathan  L 
Roderick  J.    and    Lyman — and   two  or  thn 
daughters,  all  of  whom  married. 

Roderick  J.  Norton,  our  subject's  granc 
father,  possessed  great  natural  ability,  am 
like  his  father,  was  a  man  of  prominence.  H 
holdings  in  real  estate  were  very  extensive,  ar| 
he  followed  farming  all  his  life.  In  local  po 
tics  he  was  very  active,  holding  at  differe 
times  all  the  offices  in  his  town  and  several  1 
the  county.  He  and  the  majority  of  his  fai 
ily  were  leading  members  of  the  Congreg 
tional  Church.  His  wife,  Rhoda  (Johnsoi 
was  a  member  of  an  old  Granville,  Mas: 
family,  daughter  of  Charles  and  granddaught 
of  Timothy  Johnson.  They  had  seven  ch 
dren,  of  whom  the  first,  Roderick  J.,  died  1 
childhood.  Isaac  was  treasurer  and  clerk  \ 
the  town  of  Otis,  Berkshire  county,  for  fif  f 
two  years  without  being  required  to  furnish . 
bond,  and  his  term  of  service  only  ended  t 
his  death,  when  he  was  ninety-four  years  0 
Elam  was  at  one  time  sheriff  of  the  coun , 
and  was  trial  justice  for  twenty-five  years,  ?? 
justice  of  the  peace  for  seventy  years,  be  j 
elected  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  and  hold? 
the  office  until  his  death,  which  occurred  wll 
he  was  ninety-one.  Unlike  the  rest  of  8 
family,  he  was  an  Episcopalian.  Harriet  nr 
ried  Robert  Hunter,  of  Berkshire  county.  R  • 
erick  Hyde  is  mentioned  more  fully  bel'^- 
Sedgwick  died  at  twenty-one  years  of  £>• 
George  was  a  harness  maker  of  the  towrM 
Otis,  Berkshire  county,  and  lived  to  the  e 


OOMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


651 


of  seventy-seven  years.      Roderick  J.  Norton 
died  in  1848,  and  his  wife  in  1858. 

Roderick  Hyde   Norton,    our  subject's  fa- 
ther,  was  born  at  the   old  home   March    19, 
1809,  and  was  intended  for  the  ministry;  but 
I  on  account  of  financial   reverses  his  education 
was  interrupted,  and  at  twenty-one  he  began 
iteaching,  which  occupation   he  followed  suc- 
cessfully some   forty  years.      His  first   school 
was  at  Claverack,  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where 
he    met    and   married  his    first  wife,    Harriet 
Bierce,  who  was  born  in   1808  in  an  old  brick 
house  on   the  post  road   between  Ghent  and 
Hudson.     Her  father,  Bradford  Bierce,  was  a 
prominent    resident   of  the  town.     After  two 
years  in   Claverack,    Mr.    Norton  returned  to 
his  native  place,  and  for  many  years  taught  at 
Otis,  Mass.,   becoming  known    as  one  of  the 
ablest  teachers  of  that  region.      For  twenty- 
five  years  he  was  chairman  of  the  examining 
:ommittee,  was  a  selectman    of  the   town  for 
imany  years,  and  was  a  deacon  in  the  Congre- 
gational Church.     The  last  ten  years  of   his 
|ife  were  spent  at  Egremont,  Mass. ,  in  agricult- 
ural pursuits.     His  first  wife    died  August  17, 
J1861,    and   he  formed    a  second  matrimonial 
illiance  with  Miss  Dora  Van  Buren  (a  second 
i;ousin  of  President  Van  Buren),  of  Stockport, 
Columbia  Co.,   N.  Y.      She   departed  this  life 
n  1882,  and   on  October   12   of  the  following 
ear  he  breathed  his  last.     There  was  no  ofi- 
pring  by  the  last   marriage,  but  his  first  wife 
)ore  him  four  children,  of  whom  three  grew  to 
iidult  age.     (i)  Isaac    F.   was  given  good  ad- 
lantages   in  his  youth,  and  became  wealthy. 
i'or  some  years  he  was  a  merchant  at  Egre- 
nont,  Mass.,  but  later  traveled  as  a  salesman. 
:i  Bradford  B.    followed   mercantile  pursuits 
or  some  years  at  Blandford,  Mass.,  and  East 
Winsted,  Conn.,  afterward  removing  to  Gold 
mil,  Nev.,   where  he  acquired   great  wealth, 
wning  a  large  ranch  and   holding  an  interest 
■  many  valuable  properties.      He  was  treas- 
rer  and  secretary   of  eight   different   mining 
ompanies.      He  possessed  great  influence  in 
olitical  circles,  and  in  1880  was  urged  to  ac- 
ept   the   nomination  for  governor.      Against 
is  own  wish  he  undertook  the  campaign,  and 
as  defeated  by    but  a    very  small  majority. 
n    the    following   year    his    death    occurred 
Trough  overwork. 

(3)  George  S.  Norton,  the  youngest  son, 
as  born  at  Otis,  Mass.,  August  19,  1841,  and 
IS  educational  advantages  were  confined  to 
iree  years  and  four  months  attendance  at  the 


district  schools;  but  he  has  so  thoroughly  in- 
formed himself  upon  important  topics  of  the  day 
that  these  limitations  would  not  be  suspected. 
At  the  age  of  eleven  he  was  put  to  work  upon 
the  farm,  and  practically  placed  in  charge,  and 
when  he  was  fifteen  he  raised  500  bushels  of 
potatoes  and  100  of  corn.  In  the  fall  of  1859 
he  apprenticed  himself  to  J.  L.  Fatro,  of  Win- 
sted.  Conn.,  for  two  years,  at  $50  for  the 
entire  term,  in  order  to  learn  the  blacksmith's 
trade.  Before  the  expiration  of  his  term  in 
had  become  proficient  in  the  business,  and  he 
April,  1 86 1,  he  opened  a  shop  in  Egremont, 
Mass.,  where  he  spent  one  year.  He  then 
went  to  Collinsville,  Conn.,  and  worked  for 
Mr.  Shook  six  months,  forging  plow  standards, 
afterward  returning  home  for  a  year.  On  re- 
suming his  trade  he  went  to  Salisbury  to  work 
for  Mr.  Pratt;  but  after  four  months,  ill  health 
caused  him  to  choose  another  occupation,  and 
he  went  "on  the  road"  selling  a  "Life  of 
Lincoln."  Six  months  later  he  widened  his 
field  of  operations,  selling  jewelry,  silverware 
and  cigars,  in  which  he  continued  successfully 
until  1875.  During  the  previous  year  he  had 
bought  the  hotel  at  Pawling,  known  as  "Trav- 
elers' Home,"  which  he  had  been  carrying  on 
m  connection  with  his  other  business,  and  on 
leaving  the  road  he  gave  his  attention  to  its 
management.  For  two  years  he  conducted  a 
jewelry  store  also.  In  1880  he  engaged  in  the 
business  of  shipping  ice  to  New  York  City,  and 
after  the  sale  of  the  hotel  to  Frank  Lee,  in. 
1 88 1,  he  carried  on  the  retail  ice  business  un- 
til 1896,  when  he  sold  out  and  began  contract- 
iiig  to  do  various  kinds  of  work,  chiefly  the 
transplanting  of  trees.  In  this  he  is  remarka- 
bly successful,  having  moved  shade  trees  which 
were  fifty  feet  high  and  fifteen  iches  in  diameter. 
On  August  22,  1870,  Mr.  Norton  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Siche  Doughty,  daughter  of  Peter 
D.  and  Emma  Doughty,  prominent  residents 
of  Beekman,  and  he  has  a  pleasant  home  in 
Pawling,  his  present  residence,  built  in  1881, 
being  one  of  the  finest  in  the  village.  Aside 
from  his  business  activities,  in  which  his 
success  has  won  for  him  a  high  reputation  for 
good  judgment,  Mr.  Norton  is  interested  in  all 
movements  of  public  importance,  and  was 
among  the  leading  promoters  of  the  plans  for 
the  incorporation  of  the  village  and  the  con- 
struction of  the  water  works.  In  politics  he 
is  active  and  influential,  giving  his  support  to 
the  Republican  party,  and  he  has  held  all 
offices  except  those  of  supervisor  and  deputy 


652 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1 


sheriff,  and  for  eleven  years  he  has  been  justice 
of  the  peace.  Although  often  urged  to  become 
a  candidate  for  supervisor,  he  has  declined. 
For  twenty-five  years  he  has  been  chairman  of 
the  town  committee,  and  for  three  years  chair- 
man of  the  Assembly  committee  of  the  First 
District,  and  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  has 
attended  every  Assembly  convention  but  one, 
and  most  of  the  county  conventions.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  for  twenty- 
one  years,  and  is  now  an  active  worker  in 
Lodge  No.  173,  Patterson.  At  one  time  he 
held  the  office  of  noble  grand,  and  he  has 
passed  the  chair  fifteen  times. 


D 


W.  WILBUR,  one  of  the  able  and  ener- 
getic business  men  of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess 
county,  who  have  made  that  charming  village 
a  thriving  commercial  point,  is  descended  from 
one  of  the  oldest  families  of  Dutchess  county. 
His  great-great-grandfather,  Jeptha  Wilbur, 
was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  Nine  Part- 
ners Patent  in  that  county.  He  had  a  son  Jep- 
tha (2),  who  had  a  son  Samuel,  born  in  March, 
1782,  who  married  Elizabeth  Hicks,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  1786.  Samuel  Wilbur  died 
at  the  age  of  forty-five,  but  his  wife  attained  the 
ripe  old  age  of  ninety-five.  They  reared  a  fam- 
ily of  five  sons  and  three  daughters,  and  three  of 
the  number  are  still  living.  One  of  the  sons, 
Jeptha  S.  Wilbur,  our  subject's  father,  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Pine  Plains,  October  29,  1818. 
He  married  Miss  Mary  J.  Story,  and  made  his 
home  in  his  native  township,  where  D.  W. 
Wilbur  was  born  January  18,  1857.  The 
schools  of  that  locality  furnished  our  subject 
an  opportunity  for  securing  the  rudiments  of 
knowledge,  and  he  afterward  took  a  course  of 
study  in  the  De  Garmo  Institute,  Rhinebeck. 
On  his  return  home  he  assisted  in  the  develop- 
ment and  cultivation  of  the  farm,  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  twenty-five,  when  he  removed 
to  Red  Hook  and  entered  into  the  coal  and 
lumber  business  with  his  father-in-law,  H.  H. 
Conklin,  under  the  firm  name  of  H.  H.  Conk- 
lin  &  Co.,  which  was  continued  until  the  death 
of  the  senior  partner,  August  i,  1883.  Since 
that  time  Mr.  Wilbur  has  conducted  the  busi- 
ness as  the  sole  owner.  In  addition  to  this,  he 
is  also  engaged  in  the  coal  trade  in  Poughkeep- 
sie  under  the  firm  name  of  Wilbur  Bros;  is 
president  of  the  Kaal  Rock  Chair  Co. ,  of  Pough- 
keepsie,  and  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Red 
Hook  Telephone  Company. 


On  November  17,  1881,  our  subject  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  G.  Conklin,  a  daughter  of 
Henry  H.  and  Ann  Eliza  (Gifford)  Conklin.  Her 
birth  occurred  in  Red  Hook,  April  7,  1857,  and 
she  received  her  elementary  schooling  there, 
afterward  supplementing  it  with  a  course  in  the 
De  Garmo  Institute,  Rhinebeck,  from  which  she 
was  graduated  in  1875.  For  several  years 
prior  to  her  marriage  Mrs.  Wilbur  was  a  teacher 
in  the  public  school  of  Red  Hook,  and  was  very 
successful  in  her  professional  work.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wilbur  have  no  children.  Their  home  is 
pleasantly  located  on  South  Broadway,  Red 
Hook,  where  their  many  friends  enjoy  theii 
hospitality. 

The  Wilburs  from  the  earliest  in  the  line 
down  to  the  present  time  have  been  enter- 
prising and  industrious  citizens,  leaving  a  re- 
cord of  which  the  coming  generation  may  justh 
be  proud. 


CLEMENT  CARRINGTON  GAINES,  pres 
_^  ident  of  Eastman  Business  College,  a 
Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  and  of  the 
New  York  Business  College,  New  York  City 
is  one  of  the  noted  educators  of  the  State,  am 
indeed,  we  may  say  of  the  country,  the  higl 
reputation  of  the  institutions  under  his  cart 
bringing  students  from  all  parts  of  the  Union 
and  also  from  foreign  lands. 

He  is  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  enjoyed  th' 
best  educational  opportunities  afforded  by  th' 
schools  of  that  State.      After  graduating  fron 
Hampden  Sidney  College,  Virginia,  he  begai 
his  professional  career  at  eighteen  years  of  ag 
as  a  teacher  in  the  Fincastle  ( Va. )  High  School 
and  his  time  during  the   next  seven  years  wa 
divided  between  teaching  in  Virginia  and  Ken 
tucky,  studying  in  a  law  office,  and  at  the  Uni, 
versity  of    Virginia,    with    finally    a   busine; 
course  in  Eastman  Business  College.     At  bot 
these  institutions  he  was   duly  graduated,  an 
in  1883  he  went  to  Chicago,  was  admitted  t' 
the  bar,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  law 
In  the  following  year  a  position  upon  the  Fac 
ulty  of  Eastman  Business  College  was  offere 
him,  and  as  the  profession  of  teaching  had  a 
ways  seemed  to  him  to  be  of  the  highest  vak 
and  importance,  he  accepted.      Since  his  ma 
riage.in  October,  1884,  to  the  widow  of  H.  C 
Eastman,  he  has  been  the  head  of  the  institi 
tion.      Under  his  management  the  interests 
the  college  have  been  ably  cared  for,  the  stai 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


653 


liard  of  scholarship  having  been  raised  in  all 
iepartinents,  and  the  range   of  usefulness  ex- 
ended.     In  1895  there  were  students  enrolled 
rem  thirty-eight   States  and  Territories  and 
;leven  foreign    countries,  making  a   favorable 
:omparison  in  point  of  wide-spread  popularity 
in  its  special  lines   with   that   enjoyed   by  the 
inost  famous  of  institutions  of  the  higher  edu- 
'ation  in  the  country.     Such  a  marked  degree 
)f  success  could  not  have  been  attained  with- 
)Ut  an   adequate  cause,  and   this  is  found  in 
he  original  and  practical  features  of  the  East- 
nan  system;  faithful   and   well-directed  work 
n  the  class   room;  and   the  sincere  and  ener- 
etic  efforts  made  to  secure  desirable  employ- 
nent  for  every  worthy  pupil.      In  this  feature 
if  his  work  the  excellent  character  of  instruc- 
ion  offered  is  of  great  assistance,  as  business 
nen  in  search  of   competent    assistants  have 
Iready  proved  beyond  a  doubt  the  worth  of 
he  practical  training  given  in  this  school. 

In  December,  1892,  Mr.  Gaines  opened 
he  New  York  Business  College,  at  No.  81 
i^ast  125th  street.  New  York,  N.  Y.  Less 
han  a  dozen  students  were  in  attendance  at 
he  start,  but  each  succeeding  year  has  more 
ban  doubled  the  enrollment,  and  in  October, 
895,  there  were  so  many  applications  that 
lore  space  and  an  enlarged  corps  of  teachers 
ecame  necessary.  Both  day  and  night  ses- 
Lons  are  held,  and  students  of  either  sex  may 
nter  at  any  time,  selecting  whatever  branches 
hey  may  prefer,  both  in  the  strictly  business 
curses  and  in  the  line  of  general  culture. 

Mr.  Gaines  is  a  descendant  of  several  of 
ne  earliest  Virginia  families.  One  of  his  an- 
estors  was  one  of  the  first  governors  of  the 
i^olony;  two  others  were  members  of  the  House 
f  Burgesses  in  Colonial  times,  representing 
harlotte  county,  Virginia,  who  were  among 
le  supporters  of  Patrick  Henry  in  his  heroic 
fforts  in  the  cause  of  independence.  The 
imily  still  own  extensive  plantations,  and  are 
irominent  in  their  locality;  but  like  the  ma- 
)rity  of  the  Southern  people  they  suffered 
nancially  from  the  Civil  war. 

Although  .Mr.  Gaines  belongs  to  several 
i  ubs  and  organizations  of  a  social  and  literary 
'ature,  he  finds  but  little  time  for  society, 
rid  his  business  cares  have  prevented  him 
jkewise  from  entering  tke  political  arena.  He 
las.  however,  served  as  a  member  of  the  board 
f  education  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  has  been  a 
••rnber  of  the  executive  committee  of  the 
Hrd  of  Trade  of  that  city;  while  his  hearty 


co-operation  and  encouragement  are  always 
given  to  any  movement  which  in  his  opinion 
will  promote  the  public  welfare. 


JOn^  WILLIAMS,  a  leading  hardware 
merchant  of  Dover  Plains,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, has  been  for  many  years  prominently 
identified  with  the  best  interests  of  that  town, 
and  has  encouraged  by  his  active  and  efficient 
aid  many  of  the  most  important  progressive 
movements  in  his  locality.  He  is  of  English 
birth,  and  on  his  mother's  side  is  descended  from 
an  old  Lancashire  family. 

Robert  Samulshaw,  his  great-grandfather, 
was  born  in  that  county  in  1758,  and  after  re- 
ceiving an  education  in  the  schools  of  his  na- 
tive place  learned  the  tailor's  trade,  which  he 
followed  throughout  his  later  years.  He  also 
owned  and  cultivated  a  farm  there.  Among 
his  eleven  children  was  a  son,  William,  our 
subject's  grandfather,  who  learned  the  tailor's 
trade  with  his  father,  and  after  working  at  it 
in  his  native  town  for  some  time  removed  to 
Liverpool,  England,  and  established  a  custom- 
tailoring  business,  which  proved  very  success- 
ful. His  wife's  name  is  not  known,  but  they 
also  had  eleven  children.  A  daughter,  Mary, 
our  subject's  mother,  was  born  in  Wigan, 
Lancashire,  and  was  educated  there.  She 
married  William  Williams,  a  native  of  Llan- 
gollen, Wales,  who  at  the  time  of  their  mar- 
riage owned  a  large  bakery  in  Liverpool. 
Nine  children  were  born  to  them:  Robert, 
who  died  in  his  youth;  William,  who  married 
Addie  Delaverne;  John,  our  subject;  Jane 
(Mrs.  John  Lewis);  Ellen  (Mrs.  Andrew  John- 
ston); Mary,  who  married  (first)  George  Rey-  _ 
nolds,  and  (second)  Mr.  Scott;  Elizabeth,  the 
wife  of  William  Frost;  Susanna,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  nine  years;  and  one  that  died  in 
infancy. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  in 
Liverpool  in  1836,  received  a  good  education 
in  the  schools  of  that  city,  and  learned  the  art 
of  brass  finishing  there.  In  1858  he  came  to 
America,  locating  for  a  time  in  Amenia,  Dutch- 
ess county,  where  he  learned  the  tinsmith's 
trade.  While  there  he  married  Miss  Martha 
Harrocks,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Ellen  Frost 
Harrocks.  She  was  born  and  reared  in  Bury, 
England,  where  her  father  was  a  well-known 
merchant.  In  1872  Mr.  Williams  established 
his  present  hardware  store  and  tinshop  at 
Dover  Plains,  of  which  he  has  made  a  success 


654 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


from  the  first.  His  wife  passed  from  earth  in 
1 89 1,  leaving  two  daughters:  HattieS.,  the 
wife  of  Frank  H.  Brant,  and  Mary  E.,  who  is 
at  home. 

The  family  is  prominent,  socially,  and  our 
subject's  fine  bass  voice  is  highly  appreciated 
among  the  best  people  of  Dover  Plains.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  in  its 
choir  makes  worthy  use  of  his  musical  gifts. 
He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Lodge,  No.  666, 
of  Dover  Plains,  and  has  always  taken  great 
interest  in  public  affairs,  local  and  national. 
Possessing  the  courage  of  his  convictions,  he 
is  an  outspoken  Democrat,  and  he  has  been 
chosen  by  his  fellow  townsmen  to  several 
official  positions.  He  was  inspector  of  elections 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  on  one  occasion 
his  honesty,  courage,  and  persistence  saved 
his  party  from  being  "  counted  out." 


JOHN  DUTCHER,  one  of  the  most  trusted 
employes  of  the  Harlem  railroad,  upon 
which  he  has  run  an  engine  for  over  twenty 
years,  is  an  honored  veteran  of  the  Civil  war, 
having  been  one  of  the  first  to  join  the  forces 
for  the  defense  of  the  Union,  and  one  of  the 
last  to  leave  the  service  at  the  close  of  the 
struggle.  He  was  born  in  Dover  Plains,  Dutch- 
ess county,  July  16,  1841,  and  his  parents, 
John  and  Catherine  (Elliot)  Dutcher,  were 
both  natives  of  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess 
county.  On  the  maternal  side  he  is  of  Eng- 
lish descent,  his  great-great-grandfather,  Sam- 
uel Elliot,  having  been  born  in  the  city  of  Lon- 
don early  in  the  eighteenth  century.  The  Elli- 
ots of  that  day  were  engaged  in  commerce, 
owning  a  ileet  of  sailing  vessels,  and  this  an- 
cestor came  to  America  as  a  young  man,  be- 
came a  merchant  and  settled  in  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, marrying,  and  rearing  a  family,  among  whom 
was  a  son,  Samuel,  our  subject's  great-grand- 
father. He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Dover  in 
1740,  and  spent  his  life  there  quietly  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  He  married  Catherine  Gil- 
let,  of  Norwalk,  Conn.,  and  had  six  children: 
Richard,  who  never  married;  Jonathan,  who 
died  in  infancy;  Anna  (Mrs.  Morrey);  Eliza- 
beth (Mrs.  Neilson);  Sarah  (Mrs.  Ward);  and 
Samuel,  our  subject's  grandfather,  who  was 
born  and  reared  at  the  old  homestead  in  the 
town  of  Dover,  and  followed  farming.  His 
wife  was  Miss  Delia  Dart,  the  daughter  of  a 
prominent  farmer  of  Dover,  and  they  had  five 
children,  all  of  whom   lived  to  maturity  and 


married:     Enos    married    Miss  Mary   Brown; 
Charles,     Miss    Calista    Chamberlain;     Juda, 
Sherman    Mallory;    Samuel,  Miss  Gibbs;  and 
Catherine  (our  subject's  mother),  who  was  bom 
in  1 81 7;     Our  subject's  father,  John  Dutcher, 
was  a  son  of  Cornelius  Dutcher,  a  leading  agri- 
culturist of  the   town  of  Dover,  and  his  wife 
Ruth.      Of  the  seven  children,  all  but  one  lived 
to  adult  age.     (i)   Ruth  married  John  Proper, 
of  Hudson,  and  has  had  four  children:  Samuel, 
who  died  when  about  twenty-four  years  of  age 
Alfred,  who  married  Nellie  Blood;  Jennie,  th« 
wife  of  Walter  Davis;  and  Frank,  who  marriec 
Elizabeth   McGarry.      (2)  Amelia  never  mar 
ried.      (3)  Mercy  married  John  Cameron.    (4 
Jennie  married  William  J.  White,  and  has  tw( 
children  —  Mary  Ella  and  Catherine   C.     (5 
John  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.      (6)  Eno 
married  (first)  Estella  Brewer,  who  died,  leav 
ing  one  daughter.  Bertha,  and  he  then  format 
a  second  matrimonial    union,  this    time  witl 
Mrs.  Sophia  Sailor.      (7)  Vaness  died  at  th. 
age  of  four  years.     John  Dutcher,  the  father 
died  in  1856. 

The  subject   of  this  sketch  has  spent  thi 
greater  part  of  his  life  at  his  native  place,  re; 
ceiving  his  education  there  and  later  engagint 
in  farming.     After  three  years  at  that  occupa 
tion  he  enlisted,  in  August,    1861,  in  Compan 
C,  72d  N.    Y.    V.    I.,    and  took  part  in  cam 
paigns   under  McClellan,    Halleck,    Burnsidej 
Grant   and    others.      He  was  in   the  engage 
ments    at  Williamsburg,   and   Yorktown,    th 
second    battle    of  Bull  Run,   the    seven-days 
fight  at  Richmond,  and  the  retreat  to  Harrisoi 
Landing — in  fact,  his  regiment  was  engaged  i] 
fighting  all  of  the  time.     When    Halleck  tool 
command    the    regiment  was    sent    to    Minj 
Run,    then    to    Spottsylvania,    then    back  t| 
Chancellorsville,  and  participated  in  the  bat 
ties  at  Fredericksburg,  under  Burnsides,  and; 
Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  under    Grant.      While; 
that  place  Mr.    Dutcher  was  taken  prisone! 
and  remained  a  prisoner  of  war  five  month 
being  confined  the  greater  part  of  this  time  : 
Andersonville,  Ga.,  and  on  his  release  rejoine 
the  army.      At  the  close  of  the   war  he  w; 
sent    west   as   member    of    the  5th    Regimei 
U.   S.    v.,    and    was    mustered    out    at   Fo 
Kearney,    Kans. ,    in     1865.      Fortunately  I 
passed  through  all  the  dangers  of  those  tryii 
years    without     serious    injury,    having   bei| 
wounded    but    once,    and  that  slightly,  by  j 
piece  of  shell.     He  was  promoted  to  the  rai 
of  sergeant. 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIC'AL  RECORD. 


655 


On  his  return  from  the  army  Mr.  Dutcher 
ent  to  New  York  City  to  take  a  position  on 
le  police  force,  which  he  held  five  years.  He 
'len  resigned  and  came  back  to  his  native 
'lace,  entering  the  employ  of  the  Harlem 
.ailroad  Company,  with  which  he  has  now 
een  connected  about  a  quarter  of  a  century, 
lorking  first  as  brakeman  and  fireman,  and 
ince  1875  ^s  engineer.  He  is  now  in  charge 
'[  an  engine  on  a  passenger  train,  and  stands 
igh  in  the  confidence  of  his  employers  and 
le  public.  He  belongs  to  the  Brotherhood 
;  Locomotive  Engineers,  the  Masonic  Lodge 
[  Dover,  No.  666,  and  to  the  Independent  Or- 
it  of  Good  Templars,  Dover  Lodge.  Al- 
lough  his  tastes  are  domestic,  and  he  appre- 


ates  the 
arried. 


repose  of  home  life,   he  has  never 


GEORGE  ROGER,  the  able  and  popular 
J  postmaster  at  Millerton,  Dutchess  county, 
id  one  of  the  most  prominent  of  the  younger 
len  of  the  town,  was  born  August  29,   1855, 

Kirkmichael,  Scotland,  which  has  been  the 
!)me  of  his  family  for  many  generations.  His 
iandfather,     William    Roger,     was    a  miller 

ere,  and  was  killed  in  a  mill  in  the  year 
!i22,   leaving  his   wife,   Mary    Hunter    (who 

rvived    until   1862),    and    three    children — 

ary,  Jane  and  David,  our  subject's  father. 

David  Roger  was  born  in  18 10,  and  for 
iiQUt  thirty  years  was  a  gardener  in  the  em- 
loy  of  the  Ferguson  family,  being  head  gar- 
bner  for  some  time  previous  to  his  coming  to 
Jnerica,  in  1873.  He  married  Janet  Bone, 
jiughter  of  Quintin  Bone,  of  Paisley,  and  had 
(even  children:  William  and  Quintin  (both 
teeased);  Janet  (Mrs.  William  Allen);  Mary 
llrs.  Thomas  Moore);  Agnes  (Mrs.  John 
lempey);  John,  a  gardener  at  Spencer's  Cor- 
ks; James  and  David  (twins),  the  former  of 
liom  is  the  depot   agent    at   Rosslyn  Castle, 

otland,  the  latter  being  now  a  clerk  in  the 

>lonial  Bank,  at  Dunedin,  New  Zealand; 
.'3bert,  a  gardener  at  Millerton;   Marian,  the 

fe  of  Freeman  Traver;  and  George,  the  sub- 
A  of  this  sketch.  After  coming  to  this  coun- 
V  David  Roger  and  his  wife  made  their  home 
jth  their  sons,  John  and  Robert,  and  he  was 

;is  not  regularly  engaged  in  any  work.  He 
^d  in  1892,  followed  a  year  later  by  his  wife. 
>)th  were  devout  Presbyterians,  and  their 
<ildren  all  adhere  to  the  same  faith. 


George  Roger  received  a  good  education 
in  the  schools  of  his  native  land,  and  taught 
as  a  pupil  teacher  for  one  year,  but  finding 
the  occupation  injurious  to  his  health  he  en- 
gaged work  in  a  railroad  office  for  a  short 
time.  He  accompanied  his  parents  to  this 
country,  and  his  first  employment  here  was  as 
bookkeeper  for  C.  S.  Maltby,  he  and  Mr. 
Manning  entering  his  service  in  the  same  year, 
1873.  Mr.  Roger  resigned  after  two  years, 
but  in  1880  returned  to  the  firm,  retaining  his 
position  until  1893.  In  1894  he  was  appointed 
postmaster  by  President  Cleveland  for  the 
term  of  four  years,  and  his  efficient  management 
of  the  office  has  won  the  praise  of  all  classes. 
He  has  also  held  the  office  of  excise  commis- 
sioner, and  he  is  a  prominent  worker  in  the 
Democratic  organization  of  his  locality.  It  is 
not  often  that  a  stranger  can  so  quickly  gain 
the  confidence  of  an  entire  community,  but 
Mr.  Roger's  character  and  abilities  are  of  a 
sort  to  command  esteem. 

He  was  married,  in   1882,  to  Miss  Mary  I. 

E.  Ward,  daughter  of  Alfred  Ward,  of  Dur- 
ham, England,  and  they  have  five  children: 
Isabel,  Janet,  Marion,  David  and  Margaret. 
Mr.  Roger  attends  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  is  a  member  of  Webatuck  Lodge  No.  480, 

F.  &  A.  M.  (in  which  he  has  been  master  for 
two  years),  and  of  Poughkeepsie  Chapter;  he 
also  belongs  to  Millerton  Lodge  No.  383,  I. 
O.  O.  F.,  and  is  now  noble  grand  in  that 
body. 


CiAMPBELL  N.  HICKS,  a  well-known  busi- 
_'  ness  man  of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess  county, 
and  proprietor  of  a  livery  stable  there,  was 
born  September  10,  1855,  in  the  town  of  Stan- 
ford. His  father,  Eli  Hicks,  was  a  native  of 
Clermont,  Columbia  county,  married  Miss 
Margaret  A.  Waters,  of  Binghamton,  Broome 
county,  and  reared  a  family  of  nine  children. 
The  subject  of  our  sketch  received  his  educa- 
tion in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ,  and  after  completing 
his  course  learned  the  butcher's  trade.  He 
then  engaged  in  business  for  himself  at  Red 
Hook,  in  partnership  with  George  Cramer,  to 
whom  he  sold  his  interest  two  and  a  half  years 
later.  Since  that  time  he  has  conducted  a 
stage  and  livery  business,  and  holds  the  con- 
tract for  carrying  the  U.  S.  mail. 

On  October  28,  1874,  he   was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  E.  Hutton,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and 


656 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Lydia  Hutton,  prominent  residents  of  Red 
Hook.  Two  children  were  born  of  this  union: 
Byron  N.,  December  2,  1876,  and  Margaret 
B.,  June  9,  1882.  Mr.  Hicks  takes  an  active 
part  in  local  affairs,  and  has  been  overseer  of 
the  poor  for  one  term,  and  town  clerk  for  two 
terms,  discharging  his  duties  with  the  faithful- 
ness which  has  characterized  him  in  every  line 
of  effort.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
Christian  Lodge  No.  379,  of  Red  Hook,  in 
which  he  is  past  grand,  and  of  Shiloh  Encamp- 
ment No.  68,  holding  the  office  of  chief  pa- 
triarch. 


SAMUEL  HOLMES  BROWN,  a  promi- 
_'  nent  citizen  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  one  of 
the  leading  members  of  the  Dutchess  County 
Bar,  is  a  descendant  of  a  well-known  family 
which  has  been  identified  with  this  section  for 
more  than  a  century. 

Noah  Brown,  his  great-grandfather,  who 
was  of  Scotch  ancestry,  had  his  early  home  at 
Johnstown,  N.  Y.  He  married  Lois  Mills, 
September  20,  1783,  the  two  starting  upon 
their  united  career  with  but  little  capital  ex- 
cept their  health,  their  strong  common  sense 
and  industrious  habits.  Not  long  after  their 
marriage  they  moved  to  Dutchess  county  and 
settled  upon  a  tract  of  land  at  or  near  the 
Square,  about  two  miles  northwest  of  Amenia 
City,  and  there  Mr.  Brown  conducted  a  farm, 
a  hotel  and  a  tannery.  They  prospered  as 
they  deserved,  and  in  181 7  they  purchased  a 
fine  farm  two  miles  south  of  the  site  of  the 
present  village  of  Millerton,  a  part  of  what  is 
known  as  the  Edgar  Clark  farm.  Mr.  Brown's 
well-proved  abilities  were  devoted  mainly  to 
his  business  affairs,  and  he  never,  in  any  sense, 
took  a  position  which  would  call  him  from  his 
family,  yet  he  felt  a  keen  interest  in  public 
affairs,  and  filled  several  local  offices  with 
credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  the  pub- 
lic. After  the  towns  of  Amenia  and  Northeast 
were  divided,  he  was  elected,  April  i,  1823, 
to  act  as  one  of  the  first  assessors  of  the  latter. 
He  served  in  the  6th  Regular  Dutchess  County 
Militia,  of  Charlotte  Precinct,  under  Col.  Ros- 
well  Hopkins  and  Capt.  Waters.  His  death 
occurred  May  11,  1841,  when  he  was  seventy- 
eight  years  old,  and  that  of  his  wife  October 
3,  1849,  when  she  was  aged  eighty-si.x;  their 
final  resting  place  is  in  the  family  lot  in  Spen- 
cer's Corner  burying  yard,  north  of  Millerton, 
N.  Y      They  had  six  children,  whose   names 


with  dates  of  birth  and  death  are  here  give: 
Noan  M.,  June,  1784 — June  22,  1822;  San 
uel,  April  20,  1785 — January  5,  1870;  Sallj 
May  21,  1787 — February  13,  1876;  Betse; 
October  28,  1791 — May  19,  1888;  Georgi 
February  16,  1794 — October  18,  1878;  Ha 
riet,  March  29,  1800 — June  24,  1876. 

Samuel  Brown,  our  subject's  grandfathe 
was  a  man  of  far  more  than  the  average  abili' 
and   foresight,   and  while  conducting   sever 
farms  carried  on  successfully  a  number  of  bu: 
riess  enterprises,  including  a  tannery.     Amo: 
some  of  the  farms  owned   by  him  is  what 
known    as    the    "  Halstead    farm",   near   ^ 
Riga  Station,  the  "David   Eggleston   farm 
situated  between  Millerton  and    Boston  Cc 
ners,  the  •'  Hopkins  farm  ",  situated  betwe 
Millerton  and  Safisbury,  and  the  ' '  Rudd  farm 
at  the  head  of  Rudd  pond.     Although  he  w 
judiciously  economical   in  his  management 
his   private  affairs,  he   was   ready  to  respo 
liberally  to    any  public    need,  and  showed 
many  ways  a  hearty  sympathy  with  the  inti 
est  of  his  fellows.     In    1828  he  was  one  of 
building  committee  to  erect  the  "  New  Bapt 
church  "  at  Spencer's  Corner,  which  was  dei 
cated  the  following  year,  and   was  used  un, 
1866,  when  the  congregation  decided  to  esU\ 
lish  a  place  of  worship  at   Millerton.      Sami'i 
Brown's  wife,  Sally  (Clark),  whom  he  wedd  ■. 
February  20,  18 13,  was  a   daughter  of  E.i 
Clark,  a  prosperous  farmer  near  Millerton,  v\,) 
came  from   Lisbon,  Conn.,  about  the  time ; 
the  Revolution.      She  died  July  18,  1859,  aj.! 
seventy-one    years,    five    months,    nine   da . 
Their  children  were  as   follows:     Mary,  bci 
February  20,  1815,  died  April  16,  1875;  Mih^ 
born  July  22,  18 16,  now  living;   Milton,  btji 
September  26,  1818,  died   April  9,  1881;  si 
Douglas    Clark,     born    July    23,     1822,    d|l 
March- 19,  1871.  1 

Milton  Brown,  our  subject's  father,  beca? 
a  successful  agriculturist  at  the  "  Hopkb 
farm  ",  already  referred  to.  He,  in  apper 
ance,  favored  the  mother's  side  of  the  fam  I. 
In  looks  he  reminded  one  much  of  Hon.  \\'- 
iam  M.  Evarts,  and  there  is  no  question  in  ^e 
mind  of  any  one  who  knew  him  well  thate 
was  a  man  of  marked  ability  and  busirs 
courage  and  capacity.  He  was  not  onl;3 
farmer,  but  branched  out  into  other  en  1"- 
prises.  He  had  the  full  confidence  of  all  vb 
knew  him,  and  his  advice  was  sought  bymai'. 
His  careful  methods  brought  him  a  compete  ly 
for  himself  and  family.      For  his  first  wifeie 


X2c^£.fKi- 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


657 


named  Selina  H.  Wheeler,  daughter  of  Milton 

^Vheeler,  a  prosperous  farmer.     This  marriage 

vas  blessed  with  one  child,  Mary  E. ,  who  was 

)orn  July  14,  1845.      Selina  H.  died  March  30, 

848.      In  September  14,  1864,  Mary  E.  mar- 

ied    William    H.    Hart,  a  dentist,  who   prac- 

liced  his  profession  at   that  time  at  Millerton, 

liut  afterward  moved  to  Hudson,  N.  Y. ,  where 

he  died   March    30,  1868.     She  left  her  sur- 

iving  one  child,  Clarence,  who  died  July  29, 

877.     On  November  21,  1849,  Milton  Brown 

larried    Miss    Phoebe    Holmes,    daughter   of 

'.euben  Holmes,  a   prosperous   farmer  of  Mt. 

leasant,    near    Millerton,    N.   Y.     They  had 

ne  son,  Samuel  Holmes. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  and 

:ared  on  the  ••  Hopkins  farm  ",  helped  in  the 

irm  work  and  attended  the  local  schools  dur- 

ig  his  early  boyhood.     As  he  grew  older  he 

as  given    better    educational    advantages   at 

mania   Seminary,   Cazenovia    Seminary,  the 

roy  Business  College  and    the  Albany  State 

ormal  School;  but  before  entering  the  latter 

;stitution  he   clerked  for  a  short  period  in  a 

|ore   at  Millerton,    and   was  employed  as   a 

bokkeeper  in  a  wholesale   ilourmill  at  Water- 

ird,  N.  Y.      On  leaving  the   Normal  School, 

1876,  he  went  to  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  taught 

r  a  year  and  a   half   in   a  business  college, 

eantime  preparing  himself  for  the  position 

1  a  court  stenographer.     That  calling  he  fol- 

iwed  successfully   for   some  time;  but  in  that 

;  in  all  his  other  enterprises  he  was  actuated 

the  hope  of  finally   entering  the   legal  pro- 

on      His   father  had  always  discouraged 

-  idea,  hoping  that  he  would  settle  down  on 

e  old   homestead.      In    1881  Mr.  Brown  be- 

the  study  of  law  with    Hon.    Milton  A. 

ler,    of  Poughkeepsie,   and  September  14, 

;,  he  was  duly   admitted   to  the  bar.      He 

uinediately  established  himself  in  practice  at 

I'ughkeepsie,  with  a  branch  office  at  Miller- 

and  he  soon   attained  prominence  in  his 

-en  work,  much  important  litigation — civil 

criminal — passing  through  his  hands. 

Mr.  Brown  is  an    able  business    man,  and 

been  engaged  in  several  enterprises,  nota- 

l   the  Millerton  National  Bank,  the  stock  of 

\iich  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  subscribe  for, 

3d  of  whose  board  of  directors  he  was  a  mem- 

'r.     Later   he  was  made  a  director  of   the 

1  rmers'  and  Manufacturers'  National  Bank  of 

5  ughkeepsie.      He  was  also  one  of  the  organ- 

rs  of  the  Hallock  &  Duryee  Fertilizer  Co., 

-lattituck,  L.   I.,  and  of  several  other  cor- 


porations. At  his  father's  death,  in  1881,  he 
succeeded  to  the  homestead,  and  he  afterward 
acquired  the  "  George  R.  Winchell  farm  "  and 
the  "John  D.  Kerley  farm  "  adjoining.  Until 
1890  he  was  extensively  engaged  in  raising  live 
stock,  and  dairying;  but  he  has  since  disposed 
of  all  his  farms,  and  now  gives  his  entire  time 
to  his  profession. 

On  October  30,  1877,  Mr.  Brown  married 
Clara  Lefferts  Duryee,  daughter  of  John 
Wyckoff  Duryee,  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth  T. 
(Verity),  who  resided  near  Mattituck,  L.  I., 
and  were  formerly  of  New  Utrecht,  N.  Y. ; 
both  descended  from  old  families  of  Long 
Island,  the  Duryees  being  descendants  of  the 
famous  Huguenot  family  who  arrived  in  this 
country  in  1675.  For  some  time  after  their 
marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  lived  at  Newark, 
N.  J.,  and  on  the  homestead  near  Millerton; 
but  in  the  fall  of  1887,  they,  with  Mr.  Brown's 
mother,  moved  to  Poughkeepsie,  where  they 
now  reside.  In  politics,  Mr.  Brown  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
board  of  supervisors  of  Dutchess  county  for 
several  years.  In  1893  he  was  the  president 
of  the  Lincoln  Republican  League  Club  of 
Poughkeepsie.  In  1894  he  was  the  first  choice 
of  a  large  number  of  delegates  to  the  Republi- 
can County  Convention,  for  the  office  of  Dis- 
trict Attorney  of  his  county.  In  the  fall  of 
1896,  the  Republican  party  of  the  city  of 
Poughkeepsie  got  into  a  bitter  factional  fight 
over  local  matter,  and  a  strife  between  lead- 
ers. It  was  not  only  carried  into  primaries 
and  conventions,  but  was  also  carried  on  up 
to  and  including  election  day.  Mr.  Brown 
devoted  much  time  to  this  matter,  and  it  is 
generally  conceded  that  it  was  owing  much  to 
his  efforts  that  the  Republican  city  ticket  was 
saved  from  defeat.  He  is  also  regarded  as  an 
able,  instructive,  interesting,  and  amusing 
political  speaker,  and  he  has  done  much  for 
his  party  in  that  direction. 

In  the  summer  of  1896,  in  company  with 
his  wife,  he  spent  his  vacation  in  traveling  ex- 
tensively in  Europe.  His  letters  to  the  pub- 
lic press  received  much  favorable  comment, 
and  showed  him  to  be  a  keen"  observer  and 
possessed  of  the  rare  faculty,  as  a  writer,  of 
being  able  to  give  a  graphic  idea  of  what  he- 
saw  in  a  very  few  words — painting  a  picture 
with  a  very  few  lines.  His  genial  manner, 
industry  and  strong  common  sense  have  sur- 
rounded him  with  many  friends,  clients  and 
well  wishers. 


658 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


JAMES  FINCH,  an  enterprismg  and  success- 
ful merchant  of  Millerton,  Dutchess  county, 
has  shown  in  his  conquest  of  unfavorable 
circumstances  in  early  life  all  those  admirable 
qualities  of  courage  and  perseverance  which 
mark  the  self-made  business  man. 

Caleb  Finch,  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  descended  .from  one  of  four  brothers  of 
the  name,  who  came  to  America  from  England 
some  time  in  the  eighteenth  century.  He  set- 
tled in  the  town  of  Ancram,  Columbia  Co., 
N.  Y. ,  and  followed  blacksmithing  there  dur- 
ing the  rest  of  his  life.  He  was  the  father  of 
six  children,  all  of  whom  lived  to  adult  age, 
namely:  John,  Ebenezer,  James,  Betsey  (Mrs. 
Amos  Bryan),  Alma  (Mrs.  Ambrose  Gray),  and 
Laura  (Mrs.  William  Van  Alstine). 

James  Finch,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Ancram,  Columbia  county, 
on  July  14,  1789,  and  after  the  death  of  their 
father,  he  and  his  brother,  John,  owned  and 
farmed  the  old  homestead  together.  Possessed 
of  good  natural  ability,  he  held  a  prominent 
place  in  the  community.  He  married  Almira 
Card,  who  was  born  in  Ancram  on  October  23, 
1 79 1,  the  daughter  of  Stephen  Card,  who  was 
of  English  origin.  Six  children  were  born  of 
this  marriage,  as  follows:  Betsey,  Septem- 
ber 27,  1812,  married  Eli  Collins;  Bryan, 
April  23,  1814,  married  Mary  Thorne,  daugh- 
ter of  Richard  Thorne,  and  settled  in  Tomp- 
kins county,  where  he  died,  leaving  three  chil- 
dren; Caleb,  November  13,  1816,  located  in 
Tompkins  county,  where  he  died  in  1852; 
Sally,  January  5,  18 19,  married  Smith  Stew- 
art; Elisha,  March  21,  1823,  died  at  the  age 
of  fourteen;  and  James,  our  subject.  The  fa- 
ther of  this  family  died  in  the  latter  part  of 
1827,  and  his  widow  married  William  Tanner. 
She  died  July  6,   1844. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  at  the 
old  Finch  homestead  April  8,  1827,  and  at- 
tended the  district  schools  at  Pulver's  Corners, 
receiving  a  good  English  education.  He  re- 
mained at  home  with  his  step-father  until  the 
age  of  twenty-two,  being  employed  for  one 
year,  and  then  worked  upon  the  farm  of  his 
brother-in-law;  Eli  Collins,  for  two  years.  In 
1853  he  went  to  Dryden,  N.  Y. ,  and  learned 
•the  details  of  the  manufacture  of  fanning  mills, 
working  at  the  trade  for  two  years  and  a  half. 
Returning  to  Mr.  Collins'  farm,  he  worked  there 
for  a  time,  and  later  found  employment  in  the 
Bryant  Fanning  Mill  shop.  In  the  fall  of  1857 
he  began  clerking,  first  for  Herman  W.  Pulver, 


at  Pulver's  Corners,  and  then  for  Harrisc 
Jones,  at  Millerton,  but  his  brother-in-law  d' 
ing  in  1861,  he  was  engaged  for  one  year  i 
looking  after  his  sister's  business  interest: 
On  March  28,  1863,  he  entered  the  gener; 
store  of  E.  W.  Simmons  &  Co.,  as  clerk,  tli 
firm  consisting  of  Mr.  Simmons,  J.  M.  Bene 
diet  and  S.  N.  Jenks.  He  continued  unt 
1877,  when  the  firm  failed,  and  as  he  had  nc 
drawn  his  wages  for  some  time,  he  took  th 
business  in  payment,  In  spite  of  this  somf 
what  inauspicious  beginning,  he  made  a  su( 
cess  of  the  venture,  and  has  given  the  bus 
ness  a  much  larger  scope  than  it  formerly  hac 
adding  to  the  stock  a  large  line  of  furnituri 
It  is  now  one  of  the  largest  houses  in  its  lir 
in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  county.  0 
Monday  night,  August  2,  1880,  his  store  w; 
broken  open  by  three  burglars,  who  bound  ar 
gagged  Mr.  Finch,  and  compelled  him  to  f 
thus  to  his  office  and  open  his  safe,  from  whic 
they  took  about  $1,300.00.  This  was  an  e 
perience  which  but  few  men  could  underf 
with  the  courage  and  "  pluck  "  shown  by  M 
Finch. 

In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  has  i 
ways  taken  a  great  interest  in  the  success 
his   party.      He   has  been  town  clerk  for  t\ 
terms,  and  is  one  of  the  most   earnest  adv 
cates  of  improvement  in  local  affairs.  \ 


¥ALENTINERICKES,  one  of  the  leadij 
mechanics  of  Dutchess  county,  now  ej 

gaged  in  blacksmithing  at  Millbrook,  town  ' 
Washington,  was  born  November  3,  1836,  . 
Hegenheim,  Germany,  a  son  of  Valentine,  S; 
and  Anna  Mary  (Carch)  Rickes,  both  nati\ji 
of  Germany. 

Valentine  Rickes,  Sr. ,  was  born  in  iScj 
and  spent  his  entire  life  in  Germany,  engafp 
in  the  hotel  business,  and  also  as  owner  01 
bakery,  when  enjoying  the  privileges  ofi 
civilian;  in  times  of  trouble,  however,  he  v5 
a  sharpshooter  in  the  German  army, 
married  Anna  Mary  Carch,  one  of  the  th 
children  of  Christian  Carch,  a  native  of  G- 
many,  born  about  1766.  To  Mr  and  )<  ■■ 
Rickes,  Sr. ,  were  born  twelve  children — n 
boys  and  two  girls — who  grew  to  niatur '. 
Four  of  the  ten  boys  were  college  gradua  ', 
and  three  of  the  ten  came  to  America.  '  e 
father  of  this  family  died  in  1867;  the  mot:r 
is  still  living. 


Valentine    Rickes,    the    subject    propei 


i 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


659 


this  sketch,  spent   his  boyhood   in   Germany, 
and  until  the  age  of  fourteen  attended  the  excel- 
lent public  schools  of  that  country.       For  two 
years  he  served  an  apprenticeship  at  the  black- 
smith trade,  under  Peter  Schryver,  learning  all 
the  details   and  mastering  the   art  of  making 
norse  shoes  in  the  finest  style.       Having  com- 
jleted  his  trade  at  the  age  of  si.xteen,  he  came 
:o   America,    in    company    with    his    brother 
Frank,  and  settled    in  Connecticut,  where  for 
wo  years  he  followed  his  trade.       In  1854  or 
55,  he  removed  to  Mechanic,  Dutchess  coun- 
y,  and  here  for  four  years  was  heard  the  busy 
ound  of  his  hammer  and  anvil.      On  February 
,  1858,  he  was  united  in  marriage   with  Miss 
illen  Butler   (an   account   of. whose   ancestry 
vill  be  found  in  the  sketch  of  her  brother,  Ed- 
(lond  Butler),  a  native  of  County  Waterford, 
reland,  born  May  25,   1841.      At   the    age  of 
welve  years  she   was  brought  to   this  country 
y  her  mother,  who  returned   to  Ireland  and 
riere  died,  leaving  her  little  daughter  Ellen  in 
tie  care  of  her  brother   Edmond.     After  at- 
bnding   the    public    schools    of   the  town    of 
IVashington  for  a  couple  of  years,  she  cared 
>r  herself  until  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Rickes, 
)  whom  she  has  been  a  devoted  helpmeet. 
Iter  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rickes  re- 
tained at  Mechanic  for  a    year,  then  for  two 
ears  they  resided  at  Rhinebeck,  at  the  end  of 
hich  time  our  subject  temporarily  laid  aside 
le  cares  of  business,  and  visited  the  old  home 
H  the  Fatherland,  where   still  resided   his  fa- 
ler,  and  several  of  his  brothers  and   sisters. 
ruly  a  happy   reunion   after  eleven   years  of 
)sence.     On   his   return   from    Germany,  he 
id  his  wife  again  settled   in    Mechanic,   re- 
aining  three  years,  then  coming  to  Millbrook, 
here  he  followed  his  trade  for  four  years. 
.At  this   time  Mr.    Rickes    purchased    125 
s  of  fine  land  in  the    town  of    Unionvale, 
1  for  seventeen  years    carried    on    farming; 
•arying  of  this,   he  again  returned   to   Mill- 
00k,  and  for  one  year  followed    his  trade, 
lile  his  wife  carried  on    the    farm.       They 
rchased    a    pleasant    location   in   Millbrook, 
'\    erected    a    neat,     Gothic    house,      also 
ommodious     and     well-arranged    carriage 
vuse,  and  are  now  enjoying   life  on  the  fruits 
<!  their  early  toil.      Mr.  Rickes  still  carries  on 
';  business  with   the  assistance   of  two  men. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rickes  were  born  three  chil- 
li:    (I)  Edward,    who   for  nine    years  has 
II  in  the  employ  of  Swift  &  Co.,  at   Kansas 
V,  and  is  now   their  hog  buyer;  he  married 


Miss  Mamie  Hopson,  daughter  of  Dr.  Hopson, 
of  Kansas  City.  (2)  Charles,  who  is  now 
farming  the  old  homestead  in  the  town  of 
Unionvale;  he  married  Miss  Mamie  Cutler,  of 
that  town,  and  has  one  child — Valentine.  (3) 
Anna  Mary,  the  only  daughter,  who  married 
Cassius  M.  Couch,  of  Poughquag,  and  has 
three  children  —  Bessie,  Edmond  and  Ellen 
Stack. 

Mr.  Rickes  was  the  first  man  to  open  busi- 
ness in  what  is  now  Millbrook.  He  purchased 
the  ground  on  which  the  Catholic  Church  and 
parsonage  now  stands,  and  also  the  ground 
on  which  is  located  the  present  Catholic  ceme- 
tery. The  ground  was  bought  for  $600  per 
acre.  On  this  he  erected  a  large  blacksmith, 
wagon  and  paint  shop,  and  also  the  parsonage 
which  is  now  occupied  by  Rev.  Father  Burns. 
The  lumber  used  in  these  buildings  was  hauled 
by  team  from  Poughkeepsie,  and  there  was 
but  one  other  building  on  the  present  site  of 
Millbrook.  Mr.  Rickes  has  ever  been  one  of 
the  active,  energetic  men  of  the  community, 
and  is  highly  respected  for  his  many  manly 
qualities.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church. 


JOHN  CAMPBELL.  The  family  name  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  identified  for 
~  many  years  with  some  of  the  leading  inter- 
ests of  the  town  of  Northeast,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, and  has  become  associated  with  the  qualities 
which  win  success.  The  first  American  ances- 
tor came  from  Scotland  at  an  early  date,  and 
enlisted  and  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
Robert  Campbell,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  1776,  and  settled  in  the  town 
of  Mt.  Washington,  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.  He 
possessed  excellent  natural  abilities  and  much 
public  spirit,  and  became  quite  prominent  in 
local  affairs.  He  died  in  1853;  his  wife,  Hul- 
dah  Noble,  departed  this  life  in  1841.  They 
had  eight  children:  Harriet,  Stanton  A.,  Anna 
(wife  of  Simion  Pollard),  Robert,  Almira  (wife 
of  William  Vosburgh),  Huldah  (wife  of  Gilbert 
Race),  John,  and  Susan  (wife  of  Jason  Lamson). 
John  Campbell,  Sr. ,  our  subject's  father, 
was  born  at  the  old  home  in  Mt.  Washington, 
June  5,  181 1,  and  his  educational  opportunities 
were  limited  to  an  irregular  attendance  at  the 
schools  of  that  time,  as  he  was  obliged  to  go 
to  work  at  an  early  age.  He  was  ambitious, 
however,  and    possessed    more  than  ordinary 


660 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPUICAL  RECORD. 


ability  and  energy,  and  after  a  iiard  day's  toil 
as  a  collier,  or  at  chopping  wood,  he  would 
spend  his  evenings  in  study.  In  this  way  he 
prepared  himself  for  teaching,  and  in  early 
manhood  he  followed  this  occupation  success- 
fully for  a  number  of  winters.  In  1849  he  be- 
came superintendent  of  the  works  of  the  Salis- 
bury Iron  Co.,  at  Mt.  R'ga,  Dutchess  county, 
having  acquired  an  interest  in  the  business. 
He  continued  this  work  for  nearly  ten  years, 
in  the  meantime  securing  the  entire  control  of 
the  stock,  and  in  1864  he  sold  the  property 
for  $42, 500  to  William  H.  Barnum,  of  Con- 
necticut, who  was  chairman  of  the  National 
Democratic  Committee  at  the  time  of  Cleve- 
land's first  election.  In  his  later  years  Mr. 
Campbell  engaged  in  manufacturing  Salisbury 
pig  iron,  and  farming.  He  was  a  man  of  re- 
markably keen  perceptions  and  sound  business 
judgment,  and  at  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1866,  his  estate  was  inventoried  at  $250,000, 
although  only  $180,000  was  realized.  In  his 
early  years  he  was  a  Whig,  later  a  Republican, 
but  he  was  never  active  in  party  work.  He 
was  prominent,  however,  in  many  public  move- 
ments which  had  no  partisan  bias,  helping  dur- 
ing the  war  to  raise  the  quota  of  men  from  his 
locality.  In  r862  he  was  elected  supervisor 
of  the  town  of  Northeast,  without  opposition, 
having  been  nominated  by  both  parties.  A- 
shrewd  judge  of  human  nature,  he  easily  made 
friends,  whom  his  sterling  qualities  of  character 
retained.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  and  was  not  a  strict  sectarian,  being 
broad  and  liberal  in  his  views.  He  was  mar- 
ried June  27,  1835,  at  Pine  Plains,  to  Miss 
Eliza  Van  Dusen,  a  descendant  of  an  old  Hol- 
land-Dutch family,  and  a  daughter  of  James 
N.  Van  Dusen,  a  farmer  of  Taghkanic,  Colum- 
bia county.  He  had  eight  children,  whose 
names,  with  dates  of  birth,  are  as  follows: 
Sarah  J.,  born  July  i,  1836,  died  March  15, 
1858;  John,  born  February  i,  1838;  James 
May  I,  1840;  Wesley,  June  20,  1842,  died 
March  26,  1891;  Eliza  Ann,  June  23,  1844, 
died  February  15,  1877;  Christina,  March  27, 
1846;  Mary  Ellen,  April  21,  1849;  and  Henry 
D.,  March  18,   1851,  died    December  6,   1875. 


CHARLES  W.  WRIGHT.  Among  the 
'  young  and  energetic  business  men  of 
Dutchess  county,  none  stands  higher  than 
the  subject  of  this  personal  history,  who  is  a 
well-known  general  merchant  of  Clinton   Cor- 


ners. His  birth  occurred  in  the  town  of  Stan- 
ford, Dutchess  county,  on  March  i,  1866,  and 
he  belongs  to  an  old  and  honored  family  of 
the  county — his  grandfather,  Isaac  Wright, 
having  been  born  in  the  same  town. 

The  father,  James  Harvey  Wright,  was 
born  in  that  town  in  18 19,  where  he  attended 
the  district  schools,  and  was  also  a  student  in 
the  Jacob  Willets  school,  in  the  town  of  Wash- 
ington. In  his  native  town  he  wedded  Mary 
Ann  Humphrey,  a  daughter  of  William  D. 
Humphrey,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
six  children:  John  H. ;  Clara,  wife  of  F.  M. 
Talmadge,  of  Yonkers,  N.  Y. ;  Isaac,  de» 
ceased;  Charles  W. ;  Ira;  and  Nettie,  who 
died  in  infancy.  The  entire  married  life  of 
the  father  has  been  passed  upon  his  farm  at 
Bangall,  in  the  town  of  Stanford,  for  which 
he  went  greatly  in  debt,  as  on  starting  in  life 
he  had  very  little  capital  besides  a  pair  of 
willing  hands  and  a  determination  to  make  a 
success  of  his  business  undertakings.  Since 
quite  young  he  has  been  an  active  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church,  and  is  a  sincere  and 
earnest  Christian.  He  has  never  taken  any 
prominent  part, in  political  affairs,  but  does  all 
in  his  power  to  promote  the  welfare  of  his 
town  and  county. 

The  elementary  education  of  Charles  W. 
Wright  was  such  as  the  common  schools  ol 
Bangall  afforded,  and  he  later  became  a  stu- 
dent in  Sackett's  private  school,  in  the  town  0  | 
Stanford.      When   his  school  days  were  oveii 
he  entered  upon  a  business  career  as  clerk  ir; 
the  general  store   of    Mr.    Knickerbocker,  o 
Bangall,  with  whom  he  remained  four  years 
after  which  he  went  to  New  York  City,  when 
he  was  employed  for  about  two  years  in  \h\ 
butter    and    egg    business.      He    then    began 
business  for  himself,   which  he  continued  fo! 
four  years.      In  the  spring   of    1892   he  estab 
lished  his    present  store  at   Clinton  Corners 
where  he  carries  a  full  and   complete  assort 
ment  of  general  merchandise,  and  now  secure 
a  liberal  patronage.      His  stock  is  well  seleci 
ed,  and  he  devotes  his  entire  time  to  his  bus| 
ness    interests,    and  is  meeting  with    a   wel 
deserved  success. 

On  September  5,  1889,  in  the  town  < 
Stanford,  Mr.  Wright  was  married  to  Mitj 
Delia  Stewart,  daughter  of  William  Stewar 
of  that  town,  and  to  them  have  been  boi 
three  children:  Harold  and  Edith,  twin 
born  August  22,  1890;  and  Ethel,  born  A 
gust    19,    1894.      In    his    political    views,    M 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPfflCAL  RECORD. 


661 


i  Wright  is  a  stalwart  Democrat,  and  is  now 
serving  as  postmaster  in  Clinton  Corners,  to 
which  position  he  was  appointed  in  the  winter 
of  1892. 


EDWARD  ODELL,  a  well-known  miller  of 
Smithfield,  Dutchess  county,  where  he 
ihas  engaged  in  business  for  over  thirty  years, 
was  born  March  21,  18 19,  in  the  town  of 
Washington,  Dutchess  county,  and  belongs  to 
a  family  that  was  long  connected  with  the  in- 
terests of  that  township.  There  his  grand- 
father, John  Odell,  was  also  born,  and  worked 
at  his  trade  of  a  hatter.  In  his  family  were 
six  children,  namely:  William,  John,  Jacob, 
Samuel,  Caroline  and  Betsey. 

Samuel  Odell,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
also  a  native  of  the  town  of  Washingt6n,  and 
a  hatter  by  trade.  His  political  support  was 
given  the  Republican  party.  He  married  Per- 
melia  Marshall,  of  Salt  Point,  Dutchess  county, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  six  children: 
Edward;  Lewis,  who  was  killed  while  gallantly 
serving  in  the  Mexican  war;  William,  of  New 
Haven,  Conn.;  Bartlett,  of  Illinois;  Sally 
Ann  (deceased);  and  Elizabeth,  who  married 
lohn  Dodge. 

The  school  days  of  our  subject  were  passed 
n  the  towns  of  Washington   and   Dover,  and 
It  an  early  age  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade 
vith  Samuel  Tompkins  in  the  latter  township, 
vhich  occupation  he  then  followed  for  a  time. 
For  forty  years  he  made  his   home  at  Perry's 
Corners,  town   of   Northeast,   but   since    1870 
las  resided    in   Smithfield,  at  which  time  he 
Purchased  the  grist  and  saw  mill  that  he  has 
since  operated  with   good  success.      Although 
;jow  seventy-six   years  of   age,    he  has  never 
worn  glasses,  and   his  eyesight  seems   better 
than  it  was  at  sixty.      Ever  fond  of  sport,  he 
|S  still  one  of  the  best  marlcsmen  with  the  rifle 
jn  Dutchess  county.      His  career  has  not  been 
marked  by  startling  incidents,  but  his  life  has 
>een  quietly  and  peacefully  passed  amidst  the 
fCenes  of  his  youth,  and  he  has  gained  the  con- 
fidence and   esteem  of   all  with  whom  he  has 
ome  in  contact.      Politically  he  is  an  adherent 
f    the    Republican    party.       At    Rhinebeck, 
)utchess  county,    Mr.  Odell   was  married  to 
liss  Mary  Marquart,  and  they  have  two  sons: 
ohn,  of  Smithfield,  who   married  Ella  Cook- 
L'ham;  and  Frank,  of  Verbank,  who  married 
'^ttie   May  Smith,  and   has  one  child,  Ethel 
I.  Odell. 


JAMES  V.  MEAD,  a  well-known  brick  manu- 
facturer of  Low  Point,  Dutchess  county, 
is  one  of  the  prominent  self-made  men  of 
the  locality,  having  begun  his  business  career 
without  a  cent,  and  gained  by  his  own  efforts 
a  fine  fortune  and  limitless  credit. 

He  is  a  native  of  the  town  of  Cornwall, 
Orange  Co. ,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  first  saw  the  light, 
May  12,  1832,  and  on  both  the  paternal  and 
maternal  sides  is  of  Dutch  descent.  Joseph 
Mead,  his  grandfather,  was  born  in  Holland, 
and  Justice  Mead,  our  subject's  father,  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Van  Duser,  whose  father,  Ben- 
jamin Van  Duser,  was  of  Holland  stock. 
Justice  Mead  settled  in  Cornwall  after  his  mar- 
riage, and  followed  the  carpenter's  trade,  until 
his  death  at  the  age  of  forty,  and  he  and  his 
wife,  who  also  died  many  years  ago,  were  lead- 
ing members  of  the  Methodist  Church  there. 
In  politics,  he  was  a  Democrat.  Our  subject 
was  the  youngest  of  six  children:  Benjamin 
is  a  gardener  in  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y. ;  Eliza- 
beth married  SylveniusCury,  of  Orange  coun- 
ty; Sarah  married  Frederick  Burton,  who  was 
a  machinist  at  Newburg,  N.  Y. ;  Justice  is  a 
farmer  and  brick  manufacturer  in  Amenia; 
and  Hiram  died  in  childhood. 

Mr.  Mead  made  his  entrance  into  business 
life  at  the  early  age  of  thirteen  years,  when 
he  left  his  home  in  Cornwall  to  learn  the  de- 
tails of  the  brick  business  at  Haverstraw,  N. 
Y.  He  proved  himself  so  capable  that,  at 
twenty,  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  a  gang  of 
men  for  the  firm  of  Peck  &  Morris,  and  after 
two  years  in  that  position  he  became  superin- 
tendent for  Michael  Archer,  with  vvhom  he 
remained  three  years.  He  then  went  to  Ver- 
planck's  Point,  N.  Y.,  as  foreman  for  Mr. 
Reed,  and  later  worked  for  a  short  time  for 
Francis  Timony.  Returning  to  Cornwall,  he 
engaged  in  boating  for  a  year,  and  then  be- 
came foreman  for  Mr.  Chambers,  at  New 
Windsor,  Orange  county.  About  1865,  Mr. 
Mead  leased  a  brick  yard  at  Dutchess  Junc- 
tion, and  in  four  years  there  he  made  $24,000. 
He  sold  his  lease  and  purchased  a  farm  near 
Fishkill,  which  he  improved,  building  a  fine 
residence  and  other  structures.  But  farm  life 
was  too  quiet  for  one  of  his  active  tempera- 
ment, and  he  resumed  the  business  of  brick- 
making,  leasing  from  Thomas  Aldrich  the  yards 
at  Low  Point,  which  he  bought  ten  years  la- 
ter. The  property  includes  eighty-two  acres, 
and  the  plant  covers  one  acre.  Mr.  Mead 
turns  out  about   5,000,000  second-class  brick 


662 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


per  year,  disposing  of  them  mainly  in  New 
York  City.  His  fortune  is  now  estimated  at 
$50,000,  and  his  integrity  and  able  manage- 
ment have  won  for  him  a  high  standing  in 
business  circles. 

On  August  4,  1858,  Mr.  Mead  was  united 
in  marriage  with  his  first  wife,  Miss  Mary  A. 
Flood,  a  native  of  Orange  county,  who  died 
March  14,  1884,  leaving  six  children:  Hen- 
rietta married  Mose  Collier;  Alvaretta  is  the 
wife  of  Jerome  Walsh,  a  brick  manufacturer; 
Harry  C.  is  engaged  in  the  same  business  at 
Low  Point;  James  A.  (the  name  given  her  at 
baptism),  the  third  daughter,  married  Frank 
Collier;  and  Thomas  A.  and  Sebastian  are  both 
engaged  in  brick  manufacturing.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1887,  Mr.  Mead  formed  a  second  matri- 
monial union,  his  present  wife  being  Mary 
Knapp,  a  native  of  Putnam  county.  Three 
children  were  born  of  this  marriage:  Ralph, 
Mabel  and  James  V.  Mr.  Mead  has  made  a 
point  of  giving  his  children  a  strict  business 
training.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  and  Mr.  Mead  takes  a 
prominent  part  in  all  movements  of  public  im- 
portance, giving  his  influence  in  political 
affairs  to  the  Republican  party. 


ICHARD  P.  KETCHAM,  prominent 
JrX  among  the  business  men  of  Dutchess 
county  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  has  been 
closely  identified  with  the  history  of  Dover 
Plains,  while  his  name  is  inseparably  connected 
with  its  financial  records.  The  banking  inter- 
ests are  well  represented  in  him,  for  since  1884 
he  has  been  cashier  of  the  Dover  Plains  Na- 
tional Bank.  A  man  of  keen  discrimination 
and  sound  judgment,  his  excellent  manage- 
ment has  brought  to  the  concern  with  which 
he  is  connected  a  high  degree  of  success.  He 
is  a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  born  at  Pough- 
keepsie  in  1848. 

Amos  Piatt  Ketcham,  his  paternal  grand- 
father, was  born  at  Huntington,  Long  Island, 
where  his  early  education  and  training  were  re- 
ceived, and  in  his  younger  years  he  was  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits.  On  September 
9,  181 1,  he  married  Miss  Anna  R.  Piatt,  who 
was  born  in  Huntington,  November  26,  1793, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  five  children: 
Esther,  Alonzo,  Zophar  P.,  Andrew  J.  and 
Rebecca. 

Andrew  J.  Ketcham,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Poughkeepsie  in  18 19.      After 


his  graduation  he  began  his  banking  career  by 
entering  the  Farmers  and  Manufacturers  Bank 
of  Poughkeepsie,  and  after  serving  there  for 
some  years  as  teller   and   bookkeeper   he  was 
called  to  Saugerties,  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  where 
he  organized  the  first  bank  in  that  place,  called 
the  Ulster  Bank.     After   placing   that  institu- 
tion on  a  sound  financial   basis,  he  started  the 
Saugerties  Bank  in  the  same  village,  which  is 
now  a  flourishing  institution.      In  1865  he  left 
Saugerties  and  came  to  Dover  Plains,  N.  Y., 
as  cashier  of  the  Dover  Plains  National  Bank, 
where  he  served  for  twenty  years.      From  thi- 
position   he   resigned  in    1885,  and  moved  tc 
Poughkeepsie,  N.   Y. ,  his  native  city.     Aftei 
his  retirement  from  active   work  for  one  yea: 
he  was  called  to  the  presidency  of  the  Pough 
keepsie  Bank,  in  which  capacity  he  served  fo 
two  years,  leaving  the   institution  one  of  th< 
soundest  in  the  State.      He  is  now  living  in  re 
tirement  in  the  city  of  his  birth  and  busines 
successes.      He    was    twice    married,    his  firs 
union  being  with  Miss  Sarah  Anderson,  daugh 
ter  of  Capt.  N.  L.  Anderson,  of  Rondout,  Ul 
ster  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  and  to  them   were  born  si; 
children:     Andrew,  Richard   P.,  Annie,  Gold| 
ing,    John  and  Gaston.     The  mother  of  thesn 
children  died  in  1874,  and  sometime  afterwanj 
Mr.  Ketcham  married  Miss  Frances  Cowles,  oj 
Stamford,  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  to  then i 
has  been  born   a  son,  Charles,  who,  after  hij 
graduation    from     the    River    View    Militar 
Academy,  entered  the  First  National  Bank  0 
Poughkeepsie,  where  he  is  now  one  of  its  bes 
bookkeepers. 

Richard  P.  Ketcham,  the  subject  proper  c 
this  review,   was  educated   in    the    Claveracj 
Military  Academy,  and  after  graduating  froiij 
that  institution  became  bookkeeper  in  the  In:j 
porters  and  Traders  Bank  of   New  York  Cit} 
In  their  employ  he  continued  for  some  time,  n 
signing  in  order  to  accept  his  present  positio 
with  the  Dover  Plains  National  Bank.     Du) 
ing  his  residence  here  he  has  attested  his  em 
nent  and  pronounced  ability  as  a  financier,  an 
he  is  probably  equally  prominent  in  social  lift 
In  1873  Mr.    Ketcham  married  Mrs.  Mary  I 
(Dutcher)  Peters,  widow  of  George  H.  Peter 
of  Pleasant  Valley,  N.  Y. ,  daughter  of  Egbej 
and    Maria    Dutcher,   of  Dover  Plains.     Or 
child  graces  this   union,  Grace  Dutcher,  wl 
was  born  at  Dover  Plains,  and  was  educatt 
at  Linden  Hall,  Poughkeepsie. 

The  Dutcher  family  is   of    Holland  origi 
but  for  many   generations    its    representativ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


663 


lave  resided  in  Dutchess  county,  where 
Christopher  Dutcher,  the  great-great-grand- 
ather  of  Mrs.  Ketcham  was  born  September 
■.g,  1747.  He  acquired  his  education  in  the 
ommon  schools  of  the  county,  and  later  de- 
oted  his  time  to  agricultural  pursuits,  his  farm 
jomprising  what  is  now  the  village  of  Dover 
Plains.  He  married  Mary  Belding,  who  was 
|)orn  in  175 1,  and  they  had  seven  children, 
Vhose  names  and  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows: 
Christopher,  1768;  Mary,  1769;  Jane,  1770; 
,awrence,  1773;  Silas,  1776;  Elizabeth,  1779; 
nd  Cornelius,  1789. 

Lawrence  Dutcher,  the  fourth  child  of  that 
imily,  was  the  great-grandfather  of  Mrs. 
letcham.  He  was  born  on  the  old  homestead 
t  Dover  Plains,  and  was  educated  in  the 
;hools  of  the  township.  He  succeeded  to  the 
irm  of  his  father,  which  he  conducted  until 
is  death.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with 
(iss  Elizabeth  Nase,  in  the  same  place,  and 
iiey  had  two  children:  Belding,  born  August 
,  1793;  and  Rachel,  born  in  1791.  After  the 
eath  of  his  wife  he  wedded  Miss  Mary  Waldo, 
!nd  they  became  the  parents  of  eleven  chil- 
ren,  whose  names  and  dates  of  birth  were  as 
)llows:  Rensselaer,  1795;  Silas,  1797;  T. 
v^aldo,  1798;  Cornelius  N.,  1802;  Jerome, 
S04;  Elizabeth,  1806;  Hannah,  1809;  Jane, 
5ii;Armelia,  181 3;  Maria,  1 8 1 5 ;  and  Charles, 
S17. 

Belding  Dutcher,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
etcham,  obtained  a  good  education  in  the 
ammon  schools,  and  remained  upon  the  fam- 
y  homestead  during  his  entire  life.  He  took 
uite  a  prominent  part  in  military  affairs,  and 
;came  major  in  the  State  militia.  He  was 
lined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Maria  Hurd,  and 
)  them  were  born  five  children:  Egbert, 
lien  H.,  Elizabeth  J.,  William  H.  and 
homas  N. 

Egbert  Dutcher,  the  oldest  of  this  family, 
as  born  at  Dover  Plains,  Dutchess  county, 
1 8 14,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
the  neighborhood.  After  reaching  manhood 
5  became  quite  prominent  in  the  Masonic 
rder.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
aria  Soule,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Abigail 
oule,  farming  people  of  the  town  of  Dover. 
r.  Dutcher  continued  to  live  upon  a  part  of 
le  old  homestead,  where  were  born  his  two 
liidren:  Mary  E. ,  the  wife  of  our  subject; 
id  Walter  E. ,  who  was  educated  in  the 
azenovia  Seminary,  at  Cazenovia,  Madison 
o->  N.  Y.     He  became   connected   with  the 


banking  firm  of  Opdyke  &  Co.,  of  New  York, 
where  he  held  the  position  of  bookkeeper  for 
three  years,  or  until  his  death  in  1874. 


MICHOLAS  ALLEN,  a  prominent  and  in- 
fluential  citizen  of  the  village  of  Hibernia, 

town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess  county,  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Washington,  that  county,  June 
14,  1840.  His  father,  William  N.  Allen,  was 
a  native  of  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutch- 
ess county,  born  April  6,  1806,  and  died  in 
1885,  and  was  the  second  in  order  of  birth  in 
the  family  of  four  children  born  to  Nicholas 
and  Mary  (Carpenter)  Allen.  Grandfather 
Allen  was  also  born  in  Pleasant  Valley  town, 
about  1750,  and  died  in  i860;  his  wife  died 
some  three  years  before  him.  Many  years  of 
his  life  were  passed  in  the  operation  of  his 
farm,  in  his  native  town,  and  he  also  lived  in 
the  town  of  Washington  on  a  farm  which  he 
owned  there.  He  was  one  of  the  heroes  of 
the  Revolutionary  war,  and  a  consistent  Chris- 
tian, a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

In  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  William 
N.  Allen  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Helen  Ketcham,  a  daughter  of  Israel  Ketcham, 
who  was  born  September  5,  1802,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  five  children:  Ann 
Maria;  Sarah,  wife  of  Charles  Smith;  Nicholas; 
James  Henry  and  John  W.  After  his  mar- 
riage the  father  removed  to  a  farm  in  the  town 
of  Washington,  near  Hibernia,  which  he  con- 
tinued to  cultivate  and  improve  during  the 
rest  of  his  life,  his  death  occurring  in  1885; 
his  wife  had  passed  away  in  1866. 

Nicholas  Allen,  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch,  acquired  a  substantial  and  practical 
education  in  the  schools  of  the  town  of  Wash- 
ington, one  of  his  teachers  being  Judge  Guern- 
sey, and  was  well  fitted  for  his  subsequent  ca- 
reer. After  completing  his  school  life,  he 
assisted  his  father  in  the  management  of  the 
farm,  and  while  still  living  upon  the  old  home- 
stead his  marriage  with  Mrs.  Sarah  (Ketcham) 
Justus  took  place,  the  ceremony  being  per- 
formed February  24,  1881,  in  the  town  of 
Clinton.  She  was  born  September  12,  1839, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Eli  Ketcham,  a  miller  by 
occupation,  who  first  saw  the  light  in  the  town 
of  Pleasant  Valley,  March  14,  1809.  He  was 
married  July  12,  1835,  and  two  children  were 
born  to  them.  He  died  March  2,  1890,  his 
wife  on  January  20,  1894.     They  were  mem- 


664 


COXMEMORATIVE  BTOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


bers  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Pleasant 
Valley.  Mrs.  Allen's  grandfather,  Israel 
Ketchani,  born  about  1770,  came  from  Long 
Island  to  Pleasant  Valley,  where  his  children 
were  born.  He  married  a  Miss  De  Long, 
and  died  about  1844,  his  wife  a  few  years 
later.  By  her  first  husband,  Howard  Justus, 
Mrs.  Nicholas  Allen  had  a  daughter,  Carrie, 
now  the  wife  of  Francis  H.  Harris,  of  New 
York. 

For  one  year  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Allen 
continued  upon  the  old  homestead,  and  then 
removed  to  Clinton  Corners,  where  a  year 
later  he  bought  his  present  comfortable  resi- 
dence. For  the  past  thirteen  years  he  has  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  where 
he  has  served  as  pathmaster  several  terms,  and 
is  prominently  connected  with  the  upbuilding 
and  development  of  the  locality.  The  im- 
provements upon  his  property  are  of  a  substan- 
tial character,  and  everything  manifests  the 
thrift  and  prosperity  of  an  intelligent  farmer. 
He  and  his  wife  are  devoted  and  efficient  mem- 
bers of  the  Reformed  Church  of  Bloomvale.and 
his  straight-forward,  upright  life  has  gained 
him  many  friends. 


C».\LINTON  W.  CLAPP,  a  substantial  citizen 
J/  of  Wappingers  Falls,  Dutchess  county,  was 
born  in  that  thriving  village  May  28,   1831. 

Tracing  back  the  genealogy  of  the  Clapp 
family,  which  name  was  at  that  time  spelled 
Clapa,  we  find  that  Thomas,  our  subject's 
great-great-great-grandfather,  was  born  in  Wey- 
mouth, England,  in  1597.  He  was  a  Puritan, 
and  came  to  America  July  24,  1633,  settling 
at  Dorchester,  Mass.  His  eldest  son,  Thomas, 
was  born  March  15,  1639,  at  Weymouth.  He 
settled  at  Dedham,  Mass.,  and  was  the  ances- 
tor of  all  theClappsof  that  locality.  He  mar- 
ried Abagail  Clapp,  and  had  three  children: 
Increase,  Samuel  and  Eleazer. 

Samuel,  the  great-grandfather  of  Clinton 
W. ,  married  Elizabeth  Fisher,  and  reared  a 
family  of  six  children:  Samuel,  David,  Jona- 
than, Elizabeth,  Abiel  and  Eleazer.  The  lat- 
ter, who  was  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
married  a  widow,  Mrs.  Gushee,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Sylvia  Forbes.  They  settled  at  U.x- 
bridge,  Mass.,  where  their  three  children  were 
born.  These  were  Abiel,  born  in  1785,  and 
who  became  a  merchant,  living  first  in  Rhode 
Island  and  later  in  Maine;  Forbes,  born  1787, 


and  was  a  soap  and  candle  manufacturer  in 
New  York  City;  Benjamin,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject. Eleazer  Clapp,  with  a  number  of  his  rela- 
tives, took  an  active  part  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  he  was  a  member  of  the  First  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  in  1774. 

Benjamin  Clapp  was  reared  to  manhood  in 
Massachusetts,  and  was  the  first  person  that 
put  up  and  operated  cotton  machinery  in  Low- 
ell, Mass.;  but  at  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812 
he  went   to   New  York   City  and  learned  the 
trade  of  a  cabinet  maker.      Later  he  went  into 
the  manufacture  of  looking-glasses,  and  even 
after  his  removal  to  Wappingers  Falls,  in  1827, 
continued  to  carry  on  his  business  in  New  York. 
At  Wappingers   Falls   he   built   a   sawmill,  in 
which  he  made  mahogany  veneerings,  operat- 
ing this  mill  until  1844,  although  in  the  mean- 
time he  had  sold  out  his  business  in  the  city. 
In  the  latter  year  he  started  the  Frankendalf 
cotton    factory,  which    was    in    operation   foi 
many  years.      He  owned  the  principal  watei 
power   and    privileges    at   Wappingers    Falls 
which  in  1865  he  sold,  together  with  the  fac- 
tory,  to  the  Garner  Company,  who  are  now 
conducting  the  extensive  print  works  there,  ant 
are  reputed  to  be  worth  eighty  million  dollars 
After  disposing  of  his   property  Mr.  Clapp  re 
tired  from   active  business.      He  was  marriet 
November    i,  1821,   to  Ruth    Houghton,  \vh( 
was  born  at  Milton,  Mass.,  December  12,  1794 
Her   father,  Jason    H.  Houghton,  was  also  ; 
native  of   Milton,  and   followed  farming  on  ;: 
place  which   belonged   in  the   family  for  ove 
200  years.      He  had  fourteen  children,  of  whicji 
our  subject's  mother  was  the  third  in  order  oj 
birth.      The  family  came   from  England  aboul 
1632.  [ 

To  Benjamin  Clapp  and  his  wife  four  chili 
dren  were  born,  of  whom  the  following  recor: 
is  given:  George  H.,  born  September  9,  l822j 
married  Anna  Beckwith,  of  Dutchess  county; 
a    daughter    of    Col.    Nathaniel    Beckwith,  c] 
Rhinebeck;  George  H.  died  October  11,  1877 
leaving   two    children,    Edward    and    Emma| 
Jason   F.,  born  September  16,  1825,  manie| 
Elizabeth  Houghton,  and  died  March  19,  i88(' 
Three  children  were  born  to  them,  Ruth  E.; 
Arthur  and  Jason  H.     Warren  B.,  born  Sep | 
tember  13,   1827,  married  Elizabeth  Ayre,  anj 
two  children  were  born  to  them,  George  H| 
and  Warren  A.      He  was  a   Baptist  ministeii 
and  died  September  27,  1865. 

Clinton    W.    Clapp,    the   subject   of    th 
sketch,  and  the  youngest  of  the  family,   live 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


665 


at  home  until  fourteen  years  of  age,   when  he 
went  to  New  York  City,  entering  the  Univers- 
ity, and  later  the  New  York  City  Mechanical 
Institute,    finishing   his     studies    there    when 
twenty-one  years  old.      He   then    returned  to 
Wappingers  Falls,  and  worked  at  the  carpen- 
ter's trade  for  seven  years.      Subsequently  he 
turned  his  attention  to    fruit   growing,    but   is 
now  retired.      Mr.  Clapp  has  a  great  talent  for 
mechanics,  and  is  quite  a  genius  in  that  line. 
He   has  built  steamboats   and   various  other 
'.hings  requiring    a    knowledge  of  mechanics, 
ind  in  his  delightful  home  was  constructed  a 
arge  pipe  organ,  which  is  run  bj'  a  gas  engine. 
On  May  23,   1854,  Mr.  Clapp  was  married 
o  Miss  Catherine  Samons,   who  was  born  in 
Drange  county,  of  Dutch  extraction.    She  bore 
lim  si.\  children,  and  died  January  13,  1871. 
These  children  were   Benjamin   F. ,    born  Au- 
gust 27,  1855;  George  M.,  born  June  13,  1858; 
vVarren  H.,  born  December  27,  1859,  and  died 
vlarch  15,  1880;  Charles  L.,  born  October  28, 
"'12;  Walter  C,  April  30,  1865:  Jason  E.,  June 
1869.    Mr.  Clapp  was  again  married  October 
1 87 1,    taking    for    his    wife    Miss    Nettie 
-.royd,  a  native  of  England  and  a  daughter  of 
^enry   and   Margaret    Ecroyd.      No    children 
vera  born  of  this   marriage.      Mrs.  Clapp  de- 
larted  this  life  April    17,  1889.      On   July  i, 
890,  Mr.  Clapp  was  married  to  Miss  Charlotte 
■I.  Crosier,  who  was  born  in  Wappingers  Falls, 
larch  21,  1862.      Her  parents  were  Isaac  and 
'iary  fColej    Crosier,    the  former  of   English 
nd  the  latter  of  Dutch  descent.      Two  chil- 
ren  have  come  to  our  subject  and  his  present 
/ife:     Irving,  born  May  14,  1891;  and  Rhoda 
I.,  born  May    13,  1894,    died    December  30, 
896. 

Mr.  Clapp  was  originally  a  Whig,  becom- 
ig  a  Republican  on  the  formation  of  that 
arty.  He  has  taken  an  active  part  in  local 
clitics,  and  has  held  a  number  of  offices.  He 
'as  twice  elected  assessor  of  the  town  of  Wap- 
inger;  was  for  two  years  trustee  of  the  village; 
)r  two  terms  was  supervisor  of  the  township, 
as  justice  of  the  peace  for  some  time,  and 
as  recently  been  appointed  again  to  the  latter 
osition.  He  has  been  president  of  the 
imetery  association,  and  is  a  director  of  the 
rinnell  Library  Association.  He  is  one  of 
le  leading  citizens  of  Wappingers  Falls,  and 
a  public-spirited  man  who  always  has  the 
2st  interests  of  his  community  at  heart.  He 
popular  with  all  classes,  and  no  family  is 
ore  highly  esteemed. 


PEDRO  SWEET,  a  leading  merchant  of 
Bull's  Head,  Dutchess  county,  and  one  of 

the  well-known  citizens  of  the  town  of  Clinton, 
was  born  December  25,  1840,  in  Columbia 
county,  where  his  ancestors  on  both  sides  had 
been  residents  for  several  generations. 

Maj.  Rowland  Sweet,  his  great-grandfather, 
a  farmer  by  occupation,  was  one  of  the  early 
settlers  there,  and  his  grandfather,  Luke  Sweet, 
also  a  farmer,  passed  his  life  there.  Jerome 
Sweet,  our  subject's  father,  grew  to  manhood 
under  the  care  of  his  grandfather,  and  received 
an  excellent  education  in  the  schools  of  Co- 
lumbia county.  He  married  Catherine  Bath- 
rick,  whose  grandfather,  Jacob  Bathrick,  was 
a  pioneer  settler  of  that  locality,  and  lived 
there  until  the  good  old  age  of  100  years.  He 
married  Hannah  Kilmer,  and  their  son,  Peter, 
born  in  the  town  of  Galatin,  Columbia  coun- 
ty, married  Maria  Marks,  and  moved  to  Dutch- 
ess county,  settling  upon  a  farm  in  the  town  of 
Milan.  They  had  five  children:  Catherine, 
David  (deceased),  William  (deceased),  Eliza- 
beth, now  living  in  New  York  City,  and  Fran- 
ces, who  resides  at  Catskill.  A  few  years 
after  their  marriage  Jerome  Sweet  and  his  wife 
came  to  the  town  of  Milan,  where  he  bought  a 
farm,  which  he  cultivated  until  his  death  in 
1884.  He  was  unusually  well-informed,  a 
Democrat  in  politics,  and  he  was  a  self-made 
man  in  the  fullest  sense  of  the  term.  Mrs. 
Sweet  still  survives  him,  and  is  living  at  La- 
fayetteville.  They  reared  a  family  of  eight 
children:  Pedro,  Clement,  Franklin,  Egbert, 
Emily,  William,  Hattie  and  Mary,  all  still  liv- 
ing but  the  youngest. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  only  a  boy 
when  his  parents  came  to  Dutchess  county, 
and  his  education  was  obtained  in  the  district 
schools  of  the  town  of  Milan.  His  first  em- 
ployment was  on  a  farm  at  $3.00  a  month. 
After  working  Morgan  L.  Traver's  farm,  in  ttie 
town  of  Clinton,  for  three  years,  he  engaged 
in  the  butcher  business  at  Clinton  Hollow,  and 
two  years  later  he  opened  a  general  store 
there,  which  he  conducted  two  years.  He 
then  went  to  Lafayette,  and  after  clerking  for 
Hiram  Bentley  for  a  year  he  bought  him  out, 
and  continued  the  business  three  years.  The 
year  following  he  spent  in  Cokertown,  in  the 
same  business,  and  then,  on  March  21,  1883, 
he  opened  his  present  store  at  Bull's  Head, 
where  he  carries  a  full  line  of  general  merchan- 
dise and  runs  a  wagon  to  supply  his  extensive 
country  trade.      He   has   been  twice    married, 


666 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


first  to  Miss  Alice  G.  Green,  daughter  of  Am- 
brose Green,  of  the  town  of  Milan.  Three 
children  were  born  of  this  union:  Annie  (de- 
ceased), Melvin  J.  and  Addie.  Mr.  Sweet's 
first  wife  died  in  1879,  and  he  has  since  mar- 
ried Miss  Ella  D.  Denny,  of  the  town  of  Milan, 
by  whom  he  has  a  son  named  Grant  Sweet. 

A  stanch  Republican  in  political  faith,  Mr. 
Sweet  has  taken  an  active  part  in  local  mat- 
ters wherever  he  has  lived,  and  has  been  town 
clerk  of  Milan  for  two  years,  also  a  school 
trustee,  and  in  the  spring  of  1894  he  was 
elected  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Clinton,  and 
is  still  serving  as  such,  his  term  being  from 
1894  to  1898.  He  is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A. 
M.,  Warren  Lodge  No.  32,  at  Schultzville, 
having  joined  January  18,  1894. 


WILLIAM  HALL,  a  well-known  resident 
of  Dover  Plains,  Dutchess  county,  was 

born  in  1823,  in  Unionvale,  Dutchess  county, 
where  his  family  has  been  prominent  for  many 
years.  Mr.  Hall  received  his  early  education 
there,  and  in  the  town  of  Washington,  later 
learning  the  carpenter's  trade,' which  he  fol- 
lowed for  nearly  forty-five  years.  He  was 
also  engaged  at  one  time  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Dover  Furnace,  and  was  postmaster 
there.  A  stanch  Republican,  he  has  always 
taken  gre^t  interest  in  politics,  and  has  held 
several  town  offices,  including  those  of  com- 
missioner and  collector.  In  1862  he  enlisted 
in  Company  I,  150th  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  under  Col. 
J.  H.  Ketcham,  and  took  part  in  many  im- 
portant engagements.  His  experience  at 
Gettysburg  was  especially  striking,  as  his 
division  was  instrumental  in  saving  the  day. 
Other  battles  were  those  of  Dallas,  Resaca, 
Gulp's  farm,  and  Peach  Tree  Creek,  and  he 
also  joined  in  Sherman's  march  to  the  sea. 
He  was  taken  ill,  and  spent  some  time  in  a 
hospital;  but  he  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Washington,  D. 
C.  In  1852  Mr.  Hall  married  Miss  Priscilla 
Cutter,  a  lady  of  excellent  mental  gifts  and 
great  force  of  character.  Her  parents,  Calvin 
and  Keziah  Cutter,  were  prominent  residents 
of  the  town  of  Dover.  Four  children  were  born 
of  this  union:  Helen  A.,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  thirty  years;  Harriet  A. ,  who  died  at  twenty- 
five;  Calvin,  who  resides  in  Dover  Plains;  and 
David,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Calvin  Hall,  the  only  survivor  of  this  fam- 
ily  of    children,    was  born  in  Dover   Plains, 


Dutchess  county,  March  12,  1857,  and  wa 
educated  in  the  schools  of  that  place.  Hi 
lost  the  use  of  his  lower  limbs  through  sick 
ness,  but  about  two  years  ago  he  estabiishec 
himself  in  business  in  his  native  place,  and  ha 
met  with  well-deserved  success.  He  and  hi: 
mother  bought  the  home  in  which  they  nov 
reside. 

The  Hall  family  was  known   in  Rhode  Is 
land  at  an  early  date,  and  William  Hall,  oui 
subject's  grandfather,  came  from  that  State  t( 
Dutchess  county  to  locate  in  Unionvale,  when 
he  purchased  a  farm    and  spent  the  greate 
portion  of  his  life.     He  married  Miss  Vale,  0 
that  town,  and  reared  a  familyof  nine  children 
John,  Israel,  William  and  Isaac  are  mentione- 
below;  Gedding  and  Benjamin  never  married 
Katie  was  the  wife  of  Mr.  Duncan;  Ruth  mar 
ried   Mr.    Deyo;     and    Abbie    married    Isaa 
Titus.    John  Hall  was  a  farmer  by  occupation 
and  married   Miss  Mary  Waite,   by  whom  h 
had  children,  as  follows:     Lavine  (Mrs.   Smiti 
Titus),    Kittie   (Mrs.    Haws),    Rebecca,  Hele 
(Mrs.   Joe  Benson),  Ruth,  Abbie,  Phrebe  (wh 
died  at  an  early  age),  S.  Emily,  Pelina,  Piatt 
John  J.,  and  Fred  D.      Israel   Hall  was  also 
farmer.     He  married  Miss  Katie  Albrow,  an 
had    children     as    follows:   Leonard    marrie 
(first)  Miss  Lawson,  and  (second)   Miss  Hurd 
Draper  married  Miss  Strong;  Rutser  married 
lady    of   the    same   name;     Richard     marrie 
Miss  Vale;    Amy  remained  single;    Mary  hi 
came  the  wife  of  Mr.  Townsend;   Helen  ma 
ried  (first)  Mr.    Bowdish,    and  (second)    M 
Northrup;  Margaret  never  married,  and  Ar 
married    Mr.    Wheeler.      A    majority    of  tl 
above  are  now  living,  at  advanced  ages  and 
different  parts  of  the  country.     William  He 
was  a  well-known  teacher.      He  married  R 
becca  Waite,  and  had  four  children;   Mary  A 
Joseph,  George  and  William  H. 

Isaac  Hall,  our  subject's  father,    was  bo 
at  the   old   homestead  at  Unionvale  in   179 
and  was  educated  in  that  town,  later  engagi ; 
in  farming.      He  married  Miss  Mary  Rodgers 
daughter  of  William  Rodgers,  a  leading  farm 
of  the  same   locality,   and    his   wife  Eleanc 
Eleven  children  were  born  of  this  marriage, 
whom  one  died  in  infancy,     (i)  Abbie  marrif 
Gilbert  Rozell,  and  had  nine  children:     Th(( 
Charles,  DeWitt,  Silas,  Richard,  Rhoda,  Jaij, 
Mary  and  Lillie.      (2)   Daniel  E.,  a  carpenr 
by  trade,  married  Jane  Duncan,  and   has  f  J 
children:     Mary,    Samuel,    Esac,    Kate,    ap 
Jane.      (3)  Cordelia,  born  in  1818,  never  nit- 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


667 


ied.    (4)  William  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

5)  Eleanor  married  Leonard  Davis.  (6)  Ange- 
iine  married  David  Tallman.  (7)  Lewis  mar- 
lied  Sarah  Southvvick.  (8)  Hannah  married 
isaac  Palmer.  (9)  Joseph  married  Mary  J. 
3uncan.      (10)  Phoebe  married  Robert  Butts. 


E\BENEZER  H.  STURGES,  a  wide-awake 
'/  and    thorough-going     business     man    of 

)over,    is  a  representative  of    the    hardware 
rade  of  that  place,  and  is  also  a  tinsmith.    He 
iiarried   Miss  Adaline   S.   Cook,    whose  birth 
ccurred  at    Saugerties,    Ulster    Co.,    N.    Y., 
lUgust    I,    1845,   and   they  have  become  the 
arents    of    four    children:     (1)    Edward    H., 
orn  in  Danbury,  Conn.,   February  11,  1866, 
ecured  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Dover, 
nd  is  now  employed  as  ticket  agent  on  the 
,'ew  York  Central  &  Hudson  River  railroad, 
ie  married  Miss  Jennie  Benson,  daughter  of 
lOshua    Benson,    of    Dover    Plains,    Dutchess 
ounty.     (2)  Theodore,   born  in    Dover,    No- 
ember    24,    1867,    was    there    educated    and 
|;arned  the  tin  and  hardware  business;  is  now 
pcated  at  West  Cornwall,  Conn.,  in  the  tin 
Ind   hardware    business.       He    married    Miss 
[elen  L.  Cartwright,  of  that'  place,  and  they 
ow   have   two    children,    Lawrence    C.    and 
ertrude  C.      (3)  Ida  S.,  born  at  Dover,  Oc- 
'ber3i,  1869,  was  the  wife  of  Frank  Hosmer, 
1  employe  of  the  Harlem  Railroad  Company 
White  Plains,  and  they  had  two   children, 
illie    M.,    who    died    in   infancy;    and    Earl. 
rs.  Hosmer  departed  this  life  July  14,  1894. 
;  Lillie  E.,  born  at  Dover,  March  31,  1872, 
the  wife  of  Benjamin  Hoag,  son  of  Cornwell 
joag,  of  South  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  and 
')w  an  employe  in  the  condensed  milk  manu- 
ctory  at  Brooklyn,   N.   Y.     They  have  one 
lild,  Jerome  E. 

Edward  Cook,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
rs.  Sturges,  was  a  native  of  Somersetshire, 
England,  where  he  received  a  common-school 
ucation,  and  there  devoted  his  entire  life  to 
ricultural  pursuits.  He  married  Miss  Ann 
nes,  and  to  them  were  born  twelve  children: 
;,  Emma,  William,  Sylvester,  Ann,  James, 
jiiry,  Walter,  Winter,  Jessie,  Solomon  and 
;njamin. 

,  Benjamin  Cook,  the  last  named,  was  the 
Ither  of  Mrs.  Sturges.  He  was  born  in  Som- 
feet,  England,  April  11,  1810,  and  his  educa- 
'nal  privileges  were  such  as  the  schools  of 
native   country   afforded.     At  the  age  of 


twenty  years  he  crossed  the  Atlantic,  locating 
first  in  Canada,  but  afterward  made  his  home 
in  Montgomery  and  Orange  counties,  N.  Y. , 
where  he  engaged  in  the  butcher  business  and 
in  farming.  His  political  support  was  ever 
given  the  Republican  party,  but  he  never  as- 
pired to  public  office.  After  coming  to  this 
country  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Susan  O.  Booth,  who  was  born  at  Hampton- 
burg,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  September  9,  181 3. 
Her  grandfather,  William  Booth,  was  a  native 
of  the  same  county,  where  he  followed  farm- 
ing. He  married  Miss  Lydia  Booth,  a  cousin, 
and  to  them  were  born  five  children:  George, 
who  married  a  MissTuttle;  Charles,  who  mar- 
ried Philadelphia  Haines;  Annie,  who  married 
David  Haines;  Mary,  who  remained  single; 
and  Sarah,  who  married  William  Conning. 
Charles  Booth,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Cook,  was 
also  born  in  Orange  county,  and  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation.  He  wedded  Philadelphia 
Haines,  a  daughter  of  David  and  Temperance 
Haines,  agriculturists  of  Orange  county,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  eight  children: 
William,  George  and  Temperance,  who  all 
died  unmarried;  Sarah,  who  first  married  a 
Mr.  Vanansdoll,  and  after  his  death  wedded  a 
Mr.    Doxie;     Charles,   who   wedded    Mary  E. 

;    Jackson;    Susan,  who   died  in  infancy; 

and  Susan,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Sturges. 

Eight  children  blessed  the  union  of  Ben- 
jamin Cook  and  Susan  O.  Booth:  (i)  George 
E.,  born  July  15,  1835,  at  Flatlands.  Long 
Island,  where  he  secured  his  education,  en- 
gaged in  the  drug  business  at  Port  Jervis,  N. 
Y.  He  married  Miss  Catharine  Bloomer,  and 
they  had  si.x  children — Willie,  who  died  when 
a  babe;  Ida;  James;  Nellie,  wife  of  John  Lit- 
tle; George  and  Eva.  (2)  Susan,  born  on 
Long  Island,  January  11,  1837,  was  three 
times  married,  her  first  husband  being  Mr. 
Elliott,  who  survived  his  marriage  only  si.x 
months.  By  her  second  husband,  a  Mr. 
White,  she  had  two  children — Annie  and  Lula. 
After  his  death  she  married  Mr.  Connor,  and 
to  them  was  born  a  daughter — Catharine  V. 
(3)  James  A.,  born  on  Long  Island,  Septem- 
ber 20,  1838,  was  a  hatter  by  trade;  he  wed- 
ded Miss  Mary  Morse,  of  Massachusetts,  by 
whom  he  had  one  child — Helen  L.  (4)  Mary 
Ellen,  born  at  Hunter,  Greene  county,  June  28, 
1 84 1,  never  married.  (5)  Harvey  H.,  born 
at  Hunter,  Greene  county,  June  20,  1843,  was 
never  married;  he  engaged  in  the  hat  business 
at   Danbury,   Conn.      (6)  Adaline   S.,  wife  of 


663 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


our  subject,  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth.  (7) 
William  H.,  born  May  23,  1848,  at  Saugerties, 
wedded  Mary  A.  Parmer.  (8)  Annie  E.,  born 
October  26,  1850,  at  Saugerties,  first  married 
Edward  H.  Abbott,  and  after  his  death  wed- 
ded Seth  Sturges. 


'^jiypILLIAM  J.  DEDRICK,  a  well-known 
mm.  and  highly  respected  resident  of  Ame- 
nia  Union,  Dutchess  count}',  was  born  at  Cox- 
sackie,  Greene  Co.,  N.  Y.,  February  20,  1814, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  F.  Dedrick,  a  native  of 
the  same  county,  while  the  birth  of  his  pa- 
ternal grandfather  occurred  in  Holland.  The 
father  prepared  for  the  ministry  of  the  Re- 
formed Dutch  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  mem- 
ber, but,  on  account  of  an  impediment  in  his 
speech,  never  engaged  in  preaching.  He  con- 
ducted a  book  siore  at  Co.xsackie  throughout 
the  greater  part  of  his  life.  In  politics  he  was 
a  Federalist.  He  married  Fannie  Judson, 
whose  death  occurred  November  7,  1831,  at 
the  age  of  forty-six  years,  and  he  did  not  long 
survive  her,  dying  August  22,  1832,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-two  years.  In  their  family  were  seven 
children,  whose  names  and  dates  of  birth  are 
as  follows:  F.  C,  May  14,  1808;  Jane  A., 
October  25,  1809;  Catherine,  September  27, 
1811;  William  J.,  February  20,  1814;  T.  S., 
March  6,  1818;  Harriet,  April  i,  1820;  and  J. 
F.,  November  28,  1827. 

At  the  age  of  twenty  years  our  subject  left 
Coxsackie,  going  to  Poughkeepsie,  N.Y.,  where 
he  began  the  study  of  dentistry  with  his  brother- 
in-law,  Dr.  Buck,  and  continued  to  follow  that 
profession  until  1865,  since  which  time  he  has 
engaged  in  handling  pictures  and  frames.  It 
was  in  1841  that  he  removed  to  Amenia  Union, 
where  he  has  since  resided. 

At  Cornwall,  Conn.,  in  February,  1848, 
Mr.  Dedrick  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mariette  Bonney,  daughter  of  Stephen  and 
Anna  (Stone)  Bonney.  They  have  no  chil- 
dren of  their  own,  but  adopted  a  daughter, 
Rosa  Loper,  who  died  in  1867,  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  years. 

Since  the  time  that  Horace  Greeley  ran  for 
the  Presidency,  Mr.  Dedrick  has  been  a  corre- 
spondent of  the  Amenia  Tiincs.  He  was  first 
a  Whig  in  politics,  electioneering  in  the  Will- 
iam H.  Harrison  campaign  for  three  months, 
and  since  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party  has  been  one  of  its   most  earnest  advo- 


cates,   taking    a    prominent    part    in    politic 
affairs.      On  September  6,  1856,  he  received 
license  as  local  preacher  in  the  Methodist  Epi 
copal  Church,  in   which   service  he    has  sin* 
engaged,  and   is  the  oldest  living  member 
the  Church   of   that  denomination  at  Amer 
Union.      In  all   the  walks  of  life  he  takes 
his  guide  the  precepts  of  the  scriptures,  and 
foremost  in  any  movement  for    the   religio 
advancement  of  the  community.      He  was  tl 
originator  and  a  prominent  helper  of  the  An- 
nia  Union  Lyceum  during  the   eleven  years 
its  existence,  and  for  twenty-seven  success! 
years  he  has  been   elected  superintendent 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Sunday-school. 


JONATHAN  DICKINSON  was  born  in  L 
colnshire,  England,  and  educated  in  Yo 
shire,   from  which  county  he  came  at  j 
early  age  to  the  United  States,  and  for  a  nu  | 
ber  of  years  lived  in  Indiana,  enduring  all   \ 
rigors  of  pioneer  life. 

Leaving  Indiana,  Mr.  Dickinson  remo\i 
to  New  York  City  and  became  a  comniercj; 
traveler  for  English  hardware,  of  which  linct 
business  he  made  a  success,  and  followed! 
for  twelve  years.  In  1863  he  took  up 
abode  in  Norfolk,  Va.,  and  was  extensix 
engaged  in  furnishing  the  government  wn 
hardware,  machinery,  belting,  building  mai- 
rial,  etc.,  by  contract.  At  the  close  of  t 
war  he  moved  to  Newark.  N.  J.,  where  K 
carried -on  large  manufacturing  interests  u  iJ 
the  latter  part  of  1875,  when  he  embarketo 
the  real-estate  business  in  Stanfordville,  DuU- 
ess  Co.,  N.  Y.  In  1877  he  came  to  Poui- 
keepsie,  where  he  has  continued  to  deal  in  :»1 
estate  to  the  present  day.  1 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  city  d 
county  have  experienced  some  exceedingly  i- 
pressing  periods,  Mr.  Dickinson,  by  close  )- 
plication,  continued  to  maintain  such  a  stejy 
business  that  he  felt  himself  called  upon  top- 
cate  where  he  now  is — in  the  central  por[n 
of  the  city,  and  on  the  main  street,  whenu 
would  be  easily  accessible  to  his  numerous  a- 
trons.  He  has  successfully  negotiated  sonioi 
the  largest  transactions  in  real  estate  at 
have  taken  place  for  a  number  of  year  in 
Poughkeepsie.  Mr.  Dickinson  believes  thi  in 
a  city  of  that  size  a  man  cannot  deal  in  al 
estate,  fire  and  life  insurance,  etc.,  and  nM 
a  decided  success  of  each;  consequently  he  as 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


669 


'lade  the  sale  and  exchange  of  real  estate  his 
pecialty,  to  which  fact  his  success  in  that  line 
;  probably  due.  [The  foregoing  is  taken  from 
he  Souvenir  Edition  of   T/ie  Eagle,  issued  in 

1889.] 

In  1 856, in  Westbury,  L.  I.,  Mr.  Dickinson 

i;as  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Anna  Willis 

fmith,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Willis) 

'mith,    one  of   the  oldest    families    on  Long 

sland.     Thomas  Willis,  her  grandfather,  was 

stanch  Quaker,    and   at   the    division  of  the 

licksite  and  Regular  Church,  he  was  disowned 

y  the  body  following  Elias  Hicks  at  Jericho, 

le  home   of   Elias    Hicks,    and    T.  Willis,  a 

linister,  for  over  thirty  years  drove  twice  each 

eek  past  the   Jericho    meeting-house,  three 

liles  farther  to  the  Westbury    meeting-house 

f  Orthodo.x   Friends,    to    worship.     Thomas 

/illis  was  born  and  died  on  the  farm  that  was 

2eded  to     his    predecessors    by     the    British 

overnment.     The    English  soldiers  occupied 

lie  house  during  the  Revolution,  allowing  the 

le  family  a  few    rooms,  when    they  occupied 

ong  Island. 

The  Dickinson  family  originated  in  York- 

ire,   England,    and  were    all   Quakers   from 

middle  of  the   seventeenth    century.     At 

-e  rise  of  Quakerism  in  the   time  of  George 

ox.  John   Dickinson  came   to    America,  and 

r  a    time    preached,    traveling    from    North 

arolina  to  New   England,  whence  he  started 

return  to  England,  but  the  vessel  he  was  on 

as  lost,  and  he  was  never  heard  from  again. 

he  old  Dickinson  homestead   in    Yorkshire, 

ngland  (still  standing)  is  built  of  stone,  and 

'er  the  door  is   a  plate   bearing  the  family 

:ime  "John   Dickinson,    1736."     The  house 

I  now  occupied  by  Simeon  Dickinson,  a  cousin 

'    Mr.   Dickinson.     The   grandfather  of  our 

bject  lived  and  died  in  England,  in  the  same 

luse  wherein  he  was  born;  he   was  a  weaver 

■  trade. 

Jonathan  Dickinson,  father  of  our  subject, 

id  by  occupation  a    merchant,  in    his  native 

nd  married  Alice  Hunt,  a  lady  of  means  and 

cial  standing  in  Lincolnshire,  England.      He 

•ed  in  1840,  at  the  age  of   fifty-three  years, 

hd  after  his  death  the  widowed  mother  came 

America, where  she  died  in  Indiana,  in  1863, 

i  sixty-five  years.     She  had  thirteen  chil- 

en,  of  whom  eight  grew  to  maturity,  and  all 

*me  to  America,  our  subject    being   the  only 

living  in  the  East. 

To    Mr.   and    Mrs.    Dickinson    have    been 
•rn  two  children:     Mary  Alice,   residing   in 


Poughkeepsie,  and  Jonathan,  Jr.,  a  graduate 
of  Haverford  College,  and  is  B.  A.  and  M.  A., 
now  teaching  in  Oakwood  Seminary,  Union 
Springs,  New  York. 


riLO  FOLLETT   WINCHESTER,   one 

of  the  self-made    men    and    iniiuential 

citizens  of  Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  com- 
menced to  "paddle  his  own  canoe  "  at  an 
early  age,  and  is  now  a  well-to-do  and  success- 
ful merchant,  whose  property  has  been  accu- 
mulated by  his  own  perseverance  and  untiring 
labors. 

Mr.  Winchester  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Amenia,  October  i,  1823,  and  is  a  grandson  of 
Amariah  Winchester,  whose  birth  occurred  at 
New  London,  Conn.,  February  13,  1753. 
The  father  of  the  latter  was  a  native  of  Brook- 
line,  Mass.  The  boyhood  and  youth  of  the 
grandfather  were  passed  at  New  London, 
where  he  learned  the  hatter's  trade,  and  on 
reaching  man's  estate  he  was  married  at  Kent, 
Conn.,  to  Mary  Follett,  who  was  born  Decem- 
ber 4,  1759.  and  died  June  9,  1832.  In  their 
family  were  seven  children,  all  now  deceased: 
Henry,  Milo,  David,  Mary,  Lucy,  Myra  and 
Betsy.  During  the  Revolutionary  war  the 
grandfather  was  a  faithful  soldier  of  the  Con- 
tinental army.  It  was  in  1781  that  he  came 
to  Dutchess  county  and  purchased  a  farm  at 
Hitchcocks  Corners,  in  the  town  of  Amenia, 
where  his  death  occurred  March  26,  1842. 
He  engaged  in  the  hatter's  business  until  1827, 
in  connection  with  which  he  also  carried  on 
farming,  and  was  one  of  the  prominent  men  of 
the  community. 

Milo  Winchester,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  November 
30,  1788,  and  with  his  father  learned  the  hat- 
ter's trade.  On  January  24,  18 10,  he  was 
married  to  Betsey  Pray,  who  was  born  Octo- 
ber 7,  1791,  and  died  January  13,  1872.  In 
their  family  were  five  children,  namely:  Asa 
H.,  born  October  26,  18 10,  died  May  29, 
1819;  Julia  M.,  born  August  19,  1813,  mar- 
ried Charles  Wattles;  Joanna,  born  June  21, 
1 8 16,  married  Seeley  Brown,  and  died  De- 
cember 28,  1866;  Eliza,  born  December  23, 
1819,  married  Amariah  Hitchcock  on  Decem- 
ber 26.  1840,  and  died  April  27,  1892;  Abby, 
born  December  22,  1821,  first  wedded  L.  P. 
Lockwood,  and  after  his  death  Sidney  Thomp- 
son, and  died  January  19,  1858;  and  Milo  F., 
of  this  sketch,    is  the  youngest.     In  1830  the 


670 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


father  removed  to  New  York  City,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business  until  1834,  at 
which  time  he  returned  to  Amenia  Union,  and 
bought  a  hotel,  where  he  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  dying  February  5,  1861.  Frater- 
nally, he  was  connected  with  the  Masonic 
Order  at  Amenia  Union,  and  in  politics  was 
first  a  Whig  and  later  a  Republican. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  Milo  Follett  Win- 
chester were  principally  passed  at  Amenia 
Union,  where  he  attended  the  district  schools, 
and  later  pursued  his  studies  in  a  select  school 
on  Seventh  street,  in  New  York  City.  He  began 
his  business  life  as  a  clerk  in  a  store  at  Great 
Barrington,  Mass.,  was  next  with  Bowne  & 
Trowbridge,  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ,  after 
which  he  clerked  at  Amenia  Union,  and  subse- 
quently filled  similar  positions  at  Dover  Plains, 
Dutchess  county,  and  at  Kent,  Conn.  In 
April,  1847,  he  purchased  the  store  of  Judah 
Swift,  at  South  Amenia,  which  he  has  since 
successfully  conducted,  and  has  also  efficiently 
served  as  postmaster  since  1849.  In  the  town 
of  Washington,  Dutchess  county,  on  October 
13,  1847,  Mr.  Winchester  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  T.  Nase,  daughter  of  Henry  I.  Nase,  of 
Amenia,  and  to  them  were  born  four  children: 
Martha,  who  died  in  infancy;  Henry  Nase, 
who  married  Frances  Sleight,  a  granddaughter 
of  Peter  R.  Sleight  (a  prominent  man  of  the 
town  of  Lagrange,  Dutchess  county),  and  they 
have  two  children — Milo  F.  and  Henry  F. ; 
Frank,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine;  and  Syd- 
ney Thompson,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
eight. 

In  politics  Mr.  Winchester  is  identified 
with  the  Republican  party,  giving  his  influence 
and  vote  to  secure  the  passage  of  its  measures 
and  the  election  of  its  candidates,  and  socially 
holds  membership  in  Amenia  Lodge  No.  672, 
F.  &  A.  M.  He  has  won  the  respect  and  con- 
fidence of  all  with  whom  he  has  been  associ- 
ated,either  in  business  or  m  private  life,  and  he 
is  justly  entitled  to  a  position  among  the  fore- 
most men  of  Dutchess  county.  From  1854 
until  1892  he  capably  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  for  several  terms  has  been  super- 
visor of  his  town. 


G\EORGE  STEVENSON,  a  well-known 
_ '  citizen  of  Wappingers  Falls,  Dutchess 
county,  was  born  in  County  Armagh,  Ireland, 
February  16,  1839. 

John  Stevenson,  the  father  of  our  subject. 


was  born  near  Fifeshire,  Scotland,  in  1798 
He  learned  the  business  of  making  linen  cloth 
which  he  followed  in  his  native  land  for  manj 
years.  He  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Duncan 
who  was  born  in  Aberdeen,  Scotland,  in  1800 
Soon  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Stevenson  wen 
to  Ireland,  where  he  carried  on  his  business 
and  where  his  family  of  children  were  born 
Those  now  living  are:  Jane,  Thomas,  John 
Mary,  Sarah,  Rachael,  Margaret  and  George 
John  is  employed  in  the  print  works  in  Wap 
pingers  Falls,  and  Thomas  is  a  clerk  in  a  stor 
in  the  same  place.  On  May  12,  1848,  th 
father  came  to  America,  the  family  followin 
him  one  year  later.  He  settled  in  Wappingei 
Falls,  and  found  employment  in  the  cotto 
mills  there.  His  death  took  place  in  186J 
and  that  of  his  wife  in  1862.  They  were  mem 
bers  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  in  his  pc 
litical  views  Mr.  Stevenson  was  in  sympath 
with  the  Republican  party. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  seve 
years  old  when  his  parents  came  to  this  coui 
try,  and  his  entire  life  since  that  time  has  bee 
spent  at  Wappingers  Falls.  He  learned  th 
trades  of  tinner  and  plumber  when  a  youn 
man,  and,  with  the  exception  of  five  yeai 
when  he  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  business 
has  carried  on  business  in  that  line.  Of  lat 
years  he  has  added  hardware  of  all  kinds  t 
his  other  departments,  and  has  an  extensi\ 
trade  in  the  various  implements  and  accessorif 
used  by  plumbers,  tinners  and  builders.  H 
is  a  man  of  fine  business  ability,  and  has  bee 
successful  in  his  enterprises.  He  is  progres: 
ive  in  his  ideas,  and  is  a  public-spirited  citize 
who  stands  high  in  the  estimation  of  all  wb 
know  him.      He  is  a  strong  Republican. 

In  1866  Mr.  Stevenson  was  married  t 
Sarah  J.  Barlow,  a  sister  of  James  R.  Barlov 
whose  sketch  will  be  found  elsewhere.  The 
have  two  children,  John  and  Fred. 


GEORGE  VINCENT,  a  leading  carpenti 
^_  r  of  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  count; 
was  there  born  on  October  3,  1859,  and  sin< 
laying  aside  his  school  books  has  always  \vork({ 
at  his  trade,  in   which    he   is  quite   proficien| 
Socially,  he  is  connected  with  the  Knights 
Labor;      He   married    Addie    Vincent,  a  fir 
cousin,  who  was  born  in  Dover,  in  1862,  ai 
they  have  become  the  parents  of  five  childre 
Angle,  born  December  16,  1880;  Joseph,  boi 
December  6,  1882;   William,   born    June  2 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


671 


r^ 


1888;   George,   born   November  2,   1891;   and 
N'aomi,  born  February  2,  1894. 

Allen  Vincent,  the  great-grandfather  of  both 
Dur  subject  and  his  wife,  was  born  in  the  town 
Df  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  and  was  there  ed- 
ucated in  the  common  schools,  and  followed 
farming  on  attaining  man's  estate.  In  his  fam- 
ly  were  three  children:  Jonathan,  the  grand- 
lather;  Ann,  who  became  the  wife  of  Leonard 
arey;  and  Leonard,  who  married  Ann  Carey. 
Jonathan  Vincent  was  also  born,  reared 
md  educated  in  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess 
:ounty,  and  followed  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ng.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  Duncan, 
V  whom  he  had  seven  children. 

( I J  George,  the  eldest  son  in  the  Vincent 
amily,  was  born  in  Dover,  and  followed  the 
)CCupation  of  shoemaking.  He  first  married 
iliss  Amanda  Coojey,  by  whom  he  had  one 
laughter — ^Mary.  For  his  second  \yife  he 
hose  Malissa  Sterey,  and  they  had  four  chil- 
Iren,  but  all  died  in  infancy.  His  third  wife 
lore  the  maiden  name  of  Miss  Caroline  Slo- 
um,  and  to  them  was  born  a  daughter — 
ieorgiana. 

(2)    William,   the    father   of    our  subject, 

t'as  the  next.      His  birth  occurred   on  Chest- 

ut  Ridge,  and  in  the  common  schools  of  the 

)wn  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county,    he  acquired 

is  education.      He    learned  the  shoemaker's 

iade,  at  which  he  worked   for  twenty  years, 

ut  in  later  life  he  devoted  his  time  to  agri- 

iltural  pursuits.     He  was  a  strong  Republic- 

11  in  politics,  but  cared   nothing  for  political 

referment.     .As  a  helpmeet  on  life's  journey 

e  chose  Miss  Martha  Eggleston,   daughter  of 

'avid    and     Martha    (Burhance)     Eggleston, 

irming   people  of  Dover    Plains.     They  be- 

ame  the  parents    of  six    children,  of  whom 

ur  subject  is  the  eldest.      David  J.    died    at 

le   age  of    ten  years.     Jennie,    born  in    the 

pwn  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county,   August  29, 

p68,  is  the  wife  of  John  Hawley,  a  farmer  of 

liat  town,   and  they    have  three    children — 

jlaude,  Edgar  and  Lewis.      Leon   L.   died  at 

"?  age  of  twenty-six  years.      Hattie,   born  in 

\er,  Dutchess  county,  April  14,  1874,  mar- 

1    William   Humestoii,  a  carpenter  of   Do- 

1,    and    they    have    had    three    children  — 

pffrey  and  two  others,   all   of  whom  died   in 

fancy.     Ruth  G.,  born  in  the    town  of  Do- 

:r,  Dutchess  county,  March  i,    1877,    is  the 

'fe  of  Fred  De  Garmo,  a  carpenter  of  Dover, 

whom  she  has  one  child,    Anna  L.     Pre- 

ijs  to  her  marriage    with  the  father  of  our 


subject,  Mrs.  Vincent  was  the  wife  of  Charles 
Coates,  a  brakeman  on  the  Harlem  railroad, 
and  to  them  were  born  two  children:  Will- 
iam, who  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years; 
and  Emma,  who  married  Edwin  Carey,  and 
has  four  children — Charles,  Eva,  Ernest  and 
Millard. 

(3)  Allen,  the  father  of  Mrs.  George  Vin- 
cent, is  the  third  of  the  family.  Like  his 
brother,  he  also  was  born,  educated,  and  fol- 
lowed farming  in  the  town  of  Dover.  On 
reaching  manhood  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Stage,  daughter  of  David  and  Mary  A. 
(Colby)  Stage,  agriculturists  of  the  town  of 
Dover.  Six  children  were  born  to  them,  as 
follows:  Ida  is  the  wife  of  John  H.  Ensign,  and 
they  have  one  child,  John  O.  Addie,  the  wife 
of  our  subject,  is  next  in  order  of  birth.  Martha 
married  William  Brown,  a  farmer  in  the  town 
of  Dover,  and  they  have  two  children,  Allen 
and  Frank.  Augusta  is  the  wife  of  Fred  Wil- 
cox, a  farmer  of  Dover.  Daisy  is  at  home. 
Mary  is  the  wife  of  Martin  Wilcox,  a  farmer 
of  Dover,  and  has  three  children,  William, 
Julia  and  John. 

(4)  Isaac,  the  fourth  son  of  Jonathan  and 
Martha  (Duncan)  Vincent,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Dover,  where,  on  reaching  manhood, 
he  engaged  in  farming.  He  first  married  Miss 
Jane  A.  Beers,  by  whom  he  had  six  children, 
only  two  of  whom  —  Stephen  and  Hattie  — 
lived,  but  Stephen  also  is  now  deceased.  His 
second  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Imogene 
Butts. 

(5)  Edgar,  the  fifth  son,  never  married. 

(6)  Eliza  was  twice  married,  her  first  union 
being  with  Harvey  Wheeler,  a  farmer  of  Dover, 
and  to  them  were  born  four  children:  Mary, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Nicholas  Edmonds; 
Phoebe,  who  remained  single;  William,  who 
married  Mary  Sheldon;  and  Elizabeth,  who 
married  George  Brown.  After  the  death  of 
her  first  husband  Mrs.  Wheeler  became  the 
wife  of  William  Colby,  and  they  had  four 
children:  Loretta,  who  married  Frank  Talla- 
day;  George  A.;  Katie,  who  married  Peter 
Chase;  and  Myron,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-five  years.  .' 

(7)  Amanda  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Oscar  Wilcox,  a  laborer  of  Dover,  and  they 
had  a  family  of  eleven  children:  Lewis,  who 
married  Lydia  Clarkson;  Justina,  who  married 
Oscar  Fiero;  Mary,  who  wedded  Arthur  Som- 
mers;  Martin,  who  married  Mary  Vincent; 
Nettie,  who  married  George  Tompkins;  Lydia, 


672 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


who  married  William  Forbes;  Dora,  who  mar- 
ried Earl  Yale;  Fred,  who  married  Augusta 
Vincent;  Oscar,  who  remained  single;  and 
Nellie  and  Amanda,  who  died  in  infancy. 


J-f  EDGAR  MOITH,  M.  D.,  of  Fishkill, 
Dutchess  county,  has  a  record  as  a  prac- 
titioner which  does  him  honor,  and  has 
gained  for  him  a  reputation  as  one  of  the  most 
talented  and  successful  members  of  the  med- 
ical fraternity  in  his  section.  He  is  a  native 
of  Fishkill,  where  he  was  born  September  22, 
1855,  and  is  of  an  excellent  German  family. 
His  father,  August  T.  Moith,  was  born  in 
the  Fatherland,  at  Wiesbaden,  Prussia,  and 
came  to  America  when  a  young  man,  locating 
at  Fishkill  without  delay,  and  engaging  in  the 
drug  business  in  a  small  way,  in  partnership 
with  Cornelius  Van  Vliet.  Two  years  later 
the  firm  was  dissolved,  Mr.  Moith  becoming 
sole  proprietor,  and  he  continued  the  business 
alone  until  his  death,  which  occurred  Novem- 
ber 15,  1885.  For  some  time  he  and  Mr. 
Mapes  were  the  only  druggists  between  Fish- 
kill village  and  the  river.  Mr.  Moith  had  ac- 
quired a  knowledge  of  chemistry  and  surgery 
in  his  native  land,  and  being  naturally  of  a 
scientific  turn  of  mind,  he  made  many  experi- 
ments, some  of  them  producing  valuable  re- 
sults. He  invented  a  process  for  making 
sponges  elastic  for  beds,  cushions,  etc.,  and 
secured  a  patent,  but  it  was  literally  stolen 
from  him,  and  the  fortune  ($100,000)  derived 
from  the  idea  went  to  others.  Another  illus- 
tration of  his  skill  was  given  in  his  analysis  of 
a  sample  of  oil  obtained  from  a  swamp  near 
Fishkill.  He  proved  that  the  oil  was  not  in  a 
crude  state,  but  was  doubtless  a  portion  of  the 
contents  of  a  barrel  of  refined  oil  which  had 
been  emptied  into  the  swamp  in  furtherance  of 
a  scheme  to  sell  the  property  at  a  high  figure. 
He  married  Miss  Caroline  Wade,  a  native  of 
Blooming  Grove,  now  known  as  Washington- 
ville.  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Colvin  and  Malinda  (Moore)  Wade,  who 
were  probably  of  English  origin.  Ten  chil- 
dren were  born  of  this  union,  our  subject  be- 
ing the  eldest.  (2)  Theodore  is  now  deputy 
sheriff  at  Fishkill;  (3)  Ferdinand  is  a  dentist 
at  the  same  place;  (4)  Bertha  married  Charles 
Schlagel,  a  druggist  in  New  York  City;  (5) 
Emma  is  a  student  in  the  College  of  Pharmacy 
in  New  York;  (6)  Ivanhoe  is  a  machinist  at 
St.  Louis;    (7)   Lenna  died  at  the  age  of  nine 


years;  (8)  Blanche  married  Jacob  Schlagel,  ; 
mechanical  designer  in  New  York,  and  ; 
brother  of  her  sister  Bertha's  husband;  th< 
two  last  children  died  in  infancy. 

Dr.  Moith's  boyhood  was  spent  in  Fishkill, 
and  as  a  clerk   for  his  father  he  began  at  ai 
early    age    to  gather  information    concerning 
drugs  which  has  been  of  great  practical  valu( 
to  him.      Greek  and  Latin  were  learned  undei 
the  tuition  of  J.  Hervey  Cook,  of  Fishkill.  Ir 
1876  he  began  a  course  of  professional  studi 
at  the  College    of   Physicians    and   Surgeons 
New  York,  and  completed  it  in   1879,  receiv 
ing  the  degree  of  M.  D.      His  class  containe< 
a  number  of  men  who   have  achieved   promi 
nencein  the  profession,  and  Dr.  Moith's  stand 
ing  among  them  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  h 
gained  one  of  the  few  coveted  positions  ope; 
to  graduates   for  practical, experience,    bein 
appointed  assistant   physician  of  the  out-doc 
department  of  Bellevue  Hospital.      The  know! 
edge  there  gained  could  hardly  be  equalled  i 
many  years  of  ordinary   practice.      In  Marcl 
1879,  he  returned  to   Fishkill  and  engaged  i 
professional  work,  and    his    success  has  bee 
most    gratifying.    He  has  had  913   accouche 
ments,  twenty-eight   cases  of  twins   and  tw 
of  triplets.      He  is   president   of   medical  sta 
of  General    Hospital,    town    of    Fishkill.     .-; 
present  he  is  medical  examiner  of  a  number  1; 
life-insurance  companies,  including  the  Nortlj 
western,   the  Mutual   Reserve,    National  Li 
Insurance    Company,    Vermont,     the    Unic 
Central,     the      Industrial     Benefit,     and    tl 
Metropolitan.     Since  1894  he  has  been  heali 
officer  of  Fishkill  Landing,  and  he  is  also  phy.- 
cian  to  the  order  of  Foresters,  all  these  dutie 
in  addition  to  the  claims  of  his  private  practic 
making  him  one  of  the  busiest  of  men.     Fro 
1883    to  1886,  he   held    the  office  of   corone 
but  although  he   is  a  stanch  Republican  ai 
influential,  he  is  not    a  politician  or  an  oflfii 
seeker.      Financially,  the  Doctor  ranks  amo' 
the  substantial  citizens  of  the  town,    and 
owns  nine  houses  with  other  valuable  proper! 
He    is   a    stockholder    of    the    First  Natioi 
Bank,  Matteawan,    N.   Y.      He  is  a  friend 
public  improvements,  and   can   always  be  (• 
pended  upon  to  assist  a   worthy  cause.     < 
September  22,  1880,  the  Doctor  was  marrii 
to  Miss  Grace  E.  Collins,  daughter  of  Gilb : 
and  Susan  Collins,  of  Carthage  Landing,  al 
a  descendant  of  an  old  Dutchess  county  fa- 
ily.     No  children  blessed  this  union.     Soci- 
ly,  Dr.  Moith  is  a  Freemason,    and   he  is  a  > 


^  &  ^^-^^,/g, 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


(573 


in  honorary  member  of  the  Tompkins  Hose 
"o. ,  in  which  for  five  years  he  served  as  an 
ctive  member. 


''^\YRUS  PERKINS,  a  resident  of  the  town 
jb^  of  Unionvale,  is  a  well-known  business 
pan  of  Dutchess  county,  where  he  follows 
arming,  and  also  the  trade  of  a  mason.  He 
;  an  honored  and  representative  citizen  of  the 
ommunity,  public-spirited  and  enterprising, 
nd  has  the  high  regard  of  his  fellow-men. 
le  married  Miss  Sarah  Barmore,  who  was 
orn  in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  Dutchess  county, 
1  1847,  and  there  obtained  her  education  in 
le  public  schools.  They  have  a  son,  John 
..,  who  was  born  in  1881. 

Henry  Barmore,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
erkins,  was  a  native  of  Westchester  county, 
.  Y.  By  his  marriage  with  Bethany  Car- 
jnter,  he  had  thirteen  children:  Clark  C, 
bigail,  Stephen,  Anor,  Lydia,  Annie,  Susan, 
enry,  Philip,  Mary,  Sarah,  Elizabeth  and 
imes. 

]  Clark  Barmore  was  also  born  in  Westches- 
\x  county,  and  was  united  in  marriage  with 
)iss  Mary  C.  Alley,  daughter  of  James  Alley. 
"heir  family  consisted  of  nine  children: 
noebe,  who  married  Cromoline  Patterson; 
ilward,  who  married  Lucy  Wanzer;  Stephen, 
no  died  unmarried;  Caroline,  who  married 
ndrew  Wanzer;  Eliza  M.,  who  died  unmar- 
id;  Sarah,  wife  of  Cyrus  Perkins,  whose 
I  me  introduces  this  sketch;  John,  who  mar- 
id  Josephine  Phillips;  Charles,  who  died  un- 
Eirried;  and  Mary  Adelia,  who  became  the 
vfe  of  Gilbert  Downing. 


1^  ARRET  DU  BOIS,  now  living  in  the  vil- 
H  lage  of  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  is  a 
virthy  representative  of  a  family  who  left 
I;ance  and  Holland  during  religious  persecu- 
t  n,  and  sought  homes  here  in  the  midst  of  the 
videmess,  where  they  would  have  to  encoun- 
t'  all  dangers  and  privations  incident  to  life 
i^a  new  country,  inhabited  only  by  the  savage 
rj  men  and  wild  animals.  This  they  did  in  or- 
V  that  they  might  worship  God  as  their  con- 
"  nee  dictated.     The  founder  of  the  family  in 

New  World  was  Jacques  Du  Bois,  who  was 
t>rn  in  Leyden,  Holland,  and  married  Miss 
'^■rronne   Bentyn,  of  the  same  place.     They 

ed  a  family  of  eight  children:     Marie  (i), 


Jacques,  Marie  (2),  Jean,  Anne,  Jehan,  Pierre 
and  Christian. 

Pierre  Du  Bois  came  with  the  family  to 
America  in  1675,  and  located  in  Wiltwyck, 
Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.,  but  grew  to  manhood  in 
Kingston,  that  county,  where  he  married 
Jannetje  Burhans,  October  12,  1697.  In  1707 
they  came  to  Dutchess  county,  locating  in  the 
town  of  Fishkill,  about  three  and  a  half  miles 
east  of  the  village  of  that  name.  Here  he  se- 
cured a  tract  of  land,  and  lived  with  his  family. 
His  eldest  son  was  born  at  Kingston,  but  the 
births  of  the  others  all  occurred  in  Dutchess 
county.  They  were  as  follows:  Petronella 
(i),  Johannes  (i).  Jacobus,  Christiaan,  Jona- 
than, Peter,  Abraham,  Johannes  (2),  Helena, 
Elizabeth  and  Petronella  (2).  The  fourth 
child,  Christiaan  Du  Bois,  married  Nelltje 
Van  Vliet,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
three  children:  Jannetje,  Elizabeth  and  Chris- 
tiaan. The  last  named  was  born  June  13, 
1746,  and  was  married  in  1768  to  Helena  Van- 
Voorhis,  by  whom  he  had  these  children: 
Coert,  Henry,  Abraham,  Garret,  John,  Eliza- 
beth, Catherine  and  Cornelius. 

Garret  Du  Bois,  the  fourth  son,  was  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject.  He  married  Han- 
nah Cooper,  and  located  upon  a  farm  near 
Johnsville,  now  in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill, 
where  they  reared  their  family  of  three  chil- 
dren: Maria,  who  married  Peter  T.  Montfort, 
father  of  Peter  V.  W.  Montfort,  of  the  town 
of  Wappinger,  Dutchess  county;  Eliza,  who 
married  Peter  Fowler,  a  farmer  of  Orange 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  Charles  L. 

Charles  L.  Du  Bois  was  born  in  1799,  on 
the  home  farm  in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  married  Cath- 
erine Hasbrouck,  whose  birth  occurred  in  the 
same  town  in  1800.  Her  father,  Tunis  Has- 
brouck, belonged  to  the  same  family  as  those 
of  the  name  in  Ulster  county,  N.  Y.  Upon 
their  marriage  they  lived  upon  the  farm  near 
Johnsville,  where  were  born  their  four  children: 
Jane  E. ,  who  married  Augustus  Bartow,  now 
a  resident  of  Hackensack,  N.  J.;  Mary,  de- 
ceased wife  of  Isaac  Sherwood,  a  farmer  of 
the  town  of  Fishkill;  Garret,  of  this  review, 
and  Hasbrouck,  a  minister  of  a  Reformed 
Dutch  Church  in  New  York  City.  Throughout 
life  the  father  carried  on  farming,  and  died  in 
January,  1878;  the  mother  departed  this  life  in 
1880.  Both  were  sincere  members  of  the  Re- 
formed Dutch  Church,  and  he  was  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics. 


«74 


CnMMEHrORATIVE  BIOORAPUWAL  RECORD. 


Upon  the  home  farm  Garret  Du  Bois  was 
born,  September  27,  1828,  and  during  his  boy- 
hood attended  the  district  schools  in  the  neigh- 
borhood. He  was,  later,  a  student  at  Andover, 
Mass.,  and  completed  his  education  at  College 
Hill,  in  Poughkeepsie.  In  September,  i860, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  Ida  Van- 
Wyck,  who  was  born  in  the  village  of  Fish- 
kill,  where  the  birth  of  her  father,  John  C. 
Van  Wyck,  also  occurred.  He  was  a  son  of 
Cornelius  Van  Wyck,  and  a  farmer  and  mer- 
chant by  occupation.  Upon  their  marriage 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Du  Bois  located  upon  their 
present  farm,  and  there  their  three  children 
were  born:  Charles,  a  farmer,  who  wedded 
Ethel  Moore,  of  New  York  City;  John  V.  W., 
now  engaged  in  business  in  New  York  City;  and 
Kate  W.  The  wife  and  mother  was  called  to 
her  final  rest  May  28,  1873. 

Mr.  Du  Bois  owns  a  valuable  farm  of  142 
acres,  a  part  of  which  is  devoted  to  fruit  rais- 
ing, and  he  continued  its  cultivation  and  im- 
provement until  the  fall  of  1893,  since  which 
time  he  has  lived  a  quiet,  retired  life  in  the 
village  of  Fishkill.  The  family,  which  is  one 
of  prominence  in  the  community,  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Reformed  Church,  of  which  our 
subject  is  serving  as  elder.  His  political  sup- 
port is  unswervingly  given  the  Republican 
party.  He  holds  an  enviable  position  in  the 
esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens,  to  which  he  is 
justly  entitled,  for  his  pure  and  honorable  life 
is  above  reproach. 


©RLIN  B.  ABEL.  Jacob  Abel,  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Unionvale,  Dutchess  county,  where  he  passed 
his  days  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  married 
Miss  Margaret  Uhl,  by  whom  he  had  three 
children:     William  W.,  John  M.  and  Mary. 

William  W.  Abel,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  March  i,  18 14,  in  the  town  of 
Unionvale,  and  during  his  boyhood  attended 
the  Nine  Partners  School,  after  which  he  en- 
gaged in  teaching  for  a  time.  Later  he  fol- 
lowed agricultural  pursuits  exclusively,  be- 
coming one  of  the  most  extensive  farmers  in 
his  town.  He  took  quite  an  active  interest  in 
political  matters,  always  voting  with  the  Whig 
or  Republican  party,  and  held  a  number  of 
township  offices,  including  those  of  supervisor, 
justice  of  the  peace  and  revenue  collector.  He 
wedded  Miss  Mary  Jane  Austin,  daughter  of 
Beriah  and  Sarah   (Waite)    Austin,    and  four 


children  were  born  to  them:  OrlinB.,  Dwight, 
H.  Clay  and  one  whose  name  is  not  given.  01 
these,  Dwight  is  fully  spoken  of  elsewhere;  H. 
Clay  was  born  in  the  town  of  Unionvale,  and 
received  a  good  common-school  education, 
after  which  he  followed  the  profession  of  teach- 
ing. He  is  now  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Wappingers  Falls,  Dutchess  county. 
Socially,  he  affiliates  with  the  F.  &  A.  M.  He 
married  Miss  Maggie  Traver,  by  whom  he  had 
two  children:  William  C.  and  Melburn  T., 
and  after  her  death  he  wedded  Miss  Maiy 
Manning. 

Orlin  B.  Abel  was  born  in  the  town  oi 
Unionvale,  in  1845,  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  Fayette,  Iowa,  taught  school  several 
terms,  and  is  now  carrying  on  farming  in 
Unionvale.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and 
has  held  some  minor  township  offices.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  December  27,  1865. 
with  Miss  Mary  Alice  Vincent,  daughter  0: 
Jonathan  G.  Vincent,  of  the  town  of  Union 
vale,  and  to  them  were  bom  two  children 
Ellanita  L. ,  wife  of  Oscar  Shaffer  (they  havt 
one  son — Harold  F.),  and  Orlin  Claude  Lewis 


AMES  HERRICK,  a  well-known  stock 
dealer  and  agriculturist,  residing  near  La 
fayetteville,  Dutchess  county,  was  bon 
August  21,  1832,  in  the  town  of  Milan,  wher 
his  family  has  long  held  a  prominent  place  ii 
local  affairs. 

The  first    American  ancestor  came  at  a: 
early  period   from   England,   settling   in  Ne\ 
England,  and  our  subject's  great-grandfathei 
Ephraim  Herrick,  was  born  in  Massachusetts 
but  settled  in  Dutchess  county  on  arriving  at 
manhood.     His  son,  Ephraim  Herrick  (2),  o\.\ 
subject's  grandfather,   was    born    in    Ameniii 
and  became  a  prominent  farmer  of  the  town  (| 
Milan.      He  married  Anna   Dixon,   and   the' 
son,  Ephraim  Herrick  (3),  our  subject's  fathe 
was  born    September    28,  1788.      He   settle 
upon  a  farm  near  his  birthplace,  and  marriei 
Phoebe  Albertson,  daughter  of  John  Albertsoij 
a  leading  farmer  of  Hyde  Park,  and  a  descem 
ant  of  an  old  Holland-Dutch    family.     Th(| 
had  eight  children:     (i)  John  A.,  a  farmer 
the    town  of    Pine    Plains,   married   Maigar 
Sherwood..    (2)  William,  a  farmer  of  Pleasa 
Valley,  married  (first)    Elizabeth  Brown,  ai 
after  her  decease  wedded  Mary   Harris.     ( 
Walter,  a  prominent  physician,  married  Heli 
Sherwood,   and  died  January    13,  1895,  agi| 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


675 


teventy-four  years.      (4)  Gurdon  B.,  who  was 
»  farmer  in  the  town  of  Milan,  married  (first) 
^'annie  Bentley,  and   after  her  death  wedded 
^ulda  Cornelius,  also  now  deceased;   he  died 
\pril   28,  1894,  aged  seventy-one  years.      (5) 
ames,  our   subject,    will    be    fully    spoken  of 
ftrther  on.      (6)  Elizabeth  married  Isaac  Sher- 
v'ood,  and  she  is  now  a  widow.      (7)    Susan 
ied  in  infancy.      (8)  Caroline  married  Henry 
iutts,  and  is  now  a  widow.      The  mother  of 
his  family  died  in   1835,   and  for  his  second 
/ife  Ephraim    Herrick   (3)    married,  October 
2,  1840,  Mrs.   Susan  Ann  Andrews,   of  Kin- 
erhook,  Columbia  county,  and  they  had  four 
hildren:    (i)  George,  now  of  Danbury,  Conn., 
larried    Kate    Taylor.      (2)    Anna,    wife    of 
erderand   Taylor,   of    Danbury,    Conn.      (3) 
'.dward,  farmer  of  Bull  Head,  N.  Y. ,  married 
:mma  Bentley.    (4)  Ephraim,  of  Rhinecliff-on- 
ludson,  married  Henrietta  Hermance.     The 
lother  of  this  family  died  in  1895,  aged   nine- 
years.     The  father  passed   away   in    1868; 
uring  the  war  of  181 2  he  was  one  of  the  sol- 
iers  stationed  at  Brooklyn  Navy  Yard. 
j    The  subject  of  our  sketch  passed  his  boy- 
bod  at  the  homestead,    and  was   educated  in 
le  district  schools    of  that  neighborhood  and 
i  Rhinebeck  Seminary.     On  March  6,  1859, 
s;  married  his  first  wife.  Miss  Jennette  Cook- 
Igham,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  prominent 
Imilies  of  the  town  of    Milan,  who  died  June 
I  i860,  leaving  one  daughter,  Mary  Ida,  who 
as  married    December   31,  1896,  to    Gurdon 
icket,  a  farmer  of  the   town    of    Rhinebeck; 
ir  subject's  second  wife  was  Josephine  Hape- 
an,  a  daughter   of    Andrew    Hapeman,  and 
■  anddaughter  of  John  Hapeman,  both  in  their 
ty  prominent  farmers  of    the   town  of  Milan, 
er  mother  was  Catherine   Alendorf,  a  native 
the  same  town,  and  a    daughter  of  Henry 
endorf,  who  was  born   in  the   town   of  Red 
lOok.     The  Hapeman  family   is    of    German 
^traction,  while  the  Alendorfs  are  of  Holland 
^5ck.     Mrs.  Herrick's  father  died  in  the  town 
{  Milan,  October  9,  i860,   but   her  mother  is 
^11  living.     They  had  nine   daughters:     Julia 
i,  who  married  Alfred  Coon,  of  Catskill  Sta- 
Vn.  N.  Y. ;  Martha,  the  wife  of  Robert  Leator, 
farmer  in  the  town  of  Red  Hook;  Josephine 
^rs.  Herrickj ;  Abby,  the  wife  of  John  Phillips, 
« Ravenna,  N.  Y.,  a  conductor  on  the  W.  S. 
R.;  Catherine  E.,  who  married  P.  Traver, 
rmer  in    Red    Hook,    and    died    June  24, 
79;  Emily   I.,  who  died    March    30,    1869; 
11a,   the   wife    of    Sylvester    Stall,   a  fruit 


grower  in  Columbia  county;  Ada,  who  died 
April  18,  1872;  and  Fannie,  who  is  at  home. 
After  his  second  marriage  Mr.  Herrick  set- 
tled upon  his  present  farm,  where  two  sons 
were  added  to  the  family:  Thaddeus  J.,  born 
July  I,  1869,  was  married  September  7,  1893, 
to  Bertha  Dederick,  of  Milan,  and  they  have 
one  daughter,  Ethel;  and  Charles  S.,  born 
September  4,  1875,  still  at  home.  From  early 
years  Mr.  Herrick  has  been  engaged  in  buying 
and  selling  live  stock,  and  the  care  of  his  fine 
farm  of  114  acres  does  not  prevent  him  from 
carrying  on  this  business  largely,  purchasing  in 
the  West  to  sell  in  the  East.  His  family  are 
prominent  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  and  take  an  active  part  in  its 
work.  In  local  affairs  Mr.  Herrick  is  influen- 
tial, being  a  valued  adviser  in  the  Democratic 
party,  and  he  has  been  supervisor  of  his  town 
for  several  terms.  His  son  Thaddeus  J.  was 
appointed  school  commissioner  of  the  Second 
District  of  Dutchess  county,  in  1892,  and 
elected  in  1893,  served  two  years,  and  is  now 
a  coal  dealer  in  Hyde  Park,  New  York. 


LADYSLAWA  J.  PRALATOWSKI,  a 

well-known    resident    of    Fishkill-on- 

Hudson,  Dutchess  county,  has  displayed  abil- 
ity and  energy  while  gaining  a  foothold  in  this 
new  country  for  which  he  cannot  be  too  highly 
praised,  and  has,  in  spite  of  all  difficulties, 
made  a  place  for  himself  in  business  life  that 
could  not  readily  be  supplied.  The  facilities 
which  his  office  affords  to  the  intending  tour- 
ist— whether  he  desires  information,  letters  of 
credit,  or  tickets  to  any  part  of  the  known 
world — are  many,  and  his  acquaintance  with 
European  customs  and  legal  formalities  has 
smoothed  the  way  for  more  than  one  perplexed 
client. 

He  is  a  native  of  Pakaslaw,  Province  of 
Posen,  Poland,  and  was  born  April  23,  1843, 
the  son  of  Jacob  and  Marguerite  (Van  Kaust) 
Pralatowski,  and  grandson  of  Vincent  and 
Marguerite  (Wulerd)  Pralatowski.  His  family 
was  highly  respected,  and  his  father  was  a  pro- 
fessor in  a  college  at  Posen.  Our  subject  was 
the  youngest  of  three  sons,  the  names  of  the 
others  being  Ludwig  and  Leon.  His  mother 
died  when  he  was  but  three  days  old,  and  at 
the  age  of  twelve  years  he  was  left  fatherless. 
He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Lissa,  Po- 
land, and  at  nineteen  he  came  to  America, 
landing  in  New  York  City  November  6,  1862. 


676 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Although  he  was  fitted  by  nature  and  educa- 
tion for  other  work,  he  went  to  Newburg,  N. 
Y.,  and  engaged  in  the  first  employment  to  be 
found,  that  of  shoemaking.  On  December  i, 
1862,  he  went  to  Matteawan  to  work  for  Mr. 
Budny,  but  after  a  few  months  he  returned  to 
Newburg,  where  he  remained  for  some  time, 
spending,  however,  a  short  period  in  Pough- 
keepsie.  Later  he  moved  from  Newburg  to 
New  York  City,  and  in  the  fall  of  1865  he  re- 
turned to  Matteawan,  where  in  the  following 
year  he  opened  a  shop  of  his  own.  In  1868 
he  transferred  his  business  to  Fishkill-on-Hud- 
son,  and  has  since  resided  there.  His  present 
office  was  opened  in  October,  1890,  and  his 
business  (which  includes  real  estate  and  fire 
insurance,  in  addition  to  the  other  lines  men- 
tioned above)  has  steadily  developed  as  time 
has  passed. 

On  July  13,  1 87 1,  he  married  Miss  Mary 
E.  Rowland,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary 
(Clark)  Rowland,  and  has  two  daughters: 
Mary  Marguerite  and  Anna  Helena.  His  fam- 
ily are  all  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  and  he  is  an  active  worker  in  the 
Catholic  Benevolent  League.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Democrat,  and  is  interested  in  all  progress- 
ive movements  in  his  locality.  From  1869 
to  1879  he  was  a  member  of  Excelsior  Engine 
Co.  No.  I ,  Fishkill  Fire  Department,  and  for 
ten  years  he  has  been  a  worker  in  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Good  Templars.  For  ten 
years  he  belonged  to  Company  H,  21st  Regi- 
ment, New  York  National  Guards,  and  for 
two  and  one-half  years  served  as  its  captain. 
At  present  he  represents  a  combination  of 
business,  such  as  is  seldom  handled  by  one  in- 
dividual; his  correspondence  reaches  more 
than  1,600  banks  all  over  the  world;  he  rep- 
resents all  the  steamship  lines,  at  home  and 
abroad;  he  prepares  all  kinds  of  legal  docu- 
ments for  foreign  nations,  and  in  foreign  lan- 
guages; he  procures  passports  from  the  U.  S. 
Government — in  fact,  he  does  a  combination 
of  home  and  foreign  work  which  is  seldom 
found  done  by  one  man  with  the  same  success 
which  he  achieves. 


j  ENRY  WORRALL,  a  well-known  farmer 
.^X  of  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 
county,  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  now 
lives,  near  Poughkeepsie,  October  22,  1844. 
Here  he  grew  to  manhood,  attending  the  dis- 
trict schools,  and,  later,  the  Dutchess  County 


Academy.  After  finishing  his  schooling  he  re- 
turned to  the  farm,  where  he  has  continued  to 
reside. 

On  April  27,  1885,  Mr.  Worrall  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Clementine  Lawson,  who  was  born 
in  New  York  City,  a  daughter  of  Casper  Law- 
son,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Poughkeep- 
sie. One  child,  Donald  L. ,  was  born  to  our 
subject  and  his  wife  December  16,  1893. 
Mr.  Worrall  is  a  general  farmer,  and  has  100 
acres  of  land  on  the  Hackinac  road.  He  is  a 
Democrat,  has  been  clerk  of  election,  and  was 
elected  assessor  of  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie 
in  1886,  holding  the  office  for  three  years.  He 
is  a  prominent  young  farmer,  and  stands  higl 
in  the  community.  His  wife  is  a  member  0 
the  Reformed  Church. 

George  Worrall,  father  of  our  subject,  wa: 
born  in  England  February  26,  18 17,  a  son  0 
William  H.  Worrall,  who  came  to  Poughkeep 
sie  in  1825,  and  bought  property  there.  Oi 
this  George  was  reared  to  the  occupation  of  1 
farmer.  He  married  Miss  Jane  E.  Van  De 
Berg,  who  was  born  in  the  old  town  of  Pough 
keepsie,  near  her  present  home,  a  daughter  0 
Henry  Van  De  Berg,  a  farmer,  born  in  thi 
town  of  Poughkeepsie,  whose  ancestors  wen 
of  Holland  stock.  George  Worrall's  death  oc 
curred  July  26,  1889.  For  five  years  he  rentei 
his  farm  and  lived  in  Poughkeepsie,  and  in  186 
he  built  the  residence  which  still  remains  in  th 
family.  Our  subject  was  the  only  child  bor: 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Worrall.  George  Worrai 
was  a  Democrat,  and  at  one  time  was  com 
missioner  of  highways  for  several  years.  H 
was  a  worker  in  politics,  and  to  a  certain  ex 
tent  controlled  the  politics  of  his  town.  H 
was  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 


LOUIS  E.  KAMPF,  of  Matteawan,  Dutch 
ess  county,  was  born  at    Lenox,   Mass. 
December  29,  1859,  of  French  parentage. 

Stephen  Kampf,  his  father,  was  born  an 
reared  in  the  old  French  province  of  Alsac 
(now  a  part  of  Germany),  and  his  ancestoi 
were  for  many  generations  connected  with  th 
hotel  business  there.  Our  subject's  mothe| 
Emily  (Brielmann),  was  a  native  of  the  sarr 
locality,  and  a  daughter  of  Conrad  Brielmani 
the  famous  soldier  who  accompanied  Napolec 
throughout  the  Austrian  campaign,  and  w; 
with  him  in  the  Russian  campaign,  at  Mosco\ 
holding  high  rank  in  the  service.  Twenty-fo 
wounds  attested  his  courage  and  devotion,  ar 


COMMEMOBATIVE  BIOGRAPniCAL  RECORD. 


677 


I  as  a  reward  for  his  gallantry  he  and  his  family 
were    advanced    to    a    prominent    position    in 
j  France,  which  his  descendants  still  maintain. 
[Stephen   Kampf   was    employed,   as  a    young 
man,  in    building   the    first    railroad    through 
Metz,  and  in  1852  he  came  to  America,  locat- 
ling  at  Lenox,  Mass.,  as  a  skilled  workman  in 
la  glass  factory,  the  first  in  this  country  to  en- 
gage in  the  manufacture  of  heavy  glass.      He 
was  married  to  Miss  Brielmann,  at  North  Ad- 
ams, Mass.,  and   about    1861    they  settled   in 
Glenham,  where  they  still   reside.     They  are 
Catholics  in  faith,  and  Mr.  Kampf,  who  early 
became  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  has  al- 
ways taken  a  keen  interest  in  everything  per- 
taining to  the  welfare  of  his  adopted  country. 
Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  four  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  are  living,  Louis  E.  being 
second  in  the  order  of  birth. 

Our  subject's  early  life  was  spent  in  Glen- 
ham, where  he  received  his  education,  and 
ilater  took  his  first  lessons  in  the  practical  art 
Df  making  a  livelihood,  working  for  some  time 
in  the  Glenham  woolen  mills.  After  learning 
Ithe  details  of  the  business,  he  worked  for 
imany  years  in  the  Groveville  mills,  becoming 
foreman  of  the  weaving  department.  In  1888 
16  purchased  his  present  property  at  Mattea- 
Afan,  and  in  the  following  year  erected  the 
jrick  building  where,  in  1892,  he  established 
lis  saloon,  one  of  the  finest  in  the  place. 

On  February  2,  1885,  Mr.  Kampf  married 
Vliss  Carrie  Marchesseault,  and  their  home  is 
brightened  by  a  little  daughter,  named  Grace. 
Mrs.  Kampf  is  a  native  of  Montreal,  Can- 
ida,  where  her  grandfather,  Simon  Marches- 
seault, a  Frenchman  by  birth,  settled  upon 
;oming  to  the  New  World,  and  her  father, 
Simon  Marchesseault,  still  resides  there.  Mr. 
iXampf  is  active  in  social  life,  and  was  one  of 
he  founders  of  the  Matteawan  Mannerchor. 
^e  is  also  a  charter  member  of  Court  Beacon, 
Foresters  of  America.  In  politics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  actively  supports  his  party,  al- 
hough  he  has  never  held  nor  sought  political 
)f(ice. 


Ej*iRANK  BURROUGHS,  a  wide-awake  and 
^.  skillful  agriculturist  of  the  town  of  East 
'ishkill,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  January 
0,  1844,  on  the  farm  which  is  still  his  home, 
nd  is  descended  from  John  Burroughs,  who 
anded  at  Salem,  Mass.,  in  1637,  and  came  to 
-ong  Island  in  1654.      He,  with  others,  were 


the  patentees  of  the  township  of  Newtown, 
Long  Island.  In  the  third  generation  from 
him  was  Benjamin  Burroughs,  who  settled  in 
Dutchess  county  in  1748,  and  from  Madame 
Brett  obtained  the  deed  for  a  tract  of  land,  on 
which  he  reared  his  family. 

Joseph  Burroughs,  son  of  this  Benjamin 
Burroughs,  and  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  born  August  24,  1754,  and  in  1781  he 
wedded  Mary  Nelson.  In  1793  thej'  removed 
to  the  farm  now  owned  and  occupied  by  our 
subject,  having  purchased  the  land  the  year 
previous,  and  the  house  was  erected  by  the 
grandfather  in  1799.  There  both  he  and  his 
wife  died.  In  their  family  were  nine  children: 
Elizabeth,  who  married  Cornelius  Haight,  a 
farmer  of  the  town  of  East  Fishkill;  Reuben, 
a  mechanic,  who  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of 
twenty-eight  years;  George,  a  physician  of  Red 
Hook,  Dutchess  county,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  thirty-eight;  Francis,  a  farmer  of  Columbia 
county,  N.  Y. ;  Susan,  who  married  Nathan 
Jones,  a  mechanic  and  farmer  of  the  town  of 
Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess  county;  William, 
an  agriculturist  of  Ohio,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred; Joseph,  who  died  in  Schenectady  coun- 
ty, N.  Y. ,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming; 
Charles,  the  father  of  our  subject;  and  Fairly, 
who  died  when  young  near  Lake  George,  New 
York. 

Upon  the  homestead  farm,  where  our  sub- 
ject now  lives,  Charles  Burroughs  was  born 
March  18,  1799,  and  throughout  life  he  de- 
voted his  attention  to  its  care  and  cultivation, 
with  good  success,  dying  there  December  8, 
1873.  He  married  Alida  Blatchley,  whose 
death  occurred  May  8,  1887.  She  was  a  na- 
tive of  Rensselaer  county,  N.  Y.,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  Blatchley,  who  was  of  English 
lineage,  and  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits, 
coming  to  Dutchess  county  from  Connecticut. 
A  family  of  four  children  were  born  to  Charles 
Burroughs  and  his  wife:  Joseph,  who  was 
killed  by  the  Indians  in  Arizona;  Abraham, 
now  a  resident  of  San  Francisco,  Cal. ;  George, 
who  also  makes  his  home  in  the  Golden  State; 
and  Frank,  of  this  review. 

The  entire  life  of  our  subject  has  been 
passed  at  his  present  home,  and  he  is  success- 
fully engaged  in  general  farming  upon  his  194- 
acre  tract  of  valuable  and  productive  land. 
He  is  progressive  in  his  methods  of  carrying  on 
his  work — in  fact,  is  one  of  the  model  farmers 
of  the  community,  the  neat  and  thrifty  appear- 
ance  of   his   place   indicating  the  careful  and 


878 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPHWAL  RECORD. 


I 


systematic  manner  in  which  it  is  cultivated. 
He  is  an  intelligent,  public-spirited  citizen,  and 
his  neighbors  have  for  him  the  highest  regard. 
Politically,  his  ballot  is  cast  in  support  of  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  Republican  party. 


OLIVER  S.  BARNES,  a  well-known  agri- 
culturist and  real-estate  owner  of  Dutch- 
ess and  Putnam  counties,  resides  near  Gay- 
head,  Dutchess  county,  and  is  one  of  the 
influential  and  progressive  citizens  of  that 
locality. 

The  Barnes  family  is  of  Scotch  origin,  and 
the  ancestors  of  this  branch  were  early  settlers 
in  Westchester  county,  N.  Y. ,  where  our  sub- 
ject's grandfather,  Richard  Barnes,  and  father, 
William  Barnes,  were  born,  the  latter  at 
White  Plains,  where  he  grew  to  manhood. 
He  married  Deborah  Tompkins,  daughter  of 
James  Tompkins,  who  was  of  Dutch  descent, 
and  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and 
followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer.  After 
their  marriage  William  Barnes  and  wife  went 
to  the  town  of  Kent,  Putnam  county,  and  set- 
tled upon  a  large  tract  of  land,  where  they 
reared  a  family  of  children,  as  follows:  Phoebe, 
Eliza  B.,  and  Mary  A.,  deceased,  who  never 
married;  Margaret,  the  wife  of  Louis  Holmes, 
a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Pawling,  Dutchess 
county;  Hannah  J.,  who  married  Thomas 
Townsend,  a  farmer  in  Putnam  county;  James, 
a  shoemaker  in  Poughkeepsie;  Oliver  S.,  the 
subject  of  this  biography;  Caroline,  who  mar- 
ried William  Holmes,  a  hay  and  feed  mer- 
chant in  New  York  City;  and  William  H.,  a 
farmer  at  the  old  home  in  Putnam  county. 
The  father  was  a  Republican  in  political  faith 
during  his  last  years,  and  like  most  of  his  fam- 
ily was  a  Methodist  in  his  religious  views,  ably 
filling  the  office  of  class  leader  for  sixty  years, 
and  in  all  things  exemplifying  his  belief  by 
honesty  and  upright  dealing.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  i860,  and  his  wife  passed  to  her  re- 
ward December  22,  1876. 

Oliver  S.  Barnes  was  born  September  -6, 
1828,  and  passed  his  early  years  at  the  old 
homestead.  In  1851  he  went  to  the  town  of 
Pawling,  Dutchess  county,  and  December  24, 
1855,  he  married  Miss  Mary  E.  Wilde,  a  lady 
of  unusual  mental  acumen  and  executive  abili- 
ty. She  was  born  in  the  town  of  East  Fish- 
kill,  Dutchess  county,  the  daughter  of  James 
Wilde,  and  granddaughter  of  James  William 
Wilde,  an    Englishman,    who    purchased    300 


acres  of  land  at  Fishkill  Plains  at  an  earlj 
period,  and  made  his  home  there.  Her  mother 
Caroline  Hutchens,  a  native  of  the  town  oi 
Fishkill,  was  a  descendant  of  an  old  Englisl 
family  named  Hudson,  the  spelling  and  pro- 
nunciation having  changed  as  time  elapsed, 
Henry  Hudson,  the  discoverer  of  the  Hudsoi 
river,  being  a  direct  ancestor.  Members  of  hei 
family  took  an  active  part  in  the  Rei'olutionar 
war. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barne 
fettled  upon  a  farm  in  East  Fishkill,  and,  i 
i860,  they  purchased  their  present  farm  of  13 
acres,  near  Gayhead,  where  they  made  man 
improvements.  The  property  has  been  in  th 
hands  of  some  member  of  the  Wilde  famii 
for  I  50  years,  and  Mrs.  Barnes,  in  whose  nam 
it  stands,  is  active  in  its  management,  owin 
to  her  husband's  deafness.  They  are  generc 
farmers,  but  give  especial  attention  to  th 
dairy  business.  They  have  had  eleven  chi 
dren,  of  whom  William  C,  James  Eugent 
Lewis,  Francis  Eugene  and  Florence  E.  die 
in  infancy.  Of  the  others,  Howard  O.,  di5 
appeared  and  his  present  address  is  unknowr 
Richard  is  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  East  Fishj 
kill,  Dutchess  county;  Wilberforce is  a  farme! 
in  Putnam  county;  Jane  married  Ernest  Hill  I 
a  farmer  in  Putnam  county;  Cora  is  at  homcl 
and"  Ida,  deceased,  was  formerly  the  wife  ( 
Daniel  Jewell,  a  farmer  in  East  Fishkill.         1 

Mr.  Barnes  has  always  taken  an  intelligerj 
interest  in  the  questions  of  the  day,  and  !• 
politics  is  a  Republican.  , 


rnCHAEL  PELLS.  The  Pells  family  j 
originally  of  Holland  stock,  but  the  in! 
mediate  ancestors  of  our  subject  have  bee; 
residents  of  Dutchess  county  since  an  earl 
day.  His  great-grandfather  located  on  tl' 
old  farm  on  the  Hudson  river,  in  the  town  1. 
Poughkeepsie,  near  where  the  Hudson  Riv>] 
State  Hospital  is  now  situated.  j 

On  this  farm  John  Pells  was  born  May  i 
175 1.      He   married   Rachel   Leroy,  who  W!| 
born  September    25,    1761,    and  they  reanj 
five  of    their    children.      Of    these,    Debor!! 
died  unmarried;   Michael  was  a   farmer  in  tl! 
town    of     Poughkeepsie  ;    John    followed  i\ 
same  occupation;   Peter  was  a  farmer  in  Hyi 
Park;  and  Simon  J.     The  latter  was  born  c; 
the  home  farm,  March    17,   1798,  and  marriii 
Phoebe  Coe,   a  native  of  Ulster  county,  ai 
the  daughter  of  Abram    Coe,  whose  ancestc 


IL 

also  ca 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


679 


also  came  from  Holland.  Shortly  after  his 
marriage,  in  1826,  Simon  Pells  purchased  a 
farm  near  that  of  his  father,  and  there  his 
family  of  six  children  was  reared.  These 
iwere  Rachel  and  Sarah,  who  both  died  unmar- 
iried;  Celia  F.,  who  is  single;  Minerva,  who 
idled  in  childhood,  as  did  also  Sophia;  and 
I.Michael.  The  father  was  originally  a  Whig, 
land  later  joined  the  ranks  of  the  Republican 
'party.  He  and  his  family,  as  were  his  parents 
before  him,  were  members  of  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church.  He  died  in  1881,  his  wife 
having  passed  from  earth  in  1840. 

Michael  Pells  was  the  youngest  of  his  fa- 
:her's  children,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Poughkeepsie.  near  Arlington,  April  11,  1834. 
In  i860  he  purchased  the  farm,  on  which  he 
aow  resides,  and  which  comprises  130  acres. 
Here  he  carries  on  general  farming,  in  which 
le  has  been  very  successful.  He  is  a  Repub- 
ican.  and  a  memberof  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Mr.  Peils  has  never  married.  He  is  popular 
mih  all  his  acquaintances,  and  is  a  good  citi- 
zen and  a  man  of  upright  life. 


*\>AVID  T.  BARNES,  one  of  the  most  pro- 
\^  gressive  and  successful  agriculturists  of 
he  town  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county, 
esides  upon  a  farm  near  Arlington,  which  has 
>een  in  the  possession  of  his  family  for  four 
;enerations.  The  family  name  was  originally 
/an  Ness,  and  our  subject's  great-grandfather 
vas  one  of  three  brothers  of  that  name,  who 
:ame  from  Holland  at  an  early  period,  and 
located  first  on  Long  Island.  Later  they  sep- 
irated,  and  the  ancestor  of  Mr.  Barnes  settled 
ipon  the  present  farm,  then  a  wilderness, 
■le  had  several  children,  among  them  a  son, 
^Villiam,  our  subject's  grandfather,  who  was 
KJm  on  this  estate  March  5,  1738.  He  was 
i  farmer  all  his  life,  and  died  November  13, 
I  807,  his  wife,  Katharine,  surviving  him  until 
vlarch  7,  1 8 12.  They  had  eight  children,  as 
ollows:  Maria,  born  May  29,  1760,  married 
William  Van  Derwater,  a  farmer  in  Hyde 
l?ark;  Richard,  born  May  23,  1762,  a  farmer 
In  Columbia  county;  Henry,  born  October  9, 
11764,  a  farmer  near  the  old  homestead;  Cath- 
Tine,  born  September  30,  1766;  Hannah, 
)orn  January  28,  1769,  the  wife  of  Joseph 
Piatt,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie; 
3amekah,  born  July  28.  1772,  who  died  at 
he  age  of  seventeen;  David,  born  October  29, 


1774,  our  subject's   father;  and  Joshua,  born 
July  13,  1777,  a  farmer  near  the  old  home. 

David  Barnes  was  married,  December  20, 
1806,  to  Ann  Thorn,  a  lady  of  English  de- 
scent, who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Pough- 
keepsie, where  her  father,  Joseph  Thorn,  born 
February  11,  1745,  was  a  prominent  farmer. 
Joseph  Thorn  married  Sarah  Kies,  born  No- 
vember 21,  1750,  O.  S.,  and  reared  a  family 
of  nine  children;  Stephen,  born  Decem- 
ber 9,  1773;  Martha,  March  3,  1776;  Jos- 
eph, June  3,  1778;  John,  February  28, 
1780;  Phoebe,  April  13,  1782;  Ann,  May 
3,  1784;  Richard,  September  30,  1785; 
Mary,  December  31,  1788;  and  Elizabeth, 
April  19,  1 79 1.  Our  subject's  parents  settled 
upon  the  old  homestead,  where  they  made  ex- 
tensive improvements,  and  in  1822  they  built 
the  house,  which  has  ever  since  been  the  fam- 
ily residence.  They  were  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  to  which  William 
Barnes  and  his  wife  had  also  belonged.  David 
Barnes  was  a  Whig  in  politics,  and  an  influ- 
ential worker  in  local  affairs,  holding  various 
minor  officers.  He  died  April  17,  1852,  and 
his  wife  passed  away  fourteen  years  later — 
May  22,  1866.  They  had  seven  children: 
William,  born  October  10,  1807,  died  in  infan- 
cy; Sarah,  born  January  i,  18 10,  married 
Peter  R.  Sleight,  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  La- 
grange, and  died  October  20,  1829;  Catherine, 
born  April  3,  1812,  was  the  second  wife  of 
Mr.  Sleight,  and  died  in  February,  1894;  Ann 
Elizabeth,  born  January  31,  1820,  is  the  wid- 
ow of  Alexander  F.  Wheeler,  formerly  a  lead- 
ing attorney  of  Troy;  Josephine,  born  April 
15,  1823,  married  Edmund  Van  Wyck,  a 
farmer;  David,  who  died  in  infancy;  and  Da- 
vid T. ,  born  June  29,  1828,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch. 

David  T.  Barnes  has  always  lived  at  the 
homestead,  a  fine  farm  of  about  180  acres,  de- 
voted to  general  crops.  He  is  one  of  the  best 
managers  in  his  locality,  his  estate  being  kept 
under  the  highest  cultivation.  On  October 
12.  1857,  he  was  married  to  Rhoda  E.  Titus, 
a  native  of  Gallia  Co.,  Ohio,  born  January  15, 
1837,  the  daughter  of  Lewis  Titus  (a  farmer) 
and  his  wife,  Susan.  Mrs.  Barnes'  ancestors 
were  residents  of  Dutchess  county  in  the  early 
days,  and  her  grandfather,  John  Titus,  was 
born  there.  Four  children  were  born  of  this 
marriage:  Susie,  who  married  William  H. 
Allen,  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  and 
died    December     20,    1883;  Edwin    S.,    who 


680 


COJfMEMORA  TIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RSCOIiD. 


married  Annie  Mary  Howard,  a  daughter  of 
Sherman  Howard,  and  a  descendant  of  one 
of  the  old  families;  Anna  K.,  the  wife  of 
Charles  Howard,  a  son  of  Sherman  Howard; 
and  Elizabeth,  who  died  February  9,  1883. 
Mr.  Barnes  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  he 
and  his  family  contribute  to  the  support  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  take  a  gener- 
ous interest  in  various  philanthropic  move- 
ments. 


B' 


firm  of  Beers  &  Trafford,  the  well-known 

contractors  and  builders  of  Millerton,  Dutchess 
county,  was  born  at  Ancram  Lead  Mines,  Co- 
lumbia Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  5,  1858. 

Linas  Beers,  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  New  Milford,  Conn.,  and  he 
and  his  brother  Nelson  came  together  to  Co- 
pake,  Columbia  county,  about  the  year  18 10. 
Nelson  was  married  to  Eliza  McArthur,  and 
Linas  to  Katherine  McArthur,  by  whom  he  had 
four  children:  Sarah,  who  married  (first) 
Samuel  Hagadorn,  and  (second)  Mr.  Livock; 
Ambrose;.  Martin,  our  subject's  father;  and 
Almira,  the  wife  of  Backus  Howland.  Linas 
Beers  was  a  carpenter  by  trade.  His  death 
occurred  aboui  the  year  1841,  when  he  was 
aged  fifty  years,  his  wife  surviving  him  until 
1878,  dying  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 

Martin  Beers  was  born  at  Copake,  N.  Y. , 
in  September,  1831,  and  he  also  died  at  an 
early  age,  passing  away  July  2,  1861.  He  was 
a  very  intelligent,  energetic  man,  and  at  the 
early  age  of  seventeen  had  already  established 
himself  in  business,  and  by  his  genial  nature  had 
gained  a  host  of  friends.  Having  learned  the 
tailor's  trade  in  boyhood,  he  made  that  his 
main  occupation,  and  he  was  also  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  at  the  Ancram  Lead  Mines, 
in  partnership  with  William  H.  Barton.  He 
was  married,  February  17,  1852,  to  Sarah 
Decker,  and  had  three  sons:  Alton,  born  De- 
cember 6,  1855,  is  chief  telegraph  operator 
and  train  dispatcher  on  the  Boston  &  Albany 
railroad  at  Union  depot,  Worcester,  Mass., 
and  has  been  in  their  employ  for  twenty-four 
years;  Darwin,  our  subject,  comes  next;  and 
Kirke  M.,  born  February  10,  1861,  is  in  the 
express  business  at  Worcester.  The  widowed 
mother  of  this  little  family  subsequently,  Janu- 
ary 30,  1873,  was  married  to  Ambrose  Beers 
(her  first  husband's  brother),  who  was  for 
many  years  the  most  prominent  contractor  and 


builder  of  Millerton.     He  died  March  31,  1888 
leaving  a   widow,  and   a   son   (William)  by 
former   marriage,  born   1861.      She  was  bor; 
October  14,  1830,  in  Ancram  township,  Colum 
bia    Co.,    N.  Y.,   a    daughter   of  Stephen  an. 
Rhoda  (Williams)  Decker,  both   born  at  Cc 
pake — the  father  on  June  6,  1795,  the  mothe 
on  January  i,  1799.     They  were   married  Au 
gust   30,  1 818,  and    had    children    as  follows 
Louisa,  born   September  10,  18 19;    Clara  A. 
born  April  23,  1821;    Orville,  born  August  i; 
1825;    Sarah,    born    October    14,  1830;    Co 
nelia   E.,    born   August   8,  1834.     The  fathi 
died    October  2,  1856;    the   mother    on  Api 
17,  1881. 

Darwin  Beers  received  his  early  educatic 
in  the  village  of  Millerton,  attending  the  selei 
schools  taught  by  Rev.  Mr.  Ferguson,  Charli 
Walsh,  now  editor  of  the  Amenia  Times,  ar 
Miss  Carrie  Knickerbocker.      For  four  montl 
in  1873  he  was  employed  as  a  clerk  by  Eggl( 
ston   Brothers,   of    Millerton,   but    during  tl 
following  winter  he  again  attended  school.    J 
the  spring  of  1874  he  began  learning  the  ca: 
penter  trade  with  Ambrose  Beers,  and  worke 
for  him  about   five    years,  then  managed  tf 
farm  of  his  uncle,  the  late  William  H.  Bartoi 
for  three  years,  being  appointed  in  the  meai 
time  to  succeed  him  as  street  commissioner  (' 
the  village  of  Millerton,  for  the  term  of  thrc 
years.      At  the  time  that  he  assumed  the  dutid 
of  this  office  Mr.  Beers  was  only  twenty  yea  J 
old.      After  leaving  the  farm  he  returned  to  h: 
trade  and  worked  for  his  stepfather  as  a  jou ; 
neyman    carpenter  for    three    years,   or   unl' 
1885,  in  which  year  he  formed  a  partnersh  i 
with   William    Trafford,   and    engaged    in  tl 
construction  of  buildings  on  contract.     The! 
work  has  included  architectural  designing,  ar- 
in  this  department  the  firm  has  won  especi' 
praise.      Among  the  buildings  erected  by  the ' 
are   the    $50,000    residence   of    Mrs.   Franci| 
Scoville,  at   Chapinville,   Conn.,  and  the  el! 
gant  villa  at   Ravine   Hurst  in  Massachusett: 
built   for  John    Shepard,   Jr.,   of    Providencj 
R.  I.      In  Millerton  the  evidence  of  their  artij 
tic  taste  and  skilled   workmanship  are  nume 
ous,  including  the  "  Barton  House",  the  bus 
ness  blocks  owned   by  C.  F.  Hawley  and  tl 
firm  of    Hotchkiss  &  Eggleston,  besides  mai 
fine    residences.       Their    business    compari 
favorably  in  volume   with  that   of  any  sitnil 
firm  in  this  region  outside  of  New  York  Git 
Since  1889  they  have  also  dealt  in  lumber  6; 
tensively,  having  a  commodious  lumber  yar 


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COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


681 


and  they  have  employed  from  seventy-five  to 
150  hands  throughout  the  year.  Messrs.  Beers 
and  Trafford  devote  their  entire  time  to  their 
contracts,  which  include  mason  work,  carpen- 
tering, grading,  painting,  plumbing  and  intro- 
ducing all  systems  of  heaters  —  in  fact,  every 
ibranch  of  the  business.  Mr.  Beers  has  one  of 
the  finest  family  residences  in  Millerton,  de- 
lightfully situated  on  Barton  street. 

In  1884  Mr.  Beers  was  married  to  Miss 
Addie  Bond,  who  was  born  September  30, 
i860,  at  Newburg,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Sarah  (Lozier)  Bond,  formerly  prominent  resi- 
ients  of  Newburg,  N.  Y.,  the  former  born  in 
1838,  the  latter  in  1835.  They  had  two  chil- 
Iren,  Mrs.  Beers  alone  surviving.  Harriet 
Cromwell),  Joseph  Bond's  mother,  and  a  lin- 
;al  descendant  of  Oliver  Cromwell,  died  at  the 
idvanced  age  of  eighty-four  years.  Two  chil- 
Iren  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Darwin 
3eers — Alton  Bond  and  Warren  Martin. 

In  politics  Mr.  Beers  is   a   Democrat,  and 

vhile  he  is  not  what  is  termed  a  politician,  he 

5  deeply  interested  and  active  in  and  loyal  to 

jis  party,  but  always  true  to  his  convictions  of 

ight.     In   matters  of  local   importance  he  is 

ublic-spirited    and    progressive,  having  given 

is  influence  to  many  movements  which  tended 

)  promote  the   common  good.      He  is  one  of 

le  members  of    the  board  of  health,  also  a 

lember  of  the  fire  department.      Socially,  he 

a   member    of    Webatuck  Lodge  No.  480, 

.  &  A.  M.,  of   Millerton.      Religiously,  he  is 

member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 

[  Millerton,  of  which  he  is  a  liberal  supporter, 

member  of  the  choir,  also  one  of  the  official 

Dard. 


jl|FILLIAM   TRAFFORD,    a 


prominent 
contractor  and  builder  of  Millerton, 
ember  of  the  well-known  firm  of  Beers  & 
rafford,  was  born  December  31,  1852,  in 
opake,  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.     His  family  is 

English  origin,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  and 

ost  distinguished  in  Columbia  county.      His 

;eat-grandfather,  Thomas  Trafford,  who  was 

>rn  in  Copake  in  1752,  was  one  of  the  first 

0  justices  of  the  peace  in  Taghanick,  Co- 
inbia  Co.,  N.  Y.,  holding  office  in  1803, 
;o4  and  1808.  He  married  Elizabeth  Elliot, 
iid  died  in  181 7.  William  T.  Trafford,  our 
object's  grandfather,  was  born  on  the  old 
•mily  estate  in  Copake  in  1783,  and  died  in 
i66.     He  was  a  farmer  and    leading  citizen 


of  his  time,  serving  as  supervisor  in  1837,  and 
as  justice  of  the  peace  in  1827,  1830,  1846, 
1847  and  185 1.  He  married  Helen  Snyder, 
and  had  seven  children:  Elizabeth,  Milton, 
Hannah,  Thomas,  Homer,  Robert  Emmet  and 
William. 

Milton  Trafford,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  June  13,  1813,  and  spent  his  entire  life 
in  Copake,  where  he  followed  the  carpenter's 
trade.  He  married  Louise  Decker,  who  was 
born  in  Copake,  September  10,  18 19,  and  died 
in  1878.  He  survived  her  fourteen  years,  dy- 
ing in  1893.  Of  their  six  children  our  subject 
was  the  next  to  the  youngest.  The  names  of 
the  others,  with  the  dates  of  birth,  etc.,  are  as 
follows:  Sarah,  November  24,  1840,  died 
March  24,  1843;  Wesley,  March  4,  1844,  now 
living  in  New  York  City;  Alice,  February  5, 
1847,  died  October  18,  1866;  Stephen  D., 
March  13,  1849,  a  resident  of  Torrington, 
Conn. ;  and  Marion,  August  16,  1858,  a  resi- 
dent of  Millerton. 

Our  subject  attended  the  schools  of  his  na- 
tive town  until  he  was  about  seventeen  years 
old,  obtaining  a  good  academic  education.  In 
1870  he  began  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade 
with  his  father,  and  worked  with  him  eight 
years.  In  1881  he  came  to  Millerton  and  en- 
gaged in  the  work  of  contracting  and  building 
with  his  uncle,  Ambrose  Beers,  and  in  1885 
the  present  firm  of  Beers  &  Trafford  was  or- 
ganized. They  are  among  the  most  successful 
and  enterprising  workers  to  be  found  in  their 
line  of  business,  and  have  built  some  of  the 
finest  structures  in  that  vicinity.  On  June  18, 
1 891,  Mr.  Trafford  married  Miss  Allie  Eggles- 
ton,  daughter  of  Stewart  Eggleston,  of  Dutch- 
ess county.     They  have  no  children. 

Mr.  Trafford  is  a  progressive  and  public- 
spirited  citizen,  a  leader  in  many  of  the  most 
important  measures  for  local  improvement. 
He  is  a  Republican,  but  has  never  taken  an 
active  part  in  political  work.  At  present  he  is 
a  trustee  of  the  village  of  Millerton,  and  is 
chief  of  the  E.  H.  Thompson  Hose  Company. 


T\|ANIEL    S. 


BARIGHT,  one  of  the  pro- 
ly^^  gressive  farmers  of  the  town  of  Pough- 
keepsie,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  in  Pleas- 
ant Valley,  March  25,  1838.  He  stayed  on 
his  father's  farm  during  his  boyhood  and  at- 
tended the  district  schools,  the  Quaker  School 
in  the  town  of  Union  Vale,  the  Dutchess  Coun- 
ty Academy,  and  was  for  a  short  time  at  the 


082 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Nine  Partners  Boarding  School.  After  going 
through  these  schools  he  taught  for  three  win- 
ters, in  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  three 
winters  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley. 

Mr.  Baright  was  married,  October  2,  1861, 
to  Miss  Mary  Wing,  who  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Clinton,  Dutchess  county,  the  daughter  of 
Alexander  and  Hannah  Wing.  Our  subject 
and  his  wife  located  on  their  present  farm  in 
1862,  and  reared  a  family  of  four  children, 
namely:  Ann  G.  married  a  Mr.  Sheldon,  of 
Poughkeepsie;  William  is  living  in  Minneap- 
olis, where  he  organized  the  "Order  of  the 
World,"  of  that  State,  and  where  he  is  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  the  insurance  business; 
Irving  is  in  the  insurance  business  in  Nebraska; 
and  Frederick  is  at  home.  Mr.  Baright  has  a 
place  of  1 16  acres,  on  which  he  carries  on  gen- 
eral farming.  He  is  also  engaged  in  the  agri- 
cultural implement  business,  with  headquarters 
at  Poughkeepsie,  and  has  represented  the  New 
York  Life  Insurance  Company  for  over  twenty 
years.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and 
takes  a  lively  interest  in  such  matters,  but, 
although  frequently  urged  to  do  so,  has  never 
held  office.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Church,  in  which  he  has  always 
been  greatly  interested,  and  especially  in  the 
Sunday-school.  He  has  been  connected  with 
the  County  Sunday-school  organization  for 
several  years,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are 
devout  Christians. 

Elijah  Baright,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born,  March  30,  1802,  in  Pleasant  Valley, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  married  Miss 
Amy  D.  Carpenter,  whose  birth  took  place  in 
Stanford  town,  January  17,  1799.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  Samuel  Carpenter,  a  farmer. 
After  their  marriage  our  subject's  parents  set- 
tled on  the  old  farm,  and  the  following  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them:  Samuel,  born  in 
1826,  is  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie; 
Ann  Eliza  died  when  twenty-one  years  old; 
Daniel  S.  is  our  subject;  and  Edwin  was  an 
insurance  agent  for  many  years  in  Pough- 
keepsie, but  is  now  retired,  and  spends  his 
summers  at  Ocean  Grove  and  his  winters  at 
Poughkeepsie.  Elijah  Baright  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  but  was  also  a  successful  busi- 
ness man,  and  dealt  largely  in  stocks  in  New 
York  City.  He  was  a  Democrat  up  to  1856, 
when  he  became  a  Republican.  He  and  his 
wife  were  Hicksite  Quakers.  His  death  oc- 
curred June  19,  1873;  that  of  his  wife  on  De- 
cember 31,  1880. 


John  Baright,  the  grandfather,  was  bor 
in  Poughkeepsie,  of  Holland  ancestry.  V. 
married,  and  then  settled  on  a  farm  in  Pleasai 
Valley,  where  the  following  children  were  boi 
to  him  and  his  wife:  Augustus  is  a  farmer  ■ 
Batavia,  N.  Y. ;  Sarah  became  the  wife  of  Jol. 
Stringham,  a  farmer  in  Michigan ;  and  Susa 
married  Daniel  Stringham,  a  farmer  in  tl 
town  of  Lagrange.  John  Baright  remainc 
on  the  farm  all  his  life.  The  Barights  we 
Quakers,  and  consequently  did  not  take  ps 
in  either  the  Revolutionary  war  or  the  w 
of  1812. 


JOHN  G.  SENCERBAUGH,  now  residi 
on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  Dutc 
ess  county,  was  for  over  forty  years  cc 
nected  with  the  Union  Ferry  Company,  but 
now  retired  from  active  labor,  and  in  the  c 
joyment  of  all  the  comforts  and  many  of  t 
luxuries  of  life.  He  is  a  native  of  the  town 
East  Fishkill,  born  June  19,  18 18,  and  is 
son  of  Simeon  D.  Sencerbaugh,  whose  bir 
occurred  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  Dutche, 
county.  His  mother,  who  bore  the  maid 
name  of  Phoebe  Washburn,  was  also  born  ^ 
Dutchess  county.  I 

After  their  marriage,   the  parents   of  cf 
subject  located  upon  a  farm  in  the  town 
East  Fishkill,  where  they  reared  their  fam 
of  nine  children:     Jane,   who   married   Lab 
Rogers,  a  farmer  of  Beekman  town;  John  (! 
subject  of   this  review;    Jarvis  W. ,   a  fam" 
and  business  man  of  Minnesota,    who  rep,- 
sented    his    district     in    the     State    Senaj; 
Charles,  who  was  a  steamboat  captain  on  li 
Mississippi;  Mary,  who  wedded   William  PI 
lips,  of  East  Fishkill  town,  but  both  are  n 
deceased;   Catherine,    who  married  Joel  S 
man,  and  died  at  Candor,  in  the  western  p 
of    the    State;    Susan,    who    married    A.  j- 
Brush,  a  warden  in  the   prison   at  Sing  Si  I, 
N.     Y. ;    Antoinette,     who    married   WiMi|"i 
Humphrey,  of  the   town   of   Pleasant  Valli, 
Dutchess   county;     and    Henry.     The   fatir 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  both  him  jf 
and  wife  were  consistent  members  of  the    «- 
formed  Dutch  Church. 

John  G.  Sencerbaugh  grew  to  manhood n 
the  home  farm,  and  was  united  in  marri  e 
with  Catherine  Lounsbury,  a  native  of  e 
town  of  East  Fishkill,  and  a  daughterpf 
Joshua  Lounsbury,  also  born  in  that  ton- 
ship.     The  birth    of  her    grandfather,    Is^c 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


683 


iLounsbury,  occurred  either  in  Dutchess  coun- 
ty or  in  Putnam  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  family  is  of 
English  origin.  In  the  spring  of  1848,  with 
his  wile,  Mr.  Sencerbaugh  removed  to  Brook- 
liyn,  where  he  became  connected  with  the 
[Union  Ferry  Co.,  which  connection  continued 
|jntil  he  laid  aside  business  cares  in  1889,  and 
iie  has  since  lived  retired  upon  a  farm  in  the 
own  of  East  Fishkill,  where  he  is  surrounded 
:nany  warm  friends. 

In    the    family    were    four    children:     (i) 
Carrie,  married  John  V.  Van  Arsdale,    who  is 
I  descendant  of  Baron  Resolve  Waldron,  who 
:ame    from   Harlem,     Holland,    in    1666,    and 
ettled  in  New  Harlem.  N.  Y. ;   Mr.   Van  Ars- 
lale  is  a  native  of  Bound  Brook,  N.  J.,  where 
le  was  reared  in  his  father's  store.     For  thirty 
ears  he  has  made  his  home  in  Brooklyn,    but 
low  calls  the  Sencerbaugh  farm,  in  the   town 
if  East  Fishkill,  his  home.      He  is  connected 
kith    the    custom-house    business,  and    every 
Jonday  goes  into  the  city,   returning  again  on 
.Saturdays.      (2)    John    died    in    infancy.     (4) 
lilmma  became  the  wife  of  William   D.    Bar- 
ium, but  died  while  yet  young.      (3)  William 
'.  ( the  third  in  order  of  birth  )   now  manages 
he  home  farm  of   125  acres,    devoting  his  at- 
3ntion  to   general    farming,    and    has    made 
lany  valuable  and  useful   improvements  since 
)cating  thereon  in  1889.      Previous  to  coming 
3  Dutchess  county,  he  was  a  traveling  sales- 
lan  for. a  lace-importing  house,  for  a  period  of 
bout  ten  years,    but  gave  up  that   work  on 
ccount  of  ill  health.      He  is  a  firm  Republic- 
n  in  politics,   and  though  his  residence  here 
;  of   comparatively    short    duration,    he    has 
gured  quite  actively  in  political  affairs.      By 
11  who  know  them,  the  family  is  held   in   the 
ighest  regard,    and   justly   ranks  among  the 
est  citizens  of  the  community. 


1    BUTLER    ANDERSON,  a  prosperous 

'^  agriculturist,  residing  near  Brinckerhoff, 

utchess  county,  is  one  of  the  progressive  citi- 

:ns  of  that    vicinity.      His   family  has  been 

entified   with    Dutchess    county  for  several 

:nerations,  and  its  various  members  have  al- 

ays  shown  the   qualities  of  character  which 

'nd  to  good  citizenship. 

John  Anderson,  our  subject's  grandfather, 

native   of    Dutchess    county,    married   Ann 

avis,    and  settled  in  the   town  of    Fishkill 

w   East   Fishkill),    where   a  family    of  six 

ildren  were  born  to  them:     Zilla,  who  mar- 


ried Lewis  Wright,  a  farmer  in  the  town  of 
Lagrange;  Susan,  the  wife  of  Abram  Van- 
Vlack,  a  farmer  in  East  Fishkill  town;  Polly, 
the  wife  of  Moses  Homan,  a  farmer  in  the 
same  town;  Elizabeth,  who  married  Harvey 
Eighmy,  as  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Beekman; 
Peter,  who  followed' agriculture  all  his  life  in 
the  town  of  East  Fishkill;  and  John. 

John  Anderson  (2),  our  subject's  father, 
was  reared  as  a  farmer  boy,  and  married  Miss 
Eliza  M.  Butler,  daughter  of  Allen  Butler,  a 
well-known  farmer,  and  lifelong  resident  of 
Dutchess  county.  His  wife  was  Sarah  Crouse, 
and  they  had  two  children:  Egbert  C,  a  re- 
tired business  man  of  the  city  of  Poughkeep- 
sie,  and  Eliza  M.(  our  subject's  mother).  The 
young  people  settled  upon  the  present  home- 
stead, which  they  purchased  over  fifty  years 
ago.  Mr.  Anderson  was  an  influential  man  in 
local  affairs,  serving  for  nine  years  as  com- 
missioner of  his  town,  and  in  early  years  was 
a  Democrat  and  afterward  a  Republican.  He 
and  his  wife  were  leading  members  of  the  Re- 
formed Church  at  Hopewell,  and  he  held  the 
office  of  elder  for  many  years  previous  to  his 
death  in  1890.  His  wife  survives  him  with 
one  son,  our  subject,  and  a  daughter,  Sarah 
A.,  who  married  T.  G.  Matthews,  a  flour  mer- 
chant of  New  York  City,  and  a  real-estate  owner 
and  resident  of  Brooklyn. 

A.  Butler  Anderson  was  born  August  15, 
1847,  and  spent  his  life  mainly  at  the  old  farm. 
He  attended  the  neighboring  district  schools  in 
early  boyhood,  and  then  went  to  Poughkeep- 
sie,  where  he  pursued  his  studies  in  a  select 
school  and  the  College  Hill  School.  On  his 
return  home  he  assisted  his  father,  and  in 
time  assumed  the  management  of  the  estate. 
On  October  30,  1875,  he  was  united  in  matri- 
mony with  Susan  H.  Van  Wyck,  daughter  of 
Henry  Van  Wyck,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of 
Wappinger,  Dutchess  county.  Si.x  children 
were  born  of  this  union:  John,  Eliza  Maria, 
Henry  V.  W.,  Annie  L. ,  Sarah  L.,  and  Eg- 
bert B. ,  who  are  all  at  home. 

Mr.  Anderson  makes  no  specialities  in  his 
work  as  an  agriculturist.  The  old  homestead 
comprised  196  acres,  and  to  this  an  adjoining 
tract  of  eighty-six  acres  has  been  added,  making 
one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  neighborhood.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  he  takes  a  gener- 
ous interest  in  all  public  improvements;  he  and 
his  wife  contribute  to  the  support  of  the  Re- 
formed Church  at  Hopewell,  of  which  she 
is  a  member. 


684 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHWAL  RECORD. 


I 


C^HARLES  DU  BOIS  ROGERS,  a  promi- 
'  nent  young  agriculturist  of  the  town  of 
Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  is  the  owner  of  a 
farm  which  has  been  in  his  family  for  four  gen- 
erations. 

His  ancestors  of  a  still  earlier  peiiod  were 
well  known  among  the  pioneers  of  this  State, 
the  head  of  the  American  line  being  John 
Rogers,  who  came  from  Scotland,  formerly 
from  England  (lineal  descendant  of  John 
Rogers,  who  was  burned  at  the  stake  at  Smith- 
field  in  Queen  Mary's  reign),  and  located  in 
Putnam  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  kept  the  first 
road  house,  or  hotel,  opened  between  New 
York  and  Albany.  It  was  in  the  woods  among 
the  Indians,  near  what  is  now  called  Garrison's 
Station  on  the  Hudson  River  railroad. 

The  great-great-grandparents  of  our  subject 
were  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  (Fowler)  Rogers. 
His  great-grandparents,  Benjamin  (2)  and 
Elizabeth  F.  Rogers  reared  a  family  of  ten 
children:  John,  William,  Benjamin,  Absalom, 
Elijah,  Pattie,  Hester,  Betsey,  Mary,  and 
Sarah.  Absalom  Rogers,  our  subject's  grand- 
father, married  Maria  Du  Bois,  and  had 
six  children:  Emily  Abraham  D.,  Peter, 
William,  Lewis,  and  Charles  C.  (our  subject's 
father). 

Charles  C.  Rogers  married  Harriet  L.  Cook, 
and  our  subject  was  their  only  son.  He  was 
born  March  17,  1867,  at  the  old  homestead 
near  Fishkill  Village,  and  his  education  was  ob- 
tained in  the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood 
and  the  Union  Free  School  at  Fishkill,  with 
two  years  in  Leslie's  Academy  in  Poughkeepsie. 
He  left  school  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  and  re- 
turned home,  where  he  gradually  assumed  the 
management  of  the  farm,  relieving  his  father 
from  the  burden  during  his  declining  years,  and 
caring  for  him  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
May  30,  1892.  The  estate  contains  100  acres, 
fifty  acres  lying  on  each  side  of  the  road  laid 
out  by  Madame  Brett  from  old  Fishkill  to 
Fishkill-on-Hudson.  The  trolley  cars  now 
pass  the  the  door.  Mr.  Rogers  makes  a  spe- 
cialty of  dairying,  keeping  from  twenty-five  to 
thirty  cows  the  year  round. 

He  has  a  pleasant  home.  His  wife,  whom 
he  married  December  9,  1 891,  was  formerly 
Grace  A.  Haight,  a  daughter  of  J.  Cornelius 
Haight,the  historian.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren: Lewis  D.,  Bertha  May,  and  Grace  A. 
Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rogers  attend  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church,  and  are  heartily  in  sympathy 
with  various    lines  of  social,  religious,  and  ed- 


ucational progress.  Politically,  Mr.  Rogers 
a  Democrat,  and  he  is  a  member  of  Hudsc 
River  Lodge  No.  57,  K.  of  P. 


FRANK    A.    HOTCHKISS.    a   promine. 
merchant  of  Millerton,  Dutchess  count 

and  a  representative  of  a  family  which  has  b 
come  widely  famous  for  its  inventive  geniu 
was  born  August  27,  1857,  at  Sharon  Valle 
Connecticut. 

The  family  is  of  English  origin,  the  first 
the  American  branch  being  among  the  eai 
settlers  of  New  Haven,  and  during  the  Rev 
lutionary  war  there  were  three  generations 
the  service  at  the  same  time.      Asahel  Hotc 
kiss,   our  subject's  great-grandfather,   resid 
at    Prospect,  now  a  part  of  New  Haven,  a 
there  Asahel  Hotchkiss,  the  grandfather  of  c 
subject,  was  born.      He  was  a  man  of  superi 
natural  talent,  successful  in  financial  manap 
ment,  and  also  in  the  invention  of  various  c 
vices  which  he  manufactured  in  a  factory 
Sharon  Valley,  which  at  that  day  was  consi 
ered  a  large  establishment.       At   first   he  w 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  leather  walle; 
and,    later,    in    game    traps,    curry    coml 
wrenches  and  other  small  articles  of  hardwai 
This  factory  was  afterward  moved  to  Bridg; 
port,  where  it  is  now  carried  on  by  a  grands 
of  the  founder.     Asahel  Hotchkiss  was  pror- 
nent  in  public  affairs  also,  having  great  infj 
ence  in  the  Republican  party.      He  served  a  i 
member  of  the  Connecticut  Legislature  fort"- 
terms,   and    as   State    Senator  for  one  ter 
He  was  an  active   member  of  the  Congre^|' 
tional  Church.      He  married  Althea  Guernst' 
and  had  ten   children,   of  whom    Dotha  a* 
Charles  A.  are  yet  living,      (i)  Andrew  wa;'. 
cripple,  died  in  early  manhood,  but  not  bef(i 
he  invented  the   explosive  shell  called   ther 
Rebels    "screamers" — a   description  of  ritll 
cannon.      (2)  Benjamin  B.  was  the  inventor? 
the  famous  Hotchkiss  gun,  and  of  other  imp- 
ments   of   warfare,  including  a  torpedo  bo : 
and  was  well  known  in  all  parts  of  the  wor| 
He  spent  a  fortune  in  perfecting  his  gun  a 
placmg  it  upon  the  market,  and  was  in  actil 
want  before  its  value  was  recognized;  but  la  ' 
he  realized  a  large  fortune  from  it,  and  honi; 
as  well,  being  decorated  with  the  cross  of  t; 
Legion  of  Honor,  and  other  orders.     He  v; 
a  man  of  remarkable  executive  ability,  as  wl 
as  inventive  faculty,  and   at  one  time  he  c:c 
ried  on  the   manufacture  of  his  inventions  11 


Q^a^^^r^^MP^7fi^fCA^i!^uL/' 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


685 


/ienna,  removing  afterward  to  Paris.      He  re- 
ained  his  residence   in   New  York,  however, 
.nd  his  estate  was  settled  here.     (3)  Frederick 
L,  the  father  of  our  subject,  is  mentioned  be- 
bw.     (4)  Franklin  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
ears.     (5)     William  died  in  childhood.      (6) 
iiarah    M.    married    George    A.    Kelsey.       (7) 
|)otha  married  (first)  Henry  Finch,  and  (sec- 
ond)   Hugh    A.    McKelvey,    and    now   resides 
1  Bridgeport,  Conn.     (8)  Charles  A.  is  a  res- 
ient  of  Bridgeport,  Conn.      (9)  Dwight  was  a 
felong  invalid.       (10)   Abijah  died  in  child- 
ood. 

Frederick  A.  Hotchkiss  was  born  in  Water- 
>wn,  Conn.,  in   1S29,  and  became  a  member 
t  the  firm  of  Hotchkiss  Sons,  being  for  some 
me  superintendent  of  the  factory  at  Bridge- 
ort.     He  retired  from  active  business  in  1870, 
nd  passed  his  later  years  in  more  congenial 
ursuits.      He  was  a  well-read  man,  of  quiet 
istes,  and  not  at  all  inclined  to  seek  public 
DHors,  though  he  was  a  strong  supporter  of 
le  Republican  party,  and  took  a  generous  in- 
irest  in  public  affairs,  local  and  national,  but 
ever  held  official  position.      He  married  Car- 
ina Parson,  daughter  of  John  Parson,  a  prom- 
ent  resident  of  Sharon,  Conn.,  and  had  four 
lildren,   as    follows:     Mary  married   W.    H. 
ill,  of    Reading,   Conn. ;    Carrie   L.   died   in 
'irly  womanhood;   Frank  A.  comes  next;  and 
iattie  F.  was  the  wife  of  Sidney  McKelvey,  of 
larta.  111.     Of  these,  Frank  A.,  our  subject, 
the  sole  survivor. 

Frank  A.  Hotchkiss  received  his  education 
lainly  in  the  schools  of  Sharon,  and  attended 
e  Eastman  Business  College,-  Poughkeepsie, 
'  e  winter.  On  leaving  school  at  the  age  of 
jneteen,  he  taught  in  the  village  of  Sharon 
if  two  years,  since  when  he  has  been  engaged 
i  mercantile  pursuits.  For  about  five  years 
\  was  bookkeeper  and  salesman  for  Beech, 
hwley&Co. ,  but  March  17,  1886,  the  firm 
ling  reorganized  on  account  of  the  death  of 
Ir.  Beach,  Mr.  Hotchkiss  and  L.  J.  Eggles- 
tja  bought  an  interest,  the  firm  becoming 
Irtchkiss  &  Eggleston.  They  have  been  very 
sccessful,  and  in  1894  they  removed  from 
tt;  old  locality,  where  the  "Millerton  House" 
i)W  stands,  to  their  new  building,  which  is 
c|e  of  the  finest  of  the  kind  in  the  county. 
Is  well-proven  business  ability  places  Mr. 
I.)tchkiss  among  the  foremost  of  the  younger 
rfen  of  his  locality.  He  has  been  president  of 
te  Millerton  National  Bank  for  two  years,  a 
fct  which  speaks  volumes  for  the  esteem  in 


which  he  is  held  in  business  circles.  He  is 
greatly  interested  in  local  improvements,  and 
has  been  trustee  and  president  of  the  village 
four  terms;  but  while  he  is  a  firm  believer  in 
the  principles  of  the  Republican  party,  he 
does  not  take  an  active  part  in  political  work. 
In  1885  Mr.  Hotchkiss  was  married  to 
Miss  Fannie  H.  Gillette,  daughter  of  Edward 
F.  Gillette,  a  leading  merchant  of  Sharon,  and 
they  have  six  children:  Mary  F. ,  Frederick, 
Edward  G. ,  Benjamin  B.,  Reed  H.  and  An- 
drew Dwight.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hotchkiss  are 
prominent  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  in  which  he  is  an  elder. 


JOSEPH  SUNDERLAND,  a  prominent  resi- 
dent of  Glenham,  Dutchess  county,  was 
"  born  May  25,  1839,  at  Darlington,  England, 
and  is  descended  in  both  paternal  and  maternal 
lines  from  ancestry  who  were  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits. 

His  father,  John  Sunderland,  a  native  of 
Colne,  Lancashire,  England,  was  an  excellent 
workman,  and  in  addition  to  his  farm  work 
was  often  employed  as  a  stone-mason  and  wall- 
builder.  He  married  Nancy  Binns,  who  was 
born  at  Hunsworth,  Yorkshire,  England,  the 
eldest  daughter  of  Joseph  Binns,  a  farmer. 
The  young  couple  made  their  home  at  Armley, 
Leeds,  England,  where  they  spent  the  remain- 
der of  their  lives,  rearing  to  maturity  five  sons 
and  one  daughter.  The  father  died  October 
2,  1864;  the  mother  on  December  14,  1885; 
both  passing  away  in  full  faith,  having  been 
devout  members  of  the  Primitive  Methodist 
Church.  Their  children  were:  William,  now 
residing  at  Dewsbury,  England,  was  formerly 
a  spinner  by  trade,  but  is  now  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile business;  Joseph  is  mentioned  more 
fully  below;  Mary  married  Thomas  Jowitt,  a 
brickmaker,  at  Wortley,  Leeds,  England; 
Samuel  is  a  butcher  and  milk  dealer  at  Wort- 
ley;  Charles  Henry,  who  was  a  press  setter, 
died  in  January,  1886,  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
eight;  John  is  a  general  merchant  at  Armley, 
England,  and  takes  an  influential  part  in  re- 
ligious work,  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  and  has  been  superintendent  of  a 
large  Sunday-school  for  the  past  eighteen 
years. 

Joseph  Sunderland  lived  at  home  until  he 
was  sixteen  years  old,  and  by  that  time  had 
gained  a  fair  knowledge  of  the  spinner's  trade. 
In  1855  he  joined  the  British  army,  and  served 


686 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  year  and  a  half,  when  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged on  account  of  a  reduction  in  the  forces. 
Returning  home,  he  began  to  work  at  his 
trade,  which  he  followed  until  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-four years,  then  crossed  the  ocean,  in  1863, 
and  for  about  three  years  lived  at  Ballardvale, 
Mass.,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  file  forg- 
ing. In  1866  he  came  to  Matteawan,  N.  Y., 
and  spent  about  two  years  at  his  trade  before 
engaging  in  the  saloon  business,  in  which  he 
continued  from  1 868  until  1 876,  when  he  moved 
to  Glenham,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  opened  a  saloon, 
which  he  still  conducts.  He  is  one  of  the 
leading  dealers  in  his  line,  and  for  eight  years 
has  been  president  of  the  Liquor  Dealers' 
Association  of  his  Assembly  District.  In  1864 
Mr.  Sunderland  married  Miss  Emma,  only 
surviving  daughter  of  David  Robertshaw,  of 
Wortley,  Leeds,  England.  She  is  the  only 
member  of  her  family  to  come  to  America. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sunderland  have  one  daughter 
living,  Alice  R.,  who  is  at  home.  Mr.  Sunder- 
land is  fond  of  reading  and  takes  much  inter- 
est in  current  events.  In  religion  he  inclines 
to  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  in  politics  he  is 
a  Republican.  His  influence  in  local  affairs  is 
marked,  and  he  has  served  three  terms  as 
deputy  sheriff,  under  Sheriffs  Vantassell,  Bart- 
lett  and  Jerry  S.  Pearce,  each  term  being  for 
three  years. 


WILLIAM   W.    MARSHALL,  an   enter- 
prising    fruit    raiser    and    farmer,    was 

born  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  at  Salt 
Lake  Point,  September  10,  1839.  He  began 
life  on  the  farm,  went  to  the  district  school, 
and  spent  two  winters  at  the  Claverack  school. 
He  then  returned  to  his  father's  farm  and  worked 
for  four  years. 

In  1 86 1  Mr.  Marshall  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth D.  Wing,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Clinton,  the  daughter  of  Alexander  Wing,  a 
native  of  that  town.  After  their  marriage  our 
subject  and  his  wife  lived  for  four  years  on  the 
old  farm,  and  then  worked  a  farm  at  Clinton 
Corners  for  five  years.  Subsequently  our  sub- 
ject came  to  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie,  and 
engaged  in  the  retail  milk  business  for  three 
years;  then  rented  the  John  L.  Marshall  farm, 
on  which  he  worked  for  ten  years.  In  1884 
he  bought  a  place,  which  consists  of  thirty-six 
acres,  three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  Poughkeep- 
sie City,  and  has  resided  there  ever  since,  mak- 
ing a  specialty  of   raising  small   fruits  of   all 


kinds.  He  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  and  his 
wife  attend  the  Orthodox  Friends  Church,  to 
which  they  are  contributors.  He  has  a  fine 
residence  on  his  place,  with  all  the  necessary 
outbuildings. 

Isaac  Marshall,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Pleasant  Valley,  grew  up  on  the  Mar- 
shall homestead,  and  married  Miss  Eliza  Law- 
rence, who  was  also  a  native  of  Pleasant  Val- 
ley.     Robert    Lawrence,    her    father,    was  a 
farmer  in   the  same  place,  and  came  of  En- 
glish stock.     The   parents   of   our  subject  set- 
tled on  a  farm  in  their  native  place,  and  then 
reared  the  following  children:    Elnathan  G.,  z 
farmer  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley;  Eliza^ 
beth,  who  became  the  wife  of  Theron  R.  Mar- 
shall, a  farmer  of   Pleasant  Valley;    Augusta, 
who   married  Joseph    Doty,   a  farmer  of  tht 
same  place;  Sarah,  who  married  Parris  Baker 
a  carpenter  in   Saratoga  county,  N.  Y. ;    Pa 
melia,    unmarried;     Emily,    who    became   th( 
wife   of   Clarence   Van  Wagner,   a   farmer  ir 
Pleasant   Valley;    William    W. ,    our  subject 
Mr.  Marshall   died   in    1890,  and   his   wife  ir 
1888.      He  was   a   Democrat   in   politics,  anc 
was  assessor  in  the  town  of   Pleasant  Valley 
They    were    both    members    of    the    Baptis 
Church. 

John  Marshall,  grandfather  of  our  subject 
was  also  born  in  Pleasant  Valley,  where  hi 
married  and  reared  these  children:  Harris,  : 
farmer  in  Dutchess  county;  Lewis  was  ; 
farmer  in  the  western  part  of  the  State;  Oli 
ver,  who  died  young;  Isaac,  father  of  our  sub 
ject;  John  C. ,  who  was  a  farmer  at  Salt  Point 
and  two  daughters  not  named. 


|irILLIAM  BODDEN,   one  of  the  mos 
l^lt     prominent  agriculturists  of  the  town  c 
Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  residing  neaj 
Camelot,    was    born    October    30,    1813,    a| 
Kirkcudbright,    Scotland,  where  his  ancestor! 
had  made  their  home   for  many   generations 
His  father,    John  Bodden,  was  born  ther 
June    27,  1789.     He  married  Elizabeth  Dicj 
widdie,  a   native   of    Scotland,    and    had  tw 
children,  of  whom  our  subject  was  the  eldesi' 
The  other,  Elizabeth,  married  Gilbert  Grieve 
a  farmer  near  the  old   home,  and  remained  il 
Scotland.       In    18 17    John    Bodden   came  tj 
America,  and   for  some  years  resided  in  Ne! 
York  City  (his  business  being  that  of  a  builder ; 
later,  on  account  of  ill  health,  removing  tot! 
farm   near  Camelot,    where    he    died  May  : 


COMMBMOBATTVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


087 


874.  He  took  a  keen  interest  in  all  that 
oncerned  the  community,  was  an  active  Re- 
uublican,  and  while  he  was  not  a  seeker  after 
lifficial  position  he  served  at  one  time  as  road 
lommissioner.  He  and  his  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  Church. 

William  Bodden  attended   the    schools  of 
is  native  place  until  he  was  sixteen  years  old, 
nd  after  coming  to  New  York  City  he  attended 
itiere  for  some  time.      In   1830    he   came   to 
)utchess  county  and  settled   upon  his  present 
irm  of  130  acres,  where  he  has  since  followed 
eneral  agricultural   pursuits.       He   gives  es- 
ecial  attention   to  the   raising  of  fruit.     On 
ebruary    15,  1834,  he  was   married  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Wilson,  who  was  a  native  of  his  own 
)wn  in  Scotland,    and   of    this    union   eleven 
lildren  were  born,  a  brief  record  of   whom  is 
5  follows:     John   B.,  born    August   i,  1835, 
isides  in  Poughkeepsie;  David,  born  January 
3,  1837,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war.  and, 
ter,  was  a  farmer   in  Missouri,  but  now  re- 
des in  Poughkeepsie;  Mary  H. ,  born  Decem- 
lir  4,  1838,  married  William  H.  Van  Keuren, 
jeweler  in  the  same  city;  Eliza,  born  March 
•!.   1 84 1,   and   Washington,    born    August  6, 
42,    died    in    childhood;    William   B.,  born 
pril  24,  1846,  is  a  tinner  and  stove  dealer  at 
(igrangeville;    Thomas    G.,  born    August    6, 
1I48,  is  a  horticulturist  in  the  town  of  Pough- 
hepsie;    Robert,    born   March    16,    1850,  is  a 
fuggist  in  Syracuse;  Elizabeth,  born  April  7, 
;!52,  married  John   Grubb,  a  bookkeeper,  re- 
ling  in  Poughkeepsie;  James   G. ,  born  May 
1854,  and  Florence,  born  February  9,  1857, 
■  at  home. 

Mr.  Bodden  and  his  wife  are  leading  mem- 
.  rs  of  the  Methodist  Church  at  Poughkeepsie. 
\  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  he  has  been 
^tive  in  promoting  various  movements  for  the 
♦  mmon  good,  notably  those  for  educational 
■  vancement,  and  he  has  been  school  trustee 
lir  many  years.  For  more  than  half  a  cen- 
Iry  he  has  identified  himself  with  the  best 
*:erests  of  the  locality,  and  he  holds  the  es- 

(of  the  entire  community. 
[wis   H.  WRIGHT,   one   of   the   wide- 
awake and  progressive  agriculturists  of  the 
tWn  of  East  Fishkill,  Dutchess   county,  was 
trn  there  September  4,  1856,  and  on  the  pa- 
t  nal  side   is  of  English   origin.      His  great- 
idfather,  Thomas  Wright,  was  a  native  of 


the  same  town,  while  the  birth  of  his  grand- 
father, Lewis  Wright,  occurred  in  1800,  in 
Lagrange  town,  Dutchess  county.  After  the 
latter's  marriage  with  Jane  Vermilyea,  also  a 
native  of  Dutchess  county,  he  located  upon  a 
farm  in  Lagrange  town,  where  their  two  chil- 
dren were  born — John  G.,  the  father  of  our 
subject;  and  Mary,  who  wedded  John  Wanzer, 
a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Beekman,  Dutchess 
county.  The  wife  and  mother  was  a  member 
of  the  Society  of  Friends. 

After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  the  grand- 
father was  again  married,  his  second  union  be- 
ing with  Zella  Anderson,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  four  children:  Thomas,  who  is  a 
farmer  of  Lagrange  town;  Anderson,  who  died 
young;  Susan,  who  married  a  Mr.  Hall,  of 
Unionvale  town,  Dutchess  county;  and  Ann, 
who  married  Draper  Hall,  also  of  Unionvale. 
The  grandfather  carried  on  agricultural  pur- 
suits throughout  life,  and  died  April  14,  1887, 
on  the  farm  now  owned  by  our  subject  in  the 
town  of  Fishkill.  Politically,  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat. 

John  G.  Wright,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  May  31, 
1824,  there  grew  to  manhood,  and  February 
16,  1853,  married  Miss  Ruanah  Haight.  who 
was  born  in  Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1833, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Henry  Haight,  a  native  of 
Putnam  county,  this  State.  After  their  mar- 
riage the  young  couple  located  upon  the  farm 
in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  where  Lewis  H., 
their  only  child,  was  born,  arid  remained  there 
until  1 87 1.  The  mother's  death  occurred  Oc- 
tober 4,  1889. 

Lewis  H.  Wright  obtained  his  education  in 
the  district  schools  near  his  home,  and  on  at- 
taining to  man's  estate  was  married  January 
28,  1880,  to  Miss  Henrietta  Jackson,  a  native 
of  the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess  county, 
where  her  father,  Orry  Jackson,  was  engaged 
in  farming.  The  Jacksons  are  of  Scotch  stock. 
Two  children  grace  this  union:  Runelia,  born 
February  11,  1884;  and  John  L. ,  born  April 
19,  1889.  Mr.  Wright  began  his  domestic  life 
upon  his  present  farm  at  Fishkill  Plains,  which 
comprises  300  acres  of  valuable  land,  and  he 
also  owns  another  farm  of  250  acres  in  the 
town  of  East  Fishkill.  He  devotes  his  time 
and  attention  to  general  farming,  raising  every- 
thing adapted  to  the  soil  and  climate  of  this 
section,  and  is  one  of  the  most  enterprising 
and  energetic  agriculturists  of  the  community. 
Both  himself  and  father  cast  their  ballots  in 


688 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  are  most  highly  respected 
citizens. 


GEORGE  LAMOREE,  a  thorough,  skillful 
farmer  and  business  man,  is  a  representa- 
tive of  the  agricultural  interests  of  the  town  of 
Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess  county,  and  has  be- 
coihe  one  of  the  well-to-do  citizens  of  the  lo- 
cality, where  he  is  recognized  as  an  important 
factor  in  preserving  the  reputation  of  the  town 
as  one  of  the  most  highly  cultivated  and  im- 
proved in  Dutchess  county. 

Our  subject  was  born  on  Friday,  December 
8,  1 8 19,  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides. 
Three  brothers  of  the  Lamoree  family  were 
among  those  hardy  pioneers  who  came  to  this 
State  prior  to  the  Revolution — about  the  year 
1772 — one  locating  in  Orange  county,  one  in 
Albany  county,  and  the  other  in  Dutchess 
county,  N.  Y. ,  the  latter  being  Isaac  Lamoree, 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject.  From  King 
George  of  England  he  obtained  a  grant  for 
fifty  acres  of  land  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Val- 
ley, and  our  subject  has  that  grant  in  his  pos- 
session. Isaac  Lamoree  had  two  sons:  John, 
who  spent  his  entire  life  at  farming  in  the  town 
of  Hyde  Park,  Dutchess  county;  and  Timothy, 
the  father  of  our  subject. 

Timothy  Lamoree  was  born  on  the  home- 
stead in  Pleasant  Valley,  which  later  became 
his  property,  and  there  he  brought  his  bride, 
formerly  Hester  Van  Wagner,  who  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess  county,  of 
Holland  descent.  To  their  union  were  born 
eight  children:  John,  a  miller  of  Salt  Point, 
Pleasant  Valley;  Sarah,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Richard  Tompkins,  a  farmer  of  Lagrange 
town,  Dutchess  county;  Phoebe,  who  married 
Richard  Allen,  a  farmer  of  Pleasant  Valley 
town;  Catherine,  who  became  the  wife  of  John 
H.  Nelson,  a  farmer  of  Clinton  town;  Nancy, 
who  married  Piatt  Van  Vliet,  a  miller  and 
merchant  of  Salt  Point;  Eliza,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Jonathan  Allie,  an  agriculturist; 
Mary,  who  wedded  Benjamin  Howell,  also  a 
farmer  of  Pleasant  Valley  town;  and  George, 
subject  of  this  review.  Upon  the  old  farm  the 
parents  of  this  family  both  died.  They  were 
consistent  and  faithful  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  in  politics  the  father  was 
a  stanch  Whig. 

On  reaching  a  sufficient  age  George  Lam- 
oree became  a  pupil  in  the  district  school  near 


his  home,  and  later  attended  the  New  Paltz 
Academy  which  he  left  in  the  spring  of  1836, 
crossing  the  Hudson  river  on  the  ice  on  the 
second  day  of  April.  About  this  time  young 
Lamoree  joined  a  temperance  society,  a 
very  unpopular  and  even  despised  thing 
in  those  days,  and  for  several  years  served 
as  its  president.  On  starting  out  in  life 
for  himself  he  chose  the  occupation  to  which 
he  had  been  reared,  and  his  labors  have 
been  amply  rewarded,  so  that  he  is  now  the 
possessor  of  400  acres  in  the  town  of  Union- 
vale,  twenty  acres  in  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie. 
and  about  140  acres  in  the  home  farm.  He 
has  made  a  specialty  of  hay-raising,  and  had 
the  first  portable  hay  press  in  the  town  ol 
Pleasant  Valley.  Not  only  is  his  land  well 
cultivated,  but  the  buildings  are  all  of  a  sub- 
stantial character,  and  the  neat  and  thrifty  ap- 
pearance of  the  place  gives  evidence  of  an  en- 
terprising and  industrious  owner.  Although 
now  past  the  prime  of  life,  he  is  still  hale  anc 
hearty,  and  gives  his  attention  to  the  improve 
ment  of  his  land. 

Mr.  Lamoree  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Jane  M.  Pells,  a  native  of  the  town  of  Rhine- 
beck,  where   her  father,  Simon   H.  Pells,  was 
also  born,  and  followed  farming.      Her  mother 
who   bore    the    maiden  name  of  Amelia  Van- 
Wagner,   was   born   in  Dutchess  county,  anc 
was  of  Holland   lineage.      Mrs.  Lamoree  hac 
one  sister,  Julia   M.,  who  became  the  wife  0 
John  W.  Moore,  a  farmer  of  Rhinebeck  town. 
Our  subject  and  his  wife  were  married  in  1846 
and  began  their  domestic  life   upon  the  farn 
which  they  still  occupy.      Four   children  wen 
born   to    them:     the    eldest   died   in    infancy: 
Franklin  married  Martha   K.  Canover,  and  i ' 
a  farmer  of   Pleasant   Valley  town;  Emily  J 
married  B.  T.  Alley,    and  after  his  death  be 
came  the  wife  of  Oscar  J.  Case,  of  Salt  Point 
Flora  A.,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Charles  Bur 
bank,  a  native  of  Orleans  county.  New  York 

Mr.  Lamoree  takes  an  active  interest  i 
political  affairs,  uniformly  voting  the  straigh 
Republican  ticket.  He  has  held  a  number  < 
public  offices,  appearing  first  in  1855  asjustic 
of  the  peace  of  his  town;  next  as  supervise 
for  three  years;  and  as  sheriff  of  Dutche^ 
county  from  1864  to  1867,  inclusive;  als 
served  as  revenue  collector  of  his  district,  th 
appointment  being  made  by  President  Lined 
at  the  commencement  of  the  Civil  war,  whic 
incumbency  he  filled  until  1864.  Mr.  Lam(j 
ree  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Poughkeej 


I. 


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d!^  'f^. 


J 


r^ 


(X/yvv./rh<JL.^ 


p 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPEIOAL  RECORD. 


689 


;ie  City  National  Bank  in  i860,  and  hasbgen  a 
iirector  thereof  during  its  existence.      Previous 

0  the  Civil  war  he  served  as  brigade  paymas- 
er  under  Gen.  Isaac  I.  Piatt.  He  is  a  public- 
pirited  and  progressive  man,  and  is  deserving 
if  rank  among  the  highly  honored  and  repre- 
entative  pioneer  citizens  of  Dutchess  county. 

1  Age  and  honored  position  do  not  protect 
ne  from  the  criminal  class,  and  this  esteemed 
itizen  has  been  subjected  to  more  than  the 
verage  man's  share  of  experience  with  the 
'  ruffian  burglar."  On  the  night  of  November 
2,  1896,  two  men  entered  his  home  through 
small  window  in  the  basement,  and  carried  off 

11  the  money,  some  $70.00,  then  in  the  house, 
jgether  with  as  much  clothing  as  could  con- 
eniently  be  taken  away.  This  was  all  done 
ithout  awakening  the  household.  One  of  the 
len  had  called  the  previous  day  at  noon,  and 
iked  for  something  to  eat.  His  suspicious 
:tions  convinced  the  family  of  his  evil  inten- 
ons,  but  robbery  was  not  thought  of.  One 
onth  later,  December  12,  the  same  men 
died  about  midnight,  and  placing  a  ladder  to 
lie  portico,  climbed  in  at  an  upstairs  window, 
ud  went  through  the  house.  They  placed  a 
volver  at  Mr.  Lamoree's  head,  and  demand- 
1?  perfect  quiet  at  the  peril  of  his  life,  they 
(lund  both  him  and  his  wife  with  cords,  and 
1en  searched  for  their  booty.  They  secured 
i  out  $30.00,  and  a  valuable  gold  watch,  a 
1 1  from  Mr.  Lamoree's  father.  Our  subject 
jevailed  upon  them  to  leave  the  watch,  which 
ley  did  upon  his  promise  to  pay  $5.00,  which 
jomise  he  will  keep.  The  two  ruffians  then 
cj  heartily  and  drank  cider,  and  in  their  ef- 
it  to  get  away  they  stole  a  horse  from  a 
righbor,  but  were  caught  and  arrested  by 
Cficer  McCabe,  indicted,  tried,  and  then 
f  ally  sentenced  by  Samuel  K.  Phillips  to  ten 
jars  in  prison. 


pAAC  S.  GENUNG,  a  thorough   and  sys- 

i  tematic  farmer  of  the  town  of  East  Fishkill, 

I  tchess  county,  was  born  January  30,  1831, 

i:what  was  then  the  town  of  Fishkill.  but  is 

Hw  East  Fishkill,   and>  is  a  worthy  represent- 

a've  of  one  of  the  honored  old  families  of  the 

c  mty,  and  was  of  French  origin. 

I  Gabriel  Genung,  his  grandfather,  was  born 

aMorristown,  N.  J.,  May   22,    1775,  and   in 

State,  July  10.  1799,  was  united  in  mar- 

':^e  with    Nancy    Brinckerhoff,   whose  birth 

■  ftp  there  occurred.      Shortly  after  their  mar- 


riage  they  came  to  Dutchess  county,  locating 
in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  where  the  grandfather 
engaged  in  farming  and  in  the  tanning  busi- 
ness. There  they  reared  their  three  sons: 
Adrian,  who  became  a  merchant  of  Swartout- 
ville  and Johnsville,  Dutchess  county;  Joseph, 
the  father  of  our  subject;  and  Benjamin,  who 
followed  farming  in  Wayne  county,  N.  Y. 
The  mother  of  these  children  died  September 
10,  1844,  and  the  father  on  November  20, 
1857.  He  had  a  brother  who  faithfully  served 
in  the  war  of  1812. 

In  the  town  of  Fishkill,  March  13,  1801, 
was  born  Joseph  Genung,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  and  he  soon  became  familiar  with  the 
duties  that  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  agriculturist 
upon  the  home  farm.  He  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Mrs.  Charlotte  Remsen,  a  native  of 
the  town  of  Fishkill,  and  a  daughter  of  Abra- 
ham Storm.  They  located  upon  the  old  home- 
stead farm,  which  the  father  continued  to 
cultivate  and  improve  until  his  death,  June  6, 
1865;  his  wife  passed  away  August  11,  1893. 
They  were  both  members  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  and  in  politics  he  was  an  ardent  Dem- 
ocrat. 

Our  subject  is  the  eldest  in  the  family  of 
ten  children,  the  others  being  Sarah;  Jane, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Edgar  Baldwin,  but 
both  are  now  deceased;  John,  a  farmer  of  the 
town  of  East  Fishkill;  Polhemus,  a  broker  and 
insurance  man  of  New  York  City;  Joseph,  who 
is  living  retired  in  Poughkeepsie;  Albert,  an 
agriculturist  of  the  town  of  East  Fishkill;  and 
William,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty  years. 

Upon  the  home  farm  of  155  acres  of  rich 
and  arable  land,  Isaac  S.  Genung  remained 
with  his  brother  John  and  sister  Sarah,  and 
has  there  since  carried  on  general  farming. 
He  is  one  of  the  substantial  farmers  of  the 
township,  having  met  with  a  well-deserved 
success  in  his  chosen  calling,  and  no  man 
takes  a  keener  interest  in  the  prosperity  of  his- 
native  county,  or  is  held  in  higher  respect, 
than  Mr.  Genung.  Politically,  he  affiliates 
with  the  Democratic  party,  which  embodies 
his  views  on  public  questions  of  the  day. 


J  JOSEPH  W.  PHILLIPS.  Among  the  en- 
terprising and  influential  citizens  of  the 
town  of  East  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county, 
whose  names  are  scattered  through  the  pages 
of  this  volume  none  is  more  worthy  of  men- 
tion   than  the  gentleman  whose  name   intro- 


690 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPniCAL  RECORD. 


duces  this  brief  biographical  notice.  His 
grandfather,  John  Phillips,  was  a  native  of 
Holland,  and  on  crossing  the  Atlantic  to  the 
New  World,  located  upon  a  farm  in  the  town 
of  Fishkill  (now  Wappinger),  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, where  he  spent  his  remaining  days.  There 
he  was  married  and  reared  a  family  of  several 
children,  among  whom  was  Elias  Phillips,  the 
father  of  our  subject. 

The  last  named  was  born  May  3,  1792,  in 
what  was  then  the  town  of  Fishkill,  but  is 
now  Wappinger.  When  he  attained  to  man's 
estate,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Maria  Wilde, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren: Elizabeth,  now  the  widow  of  John  C. 
Storm,  a  farmer  of  East  Fishkill;  Sarah,  who 
married  Benjamin  Strang,  a  farmer  of  the 
same  town,  but  both  now  deceased;  John,  a 
resident  of  Tompkins  county,  N.  Y. ;  William 
W.,  deceased,  who  also  followed  farming; 
Elias  M.,  who  carried  on  farming  in  Tompkins 
county,  but  is  now  deceased;  Lumen  B.,  an 
agriculturist  of  Tompkins  county;  and  James 
D.,  a  hardware  merchant  of  Terre  Haute, 
Ind.  The  mother  of  these  children  died  in 
1 83 1,  and  Elias  Phillips  was  again  married, 
his  second  union  being  with  Elizabeth  North- 
rup,  a  native  of  Putnam  county,  N.  Y.,  where 
her  father,  John  Northrup,  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. Our  subject  was  the  only  child  born  of 
this  union.  During  his  entire  life  the  father 
followed  the  occupation  of  farming  exclusively, 
and  died  upon  his  farm  April  30,  1879,  while 
the  mother  departed  this  life  October  14,  1890. 
He  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  the  family 
were  Baptists  in  religious  belief. 

Joseph  W.  Phillips  was  born  in  the  town 
of  East  Fishkill  May  8,  1835,  and  there  his 
early  life  was  passed  amidst  rural  scenes  upon 
the  farm  which  his  father  had  purchased  in 
1833.  On  November  6,  1856,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Caroline  Rogers,  a  daughter  of 
Laban  and  Jane  (Sincerbox)  Rogers,  and  a 
native  of  the  town  of  Beekman,  Dutchess 
county,  where  her  father  was  also  born  and 
engaged  in  farming  throughout  life.  He  was 
the  son  of  John  Rogers,  also  a  native  of  that 
town,  and  an  agriculturist  by  occupation. 
Hezekiah  Rogers,  the  father  of  the  last  named, 
was  born  in  England,  and  with  two  brothers 
crossed  the  ocean  to  America,  he  becoming  a 
resident  of  the  town  of  Beekman,  while  they 
settled  on  Long  Island.  Simeon  D.  Sincer- 
box, the  maternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Phillips, 
was  also  a  native  of  Dutchess  county. 


Upon  their  marriage  Mr.  Phillips  took  hi 
wife  to  a  farm  in  the  town  of  East  Fishkil 
which  he  continued  to  operate  until  he  pui 
chased  his  present  place  near  the  village  c 
Gayhead.  It  contains  about  ten  acres,  and  i 
known  as  the  Dr.  Sutton  place;  but  he  sti 
owns  his  valuable  farm  of  200  acres,  which  h 
now  rents.  At  first  he  was  engaged  in  genera 
farming,  but  later  turned  his  attention  more  t 
the  milk  business.  He  is  at  present  living 
quiet,  retired  life  in  his  beautiful  home,  wher 
hospitality  abounds,  and  is  surrounded  by  al 
the  comforts  and  many  of  the  luxuries  of  life 
He  and  his  excellent  wife  contribute  to  th 
support  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Beekmar 
and  are  numbered  among  the  prominent  an 
highly  respected  citizens  of  the  communitj 
Politically  Mr.  Phillips  is  identified  with  th 
Republican  party. 


JffOHN  N.  LA  DUE,  a  prominent  and  entei 
||    prising  citizen  of  the  town  of  East  FisL 
kill,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  on  the  farii 
which  is  still  his  home,  June  25,  1824.     Tf 
family  came  from  France  during  the  Huguen 
persecution,  and  in  religious  belief  were  Metl 
odists   in  later  years.      William    La  Due,  tl 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  at  Ry 
Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  30,  1759,  ar 
on  reaching    manhood    was    married   to  Mi 
Elizabeth  Swartout,  whose  birth  occurred  N 
vember  19,  1761.      They  began  their  domest 
life  upon  the  farm  now  owned   by  our  subjec 
and  there   reared   their  children,  who  were  ( 
follows:     William;  Samuel,  who  was' a  farmi 
of  the  town  of    East   Fishkill;   Cornelius, 
agriculturist  of  the  town  of    Fishkill;    Juda; 
who  married    William    Coe,    a  farmer  of  t; 
town  of  Unionvale;  Jemima,  who  married  Pe" 
La  Due,  a  farmer  of  East  Fishkill;  Elizabel 
who  died  in  infancy;  Sarah;  Polly  and  Elizabel, 
Upon  a  part  of  the  original  tract  which  > 
father  had  purchased  in  East  Fishkill,  Willi:  1 
La  Due,  the   father  of  our  subject,  was  bd 
October  30,  1798,  and  was  there  reared.      ' 
September  20,  1820,  he  wedded  Mary  Got- 
lin,    who    was    born    in    Westchester  coun , 
N.    Y.,   April    II,    1797,   and  was  a  daugh  r 
of   Jeremiah  Conklin,    a    native  of    the  sa  - 
county,  where  in  later  life  he  followed  farmi  •• 
Five  children  were  born  to  the  parents  of  mi 
subject:     John    N.;    Elizabeth,    who   marijd 
John    C.    Greene,    a    farmer   of    Westches|r 
county;  Tamar,  who  resided  in  New  YorkC  . 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPEICAL  RECORD. 


391 


)ut  is  now  deceased;  James,  a  resident  of  Cali- 
ornia;  and  William  L. ,  an  agriculturist  of  East 
:''"ishkill,  Dutchess  county.  The  father  oper- 
ited  the  homestead  farm  until  his  death,  which 
[)ccurred  October  26,  1875;  in  politics  he  was 
irst  a  Whig,  and  later  a  Republican.  His 
aithful  wife  died  September  18,  1866. 

John  N.  La  Due  was  reared  upon  the  farm 
vhich  is  still  his  home,  and  there  has  spent  his 
ntire  life,  with  the  exception  of  fifteen  years 
■assed  in  New  York  City,  when  he  was  in- 
pector  of  customs,  and  he  proved  a  most 
apable  officer,  being  prompt  and  faithful  in 
lie  discharge  of  his  duties.  He  has  a  fine 
irm  of  125  acres,  and  now  makes  a  specialty 
f  fruit  culture,  raising  apples,  peaches,  etc. 

In  1S50  Mr.  La  Due  was  married  to  Miss 
lary  Greene,  who  belongs  to  an  old  family  of 
\'estchester  county,  where  her  father,  Israel 
ireene,  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits.  Two 
hildren  were  born  to  them:  Eugenie,  who 
.larried  Rev.  Charles  Knapp,  A.  M.,  an  Epis- 
ipal  minister  of  Delaware  county,  N.  Y.,  now 
2ceased;  and  Israel,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
)ur  years.  Mr.  La  Due  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
3an  in  politics,  is  an  intelligent,  energetic 
lan,  highly  spoken  of  by  all  his  neighbors, 
id  his  life  record  is  above  reproach. 


\  ARON   A.  STOCKHOLM,  a  valued  and 

"TL   esteemed    agriculturist,    of  the   town    of 
t    Fishkill,    Dutchess    county,    was    born 
re  in  October,   1824,  and  is  a  representative 
one  of  the  oldest  and  most  highly  respected 
imilies  of  the  county.       Upon  a  farm  in  that 
wnship  his  paternal   grandfather  reared  his 
mily  of  five  children,  who  in  order  of  birth 
|ere   as  follows:      Abraham,   who  became  a 
irmer  of  East    Fishkill;  Derrick,  an  attorney 
iw,  who  removed  to  Utica,  N.  Y. ;  George, 
'  went  to  Michigan,  where  his  family  still 
-ide;    Gertrude,    who    married    Thomas    E. 
:;ler.  a  farmer  of  the  town  of  East  Fishkill; 
Andrew,  the  father  of  our  subject. 
The  last  named  was  also  a  native  of  the 
n  of  East  Fishkill,  where  he  grew  to  man- 
d  upon  a  farm.      He   married   Miss  Maria 
.eeks,  who  also  belonged  to  an  old  family  of 
litchess  county,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of 
J*st    Fishkill,    where    her    father,     Chauncy 
f-eks,  conducted  a  hotel.     After    their  mar- 
:e  they  located  upon  a  farm  near  Hopewell, 
■re  they  reared  their   family   of   seven  chil- 
li, namely:     Delia,  who  became  the  wife  of 


James  C.  Emans,  a  farmer  of  East  Fishkill; 
Mary  G.;  Aaron  A.;  Caroline,  wife  of  Duryea 
Van  Wyck,  of  the  town  of  Wappinger,  Dutch- 
ess county;  Harriet,  wife  of  J.  A.  Young,  of 
Westchester  county,  N.  Y. ;  Charles,  a  restaur- 
ant keeper,  of  Poughkeepsie;  Theodocia, 
widow  of  James  Place;  and  John,  who  died  in 
the  Union  service  during  the  Civil  war.  The 
father  followed  the  vocations  of  farming  and 
milling  in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  and  be- 
came an  extensive  land  owner,  having  at  one 
time  about  600  acres.  His  political  support 
was  given  the  Democratic  party. 


w 


ILLIAM  EDGAR  BRINCKERHOFF, 

a    well-known    horticulturist    of    East 

Fishkill  town,  was  there  born  July  24,  1820. 
His  grandfather,  Derrick  Brinckerhoff,  a  na- 
tive of  Dutchess  county,  was  descended  from 
one  of  four  brothers  who  came  to  this  coun- 
try from  Holland  about  two  hundred  and  fifty 
years  ago,  and  the  family  have  mostly  been 
members  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church. 

After  his  marriage  the  grandfather  located 
on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  In  his  family  were  nine 
children:  John  D. ,  the  eldest,  was  the  father 
of  our  subject;  Abraham  was  a  farmer  of  East 
Fishkill  town;  Isaac  was  a  merchant  of 
Brinckerhoff,  Dutchess  county,  but  in  later 
life  engaged  in  farming  in  the  town  of  Fish- 
kill; William  was  a  merchant  of  Peekskill, 
N.  Y.,  where  his  death  occurred;  George  was 
a  farmer  of  Fishkill;  Catherine  married  James 
B.  Montrose,  a  farmer  of  East  Fishkill  town: 
Margaret  wedded  Charles  Scofield,  a  farmer 
in  the  Highlands;  Mary  Ann  married  Darius 
Hustis,  an  agriculturist  of  the  same  place;  and 
Helen  married  Absolam  Serene,  who  was  for 
a  time  a  merchant  at  Hughsonville,  Dutchess 
county,  but  later  carried  on  farming  in  the 
West.      She  is  still  living. 

John  D.  Brinckerhoff,  also  a  native  of 
Fishkill  town,  was  there  reared  upon  a  farm. 
He  married  Miss  Caroline  Hasbrook,  who 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  Col.  Benjamin  Hasbrook,  a  prom- 
inent farmer,  and  a  Mason,  fraternally.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Brinckerhoff  began  housekeeping 
upon  a  farm  in  East  Fishkill  town,  where  he 
died  in  1863,  and  she  passed  away  in  1885. 
His  political  support  was  given  the  Demo- 
cratic   party.     F"ive    children    were    born    to 


692 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


them:  Benjamin  H.,  now  a  resident  of 
Ohio;  William  E.,  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Theodoric,  a  merchant  on  Staten  Island,  who 
died  in  1896;  Abraham,  a  resident  of  southern 
California;  and  Susan,  deceased  wife  of  Will- 
iam B.  Hazelton,  a  farmer  of  Mahopac  Falls, 
New  York. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject 
were  quietly  passed  upon  the  home  farm.  His 
marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Anderson  was  cel- 
ebrated in  1854.  She  is  also  a  native  of  East 
Fishkill  town,  and  a  daughter  of  Peter  Ander- 
son, who  came  to  that  town  from  New  Eng- 
land and  located  upon  a  farm.  Four  children 
graced  this  union:  Charles  E.,  who  died 
aged  about  ten  years;  Carrie,  wife  of  Henry 
J.  Matthews,  of  Mount  Kisco,  N.  Y. ;  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  Arthur  Storm,  a  farmer  of  East 
Fishkill  town;  and  Cornelia  M.,  wife  of 
George  A.  Member,  a  merchant  of  Fishkill 
Landing. 

Since  his  marriage  Mr.  Brinckerhoff  has 
lived  upon  his  present  farm  of  eighty  acres, 
and  besides  general  farming  he  gives  special 
attention  to  fruit  culture;  being  one  of  the 
most  successful  horticulturists  of  the  com- 
munity. He  and  his  estimable  wife  contrib- 
ute to  the  Reformed  Church  at  Hopewell, 
and  being  a  strong  temperance  man  he  always 
casts  his  ballot  in  support  of  the  Prohibition 
party,  which  embodies  his  views  on  that  ques- 
tion. He  has  always  been  identified  with 
works  of  public  improvement  and  progress, 
and  is  one  of  the  representative  and  leading 
citizens  of  the  community,  where  he  has  al- 
ways made  his  home,  and  where  he  is  so 
widely  and  favorably  known. 


pORGAN  L.  VAIL,  a  well-known  dairy 
farmer  of  the  town  of  East  Fishkill, 
Dutchess  county,  is  a  native  of  Rensselaer  Co., 
N.  Y. ,  born  March  29,  1848,  but  belongs  to  a 
family  that  was  early  established  in  Dutchess 
county,  his  great-grandfather  having  located 
upon  a  large  tract  of  land  in  the  town  of  Union- 
vale,  where  he  reared  a  family  of  several  chil- 
dren. 

Elias  Vail,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  one  of  the  four  sons,  and  was  born  on  the 
farm  in  Unionvale,  December  23,  1774.  He 
married  Hannah  Duncan,  who  was  born  in 
1 78 1,  and  they  began  housekeeping  on  a  part 
of  the  old  homestead.  In  their  family  were 
thirteen  children,  namely:     David  D. ,  born  in 


1800,  died  in  1821;  Isaac  E.,  born  in  1802, 
died  in  18 19;  Simeon  L. ,  born  in  1804,  was  a 
farmer  of  Illinois,  where  his  death  occurred; 
Egbert  B.,  born  in  1806,  was  a  resident  of 
Poughkeepsie;  Mary,  born  in  1808,  wedded 
John  Snedecor,  a  farmer;  Phenner  P.,  born  in 
18 10,  engaged  in  farming  in  Dutchess  Co.,  and 
in  Vermont;  Alexander  H.  is  the  father  of  our 
subject;  Thomas  S.,  born  in  181 3,  died  un- 
married, November  25,  1894;  John  D.,  born 
in  181 5,  is  a  retired  farmer,  living  in  Chicago; 
Lavinia,  born  in  18 17,  married  Elias  N.  Haight, 
a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess 
county,  and  both  are  now  deceased;  Milan, 
born  in  1819,  and  Sarah,  born  in  1821,  both 
died  unmarried;  and  Elias  D.,  born  in  1823, 
is  a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Unionvale.  The 
grandfather  always  devoted  his  attention  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  both  himself  and  wife 
died  on  the  home  farm  in  the  town  of  Union- 
vale, in  1851. 

Alexander  H.  Vail,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  on  the  old  homestead,  Octobei 
4,  181 1,   and   there   spent   his  boyhood  days. 
He  wedded   Caroline  Smith,  who  was  born  ir 
1812,  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess  county, 
and  was  a  daughter  of  Maurice  Smith,  a  tannei 
and   currier  by  trade,  whose  birth  occurred  ir 
the  town  of   Fishkill  in  1765.      Her  mother, 
who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Margaret  Strait 
was  born  in  Dutchess  county  in  1767.    In  theii 
family  were  ten  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Vai 
was  the  youngest,  the  names  and  dates  of  birtl 
of   the  others    being    as    follows:     Elizabeth 
1788;  Hannah,  1790;  Abel,  1792;  Mary,  1794 
George,    1796;    Jerusha,    1799;     Morgan   L. 
1801;  Susan,  1804;  and  Margaret,  1806.    Mau 
rice  Smith,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  sub 
ject,  was  an    extensive  landholder,   owning  ; 
great  deal  of  property  where  Poughkeepsie  nov 
stands,  and  served  as  sheriff  of  Dutchess  county 
The  Smith  family  is  of  English  descent,  and  a| 
an   early  day  took  quite  a  prominent  part  i;' 
the  affairs  of  Dutchess  county,  where  many  c 
its  members  still  live. 

Upon  their  marriage,  the  parents  of  ou 
subject  lived  for  some  time  upon  a  farm  in  th, 
town  of  Hyde  Park,  Dutchess  county,  latei 
spending  eighteen  years  in  Rensselaer  count} 
N.  Y.,  while  the  following  fourteen  years  wer 
passed  in  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie,  after  whici 
they  located  upon  the  farm  now  owned  by  01 
subject,  where  ihe  mother  died  in  1880,  and  thi 
father  in  1882.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democra 
The  parental  household  included  four  childrer 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Cornelia  P.,  born  in  1840,  died  in  1845;  Albert 
H.,  born  in  1842,  practiced  medicine  in  the 
West,  and  died  in  California  in  1893;  Morgan 
^.  is  next  in  order  of  birth;  and  Susan  C. , 
)orn  in  1850,  died  in  1856. 

Until  sixteen  years  of  age  our  subject  re- 
mained in  the  count}'  of  his  nativity,  and  then 
iiccompanied    his    parents    to    Poughkeepsie, 
ivhere  he  completed  his  education,  after  which 
le  clerked  in  the  drug  store  of  Wood  &  Titta- 
ner  for  three  years.      In  1 880  he  married  Caro- 
ine  V.  Seaman,  a  native  of  Dutchess  county, 
Lnd  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Sarah  (Rynus) 
ieaman,  both   born  in  the   town  of   Pleasant 
/alley,  Dutchess  county.     Richard  N.  Seaman, 
ler  paternal   grandfather,   was  of  English  ex- 
raction,   and   a   farmer  by  occupation,  while 
he   Rynus  family  was  of  Dutch  stock.      Mr. 
nd    Mrs.    Vail    at    once    located    upon    their 
)resent  farm  in  East  Fishkill  town,   and  there 
heir  nine  children   were  born,   whose   names 
nd  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows:     Morgan  L. , 
r.,  1881 ;  Alexander  S.,  1882;  Philip  Seaman, 
i883;    Fanny,    1885;  Caroline,    1886;  Emily, 
888;  Ruth,   1889;  Elizabeth,  1891;  and  Har- 
Id  Huntington,    1895.      Morgan  and  Alexan- 
er  both  died  in  infancy. 

Upon  his  farm  of  165  acres,  Mr.  Vail  is 
Ingaged  in  dairying,  making  a  specialty  of  the 
lie  of  milk,  and  has  been  quite  successful  in 
lis  venture.  He  is  an  intelligent,  public- 
ipirited  citizen,  identifying  himself  with  all 
latters  which  will  promote  the  welfare  of  the 
Dmmunity,  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  both 
imself  and  wife  are  faithful  members  of  the 
■aptist  Church  at  Beekman. 


jaiCHARDT.  SWIFT,  a  well-known  resi- 
13,  dent  of  the  town  of  Washington,  Dutch- 
es county,  was  engaged  during  the  earlier 
lears  of  his  life  in  agricultural  pursuits,  but  is 
ow  retired  from  active  labor.  He  is  a  native 
f  that  town,  where  he  was  born  September 
5,  18 1 7,  and  is  the  representative  of  an  old 
merican  family,  of  English  origin,  that  was 
•unded  in  this  country  about  1640.  His 
(.ther,  Zebulon  Swift,  was  born  at  Springhill, 
ear  Sandwich,  Mass.,  July  29,  1776,  and 
lere  his  grandfather,  Abraham  Swift,  was  also 
^rn.  The  latter  was  married  in  the  Bay 
tate,  where  he  followed  cabinet  making,  but 
|.ter  came  to  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y. ,  locating 
n  a  farm  near  Millbrook,  which  he  operated 
connection  with  work  at  his  trade.      In  his 


family  were  five  children:  Zebulon  and  his 
twin  brother,  Lemuel,  who  was  a  farmer  of 
Washington  town;  Bariah,  a  machinist  and  in- 
ventor; Robert,  who  had  large  business  in- 
terests at  Millbrook,  including  a  sawmill;  and 
Deborah,  who  died  unmarried.  The  family 
belonged  to  the  Society  of  Friends. 

Zebulon  Swift  was  only  a  boy  when  brought 
by  his  parents  to  this  county,  where  he  fol- 
lowed cabinet  making  and  farming.  He  was 
married  March  3,  1803,  to  Sarah  Titus,  a  na- 
tive of  Washington  town,  and  of  English  de- 
scent. Her  father  engaged  in  blacksmithing 
and  farming  as  a  means  of  livelihood.  By  her 
marriage  with  Mr.  Swift  she  became  the 
mother  of  nine  children,  namely:  Deborah, 
who  died  unmarried;  Elizabeth,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Joseph  Bartlett,  January  i,  1828, 
and  with  her  husband  is  now  deceased;  Will- 
iam, who  was  a  farmer  of  Washington  town, 
and  has  also  passed  away;  Johanna  and  Phoebe, 
who  both  died  unmairried;  Richard  T.,  subject 
of  this  sketch;  Sarah,  who  also  died  unmarried; 
and  Isaac,  who  operates  a  farm  in  the  town 
of  Washington.  The  father  died  August  16, 
1823,  and  the  mother  passed  away  January  16, 
1870. 

Richard  T.  Swift  was  reared  to  the  life  of 
an  agriculturist,  which  occupation  he  followed 
until  his  retirement,  and  he  early  became  fa- 
miliar with  the  labors  on  a  farm.  On  Septem- 
ber 12,  1839,  he  married  Miss  Hannah  S. 
Deuel,  who  was  born  at  Kinderhook,  Columbia 
Co.,  N.  Y. ,  February  23,  1817,  and  is  de- 
scended from  a  French  Huguenot  family,  who 
sought  religious  freedom  in  this  country  at  an 
early  day  in  its  history.  Her  father,  Silas 
Deuel,  was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Washing- 
ton, Dutchess  county,  where  he  married  a  Miss 
Davis,  by  whom  he  had  only  one  child:  Mrs. 
Swift.  The  entire  married  life  of  our  subject 
and  his  wife  was  passed  in  the  town  of  Wash- 
ington with  the  exception  of  three  years  spent 
on  a  farm  in  Dover  town,  Dutchess  county. 
For  the  last  fifteen  years  he  has  given  up  ac- 
tive labor,  enjoying  a  well-earned  rest. 

Three  children  graced  the  union  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Swift,  (i)  Amelia  M.,  born  September 
9,  1840,  was  married  December  19,  1866,  to 
Albert  Knapp,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Stan- 
ford, Dutchess  county.  (2)  James  D.,  born 
March  20,  1842,  married  Verna  M.  Case,  Oc- 
tober 12,  1867,  and  they  had  one  son,  Freder- 
ick W.,now  a  tinsmith  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y., 
who  was  born  February  6,  1869,  and  married 


694 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPBWAL  RECORD. 


Charlotte  Covil.  Mrs.  Verna  M.  Swift  died 
February  3,  1873,  and  March  7,  1877,  James 
D.  Swift  married  Miss  Emma  E.  Carson,  of 
New  York  City,  a  daughter  of  John  C.  Carson, 
a  native  of  Grenock,  Scotland.  They  are  the 
parents  of  four  children:  Jane  Verna,  who 
was  born  October  30,  1878,  and  died  July  9, 
1879;  James  Richard,  born  November  11, 
1881;  Richard  Carson,  born  May  21,  1885; 
and  Minnie  Grace,  born  March  31,  1890.  For 
some  time  James  D.  Swift  was  a  merchant  of 
Millbrook,  but  is  now  employed  at  the  carpen- 
ter's trade.  (3)  Gurdon,  born  November  4, 
1844,  'S  the  youngest  child  of  the  family,  and 
is  engaged  in  farming  in  the  town  of  Washing- 
ton. 

On  March  24,  1884,  Mrs.  Swift  departed 
this  life,  leaving  many  friends,  as  well  as  a  lov- 
ing family,  to  mourn  her  loss.  The  children 
are  members  of  various  Churches,  but  our  sub- 
ject is  an  Orthodox  Friend  in  religious  belief, 
and  stands  high  in  the  regard  of  his  fellow  citi- 
zens. In  politics  he  is  a  firm  supporter  of  the 
Republican  party. 


JAMES  L.  PINCKNEY.  The  fertile  lands 
of  the  town  of  Pawling,  Dutchess  county, 
have  always  afforded  a  tempting  field  for 
enterprise,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is 
one  of  the  active  and  progressive  men  who 
have  engaged  successfully  in  agriculture  and 
dairying  in  that  town.  He  is  a  native  of  Put- 
nam county,  born  at  Lake  Mahopac  (or  Ger- 
man Flats)  March  i,  1855.  He  obtained  a 
common-school  education  there,  and  at  an 
early  age  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count. •  In  1889  he  married  Miss  Marie  L. 
Hay,  and  their  union  being  childless,  they 
adopted  a  little  girl  October  i,  1891,  giving 
her  the  name  of  Mary  Antoinette  Pinckney. 
She  was  born  on  Washington's  birthday, 
1885. 

Perry  Pinckney,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  at  Red  Mills,  Putnam  county  (now  Ma- 
hopac Falls),  and  his  early  education  was  lim- 
ited to  the  district  schools  of  that  time  and 
locality.  For  a  number  of  years  he  followed 
the  carpenter's  trade,  and  later  purchased  a 
tract  of  land  in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill, 
Dutchess  county,  where  he  conducted  a  dairy 
farm  during  his  remaining  days.  He  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Lockwood,  daughter  of  David 
Lockwood,  a  well-known  hotel  keeper  at  Car- 
mel,  Putnam  county,  and  had  si.x  children,  of 


whom  our  subject  was  the  youngest.  All 
were  born  at  the  old  home  in  Putnam  county, 
and  were  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
vicinity,  (i)  Lewis  became  a  farmer  of  the 
town  of  Pawling,  and  has  never  married.  (2) 
Sarah  married  Robert  J.  Lee,  a  farmer  of  the 
town  of  East  Fishkill,  and  has  had  eleven  chil- 
dren: Ella,  who  married  Madison  J.  Horton, 
and  has  two  daughters,  Millie  and  May;  Flor- 
ence, who  married  Isaac  Horton,  and  has 
four  children,  Madison,  Mary  L. ,  and  two 
others;  Annie;  Alice;  William;  Edith;  Burton; 
Leona,  who  married,  and  has  three  children, 
Andrew,  Hiram,  and  one  whose  name  is  not 
given;  Edward  L. ,  who  died  when  about  six- 
teen years  of  age;  and  Lula  and  Maude,  the 
last  named  living  with  her  aunt,  Mrs.  Sophia 
Tompkins,  who  is  bringing  her  up.  (3)  Sophie 
married  Walter  Tompkins,  a  farmer  of  Put 
nam  county,  but  they  have  no  children.  (4 
Irene  has  never  married.  (5)  Caroline  mar- 
ried John  E.  Patterson,  a  farmer,  and  hat 
three  children:  Edith,  May  E.,  and  oat 
whose  name  is  not  given. 

Mrs.  Pinckney  was  born  January  10,  1853, 
in   New   York   City,    and  after   attending  thfj 
public  schools  there,   she    became  an  exper  | 
seamstress  on  shirts,   vests  and  dresses,   ami 
afterward  followed  the  business  of  dress-mak  | 
ing  for  twenty  years.      Her   father,   AnthonM 
Hay,  was  a  native  of  Schwalbach,  Germany! 
where  he  received   his   education.      He  span  | 
some  years  in  Paris,  France,  as  a  shoemaker | 
and  he  married   a   French  lady,   Mile.  Mariij 
Catherine  Renaud,  daughter  of  Daniel  Renaudi 
The  latter  had  twelve  children — six  sonsan<| 
six    daughters:     Daniel,     Jr.,     who    died    i: 
France;    Peter,   now  living  in    France;  Fred 
erick    (deceased),    who    had    two    children- 
Frederick  and  Emma — and  formerly  lived  i 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  Henry,  living  in  California 
Eugene  (deceased);  Louis,  who  died  in  France 
Marion,    who    died    in    France;    Louise   (de 
ceased),    formerly   of  Paterson,   N.   J. ;  Catb 
erine   (deceased),    who    was    Mrs.    Lalin,   ( 
Green   Point,    Long   Island,    N.   Y. ,   and  ha 
thirteen  children;  Elizabeth,  of  France;  Susa 
(now  Mrs.  Hilbert,  of  Green  Point,  N.  Y.)  h; 
four  children  living — Fred,  in  California;  Lou 
M.,  in  New  York  City;  Alfred,   Jr.,    in   Gree 
Point;  and  Emily,   in    Tremont,   N.   Y. — an 
Marie  Catherine,   the  mother  of  Mrs.    PincI 
ney.    Anthony  Hay  and  wife  came  to  New  Yoi 
City,    where   their  two  daughters  were  bori 
Mrs.  Pinckney,  the  younger,  January  10,  185 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


695 


and  Emma  C,  the  elder,  on  January  15, 
1 85 1.  The  latter  attended  the  city  schools 
during  girlhood,  and  afterward  married  Charles 
Schaefer,  a  carpenter  of  the  same  city.  They 
had  one  son,  Charles,  who  died  when  nearly 
two  years  old.  Anthony  Hay  died  July  5, 
1S54.     His  widow  is  still  living. 


JOHN  H.  ORTON,  residing  near  Dover 
Plains,  Dutchess  county,  is  a  leading  dairy- 
'  man  and  agriculturist  of  that  vicinity.  He 
s  a  native  of  the  town  of  Dover,  born  March 
5,  1844,  and  has  passed  his  life  there,  attend- 
ng  the  public  schools  in  boyhood  and  engag- 
ng  in  farming  at  an  early  age.  In  1889  he 
purchased  from  Alice  Wheeler  his  present 
arm,  containing  125  acres  of  fine  land,  and 
lis  excellent  management  has  made  it  one  of 
he  best  of  its  kind  in  the  township.  Although 
le  is  not  a  politician  in  the  strict  sense  of  the 
arm,  he  is  a  strong  supporter  of  Democratic 
jrinciples.  In  1878  he  married  Miss  Lucy  J. 
rhorp,  daughter  of  Bradford  Thorp,  a  well- 
;nown  resident  of  Lime  Rock,  Conn.,  and 
hey  had  four  children:  Willard  B.  and  a 
laughter  (twins),  born  January  29,  1878,  the 
atter  living  only  three  days,  while  the  former 
vho  was  a  bright  little  boy,  lacked  but  eleven 
lays  of  being  three  years  old  when  he, too, died; 
Oliver  L.,  born  February  28,  1883;  and  Claude 
vl.,  born  April  1 1,  1888. 

Our  subject's  ancestors  were  early  settlers 
n  Connecticut,   and  his  grandfather,  William 
Drton,  was  a  native  of  that  State,  and  became 
I  well-to-do  farmer.      He  and  his  wife,  Ruana, 
eared  a  family   of  four  children:     Sally,  the 
vife  of  Harry  Edmonds;  James,    who  married 
-ydia  Finch,  and   had  five    children;    Harry, 
-    vho  never  married;   and  Oliver  L.,  our  sub- 
ect's  father,   who  was  born   in   Connecticut, 
vugust  15,  1809.      After  acquiring  a  common- 
chool  education  he   learned  the  shoemaker's 
rade,  but  did  not  follow  it   long.      He  was  a 
I    nusician  and  a  trooper  in  the  days  of  the  old 
nilitia.     In  politics  he  was  a  stanch   Demo- 
rat.     He  married  Miss  Ruth  B.  Burton,  and 
lad  si.x  children,  of  whom  our  subject  was  the 
ifth  in  order  of  birth.      The  eldest,  Mary  A., 
^as  born  February  2,  1834,  and  married  James 
)rton  (a  relative),  who   was   engaged  in  farm- 
ng  near  Patterson,   Putnam  Co.,  N.  Y.;  they 
ad  one  son,  Charles,  who  died  in  1888.     (2) 
ames  W.  Orton  was  born  October  27,  1835, 
1  the  town  of   Dover,   Dutchess  county,  and 


after  leaving  school  followed  farming  for  some 
time,  but  is  now  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  New  Milford,  Conn.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge  at  Dover.  His 
first  wife.  Miss  Sarah  Lee,  died  August  16, 
1865,  and  he  is  now  married  to  Miss  Maria 
Sherman.  He  has  no  living  offspring,  the  two 
children  of  his  first  marriage,  Charles  and  Ber- 
tha, having  died  in  infancy.  (3)  Jetson  Orton, 
who  was  born  in  Dover  Plains,  August  16, 
1839,  is  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He  married 
Susan  Wheeler,  daughter  of  Alfred  and 
Mary  Wheeler,  prominent  farmers  of  Dover, 
and  has  three  children:  Lewis  J.,  who  mar- 
ried Sarah  Brinck;  Mary,  the  wife  of  Joseph 
Titus;  and  Burton  R.,  who  is  at  home.  (4) 
Sallie  R.  Orton,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Dover,  May  14,  1841,  and  like  the  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family  received  an  education  in  the 
public  schools  near  her  home.  She  married 
Miles  C.  Bump,  a  carpenter  of  Amenia,  and 
has  two  children — Thomas  L.  and  Nettie  M. 
(6)  Martha  J.  Orton,  the  youngest  of  the  fam- 
ily, born  October  9,  1846,  died  of  consump- 
tion at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years. 

Mrs.  Orton's  grandfather,  Hercules  Westely 
Thorpe,  was  a  native  of  Lime  Rock,  Conn., 
the  old  home  of  this  family.  He  married  Judith 
Lampson,  and  had  five  children:  John,  Brad- 
ford, Horace,  Hiram,  and  Esther.  Bradford 
Thorpe,  Mrs.  Orton's  father,  has  always  been 
a  farmer  at  Lime  Rock.  He  married  Frances 
Winters,  and  had  nineteen  children,  of  whom 
fifteen  are  living,  as  well  as  both  the  parents. 
Edward  married  Ruth  Jones;  Mary, — Isaac 
Dinger ;  Minnie — ^  William  Dinger ;  Frank — Pollie 
Bishop;  Andrew — Sarah  Chase;  Esther — ^Homer 
Brown;  Fannie,  Julia,  and  Sabelia  never 
married;  Lucy  J.  is  the  wife  of  our  subject; 
William  and  Charles  are  not  married;  Rose  is 
the  wife  of  George  Bishop;  Estella  married 
William  Bishop;  Hattie  is  not  married;  Birdie, 
Caroline,  and  John  and   Amelia  are  deceased. 


HERBERT  J.  CURTIS,  a  stalwart  and 
sturdy  representative  of  the  noble  yeo- 
manry who  make  up  the  agricultural  popula- 
tion of  Dutchess  county,  is  a  resident  of  the 
town  of  Red  Hook,  where  he  was  born  April 
II,  1858.  His  father,  John  Curtis,  was  the 
son  of  Le  Grand  Curtis,  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Carroll  &  Curtis,  furniture  dealers  and  un- 
dertakers, of  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county. 
The  father  wedded  Jane  C.  Beaumont,  and  to 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


them  were  born  eight  children:  Le  Grand  B., 
born  November  3,  1841,  married  Helen  An- 
drews, and  after  her  death  wedded  Mary  Mas- 
sonneau;  Edwin  S.,  born  August  28,  1843,  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Emma  French, 
daughter  of  John  French,  a  professor  at  West 
Point,  N.  Y. ;  L.  Irene,  born  September  2, 
1845,  is  the  wife  of  John  A.  Fraleigh,  son  of 
George  Fraleigh;  Florence,  born  in  December, 
1847,  Willis,  born  in  November,  1849,  and 
Grace,  born  October  2,  1852,  all  died  in  in- 
fancy; Herbert  J.  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth; 
and  James  C,  born  April  15,  i860,  also  died 
in  infancy.  The  father  of  this  family  departed 
this  life  in  August,    1875. 

The  maternal  grandparents  of  our  subject, 
Abraham  and  Martha  (Carter)  Beaumont,  came 
to  the  United  States  from  Onley,  near  Hud- 
dersfield,  England,  and  located  at  Chester 
Creek,  near  Philadelphia,  Penn.  In  their 
native  land  two  children  had  come  to  bless 
their  union:  Jane  C,  mother  of  our  subject, 
born  April  15,  18 16;  and  Martha  A.,  born 
February  18,  1818;  after  their  location  at 
Chester  Creek  the  family  circle  was  increased 
by  the  birth  of  another  daughter,  Eliza  T. , 
born  June  30,  1831.  Being  an  expert  machin- 
ist, the  father  soon  secured  work  at  Chester 
Creek,  where  he  remained  for  four  years,  and 
then  removed  to  Trenton,  N.  Y. ,  where  he 
also  found  employment  at  his  chosen  trade. 
His  wife  died  in  this  country  in  February,  1832, 
but  his  death  occurred  while  on  a  visit  to 
England  in  1843. 

On  reaching  a  sufficient  age  Herbert  J. 
Curtis  entered  the  common  schools  of  Red 
Hook,  completing  his  studies  in  the  De  Garmo 
Institute,  Rhinebeck,  N.  Y.,  which  has  since 
been  transferred  to  Fishkill-on-Hudson.  After 
leaving  school  he  began  his  business  career  as 
a  bookkeeper  in  his  father's  store,  but  now 
turns  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
conducting  a  fine  farm  just  outside  the  village 
of  Red  Hook,  which  might  well  be  termed  a 
model  farm,  as  it  is  supplied  with  all  modern 
conveniences,  good  and  substantial  buildings, 
and  the  fields  are  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. He  also  gives  considerable  attention  to 
the  raising  of  fine  poultry,  and  has  been  quite 
successful  in  all  his  undertakings. 

On  November  7,  1878,  Mr.  Curtis  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Angle  B.  Lasher, 
daughter  of  Nelson  P.  Lasher,  who  was  a 
teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Red  Hook. 
Mrs.  Curtis  began  her  education  in  the  public 


schools  of  that  place,  completing  same  at  Clav- 
erack  Institute,  Claverack,  N.  Y. ,  and  latei 
engaged  in  teaching  for  some  time  with  her 
father.  By  her  marriage  she  has  become  the 
mother  of  four  children:  C.  Leland;  Minnie 
G. ;  Carrol  J.,  who  died  February  26,  1883; 
and  Raymond  J.  The  parents  are  widely  and 
favorably  known  throughout  the  community, 
and  hold  a  high  position  in  social  circles. 


JOHN  A.  TRAVER,  one  of  the  most  pro 
gressive  and  intelligent  agriculturists  of  thi 
town  of  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county,  wa 
born  January  27,  1834,  on  the  farm  upoi 
which  he  now  resides. 

It  is  not  known  exactly  when  the  first  of  th<' 
American  branch  of  the  family  crossed  the  ocean 
but  his  ancestors  were  undoubtedly  among  th 
pioneer  farmers  of  Sullivan  county,  as  thre' 
brothers  of  the  name  came  from  there  at  a  ver 
early  date,  and  purchased  a  large  tract  of  Ian. 
in  the  town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess  county,  an 
afterward  separated. 

David  Traver,  our  subject's  great-grand 
father,  had  a  son,  Andrew  D.  Traver,  born  i 
Clinton  town,  who  also  followed  farming,  an 
about  1818  moved  to  a  farm  in  the  town  c 
Rhinebeck  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Crandall 
He  was  thrifty  and  successful,  highly  esteeme 
in  the  neighborhood,  and  was  an  active  men^- 
ber  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Wurtemburs 
He  died  at  that  place  in  his  eighty-ninth  yeai 
and  was  buried  there,  as  was  also  his  wife,  i 
her  seventy-sixth  year.  They  had  three  chi 
dren:  Maria  (deceased),  who  married  Georg; 
Snyder;  Michael,  our  subject's  father;  an 
Julia,  the  widow  of  H.  D.  Teal,  deceased. 

Michael    Traver    was    born    October   i( 
1809,  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  but  passed  mo; 
of  his  life  in    Rhinebeck    town.      He  had  bi 
limited   educational    advantages,    but    he   h; 
always  kept  himself  well  posted  upon  gener 
topics,  and  is  a  constant  and  intelligent  reade 
In  1828  he  married  Eliza    Teal,  a  descendai 
of  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  prominent  fan 
ilies  of  the    township,  a   daughter  of  John 
Teal.     The   young    couple    settled    upon   tl 
present  homestead  near  Rhinebeck  where  Mr 
Traver  died  July  6.  1895,  in  her  eighty-four 
year.      Michael  Traver    always  displayed  go( 
judgment  in  business  matters,  and  his  succe 
was  based  upon  thrift  and  industry.     In  ear 
times  he  was  a  Whig,  and  later  a  Republica 
but  in  local  affairs  he  always  voted  indepen 


i^<:^'^^S^  ^ .  (^^fx-^tyd-;-^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


697 


ently.  He  was  never  an  office  seeker,  but  at 
one  time  was  assessor  of  his  township.  He 
united  with  the  Wurtemburg  Lutheran  Church 
in  his  youth,  and  was  one  of  the  builders  of 
the  Lutheran  church  of  Rhinebeck  village, 
where  for  many  years  he  was  a  leading  offi- 
cial. He  led  a  life  of  quiet  and  usefulness, 
which  brought  him  the  well-deserved  regard  of 
all  who  knew  him.  He  passed  to  his  final 
rest  March  i8,  1896,  in  his  eighty-seventh 
year,  one  of  those  few  who  leave 

"  no  memorial, 
But  a  world  made  better  by  their  lives." 

John  A.  Traver,  the  subject  of  our  sketch, 

the  only  son  of  his  parents,   received   a  good 

English  education  in  boyhood,    attending  first 

the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood,    and 

later  studying  for  thrte  years    in    Rhinebeck 

Academy  under    Prof.    Harper.      His  reading 

has  been    extended  far  beyond    the    ordinary 

imits,  his  attention  being  especially  devoted 

:o  history.     He  has  also  read    much    in    the 

ine  of  his  own  business,  of  which  he   takes   a 

scientific  view.      After  leaving  school  he    be- 

^an  to  relieve  his  father  of  his  cares,    and   for 

he  last  twenty  years  the  entire  responsibility 

)f  the  management  of  the  farm  of    130  acres 

las  devolved  upon  him.      His  good  judgment, 

ntegrity  and  public  spirit  have  made   him  a 

eader  in  local  affairs,   and  he  has   great   in- 

luence  in  town  and  county  politics.      He   has 

Iways   been   a    Republican,     but    has    never 

ought  office,  although  he  has  been  elected  to 

everal  positions — having  been  assessor  of  the 

ownship  for  many  years,  and  supervisor  four 

erms,  1892-93,  in  1 894  for  two  years,  and  in 

896  for  two  years;  he  has   also  been   chair- 

lan  of  the  committee  on   equalization   of  the 

ounty,  and  is  a  trustee  of  Rhinebeck  Savings 

Sank. 

In  1855  Mr.  Traver  was   married   to  Miss 

I    )li2abeth  Ten    Broeck,    daughter  of   Samuel 

I     nd  Maria  (Parks)  Ten  Broeck,  and  a  descend- 

nt  of  one  of  the  old   families.     They   have 

)ur  children:     Eliza,    (Mrs.   William    Wey); 

harles,  who  assists  his  father  upon  the  farm; 

(aria  (Mrs.    Frank  Wey);  and  Jennie,   who 

at  home.     The  children  were  educated   in 

1     Jiinebeck  Academy,  the  same  school  in  which 

fr.   Traver  completed   his  studies.      Charles 

3d  Eliza  paid  especial  attention  to  music,  the 

Tmer  being  a  talented  violinist,   and  the  lat- 

T  a  proficient  on  the  piano.      The  family  are 

ading    members    of    the    Lutheran     Stone 


Church  at  Rhinebeck,  and  have  always  been 
prominent  in  the  social  life  of  the  locality. 
The  homestead  of  the  family  has  been  in  their 
possession  for  nearly  one  hundred  years.  The 
family  is  also  noted  for  its  longevity;  Andrew 
D.  Traver  being  at  the  time  of  his  decease, 
eighty-nine;  Leah  Traver,  his  wife,  seventy- 
six;  Michael  Traver,  eighty-seven;  and  Eliza 
Traver,  eighty-four  years. 


JfAMES  E.  VAN  KLEECK  is  the  owner 
[  of  a  fine  farm  of  sixty  acres  in  the  town  of 
Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess  county,  where 
with  progressive  and  improved  methods  he 
carries  on  agricultural  pursuits,  while  the  well- 
tilled  fields  yield  to  him  a  golden  tribute  in  re- 
turn for  the  care  and  labor  he  bestows  upon 
them.  In  the  midst  of  these  stand  good 
buildings,  substantial  and  well-kept,  and  the 
air  of  neatness  and  thrift  which  pervades  the 
place  indicates  the  careful  supervision  of  the 
owner,  who  is  justly  regarded  as  one  of  the 
leading  farmers  of  the  neighborhood. 

Mr.  Van  Kleeck  is  a  native  of  the  town  of 
Lagrange,  Dutchess  county,  born  November 
19,  1820.  His  father,  Minard  Van  Kleeck, 
was  born  in  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie,  as  was 
the  grandfather,  who  also  bore  the  name  of 
Minard.  The  founder  of  the  family  in  Amer- 
ica was  likewise  a  Minard  Van  Kleeck,  and 
was  a  native  of  Holland,  whence  he  emigrated 
to  America,  living  for  some  years  on  Long 
Island.  He  then  took  up  his  residence  in 
Poughkeepsie,  where  he  spent  his  remaining 
days.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
here  reared  and  married.  Through  the  Rev- 
olutionary war  he  served  as  one  of  the  de- 
fenders of  the  colonies,  and  when  the  struggle 
was  ended  he  returned  to  his  home  at  Pough- 
keepsie. His  family  numbered  three  children: 
James,  who  died  of  yellow  fever  in  New  York 
City,  where  he  was  engaged  in  business  as  a 
candlemaker;  Rachel,  who  became  the  wife 
of  James  Talmadge,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of 
Pleasant  Valley;  and  Minard  the  father  of  our 
subject. 

The  last  named  was  reared  in  Poughkeep- 
sie, and  when  a  young  man  worked  for  vari- 
ous farmers  in  the  neighborhood.  He  mar- 
ried Helen  Rugar,  a  native  of  Lagrange  town, 
and  a  daughter  of  John  Rugar,  a  farmer  and 
carpenter,  who  belonged  to  an  old  Holland 
family.  Mr.  Van  Kleeck  removed  with  his 
bride  to  Lagrange  town,    and  continued  agri- 


698 


COMldEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


cultural  pursuits  throughout  his  life.  In  his 
political  affiliations  he  was  a  Democrat.  His 
death  occurred  in  1856;  that  of  his  wife  in 
1845.  Their  children  were  as  follows:  Cor- 
delia, married  Peter  Youngs,  a  farmer  of 
Dutchess  county,  and  both  are  deceased; 
James  E.  is  the  next  younger;  John  removed 
to  the  West,  where  his  death  occurred;  Han- 
nah E.  is  the  wife  of  Morris  Demers,  a  coop- 
er, of  Pennsylvania;  Mary  J.  was  married  and 
removed  to  the  West,  since  which  time  no 
news  has  been  received  of  her;  Helen  became 
the  wife  of  William  Potts,  formerly  a  farmer 
of  Lagrange;  Peter  followed  farming  in  La- 
grange town  until  his  death;  Minard  and 
Rachel  both  died  in  early  life. 

The  subject  proper  of  this  review  spent 
his  boyhood  days  in  •  the  usual  manner  of 
farmer  lads,  his  time  being  largely  occupied 
by  work  on  the  old  homestead,  and  to  the 
pursuit  to  which  he  was  reared  he  has  always 
devoted  his  energies.  He  is  ever  an  advocate 
of  advancement,  and  ready  to  accept  improved 
methods  which  his  judgment  countenances 
as  practical.  In  his  dealings  he  is  strictly 
honorable,  and  his  well-spent  life  commends 
him  to  the  confidence  and  regard  of  all. 

Mr.  Van  Kleeck  was  united  in  marriage 
with  a  daughter  of  David  Rigar,  and  they  re- 
sided on  the  old  farm  in  Lagrange  until  1869, 
when  he  sold  his  property  there  and  came  to 
his  present  farm.  On  July  4,  1895,  he  was 
called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  who 
was  a  most  estimable  lady. 


J'ULIUS  O.  ROWE,  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent agriculturists  of-  the  town  of  Milan, 
Dutchess  county,  was  born  September  7, 
1830,  upon  his  present  estate,  which  has  been 
in  the  possession  of  his  family  for  over  135 
years. 

Johannes  Rowe,  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject,  and  a  German  by  birth,  came  in  1760 
with  some  of  his  brothers  to  Dutchess  county, 
where  he  purchased  911  acres  of  land  from 
Chancellor  Robt.  R.  Livingston,  and  much  of 
this  land  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  Rowe 
family.  For  this  land  he  paid  ^750,  on 
which,  in  1766,  he  built  a  stone  house  (still 
standing),  and  passed  the  remaining  years  of 
his  life  in  the  quiet  calling  of  a  farmer.  Jo- 
hannes Rowe  died  in  1771,  and  was  buried  in 
the  family  ground  across  the  road  from  the 
church   which   bears  the   family    name.     He 


was  twice  married,  and  by  his  first  wife  ha 
six  children,  two  daughters — Mary  (Mr; 
James  Stewart),  Catherine  (Mrs.  William  Stev 
art);  and  four  sons — John,  Sebastian,  Phili 
and  Mark;  and  by  his  second  wife  he  had  on 
daughter,  Lydia — seven  children  in  all.  T 
each  of  these  the  father  gave  a  farm  in  th 
town  of  Milan,  and  the  boys  all  settled  thet 
and  were  prominent  in  the  early  history  of  th 
town;  they  built  the  Methodist  church  there 
and  were  generous  supporters  of  many  loca 
enterprises,  from  which  that  neighborhoo 
still  derives  benefit.  Philip  had  a  son  Willian 
P.  Rowe,  who  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  wa 
of  1812. 

Mark  Rowe,  our  subject's  grandfather,  mai 
ried  Catherine  Pitcher,  and  reared  a  family  c 
four  sons:  John,  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  M 
Ian,  left  no  children;  Garrett,  a  soldier  in  th 
war  of  18 12,  was  a  farmer  in  Columbia  cour 
ty,  and  had  six  children,  whose  descendant 
still  live  there;  William  was  a  farmer  in  th 
town  of  Milan,  and  left  several  children;  an 
Leonard  Rowe,  our  subject's  father,  born  f 
the  present  farm  in  1801,  became  a  farmer  b 
occupation.  He  was  married,  in  1827,  ! 
Miss  Eliza  C.  Reid,  a  native  of  the  town  < 
Milan.  The  Reids  are  of  English  origin,  ar 
the  first  American  ancestors  came  at  an  ear 
date,  settling  in  New  England.  Peter  Reic 
Mrs.  Rowe's  grandfather,  married  Miss  Thanl 
ful  Beecher,  of  New  Haven,  Conn.,  and  the> 
son  Ely  was  born  in  Connecticut,  in  early  11 1 
coming  to  Dutchess  county,  where  he  met  ai| 
married  Miss  Catherine  Rowe,  a  native  ( 
the  town  of  Milan  (then  Northeast).  Thij 
settled  in  Rhinebeck-on-Hudson,  where  El 
Reid  was  a  merchant  for  a  number  of  yeaij 
After  the  marriage  of  our  subject's  parent  1 
they  settled  at  the  old  homestead,  where  th] 
reared  a  family  of  four  children:  Julius  C 
Edward,  Horatio,  and  Virginia  A. 

Leonard  Rowe  was  very  mfluentnal  in  loc 
affairs,  a  leader  in  the  Democratic  organ!/ 
tion,  and  for  many  years  a  supervisor  and  ji| 
tice  of  the  peace.  Edward  went  to  Minnesc| 
in  1856,  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  ont| 
Minnesota  river  where  he  improved  a  lait 
farm,  and  resided  there  twenty-one  years.  f> 
health  failing,  he  rented  his  land  and  return  I 
to  Milan  in  1887,  where  he  died  in  iSf. 
Julius  O.  Rowe  still  resides  with  his  brotljr 
and  sister  at  Home  Nest,  the  ancestral  ho? 
of  their  parents,  where  in  youth  they  recei^p 
an  academic  education,  fitting  them  for  e/ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


699 


t/ocation  in  life.  They  stand  high  in  the  es- 
teem of  the  people,  among  whom  they  live, 
in  politics  Julius  O.  is  a  Democrat,  but  has 
lever  sought  nor  could  be  induced  to  hold  any 
official  position.  Horatio  has  served  satisfac- 
ory  as  supervisor  for  several  terms. 


^HERMAN  HOWARD,  a  promment  agri- 
^  culturist  and  a  dairyman  of  the  town  of 
^oughkeepsie,  and  a  descendant  of  one  of  the 
'Idest  families  of  Dutchess  county,  was  born 
1  the  town  of  Pawling,  January  27,  1821. 
'he  family  is  of  Irish  origin,  the  first  of  the 
.merican  line  settling  in  Rhode  Island  at  an 
arly  date. 

Edv.fard   Howard,    the    great-great-grand- 

ither,  a  Quaker,  came  from  Rhode  Island  to 

)utchess  county  early  in  the  seventeenth  cen- 

^ry,  settling  on  Quaker  Hill,  in   what  is  now 

le  town  of  Pawling,  when  that  locality  was  a 

irimeval  wilderness.      He  built  a  cabin  near  a 

jring  of  water,  and  he  and  his  wife  endured 

1  the  hardships  and  privations  of  pioneer  life 

sfore  they  transformed  their   land  into  a  pro- 

ictive  farm.     They  had  three  children,  viz.: 

'ynthia  (who  married  James  Akin),  Benjamin 

id  Edward. 

Edward,  our  subject's  great-grandfather, 
born  in  the  year  1730,  married  Phebe 
art,  and  reared  a  family  of  eleven  children: 
;ephen,  Edward,  John,  William,  Thomas, 
lichard,  Matthew,  Phebe,  Mary,  Patience  and 
iirah.  Phebe  married  Daniel  Martin;  Mary 
tarried  Samuel  Tripp;  Sarah  married  Thomas 
iephens;  and  Patience  married  John  Howard, 
f  officer  in  the  British  army,  whom  she  mar- 
1  1  during  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Stephen  Howard,  the  grandfather  of  our 
^bject,  was  born  in  1 760,  was  a  tanner  and 
Soemaker  by  trade,  and  also  followed  farm- 
i:,'  at  the  old  homestead.  Like  his  ancestors, 
1  adhered  to  the  faith  of  the  Quakers,  as  have 
t<i  majority  of  his  descendants.  He  married 
Tieodocia  Totten,  of  Westchester  county,  by 
Viom  he  had  six  children:  Robert,  Peter, 
Tiomas,  James  (who  died  in  childhood),  Phebe 

1i  Edward  (our  subject's  father.) 
Edward  Howard  was  born  in  1785,  and 
s  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Pawling,  and  in 
0itics  was  a  Democrat.  He  married  Drusilla 
German,  a  daughter  of  Abial  Sherman,  of 
Ilwling,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution- 

Kid  a  politician  of  note,  serving  as  a 
3f   the   State   Legislature   in    18 17. 


Two  children  were  born  to  this  union:  Matilda 
A.,  who  married  Hiram  Haviland,  who  resided 
on  Quaker  Hill,  in  the  town  of  Pawling;  and 
Sherman,  our  subject.  The  mother,  Drusilla 
Sherman  Howard,  died  in  1857,  and  the  father 
survived  her  until  the  year  1871. 

Sherman  Howard  grew  to  manhood  at  the 
old  homestead,  attending  the  schools  of  the 
neighborhood.  His  first  venture  into  the  world 
of  business  was  as  a  clerk  in  a  general  store, 
where  he  remained  two  years.  He  then  re- 
turned to  the  homestead.  He  was  married  in 
1853  to  Sarah  Dorland,  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Sarah  Dorland,  of  the  town  of  Lagrange. 
Of  the  five  children  of  this  union  only  two 
lived  to  maturity,  Anna  M.,  the  wife  of  Edwin 
S.  Barnes,  a  farmer  of  Poughkeepsie  township, 
and  Charles,  who  is  at  home.  Charles  mar- 
ried Anna  K.  Barnes,  and  they  have  one  son, 
Roger  S.  Howard.  In  1869  Mr.  Howard 
purchased  his  present  farm  of  100  acres  near 
Arlington,  where  he  is  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  the  milk  business,  to  which  he 
gives  especial  attention.  He  has  made  exten- 
sive improvements  upon  the  estate,  and  it  is 
now  a  fine  and  productive  property. 

Mr.  Howard  was  the  first  justice  of  the 
peace  of  the  town  of  Pawling,  and  held  such 
office  from  1846  to  1850.  In  1850  he  was 
appointed  deputy  sheriff  by  Alonzo  H.  Morey, 
who  was  then  sheriff  of  Dutchess  county,  and 
held  such  office  three  years.  In  1854  and 
1856,  Mr.  Howard  represented  the  town  of 
Pawling  in  the  board  of  supervisors,  and  held 
the  office  of  postmaster  of  the  town  of  Pough- 
keepsie, at  Manchester  Bridge,  from  the  years 
1880  to  1892.  Mr.  Howard  takes  great  in- 
terest in  local  affairs,  notwithstanding  his 
advanced  age,  and  in  politics  is  a  Democrat. 


m  RVIS  HAIGHT,  agriculturist,  of  the  town 
Jp^  of  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  residing 
near  Johnsville,  is  engaged  in  dairying  and 
horticulture.  His  estate  lies  upon  both  sides 
of  the  highway  between  Johnsville  and  Brinck- 
erhoff,  and  is  bounded  on  the  west  by 
Charles  D.  Sherwood's  farm,  on  the  east  by 
the  farm  of  John  Smith,  on  the  north  by  Fish- 
kill  creek,  and  on  the  south  by  the  property  of 
Henry  Schluter. 

Arvis  Haight  was  born  at  the  old  home  in 
Phillipstown,  August  9,  1849,  and  acquired  his 
education  in  the  district  schools  while  working 
upon  the  farm  and  in  the  mill.     In    1870  he 


roo 


COMMEMOnATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  BECOBD. 


left  home  and  went  to  New  York  City,  where 
he  became  a  salesman  in  a  commission  house 
in  Washington  Market.  There  he  remained 
nine  years,  and  then  moved  to  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, and  after  a  short  residence  in  Fishkill  vil- 
lage, he  purchased,  in  1880,  his  present  farm. 
It  contains  eighty  acres  of  cultivated  land,  and 
twenty  which  are  not  cleared.  From  ten  to 
fifteen  cows  are  kept,  and  the  fruit  and  veget- 
able crops  are  of  various  kinds. 

Mr.  Haight  married  Miss  Phcebe  A.  Hus- 
tis,  by  whom  he  has  had  three  children:  Bes- 
sie Beulah,  Ralph,  and  Edna,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  eight  years.  Mrs.  Haight's  father  was 
Caleb  Hustis,  son  of  William  Hustis,  the  son 
of  Caleb  Hustis,  and  her  mother  was  Eliza- 
beth Ann  Haight,  the  daughter  of  James  and 
Jemima  (Budd)  Haight,  and  granddaughter  of 
Marion  (Swims)  Haight. 


E\DWIN  TRAVER,  one  of  the  most  promi- 
'I  nent  agriculturists  of  the  town  of  Rhine- 
beck,  Dutchess  county,  is  a  descendant  of  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers  of  this  region.  Among 
the  emigrants  from  Holland  who  located  in 
Ulster  county,  in  17 10,  was  Anna  Maria  Tre- 
ber,  who  had  two  sons  between  the  ages  of 
nine  and  fifteen,  and  from  them  the  numerous 
Traver  family  in  this  vicinity  have  sprung. 
The  first  of  the  name  to  settle  in  the  town  of 
Rhinebeck,  came  about  171 5. 

Our  subject's  grandfather,  Henry  B.  Tra- 
ver, was  a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  and 
probably  of  the  town  of  Rhinebeck,  where  he 
was  a  prosperous  farmer  in  later  years.  He 
married  Miss  Cookingham,  and  had  seven  chil- 
dren: Lewis,  a  farmer  in  Rhinebeck,  who 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812;  William, 
also  a  farmer  in  Rhinebeck;  Eve,  who  mar- 
ried Gideon  Traver,  a  farmer;  Maria;  Aaron, 
our  subject's  father;  Moses,  a  farmer;  and 
Gilbert,  who  is  now  a  retired  farmer  in  Rhine- 
beck. 

Aaron  Traver  was  born  at  the  old  farm  in 
1809.  He  married  Christma  Traver,  a  native 
of  the  town  of  Clinton,  whose  great-grandfa- 
ther, Bastian  Traver,  was  born  in  Holland,  and 
came  to  Dutchess  county  when  a  young  man, 
locating  in  the  town  of  Rhinebeck.  His  son 
David  had  a  son  Samuel,  born  in  Clinton  town, 
in  1783,  who  was  the  father  of  Christina  Tra- 
ver. After  their  marriage  our  subject's  parents 
lived  in  Clinton  town  for  some  years,  and 
then  moved   to   the  farm  in  Rhinebeck,  now 


owned  by  our  subject.  They  had  eleven  chi 
dren:  Darius,  a  farmer  in  Rhinebeck;  Elber 
who  died  in  1863,  in  defense  of  the  Unioi 
Nathaniel,  now  living  in  Arizona;  Seth,  wl 
died  in  1887;  Edwin,  our  subject;  Sarah,  wl 
died  in  1886;  Wesley  B. ,  a  farmer  in  Rhin 
beck;  Oscar  and  DeWitt,  who  died  in  youtl 
Mary,  who  died  in  1891;  and  Emma  C,  no 
living  with  our  subject.  The  mother  died 
1882,  and  the  father  six  years  later. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  in  tl 
town  of  Clinton,  November  15,  1844,  and  ; 
six  years  of  age  he  moved  with  his  parents  1 
his  present  home.  His  farm  comprises  if 
acres  of  land,  well  adapted  to  general  farmin 
For  about  six  years  in  all,  during  his  earli 
years,  he  taught  school,  and  he  takes  great  i 
terest  in  educational  progress  and  in  all  tl 
movements  of  the  day,  keeping  well  inform' 
on  current  measures.  In  politics  he  is  a  Dei 
ocrat,  and  he  contributes  to  the  Luther 
Church,  of  which  his  forefathers  were  a 
herents. 


WILLIAM  P.  ROE.  a  well-known  daiii 
man  and  agriculturist  of  the  town 

Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  residing  near  Brin( 
erhoff,  is  one  of  the  most  enterprising  worki 
in  his  chosen  lines. 

John  Roe,  his  father,  was  born  June  : 
1792,  and  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farm 
settling  upon  a  farm  of  about  100  acres  in  l! 
town  of  Wappinger,  Dutchess  county.  J 
April  I,  1849,  he  married  Mary  Ann  Phillii 
who  was  born  August  26,  1802,  in  Fishkl 
Dutchess  county.  To  their  union  one  son  v » 
born  —  William  P.  Our  subject's  mother  \s 
a  daughter  of  William  I.  Phillips  (who  \^ 
born  March  14,  1767,  and  died  July  9,  18) 
an(;i  his  wife,  Elizabeth  (who  was  born  Decfj- 
ber  3,  1774,  and  died  March  14,  1854).  ',e 
father  of  our  subject  died  September  27,  18  ; 
the  mother  passing  away  January  24,  1875 

William  P.  Roe  was  born  near  Flushi;, 
Long  Island,  January  29,  1847.  Although  >t 
a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  he  come  her  it 
the  age  of  two  years  with  his  father,  andi- 
ceived  his  education  in  the  district  school  at 
the  town  of  Fishkill,  assisting  in  the  meant  le 
with  the  work  at  home.  After  leaving  sclol 
he  devoted  his  attention  to  the  managemeiof 
the  farm,  to  which  he  succeeded  at  his  fatl'S 
death.  On  September  27,  1861,  he  maisd 
Miss  Elizabeth  De  Long,  daughter  of  Jatneci 


^z^> 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


701 


ind    Frances  (Seaman)   De  Long,   prominent 
esidents  of  the  town  of  Beekman.     James  R. 
3e  Long  was   the  only  brother  of  the  Hon. 
3harles  E.  De  Long,  the  most  prominent  law- 
yer on    the    Pacific    coast,  and  who  was   ap- 
winted,    by    President    U.   S.   Grant,    United 
States  minister  to  Japan,  which  office  he  filled 
vith  great  honor,  his  wife  being  the  first  Amer- 
can  lady  introduced  to  the  Mikado  of  Japan, 
n  1877  Mr.  Roe  sold  his  farm  and  moved  to 
Brooklyn,  where  he  opened  a  feed,  flour  and 
rain  store,  which  he  carried  on  for  one  year; 
le   then    returned    to    Dutchess   county,    and 
.'orked  for  a  year  on  the  farm  of  his  father-in- 
iw.     Since   that  time  he  has  been  continu- 
usly  engaged    in    agriculture,   spending    four 
ears  on  the  estate  of  George  Tabor,  of  Beek- 
lan  (Mrs.  Roe's  uncle);  three  years  at  Green- 
aven  on  the  Peters  farm;  three  years  in  the 
Dwn  of   Unions'ale,  on  the  Peter  H.  Christie 
roperty;  and  for  the  past  seven  years  at  his 
resent  location  —  the  farm  of  300  acres  owned 
y  \V.  F.  Wilson,  of  New  York  City.      He  is 
irgely  interested  in  dairying,   keeping,  on  an 
verage,  about  fiity  cows,    with  many   young 
attle. 

In  politics  Mr.  Roe  is  a  Democrat,  and  in 
■ligion  inclines  to  the  Methodist  Church, 
|hich  he  and  his  wife  attend.  They  ha^•e  had 
In  children:  John  Franklin,  George  Bert, 
ary  Helena,  James  Clifford,  Charles,  Bertha, 
irah  Elizabeth,  Edith  May,  Carrie  Elizabeth 
;id  William  P.,  all  of  whom  are  living,  except 
harles  and  Sarah  Elizabeth,  who  died  in 
lildhood. 

Mrs.  Roe's  paternal  great-grandparents 
ere  James  and  Sally  (Losee)  De  Long,  and 
ieir  son  .Egbert  (her  grandfather)  married 
iirah  Crandall,  daughter  of  Reed  and  Eliza- 
l;th  Crandall.  On  the  maternal  side  her 
fandparents  were  David  N.  Seaman  and  his 
'fe,  Melissa  Howard,  who  was  a  daughter  of 
Hward  Howard.  This  David  N.  Seaman  was 
^eriff  of  Dutchess  county,  serving  three  years 
bm  1847. 


THEODORE  ANTHONY,  a  representa- 
tive agriculturist  of  the  town  of  Fishkill, 
litchess  county,  resides  one-half  mile  from 
IshkilJ  village,  upon  a  farm  which  has  been 
i.  the  family  for  many  years.  He  was  born 
Sptember  25,  1830,  in  the  house  which  he 
rw  occupies,  and  has  passed  the  greater  por- 
tm  of  his  life  there.      His  education  was  be- 


gun in  the  public  schools  of  Fishkill,  and  com- 
pleted in  the  old  academy  which  has  given  so 
many  of  the  clever  sons  of  Dutchess  county 
their  intellectual  training.  On  completing  his 
course  there  he  began  his  career  as  a  farmer. 
Some  years  were  spent  at  the  homestead,  and 
then  he  went  to  De  Kalb  county,  111.,  to  im- 
prove some  prairie  land  belonging  to  his  father; 
but  after  four  years  he  returned  and  resumed 
his  work  at  the  old  home.  In  1884  he  pur- 
chased the  place,  which  now  contains  sixty- 
three  acres,  mainly  devoted  to  general  crops. 
He  keeps  from  ten  to  twelve  cows,  and  is  very 
successful  in  his  dairy  work,  and  also  raises 
some  fine  fruit  of  various  kinds,  his  apple 
orchard  being  extensive  and  productive.  The 
estate  is  bounded  on  the  north  and  west  by  the 
lands  of  Sylvanus  Haight,  on  the  east  by  the 
old  Albany  and  New  York  post  road,  and  on 
the  south  by  the  property  of  Sebring  Smith 
and  Charles  D.  Rogers. 

On  November  20,  1862,  Mr.  Anthony  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  T.  Phillips,  daughter  of  Isaac 
and  Cornelia  (Tappan)  Phillips,  and  grand- 
daughter of  John  Phillips  and  his  wife  Hester 
(Van  Voorhis).  On  the  maternal  side  she  was 
a  granddaughter  of  Major  Peter  Tappan  and 
his  wife  Annie  (DeWitt),  who  was  a  daughter 
of  Col.  Charles  DeWitt  of  Revolutionary  fame, 
and  Blandina  (DuBois),  his  wife.  Major 
Peter  Tappan  was  a  son  of  Christopher,  who 
was  a  son  of  the  Christopher  Tappan,  whose 
daughter  Cornelia  married  Gov.  George  Clin- 
ton. Mrs.  Anthony  died  November  15,  1884, 
leaving  no  children,  and  Mr.  Anthony  was 
married  October  20,  1894,  to  her  sister.  Miss 
Cornelia  V.  Phillips,  who  lived  but  a  short 
time,  passing  away  Decem-ber  18,  1894.  Both 
were  members  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church, 
and  were  held  in  high  esteem  among  their  ac- 
quaintances. Mr.  Anthony  has  also  been  a 
member  of  that  Church  for  years,  and  at  differ- 
ent times  has  held  the  office  of  deacon.  Mr. 
Anthony  is  one  of  the  leading  workers  in  local 
affairs,  and  in  the  Republican  organization, 
and  has  held  the  office  of  town  auditor, 
and  received  the  nominations  of  his  party  on 
various  occasions  as  assessor,  highway  com- 
missioner and  collector. 

The  Anthony  family  is  among  the  early 
comers  to  this  State,  and  our  subject's  great- 
grandparents,  Nicholas  and  Catherine  (Daly) 
Anthony,  were  residents  of  New  York  City. 
Their  son  John,  our  subject's  grandfather,  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Van  Wyck,  daughter  of  William 


702 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  Martha  Carman  Van  Wyck.  William  An- 
thony, the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  Au- 
gust 10,  1798,  and  became  a  successful  farmer 
at  the  present  homestead,  owning  about  210 
acres  of  land.  He  was  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  for  many  years 
previous  to  his  death,  which  occurred  November 
16,  1879.  His  first  wife.  Miss  Mary  Wright, 
was  a  daughter  of  Enos  and  Mary  (Woolen) 
Wright.  She  died  June  20,  1836,  leaving  four 
children:  John  W.,  Theodore,  Elizabeth  (Mrs. 
Abraham  G.  Remsen,  of  Plainfield,  N.  J.),  and 
Mary,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty.  By  a 
second  wife,  Hannah  Wright,  a  sister  of  the 
first,  there  were  also  four  children:  Cornelia, 
Sarah  A. ,  Enos  and  Kate. 


AMES  MADISON  WOOD.  It  is  a  natural 
I    and  praise-worthy  interest  in  our  common 

humanity  that  lends  to  biography  its  chief 
charm  to  the  reader,  and  there  is  no  life  his- 
tory from  which  there  may  not  be  some  lesson 
drawn  to  enlighten  and  direct  the  inexper- 
ienced, cheer  the  despondent,  or  renew  the 
energy  of  the  weary.  Years  spent  in  quiet 
usefulness  may  win  honor  for  gray  hairs  as 
well  as  those  which  have  been  passed  under 
the  public  eye,  and  while  no  one  would  de- 
tract from  the  merits  of  those  who  gain  the 
world's  applause,  faithful  attention  to  the  ev- 
ery-day  duties  of  life  may  also  show  ability  and 
high  purpose. 

Our  subject's  paternal  grandparents,  Jo- 
seph and  Elizabeth  (Light)  Wood,  were  early 
settlers,  and  his  father,  Joseph  I.  Wood,  was 
born  September  16,  1783,  dying  April  2,  1861, 
after  a  life  given  mainly  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
His  wife,  Rachel  Finch,  wasa  nativeof  Croton 
Falls,  Westchester  county,  born  June  7,  1790, 
and  her  death  occurred  March  19,  1879. 
Our  subject  was  the  eldest  of  five  children;  the 
others  being:  Martha  E.,  Isaac  F.,  John  H., 
and  Harvey. 

James  Madison  Wood,  who  is  one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  esteemed  residents  of  Mattea- 
wan,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  in  Johnsville, 
town  of  Fishkill,  October  i,  18 16.  His  edu- 
cation was  received  at  the  district  school  at 
Glenham  for  some  years,  and  he  then  pursued 
the  higher  branches,  including  trigonometry 
and  surveying,  in  a  private  school.  On  at- 
taining his  majority  he  left  the  farm,  and 
learned  the  machinist's  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed until  1 860,  when  he  engaged  in  mercantile 


business,  conducting  a  general  store  at  Mattea- 
wan.     In  1869  he  disposed  of  this,  and  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  800  acres  in   Louisa  county, 
Va.,    where   he    remained    five    years,  raising 
corn,  wheat,  oats,  and  tobacco.     Selling  this 
property  in   1874,  he  returned  to  Matteawan 
and  rented  a  gristmill,  and  from  that  time  un- 
til his  retirement  from  business,   in    1885,  he 
was  engaged  in  milling  and  in  dealing  in  Hour 
and  feed.      His  sound  judgment  in  business  af- 
fairs gave  him  an  influential  place  in  local  af- 
fairs; yet  he  has  never  sought  public  honors. 
He  voted   the   Democratic  ticket  until   1859, 
but  since  that  date  he  has  been  a  Republican. 
He  married  Louisa  Rothery,   daughter  0! 
John  and  Mary  (Ashforth)  Rothery,  who  wart 
both  natives  of    England.      Her  great-grand- 
father (on  the  father's  side)  was  Joseph  Roth- 
ery, and  her  grandfather,   John  Rothery,  wai 
the  originator  of  the  Rothery  files,  known  al 
over  the  world.      Her  maternal  grandparent; 
were  William  Ashforth  and  his  wife,  Ann  Clay, 
a  native  of  Chesterfield,  England,  and  a  cousir 
of   the   famous   American    statesman,    Henrj 
Clay.      Mr.    and    Mrs.    Wood    have    had  fiv( 
children:     Mary    Ann,     who    married    Mose: 
Cortland   Sanford,   of    New  Jersey;  John  A. 
Wilfred,  who  died  in  infancy;  Ida,   who  dice 
at  the  age  of  eleven;  and  Lelia,  the  wife  of  Al 
bert    Townsend,     of    Peekskill,    N.    Y.     Mr 
Wood  has  been  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fo 
nearly  fifty-two  years,  and   is  now  one  of  th 
two  surviving  charter  members  of  Evergreei 
Lodge. 


WILLIAM   H.    HAIGHT.     In  his  chose 
specialties  of  dairying  and  horticulturr 

the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  regarded  as  one  ( 
the  leaders  in  his  vicinity,  and  his  fine  farn 
within  sight  of  the  village  of  Fishkill,  Dutche;! 
county,  is  one  of  the  best-managed  places  (j 
its  kind.  I 

For  several  generations   the   home  of  h 
family  has  been  at  Phillipstown,  Putnam  Co' 
N.  Y. ,  where  his  grandfather,  Joshua  Haigh 
was   a   farmer.      Henry  W.  Haight,   our  su' 
ject's  father,  was  born  there  in  1809,  and  b 
came   a  farmer    and  extensive  dealer  in  shi 
timber.      On   November   7,  1829,   he  marrif' 
Jane  Mekeel,  who  was  born  in  1808,  the  daug 
ter  of   Stephen   and   Elizabeth  (Bell)  Mekef, 
and  of   this   union  eight  children  were  borj 
Sylvanus  W.,    Mary   E.,    Charles  B.,    Sarij 
Jane,  John,  Phcebe  W.,  William  H.  (our  sn| 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPEICAL  RECORD. 


703 


ect),  and  Albert.  The  father  died  December 
!0,  1872,  and  the  mother  passed  away  May 
5,  1886. 

WilHam    H.    Haight  was   born  September 

\j,  1844,  and  grew  to  manhood  on  the  farm 

^ear  PhiHipstown,  attending  the   neighboring 

(istrict  schools  in  winter  and  assisting  in  the 

\-oxk  at  home   at   other  seasons.     At  eighteen 

ie  left  school  and  engaged  in  business,  follow- 

ig  the  occupations  of  his  father.      He  con- 

inued  to  conduct  the  homestead  until  he  was 

tiirty  years  old,  when  he  rented  a  farm  for  a 

3W   years,   and    later   purchased    his    present 

roperty.  which  contains  something  over   100 

cres.      He   keeps    thirty-five   head  of  cattle, 

nd  sells  an  average  of  200  quarts  of  milk  per 

ay  the  year  round,  while  a  goodly  portion  of 

is  estate   is    devoted   to   the  raising    of   fine 

arieties  of  fruit.     As  a  business  man  he  holds 

high  reputation,  and  he   is  a  stockholder  in 

,ie  National  Bank  at  Matteawan. 

\    Mr.  Haight  has  a  pleasant  home.     His  wife, 

hom     he    married    February    12,   1881,    and 

hose   maiden   name   was    Mary   Nelson,   is  a 

aughter  of  Justus  and  Sarah  (Nelson)  Nelson. 

hey  attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 

1(1  are  interested  in  all  efforts  for  the  advance- 

,ent  of  morality.     Their  only  son,  Harry  N. 

aight,  is   a  student   in   the  Union  School  at 

^kill.      Politically,  Mr.  Haight  is  a  Repub- 

rtii,  but  has  not  given  much  time  to  party 

>3rk,  especially  of  late  years.      While  living 

I  PhiHipstown  he   held  the   office  of  commis- 

ir  of  highways  for  three  years. 


SPER  L.WVSON,  one  of  the  most  enter- 
.«'    prising   and    prosperous    agriculturists    of 

town  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county, 
Vis  born  at  Barnegat,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y. , 
bvember  22,  1823.  His  ancestors  came  from 
JoUand  at  an  early  period,  and  settled  in 
'itchess  county.     The  great  grandfather  of 

subject,  William  C.  Lawson  (who  spelled 
1,;  name  '•  Lansink  "),  wedded  the  first  white 
^Iborn  in  Dutchess  county.  She  was  a  Miss 
Ighmie,  her  Christian  name  being  now  un- 
Ijown.  The  wedding  created  wide  notice, 
^d  it  is  said  that  all  the  "  whites  "  of  Dutch- 
^  county  attended — not  very  numerous  in 
tosedays,  though  "  Redmen  "  were  plentiful. 

His   grandfather,    Matthew   Lawson,    was 

l-rn  in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  and  became  in- 

^ Rested    in    several    lines  of  business  there. 


aside  from  the  management  of  his  small  farm. 
He  married  Eleanor  Hoffman,  a  native  of 
Dutchess  county,  and  reared  a  family  of  seven 
children.  His  five  sons  were  all  engaged  in 
boating  and  in  the  stone  and  lime  business. 
Simeon  married  Mary  Miller;  Daniel  married 
Rachel  Weaver;  Peter  H.  (our  subject's  father) 
married  Kathline  Westervelt;  Matthew  married 
Ann  Budd;  John  M.  never  married;  Elizabeth 
was  the  wife  of  Thomas  Lawson,  who  was  en- 
gaged in  boating  and  in  the  lime  business;  and 
Maria  was  the  wife  of  John  Bower,  a  shoe- 
maker. 

Peter  H.  Lawson  was  born  at  Barnegat,  in 
1793,  and  died  there  in  1828,  his  wife  surviv- 
ing him  six  years.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Caspaurus  Westervelt,  a  native  of  Dutchess 
county,  and  a  descendant  of  an  old  Holland- 
Dutch  family.  He  owned  and  conducted  a 
farm  and  gristmill,  and  was  a  prominent  citizen 
of  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie.  Peter  Lawson 
was  an  honorable,  upright  man,  whose  repu- 
tation is  a  heritage  of  which  his  children  may 
well  be  proud.  He  and  his  wife  were  devout 
members  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church. 
They  had  seven  children,  two  of  whom  died  in 
infancy.  Elizabeth  married  John  Bishop  (now 
deceased),  then  a  mason  and  builder  in  New 
York  City,  and  later  a  merchant  and  ferry- 
man at  New  Hamburg,  where  his  widow  re- 
sided until  her  death  in  February,  1896;  Al- 
bert G.,  a  boatman  by  occupation,  is  now  liv- 
ing in  Brooklyn;  Kathline  married  Benjamin 
Dearin,  a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  who  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  business  in  New  York 
City;  and  Eleanor  married  Adam  Graham,  a 
native  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  a  well-known 
merchant  and  hotel-keeper  at  New  Hamburg; 
and  Casper  (or  Caspaurus). 

The  last  named  was  a  mere  child  when  he 
lost  his  parents  by  death.  He  attended  the 
schools  of  his  native  place  until  he  was  four- 
teen, when  he  began  boating  on  the  river,  an 
occupation  which  he  followed  for  many  years. 
On  December  15,  1847,  he  married  Miss  Eliza 
Nichols,  who  was  born  at  the  present  site  of 
Passaic,  N.  J.,  December  12,  1820.  Her 
father,  John  Nichols,  was  a  school  teacher,  and 
was  an  active  worker  in  the  Democratic  party 
in  his  locality.  He  and  his  wife,  Ann  Masters, 
were  both  natives  of  England.  After  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Lawson  moved  to  New  York  City 
and  engaged  in  a  mercantile  enterprise  with 
his  brother-in-law,  Benjamin  Dearin,  but  soon 
resumed  his    former    employment,    which    he 


704 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


continued  until  1868.  He  did  an  extensive 
business  in  the  transportation  of  bricii,  having 
twenty-two  boats  under  his  control.  His  suc- 
cess reflects  great  credit  upon  him,  as  it  was  the 
result  of  his  own  exertions  and  thrifty  manage- 
ment. Beginning  at  a  salary  of  five  dollars  a 
month,  he  worked  a  long  time  before  he  man- 
aged to  save  enough  money  to  buy  a  boat; but 
when  this  point  was  reached  the  purchase  of 
others  from  time  to  time  was  more  easily  ac- 
complished. As  an  employer,  he  is  noted  for 
fair  dealing.  On  June  12,  1868,  he  bought 
his  present  farm  of  113  acres  near  Arlington, 
where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  general 
farming.  The  estate  is  among  the  finest  of 
that  vicinity,  and  he  has  barns  and  other  im- 
provements of  a  model  kind,  and  an  elegant 
and  commodious  dwelling  house.  Mrs.  Law- 
son  died  January  17,  1893,  deeply  mourned 
by  a  large  circle  of  friends.  She  and  her  hus- 
band were  for  many  years  prominent  members 
of  the  Second  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of 
Poughkeepsie.  Of  their  seven  children  six  are 
still  living:  Edward  W.  is  the  superintendent 
of  the  Fort  Lee  Ferry,  at  New  York;  Casper 
N.  has  been  a  stone  dealer  and  contractor  at 
New  York,  and  still  resides  there;  Roberta  (i) 
died  in  infancy;  Clementine  married  Henry 
Warrall,  a  farmer  near  Vassar;  Roberta  (2)  is 
at  home;  Welcome  H.  married  Catherine  Wat- 
kins,  of  Fort  Lee,  N.  J. ;  Watkins,  a  lawyer, 
is  now  studying  at  the  farm  on  account  of  ill 
health;  and  Mary  E.  married  Walter  H. 
Bedell,  a  dentist  of  Poughkeepsie.  Mr.  Law- 
son  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  local  poli- 
tics, and  is  a  leading  Democrat;  was  appointed 
assessor  in  1 869,  was  elected  to  the  same  office 
in  1870,  and  has  served  and  is  serving  as 
supervisor,  being  elected  in  1881,  1883,  1896 
and   1897. 


FETER  AKIN   SKIDMORE,   who  is  well 
known    throughout    Dutchess  county,   of 

which  he  is  a  native,  is  numbered  among  its 
best  citizens,  both  socially  and  financially,  and 
is  especially  valued  as  a  large-hearted,  public- 
spirited  citizen,  whose  enterprise  and  benevo- 
lence have  contributed  largely  to  the  happiness 
and  comfort  of  the  people  around  him.  His 
homestead  is  one  of  the  most  notable  in  the 
town  of  Beekman,  for  the  thrift  and  comfort 
which  surrounds  it,  and  the  evidence  of  enter- 
prise, taste  and  skill. 

Mr.  Skidmore  was  born  April  15,  1831,  in 


the  town  of  Beekman,  receiving  his  education 
chiefly  at  the  district  schools  of  the  neighbor- 
hood.    On   December   26,    1856,   he   married 
Miss  Ruth  Moore,  daughter  of  Alfred  and  Char- 
lotte (Haverland)  Moore,  both  born  in   1806, 
in  Dutchess  county,  where  they  were  respect- 
able  farmers.     They  had   four  children  who 
lived  to  maturity:     Lydia  (now  Mrs.  Willetts), 
residing  on  Long  Island;  Ruth  (Mrs.  Skidmore); 
Susan,  a  maiden  lady  residing  at  the  old  home 
at   Moores     Mill,  proprietress  of  the   "Floral 
Home"  boarding  house;  and  Alfred  H.,  mar- 
ried, and  making  his   home  at  the  old  farm, 
running  the  mills.     Alfred  Moore,  the  fathet 
of  these,  was  a   son   of   Stephen  Moore,  whc 
was  also  a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  and  op- 
erated the  old  Moore  Mills,  formerly  known  a? 
the    Oswego    Mills.     The    family    have   beer 
members  of  the  Society  of  Friends  for  severs 
generations  back,  and  Mrs.  Skidmore's  fathei 
was  a  preacher  in  that  sect.      He  died  in  1879, 
the    mother    in    1892.       Four    children   havt 
blessed  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife 
viz.:     Elizabeth  (deceased);    Alfred  M. ;    anc 
Jesse  and   Susie  (both  deceased).     Of  these. 
Alfred  M.,  the  only  survivor,  was  born  Goto 
ber  10,  i860,  and  assists  his  father  in  the  con 
ducting  of  the  farm.      He  is  a  Republican  ii 
politics,  and  has  frequently  been  urged  by  hi: 
friends  to  run  for  office,  but   prefers  to  devoti 
his  time  to  agricultural  pursuits.     On  the  honi' 
farm  are  buried  the  parents  of  Benson  J.  Los 
sing,  the  historian. 

An  earnest  Christian  gentleman,  our  sub 
ject  is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  So 
ciety  of  Friends,  which  organization  is  opposei 
to  warfare;  yet  during  the  Civil  war  he  wa 
the  first  in  his  section  to  be  drafted;  he  wa 
rejected,  however,  on  account  of  physical  dis 
ability.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  ha 
ever  taken  a  commendable  interest  in  the  wel 
fare  of  his  native  county,  and  has  capabl 
filled  several  minor  offices  of  his  town,  dis 
charging  his  duties  to  the  satisfaction  of  al 
Socially,  he  is  a  charter  member  and  treasure 
of  Sylvan  Lodge,  of  the  Grange,  which  ws 
organized  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  in  Decen 
ber,  1896. 

Jesse  Skidmore,  the  father  of  our  subjec 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Unionvale,  in  179' 
By  his  marriage  with  Sarah  Akin,  daughter  < 
Peter  Akin,  of  the  town  of  Pawling,  in  th 
county,  he  had  four  children:  Peter  Akii 
Elizabeth,  Abigail  and  Andrew.  The  daugl 
ters  died  in  early  life;  Andrew  is    now   livir 


■^ 


^i^   ^ ^  ^/t^c:^ic^c^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD, 


705 


Ion  a  farm  in  "Beekman,  near  the  homestead, 
•and  has  no  children.  The  father  engaged  in 
[arming  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  his  son, 
Peter  Akin,  until  advanced  in  life,  when  he  re- 
-noved  to  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  died  in  1862. 
tie  was  a  lifelong  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  as  were  his  ancestors. 

Andrew  Skidmope,  gra.ndfather  of  our  sub- 
lect,  was  born  on  the  Skidmore  homestead,  in 
he  town  of  Unionvale,  in  1797,  and  died  ii^ 
852.  He  was  a  man  of  great  physique, 
veighing  over  280  pounds.  He  married  Eliza- 
leth  Clapp,  and  they  had  four  children:  Jesse, 
he  father  of  Peter  Akin  Skidmore;  James, 
kfho  left  no  family;  Andrew  A.,  and  Judith, 
'he  descendants  of  Andrew  A.  are  James  W. 
'kidmore,  and  Jane,  who  married  Cromoling 
)ean,  all  now  living  in  the  town  of  Lagrange, 
udith  married  Gideon  Downing,  and  has  one 
aughter  living,  but  no  descendants  known. 

Andrew  Skidmore,  the  great-grandfather  of 
ur  subject,  whose  ancestry  came  from  Hol- 
ind,  was  born  at  Great  Neck,  Long  Island,  in 
748,    and  died  in    18 16.      Of  his   family,   of 
'hich  we  have  record:   Had  a  bachelor  brother 
imrdered  by  a  servant;  he  kept  a  large  stable 
$  running  horses  at  Great  Neck,  Long  Island. 
lad  two  sisters:     Mary,  married  to  Benjamin 
verett,  and  Phoebe,  married  to  John  Golder. 
lany  of  the   Skidmore  family   now   living  on 
ong  Island  are  descendants  of   this  family, 
ndrew     Skidmore,     the     great-grandfather, 
oved  to  the  town  of    Unionvale,   Dutchess 
0.,   N.    Y. ,   in   the  year    171 5,    purchased  a 
rge  tract   of  land,  through  which  runs   the 
love  creek.     On  this  stream  he  built  a  grist- 
iill,    sawmill,    and  woolen-mill,    these   being 
«e  first  mills  in  this  section;  the  gristmill  is 
hw  standing,  and  known  as  the  "Skidmore 
lill."     The  tract  of  land  is  now  one  of  the 
'j^st  in  the  Clove  Valley.      Mr.  Skidmore  mar- 
fid  Judith   Rogers,  who  was  born   in    1746, 
iid  died   in   1826,  and  by  this   marriage  had 
to  sons  and  three  daughters:  Andrew,  James, 
iry,  Phcebe  and  Abby. 

James  Skidmore  married  Elizabeth  Rogers, 
;d  they  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters: 
iidrew  J.,  Zophar  R.,  Harvey,  Elizabeth 
5d  Phcebe.  All  but  Zophar  R.  and  Harvey 
ii)ved  to  the  State  of  Maryland.  Harvey 
ipved  to  New  Jersey;  Zophar  R.  married 
aria  Hughes,  of  Staatsburgh,  and  lived 
(titil  his  death  in  1888)  on  the  Skidmore 
^mestead  in  the  Clove  Valley;  they  had  two 
Idren:  James  H.,  and   Mary,  who  married 


Charles  E.  Rogers,  who  now  owns  the  Skid- 
more homestead. 

Mary  Skidmore  married  John  Rogers,  and 
resided  near  Sylvan  Lake,  town  of  Beekman; 
they  had  four  sons  and  five  daughters:  Laban, 
Stephen,  James,  Gilbert,  Hannah,  Judith, 
Phebe,  Maria  and  Ruth.  Judith,  who  married 
Samuel  A.  Doughty,  is  the  only  one  living. 
Phcebe  married  Nichols  Haight,  lived  and  died 
near  Coffins  Summit.  The  only  descendant 
living  is  Sherman  Haight,  of  Mabbettsville, 
Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.  Abby  married  Richard 
Betts,  of  Saratoga  county;  no  record  of  de- 
scendants. 


WILLIAM  H.  JAYCOX,  a  leading  and 
progressive  farmer  of  the  town  of  East 

Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  is  a  native  of  Put- 
nam county,  N.  Y. ,  born  in  the  town  of  Phil- 
lipstown,  October  6,  1843,  ^"d  is  of  Holland 
lineage.  His  great-grandfather,  Isaiah  Jay- 
co.x,  was  also  a  native  of  Putnam  county, 
while  his  grandfather,  Thomas  Jaycox,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Phillipstown.  There  the 
latter  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  spent  his  en- 
tire life  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In 
his  family  were  five  children:  David,  who 
was  a  liveryman  at  Matteawan,  Dutchess 
county;  James  E.,  a  farmer  of  North  High- 
lands, Putnam  county;  Caroline,  who  married 
James  Horton,  a  farmer  of  Phillipstown;  Jer- 
emiah, the  father  of  our  subject;  and  William, 
also  a  farmer  of  Phillipstown,  Putnam  county. 

In  that  town  Jeremiah  Jaycox  was  born  in 
18 17,  and  on  attaining  to  man's  estate  mar- 
ried Levina  Tompkms,  whose  birth  occurred 
at  Putnam  Valley,  Putnam  county, — her  fath- 
er, Ananias  Tompkins,  being  also  a  native  of 
that  county.  On  their  marriage,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Jaycox  located  upon  a  farm  there,  but 
after  a  residence  of  seven  years  they  came  to 
Dutchess  county,  passing  their  remaining  days 
in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  the  father  dying  Oc- 
tober 15,  1888,  and  the  mother  on  March  4, 
1894.  His  vote  was  ever  cast  in  support  of 
the  Democratic  party.  In  the  family  were 
two  children:  William  H.,  subject  of  this 
review;  and  Frances,  who  married  William 
Dalrymple,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Stanford, 
Dutchess  county. 

At  an  early  age  William  H.  Jaycox  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Dutchess  county,  where  he 
has  since  remained,  and  now  devotes  his  time 
and  attention    to    the    development   and    im- 


706 


COMMEMORA  TIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


I 


provement  of  his  excellent  farms  in  the  town 
of  East  Fishkill,  which  comprise  400  acres  of 
rich  and  arable  land,  well  adapted  to  mixed 
farming.  On  October  4,  1871,  he  married 
Miss  Libbie  Anderson,  who  was  born  upon  the 
farm  which  is  still  her  home,  and  there  her 
father,  Peter  Anderson,  was  also  born,  in  1807. 
He  married  Sarah  Van  Dewater.  The  An- 
derson family  was  early  established  in  this 
country,  and  was  founded  in  Dutchess  county 
by  John  Anderson  ( the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Jaycox ),  who  was  a  native  of  Putnam  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  in  1793  purchased  of  Peter  H. 
Schenck,  the  farm  in  the  town  of  East  Fish- 
kill,  Dutchess  county,  upon  which  our  subject 
still  resides,  and  which  at  that  time  contained 
265  acres.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Anderson 
were  born  five  children:  Amanda,  married  to 
William  B.  Roe,  a  farmer  of  East  Fishkill; 
Myers,  a  farmer,  who  died  September  13, 
1872;  Sarah  A.,  married  to  William  E.  Brinck- 
erhoff,  of  East  Fishkill;  John  P.,  an  agricult- 
urist of  the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess 
county;  and  Libbie,  wife  of  our  subject. 

Upon  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jaycox 
began  housekeeping  upon  their  present  farm, 
and  they  have  become  the  parents  of  three 
children,  all  at  home,  namely:  George  A., 
Charles  W.  and  Howard.  The  entire  family 
contribute  to  the  support  of  the  Johnsville 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  hold  a 
prominent  place  in  the  social  world.  They 
are  the  center  of  a  circle  of  friends  who  honor 
and  esteem  them  for  their  many  virtues  and 
genuine  worth.  Mr.  Jaycox  is  identified 
with  the  Democratic  party,  is  public-spirited 
and  enterprising,  and  aids  in  every  possible 
way  in  promoting  the  interests  of  his  town 
and  county. 


E\MMER  J.  HAIGHT.  Among  the  young 
'I  and  energetic  farmers  of  Dutchess  county, 

as  well  as  among  those  who  have  been  success- 
ful in  their  efforts  thus  far,  is  the  subject  of 
this  personal  history.  His  entire  life  has  been 
passed  in  the  town  of  Stanford,  where  he  was 
born  October  20,  1873,  and  there  devotes  his 
time  and  attention  to  farming. 

His  father,  John  Haight,  was  also  a  native 
of  the  town  of  Stanford,  and  was  a  son  of 
Leonard  Haight,  who  lived  all  his  life  in  that 
town,  where  he  was  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  The  latter  was  a  stalwart  Democrat 
in  politics,  and  one  of  the  prominent  men  of 


the  community.  He  married  Miss  Phcebe  Grif 
fin,  of  the  town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess  county, 
and  to  them  were  born  five  children:  Margaret 
George,  Hannah,  John  and  James  B.  Th< 
education  of  John  Haight  was  such  as  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  the  times  afforded,  and  he  earlj 
became  inured  to  the  arduous  duties  thai 
fall  to  the  lot  of  an  agriculturist.  He  nevei 
left  the  old  homestead,  which  he  operated  up 
to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  Sep 
tember  6,  1885.  He  was  one  of  the  highly  re 
spected  citizens  of  the  community,  and  one  c 
the  earnest  supporters  of  the  Democratic  part) 
with  which  he  always  affiliated. 

In  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutches 
county,  John  Haight  was  married  to  Miss  Sy 
via  A.  Foster,  daughter  of  John  Foster,  an 
to  them  were  born  two  sons:  Walter,  wh 
married  Lenora  Husted,  by  whom  he  has  t\\ 
daughters,  Eva  and  Ruby;  and  Emmer  J.,  sul 
ject  of  this  sketch,  who  wedded  Anita  Dorlanc 
and  they  have  one  child,  Ruth  Anna. 


GivEORGE  L  VAIL,  a  prominent  dairyma 
_  J   and  agriculturist  of  Unionvale,  Dutches 
county,  has  earned  a  place  among  the  succes 
ful  workers  in  his  lines  of  business.     He  w;i 
born  at   Verbank,   Dutchess  county,  May  2  i 
1843,  and  received  his  education  in  the  schoo 
of  his  native  town  and  at  Mechanicsville,  N.^i 
He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  but,  findii 
that  less  to  his  taste  than  agriculture,  he  turiKj 
to  the  latter  pursuit,  and  has  followed  it  profi 
ably  for  many   years,   making    a  specialty 
dairying.      Careful  attention  to  business  doj 
not    prevent    him,    however,    from    taking  i| 
active  part  in  local  affairs,  and  he  has  servij 
in  a  number  of  public  offices,  including  that  I 
assessor.      He    married    Miss    Phoebe  Noxol 
who  was  born  November  24,  1848,  in  the  to\[ 
of   Unionvale.      Her    ancestors    were    pionel 
settlers  in  that  town,  and  a  record  of  thethrl 
preceding  generations  is  given   below.     M 
Vail  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  nt 
her  home,  and  at  Oswego  village.     The  hoi  ■ 
of  our  subject  and  his  wife  is  brightened 
three  children:     Henry,   born  May   10,  iS,'- 
Hettie,  born    March   i,  1881;  and  John,  bo 
May  20,  1883. 

Mr.  Vail's  ancestors  became  identified  wi 
Unionvale,  Dutchess  county,  at  an  early  pc 
od,  and  his  grandfather,  Moses  Vail,  al 
father,  John  Vail,  were  born  there,  the  latJ: 
in  November,  1800,  at  Verbank.     After  avir 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


707 


\g  himself  of  such  educational  opportunities 
;  the  locality  afforded,  he  engaged  in  farming 
;  an  early  age.  He  was  a  man  of  enterprise, 
S;  able  manager,  and  he  conducted  a  woolen 
(ill  at  \'erbank  at  one  time,  and  also  engaged 
i  mercantile  business.  His  wife  was  Eliza- 
tth  Vincent,  daughter  of  Absalom  Vincent, 
£d  they  had  ten  children,  of  whom  our  sub- 
j|:t  was  the  youngest:  (i)  Sarah,  born  Feb- 
nry  8,  1828,  married  Jacob  Baker,  a  black- 
siith  of  Freedom  Plains.  (2)  Matilda,  born 
Eptember  14,  1829,  married  Dewitt  C.  Noxon, 
a  armer  and  storekeeper,  who  served  gallantly 
i  the  Civil  war;  they  had  two  children — Emma 
(  rs.  John  Duncan)  and  Ada.  (3)  Loretta, 
trn  April  4,  1 831,  remained  unmarried.  (4) 
Sinuel,  born  July  4,  1832,  is  a  carpenter  by 
t  de;  he  married  Miss  Ann  Northrop,  and  has 
f'  r  children  —  Libbie  (Mrs.  Leonard  Secord), 
Carles  fwho  married  Carrie  Cass),  William 
al  Abbie.  (5)  Mary,  born  October  13,  1834, 
nrried  Simon  Losee,  and  has  two  children  — 
L:zie  and  Wesley.  (6)  Martha,  born  January 
I  1836,  was  educated  in  Amenia  Seminary, 
a:i  became  a  successful  teacher.  (7)  Rebecca, 
bn  October  i,  1837,  married  Richard  Hall, 
aiirmer  of  Beekman,  and  they  have  four  chil- 
d  n — Everett  (who  married  Cora  Cypher), 
L)bie  (deceased),  Herbert  (who  married  Jen- 
n  Chatterton),  and  Minnie  ( Mrs.  Arthur 
Hlmes).  (8j  Stephen,  born  February  23, 
l!9,  is  engaged  in  carpentering,  and  has  re- 
mined  unmarried.  (9)  James,  born  February 
2:  1 84 1,  is  a  blacksmith;  he  married  Mary 
Bijamin,  and  has  one  child  —  Sarah  —  who 
m-ried  Richard  Case,  and  has  one  daughter — 
Hen. 

Mrs.  George  Vails  great-grandfather,  Gil- 
be^  No.xon,  was  born  in  Dutchess  county,  N. 
■  as  educated  there  and  engaged  in  farm- 
"■      He  married  Miss  Jane  Phillips,  and  had 
eijit  children:     Egbert,  who  married  Claricy 
P:terson;   Elisha,    Mrs.    Vail's    grandfather; 
A'am,    who    married    Jane    Cornell;  Daniel, 
married,  first,  Charlotte   Snedeker,  and, 
-ciiid.    Nancy   Townsend;    Catherine,    Mrs. 
Joa  Dean;  Ann,  Mrs.   Edward  Dutcher;  Gil- 
be,    who    married    Sallie    Townsend;    and 
Ja|es. 
jEHsha   Noxon   was  born   in    the  town   of 
onvale,  and  afterattending  the  local  schools 
jyhood  became  a  farmer.      He    married 
'^l-i    Phoebe    Van  Benschoten,    daughter   of 
He  ry   Van  Benschoten,  and    his    wife    Mary 
-on,    whose    parents    were    Richard   and 


Mary  (Ingraham)  Jackson.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Noxon  had  two  children:  (i)  Jane,  who  mar- 
ried John  H.  Robinson,  and  had  three  chil- 
dren— PhcEbe,  Mrs.  John  Dorian;  Abram,  who 
married  Mary  Townsend,  and  Mavill,  who 
married  Minnie  Allen.  (2)  Henry  Noxon, 
father  of  Mrs.  Vail,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Beekman,  Dutchess  county,  December  15, 
1825,  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
of  that  town.  He  engaged  in  farming,  and 
married  Miss  Hettie  Barlow,  daughter  of  Elisha 
and  Charlotte  (Palmer)  Barlow.  Of  their 
three  children  Mrs.  Vail  was  the  eldest.  Of 
the  others,  (i)  Mary  married  Eugene  Storm, 
and  had  one  child,  Winnefred,  who  is  at 
home.  (2)  Elisha  Noxon  died  at  an  early  age. 

The  Van  Benschoten  family  has  an  inter- 
esting history,  and  Dominie  Elias  Van  Ben- 
schoten was  the  first  Reformed  Dutch  minister 
at  Schagticoke  more  than  half  a  century  be- 
fore Troy,  N.  Y.,  was  founded.  "Tunis,  the 
father  of  Dominie  Van  Benschooten,  came 
from  Holland  with  the  earliest  settlers  of  the 
country,  and  purchased  land  at  Esopus  on  the 
Hudson  river.  Subsequently,  with  his  wife 
and  one  child,  he  removed  to  what  was  then  a 
wilderness,  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land, 
and  made  a  settlement  in  the  town  of  Fish- 
kill,  between  the  village  of  that  name  and  the 
city  of  Poughkeepsie,  near  what  is  known  as 
New  Hackensack,  in  the  county  of  Dutchess. 
Here  he  had  four  sons — Tunis,  Matthew,  Jacob 
and  Elias — and,  we  believe,  two  or  more 
daughters.  The  eldest  son  sailed  for  Europe, 
but  as  the  vessel  in  which  he  sailed  was  never 
heard  from,  it  is  supposed  it  was  seized  by  the 
pirates,  and  he  and  the  other  passengers, 
together  with  the  officers  and  crew,  were  put 
to  death.  When  the  old  gentleman  died  he 
was  buried  in  the  family  vault  on  the  home- 
stead farm.  His  remains,  with  those  of  other 
members  of  the  family,  have  since  been  disin- 
terred and  buried  in  the  graveyard  of  the  old 
Dutch  church  at  Hackensack,  beneath  a  costly 
monument. 

' '  Matthew  and  Jacob  remained  upon,  and  in 
co-partnership  cultivated,  the  farm.  Elias 
became  a  Reformed  Dutch  Church  minister, 
and  the  daughters  married.  The  following 
amusing  story  is  told  of  the  Dominie.  On 
one  occasion,  while  at  Schaghticoke,  he  was 
waited  on  by  a  Dutch  swain,  who  wished  to 
secure  his  services  at  a  wedding.  In  the  in- 
terval between  the  call  and  the  time  appointed 
for  the  ceremomy,  a  severe  storm  arose,  and 


708 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  Stream  became  fearfully  swollen,  so  that 
when  the  weather  cleared  and  the  parties  to  be 
married  arrived,  it  was  impossible  for  them  to 
get  across  the  stream.  Here  was  a  dilemma. 
The  Dominie  was  on  one  side,  the  anxious 
couple  on  the  other;  neither  could  cross. 
'Stop!'  cried  the  Dominie.  'Stand  vere 
you  be,  and  I  will  make  you  man  and  wife.' 
The  happy  couple,  thus  united  in  the  bonds  of 
matrimony,  when  the  service  was  over  turned 
to  leave.  Here  was  another  dilemma,  which 
cast  a  cloud  of  deep  anxiety  over  the  tranquil 
features  of  the  good  old  man.  '  Stop,  den, 
my  young  friends,  von  moment,  if  you  please. 
You  can  leave  der  guilder  at  the  first  house 
below.  Tell  them  it  is  Dominie  Van  Ben- 
schooten's  marriage  fee,  and  I  vill  call  and 
get  it.'" 


FRANKLIN  GERMOND  is  the  proprietor 
of  a  good  farm  in  the  town   of   Stanford, 

Dutchess  county,  successful  as  a  tiller  of  the 
soil,  and  prominently  identified  with  local 
affairs.  He  was  born  in  that  town,  April  3, 
1846,  and  is  now  in  the  prime  of  life,  and,  as 
the  result  of  good  habits,  is  amply  fitted  for 
the  duties  that  lie  before  him. 

Silas  Germond,  his  paternal  grandfather, 
engaged  in  farming  in  the  towns  of  Stanford 
and  Pine  Plains,  and  also  at  one  time  con- 
ducted a  store  at  Attlebury.  He  was  joined 
in  wedlock  with  Charlotte  Knapp  Green,  by 
whom  he  had  three  children:  Hunting,  the 
father  of  our  subject;  Silas  K. ;  and  Mary  Ann, 
now  deceased. 

In  the  town  of  Stanford,  Hunting  Ger- 
mond was  born  in  1821.  He  there  attended 
the  district  schools,  and  was,  later,  a  student  in 
a  school  at  Red  Hook,  Dutchess  county.  In 
his  native  town  he  married  Miss  Emily  Ann 
Adsit,  a  daughter  of  Warren  Adsit,  and  to 
them  were  born  four  children,  namely:  Ger- 
trude, widow  of  Elbert  Munsell;  Franklin,  of 
this  sketch;  Frederick,  and  Guy.  The  father 
resided  for  some  time  upon  a  farm  near  Stiss- 
ing,  und  then  purchased  another  farm  in  the 
same  locality,  but  the  later  years  of  his  life 
were  passed  near  Willow  Brook.  Besides  en- 
gaging in  agricultural  pursuits,  he  was  also  a 
dealer  in  cattle.  He  used  his  right  of  fran- 
chise in  support  of  the  men  and  measures  of 
the  Democratic  party. 

After  pursuing  his  studies  for  some  time  in 
the  district   schools   of   the  town  of  Stanford, 


Franklin  Germond  entered  the  village  schooli 
of    Rhinebeck,    Dutchess    county,    where    h( 
completed    his    education.       On    reaching  hii 
majority  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself  as  ; 
clerk  in  the  store  of  James  Husted,  of  Pough' 
keepsie,  and  after  leaving  his  employ  workec 
upon  a  farm   at  Mclntyre,  Dutchess  county, 
for  a  year.      After  a  year  then  passed  at  home, 
he  went  to  Toledo,  Ohio,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed as  shipping  clerk  in  a  wholesale  house, 
and  also  sold  goods  on  the  road   for  the  same 
firm  for  two  years  and  a  half.       Returning  v 
Stanford  in  the  spring  of    1877,  he  remainei 
upon  the  old  homestead  for  four  years;  but  ii 
1 88 1  he  purchased  his  present  farm  in  thesami 
town,  where  he  has  since  resided.      He  is  quit 
an  extensive  farmer  and  stock  dealer,  and  wel 
deserves  the  success  which  has  come  to  him 
In    1876,    at    Litchfield,     Litchfield    Co. 
Conn.,    Mr.    Germond    was    married    to  Mis 
Alice  Bissell,  daughter  of  Henry  Bissell,  andt 
them  have  been  born    four  children:     Henr 
Bissell,  James  Husted,  Gertrude  C.    and  Par 
Franklin.       In  politics  Mr.  Germond  is  identi 
fied    with   the    Democratic    party,    which    h 
always  supports  by  his  ballot,  and  is  now  serv 
ing  his  third  term  as  assessor  of  his  town.    H 
is  an  honored  and  respected  citizen  who  cor 
tributes  his  full    quota  toward  the  enterprise 
having  for  their  object  the  general  welfare  c 
the  community. 


JAMES  BARMORE,  a  leading  and  repr( 
sentative  farmer  of  the  town  of  Unionvak 
-  belongs  to  a  well-known  family  of  Dutche; 
county.  His  grandfather,  Nathaniel  Barmen 
who  also  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits,  t 
his  marriage  with  Miss  Abigail  Wall  had 
family  of  seven  children,  namely:  Henr 
the  father  of  our  subject;  John;  James;  Mead' 
Abram;  Betsy;  and  Eliza,  who  married  Wai 
Hunter. 

Henry  Barmore  was  born  in  the  town  < 
Port  Chester,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.,  N' 
vember  17,  1783,  was  there  educated  in  tl| 
common  schools,  and  learned  the  carpentei 
trade,  at  which  he  worked  for  some  tini 
Later  he  turned  his  attention  to  farming, 
religious  belief,  he  was  a  Friend.  He  ma 
ried  Miss  Bethany  Carpenter,  who  was  bo . 
March  10,  1787,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Zei 
and  Lydia  (Clark)  Carpenter.  The  thirtc 
children  born  to  them  were  as  follows: 

(I)  Clark  was  born  in  Westchester  count 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


709 


ay  25,  1806,  and  after  completing  his  edu- 
tion  engaged  in  farming.  He  wedded  Miss 
ary  Alley,  by  whom  he  had  nine  children: 
hoebe  married  C.  Patterson;  Edward  married 
ucy  Wanzer,  and  they  had  three  children — 
lark  (who  married  Gertie  Tripp);  Mary  E. ; 
id  Etnma  (who  married  Charles  Huestis); 
tephen  died  when  young;  Caroline  married 
ndrew  Wanzer  ;  Eliza  remained  single ; 
arah  married  Cyrus  Perkins,  and  they  had 
ae  child — JohnE.;  John  married  Josephine 
hillips;  Charles  died  when  young;  Delia  mar- 
sd  Gilbert  Downing,  and  had  one  son — 
"liarles. 

(2)  Anor  Barmore  was  born  in  Westches- 
(r  county,  July  11,  1807,  and  married  Jasper 
iirtch,  a  farmer,  but  had  no  children. 

(3)  Stephen,  born  August  25,  1808,  mar- 
jjd  Miss  Caroline  Williams,  and  they  became 
1e  parents  of  two  sons — William  and  James 
'    both  of  whom  died  young. 

4)  Lydia  Barmore   was  born   October  i, 

09,  and  married  David  Stringham,  an  agri- 
(Iturist,  by  whom  she  had  five  children:  (i) 
^nry  married  Caturah  Gardner,  and  they 
fd  one  daughter — Ida  C. ;  after  the  death  of 
h  first  wife  he  married  Catherine  Briggs.  (2) 
'.lomas  wedded  Mary  H.  Adams.  (3)  Isaac 
rirried  Lucinda  Lyon,  and  had  two  daugh- 
ts — Emma,  who  married  Theron  Briggs, 
Is  two  children — Clara  and  Arthur;  and  Mary 
I,  who  married  Edwin  Lloyd.  (4)  John 
rirried  Ann  E.  Barnes,  and  has  five  children 
-Henry  D.,  who  is  married  and  has  three 
s)ns;  Irene,  who  married  William  Mudge,  and 
Id  one  child;  Irving,  who  married  Eleanor 
Lyo;  Eugene;  and  Norris.  (5)  James,  twin 
t)tber  of  John,  married  Gertrude  Van  Curen, 
ad  has  three  children — Willis,  Norman  (who 
Tarried  Gertrude  Marshall),  and  Ernest. 

I  (S)  Annie  Barmore  was  born  January  14, 
til,  and  was  united  in  marriage  with  Abram 
yinby,  a  farmer. 

I  (6)  Sarah  Barmore   was  born  January  26, 

1114,  and  became  the  wife  of  Underbill  Quin- 

b.  an  agriculturist,  but  they  had  no  children. 

(7)  Abigail  Barmore,  born  April  28,  181 5, 

4d  when  young. 

I  (8)  Mary  Barmore  was  born  August  27, 
l!i6,  and  married  Shadrach  Ricketson,  a 
fimer,  by  whom  she  had  two  children:  Annie 
vdded  William  Barker,  and  they  had  two 
cildren — Shadrach  and  Mary  F. ;  Susan  first 
nrried  Theodore  Tappen,  and  they  had  one 
diighter — Mary,    who  wedded    Ira    Gilmore. 


After  the  death    of   her   first  husband,  Susan 
married  John  Anderson. 

(9)  Susan  Barmore  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Unionvale,  Dutchess  county,  December  11, 
1818,  was  there  educated,  and  married  Egbert 
Vale,  a  farmer  of  that  town;  they  had  three 
children:  Sarah  E.  married  Theodore  Wy- 
gant,  and  had  one  daughter,  Jennie,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Thomas  Drake,  and  has  one 
child — Wesley  J. ;  Charles  P.  married  Allie 
Dorland,  and  has  three  children — Willard 
(who  married  Lillie  Pendley),  Susan,  and 
Harold;  Henry  J.  married  Maggie  Williamson, 
and  has  two  children — Henrietta  and  John  E. 

(10)  Henry  Barmore  was  born  January  i, 
1820,  and  married  Miss  Ruth  Spencer.  Their 
only  child,  Minnie,  married  Thomas  Fox,  and 
has  one  child — Minnie. 

(11)  Philip  Barmore  was  born  February  18, 
1822,  and  married  Miss  Hannah  Gardner; 
they  had  two  children:  Maria  married  Victor 
Cornwell,  by  whom  she  had  two  children — 
Ruth  and  Frank — and  after  the  death  of  her 
first  husband  married  Giles  Burgess,  by  whom 
she  had  a  son — Philip.  Henry  married  Rose- 
lina  Griffith,  and  had  seven  children— James, 
Pearl,  Edith,  Willis,  Henry,  Beulah,  and  Willa 
Rose,  two  of  whom  are  deceased. 

(12)  Elizabeth  Barmore  was  born  Septem- 
ber 23,  1823,  and  never  married. 

(13)  James  Barmore,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  sketch,  is  the  youngest  of  the  family. 
He  was  born  February  27,  1829,  in  the  town 
of  Unionvale,  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  locality,  and  has  always  followed 
the  occupation  of  farming.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Society  of  Friends,  is  a  straightforward, 
reliable  citizen,  and  is  held  in  the  highest  es- 
teem. On  reaching  manhood  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Abiah  Gardner,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Lewis  Gardner,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of 
Beekman,  Dutchess  county.  She  died  March 
26,  1865,  and  he  afterward  wedded  her  sister, 
Miss  Mary  Gardner.  He  has  had  no  children 
by  either  marriage. 

Resolved  Gardner,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Barmore,  engaged  in  farming  throughout  life. 
He  married  Miss  Abiah  Sweet,  and  to  them 
were  born  eight  children:  Joshua;  Lewis,  the 
father  of  Mrs.  Barmore;  Isaac  and  Resolved, 
who  never  married;  Seneca;  Delwin,  who  never 
married;  Ann  G. ;  and  Herman. 

The  eldest  son,  Joshua  Gardner,  married 
Jane  Doughty,  and  had  four  children:  (i)  Mary 
A.  wedded  Samuel  Adams,  and  had  four  chil- 


710 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


dren — Mary  H.  (who  married  Thomas  String- 
ham),  Lottie  (who  married  Edward  Young,  and 
has  four  children — -Mrs.  Emma  Haight,  David, 
Charles  and  Mabel),  Amelia  (who  died  when 
young),  and  George  (who  married  Alice  Gard- 
ner, and  has  five  children — Lena,  Blanche, 
Samuel,  Raymond  and  Mary  H.).  (2)  Char- 
lotte married  Edwin  Cabry,  and  has  two  chil- 
dren— Frank,  and  Lavina  (wife  of  Benjamin 
Sutton).  (3)  Eliza  married  David  Hoag,  and 
has  three  children — David,  Eva  and  Angenett. 
(4)  Thomas  wedded  Mariette  Thomas,  and  has 
three  children — Florence,  Frances,  and  Etta. 
Lewis  Gardner,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Bar- 
more,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Beekman, 
Dutchess  county,  June  9.  1791;  obtained  his 
education  in  the  common  schools,  and  learned 
the  tailor's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  most  of 
his  life,  but  also  carried  on  farming.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  Tifit,  and  to  them  were  born  thir- 
teen children,  of  whom  the  eldest  four  never 
married,      (i)  Catherine  S.  was  born  April  20, 

1 8 18.  (2)  Elizabeth  C.  was  born  October  14, 

1819.  (3)  Rhoda  C.  was  born  July  22,  1821. 

(4)  Ruth    S.    was    born    September    i,    1823. 

(5)  Hannah,  born  December  8,  1824,  married 
Philip  Barmore,  a  farmer.  (6)  Seneca  L. ,  born 
June  24,  1827,  remained  single.  (7)  Abiah, 
born  June  6,  1829,  was  the  first  wife  of  our 
subject.  (8)  Nathaniel,  born  August  17,  1 83 1, 
was  three  times  married,  his  first  wife  being 
Leah  Lynch,  by  whom  he  had  two  children — 
Sarah  E.  and  George  L. ;  after  her  death  he 
married  Miss  Kate  Wood,  and  to  them  was 
born  a  child  that  died  in  infancy;  his  third  wife 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Sarah  E.  Sutton. 
(9)  Elnathan,  born  March  16,  1833,  married 
Hannah  Lynch,  and  had  four  children — Hattie 
(who  married  Robert  Fisher,  and  had  one  son, 
Robert),  Sarah  (who  married  William  Pierce, 
and  has  one  child,  Harry),  Benjamin  (who 
died  in  infancy),  and  Mary  E.  (who  married 
William  Brooks,  and  has  two  children,  Arthur 
and  Mary  M.).  (10)  Caturah,  born  Novem- 
ber 28,  1834,  married  Henry  Stringham,  a 
nephew  of  our  subject,  by  whom  she  had  a 
daughter,  Ida  C.  (11)  Mary,  born  September 
24,  1836,  is  the  wife  of  our  subject.  (12)  Ma- 
tilda, born  May  27,  1841,  died  in  infancy. 
(13)  Henry,  born  August  i,  1843,  married 
Cornelia  Cornell,  and  has  one  son,  Lewis,  who 
married  Minnie  Totersman,  and  they  have  one 
son,  Harry. 

Seneca  Gardner,  the  fifth  child  of  Resolved 
and  Abiah  (Sweet)  Gardner,  married  Sarah  J. 


Rockfeller,  and  to  them  were  born  ten  children 
Julia  never  married;  William;  Charles  marriei 
a  Miss  Dodge,  and  after  her  death  he  marriei 
Sarah  A.  Brown,  by  whom  he  had  five  children 
Julia,  Annie,  Isaac,  Charles  and  John;  Emm; 
never  married;  Jane  married  Lewis  Cooper 
Alice  married  George  Adams;  Del  win  marriec 
Frances  Cooper,  and  had  two  children — Id; 
and  John;  Isaac  remained  single;  John  marrie( 
Emma  Ludington,  and  had  one  daughter- 
Nina;  and  Ann  married  Fred  Benjamin,  an 
they  have  three  children — Fred,  Gardner  an 
Isaac. 

Ann  G.  Gardner,  the  seventh  child  of  R{ 
solved  and  Abiah  (Sweet)  Gardner,  marrie 
David  Adams,  and  they  had  one  son — Jamei 
who  married  Samantha  Newett. 

Herman  Gardner,  the  youngest  of  th 
family,  married  Eliza  Brown,  and  they  had  fi\ 
children — John,  Resolved,  Daniel,  Lydia  an 
Deborah. 


JOHN  P.  ANDERSON  is  a  representativ 
citizen  and  substantial  farmer  of  the  tow 
of  Washington,  Dutchess  county,  where  h 
has  now  made  his  home  since  1865,  when  h 
located  upon  his  present  farm  of  165  acres  ( 
rich  and  fertile  land.  He  is  one  of  those  me 
who  thoroughly  understand  the  business  he 
pursuing,  and  is  meeting  with  a  well-deserve 
success.  He  is  the  architect  of  his  own  fo 
tune,  having  started  in  life  with  but  little  cap 
tal  beyond  his  own  industry  and  a  laudable  an 
bition  to  rise  in  the  world. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  born  at  East  Fishkil 
Dutchess  county,  November  23,  1835,  and  b' 
longs  to  a  family  whose  ancestors  came  fro 
Holland  at  a  very  early  period  in  the  histoi 
of  this  country.  In  religious  belief  they  ai 
mostly  Methodists.  His  grandfather,  JohnAi 
derson,  was  also  born  at  East  Fishkill,  whe: 
after  his  marriage  he  located  on  a  farm  ar 
reared  his  six  children:  Susan,  who  marrif 
Abram  Van  Vlack,  a  farmer  of  East  Fishkil 
Zillah,  wife  of  Louis  Wright,  a  farmer  of  tl 
town  of  Lagrange,  Dutchess  county;  Elizabet 
who  wedded  Harvey  Eighmie,  an  agriculturi 
of  the  town  of  Beekman,  Dutchess  count 
Polly,  wife  of  John  Homan,  also  a  farmer 
Beekman;  Peter,  the  father  of  our  subjec 
and  John,  a  farmer  of  East  Fishkil!.  In  th; 
town  the  grandfather  spent  his  remaining  day 

There   Peter  Anderson,  the   father  of  0; 
subject,    was    born   March    21,    1807,  and   ( 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


711 


caching    maturity     married  Sarah    Van    De- 
ivVater,  whose  birth  occurred  in  the  town  of 
;^ishkill,  July  25,  1808.      Her  family  was  also 
f  Holland  origin,  and  her  father  was  a  fruit 
,;rower  of  the  town  of  Fishkill.     She  was  the 
econd  in  his  family  of  four  children,  the  others 
peing  Myers,  a  farmer  of  that  locality;   Phoebe, 
vifeof  Nelson  Lounsbury,  also  an  agriculturist; 
nd  Susan,  wife  of  Stephen  Scofield,  a  resident 
if  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.     On  their  farm  in  East 
'ishkill  five  children   were  born   to    Mr.  and 
ilrs.  Peter  Anderson,   namely:     Amanda,  wife 
if  William  B.  Roe,  a  farmer;   Myers,  who  en- 
aged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  both  the  town 
if  Beekman  and  East  Fishkill,  and  died  Sep- 
ember   12,    1872;  Sarah,  wife  of  William  E. 
Jrinkerhoff,   who  is  engaged  in    the    nursery 
usiness;  John  P.,  of  this  sketch;  and  Eliza- 
■eth,  wife  of  William  H.  Jaycox,  a  farmer  of 
■last  Fishkill.     The   father,  who  was   an  ear- 
est  Democrat  in   politics,  died   in  1890;  his 
./ife  had  departed  this  life  in  1882. 

In  the  usual  manner  of  farmer-lads,  our  sub- 
[sct  spent  his  childhood,  and  on  reaching  his 
hajority  went  to  New  York  City,  where  he  en- 
jaged  in  the  wholesale  liquor  business  on 
pifty-iirst  street  and  Ninth  avenue  for  about 
ix  years.  In  1865,  however,  we  find  him  in 
le  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess  county, 
here  he  purchased  his  present  farm. 

On  November  15,  1859,  Mr.  Anderson  was 

larried  to  Miss  Hannah   M.  White,    a   native 

f  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.,  and  a  daughter  of 

l.lfred  and  Eliza  (Brownell)   White,    farming 

leople  of  that  county.     The  founders  of  the 

imily  came  from   England,   and  her  paternal 

jrandfather,    Charles    White,    was  a    leading 

jirmer  of  Greene  and  Dutchess  counties.    Her 

|arents  later  came  to  the  town  of    Fishkill, 

)utchess  county,  where  they  reared  their  fam- 

y  of  four  children:     Deborah,  wife  of  Myers 

.nderson,  a  brother  of  our  subject;   Hannah 

I.;  and    Charles    L.   and  William,   both  de- 

eased.     The  father's  death  occurred  April  3, 

j88o,  and  his  wife,   who  survived  him   some 

jears,  died  January  7,  1892. 

\     Four  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 

[.nderson:     Alfred  P.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 

i)ur  years;  William   R.,   who  is   married   and 

as  been  commissioner  of  schools  for  six  years; 

lifted  J.,  a  resident  of  the  town  of  Washing- 

Jtj;  and  Eliza  W. ,  wife  of  Leonard  Davis,   a 

inner.     The  parents  are  both  consistent  and 

lithful  members  of  the  Methodist   Episcopal 

hutch,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Anderson  affiliates 


with  the  Democratic  party.  He  is  quite  prom- 
inent in  public  affairs  and  has  been  elected 
supervisor  of  his  town,  which  office  he  held  for 
two  terms,  and   has   also  been  road  commis- 


sioner. 


SANFORD  JARVIS  BARTLETT  is  a 
worthy  representative  of  the  farming  in- 
terests of  the  town  of  Amenia,  Dutchess 
county,  and  in  all  of  life's  relations  has  been 
known  as  an  honorable,  straightforward  man. 
He  was  born  December  29,  1842,  on  the  old 
family  homestead,  where  he  still  resides,  and 
comes  from  a  family  that  has  taken  an  active 
part  in  promoting  the  welfare  and  upbuilding 
of  the  county. 

The  first  of  the  family  to  locate  within  the 
borders  of  Dutchess  county  was  Daniel  C. 
Bartlett,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject. 
He  was  born  at  Redding,  Conn.,  and  was  the 
son  of  Rev.  Nathaniel  Bartlett,  a  Congrega- 
tional minister,  who  located  at  Redding,  May 
23,  1753.  and  died  January  10,  1810,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-three  years.  He  had  three 
daughters,  Anna,  Eunice  and  Lucretia.  When 
the  colonies  took  up  arms  against  the  mother 
country.  Rev.  Bartlett  gave  Daniel  his  sword 
on  the  Sabbath  day  with  the  instruction  to 
fight  for  the  freedom  of  his  native  land.  He 
was  with  Montgomery  at  the  battle  of  Quebec, 
and  was  at  the  capture  of  Fort  St.  John  in 
November,  1775,  and  witnessed  the  burning 
of  Danbury,  Conn.,  in  1777.  In  1803  he 
bought  of  Joel  Gillett  the  farm  in  the  town  of 
Amenia,  which  now  belongs  to  our  subject. 
In  his  family  were  five  children:  William, 
Collins,  Mrs.  John  Barker,  Mrs.  Thomas 
Paine  and  Mrs.  William  Paine.  Sanford  J. 
Bartlett  has  in  his  possession  the  gun  bearing 
the  initials  of  his  great-grandfather,  Daniel  C. 
Bartlett,  and  which  the  latter  probably  carried 
and  used  during  the  Revolutionary  struggle. 
He  also  has  the  original  pictures  of  his  great- 
great-grandparents.  Rev.  Nathaniel  Bartlett 
and  wife. 

William  Bartlett,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  February  13,  1781,  and 
spent  most  of  his  life  engaged  in  farming  in 
the  town  of  Amenia.  On  November  12,  1804, 
he  married  Miss  Clarissa  Sanford,  who  was 
born  February  23,  1786,  and  died  August  12, 
1838.  His  death  occurred  December  10, 
1 82 1.  In  their  family  were  three  children: 
William   S.,    the  father  of  our  subject;  Henry 


712 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPUWAL  RECORD. 


E.,  who  was  born  August  ii,  1813,  and  died 
December  27,  1832;  and  Clarissa  Wade,  who 
died  May  11,  1863,  at  the  age  of  forty-two 
years. 

William  S.  Bartlett,  the  father,  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Amenia,  January  23,  1809,  and 
was  united  in  marriage  October  13,  1830,  with 
Miss  Jane  E.  Reynolds,  who  was  born  on 
Christmas  Day,  1812,  and  was  the  daughter  of 
Jonathan  P.  Reynolds.  Her  death  occurred 
June  I,  1 88 1,  and  on  the  6th  of  the  following 
November  the  father  also  passed  away.  Their 
four  children  were:  Jonathan  R. ,  born  July 
15,  1831,  married  Octobers,  1863,  to  Hannah 
L.  Grant,  and  died  September  8,  1872;  Ade- 
laide Amelia,  born  January  10,  1836,  died 
April  27,  1838;  William  H.,  born  February  14, 
1839,  married  October  5,  1863,  to  Lavina 
Culver,  and  is  now  a  prominent  resident  of 
Amenia;  and  Sanford  J. 

The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  passed  in 
the  usual  manner  of  farmer  boys,  and,  after 
attending  the  district  schools  for  some  time,  he 
completed  his  literary  training  in  the  Amenia 
Seminary.  Since  laying  aside  his  text  books, 
he  has  devoted  his  time  and  attention  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  operating  the  old  family 
homestead  in  the  town  of  Amenia. 

AtBridport,  Vt.,  March  12,  1873,  Sanford 
J.  Bartlett  married  Mary  Lizzie  Hill,  daughter 
of  David  Edgar  Hill,  and  they  are  the  parents 
of  two  children:  William  Edgar,  born  Febru- 
ary 14,  1874;  and  Sanford  J.,  born  August  14, 
1876.  In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Bartlett  is  a 
Republican,  but  takes  no  active  part  in  public 
affairs,  aside  from  performing  his  duties  of  cit- 
izenship. 


C\HARLES  H.  TRIPP,  M.  D.,  a  well-known 
'  physician  and  surgeon  of  Clinton  Corners, 
Dutchess  county,  has  been  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  there  during  the  past 
twelve  years,  meeting  with  remarkable  success. 
The  Doctor  was  born  in  the  town  of  Wash- 
ington, Dutchess  county,  on  Christmas  Day, 
1855.  His  paternal  grandfather,  John  S. 
Tripp,  also  a  native  of  Washington  town,  by 
his  marriage  with  Sarah  Deuel  had  two  sons: 
Seneca,  the  father  of  our  subject;  and  Isaac. 
His  second  union  was  with  Sarah  Haight,  and 
by  her  he  had  a  son:  Egbert.  The  grandfa- 
ther spent  his  entire  life  in  farming  in  the  town 
of  Washington,  and  was  very  successful  in  his 
operations,  so  that  at  the  time  of  his  death  the 


value  of  the  property  to  be  divided  among  his 
sons  amounted  to  about  $12,000.  The  family, 
which  was  of  English  ancestry,  made  its  first 
settlement  on  Nantucket  Island,  whence  the 
descendants  came  to  Dutchess  county. 

Seneca  Tripp  was  born  February  15,  1802, 
in  the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess  county, 
where  he  received  a  fair  education  and  was 
given  a  good  start  in  life.  He  was  first  mar- 
ried in  that  town,  October  25,  1821,  to  Miss 
Annie  Pratt,  who  died  November  15,  1838, 
and  to  them  were  born  four  children:  Milo, 
deceased;  John;  and  Stephen  and  Sarah  Jane, 
both  deceased.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Tripp 
wedded,  October  7,  1839,  Mary  Louisa  Sweet, 
who  was  born  February  i,  181 3,  also  in  Wash- 
ington town.  They  became  the  parents  of  six 
children,  namely:  Annie  S.,  who  was  born 
October  4,  1 841,  and  died  September  8,  1848; 
Silas  D.,  born  November  11,  1843;  Delia  L., 
who  was  born  April  4,  1846,  and  died  Septem- 
ber 19,  1851;  Lydia  Anna,  who  was  born  Oc- 
tober 27,  1850,  and  also  died  September  19, 
1851;  Samuel  Mott,  born  October  22,  1852; 
and  Charles  Henry,  the  subject  of  this  review. 
The  father  continued  to  carry  on  agricultural 
pursuits  in  the  town  of  Washington,  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  December  23,  1876;  his 
wife  died  in  December,  1890.  By  birth  he 
was  a  Quaker,  his  parents  having  belonged  to 
that  Society;  he  was  an  active  politician,  but 
held  no  office,  preferring  to  devote  his  time  to 
his  business. 

The  primary  education  of  our  subject  was 
begun  in  the  district  schools  of  the  town  of 
Washington,  and  he  later  took  up  Greek  and 
Latin  under  private  instruction,  in  order  to  pre- 
pare himself  for  the  study  of  medicine,  being 
ably  assisted  in  his  Latin  studies  by  his  mother. 
In  iS78he  entered  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical 
College,  New  York  City,  where  he  was  gradu- 
ated March  15,  1881,  and  immediately  began 
practice  at   Millbrook,   town   of  Washington, 
Dutchess  county.   In  February,  1884,  he  estab- 
lished an  office  at  Clinton  Corners,  where  h£ 
has  since  prosecuted  his   profession,   and  has 
secured  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.    Before 
entering  the  college  in  New  York,  he  had  tak- 
en up  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  John  S 
Thorne,  of  Millbrook.      He  holds  a  certificate 
of  instruction  in  operative  surgery  and  surgica 
dressing  under  Joseph  D.  Bryant,  now  surgeon 
general  of  the  State. 

On  June  28,  1881,  Dr.   Tripp  was  marriee 
to  Miss  Carrie   E.    Cunningham,    a   native  0 


II 


i 

m^ 

1 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^M 

^ 

^^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


718 


Vermont,  and  four  children  were  the  result 
If  this  union:  Louis  C. ,  born  March  22,  1884, 
nA  died  August  29  following;  Clayton  S., 
'ho  was  born  April  15,  and  died  March  2, 
888;  Mabel  A.,  born  April  13,  1889;  and 
fharles  S.,  born  March  21,  1894. 

Mrs.  Tripp  was  born  July  4,  1866,  in 
lainfield,  Vt.,  a  daughter  of  Lewis  H.  and 
larinda  D.  (Kidder)  Cunningham,  the  latter 
'  whom  was  born  in  1825,  in  Marshfield,  Vt. , 
id  died  July,  1883.  The  father  was  born 
ebruary  8,  1822,  in  Rockingham  town,  Wind- 
im  Co.,  Vt. ,  and  followed  the  business  of 
ontracting  and  building.  They  had  a  family 
I  eight  children,  si.x  of  whom  are  yet  living: 
'lara,  Fred,  Nettie,  Samuel,  Josephine,  and 
'irrie  E. 

Dr.  Tripp  holds  membership  with  the 
.umni  Association  of  Bellevue  Hospital,  and 
Hongs  to  the  Dutchess  County  Medical  So- 
(ity,  the  American  Medical  Association,  and 
t  the  Royal  Arcanum,  of  Poughkeepsie,  N. 
T  He  has  been  very  successful  in  his  prac- 
tte,  and  for  three  years  served  as  health  officer 
fj:  the  town  of  Clinton;  is  examining  surgeon 
fi  the  New  York  Life  and  Mutual  Benefit 
Ke  Insurance  Companies.  He  is  a  member 
cthe  Episcopal  Church  at  Millbrook,  and  he 
ad  his  estimable  wife  are  popular  in  society, 
bing  numbered  among  the  intelligent  and  re- 
fied  people  of  their  community. 


i^EORGE  B.  KINNEY  is  one  of  the  old- 
iT  est  and  most  highly  respected  agricultur- 
is;  of  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess  county. 
Ticing  the  ancestral  line  of  our  subject,  reach- 
ir  two  hundred  and  seventy  years  or  more  into 
i\  past,  we  are  able,  in  the  light  of  reliable 
ffords,  to  follow  Henry  Kinne,  born  in  1624, 
frm  Holland  to  Salem,  Mass.,  where  he  loca- 
te on  a  farm  in  165 1.  It  is  believed  that  he 
Wi  born  in  Norfolk,  England,  where  his  fa- 
tlir.  Sir  Thomas  Kinne,  lived,  having  been 
k|5hted  by  the  government  for  some  signal 
se.ice  rendered,  and  that  following  the  tide 
olemigration  through  Holland,  where  they 
scght  greater  religious  liberty,  but  found  less 
tbn  the  fullest  freedom,  Henry  came  to  Sa- 
le, at  about  the  age  of  thirty  years.  He  was  a 
ptsperous  farmer,  and  was  employed  to  some 
c>:nt  in  ecclesiastical  work.  His  children 
eight  in  number — three  sons  and  five 
urghters. 
[The second  son,  Thomas  Kinne,  from  whom 


our  subject  is  descended,  was  born  January  i, 
1656,  and  May  23,  1677,  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Elizabeth  Knight,  by  whom  he  had 
four  sons.      He  died  in  1687. 

Thomas  Kinne,  the  eldest  son  of  the  above 
couple,  was  born  July  27,  1678,  and  in  1715, 
at  the  age  of  thirty-seven  years,  removed  to 
Preston  (now  Griswold),  Conn.,  where  he 
died  in  1756.  There  his  grave-stone  now 
stands  on  the  banks  of  the  Pachang  river. 
He  married  Martha  Peabody,  who  died  Octo- 
ber 25,  1747,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
sixteen  children — ten  sons  and  six  daughters. 

Stephen  Kinne,  the  third  of  this  family,  was 
born  at  Griswold,  Conn.,  and  January  29, 
1730,  married  Priscilla  Herrick,  by  whom  he 
has  six  children,  namely:  Stephen,  born  De- 
cember 18,  1732;  Tesse,  born  May  25,  1735; 
Roswell,  born  May  4,  1737;  Nathaniel,  born 
April  26,  1739;  Anna,  born  June  7,  1741;  and 
Didymus,  born  August  7,  1743.  The  father 
of  these  children  was  the  first  of  the  Kinne 
family  to  come  to  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y. , 
where  in  1740  he  located  in  the  northwestern 
part  of  the  town  of  Amenia. 

The  next  in  direct  line  to  our  subject  is 
Roswell  Kinne,  who  was  born  at  Griswold, 
Conn.,  but  at  an  early,  age  accompanied  his 
father  to  the  town  of  Amenia,  where  he  re- 
sided up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  August  22, 
18 1 2.  He  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  the 
locality  and  served  as  captain  of  the  militia. 
He  married  Miss  Annie  Burton,  who  was  born 
August  7,  1739.  They  were  the  parents  of 
two  children:     Roswell  and  Henry. 

Roswell  Kinney,  Jr.,  was  the  father  of  our 
subject.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Amenia, 
September  30,  1776,  and  was  united  in  mar- 
riage v;ith  Jerusha  Rust,  who  was  born  in 
1788;  to  them  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren: Albert,  Eliza,  Tryphenia,  George  B., 
Henry  and  Edwin.  All  are  now  deceased  with 
the  exception  of  our  subject.  The  father  was 
killed  by  runaway  oxen,  August  28,  1821.  He 
was  a  strict  Presbyterian  in  religious  belief,  and 
would  not  work  after  sundown  on  Saturday 
nights.  His  entire  life  was  devoted  to  farm- 
ing in  his  native  town.  After  his  death  his 
widow  became  the  wife  of  Daniel  Lorin,  and 
to  them  were  born  four  children,  all  now  de- 
ceased, namely:  Harriet,  Mary,  William  and 
Charles. 

The  birth  of  George  B.  Kinney,  subject  of 
this  review,  occurred  in  the  town  of  Amenia, 
March   26,    18 16,   and   there   his  school   days 


714 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


were  passed.  He  remained  upon  the  old 
homestead  until  his  marriage,  which  was  cele- 
brated in  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess 
county,  October  29,  1840,  Miss  Elma  M. 
Tripp  becoming  his  wife.  She  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Howard  and  Phebe  Tripp,  and  died  in 
1867,  at  the  age  of  fifty  years.  By  their 
union  were  born  three  children:  Elma  T. ; 
Howard  T.,  and  George  H.  The  eldest  son, 
Howard  T.,  married  Minnie  Putnam,  and  has 
two  children,  Laura  and  Roswell. 

Since  1840  Mr.  Kinney  has  resided  upon 
his  present  fine  farm  in  the  town  of  Stanford, 
and  in  the  community  where  he  has  so  long 
made  his  home  he  has  gained  many  warm 
friends.  He  is  entitled  to  the  esteem  and  con- 
fidence of  his  fellow-citizens,  which  he  cer- 
tainly possesses  in  a  high  degree.  His  first 
vote  was  cast  for  the  Whig  party,  but  since  its 
organization  has  been  a  stanch  Republican. 
Religiously,  he  is  a  member  in  good  standing 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


F 


RANKLIN    COLES    TOMPKINS.      The 

subject  of  this  history  is  one  of  the  prom- 
inent citizens  of  the  town  of  Washington, 
Dutchess  county,  and  the  owner  and  proprie- 
tor of  a  fruit  farm.  He  is  a  native  of  New 
York,  born  in  the  town  of  Scarsdale,  West- 
chester county,  October  5,  1827,  and  is  a  son 
of  Coles  Tompkins,  whose  birth  occurred  in 
Mamaroneck  town,  that  county,  in  October, 
1800.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Noah  Tomp- 
kins, was  also  a  native  of  Westchester  county, 
where  his  father,  Elijah  Tompkins,  who  was 
from  New  England,  had  located  at  a  very 
early  day.  The  family  was  founded  in  this 
country  by  three  brothers,  who  came  from 
Wales  and  made  their  homes  either  in  Massa- 
chusetts or  Connecticut. 

By  trade  the  grandfather  of  our  subject 
was  a  blacksmith,  but  his  later  life  was  de- 
voted to  fruit  raising  in  Westchester  county, 
where  his  death  occurred.  By  his  marriage 
with  Rachel  Coles,  a  native  of  Long  Island, 
he  became  the  father  of  six  children,  namely: 
Samuel,  who  followed  farming  and  died  in  Il- 
linois; Elijah,  an  agriculturist  of  Westchester 
county;  Joseph,  also  a  farmer  of  Illinois;  Han- 
nah C,  who  died  unmarried;  Coles,  the  fa- 
ther of  our  subject;  and  Noah,  a  carpenter  of 
New  York  City.  In  religious  belief  the  family 
were  Friends. 

In  early  life  Coles  Tompkins  learned  the 


tanner's  and  currier's  business,  which  he  fo! 
lowed  for  many  years  in  this  State,  but  final! 
removed   to  Illinois,   where    he  passed  awaj 
He  married  Phcebe  Underbill,  a  native  of  th 
town    of    Clinton,    Dutchess    county,    and 
daughter  of  James  Underbill,  who  engaged  i 
blacksmithing  in  the  town  of  Clinton.     The 
began    housekeeping  in  Westchester   county 
Only  one  child  was  born  to  them:     Frankli 
Coles,  subject  of  this  review,  who   was  on) 
two   years  old  when  his  mother    died.     Tf 
Underbill  family  was  of  English  origin,  and 
an  early  period  became  identified  with  the  hi 
tory  of  the  New  World.     One  of  the  first 
its  members,  of  which  any  record   appears, 
Captain  John  Underbill,    who  took  a  leadii 
and  prominent  part  in  religious,  political  ai 
military   affairs.      He    had    come   to    Ameri 
with  Governor  Winthrop,  arriving  at  Bost< 
harbor  May   18,    1630,   in  the    vessel    "Jol 
and  Mary,"  which  he  commanded,  and  whi' 
was  named  in  honor  of  his  father  and  motht 
He  espoused  the  cause  of  Roger  Williams,  a, 
participated  in  many  engagements  against  t 
hostile  Indians  of  that  day.      He  establish 
the    first    military    company    at    Boston. 
.1667  he  bought  from  the   Indians  a  tract 
land   at    Matinecock,    town    of    Oyster   Bji 
Queens  county,  Long  Island,  where  he  died ' 
1667,  and  was  buried  on  the  tract. 

The  childhood  of  our  subject  was  pas? 
in  Westchester  county,  and  most  of  his  edu'  • 
tion  was  acquired  in  the  Old  Nine  Partn  1 
School,  in  the  town  of  Washington,  Dutch  > 
county.  At  the  age  of  seventeen,  howev , 
he  laid  aside  his  text  books  and  began  learn  ; 
the  carriage  maker's  trade  at  Washington  Pi 
Office,  which  business  he  followed  until  18  , 
and  for  nine  years  there  engaged  in  mercan  2 
pursuits.  For  three  years  he  owned  and  c  - 
ducted  a  fruit  farm  of  166  acres  in  Unionv; , 
then  returned  to  that  village,  now  knowr;S 
South  Millbrook,  and  there  purchased  e 
Wintingham  property,  that  comprises  twey 
acres  of  rich  land. 

On  October  31,  1S50,  Mr.  Tompkins  = 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ann  Eliza  Hi'- 
tis,  a  native  of  the  town  of  Dover,  DutcUs 
county,  and  a  daughter  of  Moses  S.  and  -n 
Eliza  (Woolley)  Huestis,  both  of  English  l- 
eage.  Her  maternal  great-grandfather,  J  " 
Woolley.  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Du  n- 
ess  county,  arriving  there  when  only  a  f  *- 
path  led  to  Poughkeepsie.  His  son,  Vanh 
Woolley,  the  grandfather  of   Mrs.    Tompts, 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


715 


became  a  prominent  merchant  and  farmer  of 
.he  town  of  Washington,  and  represented  his 
liistrict  in  the  Assembly. 

Six  children  were  born  to  our  subject   and 

liis  worthy  wife,  who  in  order  of  birth  are  as 

bllows:     Mary  J.,  wife  of  Alfred  Seeley,    now 

)f  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ,  but  formerly  of  Washing- 

on  town;    Hannah     C,     wife    of    Clark    A. 

|iaight,  a  farmer  of  Washington  town;  Phoebe 

JC,   who  died  at   the  age  of  seven   years;   F. 

•Valton,  who  married   Mary  Parker  Dunsher, 

if  New  York  City,  and  lives  near  Newark,  N. 

.;  Clara  M.,   at  home;  and  Willard   H.,    an 

griculturist  of  Unionvale,  who  married   Ruth 

Lstelle  Hawkins,  of  Oswego,  New  York. 

Mr.  Tompkins  is  considered  a  representa- 
ive  man  of  the  town  of  Washington;  he  has  a 
ne  character;  his  motives  are  governed  by 
levated  tastes  and  aims,  and  he  stands  well 
.ith  his  fellowmen.  He  is  frank  and  open  in 
le  expression  of  his  opinions,  and  in  politics 
e  is  a  sound  Democrat.  He  has  held  numer- 
|us  local  offices  of  honor  and  trust,  including 
lose  of  town  clerk  and  justice  of  the   peace. 

RIN  D.  TEAL  is  pleasantly  located  upon 
farm  of  io8  acres  in  the  town  of  Red 
ook,  Dutchess  county,  on  what  is  known 
;  the  "inside  road",  which  runs  from  the 
tone  church  to  Rock  City.  The  improve- 
ents  which  we  see  to-day  have  been  effected 
v'  his  industry  and  good  management,  and  he 
is  brought  the  soil  to  a  fine  state  of  cultiva- 
an.  The  farm  buildings  are  neat  and  sub- 
antial,  and,  with  their  surroundings,  present 
e  picture  of  the  complete  country  home, 
here  peace  and  plenty  abound. 

David  Teal,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
nose  ancestors  came  to  this  country  from 
ilatinate,  Germany,  was  a  native  of  Ulster 
'  unty,  N.  Y.  He  received  a  common-school 
tucation,  and  began  life  as  a  farmer,  which 
(cupation  he  followed  up  to  the  time  of  his 
^ath.  Early  in  life  he  married  Miss  Rebecca 
'pperly,  and  soon  after  they  became  residents 
'  the  town  of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess  county, 
yere  their  only  child,  Jacob  Teal,  was  born 
''1804.  He  was  the  father  of  our  subject. 
'  3  education  was  such  as  the  district  schools 
the  locality  afforded  and  he  early  learned 
trades  of  blacksmithing  and  wagonmaking, 
awhich  he  worked  more  or  less  all  through 
f!'  life.     He  also  engaged  in   teaching  school 


for  a  few  years.  In  the  early  training  days  he 
commanded  a  company.  For  his  second  wife 
he  married  Miss  Anna  Maria  Teal,  daughter  of 
John  I.  Teal,  of  the  town  of  Rhinebeck, 
Dutchess  county,  who,  though  bearing  the 
same  name,  was  no  relative.  Two  children 
were  born  to  them:  Mary  C. ,  who  became 
the  wife  of  William  Moul,  of  the  town  of  Red 
Hook,  where  he  is  successfully  engaged  in 
farming;  and  John  D.,  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Our  subject's  birth  occurred  in  the  town  of 
Red  Hook,  where  he  entered  the  common 
schools,  and,  on  completing  his  education,  he 
succeeded  his  father,  who  was  otherwise  en- 
gaged, to  the  management  of  the  farm,  and 
thus  began  life  for  himself  as  an  agriculturist. 
In  1867  Mr.  Teal  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Rossman.  They  are  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren, all  born  on  the  old  homestead.  Frank 
L. ,  who  was  educated  at  the  Hartwick  Semi- 
nary, and,  after  his  graduation  from  that  insti- 
tution in  1890,  served  on  the  force  of  civil 
engineers  engaged  in  the  construction  of  the 
Broadway  Cable  road  in  New  York  City,  at 
the  completion  of  which  he  engaged  in  teach- 
ing and  land  surveying,  holding  the  position  of 
teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Germantown 
for  two  years.  He  then  became  principal  of 
the  North  Germantown  Union  School,  which 
position  he  resigned  after  two  years  to  enter 
upon  a  course  of  studies  at  St.  Stephens  Col- 
lege. Agnes  received  a  thorough  training  in 
music,  and  is  now  a  teacher  of  that  art.  She 
is  also  organist  of  the  Stone  Church  in  the 
town  of  Rhinebeck  located  near  the  town  line 
of  Red  Hook.     Eve  Alice  completes  the  family. 

John  G.  Rossman,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Teal,  was  born  in  Livingston,  Columbia  Co., 
N.  Y. ,  was  there  educated,  and  followed  the 
vocation  of  a  farmer  throughout  life.  He 
married  Miss  Catherine  Best,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Lewis  Best,  a  Christian  minister  of  Livingston. 
Their  family  consisted  of  ten  children:  Susan 
married  Reuben  Lapham;  George  married 
Johanna  Weisman;  Jacob  was  the  father  of 
Mrs.  Teal;  Margaret  married  Henry  Van- 
Etten;  Eve  married  Samuel  Lape;  Mary  mar- 
ried Edward  Stickle;  Ann  married  Samuel 
Shutts;  William  married  Lucy  Cunningham,  of 
Georgia;  James  remained  single;  and  Edward 
died  in  infancy. 

Jacob  Rossman  was  also  a  native  of  Liv- 
ingston, Columbia  county,  where  he  received 
a  good  common-school  education,  and  be- 
came an  agriculturist.      He  wedded  Miss  Eve 


716 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Patrie,  by  whom  he  had  two  children:  Mer- 
vin  J.,  who  married  Mary  Gardner;  and  Mary, 
the  estimable  wife  ot  our  subject.  Her  ma- 
ternal grandfather,  Christian  Patrie,  who  was 
also  a  farmer,  married  Mary  Pinder,  daughter 
of  Edward  Pinder,  second  son  of  Lord  Pinder, 
London,  England,  and  to  them  were  born  ten 
children:  Pamilla  married  Dr.  William  Jones; 
Rachel  married  Rensselaer  Livingston;  Alex- 
ander married  Clarissa  Bennaham;  Rufus  mar- 
ried Jane  Stickle;  Eve  was  the  mother  of  Mrs. 
Teal;  Susan  married  Samuel  Pender;  Mary 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years;  Edward 
married  Margaret  Potts;  Seth  married  Mary 
Patrie,  a  cousin;  and  Fannie  married  Jacob 
Miller. 


THOMAS  WRIGHT,  one  of  the  well-to-do 
and  influential  citizens  of  the  town  of 
Lagrange,  is  now  occupying  a  valuable  farm 
that  is  conspicuous  for  the  manner  in  which  it 
has  been  improved  and  cultivated,  and  gives 
every  evidence  of  being  the  homestead  of  one 
of  the  most  enterprising  men  of  Dutchess 
county. 

The  Wright  family  is  of  English  origin,  and 
was  founded  in  this  country  first  on  Long 
Island.  Thomas  Wright,  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  and  one  of  the  earlj'  residents  of 
the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county, 
had  a  family  of  eight  children,  all  now  de- 
ceased. As  he  was  in  somewhat  limited  cir- 
cumstances, his  son,  Lewis,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  given  but  an  ordinary  education, 
and  he  started  out  in  life  as  a  poor  boy.  He 
was  born  in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  March 
22,  1800,  and  in  his  twentieth  year  first  be- 
came a  resident  of  the  town  of  Lagrange,  lo- 
cating upon  the  farm  now  occupied  by  our 
subject,  which  he  operated  for  some  time  be- 
fore he  was  able  to  purchase  it.  Upon  that 
place  he  spent  his  remaining  days. 

On  November  3,  1820.  Lewis  Wright  was 
married  to  Maria  Vermilyea,  who  was  born 
September  26,  1801,  and  died  December  31, 
1827,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  three 
children:  Mary,  born  July  24,  1821,  died  in 
June,  1894;  John  G.,  born  May  31,  1824;  and 
Abraham,  born  in  December,  1826,  and  died 
October  18,  1828.  Mr.  Wright  was  again 
married,  this  time  on  November  13,  1828,  to 
Miss  Zillah  Anderson,  who  was  born  February 
24.  1799,  and  was  the  daughter  of  John  Ander- 
son.     Four  children  came  to  this  union:     Ann 


Elizabeth,  born  August  24,  1830,  married 
Draper  Hall,  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ;  Thomas, 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Susan  Jane,  born  De- 
cember 25,  1834,  married  Rutsen  Hall,  of  the 
town  of  Unionvale,  Dutchess  county;  and  An- 
derson, born  May  i,  1838,  died  May  10,  1867. 
The  mother  of  these  children  departed  this 
life  in  November,  1885. 

Thomas    Wright,   whose  name   introduces 
these  lines,  was   born   February   26,   1833,  on 
the  farm  which  is  now  his  home,  in  the  town 
of  Lagrange.     His  education   was  acquired  in 
the  district  school,  and   at  a  private  school  of 
the  neighborhood.     On  April  20,  1859,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Phoebe  Rogers,  who  was  born 
October  18,  1840,  a  daughter  of  Laban  Rog- 
ers, of  the  town  of  Beekman,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty.    To  this  worthy  couple  were  born  fourteen 
children,  whose  names   and  dates  of  birth  are 
as   follows:     Charles   L.,    January   21,    i860; 
Homer  A.,  June  19,  1862;  Carrie  R.,  July  31, 
1864;    Susan   A.,    August    21,     1866;  Jennie, 
October   3,    1868;   Mary    E.,   May    12,    1871, 
Lewis  T.,  March  12,  1873;  Alice  Z.,  Octobei 
27,  1874;  John  R.,  October  11,  1876;  Ruem- 
ma,  September  2,  1S78;  Arthur,  October  23, 
1880;  Augusta  M.,  March  21,    1883;  and  Jo 
sephine  and  Pauline   (twins),  August  lo,  1885. 
Of  these,  Josephine  died  July  22,  1886.    Mrs 
Wright's  father  was  born  in  the  town  of  Beek- 
man,   in    1805,    married    Jane    Sincerbox,  0 
East  Fishkill,  by  whom  he  had  five  children- 
two  sons   and  three  daughters,  of  whom,  on( 
son    and    daughter  are    now    deceased.     Thi 
mother  died  in  1884,  the  father  in  1886. 

In  1859,  Mr.  Wright  became  a  resident  c 
the  town  of  Beekman,  where  he  remained  unt 
1879,  when  he  removed  to  the  old  Vermilye 
homestead  in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  which  h 
operated  for  ten  years,  when  he  returned  to  th 
farm  where  his  early  life  was  passed,  and  ha 
there  continued  to  make  his  home.  He  is  nc 
the  owner  of  three  fine  farms  in  the  town  c 
Lagrange,  and  another  in  Beekman,  aggreg; 
ting  750  acres  of  as  good  land  as  is  to  b 
found  anywhere  in  the  county.  While  livir 
in  Beekman,  he  was  elected  justice  of  tf 
peace,  but  declined  to  qualify.  A  stanc 
Democrat  in  politics,  he  is  recognized  as  a 
honorable,  upright  man,  the  encourager  ' 
educational  institutions,  and  during  his  young' 
years  served  as  school  commissioner  in  tl 
town  of  Lagrange.  The  career  of  ^^ 
Wright  has  ever  been  such  as  to  warrant  tl 
trust  and  confidence   of  those  with   whom  I 


A 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


717 


jhas  come  in  contact,  for  he  has  ever  con- 
i-Jucted  all  transactions  on  the  strictest  princi- 
iples  of  honor  and  integrity. 


GEORGE  W.  HOWELL,  a  leading  and  in- 
fluential member  of  the  agricultural  com- 
iiunity  of  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutch- 
i;ss  county,  resides  upon  his  fine  farm  of  197 
.icres.  Besides  the  regular  duties  pertaining 
o  the  cultivation  of  the  soil ,  he  also  deals  quite 
extensively  in  stock,  which  he  buys  and  ships 

0  the  city. 

Mr.  Howell  is  a  native  of  Dutchess  county, 
laving  been  born  at  Salt  Point,  November  12, 
849,  and  he  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  Howell,  at 
ine  time  also  a  prominent  farmer  of  the  town 
]f  Pleasant  Valley.      He  received  his  education 

1  the  common  schools  of  the  neighborhood, 
nd  lent  his  assistance  to  his  father  in  carrying 
n  the  farm.  On  attaining  his  majority  he 
lecame  postal  clerk  on  the  Poughkeepsie  & 
'-astern  railroad,  which  position  he  filled  some 
Durteen  years.  In  1 878  he  married  Miss  Adelia 
llicks,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Washing- 
an,  Dutchess  county,  where  her  father,  Fred- 
Irick  Hicks,  carried  on  farming.  She  died 
lune  20,  1886,  leaving  two  children:  Mabel 
nd  Grace. 

In  1880  Mr.  Howell  purchased  his  present 

rm,  and  has  since  resided  there.      In  politics 

is  a  straight  and  stanch   adherent   of  the 

mciples  formulated    in   the  platform  of   the 

epublican  party,   and  in  the  exercise  of  his 

active  franchise  invariably  supports  the  can- 

idates  offered  by  that  organization.      During 

iresident  Harrison's  administration  he  served 

r  four  years  as  postmaster  of  Washington 

ollow.      He  is  a  public-spirited  man,  aiding 

all  kinds  of   improvements  for   the  good  of 

le  community,  and  is  especially  active  in  pro- 

oting  educational  interests.      Socially,  hebe- 

ngs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  he  merits 

.id  receives    the  warmest   confidence    of  his 

How-citizens. 


R 


T.  ..^lAS  W.    BERRY,   a    prosperous  farmer 
'-/'  of  the  town  of  Lagrange,  Dutchess  county, 

-  born  in  the  town  of  Hyde  Park,  Dutchess 
■unty,  August  6,  1854.  His  parents  were 
ebbens  Howe  and  Wilhelmina  (Westervelt) 

'  ry,  the  latter  being  a  daughter  of  Elias  and 

th  Westervelt. 
Nicholas  N.  Berry,  the  paternal  grandfather 


of  our  subject,  was  born  in  1792,  in  East  Fish- 
kill,  N.  Y.,  ar..d  settled  in  the  town  of  Pough- 
keepsie when  a  young  man.  He  was  twice 
married,  his  first  wife  being  Miss  Ida  Vanalts, 
a  native  of  Fishkill,  N.  Y.,  who  bore  him  two 
children:  Lettie  Ann  and  William,  both  of 
whom  are  now  deceased.  By  his  second  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Ida  Howe,  he  had 
four  children,  namely:  Lebbens  H.  and  John 
P.  (both  deceased),  the  latter  of  whom  was 
superintendent  of  the  Street  railroad  in  Eliza- 
beth City;  Tunis,  a  resident  of  Elizabeth,  N. 
J.,  was  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Poughkeep- 
sie; and  Sarah,  who  married  Tunis  Conklin, 
and  lives  at  Hyde  Park.  The  family  were  all 
Presbyterians  in  their  religious  belief. 

Lebbens  H.  Berry,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  school  teacher  in  his  younger  days, 
but  most  of  his  life  was  spent  in  farming.  He 
lived  for  a  year  on  the  plank  road,  and  for  ten 
years  farmed  on  the  land  now  occupied  by  the 
State  Asylum  buildings.  He  sold  this  property, 
and  for  a  year  resided  in  Hyde  Park,  subse- 
quently going  to  the  town  of  Clinton,  where 
he  remained  four  years.  In  1865  he  took  up 
his  residence  in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  where 
he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life,  his  death  occurring 
in  1887.  His  wife  survived  him  until  1891. 
He  was  a  stanch  Democrat  in  his  political 
views,  and  held  several  minor  town  offices, 
being  commissioner  of  highways  in  the  town 
of  Poughkeepsie,  and  collector  at  various  times. 
He  was  a  man  of  considerable  business  ability, 
and  during  his  life  accumulated  a  comfortable 
fortune.  The  children  born  to  himself  and 
wife  were:  William,  residing  in  Danbury, 
Conn.;  Henry,  living  at  Roselle,  N.  J.;  Sarah 
W. ;  Lettie  Ann,  who  married  Shryver  Tomp- 
kins, of  Lagrange;  Elias  Westervelt,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch;  Lebbens  H.,  living  in  La- 
grange; Mary  Frances,  wife  of  the  Rev.  Edwin 
C.  Bennett,  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ;  Seymour,  resid- 
ing in  Roselle,  N.  J. ;  and  Ida  Ruth. 

Elias  W.  Berry  obtained  his  education  in  the 
district  school  at  Freedom  Plains,  and  lived  on 
the  home  farm  in  Lagrange  with  his  parents, 
until  the  death  of  his  mother  in  1891.  On 
March  9,  1892,  he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Louisa 
Seaman  Brill,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Clara 
Seaman.  Mrs.  Berry  has  three  children  by 
her  first  marriage:  Richard,  Clara  and  Fred- 
erick. After  his  marriage  Mr.  Berry  purchased 
the  J.  R.  Flagler  farm  near  Overlook,  in  the 
town  of  Lagrange,  which  consists  of  ninety 
acres  of  fine  land.     Here  he  carries  on  general 


718 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


farming,  in  which  he  has  been  quite  successful. 
He  is  a  hard  worker,  thrifty  and  energetic,  and 
is  highly  respected  by  all  his  acquaintances. 
He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  has  been  justice 
of  the  peace  two  terms,  and  also  one  of  the 
inspectors  of  election. 


JOSEPH  B.  ROZELL,  a  very  prominent 
and  energetic  farmer  of  the  town  of  Union- 
vale,  Dutchess  county,  was  there  born  April 

29.  1859,  and  secured  his  education  in  the 
schools  near  his  home.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, Henry  Rozell,  was  a  native  of  Tarry- 
town,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  attended  school,  but 
early  in  life  removed  to  Chestnut  Ridge, 
Dutchess  county,  where  he  followed  agricult- 
ural pursuits.  He  wedded  Miss  Eleanor 
Cypher,  and  to  them  were  born  the  following 
children:  Thomas,  who  married  Jennie  Strait; 
Elizabeth  married  Caleb  Oakley;  John,  who 
married  Miss  Black;  Samuel,  who  married 
Rhoda  Rozell;  Gilbert,  who  married  Eliza 
Shear;  Henry,  who  married  Catharine  Holmes; 
William,  who  died  in  infancy;  William,  who 
married  Julia  Burnett;  Alexander,  the  father 
of  our  subject;  Jacob,  who  married  Jane 
Austin;  Matilda,  who  married  Dewitt  Connor; 
Annie,  who  married  Harvey  Simeon;  Egbert, 
who  married  Priscilla  Cooper;  and  Maria, 
who  married  Robert  Hicks. 

Alexander  Rozell  was  born  at  Chestnut 
Ridge  in  1808,  and  in  the  common  schools  of 
Dutchess  county  acquired  his  education.  He 
learned  the  shoemaker's  trade,  at  which  he 
worked  for  fourteen  years,  and  then  devoted 
his  time  and  attention  to  farming,  until  life's 
labors  were  ended.  He  was  a  progressive  and 
public-spirited  citizen,  and  enjoyed  the  respect 
and  confidence  of  all  who  knew  him. 

On  January  31,  1854,  was  celebrated  the 
marriage  of  Alexander  Rozell  and  Miss  Sarah 
Frances  Potter,  a  daughter  of  George  and 
Hannah  (Baker)  Potter,  farming  people  of 
Nantucket.  Four  children  blessed  this  union, 
of  whom  our  subject  is  third  in  order  of  birth: 
George,  born  December  8,  1854,  in  the  town 
of  Unionvale,  received  a  common-school  edu- 
cation, and  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  at 
which  he  is  now  employed.  He  married  Miss 
Anna  M.  Syncerbaux,  who  was  born  January 

30,  i860.  Annie  was  born  July  25,  1856,  in 
Unionvale  town,  and  married  Jesse  Oakley, 
an  agriculturist,  by  whom  she  has  one  child, 


Alexander,  born  in  1890.  Ella  H.,  born  No- 
vember 4,  i860,  is  the  wife  of  William  E. 
Ferris,  a  shoemaker  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y., 
and  they  have  one  son,  William  H.,  who  was 
born  October  2,  1895. 

George  Potter,  the  maternal  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  born  October  20.  1786, 
and  in  September,  1812,  married  Miss  Han- 
nah Baker,  whose  birth  occurred  August  i, 
1 790.  They  became  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren, whose  names  and  dates  of  birth  are  as 
follows:  Joseph,  August  7,  1813;  Anthony, 
April  6,  1 81 5;  William  B. ,  March  12,  18 17; 
Sarah  F. ,  December  27,  18 19;  and  Milton, 
April  23,  1821. 


frRS.  MAY  LOSEE  DUTCHER,  of  Do- 
ver Plains,  is  descended  from  well-knowr 
families  of  Dutchess    county.      Her    paternal 
grandfather,  William  Losee,  a  lifelong  farmer 
was  a  native  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y. ,  and  received 
his    education    in  the    schools   of  that  place. 
He    married   Miss    Mary    Watterman,    of  the 
same  place,  and  they  became  the  parents  ol 
twelve  children,  namely:     Harris  married  Ra- 
chel Butts;  William  married  Anna  Carbardt 
John  married    Phcebe  Veiley;   Henry   marriec 
Mertha  Lake;  Joseph   married   Harriet   Han 
neston;  George  was  the  father  of  Mrs.  Dutch 
er;  Julia   married  J.  Cooper;  Delia  remainec 
unmarried;    Caroline   married   Hicks  Hustes 
Adelaide    married    Seneca    White ;  Catherim 
married    Vincent    Tripp;    and   Mary    marriec 
Egbert  Butler. 

George  Losee,  a  member  of  the  above  fam 
ily,  was  born   at    Dover  Plains,  February   14  j 
1 8 17,    and    in   the    schools    of     that    villagi; 
acquired    his   education.      Like  his  father,  h 
also  followed  agricultural   pursuits.     He  mari 
ried  Miss  Anna   Sherman,  daughter  of  Dariu! 
and   Myra  (Tabor)  Sherman,  who  were  resi| 
dents  of  the  town  of  Dover,  where  her  fathe' 
died  July  25,  1858.      His  father  was  born  De 
cember   i,  1757,    and  died   May  25,  1847,  i 
the  town  of  Pawling,  Dutchess  county,  wher 
for  many  years   he  had  engaged   in  farming 
He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Abigail  Pierce 
who  was  born  in  1767  and  died  in  18 18.  The' 
became    the    parents   of  ten    children,  whos 
names  and  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows:     01 
ver,    May   27,    1787;     Chloe,    November   2;' 
1788;  Isaac,  June   15,  1791;  Henry,  July  i; 
1793;   Daniel,  October,  1795;  Stephen,  Apri 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


719 


J798;  Darius,  November  7,  1800;  Sylvia,  De- 
';mber  6,  1802;  Lydia,  April  16,  1805;  and 
live,  May  11,  1807. 

To  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Dutcher  were  born 
X  children:  Ella,  who  became  the  wife  of 
rank  Secor;  May,  of  this  review  ;  George, 
'ho  wedded  Mary  Hutchinson  ;  William; 
jaisy,  who  married  Charles  Wyman;  and 
j«eph.  Of  this  family.  May  was  born  in  the 
twn  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  and  during 
I;r  girlhood  attended  the  common  schools 
(  the  neighborhood,  where  she  acquired  an 
icellent  education.  She  married  George 
iutcher.  She  has  many  friends  throughout 
le  county,  and  is  loved  and  respected  by  all 
no  know  her. 


ARVIS  C.  ROBINSON.  Dutchess  county 
has  many  well-to-do  and  successful  farmers, 
**  men  who  have  accumulated  what  they  have 
c  this  world's  goods  through  individual  effort, 
ilnong  this  class  the  name  of  the  subject  of 
tjis  notice  is  entitled  to  a  place.  He  is  resid- 
i:,'upon  his  fine  farm  in  the  town  of  Stanford, 
viere  he  is  industriously  engaged  in  the  prose- 
qcion  of  his  noble  calling,  and  is  meeting  with 
fi  more  than  ordinary  success. 

Anativeof  Dutchess  county,  the  birth  of  Mr. 
tbinson  took  place  in  the  town  of  Fishkill, 
Eptember  25,  1827,  but  since  the  early  age  of 
sen  years  he  has  been  a  resident  of  the  town 
cStanford,  and  there  his  education  was  ob- 
t  ned  in  the  district  schools.  As  a  young 
n  n  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand,  and  at  the  age 
onineteen  began  work  for  Mrs.  Canfield  upon 
ti;  farm  which  he  now  owns.  At  her  death 
b  purchased  the  place,  the  improvement  and 
estivation  of  which  he  has  since  continued 
wh  remarkable  success.  On  August  20,  1856, 
hlwas  married  in  the  town  of  Stanford  to  Miss 
^ry  E.  Mosher,  daughter  of  Allen  Mosher, 
ai  to  them  were  born  the  following  children: 
F;mont  (now deceased);  Homer  E.,  of  whom 
sjcial  mention  will  presently  be  made;  Leo- 
n;ta,  who  married  Emerson  Gregory,  by 
Wjom  she  has  two  children — Jennie  and  Ma- 
bj;  Tamma,  who  married  Newton  J.  Barlow, 
othe  town  of  Stanford,  by  whom  she  has  a 
dughter — May;  Allen,  who  married  Nellie 
Nrthrup,  by  whom  he  has  two  children — 
Cfton  and  Clara;  and  Edward  and  Amy  Alida 
(tth  deceased).  The  mother  of  these  chil- 
^  n,  who  was  a  faithful  member  of  the  Bap- 


tist Church,  died  May  6,  1877,  mourned  by 
many  warm  friends. 

Politically  Mr.  Robinson  was  first  a  Whig, 
later  a  Republican,  and  has  efficiently  served 
in  the  offices  of  inspector  and  town  auditor. 
He  is  a  self-made  man  in  the  truest  sense  of 
the  term,  and  in  the  various  relations  of  life 
has  maintained  a  character  and  standing  that 
have  impressed  all  with  his  sincere  and  manly 
purpose  to  do  by  others  as  he  would  have  oth- 
ers do  by  him. 

Homer  E.  Robinson,  the  eldest  living  son 
of  our  subject,  spent  his  boyhood  days  upon 
the  home  farm,  aiding  in  its  work  and  attend- 
ing the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  he  removed  to 
the  town  of  Milan,  where  for  seven  years  he 
operated  the  farm  of  John  Wilson,  but  since 
that  time  has  resided  upon  the  old  homestead. 
Like  his  father,  he  votes  the  straight  Repub- 
lican ticket,  and  socially  is  a  member  of  Pough- 
keepsie  Lodge  No.  43,  K.  of  P.  He  married 
Miss  Emma  Hicks,  daughter  of  Gilbert  Hicks, 
and  two  children  have  been  born  to  them: 
Edward  and  \.  Leslie. 


T^HERON  CUTLER,  an  extensive  farmer 
of  Dutchess  county,  was  born  in  the  town 

of  Washington,  April  10,  1821,  and  is  the  son 
of  Stephen  and  Sally  (Fitch)  Cutler. 

Stephen  Cutler,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Dutchess  county,  in  1783,  a  son 
of  Stephen  and  Amy  (Lester)  Cutler.  He 
grew  up  on  a  farm,  and  on  reaching  man's  es- 
tate married  Miss  Sally  Fitch,  a  native  of  Nor- 
walk,  Conn.  They  settled  on  the  old  home 
farm,  and  reared  a  family  of  eight  children, 
namely:  Amy,  deceased;  Philo  F.  was  a 
farmer  in  western  New  York;  Rachel,  deceased; 
Stephen,  deceased,  married  Miss  Louisa  Will- 
iams, and  followed  farming  in  the  town  of 
Washington;  Lorenzo,  deceased,  married  Miss 
Hannah  Brown;  Theron,  our  subject;  Ben- 
jamin A.,  deceased;  and  Mordecai  L.  is  a  re- 
tired resident  of  Washington.  Mr.  Cutler  re- 
mained on  the  farm  all  his  life,  and  politically 
supported  the  Whig  party;  he  died  in  1858; 
his  wife  had  preceded  him,  dying  in  1853. 
Stephen  Cutler,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  raised  in  Dutchess  county,  where  he  mar- 
ried Amy  Lester;  he  was  a  son  of  Jonathan 
Cutler,  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  who  came  to 
Dutchess  county  at  an  early  day. 

Our  subject  spent  his  boyhood  on  the  home 


720 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


farm  and  on  October  28,  1857,  was  married  to 
Miss  Amelia  Mitchell,  a  native  of  the  town  of 
Washington,  and  a  daughter  of  Josiah  and  Jane 
Ann  (Elsbree)  Mitchell.  After  their  marriage 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cutler  came  to  their  present 
home,  where  he  carries  on  general  farming  on 
his  220  acres  of  excellent  land.  Three  children 
were  born  to  this  couple:  D wight,  who  died  in 
1869;  Olin,  whose  death  occurred  in  1891; 
and  Franz  S.,  who  is  unmarried  and  lives  at 
home. 

In  politics  Mr.  Cutler  is  a  Republican,  and 
religiously  he  and  his  wife  attend  the  Episcopal 
Church.  He  is  one  of  the  progressive  and  sub- 
stantial farmers  of  his  county. 

Josiah  Mitchell,  father  of  Mrs.  Cutler,  was 
born  in  Nantucket  in  1807,  the  son  of  Ben- 
jamin and  Eunice  (Barney)  Mitchell,  and  came 
to  Dutchess  county  in  1809,  where  he  after- 
ward made  his  home  and  followed  the  occupa- 
tion of  farming.  Benjamin  Mitchell  was  of 
Scotch  extraction,  born  on  Nantucket;  he  was 
a  relative  of  the  late  Maria  Mitchell,  the  famous 
astronomer  of  Vassar  College.  Mrs.  Cutler's 
maternal  grandparents  were  from  Rhode  Island. 


F 


(RANK  P.  LASHER.     In  the  busy  com- 


E  munity  located  in  the  thriving  little  vil- 
lage of  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess  county,  we 
find  several  energetic  and  thoroughgoing  busi- 
ness men,  who  have  attained  success  through 
their  own  tact,  good  judgment  and  persever- 
ance. Among  the  number  is  the  gentleman 
whose  name  introduces  this  biographical  no- 
tice, and  who  at  the  present  time  is  a  repre- 
sentative of  the  hardware  trade  of  the  place. 
He  deals  in  stoves,  tinware,  crockery,  glass- 
ware and  all  kinds  of  house  furnishing  goods, 
slate  and  metal  roofing,  hot-water  and  steam- 
heating  apparatus,  and,  as  a  member  of  the 
Dutchess  County  Artesian  Well  &  Wind  Mill 
Co.,  he  deals  in  tanks,  pumps  and  pipes,  also 
well  supplies. 

Mr.  Lasher  was  born  in  the  town  of  Stan- 
ford, Dutchess  county,  July  20,  1852.  His 
father,  John  Lasher,  is  a  native  of  Columbia 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  one  of  the  four  children  of 
Hannah  and  Samuel  Lasher,  farming  people  of 
that  county,  where  their  deaths  occurred. 
Their  ancestors  were  originally  from  Holland. 
The  children  were  Edward,  who  was  the  pro- 
prietor of  several  hotels  in  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  and 
Millerton,  Dutchess  county;  John;  Sobrina, 
widow  of  Caleb  Woolcut,  who  was  a  farmer  of 


Columbia  county;   and   Elmira,   who  marri( 
and  removed  west. 

In    his    native   county,   John    Lasher   w 
united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  Bates,  who  wi 
born   in  the  town   of    Washington,   Dutche 
county,  and   they  began  housekeeping  upon 
farm   in   Stanford  town,  where  their  ten  chi 
dren  were   born  as  follows:     Alice,  who  di( 
young;   Florence,  wife  of  Lewis  Earl,  a  farm 
of  Stanford   town;  Frank   P.,  of  this  sketcl 
Samuel   J.,  an  agriculturist,  who   removed 
California  about  twenty  years  ago;  George  t 
a    liveryman    of    Bangall,    Dutchess    count 
Isaac  C. ,  who  was  a  tin  and   copper  smith 
Pleasant  Valley,  and  died  in  1888;  Dora,  w 
died  while  young;  Ida;  Allie,  wife  of  Norm 
Irish,  of  New  York  City,  and  one  who  died 
infancy.     The  mother  of  these  is  deceased;  t 
father  has  always  engaged  in  farming  and  cc 
tracting,  and  in  politics  is  an  ardent  Democr; 

Until    eighteen    years    of    age    Frank 
Lasher  remained  upon  the  home  farm,  assi 
ing  in  its  cultivation  and  improvement,  and  1 
education  was  such  as  the  district  schools 
the    neighborhood    afforded.      He    bought  1 
time  of  his  father,   paying  him  $200  tor  t 
same,  and  then  started  out  to  fight  life's  b: 
ties   unaided   and   empty-handed;  and  sow 
did  he  succeed  that  by  the  time  he  was  twer 
one  years  old  he  had  saved  $500.     Going  t; 
to  Bangall,  he  began   learning  the  tinning  y 
plumbing  trade  with  John  June,  with  whom 
remained   for  about  two   and  one-half  yea 
*  spending  the  following  three  months  at  Pouj  ■ 
keepsie.      In  1871  he  came  to  Pleasant  Val 
and  engaged  in  the  tin  and  plumbing  busin  = 
with  Henry  Sacket,  under  the  name  of  Las  r 
&  Sacket,  the  connection  continuing  for  th  ; 
years,  when  our  subject  bought   out  hispj- 
ner.      He  has  since  been  alone,  and  has  b  t 
up   an   extensive  business.     He   is  known  1 
over  the  county  as  one  of  its   leading  busin  s 
men,  and  the  success   he  has  achieved  is  v  I 
merited. 

In  1873  Mr.  Lasher  married  Miss  Jere 
Rogers,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Pleas  t 
Valley,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  the 
children:  Willis  C,  Charles  and  Sadie.  e 
mother  departed  this  life  in  1883,  and  in  i  4 
Mr.  Lasher  wedded  Miss  Mary  Miller,  a  na  e 
of  Columbia  county,  N.  Y.,  and  a  daughteif 
Allen  Miller,  a  blacksmith  by  trade.  In  p> 
tics  Mr.  Lasher  strongly  adheres  to  the  c  ■- 
trines  of  the  Republican  party,  but  is  no  f '- 
tician,  and  both  he  and  his   wife  attend   e 


(OlJ> 


^-/z^ — -^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


721 


•Presbyterian  Church.  By  all  he  is  held  in  the 
liighest  respect,  and  in  the  estimation  of  his 
fellow  citizens  he  is  one  of  the  representative 
Tien  of  Pleasant  Valley. 


TULIUS  M.  MOUL  is  a  worthy  representa- 
1]  tive  of  the  agricultural  interests  of  the  town 
I  of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess  county,  where  his 
mcestors  located  at  an  early  day,  and  is  en- 
;aged  in  the  operation  of  the  homestead  farm, 
omprising  io8  acres  of  fine  land  situated  just 
iff  the  post  road  and  about  one  mile  from  the 
illage  of  Red  Hook.  The  old  house  still 
tands  as  it  was  in  the  earlier  days,  and  is  sur- 
ounded  by  good  and  substantial  outbuildings 
or  the  accommodation  of  stock.  Among  his 
'ossessions  our  subject  has  an  old  German 
;ible  printed  in  1736,  being  now  one  hundred 
nd  sixty  years  old. 

On  that  farm,  June  11,  1782,  was  born 
ohn  Moul,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  and 
1  the  common  schools  of  the  village  of  Red 
look  he  obtained  his  education.  As  soon  as 
id  enough,  however,  he  began  to  assist  in  the 
tbors  of  the  farm  and  made  the  vocation  of 
lirming  his  life  work.  On  May  3,  18 12,  he 
larried  Miss  Elizabeth  Ryfenburgh,  of  Red 
iook,  who  was  born  March  15,  1790,  and 
ley  became  the  parents  of  three  children: 
ucob  M.,  who  was  born  February  7,  181 3, 
lid  died  May  13,  1840;  William,  born  July  17, 
^21;  and  Frederick,  born  August  i,  1829. 
hese  children  were  all  born  in  the  town  of 
ed  Hook,  and  received  common-school  educa- 


)ns. 


On  leaving  school  William  Moul,  the  father 
our  subject,  conducted  his  father's  farm, 
iid  on  August  29,  1849,  was  married,  the 
jdy  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Mary  Teal, 
iiughter  of  Jacob  Teal,  a  farmer  of  Red 
Jook,  and  four  children  blessed  their  union: 
.hn  Jacob,  born  September  8,  1852;  Julius 
lartin,  of  this  review;  an  infant  son,  who  was 
Irn  December  25,  1856,  and  died  unnamed; 
sd  Elizabeth,  born  July  19,  1858.  The 
»)ther  of  these  children  died  December  8, 
^65,  at  the  age  of  thirty-six  years.  After 
tree  years  Mr.  Moul  was  again  married, 
flgust  25,  1868,  his  second  wife  being  Miss 
^sanna  Waldorf,  daughter  of  William  Wal- 
Ctf,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Red  Hook. 
Our  subject  was  born  December  7,  1853, 
-he  old  home  in  Red  Hook,  and,  on  com- 
F  ting  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of 


the  locality,  like  his  ancestors  chose  the  life 
of  a  farmer,  continuing  the  cultivation  of  the 
home  place.  He  is  a  conscientious,  earnest, 
Christian  gentleman,  a  member  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church  of  Red  Hook,  and  stands  to-day 
one  of  the  respected  and  highly-esteemed  citi- 
zens of  the  community.  His  friends  are 
legion,  and  his  genial  courtesy  is  calculated  to 
win  confidence,  which  his  sterling  integrity 
and  unquestioned  candor  serve  to  maintain. 
On  October  3.  1876,  Mr.  Moul  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Emma  Saulpaugh,  who  was  born 
in  Madalin,  town  of  Red  Hook,  March  18, 
1859,  and  two  children  grace  their  union: 
Franklin  W.,  born  January  18,  1878;  and 
Louis,  born  February  6,  1879.  Mrs.  Moul 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Madalin.  Her 
father,  Louis  Saulpaugh,  is  one  of  the  well-to- 
do  farmers  of  that  locality,  and  for  two  terms 
served  as  supervisor  for  the  town  of  Red 
Hook.  In  his  family  were  eight  children, 
namely:  Philip,  born  August  27,  1851;  Har- 
mon, born  September  3,  1852;  Anna,  who  was 
born  May  3,  1854,  and  died  August  24,  follow- 
ing; George,  born  November  30,  1855;  Anna 
and  Emma,  twins,  born  March  18,  1859; 
Franklin,  born  July  12,  1862;  and  Sarah, 
born  January  8,  1870.  Anna,  the  twin  sister 
of  Mrs.  Moul,  died  in  infancy. 


E^DWARD  LEE  CLARK,  one  of  the  most 
'I  prominent  agriculturists  of  the   town   of 

Northeast,  Dutchess  county,  is  a  native  of  that 
county,  born  July  26,  1861,  on  the  old  Lee 
farm,  the  homestead  of  his  mother's  family, 
about  one  mile  below  Northeast  Centre.  His 
great-grandfather,  Amos  Clark,  was  a  resident 
of  Plainfield,  Conn. ;  his  grandfather,  Douglass 
Clark,  of  Northeast;  and  his  father,  Douglass 
Clark,  Jr.,  born  in  1832,  is  still  living  at 
Northeast.  He  married  Mary  Lee,  daughter 
of  Daniel  Lee,  a  wealthy  farmer,  and  lived  at 
the  Lee  homestead  for  thirty  years,  when  he 
sold  it  to  his  son  Edward.  He  has  always 
been  a  stanch  Republican,  and  he  and  his  wife 
are  leading  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  They  have  had  three  children: 
Elizabeth,  who  married  Rev.  W.  R.  Moore,  of 
Poughkeepsie;  Edward  Lee,  our  subject,  and 
Douglass,  who  died- in  childhood. 

Mr.  Clark  was  educated  in  his  native  place, 
attending  the  select  school  taught  by  Miss  Car- 
rie Knickerbocker,  and  later  the  seminary  at 
Amenia,    where   he  studied  two  years  and   a 


722 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


half,  acquiring  a  good  English  education.  At 
sixteen  he  returned  home,  and  in  1883  bought 
the  old  homestead,  consisting  of  ninety  acres. 
Three  years  later  he  purchased  the  Harry 
Clark  farm,  near  Millerton,  containing  258 
acres,  and  moved  upon  it.  This  is  one  of  the 
best  farms  in  the  town  of  Northeast,  and  for 
the  last  nine  years  Mr.  Clark  has  devoted  it 
chiefly  to  the  dairy  business,  of  which  he  has 
made  a  great  success.  In  1892  he  sold  the 
Lee  farm  to  Sylvester  Schook.  Mr.  Clark  mar- 
ried Miss  Emma  G.  Case,  daughter  of  George 
Case,  and  a  member  of  one  of  the  oldest  fam- 
ilies of  Pine  Plains.  They  have  five  children: 
Edna,  Harry  D.,  Hazel,  George  C.  and  Ed- 
ward Lee,  Jr. 

In  public  affairs,  Mr.  Clark  is  active,  en- 
dorsing and  assisting  every  progressive  move- 
ment, and  although  he  is  still  a  young  man  his 
early  success  in  business  has  given  him  a  wider 
influence  than  is  often  exercised  by  one  of  his 
years.  He  has  been  a  school  trustee  for  seven 
years.  While  giving  but  little  attention  to 
strictly  political  work,  he  is  a  stanch  supporter 
of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party.. 


HENRY  S.  MOREHOUSE,  a  representa- 
tive  farmer  and  leading  citizen  of  Dutch- 
ess county,  was  born  at  his  present  resi- 
dence in  the  town  of  Amenia,  October  27, 
1 86 1.  Upon  this  farm  his  grandfather,  Will- 
iam Morehouse,  a  native  of  New  Preston, 
Conn. ,  located  at  an  early  day,  and  there  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  married  Julia  Stone,  by 
whom  he  had  four  children:  Julius  S.,  Chaun- 
cey  W.  and  Orinda,  all  deceased;  and  Jane, 
wife  of  B.  R.  Tenney,  of  Poughkeepsie,  New 
York. 

Julius  S.  Morehouse,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  also  born  on  the  old  homestead, 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town  of  Amenia,  in 
1814,  and  there  his  death  occurred,  June  26, 
1885.  Like  most  farmer  boys,  his  early  edu- 
cation was  received  in  the  district  schools,  and 
he  later  attended  a  select  school  at  Sharon, 
Conn.  In  connection  with  his  father,  he 
erected  a  brick  mill  at  Leedsville,  which  he 
operated  for  ten  years,  and  still  owned  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  At  Redding,  Conn.,  he 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Dennison,  who  was 
the  daughter  of  James  Dennison,  and  died 
February  14,  1895.  To  them  were  born 
seven  children:  Julia  R.,  now  the  wife  of  C. 
M.  Prindle,  of  Sharon,  Conn.;  Albina,  wife  of 


G.  William  Van  Rensselaer,  of  New  Yor 
City;  James,  of  Sharon,  Conn.;  Joseph  J.,  c 
Chapinville,  Conn.,  who  married  Minnie  Burch 
ard,  of  Danbury,  Conn.;  AnnaE. ;  Henry  Steb 
bins,  of  this  review;  and  Lillias  J.,  wife  of  E 
B.  St.  John,  of  Sharon,  Conn.  The  fathe 
spent  the  later  years  of  his  life  engaged  ii 
farming  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  and  also  deal 
some  in  railroad  bonds,  etc.  He  was  an  ear 
nest  Christian  gentleman,  a  member  and  found 
er  of  the  Episcopal  Church  at  Sharon,  Conn, 
while  politically  he  was  a  lifelong  Democrat 

The  present  residence  of  our  subject  wj 
erected  by  James  Bogardus  in  1781,  and  w; 
rebuilt  by  Julius  S.  Morehouse  in  1871.    Thei 
Henry   S.    has  spent  his  entire  life.      He  a 
tended  the  common  schools  of  Leedsville,  w; 
later  a  student  in  the   Amenia   Seminary,  ar 
completed  his  education  at  Brown's  Busine 
College  at  Jersey  City,  N.  J.      In  188  j  he  b' 
gan   the   management   and   cultivation  of  tl; 
farm  for   his  father,  and  continued  to  work  \ 
on  shares   until   his  mother's  death,  when  1| 
purchased  the  interests  of  the  other  heirs.      ,' 

Mr.    Morehouse   was   married  January  i  j 
1893,    at   Northfield,    Conn.,    the  lady  of  hj 
choice   being   Miss   Bertha  L.    Humphrevill' 
daughter  of  Garner   and   Martha  A.   (Tuttl, 
Humphreville,  and  by   their  union  they  ha 
two   children:    Julius    Stanley,    born    Novei 
ber  19,  1894;  and  Ethel   M.,   born  March  | 
1896.      Fraternally,    Mr.    Morehouse  is  ide 
tified   with   Amenia   Lodge   No.  672,  F.  & 
M.,    and    the    Grange    at   Amenia    Union,  , 
which  he  has  twice  served  as  master.     He  I 
also   a   member  of  the  Episcopal    Church 
Sharon,  Conn.      By  the   men  of  his  county 
is  ranked   as  a   skilled  farmer  and  a  prai 
worthy    citizen,    and    is    creditably  filling    ; 
niche  in  advancing  the  welfare  and  prosper ' 
of  the  town  of  Amenia. 


PHCENIX  N.  DEUEL,  well  known  throuip 
out  the  town  of  Pine  Plains  and  vicinis 

is  one  of  the  intelligent  and  capable  busiiis 
men  and  representative  farmers.  He  wash  3 
April  23,  1830,  in  that  township,  upon  the  a 
Deuelhomestead,  which  he  now  owns.  1e 
family  is  of  French  descent,  and  the  first  a 
come  to  the  New  World  located  on  L  g 
Island  at  an  early  date.  Later  some  of  s 
members  came  to  Dutchess  county,  mat's 
their  home  in  the  neighborhood  of  where  r 
subject  now  resides. 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  BECOBD. 


728 


Jonathan  Deuel,  his  ^grandfather,  was  a  na- 
ive of  Dutchess  county,  born  in  the  town  of 
Stanford,  and  became  one  of  the  extensive 
armers,  large  land  owners  and  leading  men  of 
ihe  community.  By  his  marriage  with  Miss 
,iachel  Denton  he  had  seven  children,  namely: 
'tamuel,  Silas,  Newton,  Jay,  Catherine,  Rachel 
nd  Mary. 

Samuel  Deuel,  the   father  of  our  subject, 
'as  born   in   the  town   of  Stanford,  Dutchess 
ounty,  where   he  was   reared    to  agricultural 
ursuits,  and  in  starting  out  in  life  he  began 
irming  upon  the   old   Deuel  homestead,  one- 
alf  mile   from  Bethel.      He  inherited  a  small 
mount  from   his  father,  but  he  accumulated 
lost  of  his  property  through  his  own  efforts, 
sing  very  successful  in  his  business  undertak- 
igs,  and  v,^as  the  owner  of  400  acres  of  val- 
ible  land.     As  a  business  man  he  was  keen 
id  shrewd,  and  was   possessed  of  excellent 
dgment.     In   early  days  he  was   personally 
entified  with  public  interests,  prominent  in 
jjitical  circles,   being  an   ardent   Democrat, 
'   served   as   assessor  and   supervisor.      He 
united  in  marriage  with  Catherine  Bockee, 
laughter  of  Jacob  Bockee,  of  the  town  of  Pine 
ains,  and   to  them  were  born  four  children: 
cob,  who  was  a  lawyer  of  Stockbridge,  Wis., 
'  died  while  serving  in  the  Union  army  dur- 
he  Civil  war;  Mary,  who  is  now  deceased; 
i:nix  N.,  subject  of  this  review;  and  Silas, 
1  lives  upon  the  old  homestead. 
After  attending  the  district    schools  for  a 
e  our  subject  entered  the  Norwich  Academy 
i    Boarding    School   at  Warren,    Litchfield 
(>.,  Conn.,  where   he  completed   his  literary 
t.ining  at   the  age   of  twenty-one.      He  has 
;  vays  been  a  great  reader,  and  keeps  well  in- 
!ied  on  current  events.      After   leaving  the 
lol  room   he  engaged  in  farming  upon  the 
lI  homestead  until  1870,  when  he  purchased 
'    Gray  farm,  consisting  of  120  acres.     It  has 
been  merged  into  the  homestead  farm,  so 
■  Mr.  Deuel  has  now  one  of  the  finest  places 
he  township,  comprising  400  acres.     Be- 
s  general  farming,  he  also  deals  in  hay  and 
iw,  and   in   his   undertakings  has  been  re- 
n  rkably  successful.      He  was  married  to  Miss 
!<^aret  Amelia  Covey,   daughter  of  Lyman 
■ey,    of  St.    Lawrence   county,  N.  Y.,  and 
t^yhave  become  the  parents  of  four  children: 
"^aS. ;  Samuel,  married  March  25,  1891,  to 
lie  Diisenberre;   Kathryn  E.,  who  is  attend- 
'I  the  Lyndon  Hall;  and  Penelope,  at  home. 
Politically  Mr.  Deuel   is   a   Democrat,  and 


has  taken  quite  an  active  part  in  local  affairs. 
He  has  served  as  supervisor  and  assessor  of 
his  township,  and  as  justice  of  the  peace. 
Educational  matters  always  find  in  him  an 
earnest  supporter,  and  since  its  beginning  he 
bas  served  as  one  of  the  trustees  of  Seymour 
Smith  Academy.  Conscientious,  earnest  Chris- 
tians, he  and  his  wife  are  faithful  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Pine  Plains,  in 
which  Mr.  Deuel  is  serving  as  president  of  the 
board  of  trustees. 


m  BRAM  A.  DENTON,  a  prominent  dairy- 
jP^  man  and  agriculturist  residing  near  South 
Dover,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Dover,  December  8,  1838. 

Mr.  Denton's  ancestors  settled  in  Dutchess 
county  in  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury, and  his  father,  Abraham  H.  Denton,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Beekman  in  1798.  He 
received  a  good  education  for  that  day,  and 
taught  schools  successfully  for  some  years  pre- 
vious to  his  marriage.  Politically,  he  was  a 
Democrat,  but  he  never  sought  or  held  official 
position.  His  wife  was  Miss  Betsey  Allen, 
born  in  1797,  the  daughter  of  Charles  and 
Martha  Allen,  well-to-do  residents  of  the  town 
of  Pawling,  who  assisted  the  young  couple  to 
obtain  a  farm  of  their  own  in  that  locality.  In 
1830  this  property  was  exchanged  for  one  in 
South  Dover,  belonging  to  an  uncle,  Sanford 
Hoag.  Here  they  made  their  home  through- 
out the  later  years.  Our  subject  was  the 
youngest  of  seven  children:  (i)  Jeremiah  was 
born  in  1826,  at  Pawling,  and  is  now  a  resi- 
dent of  that  town.  He  married  Louisa  Ferris, 
and  has  two  sons — Charles,  who  married  Car- 
rie Wooden,  and  Frank,  who  married  Grace 
Sheldon.  (2)  Martha,  born  in  1829,  died  in 
infancy.  (3)  Charles,  born  1831,  first  married 
Emeline  Aiken,  and,  second,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
McMahon.  (4)  Maria,  1833,  married  Theron 
M.  Green,  and  had  three  sons — Merrick,  Sew- 
ard, and  Abraham  (who  died  in  infancy).  (5) 
Mahala,  1835,  married  W.  J.  Buckingham. 
(6)  Martha  (2),  1837,  married  Hiram  S.  Sher- 
man, and  has  six  children  —  Adelle,  Eli, 
Charles,  Jerry,  Bessie  and  Allen. 

Mr.  Denton  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  town,  and  in  early  man- 
hood engaged  in  farming.  He  found  a  part- 
ner for  life's  joys  and  sorrows  in  Miss  Anna  A. 
Preston,  daughter  of  Myron  and  Sarah  Pres- 
ton, wealthy  landholders  in  the  town  of  Dover. 


724 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


They  gave  to  their  daughter  a  farm  of  200 
acres,  upon  which  the  young  couple  made  their 
home.  They  now  have  about  258  acres  in 
use  as  a  dairy  farm  besides  a  large  amount  of 
woodland.  Their  only  child,  Ida  P.  Denton, 
born  in  1864,  married  Elihu  Hoag,  of  Dover, 
and  have  had  four  children:  Gertrude,  born 
February  23,  1887;  Edith,  February  24,  1889; 
Ida,  August  17,1892,  and  Annie,  June  13,  1895. 


FRANK  DOUGLASS  BROWN,   a  young, 
enterprising  and  successful  agriculturist  of 

the  town  of  Northeast,  Dutchess  county,  was 
born  September  14,  1867,  upon  the  old  family 
homestead  near  Millerton,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. His  ancestors  were  early  settlers  of  that 
locality,  his  grandfather,  Samuel  Brown,  hav- 
ing been  the  owner  of  the  same  farm.  Noah 
Brown,  the  great-grandfather,  married  Lois 
Mills,  September  20,  1783,  but  the  history  of 
the  family  cannot  be  traced  further  back. 

Douglass  Brown,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  near  Millerton,  July  3,  1822,  and  followed 
farming  during  the  greater  part  of  his  life,  hav- 
ing bought  of  his  father  248  acres  of  land.  He 
was  also  engaged  in  speculating  in  stock,  and 
by  the  time  of  his  death  had  accumulated  a  fair 
fortune.  He  had  fine  mental  ability,  and  was 
a  well-read  man,  domestic  in  his  tastes,  and 
highly  esteemed  in  the  community.  In  politics 
he  adhered  to  the  Republican  party,  and  he 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  of  Millerton.  His  wife  was 
Sarah  Holmes,  daughter  of  Reuben  Holmes,  a 
leading  citizen  of  Winchell  Mountain  (now  Mt. 
Pleasant),  and  they  had  three  children,  of  whom 
our  subject  is  the  youngest.  Martha,  born 
April  19,  1855,  married  C.  F.  Hawley,  of  Mil- 
lerton; Birdella  H.,  born  March  2,  1863,  is 
now  the  wife  of  Olin  E.  Gibbs,  of  Ore  Hill, 
Connecticut. 

Our  subject  received  a  good  academic  edu- 
cation, attending  first  the  district  schools  of  his 
neighborhood,  and  later  the  Millerton  High 
School,  afterward  spending  two  years  at  Wil- 
braham,  Mass.,  and  one  at  Lakeville,  Conn. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  left  school,  and  has 
since  been  engaged  in  the  management  of  the 
estate,  and  conducting  an  ice  business  which 
he  established,  and  in  which  he  has  an  exten- 
sive trade  in  Millerton  and  surrounding  vil- 
lages. On  March  5.  1890,  he  married  Miss 
Fannie  A.  Neville,  daughter  of  William  and 
Julia  (Vosburgh)  Neville,  well-known  residents 


of  Boston  Corners,  and  they  have  four  chil 
dren:  Howard  D.,  born  December  21.  1890 
Mabel  C. ,  born  May  7,  1892;  Marguerite  L. 
born  March  19,  1894;  and  Lois  Mills,  bort 
November  13,  1895.  The  mother  of  these 
was  born  September  16,  1867,  in  Columbjj 
county,  N.  Y. ,  receiving  her  education  at  BoS' 
ton  Corners,  and  for  a  time  was  a  teacher  it 
Dutchess  county.  Her  father  and  mother  an 
still  living.  Her  grandfather,  Chauncey  Vos 
burgh,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Columbii 
county,  born  about  1800,  married  Miss  Fanni 
Bissell,  a  native  of  Winchell  Mountain,  bori 
about  1790,  and  they  had  three  children 
George  E.,  Julia  F.  and  Carrie  L. ,  all  ye 
living. 

Politically  our  subject  is  a  Republican,  an 
takes  a  keen  interest  in  local  politics;  but  he  i 
not  an  office  seeker,  and  has  withdrawn  hi 
name  several  times  when  his  nomination  ha 
been  urged.  In  all  questions  of  local  improve 
ment  he  has  shown  much  public  spirit,  bein 
always  on  the  side  of  progress.  Like  all  th 
members  of  his  family  he  attends  the  Methoc 
ist  Church,  and  is  a  generous  supporter  of  it 
varied  activities. 


M 


ATHAN  CASE  SACKETT.  While  "th 
1  race  is  not  always  to  the  swift,  nor  th 
battle  to  the  strong,"  the  invariable  law  ; 
destiny  accords  to  tireless  energy,  industry  an 
ability  a  successful  career.  The  truth  of  th 
assertion  is  abundantly  verified  in  the  life  < 
our  subject,  who  is  one  of  the  prosperoi 
farmers  of  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutche 
county. 

His  birth   took  place  January    5,    1835, 
that  town,  where  the  family  had  long  reside^ 
There   his  grandfather,  Samuel    Sackett,  ca 
ried  on    farming,   and   reared    to    maturity 
family    of    nine    children,    namely:      Orvill 
Aaron,    Clara,    Ann,    Jeannette,    Samuel  H 
Harry,  Lucinda  and  Polly.      He  was  a  Bapti 
in  religious  views,  and  in    politics  was  iden 
fied  with  the  Democratic  party. 

Samuel  H.  Sackett,  the  father  of  our  sii 
ject,was  also  a  native  of  the  town  of  Stanfor 
where  he  was  reared  and  educated,  and  on  ; 
taining  manhood  married  Amy  Case,  daughi 
of  Nathan  Case,  of  the  town  of  Milan,  Dutc 
ess  county.  Seven  children  blessed  this  unic 
Nathan  C. ;  Jane,  deceased  wife  of  L.  Fradt 
burg;  Sarah,  wife  of  Sanford  Adams,  of  t 
town  of  Stanford;  Amy  Ann;  Phebe,  who  di 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


725 


n  infancy;  Mary  D.,  wife  of  Samuel  Wheeler, 
leceased;  and  Johanna,  wife  of  Cortland  Rob- 
nson,  of  Hyde  Park,  Dutchess  county.  The 
ather  continued  to  follow  farming  in  the  town 
)f  Stanford  until  his  death,  in  1880,  and  his 
vile,  who  preceded  him  to  the  other  \vorld, 
Jied  in  1875.  They  were  members  of  the 
baptist  Church,  and  he  was  an  earnest  sup- 
)orter  of  the  Democratic  party. 

Like  most  farmer  lads,  Nathan  C.  Sackett 
pent  the  days  of  his  childhood  and  youth  at- 
ending  the  district  schools  and  assisting  in  the 
abors  of  the  farm,  and  remained  under  the  pa- 
ental  roof  until  twenty-six  years  of  age.  He 
t^as  then  married  to  Miss  Deborah  Ann  Morey, 
aughter  of  Isaac  Morey,  and  sister  of  L.  L. 
lorey. 

Mr.  Sackett  operated  a  farm  in  the  eastern 
■art  of  the  town  for  a  year,  and  the  year  pre- 
ious  he  had  resided  in  the  western  part  of  the 
ame  town.  He  was  then  for  twentj'-one 
ears  with  Gilbert  Cooper,  and  on  leaving  that 
entleman  came  to  his  present  farm  of  200 
cres  of  rich  and  arable  land,  where  he  has 
ow  made  his  home  for  fifteen  years.  Essen- 
ally  he  is  a  self-made  man,  his  entire  posses- 
ons  being  the  result  of  his  own  unaided 
ffortst  Politically,  he  is  a  stanch  Democrat; 
iligiousiy,  he  and  his  wife  are  consistent  mem- 
ers  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church;  so- 
ially,  he  holds  membership  with   the  Grange. 


.irTILLIAM    E.    TRAVER,    a    prominent 

Kit     agriculturist  in  the  town  of  Rhinebeck, 

atchess  county,  was  born  September  7,  1842, 

ion  the  farm  which  he  now  owns. 

His  ancestors  have   been  farmers   in   that 

'  n  for  several  generations,  his  grandfather, 

)hn  P.   Traver,   being  a  native  and   lifelong 

;sident.       John     H.     Traver,     our    subject's 

ther,  was  born  there   in    18 18,  and  grew  to 

anhood  at  the  old  homestead.      In  politics  he 

a  Republican,  but  took  no  active  share  in 

work.      He  married  Mary  Pult^,  who  was 

born  at   the  old   homestead,  and  was  the 

ily  child  of   the  late   Frederick   I.    Pultz,    a 

ell-known  citizen  of  Rhinebeck.      After  their 

arriage,   our  subject's  parents  continued   to 

side  on  the  old   farm,  where  they  died,  the 

ther  on  February  14,  1891,  and  the  mother 

1  May  13,  of   the  same  year.      Of  their   two 

lildren,  the  eldest,  Jane  E. ,  married  John  F. 

'okingham,  a  farmer  of  Rhinebeck,  and  died 

March,  1886. 


n: 


William  E.  Traver,  our  subject,  has  always 
lived  at  the  homestead.  He  was  married 
January  6,  1875,  to  Isie  Traver,  born  May  19, 
1851,  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  where  her  grand- 
father, Jacob  D.  Traver,  was  a  leading  farmer. 
Her  father,  Morgan  L.  Traver,  was  born  there 
October  19,  1813,  and  still  lives  at  the  same 
place;  he  was  a  farmer,  merchant  and  school- 
teacher, and  married  Phoebe  S.  Schultz,  who 
was  born  in  the  same  town  in  April,  18 12,  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  Schultz.  Mrs.  William  E. 
Traver  received  her  education  in  the  well- 
known  De  Garmo  Institute  of  Rhinebeck.  Our 
subject  and  his  wife  contribute  to  the  support 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  are  always  ready 
to  promote  any  worthy  cause.  They  have  one 
son — Clarence,  born  May  2,  1876,  who  was 
graduated  from  the  military  school  at  Clave- 
rack,  Columbia  Co.,  New  York,  in  June,  1896; 
he  is  an  accomplished  musician  on  both  cornet 
and  drum. 

Mr.  Traver  is  one  of  the  most  intelligent 
and  progressive  farmers  in  his  vicinity,  and  his 
116  acres,  which  he  devotes  to  general  farm- 
ing, give  proof  of  the  wisdom  of  his  manage- 
ment. In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  his 
influence  in  local  affairs  is  always  given  on  the 
side  of  improvement. 


WILLIAM    E.    DALRYMPLE.     Among 
the    young  men    of    Dutchess    county 

who  have  selected  agriculture  as  their  vocation 
in  life,  and  judging  from  their  present  indica- 
tions are  bound  to  succeed  in  their  chosen  call- 
ing, is  the  subject  of  this  personal  review,  who 
is  a  resident  of  the  town  of  Stanford,  his  farm 
being  pleasantly  located  near  Bangall. 

Mr.  Dalrymple  first  opened  his  eyes  to  the 
light  of  day  March  21,  1861,  at  the  home  of 
his  parents  at  Lake  Mohonk,  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y. 
For  a  number  of  years  his  father,  John  Dal- 
rymple, engaged  in  general  farming  near  New 
Paltz,  Ulster  county,  and  later  located  on  a 
fruit  farm  near  Highland,  N.  Y.  However,  he 
is  now  livmg  at  Wappingers  Falls,  Dutchess 
county,  where  he  is  running  the  engine  for  the 
Episcopal  .Church.  In  politics  he  casts  his 
votes  for  the  candidates  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  religiously  is  a  faithful  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  M.  Lee,  a  na- 
tive of  East  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  and  to 
them  were  born  six  children:  William  E. ,  of 
this  review;  Frank,    deceased;  John;  George, 


726 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


deceased;  Clarence;  Myrtle,  deceased;  and 
Reginald. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  such  as 
the  schools  of  New  Paltz  and  Highland  af- 
forded, but  his  privileges  in  this  direction  were 
very  meagre,  as  at  the  age  of  twelve  years  he 
started  out  in  life  for  himself,  being  first  em- 
ployed on  a  farm  in  Orange  county,  N.  Y. , 
and  later  at  East  Fishkill,  Dutchess  Co.  For 
several  years  he  worked  in  this  way,  but  a  few 
years  after  his  marriage  removed  to  his  pres- 
ent farm,  and,  although  still  young,  he  is  one  of 
the  representative  men  of  the  town  of  Stan- 
ford, occupying  a  high  place  in  the  estimation 
of  his  fellow  citizens. 

In  1880  Mr.  Dalrymple  was  married  to 
Miss  Frances  C.  Jaycox,  daughter  of  Jere- 
miah Jaycox,  and  to  them  was  born  a  son, 
George  A.,  who  died  in  infancy.  Our  subject 
is  strong  in  his  faith  in  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  never  falters  in  his  al- 
legiance to  that  organization,  but,  although 
interested  in  a  great  degree  in  all  local  cam- 
paigns, has  no  desires  for  the  troubles,  respon- 
sibilities and  disquieting  influences  of  political 
life. 


H' 


WIRAM   T.  BEECHER,  one    of  the  most 
genial  and  whole-souled  men  of  Dutchess 

county,  is  engaged  in  general  farming  in  the 
town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  and  also  devotes  a 
great  deal  of  attention  to  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry. He  belongs  to  a  family  that  is  of  Eng- 
lish descent,  was  born  at  Northampton,  then 
a  part  of  Montgomery  (now  Fulton)  county, 
N.  Y.,  September  27,  1822,  and  is  a  son  of 
Leman  Beecher,  whose  birth  occurred  in 
Sharon,  Conn.,  February  12,  1793;  his  grand- 
father, Abraham  Beecher,  was  also  a  native  of 
Litchfield  county,  Connecticut. 

After  his  marriage  with  Lydia  Day  Fuller, 
Abraham  Beecher  located  upon  a  farm  in  his 
native  State,  where  he  reared  his  family  of 
nine  children,  of  whom  Leman  was  the  eldest. 
He  was  followed  by  Abraham  and  Truman, 
both  agriculturists  of  Illinois;  Chauncey,  a 
farmer  of  Northampton,  N.  Y. ,  where  his  death 
occurred;  Jesse,  a  farmer  of  Kansas;  Lydia, 
wife  of  John  Sprague,  who  carries  on  a  farm 
in  Northampton,  N.  Y. ;  Desire,  wife  of  James 
Robinson,  afarmerof  Northampton; Laura,  wife 
of  Dr.  Marvin,  of  Northampton,  who  served  as 
a  surgeon  during  the  Civil  war;  and  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Godfrey  Shew,  a  farmer   of  Jefferson 


county,  N.  Y.  The  parents  of  this  family 
were  Presbyterians  in  religious  belief,  and  the 
father  all  his  life  followed  agricultural  pursuits. 

The  childhood  and  youth  of  Leman    Bee- 
cher were  passed  under  the  parental  roof,  and 
on  reaching  man's  estate  he  married  Katherine 
Shew,  who  was  born  in  Northampton,  N.  Y., 
May  4,   1794,   and  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Hannah  Shew,  the  former  a  farmer,  born 
April  15,  1763,  of  Holland  extraction.     After 
their  marriage  the  parents  removed  to  a  farm 
near  Northampton,  where  three  of  their  chil- 
dren were  born,  but  the   family  circle  was  in- 
creased by  the  birth  of  six  others  after  theii 
removal  to  a  farm  in  Kent,  Conn.     They  wen 
as    follows:     Catherine,  born    September  26. 
1820,  first  became  the  wife  of  Jesse  Fuller,  s 
farmer,  of  Kent,  Conn.,  later  wedded  S.  Slade. 
a  farmer  and  real-estate  and  insurance  agent 
and  now  makes  her  home  in  Albany,  N.  Y. 
Hiram  T.  is  next  in  order  of  birth;  James  F. 
born  August   30,  1824,  is  a  farmer  of  North 
ampton,  Fulton  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  Leman,  born  De 
cember  23,  1826,   was  a    merchant,  and  dier 
August    24,  1863;  Hannah    E.,  born    April  5, 
1829,  is   the   wife   of  David    B.    Giddings,  ; 
farmer  of  Connecticut;  Lydia  D.,  born  Marcl 
9,  1832,  married    John   G.  Fenn,   an  agricult 
urist    of  the  town  of  Washington,    Litchiielc 
Co.,  Conn.;  Abraham    P.,  born   January    16 
1834,  is  a  photographer,  of  Wilmington,  Del. 
Emily  D.,  born  July  23,  1836,  is  the    wife  o 
Henry  J.  Ufford,  a  saddle  maker  of  Newark 
N.  J.;  and  Jacob  S.,  born   February  13,  1839 
is  also  a  photographer,  of  Wilmington,   Del 
The  parents  were  both  members  of  the  Con 
gregational  Church,  and  in    Kent,  Conn.,  th 
father  followed    farming    and   merchandisint; 
His  political  affiliations  were  with  the    Whi: 
party.      His   death   occurred    in  the    town  c 
Washington,    Dutchess  county,    October    17 
1848;  his  wife  died  August  14,  1879. 

Hiram  T.  Beecher  was  reared  to  rural  lif 
on  the  farm  in  Kent,  Conn.,  and  after  attent 
ing  the  academies  in  that  place  and  at  Sharo; 
Conn.,  entered  a  law  office  where  he  studie 
for  some  time.  For  three  years  he  was  the 
employed  as  clerk  in  a  general  store  in  Kent 
and  the  following  year  was  engaged  in  farn 
ing  in  the  town  of  Northeast,  Dutchess  count} 
In  1846,  in  connection  with  a  brother,  1" 
operated  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Washingtoi 
Dutchess  county,  which  he  continued  to  cult 
vate  until  April,  1867,  when  he  purchased  h 
present  farm  of  ninety-three  acres. 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


727- 


On  December  20,  1848,  Mr.  Beecher  was 
narried  to  Miss  Mary  White,  who  was  born 
n  the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess  county, 
)ecember  25,  1822,  and  is  a  sister  of  Mrs. 
iannah  Briggs  and  of  Mrs.  Catherine  Kinney. 
Ir,  and  Mrs.  Beecher  are  widely  and  favorably 
nown  throughout  the  county,  and  their  circle 
f  friends  is  only  limited  by  their  circle  of  ac- 
uaintances.  For  many  years  he  has  preached 
early  every  Sunday  at  various  places  in  the 
ounty,  and  was  the  first  to  hold  Sunday  serv 
•,e  at  the  county  alms  house,  where  he  preached 
■r  about  eleven  years.  He  has  officiated  at 
:any  funerals  and  Church  gatherings  of  all 
inds,  and  his  influence  for  good  is  widely  felt. 

Abraham  Beecher,  the  great-grandfather  of 
ur  subject,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut.  He 
larried  Desire  Tolls,  and  they  had  a  family  of 
ne  children,  two  of  whom  are  yet  living,  and 
braham,  the  grandfather  of  Hiram  T.,  was 
le  of  the  oldest  in  the  family. 


\  ZARIAH  CORNWELL  is  the  proprietor 

rat   of  a  good  farm  located  pleasantly  in  the 

"n  of  Beekman,  Dutchess  county,  and  to  its 

vation  and  improvement  of  which  he  has 

ted  his  time  for  a  period  of  over  forty-four 

s,   and  now  has  one  of  the  most  highly 

iuctive   places    in    the    locality.      He  pur- 

ed  his  land  of  the  Vandeburgs,  and  since 

ime  into  his  possession  has  labored  unceas- 

i^ly  to   make  it  the  valuable  farm  which  we 

t-day  find  it. 

The  early  home  of  Mr.  Cornwell  was  also 
i  the  town  of  Beekman,  his  birth  having  there 
ccurred  May  19,  181 5,  and  he  is  a  son  of 
'jjomas  Cornwell,  who  was  there  born  in 
^78,  and  died  in  1856.  James  Cornwell, 
grandfather,  was  born,  on  Long  Island, 
[  t  was  brought  to  the  town  of  Beekman 
1  his  father  when  only  two  years  old. 
"jie  latter,  who  bore  the  name  of  Richard 
C'rnwell,  obtained  his  farm  from  Henry  Beek- 
I  in,  the  deed  for  which  is  still  in  the  posses- 
snofour  subject,  and  is  dated  1728.  He 
tcame  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  this  re- 
§j>n,  and  cleared  his  land  of  all  those  obstruc- 
ting usually  encountered  by  the  pioneer 
frmer.  Upon  that  farm  almost  the  entire  life 
cjames  Cornwell  was  passed.  He  married 
achel  Dennis,  a  native  of  the  town  of  Beek- 
liin,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
Q;n:  Richard,  Thomas,  James,  Letitia  and 
iebe. 


Thomas  Cornwell  was  reared  on  this  farm, 
attending  the  district  schools  of  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  on  reaching  years  of  maturity  re- 
ceived a  portion  of  the  old  home  farm,  where 
his  death  occurred.  He  married  Miss  Annie 
Crandall,  daughter  of  Azariah  Crandall,  and 
by  their  marriage  seven  children  were  born,, 
namely:  Amanda,  who  died  in  the  winter  of 
1896,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years;  Harvey, 
deceased;  Azariah,  of  this  review;  Rachel,  de- 
ceased; Sarah,  of  Chicago;  Olive,  wife  of 
Elnathan  Miller;  and  Richard,  deceased.  The 
mother  of  these  children,  who  has  also  passed 
away,  was  an  earnest  Christian  woman,  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  acquired 
in  the  Gardner  Hollow  district  school,  and  he 
remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  his 
marriage,  which  was  celebrated  in  the  town  of 
Beekman  on  May  22,  1844,  Miss  Delia  N. 
Peters,  adopted  daughter  of  James  Peters,  be- 
coming his  wife.  The  first  vote  of  Mr.  Corn- 
well  was  in  support  of  the  Whig  party,  and  he 
is  now  identified  with  the  Republican  party, 
whose  principles  he  most  firmly  advocates.  In 
religious  belief  he  is  a  Baptist,  with  which 
Church  he  has  been  connected  for  many  years, 
and  he  is  one  of  the  most  reliable  and  consci- 
entious men  of  the  community.  For  sixteen 
years  he  served  as  commissioner  of  highways, 
filling  that  office  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  con- 
cerned, and  the  bridges  which  he  constructed 
after  the  freshet  of  1857  are  still  standing  and 
in  general  use. 


JOHN  HENRY  FINK.  Among  the  enter- 
prising and  wide-awake  citizens  of  Ame- 
nia,  Dutchess  county,  whose  place  of 
birth  was  the  far-away  German  Fatherland, 
and  who  are  rapidly  progressing  toward  that 
financial  condition  so  much  coveted  by  all,  is 
the  subject  of  this  personal  history.  He  was 
born  in  Bavaria  on  the  Rhine,  November  25, 
1843,  and  is  a  son  of  John  H.  Fink,  a  stone 
mason  by  trade,  who  died  when  John  Henry 
was  between  two  and  three  years  old. 

In  his  native  land  our  subject  received  his 
education,  and  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade 
at  Edenkoeben,  the  place  of  his  birth,  com- 
pleting his  three-years'  apprenticeship  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  years.  He  then  traveled  for 
a  few  years  in  France,  Prussia,  and  other 
parts  of  the  German  Empire,  and  in  1866 
sailed  for  America,     He  first  located  in  Ham- 


728 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPEICAL  RECORD. 


ilton  street,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  remaining  there 
and  in  the  vicinity  for  two  years,  and  since 
1868  has  been  a  resident  of  Amenia.  For  five 
years  he  worl<ed  at  his  trade  where  the  bicy- 
cle repair  shop  now  stands,  and  then  re- 
moved to  a  building  where  he  conducted  busi- 
ness until  1880,  at  which  time  he  came  to  his 
present  store.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  the 
buildings  running  from  his  corner  store  down 
past  and  including  the  old  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  with  the  exception  of  one.  He 
manufactures  and  carries  a  full  line  of  boots 
and  shoes,  and  also  handles  cigars,  tobacco, 
toys,   etc. 

Mr.  Fink  is  a  self-made  man,  having  ac- 
quired all  his  property  through  his  own  enter- 
prise, perseverance  and  untiring  labor,  sec- 
onded by  a  strong  determination  to  succeed. 
He  is  a  man  of  genuine  worth,  enjoying  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  his  neighbors,  and 
since  casting  his  first  vote,  after  his  arrival  in 
Amenia,  he  has  used  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Re- 
publican party. 

In  the  fall  of  1869,  at  Amenia,  Mr.  Fink 
wedded  Mary  Leubsdorph,  who  died  August 
22,  1870.  In  that  village  he  was  again  mar- 
ried, his  second  union  being  with  Katherine 
Pfahl,  and  they  have  two  sons: — J.  Henry  and 
George,  who  compose  the  firm  of  Fink  Broth- 
ers, now  engaged  in  the  butcher  business.  On 
January  28,  1895,  they  bought  out  the  busi- 
ness formerly  conducted  by  Joseph  Field. 
The  elder  son  is  now  connected  with  Amenia 
Lodge  No.  672,  F.  &  A.  M. 


JOSEPH  D.  COLEMAN,  a  prominent  agri- 
culturist and  produce  dealer  of  Stanford- 
ville,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  July  14, 
1820,  in  the  town  of  Stanford.  His  family 
have  long  been  firm  adherents  of  the  Quaker 
faith,  and  in  early  times  suffered  the  persecu- 
tions common  to  its  followers.  His  great- 
grandfather Coleman  came  from  England, 
and  settled  on  Nantucket  Island  early  in  the 
eighteenth  century.  His  grandfather,  Jethro 
Coleman,  was  born  there,  but  came  to  Dutch- 
ess county  previous  to  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  settled  on  a  farm  about  two  miles  south- 
east of  Stanfordville.  He  was  twice  married; 
his  first  wife  died  leaving  a  daughter  of  the 
same  name,  since  deceased.  His  second  wife 
was  Deborah   Russell,  by  whom   he   had  four 


children:     Benjamin,    Joseph   R.,    Annie  and 
Lydia. 

Benjamin  Coleman,  our  subject's  father, 
spent  his  life  in  the  same  locality,  attending 
the  district  schools  in  his  youth,  and  succeed- 
ing to  the  old  homestead  in  later  years.  He 
married  Sara  Dean,  daughter  of  Jonathan 
Dean,  a  well-known  resident  of  Pleasant  Val- 
ley. Six  children  were  born  of  this  union: 
William,  Mary,  Joseph  D. ,  Edward,  George, 
and  Robert,  of  whom  the  only  survivors  are 
our  subject,  and  George,  now  a  resident  of 
Kansas. 

Joseph  D.  Coleman  received  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  district   schools   near  his  home 
and  in  the  Nine  Partners  Boarding   School  in 
the  town  of  Washington.     He  was  married  in 
1847,  to  Miss  Anna  Carpenter,  also  a  descend- 
ant of  a  highly-esteemed  Quaker  family.     Her 
grandfather,   Samuel  Carpenter,  was  born  in 
Dutchess  county,  April   22,    1763,  and  spent 
the  greater  part  of  his  life  farming  in  the  town 
of  Stanford,  where  he  died  November  5,  1844, 
He  married   Susanna   Carpenter,   with  whom 
he  spent  hfty  years  and  nine  months  (lacking 
two  days)  of   happy  wedded  life.     They  had 
eight    children,    whose    names    with  dates  0! 
birth  are  as  follows:   Israel,  June  2,  1783;  Anne 
September  24,  1788;  Samuel,  October  4,  1790 
George,  March  6.  1792;  Isaac,  December  16, 
1794;  Elias,  November  27,  1796;  Amy,   Janu 
ary    17,    1799,   and    Daniel    S.,    October    13 
1800.     The    last  named,    Mrs.    Coleman's  fa 
ther,  was   born   and  educated  in  Westchestc 
county,  and  in   earlj-   manhood  came  to  tht 
town  of  Stanford,  and  engaged  in  agriculture 
first  at  the  home  farm,  but  later  at  the  presen 
home  of  our  subject,  where  he  died  October  24 
1873.      He  married  Phcebe  Hull,  daughter  o 
Henry  Hull,  a  well-known  resident  of  that  lo 
cality.      She  was    born    November  24,    1803 
and  died  May  21,  1856.      Four  children  wer 
born  of  this  marriage:     Henry  Hull,  May  i'') 
1825;  Sarah,  June  22,  1827,  who  died  in  child 
hood;  Anna  (Mrs.  Coleman),  January  3,  1829 
and  Caroline,  born  August  10,  1836,  died  Jun 

7.  1843- 

Mr.  Coleman  took  his  bride  to  the  ol 
homestead  on  his  marriage  in  1847,  but  te 
years  later  he  sold  the  place  and  moved  to  th 
farm  at  Stanfordville,  where  he  built  his  pre- 
ent  residence.  His  wife  died  November  24 
1890,  leaving  one  daughter,  Cora  E.,  wh 
married  Isaac  S.  Traviss,  and  has  two  chi 
dren — Florence  and  J.  Coleman  Traviss.     Oi 


;  Xtj 


COMMEMOBATITE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


729 


ibject's  integrity,  enterprise,  and  fine  discre- 
30  in  business  matters  give  him  a  high  stand- 
g  in  the  community.  For  many  years  he 
iS  dealt  extensively  in  hay  and  straw,  in  ad- 
tion  to  his  management  of  his  estate.  He  is, 
ce  his  forefathers,  a  Hicksite  Quaker.  Since 
le  organization  of  the  Prohibition  party  he 
is  voted  their  ticket,  being  at  first  one  of  two 
)ters  in  the  township.  He  has  never  sought 
••  held  public  office. 


m  LBERT  AND  FRANKLIN  CLINE. 
."^  Among  the  enterprising  and  prosperous 
rmers  of  the  township  of  Amenia,  Dutch- 
is  county,  who  thoroughly  understand  the 
■ication  which  they  follow,  and  are  there- 
Ire  enabled  to  carry  on  their  chosen  occupa- 
■jn  with  profit  to  themselves,  are  the  brothers 
'nose  names  introduce  this  sketch.  They  are 
i)w  actively  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
aid  the  milk  business  in  the  township  which 
lis  always  been  their  home,  and  where  they 
je  both  widely  and  favorably  known. 

IThe  founder  of  the  family  in  this  country 
IS  Peter  Klein,  a  native  of  Germany,  who 
t  the  Fatherland  about  1752  or  1753,  and  on 
taching  the  shores  of  the  New  World  first 
hated  at  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y. , 
It  in  1760  removed  to  the  farm  now  known 
i  the  E.  E.  Cline  place,  in  the  town  of 
inenia,  between  South  Amenia  and  Amenia 
hion.  He  was  a  "  redemptioner, "  serving 
h  time  for  his  passage  to  this  country. 

He  left  one  son,  John  Cline,  who  was  born 
«  Rhinebeck  in  1756,  and  died  in  the  town  of 
inenia  in  1845.  There  he  acquired  his  educa- 
t'H  and  on  the  home  farm  where  he  was 
itired  he  spent  his  entire  life,  engaged  in 
fining.  He  married  Lucy  Phillips,  and  they 
tjcame  the  parents  of  nine  children,  whose 
limes  and  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows: 
Itsey,  September  25,  1784;  Peter,  February 
J.  1787:  Allen,  December  9,  1788;  Philo, 
mber  6,  1791;  Asenath,  October  26, 
'jy,  Clarissa,  January  12,  1796;  Ebenezer 
I,  April  I,  1798;  Polly,  April  26,  1801;  and 
JJia  B. ,  March  30.  1803.  .  Of  this  family, 
^enath  lived  to  an  advanced  age,  dying  April 
i!i89i. 

'  Philo  Cline,  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth, 
iithe  father  of  our  subjects.  Upon  the  old 
hme  farm  in  the  town  of  Amenia  he  was 
rtred,  attending  the  district  schools  of  the 
rtghborhood,   and  completing   his   education 


in  a  select  school  at  Sharon,  Conn.  Owing  to 
an  accident  which  injured  his  foot  in  his 
younger  days,  he  was  unable  to  do  active  farm 
work,  and  about  1824  erected  the  store  build- 
ing at  South  Amenia  now  occupied  by  M.  F. 
Winchester,  where  he  engaged  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  until  1838,  when  he  sold  out.  In 
1840  he  purchased  the  farm  which  is  still 
occupied  by  his  son  Franklin,  and  there  lived 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
December  26,  1864.  In  his  daily  life  and 
action  he  was  ever  genial  and  affable,  winning 
many  friends  and  the  respect  of  all.  In 
politics  he  was  first  a  Whig  and  later  a  Repub- 
lican, and  efficiently  served  as  supervisor  of 
his  town.  In  the  town  of  Amenia  in  February, 
1827,  he  married  Miss  Harriet  Swift,  daugh- 
ter of  Moses  Swift,  who  died  April  9,  1838,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  Mrs.  Cline 
was  born  September  24,  1796,  and  departed 
this  life  April  11,  1861.  The  only  children 
born  of  this  union  were  our  subjects. 

Albert  Cline  was  born  on  the  home  farm 
in  the  town  of  Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  March 
3,  1828,  and  after  finishing  his  education  in 
the  district  schools  and  the  Amenia  Seminary, 
for  one  year  was  employed  as  clerk  in  the  store 
of  Judah  Swift,  at  South  Amenia.  After  his 
marriage,  in  connection  with  his  brother,  they 
engaged  in  milling  until  the  spring  of  1866,  at 
which  time  he  bought  his  present  farm  and 
residence,  where  he  has  since  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  farming  and  the  milk  business. 

On  September  15,  1852,  in  Amenia,  Albert 
Cline  was  united  in  marriage  with  Eliza  S. 
Reed,  who  was  the  adopted  daughter  of  Philo 
Reed,  and  died  January  18,  1872,  at  the  age 
of  forty-one  years.  Four  children  graced  this 
union,  namely:  (i)  Hattie  A.,  born  June  13, 
1854,  is  the  wife  of  Franklin  Baylis,  of  Syra- 
cuse, N.  Y. ,  and  they  had  six  children — Albert 
C,  Walter  F.,  Eliza  G.,  Clara  R.,  Helen  S., 
and  Freddie,  who  died  in  infancy.  (2)  Philo 
R.,  born  December  7,  1855,  married  Grace 
Collins,  by  whom  he  has  one  son — Albert  C. , 
born  September  12,  1892,  and  they  make  their 
home  at  Millerton,  N.  Y.  (3)  Charles  A., 
born  November  22,  1857,  married  Fay  Sher- 
man, daughter  of  S.  W.  Sherman,  by  whom 
he  has  a  son  —  Charles  S.,  born  December  22, 
1891,  and  they  also  live  at  Millerton.  (4) 
Maria  E.,  born  September  i,  i860,  is  the  wife 
of  Walter  A.  Sherman,  and  they  have  five 
children  —  Agnes,  Walter,  Helen,  May  and 
Hovvland.     Mr.   Cline  was    again    married    at 


780 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Amenia,  October  30,  1873,  his  second  union 
being  with  S.  Rebecca  Willson,  daughter  of 
Samuel  T.  and  Emeline  (Sornborger)  Willson. 
A  native  of  Dutchess  county,  her  father  was 
born  at  Smithfield,  October  3,  1803,  and  died 
December  3,  1889. 

The  first  vote  of  Albert  Cline  was  cast  in 
support  of  the  Whig  party,  but  since  the  organ- 
ization of  the  party  he  has  been  a  stalwart 
Republican,  and  in  1885  and  1886  served  as 
supervisor  of  the  town  of  Amenia.  Socially, 
he  is  connected  with  Amenia  Lodge,  No.  672, 
F.  &  A.  M.  His  estimable  wife  is  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  South  Amenia. 

Franklin  Cline  was  born  July  17,  1831,  and 
also  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  the  town  of 
Amenia.  His  primary  education  was  obtained 
in  the  district  schools,  and  in  1848  was  a  stu- 
dent in  the  Nine  Partners  Boarding  School. 
He  has  always  turned  his  attention  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  and,  beside  his  general  farm 
work,  is  also  successfully  engaged  in  the  milk 
business.  In  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess 
county,  on  October  i,  1856,  he  married  Lydia 
A.  Sackett,  daughter  of  John  Thompson  Sack- 
ett,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren: Guernsey  Sackett,  born  April  30,  1858; 
and  Maria  L.,  who  was  born  December  16, 
1 86 1,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Frank  M.  Buck, 
an  attorney  at  law  of  Mount  Vernon,  N.Y. , 
by  whom  she  has  two  children — Franklin  Cline 
and  Helen  H.  Like  the  other  members  of  the 
family,  Mr.  Cline  has  been  a  lifelong  Repub- 
lican, and  he  has  ably  served  as  assessor  of 
his  town. 

As  representative  farmers  of  the  town  of 
Amenia,  the  entire  lives  of  the  Cline  brothers 
have  been  of  unusual  activity  and  industry, 
and  they  well  deserve  the  high  regard  in  which 
they  are  held  by  their  fellow  citizens. 


)OBERT  MORRIS  THOMAS,   a  leading 

and    influential    farmer   of  the    town   of 

Pine  Plains,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  Octo- 
ber 23,  1848,  just  across  the  creek  from  where 
he  now  resides,  on  the  old  Thomas  homestead, 
and  is  a  worthy  representative  of  prominent 
C'olonial  families.  On  that  farm  his  father, 
Hiram  Thomas,  was  born  in  1804.  When  but 
an  infant,  the  grandfather,  Edward  Thomas, 
was  brought  to  Pine  Plains  by  his  mother,  and 
he  became  one  of  the  successful  farmers  and 
leadmg  men  of  the  community.  He  married 
Anna    Landon,   a  daughter  of  Jonathan    and 


Isabella  (Graham)  Landon,  and  to  them  wei 
born  seven  children:  Arabella  (who  marrie 
Simeon  Culver),  Walter,  Samuel,  John,  Rich 
ard,  Hiram  and  Mary. 

The    founder    of    the    Landon    family    i 
America  was  Nathan   Landon,  who  was  bor 
in   Herefordshire,  England,   near    Wales,  an 
sometime  prior   to    November   20,    1668,    U 
cated    at    Southold,     Suffolk    Co.,     N.     Y 
where    he    died    March    9,     17 18,     and    hi 
wife,  Mary,  in   1701.     They  had   three   son 
Nathan,  James  and  Samuel.     The  last  namt 
became  quite  prominent,  serving  as  justice 
the  peace  from   1764  until  1775,  was  judge 
common  pleas  for  his  county,  and   wielded 
strong  influence   in    courts    and    convention 
He  was  born  May  20,  1699,  married   May  2 
1 72 1,  Bethia  Tuthill,  by  whom  he  had  six  so: 
and  four  daughters;  he  died  January  21,  178 
probably  at  Guilford,  Conn.,  where  many  Loi 
Islanders  had  taken  refuge  during  the  Revel 
tion.     His  wife,  Bethia*  Tuthill  (Henry,-'  Johr. 
Henry'),    belonged   to    the    Tuthill    family 
Sandringham,  county  of  Norfolk,  England  (si; 
was  a  descendant  of  Wm.  Kinge,   of  SaienI 
Mass.,  of  William   Wells,  Gent.,  and  of  Ba  i 
nabas  Horton,  of  Southold).     Their  youngel 
son  was  Jonathan,  born   at   Southold  OctobI 
30,    1743;    he    died    at    Northeast,   Dutchej 
county,    in   181 5.      He   was   a  stanch   patrii 
during   the   Revolutionary    war,    dividing  f' 
time  between  civil  and  military  service.     Ij 
was  a  member  of  the    Provincial   Conventiit 
of  New  York  in   1775-76-77;  member  of  tl' 
Council  of  Safety,    1777-78;    State   Senate 
1777-1779;  major  of  Dutchess  County  Milit! 
in  1775,  and  lieutenant-colonel   in  1778  undj 
his  brother-in-law.  Col.  Morris  Graham.     1 1 
was,  likely,    Dutchess  county   clerk  for  son 
years.      ["Southold  Town  Records;"   "  Nt 
York   Civil  List;"   "Archives  of  the  State 
New    York;"     Revolution:     "Journal    of  t^ 
Provincial  Convention,"  and    "J.  H.  Smitl 
Dutchess  Co.  His."] 

The  Graham  family  trace  their  ancest 
back  to  James  Graham,  Marquis  of  Montro; 
who  was  born  in  161 2,  and  died  in  Edinburg 
Scotland,  in  1650.  His  son,  John  Grahai 
was  the  father  of  James  Graham,  who  came! 
the  New  World  about  1700,  was  Attorn 
General  of  the  Province  of  New  York,  a 
died  January  21,  1701.  His  children  w« 
Augustine,  May,  Sarah,  Margaret,  John  a 
Isabella,  the  latter  of  whom  married  He 
Lewis  Morris,  the  first  Provincial  Governor 


i 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


731 


L\v  Jersey,  and  they  had  a  daughter,  Ara- 
111a.  The  next  in  direct  line  is  Augus- 
iie  Graham,  and  his  son,  James,  married 
L;  cousin,  Arabella  Morris,  by  whom  he  had 

following    children:     James,     Augustine, 

is,  Charles,  Morris,  John,  Arabella  and 
bella.  James  was  killed  by  a  fall;  John, 
youngest  brother,  served  as  a  scout  under 
m.  Washington  in  Westchester  county.  The 
ers  were  all  active  in  the  service  of  their 
tive  land:  Augustine  was  a  lieutenant; 
Claries  was  a  captain  and  a  member  of  the  So- 
C'ty  of  the  Cincinnati;  Lewis  and  Morris  were 
Ith  colonels  and  both  members  of  the  Pro- 
vicial  Convention — Lewis  from  Westchester 
cunty,  Morris  from  Dutchess.  [Year  Book 
cthe  "Society  of  the  Cincinnati;"  "Dutchess 
C'unty  History;"  "  Bolton's  Westchester  His- 
t  y;"  "Journal  of  the  New  York  Provincial 
Cnvention. "] 

The  second  son,  Augustine,  was  the  father 
0|  James  Graham,  who  married  Elizabeth 
"^    npson,  a  daughter  of  Judge  Jesse  Thomp- 

and  their  daughter,  Julia,  married  George 
Coventry.  Isabella,  the  daughter  of  James 
aj  Arabella  (Morris)  Graham,  married  Jona- 
tln    Landon,    their    marriage    license    being 

1  December  1 1,  1771,  and  to  them  were 

five    children:     (i)    Richard,    born     in 

i   2.     (2)    Arabella,  born   in   1773,   married, 

a  lut    1789,     Amos^   Ketchum   (Joseph, ^  Na- 

tlniel,^   Joseph'),    by    whom  she    had    sev- 

hildren;   she   died  in    1803,    in   Saratoga 

■^y-  (3)  Mary,  born  July  3,  1775,  married 
Jen  Church,  and  died  May  30,  1850.  (4) 
Aia,  born  in  1771,  was  the  wife  of  Edward 
T)mas,  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  our 
skch;  she  died  in  1838,  aged  sixty-seven 
vfrs.   (5)  Rebecca,  born  March  15,  1783,  died 

;nber    19,    1844.      ["Partial    Record    of 

-andons  of  Southold,"  in  N.  Y.  Gen.  and 
Record,  Jan.,  1897.] 
The  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Isabella  Landon, 
A.;ustine  Graham,  was  surveyor  general,  and 
hd  a  major's  commission  under  the  Crown  in 
I/O  in  Westchester  county,  and  a  colonel's 
cnmission  in   Richmond  county  in  171 5  [See 

!ton's  Westchester  Co.  Hist.";   "Colonial 

.;.  of  the  State  of  New  York".]     He  was  a 

psjntee  in  the  Great  Nine  Partners  Patent  of 

1^7,  and  also  a  patentee  in  the  Little  Nine 

Pftners  of    1706.      His  death  occurred  Octo- 

'8,  1 7 19.      Morris  Graham   built  the  first 

>c  in  the  village  of  Pine  Plains,  now  owned 

Wsaiah  Dibble,  and  Jonathan  Landon  built 


the  house  on  the  hill  in  the  rear  of  the  home 
of  our  subject.  The  farm  owned  by  Augustine 
Graham  has  always  been  transmitted  by  will, 
as  it  has  never  passed  out  of  the  family. 

Hiram  Thomas,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Catherine  Coven- 
try, of  Deerfield,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Dr.  Alexander  Coventry,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  five  children:  Julia,  wife 
of  Dr.  Lewis  D.  Hodgekins,  of  Ellsworth, 
Maine;  Jane,  wife  of  John  Veile,  of  Ancram, 
N.  Y. ;  Charles,  of  Pine  Plains;  Robert  M., 
whose  name  introduces  this  sketch;  and  Alice 
L.  The  father  followed  farming,  but  was 
principally  engaged  in  iron  manufacturing,  be- 
ing part  owner  of  the  Ancram  Iron  Works, 
and  was  also  interested  in  the  milling  business. 
He  died  in  1880,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six 
years. 

The  entire  life  of  Robert  M.  Thomas  has 
been  passed  in  rural  pursuits  in  the  town  of 
Pine  Plains,  and  from  the  neat  and  thrifty  ap- 
pearance of  his  place  the  passerby  knows  the 
owner  and  manager  to  be  a  man  of  enterprise 
and  progressive  ideas.  In  politics  he  is  a 
strong  advocate  of  the  principles  promulgated 
by  the  Prohibition  party,  but  formerly  was  a 
Republican,  and  has  served  his  fellow  citizens 
as  assessor.  He  is  actively  identified  with  all 
plans  for  the  social  and  moral  elevation  of  the 
community,  and  has  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  all  who  know  him. 


1 


'\DWIN  KNICKERBOCKER,   one  of  the 


most  prominent  agriculturists  of  the  town 
of  Stanford,  Dutchess  county,  ajid  a  leader  in 
local  politics,  is  a  descendant  of  some  of  the 
early  settlers  of  this  region,  the  family  having 
come  originally  from  Holland. 

For  several  generations  the  homestead  of 
the  family  has  been  at  Pine  Plains,  Dutchess 
county,  and  here  our  subject's  grandfather, 
Hugh  Knickerbocker,  was  born,  and  here  he 
followed  farming  for  many  years,  moving  later 
to  Northeast.  He  married  a  Miss  Stickle,  and 
reared  a  family  of  six  children:  Peter,  Valen- 
tine, John,  Nancy,  Hugh  and  William,  none  of 
whom  are  now  living.  Hugh  Knickerbocker 
(2),  our  subject's  father,  was  born  in  1801,  and 
passed  his  early  life  at  Pine  Plains,  attending 
the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  later 
engaging  in  farming  there  and  at  Northeast, 
and  in  the  town  of  Stanford,  leading  the  quiet 
life  of  a   farmer.      For  many  years  he  was  a 


782 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


member  of  the  New  York  State  Militia.  Dur- 
ing his  residence  in  Northeast  he  united  with 
the  Baptist  Church,  of  which  he  remained  a 
consistent  member  until  his  death  in  1882. 
He  married  (first)  Miss  Mary  Payne,  of  North- 
east, and  had  four  children:  William,  Theron, 
and  Henry,  all  three  residents  of  the  town  of 
Stanford,  and  Niles  (deceased).  The  mother 
of  these  died  about  1850,  and  for  his  second 
wife  Mr.  Knickerbocker  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Smith,  born  in  1817,  a  daughter  of  John 
Smith,  a  well-known  citizen  of  New  Jersey. 
Four  children  were  born  of  this  union:  Edwin, 
Jennie,  Fannie  (who  married  Edward  Loomis, 
of  Pittsfield,  Mass.),  and  McClellan. 

Edwin  Knickerbocker,  the  subject  of  our 
sketch,  was  born  in  Stanford,  October  17, 
1854,  and  received  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  New  York.  When  a  young 
man  he  taught  successfully  in  the  towns  of 
Stanford,  Clinton,  .  Milan  and  Washington, 
and  then  engaged  in  farming  upon  land  bought 
of  his  father.  His  educational  opportunities 
were  good,  and  he  has  improved  upon  them 
by  private  reading  until  he  has '  acquired  a 
wide  range  of  information,  and  his  sterling 
qualities  of  character  and  sound  judgment  give 
him  great  influence  in  the  community.  A  lead- 
ing worker  in  the  Democratic  party  in  his 
locality,  he  in  1881  was  elected  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  held  the  office  eleven  years,  serv- 
ing in  the  meantime  for  four  years  as  justice  of 
sessions  in  the  county  court.  In  the  spring  of 
1893  he  was  elected  supervisor  of  the  town  of 
Stanford,  in  1894  was  re-elected  for  two  years, 
and  again  ip  1896  for  two  years.  On  June  5, 
1889,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Jennie  Hooker, 
daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  (Cutler) 
Hooker,  well-known  residents  of  the  town  of 
Dover,  and  has  had  four  children:  Jay,  Asa, 
Effie,  and  Sarah.  A  progressive  farmer,  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Grange,  in  which  he  holds  the 
office  of  master,  and  he  is  also  affiliated  with 
the  K.  of  P. 


rMLBERT  COOPER,  one  of  the  leading 
V?  and  representative  citizens  of  the  town  of 
Stanford,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  in  Fish- 
kill  (now  Wappinger)  town,  Dutchess  county, 
March  23,  1820.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
Obediah  Cooper,  who  was  of  English  origin, 
engaged  in  farming  in  Wappinger  town,  where 
he  also  followed  the  trades  of  a  wheelwright 
and    wagonmaker.      He    married    Miss    Maria 


Van  Benschoter,  and  by  her  had  §ve  childrer 
William  M.,  Elias,  Nancy,  Sarah  and  Tunis 

Tunis  Cooper,  the  father    of  our  subject 
was  also  a  native  of  the  town  of  Wappingei 
his  birth  occurring    there  June  25,  1787,  an 
he  wedded  Mary  Budd,  a  daughter  of  Undei 
hill  Budd,  of  the  same  town.      She  was  bor 
April  22,  1793,  and  died  April  10,  1825.     The 
became  the  parents  of  the  following  childrer 
Fletcher,  born  December  14,  1817,  died  Ma 
12,  1884;  Gilbert,  whose  name  introduces  th 
sketch,  is  the  next  in  order  of    birth;   Mari; 
born  October  2,  1821,  became  the  wife  of  Jof 
W.  Sleight,  of  Lagrange  town,  Dutchess  cou 
ty,  and  was  killed  by  a  cannon   ball  at  Nica 
agua.  Central  America,   April  15,  1857;  Jol 
was  born    July   12,  1823;  William,  born  Ap 
2,  1825,  enlisted  in  an  Illinois  regiment  durii 
the  Civil  war,  served  throughout  that  strugf 
as    hospital   steward,  and   died    July  7,  186 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  Tunis  Coop 
married    Maria   Myers,  who  was  born  Decei 
ber    17,    1804,    and    died    February    9.    187 
Five  children    graced    this  union:     Matthe' 
born   November   5,  1828,  died  September  2 
1850;  Amanda,    born   May    13,  1831,  marri 
Benjamin  Pugsley,  of  Alamosa,  Colo.;   Susa 
born  March  3,  1836,  became  the  wife  of  Loi 
Umlauf,   and    died    August   15,    1873;    Marl 
Luther,  born  February  23,  1833,  died  Janua 
25,  1873;  and  Mary,  born  June  18,  1841,  is  t 
wife  of  William   Pugsley,  of  Wappinger  tow 

After  his  marriage  Tunis  Cooper  purchas 
the  farm   next   his   father's,  and  continued 
live  there  until  1865,  when  he  removed  to  t 
village    of   Wappingers    Falls,    where   he 
mained  for  a  couple  of  years.      He  next  pi  • 
chased  a  place  between  that  city  and  Pou^| 
keepsie,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  Oc  • 
ber   31,   1868.      He  had   been  drafted  for  t: 
war  of   1812,  but  hostilities  ceased   before  i 
was  called  into  action.      On  attaining  his  11  • 
jority  he  supported  the  Democratic  party,  \t 
after  the  nomination  of  President  Lincoln.  ; 
became  a  stanch  Republican,  though  he  ne''' 
cared  for  political  preferment.      He  served  5 
trustee  and  president  of  Amenia  Seminary;  v  5 
one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  Metho(t 
Episcopal  Church  in  the  town  of  Wapping . 
with   which  he   was  officially  connected.  :i 
was  always  faithful   in  the  performance  of  |s 
duties  in  both  public  and  private  life. 

During  his  boyhood  and  j'outh  Gill  t 
Cooper  attended  the  district  schools  of  e 
town  of  Wappinger,  and  in  1842  left  the  pi  e 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


788 


i  his  nativity,  locating  at  that  time  upon  his 
]  esent  farm ;  but  he  was  often  with  his  father 
Ifore  the  latter's  death,  caring  for  him  and 
jsisting  him  in  his  business.  For  many  years 
I;  has  rented  his  farm  on  shares.  His  poht- 
iil  support  is  given  the  Democratic  party,  and 
\  has  served  as  assessor  of  the  town  of  Stan- 
frd,  also  as  trustee  of  Amenia  Seminary,  and 
VIS  a  member  of  the  executive  committee  of 
tat  institution.  He  has  been  prominently 
ijntified  with  the  upbuilding  and  welfare  of 
t2  community,  and  his  circle  of  friends 
troughout  the  county  is  very  wide. 

John  Cooper,  the  brother  of  our  subject, 
r:eived  his  primary  education  in  the  district 
siools  of  the  town  of  Wappinger,  after  which 
h  attended  the  Amenia  Seminary.  In  1844 
Y  removed  to  Kendall  county.  111.,  where  for 
f  ty  years  he  engaged  in  farming,  but  is  now 
ling  with  his  brother  Gilbert  in  Stanford 
tvn,  Dutchess  county.  He  was  first  married 
iithe  town  of  Lagrange,  Dutchess  county,  to 
Ichel  R.  Sleight,  who  died  at  the  end  of  a 
yir.  In  Kendall  county.  111.,  he  was  again 
arried,  this  time  to  Eliza  Van  Kleeck,  a 
ntive  of  Fishkill  town,  Dutchess  county,  who 
dd  in  Iowa.  They  became  the  parents  of 
s:  children:  Tunis,  now  in  Minnesota;  James 
Fnimore,  of  South  Dakota;  Gilbert  B.,  of 
Nrinesota;  Nellie,  wife  of  Frank  Jasinsky; 
V liter,  of  Iowa;  and  Edna,  of  Stissing,  town 

Stanford,  Dutchess  county. 


I 


KIRAM  A.  PULTZ,  one  of  the  leading 
agriculturists  of  the  town  of  Rhinebeck, 
Ltchess  county,  was  born  December  25,  1821, 
u  )n  the  estate  adjoining  the  one  on  which  he 
n.v  resides. 

His  grandfather,  David  Pultz,  purchased 
tl  property  in  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth 
CI  tury.  He  married  Miss  Tipple,  and  had 
n  e  children:  Michael,  a  farmer  and  carpen- 
te;  Adam,  a  farmer  in  Columbia  county; 
Knry.  a  farmer;  Andrew,  our  subject's  father; 
Cvid,  a  merchant  and  farmer;  Leah,  who 
irrried  Andrew  D.  Traver,  a  farmer;  Margaret, 
Wo  married  Fred  Dedrick;  Christina,  who 
ferried  Philip  Traver;  and  Maria,  who  married 
J;ob  Pells,  a  farmer  in  Rhinebeck.  David 
Ptz  and  his  wife  lived  at  the  old  farm  to  an 
ai  anced  age,  and  for  many  years  were  mem- 
b^s  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Wurtemburg. 

'Andrew  Pultz.  our  subject's  father,  was 
b»n  May    18,  1792,    and   always  engaged   in 


agriculture.  He  married  Rebecca  Cooking- 
ham,  born  January  9,  1798,  a  daughter  of 
Frederick  Cookingham,  who  came  from  Hol- 
land in  early  manhood  and  located  upon  a  farm 
in  Rhinebeck.  They  had  two  children,  of  whom 
our  subject  was  the  younger.  Ephraim  W. , 
now  deceased,  was  a  farmer  in  Rhinebeck. 
Andrew  Pultz  died  April  12,  1859,  and  his  wife 
September  18,  1883.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Whig. 

Hiram  A.  Pultz  has  always  lived  near  the 
old  homestead.  His  present  wife  was  Miss 
Annette  Pultz,  a  native  of  the  town  of  Rhine- 
beck, where  her  father,  Jacob  I.  Pultz,  was 
for  some  years  a  wagonmaker  and  farmer. 
Two  children  were  born  of  this  union:  Anna 
and  Minnie  (deceased).  Mr.  Pultz  raises  gen- 
eral crops,  and  has  done  much  to  improve  the 
homestead,  building  a  beautiful  residence  about 
thirteen  years  ago.  In  politics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  has  served  as  assessor  of  the 
township. 

Jacob  I.  Pultz,  father  of  Mrs.  Hiram  A. 
Pultz,  died  recently  at  the  patriarchal  age  of 
ninety-two  years,  having  been  born  in  Rhine- 
beck in  1805,  a  son  of  John  Pultz,  a  prominent 
farmer,  and  a  member  of  one  of  the  oldest 
families  in  the  town.  Jacob  I.  was  a  farmer 
in  Rhinebeck  until  1856,  when  he  removed  to 
a  large  farm  on  the  Salt  Point  road,  and  in 
1859  took  up  his  residence  in  Arlington,  where 
he  passed  the  rest  of  his  days.  He  was  a  man 
of  fine  literary  tastes,  and  also  an  excellent 
musician,  and  was  a  member  of  the  band  that 
welcomed  La  Fayette  to  Poughkeepsie,  on  the 
occasion  of  that  general's  visit  there  in  the 
early  part  of  this  century.  In  politics  Mr. 
Pultz  was,  in  later  life,  a  strong  Republican, 
and  served  in  Rhinebeck  as  assessor  and  in 
Arlington  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He  is  sur- 
vived by  a  widow  and  two  daughters  —  An- 
nette (Mrs.  H.  A.  Pultz)  and  Mary,  the  latter 
residing  at  Arlington. 


THOMAS  BUTTS,  an  agriculturist  of  en- 
ergy  and    ability,    owns   the  old    family 

homestead  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  where  the 
founder  of  the  family,  Thomas  Butts,  located 
160  years  ago.  He  was  one  of  three  broth- 
ers, who  came  to  the  New  World  from  England, 
and  established  the  family  in  Dutchess  county, 
where  most  of  his  descendants  have  since  made 
their  home. 

Richard  Butts,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 


784 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ject,  was  born  in  Washington  town,  and  was 
the  son  of  Thomas  Butts.  By  trade  he  was 
a  cooper,  and  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of 
ninety  years.  He  married  Susan  Edmunds, 
by  whom  he  had  nine  children:  James  and 
Jackson,  deceased;  Richard  S. ;  George; Rachel, 
Charlotte  and  Lois,  all  three  deceased;  Han- 
nah, who  became  the  wife  of  Casper  Wester- 
velt,  and  is  now  deceased;  and  Mary  Ann,  wife 
of  Barlow  White,  of  Tower  Hill. 

Richard  S.  Butts,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
is  also  a  native  of  the  town  of  Amenia,  and 
spent  his  boyhood  days  on  Chestnut  Ridge  in 
the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess  county, 
where  he  attended  the  district  school.  He 
was  married  in  the  town  of  Gallatin,  Colum- 
bia Co.,  N.  Y. ,  to  Miss  Eleanor  Finkle, 
daughter  of  George  and  Mary  (Kilmer)  Finkle, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  seven  children: 
George  and  Robert, both  of  the  town  of  Amenia; 
Thomas,  subject  of  this  sketch;  Susan,  wife  of 
John  Hunter;  Phebe,  wife  of  Seneca  Miller,  of 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ;  Elizabeth;  and  Lottie, 
wife  of  Millard  Coons,  of  Claverack,  New  York. 

After  his  marriage,  Richard  S.  Butts  pur- 
chased a  sawmill  near  Ancram,  Columbia  Co., 
N.  Y. ,  which  he  conducted  for  many  years,  and 
then  moved  into  the  village,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  butcher  business.  In  1863  he  went  to 
Hudson,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  followed  the  same 
line  of  trade  for  three  years,  and,  returning  to 
Ancram,  he  there  continued  to  reside  until 
1895.  Now,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-four 
years,  he  finds  a  pleasant  home  with  our  sub- 
ject. He  has  been  a  lifelong  Democrat,  and 
has  been  called  upon  to  fill  the  positions  of 
justice  of  the  peace  and  poormaster  in  An- 
cram. Socially,  he  is  connected  with  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Copake, 
New  York. 

At  Ancram,  Columbia  county,  Thomas 
Butts  was  born, May  15,  1847,  and  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  that  locality  was  educated.  Un- 
der the  able  instruction  of  his  father,  he  early 
became  familiar  with  the  milling  and  butcher 
business,  and  in  1865  left  home,  going  to 
work  for  neighboring  farmers.  Later  he  fol- 
lowed the  same  occupation  in  the  town  of 
Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  for  one  year,  being 
employed  by  his  uncle,  Jackson  Butts,  and  for 
two  years  by  Dr.  William  H.  Tanner,  but  was 
subsequently  with  the  latter  gentleman  for  ten 
years.  After  the  first  two  years  passed  upon 
his  farm,  Mr.  Butts  was  for  a  time  engaged  in 
teaming  in  the  village  of  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess 


county,  on  the  Connecticut  &  Hartford  ra 
road,  after  which  he  returned  to  Dr.  Tanne 
On  leaving  that  gentleman,  he  rented  a  far 
for  one  year  on  Skiff  Mountain,  and  for  tl 
following  two  years  lived  upon  the  farm  no 
occupied  by  W.  A.  Sherman.  He  was  ne 
employed  by  John  R.  Thompson,  engaged 
drilling  artesian  wells.  For  the  past  fiftei 
years  he  has  been  superintendent  of  the  D.  1 
Sherman  farm,  renting  it  for  six  years,  t! 
last  year  of  which  he  had  under  his  mana§ 
ment  1000  acres  of  land.  He  is  a  moc 
farmer,  thoroughly  understanding  his  busine; 
and  has  met  with  excellent  success  in  1 
chosen  calling.  He  still  owns  the  farm  up 
which  his  grandfather  lived. 

In  the  town  of  Amenia,  in  1867,  was  ce 
brated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Butts  and  M 
Sarah  E.  Wheeler,  daughter  of  Seth  Wheel' 
and  to  them  were  born  three  sons:  Wil 
R.,  Edward  and  Charles.  Willis  R.  marri 
Florence  Wheeler,  and  they  now  have  thr 
children:  Ethel,  Thomas  and  George. 
Butts  is  a  stanch  adherent  to  the  principles 
the  Republican  party  in  his  politics,  and  st 
ports  the  candidates  offered  by  that  organiii 
tion  on  all  occassions.  He  is  a  most  pleasai 
agreeable  gentleman,  who  easily  wins  frieiK 
and  has  the  happy  faculty  of  retaining  the 
He  is  kind,  unaffected  and  approachable,  a 
every  one  receives  his  courteous  attention. 


m  NTHONY  H.  BARTON  is  the  owner 
Jb^  a  fine  farm  of  200  acres,  pleasantly 
cated  in  the  town  of  Pine  Plains,  Dutch' 
county,  which  he  has  been  operating  succe 
fully  since  1864.  He  has  been  the  architect 
his  own  fortune,  and  has  never  been  afraid 
putting  his  shoulder  to  the  wheel  whenc 
necessary.  His  land  has  been  brought  tc 
high  state  of  cultivation,  largely  by  the  lal 
of  his  own  hands,  and  he  is  the  possessor 
good  farm  buildings,  to  which  each  year 
adds  something  to  enhance  the  beauty  a 
value  of  his  property.  He  takes  great  delif 
in  landscape  gardening,  and  his  place  is,  the 
fore,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  to  be  found 
the  town  of  Pine  Plains. 

Mr.  Barton  was  born  in  Columbia  coun 
N.  Y. ,  July  4,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of  Geo 
W.  Barton.  His  educational  privileges  wS 
quite  good,  and  on  leaving  school  at  the  ; 
of  seventeen  years  he  aided  his  father 
the  operation  of  the  home  farm  until  bis  in 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


785 


age.  In  1858  he  wedded  Emily  M.  Sackett, 
lughter  of  Allen  Sackett,  of  the  town  of 
;:anford,  and  to  them  were  born  five  children: 
lirah  E..  born  March  18,  1859,  married  Sep- 
(mber  13,  1877,  to  Albert  Keller,  of  Stanford, 
;   Y.  (they  have  oae  son,    Herbert);  one  that 

'  in  infancy;  Frank  (proprietor  of  the 
ssing  House"  at  Pine  Plains),  born  March 
864,  married  December  4,  1883,  to  Myra 
jjsd,  of  Ulster  county  (no  children); Cora  R. , 
Irn  July  18,  1862,  married  April  25,  1889,  to 
^illis  Wright;  of  Syracuse  (they  have  two 
xildren.  Herbert  and  Howard);  and  Fred, 
MO  was  born  on  the  present  farm  of  our  sub- 
i:t  November  13,  1865,  married  February  28, 
183,  to  Lizzie  Moore,  of  the  town  of  Milan 
(as  one  child,  Roy),  and  is  engaged  in  car- 
jntering  and  painting  in  the  village  of  Pine 
Jains.  The  mother  of  these  children  died  in 
176,  and  Mr.  Barton  was  afterward  married 
t  Isophim.e  Wilkinson,  daughter  of  Sidney  T. 
\ilkinson,  of  Hammerton,  New  York. 

A  year  after  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Barton 
nited  the  farm  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Eban 
listed,  but  at  the  end  of  a  year  he  removed 
t  the  Dr.  Barton  farm,  in  the  town  of  Stan- 
f  d,  owned  by  his  father,  and  besides  its 
citivation  he  also  gave  considerable  attention 
t  stock  dealing.  He  next  lived  upon  the  farm 
c  ned  by  his  father  at  Boston  Corners,  from 
rich  he  removed  to  the  Joshua  Culver  place. 
Carman's  Mills.  After  residing  there  for 
ojut  a  year,  Mr.  Barton  purchased  for  $15,- 
C3  the  farm  of  200  acres  which  he  now 
c:upies.  About  ten  years  after  locating  upon 
b  present  farm  he  began  speculating  in  stock, 
giin,  hay,  straw  and  other  farm  produce,  in 
vich  he  was  quite  successful.  For  a  quarter 
oa  century  he  was  also  engaged  in  auction- 
eing,  and  does  most  of  the  business  along 
tilt  line  throughout  his  section  of  the  county. 
I  his  first  venture  in  farming  at  Boston  Cor- 
ns,  Columbia  county,  he  had  no  capital;  but 
bnng  cows  on  credit  and  selling  them  again, 
siured  his  first  start  in  life.  In  his  early 
e)erience  with  his  father,  who  was  exceed- 
iily  economical,  he  learned  the  value  of  a 
d  iar,  which  came  to  be  worth  thousands  to 
hi  later,  and  he  has  always  been  an  able 
fiincier. 

Mr.    Barton  has   always  taken    an   active 
P  t  in  local  politics,  and  is  a  strong  supporter 
0!;he  Democratic  party,    has  served   as  high- 
ly' commissioner  twelve  years,  assessor  two 
s,  and  overseer  of  the  poor  for  about  one 


year.  Public-spirited  and  enterprising,  he  has 
taken  a  foremost  part  in  the  upbuilding  and 
advancement  of  his  locality.  Socially,  he  is 
prominently  identified  with  Stissing  Lodge  No. 
615,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  in  religious  belief  is  a 
Presbyterian,  while  Mrs.  Barton  is  a  Methodist. 
George  W.  Barton,  father  of  our  subject, 
born  in  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess  county. 
May  14,  1795,  died  September  17,  1872.  He 
was  a  very  peculiar  man;  was  never  known  to 
have  but  one  suit  of  clothes  at  a  time,  which 
he  wore  every  day  of  the  week,  including  Sun- 
days. He  did  his  own  hair-cutting  (with  a 
jack-knife)  and  shaving  (without  any  mirror), 
and  yet  hardly  a  day  passed  but  what  he  had 
from  three  to  five  dollars  in  his  pocket.  His 
wife,  Elizabeth  (Hoffman),  born  May  28,  1800, 
died  August  26,  1879.  They  had  nine  chil- 
dren, to  wit:  Mariette,  born  March  i,  1824, 
married  Warden  Hoysradt,  and  died  Septem- 
ber 12,  1873  (no  surviving  children);  William 
H.,  born  August  25,  1825,  married  Cornelia 
Decker,  and  died  January  24,  1879  (no  chil- 
dren); George  W.,  Jr.,  born  May  19,  1827, 
married  (first)  Julia  Collins  (two  children),  and 
wedded  (second)  Mary  French  (no  children); 
Catherine,  born  December  15,  1829,  married 
William  McArthur  (no  surviving  children); 
Rachel,  born  December  16,  1831,  married 
James  Collins  (one  child);  Leonard,  born  De- 
cember 14,  1834,  married  Henrietta  Pulver 
(three  children);  Anthony  H.,  the  subject 
proper  of  this  sketch;  Artemus  S.,  born  Octo- 
ber 30,  1838,  married  (first)  Mariette  Rocka- 
feller  (no  children),  and  wedded  (second)  Jane 
Tripp  (two  children);  and  Fred,  born  May  24, 
1 84 1,  married  (first)  Elizabeth  Hoysradt  (six 
children),  and  wedded  (second)  Zadie  Tripp 
(no  children). 


BEUBEN  J.  ROBINSON.      Among  the  ac- 
tive  farmers    of   the    town    of    Stanford, 

Dutchess  county,  the  gentleman  whose  name 
stands  at  the  beginning  of  this  sketch  holds  a 
prominent  place.  He  is  a  native  of  the  coun- 
ty, born  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  July  5,  1854. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  John  Robinson,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Milan,  same  county,  Jan- 
uary 31,  1794,  and  was  the  son  of  John  Rob- 
inson, who  emigrated  from  Ireland  to  the  New 
World,  becoming  a  resident  of  Dutchess  coun- 
ty. On  June  15,  181 5,  John  Robinson,  Jr., 
married  Submity  Horton,  who  died  June  i, 
181 8,  leaving  a  son,  who   was  born  February 


786 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


22,  1817.  and  died  June  25,  1867.  Mr.  Rob- 
inson again  married  on  January  22,  1820,  his 
second  union  being  with  Esther  Ellison,  who 
was  born  March  22,  1793,  and  died  October 
22,  1863.  They  became  the  parents  of  five 
children,  namely:  Simmons,  born  July  16, 
1822,  is  the  father  of  our  subject;  Eliza  Ann, 
born  June  7,  1824,  died  October  17,  1866; 
Nancy,  born  August  14,  1826,  married  John  J. 
Conklin,  of  Leonard,  Tex.;  John,  born  March 
7,  1829,  died  April  6,  1885;  and  Smith,  born 
March  15,  1831,  died  December  18,  1833. 
The  father  of  this  family  was  educated  in  his 
native  town  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  tanner, 
which  he  followed  in  Stanfordsville  until  his 
death,  October  26,  1846. 

The  birth  of  Simmons  Robinson  occurred 
in  the  town  of  Stanford,  and  in  the  schools  of 
Stanfordville  he  acquired  his  education.  He 
began  life  for  himself  at  an  early  age,  working 
for  farmers  in  the  neighborhood,  and  in  1851 
was  able  to  purchase  a  farm  in  the  town  of 
Clinton,  where  he  lived  for  eleven  years.  In 
1865,  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Stanford,  Bear 
Market-four-corners,  and  resided  there  until 
in  1 88 1,  when  he  deeded  this  farm  to  his  son, 
Reuben  J.,  and  moved  to  a  small  farm  adjoin- 
ing, that  had  been  purchased  by  his  wife. 

On  August  31,  1845,  he  was  married  to  Jane 
Husted,  who  was  born  February  13,  1824,  the 
daughter  of  Reuben  Husted.  Three  children 
were  born  of  this  union:  Courtland,  born 
June  26,  1846,  has  been  a  teacher,  but  is  now 
engaged  in  farming  in  Hyde  Park  township, 
Dutchess  county,  and  in  politics  is  a  Prohibi- 
tionist; Lavina  M.,  born  July  29,  1848,  died 
January  18,  1852;  and  Reuben  J.  is  the  young- 
est. The  mother  was  called  to  her  final  rest 
on  July  30,  1895.  Since  her  death  the  father 
returned  to  his  old  home,  and  now  lives  with 
our  subject.  He  has  always  been  quite  suc- 
cessful in  his  business  ventures,  was  a  faithful 
member  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  politic- 
ally, was  first  a  Whig,  and  is  now  a  firm  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  party. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  our  subject 
attended  the  district  schools  of  the  towns  of 
Clinton  and  Stanford,  and  spent  his  entire  life 
upon  the  old  homestead,  with  the  exception  of 
one  year  passed  at  Pleasant  Plains  in  the  town 
of  Hyde  Park,  Dutchess  county.  Besides  gen- 
eral farming  he  was  engaged  in  the  milk  busi- 
ness. On  July  4,  1875,  Mr.  Robinson  was 
married  to  Miss  Carrie  L.  Moon,  daughter  of 
Franklin    Moon,    of  Saratoga   county,    N.    Y. 


Our  subject's  career  as  a  farmer  has  been  ch;. 
acterized  by  keen  judgment,  shrewd  comm' 
sense  and  good  business  habits,  and  as  a  m. 
he  stands  deservedly  high  in  the  regard  of  \ 
fellow-citizens. 


MORACE  RENNIE  POWELL.  M.  D.,  0 
of  the  most  prominent  physicians  in  t 

city  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  w 
born  February  16,  i860,  at  Coeymans,  Alba 
Co.,  New  York. 

His  family  is  of  Welsh  origin,  three  bro 
ers  having  come   from  Wales  to  this  coun 
about  1 760,  one  of  whom  located  in  Virginia,  ( 
on  Long  Island  and  one  in  Westchester  coun 
N.  Y.      Many  descendants  of  the  latter  mo' 
to   Albany  and  Greene  counties,   and  amc 
these  were  the  direct  ancestors  of  our  subje 
His  great-grandfather,  John  T.  Powell,  wa  i 
native  of  Coeymans,  where  he  passed  his    ! 
engaged  in  farming.      Like   ail  of  this  farm, 
he  was  a  Quaker  in  religious  faith,  and  by  s 
quiet,  consistent  life  he  won  the  high  este  I 
of  all  who  knew  him.      He  married  Anna  li- 
sted,   and    had    three    children:      James   ! ; 
Joshua,  now  living  at   the  age  of  eighty  ye;  ; 
and  Phoebe  Ann,  who  died  in  1892,  aged  foit 
John  T.    Powell  died  in  1857,  aged  sixty-f  . 
and  his  wife  in  1861,  at  the  age  of  sixt\-i 

James  H.  Powell,  grandfather  of  our  ? 
ject,  was  born  in  181 1,  and  died  in  1891:  c 
was  a  captain  on  a  line  of  freight  boats  on  e 
Hudson  between  Coxsackie  and  New  Yc  , 
owned  by  Reed  &  Powell,  produce  deal'i. 
This  occupation  he  followed  until  old  age  - 
fitted  him  for  labor,  becoming  well  kn(  n 
along  the  river,  where  his  warm  heart  andci- 
stant  effort  to  promote  the  happiness  of  otl  s 
won  him  universal  friendship.  He  alsoow  d 
and  conducted  a  farm  at  Coeymans,  and  t  k 
an  influential  part  there  in  local  affairs,  b((g 
one  of  the  leading  Democratic  managers  in  I- 
bany  county.  He  was  not  an  office  see  :, 
and  held  few  official  positions,  but  was  )r 
two  years — 1875  and  1876 — supervisor  of  is 
township.  He  married  Sally  Ann  Kel  ', 
who  was  born  in  1812,  and  died  in  188  a 
daughter  of  Sylvanus  and  Mary  (Dodge)  )1- 
ley,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Engki 
Sylvanus  Kelley  died  in  1862,  his  wifesur.'- 
ing  him  six  years.  James  H.  Powell  and  is 
wife  had  six  children:  John  S. ;  Jefferso  a 
resident  of  Coeymans;  Ambrose  and  H<7 
(both   now   deceased);    Mary  (Mrs.   Garret-- 


<^(su5ru^  vi-vMA^,  ^W)-^ 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPEICAL  RECORD. 


787 


Juyck,  of  Minneapolis,  Minn.);  and  Alexan- 
»r,  a  resident  of  Manchester,  New  Hampshire. 

John  S.  Powell,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
orn  at  Coej'mans,  N.  Y.,  January  ii,  1835, 
id  was  educated  at  the  Albany  State  Normal 
chool.  For  twenty-five  years  he  followed 
le  occupation  of  teaching  with  great  success, 
;hieving  high  reputation  throughout  the  State 
3th  as  a  disciplinarian  and  as  an  instructor, 
fter  teaching  a  few  years  at  his  native  place 
id  in  Freehold,  Greene  county,  he  became 
incipal  of  the  academy  at  Nassau,  Rensselaer 
lunty.  and  during  the  last  eight  years  of  his 
ofessional  work  he  was  principal  of  the 
nion  Free  School  at  "  Bath-on-the- Hudson. " 
e  was  a  Democrat  in  early  life,  afterward  a 
spublican,  and  was  at  one  time  clerk  of  the 
vvn  of  Coeymans.  In  his  later  years  he  en- 
jged  in  the  school,  church  and  opera  house 
:rniture  business. 

In  1857  John  S.  Powell  was  married  to 
lichel  A.  Powell,  a  descendant  of  the  Long 
liand  branch  of  the  family.  Her  grandfather, 
'lomas  T.  Powell,  who  died  in  1862,  at  the 
:eof  ninety-one  years,  kept  an  old-fashioned 
ii  at  Westerlo,  Albany  county.  His  mother 
MS  a  Titus,  and  his  wife  was  Mary  Ann 
(eene,  who  died  in  1861  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
f  years;  she  was  of  Welsh  blood,  and  a  direct 
(scendant  of  Gen.  Nathaniel  Greene.  Si.x 
cildren  were  born  to  Thomas  Powell  and  his 
^fe:  Ezekiel  died  in  1882  at  the  age  of 
nty-five;  Joseph  D.  died  at  sixty;  Orrin  at 
.  j-tive;  Jesse  D.  at  thirty;  Harriet  at  fifty- 
f  e;  and  Mary  Ann  at  fifty. 

Ezekiel  Powfcll,  the  maternal  grandfather 
c  our  subject,  married  Prudence  Halsted,  who 
cd  in  1884,  aged  seventy-two  years.  She 
vsoneof  the  ten  children  of  Stephen  and 
le  (Decker)  Halsted,  both  of  whom  were 
r.tives  of  Germantown,  Dutchess  county.  He 
tidin  1835  aged  fifty-five,  his  wife  passing 
a  ay  in  1867.  Of  their  children  all  but 
tee  lived  in  Illinois.  Thomas  died  there  at 
t;  age  of  eighty;  Bartow  at  fifty;  Stephen  D. 
aforty-five;  Samuel  at  sixty;  John  now  lives 
t:re  at  eighty  years  of  age;  Betsey  Ann  died 
e  at  forty-five;  Mary  Ann  is  living  there  at 
»  enty-five.  Of  those  who  remained  in  New 
^rk,  besides  Prudence,  there  were  Sally 
^  ria  (Mrs.  Blossom),  who  is  living  in  Wes- 
t'io,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two;  and  Marilla, 
wo  died  at  South  Westerlo  when  aged  twenty- 
f'r. 

From  the  foregoing  it   will  be   seen  that  at 
47 


the  time  of  the  birth  of  Dr.  Powell  (in  .i860) 
he  was  blessed  with  six  living  grandmothers 
and  four  grandfathers.  He  was  the  only  child 
of  his  parents,  and  they  lived  to  rejoice  in  his 
success,  his  father  dying  in  1895,  his  mother 
now  residing  with  him.  Our  subject  attended 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  place  while 
his  father  was  teaching  there,  and  at  the  age 
of  sixteen  entered  the  Albany  Normal  School, 
where  he  took  the  two-years'  course,  graduat- 
ing with  the  valedictory  honors  in  1878.  For 
a  short  time  he  conducted  a  drug  store  at 
' '  Bath-on-the-Hudson",  and  disposing  of  it  he 
matriculated  in  the  fall  of  1878  at  the  Albany 
Medical  College  under  Dr.  E.  T.  Rulison  (now 
of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.),  the  late  Dr.  Normaq  L. 
Snow,  of  Albany,  curator  of  the  college,  and 
Prof.  Albert  Van  Der  Veer,  as  preceptors.  He 
was  graduated  in  1882,  being  again  awarded 
the  honor  of  delivering  the  valedictory  address. 
In  the  spring  of  that  year  he  located  at  Housa- 
tonic,  Mass. ;  but  in  the  fall  he  moved  to 
Poughkeepsie  and  commenced  practice  at  No. 
4  Garden  street.  Fortune  did  not  at  first 
smile  upon  him,  but  his  fine  abilities  and  train- 
ing gradually  won  recognition,  so  that  at 
the  end  of  three  years  he  had  a  fair  practice, 
and  now  has  one  of  the  best  in  the  city.  He 
keeps  well  abreast  of  the  advances  of  his  pro- 
fession, his  retentive  memory  being  a  great 
advantage  to  him,  and  is  very  successful  as  a 
general  practitioner. 

In  1883  Dr.  Powell  married  Idell  H. 
Champlin,  daughter  of  Charles  Champlin,  and 
has  two  children,  Robert  Carlisle  and  Vera 
Terry.  Possessing  a  genial  nature,  the  Doctor 
is  a  leading  spirit  in  local  aiTairs.  He  takes  an 
ardent  interest  in  the  success  of  the  Republic- 
an party;  was  health  officer  of  the  city  under 
Mayor  Ellsworth,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education.  He  belongs  to  Pough- 
keepsie Bicycle  Club,  the  K.  of  P.,  Triumph 
Lodge  No.  165,  and  to  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
Triune  Lodge  No.  782,  being  the  first  man  to 
be  admitted  to  that  order  at  a  regular  com- 
munication of  the  lodge  in  the  new  Masonic 
Temple.  Among  his  professional  brethren  he 
holds  a  high  rank,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Dutchess  County  Medical  Society,  has  been 
president  of  the  Clinical  Society  of  Poughkeep- 
sie, and  in  1892  was  president  of  the  Alumni 
Association  of  the  Albany  Medical  College. 
He  is  U.  S.  Pension  Examining  Surgeon;  is 
surgeon  of  the  Nineteenth  Separate  Company, 
Third  Brigade,    New   York;    has    been   Police 


788 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD.. 


Surgeon,  and  is  now  County  Physician.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  and 
of  the  Retail  Merchants  Association  of  the  City 
of  Poughkeepsie;  is  a  member  of  Davy  Crock- 
ett Hook  and  Ladder  Company  No.  i.  being 
ex-president  thereof,  and  at  the  present  time  is 
president  of  the  board  of  trustees. 


JAMES  A.  MARSHALL.  One  does  not 
have  to  pursue  his  investigations  far  into 
the  annals  of  Dutchess  county  before  he 
finds  that  the  name  of  this  gentleman  is  con- 
spicuous on  the  pages  of  its  history.  His  life 
is  distinctive  from  the  fact  that  he  is  one  of 
th^  oldest  native  sons  of  the  county,  and  a  rep- 
resentative of  one  of  its  most  honored  pioneer 
families.  In  Pleasant  Valley,  April  26,  18 19, 
he  first  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day, 
and  his  father,  Henry  S.  Marshall,  was  born 
in  the  same  town.  May  5,  1793.  The  grand- 
father, James  Marshall,  was  born  in  the  same 
locality,  March  5,  1765.  The  great-grand- 
father, John  Marshall,  was  one  of  the  seven 
sons  of  the  founder  of  the  family  in  America, 
who  came  to  this  country  from  his  native  Eng- 
land. 

James  Marshall,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  married  Catherine  Van  Vorehis,  and 
located  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Val- 
ley, where  they  reared  children  as  follows: 
John,  who  was  a  merchant  and  school-teacher; 
Henry  S.,  father  of  our  subject;  Stephen,  a 
printer  by  trade,  took  charge  of  the  State 
prison  in  later  life;  George,  who  lived  in  vari- 
ous localities  in  Dutchess  county;  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  William  Welling,  a  farmer;  Sally,  wife 
of  William  Allen,  a  farmer;  Catherine,  wife  of 
George  Ham,  an  agriculturist;  Elsie,  wife  of 
Lansing  Thorne,  who  followed  the  same  pur- 
suit; and  Julia,  wife  of  Isaac  Newcomb,  who 
died  in  a  Rebel  prison  during  the  Civil  war. 

Henry  S.  Marshall  in  his  early  life  learned 
the  trade  of  a  bookbinder.  He  married  Sarah 
Allen,  a  native  of  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley, 
and  a  daughter  of  John  I.  and  Esther  Allen, 
whose  family  numbered  twelve  children.  Her 
father  was  an  agriculturist,  and  was  of  English 
lineage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marshall  began  house- 
keeping on  a  farm  in  Pleasant  Valley  town, 
where  they  spent  their  remaining  days,  their 
friends  and  neighbors  holding  them  in  the 
highest  esteem  for  many  excellencies  of  char- 
acter. Consistent  members  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church,   Mr.    Marshall  served    for  many 


years  as  deacon.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whi 
In  the  family  were  four  children:  Catheri 
E.,  deceased;  James  A.;  Eliza  and  Isaac,  wl 
have  also  passed  away. 

The  respected  subject  of  this  review,  Jam 
A.  Marshall,  lived  with  his  parents  through  t! 
days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth,  and  early  b 
came  familiar  with  the  duties  of  farm  life.     C 
leaving  home  he  married  Cordelia  Conover, 
native  of  the  town   of   Poughkeepsie,    and 
daughter  of   Jacob   Conover,   an   enterprisi 
farmer,  born  in  Dutchess  county,  and  descend 
from  an  old  Holland  family.     The  marriage 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marshall,  which  was  celebraf 
October  27,  1843,  was  blessed  with  four  cl 
dren:     Sarah  E. ,   wife  of  Bartlett  Devine, 
farmer  of  Pleasant  Valley  town;  Isaac,  afarn 
of  Olive  town,  Ulster  county;    Henry  J.,  w 
operates  land   near  the  old   homestead;    a 
Nellie,   wife  of  Harvey  Halsted,   a  farmer 
the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley. 


Mr. 


Marshall   has    made   farming  his  is 


work.  Having  resided  at  various  places  in  . : 
county,  he  removed  in  1886  to  his  presc 
home  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  whu 
he  has  since  lived  retired,  enjoying  the  com  ,- 
tence  that  has  come  to  him  as  the  reward  f 
his  earnest  and  able  labors  in  former  yea . 
In  September,  1895,  he  was  called  upon  ) 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  loved  wife,  with  wh  1 
he  had  traveled  life's  journey  for  more  till 
half  a  century,  but  he  lives  in  the  hope  0 
blessed  reunion  in  the  land  where  sorrow  ; 
death  are  no  more.  His  religious  connect  i 
is  with  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  his  - 
litical  association  with  the  Republican  pai  , 
by  which  he  was  elected  road  commissio  r 
and  assessor.  His  life  is  not  marked  by  y 
events  of  exciting  or  thrilling  interest,  but  s 
is  the  honorable  career  of  a  man  who  has  - 
ways  faithfully  performed  his  duties  to  e 
best  of  his  ability,  and  with  promptness  id 
fidelity  discharged  every  trust  reposed  in  hi. 


E^LIPHAZ    DELAMATER,   a    well-km  n 
^4  farmer  of  the  town   of  Lagrange,  Dii  1- 

ess  county,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Esoj  '■>, 
Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  21,  1842.  le 
great-great-grandfather  on  the  paternal  le 
came  to  this  State  from  Holland  at  an  e  v 
day,  and  settled  in  Esopus.  His  son  John  is 
born  there,  and  the  latter's  son  John  was  I  n 
at  Esopus,  August  4,  1779,  and  died  Sept  1- 
ber  18,  1858. 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


739 


This  John  Delamater,   the  grandfather  of 

jr  subject,  was  married  September  13,   1806, 

,)  Fanny  Decker,  who   was  born   August  24, 

1780,  and  died  March  6,  1858.   Their  children 

jere  as  follows:     Catherine,  born   August  7, 

S07;  Jacob,  September  25,  18 10;  John  ^father 

our   subject),   November    26,    1812;  Peter, 

ay  24,    18 17;   Eliza,    July  27,    1823.     The 

Ither  of  this  family  was  a  miller  by  trade,  and 

llowed    that    occupation    for    a    number   of 

;ars.      He    owned    a    mill    which    he    subse- 

■  lently  sold,  and   and  in  connection  with  his 

ther  purchased  a  farm.    He  was  a  prominent 

an  in  his  community,  and  had  the  confidence 

the  public.      He  was   made  the  trustee  of 

any  estates,  and  managed  all  his  affairs  with 

iscretion    and    good    judgment.      He  was    a 

ember  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,    and 

;Iped  to  build  the  edifice,  and  was  one  of  its 

t  liberal  supporters.    For  four  years  before 

death    he    was     afflicted    with    blindness, 

lich  he  bore  with  fortitude  and  uncomplain- 

'i  patience. 

John  Delamater,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
lared  in  the  town  of   Esopus,  Ulster  county, 
(  his  father's  farm,  and  attended   the  district 
ihools  of  that  locality.      He  carfied  on  farm- 
\l  there  until  1865,  when  he  sold  out  and  re- 
uved   to  Lagrange   town,  Dutchess   county, 
lying  the  farm  on  which  our  subject  now  re- 
;les.     ^ere  he  niade  his  home  until  the  time 
(  his  death,  which  took  place  April  27,  1891. 
was  married   in  Esopus,  June   8,   1833,  to 
ih  Terpening,  who  was  there  born  Decem- 
5,  181 3.     Their  children  were  Israel  Van- 
..jren,  born  November  i,  1835,  ^^'^  died  May 
(  1868;  and   Eliphaz,  the  subject  of  this  re- 
\:w.      John  Delamater  was  a  member  of  the 
Informed  Church,  and    was  highway  commis- 
'iv  in  the  town  of  Esopus.      He  was  a  man 
ine   character,   and    was    universally    re- 
ted. 

Our  subject  spent  his  boyhood  days  in 
lopus, where  he  attended. the  district  schools, 
^hen  twenty-three  years  old  he  came  with  his 
frents  to  Lagrange  township,  and  has  resided 
t;re  for  the  past  thirty  years,  being  engaged 
i  farming.  He  was  married  October  25, 
'•^2,  to  Anna  M.,  daughter  of  Philip  Schuyler 
rews,  and  their  family  consists  of  the  fol- 
ding children:  John  and  Emott  (twins), 
Krold,  Mildred,  Wilfred  and  Cornelia. 

Mr.    Delamater  is  a   member  of  the   Re- 

'  med    Church   at    New  Hackensack,  and  in 

tics  is  in  sympathy  with   the   Republican 


party,  although  he  takes  no  active  part  in 
public  affairs,  and  has  never  been  an  aspirant 
for  office.  He  is  a  quiet,  unostentatious  man, 
and  is  highly  respected  by  all  who  know  him. 


GILBERT  E.  VAN  WAGNER,  one  of  the 
^  f  representative  farmers  of  the  town  of 
Pleasant  Valley,  is  a  native  of  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, born  in  Hyde  Park,  January  3,  1838.  The 
kingdom  of  Holland,  which  has  given  to  the 
world  one  of  the  hardiest  races  of  people, 
sheltered  the  ancestors  of  our  subject,  but  for 
many  generations  they  have  made  their  home 
in  the  county.  The  grandfather,  Gilbert  Van- 
Wagner,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Pleasant 
Valley,  and  was  a  son  of  Evert  Van  Wagner, 
who  carried  on  farming  there.  The  former 
wedded  Catherine  Schriver,  also  a  native  of 
Dutchess  county,  and  located  upon  a  farm  in 
Hyde  Park,  where  their  seven  children  were 
born,  namely:  Hannah  first  married  a  cous- 
in by  the  name  of  Van  Wagner,  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  and  after  his  death  became 
the  wife  of  a  Mr.  Butts,  a  resident  of  the 
western  part  of  the  State;  Helen  married 
Charles  J.  Todd,  a  farmer  of  Hyde  Park; 
Mary  was  the  wife  of  Jacob  Tillottson,  a 
wagon  maker  and  farmer  of  Hyde  Park;  John, 
who  wedded  Lettie  Humphrey,  also  engaged 
in  farming  in  Dutchess  county;  Isaac  married 
Jennett  Beech,  and  carried  on  agricultural 
pursuits  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess 
county;  Evert  G.  is  the  father  of  our  subject; 
and  James,  a  farmer,  married  Ann  Beech. 

In  Hyde  Park  Evert  G.  Van  Wagner  was 
born,  and  on  reaching  man's  estate  he  married 
Sarah  Humphrey,  who  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Beekman,  Dutchess  county,  a  daughter  of 
John  Humphrey,  who  carried  on  farming 
there.  Her  mother,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Jane  Bregraw,  was  a  native  of  New- 
town, Long  Island,  and  by  her  marriage  had 
six  children,  of  whom  Sarah  was  the  eldest. 
She  was  followed  by  Phoebe,  wife  of  George 
H.  Traver,  a  retired  farmer  of  Saratoga,  N. 
Y. ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Harris  McFarland,  a 
farmer  of  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley;  Ellen, 
wife  of  George  Bates,  also  an  agriculturist  of 
Pleasant  Valley  town;  and  Thomas,  who  mar- 
ried Ellen  Skidmore.  After  his  marriage 
the  father  of  our  subject  took  his  bride  to  his 
farm  in  Hyde  Park  town.  They  became  the 
parents  of  children  as  follows:  George,  who 
died   at  the   age  of  twenty-two  years;  John, 


740 


OOMMEMORA  TIVE  BWGRAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


I 


who  wedded  Mary  Mosher;  Abram,  who  mar- 
ried Sophia  Wagner;  Andrew,  who  married 
Cordelia  Wagner;  Gilbert,  of  this  review; 
and  Kate.  The  sons  all  followed  in  the  foot- 
steps of  their  father— engaging  in  agricultural 
pursuits  as  a  life  work.  The  parents  were 
both  faithful  members  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Van  Wagner  was 
a  Republican.  His  death  occurred  July  3, 
1884,  that  of  his  wife  on  January  4,  1867. 

Gilbert  E.  Van  Wagner  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  excellent  schools  of  Dutchess 
county,  where  under  the  able  direction  of  his 
father  he  soon  became  familiar  with  the  duties 
that  fall  to  the  lot  of  an  agriculturist.  On  De- 
cember 24,  1862,  he  was  united  m  marriage 
with  Miss  Sarah  Ann  Barnes,  a  native  of  the 
tow:^  of  Clinton,  Dutchess  county,  and  a 
daughter  of  Edwin  and  Laura  Ann  (Van  Der- 
burgh)  Barnes,  also  natives  of  Clinton  town, 
the  former  born  in  1817,  and  the  latter  on 
April  18,  1818.  By  trade  the  father  was  a 
machinist,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  Pres- 
byterians in  religious  belief.  He  died  April  3, 
1842,  his  wife  passing  away  February  14, 
1874.  Their  only  child  was  Mrs.  Van  Wag- 
ner. Her  paternal  grandfather  was  Samuel 
Barnes,  and  her  maternal  grandfather  was 
John  Van  Derburgh,  a  farmer  of  Clinton  town, 
and  a  son  of  Henry  Van  Derburgh,  also  an 
agriculturist  of  that  township,  and  an  officer  in 
the  Revolutionary  war. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Wagner  began  their  do- 
mestic life  upon  their  present  farm  of  149  acres, 
which  has  been  in  the  possession  of  some 
member  of  her  family  since  the  year  1800. 
Three  children  bless  their  union:  Evert  H., 
who  married  Ida  J.  Traver,  and  engages  in 
farming;  Laura  Ann;  and  George  E.  B.,  who 
married  Etta  M.  Young,  and  lives  in  Hyde 
Park.  The  parents  contribute  liberally  to  the 
support  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  Mrs.  Van- 
Wagner  takes  an  active  part  in  its  affairs. 
They  are  highly  respected  throughout  the  com- 
munity in  which  they  live,  and  he  is  numbered 
among  the  most  progressive  and  enterprising 
citizens  of  the  township.  He  devotes  his  en- 
tire time  and  attention  to  general  farming,  in 
which  he  is  meeting  with  a  well-deserved  suc- 
cess, and,  though  not  very  active  in  politics, 
usually  votes  for  the  candidates  offered  bj'  the 
Republican  party. 

John  Van  Derburgh,  the  maternal  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Van  Wagner,  married  Ann 
Mott,   a    daughter    of    Ebenezer    Mott,    who 


was    appointed    lieutenant  of   the  Fifth  New 
York    Regiment,    December    22,     1779.    anc 
valiantly  aided  the  Colonies  in  their  struggit 
for  independence.    He  had  been  commissionec 
second-lieutenant  by  John  Hancock  on  the  2isi 
of    November,    1776,    and   was    appointed  b) 
John  Jay  as  ensign  of  the  same  regiment  ir 
June,    1779.      At   West   Point   he   was   takei 
prisoner,  and  being  placed   on   board   an  ol( 
battle  ship  was  taken  to   New  York  City  am 
incarcerated  in  the  old  sugar  house.      He  be 
came    very    prominent    in  public  affairs,  an 
served  as  a  member  of  the  General  AssembI 
from    1792   to    1793,  and   from  1798  to  iSci 
On  March  i,  1781,  he  was  married  at  Rhim 
beck,  Dutchess  county,  to  Mary  Van  Vlack, 
daughter  of   Jacob   and    Ann    (Stoutenburgl 
Van  Vlack,  and  to  them  were  born  the  follow 
ing  children:     Jacob   E.,    who   married  Ma: 
garet  Stoutenburgh;  James,  who  died  unmai 
ried;  Ann,  who  became  the  wife  of  John  Van 
Derburgh;  Mrs.  Sallie  Sammis;  Maria,  Cathei 
ine  and   Ebenezer,    who   all   died   unmarriec 
and  John,  who  wedded  Maria  Culver. 

Mrs.  Van  Wagner  can  trace  a  relationshii 
back  to  Anneke  Jans,  the  owner  of  the  prop 
erty  in  New  York  City,  where  Trinity  Churc 
now  stands,  which  is  worth  many  millions  ci 
dollars.  Her  daughter,  Sarah,  married  Hari 
Kiersterd  on  the  29th  of  June,  1642,  and  the 
daughter,  Rachel,  became  the  wife  of  Williai( 
Teller,  whose  daughter,  Margaret,  marriej 
Jacob  Stoutenburgh.  Their  daughter.  Anil 
was  the  wife  of  Jacob  Van  Vlack,  and  to  thai' 
was  born  a  daughter,  Mary,  who  wedded  El| 
enezer  Mott  in  1781.  Their  daughter,  Ani' 
was  united  in  marriage  with  John  Van  De| 
burgh,  March  i,  18 12,  and  to  them  was  born  ; 
daughter,  Laura,  who,  on  the  15th  of  Jun^j 
1 84 1,  wedded  Edwin  Barnes,  the  father  (| 
Mrs.  Van  Wagner. 


RIGHT  B.    ODELL,  a  prominent  arj 
\[     representative  agriculturist  of  the  tow. 
of    Beekman,    Dutchess    county,  was   born 
the  town  of  Unionvale,  same  county,  June  i 
i860,  and  is  a  son  of  Luman  B.  Odell,  also, 
native  of  that  town.     The  latter  was  educate! 
in  the  district  schools,  and  remained  upon  ti' 
home    farm  until    attaining  his  majority, 
his  native  township  he  married  Mary  Abel,  I 
whom  he  had  three  children:   Daniel,  of  Okt 
homa,  Okla. ;  Wright  B. ;  and   Flora  M.,  wi 
of  Charles  Brill,  Jr.     After  residing  upon  tl' 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


741 


\bel  farm  for  a  time,  Mr.  Odell  removed  to 
^rthursburg,  where  he  engaged  in  clerking  for 
tbout  two  years,  and  then  removed  to  a  farm 
n  the  town  of  Fishkill,  where  he  passed  the 
emainder  of  his  life.  He  was  killed  while 
lelping  to  raise  a  barn  for  a  neighbor  in  that 
own,  in  1876.  His  career  was  one  of  honor 
nd  respectability,  and  won  for  him  the  high 
egard  of  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  a  con- 
istent  member  of  the  Christian  Church  in 
Jnionvale  town,  and  a  stalwart  Republican  in 
clitics. 

The  early  school  days  of  Wright  B.  Odell 
ere  spent  at  Arthursburg,  in  the  town  of  La- 
range,  Dutchess  county,  and  at  Poughquag. 
n  1880  the  family  removed  to  the  present 
esidence  of  our  subject  in  the  town  of  Beek- 
lan,  and  two  years  later  Mr.  Odell  assumed 
ontrol  of  toe  farm,  which  comprises  200  acres 
f  rich  and  arable  land,  and  which  he  has 
laced  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He 
.  a  most  successful  and  enterprising  farmer. 

In  Chicago,  November  25,  1892,  was  cele- 
rated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Odell  and  Miss 
162  A.  Brill,  a  daughter  of  George  Brill,  a 
ative  of  the  town  of  Beekman,  Dutchess 
3unty,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Mary 
ranees.  Mr.  Odell  supports  the  principles  of 
le  Republican  party  by  his  ballot,  and  he  is 
2eply  interested  in  the  welfare  and  advance- 
lent  of  his  native  county.  He  and  his  wife 
'e  widely  and  favorably  known  in  their  local- 
y,  and  their  home  is  a  favorite  circle  for 
lany  friends. 


IN  H.  COX,  a  valued  and  esteemed  agri- 
culturist of  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess 
county,  has  his  residence  upon  a  farm  of 
ost  superior  land,  which  is  under  excellent 
ilture  and  improvement.  The  buildings  upon 
le  place  are  of  a  neat  and  substantial  charac- 
r,  and  betoken  thrift  and  prosperity.  He  is 
eeting  with  well-merited  success  in  his  farm- 
g  operations. 

Mr.  Cox  is  a  native  of  New  York  City,  and 
aces  his  ancestry  back  to  Isaac  Cox,  who  was 
3rn  in  1735,  ^"d  in  Kent  county,  Del.,  April 
1763,  was  united  in  marriage  with  Susanna 
anson.  He  died  December  28,  1773,  at  the 
?e  of  thirty-eight  years.  His  son,  Isaac,  was 
le  grandfather  of  our  subject.  He  was  born 
:  Baltimore,  Md.,  November  10,  1768,  and 
T  reaching  manhood  he  there  worked  at  the 
itter's  trade;  but  most  of  his  life  was  passed  in 


Pennsylvania.  By  his  marriage  with  Sarah 
Hanson  he  had  five  children:  Eliza,  Samuel 
Daniel,  Mary,  Henry  R.  and  Rachel. 

Henry  R.  Cox,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  1809,  upon  a  farm  in  Lycoming 
county,  Penn.,  where  he  spent  his  boyhood 
days.  When  a  young  man  he  went  to  New 
York  City,  where  he  became  a  dry-goods  mer- 
chant on  Greenwich  street,  and  there  engaged 
in  business  until  his  death,  which  occurred  May 
I,  1851.  He  wedded  Mary  Middlemus,  and  to 
them  were  born  three  children:  Joseph  M., 
Henry  R.  and  Eliza  H.  For  his  second  wife 
he  chose  Miss  Susan  Lake,  a  native  of  Lycom- 
ing county,  Penn.,  who  died  in  1857,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  two  children:  John  H. 
and  Samuel  H.  After  the  father's  death  the 
family  removed  to  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutch- 
ess county. 

As  boys,  John  H.  Cox,  of  this  review,  and 
his  brother,  Samuel  H.,  lived  with  their  uncle, 
John  Hunn,  in  Stanford  township,  and  received 
such  educational  advantages  as  the  district 
schools  of  the  neighborhood  afforded,  though 
the  brother  had  also  attended  the  public 
schools  of  New  York  City.  On  February  11, 
1885,  in  the  town  of  Stanford,  our  subject  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Eliza  H.  Striker,  a 
descendant  of  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Man- 
hattan Island.  Two  children  bless  this  union: 
Ella,  born  February  19,  1887;  and  Eliza,  born 
February  18,  1893.  For  a  year  after  his  mar- 
riage, Mr.  Cox  remained  upon  the  Hunn  farm, 
and  then  for  a  few  months  was  a  resident  of 
Bangall,  Dutchess  county.  Since  that  time  he 
has  made  his  home  upon  his  present  farm  on 
the  west  side  of  Hunn's  lake.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  a  machinist  in  the  Roger's  axle  fac- 
tory, at  Stanfordville,  but  has  always  followed 
farming  as  a  means  of  livelihood.  Success  has 
waited  upon  the  efforts  of  this  gentleman  in  all 
his  efforts,  and  the  general  verdict  is  that  he 
has  well  deserved  it.  Labor  and  persever- 
ance, coupled  with  economy  and  frugality,  are 
bound  to  win  in  the  long  run,  and  these  virtues 
he  possesses  to  a  large  extent.  Politically,  he 
votes  the  straight  Republican  ticket,  and  has 
served  as  assessor  of  his  township,  while, 
socially,  he  holds  membership  with  the  Knights 
of  Pythias. 

Samuel  H.  Cox  has  lived  with  our  subject 
since  the  latter's  marriage,  and  has  devoted 
most  of  his  time  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  to 
the  cattle  trade.  He  has  served  as  census- 
taker    in    his    township.      The    brothers    are 


742 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


esteemed  and  valued  members  of  the  com- 
munity, and  possess  the  entire  confidence  and 
regard  of  their  neighbors. 

John  Hunn,  the  uncle  with  whom  they 
lived  in  boyhood,  was  born  near  Dover,  Del., 
September  9,  1785,  and  was  the  son  of  John 
and  Susanna  Hunn.  He  was  married  in  New 
York  City,  May  9,  18 16,  to  Sarah  S.  Willis,  and 
after  her  death  wedded  Eliza  Cox,  February 
8,  1837.  By  trade  he  was  a  tanner  and  cur- 
rier, and  for  several  years  conducted  a  leather 
store  in  New  York  City,  but  in  1851  removed 
to  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess  county, 
where  he  made  his  home  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  December  5,  1867.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  was  an 
earnest  Christian  gentleman. 


^^^/ARREN  REYNOLDS.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch,  who  is  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  intelligence  and  business  capacity, 
owns  two  fine  farms  in  the  town  of  Washing- 
ton, Dutchess  county,  which  aggregate  about 
400  acres,  and  is  prominent  among  the  agri- 
cultural interests  of  the  county,  contributing 
largely  to  its  reputation  by  making  his  places 
two  of  the  most  desirable  homesteads  within 
its  borders.  Admired  and  esteemed  by  his 
friends  and  neighbors,  he  enjoys,  as  he  de- 
serves, a  generous  portion  of  this  world's  goods. 

Mr.  Reynolds  was  born  in  Chatham,  Co- 
lumbia Co.,  N.  Y. ,  September  19,  1821,  and 
is  a  son  of  Titus  S.  Reynolds,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred in  the  same  place  January  9,  1790.  Of 
that  county  his  grandfather,  Solomon  Reynolds, 
was  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists.  The 
family  were  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 

Titus  S.  Reynolds  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Hannah  Brockway,  a  native  of  Columbia 
county,  born  March  12,  1794,  and  they  began 
their  domestic  life  in  Chatham,  where  the 
father  followed  farming.  His  political  views 
were  in  accordance  with  those  held  by  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  religiously  he  was  a  Hicks- 
ite  Quaker.  He  passed  away  April  11,  1862, 
and  his  wife  on  August  3,  1881.  Their  family 
circle  included  twelve  children:  Horace,  born 
August  II,  1 8 14,  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
years;  Lester  A.,  born  February  16,  18 16,  is 
living  retired  in  Iowa;  Sylvester  (twin  brother 
of  Lester)  followed  blacksmithing  and  farming, 
and  died  in  1890;  Elias  B.,  born  September 
14,  1818,  was  a  drover,  and  died  May  24, 
1880;  Mary  A.,  born  March  23,  1820,  became 


the  wife  of  John  Goodenough,  a  wheelwright 
by  trade,  and  died  in  1889;  Warren,  of  this 
review,  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth;  Deborah 
J.,  born  February  5,  1823,  married  Erastus 
Jones,  a  farmer  of  Columbia  county,  and  died 
in  1887;  Isaac  B.,  born  November  26,  1824, 
died  in  infancy;  Laura  B.  (twin  sister  of  Isaac), 
married  a  Mr.  Brown,  and  died  in  1879;  Julina, 
born  October  23,  1828,  became  the  wife  of 
George  Williams,  a  farmer,  and  died  in  1887; 
Freeman,  born  April  16,  1831,  is  an  agricult- 
urist of  Orleans  county,  Vt.;  and  Alida,  borr 
May  5,  1833,  was  the  wife  of  H.  W.  Williams 
a  farmer  of  Columbia  county,  and  died  Augus 
27,  1864. 

Our  subject  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  re 
ceived  his  first  lesson  in  agriculture  from  hi: 
father,  who  was  a  practical,  capable  farmer 
He  was  married,  October  2,  1843,  to  Hannal 
Carpenter,  who  was  born  in  Hudson,  N.  Y. 
May  12,  1822,  and  died  in  Wayne  county,  thii 
State,  May  24,  1852.  Four  children  gracec 
this  union:  Lydia  J.,  born  October  12,  1844. 
died  in  infancy;  Francelia,  born  July  2,  1846 
married  William  Jones,  of  Chicago,  111.,  anc 
later  became  the  wife  of  George  K.  Jones,  0 
the  same  city;  Jason  C,  born  March  13,  1849 
is  employed  in  the  Adams  Express  office  ii 
New  York  City;  and  Alvah  B. ,  born  April  2S 
1857,  is  a  milkman  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y 
On  September  19,  1859,  Mr.  Reynolds  waij 
again  married,  his  second  union  being  witi ' 
MaryMorey,  who  was  born  February  20,  1819 
and  died  December  7,  1881. 

On  September  19,  1883,  Mr.  Reynolds  wa. 
married  to  Mrs.  H.  C.  Hunt,  a  native  of  Ber 
lin,  Vt.,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Cor 
nelia  Bosworth.  Her  father,  Jonathan  Bos 
worth,  was  born  January  21,1 787,  in  Lebanon 
N.  H.,  and  was  a  son  of  Nathaniel  Bosworth 
a  Revolutionary  hero,  and  the  grandson  0 
Jonathan  Bosworth,  who  came  from  Englam; 
and  founded  the  family  in  this  country.  Al 
his  life  the  father  of  Mrs.  Reynolds  engagei 
in  the  manufacture  of  hoes.  By  his  marriage 
on  July  2,  181 1,  with  Lovisa  Vilona  Darling 
who  was  born  November  9,  1791,  he  had  thir 
teen  children,  namely:  Lovisa  V.,  Mary  L. 
ElishaD.,  Jonathan  E.(t),  Sarah  D.,  Jona: 
than  E. (2),  Tryphena  N.,  Samuel  H.  O.,  Anns) 
M.,  Lucy  D..  David  B.,  Joseph  S.,  and  Hanj 
nah  C.  The  father  died  April  7,  1879.  ami 
the  mother  passed  away  August  13,  1872.        i 

Since    i860    Mr.   Reynolds  has  resided  i 
Dutchess  county,  where  he  is  successfully  en 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


743 


aged  in  general  farming,  and  is  one  of  the 
lost  progressive  citizens  in  the  community, 
Iways  identifying  himself  with  all  matters  for 
ie  public  welfare.  His  political  support  has 
ver  been  given  the  Republican  party,  and  he 

a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  while 
Irs.  Reynolds  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 

hurch  of  Amenia. 


AMES  H.  LOVELACE.  Among  the  lead- 
ing and  representative  agriculturists  of  the 
'  town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess  county,  stalwart 
nd  sturdy  tillers  of  the  soil,  there  is  none  who 
ands  a  more  prominent  figure  than  the  gen- 
eman  of  whom  this  notice  is  written.  He 
lade  his  appearance  upon  the  stage  of  Hfe 
[arch  26,  1845,  in  the  town  of  Washington, 
•utchess  county,  at  the  home  of  his  parents, 
Villiam  and  Mary  (Bates)  Lovelace.  His 
aternal  grandfather,  Peleg  Lovelace,  was  one 
f  the  early  residents  of  Putnam  county,  N. 
.,  but  his  last  days  were  spent  in  the  town  of 
jtanford,  Dutchess  county.  He  reared  to 
aanhood  and  womanhood  a  "family  of  ten 
hildren — seven  sons  and  three  daughters. 

William  Lovelace  was  born  in  the  year 
812,  in  Putnam  county,  where  his  boyhood 
ays  were  passed,  and  during  his  youth  he 
;arned  the  carpenter's  trade,  but  did  not  long 
)llovv  that  occupation,  as  he  soon  began  farm- 
ig  in  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess  county, 
imaining  there  several  years.  Ten  years 
'ere  afterward  spent  in  the  town  of  Washing- 
3n,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he  re- 
jrned  to  Stanford,  where  he  carried  on  agri- 
ultural  pursuits  for  thirteen  years.  He  next 
)cated  upon  a  farm  on  Chestnut  Ridge,  in  the 
:)wn  of  Dover,  which  he  still  owns,  but  is  now 
ving  retired  in  Millbrook,  town  of  Washing- 
on.  Although  he  started  out  in  life  with 
othing,  he  has  by  energy  and  perseverance 
ecome  a  very  successful  man.  He  is  a  stanch 
dherent  of  the  Democratic  party,  but  has 
ever  cared  for  political  preferment,  and  is  a 
onsistent  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  On 
^jvember  14,  1835,  in  the  town  of  Washing- 
jh,  he  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Mary 
Sates,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Bates,  and  four 
hildren  blessed  their  union:  Francis,  de- 
eased;  James  H.;  Richard,  of  the  town  of 
'over;  and  Asa,  of  Millbrook. 

Our  subject  accompanied  his  parents  on 
leir  various  removals  during  his  younger 
ears,  and  in   the  public  schools  of    the  local- 


ities obtained  a  fair  education.  For  ten  years 
he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  on  Chest- 
nut Ridge,  in  the  town  of  Dover,  remaining 
upon  his  father's  farm  until  1887,  when  he  re- 
moved to  the  Tonsey  farm  near  Clinton  Cor- 
ners, which  he  operated  until  the  spring  of 
1890.  He  then  purchased  his  present  farm  in 
the  town  of  Clinton. 

Mr.  Lovelace  was  married  in  the  town  of 
Stanford,  March  2,  1870,  to  Maria  E.  Wood, 
daughter  of  Talmage  and  Lydia  (Mosher) 
Wood.  Previous  to  the  Civil  war  her  father 
had  been  a  resident  of  that  town,  but  during 
that  struggle  enlisted  in  the  150th  N.  Y.  V.  L, 
under  Gen.  A.  B.  Smith,  and  while  serving 
with  that  command  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg.  Two  children  were  born  to  our 
subject  and  his  wife:  Alva  Wood,  and  Will- 
iam R. ,  but  the  latter  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Lovelace  attends  the  Christian  Church  at 
Stanfordville,  is  an  upright,  honorable  gentle- 
man, who  wins  friends  wherever  he  goes,  and 
by  all  who  know  him  he  is  held  in  the  highest 
regard. 


CHARLES  H.  GRIFFEN.  Prominent 
_,'  among  the  more  intelligent,  active  and 
enterprising  citizens  of  the  town  of  Clinton, 
Dutchess  county,  is  the  young  man  whose 
name  introduces  this  biography.  His  reputa- 
tion for  integrity  and  industry  is  second  to  none 
in  the  county,  and  he  is  a  man  devoted  to 
farming  and  fine  stock.  He  was  born  on  the 
farm  which  is  still  his  home.  May  27,  1868, 
and  since  the  early  age  of  fifteen  years  has 
had  the  entire  management  of  the  place,  which 
attests  his  progressive  spirit,  energy  and  perse- 
verance. 

William  D.  Griffen,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  at  White  Plains,  Westchester 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  at  the  age  of  ten  years  ac- 
companied the  family  on  their  removal  to 
Dutchess  county.  He  attended  the  Nine  Part- 
ners Boarding  School  in  the  town  of  Wash- 
ington, and  later  became  a  student  in  a  school 
at  Westtown,  Penn.  He  remained  upon  the 
home  farm  until  1857,  when  he  and  his  brother 
Jacob  purchased  the  farm  now  owned  by  our 
subject.  This  they  operated  together  until 
1875,  when  the  brother  returned  to  the  old 
homestead  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  but  the 
father  continued  its  cultivation  up  to  his  death 
in  1877. 

On  February  i,  1865,  in  the  Friends  Church 


744 


COMMEMORATTVB  BIOORAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


of  Standfordville,  N.  Y.,  William  D.  GrifTen 
was  married  to  Phoebe  Jane  Haight,  daughter 
of  Zebulon  Haight,  of  the  town  of  Clinton, 
and  three  children  blessed  their  union:  Daniel, 
of  Millbrook,  Dutchess  county,  who  was  born 
in  December,  1865,  and  by  his  marriage  with 
Esther  A.  Purdy  has  two  children — Ira  and 
William;  Charles  Haight,  of  this  review;  and 
Mary  G. ,  wife  of  F.  E.  Birdsall,  of  the  town 
of  Clinton.  The  parents  were  both  sincere  and 
faithful  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
and  the  political  support  of  the  father  was 
given  the  Republican  party,  whose  principles 
he  stanchly  advocated.  He  was  always  a  pro- 
gressive, upright  citizen,  respected  by  all  his 
neighbors  and  friends.  His  father  had  given 
him  a  good  start  in  life,  and  as  he  had  made 
the  most  of  his  opportunities  he  secured  a 
comfortable  competence.  His  wife  survived 
him  for  some  years,  and  was  called  to  her 
final  rest  in  1891. 

On  reaching  a  sufficient  age,  Charles  H. 
Griffen  entered  the  district  schools  of  the 
town  of  Clinton,  later  attended  Hoags  Board- 
ing School  at  the  head  of  Upton  Lake,  was 
then  a  student  in  a  private  school  kept  by 
Miss  Tousey,  near  Clinton  Corners,  and  fur- 
ther continued  his  studies  at  Westtown,  Penn. 
His  education,  however,  was  completed  in  the 
Leslie  School,  on  Academy  street,  in  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y.  On  laying  aside  his  text  books 
he  entered  upon  the  more  difficult  lessons  of 
life,  and  his  time  is  now  fully  occupied  with 
the  labors  and  duties  which  fall  to  the  lot  of 
the  agriculturist.  He  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party,  and  his  religious  connection 
is  with  the  Society  of  Friends. 


ICHARD  L.  VALENTINE,  a  leading 
rX  undertaker  of  Millerton,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, was  born  December  9,  1851,  in  Nassau, 
Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.  His  family  is  one  of 
the  oldest  of  that  locality,  his  ancestors  having 
settled  there  during  the  Colonial  period.  They 
came  from  England,  but  it  is  probable  that  the 
family  originated  in  France.  His  great-grand- 
father, John  Valentine,  was  born  February  28, 
1 76 1,  and  was  married  December  29,  1791,  to 
Amy  Brockway,  who  was  born  January  30, 
1770,  and  they  had  nine  children,  whose  names 
and  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows:  Lucy,  Sep- 
tember 12,  1792;  William,  March  30,  1794; 
Richard,  November  11,  1795;  Abraham,  July 
6,   1797;  Isaac,  August  19,  1799;  Jacob,  April 


19,  1 801;  Jerusha,  April  21,  1806;  Elizabeth, 
April  25,  1808;  and  Eunice,  June  i,  1810. 

Richard  Valentine,  the  grandfather  of  oui 
subject,  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  pos- 
sessed limited   means.      He  was  quiet  and  re- 
tiring in  disposition,  e.xtremely   kind-hearted, 
and  was  highly  esteemed  for  his  many  admira- 
ble traits  of  character.      April  3,  181 1,  he  mar- 
ried Anna  Hoag,  a  native  of  the  same  count) 
as  himself,  and  had  thirteen  children:     Anna 
born  August  31,  1816,  died  February  24.  1841 
Permelia,   born    February   15,  18 18;    Willian 
H.,  born  September  11,  1819,  died  March  i 
1820;  Hiram  B.,  born  January  21,  1821 ;  Jame 
A.,  born  October  3,  1822,  died  March  4,  1855 
Jerusha   Jane,  born  June   18,  1824;   Lorenzo 
born   February   16,  1826,  died  July  21,  1881 
Phoebe  A.,  born   February  19,  1828;    Charle 
F.,  born  April  22,  1830,  died  August  29,  1878 
John  W. ,  born  August  5,  1832,  died  March  5 
1854;  Alfred,  born  July  31,  1834,  died  Augus 
27,  1835;    Henry,  born   July    24,    1837,  diet 
November  28,  1837;  ^"^  Sylvester,  born  De 
cember  8,  1838,  died  May  2,  1839. 

Lorenzo  Valentine,  our  subject's  father 
was  a  farm  laborer,  and,  except  for  five  or  si: 
years  passed  in  Columbia  county,  his  life  wa 
spent  in  his  native  place.  Although  he  wa 
not  blessed  with  much  of  this  world's  goods 
he  was  a  good  citizen,  a  kind  and  af^ectionat' 
husband  and  father,  and  his  upright  and  con 
sistent  conduct  gained  him  the  respect  of  al 
who  knew  him.  He  married  Amanda  Hei 
mance,  a  descendant  of  a  well-known  Colum 
bia  county  family  and  the  daughter  of  John  R 
and  Elizabeth  (Haightman)  Hermance.  Fou 
children  came  of  this  union:  Anna,  born  Au 
gust  30,  1850,  who  married  Willis  Clark,  c 
Nassau;  Richard  L.  (^our  subject),  born  De 
cember  9,  1851;  Frank,  born  April  20,  186c 
died  July  30,  1861;  and  Edwin  E.,  born  Au 
gust  3,  1862,  now  residing  near  Brainard  Sta 
tion,  Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  father  die^ 
July  21,  1 881;  the  mother  is  now  living  i: 
Berlin,  New  York. 

Our  subject's  educational  opportunitie 
were  limited  in  his  youth  to  a  few  years'  at 
tendance  at  the  district  school.  When  he  wa 
ten  years  old  he  began  working  in  a  cotto 
factory  at  Stuyvesant  Falls,  and  after  two  year 
there  he  went  to  Valatie  with  his  father,  an 
worked  in  a  cotton  factory  there  some  fou 
years.  In  his  eighteenth  year  he  began  t 
learn  the  trade  of  wagon  making,  serving 
three-years'  apprenticeship  with  his  uncle,  Gi^ 


zx/iL-t^cyi 


c:\^    ol      6^^::^^Ce^  I  J^A^Ci^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


745 


ert  Hermance,  at  Nassau.  He  then  went  to 
lill  River,  Mass.,  where  he  worked  as  a  jour- 
eyman  for  eight  months,  and  in  1873  came 
3  Millerton,  and  for  one  and  one-half  years 
orked  at  the  trade  for  John  Scutt.  On  March 
0,  1875,  he  bought  Andrew  Fish's  undertak- 
)g  business,  which  he  has  since  conducted, 
eveloping  and  enlarging  it  until  he  is  now  at 
le  head  of  the  principal  establishment  in  that 
ne  in  Millerton,  and  one  of  the  most  exten- 
ve  in  the  county. 

Although  Mr.  Valentine's  business  success 
as  been  won  by  his  own  hard  work,  he  has 
>und  time  to  assist  in  public  affairs,  as  every 
Dod  citizen  should.  He  votes  the  Republican 
cket,  has  been  corporation  trustee  for  four 
jars,  and  he  is  prominent  in  the  various  phil- 
ithropic  enterprises  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
il  Church,  of  which  he  has  been  a  member 
r  twenty-six  years,  and  is  now  a  leading  ofifi- 
•al.  He  belongs  also  to  the  Royal  Arcanum, 
Dughkeepsie  Council. 

Mr.  Valentine  has  been  twice  married,  first 
Tie  September  16,  1874,  to  Miss  Libbie  J. 
ipp,  who  was  born  July  21,  1849,  a  daughter 

<  George  and  Jane  M.  (Levy)  Kipp,  the  latter 

<  whom  was  born  in  Gallatin,  N.  Y.,  and  died 
^^ember  2,  1886,  aged  sixty-three  years. 
Iflr.  Kipp  was  born  at  Red  Hook,  N.  Y. , 
■^as  a  farmer  in    the   town   of  Northeast    for 

jty  years,  and  is  now  retired.  He  is  a  typi- 
•  l  self-made  man,  having  begun  life  a  poor 
by,  but  by  the  aid  of  his  faithful  wife  became 
'^ll-to-do.  He  is  one  of  the  township's  best 
len,  and  is  highly  esteemed  by  his  many 
lends.  His  second  wife  (for  he  was  twice 
larriedj  was  Mrs.  Washington  Hubbell.  To 
»ir  subject  and  wife  were  born  three  children, 
t  wit:  George  L. ,  born  January  17,  1876; 
'illard  J.,  born  August  8,  i88o;and  Henry, 
Irn  December  2,  1892.  The  mother  of  these 
«d  January  7,  1893,  and  for  his  second  wife 
Ir.  Valentine  married  Miss  Jennie  V.  K. 
n^iver,  a  lady  of  English  descent,  born  July 
HB865.  By  this  union  there  was  one  child, 
^Rk,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Mrs.  Valentine's  great-grandfather.  Will- 
in  Oliver,  married  Elizabeth  Seech,  and 
nred  a  family  of  eleven  children:  William, 
Ichard,  James,  Elizabeth,  Jane,  John,  Ann, 
J:ob,  Benjamin,  Joseph  and  Sarah.  Of 
t;se,  Joseph  (Mrs.  Valentine's  grandfather) 
v.s  born  August  22,  1779,  at  Parish  of  Horn 
Ourch,  County  of  Essex,  England,  and  in 
erly  life  came  to  America,  locating  near  Cats- 


kill,  Greene  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died  July 
20,  1869.  He  was  a  paper  maker  by  trade. 
By  his  wife,  Sarah  (Thornton),  he  had  seven 
children,  named  respectively:  Mary,  Sarah, 
William,  Jane,  Elizabeth,  Abigail  and  Cynthia. 
William  Oliver  (Mrs.  Valentine's  father)  was 
born  October  4,  18 16,  and  followed  wagon- 
making  at  Catskill,  N.  Y.  He  married  Anna 
M.  Jennings,  who  was  born  February  11, 
1828;  in  Fairfield,  Fairfield  Co.,  Conn.,  and 
they  had  a  family  of  four  children:  William 
C,  born  April  5,  1849,  's  a  minister  in  the  M. 
E.  Church,  at  Hunter,  N.  Y. ;  Frank,  born 
April  I,  1852,  is  in  business  at  Catskill,  N.  Y. ; 
Mary,  born  January  18,  1862,  died  in  child- 
hood; Jennie  V.  K. ,  wife  of  our  subject,  being 
the  youngest. 


m  LFRED  S.  WILEY,  one  of  the  well-to- 
^/*^  do  and  prosperous  farmers  of  the  town 
of  Clinton,  Dutchess  county,  residing  near  Clin- 
ton Corners,  is  one  of  those  men  who  thor- 
oughly understands  the  business  which  he  is 
pursuing,  and  by  following  that  vocation  has 
secured  a  competence.  He  is  the  architect  of 
his  own  fortune,  having  started  in  life  with  but 
little  capital  beyond  his  own  industry  and 
laudable  ambition  to  rise  in  the  world. 

Mr.  Wiley  is  a  native  of  Dutchess  county, 
born  near  Schultzville,  in  the  town  of  Clinton, 
April  14,  1829,  in  which  town  were  married 
his  parents,  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Green) 
Wiley,  who  were  also  born  in  Dutchess 
county,  and  the  latter  was  the  daughter  of 
Tobias  Green.  In  their  family  were  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Emily,  deceased  wife  of 
Henry  Barnes;  Chancellor,  who  has  also 
passed  away;  Annie,  deceased  wife  of  Mark 
Wilber;  Harriet,  who  first  wedded  Griffin  Sny- 
der, and.  after  his  death,  Charles  Moon;  Alexan- 
der and  Martin  Luther,  who  have  both  de- 
parted this  life;  Alfred  S.,  of  this  review;  and 
Mary,  wife  of  Nelson  Sleight.  After  the  death 
of  his  first  wife  Mr.  Wiley  married  Mrs.  Eliza 
Wing.  All  his  life  the  father  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  in  the  town  of  Clinton  with 
the  exception  of  fourteen  years  spent  in  the 
town  of  Milan.  He  was  a  sincere  and  faithful 
member  of  the  Milan  Christian  Church,  and 
died  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-six  years. 

Alfred  Wiley  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools'  of  the  towns  of  Clinton  and 
Milan,  and  was  given  the  training  necessary  to 
a   successful  pursuit    of    agriculture  upon  his 


746 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPBICAL  BE  CORD. 


father's  farm,  remaining  at  home  engaged  in 
helping  to  carry  on  the  labors  upon  the  old 
homestead  until  he  had  attained  the  age  of 
seventeen.  For  one  year  he  then  lived  in  the 
town  of  Unionvale  with  his  brother,  after 
which  he  returned  to  the  town  of  Clinton,  and 
made  his  home  with  his  brother-in-law,  Mark 
Wilber,  for  the  following  two  years.  His 
father  having  again  married,  he  then  returned 
to  the  parental  roof,  where  the  next  two  years 
were  passed. 

Thinking  it  was  about  time  that  he  should 
establish  a  home  of  his  own,  and  surround  his 
domestic  hearth  with  family  ties,  Mr.  Wiley 
married  March  5,  1851,  in  the  town  of  Clin- 
ton, Mary  A.  Pultz,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  G. 
Pultz,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Rhine- 
beck,  Dutchess  county.  By  this  union  four 
children  were  born,  namely:  Carlinda,  de- 
ceased, was  the  wife  of  John  Budd,  by  whom 
she  had  one  son — William;  Ida  is  the  wife  of 
Monroe  S.  Eckert;  Emma  F.  married  Robert 
Lawrence,  who  resides  near  Salt  Point,  Dutch- 
ess Co.,  N.  Y.  (they  have  two  daughters — Alice 
and  Maud);  and  Frank  Wiley  died  at  the  age 
of  five  years. 

For  the  first  year  after  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Wiley  worked  on  the  farm  of  Mark  Wilber, 
after  which  he  purchased  land  near  Clinton 
Hollow,  operating  the  same  for  three  years, 
and  on  disposing  of  that  tract  bought  another 
farm  about  a  mile  east  of  Clinton  Hollow, 
where  he  remained  for  five  years.  On  selling 
that  place  he  purchased  the  Clinton  Corners 
store,  which  he  ran  for  a  couple  of  years,  and 
then  bought  a  farm  a  mile  and  a  half  northeast 
of  Clinton  Hollow.  After  residing  upon  that 
trad  for  about  eight  years,  he  sold  soon  after 
the  close  of  the  Civil  war,  and  has  since  made 
his  home  upon  his  present  farm  near  Clinton 
Corners.  There  he  has  erected  a  fine  resi- 
dence, which  he  now  occupies,  and  the  present 
highly  cultivated  state  of  his  land  has  been 
brought  about  by  the  exercise  of  great  industry, 
perseverance  and  excellent  management.  His 
improvements  are  of  a  substantial  character, 
and  everything  about  the  place  denotes  pros- 
perity and  thrift.  Though  not  an  office  seeker 
in  any  sense  of  the  word,  Mr.  Wiley  served 
for  eight  consecutive  years  as  justice  of  the 
peace,  being  elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket, 
which  he  always  supports.  He  has  been  quite 
prominently  identified  with  the  interests  of  the 
community  in  which  he  lives,  and  bears  a  high 
character   for    sterling    integrity   and    genuine 


worth.  Mrs.  Wiley  is  a  member  in  good  stand- 
ing of  the  Christian  Church  at  Schultzville. 
William  Budd,  our  subject's  grandson,  was 
married  December  19,  1894,  to  Belle  Stewart, 
of  the  town  of  Clinton.  He  now  operates  his 
grandfather's  farm,  the  latter  having  retired 
from  active  work. 


M 


ATHAN  FELLER.  As  a  representative 
of  the  agricultural  class,  and  one  who  has 
met  with  good  success  in  his  independent  call- 
ing, we  take  pleasure  in  giving  a  brief  sketch 
of  the  gentleman  whose  name  appears  at  tht 
beginning  of  this  notice.  He  is  pleasantly  lo 
cated  upon  a  farm  of  seventy-eight  acres  ii 
the  town  of  Red  Hook,  which  he  purchased  0 
Bartholomew  Gray  in  1894.  It  is  well  stockec 
and  supplied  with  everything  found  upon  1 
model  farm  of  the  nineteenth  century.  Hi 
birth  occurred  in  Red  Hook  on  August  15 
1840,  and  in  the  common  schools  of  the  com 
munity  he  acquired  his  education.  He  earl_ 
became  inured  to  the  arduous  duties  of  farn 
life,  and  his  training  along  that  line  was  unde 
the  able  instruction  of  his  father,  Philip  Fe! 
ler,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Red  Hook. 

On  January  3,  1866,  was  celebrated  th 
marriage  of  Mr.  Feller  and  Miss  Emma  Mar 
tin,  who  was  born  April  12,  1847,  and  is  th 
daughter  of  Col.  Claudius  G.  Martin.  He 
father  received  his  title  while  serving  in  th 
1 1  ith  New  York  Artillery.  He  was  also  a  nf 
live  of  the  town  of  Red  Hook,  born  Februar 
i9>  1799.  ^^^  was  educated  in  the  commo 
schools  near  his  home.  He  learned  the  trac 
of  blacksmithing  with  Fred  Barringer,  but  di 
not  follow  that  pursuit.  He  turned  his  attei 
tion  to  farming,  taking  the  old  Martin  homi 
stead  on  the  Post  road,  which  had  been  tl 
historic  residence  of  the  family  since  the  Re 
olutionary  war,  and  there   he  died  March  i.j 

Col.  Martin  was  twice  married,  his 
union  being  with  Miss  Julia  Ring,  daughter- 
Mr.  Ring,  of  the  town  of  Rhinebeck,  Dutct 
county,  and  to  them  were  born  two  childrel 
but  one  died  in  infancy.  John  G.  was  bo: 
January  28,  1828.  After  the  death  of  his  fir 
wife,  he  remained  single  for  about  ten  year 
when  he  wedded  Miss  Sarah  Webster,  daug 
ter  of  Harry  Webster,  a  shoemaker  of  Rt| 
Hook,  June  10,  1835. 

Nine    children    graced    the  second    unio; 
Claudius  R. ,  born  July  28,  1836,  was  marri( 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHWAL  RECORD. 


747 


ay  27,  1863.  to  Esther  A.  Stall,  daughter  of 

)hn    Stall,  of   Clermont,    Columbia   county; 

lia  F. ,  born  May  13,  1838,  became  the  wife 

David  V.   Traver,  of  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess 

unty,  January  i,  1861;  Lucy  M.,  born  May 

!,    1840,    married    Alonzo  Wood,  of  Pough- 

iepsie,    November    19,     1862;  Clarence  W., 

)rn  September  8,    1842,  was  educated  in  the 

mmon  schools,  and   learned  the    trade  of  a 

iioper,  at  which  he   worked  for  a   time,  but 

jterward  was  employed   on  a  steamer  on  the 

udson   until    1892,  when    he  returned  home 

;id   is  now  living  retired;  Aurelia  W.,  born 

nuary  4,  1845,  married  William  H.  Dedrick, 

(    Rhinebeck,    December  25,    1866;   Emma, 

1  fe  of  Nathan  Feller,  is  next  in  order  of  birth; 

Jibella,  born    October   6,  1849,   died    March 

1852;  Henry  A.,  bor>:  April  30,   1852,  was 

jd  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth  M.  Traver, 

tughter  of  Nelson  Traver,  of  Rhinebeck,  Jan- 

iry  I,  1880;  and  Frank,  born  November  29, 

155,  died  April  2,  1861.     The  entire   family 

\;re  born  on  the  old  Martin  homestead  on  the 

list  road.     The  house  is  still  standing,  and  is 

iw  occupied  by  Sarena  Martin,  niece  of  Ed- 

vird  Martin,  deceased. 

To  Mr.  Feller  and  his  estimable  wife  was 
Irn  a  daughter — Isabella  M.,  whose  birth  oc- 
crred  September  22,  1871.  She  was  married 
Jne  20,  1895,  to  William  R.  Carroll,  son  of 
/idrew  J.  Carroll,  of  Rock  City,  Dutchess 
cunty.  Mr.  Feller  and  his  wife  are  worthy 
Timbers  of  St.  Paul's  Lutheran  Church,  at 
Td  Hook,  and  endeavor  to  carry  out  in  their 
-  its  moral  teachings.  They  are  straight- 
1  ward  and  reliable,  industrious,  energetic  and 
pjgressive,  and  are  highly  esteemed  and  re- 
s;cted  by  all  who  know  them.  Their  daugh- 
ti,  Mrs.  Carroll,  and  her  husband  are  both 
ao  members  of  St.  Paul's  Lutheran  Church 
a  Red  Hook. 


IFENRY  MYGATT,  who  is  one  of  the 
JL  prominent  agriculturists  of  the  town  of 
Aienia,  Dutchess  county,  has  spent  almost 
h  entire  life  in  that  township,  his  birth  hav- 
ir  occurred  on  his  father's  farm  near  Sharon 
S.tion,  August  i,  1846.  As  a  man  of  in- 
fl'ice,  public-spirited  and  liberal,  this  brief 
reord  of  his  history  will  be  more  than  ordi- 
n:ily  interesting  to  those  who  are  identified 
inany  way  with  the  interests  of  Dutchess 
ccnty. 
Thomas    Mygatt,    his   grandfather,    came 


from  New  Fairchild,  Conn.,  in  1772,  and 
purchased  land  near  Sharon  Station,  in  Amenia 
town.  He  was  a  descendant  in  the  sixth  gen- 
eration of  Deacon  Joseph  Mygatt,  one  of  that 
company  of  Puritans  who  landed  on  the 
shores  of  New  England  in  1633,  and  three 
years  later  went  with  Rev.  Mr.  Hooker  to 
start  a  settlement  at  Hartford,  Conn.  He 
became  a  wise  counsellor  in  that  new  Com- 
monwealth. The  father  of  Thomas  was  a 
citizen  of  Danbury,  Conn.,  and  was  distin- 
guished for  his  enterprise  and  thrift.  After 
coming  to  Dutchess  county,  Thomas  Mygatt 
married  Miss  Annie  Watrous,  a  native  of  the 
town  of  Amenia,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons, 
Ambrose  and  Abram.  As  a  life  occupation  he 
followed  agricultural  pursuits. 

In  Amenia  town,  in  181 1,  Abram  Mygatt, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born,  and  he  was 
educated  in  the  district  schools  near  his  home. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Louisa 
Rundall,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Rundall,  and  to 
them  were  born  four  children:  Julia,  wife  of 
Dr.  I.  N.  Mead;  Anna;  Henry;  and  Laura, 
wife  of  H.  B.  Murdock.  The  father  carried 
on  farming  near  Sharon  Station  until  1851, 
when  he  removed  to  the  presept  residence  of 
our  subject,  and  there  lived  until  1869.  The 
remainder  of  his  life  was  passed  in  the  village 
of  Amenia,  where  he  passed  away  in  1892. 
In  politics  he  was  identified  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  religiously  was  one  of  the 
active  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Amenia,  being  a  liberal  contributor  when  the 
house  of  worship  was  erected. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject 
were  passed  in  much  the  usual  manner  of 
farmer  lads,  his  home  being  at  his  present 
residence,  while  his  primary  education  was 
obtained  in  the  district  schools  of  the  neigh- 
borhood. Later,  for  four  or  five  years,  he  at- 
tended the  Amenia  Seminary,  and  then  spent 
one  year  at  the  Poughkeepsie  Military  Insti- 
tute. On  October  30,  1868,  Mr.  Mygatt  mar- 
ried Miss  Alice  M.  Frost,  of  Connersville, 
Ind.,  and  they  have  two  daughters,  Louisa 
and  Laura,  twins. 

In  October,  1876,  our  subject  removed  to 
Connersville,  where  he  engaged  in  farming 
until  April,  1886,  when  he  returned  to  the  old 
home  farm  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  and  there 
has  since  resided.  For  six  years  he  accepta- 
bly served  as  assessor  of  his  township,  being 
elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  which 
party  he  always  supports. 


748 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECOJiD. 


w 


tiAVID  V.  MOORE,  one  of  the  reliable 
and  progressive  young  business  men  of  the 
town  of  Beekman,  Dutchess  county,  is  success- 
fully engaged  in  general  merchandising  at 
Clove  Valley.  A  native  of  Dutchess  county, 
he  was  born  in  the  town  of  Unionvale,  August 
4,  1869.  The  Moore  family,  to  which  our 
subject  belongs,  came  to  this  country  from 
County  Antrim,  Ireland,  and  they  derived  their 
name  from  living  on  or  near  a  boggy  heath. 
The  first  to  locate  on  the  Emerald  Isle  came 
from  Maernen,  and  from  Thomas  de  Moore, 
who  went  to  the  British  Isles  in  1066,  the  year 
of  the  Conquest,  are  descended  the  Earls  of 
Mount  Cashel  and  Drogheda.  In  this  country 
the  family  have  principally  belonged  to  the 
Society  of  Friends. 

Our  subject  traces  his  ancestry  back  to 
William  Moore,  who  was  born  on  Long  Island, 
and  there  engaged  in  farming  throughout  life. 
His  son,  Andrew  Moore,  was  also  there  born, 
but  when  a  young  man  became  a  resident  of 
Dutchess  county,  and  was  a  farmer  and  miller 
by  occupation.  He  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Dorland,  who  was  born  at  Hempstead,  Long 
Island,  in  May,  1740.  Her  father,  Samuel 
Dorland,  was  a  native  of  the  same  place,  and 
the  son  of  Lamerest  Dorland,  who  came  from 
Holland  to  America  in  1663  on  the  vessel 
named  the  ' '  Spotted  Cow. "  To  Andrew  Moore 
and  wife  were  born  ten  children,  namely:  An- 
nie, who  first  married  a  Mr.  Merritt,  and  after 
his  death  wedded  Isaac  Thorn,  of  the  town  of 
Washington,  Dutchess  county,  anddied  in  1838; 
Mary,  who  wedded  Daniel  Haight,  and  died 
in  1887;  William,  who  married  Mary  Oakley, 
and  died  in  1849;  Samuel,  who  married  Eliza- 
beth Pitcher,  and  died  in  1885;  Stephen,  from 
whom  our  subject  is  descended;  Gilbert,  who 
died  in  infancy;  Elizabeth,  who  married  James 
Ellison,  and  died  in  1824;  Arletty,  who  mar- 
ried Jonathan  Holmes,  and  died  in  1814;  Al- 
len, who  married  a  Miss  Underbill,  and  after 
her  death  wedded  Eliza  Wooley,  and  died  in 
1826;  and  Andrew,  who  married  Sarah  Oak- 
ley, and  died  in  1885. 

Stephen  Moore,  the  great-grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  born  at  Verbank,  the  town  of 
Lagrange,  Dutchess  county,  and  on  reaching 
manhood  wedded  Miss  Ruth  Clark,  whose 
birth  occurred  near  New  Bedford,  Mass.  Her 
people  were  also  members  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  and  her  grandfather,  Lawrence  Clark, 
was  a  native  of  England.  Her  father,  Jona- 
than   Clark,  was    born   in   Rhode  Island,  and 


came  to  Dutchess  county  witn  his  family  when 
a  young  man,  where  he  engaged  in  farming. 
For  fifteen  years  after  his  marriage,  Stephen 
Moore  lived  at  \"erbank,  and  later  removed 
to  Moores  Mill,  where  he  conducted  the 
milling  business,  and  which  place  was  named 
in  his  honor.  In  his  family  were  twelve  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  (i)  Anna  married  Jesse 
Congdon,  a  farmer  of  Lagrange  town.  (2j 
Stephen  went  to  Alabama,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  medicine,  and  there  died;  he 
married  Emily  Brooks,  a  native  of  that  State. 

(3)  Elizabeth  married  John  Thorn,  a  farmer  0 
the   town   of  Washington,    Dutchess  county 

(4)  A4fred,  who  was  a  farmer  and  miller  0 
Unionvale  town,  married  Charlotte  Haviland 

(5)  Philip  was  the  grandfather  of  our  subject 

(6)  Susan  married  Dr.  Willet  Dorland,  of  Can 
ada.  (7)  Lydia  married  William  Akin,  ; 
farmer  of  Pawling  town,  Dutchess  county.  (8 
William  was  an  agriculturist,  and  died  unmar 
ried.  (9)  Jonathan,  a  farmer  of  Lagrangi 
town,  married  Jane  Underbill.  (10)  Rutl 
married  Joseph  Flagler.  (11)  Content  mar 
ried  William  Osborn,  a  farmer  of  Pawling 
town.  (12)  Mary  is  single.  The  father  c 
these  children  died  June  9,  1851,  the  mothe 
on  December  16,  1868.  He  was  a  devou 
Christian,  and  left  behind  him  wealth  and  ; 
good  name. 

Ruth  Moore,  of  the  above  family,  wa; 
born  at  Moores  Mill,  and  in  April,  1835 
married  Joseph  Flagler,  who  was  born  in  La 
grange  town  in  1803,  and  was  the  son  of  Pan 
Flagler,  a  native  of  the  same  town.  Josepi 
grew  to  manhood  on  the  home  farm  there,  am 
in  that  town  carried  on  agricultural  pursuit 
until  1865,  when  with  his  wife  he  removed  t^ 
Poughkeepsie,  where  he  lived  retired  until  hi 
death,  February  13,  1881.  He  was  one  0 
the  first  directors  of  the  First  National  Ban 
of  that  city,  and  was  a  Republican  in  politic; 
He  was  an  honorable,  upright  man  and  sin 
cere  Christian,  an  elder  in  the  Church  wit 
which  he  was  connected.  His  faithful  wif 
still  survives  him. 

Philip  Moore,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub 
ject,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Unionvale,  an 
was  there  reared  upon  a  farm.  He  niarrie 
Sally  A.  Losee,  a  native  of  Washington  towr 
where  her  father,  Samuel  Losee,  carried  o 
farming.  Her  people  were  of  Holland  origir 
After  their  marriage  they  located  upon  a  fan 
in  Unionvale  town,  where  they  reared  the 
family  of  six  children — Maria  L.,  who  marrie 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPEICAL  RECORD. 


749 


)seph  Wicks,   a   farmer  of   Lagrange   town; 

nna,  who  married  Smith  G.  Levings,  a  farm- 

■  of  Rensselaer  county,  N.  Y. ;  Stephen,  father 

our  subject;   Samuel,    who  is  a  miller   by 

ade;  Henry  C,   who  was   a  farmer,    but  is 

)w  deceased;  and  William,    an  agriculturist 

1  Moores  Mill.     The  grandfather   carried   on 

rming  during  his  entire  life,    dying  in    1892. 

e  was  a  Republican  in  politics,    and  an   or- 

odox  Quaker  in  religious   belief.      His   wife 

still  living. 

Stephen  Moore,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
as  born  in  the  village  of  Oswego,  in  the  town 
•  Unionvale,  October  6,  1839,  and  there  ac- 
uired  his  elementary  education.  He  later 
;  tended  school  in  Poughkeepsie,  and  after 
nishing  his  education  returned  to  the  home 
Irm.  In  1869  he  was  united  in  marriage 
th  Miss  Martha  A.  Vincent,  a  daughter  of 
^ivid  D.  Vincent,  who  was  supervisor  of  the 
tvvn  of  Unionvale  for  thirteen  years.  Our 
fbject  was  the  only  child  born  of  this  union, 
cd  was  only  four  years  old  when  his  mother 
(;d.  His  father  was  again  married,  this 
tne  in  1884,  to  Florence  E.  Latten,  who 
c;d,  leaving  one  son,  Oscar,  whose  death  oc- 
crred  in  1889.  In  1890  Stephen  Moore 
\;dded  Nellie  F.  Taber,  daughter  of  William 
1  Taber,  a  farmer  of  Pawling  town,  and  they 
Ive  two  children:  Louella  P.  T.  and  Elma 
I  Upon  the  old  home  farm  in  Unionvale 
tAfn  the  father  continued  to  reside  until  1891, 
Men  he  removed  to  his  present  farm  in  East 
Ishkill  town,  comprising  320  acres  of  good 
lid.  For  seventeen  years  he  served  as  road 
cmmissioner  of  the  former  township,  and  he  is 
a  ardent  Republican  in  politics. 

David  D.  Vincent,  the  maternal  grand- 
f  her  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  the  town 
c  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  and  the  son  of 
Iiac  and  Martha  (Duncan)  Vincent,  the  for- 
r;r  a  merchant  on  Chestnut  Ridge  in  that 
t  vn.  When  a  young  man  David  went  to  the 
Cdvc  in  the  town  of  Unionvale,  where  for  over 
f'ty  years  he  engaged  in  merchandising,  and 
t:re  spent  his  last  days.  By  his  marriage 
v:h  Phcebe  Preston  he  had  three  children, 
n-nely:  (i)  Isaac  married  Mary  Albro,  by 
votn  he  had  three  children — Phebe,  David  D. 
ai  Martha  Louise;  (2)  Martha  A.  was  the 
nther  of  our  subject;  and  (3)  Obed  married 
Ea  Vincent,  by  whom  he  had  a  daughter, 
I'zel.  The  three  children  are  all  now  de- 
cised. 

When    thirteen    years    of   age,    David   V. 


Moore,  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch, 
went  to  live  with  his  grandfather,  David  D. 
Vincent,  in  the  town  of  Unionvale,  and  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  years  assumed  the  management 
of  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  which  is 
owned  by  himself  and  Mrs.  Margaret  Galla- 
gher. In  February,  1894,  he  began  general 
merchandising  at  Clove  Valley,  in  Beekman 
town,  where  he  has  since  successfully  conducted 
business  and  erected  his  present  store  building. 
He  is  a  wide-awake,  energetic  business  man, 
who  deals  squarely  and  liberally  with  his  pa- 
trons, and  merits  the  confidence  of  the  com- 
munity. 

On  December  2,  189T,  Mr.  Moore  was 
married  to  Miss  Minnie  Vincent,  daughter  of 
Edwin  Vincent,  and  they  have  two  interesting 
children:  Edna  and  Vincent.  Mr.  Moore  has 
always  been  a  stanch  Republican,  was  elected 
supervisor  of  Beekman  town  in  the  spring  of 
1892,  which  position  he  filled  for  two  success- 
ive terms,  and  in  the  spring  of  1896  was  again 
elected.  In  September,  1895,  he  was  also  ap- 
pointed assistant  postmaster  of  Clove  Valley. 
He  is  a  popular  and  influential  citizen,  and  has 
many  warm  friends  throughout  the  community. 


WALTER  B.  THOMAS  is  a  leading 
farmer  of  the  town  of  Amenia,  Dutch- 
ess county,  having  resided  upon  his  present 
place  since  i860.  Go  into  any  village,  town 
or  city  in  this  great  country  of  ours,  seek  out 
the  men  who  are  the  leaders  in  spirit,  thought 
and  action,  learn  the  history  of  their  lives  and 
you  will  find  that  nearly  all  of  them  are  self- 
made  men,  who  have  risen  by  their  efforts  to 
positions  of  prominence  and  prosperity.  This 
fact  illustrates  most  aptly  one  of  the  salient 
features  of  our  American  civilization.  There  is 
an  opportunity  offered  here  under  our  emblem 
of  liberty  for  every  human  being  to  work  out  and 
develop  the  best  there  is  in  him.  To  this  class 
of  self-made  men  belongs  Mr.  Thomas. 

He  traces  his  ancestry  back  to  John 
Thomas,  who  was  born  April  10,  1725,  and 
December  22,  1746,  married  Sarah  Gifford, 
who  was  born  April  12,  1720.  In  their  family 
were  seven  children,  whose  names  and  dates  of 
birth  are  as  follows:  Mehitable,  October  i, 
1747;  Charles,  November  25,  1749;  John, 
June  20,  175 1 ;  Sarah,  May  15,  1753;  Martha, 
March  19,  1755;  Elizabeth,  June  2,  i757;and 
Stephen,  March  28,  1759. 

Charles  Thomas,    the  grandfather  of  our 


750 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


subject,  was  married  December  5,  1770,  to 
Elizabeth  Lake,  who  was  born  October  15. 
1750,  and  died  April  14,  1837.  His  death 
occurred  January  26,  1824.  He  was  a  devout 
Christian,  a  faithful  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends.  His  family  consisted  of  the  following 
children:  Phebe,  born  August  26,  1771; 
James  L. ,  born  February  8,  1773;  Elizabeth 
and  Sarah,  twins,  born  May  26,  1775,  and  the 
latter  of  whom  died  October  26,  1826;  Anna, 
born  March  24,  1778,  and  died  April  20,  1820; 
Rebecca,  born  April  19,  1780;  Mary,  born 
July  22,  1782,  and  died  April  21,  1827;  Mar- 
garet, born  April  15,  1785,  and  died  Septem- 
ber 29,  1785;  Catherine,  born  September  22, 
1786;  Charles  B.,  born  May  2,  1789;  and  Jane, 
born  January  11,  1792,  and  died  September 
20,  1 80 1. 

Charles  B.  Thomas,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Unionvale, 
Dutchess  county,  and  for  a  companion  and 
helpmeet  on  life's  journey  chose  Miss  Mary 
Ingraham,  who  was  born  March  6,  1791. 
Their  wedding  was  celebrated  November  13, 
181 3,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  six  chil- 
dren: Jane  Ann,  born  October  22,  1814,  died 
January  i,  1891;  John,  born  April  5,  1817, 
died  September  19,  1833;  Walter  B. ,  next  in 
order  of  birth;  Phebe  D. ,  born  August  i,  1821, 
married  Smith  Doughty;  Daniel  L. ,  born  Octo- 
ber 23,  1823,  died  March  29,  1892;  and  Sarah 
Maria,  born  October  28,  1826,  died  June  14, 
1 85 1.  The  father  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Unionvale  town,  and  there 
engaged  in  farming.  By  birthright  he  belonged 
to  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  was  a  highly 
respected  and  honored  citizen  of  the  com- 
munity where  he  made  his  home.  He  departed 
this  life  February  5,  1861,  and  the  mother  of 
our  subject  had  long  preceded  him  to  the  other 
world,  dying  July  15,  1833. 

Walter  B.  Thomas  was  born  in  Unionvale 
town,  March  6,  18 19,  and  received  such  an 
education  as  the  district  schools  of  the  neigh- 
borhood afforded.  At  the  age  of  seventeen 
years  he  left  the  parental  roof  and  began  work- 
ing in  a  stone  quarry  at  Verbank,  Dutchess 
county,  receiving  the  munificent  salary  of  six 
cents  per  day  and  board,  while  he  was  com- 
pelled to  sleep  in  a  wagon  house.  The  follow- 
ing spring  he  went  to  Poughkeepsie,  where  he 
was  employed  by  Henry  K.  Free  upon  the 
"Exchange  Hotel",  which  was  then  being 
built,  and  with  that  gentleman  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade,  which  he  subsequently  fol- 


lowed at   Verbank   for   two  years.     After  n 
maining    a   year   and    a    half  at    Salt    Poin- 
Dutchess   county,    he    removed    to    Bangal 
where  he  worked  at  his   trade  for  two  year 
and  in  1844  came  to  Amenia,  there  engagir. 
in  wagon-making  in  partnership  with  his  broth( 
Daniel.     He  followed  that  business   until  h 
removal  to  his  present  place,  and,  in  connec 
tion  with  its  operation,  still  carried  on  wagor 
making    for    a    time.       He    enjoyed   a  liber; 
patronage  in  that  line,  and  in  his  agricultur 
pursuits    has    also    met    with  a  well-deservi 
success.      In  early  life  he  supported  the  Wh 
party,  but  since  its  dissolution  has  been  a  st: 
wart  Republican,  and  is  one  of  the  highly  e 
teemed  and  valued  citizens  of  Amenia  town. 
In  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutche 
county,    January  21,    1843,   Mr.   Thomas  w 
united   in  marriage  with  Jane  Ann  McFarli 
daughter  of   Abram  McFarlin,   and  they  h 
four   children:     Ann    Eliza,   born  August  21 
1845,   married    Morgan    C.    White,    and   thi 
have  one  son,  Herkimer;  Charles  B.,  born  M 
20,  1847,  died  August  5,  1851;  John  D.,  bo 
June  II,  1850,  married  Carrie  Tabor,  by  who 
he  has  three  children,  Walter  J.,  Dudley  ail 
Chester;    and    Henry   J.,  born    September  i 
1854,   wedded    Mary    Fields.     The    wife  a: 
mother  passed  away  October  20,  1872,  and 
Amenia,  January  18,   1882,  Mr.  Thomas  w 
again  married,  his  second  wife  being  Jane 
Wheeler,  daughter  of    Gilbert  Noxon,  of  L 
grange,  Dutchess  county. 


CHARLES    TOWNSEND,     a     promine 
young  agriculturist  of  the  town  of  Pawlir 
Dutchess  county,  is  one  of  the  most  progre 
ive  and  successful  men  of  that  locality.     I 
ability   in  his  chosen  calling  is  not  to  be  wc 
dered  at,  in  view  of  the   fact  that   many  p 
vious  generations  have  followed  it  with  mark  I 
success.     The   old   home   of   the  family  is  1 
the  town  of  Kent,    Putnam  county,   where  ii 
large  tract   of   land,    on   what  has  long  b(ji 
known  as  Townsend   Ridge,    was   acquired  / 
an  early  ancestor,    and  has  ever  since  beenii 
the  possession  of  his  descendants. 

Samuel    Townsend,     our  subject's   gre 
grandfather,   resided  there,  and  his  son  W 
ren,   our  subject's  grandfather,  who  was  bi 
in  1800,   was  one  of  the  most  influential  n[« 
of  the  locality,   holding  the  office  of  justicejf 
the  peace  for  many  years.      He  married  Bet  y 


COMMEMORATIVE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


751 


"aldwell,  and  had  seven  children:  John,  our 
object's  father;  Edgar,  who  lives  at  Patterson, 
?utnam  county;  Mariette,  the  wife  of  George 
4ughson;  Charlotte,  who  married  Coleman 
4ughson;  Thomas  and  Keeler,  both  deceased; 
ind  Eli,  who  resides  at  Carmel,  Putnam 
:ounty. 

John  Townsend  was  born  in  1824,  at 
fownsend  Ridge,  and  inherited  a  farm  of  100 
icres,  where  he  lived  until  1867,  when  he 
noved  to  Dutchess  county,  and  bought  from 
iVilliam  Pearce  230  acres  of  land  about  half  a 
nile  north  of  the  village  of  Pawling.  He 
nade  of  this  one  of  the  best  farms  of  the  town, 
lisplaying  marked  ability  as  a  manager,  and 
le  made  his  home  there  until  1883,  when  he 
old  the  property  to  John  B.  Dutcher.  In 
888  he  moved  to  Bound  Brook,  N.  J. ,  and 
lurchased  an  estate,  where  he  is  now  success- 
ully  engaged  in  general  farming.  He  is  a 
aan  of  much  public  spirit,  a  member  of  the 
3aptist  Church,  and  a  Republican  in  politics, 
•eing  one  of  the  chief  advisers  of  the  party  in 
is  locality.  He  is  not  a  seeker  after  official 
oners,  but  has  been  town  auditor  and  assessor 
Dr  a  number  of  terms.  His  first  wife,  our 
ubject's  mother,  was  Anna  Maria  Ludington 
daughter  of  Frederic  Ludington),  by  whom  he 
ad  four  children:  Fred,  a  resident  of  Dan- 
ury.  Conn. ;  Harriet,  the  wife  of  DeWitt 
>urr;  Charles,  our  subject;  and  Warren,  who 
ied  in  infancy.  By  his  second  wife,  Sarah 
"..  Dykeman,  he  has  had  two  children:  Fan- 
ie,  the  wife  of  James  E.  Baldwin;  and  George 
I.,  who  is  at  home. 

Charles   Townsend    was    born  at   the   old 

omestead    November    20,     1857,    and,   after 

ttending  the  public  schools  of  his  native  place 

ir  some  time,  spent  three  years  at  Wilbraham 

cademy,  and  one  winter  at  the  Eastman  Busi- 

ess  College,  Poughkeepsie.     Of  these  advan- 

iges  he  has  made  good  use,  and  his  later  read- 

!    ig  has  kept  him  well  posted  upon  all  topics  of 

2neral  interest.      His  first  venture   into   the 

(     orld  of  business  was  as  a  clerk  in  the  dry- 

I    Dods  house  of  Lord  &  Taylor,  on  Grand  street, 

t     ew  York,  and  after  one  year  in  that  capacity 

I    2  was  promoted  to  the  office  of  cashier.      He 

'     >ent  nearly  three  years  with   this  firm,  and 

len  engaged  in  the  milk  business,  but  in  1880 

2  left  the  city   to   follow  the  free  and  inde- 

^ndent  life  of  a  farmer,   purchasing  of  Albert 

orbin  the  property   near   Pawling,    Dutchess 

5unty,    known   as  the   Stockholm  farm.      It 

)ntains  140  acres,  and,  under  Mr.  Townsend's 


skillful  management,  is  one  of  the  best  farms 
in  the  town. 

He  was  married  in  November,  1880,  to 
Mary  E.  Sherwood,  daughter  of  Stephen  P. 
Sherwood,  and  a  descendant  of  the  Stark 
family,  famous  for  patriotism  and  valor  in 
Revolutionary  times.  Three  children  were 
born  to  them:  Carrie  L. ;  Anna  B.,  deceased; 
and  Edith  A.  Mr.  Townsend  and  his  family 
attend  the  Baptist  Church,  and  he  is  prominent 
in  local  affairs,  being  pronounced  in  his  views 
and  courageous  in  expression,  traits  which 
characterized  his  ancestors  before  him.  His 
well-proved  ability  and  public  spirit  have 
gained  him  the  confidence  of  his  neighbors, 
and  he  has  been  elected  assessor  on  the  Repub- 
lican ticket  for  the  last  seven  years.  He  is 
now  justice  of  the  peace  and  president  of  the 
village  board  of  health. 


ERMAN  PULVER,  one  of  the  active, 
prominent  and  most  enterprising  citizens 
of  the  town  of  Pine  Plains,  is  there  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  carpentering.  He  was 
born  in  Columbia  county,  N.  Y..  June  4, 
1833,  and  is  of  Holland  descent.  The  place 
which  he  now  occupies  has  been  in  the  family 
for  many  years,  and  Pulvers  Corners  was  also 
named  in  honor  of  its  members. 

William  W.  Pulver,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  at  Pulvers  Corners, Dutchess 
county,  August  18,   1773,  and  lived   for   many 
years  upon   the  farm   now  occupied  by   Mrs. 
Carskaden,  in  the  town  of  Ancram,  Columbia 
county,  but  his  last  days  were  passed  at  Pul- 
vers Corners,  where  he  departed  this  life  March 
22,     1861.      As    an  agriculturist    he  was  very 
successful,  and  though  he  began  with  nothing, 
at  his  death  was  worth   about  $100,000.      By 
his  marriage  with  Christiana  Millions,  who  was 
born  May    18,  1780,  he  had   eleven   children, 
whose  names  and  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows 
John,    1801;    William,     1804;     Henry,     1806 
Catherine,     1808;    Polly,    18 10;  Jacob,    1812 
Levi,     18 14;     Peter,     18 16;    Anthony,    1818 
Esther,  1821;  and  Harman  W. ,  1824.      These 
children  lived  in  the   vicinity  of  Pulvers  Cor- 
ners.    Their  mother  died  May  28,  1872,  aged 
ninety-two  years. 

John  Pulver,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Columbia  county,  N.  Y. ,  November 
10,  1 80 1,  and  although  his  school  privileges 
were  limited  he  became  a  well-informed  man 


752 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


as  he  was  ever  a  great  reader.  By  occupation 
he  was  a  farmer,  and  followed  that  pursuit  near 
Ancram,  N.  Y. ,  for  some  time,  and  then  for 
seven  years  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  a 
farm  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  Ancram 
Lead  Mines.  He  next  removed  to  what  is 
known  as  the  Brookside  farm,  which  is  one  of 
the  oldest  places  in  the  locality,  there  having 
been  at  one  time  an  English  church,  a  grist- 
mill, tannery  and  fulling-mill  upon  the  land, 
and  also  at  three  different  times  blacksmith 
shops  had  been  located  there.  It  was  in  1847 
that  he  purchased  that  farm,  which  then  con- 
sisted of  357^  acres;  he  added  to  it  until  it  now 
comprises  368  acres  of  the  best  farming  land 
to  be  found  in  the  locality.  He  was  an  able 
man,  of  good  business  ability  and  sound  judg- 
ment, careful  and  cautious  in  his  dealings,  very 
temperate  in  his  habits,  and  was  held  in  the 
highest  regard  by  his  fellow-citizens.  Though 
not  particularly  active  in  politics,  he  was  a 
stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  and 
for  over  fifty  years  he  was  a  faithful  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church.  He  was  twice  married, 
his  first  union,  March  31,  1831,  being  with 
Emma  Curtis,  who  was  born  in  Columbia 
county,  August  i,  1807,  and  died  April  11, 
1837.  To  them  were  born  two  children: 
Herman,  of  this  review;  and  Emma,  who  was 
born  November  25,  1836.  On  November  5, 
1840,  Mr.  Pulver  wedded  Caroline  Thompson, 
who  was  born  October  27,  18 16.  After  a  long 
and  useful  life  he  was  called  to  his  final  rest 
January  20,  189 1,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
ninety  years. 

After  pursuing  his  studies  for  a  time  in  the 
district  schools,  Herman  Pulver  was  for  a  few 
months  a  student  at  Collinsville,  Conn.,  and 
completed  his  education  at  Saugerties,  just 
across  the  river  in  Ulster  county,  where  he  re- 
mained for  five  months.  Since  laying  aside 
his  text  books  he  has  devoted  his  time  and  at- 
tention to  the  cultivation  of  the  old  homestead, 
in  which  he  has  been  quite  successful,  and  has 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade.  Being  of  a 
mechanical  turn  of  mind,  he  is  able  to  do  al- 
most any  kind  of  labor  along  that  line. 

On  November  19,  1868,  Mr.  Pulver  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Carrie  E.  Thomp- 
son, who  was  born  in  Birmingham,  Conn., 
July  21,  1848,  and  they  have  become  the  par- 
ents of  four  children:  John  Duncan,  who  was 
born  October  15,  1869,  and  is  now  a  carpenter 
by  trade;  and  Elbertine  M.,born  December  i, 
1871;    Emma    B.,   born    July   23,    1877;   and 


Charles  Herbert,  born   March  4,  1881,  all  s 
home. 

In  the  exercise  of  his  elective  franchise.  Mi 
Pulver  generally  supports  the  men  and  meas 
ures  of  the  Republican  party,  but  has  neve 
taken  an  active  part  in  political  affairs.  He , 
public-spirited  and  enterprising,  aiding  i 
everything  for  the  welfare  and  advancement  c 
his  town  and  county,  and  his  honor  and  inte? 
rity  are  unimpeachable.  A  true  and  sincei 
Christian,  he  is  a  faithful  member  of  the  Ba] 
tist  Church. 

* 

E\DMOND  BUTLER,  a  farmer  and  breed. 
y  of  blooded  stock,  is  a  native  of  Irelani 

born  in  County  Waterford,  August  15,  1832, 
son  of  Edmond  and  Ellen  (Stack)  Butler,  bol 
also  natives  of  the  Emerald  Isle. 

Edmond  Butler,  Sr.,  the  father  of  our  sul 
ject,  was  the  youngest  in  the  family  of  sevt 
children   born   to  John    and    Mary   (Whalei 
Butler,  the  others  being:  Mary,   who  marrii 
a  Mr.    Welch,    a   farmer  in   Ireland;  Abiga: 
who  married  John  Ormond,  a  farmer  in  Ohi( 
Hanorah,    who  became  the  wife  of  Peter  M 
Graft,  a  school  teacher,  and,  later,  foreman 
a  farm;  Kate,   who   died  unmarried;  Bridge 
who  married  John  O'Neal,  a  farmer  in  Irelan 
and  Margaret,  who  became  the  wife  of  Edmui 
Langley,    of  Ireland.      Edmond    Butler,    Si  I 
followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer.     By  h' 
marriage   with   Ellen,    daughter  of  John  ar 
Margaret  (Foley)  Stack,  he  became  the  fathi 
of  seven  children,  of  whom  the  following  reco  1 
is    given:     Margaret   married  John   Maronej 
formerly  a  farmer  in  Unionvale,  now  decease: 
Mary    became   the  wife   of   Dennis    Flynn, 
resident   of   St.    Joseph,  Mo. ;  Bridget  marri 
Nathan    Conklin,     a    farmer;    Ellen    marri, 
Valentine  Rickes,    a  blacksmith  in  Millbrooi 
John  is  a  farmer  in  Ireland;  Thomas  farms 
the  town   of  Washington;  and  Edmond  is  0 
subject.     The    father   of   this   family   died  ; 
Ireland  in  1844,  and  the  mother  survived  h  - 
until  1863.      They  were  faithful  and  consistel 
members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

Johrr  Stack,  the  maternal  grandfather  . 
our  subject,  was  a  noted  horseman.  In  1"> 
family  were  children,  as  follows:  Thom; 
Morris,  John  (who  was  one  of  the  finest  rid<i 
in  Ireland),  Richard,  William,  Bridget,  Mil- 
garet,  Ellen,  Catherine,  and  Mary.  ' 

Edmond   Butler,    the  subject  proper  of  t  p 
sketch,  spent  his  early  days  in   Ireland,  andt 


^d^f^^^^^^  ,^^,^2^^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


758 


le  age  of  eighteen  (in  1850)  he  took  passage 
1  the  "  Martha  J.  Ward,"  for  the  New  World. 
i)n  his  arrival  he  went  to  live  with  the  family 
f  Nicholas  Haight,  in  the  town  of  Washington, 
)utchess  county,  remaining  with  them  until 
Ir.  Haight's  death,  January  15,  1856,  and 
iortly  afterward  the  son,  James  Haight,  made 
ur  subject  promise  to  remain  with  the  widowed 
lother  and  her  two  daughters,  Sallie  and 
xjuisa,  until  their  death,  and  also  asked  them 
)  remember  Mr.  Butler  for  his  kindness  to  the 
imily.  James  Haight  died  October  12,  1859; 
le  widowed  mother  on  December  25,,  1864; 
ouisa  on  March  5,  1875,  and  Sallie  on  April 
1 89 1.  The  sisters,  Sallie  and  Louisa,  re- 
arded  Mr.  Butler  for  his  kindness  and  long 
.ithfulness  to  the  family  by  leaving  him  the 
jmestead  and  considerable  other  property, 
e  had  only  one  se^ttlement  with  the  family, 
id  that  was  in  1865,  shortly  before  his  mar- 
age;  and  when  that  event  took  place  he 
ought  his  bride  to  live  on  the  Haight 
mily  homestead,  where  they  reared  their 
rge  family,  and  which  they  now  own  and 
xupy. 

On  October  8,  1865,  Mr.  Butler  was  mar- 
2d  to  Miss  Ellen  Cullinan,  also  a  native  of 
Dunty  Waterford,  Ireland,  and  a  daughter  of 
ichael  Cullinan,  a  farmer  in  that  country, 
r.  and  Mrs.  Butler  began  their  married  life 
1  the  present  homestead,  where  the  following 
lildren  were  born:  James  H.,  July  18,  1866; 
)hn  M. ,  September  6,  1868;  Thomas  E., 
pril  10,  1871;  Sally  H.,  June  24,  1873,  who 
aduated  with  honors  from  the  Eastman 
usiness  College,  Poughkeepsie,  in  1891,  and 
now  bookkeeper  for  James  Converse;  Ed- 
ond,  Jr.,  January  29,  1876;  William  C, 
Jgust  22,  1878;  Louisa  H.,  February  19, 
!83;  all  of  whom  are  single. 

At  one  time  Mr.  Butler  was  the  owner  of 
)Out  900  acres  of  land,  and  now  owns  about 
acres,  but  farms  about   1,000  acres.      He 
been  a  general  farmer,  and  has  given  much 
tention   to   the   breeding  of  blooded   stock. 
"  has  sold  a  great  many  fine  horses  to  prom- 
pt people,  and  at  present  has  about  thirty- 
ne  head  on  his  place.      He   is  very  fond  of 
ice  stock,  especially  horses,  of  which  he  is  an 
'tensive  breeder,  and  owns  "Benjamin  Har- 
i!on,"  one  of  the  promising  stallions  of   the 
•  unty.     Besides  his  own  work  he   manages 
le  farm  of  James  Converse,  a  wealthy  farmer, 
'10   has  always    about    twenty-five    head    of 
I'rses  on  the  place.      In  politics  Mr.  Butler  is 

48 


a  Republican,  and  he  and  his  family  are  Cath- 
olics. Although  coming  to  America  without 
money,  he  has,  by  perseverance  and  hard 
work,  attained  the  position  of  one  of  the 
wealthy  citizens  of  his  township.  He  is  a  pro- 
gressive and  representative  citizen,  and  takes 
an  active  interest  in  all  public  matters. 


EWRITT  CONOVER  occupies  a  place  in 
'I  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  townsmen  which 

is  a  tribute  to  that  genuine  worth  and  true 
nobleness  of  character  which  are  universally 
recognized  and  honored.  Enterprise  and  in- 
dustry are  numbered  among  his  marked  char- 
acteristics, and  he  has  been  an  important  fac- 
tor in  advancing  the  general  welfare  and  secur- 
ing the  material  development  of  the  town  of 
Pleasant  Valley. 

Mr.  Conover  was  born  October  10,  1847, 
in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley.  His  father, 
Peter  Conover,  was  a  native  of  the  town  of 
Poughkeepsie,  and  the  grandfather,  Jacob 
Conover,  was  a  progressive  farmer  of  Dutchess 
county.  He  married  Miss  Van  Kleeck,  and 
took  up  his  abode  on  a  farm  in  Poughkeepsie 
town,  where  they  reared  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren, namely:  Peter,  whose  sketch  follows; 
Abram,  an  agriculturist  of  the  town  of  Hyde 
Park;  Adrian,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Pleasant 
Valley;  Barbara  A.,  wife  of  Merritt  A.  Mar- 
shall, a  farmer  who  is  now  living  in  Pleasant 
Valley;  and  Catherine,  wife  of  Zachariah  Van- 
Wagner,  who  devotes  his  energies  to  agricultural 
pursuits  in  this  neighborhood.  To  the  same  call- 
ing the  grandfather  of  our  subject  devoted  his 
life,  and  spent  his  last  days  in  Pleasant  Val- 
ley. During  the  Revolutionary  war  he  was  a 
captain  in  the  home  guards. 

Peter  Conover  spent  his  youth  in  the  usual 
manner  of  farmer  lads,  and  after  entering  upon 
his  business  career  he  chose,  as  a  companion 
and  helpmeet  on  life's  journey.  Miss  Sarah  Van- 
Wagner,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Pleas- 
ant Valley,  and,  like  her  husband,  was  of  Hol- 
land lineage.  They  established  their  home 
upon  the  farm  where  our  subject  now  resides, 
and  their  union  was  blessed  with  five  children: 
Evritt;  Martha,  wife  of  Frank  Lamoree,  who 
operates  a  tract  of  land  in  the  valley;  Abram, 
a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Clinton;  Emily,  wife 
of  Edwin  Husted,  a  resident  of  the  village  of 
Pleasant  Valley;  and  Nellie,  wife  of  Frank 
Knapp,  a  farmer  of  Clinton  town.  The  par- 
ents have  both   passed   away,    leaving   many 


754 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPUICAL  RECORD. 


warm  friends  to  mourn  their  loss.  They  were 
consistent  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  Mr.  Conover  was  a  RepubHcan  in  his  po- 
litical belief. 

Evritt  Conover,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review,  early  became  familiar  with  all  the 
duties  of  farm  life,  for  at  an  early  age  he  per- 
formed his  quota  of  the  work  on  the  old  home- 
stead. He  obtained  his  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools,  and  then  entered  upon  the  more 
responsible  duties  that  come  to  one  on  laying 
aside  te.xt-books  and  commencing  a  business 
career.  He  is  to-day  the  owner  of  lOo  acres 
of  cultivable  land,  conveniently  situated  about 
seven  miles  from  Poughkeepsie,  and  carries  on 
general  farming.  He  has  a  beautiful  home 
and  substantial  outbuildings,  which  are  sur- 
rounded by  fields  of  waving  grain,  and  are 
supplemented  by  all  the  conveniences  and  ac- 
cessories of  a  model  farm  of  the  nineteenth 
century. 

In  February,  1878,  Evritt  Conover  was 
married  to  Miss  Allie  Walters,  who  was  born 
in  Cairo,  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess 
Co.,  N.  Y. ,  a  daughter  of  Edward  Walters,  a 
farmer,  merchant  and  miller.  They  now  have 
four  children:  Ethelyn,  Rose,  Robert  and  Har- 
old. The  parents  attend  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  hold  an  enviable  position  in  social 
circles  where  true  worth  and  intelligence  are 
received  as  the  passports  into  good  society. 
Mr.  Conover  is  a  Republican  in  political  belief, 
and  is  deeply  and  actively  interested  in  those 
affairs  which  pertain  to  the  public  welfare. 


ipEORGE  S.  HALSTED.  The  subject  of 
\^i  this  personal  narration  is  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful and  progressive  farmers  resident  within 
the  borders  of  the  town  of  Hyde  Park,  and 
may  be  termed  one  of  the  representative  men 
of  his  section,  where  he  is  engaged  in  general 
farming.  He  has  made  his  special  field  of  in- 
dustry a  success,  and  is  highly  esteemed  and 
respected  by  those  who  know  him  best.  He 
was  born  at  Crum  Elbow,  in  Hyde  Park  town, 
September  14,  1853,  and  belongs  to  a  family 
that  for  several  generations  has  been  identified 
with  the  history  of  Dutchess  county. 

David  Halsted,  his  great-grandfather,  was 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  townofBeek- 
man,  where  from  the  primeval  forest  he  de- 
veloped a  farm  and  reared  his  family.  He 
belonged  to  the  Society  of  Friends.  He  mar- 
ried, and  became  the  father  of  seven  children: 


Stephen,  Samuel,    David,    Jerusha,  Prudence 
Phebe  and  Eunice. 

David  H.  Halsted,  the  grandfather,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  where  he  speni 
his  boyhood  days,  and  there  owned  two  farms, 
He  married  Miss  Letitia  Haviland,  daughtei 
of  Thomas  Haviland,  of  Pawling,  Dutchess 
county,  and  the  following  children  were  borr 
to  them:  Thomas,  Amy,  Moses  and  Eliza- 
beth, all  deceased;  David  S. ,  father  of  ou: 
subject;  and  Letitia,  wife  of  Isaac  Hewlett 
In  1832,  the  father  of  this  family  removed  ti 
the  town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess  county,  wher 
he  died  two  years  later.  In  religious  belief  h 
was  a  Friend. 

The   birth   of   David   Sands    Halsted,   th 
father  of  our  subject,  occurred   in  the  town  c 
Beekman,    March  28,    18 19,  and  he  obtaine 
his  education  in  the  schools    of   the  neighboi 
hood.      He  accompanied  the  family  to  Clinto 
town,  and  remained  upon  the  home  farm  a  fe\ 
years  after  his  father's  death.     In  histwentiet 
year  he  purchased  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Hyd 
Park,  on  which  he  located  after  his  marriage 
September  9,    1846,  with  Caroline  W.   Hew 
lett,  who  was  born  in  that  town,  November  u 
1830,  and  died  May  15,  1866,  in  the  town  c 
Lagrange,  same  county.     Two  children  grace 
their  union:     William  D.,  born  August  5,  184! 
and  George  S. ,  of  this  review.      In   the  tow 
of  Pleasant  Valley  he  was  again  married,  Jur 
10,   1868,  his  second  union   being  with  Ma 
garet  J.  Allen  Marshall,  who  was  there  boi 
March  6,   1832.      He    engaged   in   farming  i 
Hyde  Park  from  1839  until  1859,  during  whic 
time  he  was  elected  inspector  of  elections  f( 
the  town  on  the  Democratic  ticket.     Since  tl 
latter  year,  however,  he  has  made  his  home 
the  town  of  Lagrange,  where  he  has  filled  tl 
same  position.     On  starting  out  in  life  he  r 
ceived  about  $1,500,  and  being  very  successf, 
in  his  business  undertakings  has  been  able 
assist  his  children.      He   has  always  attendi; 
the  Friends  Church  at  Poughkeepsie,  and  is 
gentleman  worthy  the  commendation  of  all. 

For  four  years  George  S.  Halsted  attend' 
the  Dutchess  County  Academy,  under  Stewc 
Pelham.  after  which  he  pursued  his  studies  f| 
two  years  in  the  Cary  Academy,  but  completi 
his  education  with  Mr.  Pelham,  finishing  t, 
entire  course  in  1872.  On  leaving  school  ! 
took  up  farming,  and  for  many  years  work; 
for  his  father,  but  in  1880  purchased  the  ci 
Sidney  Livingston  farm,  removing  upon  t 
place  in  the  spring  of  that  year.      It  comprii- 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


755 


iixty-five  acres  of  rich  and  arable  land,  which 
16  has  converted  into  one  of  the  best  farms 
jf  the  town.  In  1880  Mr.  Halsted  was  mar- 
ked to  Miss  Esther  E.  Dickinson,  of  West- 
:hester  county,  N.  Y. ,  daughter  of  Henry 
Dickinson,  and  they  have  become  the  parents 
if  three  children:  Ruth,  Caroline  W.,  and 
ieorge  D. 

Politically,  Mr.  Halsted  afifiliates  with  the 
)emocratic  party,  and  he  is  ranked  as  a  man  of 
bility  and  enterprise,  on  account  of  which  he 
lolds  a  good  position  among  the  people  of  the 
ommunity.  In  1884  he  was  elected  justice 
f  the  peace  to  fill  a  vacancy,  and  in  1888  and 
892  re-elected  to  the  same  office.  He  has 
Iso  been  school  trustee  and  assessor  of  his 
istrict,  and  has  done  much  toward  getting  the 
ostal  facilities  improved  in  his  section.  He 
;  prominently  identified  with  the  Dutchess 
ounty  Farmers  Club,  and  is  a  charter  mem- 
er  and  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Farmers 
I'own  Co-operative  Insurance  Company  of 
lyde  Park,  while  religiously  he  belongs  to  the 
licksite  Branch  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  at- 

g"  ig  meeting  at  Crum  Elbow. 
I  horticulturists,  or  gardeners,  in  this 
untry,  there  are  few  that  are  the  peers  of 
le  representatives  of  the  Scotch-Irish  race. 
1  the  village  of  Grange,  County  Tyrone,  Ire- 
nd,  our  subject's  birth  occurred  January  29, 
^53,  and  he  is  a  son  of  David  Blair,  who  was 
)rn  in  Ayrshire,  Scotland,  in  1804.  His 
andfather,  Robert   Blair,  was  also  a  native 

\  farmer  of  the  latter  country,  belonged  to 
._  of  its  oldest  families. 

For  twenty-five  years  the  father  followed 

laching  at  Cloughhag,  County  Derry,  Ireland, 

;id  continued  to  follow  that   profession   until 

nty-five  years  of  age.      He  was  a  man  of 

re  than  ordinary  ability,  highly  educated, 
;  d  proved  a  competent  instructor.  He  was 
cparticularly  fine  mathematician,  and  was  one 
t  the  representative  men  of  the  locality  in 
Mich  he  lived.  He  married  Agnes,  daughter 
t  James  Foster,  who  was  born  in  Ireland,  but 
%s  of  Scotch  descent.  The  parental  house- 
Md  included  five  children:  Robert,  a  gar- 
cner,  who  died  in  1889;  James,  of  this  sketch; 
livid,  who  is  connected  with  a  boot  and  shoe 
'  ise  in  Ireland;  Margaret,  who  died  at  the 
of  six   years;  and  William,   who  died  in 


1889.  In  1889  the  father  was  called  to  his 
final  rest,  but  the  mother  still  makes  her 
home  in  Ireland. 

Under  his  father's  instruction,  Mr.  Blair, 
of  this  review,  received  a  good  education,  and 
on  leaving  school  at  the  age  of  seventeen  had 
charge  of  his  father's  farm  for  a  year.  Dur- 
ing the  following  four  years  he  served  an 
apprenticeship  at  gardening  at  Killymoon  Cas- 
tle, and  then  began  as  a  journeyman  with 
Dickson  &  Co.,  of  Edinburgfi,  Scotland,  with 
whom  he  remained  a  year.  Sixteen  months 
were  then  passed  on  the  estate  of  Lord  Lam- 
ington,  in  Lanarkshire,  Scotland,  and  the  fol- 
lowing six  months  he  was  again  with  Dickson 
&  Co.  Going  to  Calendar  Park,  near  Fal- 
kirk, in  Stirlingshire,  owned  by  William  Forbes, 
he  remained  there  a  year,  after  which  for  a 
year  and  a  half  he  worked  for  Earl  Grey,  at 
Howick  Hall,  in  Northumberland.  For  six 
years  and  a  half  he  was  then  foreman  for  Lord 
Belper,  of  Kingston  Hall,  in  Nottinghamshire, 
and  on  leaving  his  service  returned  to  Ireland 
for  a  short  time,  later  gaining  his  experience  in 
fruit  culture  in  Selkirk,  Scotland,  at  The  Tweed 
Vineyard,  where  he  remained  two  years. 

In  the  year  1887,  Mr.  Blair  determined  to 
try  his  fortune  in  America,  and  coming  to  Paw- 
tucket,  R.  I.,  he  there  served  as  head  gardener 
for  Mr.  Sales  for  about  a  year;  but,  owing  to 
the  death  of  two  brothers  and  his  father, 
returned  to  Ireland.  In  1889,  however,  he 
came  again  to  the  New  World,  this  time  locat- 
ing at  Yonkers,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  was  head 
gardener  for  Mrs.  Lillenthal,  at  Belvour  Park. 
It  was  in  1890  that  he  came  to  Staatsburg, 
and  he  has  since  been  head  gardener  for  Ogden 
Mills,  giving  the  best  of  satisfaction. 

In  1889  Mr.  Blair  was  married  to  Miss 
Eliza  Lloyd,  of  Shropshire,  England,  and  they 
have  four  children:  David  Edward,  Agnes 
Margaret,  William  James  and  Hilda  Eliza. 
Our  subject  belongs  to  St.  Margaret's  Episco- 
pal Church.  He  has  the  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  all  who  know  him,  and  January  2, 
1895,  was  elected  first  president  of  the  Dutch- 
ess County  Horticultural  Society.  • 


ILLIAM  HERRICK,  an  old-time  agri- 
culturist of  large  experience,  is  now 
numbered  among  the  most  enterprising  and 
prosperous  farmers  of  the  town  of  Pleasant 
Valley,  Dutchess  county,  by  whose  people  he 


756 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


is  held  in  that  reverence  and  respect  tacitly 
accorded  those  whose  lives  have  been  distin- 
guished by  integrity  and  usefulness. 

The  Herricks  under  consideration  come  of 
a  prominent  family  of  England,  and  the 
descent  of  our  subject  is  traced  as  follows: 
Sir  William  Herrick,  of  Beau  Manor  Park, 
Leicestershire,  England;  Henry;  Ephraim; 
Samuel;  Stephen;  Elijah,  who  was  a  captain 
in  the  Revolutionary  war;  Ephraim  (our  sub- 
ject's grandfather),  who  was  born  at  Amenia, 
Dutchess  county,  married  Anna  Dixon,  and 
located  in  the  town  of  Milan,  where  he  estab- 
lished a  Church;  Ephraim,  our  subject's  father; 
and  William  (our  subject).  The  first  of  the 
family  to  come  from  England  to  America 
located  at  Beverly  Farms,  Massachusetts. 

Ephraim  Herrick,  father  of  William,  was 
born  and  reared  on  his  father's  farm  in  the 
town  of  Milan,  Dutchess  county.  He  married 
Phoebe  Albertson,  a  native  of  the  town  of  Hyde 
Park,  Dutchess  county,  where  his  father,  John 
Albertson,  a  Hollander  by  descent,  was  a 
farmer.  After  their  marriage  Ephraim  Her- 
rick and  his  young  wife  located  upon  a  farm  in 
the  town  of  Milan,  where  children  as  follows 
were  born  to  them:  John  is  a  farmer  in  the 
town  of  Pine  Plains,  Dutchess  county;  William 
is  the  next  in  order  of  birth;  Walter  was 
a  practicing  physician,  and  died  January  13, 
1895;  Gurdon,  who  was  an  agriculturist  in  the 
town  of  Milan,  died  April  28,  1894;  James  is  a 
speculator  of  that  town ;  Elizabeth  is  the  widow 
of  Isaac  Sherwood,  at  one  time  a  grocer  of 
the  village  of  Rhinebeck;  Susan  died  in  infancy; 
and  Caroline  married  Henry  Butts,  a  farmer 
of  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess  county. 
The  mother  of  these  died,  and  four  years  later, 
about  1835,  Ephraim  Herrick  married  Susan 
Ann  Andrews,  by  which  union  there  were  four 
children:  Anna,  George,  Edward  and  Ephraim. 
The  father  continued  to  follow  the  occupation 
of  farming  until  his  death,  in  1S67.  He  was 
a  faithful  member  of  Christ's  Church;  politic- 
ally he  affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party, 
and  served  as  supervisor  of  his  town,  and  county 
superintendent  of  the  poor. 

William  Herrick,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  September  28,  1818,  in  the 
town  of  Milan,  Dutchess  county,  and  was 
reared  to  manhood  on  the  home  farm,  where 
at  an  early  age  he  became  familiar  with  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  In  1841  he  married  Eliza- 
beth Brown,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Washington,  Dutchess  county,  a  daughter    of 


Charles  Brown,  a  native  of  Pawling,  same 
county,  and  a  farmer  and  wagon  maker  by  oc- 
cupation. They  began  their  domestic  life 
upon  his  father's  place,  whence  at  the  end  of 
five  years  they  removed  to  the  present  farm  of 
our  subject,  where  he  has  now  resided  for  over 
half  a  century.  Four  children  blessed  that 
union;  (i)  Charles  B.,  in  his  day  a  prominent 
lawyer  of  Poughkeepsie,  married  Ada  Van- 
Benschoten,  and  died  July  29,  i896;they  had 
no  children.  (2)  Phoebe  A.  married  Albert  P. 
Smith,  a  miller  of  Salt  Point,  Dutchess  county 
(now  deceased),  and  they  had  one  son,  Eugene 
Herrick  Smith,  who  is  in  business  in  Ne« 
York.  (3)  Sarah  is  a  school  teacher  in  Penn- 
sylvania. (4)  Marshall,  one  of  the  leadinf 
furniture  dealers  of  Poughkeepsie,  married 
Julia  Allen,  and  they  have  one  son,  Harolc 
Allen  Herrick.  The  mother  of  this  famiii 
died  in  i860,  and  October  26,  1865,  Willian 
Herrick  married  Mary  Harris,  a  daughter  0 
Col.  Israel  Harris,  of  the  town  of  Pine  Plains, 
Dutchess  county,  to  which  union  has  beei 
born  a  daughter,  Mary  Elizabeth. 

Mr.  Herrick  has  an  excellent  farm  of  xgc 
acres,  which  he  has  placed  under  a  high  stat( 
of  cultivation,  and  for  many  years  hasfollowe( 
general  farming,  including  the  raising  0 
blooded  cattle,  in  which  he  makes  a  specialt'i 
of  Jersey  cows,  having  at  present  a  fine  hen 
of  some  thirty  head  of  this  breed.  He  als(; 
sells  cream  to  the  Co-operative  Creamery 
By  industry  and  good  management  he  ha 
made  his  farm  one  of  the  most  highly  culti 
vated  and  improved  in  the  locality. 

Mr.  Herrick  is  not  a  member  of  an 
Church,  but  has  been  interested  in  the  one  a 
Salt  Point,  N.  Y.  He  is  prominently  ident 
fied  with  the  Democratic  party,  has  abl 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  as  assessc 
and  supervisor  of  his  town.  Surrounded  b 
loving  kindred  and  friends,  he  is  now  nearin 
the  last  milestone  that  marks  the  end  of  life' 
journey.  His  record  has  been  an  honorabl 
one,  his  years  have  been  fruitful  with  deeds  C 
usefulness  and  kindness,  with  malice  towar 
none  and  friendliness  toward  all  who  have  con' 
under  his  influence,  and  he  has  gained  the  n 
spect  and  honor  of  the  whole  community. 


ENJAMIN  K.  WHITE.     Amongtheagn 
culturists  of  Dutchess  county  who  ha<' 
attained  success  through  their  own  perseve 
ance,  enterprise  and  good  management,  is  tl 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


757 


gentleman  whose  name  is  here  given.  He  is 
low  engaged  in  general  farming  in  the  town  of 
Stanford,  and  is  complete  master  of  the  calling 
,vhich  he  is  following.  His  sterling  integrity 
!ind  honorable,  upright  manhood  fully  entitle 
lim  to  the  position  which  he  holds  in  the  esti- 
Ination  of  the  people  of  the  community. 

Mr.  White  is  a  native  of  Dutchess  county, 
l)orn  October  3,  1859,  near  the  village  of  Beek- 
nan,  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  and  is  a  son  of 
^eonard  and  Mary  (Wright)  White,  who  died 
vhen  our  subject  was  but  an  infant,  the  mother 
n  1859,  and  the  father  the  year  following, 
rhey  were  earnest  members  of  the  Methodist 
ilpiscopal  Church,  and  the  father  followed  the 
•ccupation  of  farming  in  the  town  of  Beekman 
p  to  the  time  of  his  death.  Our  subject  was 
aken  by  Dr.  D.  A.  Knapp,  of  North  Clove,  in 
he  town  of  Unionvale,  Dutchess  county,  with 
/hom  he  continued  to  live  until  reaching  his 
lajority,  and  attended  school  at  that  place, 
lit  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  went  to  Fremont 
ounty,  Iowa,  and  later  took  up  160  acres  of 
ind  at  Beatrice,  Neb.  On  disposing  of  this 
e  went  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  was  employed 
1  the  stockyards  with  his  brother  Thomas  for 
1*0  years  and  a  half,  when,  being  taken  ill,  he 
itumed  to  Dutchess  county,  and  operated  a 
irm  in  the  town  of  Unionvale  for  a  year.  He 
len  purchased  his  present  place,  to  the  culti- 
ation  and  improvement  of  which  he  devotes 
is  time  and  attention,  and  during  the  twelve 
2ars  of  his  residence  there  has  made  it  one  of 
le  most  highly  productive  farms  in  the  lo- 
ility. 

On  January  13,  1880,  Mr.  White  was  mar- 
ed  to  Miss  Frances  M.  Traver,  daughter  of 
hilo  and  Mary  Traver,  and  a  son — Frederick 
-was  born  to  them  August  2,  1890.  They 
e  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  Methodist 
piscopal  Church,  of  which  they  are  members. 
ti  his  political  views  Mr.  White  coincides  with 
le  principles  of  the  Republican  party,  but 
kes  no  active  part  in  politics,  preferring  to 
ve  his  time  to  his  business  affairs,  and  has 


I 


ir  accepted  office. 


\  LBERT  J.  BUDD  is  a  reliable  and  in- 
.m  telligent  farmer  of  the  town  of  Pleasant 
alley,  where  his  birth  occurred  August  16, 
liSO.  His  father,  James  Budd,  was  one  of 
ie  twelve  children  of  John  Budd,  and  our  sub- 
,ct  is  the  youngest  in  a  family  of  twelve.    One 


of  his  brothers,  Joseph,  is  the  father  of  James 
H.  Budd,  the  Governor  of  California,  while 
another  brother,  Joel  Budd,  is  a  prominent 
resident  of  Hyde  Park.  The  primary  educa- 
tion of  our  subject  was  obtained  in  the  district 
schools,  and  he  later  pursued  his  studies  for 
some  time  in  Amenia  Seminary,  also  at  Rhine- 
beck  and  Amsterdam,  N.  Y.  After  leaving 
the  school  room  he  turned  his  attention  to 
agricultural  pursuits. 

On  October  16,  1853,  Mr.  Budd  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Kate  S.  Stoutenburgh, 
who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley, 
in  1837,  and  is  the  eldest  child  of  Tobias  and 
Maria  (Albertson)  Stoutenburgh,  the  former 
born  in  the  town  of  Hyde  Park  January  29, 
1806,  and  the  latter  in  the  town  of  Pleasant 
Valley,  July  18,  1809.  Her  sister,  Mary,  is 
the  wife  of  Dr.  Merritt  Dutcher,  a  piracticing 
physician  of  Owego,  N.  Y.  Religiously,  her 
father  was  a  Baptist,  and  his  political  support 
was  formerly  given  to  the  Whig  party,  he  later 
becoming  a  stanch  Republican.  Her  grand- 
father, Isaac  Stoutenburgh,  was  the  son  of  Will- 
iam Stoutenburgh,  one  of  the  Nine  Partners 
who  came  to  this  country  and  took  up  a  large 
tract  of  land,  thus  becoming  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  this  locality. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Budd 
began  their  domestic  life  upon  their  present 
farm,  and  their  household  was  brightened  by 
the  presence  of  eight  children:  James  T.,  a 
farmer  of  Pleasant  Valley  town;  Frederick, 
who  was  a  lawyer  and  farmer,  and  died  in 
Pleasant  Valley;  Caroline,  wife  of  Oliver 
Wood,  also  a  farmer  of  the  same  township; 
Lillian,  deceased  wife  of  Byron  Conklin,  an 
agriculturist;  Isaac  A.,  a  farmer  of  Clinton 
town,  Dutchess  county;  Mary  A.,  wife  of 
David  S.  Van  De  Water,  a  farmer  of  Pough- 
keepsie  town;  Walter,  an  agriculturist  of 
Pleasant  Valley  town;  and  Willard,  who  died 
in  infancy.  Mr.  Budd  has  been  successful  in 
his  life  work,  and  owns  a  fine  farm  of  108 
acres,  where,  in  connection  with  general  farm- 
ing, he  makes  a  specialty  of  the  manufacture  of 
butter.  He  is  progressive  in  his  methods,  and 
on  his  place  are  seen  all  the  conveniences  and 
accessories  of  a  model  farm  of  the  nineteenth 
century.  His  political  views  are  in  accordance 
with  those  of  the  Republican  party,  and  he 
has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace.  To  the 
Baptist  Church  he  and  his  wife  contribute  lib- 
erally, and  they  enjoy  the  esteem  of  the  entire 
neighborhood. 


758 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


JOHN  A.  MONFORT.  The  fine  farm  owned 
by  this  gentleman,  in  the  town  of  Lagrange, 
Dutchess  county,  is  a  standing  monument 
to  his  industry,  perseverance  and  good  man- 
agement. He  comes  under  the  category  of 
self-made  men,  having  been  thrown  upon  his 
own  resources  early  in  life,  and  has  succeeded 
only  by  the  exercise  of  his  steady,  plodding 
labors,  both  mental  and  physical.  At  the 
present  time  he  is  one  of  the  prominent  repre- 
sentatives of  the  agricultural  interests  of  Dutch- 
ess county. 

Our  subject  was  born  April  6,  1818,  and  his 
boyhood  days  were  passed  in  the  town  of  Beek- 
man,  Dutchess  county,  where  he  attended 
school.  He  remained  upon  the  home  farm  until 
his  father's  death,  when,  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years,  he  was  obliged  to  start  out  in  life  for 
himself.  Removing  to  the  town  of  Lagrange, 
he  there  worked  for  S.  L.  Lockwood  until  he 
was  twenty-two.  On  October  6,  1841,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Julia  Ann  Phillips,  who  was 
born  August  6,  1824,  daughter  of  Thomas  H. 
Phillips,  of  the  town  of  Lagrange,  and  one 
child  graced  their  union,  Mary  Louisa,  born 
February  11,  1845,  who,  on"  October  10,  1866, 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Frederick  I. 
Knapp,  by  whom  she  had  two  children:  John 
M.  and  Effie  Beatrice;  but  she  was  called  from 
this  life  June  9,  1876. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Monfort  operated  a 
farm  in  the  town  of  Lagrange  for  a  year,  after 
which  he  followed  the  same  pursuit  in  Fishkill 
town,  Dutchess  county,  for  six  years.  For 
nine  years  he  was  then  engaged  in  farming  in 
the  southern  part  of  Lagrange  town,  and  on 
the  expiration  of  that  time  came  to  this  present 
farm,  which  he  cultivated  for  ten  years,  but 
the  following  five  years  were  passed  in  Pough- 
keepsie,  after  which  he  returned  to  his  farm  in 
Lagrange  town,  where  he  has  resided  since 
1874.  On  October  6,  1891,  Mr.  Monfort  and 
his  faithful  wife  celebrated  their  golden  wed- 
ding, having  traveled  life's  'journey  together 
for  fifty  years,  sharing  with  each  other  its  joys 
and  sorrows,  its  adversity  and  prosperity. 
They  are  now  well  advanced  in  years,  and 
have  reason  to  feel  that  their  lives  have  not 
been  spent  in  vain.  They  have  endeavored  to 
exercise  the  kindly  spirit  of  charity  and  benev- 
olence, to  do  good  as  they  have  opportunity, 
and  proved  the  friends  and  sympathizers  of 
those  less  fortunate. 

Henry  A.  Monfort,  father  of  our  subject, 
was    born    in  the   town  of    Fishkill,  June  25, 


1778.  On  December  2,  1801,  he  marrie 
Miss  Maria  Phillips,  who  was  born  Novemb 
27,  1780,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  s 
children:  Susan,  Eliza,  Albert  H.,  Alet 
Maria,  Jane  and  John  Angevine. 

Thomas  H.  Phillips,  the  father  of  Mr 
Monfort,  was  a  native  of  Dutchess  count 
born  in  the  town  of  Fishkill.  February  4,  179 
He  married  Miss  Rachel  Brower,  who  w 
born  January  7,  1794,  and  they  became  t 
parents  of  five  children:  Mary  Ellen,  who  di 
March  25,  1836;  Cornelius;  Julia  Ann;  a 
Sylvanius  and  Susan  E.,  who  live  on  Smi 
street,   Poughkeepsie. 


H 


ORACE    JENKS,    a  prominent   agricu 

urist  of  the  town  of  Northeast,  Dutch* 

county,  is  of  English  descent  on  both  sides 
the  family.     His  paternal  grandfather,  Willie 
Jenks,  was  born  October  5,  1775,   and  was  I 
some  time    an    iron    manufacturer  on  Stat 
Island.      He  came  to  Dutchess  county  in  179 
and  located  at   Leedsville,    where  he   becarl 
interested  in  the  flax  business,    supplying  thj 
material  in  large  quantities  to  the  North  Fa 
tory.     He  was  married  November  3,  1795, 
Sarah  Mygatt.     They  died   within  a  year 
each  other,  Mr.  Jenks,  May  18,  1824,  and  1 
wife,    February    14,     1825.     They    had    ni 
children,  whose  names  with  dates  of  birth  i 
as  follows:     George,    June    24,     1798;   Myi 
September   29,     1800;   Miles,    July  30,    i8c 
William,  February  29,  1804;    Luther  Pardt 
May  30,  1806;  Sally  Ann,  November  18,  i8c 
Thomas   M.,    November    30,     181 1;  Edvvai 
March  29,  18 14;  and  Eli  Starr,  April  22,  181 
Miles  Jenks,  our  subject's  father,  was  a  m  1 
of  great  energy,  and,  although  he  died  in  ea  ' 
life,  he  had  given  evidence  of  unusual  abili 
He  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  and  in  blac| 
smithing  at  Leedsville,  and  during  the  summ  :> 
he  also  bought  and  butchered  stock.    In  1 829  .; 
went  to  Michigan,   where  he   remained  fori, 
year,  purchasing,  while   there,    1,000  acres  I 
land  in  Oakland  county.      He  died  SeptemlC 
18,  1836.      Hiswife,  formerly  Betsey  Conkl 
to  whom  he   was  married   January    i.    18: 
survived  him  until  September  30,    1853.     \ 
their  four  children  our  subject  is  the  only  cfe 
now  living.   William  H.,  bornOctober  26,  i8:| 
was  a  painter  in  the  town  of  Northeast,  whi? 
he  died  August  22,  1893;  Selah  N.,  born  Si)' 
tember  7,  1829,  died  January  7,  1893;  he  v 
a  merchant  in   the   village   of  Millerton,  a 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


759 


Iso  a  musician  and  bandmaster,  teaching 
lusic  throughout  the  neighboring  towns  and 
illages.  Mary  Jane,  born  August  14,  1833, 
ied  August  19,  1884;  she  married  Myron 
'itcher.  who  survived  her  nine  years,  dying 
,'ovember  2,   1893. 

The  subject  of  our  sltetch,  the  second  son, 
/as  born  December  30,  1826,  attended  the 
ubHc  schools  of  Amenia  during  early  boy- 
ood,  but  did  not  receive  much  schooling  after 
ne  age  of  nine  years.  After  his  father's  death 
e  lived  for  one  year  with  his  uncle,  Horace 
:onklin,  on  the  farm  once  owned  by  the  late 
;zra  Clark,  and  now  owned  by  Leonard  Bar- 
tn.  The  next  two  years  he  spent  with  Hiram 
Vheeler,  and  in  1838  he  accompanied  his  un- 
le,  Horace  Conklin,  to  Binghamton,  Broome 
o.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  four  years. 
1  1842  he  came  back  to  his  native  county,  in 
harge  of  a  drove  of  cattle,  belonging  to  his 
ncle,  and  began  to  work  for  Lawrence  and 
niton  Wheeler  on  their  farm  in  the  town  of 
ortheast,  and  later  he  apprenticed  himself  to 
•aniel  Piatt,  a  well-known  mason,  for  two 
aars,  at  three  shillings  per  day. 

On  completing  his  term  he  formed  a  part- 

ership  with  Mr.     Piatt,     which     lasted    five 

2ars,  their  work  extending  to  different  por- 

ons  of  the  towns  of  Amenia  and   Northeast. 

or  about  seven  years  after  the  dissolution  of 

leir   partnership    Mr.   Jenks    carried    on    his 

ade  alone,  and  in  the  spring  of  1856  he  went 

1  Davenport,  Iowa,  and  then  to  Henry  Co., 

1.,  where  he  engaged  in  buying  and  herding 

ittle  for  a  short  time.      Later  he  went  to  Pon- 

ac,  Mich.,   and  worked  at  his  trade,  but  in 

•^57  he  returned  to  Dutchess  county.      Until 

364  he  was  a  successful  drover,    buying  his 

vn  cattle  in  Vermont  and  central  New  York, 

id  selling  to  the  farmers  in  Northeast   and 

cinity.     He  then  entered  the  employ  of   C. 

Maltby,  as  wood  and  coal  agent,  supplying 

le  Phrenix  and  Millerton  iron  furnaces.    This 

sponsible  position  he    held    for    twenty-one 

:ars;  but  since  his  retirement  he  has  been  en- 

iged  in  farming  in   a  small   way.      He  is   a 

an  of  sound   business  judgment,    noted  for 

s  shrewdness  and  caution,  and  his   advice  is 

ilued  in  financial  circles.      For  the  past  three 

;ars  he  has  been  a  director  of  the  Millerton 

ational  Bank. 

On  March  3,  1880,  Mr.  Jenks  was  married 

Miss  Jennie  Lord,  a  descendant  of  one  of 

e  old  families  of  the  town  of  Northeast,  and 

daughter  of   Newman  and   Malinda   (Hise- 


rodt)  Lord,  prominent  residents  of  Spencers 
Corners.  They  have  one  son.  Miles  Lord 
Jenks,  born  May  14,  1883.  Newman  Lord 
was  born  November  12,  1808,  in  the  town  of 
Northeast,  Dutchess  county,  and  his  wife,  Ma- 
linda (Hiserodt),  on  January  28,  1828.  They 
were  married  September  17,  1855,  and  had 
four  daughters,  Mrs.  Jenks  being  the  only  one 
who  grew  to  womanhood.  She  was  born 
August  7,  1856.  The  father  passed  from 
earth  June  19,  1894;  the  mother  is  yet  living. 
Mr.  Lord's  father,  Ethan  Lord,  by  occupa- 
tions a  painter  and  a  farmer,  as  was  also  the  son, 
was  born  July  14,  1776,  in  Connecticut,  and 
died  July  4,  1866.  He  married  Ruth  Dakin, 
and  they  had  four  children:  Jenette,  New- 
man, Cornelia  and  Olivia,  all  now  deceased. 
Ruth  Dakin,  wife  of  Ethan  Lord,  was  born 
September  8,  1785,  and  died  January  10, 
1852;  she  was  a  daughter  of  Simon  Dakin, 
and  a  granddaughter  of  Elder  Simon  Dakin, 
the  first  stationed  Baptist  minister  of  this 
place.  He  was  born  January  27,  1721,  and 
died  September  19,  1803.  Simon  Dakin,  Jr., 
was  born  September  16,  1757,  and  died  July 
12,  1830. 

In  public  affairs  our  subject  has  always 
shown  a  generous  interest  on  the  side  of  prog- 
ress. Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  but  has 
not  taken  an  active  share  in  the  work  of  the 
party.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, and  has  been  a  member  of  the  Order 
of  American  Mechanics. 


JACOB  S.  TOWNSEND,  a  well-known  resi- 
dent of  the   town  of  Unionvale,  Dutchess 
county,  is  one  of  the  successful  agricultur- 
ists of  that  locality. 

Mr.  Townsend's  ancestors  were  early  set- 
tlers in  Arthursburg,  Dutchess  county,  and  his 
grandfather,  Tredwell  Townsend,  was  born 
there  January  9,  1780,  and  became  a  promi- 
nent farmer.  His  educational  opportunities 
were  limited  to  an  attendance  at  the  local 
schools,  but  he  was  a  man  of  intelligence,  tak- 
ing much  interest  in  public  questions.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  a  Democrat,  and  represented  his 
town  on  the  board  of  supervisors  several  terms. 
He  married  Miss  Anna  Dorland,  who  was  born 
August  31,  1782.  They  had  nine  children, 
whose  names,  with  dates  of  birth,  are  as  fol- 
lows: Zachariah  P.,  April  i,  1802;  John,  Sep- 
tember 12,  1803;  Edgar,  December  14,  1805; 
Enoch,  October  17,  1807;  Samuel,  August  18, 


760 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


i8ii;  Gilbert.  May  6,  i8i 5;  Gilbert  D.,  March 
15,1817;  Mary,  July  27,  1819;  and  Catharine, 
July  13,  1821. 

Edgar  Towusend,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  Dutchess 
county,  and  was  educated  there  at  the  com- 
mon schools.  He  taught  school  for  some  time 
in  early  manhood,  and  later  he  engaged  in 
farming.  He  married  Miss  Eurana  Jolly,  and 
their  children  were  as  follows:  Jacob  S.,  born 
November  10,  1834;  Mary  E.,  May  22,  1836; 
and  Catharine  A.,  March  11,  1838. 

Jacob  S.  Townsend,  our  subject,  was  born 
and  educated  in  Seneca  county,  N.  Y.  In  early 
life  he  learned  the  blacksmith  trade,  at  which 
he  worked  a  few  years,  engaging  later  in  agri- 
culture. He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  but 
never  held  any  important  town  office.  He 
married  Miss  Cordelia  Washburn,  daughter  of 
Daniel  Washburn,  a  prosperous  farmer  of 
Unionvale,  and  his  wife,  Sarah  Morey.  Mr. 
Townsend's  home  has  been  brightened  by  three 
daughters:  (i)  Mary,  born  December  21,  i860, 
is  at  home.  (2)  Sarah  was  born  February  5, 
1863,  in  Lagrangeville,  Dutchess  county,  and 
was  educated  there.  She  married  George  W. 
Gibney,  a  tinsmith  of  Pawling,  and  they  have 
three  children— Willie  T.,  born  July  8,  1888; 
Ethel  M.,  born  March  8,  1894;  and  Florence 
A.,  born  February  18,  1896.  (3)  Carrie  Town- 
send  was  born  January  2,  1865,  in  Lagrange- 
ville, Dutchess  county,  and  was  educated  in 
the  local  schools.  She  married  Walter  Ells- 
worth, an  employe  of  the  N.  Y.  C.  R.  R.  They 
have  had  one  child,  Arthur,  who  was  born 
October  3,  1891,  and  died  February  21,  1893. 


GEORGE  R.  SHAW.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch,  one  of  the  prosperous  agriculturists 
of  this  section,  has  lived  a  long  and  active  life, 
been  more  than  ordinarily  successful  in  his 
chosen  vocation,  and  reared  in  intelligence  and 
comfort  a  large  family.  He  is  a  native  of 
Dutchess  county,  being  born  January  24,  1822, 
on  the  farm  at  that  time  belonging  to  his  father, 
in  the  southern  part  of  what  is  now  the  town 
of  East  Fishkill.  He  was  the  elder  of  two 
sons  of  Enoch  and  Catherine  (Reed)  Shaw. 
The  younger  son,  the  Rev.  William  W.  Shaw, 
is  a  clergyman  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and 
is  the  pastor  of  the  Church  at  Spencertown, 
Columbia  county.  Mr.  Shaw  resided  with  his 
father  until  grown  to  man's  estate.  The  home 
farm  was  of   about   one   hundred  acres,  and, 


after  the  death  of  the  father,  was  divided  I 
tween  the  two  sons.  Mr.  Shaw  continued  ; 
a  time  upon  the  old  place,  working  his  porti 
in  connection  with  other  land  adjoining,  bi 
later,  the  farm  was  sold,  and  he  resided  in  otl 
neighborhoods,  working  different  farms,  uri 
during  the  "seventies,"  he  purchased  a  fa  1 
near  Washingtonville,  Orange  county,  conta 
ing  over  two  hundred  acres.  Here  the  fan, 
resided  for  a  few  years,  until  1882,  when 
sold  the  property,  and  the  present  home  \ ; 
purchased.  This  farm  is  one  of  the  histc  : 
ones  of  this  historic  town.  It  is  situated  l 
the  old  "Post  Road"'  laid  out  by  Lord  L(  - 
den  in  1753,  leading  from  New  York  to  Alba  , 
and  is  a  half  mile  north  of  the  gateway  of  ; 
Highlands,  known  as  Wiccopee  Pass.  T  2 
farm  is  a  portion  of  a  tract  of  959  acres  p  - 
chased  by  Cornelius  Van  Wyck,  of  Hempste  , 
Long  Island,  of  Catherine  Brett  in  1733.  '  e 
farm  was  in  the  possession  of  his  descend?  s 
for  nearly  1 50  years.  The  farm  was  divii  a 
shortly  after  the  Revolution,  and  the  port  r 
now  owned  by  Mr.  Shaw,  comprising  2  j 
acres,  of  which  160  are  under  cultivation,  Jl 
to  Cornelius  C.  Van  Wyck,  grandson  of  e 
original  settler,  who  built  the  present  mansi  1. 
Tradition  says  that  previous  to  that  tim  a 
small  house  had  occupied  nearly  the  same  s  s, 
a  part  of  that  structure  forming  the  kite  n 
wing  of  the  present  edifice.  The  original  V  i- 
Wyck  house  stands  a  few  rods  toward  ,e 
south.  This  dwelling  has  been  made  fam  is 
by  history  and  romance.  It  is  the  "  Whai  n 
House  "  of  Cooper's  "  Spy."  It  was  for  0 
years  during  the  Revolution  the  residenct  si 
John  Jay,  the  chairman  of  the  Committet  ^l 
Safety,  and  was  at  various  times  occupied  ly 
the  officers  who  commanded  that  considerate 
part  of  the  American  forces  which  for  sev  al 
years  was  stationed  in  this  neighborhooc  :o 
guard  this  pass  through  the  mountains.  .11 
about  these  houses  was  the  camp.  The  '1- 
diers'  barracks  stood  behind  the  site  of  le 
house  now  occupied  by  the  Shaw  family,  id 
frequently  have  been  found  relics  of  their  c- 
cupancy,  in  the  shape  of  corroded  bul  s, 
pieces  of  shells,  bayonets  and  other  im  e- 
ments  of  war.  The  enlarged  house  was  r- 
tially  built  with  timbers  taken  from  these  J- 
racks. 

Mr.  Shaw  has  been  twice  married,  i'-' 
first  wife  was  Amy  Maria  Rickey,  daughte  of 
Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Horton)  Rickey,  ^e 
died  leaving   five  children.      Ward  is  a  fai  er 


'    I 

p 


'fi^UU^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPmCAL  RECORD. 


761 


in  Illinois;  Catherine  Elizabeth  is  married  and 
lives  in  Orange  county;  Julia,  married,  lives 
in  the  town  of  Wappinger;  Sarah  G.  and 
Georgiana  reside  in  New  York  City.  Mr.  Shaw 
remarried,  his  second  wife  being  Susan  Jane 
Wilco.x,  daughter  of  George  and  Tamar  (Ste- 
vens) Wilco.x,  of  Putnam  county.  By  this 
marriage  there  were  eleven  children,  two  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  William  G.  is  the 
Tianager  of  the  Elmira  Glass  Works;  Irving  is 
1  farmer  in  Illinois;  Amy  is  a  teacher  in  the 
icademic  department  of  the  Fishkill  Union 
School;  two  sons,  George  R. ,  Jr.,  and  John, 
ire  engaged  in  brick  manufacturing;  Frank,  a 
,'raduate  of  the  Brooklyn  Polytechnic  School, 
s  attending  Harvard  University,  while  Nellie 
3.  and  Luella  are  teaching  in  district  schools 
lear  their  home. 

There  was  one  other  son,  Adelbert,  born  in 

870,  who  met  a  sad  and  tragic  death  at  the 

ige  of  twenty.     He  was  a  youth  of  rare  intel- 

ectual  promise.     After  studying  the  ordinary 

iranches  at  the  common  schools,  he  decided 

0  fit  himself  for  the  legal  profession.      For  a 

ime  he  was  a  student  in  the  law  office  of  J. 

lervey  Cook,  of  Fishkill  Landing;  later,  from 

888  to  1890,  he  attended   the  Genesee  Wes- 

jyan   Seminary,  at  Lima,    N.   Y. ,  graduating 

.'ith  the  highest  honors  of  his  class.      In  1890 

e   entered     Harvard    University.       He    was 

lessed  with  a  quick  mind,  and  was  a  patient, 

iborious  student.      More  than  that,  he   was 

natural     athlete,    large    and    of    excellent 

hysique.      The    leaders    of    athletics  of    the 

ollege  demanded  his  services.      He  was  put 

n  the    football    team,   and    was    one  of  the 

est   men    on     the    eleven.       Later    he    was 

rged    to    join    the     "Varsity   Crew",     then 

aining  at  the  oars  in  hopes  of  defeating  Yale. 

s  an  oarsman  he  promised  to  be  the  strongest 

f  all.     On  April  6,  1891,  he  was  practicing  in 

single  boat.      He  passed  under  the  Western 

venue  bridge,  when,  from  some  unaccountable 

iason,  his  boat  capsized,  and,  though  an  ex- 

2rt   swimmer,   and    scarcely   fifty    feet    from 

lore,  he  sank  and  drowned  almost  instantly. 

he  next  day  his  remains  were  brought  home 

r  burial.     During    the    time  of    the  funeral 

■rvices  at  his  home,  memorial  services  were 

eld  in  the   chapel  of   Harvard  College.     All 

)llege  work  was  suspended,  and  the  professors 

id  students   in   large   numbers  attended  the 

jsequies,  which  were  conducted  by  the  Rev. 

hillip  Brooks,  who  offered  prayer,  while  the 

scourse  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Frank  G. 


Peabody,  who  spoke  of  the  virtues  and  relig- 
ious character  of  the  deceased.  To  his  family 
his  mysterious  and  untimely  death  was  a  shock 
from  which  none  have  even  yet  fully  recovered. 
To  the  parents,  but  to  the  children  more  espe- 
cially, it  was  the  first  break  in  the  family  chain. 
Mr.  Shaw  has  nearly  all  his  life  been  a 
prominent  and  enthusiastic  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  and  for  years  he  has 
been  a  licensed  local  preacher  of  the  denomi- 
nation. Mrs.  Shaw  and  many  of  the  chil- 
dren are  also  members  of  that  Church. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  never  taken  a 
great  interest  in  public  affairs  of  a  political 
nature,  has  never  held  any  public  office, 
but,  as  an  individual,  has  had  the  courage  of 
his  convictions,  and  labored  for  the  benefit  of 
his  country  as  he  saw  the  right.  For  the  past 
few  years  he  has  voted  and  worked  with  the 
Prohibitionists.  After  a  long  life  of  agricult- 
ural labor,  he  still  takes  an  interest  in  his  farm 
work,  favors  advanced  ideas,  but  devotes  his 
energies  along  well-tried  lines,  general  farming 
and  dairying,  keeping  from  twenty  to  thirty 
cows.  He  is  possessed  of  much  general  in- 
formation, is  a  good  business  man,  an  agreeable 
acquaintance,  and  a  warm  and  abiding  friend. 


Q\AMUEL  HASTINGS,  though  not  a  native 
'^)  of  this  country,  has  lived  in  the  United 
States  nearly  all  his  life,  coming  here  at  the 
age  of  twelve  years.  He  was  born  in  Dover, 
County  of  Kent,  England,  on  the  paternal  side 
of  English  origin,  and  on  the  maternal  side  of 
Scotch-Irish  descent.  His  mother  belonged 
to  an  old  Scotch-Irish  family  of  the  name  of 
Tomb,  who  were  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  Irish  linen,  near  Belfast,  Ireland,  before  the 
days  of  machinery.  The  father,  who  was  an 
officer  in  the  British  army,  died  while  stationed 
in  the  West  Indies,  in  1835. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  com- 
menced in  his  native  land,  and  on  reaching 
the  shores  of  the  New  World  he  completed  his 
literary  training.  For  a  time  he  took  up  the 
study  of  law,  then  that  of  medicine,  from 
which  he  drifted  into  the  study  of  chemistry 
and  pharmacy, graduating  in  those  sciences  at 
the  College  of  Pharmacy  in  Philadelphia, 
Penn.,  with  the  class  of  1849.  For  twenty 
years  he  conducted  a  large  drug  business  in 
the  city  of  New  Orleans,  and  on  the  termi- 
nation of  the  Civil  war  left  the  South,  but  still 


762 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


3 


holds  interests  in  that  city,  which  he  occasion- 
ally visits  on  business. 

In  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.,  Mr.  Hastings 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza  J., 
daughter  of  the  late  J.  Hastings,  and  in  this 
county  has  made  his  home  for  over  twenty- 
seven  years,  during  which  time  he  has  taken 
much  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  adopted 
county  and  State.  Though  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  he  has  no  ambition  for  political  pre- 
ferment, and  has  held  no  public  office.  His 
religious  affiliation  is  with  the  Episcopal 
Church.  The  elegant  place  of  Mr.  Hastings  is 
known  as  "  Fairview,"  and  comprises  825 
acres.  He  superintends  the  cultivation  of  this 
property,  employing  much  labor,  thus  further- 
ing the  material  interests  of  the  surrounding 
section  and  the  county  at  large.  In  his  family 
are  six  children, — two  sons  and  four  daughters. 
The  view  from  his  place  is  most  extended  and 
beautiful,  indeed  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the 
county;  there  a  grand  panorama  is  spread  out 
before  the  vision — the  Catskill  mountains  can 
be  seen,  commencing  at  the  site  of  the  old 
"  Mountain  House,"  and  extending  far  south- 
ward, the  coloring  of  this  delightful  scene 
changing  as  the  seasons  come  and  go,  from  the 
rich  green  of  the  springtime  to  the  brilliant 
gold  and  red  of  autumn,  the  whole  is  like  a 
series  of  beautiful  pictures  hung  up  before  the 
beholder.  This  charming  spot  not  only  glad- 
dens the  eye,  but  is  one  of  the  most  healthful, 
well  watered  with  springs,  and  altogether  is 
one  of  the  most  highly  favored  locations  in  the 
county. 


)ALPH  A.  BARTHOLOMEW.  Among 
Jr5_  the  leading  and  influential  farmers  of  the 
town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  who  thoroughly  un- 
derstand their  business,  and  pursue  the  voca- 
tion of  their  chosen  calling  in  a  methodical 
and  workmanlike  manner,  is  the  subject  of 
this  biography.  In  reviewing  his  genealogical 
record  we  find  his  lineage  tracing  back  to  the 
Colonial  history  of  the  nation,  and  to  that 
period  which  marked  the  inception  of  the 
grandest  republic  the  world  has  ever  known. 
Through  such  sources  have  we  attained  the 
true  American  type,  and  along  this  line  must 
our  investigations  proceed  if  we  would  learn  of 
the  steadfast,  unyielding  elements  which  con- 
stitute the  basis  upon  which  has  been  reared 
the  lofty  and  magnificient  superstructure  of 
an    enlightened  and   favored    commonwealth. 


Among  the  early  emigrants  from  England,  whi 
located  in  New  England,  was  the  Bartholomew 
family,  whose  descendants  are  now  very  nu- 
merous throughout  the  Eastern  States. 

John  Bartholomew,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Kensington,  Conn.,  but 
was  reared  in  Litchfield  county,  that  State, 
where,  after  his  marriage  with  Lydia  Brooks, 
he  located  upon  a  farm.  Three  children  were 
born  to  them:  Lynus,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
two  years;  Lydia  S.,  who  became  the  wife  of 
P.  B.  Butler,  a  wheelwright  of  Burlington, 
Hartford  Co.,  Conn.;  and  John  B.,  the  father 
of  our  subject.  The  grandfather  followed 
farming  exclusively,  and  valiantly  aided  the 
Colonies  in  their  struggle  for  independence. 
His  death  occurred  in  1817,  that  of  his  wife  ir 
1854.  Early  in  life  they  were  Presbyterians, 
but  later  they  joined  the  Congregationa; 
Church. 

John   B.    Bartholomew  was  born  Octobei 
13-  1793.  in  Harwinton,  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn., 
and  he  married  Eunice  Harrison,  who  was  bori 
at    Branford,    New   Haven   Co.,    Conn.,  June 
19,    1801,  a  daughter  of  Augustus   Harrison, 
also   a   native   of   New   Haven   county,  and  i 
farmer    by    occupation.      The    Harrisons  alsc 
came  from  England.     To  the  old  family  home 
stead   Mr.    Bartholomew  took   his   bride,  ant 
their  four  children  were  there  born.     Ralph 
the  eldest,  died   at   the   age   of  twelve  years ; 
George,  a   wholesale   and   retail  jeweler,  dice 
June    10,    1893;   Harriet    became  the  wife  0 
John  W.  Lattin,  a  native  of  Dutchess  county 
N.  Y. ,  and  a  retired    farmer.      He  was  kille( 
by  the  cars  September  23,  1890,  and  his  widov! 
now  makes  her  home  in  the  town  of  Pleasan 
Valley.      Ralph  A.  is  the  youngest  of  the  fam 
ily.       Upon    his   farm    in    Litchfield    county 
Conn.,  the  father  died  February  10,  1859;  thi, 
mother  died   May   i,  1896,  at  the  patriarchal 
age  of   about   ninety-four  years.      In  religiou' 
belief    they    were    Congregationalists,    and  i 
politics  he  supported  the  Democratic  party.    : 

Ralph  A.  Bartholomew  was  born  in  th! 
town  of  Harwinton,  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.i 
April  3,  1837,  and  grew  to  manhood  upon  th 
old  ancestral  farm,  contributing  his  quota  t ! 
carrying  on  the  work  of  the  place.  At  the  ag' 
of  nineteen  he  started  out  as  a  traveling  saleSj 
man;  but  at  the  end  of  four  years  he  returned  t( 
the  old  farm,  which  he  sold  in  1867,  and  thi 
following  year  bought  his  present  place  in  th| 
town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess  count} ( 
He  now  has  ninety-seven  acres  of  fertile  an' 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


768 


jroductive  land,  pleasantly  situated  about  six 
niles  from  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie.  It  is 
lighly  cultivated,  and  well  improved  with  fine 
arge  buildings  and  good  fences,  and  is  one  of 
ihe  most  beautiful  places  in  the  locality. 
I  In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Bartholomew 
trongly  adheres  to  the  principles  of  the  Dem- 
iicratic  party.  He  is  one  of  the  active  and 
)rogressive  men  of  the  county,  taking  great 
nterest  m  all  matters  calculated  to  enhance 
ts  value,  or  to  benefit  his  fellowmen,  and  has 
he  respect  and  confidence  of  all  with  whom 
e  comes  in  contact. 


BENJAMIN  VAN  WAGNER  is  one  of  the 
_  enterprising,  energetic  and  industrious 
griculturists  of  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley, 
nd  is  a  worthy  representative  of  an  honored 
Id  family  of  his  section. 

The  founder  of  the  family  in  this  country 

ias  Nicholas  Van  Wagner,  who    came  from 

[olland  and  located  in   the  town   of  Pleasant 

alley,  Dutchess  county,   where  his  descend- 

jits  now  live.      His  son,  Evritt  Van  Wagner, 

as  born  on  the  farm  which  our  subject  now 

vns,  where  the  birth  of  his  son,    Benjamin, 

so  occurred.     The  latter  was  the  grandfather 

our  subject,  and  by  his  marriage  with  Eliza- 

;th  Dyer  had  several  children,  si.x  of  whom 

ew  to  maturity,  namely:     David,  a  machin- 

:  and  carpenter,  of    Hyde   Park;  Underbill, 

ho  became  a  speculator  in  California;  Sylves- 

'r,    who  was  a   landlord  in   Pleasant  Valley 

twn;  James,  who  was  killed  in  amine  in  Cal- 

nrnia;  Abraham,   the  fatner  of  our  subject; 

iid  Hannah,  wife  of  Lewis  Haight,  a  farmer 

I  the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess  county. 

ley  are  all  now  deceased  except  Hannah. 

On  the  old  family  homestead  Abraham 
'in  Wagner  was  born  in  August,  1816,  and 
'  reaching  manhood  he  married  Maria  West- 
*velt,  a  native  of  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie, 
htchess  county,  and  a  daughter  of  Cornelius 
^estervelt,  a  blacksmith  by  trade.  For  a 
tie  after  their  marriage  they  lived  upon 
aether  farm  in  Pleasant  Valley  town,  but 
1  er  returned  to  the  home  where  Mr.  Van- 
^agner's  childhood  was  passed.  In  their 
finily  were  five  children:  Emeline,  widow  of 
Jin  W.  Lattin,  who  followed  farming;  Elma, 
v'e  of  J.  Edward  Clapp,  a  farmer  of  Pleasant 
^lley  town;  William,  a  farmer  of  Clinton 
t'vn,  Dutchess  county;  and  Benjamin  and 
Eziibeth,  twins.     The  last  named  died  in  in- 


fancy. The  parents  were  both  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  in  politics  the 
father  was  a  Democrat,  and  served  as  commis- 
sioner many  years.  He  was  called  from  this 
life  in  June,  1885;  his  estimable  wife  still 
survives  him. 

On  December  18,  1843,  Benjamin  Van- 
Wagner,  the  subject  of  this  review,  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  and  when  only 
a  year  old  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  the 
family  homestead,  where  he  was  reared  in  the 
usual  manner  of  farmer  boys.  In  1870  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Emily  B.  Wood, 
a  native  of  Hyde  Park,  and  a  daughter  of  Har- 
vey Wood,  and  to  them  was  born  a  son,  Mil- 
lard. The  mother  died  in  1877,  and  in  1880 
Mr.  Van  Wagner  wedded  her  sister,  Miss  Jose- 
phine Wood.  Three  children  graced  this 
union:  Harry,  Frank  and  Ernest,  but  the 
last  named  died  in  1888.  Our  subject  is  the 
owner  of  106  acres  of  valuable  land,  highly 
cultivated  and  improved  with  good  and  sub- 
stantial farm  buildings.  He  is  an  intelligent, 
wide-awake  farmer,  enterprising  and  progress- 
ive, always  giving  his  support  to  any  measure 
for  the  benefit  of  the  community.  He  is  iden- 
tified with  the  Democratic  party,  and  his  wife 
is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church. 


LUZERNE  DUTCHERis  a  prominent  and 
:  and  very  highly  esteemed   citizen   of  the 

town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  and  is  a  de- 
scendant of  the  well-known  Holland-Dutch 
family  of  that  name. 

Samuel  Waldo  Dutcher  was  a  native  of  the 
town  of  Washington,  and  grew  to  manhood 
there,  engaging  in  the  tanner's  trade,  which  he 
carried  on  for  many  years.  He  married  Miss 
Maria  Edmonds,  and  had  three  children: 
Lawrence,  Luzerne  and  Catherine.  The  elder 
son,  Lawrence,  has  always  been  prominent  in 
local  affairs,  and  is  a  member  of  several  fra- 
ternal orders,  theF.  &A.  M.,  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  the  K.  of  P.  He  married  (first)  Miss 
Eliza  McTurk,  (second)  Miss  Catherine  Dutch- 
er, and  (third)  Miss  Mary  Quimby. 

Luzerne  Dutcher,  our  subject,  was  born  in 
1824,  and  after  acquiring  a  common-school 
education  learned  the  details  of  the  tanner's 
trade,  which  he  followed  throughout  his  active 
business  life.  About  twenty  years  ago  he  pur- 
chased a  fine  farm  near  South  Dover,  Dutch- 
ess county,  where  he  now  resides,  having  re- 


764 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tired  from  business  a  few  years  ago.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Harriet  Soule,  daughter  of  Lansing 
Soule,  a  leading  farmer  of  the  town  of  Dover, 
Dutchess  county.  They  have  had  four  chil- 
dren: Mary  F. ,  who  died  in  infancy;  Charles 
E.;  Mary  F.  (2),  who  also  died  in  infancy; 
and  Elmer  W. 

Charles  E.  was  born  in  Warwick,  Orange 
Co.,  N.  Y. ,  and  was  educated  there.  He  first 
engaged  in  farming,  later  was  in  the  cattle 
business  in  Chicago,  and  in  the  stock  yards  at 
Des  Moines.  At  present  he  is  a  mason  in  Chi- 
cago. He  married  Miss  Carrie  Sterling,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Emeline  Sterling,  and  has  one 
son,  Monroe. 

Elmer  W.  was  born  at  Highland  Mills, 
Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1863,  and  attended 
school  in  Poughkeepsie  during  his  boyhood. 
He  is  very  successful  as  a  farmer,  and  takes 
much  interest  in  local  affairs  and  in  the  work 
of  the  Masonic  order,  being  a  member  of  Dover 
Plains  Lodge  No.  666.  In  1893  he  was  united 
in  matrimony  with  Miss  Hattie  Dutcher,  daugh- 
ter of  Vanness  Dutcher,  of  Dover.  They  have 
one  daughter,  Mabel. 


FREDERICK  AUGUSTUS  FAUST,  M.  D., 
one  of  the  ablest  and  most  successful  phy- 
sicians of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  is  a 
native  of  that  city,  born  March  24,  1865. 

Dr.  John  Faust,  our  subject's  father,  who 
is  a  prominent  veterinary  surgeon  of  Pough- 
keepsie, was  born  July  19,  1835,  in  Hessen- 
Cassel,  Germany,  which  place  has  been  the 
home  of  his  ancestors  for  many  generations, 
and  there  his  grandfather,  Barhold  Faust,  and 
his  father,  Conrad  Faust,  were  also  born,  the 
latter  in  1807.  Dr.  John  Faust  acquired  a 
good  education  in  his  native  place,  and  while 
pursuing  his  studies  he  decided  to  come  to 
America,  where  he  could  obtain  better  oppor- 
tunities. Landing  in  New  York  City,  he  soon 
after  began  to  learn  the  cooper's  trade,  which 
he  followed  there  until  1859,  when  he  and  his 
brothers  went  to  Poughkeepsie.  In  i860  they 
entered  into  business  there  under  the  firm 
name  of  John  Faust  &  Bros.  The  Doctor  was 
an  active  worker  in  this  enterprise  until  1865, 
when  he  became  a  silent  partner,  continuing 
until  1875,  when  the  partnership  was  dissolved. 
In  1 88 1  the  Doctor  went  before  the  examining 
board  of  the  New  York  Veterinary  Society, 
and  passed  the  examination,  receiving  the  de- 
gree of  V.  S.      He  is  one  of  the  most  careful 


of  the  veterinary  surgeons  of  Dutchess  county, 
and  has  done  much  to  elevate  the  profession 
by  his  scientific  researches.  In  1854  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Maria  Frietag,  also  a  native  of  Hes- 
sen-Cassel,  and  has  six  children:  Louis,  a 
physician  at  Schenectady;  Frederick  Augustus, 
our  subject;  Otto,  a  veterinary  surgeon  in 
Poughkeepsie;  William  P.,  a  physician  in 
Schenectady;  Mary,  the  wife  of  F.  C.  Krue- 
ger,  of  that  place;  and  Christina  H.,  who  i^ 
at  home. 

Frederick  A.  Faust,  our  subject,  after  com 
pleting  the  high-school  course  at  the  age  of  six 
teen,  spent  two  years  in  the  preliminary  stud; 
of  medicine  with  his  brother.  Dr.  Louis  Faust 
of  Schenectady,  as  preceptor.  He  matricu 
lated  at  the  New  York  Homeopathic  CoUeg 
in  the  fall  of  1883,  and  took  the  full  genera 
course,  graduating  April  15,  1886,  passing  hi 
vacations  also  in  studying  with  his  brothei 
With  this  thorough  preparation  he  began  hi 
professional  career,  and  on  May  4,  1886,  h 
took  charge  of  an  established  practice  at  Berne 
Albany  county;  but  a  year  later  he  disposed  c 
it  to  locate  in  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  opened  ai 
office  alone  on  Garden  street.  He  has  been  ver 
successful  in  his  practice  at  his  native  place 
and  after  four  years  in  his  first  office  and  thre 
at  No.  60  Market  street,  he  purchased  th 
property  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Canno 
and  Liberty  streets,  to  which  he  remove 
March  31,  1894.  He  is  a  reader,  and  keep 
well-informed  upon  all  the  lines  of  progress  i 
his  ever-advancing  profession.  His  clients  at 
among  the  best  in  the  city,  and  his  success  i 
the  past  forms  ground  for  firm  belief  in  h 
future. 

In  local  affairs  the  Doctor  has  alwa) 
taken  the  side  of  progress  and  improvemen 
Although  he  adheres  to  the  principles  of  tl 
Republican  party,  he  has  never  taken  any  ac 
tive  share  in  politics.  On  January  i,  189; 
he  was  appointed,  by  Mayor  Hull,  a  memb 
of  the  city  board  of  health,  which  position  I 
is  still  holding.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ge 
man  Methodist  Church,  and  takes  great  ii 
terest  in  its  various  enterprises  for  the  welfa 
of  the  community.  Socially,  he  belongs  to  tl 
F.  &  A.  M.,  Triune  Lodge,  the  Poughkeeps 
Chapter  and  Commandery,  and  to  the  Amri 
Club.  In  professional  circles  he  is  a  leadii 
spirit  among  the  younger  element;  has  twi 
been  vice-president  of  the  Dutchess  Coun 
Homeopathic  Medical  Society,  and  is  a  proi 
inent  member  of  the  New  York  State  Home 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


765 


oathic  Society.  In  the  summer  of  1896  he 
spent  some  six  months  in  Europe,  studying  at 
;he  hospitals  of  Berlin,  specially  the  diseases 
j{  children,  and  internal  diseases,  and  his 
inowledge  of  the  German  language,  which  he 
eads  and  speaks  fluently,  enabled  him  to  make 
apid  progress  in  his  studies.  He  also  im- 
proved the  opportunity  by  making  a  tour 
hrough  Germany,  Switzerland  and  Italy. 


rOHN  H.  PARMELE.  There  are  found  in 
I  every  community  men  who  are  the  leaders 
in  public  affairs,  who  are  the  promoters  of 
ill  interests  that  have  for  their  object  the  pub- 
ic good,  and  on  whom  the  welfare  of  the  local- 
ly depends.  Of  this  class  of  citizens  our  sub- 
ectis  a  worthy  representative,  and  Dutchess 
ounty  may  well  be  proud  to  claim  him  among 
ler  native  sons. 

Mr.  Parmele  was  born   on  the  farm  which 

;  still  his  home,  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Val- 

sy,  February    14,  1846,  and   is  a  representa- 

ive  of  one  of  the  early  families  of  New  Eng- 

and,  descended  from    English  ancestry.     His 

randfather,  Joseph  Parmele,  who  was  born  in 

Connecticut,  August    15,  1776,  married  Lavi- 

a  Westervelt,  a  native  of  Dutchess  county, 

.'.  Y.,    and   they  located   on   the   old   family 

ornestead    south    of    Poughkeepsie.       Eight 

hildren  were  born  to  them,  as  follows:  Rich- 

rd,  who  was  born  June  21,1 802,  was  a  farmer 

nd  merchant,  and  died  in  Poughkeepsie;  John, 

cm  February    14,  1804,  died  at  the  age  of 

wenty-one;  Catherine,  born  January  13,  1806, 

ecame  the  wife  of  William   H.  Calkin;  Cor- 

elius,  born  April   29,   1808,  died  on   the   old 

ornestead;  Sarah   Ann,   born   November   25, 

809,  died  unmarried;  William  was  the  father 

four  subject;  Elias,  born  February  13,  181 5, 

as  a   farmer   of  Tompkins    county,    N.    Y. ; 

nd  Elizabeth,  born  May  20,  1821,  died  in  in- 

incy.     The  grandfather  made  farming  his  life- 

ork,  and  died  August  30,  1842,  while  his  wife 

assed   away    March   28,     1847.     They   were 

lembers  of  the  Reformed  Church  of  Pough- 

2epsie. 

William  Parmele,  father  of  subject,  was 
orn  on  the  old  family  homestead  in  the  town 
E  Poughkeepsie,  March  2,  1812,  and  was 
lere  reared  to  manhood.  On  November  23, 
■'42,  he  wedded  Elizabeth  Seaman,  who  was 
rn  in  the  town  of  Hyde  Park,  January  27, 
M9,  a  daughter  of  William  Seaman,  a  farm- 
They  began   their  domestic  life  on   the 


farm  where  our  subject  now  resides,  and  reared 
a  family  of  four  children:  Lavina,  born  Janu- 
ary 2,  1844,  wife  of  John  C.  Wood,  who  was 
a  farmer  of  Hyde  Park  town;  John  H.,  sub- 
ject of  this  review;  Mary,  who  was  born  Oc- 
tober 12,  1848,  and  is  the  deceased  wife  of  Ed- 
gar A.  Briggs,  of  Poughkeepsie;  and  Maria  L. , 
who  was  born  July  26,  1854,  and  died  in  early 
life.  The  father  of  this  family  always  devoted 
his  energies  to  agricultural  pursuits.  His  po- 
litical support  was  given  the  Democracy,  and 
he  and  his  wife  held  membership  with  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  He  passed  away  February 
13,  1876,  she  on  November  11,   1892. 

John  H.  Parmele  remained  in  his  parent's 
home  until  about  seventeen  years  of  age,  when 
he  became  a  student  in  Claverack  Institute, 
supplementing  his  primary  education  by  a 
thorough  course  of  study  there.  When  he  laid 
aside  his  text-books,  he  returned  to  the  farm, 
and  has  since  been  actively  interested  in  its 
improvement  and  cultivation.  He  now  owns 
and  operates  103  acres  of  rich  land,  pleasantly 
situated  five  miles  from  Poughkeepsie,  and  his 
well-directed  efforts  bring  him  a  good  return. 

On  November  20,  1878,  Mr.  Parmele  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  A.  Lyon,  daughter  of  George 
Lyon,  a  farmer  of  this  locality.  Eight  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them,  their  names  and 
dates  of  birth  being  as  follows:  Mary  L. , 
March  10,  1880;  Joseph  L. ,  August  31,  1881; 
Fred,  September2i,  1885;  Elizabeth,  Septem- 
ber 2,  1887;  George,  May  19,  1889;  William 
J.,  March  7,  1891;  Ruth.  February  6,  1894; 
and  Ernest,  July  20,  1896  (he  died  April  21, 
1897). 

The  parents  are  identified  with  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Pleasant  Valley,  and  are 
people  of  prominence  in  the  community,  hold- 
ing an  enviable  position  in  social  circles.  His 
political  support  is  given  the  Democratic  party, 
but  he  has  had  neither  time  nor  inclination  for 
public  office,  preferring  to  devote  his  best  ef- 
forts to  his  farm  work,  and  to  the  faithful  dis- 
charge of  his  duties  of  citizenship. 


T  HERON  R.    MARSHALL.     Among  the 
leading  farmers  of  the  town  of  Pleasant 

Valley,  Dutchess  county,  there  is  none  better 
known  in  its  history  than  the  individual  whose 
name  is  here  recorded. 

Here  his  birth  occurred  April  20,  1831,  and 
in  the  same  house  his  father,  Israel  Marshall, 
was  born  in  August  14,  1796,  but  the  farm  then 


766 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPBWAL  RECORD. 


comprised  a  part  of  the  town  of  Clinton.  The 
grandfather,  Zacheus  Marshall,  was  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  born  at  Horseneck,  February 
5,  1746,  and  was  of  English  descent.  On  De- 
cember 14,  1764,  he  married  Anna  Totten, 
who  was  born  October  20,  1747,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Hannah,  born  October  5,  1768,  became  the 
wife  of  a  Mr.  Stoughtenburgh,  of  Pleasant 
Valley  town ;  Reuben,  born  June  1 4,  1 770,  was  a 
resident  of  Hyde  Park;  David,  born  May  2, 
1773,  died  while  young;  Totten,  born  July  7, 
1775,  was  a  farmer  of  Greene  county,  N.  Y. ; 
Daniel,  born  February  15,  1778;  and  Solomon, 
born  January  2,  1783,  died  in  childhood;  and 
PhcEbe,  born  October  25,  1787.  For  his 
second  wife,  Zacheus  Marshall  wedded  Susan- 
na Dean  (the  grandmother  of  our  subject). 
She  was  born  in  Dutchess  county,  July  11, 
1756,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Stephen  Dean, 
whose  ancestors  were  English.  Her  marriage 
with  Mr.  Marshall  was  celebrated  December 
25.  1789,  and  she  became  the  mother  of  three 
sons:  Stephen  D.,  born  October  27,  1790, 
was  a  farmer  of  Pleasant  Valley  town,  and 
died  in  Hyde  Park;  Henry  S.,  born  August  3, 
1792,  was  a  farmer  of  Hyde  Park;  and  Israel 
was  the  father  of  our  subject.  On  April  24, 
1806,  Zacheus  Marshall  was  married  to  Jane 
Quinby,  who  was  born  June  27,  1765,  and  May 
2,  1809,  was  born  their  son,  Isaac  P.,  who  was 
was  a  farmer  of  Pleasant  Valley  town,  and  be- 
came a  prominent  politician.  The  grandfather 
was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  also  carried  on 
farming. 

Upon  the  old  home  farm  Israel  Marshall 
grew  to  manhood,  and  on  May  26,  1825,  he 
was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Anna  Gifford, 
whose  birth  occurred  in  the  town  of  Stanford, 
Dutchess  county,  March  23,  1799.  Her  fa- 
ther, John  Gifford,  was  also  a  native  of  Stan- 
ford town,  where  he  engaged  in  farming. 
After  their  marriage,  the  parents  of  our  subject 
located  upon  the  old  farm,  where  they  reared 
their  two  children:  Susan  A.,  who  was  born 
December  11,  1827,  and  died  September  26, 
1842;  and  Theron  R.  The  father  gave  his 
exclusive  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits, was 
a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  died  in  the  faith  of 
the  Friends  Church,  July  13,  1873.  His  wife, 
who  was  also  a  member  of  that  denomination, 
died  October  25,  1883. 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a 
farmer,  and  received  from  his  parents  many  a 
lesson  in  thrift  and  honesty,  which  have  been 


his  guiding  principles  through  life.      On  Octo 
ber  31,    1855,  he    was   married    to    Elizabetl 
Marshall,  a  granddaughter  of  John  Marshall 
She  was  born  in  the  town   of   Stanford  Marcl 
7,   1836.    Her  father,  Isaac  Marshall,  whowa: 
born    in    Pleasant    Valley    town,  January   22 
1 8 16,   wedded   Eliza  A.   Lawrence,    who  wa; 
born  in  that  town  February  12,  18 14.       The} 
became  the  parents  of  seven  children:     Eliza 
beth,  wife   of    our   subject;    Augusta,   wife  c 
Joseph  Doty,  afarmer  of  Pleasant  Valley  town 
William    W.,    who    resides    in    Poughkeepsi 
town;  Sarah  K.,  wife  of  Parris  Baker,  a  farme 
and    carpenter;    Permelia;    Ellathan   G.,  wh 
operates  the  old  homestead;   and   Emily  J. 
wife  of    Clarence    Van    Wagner,  a    farmer  c 
Pleasant  Valley  town. 

Theron  R.  Marshall,  the  subject  proper  c 
this  review,  began  his  domestic  life  on  the  ol 
homestead  where  he  lived  until  1892,  when  h 
removed  to  his  present  farm,  comprising  fort} 
five  acres;  but  he  still  owns  the  other  place 
whose  boundaries  contain  120  acres  of  ric 
and  productive  land.  He  is  a  thorough  Demc 
crat  in  politics,  has  served  his  fellow  towns 
men  as  assessor,  was  justice  of  the  peace  fror 
1 89 1  until  1895,  and  represented  his  town  c 
the  board  of  supervisors  in  1883,  1884  an 
1888.  He  is  highly  respected  throughout  th 
community,  having  the  confidence  of  all  wit 
whom  he  comes  in  contact,  and  himself  an 
wife  are  earnest  members  of  the  Frienc 
Church.  To  them  were  born  three  childrei 
Israel  D.,  an  agriculturist  of  Pleasant  Valle 
town,  who  was  born  August  3,  1857,  andma; 
ried  Carrie  D.  Van  De  Water;  Susan  A.,  wh 
was  born  December  15,  1858,  and  died  Sef 
tember  10,  i860;  and  Robert  L.,also  a  farmt 
of  Pleasant  Valley,  who  was  born  August  i, 
i860,  and  wedded  Elizabeth  W.  Conklin. 


w 


few  men  more  worthy  of  representatic 
in  a  work  of  this  kind  than  the  subject  of  th 
biography,  who  has  passed  his  entire  life  upc 
the  comfortable  homestead  where  he  still  r> 
sides.  It  is  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  tow 
of  Red  Hook,  comprising  as  it  does  144  acn' 
of  rich  and  fertile  land,  where  he  is  succesi 
fully  engaged  in  general  farming. 

Our  subject  can  trace  his  ancestry  on  hf 
father's  side  to  the  founder  of  the  family  \ 
the  New  World,  who  belonged  to  a  prom  I 
nent  family  of  England  dating  from  the  tent' 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


767 


icntury,    and    on   coming  from    that    country 

0  America  located  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  in 
639.  His  descendant  in  the  fifth  generation, 
lylvanus  Beckwith,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
?as  born  in  the  town  of  Lyme,  Conn.,  May 
2,  1742.      He  married  Amy  Sutherland,  born 

1  this  country  in  1743,  and  who  was  of  Scotch 
xtraction.  They  located  upon  a  farm  in  the 
3wn  of  Stanford,  and  all  through  the  Revolu- 
onary  war  he  valiantly  aided  the  colonies  in 
neir  struggle  for  independence,  serving  as  a 
Dldier  in  the  Continental  army.  He  was  called 
cm  this  life  May  30,  1839. 

Nathan  Beckwith,  father  of  our  subject, 
as  born  September  15,  1778,  in  the  town  of 
tanford.  He  married  Betsie  Gale,  a  native 
f  Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  and  a  daughter 
f  Josiah  Gale,  who  came  to  Dutchess  county 
cm  Connecticut.  The  Gale  family  is  of 
nglish  origin,  and  one  of  its  members,  George 
v'.  Gale,  was  the  founder  of  the  city  of  Gales- 
jrg.  111.  In  1807  Mr.  Beckwith  located  upon 
farm  in  the  town  of  Red  Hook  (at  that  time 
part  of  the  town  of  Rhinebeck),  where  he  con- 
lued  to  make  his  home  until  his  death,  March 
1865.  His  political  support  was  given  to 
e  Democratic  party,  and  he  served  his  fellow 
(tizens  as  supervisor  of  the  township  for  many 
;:ars;  he  served  in  the  war  of  181 2  as  lieuten- 
at,  being  stationed  at  Brooklyn  Heights,  and 
Ir  services  in  that  war  received  a  grant  of 
lad  in  Herkimer  county,  N.  Y.;  was  commis- 
5)ned  as  colonel  of  cavalry  by  Gov.  Tompkins 
i  1820.  On  the  occasion  of  the  visit  of  Gen. 
liFayette  to  Dutchess  county,  in  1824,  Mr. 
l;ckwith  was  marshal  of  the  day.  He  was  a 
cissmate  of  President  Martin  Van  Buren  at 
Inderhook  Academy,  and  graduated  as  civil 
tgineer.  With  Prof.  Joseph  Henry  he  sur- 
*yed  a  State  road  from  Hudson  river  to  Lake 
lie,  afterward  adopted  as  the  route  of  the 
lie  railway.  He  was  a  life  member  of  the 
/iierican  Bible  Society,  also  the  Foreign 
Ible  Society,  and  helped  to  organize  the  First 
iptist  Church  of  Red  Hook.  Mrs.  Betsey 
(.le  Beckwith  in  practical  life  maintained  the 
rigious  fervor  and 'devotion  to  Christian  prin- 
C'les  which  characterized  her  Puritan  fore- 
f;hers,  and  was  a  blessing  to  her  family  and 
nghborhood,  ministering  to  the  spiritual  and 
t«poral  wants  of  the  afflicted  until  her  death 
iii838. 

To  Nathan  and  Betsey  Beckwith  were  born 
'  >■  sons    and    three   daughters.     The  eldest 

,  Josiah  Gale,   graduated  from  Union  Col- 


lege, studied  medicine  and  settled  at  Litch- 
field, Conn,  where  he  became  eminent  in  his 
profession.  He  was  president  of  the  State 
Medical  Society,  a  delegate  to  the  National 
Medical  Convention,  and  appointed  by  the 
State  to  the  board  of  medical  examiners  of 
the  insane  at  the  asylum  at  Hartford.  He 
was  elected  several  times  to  the  State  Legisla- 
ture, and  once  nominated  Governor.  In  1831 
he  married  Jane  M.  Seymour,  a  cousin  of 
Governor  Horatio  Seymour,  of  New  York,  and 
died  at  Litchfield  March  4,  1871. 

The  fourth  son,  William  S.  Beckwith,  our 
subject,  was  born  January  14,  1820,  on  his 
present  farm  in  the  town  of  Red  Hook.  He 
attended  the  district  schools  of  the  neighbor- 
hood until  eleven  years  of  age,  when  he  was 
compelled  to  give  up  study  and  turn  his  entire 
attention  to  agriculture,  at  the  same  time  tak- 
ing a  few  winter  terms  study  in  the  Red  Hook 
Academy.  He  is  a  very  intelligent  man,  most 
of  his  knowledge  being  acquired  by  study  at 
night,  and  otherwise,  and  is  well  posted  on  the 
current  events  of  the  day.  On  March  29, 
1848,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ann  M.  Collyer, 
a  native  of  Sing  Sing,  N.  Y.,  and  six  children 
blessed  their  union:  Alice  M.;  Thomas  C. ; 
William,  who  makes  his  home  in  California; 
Amy,  who  married  Armand  De  Potter;  Leila, 
wife  of  Abram  Havens,  a  lawyer  of  New  York 
City;  and  George,  who  died  at  Pella,  Iowa. 
Mr.  Beckwith  is  a  stanch  Democrat,  and  has 
occupied  various  positions  in  his  town,  includ- 
ing that  of  poormaster,  assessor  many  years, 
and  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Red  Hook  in 
1884. 


JEREMIAH  MEAD,  a  leading  dairyman  of 
the  town  of  Pawling,  Dutchess  county, 
noted  for  his  successful  management  of  large 
agricultural  interests,  is  a  descendant  of  one 
of  the  oldest  families  of  Putnam  county,  N.  Y. 
His  ancestors  came  from  England  four  or  five 
generations  ago,  and  made  their  home  on  what 
was  then  a  frontier  line  in  the  town  of  Kent, 
Putnam  county,  where  their  descendants  have 
been  prominent  in  different  lines  of  life.  Jere- 
miah Mead,  our  subject's  grandfather,  had  so 
strong  a  liking  for  the  free  life  of  a  pioneer 
that  he  left  his  fine  farm  of  300  acres,  in  1845, 
to  go  with  his  family  to  the  vicinity  of  Fond 
du  Lac,  Wis.,  then  a  wilderness,  where  he  en- 
tered a  large  tract  of  land,  upon  which  he 
passed  his  remaining  years,  dying  in  1888,   at 


768 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPBWAL  RECORD. 


I 


the  age  of  ninety  years.  His  wife  was  Sarah 
Barrett,  a  member  of  another  old  family  living 
near  Lake  Mahopac.  They  had  seven  chil- 
dren: Major,  Milan,  Morris,  Mrs.  Mahala 
Metcalf,  Moses,  Minerva  (who  married  James 
Huyatt),  and  Marrilla  (who  married  Henry 
Merrick).  Major  had  several  sons  who  are 
now  occupying  prominent  positions  in  Wis- 
consin. 

Morris  Mead  (our  subject's  father),  who 
was  born  in  1817,  was  the  only  one  of  the 
family  to  remain  in  Putnam  county,  and  there 
passed  his  entire  life,  following  farming  as  an 
occupation.  He  possessed  the  characteristic 
good  sense  of  the  Mead  family,  and  was  highly 
esteemed  in  the  neighborhood.  He  was  a  lead- 
ing Baptist,  helping  to  found  their  Church  in 
his  vicinity,  and  holding  the  office  of  deacon 
for  many  years.  He  married  Sarah  Hyatt, 
daughter  of  James  Hyatt,  a  well-known  resi- 
dent of  Putnam  county.  His  death  occurred 
in  1853;  that  of  his  wife  in  1890.  Of  their 
seven  children  only  three  are  living.  Cather- 
ine died  in  childhood;  Marilda  is  the  wife  of 
Eli  Smalley,  resides  in  Fishkill,  and  has  one 
son,  Charles,  who  is  now  an  attorney.  Peter 
and  Sarah  Ophelia  died  in  childhood;  Jere- 
miah is  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Jennie  died 
in  1876;  andRoselle  lives  in  the  town  of  Dover >- 

Jeremiah  Mead  was  born  at  the  old  home- 
stead in  Putnam  county.  May  9,  1843,  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  district  schools  of 
that  locality.  Being  left  fatherless  at  the  age 
of  ten  years,  he  was  obliged  to  take  up  the 
serious  business  of  life  while  still  a  boy  in 
years.  At  thirteen  he  left  home  to  work  upon  a 
farm,  for  which  he  received  during  his  first  year 
$15  and  his  winter's  schooling.  For  a  number 
of  years  he  continued  to  work  for  wages  for 
eight  months,  and  attending  school  during  the 
winter.  When  he  was  twenty-four  he  returned 
home  and  worked  the  farm  for  two  years,  and 
then  sold  his  interest  to  his  brother.  In  1869 
he  took  the  old  Deacon  Campbell  homestead 
on  shares,  and  has  now  conducted  it  for  twenty- 
seven  years,  adding  land  from  time  to  time 
until  he  has  400  acres  under  his  control.  He 
makes  a  specialty  of  dairying,  and  is  very  suc- 
cessful in  that  line.  He  owns  a  farm  of  250 
acres  near  Danbury,  Conn.,  where  he  keeps 
fifty  cows  and  other  stock. 

The  Mead  family  has  always  taken  a  pa- 
triotic stand  upon  public  questions,  and  from 
the  grandfather  down  they  became  ardent  sup- 
porters of  the  Republican  party  upon  its  forma- 


tion. Mr.  Mead  has  been  active  in  local  poli- 
tics,  and  was  supervisor  in  1891,  1892  and 
1893,  serving  as  chairman  of  the  committee 
on  equalization  of  taxes.  He  was  also  com- 
missioner of  highways  for  two  years.  He  is  a 
ready  helper  in  every  worthy  cause,  and  be- 
longs to  the  Baptist  Church. 

In  1866  our  subject  married  Miss  Amanda 
Light,  daughter  of  Putnam  Light,  who  was 
born  in  Genesee  county,  N.  Y.,  April  11,  18 12, 
in  which  same  year  his  mother  died,  and  he 
was  then  reared  by  his  uncle,  Samuel  Hawk- 
ins. He  attended  the  public  schools,  and  then 
worked  on  a  farm.  In  1839  he  married  Miss 
E.  M.  Smith,  and  they  had  four  children,  viz.: 
Cordelia,  who  lives  with  Mrs.  Mead;  Amanda 
(Mrs.  Mead);  Edgar  D.,  farming  the  old  home- 
stead in  Putnam  county;  and  Ellen  M.,  wife 
of  James  H.  Cole,  residing  in  Danbury.  The 
mother  of  these  died  August  20,  1853,  and  in 
November,  1854,  Mr.  Light  married  Miss  A. 
J.  Light,  by  whom  he  had  three  children: 
Henry  C,  who  died  in  infancy;  Emma  C.  and 
Willis  E.,  both  following  teaching,  the  latter 
being  a  graduate  of  Eastman  Business  Col- 
lege. Mr.  Light  died  March  7,  1888,  in  full 
membership  with  the  Baptist  Church.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  a  Democrat,  and  he  served  as  as- 
sessor three  terms.  He  was  a  self-made  man, 
and  accumulated  a  comfortable  competence, 
was  well  liked  and  generally  respected. 


ILLIAM  H.  HAIGHT,  proprietor  of 
Haight's  Sale  and  Transient  Stables, 
Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  No- 
vember 30,  1839,  in  the  town  of  New  Paltz, 
Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  and  there  passed  his  boy- 
hood days,  attending  the  Butterville  districi 
school  and  New  Paltz  Academy.  Later,  foi 
two  terms,  he  studied  at  the  Nine  Partner; 
(Quaker)  School,  near  Millbrook,  Dutches; 
county,  receiving,  in  all,  a  good  education. 

Mr.  Haight  remained  on  his  father's  farn 
until  of  age,  at  which  time  h«  commenced  tbi 
droving   of    cattle    and    sheep,   purchasing  ii 
Canada  and   throughout  the  Western  States 
and  finding  his  markets  in  all  the  larger  cen 
ters  of   this  country,  as  well  as  selling  man 
"  store  cattle  "  in  the  Hudson  river  counties   < 
In  1 878-79,  during  the  great  Leadville  (Colo.   | 
silver  excitement,  he  sold    horses,   mules  an    i 
cattle  in   Denver  and  Leadville.     In  i88oh 
took    up    his   residence  in    Chicago,   111.,  an] 
engaged  in  the    manufacture   of   tinware  anf 


COMMEMORATIVE  BTOORAPfflCAL  RECORD. 


760 


iware  machinery,  owning  some  patents  that 

used  a  revolution  in  the  manufacture  of  tin- 

ure,  which  machines  are  successfully  used  to 

e  present  day.      In  this  industry  he  employed 

fim  seventy  to  lOO  men  and  at  the  same  time 

1  owned  a  membership  on  the  Chicago  Board 

(  Trade,  in  which  his  deals  proved  highly  sat- 

iactory  to  both  himself  and  others. 

At  the  end  of  two  years  Mr.  Haight  re- 
trned  east,  and,  in  1882,  opened  his  present 
I  arding  and  sale  stables  in  Poughkeepsie,  in 
\iich  he  has  met  with  well-merited  success, 
sthis  writing  owning  the  largest  establishment 
c  the  kind  in  the  city.  He  also  owns  a  275- 
sre  farm  near  the  corporation  line,  with  a 
tickyard  attached,  all  of  which  are  running 
sccessfully  under  his  personal  supervision. 

Our  subject  was  brought  up  under  the  influ- 
ece  and  in  the  strict  lines  of  the  Hicksite- 
^laker  faith,  which  has  had  its  influence  in 
gverning  all  the  turning  points  of  his  life; 
Dver  seeking  public  office  or  becoming  a  mem- 
br  of  any  secret  society;  never  feeling  at  home 
iiany  Church  that  was  not  governed  by  the 
Icksite  rule —  "Do  unto  others  as  you  would 
b  done  by" — inspiration,  he  says,  is  the  only 
tie  teacher,  and  should  govern  all  faith. 
'  )we  no  man,  and  love  one  another,"  is  the 
wtchword  in  all  his  business  relations. 

When  a  very  young  man  Mr.  Haight  was 
n  rried,  which  marriage,  not  proving  a  happy 
0;,  was  divorced.  He  then  wedded  Elma 
(<ughter  of  Isaac  G.  Sands),  whose  death, 
aar  ten  years  of  uninterrupted  happiness, 
cised  much  the  greatest  sorrow  of  his  life. 
Ce  child,  Meda,  was  born  to  them,  June  7, 

John  N.  Haight,  our  subject's  father,  was 
b'H  in  Stanford,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where 
hdived  until  fourteen  years  of  age.  His  par- 
eis,  Amos  and  Eunice  (Northrop)  Haight,  of 
A  enia,  N.  Y. ,  dying  when  he  was  fourteen 
y<rs  of  age,  John  N.  Haight  apprenticed  him- 
se  to  Rowland  De  Garmo,  at  New  Paltz, 
Uter  county,  in  order  to  learn  the  tanner's 
ail  currier's  trade.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
sesn  he  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Rowland 
K  employer)  and  Phebe  De  Garmo,  and,  be- 
^ii^s  our  subject,  they  had  two  daughters, 
E;a  and  Mary,  who  married  and  settled  in 
O.nge  county,  N.  Y.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
or  William  H.  Haight  found  his  parents  in 
stightened  circumstances,  but  by  diligence 
ar  economy  he  placed  them  and  his  sisters 
beond  want,  and  then  commenced  the  battle 

40 


of  life  for  himself.  Recently,  when  asked  how 
hard  times  affected  him,  his  answer  was  that 
only  those  who  spend  their  money  before  they 
earn  it  cry  about  "  hard  times." 


CsHARLES  G.  CUTLER.  The  ancestors 
_,'!  of  the  Cutler  family  were  among  the  early 
settlers  of  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, and  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  William  Cutler,  was  born  there  in 
1760.  That  locality  was  then  a  wilderness, 
and  his  youth  was  spent  amid  the  scenes  of 
pioneer  life,  in  which  he  took  an  active  part. 
He  traced  his  ancestry  back  to  one  of  three 
brothers — James,  Otis  and  John  Cutler — who 
came  over  in  the  "Mayflower."  William 
Cutler  lived  to  a  good  old  age.  dying  in  1S42. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Gifford,  of  Pawling, 
Dutchess  county,  and  had  nine  children,  (i) 
Bigelow,  a  farmer  near  Jamestown,  N.  Y., 
married  Miss  Dennis,  and  had  four  children — 
W'illiam,  Thursa  (Mrs.  Johnson),  Eliza  and 
Nancy.  (2)  Abigail  married  Thomas  Tomp- 
kins, a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Dover,  and  had 
two  sons — Enoch,  who  married  Tabitha  Hum- 
phrey, and  William  H. ,  who  married  Abbie 
Humphrey.  (3)  Thomas  C.  married,  and  was 
the  father  of  five  children,  all  now  deceased 
excepting  George,  who  is  a  physician  in  Cali- 
fornia. (4)  Calvin  C.  is  mentioned  below. 
(5)  Robie  married  Isaac  Northrup,  a  farmer  at 
Copake,  N.  Y.,  and  had  two  children — Will- 
iam and  Ella.  (6)  Thurza  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-seven.  (7)  Mahala  did  not  marry. 
(8)  William  S.,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  1805  at  the  old  homestead  in  Dover, 
where  he  received  his  education.  He  followed 
farming  from  an  early  age,  and  was  a  promi- 
nent man  in  that  locality  ;  he  supported  the 
Democratic  party,  and  held  a  number  of  town- 
ship offices,  including  that  of  assessor.  In 
1858  he  married  Miss  Irene  H.  Brush,  daugh- 
ter of  Amos  Brush,  a  well-known  farmer  of 
New  Fairfield,  Conn.  They  had  three  chil- 
dren: William  B.,  Charles  G.  and  Hattie. 
William  was  born  in  1859,  and  after  complet- 
ing his  education  at  Wilbraham,  Mass.,  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  business  at  Dover  Furnace, 
where  he  also  holds  the  position  of  station 
agent.  He  is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M., 
Lodge  No.  666,  of  Dover.  He  married  Miss 
Marie  Sparks,  of  Poughkeepsie,  but  they  have 
no  living  children.      Hattie,    the  youngest  of 


770 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHWAL  RECORD. 


the  trio,  was  born  in  1869,  and  was  educated 
at  Wilbraham,  Mass. ;  she  married  Otis  Ar- 
nold, a  hotel  keeper,  who  conducted  the  rail- 
road restaurant  at  Pawling  for  a  number  of 
years.  They  have  one  daughter,  Marjorie. 
William  S.,  the  father,  died  May  26,   1888. 

Charles  G.  Cutler,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  November  2,  1861,  and 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  the  town  of 
Dover,  and  of  Wilbraham,  Mass.  He  is  a 
leading  farmer  in  that  town,  and  active  in  local 
affairs,  holding  public  office  at  different  times. 
He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  order,  Dover  Lodge 
No.  666,  and  at  present  is  senior  warden.  He 
married  Miss  Nellie  Stevens,  daughter  of 
Thomas  A.  Stevens,  a  prominent  farmer  of 
Dover,  and  they  have  two  children,  Howard 
S.,  born  in  1888,  and  Irene  H.,  born  in  1893. 

Calvin  Cutler,  the  son  of  William  and  Eliz- 
abeth fOifford)  Cutler,  was  born  in  1797,  and 
enjoyed  the  usual  educational  advantages  of  a 
country  boy  in  those  days.  He  engaged  in 
farming  in  Dover,  purchasing  an  estate  which 
is  now  owned  by  his  son,  Frank.  His  wife, 
Keziah  Varney,  was  the  daughter  of  John  Var- 
ney,  one  of  the  well-to-do  farmers  of  that 
neighborhood.  They  had  eight  children,  of 
whom  the  first,  John,  and  the  last,  Jerome, 
died  in  infancy.  The  others  are:  Eleazer 
and  Elihu  (twins),  born  in  1825;  Priscilla, 
1827;  Mary,  1828;  Sarah,  1830;  and  Frank 
M.  Eleazer  Cutler  was  married  in  1853  to 
Amaranth  Eggleston,  of  Dover  Plains,  who 
was  born  in  1828.      They  have  three  children. 

Frank  Cutler  was  born  in  1832  at  the  old 
farm,  and  after  attending  the  common  schools 
for  some  years  completed  his  studies  at  a 
boarding  school  in  Connecticut.  He  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed  for 
more  than  twenty  years;  but  after  the  purchase 
of  the  present  homestead  he  took  charge  of  it. 
An  active  worker  in  public  affairs,  he  has  held 
several  town  offices,  including  that  of  collector, 
and  he  belongs  to  Dover  Plains  Lodge  No. 
666,  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  which  he  was  trustee  for 
many  years.  He  married  Elizabeth  Carey,  a 
daughter  of  Jeremiah  Carey,  a  prosperous  farm- 
er of  Connecticut,  and  has  had  three  children: 
(i)  George,  who  was  born  in  1865,  was  educated 
at  Dover  Plains  Academy,  and  taught  in  Dover 
for  some  time.  He  has  now  been  employed 
in  the  New  York  post  office  for  ten  years. 
Like  his  father,  he  is  a  Mason,  and  belongs  to 
the  Royal  Arcanum.  He  married  Miss  Bertha 
Dutcher,  daughter  of  J.  Van  Ness  Dutcher,  a 


well-known    agriculturist    of    Dover,    and   his 
wife  Harriet,  and  they  have  one  child,  Ethel. 
(2)  John  was  born  in  1868,  and   also  taught 
school  for  a  time,  but  since   1890  he  has  been 
in  the  U.  S.  mail  service  on  the  N.  Y.  C.  &  H. 
R.  R. ,  from  New  York  to  Syracuse.     He  belongs 
to  Dover  Plains  Lodge   No.  666,  F.  &  A.  M. 
He  married  Miss  Sarah   Dutcher,  daughter  of 
one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  his  native  town, 
John    L  Dutcher,   and   his  wife,  Ada  C.     (3 
Fred,  the  youngest  son,  was  born  in  1872,  am 
was  given  the   same    educational    advantage 
that  his  brothers  had.     Since  his  graduation  h 
has  been  engaged  in  farming  with  his  father 
He  married  Miss  Mary  Northrup,  daughter  c 
Edwin  R.  and  Mary  Northrup,  who  are  prom 
inent  residents  of  the  same  township. 

Mrs.  Frank  N.  Cutler  is   a   member  of  a 
old  Connecticut  family,  and   her  grandfathei 
Jeremiah  Carey,  was  a  prosperous  agriculturif 
of  Fairfield  county.      He  and  his  wife,  Eunic 
Odell,  had  eight  children:     James  is  the  eldest 
Eliasisan  inventor;  Robert  died  at  an  early  agi 
Lockwood:  Lucretia  (Mrs.    Robert  Chestnut 
Artemisia  (Mrs.  David  Waldron);  Sarah  (Mr: 
Orin  Benson),  and  Jeremiah  (Mrs.  Cutler's  f< 
ther).    He  was  born  and  reared  in  Fairfield  com 
ty.  Conn. , engaged  in  farming  there,  and  marrie 
Miss  Salina  Hunter,  daughter  of  a  well-know 
farmer  of  the  same  locality,  Joseph   Hunte 
and   his  wife,    Sylvia.     Mrs.    Cutler  was  tl 
second  in   a  family  of  si.x  children.     The  el' 
est,  Julia,  married  (first)  Charles  Hinman,  ar 
(second)  Fred  Bergman.      She  has  two  son 
Leman    Hinman   and   Frank   Bergman.     Tl 
third  daughter,  Orvilla,  married  Henry  Ebet 
and   has   five   children:     Henry,  Will,  Salin 
Charles  and  Walter.      Sarah  J.  Carey  marrii 
Stephen    R.    Scott,    and    had    six    childre 
Alida  (Mrs.  Oscar  Smith);  Abraham,  who  ma 
ried  Mina  Decker;  George,  who  married  Abt 
Decker;  Lillie  (Mrs.  William   Decker);  Can 
(Mrs.   Robert   Holly),  and  Gertie,  who  is  n 
married.    George  Carey  married  Mary  Trainc 
and  has  four  children — William,  Charles,  Mi 
nie,  the  wife  of  Harry  Dougherty,  and  Blancl" 
Silas  S.  Carey  married  Laura  Conklin,  andh 
three  sons:     Frank,  who  married  Laura  Mo 
Fred,  who  married  Edith  Wheeler,   and  Clf 
ton,  who  is  unmarried. 

The  Brush  family,  to  which  the  mother 
our  subject  belonged,  counts  among  its  me 
bers  many  who  have  attained  distinction 
various  walks  of  life.  Amos  Brush,  thegre 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  soldier  in  I 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPEICAL  BECORD. 


771 


evolutionary  army.  He  was  born  in  Fair- 
aid  county,  Conn.,  and  had  his  home  there 
1  his  life.  He  married  Miss  Hannah  Bearss, 
id  had  eight  children:  Ezra,  who  married 
,  etsey  Bearss;  Amos,  Mrs.  Cutler's  father; 
my,  the  wife  of  Dr.  Isaac  Knapp;  Hannah 
.Irs.  Smith);  Esther  (Mrs.  Amos  Chapman); 
da,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Bailey,  a  Revolutionary 
:)ldier;  Mary,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty, 
id  Eli,  who  married  Rilla  Davis. 

Amos  Brush,  Jr. ,  was  born  in  New  Fairfield, 

onn.,  in  1798,  and,  after  obtaining  an  educa- 

>\\  in  the  local  schools,  he  engaged  in  farm- 

t;.      He  married  Miss  Aurilla  Barnum,  daugh- 

r  of  Ephraim  and   Sarah   (Seeley)  Barnum, 

i  Bethel,  Conn.,  and  had  seven  children:     (i) 

liza  married  Daniel  Duncan,  and  has  had  six 

iiildren:     Austin,  Ale.x,  Theo,  William,  Irene 

ad  John,  of  whom  only  Theo   and   William 

now  living.     (2)    George   never   married. 

Austin  married  H.  Lucetta  Rogers,  and  has 

o  children:  Edward,  William  and  Ella. 
If  William  is  mentioned  below.  (5)  Irene 
'IS  the  mother  of  our  subject.  (6)  Augustus 
ns  prominent  in  public  life,  and  was  State 
shool  commissioner  for  six  years;  member  of 
le  Assembly  from  Dutchess  county  two  terms; 
cent  for  the  United  States  Treasury  for  some 
tne;  an  employe  of  the  New  York  Custom 
louse  for  twelve  years,  and  from  1880  to  1891 
MS  warden  of  Sing  Sing  prison.  He  married 
iisan  Senserbaugh,  and  had  five  children: 
<;orge,  Alice,  Irene,  Augusta  and  Fred.  (7) 
larriet  married  Cornelius  Hill,  and  had  three 
cildren:     Irene,  Ernest  and  George. 

(4)  Rev.  William  Brush,  D.  D.,  Mrs.  Cut- 
I's  brother,  was  born  in  New  Fairfield,  Conn., 
l:bruary  19,  1827,  and  died  in  Englewood, 
(licago.  111.,  April  29,  1895,  having  but  a  few 
\;eks  before  passed  the  sixty-eighth  milestone 
i  his  life's  journey.  It  is  to  the  circumstances, 
ciociations  and  surroundings  of  his  early  life 
tat  we  must  look  for  the  elements  that  pro- 
ceed his  strong  character.  Born  and  reared 
'<■  he  was  among  the  rocks  and  hills,  the  looms 
«d  spindles  of  New  England,  we  find  in  him 
ts  qualities  of  energy,  industry,  self-denial 
perseverance.  Puritan  blood  flowed  in 
I  i  veins,  and  loyal  patriotism  fired  his  soul. 
1  his  student  days  he  sacrified  the  ordinary 
pjasures  and  even  conveniences  of  life  that 
fc  might  furnish  his  mind  with  higher  and 
rbler  attainments.  True  to  his  youthful  am- 
tion,  by  dint  of  earnest  toil  and  hard  study 
t  returned  at  the  early  age  of  twenty  to  knock 


at  the  door  of  Yale  College  for  admission  to 
the  sophomore  class.  In  the  three  remaining 
years  he  completed  the  full  classical  course 
with  high  rank  in  scholarship.  In  October, 
1850,  following  his  graduation,  he  was  married 
to  Electa  J.  Brush,  the  trusted  and  beloved 
companion  of  his  after  years.  They  had  three 
children:  Frank,  a  minister;  Darley,  a  banker, 
and  Hattie,  who  married  Dr.  O.  E.  Murray. 
Dr.  Brush's  active  work  in  the  ministry  began, 
in  185 1,  in  the  New  York  Conference,  of  which 
he  was  a  member,  and  served  successful  pas- 
torates until  1858,  when  he  took  a  transfer  to 
the  Upper  Iowa  Conference,  and  was  appointed 
pastor  of  the  M.  E.  Church  at  Dyersville.  In 
i860  he  was  called  to  the  presidency  of  Upper 
Iowa  University,  at  Fayette,  Iowa,  which  po- 
sition he  held  for  nine  successive  years.  En- 
tering again  upon  the  active  work  of  the  min- 
istry, he  served  a  four-years'  term  as  presiding 
elder  of  the  Charles  City  district.  In  1873, 
finding  the  rigor  of  the  northern  winter  too 
severe  for  his  wife's  health,  he  decided  to 
move  south,  and  became  presiding  elder  of  the 
Austin,  Tex.,  district.  From  the  result  of  his 
eight-years'  labor  in  this  field  the  Austin  Con- 
ference was  formed.  In  1881  he  removed 
north,  and  filled  appointments  again  as  pastor 
of  the  churches  at  Maquoketa  and  Vinton, 
Iowa.  In  1885  he  removed  to  Dakota,  and 
became  one  of  the  founders  and  first  president 
of  Dakota  University,  which  position  he  occu- 
pied for  six  years,  or  until  his  appointment  in 

1 89 1,  by  President  Harrison,  as  U.  S.  Consul 
to  Messina,  Italy. 

On  his  return  from  his  foreign  mission  in 

1892,  he  was  elected  chancellor  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  the  Northwest,  at  Sioux  City,  Iowa, 
where  he  labored  until  a  few  months  previous 
to  his  death.  He  assisted  in  laying  the  foun- 
dation of  three  colleges  in  the  West,  and  when 
the  history  of  these  institutions  are  written 
fifty  years  hence,  such  men  as  Dr.  Brush  will 
receive  due  credit  for  the  sacrifices  made  in 
their  behalf.  The  Churches  and  the  cause  of 
education  are  indebted  to  him  for  forty-four 
long  years  of  eminent  and  efficient  service, 
eighteen  years  as  college  president  and  twenty- 
six  years  in  the  ministry,  during  which  time 
his  name  has  been  associated  with  many  im- 
portant issues  and  undertakings.  On  several 
occasions  he  acted  as  chaplain  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  in  Washington,  D.  C. ,  and 
officiated  in  the  same  capacity  at  the  National 
Republican  Convention  in  1892.     Five  times 


772 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHWAL  RECORD. 


was  he  elected  delegate  to  the  General  Con- 
ference of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  once  re- 
ceived a  large  vote  for  the  office  of  bishop. 


JUSTUS  P.  REYNOLDS,  a  leading  and 
progressive  citizen  of  the  town  of  Amenia, 
Dutchess  county,  was  there  born  on  what 
is  now  known  as  the  J.  O.  Peters  place,  Jan- 
uary 24,  1833,  and  belongs  to  a  family  that 
was  established  in  this  country  soon  after  the 
landing  of  the  pilgrims  at  Plymouth  Rock. 
The  first  to  arrive  in  the  New  World  was  Rob- 
ert Reynolds,  a  native  of  England,  who  was 
living  in  Watertown,  Mass.,  in  1634,  and  later 
became  a  resident  of  Boston.  His  son,  Na- 
thaniel Reynolds,  was  born  in  that  State,  and 
in  1680  emigrated  to  Bristol,  R.  I.,  becoming 
one  of  its  first  settlers.  He  had  previously 
married  Priscilla  Brackett,  and  their  son  Jos- 
eph was  born  in  Massachusetts,  December  20, 
1676,  and  died  January  16,  1759.  The  latter 
wedded  Phoebe  Leonard,  and  among  their 
children  was  Joseph  Reynolds,  who  was  born 
in  Rhode  Island,  November  15,  17 19,  and  died 
September  14,  1789.  He  married  Lydia 
Greenwood. 

Joseph  Reynolds  was  a  prominent  patriot 
during  the  Revolutionary  war.  Gen.  LaFayette 
stayed  at  his  housp  during  the  occupancy  of 
the  town  of  Bristol.  Later,  when  the  British 
took  the  place,  Mr.  Reynolds  and  his  servant 
were  taken  prisoners  and  confined  in  a  prison- 
ship  in  the  harbor.  He  suffered  great  priva- 
tions in  that  vermin-infested  ship,  but  was 
finally  exchanged  for  a  British  officer.  Gen. 
LaFayette  visited  him  on  his  return  to  America 
in  1824.  The  house  in  which  he  was  enter- 
tained was  built  (according  to  the  history  of 
the  town)  about  the  year  1700,  and  is  still 
standing  in  a  fine  state  of  preservation,  and  is 
owned  and  occupied  by  one  of  his  descendants. 
The  room  in  which  Gen.  LaFayette  slept  is 
preserved  in  its  original  state. 

George  Reynolds,  the  son  of  Joseph  and 
Lydia  (Greenwood)  Reynolds,  was  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject.  He  was  born  at  Bristol, 
R.  I.,  November  7,  1756,  and  at  that  place 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Abigail  Peck,  by 
whom  he  had  five  children:  Jonathan  P., 
Lydia,  George,  Joseph,  and  Abigail,  who  mar- 
ried Philo  Reed.  In  1794  the  grandfather 
came  to  the  town  of  Amenia,  Dutchess  county, 
locating  upon  a  farm  near  the  village  of 
Amenia,  where    he    engaged    in    agricultural 


pursuits  until  his   death,    which  occurred  in 
April,  1808. 

George  Reynolds,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  also  a  native  of  Bristol,  R.  I.,  born  No- 
vember 15,  1788,  received  a  district  school 
education,  and  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  for  some  years.  At  Amenia  was  celebrated 
his  marriage.  May  26,  18 19,  with  Miss  Abigail 
Pennoyer,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Pennoyer,  and 
to  them  were  born  four  children,  namely: 
George  Greenwood,  born  February  7,  r82i,  is 
an  e,x-judge  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  Caroline,  bom 
January  23,  1826,  died  March  28,  1829;  Mary, 
born  May  18,  1830,  became  the  wife  of  George 
Kirby,  and  died  October  i  5,  1874;  Justus  Pow- 
ers, subject  of  this  sketch,  completes  the  family. 
After  his  marriage  the  father  bought  the  Peters 
farm,  north  of  Amenia  village,  where  he  lived 
until  1834,  when  he  purchased  the  E.  J.  Pres- 
ton place,  south  of  Amenia,  there  dying  Jan- 
uary 31,  1873,  in  the  faith  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  His  political  support  was 
first  given  the  Whig  and,  later,  the  Republican 
party,  and  he  acceptably  served  as  assessor  of 
his  town.  He  was  a  straightforward,  honor- 
able man,  who  had  the  confidence  and  esteem 
of  all  who  knew  him. 

Justus  P.  Reynolds  spent  his  boyhood  days 
in  the  town  of  Amenia,  and  acquired  his  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools  and  the  Amenia 
Seminary.  In  1 860  he  purchased  the  Jordan 
farm,  near  South  Amenia,  where  he  made  his 
home,  until  removing  to  his  present  place  neai 
the  same  village  in  1869.  He  has  continuec 
to  follow  the  occupation  to  which  he  was 
reared,  with  results  that  are  satisfactory;  tht 
reward  of  well-directed  labors. 

In  the  town  of  Amenia,  January  31,  1863. 
Mr.  Reynolds  led  to   the   marriage  altar  Mis; 
Nancy    Barlow,   daughter    of    Elisha   Barlow 
and  to  them  were  born  six  children:     George 
who   married    Clarabel  Williams,  daughter  o 
William  Williams,  and  has  two  children,  How 
ard  B.  and   Edward   D.;  Abbie   L. ;  Lucy  B. 
wife  of  John  T.  Sackett,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  ' 
by  whom  she  has  one  daughter,  Justine  R. ;  Ed  ( 
ward    G. ;  Francis  B. ;  and   Bertha   May,  de 
ceased.      Mr.  Reynolds  affiliated  with  Shako 
meko    Lodge,  when  it  was  at   Mabbettsville 
Dutchess  county.      In  politics  he  is  independ- 
ent, voting  for  the   man  whom  he  thinks  bes 
qualified  to  fill  the  office,  regardless   of  part; 
ties,  but  favors  Democratic  principles.   He  take  1 
a  commendable  interest  in  the  prosperity  amj 
advancement  of  his  native  county. 


i 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


778 


|T|FILLIAM  B.  ROE  (deceased)  was  born 
Vjc  at  New  Hackensack,  Dutchess  county, 
October  17,  1819,  and  was  of  English  ex- 
raction.  His  father,  William  Roe,  whose 
>irth  occurred  June  26,  1790,  was  married  in 
S12  to  Miss  Abby  Blatchley,  who  was  born 
1  Connecticut  December  27,  1788,  and  they 
)cated  upon  a  farm  in  New  Hackensack, 
.here  their  four  children  were  born,  namely: 
(jseph  B.,  who  died  in  infancy;  William  B.; 
ohn  B. ,  who  became  a  merchant  of  Mary- 
md;  and  Sarah,  who  married  Gilbert  Has- 
rouck,  a  farmer  of  Michigan.  The  family 
ere  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 

Upon    the   farm    where    his    widow    now 
jsides,  William   B.    Roe  passed  his  boyhood 
nd  youth  in  much  the  usual  manner  of  farmer 
ids,   and  on    November    11,     1846,    married 
[iss  Amanda  Anderson,   who  was  born  in  the 
)wn  of  East  Fishkill,  on  the  farm  known  as 
Locust  Dale,  "  which  was  also  the  birthplace 
f  her  father,   Peter  Anderson.      Si.x  children 
ere  born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife:     Abby 
.,  who  died  May  19,  1852;  Sarah  E.;   Annie 
.;  Ella  K.,  who  died  October  25.  1862;  Will- 
m  A.,  who  died  August  21,  1865;  and  Win- 
red  A. 
At  his  childhood  home,  Mr.  Roe  continued 
live  until  his  earthly  career  was  ended  June 
1873,  when  he  passed   to  his  reward.      In 
■innection  with  general  farming   he  also  dealt 
•.:tensively  in  stock  of  all   kinds,   buying  and 
lling  horses,  cattle,  etc.,  and  did  a  profitable 
isiness  along  that  line  up  to  the  time  of  his 
ath.      His  ballot  was  always  cast  in  support 
the  men  and  measures  of  the  Democratic 
irty,  and  he  took  a  commendable  interest  in 
iblic  affairs.      With  his  estimable    wife,   he 
i;ld  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
•hurch,  and  faithfully  followed  its  teachings. 
-I  all  the  relations  of  life  he  was  honorable  and 
wight,  never  seeking  to  take  advantage  of 
•  hers,  and  enjoyed  the  confidence  and  respect 

<  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  He 
Jft  a  comfortable   property,  including  a  farm 

<  225  acres,  on  which  his  wife  and  daughters 
iside.  They  are  intelligent  and  highly  cul- 
Ired  ladies,  and  have  many  friends  through- 

^Mhe  community. 

HfcwiN  L.  BUSHNELL,  a  prominent  citi- 
Jt4l  zen  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county, 
te  inventor  of  the  Bushnell  spring  bed,  and 
iunder  of  the  Bushnell  Manufacturing  Com- 


pany, was  born  March  8,  1822,  in  Stanford, 
Dutchess  county. 

His  family  is  of  English  origin,  and  he 
traces  his  lineage  to  one  of  three  brothers  who 
came  from  Saybrook,  England,  at  an  early 
date,  the  Bushnells  of  New  Haven,  Conn., 
and  of  Ohio,  being  also  their  descendants. 
Alvah  Bushnell,  our  subject's  father,  was  born 
in  Litchfield  county.  Conn.,  in  1796,  and  in 
1 8 17  came  to  Dutchess  county,  and  engaged 
in  mercantile  business;  but  after  two  years  in 
Stanfordville  and  two  in  Bangall,  he  gave  up 
that  occupation  to  conduct  a  hotel  at  Pulver's 
Corners,  remaining  there  three  years.  He 
then  bought  the  property  known  as  the  Solon 
Lapham  farm,  where  he  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  days  as  a  successful  farmer.  He  mar- 
ried Mr.  Lapham 's  daughter,  Melinda,  and  had 
three  children,  Julia,  Edwin  L. ,  and  Tamma 
Josephine.  He  was  an  active  worker  in  the 
Republican  party,  also  in  all  local  movements 
of  importance,  and  was  a  regular  attendant  of 
the  Baptist  Church  at  Bangall.  His  death 
occurred  November  16,  1865  ;  his  wife  died 
October  28,  1861. 

Edwin  L.  Bushnell,  our  subject,  attended 
the  district  schools  of  his  vicinity  in  boyhood, 
and  then  studied  for  one  winter  at  Amenia 
Seminary.  At  seventeen  he  was  obliged  to 
leave  school,  but  he  has  always  been  an  ex- 
tensive reader;  and  is  an  unusually  well-in- 
formed man.  He  remained  at  home  until  the 
age  of  twenty-three,  when  he  left  the  farm  on 
account  of  ill  health  and  entered  the  Pough- 
keepsie Iron  Co. ,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the 
three  first  stockholders  on  the  organization  of 
the  company,  October  31,  1848.  This  com- 
pany owned  the  first  anthracite  furnace  built 
east  of  the  Alleghanies,  and  Mr.  Bushnell 
personally  supervised  its  construction.  In 
1850  he  retired  to  take  the  business  manage- 
ment of  the  American  R.  R.  Chair  Co.,  and  in 
their  interest  he  spent  the  winter  of  1851-52 
in  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  four  months  of  1852 
in  Montreal,  Canada.  His  mother's  failing 
health  caused  him  to  sever  his  relations  with 
this  company,  and  return  to  Poughkeepsie. 
In  1852  he  undertook  the  selling  of  patents, 
and  visited  Bangor,  Maine,  and  Portsmouth, 
N.  H.,  with  a  patent  window-blind  hinge.  He 
had  been  for  some  time  engaged  in  perfecting 
the  invention,  of  which  he  has  since  made  such 
a  distinguished  success;  but  like  most  in- 
ventors he  was  obliged  to  follow  occupations 
which  were  less  congenial,  though   more  re- 


It 


774 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


munerative,  than  fashioning  models.  A  brief 
venture  in  the  real-estate  business  in  Boston 
was  followed  by  a  few  months  in  the  lumber 
trade  with  an  uncle  in  New  York  City;  but  in 
the  fall  of  1853  this  business  was  closed  out, 
and  Mr.  Bushnell  became  connected  with  the 
Lord's  Prayer  Association  in  the  same  city. 
The  winter  of  1853-54  he  spent  in  Richmond, 
Va.,  selling  machinery.  In  the  spring  of  1855 
he  married  Miss  Sarah  Jane  Sherman,  of  Cam- 
bridge, Washington  county,  N.  Y.,  and  settled 
upon  the  old  homestead  farm.  Three  chil- 
dren were  born  of  this  union:  Jennie,  now  at 
home;  James  S.,  a  resident  of  Seattle,  Wash.; 
and  Edwin  M.,  the  treasurer  and  general  man- 
ager of  the  Bushnell  Manufacturing  Co.,  at 
Easton,  Pennsylvania. 

In  i860  Mr.  Bushnell  went  to  New  Pres- 
ton, Conn.,  and  engaged  in  a  mercantile  busi- 
ness; he  contributed  largely  to  the  support  of 
families  whose  fathers  were  in  the  army  dur- 
ing the  Rebellion.  In  the  fall  of  1865  he  sold 
his  business  in  New  Preston,  and  returned  to 
Poughkeepsie,  where  in  the  spring  of  1866  he 
purchased  the  house  in  which  he  still  resides. 
He  began  the  manufacture  of  scythe  riffles,  and 
patented  a  mowing-machine  sharpener,  which 
he  sold  in  1869,  when  he  commenced  manu- 
facturing his  own  invention,  making  a  spring 
bed  with  four  eyes  in  each  end  of  the  springs. 
This  has  met  with  great  success,  and  in  1880 
he  adapted  the  idea  to  car  seats,  berths  and 
backs,  and  was  awarded  the  only  medal  on 
that  line  of  goods  at  the  National  Exposition 
of  Railway  Appliances  at  Chicago  in  1883. 
Though  various  parties  infringed  his  patents 
and  kept  him  seven  and  one-half  years  de- 
fending his  rights  in  the  United  States  Courts, 
he  secured  the  patronage  of  the  Wagner  & 
Pullman  Palace  Car  Co.  His  goods  have  been 
largely  adopted  by  all  the  leading  railroads 
and  car-builders  throughout  the  country,  with 
several  new  patents  for  improvements,  and,  on 
tools  and  machinery  for  manufacturing,  they 
take  the  lead.  In  1893  Mr.  Bushnell  removed 
his  factory  from  Poughkeepsie  to  Easton, 
Penn.,  where  there  is  a  fine  plant  employing 
a  large  number  of  men.  This  firm  furnished 
the  seats  for  the  new  "Defender,"  also  the 
"  Black  Daimon  Train,"  the  finest  train  in 
the  world.  He  built  the  first  skylight  in 
Poughkeepsie,  for  taking  pictures. 

Mr.  Bushnell  is  a  man  of  great  natural 
ability  and  energy,  and  notwithstanding  his 
years  is  mentally  active,  his  memory  being  re- 


markable. He  has  always  taken  an  interes 
in  the  success  of  the  Republican  party,  bu 
has  always  refused  to  accept  office.  Hi 
served  out  his  time  with  the  Davy  Crocket 
Hook  &  Ladder  Company.  He  attends  thi 
Second  Reformed  Church,  to  which  he  is  ; 
liberal  giver. 


ISAAC  B.  GILDERSLEVE  (deceased),  wh 
was  one  of  the   highly  respected  and  hor 

ored  citizens  of  the  town  of  East  Fishkil 
Dutchess  county,  was  born  in  Scipio,  Cayug 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  5,  1823,  of  Holland  descen 
His  father,  Solomon  Gildersleve,  was  a  nati\ 
of  the  town  of  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  bi 
after  his  marriage  with  Margaret  Wiltsie  h 
cated  upon  a  farm  in  Cayuga  county,  whei 
their  five  children  were  born:  Annis,  wl 
married  Thomas  Ketchum,  of  the  town  of  Ea 
Fishkill,  but  both  died  in  Indiana;  Eliza,  wl 
first  married  James  Deleree,  and  after  his  dea* 
wedded  Elias  Tompkins,  and  they  lived  ; 
Cold  Spring,  N.  Y. ;  Emma,  who  became  tl 
wife  of  a  Mr.  Bronson,  and  lived  at  Po' 
Chester,  N.  Y. ;  Ann;  and  Isaac  B.  I 

Our  subject  when  a  young  man  came  I 
the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  where  he  engage 
in  teaming,  hauling  hoop  poles  to  Poughkee 
sie,  but  about  1842  went  to  Missouri,  andw; 
on  the  Mississippi  until  1865,  working  his  w; 
upward  from  a  deck  hand  until  he  was  own 
of  a  steamboat,  which  carried  both  freight  ar 
passengers.  In  1865  he  began  the  hotel  bus 
ness  in  St.  Louis,  which  he  continued  for  fi' 
years,  and  on  the  expiration  of  that  time  r 
turned  to  Dutchess  county,  purchasing  tl 
farm  now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  dauR 
ter,  Rita  A. 

Mr.  Gildersleve    was    married    in  1865, 
Miss  Charlotte  A.  Miller,  a  native  of  Berwic 
Columbia  Co.,  Penn.,  and  a  daughter  of  Jac( 
Miller.      Five  children   were  born  to  them,  ; 
of  whom  died  in  infancy  with  the  exception 
Rita  A.,    and  the    mother    departed  this  1 
September  24,  1887,  while  the  father's  dea' 
occurred  on  the  home  farm  February  25,  185 

The   farm  is    a    most    beautiful    place,  ^ 
which  Mr.    Gildersleve  made  many  improv 
ments    and    erected    excellent    buildings, 
comprises  146  acres  of  valuable  land,  on  whi 
he  carried  on  general   farming,  but  his  daugj 
ter,  who  now  has  the   management,    makes 
specialty  of  milk. 

In  the  career  of  this  gentleman  we  find 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  BECOBD. 


776 


xcellent  example  for  young  men  just  embark- 
ig  in  the  field  of  active  life,  of  what  may  be 
:complished  by  a  man  beginning  poor,  but 
onest,  prudent  and  industrious.  He  was  en- 
rely  self-made,  and  left  behind  him  an  excel- 
nt  property,  as  well  as  a  good  name.  He 
as  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  was  one  of 
le  prominent  and  esteemed  citizens  of  the 
immunity.  His  estimable  wife  held  member- 
lip  in  the  Episcopal  Church. 


rONCURE  BARTOW  was  called  from 
111  earth  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness,  dying 
1  the  19th  of  April,  1881.  He  was  a  leading 
id  honored  citizen  of  the  town  of  East  Fish- 
11,  Dutchess  county,  where  he  devoted  his 
lergies  to  the  care  and  cultivation  of  the  farm, 
id  was  also  connected  with  the  Dutchess 
ounty  Insurance  Company,  of  Poughkeepsie. 

The  Bartow  family  is  of  French  extraction, 
id  was  established  in  Dutchess  county  at  a 
:ry  early  day.  Religiously,  its  members  were 
ostly  connected  with  the  Episcopal  Church, 
'illiam  A.  Bartow,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
as  a  native  of  the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  and 
farmer  by  occupation.  The  mother  bore 
e  maiden  name  of  Jane  Hasbrouck. 

Moncure  Bartow  was  the  seventh  son  in  a 

mily  of  twelve  children,  and  was  reared  upon 

e  old  home  farm,  where  he  continued  to  en- 

Ige  in  agricultural  pursuits  until  his  marriage, 

1867,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  D.  Brinckerhoff. 
ley  began  their  domestic  life  upon  the  farm 
lere  she   still   resides,  and  there  their   two 

I  ildren — Jane   D.  and   Moncure — were  born. 
le  parents  contributed  to  the  support  of  the 

>rmed  Church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Bartow 
13  a  decided  Democrat,  but  would  never  ac- 
ipt  public  office.  His  upright,  honorable  life 
')n  him  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his 
lighbors,  and  he  was  classed  among  the  most 
ispected  representative  citizens  of  East  Fish- 

I I  town. 

Mrs.  Bartow,  a  most  excellent  lady,  was 
Irn  in  the  house  which  is  still  her  home,  and 
i  the  only  child  of  Abraham  and  Betsey 
('elavan)  Brinckerhoff,  the  former  born  on 
t2  farm  in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill  (where 
1;  daughter  now  resides),  October  6,  1798, 
cd  the  latter  at  North  Salem,  Westchester 
('.,  N.  Y.,  January  n,  1799.  The  Brincker- 
Iff  family  is  of  Holland  origin,  and  was 
(inded  in  America  in  1638.  The  first  to  lo- 
de here  was  Joris  Dericksen  Brinckerhoff, 
i 


who  married  Susanah  Dubbles,  and  from  him 
in  direct  line  to  the  father  of  Mrs.  Bartow  were 
Abraham  Jorisen  (married  to  Altia  Stryker), 
Derick  (married  to  Altia  Cowenhoven),  Abra- 
ham (married  to  Femmetia  Remsen),  John  A. 
(married  to  Elizabeth  Brinckerhoff),  and  Derick 
(who  married  Margaret  Brett).  The  Delavan 
family  was  of  French  extraction,  and  Mrs. 
Bartow's  maternal  grandfather,  John  Delavan, 
was  born  February  11,  1744,  and  became  a 
prominent  farmer  of  Westchester  county.  He 
married  Martha  Keeler,  whose  birth  occurred 
at  Ridgefield,  Conn.,  August  28,  1757,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  five  children,  as 
follows:  Jane,  born  in  1789,  died  in  1865; 
Chauncy,  born  in  1790,  died  in  1863;  Benja- 
min, born  in  1792,  died  in  1827;  Catherine, 
born  in  1797,  died  in  1867;  and  Betsey,  the 
mother  of  Mrs.  Bartow,  was  the  youngest. 
The  father  of  these  children  died  January  8, 
1834,  the  mother  on  March  10,  1843.  After 
their  marriage,  Abraham  Brinckerhoff  and  his 
wife  located  upon  the  farm  where  Mrs.  Bar- 
tow yet  lives,  and  there  the  former  died  Jan- 
uary 5,  1874,  and  the  latter  on  September  29, 
1878.  They  were  prominent  members  of  the 
community,  and  had  the  respect  of  all  who 
knew  them.  In  early  life  Mr.  Brinckerhoff 
was  a  Democrat,  but  later  supported  the  Re- 
publican party. 


HIRAM   CLARK   (deceased).     The  family 
name  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  has 

long  been  held  in  high  esteem  in  Dutchess 
county,  and  he  proved  himself  to  be  a  worthy 
representative,  displaying  in  a  high  degree  the 
keen  business  judgment  and  high  sense  of 
honor  which  have  characterized  the  race.  Re- 
motely he  was  of  English  descent,  the  head  of 
the  American  branch  being  Thomas  Clark, 
who  was  one  of  the  "Mayflower"  pilgrims. 
The  first  of  the  family  to  come  to  Dutchess 
county  was  our  subject's  grandfather,  Ezra 
Clark,  an  energetic,  thrifty  and  prosperous 
farmer,  who  was  born  at  Plainfield,  Conn.,  in 
1748.  He  came  to  Dutchess  county  about 
1795,  and  his  first  purchase  was  a  farm  of  200 
acres,  adjoining  what  is  now  our  subject's  es- 
tate, he  later  buying  the  farm  now  owned  by 
Leonard  Barton,  where  he  passed  his  later 
years,  and  died  in  1834.  He  was  married  in 
Connecticut  to  Mary  Douglas,  who  died  in 
1837.  They  had  ten  children:  Douglas;  Moses; 
Ezra;  Elijah,  a  farmer  in  Amenia;  Sarah,  who 


776 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPIIWAL  RECORD. 


married  Samuel  Brown;  Lidia,  who  married 
Jeremiah  ConkHn;  Patty  (Mrs.  Conklin);  Aphia, 
married  to  George  Brown;  and  Olive,  married 
to  Jacob  Dakin. 

The  two  elder  sons  remained  in  the  town 
of  Northeast,  and  became  prominent  in  local 
affairs — business,  political  and  social.  Doug- 
las Clark,  our  subject's  father,  was  born  in 
Plainfield,  Conn.,  July  12,  1774,  but  spent  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  on  the  present  Clark 
farm,  near  Millerton,  Dutchess  county,  con- 
sisting of  400  acres,  which  he  purchased  in 
1 8 16  from  a  Mr.  Spencer,  for  whom  Spencer's 
Corners  was  named.  He  owned  two  other 
estates  also,  comprising  in  all  about  800  acres. 
He  possessed  rare  business  judgment,  and  was 
greatly  esteemed  throughout  the  community, 
being  often  called  upon  to  assist  in  the  settle- 
ment of  estates.  In  1829,  1830  and  1831  he 
was  supervisor,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was 
commissioner  of  highways  and  justice  of  the 
peace.  He  was  twice  married,  (first)  to  Sarah 
Collins,  and  (second)  to  Elizabeth  Wiggins,  a 
lady  of  English  descent,  daughter  of  Arthur 
and  Mary  Wiggins,  of  the  town  of  Northeast. 
He  had  eight  children,  as  follows:  Of  the 
first  family  were — Olive,  born  in  1797,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven;  Sarah  (Mrs. 
Alex.  Trowbridge),  born  in  1798;  Perry,  born 
in  1800;  Harry,  born  in  1808;  Emeline  (Mrs. 
B.  H.  Wheeler,  of  Amenia),  born  in  1816;  and 
Caroline  (Mrs.  Caleb  Barrett),  born  in  18 — . 
The  second  family  were:  Hiram,  born  June 
I,  1824;  and  Douglas,  born  in  February,  1832. 

Hiram  Clark  succeeded  at  his  father's  death 
to  a  portion  of  the  estate,  and  followed  farm- 
ing. He  was  a  well-informed  man,  having  re- 
ceived a  good  English  education  in  his  boyhood 
at  Amenia  Seminary  and  at  Kinderhook,  to 
which  he  constantly  added  by  reading  and  ob- 
servation. An  able  and  entertaining  business 
man,  in  the  management  of  his  farm  he  was 
thoroughly  successful.  He  made  many  im- 
provements, remodeling  the  house,  which  was 
built  about  1829,  the  lumber  being  brought 
from  Albany.  It  is  now  one  of  the  finest  farm 
houses  in  the  town.  He  was  engaged  for 
some  years  in  the  breeding  of  fine  horses. 
Among  other  business  enterprises  in  which  he 
was  interested  was  the  founding  of  the  Miller- 
ton  National  Bank,  in  which  he  was  one  of  the 
original  stockholders.  Although  he  took  a  keen 
interest  in  public  affairs,  and  was  an  ardent 
Republican  in  politics,  he  never  sought  or  held 
office,  being  quite  content  to  use   his  influence 


quietly.  He  was  an  earnest  Christian,  an 
a  regular  attendant  at  the  Congregation! 
Church,  but  later  became  an  adherent  of  th 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  often  held  officii 
positions  in  those  societies.  On  November  iji 
1847,  he  married  Mary  Richter.  daughter  t 
John  W.  and  Hannah  (Harris)  Richter,  wel 
known  farming  people  of  near  Pine  Plain;' 
Four  children  were  born  to  them:  Henry,  Jun 
28,  1850;  John  W.,  December  17.  1854;  ar 
two  who  died  in  infancy.  The  father  w: 
called  from  earth  December  6,  1890;  tl 
mother  still  resides  on  the  old  homestead. 

The  two  surviving  sons  of  this  estimab 
couple  inherited  the  old  farm  of  400  acr 
first  acquired  by  their  grandfather,  where  th' 
now  conduct  an  extensive  dairy  business.  Thi 
are  successful  managers,  and  hold  a  promine 
place  among  the  younger  men  of  their  tow 
Henry  Clark  was  educated  at  Amenia  Sen 
nary  and  at  New  Marlboro,  Mass.  He  is 
Democrat  in  politics,  was  assessor  from  i8< 
to  1893,  and  for  two  years  past  he  has  been 
director  of  the  Millerton  National  Bank.  C 
January  1 1,  1882,  John  W.  Clark  was  marrid 
to  Harriet  J.  Weed,  of  Torrington,  Conn.,  ai' 
has  one  daughter,  Harriet  Emma  Clark. 


ILLIAM  H.  DIAMOND,  the  we 
known  proprietor  of  the  Beverii 
Bottling  Vaults,  at  the  corner  of  Main  aij 
Clover  streets,  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  count 
is  one  of  the  most  enterprising  business  men 
that  city. 

His  family  is  of  Irish  origin,  the  old  hor 
of   his    ancestors    being   located    at    Belfas 
where   his  grandfather,    James   D.   Diamon 
followed  the  trade  of  a  mason.      He  had  fi 
sons,    all   of  whom  came  to  America.     Jol 
died  in  Dutchess  county;  Hugh  was  our  sii 
ject's  father;  Charles  H.  was  a  saloon  keep 
in  Poughkeepsie,  and  was  noted  for  his  gent 
osity;  Patrick,  a  ship  builder  by  trade,  enlist; 
in  the  army  during  the  Civil  war,  and  rose 
the  rank  of  acting  major;  William   was  a  1 
boring    man;   James  enlisted    in   the   army 
1863,  and  was  one  of  the  "missing." 

Hugh  Diamond  came  to  Poughkeepsie 
1849,  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  and  sii 
of  boots  and  shoes  at   the  corner  of  Dutch* I 
avenue  and  Albany  street,  gaining  the  reput 
tion  of  being  an  excellent  workman  and  go 
business  manager.     Although  he  was  not  1 
erally  educated,   he  had  good  natural  abii 


I 


\ 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPRICAL  RECORD. 


ill 


|id  sound  judgment,  and  was  highly  esteemed. 
1  his  later  years  he  went  into  the  wholesale 
;e  business,  in  which  he  was  engaged  at  the 
uie  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1875.  A 
emocrat  in  principle,  he  was  interested  in 
te  success  of  the  party,  but  was  no  politician, 
le  was  one  of  the  earliest  members  of  St. 
iter's  Catholic  Church,  and  for  some  years 
lis  captain  of  two  military  companies  of  the 
(.y — the  Poughkeepsie  Grenadiers  and  the 
Jckson  Republican  Guards.  In  1859  he  mar- 
rd  Miss  Jane  Reynolds,  daughter  of  Thomas 
hynolds,  a  native  of  Kilrea,  County  Derry, 
L'land,  and  had  seven  children:  James  (de- 
cased);  William  Henry,  our  subject;  Margaret 
Hen,  who  is  at  home;  James,  a  resident  of 
lughkeepsie;  Sarah  Jane  (deceased);  Mary 
Jne  (deceased);  and  Sarah,  an  invalid,  at 
fme.  Three  of  the  family  died  before  reach- 
ii;  adult  age. 

W.  H.  Diamond  was  born  October  24, 
152,  at  No.  45  Dutchess  avenue,  Pough- 
kipsie,  and  was  educated  in  that  city,  attend- 
ii  St.  Peter's  parochial  school  in  Mill  street, 
fim  the  age  of  seven  years  until  he  was  thir- 
t(n,  when  he  entered  the  public  school  at  the 
oner  of  Mill  and  Bridge  streets,  against  the 
slinuous  opposition  of  the  priest  and  the  fam- 
il  with  the  exception  of  his  father.  Notwith- 
stnding  threats  and  hindrances,  he  prevailed, 
a;l  attended  there  for  about  three  years.  At 
fi  2en  he  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  brick- 
laer  and  plasterer  with  William  Harlow,  of 
Pighkeepsie,  who  was  then  building  the  print 
wks  at  Haverstraw.  So  capable  was  the 
y<  ng  apprentice  that  he  was  soon  made  time- 
kcper  and  paymaster,  having  at  times  1 50 
bi;klayers,  and  from  seventy-five  to  one  hun- 
dd  other  laborers  to  keep  accounts  for,  and 
hcdling  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars 
wnout  the  loss  of  a  cent.  Later  he  went  to 
"*>'v'  York  City  with  his  employer,  and  worked 
le  post  office,  the  Jefferson  market  police 
"tiion,  the  Garner  warehouse  at  the  corner  of 
Jaand  Hudson  streets,  and  other  large  build- 
in}.  After  three  or  four  years  there  he  re- 
tu:ed  to  Poughkeepsie,  and  worked  on  the 
as;um  for  WiUiam  Sayer.  In  1881  he  started 
in  le  business  of  wholesaling  ale,  handling  the 
Rols  of  T.  D.  Coleman,  of  Albany,  and  Ken- 
nc'  &  Murphy,  of  Troy.  On  April  i,  1884, 
he  anted  the  property  at  the  corner  of  Main 
an' Clover  streets,  and  established  his  pres- 
ent business,  which  includes  the  bottling  of 
lag'  beer  and  a  wholesale  business  in  ale.    He 

50 


has  built  up  a  large  trade,  one  of  the  best  in 
that  line,  extending  throughout  the  county  and 
for  some  distance  up  and  down  the  river,  and 
he  makes  a  specialty  of  handling  the  best 
goods,  the  Anheuser  Busch  and  Ballentine 
Lager, .  and  several  brands  of  fine  ale.  His 
property  on  North  Clover  street,  the  John  Vail 
place,  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  city.  The 
secret  of  his  success  may  be  found  in  his  close 
attention  to  business,  and  fair  dealing  with 
customers. 

On  September  7,  1884,  he  married  Miss 
Catherine  Hillery,  of  Poughkeepsie.  They 
have  no  children.  Mrs.  Diamond's  parents 
were  natives  of  Ireland,  and  her  father  died 
there  in  1862;  her  mother  died  in  Poughkeep- 
sie in  1879.  Mr.  Diamond  has  always  been 
interested  in  public  affairs.  On  State  and 
National  issues  he  is  a  Democrat,  but  in  local 
politics  he  votes  independently.  He  belongs 
to  Triumph  Lodge,  K.  of  P. ,  the  Young  Amer- 
ica Hose  Co.,  the  Poughkeepsie  Zither  Club, 
and  is  a  leading  member  of  St.  Peter's  Catho- 
lic Church. 


WILLIAM   J.   CARPENTER,    a  retired 
merchant   of    Poughkeepsie,   Dutchess 

county,  was  born  in  New  York  City,  December 
10,  1828,  a  son  of  Emory  and  Jane  Ann  ( Du- 
Bois)  Carpenter.  [A  geneaological  sketch  of 
the  Carpenter  family  will  be  found  in  the 
biography  of  J.  DuBois  Carpenter  elsewhere.] 
Our  subject  attended  school  in  an  old  stone 
school  house  until  he  was  fifteen  years  old,  and 
then  came  to  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  went  to 
the  Smith  Institute  for  a  year,  at  the  end  of 
that  time  entering  his  uncle's  store  at  No.  271 
Main  street,  as  clerk,  the  firm  name  being  L. 
&  J.  G.  Carpenter,  grocers.  There  Mr.  Car- 
penter clerked  until  the  spring  of  1849,  when 
he  joined  a  company  going  to  California. 
They  went  via  Cape  Horn,  and  consumed  five 
and  one-half  months  in  making  the  trip.  In 
the  spring  of  1850  Mr.  Carpenter  returned  to 
Poughkeepsie,  and  went  into  the  grocery  store 
of  his  uncle  at  No.  320  Main  street,  where  he 
remained  some  three  years,  and  then  he  and 
his  brother,  J.  Du  Bois,  took  the  business  and 
conducted  it  under  the  name  of  Carpenter  & 
Bro.  After  eight  years  they  sold  out  and  en- 
gaged in  the  boating  business,  running  a  boat 
from  New  Paltz  Landing  to  New  York  City. 
This  they  continued  for  one  year,  and  then,  in 
1863,  our  subject  again  went  into  partnership 


778 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


with  his  brother  (J.  Du  Bois)  at  the  corner  of 
Academy  and  Main  streets,  remaining  there, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Carpenter  &  Bro.,  until 

1887,  when  our  subject  bought  a  beautiful 
home  on  Southeast  avenue,  and  is  now  living 
a  retired  life. 

On  September  5,  1854,  Mr.  Carpenter  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  E.  Boerum, 
a  native  of  Poughkeepsie  and  a  daughter  of 
David  Boerum,  the  first  merchant  tailor  who 
did  business  in  Poughkeepsie.  Four  children 
cameof  this  union:  Amelia,  born  June  4,  1855, 
died  June  i,  1863;  Fred  White,  a  druggist  in 
New  York  City,  born  February  16,  1857;  Jen- 
nie Boerum,  born  February  4,  1863,  married 
Myron  H.  Barlow,  a  furniture  dealer  of  Pough- 
keepsie; and  Hattie  W.,  born  April  13,  1872,  is 
unmarried.  Of  these,  Fred  W.  married  Malvina 
Finch  June  3,  1885,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren: William  Frederick,  Gerald  Finch  and 
Margaret.     Jennie  B.  was  married,  March   i, 

1888,  to  Myron  H.  Barlow.  Mrs.  Sarah  E. 
Carpenter  died  April  18,  1875,  and  for  his  sec- 
ond wife  our  subject  married,  September  26, 
1876,  Miss  Jane  E.  Flagler,  who  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  a  daughter  of 
Isaac  Flagler.  No  children  have  been  born  of 
this  marriage.  In  politics  Mr.  Carpenter  is  a 
Republican,  having  previously  been  a  Whig. 
He  and  his  wife  have  been  connected  with  the 
First  Congregational  Church  for  twenty-five 
years,  and  he  has  been  identified  with  the  busi- 
ness interests  of  Poughkeepsie  for  half  a  cen- 
tury. He  is  enterprising,  progressive  and  highly 
esteemed  by  his  fellow  citizens.  In  September, 
1895,  he  was  stricken  with  paralysis,  and  is 
now  (1897)  in  very  feeble  health  and  mostly 
confined  to  the  house. 


BW.  ROGERS  (deceased)  was  an  enter- 
_  prising  and  reliable  agriculturist  of  the 
town  of  East  Fishkill.  These  qualities,  in 
connection  with  his  natural  industry  and  per- 
severance, made  him,  wherever  known,  an  ob- 
ject of  uniform  regard.  His  birth  occurred  on 
July  15,  1 852,  on  the  farm  in  the  town  of  East 
Fishkill,  where  his  widow  still  resides,  and 
where  his  great-grandfather,  Micah  Rogers,  lo- 
cated in  1762,  at  that  time  purchasing  100 
acres.  On  coming  from  Holland,  the  latter 
made  his  first  home  in  the  town  of  Beekman, 
but  the  greater  part  of  his  life  was  spent  upon 
that  farm,  where  his  death  occurred.  The 
grandfather   of    our   subject,    who    also    bore 


the  name  of  Micah  Rogers,  was  there  bori 
and  throughout  life  engaged  in  farming.  H 
wedded  Margaret  Workman,  by  whom  he  ha 
three  sons:  James  W.,  who  was  a  farmer  i 
this  county;  Alexander,  who  carried  on  agr 
cultural  pursuits  in  the  town  of  East  Fishkil 
and  Charles  H.,  the  father  of  our  subject. 

Upon  the  old  homestead  in  East  Fishki 
town,  April  9,  1822,  Charles   H.   Rogers  w 
born,  grew  to  manhood,  and  as  a  companii 
on  life's  journey  chose  Sarah  J.  Parmalee.  Th 
began  their  domestic  life  upon  that  farm,  a 
there  spent  their  remaining  days,  the   fath 
dying  April  16,  1876,  and  the  mother  on  Mar 
I,     1872.      They    were    sincere    and   earni 
Christians,  members  of  the  Reformed  Dut 
Church.      Four  children  were  born  to  the 
Margaret,   deceased;    D.   W. ,  of    this  sketc 
Mary  P.,  deceased;  and  Herbert,  a  resident 
the  town  of  East  Fishkill. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  reared 
the  usual  manner  of  farmer  boys,  and  in  eai 
life  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade;  but  owi 
to  his  father's  ill  health,  he  gave  up  that  purs 
and  returned  to  the  home  farm,  to  the  culti'; 
tion  and  improvement  of  which  he  ever  afti- 
ward  devoted  his  attention. 

On  March  22,  1877,  was  celebrated  t; 
marriage  of  Mr.  Rogers  and  Miss  Mary 
Van  Nostrand,  who  was  born  in  the  town  \ 
Hyde  Park,  Dutchess  county,  but  came  j 
East  Fishkill  when  quite  young.  The  o  1 
child  born  of  their  union,  Charles  H.,  died  1 
infancy.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Rogers,  Josi  1 
H.  and  Mary  E.  (Berry)  Van  Nostrand,  wd 
both  natives  of  East  Fishkill  town,  and  i 
their  family  were  two  children,  the  son  be? 
Francis  S.,  a  postal  clerk  on  the  Hud  n 
River  railroad.  The  father,  who  was  a  wag  - 
maker  by  trade,  died  February  29,  iS., 
while  the  mother  departed  this  life  April  „ 
1868.  The  former  was  the  only  child  ,>f 
George  and  Levina  (Gildersleeve)  Van  >?- 
trand.  The  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Rogers  .s 
also  a  wagon-maker,  and  a  native  of  f  >t 
Fishkill.  There  her  great-grandfather,  Jos  h 
Van  Nostrand,  was  born,  and,  after  his  iir- 
riage  with  Elizabeth  Mead,  located  upr  a 
farm,  where  he  reared  his  six  children — Geo  -. 
Phoebe  A.,  Helen  M.,  James,  Sarah,  and  C  1- 
erine.  The  father  of  Joseph,  Sr.,  was  Gei^e 
Van  Nostrand,  who  came  from  Holland  to  le 
New  World,  and  located  in  the  town  of  1  st 
Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  at  a  very  early  fi- 
od  in  its  history.      His  wife   bore  the  ma  W 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPEICAL  RECORD. 


7T9 


lame  of  Hiltje  Dorland.  On  the  maternal 
ide,  Mrs.  Rogers  is  also  of  Holland  origin, 
ler  grandfather,  Francis  Berry,  was  a  native 
i  East  Fishkill,  where  throughout  his  active 
fe  he  followed  farming,  as  did  also  his  fa- 
jier,  Nicholas  Berry.  The  former  wedded 
|lary  Ketcham,  of  the  same  township. 

Mr.  Rogers  continued  the  operation  of  the 
Id  homestead  farm  up  to  the  time  of  his 
sath,  which  occurred  March  24,  1880,  and 
is  widow  has  since  had  its  management.  It 
an  excellent  place  of  152  acres,  which  in- 
udes  the  original  tract  of  one  hundred  acres, 
olitically,  Mr.  Rogers  was  a  Democrat,  while 
•.ligiously  he  belonged  to  the  Reformed  Dutch 
hurch,  of  which  his  widow  is  also  a  consistent 
ember.  He  contributed  his  full  quota  toward 
iterprises  having  for  their  object  the  general 
elfare  of  the  community,  and  was  one  of  its 
est  highly  respected  citizens.  His  widow 
;so  has  the  love  and  confidence  of  those 
1ho  know  her. 


"\AVID    B.   WARD.    M.    D.,    a  prominent 

J   physician  of  Poughkeepsie,    and   one   of 

most  able  and  progressive  members  of  his 

]iofession,    was    born     in     Pleasant    Valley, 

itchess  county,   March    13,  1853,  the  son  of 

n  Ward,  now  a  resident  at  No.  254  Church 

:  jet,  Poughkeepsie. 

Dr.  Ward  possesses  unusual  natural  quali- 
I  aliens  for  his  chosen  calling,  and  his  abilities 
re  developed  by  thorough  intellectual  train- 
in  youth.      He    prepared    for    college   at 
overview  Military  Academy,    and  after  three 
}irs  at   Dartmouth  College,  where   he  com- 
I  :ted  the  junior  year,  he  entered   Hamilton 
(fllege,  and  was  graduated   from  the  classical 
curse  in  1873  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.      With 
I    Parker,  of  Poughkeepsie,  as  preceptor,  he 
t;n  began  the  "study  of  medicine,  and  a  year 
1  er  became  a  student  in  the  College  of  Phy- 
sians  and  Surgeons  in  New  York  City,  com- 
[  ting  his  studies  with  the  class  of  1876.      On 
iuating,  in  due  course  of  time,  he  engaged 
ractice  in  Wheeling,  W.  Va. ,  and  remained 
e  years;  but  in  1879  he  moved  to  Pough- 
K;psie,  where  he  has  built  up  an  extensive 
Sieral  practice.      He   has  the  true  scientific 
;t,  and  keeps  fully  informed  on  every  ad- 
:e  in  professional  research,    being  himself 
triginal  investigator.      His  work  in  micros- 
C)y  is  especially  worthy  of  note;  he  holds  a  high 
fJik  in  the  profession  not  only  with  the  pub- 


lic but  among  his  medical  brethren,  and  he  is 
a  leading  member  of  the  Dutchess  County 
Medical  Society,  and  of  the  city  board  of 
health. 

The  Doctor  is  a  believer  in  the  principles 
of  the  Republican  party,  but  has  never  taken 
an  active  interest  in  political  affairs.  He  was 
City  Physician  from  1880  to  1888,  and  has 
given  his  influence  at  all  times  to  measures  for 
sanitary  improvement.  He  belongs  to  the 
Amrita  Club,  and  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Fall- 
kill  Lodge.     He  has  never  married. 


CnHARLES  C.  MORE,  a  retired  merchant 
'J  and  real-estate  dealer,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Blenheim,  Schoharie  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  Sep- 
tember 19,  1828.  The  name  of  More  first 
appears  about  the  third  century  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  Ireland,  and  has  been  variously 
spelled  Moore,  Moir,  Moor  and  More,  but  the 
last  is  the  proper  spelling,  Carber  Riabha  More 
being  the  Father  of  the  first  chieftains  and 
Kings  of  Scotland.  The  Mores  probably  came 
first  from  Norway  or  Sweden,  in  Scandinavia. 
They  were  Presbyterians  and,  later.  Re- 
formers. 

John  More,  the  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject,  came  to  this  country  and  located  in 
Delaware  county,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  followed 
the  occupation  of  farming  until  the  breaking 
out  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  in  which  he  en- 
listed and  served.  After  its  close  he  returned 
to  his  farm.  He  was  an  educated  man, taught 
school  gratuitously,  was  justice  of  the  peace, 
legal  adviser,  and  drew  up  many  legal  docu- 
ments that  are  still  in  existence.  He  married 
Betty  Taylor,  daughter  of  Robert  Taylor  and 
Jean  Innis.  Robert  More,  the  grandfather, 
was  born  at  Rothiemurchus,  Inverness-shire, 
Scotland,  July  8,  1772,  and  followed  agricult- 
ure exclusively.  He  married  Susanna,  a 
daughter  of  David  Fellows,  and  they  reared  a 
family  of  nine  children.  Two  of  Robert's 
brothers,  John  T.  and  Jonas,  were  members 
of  the  New  York  State  Legislature. 

Alexander  More,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
the  fourth  child,  and  was  born  at  Roxbury, 
Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  September  14,  1799. 
He  grew  up  on  a  farm,  and  was  the  first  man 
to  introduce  the  method  of  manufacturing  but- 
ter in  Delaware  county.  He  dealt  largely  in 
that  commodity,  buying  and  selling  it  in  New 
York  City,  retiring  after  several  years  of  suc- 
cessful   business.      He    married    Miss    Sarah 


780 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Church,  who  was  born  at  Salem,  Washington 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  January  8,  1802,  and  they  moved 
to  Rondout,  where  he  died  September  16, 
1872,  and  his  wife  on  April  9,1862.  Alexander 
was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  was  elected  super- 
visor of  his  town,  and  was  ensign  in  the  State 
militia. 

Charles  C.  More,  our  subject,  lived  in 
Schoharie  county  but  a  short  time,  being 
moved,  at  the  age  of  three  years,  to  Roxbury, 
where  he  grew  up  and  attended  the  schools 
and  academy.  In  1850  he  went  to  Rondout 
(now  Kingston),  where  he  engaged  in  general 
merchandising.  After  selling  his  interests  there 
he  went  to  Moline,  111.,  where  he  stayed  for  a 
few  years,  manufacturing  lumber.  In  1876 
Mr.  More  came  to  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  He  is  owner  of  many  large 
farms,  and, as  he  says,  "  runs  them  by  proxy." 

On  June  13,  1850,  Mr.  More  married  Miss 
Sarah  C.  LaFevre,  who  was  born  at  Roxbury, 
Delaware  county,  March  4,  1828,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Henrietta  LaFevre, 
the  former  of  whom  was  a  tanner  by' occupa- 
tion, and  descended  from  persecuted  Hugue- 
nots, of  France,  who  came  to  America  and 
settled  in  Kingston,  N.  Y.  Mr.  More  is  a 
Republican,  but  has  never  held  office.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  and  with 
his  wife  belongs  to  the  Reformed  Church,  to 
which  he  is  a  liberal  contributor.  He  is  a 
public-spirited  man,  and  believes  in  the  educa- 
tion of  the  masses. 

Ira  C.  Church,  father  of  Mrs.  Alexander 
More,  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  and  was  a 
manufacturer  of  edge  tools  in  Washington  and 
Delaware  counties.  He  married  Miss  Abigail 
Burnham,  and  reared  a  family  of  several  chil- 
dren, Mrs.  More  being  the  only  daughter.  The 
Church  family  is  of  English  extraction. 


WILLIAM  ANTHONY  WHITE,  super- 
intendent    of  the    Lee  estate,    in  the 

town  of  Hyde  Park,  Dutchess  county,  was 
born  at  St.  Heliers,  in  the  island  of  Jersey 
(  Channel  Islands),  May  29,  1840,  and  on  the 
paternal  side  is  of  French  descent,  while  the 
maternal  ancestry  were  English.  His  grand- 
father, Charles  Henry  White,  belonged  to  one 
of  the  old  families  of  Jersey.  "He  was  a 
"  warrant  officer  "  in  the  English  navy,  and 
head  sailmaker  on  a  man-of-war. 

Henry  Charles    White,   the  father  of    our 
subject,   was  also    born  in  Jersey,    served   as* 


gardener  for  Lord  Normandy  over  ten  year 
later  served  as  gardener  thirty  years  for  Alfn 
George,   Esq.,   Downside,    near  Bristol,  En; 
land;  he  wedded  Mary  Barrett,    daughter  . 
Rev.    Robert    Barrett,     a    clergyman    of  tl 
Church  of  England  at  Withycombe,   a  sms 
hamlet  in  Dorsetshire,   England.      Four  chi 
dren    came    to  bless  this   union:     Aramant 
wife  of  Robert  Smith,   carpenter  and  buildt 
Westbury-on-Trym,    England;      Henry,    w! 
was    a    commissioned  officer    in  the    Engli 
navy,    and  was  killed  at  the  age  of  twent 
two  years;  William  A.  is  the  next  in  order 
birth;    and    Charles    Henry,    who    was   be 
after  his  brother  was  killed,   learned  the  tra 
of  a  marble  mason  in  Bristol,   England,  \ 
worked    as  a    boss  farmer    in    England   a , 
America,   and  died  February  22,  1896.     T| 
father    departed  this    life    on    February 
1879;  the  mother,  Mary  (  Barrett)  White,  c| 
parted  this  life  December  30,    1883. 

William  A.  White  learned  the  professiJ 
of  gardener  and  florist  in  England,  and  ll 
came  gardener  for  Walter  Daubney,  Es<J 
Cote  House,  Durham  Down,  near  Brist 
England,  with  whom  he  remained  three  yea 
and  during  the  following  two  and  one-hl 
years  he  filled  the  same  position  with  Richij 
Bassett,  Esq.,  of  Bonveston.  South  Wall 
who  was  commissioner  of  public  works 
railroads.  Removing  to  Exeter,  Devonshij 
England,  Mr.  White  was  employed  as  hi| 
gardener  by  William  Cuthbertson,  J. 
over  three  years. 

In  February,  1871,  he  arrived  in  Ameril 
and  coming  to  Staatsburgh,  Dutchess  courj 
June  8,  the  same  year,  was  appointed  garde| 
and  superintendent  of  the  estate  of  the 
Lawrence  Lee,  since  which  time  he  has  fi\ 
that  position  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerrj 
He  is  also  present  owner  of  the  Staatsbui 
Greenhouses,  and  with  his  son,  Samuel  VJ 
iam  White,  is  engaged  in  the  culture  of  the 
lets,  carnations,  etc.  The  plant  consists^ 
four  houses,  2o6x  20;  one  large  conneci 
house  30x130;  propagating  house;  and  hi 
boiler  house  fitted  with  two  large  cylinder  ll 
ers.  The  houses  are  fitted  with  hot-w| 
heating,  patented  by  William  A.  White,  ' 
is  also  inventor  of  and  patentee  of  the  Acme  i 
Water  Boilers  used  on  the  estates  of  Archiij 
Rogers  and  Ogden  Mills,  Esquires,  and  dlJJi 
ber  of  other  large  estates.  William  A. 
is  also  the  inventor  of  White's  Garden  Tf 
and  a  number  of  other  useful  appliances; 


W  (L 


Il 


COMMEMORA  TTVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


781 


Inventor  of  an  automatic  hot-water  car-heater, 
ourglar-proof  letter-box,  etc.  He  has  written 
nany  able  articles  for  horticultural  papers, 
ind  thoroughly  understands  his  work  in  all  de- 
partments. 

Mr.  White  was  married  in  November,  1861, 
o  Hester  Millard,  daughter  of  Samuel  Millard, 
')fHutton,  nearWeston-super-Mare,  Somerset- 
ihire,  England,  and  they  have  two  children: 
idith  Annie,  wife  of  Jacob  Anderson,  of  Frank- 
in,  La.,  and  Samuel  William,  who  wedded 
^da  Johnson,  granddaughter  of  the  late  John 
3old,  of  Vineland,  N.  J.,  and  is  now  superin- 
ending  the  Staatsburgh  Greenhouses  with  his 
ather. 

Politically,  Mr.  White  is  an  ardent  Demo- 
rat;  socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Rhinebeck 
>odge  No.  432,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  a  man  of 
reat  perseverance  and  industry,  and  has  suc- 
eeded  in  accumulating  some  property  in  Vine- 
ind,  N.  J.,  and  at  Staatsburgh,  N.  Y.  His 
imily  attend  the  Episcopal  Church. 


II 


DAM  A.  STREVER,  proprietor  of  one  of 

L  the  best  farms  of  the  town  of  Pine  Plains, 
')utchess  county,  comprising  235  acres  of  im- 
"■oved  land,  is   numbered  among  the  honored 

idents  and  most  substantial  agriculturists  of 
'utchess  county.  He  has  been  particularly 
ise  in  his  investments,  and  possesses  e.xcel- 
nt  business  capacity,  making  the  most  of  his 
pportunities.  He  is  one  of  the  most  public- 
)irited  and  progressive  of  men,  giving  his  aid 
)  all  worthy  enterprises  for  the  benefit  of  his 
)wn  and  county. 

Sylvester  Strever,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
as  born  in  1822,  in  the  town  of  Ancram, 
olumbia  county,  N.  Y. ,  and  was  but  a  boy 
hen  brought  to  the  town  of  Pine  Plains, 
utchess  county.  He  has  always  engaged  in 
rming,  operating  his  father's  place  until  he 
id  reached  the  age  of  twenty-eight;  but  for 
Tty-three  years  he  has  made  his  home  upon 

farm  of    175    acres   at   Mt.  Ross.      He   has 

IjCn  more  prosperous  in  his  undertakings  than 
P'  majority  of  his  neighbors,  and  has  ac- 
imulated  a  handsome  property,  owning  an- 
her  farm  in  addition  to  the  one  on  which  he 
:s.  He  is  a  man  of  the  strictest  integrity, 
'^•i  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church 
Gallatin,  Columbia  county,  and  has  always 
■en  very  active  in  Church  matters.  Politic- 
ly he  affiliates  with  'he   Democratic  party. 


Mr.  Strever  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Phoebe  Sheldon,  and  after  her  death  wedded 
Matilda  Sheldon,  who  died  in  August,  1895. 
He  became  the  father  of  eight  children,  name- 
ly: Clarissa,  now  the  widow  of  the  late  Dr. 
C.  E.  Cole;  Adam  A.;  Samuel  J.;  Monroe,  a 
merchant  of  New  York  City;  Sheldon  P.,  who 
is  located  in  the  southern  part  of  the  town  of 
Pine  Plains;  Lewis,  who  conducts  a  store  for 
John  Rudd;  and  Grant  and  Frank  at  home. 

Our  subject  received  a  good  education  in 
the  district  schools  at  Mt.  Ross,  and  for  one 
year,  after  laying  aside  his  text-books,  aided 
his  father  in  the  labor  on  the  home  farm.  For 
four  years  he  then  engaged  in  the  cultivation 
of  his  grandmother's  farm  for  his  father,  and 
for  the  following  two  years  operated  it  on  his 
own  account.  The  next  year  was  passed  upon 
his  father's  farm,  after  which  he  went  to  Illi- 
nois, where  he  remained  some  six  months. 
On  his  return  he  purchased  the  Nancy  Smith 
farm,  which  he  conducted  four  years,  and  at 
the  end  of  that  time  bought  the  old  Hiserodt 
homestead,  where  he  has  now  lived  for  eleven 
years.  On  March  18,  1880,  he  married  Miss 
Esther  M.  Hiserodt.  They  attend  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Strever 
is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party.  He 
has  capably  filled  several  local  offices,  includ- 
ing that  of  assessor,  in  which  he  served  six 
years. 

The  first  of  the  Hiserodt  family  to  locate 
in  Dutchess  county  was  John  Hiserodt.  His 
son,  Hendrick  Hiserodt,  was  the  father  of 
Henry  I.  Hiserodt,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Strever.  Henry  I.  was  one  of  the  leading  citi- 
zens and  wealthy  farmers  of  the  county,  own- 
ing at  one  time  about  800  acres.  He  married 
Miss  Esther  Steckles,  by  whom  he  had  four 
children — three  sons  and  one  daughter:  Bry- 
ant H.,  father  of  Mrs.  Strever;  Harmon; 
Ward,  a  prominent  citizen  of  New  York  City; 
and  Esther.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife 
he  wedded  Rebecca  Schultz,  and  to  them  were 
born  the  following  children:  Jane,  Caroline, 
Francis,  Christopher,  Albert,  Sanford  and 
Backus.  Bryant  H.  Hiserodt  was  born  July 
13,  1814,  in  the  house  in  which  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Strever  now  occupy,  and  with  the  exception 
of  two  years  he  made  his  home  there  during 
his  entire  life.  He  was  joined  in  wedlock 
with  Lavinia  C.  Hoffman,  daughter  of  Henry 
Hoffman,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  two 
children:  Henry  Hoffman,  of  Millerton,  N.  Y.; 
and  Esther  M.,  wife  of  our  subject.     On  June 


782 


COMMEMORATTVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


I,  1856,  the  father  was  called  to  his  final 
rest,  and  January  2,  1894,  the  mother  followed 
him  to  the  unknown  land. 


WILLET  J.    MARSHALL    is    an    enter- 
prising,    wide-awake     young    business 

man  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  where, 
on  Garden  street,  he  is  successfully  conducting 
a  meat  market.  His  birthplace  was  Middle- 
town,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  where,  on  Decem- 
ber 16,  1 87 1,  he  first  opened  his  eyes  to  the 
light.  His  father,  David  Marshall,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Dutchess  county,  his  parents,  Hiram 
and  Hannah  (Haight)  Marshall,  there  living 
upon  a  farm,  and  was  the  youngest  in  their 
family  of  seven  children,  the  others  being 
Susan,  who  married  William  Finch,  an  under- 
taker of  Hyde  Park,  N.  Y. ;  Mary  C. ,  wife  of 
John  Van  Derwater,  a  farmer  of  East  Park, 
Dutchess  county;  Jane,  who  wedded  Jacob  De- 
Groff,  an  agriculturist  of  Wappingers  Falls, 
Dutchess  county;  Ederette,  wife  of  Jerome 
Myers,  a  mason  of  Hyde  Park;  Wiilet,  a  dealer 
in  smoked  meats  at  Newburgh,  Orange  county, 
and  Henry,  a  butcher  of  that  place,  and  the 
senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Henry  Marshall 
&  Sons.  The  Marshall  family  is  of  English 
ancestry,  and  Quakers  in  religious  belief.  The 
grandfather  continued  his  farming  operations 
until  his  death,  and  was  one  of  the  highly-es- 
teemed citizens  of  the  county.  His  wife,  who 
is  still  living,  has  now  reached  the  age  of 
eighty-six  years. 

The  early  life,  of  David  Marshall  was 
passed  upon  a  farm  in  Dutchess  county,  and 
on  reaching  man's  estate  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mary  V.  Briggs,  a  native  of 
the  same  county,  and  a  daughter  of  William 
Briggs,  also  of  English  descent.  To  this 
worthy  couple  were  born  two  children — Han- 
nah, deceased  wife  of  J.  M.  Osborn,  and  Wii- 
let J.,  of  this  sketch.  The  parents  located  at 
Middletown,  N.  Y. ,  where  the  father  carried 
on  the  butcher's  business  for  some  time,  and 
then  went  to  Denver,  Colo.,  where  he  was 
similarly  employed.  Returning  to  New  York, 
he  became  owner  of  three  markets  in  Yonkers, 
and  on  disposing  of  the  same  bought  a  farm  in 
Hyde  Park  township,  Dutchess  county,  to  the 
cultivation  of  which  he  has  devoted  his  time 
for  three  years.  Finally  he  removed  to 
Poughkeepsie,  where  he  engaged  in  the  butch- 
ering business  until  1895,  since  which  time  he 
has  lived  retired,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  for- 


mer toil.      He  and   his   wife  are  members  0 
the  Episcopal  Church,  and  their  circle  of  friend 
is  only  limited  by  their  circle  of  accjuaintances 
Wiilet  J.  Marshall  was  quite  small  when  hi 
parents  removed  to   Denver,  and   most  of  hi 
boyhood   was  passed  at  Poughkeepsie,  wher^ 
he  attended  the  Warring  Military  School,  am 
later  served  six  years  as  bookkeeper  and  cashie 
in  his  father's  market.      Going  to  New  Yor 
City,  in   1892,  he   formed  a  partnership  wit' 
W.  H.  Baker  in  the  commission  business  s 
No.  337  Washington  street;  but  at  the  end  ( 
a  year  he  returned  to  Poughkeepsie,  where  \ 
has  since  conducted  his  present  market.     A 
important  event  in    his   life  was  his  marria;: 
with   Miss  Julia   A.  Rooney,  which  was  cell 
brated  in  1889.      She  is  a  native  of  Englam 
and   a   daughter  of    John  Rooney,   a  cabim 
maker.     Three    children    grace    this    union- 
David  B.,  Mary  C.  and  John  R.      Politicalh 
Mr.    Marshall    affiliates    with    the    Rejiublica 
party,  giving  full  adherence  to   the  principlt 
and  doctrines  of  its  platforms,  and  is   a  suj 
porter  of  all  interests  intended   to  benefit  tl: 
city  in  which  he  resides. 


JOHN    SCHWARTZ.       Among    the    pron 
inent  citizens  of  German    birth  in  the  cit' 

of  Poughkeepsie,  none  holds  a  higher  pla( 
in  the  estimation  of  the  community  than  tl; 
gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this  sketcl 
He  is  extensively  engaged  in  the  tobacco  bu 
iness,  and  has  an  enviable  reputation  for  inte; 
rity  and  fair  dealing,  as  well  as  for  thrift  ar- 
enterprise. 

Mr.    Schwartz  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Ge 
many,  September    9,  1839.      His  father,  Jol 
Schwartz,  died   when  our  subject  was  a  smii 
child,  and  when  he   was   ten  years  of   age  ii 
came  with  his  mother  to    America,  landing 
New  York  City,  where  the  mother  had  a  nia 
ried  sister   living,  and  here   they  lived  for  oi| 
year.      In    January,    1850,   the    entire   famij 
came  to  Poughkeepsie,  and    he  entered  scho 
for  a  short  time.      He  soon  became  an  appro 
tice  to  learn  the  cigar  business   with    Geori 
M.    Welker,  with  whom  he    remained   six   ' 
seven  years,    and   on   May  i,   1864,  went  in 
the  tobacco   business  for    himself  at  No.  j 
Main  street.      He  made  a  success  of  thisenti 
prise,  and  in  1879  he   purchased   the  storey 
No.  313  Main  street,  where  he   has  carried  ■ 
his    business    ever    since.       Although  havi 
some  retail  trade,  he  is  principally  engaged 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPEICAL  RECORD. 


783 


Lvholesaling,  and  ships  liis  goods  to  all  points 
In  New  York  as  well  as  to  many  other  States. 
Sis  business  is  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  the 
pounty. 

On  May  6,  i860,  Mr.  Schwartz  was  mar- 
ked to  Miss  Matilda  W.  Bayer,  a  native  of 
Ifroy,  N.  Y.,  whose  father,  Joseph  Bayer,  was 
itorn  in  Germany,  but  subsequently  came  to 
imerica.  Of  this  union  four  sons  have  been 
lorn:  Frank  J.,  Charles  G. ,  Edward  T.  and 
vlbert  E.  Frank  is  a  druggist  in  Poughkeep- 
ie,  and  the  other  sons  are  in  business  with 
heir  father,  having  been  admitted  to  partner- 
hip  in  February,  1889.  All  are  intelligent, en- 
erprising  young  men. 

Mr.  Schwartz  is  a  Republican,  but  has 
ever  taken  an  active  interest  in  political 
ffairs,  and  in  local  elections  supports  the 
est  men  irrespective  of  party.  He  has  been 
cry  successful  financially,  the  result  of  his 
wn  exertions,  as  he  began  life  a  poor  boy  and 
as  steadily  worked  his  way  up  to  his  present 
osition  as  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of 
oughkeepsie.    . 


i 


>HARLES  HOAG  SMITH,  who  was  called 

>    from  this  earth  in  the  midst  of  his  useful- 

Hs,  was  a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  born  in 

16  town  of  Stanford,  April  i,  18 16,  and  is  re- 

bered  by  the  people  of  this  section  as  one 

;s    most    worthy   and    influential   citizens. 

randfather,  Stephen  Smith,  was  an  early 

r  of  the  town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess  coun- 

and  by  occupation  he  was  a  farmer.    In  his 

y    were    six    children,    namely:     Rufus; 

H;    Daniel;    Harris;    Martin;    and   Abbie, 

ho  became  the  wife  of  Solomon  Frost. 

Harris  Smith,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
as  born  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  but 
lent  the  greater  portion  of  his  life  in  the 
iwn  of  Stanford.  In  1855  he  removed  to 
ashington  town,  and  the  following  year  pur- 
lased  the  farm  on  which  his  son  Henry  and 
lughter  Julia  A.  now  reside.  As  a  farmer 
:  was  quite  successful,  and  was  a  prominent 
id  representative  citizen.  He  married  Anna 
oag,  by  whom  he  had  five  children:  Charles 
.  and  Stephen  (twins),  Henry  Hoag,  Jacob 
:id  Julia. 

Mrs.  Smith  was  the  daughter  of  Charles 

jag.     Her  paternal  grandparents  were  John 

id  Mercy  Hoag,  the  former  born  October  5, 

134,  and  the  latter  March   16,  1735.     They 

»:re  married  February  22,   1759,  and  became 


the  parents  of  nine  children,  whose  names  and 
dates  of  birth  are  as  follows:  James  H.,  Jan- 
uary 10,  1760;  Abel  H.,  December  12,  1761; 
Philip  H.,  December  6,  1764;  Lucy,  March 
17,  1767;  Amy  H.,  July  2,  1769;  Charles  H., 
December  25,  1771 ;  Ruth  H.,  April  22,  1775; 
Tripp  H.,  March  26,  1778;  and  Mary  H.,  May 
23,  1782.  The  mother  of  this  family  died  in 
1807,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years,  and  the 
father  October  4,  181 1. 

On  November  21,  1793,  Charles  Hoag  was 
married  to  Betsey  Denton,  who  was  born  April 
5,  1772,  and  to  them  were  born  eight  children, 
whose  names  and  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows: 
Anna  Hoag,  October  2,  1794;  John  H.,  Sep- 
tember 27,  1797;  James,  February  14,  1799; 
Henry,  May  3,  1801;  Phcebe,  August  13,  1805; 
Ezra,  December  11,  1807;  Benjamin,  Novem- 
ber 23,  1810;  Deborah  H.,  October  18,  1812; 
and  Mary,  February  25,  181  5.  The  father  of 
this  family  was  a  highly  educated  man,  and 
for  many  years  was  principal  of  the  Nine 
Partners  Boarding  School,  in  the  town  of 
Washington,  later  moving  to  the  town  of  Pine 
Plains,  and  conducted  a  private  school  at 
Bethel. 

Mr.  Smith,  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch,  was  an  agriculturist,  and  spent  most  of 
his  life  upon  a  farm  in  about  the  center  of  the 
town  of  Stanford.  He  was  a  good,  substan- 
tial citizen,  who  took  a  warm  interest  in  enter- 
prises calculated  to  build  up  his  town,  was  a 
man  of  sound  judgment,  and  his  untimely 
death,  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight  years,  was 
deeply  mourned  throughout  the  community. 
In  1840  he  was  married  to  Miss  Jane  A.  Peck, 
who  was  born  November  6,  18 19,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  two  children:  Albert, 
born  in  1841,  was  a  patriotic  young  man,  and 
was  one  of  the  first  in  the  town  of  Washington, 
Dutchess  county,  to  enlist  in  the  Union  army 
during  the  Rebellion,  becoming  a  member  of 
the  44th  N.  Y.  V.  I.  He  died  December  6, 
1862,  of  typhoid  pneumonia,  while  in  the 
service;  Frances,  born  in  1843,  is  at  home. 

Henry  Peck,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Smith,  was 
born  April  2,  1791,  and  the  early  part  of  his 
life  was  passed  in  the  town  of  Milan,  but  he 
later  became  a  resident  of  the  town  of  Stan- 
ford. By  occupation  he  was  both  a  farmer 
and  merchant.  He  was  the  son  of  Loring 
Peck,  who  was  born  January  19,  1744,  and 
made  his  home  at  Bristol,  R.  I.  He  was  a 
zealous  patriot  and  became  a  colonel  in  the 
Continental  army  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 


784 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


For  many  years  he  later  served  as  a  member 
of  the  State  Legislature.  He  was  a  son  of 
Jonathan  Peck,  who  was  born  at  Bristol,  R.  I., 
September  12,  1698,  and  his  father,  who  also 
bore  the  name  of  Jonathan,  was  born  Novem- 
ber 5,  1666.  The  latter  was  a  son  of  Nicholas 
Peck,  who  was  born  April  9,  1630. 

The  family  of  which  Mrs.  Smith  is  a  mem- 
ber numbered  five  children,  four  of  whom 
grew  to  adult  age,  namely:  George,  born 
April  8,  1813,  was  one  of  the  leading  and  suc- 
cessful medical  practitioners  of  the  town  of 
Stanford;  Richard,  born  May  5,  1815,  was  a 
prominent  attorney  at  law  of  Pine  Plains  for 
forty  years;  Jane  A.,  born  November  6,  18 19, 
is  the  widow  of  our  subject;  and  Alfred,  born 
January  i,  1822,  died  in  the  West. 


0,RVILLE  L.  DAVIS,  one  of  the  most  suc- 
'  cessful  agriculturists  of  the  town  of  Clin- 
ton, Dutchess  county,  is  also  among  the  best 
known,  his  pleasant  home  near  Clinton  Hol- 
low being  a  favorite  resort  for  summer  tourists 
who  wish  to  enjoy  the  charms  of  a  genuine 
country  life.  He  is  a  native  of  the  town  of 
Washington,  where  he  attended  the  district 
school  at  Shady  Dell,  and  early  became  familiar 
with  the  details  of  farm  work  from  the  thor- 
ough, but  not  always  pleasant,  teachings  of 
experience. 

Seth  Lawton,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
was  born  in  Rhode  Island,  in  1782,  and  when 
a  lad  of  ten  summers  was  brought  to  Dutchess 
county,  where  he  passed  the  rest  of  his  life, 
dying  at  an  advanced  age,  in  1869.  Henry  D. 
Davis,  father  of  Orville  L.,  was  born  in  Kinder- 
hook,  Columbia  county,  December  25,  1798, 
and  was  married,  November  27,  1826,  to  Jane 
Ann  Lawton,  daughter  of  Seth  Lawton,  of  the 
town  of  Washington.  After  engaging  in  shoe- 
making  and  farming  in  Columbia  county  he 
came  to  Washington  town  for  a  time;  but,  in 
1836,  he  moved  to  Fort  Madison,  Iowa,  where 
he  died,  September  22,  1838,  when  our  sub- 
ject was  eight  years  old.  The  widowed  mother 
then  returned  to  her  old  home  in  the  town  of 
Washington,  with  her  family,  whose  names 
with  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows:  Esther, 
August  25,  1828;  Orville  L. ,  November  5, 
1830;  Betsey,  February  25,  1833,  died  August 
5,  1838;  William,  February  10,  1835,  died 
March  6,  1868;  and  Seth,  April  21,  1837,  died 
September  21,    1838.      The  mother,  who  was 


born  May  i,  1809,  survived  her  husband  man\ 
years,  dying  May  11,  1886. 

Our  subject,  who  has  always  been  a  farmer 
worked  upon  his  grandfather's  estate  until  afte. 
he  was  of  age,  and  later  cultivated  his  inherit 
ance  of    116   acres.      He   served   in   the  arm\ 
some  eighteen  months  during  the  Civil  war,  ii 
Company  B,  128th  N.  Y.  V.  I.      On  March  24 
1875,  he   was  married,  in  the  town  of  Wash 
ington,  to  Maria  Eighmey,  daughter  of  Jame 
Eighmey,  a  lifelong  resident    of  the  town  c 
Unionvale.      He  and  his  wife,  Mary  Ann  Juj 
tus,    had    three    daughters:      Jane   fnow  Mrs 
Jacob    Cambran),    of    Stanford;    Maria  (Mn 
Davis);  and  Anna  Eliza  (Mrs.  James  Cambran 
of  Milan.     After  his  marriage  Mr.  Davis  move 
into  a  house   which  he  had  built  upon  his  e; 
tate,  where  he   lived  until  the  spring  of  188; 
when  he  sold  the   property  and  purchased  h 
present  fine  farm  in  the  town  of  Clinton.    Hei 
a  limited   number   of   summer   visitors — aboi 
twenty  in  number — are  entertained  each  year 
the  attractions  of  the  place  always  bringing  a 
that  can  be  accommodated. 

Mr.  Davis  is  a  Democrat  in  political  faitbi 
in  religion  he  and  his  wife  are  prominent  men 
bers  of  the  Christian  Church  at  Schultzvilk 
and  are  interested  in  all  movements  tending  t 
the  welfare  of  the  community.  They  have  on 
son,  Henry  Thorne  Davis. 


B 


OBERT  LIVINGSTON  MASSONNEAL 
president  of  the  First  National  Bank  c 
Red  Hook,  Dutchess  county,  is  a  worthy  ref 
resentative  of  an  ancestry  which  has  long  bee; 
prominent  in  the  history  of  this  region.  H  j 
grandfather,  Claudius  Germain  Massonneau,  ' 
native  of  Angouleme,  France,  left  that  countr' 
at  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution,  with  h 
twin  brother  Pierre,  both  being  then  in  earl  I 
manhood.  They  went  to  San  Domingo,  bij 
upon  the  insurrection  of  the  negroes  of  thfi 
island,  abandoned  their  plantation  and  fled  ti 
the  United  States.  After  a  short  stay  in  Ne  1 
York  City  they  settled,  in  1790,  in  Red  Hoolj 
engaging  in  mercantile  enterprise.  He  ma!i 
ried  Catherine  Gertrude  Livingston  de  Brissafi 
daughter  of  Robert  Gilbert  Livingston,  an, 
widow  of  M.  de  Brissac.  They  had  thrc 
children:  Robert  Claudius,  Edward  an 
Catherine. 

Robert  C.  Massonneau,  the  father  of  ot 
subject,  was  born  May  3,  1797,  in  Red  Hool 
and   after   enjoying  such    educational    advai 


I 


■ 


I— ( 


I— t 
O 


i 


CO 

t> 

o 
o 


II 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


785 


'ages  as  the  schools  of  Red  Hook  then  afforded, 

vas  sent  to  the  Claverack   Academy.     At  the 

ige  of  sixteen  he  began  to  assist  his  father  in 

he  village  store,  and  soon  after  had  control  of 

the  whole   business,  his   father   retiring  to  his 

;arm,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life, 

lying  in  1846,  in   the  seventy-seventh  year  of 

jiis  age.     Robert  C.  added  to   his   mercantile 

»fork  the  manufacture  of  cigars  and   tobacco, 

/hich  venture  proved   highly   successful   from 

:s   inception.       He    married,    in    1824,    Miss 

'Elizabeth  Waldorf,  daughter  of  John  Waldorf, 

leading  citizen  of  Red  Hook,  and  reared  a 

imily  of  children  whose  names  are  as  follows: 

lobert  Livingston  (our  subject),  born  October 

,  1S25;   Catherine   Elizabeth   (now  widow  of 

)avid  Sparks) ;  Peter  Neilson ;  Charles  Waldorf ; 

'.dward  Francis;  and    Mary  Alice  (now  Mrs. 

.eGrand  B.  Curtis). 

Robert  L.  Massonneau  attended  the  schools 
':  his  native  place,  entering  while    young  his 
ther's  store  as  clerk,  serving  in  that  capacity 
number  of  years.      On  October  27,   1859,  he 
larried  Emma  Clark  Strobel,  who   was  born 
lecember  19,  1859,  in  New  York   City.     She 
as  a  daughter  of    Rev.  William    D.  Strobel, 
.    D.,    at    that    time    paster   of    St.    Paul's 
iitheran  Church  of    Red    Hook.      Five  chil- 
li were  born  of  this  union:     Robert  Living- 
1,   Jr.;  William    Strobel;    Edward    Philip; 
iiza  Franklin   and    Emma    Engs.      In   1852 
ir  subject  engaged  in  the  tobacco  business, 
tablished   by  his    father,  continuing  therein 
itil  1867,  when  he  sold  out  his  interest.      His 
lined  business  talent   and    sound  judgment 
e  made  him  a  recognized  force  in  business 
cles.       On    the    organization    of    the   First 
itional  Bank  of  Red  Hook,  in    1865,  he  was 
<  osen  director   and  afterward  vice-president. 
ii  the  death  of  the  president,  William  Cham- 
lirlain,  he  was  elected  to  that  position,  which 
i  has  since  filled    with  distinguished    ability. 
1  his  political  preferences  he  was  originally  a 
l:mocrat,    but    since    the    formation    of   the 
irty  has  been  a  Republican. 

Mrs.  Massonneau,  wife  of  our  subject,  was 

Irn  in  New  York  City,    where  her    father  at 

t-  time  was  pastor  of    St.  James  Lutheran 

irch.     He    was    born    May    17,    1808,    at 

rleston,    S.   C. ,   and    married  Abby  Anna 

,'3,  who  was  born   in   New  York  City  Sep- 

iiber  17,  1815.     They   had   seven  children, 

fir  of  whom  are  yet    living,  Mrs.  Massoneau 

:.g  the  third  in  order  of   birth.      Her  father 

J  December  6,  1884,  in  Rhinebeck,  N.  Y. , 

51 


and,  with  his  wife  and  three  children,  is  buried 
in  the  cemetery  at  Red  Hook.  John  Strobel, 
great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Massonneau,  owned 
a  large  tannery  in  Charleston,  S.  C,  about 
the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century,  serving 
in  the  war  of  the  Revolution  as  a  captain  in 
the  "German  Fusileers, "  the  famed  regiment 
of  South  Carolina.  Her  great-grandfather. 
Col.  Jonas  Beard, served  also  in  the  Revolution. 


MERITT  HUMESTON,  a  prominent  busi- 
_  ness    man    of    Dover    Plains.    Dutchess 

county,  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Humeston  &  Barrett,  belongs  to  a  family 
which  has  been  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
wagons  in  Dutchess  county  for  three  genera- 
tions. His  grandfather,  Eli  Humeston,  was 
born  in  Waterbury,  Conn.,  in  1795,  and  after 
securing  an  education  in  the  local  schools,  be- 
came a  wagonmaker  and  millwright,  and  fol- 
lowed those  trades  throughout  his  active  life. 
After  his  removal  to  Dover  he  constructed  the 
first  milling  plant  ever  built  there.  He  mar- 
ried, and  had  the  following  children:  George 
E. ,  our  subject's  father;  James,  who  married 
(first)  Miss  Perry,  and  (second)  Miss  Lydia 
Underbill;  Joseph,  who  married  Miss  Vandu- 
sen;  Hannah,  the  wife  of  Jacob  Palmer; 
Harriet,  who  married  George  Basset;  and  Ed- 
ward, who  is  mentioned  below. 

George  E.  Humeston  was  born  in  Dutch- 
ess county  in  1806,  and  learned  the  trade  of 
his  father  during  his  early  years.  Later  he 
engaged  in  it  on  his  own  account,  and  a  few 
years  before  his  death  he  established  a  shop  at 
Dover  Plains.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth  Wel- 
ler,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Weller,  a  prominent 
citizen  of  the  town  of  Dover,  and  they  had  ten 
children:  Catherine,  Mrs.  Thomas  F.  Wat- 
son; George,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two;  John,  who  married  Ann  Eliza  Stage; 
William,  who  married  (first)  Elizabeth  Vincent, 
and  (second)  Harriet  Vincent;  David  L. ,  who 
married  Lavina  Howard;  Meritt,  our  subject; 
Charles,  whp  married  Abbie  Dennis;  Harriet 
and  Sarah,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  one 
whose  stay  upon  earth  was  so  brief  that  no 
name  was  bestowed. 

Meritt  Humeston  was  born  in  1842  in  the 
town  of  Unionvale,  Dutchess  county,  and  was 
educated  in  Dover  Plains.  At  the  age  of  fif- 
teen he  began  to  work  at  the  blacksmith's 
trade,  and  continued  until  1862,  when  he  en- 
listed at  Hudson,  in  Company  B,  i2Slh  N.  Y. 


786 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


I 


V.  I.  His  first  battle  was  at  Port  Hudson,  on 
the  Mississippi,  May  27,  1863,  and  among 
other  important  engagements  in  which  he  toolc 
part  were  those  of  Winchester,  Va.,  Fisher's 
Hill,  Va. ,  Cedar  Creek  and  Cane  River  Bluff. 
His  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  the  United 
States  service  at  Savannah,  July  15,  1865, 
and  ten  days  later  was  discharged  from  the 
State  service  at  Albany.  On  returning  home 
Mr.  Humeston  established  himself  in  business 
in  the  town  of  Beekman,  Dutchess  county, 
and  later  spent  four  years  at  his  trade  in 
Breenhaven,  four  in  Stormville,  and  two  in 
Hopewell,  and  in  1887  he  opened  the  black- 
smith and  wagon  shop  at  Dover  Plains,  which 
he  has  ever  since  conducted  in  partnership 
with  John  R.  Barrett,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Humeston  &  Barrett.  With  his  war  record  it 
will  readily  be  inferred  that  Mr.  Humeston  is 
interested  in  the  G.  A.  R. ;  he  formerly  be- 
longed to  Ketcham  Post  No.  661,  and  is  now 
a  member  of  C.  S.  Cowles  Post  No.  540,  of 
Dover  Plains.  He  has  taken  an  active  part  in 
local  politics,  serving  as  constable  in  the  town 
of  Beekman,  and  as  overseer  of  the  poor  in 
the  town  of  Dover.  On  September  16,  1865, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Lee,  a  native  of 
Fishkill,  born  in  1841,  and  they  have  had  four 
children:  Annie,  Mrs.  Ellsworth  Shultis;  Har- 
riet, who  died  in  infancy;  and  Charles  and 
George,  who  are  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Shultis  have  three  children:  George,  born  in 
1888;  Frederick,  in  1889,  and  Maude,  in  1892. 
Mrs.  Humeston's  ancestors  were  early 
settlers  in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  Dutchess 
county.  Her  grandfather,  Jonathan  Lee,  was 
born  there,  and,  after  profiting  by  the  ad- 
vantages afforded  by  the  district  schools,  he 
engaged  in  wagon  making.  He  married  Miss 
Mary  Ann  Slocum,  and  had  twelve  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  lived  to  adult  age.  Their 
names,  with  those  of  their  respective  partners 
in  marriage,  are  as  follows:  Harry,  married 
Amelia  Griffin;  Harriet,  James  Smith;  Abra- 
ham, Maria  Layne;  Martin,  Sallie  Briggs; 
George,  Mary  A.  Howe;  Alonzo.^Zillie  Brewer; 
Eliza,  James  Howe;  Harvey,  Marie  Van- 
Haultz;  Lucretia,  John  Brewer;  William, 
Phoebe  J.  Ferris;  Charles,  Jane  Traverse,  and 
Ashel,  Nancy  Brown.  Ashel  Lee,  Mrs.  Hume- 
ston's father,  was  born  at  Harpersfield,  in 
1806,  and  attended  the  common  schools  there. 
He  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade  but  followed 
farming  as  an  occupation.  His  wife  was  a 
daughter  of  Samuel   Brown.     They   had    four 


children:  James,  who  married  Gather 
Dingee;  Mary  Ann,  who  died  in  infancy;  Sai 
J.,  Mrs.  Humeston;  and  Montraville,  who  v 
born  in  1844,  and  died  in  Texas  during  thev 
while  in  the  service  of  the  government. 

Edward  Humeston,  son  of  Eli,  was  born 
1767,   in  the  town  of  Washington,    Dutch 
county,  and  was  educated  there.      He  learr 
the  trade  of  wagon  making,  and  worked  atti 
during  his  active  life.      In  local  affairs   he  v 
quite  prominent,  holding  some  minor  town 
f!ces.      He   married    Miss    Elizabeth    Wei 
daughter    of   Jonathan    Weller,    a   farmer 
Amenia,  and  had  eleven  children:     Catheri 
Mrs.  Thomas  F.  Watts;   George,   who   is 
married;  John,  who  married  Miss  Stage;  \^ 
iam,  who  married  Elizabeth  Austin;  David 
who  married  Levina  Howard;   Sarah  A.,  \ 
died  young;  Merritt,  who  married  Sarah  L 
Charles,  mentioned  below;  Harriet,  who  diei ; 
childhood;  Henry,  who  was  twice  married,  1 1 
to  a  Miss  Rodgers,  and,  second,  to  a  Miss  St 
ens;  and  one  child  died  in  infancy  unnamecj 
Charles  Humeston  was  born  in  the  tc  1 
of  Unionvale,  Dutchess  county,   in  1844,    < 
was  educated  in  Dover   Plains.      He  lear« 
the  shoemaker's  trade  in  1858,  and  workeu 
that  a  short  time;  then,  in  1859,  began  wc 
ing  at  the  carriage-making  trade,  contini|( 
until  1862.      In  the  latter  year  he  enliste ': 
Company  B,  128th  N.  Y.  V.  I.  as  a  priv 
but  was  mustered  in  as  a  sergeant,  and  1 
that  commission  throughout  the  war.     He 
under  the  command  of  Col.  David  S.  Cov  .- 
and  was  with  him  in  many  engagements,  a; 
which  were  the  following:     Port  Hudson. 
May  27,  1863,  and  June  14,  1863;   Ale.xanc  a, 
Cane  River,  Monett  Bluff,  and  Marksville,    .; 
Berryville,  Va.,  September  3,  1864;  Wine  s- 
ter,  September   19,  1864;    Fisher's  Hill 
tember  21,  1864;  Mount  Jackson,  Sept. 
23,  1864,  and  Cedar  Creek,  October  19,  1  4- 
His  command  participated  in  two  other  n  "r 
skirmishes,  under  Gen.  N.  P.  Banks.     A:  n 
time  it  served  with  Gen.  Phil  Sheridan.      — 
regiment    was    mustered    out    of    the    Lit' 
States  service  at  Savannah,  Ga. ,  July  12,  I'j, 

;6, 
iss 
in 
at- 
:k. 
rs. 
of 


and  from  the  State  service  at  Albany  Ju 
1865.      In  1870   Mr.  Humeston  married 
Abbie  Dennis,  and  had  seven  children: 
E. ,  Mrs.  Frank   Talladay;    Emma,   Mrs. 
rick   Kelley;  and  Joseph,   George,  Fredt 
Bessie  and  John,  who  are  not  married. 
Humeston  is  a  descendant  of  an  old  fam 
the  town  of  Dover,  and  her  grandfather, 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


787 


Imon  Dennis,  was  born  there  and  passed  his 
life  in  that  locality,  following  agricultural  pur- 
suits.     He    married,   and    had  five  children  : 
Thomas.  Joseph,  Henry,  one  sister  (name  not 
known),  and  Reuben,  Mrs.  Humeston's  father, 
who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Dover  and  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  of  that  vicinity. 
iHe  was  engaged  as   a  farmer  throughout  his 
active  years.      His  wife,  Miss  Mary  Ann  Lane, 
was   a    daughter    of    Daniel    Lane,    of  Balls- 
bridge,  Conn.      They  had  the  following  chil- 
dren:    Almira,    Mrs.  Oliver  Potter;  Solomon, 
who  married  Abbie  Cooper;  Sarah,  Mrs.  David 
5quires;    Pollie,    Mrs.   Albert    Flagler;    Mary, 
Mrs.  Henry  White;  Daniel,  who  is  not  mar- 
ried;   Amy,     Mrs.     Charles    Millard;  Reuben, 
who  has  not  married;  Abbie,  Mrs.  Humeston; 
{oseph,  who  married  Rebecca  Mullen;  George, 
A'ho  married  Lena  Bauer,  and  one  who  died  in 
nfancy. 


BENJAMIN  H.    RUSSELL   has    for  more 
than  half  a  century  resided  in  the  town  of 
■■leasant  Valley,  and   to-day    is   living  retired, 
njoying  the   fruits  of   a   well-spent  life.      He 
t'as  born   in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  December 
4,  1 8 16,  and  is  a  son  of  William  Russell,    a 
ative  of  Putnam  county,  N.  Y.     The  grand- 
ither,  John  Russell,  was  also  a  native  of  that 
iinty,  and  was  descended   from  English  an- 
try.      Upon  his  marriage  he  located  upon  a 
in  in  Putnam  county  and  reared  a  family  of 
J  children,    namely:     Abijah,    Lee,   Robert 
nd  David,  all  of  whom  became  farmers  of  that 
icality,   and  William,   father  of  our  subject, 
he  agricultural  pursuits  of  the    grandfather 
re  interrupted  by  his  service  in  the  Revolu- 
nary  war,  for  when  the  Colonies  attempted 
1  obtain  release  from  the  yoke  of  British  op- 
ression,   he   joined   the  Colonial    troops   and 
iiiantly  aided  in   that   struggle  for  independ- 
ice.     The  religious  views  of  the  family  have 
iiierally  been  in  accordance  with  the  doctrine 
the  Baptist  Church. 

t'    William  Russell  was  reared  on  the  old  fam- 
]/  homestead,  and  as  a  companion  and  help- 
eet  on  life's  journey  chose  Theodosia  Town- 
nd,  also  a  native  of  Putnam  county,  and  a 
ighter  of  Elijah  Townsend,  who  in  that  lo- 
ity  followed  farming.      He   was    descended 
m   English   ancestry,    but  when   the  war  of 
Revolution    broke   out  he  manifested  his 
valty  to  the  Colonies  by  his  opposition  to  the 


mother  country,  and  in  the  service  rose  to  the 
rank  of  general. 

Shortly  after  their  marriage,  William  Rus- 
sell and  his  wife  located  on  a  farm  in  the  town 
of  Fishkill,  where  they  spent  their  remaining 
days.  They  were  Baptists  in  religious  belief, 
and  in  his  political  proclivities  Mr.  Russell  was 
a  Republican.  They  had  eight  children: 
James,  who  was  a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Fish- 
kill; Anna,  deceased;  Austin  and  John,  who 
were  also  farmers  of  Fishkill;  Elijah,  who  car- 
ried on  that  pursuit  in  Dutchess  county  for 
some  years,  and  is  now  living  at  Matteawan; 
William,  deceased,  who  was  a  'farmer  of  the 
town  of  Fishkill;  and  Elizabeth,  who  was  mar- 
ried, and  lived  in  the  town  of  Dover,  and  both 
she  and  her  husband  are  now  dead. 

Our  subject  was  sixth  in  order  of  birth,  and 
he  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  the  parental 
farmstead,  aiding  in  the  labors  of  the  field 
through  the  summer  months,  while  his  winters 
were  mostly  spent  in  attendance  in  the  district 
schools  of  the  neighborhood.  On  attaining  his 
majority  he  began  working  as  a  farm  hand  for 
others,  and  later  he  became  owner  of  a  farm  of 
his  own,  which  he  cultivated  for  many  years. 
He  still  owns  150  acres  of  rich  and  arable  land, 
and  also  had  ninety  acres  which  he  gave  to  his 
son.  He  placed  upon  his  farm  many  excellent 
improvements  in  the  shape  of  buildings  and 
machinery,  and  transformed  his  land  into  pro- 
ductive fields. 

When  twenty-eight  years  of  age,  Mr.  Rus- 
sell was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth, 
a  daughter  of  Everett  De  Groff.  She  was  born 
on  the  farm  Mr.  Russell  now  occupies,  and  here 
died  about  1836.  Our  subject  afterward  mar- 
ried Hester  J.  De  Groff,  a  relative  of  his  first 
wife,  and  by  this  union  were  born  four  children : 
Everett,  a  farmer  of  Pleasant  Valley  town; 
John  J.  and  James,  both  deceased;  and  Ben- 
jamin, who  is  also  a  farmer  of  that  locality. 
The  mother  having  passed  away,  Mr.  Russell 
was  again  married.  Miss  Helen  Stoutenburg 
becoming  his  wife.  She  is  a  native  of  Hyde 
Park,  Dutchess  county,  and  a  daughter  of 
William  Stoutenburg,  a  farmer  of  Hyde  Park. 
They  have  one  son,  Harry  A.,  who  is  still  at 
home. 

Mr.  Russell  formerly  gave  his  political  sup- 
port to  the  Democracy,  but  now  votes  with 
the  Republican  party.  He  has  served  as 
trustee  of  the  schools,  and  is  deeply  interested 
in  the  cause  of  education,  and  in  all  matters 
pertaining  to  the  general  welfare.      He   is  a 


788 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  which 
he  is  serving  as  elder,  and  is  a  most  venerable 
and  highly-respected  old  man,  having  the  re- 
gard of  all  who  know  him. 


GEORGE  H.  BRIGGS,  the  genial  and  en- 
_  terprising  partner  of  Charles  A.  Shurter, 
is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Shurter  &  Briggs, 
hardware  dealers  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 
county,  where  our  subject  was  born  May  23, 
1842.  His  father,  George  G.  Briggs,  was  a 
native  of  England,  and  was  one  of  the  three 
children  of  Isaac  Briggs,  a  tailor  of  that  coun- 
try, his  two  sisters  being  Marj',  who  married 
Benjamin  Briggs,  a  hardware  merchant  of 
Poughkeepsie,  and  Sarah.  The  grandfather 
came  from  England  to  America  when  his  son 
was  about  thirteen  years  of  age,  and  located 
in  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  carried  on  the 
tailoring  business  until  his  death.  He  was  a 
straightforward,  upright  man,  and  a  faithful 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

George  G.  Briggs,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, also  learned  the  tailor's  trade,  which  he 
has  made  his  lifework,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
highly  respected  citizens  of  Poughkeepsie, 
where  he  has  made  his  home  since  crossing  the 
Atlantic.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Kipp, 
a  native  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  to  them  were 
born  nine  children,  but  three  died  in  infancy. 
The  others  are  George  H.,  of  this  review; 
John,  who  is  working  in  the  store  of  our  sub- 
ject; Albert,  also  a  resident  of  Poughkeepsie; 
William,  who  is  employed  in  the  rolHng  mills; 
Mary,  wife  of  George  Marshall,  a  carriage 
maker  of  Danbury,  Conn. ;  and  Kate,  wife  of 
Charles  Wilson,  of  Poughkeepsie.  The  father 
gives  his  political  support  to  the  Republican 
party,  whose  principles  he  earnestly  advocates. 

On  completing  his  education  in  the  city 
schools  of  Poughkeepsie,  George  H.  Briggs 
entered  the  hardware  store  of  his  uncle,  at  the 
age  of  sixteen,  to  learn  the  tinner's  trade,  and 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  about  five  years. 
He  then  worked  in  the  store  until,  in  connec- 
tion with  Mr.  Shurter,  he  purchased  the  busi- 
ness. They  are  conducting  a  very  large  and 
prosperous  business,  and  the  credit  of  the  firm 
stands  high  in  financial  circles. 

In  1864  Mr.  Briggs  married  Miss  Georgia 
Macall,  who  was  born  in  Ireland,  but  came 
with  her  parents  to  this  country  when  quite 
young.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Edward 
Macall,  a  gardener  by  occupation,  and  by  her 


marriage  she  became  the  mother  of  one  soi 
Edward  T.,  who  wedded  MissDeavens,  and  no 
clerks  for  his  father.  Mrs.  Briggs  was  calle 
to  her  final  rest  in  1893.  In  September,  189, 
our  subject  was  again  married,  his  secor 
unton  being  with  Hattie  Williams,  a  native  ( 
Newburgh,  New  York. 

In  politics,    Mr.  Briggs  favors  the  Denr 
cratic    party    with    his    cordial    support,    wa 
elected    alderman    of    the    Fourth    ward, 
Poughkeepsie,  in  November,  1892,  and  is  nc 
satisfactorily  serving  his  second  term.    Sociall 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Societ 
and  the  Order  of  American  Firemen.      He  is 
public-spirited,    enterprising    man,    taking  : 
active  part  in  everything  that  tends  toward  t 
promotion  of  the  welfare  of  the  city  or  count 
and  is  held   in  the  highest   regard   by  all  w  l 
know  him. 


CHARLES    N.    STOWE,    who  was   ca 
_'  from  this  life   February  4,  1893,  when 
the  prime  of  life,  was  one   of  the   leading  ai 
representative   farmers  of  the  town  of  Bee 
man.      His  grandfather,  Eliachim  Stowe,  w 
a  native  of  Ohio,  whence  in  early  life  he  can 
to  Dutchess  county,  his  last  days  being  pass 
in  retirement  in  the  town  of  Dover.     There 
married  Deborah  Maxim,  and  they  had  a  fam 
of  three  children:     Vivant,  Levi  and  James. 
The  last  named  was  the  father  of  our  si 
ject.      He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Dover, 
cember  16,  1817,  and  was  a  first  cousin  to  i 
husband   of    Harriet   Beecher    Stowe.     Thi 
his  boyhood  was  passed,  and  his  education  v 
received  fn  the  district  schools  of  the  locali 
He  continued  to  engage   in   agricultural 
suits  in  the  town  of  Dover  until   the  last  yi 
of  his  life,  which  was  passed   in   the  towns 
Beekman  and  Unionvale.      In  religious  be 
he  was  a  Methodist.    In  the  town  of  Dover, 
married  Susan  Schemerhorn,  and  they  beca 
the  parents  of  four  children:     Lois,  who  m 
ried  Nelson  Cook,  of  the  town  of  Unionvr 
Lodema,  wife  of   Charles  Whitney,  of  Sc<< 
dale,  N.  Y. ;  Charles  N.,  of    this  sketch; 
Mary,  widow  of  Lewis  Burton. 

Charles  N.  Stowe  was  born  in  the  towr 
Dover,  February  14,  1846,  and  spent 
school  days  in  that  township,  in  Kent,  Cor 
and  in  the  town  of  Unionvale,  Dutdi 
county.  Until  attaining  his  majority  hei 
mained  with  his  father,  and  was  marrie« 
Unionvale  to  Miss  Phebe  Emigh,  an  adop 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


789 


(daughter  of  Henry  Emigh.  Four  children 
«;raced  their  union:  Susan  R.,  who  married 
Andrew  G.  Pray,  of  the  town  of  Beekman,  by 
iby  whom  she  has  two  daughters — Mary  and 
'Margaret;  James  H. ;  \'incent  E.  and  Will- 
am  C. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Stowe  removed  to 
he  town  of  Beekman,  where  he  engaged  in 
larming  up  to  the  time  of  his  death;  he  served 
is  assessor  there  for  four  years.  His  political 
;upport  was  ever  given  the  Republican  party, 
ind  socially,  he  affiliated  with  Shekomeko 
wodge,  F.  &  A.  M.  His  influence  was  great 
nd  always  for  the  good;  while  his  sympathy, 
lis  benevolence,  his  kindly  greetings,  will  long 
■e  remembered.  His  duties  were  performed 
^fith  the  greatest  care,  and  throughout  life  his 
lersonal  honor  and  integrity  were  without 
'lemish. 


">  ILBERT  TABOR,  one  of  the  most  prom- 

J  inent  agriculturists  of  the  town  of  Dover, 

)utchess  county,  is  connected  by  descent  or 

larriage  with  some  of  the  leading  families  of 

lat  locality.    He  is  a  native  of  the  town,  and  has 

assed  his  life   there,    acquiring   his  education 

the  public  schools,  and,   later,  engaging  in 

iculture.       His  present  farm,    near    Dover 

rnace,  contains  about  two  hundred  acres  of 

lie  land,  and  was  purchased  in  1881  from  H. 

\' .  Preston.      Mr.   Tabor's  able  management 

as  made    it  one    of  the    best    farms    of    the 

■IJhborhood.      He  is  a  leading  worker  in  the 

IPP    Republican  organization,  and    has  held 

Speral  official  positions  of  the  town. 

"    In   1863,    he    married    Miss    Nora    Hoag, 

aughter  of  Philip  Hoag,  a  well-known  farmer 

f   South  Dover,    and  his  wife,  Mary  Hoag. 

our  children  were  born  of  this  union :  George, 

ily  2,    1865,    was  married  in    1894  to  Miss 

'  iry  Stevens,  daughter  of  Hiram  Stevens,  of 

uth  Dover;  William  F.,  December  26,  1867, 

■ht  P.,  July  2,    1 87 1,   and  Mary  H.,  June 

1876,  are  at  home. 

.The  Tabor  family  has  been    prominently 

ntified  with  the   town  of  Dover  for  several 

Derations    and  our   subject's  great-grandfa- 

ler.  Job  Tabor,  came  from    Rhode  Island  to 

lat  locality  at  an   early   period  to  engage  in 

rming.      He  married,  and  had  the  following 

nldren:    Noah,  who  married  Miss  Carpenter; 

homas,   who  married  Fallie  Belding;  John, 

r  subject's   grandfather;    and    the    wife    of 

5eph  Belding.       John  Tabor    was  born    at 


Chestnut  Ridge  in  1778,  was  educated  at 
Dover  Plains,  and  became  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation. His  wife,  Jane  Belding,  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Silas  and  Dorcas  Belding,  her  father 
being  a  well-to-do  farmer  of  Dover.  John 
and  Jane  Tabor  had  six  children:  Oscar, 
Charles,  William,    Emeline,   Maria  and    Ann. 

Oscar  Tabor,  our  subject's  father,  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  Au- 
gust 4,  1809,  and  completed  his  education  in 
Poughkeepsie.  After  his  graduation  he  taught 
school  in  Dutchess  county  for  a  short  time,  and 
then  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  dealing,  in 
which  he  was  rewarded  with  success.  He  was 
an  influential  Republican,  and  held  a  number 
of  township  offices,  including  that  of  assessor. 
In  religious  faith  he  was  a  devout  Baptist,  and 
he  was  an  active  worker  in  the  Dover  Plains 
Church.  On  March  3,  1836,  he  married 
his  first  wife.  Miss  Hannah  Preston,  daughter 
of  John  and  Amy  Preston.  Her  father  was  a 
well-known  farmer  and  hotelkeeper  at  Dover 
Plains.  She  died  June  18,  1862,  aged  forty- 
four  years,  and  in  1863  Mr.  Tabor  married  a 
second  wife,  Mrs.  Martha  Giddings,  iicc  Mer- 
win,  who  had  one  son  by  a  former  marriage. 
By  Mr.  Tabor's  first  marriage  there  were  four 
children:  Mary  E.,  Gilbert,  Myron  and  Amy 
J.,  all  of  whom  lived  to  adult  age,  and  of  the 
second,  one  child  was  born  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. Mary  E.  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Dover,  December  30,  1836,  and  married  Or- 
ville  Sheldon,  a  merchant  in  Dover,  and  a  son 
of  Egbert  Sheldon,  a  cattle  dealer.  She  died 
October  19,  1861,  leaving  no  children.  Myron, 
who  was  born  in  October  9,  1850,  is  a  well- 
known  farmer  in  the  town  of  Dover;  Amy  J. 
was  born  March  27,  1852,  and  married  Gerry 
Dennis,  a  conductor  on  the  Harlem  R.  R.,who 
has  since  moved  to  the  West.  She  died  Au- 
gust 12,.  1889,  and  left  one  son,  Fred  Dennis. 
Oscar  Tabor  had  one  child  by  his  second  mar- 
riage, but  it  died  in  infancy. 

William  Tabor,  second  son  of  John  Tabor, 
was  born  in  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  in  1820, 
and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He 
engaged  in  farming,  and  was  also  a  great  trav- 
eler. He  married  Miss  Ann  Eliza  Chapman, 
and  had  eleven  children:  John  and  Louisa 
never  married;  Jennie  died  young;  Florence 
married  Frank  Van  Auken;  Frank  and  Harriet 
did  not  marry;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Everer. 
Travers;  William  died  at  an  early  age;  Harry 
and  Haddie  (twins)  died  in  infancy;  and  Jennie 
(2)  married  Mr.  Sepring. 


790 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Charles  Tabor,  third  child  of  John  Tabor, 
was  born  in  Dover,  1817,  and  after  attending 
the  common  schools  of  the  town  during  boy- 
hood he  engaged  in  farming.  He  married  Miss 
Caroline  Vincent,  daughter  of  Absolom  and 
Abigail  (Duncan)  Vincent,  farmers  of  Dover. 
Charles  Tabor  and  wife  had  ten  children:  Mary 
married  Josiah  Elting,  a  merchant,  formerly  of 
Poughkeepsie,  now  of  Mt.  Kisco, and  they  have 
one  son,  Charles,  unmarried,  who  is  in  the  feed 
business  in  Colorado;  Helen  married  Charles 
Brower,  an  electrician  of  Boston,  but  has  no 
children;  Jennie  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years;  Emma,  at  the  age  of  thirty-two;  Maria, 
at  thirty;  Ida,  who  married  Rev.  Edwin  Rusk, 
died  at  twenty-eight;  Carrie,  Charles  and  A. 
Vincent  are  not  married;  and  Harry  died  in 
infancy. 

Ann  Tabor,  fourth  child  of  John  Tabor, 
never  married;  Emeline,  fifth  child  of  John 
Tabor,  married  Harvey  Preston,  a  farmer 
of  Dover;  they  had  two  children — Charles 
Preston,  who  married  Annett  Sherman,  and 
John,  who  married  Augusta  Marcy,  and  had  one 
child — Fannie,  now  Mrs.  Lines.  Maria,  sixth 
child  of  John  Tabor,  did  not  marry. 


fYRON  P.  TABOR,  an  enterprising  and 
^  successful  agriculturist  residing  near 
Dover  Plains,  Dutchess  county,  is  a  member 
of  one  of  our  old  and  highly-esteemed  families. 
His  grandfather,  John  Tabor,  and  father,  Os- 
car Tabor,  were  both  well-known  residents  of 
Dutchess  county,  the  latter  being  especially 
active  and  influential  in  public  affairs.  The 
accompanying  biography  of  Gilbert  Tabor,  our 
subject's  brother,  gives  an  interesting  history 
of  the  family. 

Myron  Tabor  was  born  October  9,  1850, 
and  has  always  made  his  home  in  the  town  of 
Dover.  He  married  Miss  Sarah  Elizabeth 
White,  a  lady  of  unusual  mental  endowments, 
by  whom  he  has  had  two  children:  Cora  E., 
born  in  1878,  and  Harry  M.,  born  in  18S5. 
Mrs.  Tabor,  who  is  a  descendant  of  old  pioneer 
stock,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Lagrange  in 
1856  and  was  educated  in  that  locality.  Her 
grandfather,  Henry  White,  was  a  native  of 
Unionvale,  where  he  became  a  prominent 
farmer.  He  married  Miss  Sarah  Doolittle  and 
had  six  children:  (i)  Egbert  married  Irene 
Losee,  and  had  four  children:  Emeline,  Mrs. 
Walter  Smith;  Sarah,  who  never  married; 
Harrison,  who  married  Addie  Lee,  and  Mary, 


Mrs.  Richmond  Fort.  (2)  Henry  marriei 
Catherine  McCord,  and  had  three  children 
William,  Leander  and  Mary.  (3)  Charles 
Mrs.  Tabor's  father,  is  mentioned  below.  (4 
Esther  married  Nicholas  Baker,  and  had  fiv 
children :  Abbie  J. ,  the  wife  of  William  Cronk 
Levina,  who  married  first  James  Scott,  am 
second  James  Cronk;  Nicholas,  who  marrie' 
Elizabeth  Allen;  Sarah,  the  wife  of  .\lber 
Cole,  and  William.  (5)  Jane  married  Israc 
F.  Duncan,  and  had  three  children:  Georgi 
Egbert,  who  married  Annie  Houghteling,  an 
Charles.  (6)  Lizzie  married  Mr.  Van  Cott,  bi 
had  no  children. 

Charles  White  was  born  in  the  town  > 
Unionvale  in  1834,  was  educated  in  theschoo 
there,  and  became  a  farmer  by  occupatioi 
His  wife  was  Miss  Caroline  Van  Wyck,  daugl , 
ter  of  a  well-known  farmer  of  Dover,  Robe  I 
S.  Van  Wyck,  and  his  wife,  Caroline.  Fot 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  White,  ( 
whom  Mrs.  Tabor  was  the  second  in  order  < , 
birth.  Nettie,  the  eldest,  was  born  in  Unioi 
vale  in  1854.  She  married  Edwin  Velie, 
farmer  of  the  town  of  Lagrange,  and  has  t\\ 
children — Carrie  and  Frederick.  Hattie,  tl 
third  daughter,  was  born  in  1859,  and  is  no 
the  wife  of  Elmer  Preston,  the  proprietor  01 
hotel  at  Dover  Plains;  they  have  one  son- 
John  C.  Preston.  Wellington  White,  tl 
youngest  child  and  onlj'  son,  was  born  in  tl 
town  of  Washington  in  1862,  and  is  engagt 
in  business  as  a  stock  speculator  in  the  tow 
of  Fishkill.  He  married  Miss  Sarah  Vollme 
and  their  only  child  died  in  infancy. 


'fAMES    CARROLL,    a  successful    busine 
man  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county, 
one  of    the   most  progressive   and  publi 
spirited  citizens  of  that  thriving   municipalit 
He  was  a  native  of  County  Louth,  Irelan' 
and  a  son  of  Michael  C.  Carroll,  who  was  boi 
in  that  county  in   i8i6,  and  was  one  of  thr' 
brothers,  namely:     Michael,  our  subject's  I 
ther;  James,  who  enlisted  in  the  English  an 
at  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  went  to  the  W<J 
Indies,  where   he  was  employed   as   a  hon| 
shoer  and  farrier;  and  Luke.  | 

Michael  C.  Carroll  learned  the  blacksmit': 
trade  in  his  youth,  and  in  about  1835  came  • 
America,  locating  first  in  New  York  City,  wh(i 
he  was  employed  in  the  Alum  Works  for  soi 
years.      Later  he  went  to  Flushing,  L.  I.,  a 
then  to  South  Brooklyn,  carrying  on  the  blac 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


791 


nith,  wheelwright   and  wagon-manufacturing 
usiness,  making  many  milk  wagons.      He  was 

first-class    mechanic,    and    also    possessed 
larked  skill  as  a  horse  doctor. 
He  married  Margaret  Savage,  who  was  also 

native  of  County  Louth,  Ireland,  and  to 
leir  union  were  born  ten  children,  viz. : 
lary,  deceased;  James,  our  subject;  Thomas, 
■  master  mechanic,  who  met  his  death  from  an 
xident  in  the  Roche  Iron  Works;  Luke,  a 
lachinist  in  New  York  City;  Mary  Ann,  the 
ife  of  Joseph  Crolley,  of  Wappingers  Falls; 
[ike,  deceased;  Mike  (2),  a  machinist,  who 
'ined  the  United   States  Navy,  and  died  in 

;th  America,   in  1857,  from   an    accidental 

iury.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat.  The 
ither  of  this  family  died  in  185 1. 

James  Carroll,  our  subject,  was  born  in 
le  Emerald  Isle  in  1835,  ^^^  ^^  ^^^  parents 
ime  to  America  in  the  same  year,  his  educa- 
on  was  obtained  in  this  country.  He  at- 
nded  the  Bishops'  Church  School  in  Brook- 
n,  the  School  of  the  Nativity  in  Concord, 
id  later  the  public  schools,  making  good  use 

his  advantages.  As  he  was  always  fond  of 
ading  he  has  gained  much  additional  knowl- 
lige  since  he  left  school,  at  the  age  of  eight- 

n,  by  private  study,  and  can  hold  his  own 

an  argument  on  the  questions  of  the  day. 
uring  boyhood  he  worked  for  a  short  time  in 
factory  at  the  corner  of  Elizabeth  and  Mott 
ireets.  New  York  City,  for  $3.  50  per  week, 
id  later  sold  fluid  light  for  Mr.  Conklin.  He 
len  served  a  full  apprenticeship  of  five  years 

the  iron  moulder's  trade  at  a  shop  on  Third 

.enue,  where  he  continued  to  work  for  two 

'ars  after  the  completion   of  his  term.      On 

ing  this  place  he  worked  on  Water  street, 

ar  Ruckster,  and  then  with  the  McCulloms 
1  Elder  street,  between  Canal,  Hester  and 
Idridge  streets.      Here  he  spent  fifteen  years, 

ing  foreman  during  the  last  few  years.      In 
tember,  1865,   he  came    to    Poughkeepsie 

■  1  entered  the  employ  of  Thompson  and  part- 

T-     At  the  end  of  two  weeks  he  was  called 

'he  office  and  made  foreman  of  the  shop, 
worked  for  this  firm  and  their  successors, 
lley  &  Thompson,  and  Dudley  &  Bullard, 
il  1879,  at  $4.00  per  day,  having  from 
nty-two  to  twenty-eight  men  under  his 
rge.  He  left  this  business  reluctantly,  and, 
he  had  some  funds  to  invest,  he  at  once 
iged   in   the  butcher's    business   in   Union 

luare.     Later  he  sold  out  that  establishment 

id  located   at  his  present  place  of  business, 


which  he  remodeled  and  improved.  For 
about  seventeen  years  he  has  enjoyed  an  ex- 
tensive patronage,  and  is  regarded  as  a  sub- 
stantial business  man. 

In  1864  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ann  Eliza 
Belton,  a  daughter  of  William  Belton,  whose 
family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  city.  To 
them  were  born  the  following  named  children: 
Mary  married  a-Mr.  Clark,  of  Orange,  N.  J.; 
Margaret!  is  a  professional  nurse  at  Honolulu, 
having  completed  a  course  in  the  Post-Gradu- 
ate  School  of  New  York;  Eleanor  is  at  home; 
Annie  married  John  Blynn,  of  Wassaic;  Grace  » 
is  a  trained  nurse  from  the  Post-Graduate 
School:  Jennie  B. ;  William  Thomas,  a  gradu- 
ate of  Eastman  Business  College,  of  Pough- 
keepsie, is  employed  in  a  dry-goods  house  in 
New  York;  James  is  in  school  with  a  view  to 
studying  law;  Robert  is  a  graduate  of  East- 
man Business  College;  and  Thomas  is  at  home. 

Politically,  Mr.  Carroll  is  a  Democrat  on 
State  and  National  issues,  and  he  takes  great 
interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  party.  He  is 
active  and  influential  in  local  politics,  having 
served  in  1873-74-75  on  the  Waterworks 
board,  and  in  1893  and  1894  as  alderman  from 
the  Third  ward.  While  on  the  board  of  alder- 
men he  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
streets.  His  well-proven  integrity,  no  less 
than  his  ability,  has  been  the  source  of  his 
popularity.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of 
Good  Fellows,  of  the  Queen  City. 


DR.  JOHN  FAUST,  a  prominent  veteri- 
nary surgeon  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 
county,  is  widely  recognized  as  an  authority 
upon  the  nature  and  treatment  of  the  diseases 
of  that  noble  animal,  the  horse.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  Hessen-Cassel,  Germany,  which  has 
been  the  home  of  the  family  for  many  genera- 
tions, and  there  his  grandfather,  Barhold  Faust, 
and  his  father  Conrad  Faust,  were  also  born, 
the  latter  in  1807. 

Dr.  Faust  was  born  July  19,  1835,  and 
while  acquiring  a  good  education  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  place  he  began  to  consider  the 
vital  question  of  self-support.  He  decided  to 
come  to  America,  where,  to  use  his  own  phrase, 
he  could  "secure  a  bigger  piece  of  bread,"  or 
in  other  words  better  opportunities.  On  Au- 
gust 12,  1852,  he  landed  in  New  York  City, 
and  soon  after  began  to  learn  the  cooper's 
trade,  which  he  followed  there  until  1859,  when 
he  and  his  brothers,  Tobias  and  Otto,  went  to 


792 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Poughkeepsie.  In  i860  they  started  in  busi- 
ness there  under  the  firm  name  of  John  Faust 
&  Bros.  The  Doctor  was  an  active  worker  in 
this  enterprise  until  1865,  when  he  became  a 
silent  partner,  so  continuing  until  1875,  when 
the  partnership  was  dissolved. 

In  1 88 1,  our  subject  went  before  the  ex- 
amining board  of  the  New  York  Veterinary 
Society,  and  passed  the  examination,  receiving 
the  degree  of  V.  S.  He  is  one  of  the  most 
careful  and  studious  of  the  veterinary  surgeons 
of  his  county,  and  has  done  much  to  elevate 
•  the  profession  by  his  scientific  researches.  A 
number  of  valuable  treatises  give  evidence  of 
his  learning  and  ability,  among  them  an  essay  on 
Hernia  read  before  the  N.  Y.  State  Veterinary 
Society;  one  on  the  History  of  Contagious  and 
Infectious  Diseases,  Ancient,  Medieval,  and 
Modern;  and  one  read  in  1894 on  the  Practical 
part  on  Tuberculosis.  He  also  prepared  an 
article  on  the  DarwinianTheory  for  the  "Medi- 
cal Record  "  in  reply  to  Prof.  Bolenhomer,  of 
New  York.  At  present  the  Doctor  is  writing  a 
work  on  Homeopathic  Practice  on  Domestic 
Animals.  He  is  a  leading  member  of  the 
U.  S.  Veterinary  Medical  Society,  and  has  for 
two  years  been  the  cattle  inspector  for  tuber- 
culosis in  this  State.  He  was  credited  in  1886 
with  being  the  first  to  vaccinate  successfully 
against  Anthrax  fever,  that  treatment  provid- 
ing the  only  means  now  known  for  arresting 
the  disease.  He  has  a  large  practice,  and  is 
frequently  called  in  consultation  in  important 
difficult  cases.  In  1854  Dr.  Faust  married 
Miss  Maria  Frietag,  also  a  native  of  Hessen- 
Cassel,  Germany,  and  has  six  children:  Louis, 
a  physician  at  Schenectady;  Frederick  A.,  a 
physician  in  Poughkeepsie;  Otto,  a  veterinary 
surgeon  in  the  same  city;  William  P.,  a  physi- 
cian in  Schenectady;  Mary,  the  wife  of  F.  C. 
Krueger,  of  that  place;  and  Christina  H.,  who 
is  at  home.  The  Doctor  is  a  Republican  in 
principle  and  a  public-spirited  citizen,  but  takes 
no  part  in  political  wire  pulling.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  K.  of  P.,  and  is  one  of  the 
most  prominent  supporters  of  the  German 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  has 
been  Sunday-school  superintendent  for  several 
years,  and  a  steward  since  1859. 


THOMAS  EMERSON,  head  gardener  for 
William  Densmore,  of  the  town  of  Hyde 

Park,  Dutchess  county,   is  a   native   of   Scot- 
land, born  at  Thornhill,  December  25,  1842,  a 


son  of  William  Emerson,  who  was  also  bor 
in  that  village,  in  181 1,  a  son  of  Thomas  an 
Janet  Emerson. 

Thomas  Emerson,  the  grandfather  of  011 
subject,  belonged  to  one  of  the  old  and  highl 
respected  families  of  southwestern   Scotlanc 
For  many  years  he  served  in  the  British  army 
being  one  of  the   veterans  of  Waterloo,   an; 
after  leaving  the  service  helived  in  retiremenii 
In  his  family  were  five  children:     William,  th 
father   of  our  subject;   Robert,    who  lived 
Scotland  until  i860;  John,  a  resident  of  Gla: : 
gow;  George,   superintendent  of   an   estate    i 
Dumfriesshire;  and  Elizabeth,  who   married 
Mr.    Hope,    and    lived  in    Edinburgh   ("Au 
Reekie"),  Scotland. 

By  occupation  the   father  of   our   subje  \ 
was  a  gardener,   was  engaged  in  the   Stirlii 
nurseries  for  many  years,    and  was  also  ei 
ployed  by  the   Montgomery  family.      Thouj; 
he  was  a  general  gardener,    he  gave   a   gre  i 
deal  of  attention  to  the  culture  of  grapes.     W 
was  an  honest,  trustworthy  and  reliable  ma  I 
In  1832,  at  the   age  of  twenty-one   years,  ': 
married  Isabella  McQueen,   who  was  born 
18 12,  and  was  of   Scotch  descent  on   the  p 
ternal  side,  while  her  mother  belonged  to 
old    Scotch    family.      Seven   children    bless 
this   union:     Elizabeth,   living  in  Edinburg 
Scotland;  Mary,  in  Glasgow;  Thomas;  Jan( 
also    in  Edinburgh;    David,   a  blacksmith. 
Birkenhead,    England;    Johann,    in    Ayrshii 
Scotland;  and  William,  who   died   at  the  a 
of  three  years.     The    father  passed   away 
1880,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years,   and  t! 
mother  in  March,  1893. 

The  education  of  Thomas  Emerson  was  1- 
gun  in  the  common  school  near  his  boyhcl 
home,  and  completed  at  a  night  school.  ; 
has  ever  been  a  great  reader,  making  a  spec  1 
study  of  his  "  profession,  "as  gardening  is  cal  3 
in  his  native  land.  He  began  to  learn  t't 
occupation  in  Scotland  at  the  age  of  sixti  1 
years,  at  a  place  called  Blair  Drummo  . 
where  he  served  a  three-years'  apprenticesh  ■ 
He  then  went  to  Dumfries,  and  was  in  the  n  - 
series  there  some  six  months,  afterward,  foa 
year  and  a-half,  being  employed  by  Sir  Willi  n 
Jardine.  For  the  same  length  of  time  he  vs 
at  Eglinton  Castle,  owned  by  the  Earl  of  ;- 
linton,  and  from  there  went  to  Rozell,  Ayrsh  \ 
being  within  a  stone's  throw  of  the  cottagtff 
Robert  Burns,  the  poet,  for  a  year.  After  x 
months  passed  at  the  Williams  nursery  in  Ll- 
don,  he  secured  a  position  at   Hythe,  in  Ktc, 


yz^f^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


793 


1  England,   the  place  of    Henry  B.  Mackeson, 
i  which  he  laid  out,  and   continued  in  charge  of 
for  five  years.      He  then  returned  to  Scotland, 
ibut  in  1870  came  to  the  New   World,  locating 
|at  first  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  remained  for 
a  month.     On  April   18,  of  that  year,  he  ar- 
rived  in   the  town    of    Hyde    Park,    Dutchess 
county,  and  became  assistant  gardener  on  Mr. 
Dinsmore's  place,  under  A.  L.  Black,  who,  the 
following    year,    went    to    Philadelphia.      Our 
subject  succeeded  to  his  position,  which  he  has 
since  most  efficiently  filled.     The  place  con- 
tains one  of  the  finest   collections  of  plants  to 
be  found  in  the  State,  of  which   he   has  com- 
plete charge. 

Mr.  Emerson  has  been  remarkably  success- 
ful in  his  chosen  calling,  and  in  his  present  en- 
[:;agement  has  seventeen  men  under  his  charge, 
during  the  summer  months,  while  in  the  winter 
there  are  eleven.  He  is  a  prominent  member 
jf  the  Society  of  American  Florists,  the  Florist 
riub  of  New  York  City,  and  the  Free  Gar- 
ieners.  In  his  political  views  he  is  an  ardent 
Republican,  giving  his  earnest  support  to  the 
aarty,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  representative 
■citizens  of  the  town  of  Hyde  Park.  In  relig- 
ous  faith  he  is  a  consistent  member  of  the 
'resbyterian  Church. 


li 


P,ERRY  WHEELER,  a  worthy  member  of 
the   agricultural   community  of   the  town 
if  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  is  the  grandson  of 
ohn  B.  Wheeler,  whose  birth  occurred  there, 
n   the   common    schools   of    the    locality   the 
randfather  received  what   was  considered   at 
.t  day    a   very   good   education,    and   at    an 
age  turned  his  attention  to  farming.      He 
Tned  and  controlled  a  large  tract  of  land  in 
;  southern  portion  of   Dover  town,  on  which 
continued  to  make   his    home,   and    there 
ired    his    family.      He    married    Miss    Ruth 
ainpson,  and  had  five  children:     Sebastian, 
hn,  Henry,  Belding  and  Katie. 
Henry  Wheeler,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
s  also  a  native  of  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutch- 
-  county,  and  after  securing  a  common-school 
iucation,    successfully    engaged     in    farming 
iroug^out    his    entire    life,    accumulating  by 
lat  means  considerable  wealth.      He  married 
liss  Catherine  Wing,  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
»'ing,  and  his  wife,  Hannah  White,  who  were 
le   parents  of   three    children:     Amy,    Katie 
id    Hannah.      Her  father,    who   was   one   of 
le  Revolutionary    heroes,   was    born    in    the 


town  of  Dover,  where  during  manhood  he 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  To  the  par- 
ents of  our  subject  were  born  nine  children, 
namely:  Harvey,  Thomas  and  John,  all  de- 
ceased; Shandanette;  Bailey;  Perry;  Amy, 
who  married  Lathic  Brown;  Hannah;  and 
Mariette.  To  the  marriage  of  Lathic  Brown 
and  wife  was  born  a  son,  Alexander  (who 
married  Ethel  Wheeler,  an  adopted  daughter 
of  Perry  Wheeler),  who  was  a  policeman  in 
New  York  City  for  sixteen  years.  His  death 
occurred  at  South  Dover  in  1873.  Lathic 
Brown  was  born  in  Onondaga  county,  N.  Y. , 
and  his  death  occurred  in  1866  in  the  City  of 
New  York.      He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 

Mr.  Wheeler,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review,  was  born  in  Dover  town,  May  29,  18 19, 
and  after  completing  his  education  started  out 
in  life  as  a  farmer,  but  he  later  learned  the 
wheelwright's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  for 
eight  years.  Owing  to  ill  health,  he  again 
took  up  the  occupation  of  farming,  which  he 
has  since  continued.  Since  its  organization  he 
has  been  identified  with  the  Republican  party, 
and  has  acceptably  served  in  several  township 
offices,  including  those  of  assessor  and  commis- 
sioner. His  life  has  been  manly,  his  actions 
sincere,  his  manner  unaffected,  and  his  exam- 
ple is  well  worthy  of  emulation. 

Mr.  Wheeler  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Ann  Ross,  a  daughter  of  Zebulon  and 
Rhoda  Ross,  of  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess 
county,  and  to  this  worthy  couple  were  born 
two  children  :  Catharine,  who  was  born  in 
1850,  educated  in  Dutchess  county,  and  is  now 
the  wife  of  Charles  Hawes,  a  farmer  of  Sher- 
man, Conn.;  and  George  R.,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  three  years.  After  a  long  and  happy 
married  life,  the  wife  and  mother  was  called  to 
her  final  rest  in  1895. 

John  Ross,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Wheel- 
er, was  born  in  Dover  town,  Dutchess  county, 
where  he  followed  farming  and  married  Miss 
Hannah  White.  In  their  family  were  six  chil- 
dren :  Fannie;  Mrs.  Eliza  Prentice;  Mrs. 
Sallie  Butts;  William;  one  whose  name  is  not 
given ;  and  Zebulon,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Wheeler. 

Zebulon  Ross,  an  agriculturist,  was  also 
born,  reared,  educated  and  married  in  the  town 
of  Dover,  Dutchess  county.  Miss  Rhoda  Wing 
becoming  his  wife.  Mrs.  Wheeler  was  one  of 
their  five  children,  the  others  being  as  follows: 
John  wedded  Mary  Stark,  of  Pawling,  Dutchess 
county,  by  whom  he  had  six  children:  Katie, 
Addie,   Rhoda,   Theodore,   Charles  and  Will- 


794 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


iam.  George,  who  married  Miss  Marietta 
Wheeler,  had  no  children.  Theodore  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  A.  Ar- 
nold, and  they,  too,  had  no  family.  Eliza  be- 
came the  wife  of  Harvey  Buckingham,  of 
Northville,  Conn.,  and  to  them  were  born 
three  children,  namely:  (i)  Theodore  first 
married  Eliza  Whitley,  and  their  one  child 
died  in  infancy.  For  his  second  wife  he  chose 
Phoebe  Rennis,  by  whom  he  had  four  children: 
Estelle,  May,  Herman  and  Frederick.  His 
third  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Annie 
Martin.  (2)  Herman  was  killed  while  valiantly 
serving  in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil 
war.  .  (3)  Ann  Eliza  married  Orville  Sheldon, 
who  died  in  May,  1896,  a  son  of  Egbert  Shel- 
don, and  they  had  no  children. 


rRS.  RHODA  L.  SHERMAN,  a  most 
estimable  lady,  whose  home  is  in  the 
town  of  Unionvale,  belongs  to  a  family  that 
has  been  prominently  identified  with  the  inter- 
ests of  Dutchess  county  from  an  early  period 
in  its  history.  Her  paternal  grandfather, 
Hiram  Rozell,  was  a  native  of  the  town  of 
Dover,  Dutchess  county,  received  his  educa- 
tion in  its  common  schools,  and  engaged  in 
farming  during  his  active  business  career.  By 
his  marriage  with  Miss  Catharine  Buck  he  had 
three  children:  Martin,  Hiram  and  Peter. 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  again  mar- 
ried, and  to  the  marriage  were  born  the  follow- 
ing children:  Henry;  James,  who  married  a 
Miss  Wight;  Beekman,  who  married  a  Miss 
Morey;  Albro,  who  married  a  Miss  Rozell; 
Mrs.  Catharine  Leroy;  Mrs.  Helen  Van  Vleck; 
Mrs.  Mevilie  Hewett;  Mrs.  Mary  Whitehead; 
Mrs.  Phoebe  Dennis;  and   Mrs.  Cordelia  Reed. 

Martin  Rozell,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Sherman, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Dover,  in  1793,  at- 
tended the  public  schools  of  the  locality,  and 
engaged  in  farming  as  a  lifework.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Deborah  Cypher, 
an  agriculturist  of  Beekman  town,  Dutchess 
county. 

Twelve  children  blessed  their  union,  name- 
ly: (i)  Peter,  born  in  1818,  married  Phoebe 
Giles,  by  whom  he  had  five  children — Allison, 
Phoebe,  Amelia,  Deborah  and  Ida.  (2)  Thomas, 
born  in  1819,  married  Sarah  J.  Cypher,  by 
whom  he  had  one  daughter — Harriet.  (3) 
Elizabeth,  born  in  1823,  married  James  Wes- 
ley, and  they  had  one  son,  George,  now  de- 
ceased.    (4)  Jane  A.,   born  in    1821,  married 


Ephraim   Hewett,  by  whom  she  had  six  chil- 
dren— Sarah,  Cecelia,  William,  Edward,  Emm; 
and  Obe.      (5)   Maria,   born  in    1825,    marriei 
John  Doan,  and  has  three  children — Samuel. 
Lewis  and  Frank.      (6)  Smith,  born  in  1827, 
married  Ellen   Ball,  by  whom  he  has  five  chil- 
dren— Charles,  Etta,  Edith,   Ella  and  Willie. 
(7)   Rhoda  L.   is  next  in  order  of  birth.     (8 
Drusilla,  born  in  1833,  married  John  Flagler 
and  has  three  daughters — Carrie,  Arcelia  am 
Alda.      (9)  Wicks,  born  in  183 1,  wedded   iMis 
Maria  J.  Brooks,  by  whom  he  had  three  chil 
dren — Edward,   Charles  and  Carrie,  and  afte ' 
the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  married  Mary  E 
Clark,    by  whom  he   had   a  daughter — Annie , 
(10)    David,    born    in    1836,    married    Phetb 
Lake,  and  they  had  two  children — Mamie  an 
Remsen.      (11)  Caroline,   born  in    1839,  mai 
ried  Theodore  Cypher,  and  they  have  a  daugf 
ter — Cora.      (12)  Cecelia,   born  in   1842,  die 
when  young. 

Mrs.  Rhoda  L.  (Rozell)  Sherman  is  a  nr 
tive  of  Dutchess  county,  born  in  the  town  i 
Lagrange,  in  1829,  and  pursued  her  studies  i 
the  schools  near  her  home.  On  reaching  womai 
hood  she  was  united  in  marriage  with  Samu' 
Rozell,  a  farmer  of  Unionvale  town,  who  dii 
in  1869,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  year: 
Later  she  became  the  wife  of  Isaac  W.  She 
man,  who  was  by  occupation  a  painter  ai 
farmer,  and  whose  death  occurred  in  1881 
Mrs.  Sherman  enjoys  the  respect  of  all  \\1 
know  her,  and  her  many  virtues  and  lovii 
disposition  have  gained  her  many  warm  frieix 
in  the  community  where  she  has  so  long  inai 
her  home. 


JAMES  H.  RUSSELL,  a  prosperous  ai 
honored  citizen  of  the  town  of  Beekma 
Dutchess  county,  successfully  engaged 
agricultural  pursuits,  started  out  in  life  poor 
everything  but  pluck  and  indomitable  \v 
power,  and  is  now  one  of  the  well-to-do  fan 
ers  of  the  community. 

John  Russell,  his  great-grandfather,  in  . 
early  day  came,  along  with  two  of  his  brothei 
from  England  to  this  country,  one  of  the  thr 
settling  in  Dutchess  county,  one  in  Massach 
setts,  and  the  other,  John,  in  Orange  count 
N.  Y.  The  last  named  was  twice  marrie 
and  by  his  first  wife  had  five  sons,  one  nam 
William  (the  grandfather  of  our  subject),  ai 
three  daughters;  by  his  second  wife  he  had  b 
one  child,  a  son.      John  Russell   moved  frc 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


795 


•range  county  to  Phillipstown,  Putnam  county, 
•lere  he  passed  the  rest  of  his  days.  He  was 
jlifelong  farmer,  and  during  the  Revolution- 
sy  war  served  as  major-general. 

William  Russell,  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
j:t,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  Dutch- 
ds  county,  where  he  passed  his  entire  life  in 
dricultural  pursuits.  He  was  thrice  married, 
t;  names  of  his  wives  being  Theodosia  Town- 
sid.  Am}'  Cronk  and  Helen  Champlain,  re- 
S2ctively,  the  first  of  whom  was  the  grand- 
Dther  of  James  H.  William  Russell  had 
ti  children  in  all,  as  follows:  Bradford, 
lines,  Annie,  Austin  and  John,  all  five  de- 
rised;  Elijah,  father  of  our  subject;  William, 
ised;  Benjamin;  Betsey,  deceased;  and  a 
laghter  who  died  while  young. 

Elijah   Russell   was  born   in   the   town   of 

Fihkill,  June  12,  1813,  and  attended  the  dis- 

t:;t   schools    of    the    neighborhood.      He  re- 

nined  at  home  until  his  marriage  with  Miss 

^  -craret  Wright,  daughter  of   Isaac  Wright. 

death  occurred   June   20,  1892,  and   she 

w5  mourned  by  many  warm  friends  as  well  as 

b  her  immediate  family.     The  family  circle 

ded  five  children:     Ann  Jeanette,  wife  of 

Liuert    Southard,   of   the  town  of  Stanford, 

Dtchess   county;   George   Isaac,  who   makes 

jme  in  Matteawan,  N.  Y.,  but  is  a  keeper 

;e   prison    at    Sing    Sing;    Alphonza,   who 

;ed  D.  W.  Haight,  of  the   town   of  East 

Kill.  Dutchess  county;  James  H.,  subject 

13  sketch;  and  Maria  Amelia,  wife  of  Will- 

Wolcott,  of  Matteawan.     The  father  has 

vs  engaged  in  farming  upon  many  places 

utchess  county.     After  his   marriage   he 

>-d  in  the  town  of   Lagrange,  whence  he 

ved    to    the   town   of   Poughkeepsie,  and 

was  a  resident  of  Peekskill,  N.  Y. ;  then 

in  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess  county, 

now  makes  his  home  with  his  daughter, 

Haight,   in   the   town   of  East    Fishkill. 

!   recently   he   had  always  supported  the 

Mcratic  party,  but  is  now  a  stalwart  Pro- 

onist  on  account  of  his  views  on  the  tem- 

ice  question.      He    has   never  aspired  to 

c  office,  but  faithfully  discharges  his  du- 

'A  citizenship.      When    young    he  united 

the    Methodist    Episcopal    Church,    and 

^ince  been  one  of  its  active  and  faithful 

bars. 

•I  the  town  of  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county, 
s  H.  Russell,  the  subject  proper  of  these 
.  was  born  June.  7,  1845,  and  his  school 
were    there   passed.      His   educational 


privileges,  however,  were  quite  limited,  a  fact 
which  he  has  always  deeply  regretted.  On 
leaving  home  at  the  age  of  twenty  years,  he 
entered  the  drug  store  of  Van  Valkenburg  & 
Brown,  of  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  engaged  in 
clerking  for  a  year;  then,  with  his  father  and 
brother  bought  out  the  Denton  restaurant,  at 
No.  270  Main  street,  in  that  city,  which  they 
remodeled  and  conducted  for  a  year.  On 
selling  out  he  engaged  in  the  fire-insurance 
business  for  two  years,  representing  the  Loril- 
lard  Company,  of  New  York  City,  being  lo- 
cated at  Arthursburg,  N.  Y.  He  was  next 
employed  on  the  farm  of  J.  W.  Van  Tassell  for 
a  year,  and  during  the  following  four  years 
operated  land  for  W.  S.  Verplanck;  removing 
to  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess 
county,  he  rented  E.  H.  Clark's  farm  for  two 
years,  whence  he  went  to  the  farm  of  Benson 
J.  Lossing,  the  historian,  on  Chestnut  Ridge, 
in  the  town  of  Dover,  which  he  worked  on 
shares  for  three  years,  and  rented  during  the 
following  six  years.  In  1886  he  purchased  a 
255-acre  farm  of  W.  E.  Haxtun,  in  the  town 
of  Beekman,  on  which  he  has  since  resided, 
and  which  he  has  placed  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  He  is  ranked  among  the  most 
progressive  agriculturists  of  the  county,  and 
he  thoroughly  understands  his  business  in  all 
its  departments. 

In  1864,  in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  Mr. 
Russell  was  married  to  Miss  Hester  A.  Haight, 
daughter  of  Henry  Haight,  and  two  children 
were  born  to  them,  the  elder  being  Walter  G., 
now  in  the  grocery  business  in  New  York  City. 
He  married  Lillian  Greenthall,  by  whom  he 
has  three  sons — James  H.,  Vincent  L. ,  and 
Percy  (deceased). 

Mr.  Russell  has  ever  taken  a  prominent 
part  in  public  affairs,  casting  his  ballot  in  sup- 
port of  the  Democratic  party,  and  on  that 
ticket  was  elected  superintendent  of  the  county 
poor  in  the  fall  of  1883,  and  again  in  the  fall 
of  1886,  serving  altogether  six  years.  For 
two  terms  he  was  commissioner  of  highways 
in  the  town  of  Dover,  and  in  the  town  of 
Beekman  has  been  supervisor  one  term,  and  « 
also  commissioner  of  highways  one  term. 
Twice  he  has  been  the  nominee  of  his  party 
for  the  Assembly,  and  came  within  eighteen 
votes  of  being  elected  in  a  district  which  has 
usually  1,800  majority  for  the  Republicans, 
which  fact  plainly  indicates  his  popularity  and 
the  confidence  reposed  in  him.  In  all  the 
various  relations  of  life,  Mr.  Russell  has  been 


796 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


true  and  faithful  in  every  trust,  and  justly 
merits  the  high  regard  in  which  he  is  held. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M.,  Lodge  No. 
458,  Shekomeko,  Dutchess  county,  and  also  a 
charter  member  and  master  of  Sylvan  Grange, 
of  the  town  of  Beekman,  organized  in  Decem- 
ber,  1896. 


JOHN  GEORGE  BODENSTEIN.  Among 
the  valued  German-born  citizens  of  Staats- 
burg,  Dutchess  count}',  stands  prominent 
in  progressiveness.  industry  and  popularity, 
this  gentleman.  He  was  born  in  Hessen-Cas- 
sel,  Germany,  June  20,  1850,  a  son  of  John 
H.  and  Dorothea  (Boerner)Bodenstein,  natives 
of  the  sam'e  place. 

By  trade  the  father  was  a  blacksmith, 
which  occupation  he  continued  to  follow  after 
coming  to  America  in  1858,  first  locating  at 
Rockland  Lake,  Rockland  Co  .,  N.  Y. ,  where  he 
remained  until  1863,  when  he  removed  to  Pier- 
mont,  N.  Y.  There  he  worked  at  his  trade  for 
one  year,  spending  the  following  seven  months 
as  a  journeyman  in  Jersey  City,  N.  J.  In  1864 
he  came  to  Staatsburg,  where  for  three  years 
he  worked  for  the  Eagle  Ice  Company,  and  at 
Athens,  N.  Y. ,  he  was  employed  by  the  same 
company  until  1868.  In  Staatsburg  he  then 
opened  a  shop  for  the  manufacture  of  ice  tools 
and  general  blacksmithing,  which  business  he 
continued  up  to  his  death  in  1875.  He  was 
very  successful,  and  made  many  improvements 
in  ice  tools,  though  he  took  out  no  patents. 
Among  the  many  implements  manufactured  by 
him  were  ice  plows.  In  his  family  were  seven 
children,  all  yet  living,  namely:  Eliza  Cather- 
ine, John  George,  Henry,  Frederick,  Sophia, 
Amelia  and  Charles.  The  mother  died  No- 
vember 25,  1 89 1. 

For  four  \-ears  prior  to  coming  to  this 
country  our  subject  attended  school  in  the 
Fatherland,  and  completed  his  literary  educa- 
tion by  two  years  and  a  half  attendance  at  the 
common  schools  at  Rockland  Lake  and  Pier- 
mont.  Although  his  privileges  in  that  direction 
were  somewhat  meager,  he  has  by  subsequent 
reading  become  a  well-informed  man.  With 
his  father  he  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade, 
and  from  1866  to  1868  worked  as  a  journey- 
man in  Newburg,  Fishkill  Plains  and  Kingston, 
N.  Y.  In  1868  he  started  a  shop  for  his  father 
on  the  site  where  his  brother  Henry  now  car- 
ries on  business,  and  although  he  owned  no 
interest  in  the  shop  had  full  control  until  two 


years    after    his  father's  death.      He  and    h; 
brother  Henry  then  formed  a  partnership,  an 
under  the  style  of  J.  G.  &  H.  Bodenstein  en 
gaged  in  the    manufacture    of    ice  tools  unt 
March    22,     1890,    when  the  partnership  \va 
dissolved.      Our    subject  then  established  hi 
present  shop,  where  he  does  a  great  deal  c 
forging    for  the  Poughkeepsie  foundries,   an 
has  furnished  all  the  iron  work  for  the  Ogde: 
Mills  summer  residence,  which  required  near) 
a  hundred  tons  of  iron  and  steel.      Howeve 
the  manufacture  of  ice  tools  is   still  his  ma- 
business,  in  which  he  has  a  large  trade,  e: 
tending  all  over  the  country,   from  Maine 
the    Pacific.      He    is    essentially    a   self-ma( 
man,  having  been  the  architect  of  his  own  fo 
tune,  and  is  deserving  of  the  highest  comma 
dation. 

In    1873    Mr.    Bodenstein  was    united 
marriage  with    Louisa    Hess,    of    Staatsbur 
a  daughter    of    John  George    Hess,     and 
them  have  been  born  two  sons:     Fred,  who 
associated   with    his  father    in   business;    ai 
John  George.      Mr.    Bodenstein  is  an  arde 
supporter  of  Republican  principles,  though  I 
takes  no  very  active  interest  in  politics;  sociall 
he  is  identified  with  the  F.  &  A.  M.  at  Rhin 
beck.      He   is    a    member    of  the    Episcop 
Church  at  Staatsburg,   of   which  he  has  be 
vestryman    since    its  incorporation;  has  be 
school  trustee  for  many  years,  and   a  memt 
of  the    Staatsburg  fire  department.      He  is, 
member    and    one    of    the    organizers   of  t 
Staatsburg   Gun  Club,  and   is  a  noted  crac 
shot,    having   captured    many    money   priz\ 
and  borne  away  the  first  prize  medal  from  .■ 
bany,  put  up  by  the  Third  Brigade  of  the  > 
tional  Guard  of  the  State  of   New  York,  ir  ^ 
two-days'  "shoot,"  making  a  score  of  48  1. 
of  a  possible  50,    with  military  arm,    off-hs ! 
at  200  yards,  Creedmore  targets.     The  co 
petition  was  one  of  the  sharpest.      Mr.  Bod-  - 
stein's  honor  and  integrity  are  unimpeachal , 
his  word  being  considered  as  good  as  his  bo  ■ 


ILLIS  HAVILAND  CASE.    Thenae 

of  this  lamented  citizen  of  the  towi't 

Clinton,  who  passed  to  his  rest  on  Sund', 
February  12,  1893,  is  remembered  as  that  if 
one  of  the  most  prominent  and  energetic  1  n 
of  the  community,  one  who  assisted  greatl  n 
its  development  and  prosperity.  Besides  f  '- 
eral  farming  he  also  devoted  considerable  t  e 
to  the  practice  of  veterinary  surgery,  and  n 


i 


'i^^^^^PZ^^^^^-^^^iZy 


*■ 

♦ 


// 


COMMEMORATIVE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


797 


the  day  of  his  death  all  of  the  family,  with  the 
exception  of  himself  and  wife,  had  gone  to 
Church.  Feeling  ill,  he  took  what  he  sup- 
posed to  be  some  medicine,  but  which  the  in- 
stant afterward  he  knew  to  be  some  aconite 
ne  had  prepared  for  a  sick  horse,  and  he  died 
soon  afterward.  No  man  is  more  worthy  of 
-epresentation  in  a  work  of  this  kind,  and  there 
s  none  whose  name  is  held  is  more  general  re- 
nembrance. 

The  early  home  of  Mr.  Case  was  in  the 
own  of  Milan,  Dutchess  county,  where  he  was 
5om  September  12,  1829,  to  Ephraim  and 
vlary  (Haviland)  Case,  who  were  farming  peo- 
ple of  that  township,  where  the  birth  of  the 
ather  also  occurred.  The  paternal  grand- 
ather,  Nathan  Case,  who  was  a  minister  in 
he  Society  of  Friends,  married  a  Miss  Hicks, 
rhe  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were  spent 
n  the  place  of  his  nativity,  where  he  also  re- 
eived  his  educational  advantages  in  the  dis- 
rict  schools. 

At  the   age  of  twenty-six  years  Mr.   Case 
tfas  united  in  marriage  with  Phoebe  Collins, 
k'idow  of  Mr.  Ackerman,  of  the  town  of  Union- 
ale,  Dutchess  county,  and  to  them  were  born 
wo  children:     Oscar  J.,   and  Olive  Augusta, 
•  ife  of  George  N.  Bowman.      For  his  second 
.ife  he  wedded  Hannah  M.  Wiley,  and  their 
adding  was  celebrated  in  the  town  of  Clin- 
3n,  January  23,  1867.      One  son  graced  this 
nion:  Homer,  who  married  Florence  E.  Vail, 
aughter  of  Israel  Vail,  of  the  town  of  Union- 
ale.     Mrs.  Case  is  the  fifth  in   the  family  of 
ifht  children  born  to  John  and  Sarah  (^Allen) 
!ey,  the  former   a    native    of    the  town  of 
.■nton,  the  latter  of  the    town    of    Pleasant 
alley,   Dutchess  county.      In   order  of  birth 
le  children  are  as  follows:    Ensign  (deceased) ; 
lien;  Reuben,  who  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
etersburg  during  the  Civil  war;  Mary  J.,  wife 
f  Burtis  Hicks;  Hannah  M.;  Martin  W. ;  and 
William    A.    and    Adeline    (both    deceased), 
he  father  always  carried  on   farming  in   the 

tTSm  of  Clinton,  where  he  died  at   the  age  of 
By-six  years;  he  was  also  a  grain  and  cattle 
Ser.     His  parents  were  Reuben  and  Drusilla 
ivill)  Wiley,  who   always   made  their  home 
the  same  township. 

By  birthright  Mr.  Case  was  a  member  of 
le  Society  of  Friends.  He  was  a  man  uni- 
;rsally  respected,  one  whose  word  was  con- 
iered  as  good  as  his  bond,  and  on  his  death 
:  county  lost  one  of  its  most  honored  and 
-:ful  citizens.     Mrs.  Case  proved  herself  full 


worthy  as  the  companion  and  helpmeet  of  this 
excellent  man,  and  is  a  lady  greatly  esteemed 
in  the  community  in  which  she  lives. 


TIMOTHY  GARRICK  KELLY.     Accord- 
ing  to  tradition,  the  Kelly  family  had  its 

origin  in  Spain,  and  emigrated  to  Ireland  at  a 
very  early  period,  the  branch  of  which  our  sub- 
ject is  a  descendant  making  its  home  for  many 
generations  m  County  Galway. 

His  grandfather,  Patrick  Kelly,  and  father, 
Michael  Kelly,  were  both  natives  of  that  county. 
The  latter  was  born  in  1803,  received  a  good 
practical  education  in  the  schools  of  his  neigh- 
borhood, and  after  his  marriage  to  his  first 
wife,  a  Miss  Egan,  came  to  America.  For 
some  time  he  lived  in  Brooklyn,  and  then  went 
to  Albany,  but  about  1835  he  settled  in  Pough- 
keepsie.  He  had  learned  the  carpenter's  trade, 
but  never  followed  it,  being  engaged  in  the  gro- 
cery business  both  in  Albany  and  Poughkeep- 
sie,  where  he  located  first  at  the  corner  of  Jef- 
ferson and  Church  streets,  and  later  at  the 
corner  of  Church  and  South  Bridge  streets. 
He  was  a  man  of  fine  natural  ability,  a  great 
reader,  and  a  good  judge  of  men  and  affairs, 
and  was  associated  in  his  time  with  the  best 
men  in  the  city.  Aside  from  his  mercantile 
business  he  was  interested  in  banking  and  in 
real  estate,  of  which  he  owned  a  large  amount 
in  the  Second  ward.  He  gave  the  land  for  the 
opening  of  Church  street.  In  politics  he  was 
always  a  strong  Democrat,  and,  although  he 
was  never  an  office-holder,  he  was  quite  influ- 
ential in  party  affairs.  He  was  one  of  the 
original  promoters  of  St.  Peter's  Catholic 
Church,  the  first  meeting  of  the  congregation 
being  held  at  his  house.  To  the  end  of  his 
life  he  was  regarded  as  a  leader  and  counselor 
by  the  men  of  his  faith.  Thoroughly  loyal  to 
his  adopted  city,  he  was  the  means  of  bringing 
many  of  his  people  here.  On  the  death  of  his 
first  wife,  who  left  four  children,  namely:  John, 
born  in  1830,  was  educated  at  Fordham  Col- 
lege, New  York,  was  ordained  a  priest,  and  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  in  1891,  was  Dean  and 
Vicar  General  of  the  Trenton  Diocese ;  Barnard ; 
Mary,  now  Mrs.  Jacob  Kuhn,  of  New  York  City; 
and  Annie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen. 
Mr.  Kelly's  second  wife  was  Miss  Mary  Gar- 
rick,  a  native  of  Ireland  and  a  daughter  of 
Timothy  Garrick,  who  was  a  resident  of  New 
York  City  in  later  years.  Of  the  three  chil- 
dren of  the  second  marriage,  Timothy  G.,  our 


798 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


subject,  is  the  eldest;  Catherine  died  in  1881 
at  the  age  of  twenty -six;  and  Eliza  Regina  is 
still  living.  The  father  died  in  1861,  and  the 
mother  survived  him  twenty-seven  years,  dying 
in  1888. 

Timothy  G.  Kelly  was  born  February  16, 
1852,  in  Poughkeepsie,  and  attended  Dutchess 
County  Academy  in  boyhood,  until  Prof.  Mc- 
George  left  that  institution.  He  then  spent 
one  year  at  Riverview  Seminary.  As  he  was 
naturally  a  good  student  he  made  fine  progress, 
but  at  sixteen  his  school  days  ended.  He  was 
only  nine  years  old  when  his  father  died,  and 
as  the  clerk,  upon  whom  entire  reliance  had 
been  placed,  was  stricken  with  paralysis  not 
long  afterward,  he  was  obliged  to  make  him- 
self useful  in  the  store.  As  he  grew  older  he 
assumed  the  management  of  the  business,  to 
which  he  finally  succeeded,  and  he  has  displayed 
the  characteristic  business  faculty  of  the  family 
in  his  successful  career.  The  store  is  of  the 
old-fashioned  sort,  with  a  bar  in  the  rear. 

In  September,  1874,  he  married  Miss  Mary 
Cunningham,  daughter  of  Patrick  and  Cath- 
erine Cunningham,  formerly  of  Beekman,  and 
they  have  four  children:  Mary,  John,  Frank 
and  Paul.  Mr.  Kelly  has  always  been  a 
Democrat,  and  in  1873  and  '74,  although  hav- 
ing only  just  attained  his  majority,  served  as 
alderman.  He  takes  great  interest  in  the 
success  of  his  party  and  in  public  affairs  gen- 
erally. He  belongs  to  St.  Mary's  Roman 
Catholic  Church,  of  which  he  is  a  trustee,  and 
he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Benevolent  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks. 


lOWARD  C.  MILLARD,  a  prominent 
business  man  of  New  Hamburg,  Dutch- 
ess county,  and  a  member  of  the  well-known 
firm  of  Millard  Lumber  Co.,  was  born  in  that 
town  December  17,  1846. 

His  family  is  of  French  descent,  and  his 
ancestors  were  early  settlers  at  Cornwall, 
Conn.,  where  his  grandfather,  Charles  Millard, 
was  born  in  1763.  The  latter  settled  in  Marl- 
boro, Ulster  county,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
the  lumber  business  until  1824,  when  he 
moved  to  New  Hamburg  and  opened  a  lumber 
yard.  He  manufactured  his  lumber  from  the 
raw  material,  and  had  an  extensive  trade  for 
that  early  day,  the  distance  from  our  own 
times  being  more  easily  realized  when  the  fact 
is  recalled  that  he  witnessed  the  trial  of  Robert 
Fulton's  steamer  on  the  Hudson  in  1807.     He 


was  prominent   in  local  affairs,  and  a  leadii 
member    of    the    Presbyterian    Church.     C 
June    17,  1816,   his  first  wife,  Lydia  Pride, 
native    of    Poughkeepsie,   died    leaving    sev. 
children,  and   October   22,    1818,   he   marri' 
Sarah  Miller,  by  whom  he  had  two  childre 
His  own  death  occurred  April  30,  1827.     1 
the  first  family  the  eldest  son  (i),  John,  bo 
May  21,  1789,  became  a  merchant  and  spec 
lator  in  Brooklyn.      (2)  Charles,  born  in  ijc 
located  in  New  Orleans,  where  he  acquirec 
large  fortune;  he  was  a  man  of  unusual  ene; 
and    business    ability,  and    took    a  promin 
part  in  affairs  in  his  adopted  city.      (^3)  Jam 
born  in  1795,  was  a  wholesale  dealer  in  lum 
and  coal  at   Catskill.      (4)  Cornelia,   born 
1797,  married  Hezekiah  Purdy,  of   Marlbc 
(5)  William,  born  in  1800,  settled  in  Gale 
111.,  and  became  a  leading  business  man  the 
holding  the  office  of  postmaster  at  one  tii 
his    later    years    were    spent    in    traveling 
Europe   and  America,  and   he   died    while 
Jacksonville,   Fla.      (6)  Walter,   our  subje^ 
father,    is   mentioned    below.      (7)  Catheri  1, 
born  in  1803,  married  Elem   Dunbar,  therll 
Poughkeepsie   and   later  of  Cortland  cour  . 
The  children  of  the  second  family  were  M- 
garet  G.  and  Franklin. 

Walter  Millard  was  born  in  Marlboro  h 
1802,  and  remained  there  until  the  remova  ll 
the  family  to  New  Hamburg.  Until  1834  « 
was  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  exclusiv'  ; 
but  at  that  time  he  became  interested  in  freij  ;- 
ing,  and  built  the  barge  "  Lexington,"  wlh 
ran  between  New  York  and  New  Hambtf. 
In  1844  he  purchased  the  steamboat  "  Sp  1- 
did,"  which  carried  freight  from  New  H  1- 
burg  to  Marlboro.  About  1855  he  dispc  d 
of  this  line  of  business  to  give  attentioi  0 
dealing  in  lumber  and  coal,  which  he  con  1- 
ued  until  his  death,  August  20,  1880,  buildg 
up  an  immense  trade  with  large  contract  s 
He  was  a  man  of  remarkable  business  acun  1, 
and  possessed  the  energy  and  enterprisijto 
carry  his  projects  to  completion.  A  5  "t 
Presbyterian  in  religious  faith,  his  life  ; 
marked  by  integrity  and  fair  dealing.  In  •!- 
itics,  he  was  in  early  years  a  Whig,  and  la  a 
Democrat.  He  was  married  November  4' 
1834,  to  Martha  Hyer  Bull,  a  native  of  w 
York  City,  who  died  June  14,  1896.  Hei  a- 
ther,  William  Bull,  who  was  of  English  b  h, 
was  a  well-known  saddle  and  harness  deal  m 
New  York,  and  was  the  first  to  import  co  rs 


from 


England. 


To   Walter   Millard  andiii 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


799 


i  i  wife  were  born  children  as  follows:  Sarah, 
Wiiiiani  B..  Walter  P.,  Edward  J.,  Fenwick 
T.,  Howard  C.  and  Charles. 

Howard  C.  Millard,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  review,  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
Poughkeepsie  and  Fairfield,  N.  Y. ,  and  on  re- 
turning home  he  began  his  business  career  as  a 
dealer  in  cement  pipe.  He  followed  this  until 
the  death  of  his  father,  in  1880,  when  he  ac- 
quired an  interest  in  the  lumber  and  coal  busi- 
ness. The  Millard  Lumber  Co.  is  one  of  the 
most  substantial  firms  of  this  region,  manu- 
facturing and  dealing  both  at  wholesale  and 
retail,  and  commanding  an  immense  trade. 
The  brothers  are  prominently  identified  with 
the  leading  interests  of  their  locality,  and  How- 
ard C.  Millard  has  taken  generous  pride  in  as- 
sisting every  movement  tending  to  promote 
the  public  welfare. 

i  On  September  20,  1870,  Mr.  Millard  mar- 
ried  Miss  Catherine  Jane  LeRoy,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Angeline  LeRoy,  of  New  Hamburg. 
The  LeRoys  are  of  French  Huguenot  descent, 
and  are  among  the  oldest  and  most  highly-re- 
spected families  of  Dutchess  county.  Two 
children  were  born  of  this  union:  Jacob  L. 
and  Katie,  both  at  home.  Mr.  Millard  and  his 
wife  are  leading  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  which  he  is  a  trustee.  In  politics 
he  is  known  as  a  Democrat,  but  he  is  a  believer 
in  Protection.  He  has  taken  great  interest  in 
:he  work  of  the  Masonic  order,  and  he  and  his 
son  Jacob  are  both  members  of  the  Wappinger 
Falls  Lodge  No.  671. 


TOSEPH  L  VAIL,  a  leading  mason  and  con- 
tractor, of  Poughkeepsie,  is  a  native  of 
Dutchess  county,  born  in  the  town  of  Fish- 
<ill,  September  20,  1835.  His  father,  Joseph 
>  ail,  Sr.,  was  also  born  in  that  township, 
.ly  27,  1803,  and  was  a  son  of  Isaac  and  De- 
'orah  Vail,  farming  people  of  that  locality, 
vhere  they  reared  their  family  of  seven  chil- 
iren — (our  sons  and  three  daughters.  The 
ons  were:  Abram,  who  engaged  in  agricult- 
iral  pursuits  in  the  town  of  Fishkill;  Joseph, 
he  father  of  our  subject;  William,  a  farmer, 
vho  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  ninety  years; 
^nd  Piatt,  who  followed  the  same  occupation. 
The  grandfather,  whose  ancestors  were  from 
Holland,  was  a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  and 
lied  upon  the  old  homestead  farm  in  the  town 
)f  Fishkill,  where  his  wife   also   departed  this 


life.  They  were  earnest  and  sincere  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

On  that  farm  the  father  of  our  subject  grew 
to  manhood,  and  married  Mrs.  Sarah  N. 
(Simmons)  Waterhouse,  a  native  of  Coxsackie, 
Greene  Co.,  N.  Y.,  whose  father,  Isaac  Sim- 
mons, was  born  in  1786,  of  English  lineage, 
and  was  a  boatman  by  occupation.  After 
their  marriage  the  parents  located  upon  a  farm 
in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  where  their  ten  chil- 
dren were  born:  Stephen  S.,  born  October 
27,  1830,  operates  the  old  homestead  farm; 
Elizabeth  A.,  born  July  29,  1832,  wedded 
William  Abel,  a  farmer  of  Illinois;  Isaac  S., 
born  September  20,  1835,  is  a  commercial 
traveler;  Joseph  I.,  the  subject  of  this  review, 
is  the  twin  brother  of  Isaac;  Sarah  J.,  born 
May  6,  1838,  is  the  wife  of  George  Cornell,  a 
farmer  of  Virginia/  Mary  L. ,  born  July  29, 
1 840,  is  the  wife  of  Walter  Van  Namberg,  a 
farmer  of  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie;  Harriet 
M.,  born  June  25,  1842,  married  George 
Sprague,  a  farmer  of  Ohio;  Deborah,  born 
March  i,  1844,  is  the  wife  of  Nicholas  Chati- 
ton,  an  agriculturist;  Malissa,  born  March  23, 
1846,  is  the  wife  of  Ira  Van  Kleeck,  a  farmer 
of  Orange  county,  N.  Y. ;  and  Willett,  born 
July  II,  1848,  is  engaged  in  merchandising  at 
Florida,  Orange  county.  The  father  carried 
on  farming  up  to  his  death,  which  occurred 
September  20,  1877;  the  mother  passed  away 
March  i,  1882.  They  held  membership  with 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  in  politics  he 
was  an  ardent  Republican. 

Joseph  I.  Vail  passed  his  early  life  upon 
the  farm,  aiding  in  its  cultivation  as  soon  as 
old  enough,  and  acquired  his  education  in  the 
district  schools.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he 
came  to  Poughkeepsie,  where. he  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship to  the  mason's  trade  with  Isaac 
Broas,  and  about  i860  began  contracting  in 
that  line  for  himself,  since  which  time  he  has 
erected  almost  half  of  the  buildings  put  up  in 
the  city.  From  a  mere  hamlet  he  has  watched 
the  growth  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  during  his 
long  residence  here  has  been  one  of  the  im- 
portant factors  in  its  progress  and  upbuilding. 

On  January  11,  1866,  Mr.  Vail  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Susan  A.  Sloane,  a  na- 
tive of  Poughkeepsie.  Her  father,  James 
Sloane,  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  wedded  Han- 
nah Davidson,  also  of  Irish  extraction.  To 
them  were  born  seven  children:  Thomas  D. 
(i)  and  William  J.,  who  died  while  young; 
Thomas  D.    (2),   who  became  a  merchant  of 


800 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


New  York  City;  William  J.,  who  died  in  child- 
hood; Mary  J.,  who  wedded  Archie  Hawloe,  a 
sea  captain  on  the  Pacific  coast;  Susan  A.,  the 
honored  wife  of  our  subject;  and  Margaret  D., 
who  married  James  E.  Kirk,  a  railroad  man. 

Mr.  Vail  is  a  Republican  in  his  political 
convictions,  and  is  one  of  the  broad-minded 
business  men  of  the  city,  whose  prosperity  can- 
not be  attributed  to  a  combination  of  lucky 
circumstances,  but  who  has  risen  from  energy, 
enterprise,  integrity  and  intellectual  effort  well 
directed.  His  business  has  ever  been  con- 
ducted on  the  strictest  principles  of  honesty. 
He  and  his  wife  hold  a  high  position  in  the  es- 
teem of  their  fellow  citizens,  and  they  give 
their  support  to  the  Second  Reformed  Church 
of  Poughkeepsie. 


MORRIS  BAKER,  for  many  years  a  well- 
_  known  citizen  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 

county,  was  born  in  Bamberg,  Bavaria,  Ger- 
many, in  1842,  and  came  to  America  with  his 
parents  in  1844. 

Heyman  Baker,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  Exin,  Germany,  born  in  the 
year  181 5.  He  was  a  merchant  tailor  by  oc- 
cupation, and  after  coming  to  this  country 
first  located  in  New  York  City,  later  coming 
to  Poughkeepsie.  In  addition  to  his  custom 
work,  Mr.  Baker  was  interested  in  manufac- 
turing goods  for  the  California  and  Mexico 
trade,  making  the  fanciful  and  highly-colored 
fabrics  which  the  people  of  the  latter  country, 
especially,  use  so  profusely.  This  was  in 
1849;  some  time  later  he  established  a  factory 
in  Poughkeepsie,  which  he  carried  on  for  about 
eight  years,  and  after  giving  up  this  line  of 
trade  he  continued  in  the  clothing  business 
until  his  death,  in  1866.  Mr.  Baker  was  well 
known  in  commercial  circles,  where  he  held  a 
high  reputation  for  integrity  and  straightfor- 
ward methods  of  dealing,  and  was  very  suc- 
cessful in  his  enterprises.  He  was  a  worthy 
citizen,  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him. 
He  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Masonic  or- 
der, and  of  the  Odd  Fellows.  Mr.  Baker  was 
married  to  Caroline  Gillett,  a  native  of  Bam- 
berg, Germany,  and  two  children  were  born 
to  them,  one  of  whom  died  when  nine  months 
old.  The  father  passed  from  earth  in  1866, 
and  the  mother  in  February,   1891. 

Morris  Baker  had  good  advantages  for  an 

ducation,  first  attending  the  primary  school 

held  in  the  old  Bond  street  school  house,  in 


the  Sixth  ward.  New  York  City.      From  ther 
he  went   to   a  private  school   taught  by  Mi? 
Filkins,  and  then  to  a  grammar  school  unde^ 
A.    Underbill,   finishing    his    education  at  tb; 
Poughkeepsie  Academy.      He  has  always  bee 
a  reader,  and  is  a  well-informed  man.     Afte 
leaving  school  he  went  into  business  with  h 
father,  and  after  the  latter's  death  carried  0 
the  establishment  until  the  winter  of  1867-6* 
when  he  took  up  the  business  of  an  auctionee 
in  which  he  has  been  engaged  until  the  prese 
time.      This  occupation  carries    him  all  ov 
the  county,  and  he  has  become  not  only  wi 
known,  but  is   considered  one  of  the  best 
that  line.      His  sales  comprise  real  estate,  chi 
tels  and  other  property,  and  he  has  been  r 
markably  successful  in  n.aking  large  sales 
lands  and  personal  property.      He  is  popul 
with  all   classes,  and  is  a  public-spirited  ai 
enterprising  citizen.      In  1865   Mr.  Baker  w 
married  to  Miss  Marie  Boyd,  of  Plainfield,  ! 
J.,  and  seven  children  have  blessed  their  unio 
namely:   Rebecca,   the  wife  of  Walter  Tod 
of    Poughkeepsie;    Ettie,   at  home;   Henry, 
cigar  manufacturer  at  Wappingers  Falls;   S 
phia,  employed  in  the  silk  works  at  Matteawa 
Albert,  a  commercial  traveler;  and  Belle  a) 
Pauline,  at  home. 

In  politics  Mr.  Baker  believes  in  the  pri 
ciples  of  the  Democratic  party,  but  has  ne\ 
taken  an  active  part  in  public  affairs.  He  i; 
member  of  the  Jewish  Synagogue,  and  of  t 
Royal  Good  Fellows. 


SAMUEL  J.  TANNER.  Among  the  act  -. 
_)  farmers  and  stock-raisers  in  the  town  i 
Pine  Plains,  Dutchess  county,  this  gentletni 
holds  prominent  place.  He  belongs  to  onef 
the  pioneer  families  of  the  county,  hisgre- 
grandfather  having  been  one  of  the  early  s- 
tlers  of  the  town  of  Dover.  He  was  a  nat  ? 
of  England,  and  while  serving  in  the  Brit  1 
army  he  was  captured  by  the  Spaniards  aH 
would  have  starved  to  death  had  it  not  bi  1 
for  the  Spanish  women. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Sanil 
Tanner,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Dover,  t 
early  located  on  the  old  Tanner  farm,  easi  f 
the  village  of  Pine  Plains,  and  became  a  lef- 
ing  and  influential  man.  He  wedded  My 
Mcintosh,  and  to  them  were  born  fourt  11 
children:  William,  John,  Alex,  Reuben,  M- 
ris,  Anthony,  Henry,  James,  Samuel,  Marga:  , 
Eliza,   Myra,  Clarissa,   and  Mary  Magdale:, 


k 


Cy^^^^^-t^t>cC^  ^-  <5^^>^^^^^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


801 


nost  of   whom   resided  in  Columbia  county, 
N^ew  York. 

Samuel  S.  Tanner,  father  of  our  subject, 
(Ucceeded  to  the  old  homestead  in  the  town  of 
'ine  Plains,  and   by  the   careful  management 
»f  his  business  affairs  accumulated  a  comforta- 
ble property,  having  in  the   neighborhood  of 
.50  acres  of  land,  comprising  one  of  the  best 
arms  in  the   town.      He   was  a  man  of  good 
atural  ability,  strong   and   rugged,   of  sound 
jdgment  and  well  informed  for  his  time.      His 
)rtune  was  the  result  of  his  own  diligence  and 
nterprise,  and  his  upright,  honorable  life  won 
16  high  regard  of  all.      For  his  first  wife  he 
■added  Fannie  Streaver,  and  after  her  death 
as  united  in  marriage  with   Miss   Mary  Betsy 
.own,  by  whom  he  had  four  children:     Will- 
m;    Fannie,  wife  of    Henry  Palmer;    Mary, 
ife  of  John  Head;  and  Samuel  J.,  subject  of 
lis  sketch.     His  third  union  was  with  Julia 
heldon,  and   to  them  were   born  three  chil- 
•en:  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Samuel  Titus;  George, 
Pine  Plains;  and  Julia.     The  father  voted 
.e  Democratic  ticket,  though  never  particu- 
Vly  active  in  political  matters,  and  was  often 
■ged  to  take  office,  but  declining  the  honor  he 
Illy  served  as  assessor  one  term.      In  religious 
(ith  his  support  was  given  to  the  Presbyterian 
(lurch,   which  he  attended.      He  was  called 
bm  this  earth  February  7,  1 891,  at  the  ripe 
e  of  eighty-six  years. 
Our  subject  was  born  in  1845,   on  the  old 
inestead  in  the  town  of  Pine  Plains,  and  re- 
'ived  a  fair  education   in   the  district  schools 
I  the  locality,  which  education  in  later  years 
mproved  by  reading  and  observation.      He 
lys  remained  upon  the  old  homestead,  aid- 
in  its  operation,  and  successfully  managed 
;  same  for  several  years.     After  the  death  of 
i   father  he  purchased  the  interest  of  the  other 
htrs,  and  his  career  as  a  farmer  and  stock- 
rser  has  been   characterized   by  keen  judg- 
it,  shrewd  common  sense  and  good  business 
its.     He  raises  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs,  and 
I  careful,  conservative   business   man   and 
sjstantial   farmer,  owning  450  acres  of  valu- 
ae  and  productive  land. 

On  November  28,  1894,  Mr.  Tanner  was 
u  ted  in  marriage  with  Fannie  E.  Van  Aken, 
"o  was  born  April  22,  i860,  in  Ulster  coun- 
N.  Y.,  daughter  of  Solomon  and  Catherine 
I  (Atkins)  Van  Aken,  highly  respectable 
ning  people  of  the  town  of  Esopus,  Ulster 
nty.  The  father  died  in  1879,  aged  fifty- 
years;  the   mother  in  1891,  aged  sixty- six 

68 


years.  They  are  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
three  of  whom  are  yet  living.  To  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tanner  has  come  one 
child:  Charles  S.,  born  November  8,  1895. 
They  are  also  caring  for  the  orphan  son  of 
Mrs.  Tanner's  sister,  Aurelia  (Mrs.  William 
Swartout),  who  died  September  15,  1890. 
Our  subject  is  strictly  temperate  in  every  sense 
of  the  word,  thus  following  in  the  footsteps  of 
his  father,  and  is  a  liberal  contributor  to  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  In  politics  he  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat, but  cares  nothing  for  political  prefer- 
ment, desiring  rather  to  devote  his  time  and 
attention  to  his  business  interests. 


ATHANIEL  SMITH,  a  prominent  mer- 
chant of  Low  Point,  Dutchess  county, 
has  been  for  many  years  the  postmaster  at  that 
place,  and  his  able  administration  of  the  affairs 
of  the  office  has  served  to  confirm  his  popular- 
ity and  influence  in  that  locality.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  Dutchess  county,  born  in  New  Hacken- 
sack,  September  18,  1840.  His  father,  Na- 
thaniel Smith,  was  of  English  descent,  and 
was  born  on  Long  Island  in  1777.  He  mar- 
ried Eustacia  Weeks,  a  native  of  Westchester 
county,  and  settled  in  New  York  City,  where 
he  followed  the  carpenter's  trade  for  some 
years,  the  old  Trinity  church  being  among  the 
most  important  structures  which  he  helped  to 
build.  In  1832  he  moved  to  New  Hacken- 
sack,  and  continued  his  trade  until  his  death 
in  1850,  his  wife  surviving  only  six  years.  Po- 
litically he  was  a  Democrat,  and  he  and  Mrs. 
Smith  were  both  consistent  members  of  the 
Reformed  Church.  Of  their  five  children, 
some  of  whom  were  born  in  New  York  City, 
our  subject  is  the  only  one  now  living.  Will- 
iam was  a  carpenter,  and  spent  most  of  his 
life  in  New  York  City;  Susan  married  Oliver 
Van  Dyne;  Ann  married  Abram  Stoutenburgh, 
a  farmer  in  western  New  York,  and  Maria  was 
the  wife  of  Samuel  Van  Forte,  a  shoemaker. 
The  subject  of  our  sketch  spent  his  school 
days  mainly  in  Pittsford,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  en- 
joyed the  ordinary  educational  advantages  of 
the  time.  His  first  entrance  into  mercantile 
life  was  as  a  clerk  at  New  Hamburg  and  Hyde 
Park,  but  in  1856  he  became  station  agent  at 
Low  Point,  then  known  as  Carthage  Landing. 
After  four  years  there  he  was  transferred  to 
Dutchess  Junction,  and  later  to  Fishkill  Land- 
ing, where  he  remained  until  1871,  when  he 
again  turned  to  the  mercantile  life,  opening  a 


802 


COMMEMORA  TIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  EECORD. 


grocery  at  Low  Point.  His  success  in  this 
venture  soon  warranted  the  enlargement  ol  his 
stock,  and  he  now  conducts  a  general  store, 
with  a  good  trade.  In  1868  he  was  appointed 
postmaster,  and  has  held  the  office  without 
interruption  since  that  time,  with  satisfaction 
to  all  concerned.  Politically  Mr.  Smith  is  a 
Republican,  and,  as  one  of  the  substantial  and 
progressive  citizens  of  the  town,  he  takes  a 
leading  part  in  local  affairs. 

In  1864  our  subject  was  united  in  matri- 
mony with  Miss  Maria  DeGroot,  a  lady  of 
French  descent,  but  a  native  of  New  Ham- 
burg. One  daughter  blessed  this  union,  Es- 
telle,  who  married  George  Terwilliger,  of 
Wappingers  Falls. 


GEORGE  W.  BUTCHER.  The  Dutcher 
family  has  held  a  prominent  position  in 
this  section  for  many  years,  various  members 
taking  an  influential  part  in  business  and  po- 
litical life.  The  different  branches  of  the  fam- 
ily trace  their  descent  from  one  or  another  of 
six  or  seven-  brothers  who  came  from  Holland 
to  America  in  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth 
century  and  located  on  Long  Island,  where 
some  of  them  remained.  Derrick  Dutcher, 
our  subject's  grandfather,  came  from  Long 
Island  to  Dutchess  county,  and  settled  upon  a 
farm  in  the  town  of  Dover.  He  married  Miss 
Edith  Chapman,  daughter  of  William  Chap- 
man, and  reared  a  family  of  eight  children: 
Israel,  the  eldest;  Ransom,  who  never  married; 
Wilbur,  who  married  Mary  Hoag;  Luther,  our 
subject's  father;  Amy.  who  was  twice  married, 
her  second  husband  being  Daniel  White ;  Esther, 
Mrs.  Ellis  Benson;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  E.  B.  Som- 
mers;  and  Ann,  Mrs.  Willis  Benson.  Derrick 
Dutcher  and  wife  are  dead,  his  wife  dying  in 
1 86 1,  aged  eighty-three  years. 

Luther  Dutcher  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Dover  in  1806,  and  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  there.  He  learned  the 
wheelwright's  trade,  becoming  an  expert  fin- 
isher and  polisher,  and  later  engaged  in  the 
iron  business  at  Dover  Furnace,  being  one  of 
the  founders  of  that  industry  there.  Later  he 
became  connected  with  the  Novelty  Iron 
Works,  located  at  the  foot  of  Twelfth  street, 
in  New  York  City.  On  retiring  from  this  busi- 
ness he  followed  farming  for  three  or  four 
years,  and  then  resumed  his  former  business 
at  Napanoch,  Ulster  county,  remaining  two 
ye&rs.       He    then    moved    to     Poughkeepsie, 


where  he  occupied  the  residence  at  471  Maii 
street,   the    present    location    of    the    Electri( 
Light  Company.      From  that  place  he  movet 
to  Dover  Plains,  and  spent  two  years  in  th( 
business  of  carriage   manufacturing.      He  wai 
a  very  benevolent  man,  a  leader  in  many  pub 
lie  movements,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the 
work  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  in  militarj 
affairs,  serving  as  captain  in  the  old  militia. 
An  ardent  Democrat,  he  was  a  popular  candi- 
date of  his  party,  and  held  a  number  of  town- 
ship  offices,    including   that    of   juscice  of  thi 
peace.      In  1892   he  was  elected  to  the  Stati 
Assembly,    defeating  John    B.    Dutcher,    whi 
had  been  confident  of  success.      He  marriei 
Miss  Adelia   A.    Geddings,    who  was  born  ii 
1809,  the  daughter  of  Buell  and  Sarah  Ged 
dings,    well-known    residents  of    the  town  c 
Dover.     Of  the    four  children   of  this  union 
the  eldest,    Hiram   W.,    born  in    1834,  was 
farmer.      He  never  married.      Gilbert  J.,  bor: 
in  1835,  was  in  the  employ  of  the  government 
He    married    Miss    Mary    Watson,    of    Uistt 
county,  in  1863,  and  had  one  child,  who  diei 
at  the  age  of  six  months.      The  third  son  i 
the  subject  of  this  memoir,    and   the  fourth 
William  G.,  was  born  in   1848,  and  after  rt 
ceiving  an  education  in  the  seminaries  of  tlir 
locality,   entered  the  service    of    the   Harlei 
railroad  as  conductor,   and  was  regarded  f^ 
many  years    as  one   of   their  best   and  mo: 
trustworthy  employes.      He  married  Miss  Ka! 
S.    Swords,    daughter    of    Henry    Swords,  < 
Pawling,   and   had  two   children:     Sarah  ar 
Adelia,  both  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 

George  W.   Dutcher  was  born  August  : 
1839,  and   was  educated   in   the  academies  . 
Amenia  and  Fort  Plain.      After  graduating,  1 
learned  the  trade   of  a   carpenter  and  joint- 
which  he  followed  for  twenty-five  years.     \ 
was  engaged  to  some  extent  in  the  underta 
ing  business  during  that  time,  and  in  188S  1 
opened  such  an  establishment  at  Wing's  St 
tion,  where  he  makes  a  specialty  of  that  lii 
of  work,  in  which  he  is  a  leader,  and  carries 
large  stock  of  materials,  having  about  $2,01 
invested.      He  owns  a  farm  of  fifty-two  acr 
in  that  vicinity.      His  first  wife  was  Miss  Nt' 
tie   Hill,    daughter  of   Thomas   Hill,   a   wei 
known  resident  of  the  town  of  Olive,  Ulst 
county,    and   of    this   marriage    three   childi 
were    born:       (i)    Frederick    died    when    : 
months  old.      (2)  Eva  is  the  wife  of  Geori 
A.  Trowbridge,  and  has  two  children,  Willi; 
L.  and  Nettie;  and  (3)  Luther  T.  died  at  t 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPEIOAL  RECORD. 


803  ■ 


age  of  fifteen  years.      The  mother  of  this  fam- 
ly  died  March  5,  1878,  and  Mr.  Dutcher  mar- 
-ied  Miss  Sarah  A.  Webb,  daug^hter  of  a  prom- 
nent  commission  merchant  of  Wing's  Station, 
l^lexander  Webb,  who  was  born  in   Pawling, 
September    5,   18 13,    and    after    receiving   his 
education  there  learned  the  miller's  trade.     He 
ipent  some  years  in  that  business  at  Roches- 
er    before    settling    at    Wing's    Station.      He 
narried   Miss  Elizabeth  Lane,   of  Unionvale, 
.nd  had  two  children:    Sarah  (Mrs.  Dutcher), 
nd  Mary  J.,  who  married  William   S.   Jones, 
nd  has  two  children:     Nellie  E.  and  Annie  M. 
On  his  mother's  side   Mr.    Dutcher  is  de- 
i  cended  from  the  well-known  Geddings  fam- 
y.     His  grandfather,  Buell  Geddings,  was  a 
ative  of  the  town  of  Sherman,  Dutchess  coun- 
;/,   where   he  was  educated  and  learned  the 
hade  of  a  wagonmaker,  at  which  he  worked 
juring  the  greater  part  of  his  life.      His  last 
ears  were  passed  upon  a  farm  in  the  town  of 
jtQver.      He    married    Miss    Sarah   Reasoner, 
id    has    five   children:     (i)    Noble    married 
arriet  Co.x,  of  Crum  Elbow,  and  had  three 
liildren:      Theo   F.,  Nina  and    Frank.       (2) 
Idelia  married  Luther  S.  Dutcher.      (3)  Jack- 
fem  married  Debora  Hoag,  and  had  four  chil- 
|<en:     John  H.,   who  married    Maria  Oliver; 
'  eorge   W. ,    who    married    Jennie    Villinger; 
yra,    Mrs.     James    Reynolds;    and   Andrew, 
ho  is  not  married.     (4)  Martin  married  Mary 
Hoag.      (5)  William  is  not  married. 
In  politics  Mr.  Dutcher  has  always  been  a 
ianch  Democrat,  and  has  held  a  number  of 
(Sees.      He  has  been  inspector  of  elections  in 
h  district  for  nineteen  years,  school   trustee 
fr  the  same  length  of  time,  and  is  now  serving 
h  sixteenth  term  as  justice  of  the  peace. 


'THEODORE  S.  HORTON  is  proprietor 
of  one  of  the  most  noticeable  homesteads 
e   town    of    Pleasant    Valley,    Dutchess 

tinty,  pleasantly  situated  about  eight  miles 

«,  Poughkeepsie.  His  pleasant  residence  is 
ted  by  a  good  barn  and  the  various  other 
Bildings  required  by  the  progressive  agri- 
|rist.  As  a  tiller  of  the  soil  he  is  thorough 
skillful,  and  has  been  uniformly  fortunate 
iriis  investments. 

Mr.  Horton  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  the 

n  of    Esopus,    Ulster    county,    where    his 

h  took  place  August  19,  1848,  at  the  home 

<jfiis  parents,  John  and  Phcebe  (Stoutenburgh) 

Hrton,  both  natives  of  Ulster  county.      His 


paternal  grandfather,  David  Horton,  was  a 
farmer  of  that  county,  where  he  was  married 
and  spent  his  remaining  days.  The  Stouten- 
burghs  were  of  Holland  descent,  formerly 
bearing  the  name  of  Van  Stoutenburgh.  The 
maternal  grandfather,  Herman  Stoutenburgh, 
was  also  an  agriculturist  of  Ulster  county. 
After  their  marriage  the  parents  of  our  subject 
located  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Esopus, 
where  they  reared  their  two  children :  Elizabeth 
and  Theodore  S.  Besides  his  farming  opera- 
tions the  father  also  conducted  a  grist  and  saw 
mill.  His  political  support  was  given  the  Re- 
publican party,  while  he  and  his  wife  attended 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  was 
called  from  this  life  in  1855,  and  his  wife,  who 
survived  him  for  many  years,  died  January 
13.   1895- 

The  early  days  of  Theodore  S.  Horton 
were  spent  upon  the  farm  where  his  birth  oc- 
curred; but  at  the  age  of  eight  years  he  came 
to  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  to  live  with 
his  grandfather,  and  here  obtained  a  fair  edu- 
cation. In  1866  he  went  to  Poughkeepsie 
town,  Dutchess  county,  where  he  lived  on  the 
farm  of  his  uncle,  David  Stoutenburgh,  and 
there  followed  farming. 

On  November  6,  1873,  was  consummated 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Horton  and  Miss  Jennie 
Underwood,  who  was  born  on  the  farm  where 
she  now  resides,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Gerald 
Underwood,  also  a  native  of  the  town  of  Pleas- 
ant Valley,  and  of  Holland  lineage.  To  them 
have  been  born  three  children,  all  at  home, 
namely:  G.  Kendel,  Lispnard  S.  and  Flavius. 
After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horton  con- 
tinued to  live  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Pough 
keepsie  until  the  spring  of  1891,  when  they 
removed  to  their  present  fine  farm  of  188  acres 
of  rich  and  fertile  land.  He  is  a  progressive 
and  enterprising  farmer,  public-spirited  to  a 
high  degree,  and  an  ardent  supporter  of  the 
Democratic  party.  Both  he  and  his  wife  at- 
tend the  Baptist  Church,  to  which  they  are 
liberal  contributors.  They  hold  a  high  posi- 
tion in  the  social  circles  of  the  community. 


JOHN  W.  LINK  is  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent among  the  energetic  and  successful 
farmers  of  the  town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess 
county.  His  life  history  clearly  illustrates 
what  may  be  attained  by  faith  and  continued 
effort  in  carrying  out  an  honest  purpose.  In- 
tegrity,   activity    and  energy    have    been    the 


804 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


crowning  points  of  his  success,  and  have  en- 
abled him  to  accumulate  all  that  he  now  pos- 
sesses. 

William  Link,  his  father,  was  born  about 
1798  in  the  town  of  Milan,  Dutchess  county, 
of  which  locality  the  grandparents,  Philip  and 
(Cookingham)  Link,  were  early  resi- 
dents and  farming  people.  William  was  the 
second  in  their  family  of  seven  children,  and 
in  the  common  schools  of  the  neighborhood 
received  his  education.  On  attaining  manhood 
he  was  married,  in  the  town  of  Milan,  to  Eliz- 
abeth Pells,  a  daughter  of  John  Pells,  and  to 
them  were  born  six  children:  John  W. ,  the 
subject  of  this  review;  Eliza  Ann  (deceased); 
Jeremiah  ;Henry  (deceased) ;  Helen  and  Charles. 
For  some  time  after  his  marriage  the  father 
worked  by  the  day,  but  later  engaged  in  farm- 
ing on  his  own  account,  and  from  no  source 
whatever  did  he  ever  receive  financial  assist- 
ance. 

In  the  town  of  Milan,  December  11,  18 17, 
John  W.  Link  was  born,  and  he  there  attended 
school.  On  starting  out  in  life  for  himself  he 
first  worked  as  a  farm  hand,  later  learning  the 
carpenter's  trade,  at  which  he  was  employed 
some  twenty-five  years.  His  first  purchase  of 
land  comprised  a  farm  in  his  native  township, 
which  he  operated  for  twelve  years;  but  in 
1864  he  bought  his  present  farm  in  the  town 
of  Clinton,  to  the  improvement  and  cultivation 
of  which  he  has  since  devoted  his  time  and  at- 
tention with  remarkable  success. 

In  Albany,  N.  Y.,  November  13,  1851, 
Mr.  Link  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Sarah  Hicks,  who  was  born  June  20,  1823,  in 
the  town  of  Milan,  Dutchess  county.  Her 
father,  David  Hicks,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Pine  Plains,  in  1797,  and  in  the  town  of  Clin- 
ton he  was  married  in  the  Quaker  faith  to  Miss 
Mary  Gildersleeve,  who  was  born  in  that  town- 
ship in  1798.  He  died  in  1884,  she  in  1889, 
and  they  were  the  parents  of  nine  children, 
Mrs.  Link  being  third  in  the  family  and  eldest 
of  those  yet  living.  Benjamin  Hicks,  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Link,  born  in  1751,  became  an 
early  settler  of  Dutchess  county.  He  married 
Deborah  Doty,  and  to  them  were  born  eight 
children,  all  now  deceased.  The  family  were 
Quakers  in  religious  belief.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Link  rank  among  the  oldest  living  pioneers  of 
Dutchess  county,  the  family  having  been  con- 
nected therewith  about  200  years,  and  they 
command  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  with 
whom  they  come  in  contact.      Mr.   Link  has 


been  a  lifelong  Democrat,  and  has  served  as 
road  master  in  the  town  of  Clinton.  At  all 
times  he  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  the 
welfare  and  prosperity  of  his  town  and  county. 


QEORGE  F.  PHESAY,  a  leading  watch- 
maker and  jeweler  of  Matteawan,  Dutch- 
ess county,  and  one  of  the  most  enterprising 
of  the  young  business  men  of  that  place,  is 
the  proprietor  of  an  establishment  which  com- 
pares favorably  for  equipment  and  variety  of 
stock  with  any  of  its  kind  along  the  Hudson 
river.  His  success  is  the  more  worthy  of  note 
because  it  is  founded  upon  his  own  efforts,  and 
his  term  of  apprenticeship  was  served  at  the 
same  place  which  he  now  occupies  as  owner. 

His  parents,  John  and  Ellen  (Rhine)  Phe- 
say,  were  both  born  in  England,  his  father  at 
Kidderminster,  his  mother  in  London.  On 
coming  to  America  in  1856,  his  father,  who 
was  a  gardener  by  occupation,  located  first  at 
Matteawan  and  except  for  some  years  at  Troy, 
N.  Y.,  the  greater  portion  of  his  time  was 
spent  there.  Our  subject  was  one  of  eight 
children,  of  whom  two  died  in  childhood.  The 
survivors  are  Carrie  Emma  (Mrs.  Albert 
Yates),  John  K.,  James  K. ,  Ellen  Nora, 
George  F.  and  Mary  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Fred- 
Ciick  Way). 

George  F.  Phesay  was  born  at   Lansing 
burg,    N.   Y. ,   September    13,    1864,   and  wa.- 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Matteawan 
his   parents  having  returned  from  Troy  wher 
he  was   about  five  years    old.      After  leavins 
school  he  entered  the  employ  of  Capt.  Fair 
banksof  the  steamer  "Martin,"  plying  betweei 
Newburg  and  Albany,  and  took  charge  of  hi.- 
conservatories,   the  fine  collection  of  orchid- 
being  his  especial  care.      He   remained  then, 
about  a  year,  and  then  spent  a  few  months  ii| 
the     Matteawan     Manufacturing     Company' 1 
works,  but  finally  found  thoroughly  congenia 
employment   in  the  jewelry  store   of   the  lat'| 
A.  Townsend,  where   he  learned  the  busines- 
in  all  its  branches.      After  the  death  of  Mr 
Townsend    in    1894.   Mr.  Phesay   remained  i 
charge  of  the  store  for  a  time,  and  in  Noveiii 
ber  of  that  year  he   bought   the  fixtures  froi 
the    heirs  and   started   in   business  on    hisow; 
account  at   the  same  location,  opening  on 
cember    i,   1894,  with    an  entirely  new  stOCl«| 
his  choice  selection  displaying  artistic  taste 
well  as  sound  business  judgment. 

Mr.  Phesay  married  Miss  Louise  Ticehursii 


e  a* 


COiTMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


805 


daughter  of  Charles  and  Elizabeth  (Tomlins) 
ricehurst,  prominent  residents  of  Matteawan, 
ind  has  two  sons,  Charles  Frederick  and 
jeorge  Simms  Phesay.  He  and  his  wife  at- 
end  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  are  among  the 
eaders  in  the  various  social  and  charitable 
ictivities  of  the  Church.  In  politics  Mr.  Phe- 
ay  is  a  Republican,  and  he  is  a  member  of 
Hudson  River  Lodge  No.  57,  of  the  fraternal 
rder  of  Knights  of  Pythias. 


I^GBERT  DOTY.  We  are  now  permitted 
C^  to  touch  briefly  upon  the  life  history  of 
ne  who  has  retained  a  personal  association 
'ith  the  affairs  of  Dutchess  county  since  his 
ifancy,  and  one  whose  ancestral  line  traces 
ack  to  the  Colonial  period.  His  life  has 
een  one  of  honest  and  earnest  endeavor,  and 
tie  success  has  not  been  denied  him.  He  is 
native  son  of  the  county,  his  birth  having 
;curred  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  Jan- 
iry  23,  1827;  but  his  entire  married  life  has 
.;en  passed  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  where  he 
•vns  a  valuable  farm,  highly  cultivated  and 
'ell  improved,  with  all  the  accessories  to  be 
lund  upon  a  model  farm  of  the  nineteenth 
(ntury. 

Samuel  Doty,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
no  born  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  and 
MS  a  son  of  Stephen  Doty,  an  early  resident 
( that  locality.  On  reaching  maturity  Sam- 
il  was  married  in  the  town  of  Hyde  Park, 
litchess  county,  to  Elizabeth  Briggs,  and 
tjht  children  were  born  to  them,  in  order  of 
Hh  as  follows:  George,  Henry  and  Martha 
(1  deceased);  Stephen,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ; 
Ijbert,  of  this  sketch;  Joseph,  of  the  town  of 
liasant  Valley;  Mary,  wife  of  Paul  Flagler; 
ad  Hiram  (deceased).  In  his  native  town- 
s  p  the  father  continued  to  follow  farming 
ntil  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1872;  his 
»'e  died  in  1845.  He  was  a  self-made  man. 
Wo  by  sheer  force  of  will  and  untiring  effort 
*rked  his  way  upward  until  he  has  secured  a 
dnfortable  competence. 

Egbert  Doty  grew  up  on  the  home  farm, 
Keiving  his  primary  education  in  the  district 
scools,  and  later  was  a  student  in  the  Amenia 
Aidemy.  On  Novenber  19,  1856,  he  was 
mted  in  marriage,  in  the  town  of  Hyde  Park, 
wh  Mary  B.  Wood,  a  daughter  of  George  R. 
V)od,  and  was  called  to  her  final  rest  March 
2<  1892,  leaving  a  loving  husband  and  two 
cJdren,     besides     innumerable     friends,     to 


mourn  their  loss.  The  daughter,  Josephine 
W.,  is  the  wife  of  Abram  J.  Conover.  The 
son,  Norman  J.,  acquired  his  education  in  the 
public  school  of  the  town  of  Clinton,  and  the 
Poughkeepsie  Military  Institute.  He  still  re- 
mains upon  the  home  farm  with  his  father, 
and  on  November  5,  1891,  in  Clinton  town, 
he  wedded  Carrie  M.  Hicks,  a  daughter  of 
George  S.  and  Emma  (Foster)  Hicks.  They 
have  a  son,  Foster  W. ,  born  August  24,  1893. 
A  man  of  unswerving  integrity  and  honor, 
one  who  has  a  perfect  appreciation  of  the 
higher  ethics  of  life,  Mr.  Doty  has  gained  and 
retained  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  fel- 
low men,  and  is  distinctively  one  of  the  lead- 
ing citizens  of  the  town  of  Clinton,  with  whose 
interests  he  has  always  been  identified. 


FRANK  P.  MEAD.  Among  the  wide-awake 
young  farmers   of  the  town  of  Amenia, 

Dutchess  county,  there  is  probably  none  more 
energetic  and  reliable  than  the  gentleman 
whose  name  begins  this  sketch.  He  has  made 
many  valuable  and  useful  improvements  upon 
his  place,  and  has  the  land  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation. 

John  Franklin  Mead,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Amenia,  born 
March  16,  1836,  and  died  there  on  the  home- 
stead farm,  September  i,  1890.  His  boyhood 
days  were  there  passed,  much  in  the  usual 
manner  of  farmer  lads,  and  he  attended  the 
district  schools  and  the  Amenia  Seminary, 
acquiring  a  good  practical  education.  His 
life  was  devoted  to  the  pursuit  to  which  he  was 
reared,  and  he  also  served  as  director  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Amenia,  and  president 
of  the  Amenia  and  Sharon  Land  Co.,  of  North 
Dakota.  He  was  numbered  among  the  pub- 
lic-spirited men  of  the  county,  and  was  one  of 
the  most  interested  in  its  development  and 
progress.  A  conscientious  Christian,  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  Amenia,  in 
which  he  served  as  deacon;  politically  he  was 
a  Republican,  and  for  one  term  filled  the  office 
of  supervisor  of  his  township.  In  the  town  of 
Amenia  he  married  Mary  Mygatt,  daughter  of 
Ambrose  Mygatt,  and  three  children  blessed 
their  union  :  Emma,  now  the  wife  of  Jacob 
Peters,  of  Amenia;  Edward,  of  the  same  place, 
and  Frank  Presson,  of  this  review. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  occurred  in  the 
town  of  Amenia,  December  13,  1869,  and  on 
reaching  a  sufficient  age  he  attended  school  at 


I! 


806 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


Perry's  Corners,  in  Northeast,  was  later  a 
student  in  the  Amenia  Seminary  and  the  Reed 
school  at  Lakeville,  Conn.,  and  completed  his 
education  at  the  Housatonic  Valley  Institute 
at  Cornwall,  Conn.  On  December  15,  1892, 
in  Amenia  town,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Laura  Belle  Barlram,  only  daughte'r 
of  Barney  and  Laura  G.  (Culver)  Bartram. 
He  has  always  turned  his  attention  to  agricult- 
ural pursuits,  and  is  now  operating  the  old 
Bartram  farm. 

Barney  Bartram  was  born  at  Redding, 
Conn. ,  in  1 808,  and  was  a  cattle  broker  in  New 
York  City  the  greater  part  of  his  business  life. 
In  1867  he  came  to  Amenia,  where  he  built 
the  present  residence  of  our  subject,  and 
resided  there  during  the  summer  months,  but 
the  winter  seasons  he  still  spent  in  New  York. 
At  Pine  Plains,  Dutchess  county,  he  married 
Miss  Laura  G.  Culver,  who  survived  him  some 
time,  dying  in  1887,  while  his  death  occurred 
in  1878.  In  religious  belief  he  was  a  Method- 
ist, and  he  was  a  most  highly  esteemed  and 
honored  citizen. 


THEODORE  WHEELER,  a  prosperous 
agriculturist,  residing  near  South  Dover, 

Dutchess  county,  is  one  of  the  substantial  citi- 
zens of  the  town  of  Dover. 

His  father,  Thomas  Wheeler,  was  a  well- 
known  drover  and  farmer,  residing  near  Wing 
Station,  and  owned  about  1,000  acres  of  fine 
land.  He  was  born  in  Dover  in  18 14,  and  in 
1837  was  married  to  Rhoda  Ann  Oney,  of  Ot- 
sego county,  who  was  born  in  18 12.  They 
had  three  sons:  Theodore,  Obed  and  William. 

Theodore  Wheeler  was  born  in  1837  at  the 
old  homestead  in  Dover,  and,  in  1858,  he  was 
united  in  matrimony  with  Miss  Jane  A.  Chap- 
man. They  have  one  son,  Thomas  S.  Wheeler, 
who  was  born  in  Dover,  May  22,  1862,  and 
was  educated  at  Peekskill,  N.  Y.  Since  his 
graduation  he  has  been  engaged  in  business  in 
New  York  City  as  a  broker,  and  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Produce  Exchange  of  that  place. 
He  married  Miss  Addie  Mayer,  daughter  of 
Gilford  Mayer,  a  well-known  insurance  agent 
of  Plainfield,  N.  J.,  and  his  wife,  Ophelia. 
Mrs.  Jane  A.  Wheeler,  was  born  in  Dover, 
March  16,  1837,  and  was  educated  in  the  local 
schools.  She  is  a  lady  of  unusual  ability  and 
force  of  character,  and  is  descended  from  an 
old  Connecticut  family.  Her  grandfather, 
John    Chapman,  was    born    and    educated    in 


that   State,  whence   he   came  to  the   town  c 
Dover.      He  and  his  wife,  Catherine  (Briggs), 
reared    a    family    of    four    children:     Henry, 
Richard,    Ann   (now  Mrs.  Bishop)  and  Sarah 
A.  (now   Mrs.  Henry  Fiero). 

Richard  Chapman,  Mrs.  Wheeler's  father, 
was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Dover,  born  in 
1 8 10.  He  was  carefully  educated,  and  as  he 
possessed  mechanical  ability  of  a  high  order 
he  decided  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade,  which 
he  followed  until  he  was  forty  years  old.  He 
then  moved  to  Pawling,  Dutchess  county,  and 
engaged  in  the  restaurant  business.  No  desire 
for  political  distinction  was  ever  manifested  by 
him,  but  he  ardently  believed  in  the  principles 
of  the  Democratic  party,  and  never  failed  to 
support  them  as  occasion  permitted.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  Wheeler,  daughter  of  Sebas- 
tian Wheeler,  a  prosperous  farmer,  and  his 
wife,  Phoebe  (Wing).  The  five  children  of 
Richard  and  Sarah  Chapman  were:  Francis. 
Jane  A.,  Sarah  L. ,  Perry  M.  and  Emma  M. 
Of  these,  (i)  Francis,  born  July  11,  1835, 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his  native  town, 
and  then  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in 
Pawling.  After  some  years  he  went  to  New 
York  City  as  a  bookkeeper,  and  died  there. 
His  wife  was  Miss  Jennie  M.  Bishop,  daughter 
of  Rev.  Bishop.  They  had  no  children.  (3, 
Sarah  L. ,  born  May  14,  1839,  married  Will- 
iam B.  Ross,  a  merchant  of  the  town  of  Dover, 
and  they  have  three  children:  William  J., 
Charles  (who  married  Miss  Ida  Woodman) 
and  George  W.  (4)  Perry  M.,  born  March 
27,  1 841,  engaged  in  the  restaurant  business 
with  his  father,  after  he  had  completed  hi? 
course  of  study  in  the  local  schools.  During 
the  Civil  war  he  served  as  a  soldier  in  defense 
of  the  Union  cause.  He  married  Miss  Am: 
Thomas,  daughter  of  Charles  Thomas,  a  well- 
known  farmer  and  blacksmith  of  Dover.  FiV( 
children  were  born  of  this  union:  Cora  T.  (nov 
Mrs.  George  Daniels),  Albert,  Ross.  Fred  anc 
Emma.  (5)  Emma  M.  married  Georee  W 
Chase,  cashier  of  the  Pawling  Bank,  and  the)' 
have  had  two  children:  Nellie  T.  and  George 


C\LARENCE  E.  YOUNG.  The  subject  0' 
_/  this  sketch  was  born  in  Poughkeepsiei 
Dutchess  county,  August  14,  1851,  and  is  th  j 
son  of  Edward  H.  and  Phcebe  (Frost)  Young  1 
the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  the  town  0 
Milton,  Ulster  county,  and  the  latter  in  Dutch 
ess  county. 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


807 


Our  subject  spent  his  boyhood  on  the  farm 
uid  attending  the  public  schools  and  the  Dutch- 
;ss  County  Academy.      After  finishing  his  ed- 
ication  he  worked  on  the  farm,  where  he  is  at 
present    occupied  in  the  business  of  gardener 
ind  florist.      He  was  married    in  1876  to  Miss 
iebecca  U.  Underbill,  who  was  born  in  Queens 
ounty,    L.  I.      Her  father,   Jacob   Underbill, 
vas   a   farmer,  and   came  of   Irish   ancestors. 
Two  children  have  been  born  to  our  subject  and 
vife:     Edith    M.    and    Blanch.       Mr.    Young 
las  a  farm  just  outside  the  city  limits,  where  he 
aises  vegetables,  garden  supplies  and  flowers. 
le  has  a  fine  residence  on  the  place.      He  is  a 
regressive  citizen,  a  Prohibitionist,  and,  with 
is  wife,  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church. 
Edward  H.  Young  grew  up  in  Ulster  county 
nd  married  Miss  Frost,  who  was  the  daughter 
f  James  Frost,  a  farmer.     They  lived  for  some 
ime  in  Ulster  county,  and  then  moved  to  Pough- 
eepsie  and    purchased  their  farm    in  1850,  on 
'hich  their  present  house    was  built  in  185 1. 
our  children   were    born   to    Mr.    and   Mrs. 
I'oung:     Annie,  who  married  William  M.  Du- 
bois, a  farmer  of  Charles  county,    Maryland; 
hcebe,  unmarried;  Hannah,  who  died  in  1885; 
nd    Clarence    E.,    our   subject.      Mr.   Young 
ied  in  1878,  and  his  wife  in  1887.      He  was 
lepublican. 
idward  Young,  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
also  born  in  Ulster  county.      He  married 
liss  Cromwell,  and  #iey  reared  the  following 
iren:  John,  a  farmer  in  Ulster  county,  now 
eased;    David    was    a    farmer    in   Pleasant 
^ey,  and   is  now  deceased;   Alexander  is  a 
ler  in  Orange  county;  William  is  on  a  farm 
le  town  of  Marlborough,  Ulster  Co.,  New 


OHN  R.  BARRETT,  the  junior  member  of 
the  well-known  firm  of  Humeston  &  Bar- 
rett, leading  blacksmiths  and  wagon  makers 
)over  Plains,  Dutchess  county,  is  one  of  the 
linent  young  business  men  of  that  village, 
^s  a  native  of  the  place,  born  in  1865,  and 
acquiring    his    education    in    the    public 
jIs  he  learned    the  blacksmith's  trade  of 
liam  Barhite,  of  Amenia.      In  1878  he  es- 
lished  his  present  shop  at  Dover  Plains  in 
|rtnership  with    Meritt    Humeston.   and    his 
cess  in  this  enterprise  has  given  him  excel- 
|it  standing  in  financial  circles. 
His  family  is  of  Irish  origin,  the  home  of 
j  ancestors  being  at  Doneraile,  County  Cork, 


Ireland.  James  Barrett,  his  grandfather,  was 
born  and  educated  there  and  became  a  farmer  by 
occupation.  He  married  Margaret  Mahoney  and 
had  five  children,  of  whom  the  youngest  died  in 
infancy.  The  others  were:  James  and  Mary, 
who  never  married;  Ellen,  Mrs.  James  Cullen, 
and  Richard,  our  subject's  father,  who,  after 
attending  the  schools  of  Doneraile  until  the 
age  of  fourteen,  came  to  America  and  settled, 
in  1851,  at  Dover  Plains.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  was  employed  by  the  Belding  estate, 
and  then  he  went  to  New  York  City  and  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business  for  one  year, 
and,  on  returning  to  the  town  of  Dover,  fol- 
lowed farming  during  his  later  years,  with  J. 
K.  Mabbet.  He  always  took  an  intelligent 
interest  in  public  questions,  but  was  not  act- 
ively engaged  in  politics.  He  and  his  wife, 
Mary  Gorings,  reared  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren: Maggie,  Mrs.  William  Donovan;  Ellen, 
Mrs.  William  Burns;  Mary,  Mrs.  Thomas 
Whalen;  James,  who  married  Delia  Murray; 
John,  our  subject;  George,  who  married  Nellie 
Dahoney;  and  Richard,  who  married  Annie 
Donley. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  found  a  worthy 
helpmeet  in  Miss  Anna  Quinlan,  a  lady  of  Irish 
descent,  and  thpir  home  is  brightened  by  three 
children:  Frank,  born  December  21,  1885; 
Arthur,  September  22,  1890;  and  Gertrude, 
October  6,  1892.  Mrs.  Barrett's*  father,  Martin 
Quinlan,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  but  came  to 
America  in  boyhood  with  his  parents,  who 
located  upon  a  farm  in  town  of  Unionvale, 
Dutchess  Co.  He  attended  the  schools  of  that 
locality  for  some  time,  and  in  early  manhood 
purchased  a  farm  near  Burbank,  where  he  still 
resides.  He  married  Miss  Mary  McLaughlin, 
who  was  also  born  in  the  Emerald  Isle,  and 
they  have  eleven  children:  William,  who  mar- 
ried Sarah  Quinlan;  Maggie,  Mrs.  Thomas 
Mullen;  Daniel,  who  married  Annie  Donley; 
Martin,  Charles,  Terrance,  Ella  and  Hattie, 
who  are  not  married;  Delia,  the  wife  of  John 
McKenna;  George,  unmarried;  and  Annie,  now 
Mrs.  Barrett. 


W  LEXANDER  BISHOP,  Jr.,  a  prominent 
^k^  agriculturist  of  the  town  of  Wappinger, 
Dutchess  county,  residing  near  New  Hacken- 
sack,  is  one  of  the  most  highly  respected  citi- 
zens of  that  locality,  a  long  life  of  quiet,  unob- 
trusive usefulness  having  gained  him  the  esteem 
of  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances. 


808 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


His  family  is  among  the  oldest  in  Dutchess 
county.  His  great-grandfather,  an  English- 
man by  birth,  was  a  pioneer  farmer  in  the  town 
of  Fishkill,  where  Caleb  Bishop,  our  subject's 
father,  was  born.  By  occupation  he  was  a 
farmer  and  lime  burner.  He  married  Hannah 
Phillips,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of 
Poughkeepsie,  where  they  reared  a  family  of 
nine  children. 

Gabriel  Bishop,  their  fourth  child,  grew  to 
manhood  at  the  old  homestead  and  engaged  in 
the  business  of  boating  for  some  years.  Polit- 
ically he  was  a  Democrat.  He  married  Hester 
Yates,  a  native  of  the  same  town,  and  daugh- 
ter of  John  Yates,  a  well-known  hotel-keeper. 
Her  grandfather  came  to  Dutchess  county  from 
Ireland.  After  his  marriage  Gabriel  Bishop 
settled  in  his  native  town,  and  of  his  nine  chil- 
dren the  majority  located  upon  farms  in  Dutch- 
ess county.  The  eldest,  William,  was  a  boat- 
man on  the  Hudson;  Jackson  was  a  farmer  in 
his  native  town;  John,  Alexander,  Samuel  and 
Caleb  all  engaged  in  farming;  Mary  Ann  mar- 
ried Joseph  Randolph,  a  jeweler;  Catherine 
married  Charles  Deering,  a  farmer;  and  Hester 
never  married.  The  family  has  always  been 
identified  with  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church, 
and  various  members  have  taken  an  active 
part  in  local  affairs. 

Alexander  Bishop  was  born  February  4, 
1820,  and  lived  at  the  old  farm  until  he  was 
twenty-four  years  of  age,  when  he  married  Miss 
Jane  Kirklan,  the  daughter  of  a  farmer  of 
Greene  county,  N.  Y.,  who  died  when  she  was 
a  mere  infant.  She  was  adopted  and  reared 
by  the  Rev.  Van  Cleef.  The  young  couple 
made  their  first  home  upon  a  farm  in  the  town 
of  Lagrange,  but  in  1876  they  moved  to  their 
present  property,  a  fine  farm  of  iio  acres  de- 
voted to  mixed  crops.  Mrs.  Bishop  died  in 
1886,  leaving  a  family  of  four  children:  Alex- 
ander, jr.,  assists  his  father  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  farm,  and  is  one  of  the  influential 
young  men  of  that  vicinity,  holding  the  office 
of  commissioner  of  highways;  Cornelius  Van- 
Cleef  is  an  undertaker  in  Wappinger  Falls; 
Gertrude  and  Nellie  are  at  home.  Mr.  Bishop 
has  always  been  an  interested  student  of  public 
questions,  and  in  politics  is  a  Democrat. 


ber  8,  1867,  in  Bucks  county,  Penn.,  where 
his  parents,  who  were  both  natives  of  that  lo- 
cality, now  reside. 

William  Heaney,  his  father,  has  been  en- 
gaged in  agriculture,  and  in  boating  on  the 
canal  for  many  years,  and  is  well  known  in 
that  section.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat, 
and  he  and  his  wife.  Emily  (Buck),  are  devout 
members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  They 
had  five  children:  Henry,  a  canal  man  in 
Pennsylvania;  Isaac,  a  blacksmith  and  butcher 
by  trade;  John,  who  met  his  death  at  the  age 
of  twenty-seven  in  a  street-car  fire  at  Tren- 
ton, N.  J.;  Charles  S.,  our  subject;  and  Anna, 
wife  of  George  Mich,  a  boatman,  in  Bucks 
county,  Pennsylvania. 

Charles  S.  Heaney  spent  the  first  sixteen 
years  of  his  life  at  home,  and  then  began  work 
upon  the  canal,  contributing  his  wages,  until 
he  was  twenty-one,  toward  the  support  of  the 
family.  On  attaining  his  majority  he  went  to 
New  York  City,  and  for  some  time  ran  a  barge 
for  the  Montrose  Brick  Co.,  but  since  Decem- 
ber, 1 89 1,  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  hotel 
business  at  Fishkill  Landing,  and  has  also 
been  interested  in  the  wholesale  beer  trade  as 
agent  for  Quinn  &  Nolan,  of  Albany,  N.  Y. 
On  July  29,  1896,  he  added  to  these  lines  of 
enterprise  a  cafe  in  the  Opera  House  block  at 
Fishkill,  his  business  sagacity  being  supported 
by  an  apparently  limitless  energy. 

On  January  4,  i89»,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Quirk,  daughter  of  Michael  Quirk, 
a  well-known  resident  of  Fishkill  Landing, 
who  is  of  Irish  descent.  Two  children,  Lil- 
lian and  Ellen,  bless  this  union.  In  his 
political  views  Mr.  Heaney  is  not  hampered  by 
partisan  ties,  and  his  vote  is  cast  according  to 
the  requirements  of  the  times.  He  is  a  promi- 
nent member  of  the  Church  of  St.  John  The 
Evangelist  (Roman  Catholic),  at  Fishkill 
Landing,  and  is  identified  with  the  Catholic 
Benevolent  League  and  Catholic  Order  of 
Foresters. 


C\HARLES  S.  HEANEY,  the  enterprising 
'  proprietor  of  the  "Oak  Hotel  and  Caf^" 
at  Fishkill  Landing,  and  of  another  popular 
cafe  on  Main  street,  Fishkill,  was  born  Septem- 


Q^LIVER  KEES  SMITH.  This  gentleman 
^  is  generally  known  as  one  of  the  substan- 
tial farmers  of  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess 
county,  but  he  now  leases  his  land,  and  de- 
votes his  time  and  attention  to  the  fire-insur- 
ance business,  having  represented  the  Conti- 
nental Company  for  about  ten  }'ears.  He  was 
eminently  successful  as  a  tiller  of  the  soil,  and 
is  a   man  of  keen  intellect,  sound   judgment 


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'^^^zr^ 


COMMEMORATIVE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


809 


and  business  ability.  His  early  home  was  at 
Bear  Market,  in  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutch- 
ess county,  where  his  birth   took  place  July  i, 

1834. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
Stephen   R.  Smith,   was  born  about   1768,  in 
Rhode  Island,  where  he   married  Miss  Rhoda 
Harris.      On  leaving  his  native   State  he  came 
to  Dutchess  county  on  horseback,  his  wife  and 
three  children  accompanying  him,  locating  first 
in  the  town  of  Stanford,  where  he  followed  the 
occupation    of    a    farmer,    later    becoming    a 
resident    of  the   town  of    Clinton.      He  held 
■nembership  with  the  Society  of  Friends.      In 
lis  family  of  nine  children,  Rufus  Smith,  the 
ather  of  our  subject,  was  next  to  the  young- 
;st,  and  was   born   in   the   town  of  Stanford, 
fune  8,  1805.      In   the  schools  of  that  town- 
hip  and  at   Clinton   Corners  he   received   his 
■ducation,  and  he  continued  to  remain  on  the 
lid  homestead   farm   for  two  years   after   his 
narriage.     On  December  3,  1828,  in  the  town 
f  Washington,    Dutchess  county,  Mr.  Smith 
larried  Elizabeth  Thorne,  who  was  born  De- 
ember  19,  1808,  and  they  became  the  parents 
f  three   children,   namely:     (i)  Cynthia  T. , 
'ho  married  Thomas  I.  Wing,  and  they  have 
vo  daughters — Annie  and   Carrie.      (2)  Caro- 

Ifc,  who  married  Welcome  Johnson,  of  Min- 
mjolis,  Minn.,  and  they  have  three  children 
■"rank  (who  is  married,  and  has  two  daugh- 
■,  Marie  and  Elizabeth);  Elizabeth  and 
fcrge  S.  (3)  Oliver  K.,  subject  of  this 
Itch.  The  entire  business  career  of  the 
Ber  was  spent  in  farming  in  the  town  of 
■Dford,  where  he  served  as  supervisor  about 
■7,  and  there  his  death  occurred  January  8, 
|fei.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Friends 
hurch.  The  mother  of  our  subject  is  a  daugh- 
lr  of  Stephen  and  Sarah  (Thorn)  Thorne, 
"hile  her  paternal  and   maternal  grandfathers 

I  ire  the  name  of  Joseph  Thorne  and  Joseph 
iorn,  respectively,  although  the  former  was 
^French  and  the  latter  was  of  English  ori- 
L  Joseph  Thorne  was  born  in  1745,  and 
[prried  Sarah  Kees;  Joseph  Thorn  was  born 
■1749.  The  entire  life  of  Stephen  Thorne 
lis  passed  in  the  town  of  Washington,  where 
t  was  married,  and  where  were  born  to  him 
fie  children:  Anne  K.,  Cynthia,  Elizabeth, 
Imnah  and  Joseph. 

Oliver  K.  Smith,  the  subject  proper  of  these 
liss,  acquired  his  education  in  part  at  a  school 
aNew  Milford,  Conn.,  in  part  at  the  Nine  Part- 
is Boarding  School,  in  the  town  of  Washing- 


ton, and  became  familiar  with  the  various 
phases  of  farm  life  under  the  capable  instruc- 
tion of  his  father.  He  remained  under  the  pa- 
rental roof  until  his  marriage,  when  he  re- 
moved to  his  present  residence  in  the  town  of 
Stanford.  On  September  24,  1863,  in  the 
town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  Mr.  Smith  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Hannah  P.  Halstead,  a  daughter 
of  Joseph  G.  Halstead,  of  Clinton  town,  and 
to  them  were  born  three  children:  Lizzie, 
wife  of  Harry  Decker,  of  New  York  City,  by 
whom  she  has  one  child — Elaine;  and  Thorne 
and  Florence,  both  deceased. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a  progressive  man,  pre-emi- 
nently public-spirited,  and  all  that  pertains  to 
the  public  welfare  receives  his  hearty  endorse- 
ment. For  three  terms  he  served  as  assessor 
of  his  township,  being  elected  on  the  Repub- 
lican ticket,  and  by  the  Democratic  party  was 
elected  supervisor,  filling  that  position  for  one 
term.  He  is  emphatically  a  man  of  enter- 
prise, positive  character,  indomitable  energy, 
strict  integrity  and  liberal  views,  thoroughly 
identified  with  the  prosperity  and  welfare  of 
his  town  and  county.  He  is  a  stanch  and 
loyal  friend,  fond  of  good  fellowship,  and  de- 
voted to  those  who  have  his  confidence. 


W  LBERT  R.  BRYANT,  a  prominent  young 
.£^k^  business  man  of  Matteawan,  Dutchess 
county,  is  a  descendant  of  an  old  English  fam- 
ily long  established  at  Bristol,  England,  where 
many  of  his  ancestors  were  connected  with  the 
business  of  hat  manufacturing. 

His  great-grandfather,  Richard  Bryant, 
and  grandfather,  Jonathan  Bryant,  were  thus  en- 
gaged throughout  their  manhood,  and  his  father, 
the  late  George  Bryant,  who  was  born  in  Bris- 
tol, learned  the  same  trade  there,  and  on  coming 
to  America,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  continued  it 
for  many  years.  He  located  first  at  Newark, 
N.  J.,  where  he  met  and  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Simmonds,  a  native  of  England,  whose 
father,  John  Simmonds,  brought  his  family  to 
the  United  States  during  her  youth  and  settled 
at  Bloomfield,  N.  J.  The  early  years  of  their 
wedded  life  were  spent  in  Newark,  but  later 
they  removed  to  Yonkers,  N.  Y. ,  and  finally 
to  Matteawan,  where  Mr.  George  Bryant  fol- 
lowed the  hotel  business  for  about  seventeen 
years.  He  was  a  man  who  took  a  generous 
interest  in  everything  that  pertained  to  the 
welfare  of  his  adopted  country,  and  in  politics 
was  a  stanch  Republican.      He  and  his  wife 


R 


i 


COMMEMORATIVE   BIOORAPHICAL   RECORD. 


809 


IRn 


d  business  ability.  His  early  home  was  at 
Bear  Market,  in  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutch- 
ess county,  where  his  birth   took  place  July  i, 

1834. 

The   paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
Stephen   R.  Smith,   was  born  about    1768,  in 
Rhode  Island,  where  he   married  Miss  Rhoda 
Harris.     On  leaving  his  native   State  he  came 
to  Dutchess  county  on  horseback,  his  wife  and 
three  children  accompanying  him,  locating  first 
in  the  town  of  Stanford,  where  he  followed  the 
occupation    of    a    farmer,    later    becoming    a 
resident    of  the   town  of    Clinton.      He  held 
membership  with  the  Society  of  Friends.      In 
his  family  of  nine  children,  Rufus  Smith,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  next  to  the  young- 
est, and  was   born   in  the  town  of  Stanford, 
June  8,  1805.      In   the   schools  of  that  town- 
ship and  at   Clinton   Corners  he  received   his 
education,  and  he  continued  to  remain  on  the 
old  homestead   farm   for  two  years   after   his 
marriage.     On  December  3,  1828,  in  the  town 
of  Washington,    Dutchess  county,  Mr.  Smith 
married  Elizabeth  Thorne,  who  was  born  De- 
cember 19,  1808,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  three   children,   namely:     (i)   Cynthia  T. , 
who  married  Thomas  I.  Wing,  and  they  have 
o  daughters — Annie  and  Carrie.      (2)  Caro- 
.e,  who  married  Welcome  Johnson,  of  Min- 
polis,  Minn.,  and  they   have  three  children 
Frank  (who  is  married,  and  has  two  daugh- 
irs,    Marie    and    Elizabeth);    Elizabeth    and 
George    S.      (3)    Oliver    K.,    subject    of    this 
sketch.      The    entire    business    career    of  the 
father  was  spent  in   farming  in  the   town  of 
Stanford,  where  he  served  as  supervisor  about 
1847,  and  there  his  death  occurred  January  8, 
1 88 1.      He    was    a    member   of    the    Friends 
-hurch.    The  mother  of  our  subject  is  a  daugh- 
er  of  Stephen    and    Sarah    (Thorn)   Thorne, 
vhile  her  paternal  and   maternal  grandfathers 
^ore  the  name  of  Joseph  Thorne  and  Joseph 
Thorn,  respectively,  although  the  former  was 
)f  French  and  the  latter   was  of  English  ori- 
;in.     Joseph  Thorne   was  born   in  1745,  and 
narried  Sarah  Kees;  Joseph  Thorn   was  born 
n  1749.     The  entire   life  of  Stephen  Thorne 
^as  passed  in  the  town  of  Washington,  where 
le  was  married,  and  where  were  born  to  him 
ve  children:     Anne  K.,  Cynthia,    Elizabeth, 
lannah  and  Joseph. 

Oliver  K.  Smith,  the  subject  proper  of  these 
nes,  acquired  his  education  in  part  at  a  school 
tNew  Milford,  Conn.,  in  part  at  the  Nine  Fart- 
ers Boarding  School,  in  the  town  of  Washing- 


ton, and  became  familiar  with  the  various 
phases  of  farm  life  under  the  capable  instruc- 
tion of  his  father.  He  remained  under  the  pa- 
rental roof  until  his  marriage,  when  he  re- 
moved to  his  present  residence  in  the  town  of 
Stanford.  On  September  24,  1863,  in  the 
town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  Mr.  Smith  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Hannah  P.  Halstead,  a  daughter 
of  Joseph  G.  Halstead,  of  Clinton  town,  and 
to  them  were  born  three  children:  Lizzie, 
wife  of  Harry  Decker,  of  New  York  City,  by 
whom  she  has  one  child — Elaine;  and  Thorne 
and  Florence,  both  deceased. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a  progressive  man,  pre-emi- 
nently public-spirited,  and  all  that  pertains  to 
the  public  welfare  receives  his  hearty  endorse- 
ment. For  three  terms  he  served  as  assessor 
of  his  township,  being  elected  on  the  Repub- 
lican ticket,  and  by  the  Democratic  party  was 
elected  supervisor,  filling  that  position  for  one 
term.  He  is  emphatically  a  man  of  enter- 
prise, positive  character,  indomitable  energy, 
strict  integrity  and  liberal  views,  thoroughly 
identified  with  the  prosperity  and  welfare  of 
his  town  and  county.  He  is  a  stanch  and 
loyal  friend,  fond  of  good  fellowship,  and  de- 
voted to  those  who  have  his  confidence. 


M  LBERT  R.  BRYANT,  a  prominent  young 
Jp^  business  man  of  Matteawan,  Dutchess 
county,  is  a  descendant  of  an  old  English  fam- 
ily long  established  at  Bristol,  England,  where 
many  of  his  ancestors  were  connected  with  the 
business  of  hat  manufacturing. 

His  great-grandfather,  Richard  Bryant, 
and  grandfather,  Jonathan  Bryant,  were  thus  en- 
gaged throughout  their  manhood,  and  his  father, 
the  late  George  Bryant,  who  was  born  in  Bris- 
tol, learned  the  same  trade  there,  and  on  coming 
to  America,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  continued  it 
for  many  years.  He  located  first  at  Newark, 
N.  J.,  where  he  met  and  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Simmonds,  a  native  of  England,  whose 
father,  John  Simmonds,  brought  his  family  to 
the  United  States  during  her  youth  and  settled 
at  Bloomfield,  N.  J.  The  early  years  of  their 
wedded  life  were  spent  in  Newark,  but  later 
they  removed  to  Yonkers,  N.  Y. ,  and  finally 
to  Matteawan,  where  Mr.  George  Bryant  fol- 
lowed the  hotel  business  for  about  seventeen 
years.  He  was  a  man  who  took  a  generous 
interest  in  everything  that  pertained  to  the 
welfare  of  his  adopted  country,  and  in  politics 
was  a  stanch  Republican.      He  and  his  wife 


810 


COMMEMORA  TIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


I 


were  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  She 
passed  to  the  unseen  life  in  1 87 1 ,  and  his  death 
occurred  March  11,  1888.  They  had  five 
children:  George  H.,  who  is  now  in  the  Ma- 
rine' Hospital  at  Stapleton,  L.  I. ;  John  Ed- 
ward, a  hatter  by  occupation;  Lucy,  now  Mrs. 
Newton  Quick,  of  Yonkers;  Albert,  our  subject, 
and  Robert,  who  died  at  the  age  of  five  years. 

Albert  R.  Bryant  was  born  at  Yonkers,  N. 
Y. ,  July  7,  1862,  and  was  about  five  years  old 
when  his  parents  removed  to  Matteawan.  He 
attended  school  at  that  place  for  a  time,  and 
then  entered  a  private  school  in  New  York 
City,  where  he  remained  about  twelve  years. 
On  completing  his  course  he  returned  to  Mat- 
teawan and  learned  the  hatter's  trade,  which 
may  be  said  to  be  hereditary  in  his  family, 
preferring  the  hotel  business,  in  which  he  was 
engaged  for  nine  years  at  the  corner  of  Water 
and  Fountain  streets.  In  March,  1888,  he 
opened  a  saloon  at  the  same  site,  and  has  ever 
since  conducted  it.  He  has  gained  the  friend- 
ship of  many  people,  and  is  also  successful 
financially,  owning  a  large  amount  of  valuable 
real  estate  at  Matteawan,  including  the  "Com- 
mercial House." 

In  1 88 1,  Mr.  Bryant  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Margaret  Forsyth,  a  native  of 
Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  and  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  Forsyth,  a  well-known  resident  of  that 
locality.  Two  children  were  born  of  this 
union:  Edna  E.  ;-.nd  George  A.  Mr.  Bryant 
is  an  ardent  advocate  of  Republican  principles, 
and  socially  is  connected  with  various  organi- 
zations, being  an  active  member  of  the  B.  P. 
O.  E.,  the  Foresters  of  America,  and  the 
Beacon  Hose  Co.,  of  which  he  was  foreman 
for  three  years  and  is  now  chief  engineer. 


JAMES  B.  TRIPP,  the  able  manager  of  an 
extensive  stock  farm  at  Dover  Plains, 
Dutchess  county,  is  considered  an  author- 
ity upon  all  questions  relating  to  the  training 
and  care  of  that  noble  animal,  the  horse.  His 
experience  as  foreman  of  large  stock  farms  at 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ,  and  Danbury,  Conn., 
has  admirably  fitted  him  for  his  present  re- 
sponsible position  with  H.  N.  Bain,  of  Dover 
Plains. 

Mr.  Tripp  is  a  descendant  of  one  of  our  old 
families,  his  grandfather,  John  Tripp,  having 
been  a  native  of  Dutchess  county.  He  became 
a  farmer  by  occupation  and  for  many  years 
lived  at  Ancram,  Columbia  county.      His  wife 


was  Cynthia  Adzit,  of  Bangall,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, and  they  reared  a  family  of  nine  children: 
Daniel  I.  married  (first)  Dameris  Myers,  and 
(second)  Mrs.  Adaline  Sharp;  David  K. ;  Elisha 
married  Miss  West;  Benjamin,  Miss  Shultz; 
Mariette,  Henry  Keefer;  Anthony,  Rebecca 
Keefer;  Rachel,  Myron  Hamblin;  Loretta, 
Henry  Dayton;  and  James,  our  subject's  fa- 
ther, chose  for  his  life  partner  Emma  Card, 
daughter  of  Esson  and  Lottie  (Wetherill)  Card, 
of  Ancram.  He  was  engaged  in  farming  in 
that  vicinity  all  his  life,  and  died  there  January 
14,  1896.  Of  his  six  children  our  subject  is 
the  eldest.  The  others  are:  Cynthia,  Mrs. 
James  R.  Paine;  Mary  K.,  Mrs.  George  Mitch- 
ell; Emma  L. ,  Mrs.  Marks  Senigo;  Sarab, 
Mrs.  Howard  Thompson;  and  Myra,  Mrs. 
Harry  Dewsnap. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  in  An- 
cram in  1854,  and  for  some  time  after  leaving 
school  was  engaged   in  farming,  but  in  early 
manhood   acquired   a  high    reputation    in  his 
present  calling.      He  has  always  been  a  Dem- 
ocrat in   politics,  and  takes  an  intelligent  in- 
terest   in    public    affairs.       On    November   3, 
1886,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ella  Van  Steen- 
bergh,  a  lady  of  fine  mental  ability  and  cult- 
ure, who  previous  to  her  marriage  was  a  suc- 
cessful teacher  at  Millerton  and  in  Columbia 
county.     She   was   born   in  Amenia  in    1867, 
and  was  educated  by  her  father,  George  Steen- 
burgh,  a   well-known   resident  of  that   place. 
Her  ancestors  were  among  the  early  settlers 
in  that  vicinity,  and  her  grandfather,   Henry 
Van  Steenbergh,  was  born  and  reared  there, 
and  became  a  prominent  farmer.      He  married 
Miss  Anna  Blass,  of  the  same  town,  and  had 
eight  children,    whose   names,    with  those  ot 
their  partners  in   matrimony,   are  as  follows 
Philip,    Sarah    Hunt;   Ezra,    Nellie    Berrian 
John,    Harriet   Green;   George,    Mary  Rowe 
Hampton,     Hattie     Melloy;     Gernsey,     Marj; 
Drake;  Emmett,    Phoebe  Odell ;  and  Coralie ; 
Henry  Pitcher.      George  Van  Steenbergh  grevj 
to  manhood  at  the  old  farm,  and  was  gradu' 
ated  from  the  Amenia  Seminary.      He  learne* 
the  carpenter's   trade,    but,    finding   teachinj 
more   to  his   liking,   he   followed  that  callini 
nineteen  years.      In  politics  he  was  a  steadfas 
Democrat,    and  never  lacked  the  courage  ti 
express    his    convictions    upon    any    subject 
Mrs.  Tripp   is  the  only  living  child,  two  son 
having  died,  Walter  in  infancy,  and  Hubert  a 
the  age  of  nineteen.      Her  mother,  Mrs.  Mar| 
Rowe,  was  a  direct  descendant  of  the  Moravia  1 


i 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


811 


missionaries  of  that  name  who  came  to  this 
country  to  instruct  the  Indians  in  the  Christian 
faith.  Orville  Rovve,  one  of  Mary  Rowe's  an- 
cestors, was  a  prominent  farmer  of  White 
Plains,  Dutchess  county,  and  his  wife  was 
Miss  Elizabeth  Pitcher,  of  Johnson's  Corners. 


,tea( 

i 


CHARLES  E.  BOYCE,  a  prominent  resi- 
_'  dent  of  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess 
:ounty,  at  present  holding  the  office  of  consta- 
3le,  is  the  proprietor  of  a  popular  meat  market 
n  Dover  Plains.  He  is  a  native  of  the  town 
5f  Stanford,  Dutchess  county,  where  several 
generations  of  his  family  have  made  their 
lome.  His  grandfather,  Jacob  Boyce,  was 
)orn  and  educated  there,  and  spent  his  life  in 
igricultural  pursuits.  He  married  Miss  Holmes, 
md  reared  a  family  of  nine  children:  Marga- 
et,  Mrs.  Henry  Van  Dewater;  Sarah  A.,  Mrs. 
Vlfred  Van  Dewater;  Olive,  Mrs.  Levi  Ambler; 
iliza  and  Nargette,  who  never  married;  Amy, 
'rs.  Drury;  Edwin,  our  subject's  father;  Isaac, 
ho  married  Miss  Allen;  and  Levi,  who  mar- 
ied  Catherine  Ambler. 

Edwin  Boyce  was  born   at  the  old  home- 
tead  in  the  town  of  Stanford,  September  19, 
2,  and  died   May  13,   1861.      He   was  edu- 
;ed  in   the   district  schools  of  that  locality, 
afterward  engaged   in   farming.      He  was 
Tried  to  Miss  Sabrina  Betts,  who  was  born 
.1  1820,  and  of  this  union   four  children  were 

■krn:     James  H.,  Henrietta,   Charles    E.  and 
Ifery   F. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  enjoyed  the  usual 

Iriucational  privileges  of  a  farmer's  boy,  later 
hirned  the  butcher's  trade,  and  also  worked 
k  carpentering  for  some  time.  Since  his  re- 
moval to  Dover  Plains  he  has  conducted  a 
■eat  market  with  gratifying  success,  and  has 
ncen  an  active  part  in  local  affairs.  His  part- 
fer  in  life's  journey  is  Kate  Titus,  daughter  of 
lexander  Titus,  and  they  have  had  three  chil- 
ren:  Ethel  May,-  born  January  1,  1882; 
lice  Titus,  born  April  8,  1888,  and  Eugene 
Imes,  born  May  15,  1890. 
The  Titus  family  has  been  prominent  in 
town  of  Washington,  Dutchess  county,  for 
any  years,  and  Mrs.  Boyce's  grandfather, 
ickson  Titus,  was  born  and  educated  there, 
id  later  became  a  prosperous  miller.  He 
ad  his  wife,  Hannah  Conklin,  reared  a  family 
'  four  children:  Alexander,  Mrs.  Boyce's  fa- 
(er;  Stephen,  who  married  (first)  Harriet  Bur- 


IICI 

E 


lingame,  and  (second)  Mary  Burlingame;  Mott, 
who  never  married;  and  Ruth  Amelia,  Mrs.  Jo- 
seph Titus.  Alexander  Titus  was  born  in 
1 82 1,  and  received  his  early  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  Washington  town.  He  en- 
gaged in  the  milling  business  for  a  time,  but 
the  greater  part  of  his  life  was  spent  in  farm- 
ing. He  married  Letitia  Strang,  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Catherine  (Adriance)  Strang,  and 
had  six  children:  Kate,  Mrs.  Boyce;  Edward, 
who  njarried  Josephine  Stansbury;  Anna,  Mrs. 
Charles  Rich;  Eleanor,  the  wife  of  Charles 
Gilbert;  Stephen,  who  married  Estella  Out- 
house; and  Lillian,  the  wife  of  Charles  Lewis. 
Mr.  Titus  was  a  prominent  Republican,  and 
held  all  the  important  offices  in  his  town  at 
different  times,  from  supervisor  down.  He 
was  also  an  active  member  of  the  order  of  Odd 
Fellows. 


JOHN  B.  WALDO  is  the  owner  of  one  of 
the  finest  fruit  farms  in  East  Fishkill  town, 
Dutchess  county.  Around  his  handsome 
residence  the  grounds  are  beautifully  laid  out, 
and  altogether  it  presents  a  most  attractive 
picture.  He  was  born  upon  this  place  at 
Johnsville,  on  June  2,  1846.  It  comprises 
175  acres  of  rich  land,  and  was  the  last  farm 
to  be  parted  with  or  left  by  the  Indians,  and 
was  used  by  them  also  as  a  burying  ground. 
A  part  of  an  old  Indian  orchard,  which  at  one 
time  was  four  miles  long,  is  still  standing,  and 
when  the  father  of  our  subject  was  a  boy  a 
party  of  Indians  returned  here  from  the  West 
and  camped  on  the  farm  near  the  mountains 
for  the  purpose  of  viewing  their  former  home. 

Charles  Waldo,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  a  native  of  Windham,  Conn., 
and  after  his  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Besley 
located  in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  Dutchess 
county,  but  the  latter  part  of  his  life  was 
passed  in  the  West,  where  his  death  occurred. 
By  profession  he  was  a  physician  and  surgeon. 

William  B.  Waldo,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  an  only  child,  and  was  born  at 
Brinckerhoff,  in  Fishkill  town,  May  5,  1805. 
He  grew  to  manhood  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  our  subject,  and  was  a  graduate  of  Union 
College,  at  Newburg,  N.  Y.  He  studied  law, 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Poughkeepsie,  and 
began  practice  at  Brooklyn,  but  owing  to  ill 
health  he  gave  up  his  profession,  returning  to 
the  farm  in  the  spring  of  1838,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  on 


812 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


I 


June  14,  1867.  He  took  an  active  interest  in 
the  success  and  welfare  of  the  Whig  party, 
which  he  always  supported  by  his  ballot,  and 
was  a  most  influential  and  prominent  citizen 
of  the  community. 

The  mother  of  our  subject,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Jane  Ann  Bruce,  is  a  native 
of  New  York  City,  and  is  still  living.  Her 
father,  John  M.  Bruce,  was  a  prominent  mer- 
chant of  that  place,  and  was  among  the  first 
to  import  tin  and  sheet  iron  in  Dutchess  coun- 
ty. The  Bruce  family  principally  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Church,  while  the  Waldos 
were  Presbyterians.  Only  two  children  were 
born  to  the  parents  of  our  subject,  his  sister 
being  Elizabeth,  who  married  Rev.  G.  T. 
Woodhull,  now  professor  of  languages  in  Lin- 
coln University,  Pennsylvania. 

The  boyhood  of  John  B.  Waldo  was  spent 
upon  his  present  farm,  and,  after  attending  the 
local  schools,  he  became  a  student  in  an 
academy  at  Newburgh,  N.  Y.  On  the  death 
of  his  father,  however,  he  returned  home,  and 
has  since  had  charge  of  the  farm,  where  he 
now  devotes  special  attention  to  fruit  culture, 
raising  grapes,  apples,  peaches,  etc.,  with 
most  gratifying  results,  which  fact  shows  that 
he  thoroughly  understands  his  business. 

On  January  14,  1872,  was  celebrated  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Waldo  and  Miss  Helen  Brett, 
whose  birth  occurred  at  Johnsville.  Her 
father,  James  Brett,  and  her  grandfather, 
Robert  Rombout  Brett,  were  also  natives  of 
the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  and  farmers  by  oc- 
cupation. They  were  descended  from  the  old 
patentee.  Madam  Brett.  Nine  children  were 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waldo:  Jane  Ann,  who 
was  born  October  30,  1873,  and  died  Decem- 
ber 14  following;  an  infant,  who  died  un- 
named; William  B.,  who  was  born  November 
23.  1874,  and  has  been  an  engineer  on  the 
Long  Island  railroad  since  sixteen  years  of 
age;  Lewis  H.,  who  was  born  March  5,  1877, 
and  is  at  this  writing  at  home;  James  B.,  who 
was  born  April  21,  1878,  and  died  May  30, 
1893;  John  M.,  who  was  born  May  3,  1879, 
and  has  just  graduated  from  the  Albany  Busi- 
ness College;  Oliver  W.,  born  May  20,  1880; 
Elizabeth  W.,  born  January  i,  1882,  and 
Helen  A.,  born  January  27,  1883.  The  wife 
and  mother  was  called  to  her  final  rest  Octo- 
ber II,  1890.  Politically,  Mr.  Waldo  is  a 
Republican,  and  does  all  in  his  power  to  pro- 
mote the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  his  native 
town  and  county. 


ILLL\M  W.  BAKER,  a  prominent  agri 

Mini     culturist  and  business  man   of  Clintoi 

Hollow,  Dutchess  county,  and  a  veteran  of  thi 

Civil  war,  was   born    September  25.  1843,  ■' 

Poughkeepsie,  New  York. 

His  family  has  long  been  well  known  in  th( 
county.  His  grandfather,  Jesse  Baker,  wa: 
born  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  N.  Y. ,  in  1778 
and  died  in  Lagrange,  N.  Y. ,  January  22 
1849,  having  passed  his  life  in  agricultura 
pursuits.  He  was  an  elder  of  the  Presbyteriai 
Church  of  Freedom  Plains,  and  held  an  influ 
ential  position  in  the  community.  He  marriec 
Sarah  Morgan,  and  reared  a  family  of  si? 
children,  all  now  deceased,  giving  to  all  0 
them  good  educations.  Their  names  are 
Thomas  D.,  Abram,  Susan,  Maria,  Catherine 
and  John  M. 

The  youngest  son,  our  subject's  father,  wa; 
born  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  November  16 
1 81 5.  His  boyhood  was  spent  in  the  town  o^ 
Lagrange,  where  he  attended  schools,  and  it 
early  manhood  he  engaged  in  the  grocerj 
business  in  Poughkeepsie,  at  the  corner  0 
Main  and  South  Hamilton  streets.  Late: 
he  followed  the  carpenter's  trade  in  the  towi 
of  Lagrange.  He  was  married  July  17,  1839 
at  No.  97  Orchard  street.  New  York,  by  Rev 
S.  Benedict,  to  Eunice  M.  Wolvern,  and  b; 
this  union  there  were  two  sons:  Jesse  I.  am 
William  W.  Of  these,  Jesse  I.,  born  Marcl 
20,  1 84 1,  attended  the  schools  of  Lagrange  ii 
early  life,  and  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade 
On  August  19,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Compan 
L  128th  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  and  died  February  4 
1863,  at  Camp  Chalmette,  Louisiana. 

William  W.  Baker,  our  subject,  grew  t 
manhood  in  Lagrange,  enjoying  the  ordinar 
life  of  the  country  boy,  and  making  the  mos 
of  the  advantages  offered  by  the  distric 
schools.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  enlisted  0 
the  same  day  with  his  brother,  and  in  the  sam 
company,  the  regiment  being  assigned  first  t 
the  Department  of  the  Gulf,  and  later  to  th 
forces  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  He  serve 
throughout  the  war,  fortunately  escaping  h 
brother's  sad  fate,  and  after  being  mustere 
out,  June  7,  1865,  he  returned  home.  H 
worked  at  the  painter's  trade  for  two  years  i 
Lagrange,  also  for  four  years  in  the  town  < 
Clinton,  later  engaging  in  agriculture  nei 
Clinton  Hollow,  buying  a  farm  after  workit 
it  on  shares  for  two  years.  His  progressii 
ideas  and  energetic  management  have  broug 
him   marked   success,  and   he  now  owns  tv 


I 


-^ 


^ 


^^>^ 

^ 

^ 


^ 


1 

4 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


813 


good  farms  in  that  vicinity.  In  1875  he  en- 
gaged in  pork  packing  in  a  small  way,  and  has 
ncreased  the  business  until  he  now  enjoys  an 
extensive  trade. 

On    September    12,  1865,   Mr.  Baker   was 
narried  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ,  by  Rev.  Sum- 
ner Mandeville,  to  Miss  Carrie  S.  Baker,  who 
ivas  born   September  26,  1846,  a  daughter  of 
rhomas  D.  Baker,  our  subject's  uncle.     Two 
:hildren  came  of  this  union:    Jesse  A.,  born  in 
866,  married  Miss  Ida  Wooley,  and  has  three 
;hildren  —  George    W.,    William    and    Viola; 
ind  Orrie  J.,  born  in  1868,  now  a  farmer,  mar- 
ied  Vernie  J.  Cookingham,  and  has  two  chil- 
Iren  —  Carrie  E.  and  Olive  J.      In  politics  Mr. 
3aker  is  a  Republican,  and  he  and  his  wife  are 
aembers  of  the  Christian   Church  at  Schultz- 
ille.  New  York. 


LEWIS  H.  CHASE,   an  enterprising  busi- 
_/  ness  man  of  Matteawan,  Dutchess  coun- 
V',  is  the  proprietor  of  a  popular  meat  market, 
nd   is    also  successfully  engaged   in  the   ice 
ade,  his  custom   extending  through  Mattea- 
,'aa,  Fishkill,  Fishkill   Landing    and    Fishkill 
lage.      He    was    born    March    i,    1854,    in 
istchester  county,  N.  Y. ,  and  is  of  English 
icent  in   both  paternal  and   maternal  lines. 
lis  paternal    grandparents  settled  in  Putnam 
junty  shortly  after  their  marriage,  and  reared 
j,'ht  children:     John  and  Wright  are  farmers 
1  Kansas;  James  is  a  laborer  in  Ulster  county, 
Y. ;  Robert  is  mentioned  more  fully  below; 
d,  deceased,  was  a  laborer;  Adella  is  mar- 
d  to   Philip  Van  Buren,    a    livery    man  at 
/aldon,   Orange   Co.,    N.    Y. ;  William    is   a 

Ilrmer  in  Ulster  county;  and  Elijah  went  West, 
pd  nothing  is  now  known  of  him. 
I  Robert  Chase,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
ist  saw  the  light  at  the  old  home  in  Putnam 
funty,  and  in  early  life  engaged  in  farming, 
nee  the  war,  however,  he  has  been  in  the  rub- 
•r  hose  and  belt  factory.  He  is  a  highly  es- 
emed  citizen.  His  wife,  Phoebe  J.  Ellis, 
to  is  also  a  native  of  Putnam  county,  is  a 
fughter  of  Abraham  Ellis,  a  well-known  agri- 
ilturist.  Robert  Chase  is  a  Republican  in 
]>litics,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  leading  mem- 
irs  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Of  their  five  chil- 
en  our  subject  is  the  youngest.  Caroline 
larried  Lewis  Glover,  of  Connecticut;  Cather- 
'3,  who  was  married  to  Theodore  Post,  of  Put- 

Iunty;  Laura  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Ives, 


of  Matteawan;  and  Hattie  married  Clark  Mac- 
key,  of  the  same  place. 

Lewis  H.  Chase  had  the  advantage  of 
country  life  in  his  youth,  remaining  upon  a 
farm  until  he  was  about  twenty-five  years  old. 
In  1880  he  went  to  Matteawan  to  engage  in 
business,  forming  a  partnership  with  Abram 
Biker  in  a  meat  market.  Two  years  later  the 
firm  was  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Chase  purchased 
his  present  market  on  Main  street,  Matteawan, 
where  he  has  built  up  a  fine  trade.  His  ice 
business  was  added  in  1890,  and  both,  under 
his  able  management,  are  constantly  increas- 
ing. He  has  a  pleasant  home  in  Matteawan. 
His  wife,  formerly  Miss  Hattie  Bogardus,  to 
whom  he  was  married  in  1882,  is  a  daughter 
of  Oliver  Bogardus,  a  well-known  citizen  of 
Fishkill  Village,  and  a  descendant  of  one  of 
the  old  Holland-Dutch  families.  Nine  chil- 
dren have  blessed  their  union:  May,  Etta, 
Arthur,  Ralph,  Walter,  Robert,  Lewis,  Row- 
land and  Mildred.  Public  affairs  receive  from 
Mr.  Chase  the  intelligent  attention  which  it  is 
the  duty  of  every  good  citizen  to  give.  He  is 
a  Republican  in  his  political  views,  and  in  local 
matters  he  is  always  to  be  found  on  the  side  of 
progress.  Fraternally,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  the  Order  of  American  Mechan- 
ics, and  the  Order  of  Red  Men. 


M 


alll[  farm  of  175  acres  in  the  town  of  Dover, 
belonging  to  our  subject,  is  conspicuous  for  the 
manner  in  which  it  has  been  improved  and 
cultivated,  and  is  evidently  the  homestead  of 
one  of  the  most  enterprising  men  of  Dutchess 
county.  He  is  a  native  of  New  York,  born  in 
18 18,  in  the  town  of  Kent,  Putnam  county, 
where  his  grandfather,  Nathaniel  Parker,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  Connecticut,  had  located 
when  a  young  man,  there  owning  a  good  farm. 
The  latter  wedded  Miss  Mary  Rhodes,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Rhodes,  a  farmer  of  Peekskill, 
Putnam  county,  and  in  their  family  were  three 
sons:  John,  the  father  of  our  subject;  Nathan- 
iel, who  remained  single;  and  Piatt,  who  mar- 
ried Rhoda  Post,  but  had  no  children. 

John  Parker  was  born  and  educated  in  Kent 
town,  Putnam  county,  where  he  later  followed 
farming,  and  in  the  war  of  18 12  served  as  a 
private.  He  married  Miss  Elsie  Lee,  daughter 
of  Joseph  and  Abigail  (Emmons)  Lee,  agri- 
culturists   of    Dutchess  county,   and  to    them 


^ 


814 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


were  born  eleven  children,  three  of  whom  died 
in  infancy,  the  others  being  as  follows:  (i) 
Rhodes  married  Miss  Adaline  Foley,  by  whom 
he  had  two  children — John  P.  and  Orphey. 
(2)  William  married  Eliza  Russell,  and  had 
three  children — Isaac,  John  and  Alpheus.  (3) 
Nathaniel  is  next  in  order  of  birth.  (4)  Mary 
married  Aaron  Wright,  and  to  them  were  born 
three  children— John,  Eli  and  Rodin.  (5) 
Abigail  married  Joseph  Fisher,  and  their  chil- 
dren were  accidentally  killed.  (6)  Phcebe  A. 
married  George  Fisher,  and  has  four  children — 
William  H.,  Nathaniel,  and  two  daughters 
whose  names  are  unknown.  (7)  Sarah  be- 
carhe  the  wife  of  Leroy  Hewitt,  and  reared  a 
family.      (8)  Clarinda  married   Augustus  Lee. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  such  as 
the  district  schools  of  his  native  town  afforded. 
During  his  younger  years  he  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade,  which  he  continued  to  follow 
for  twenty  years,  and  then  for  about  eight 
years  operated  land  in  the  town  of  Kent,  Put- 
nam county,  where  he  owned  three  different 
farms.  On  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  came 
to  Dutchess  county  and  purchased  the  Levans 
farm  in  the  town  of  Dover,  where  he  still  con- 
tinues to  make  his  home  and  successfully  en- 
gages in  its  cultivation.  He  is  a  prominent  and 
influential  citizen  of  genuine  worth  and  sterling 
integrity.  In  politics  he  is  an  uncompromising 
Republican,  but  has  never  aspired  to  official 
position. 

Mr.  Parker  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Hulda  Patrick,  daughter  of  Jehial  and  Lu- 
cinda  (Finch)  Patrick,  and  they  now  have  one 
son,  Jehial,  whose  birth  occurred  in  the  town 
of  Kent,  Putnam  county,  but  his  education  was 
secured  in  Dover  town,  Dutchess  county.  He 
is  now  successfully  following  the  teacher's  pro- 
fession. He  was  married  to  Miss  Amy  Russell, 
and  to  them  has  been  born  one  child — Wilbur. 

John  Patrick,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Par- 
kei,  was  a  native  of  Putnam  county,  where  he 
carried  on  farming,  and  by  his  marriage  with 
Jemima  Tyler  had  eight  children:  Bathia, 
Rhoda,  Hannah,  Hulda,  Betsy,  Jehial,  David 
and  John.  Jehial  Patrick,  her  father,  was  also 
born,  reared  and  educated  in  Putnam  county, 
and  as  a  life  work  also  turned  his  attention  to 
agricultural  pursuits.  He  married  Miss  Lu- 
cinda  Finch,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  seven  children:  Lewis, 
who  remained  single;  Sarah,  who  married  Niles 
Sturdevant;  Hulda,  the  estimable  wife  of  our 
subject;  Samantha,  who  married  Samuel  Ros- 


co;  Jemima,  who  never  married;  Finch,  who 
died  in  infancy;  and  Emmorett,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Amos  Merritt. 


A' 


EMANS,  one   of    the   wide- 

awake  and  progressive  business  men  of 

the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  is 
profitably  conducting  a  good  general  store  at 
Gayhead.  IJe  was  born  at  that  place,  Janu- 
ary 30,  1854,  and  is  the  son  of  John  S.  Emans. 
His  boyhood  was  there  passed  upon  the  home 
farm,  and  at  an  early  age  he  became  station  | 
agent  at  Hopewell  Junction,  Dutchess  county,  I 
for  the  Newburgh,  Dutchess  &  Connecticui 
railroad,  holding  that  position  for  about  a  year. 
For  a  short  time  he  was  then  with  the  Ne\\ 
York  &  Erie  railroad  at  Newburgh,  and  was 
later  employed  on  a  steamer  for  a  few  months, 
running  between  Newburgh  and  Nyack,  New 
York. 

Subsequently  Mr.  Emans  became  interested 
with  his  father  in  farming,  which  they  contin- 
ued up  to  the  time  of  the  latter's  death,  when 
our  subject  began  dealing  in  agricultural  im-; 
plements.  These  he  still  sells  in  connectior 
with  other  general  merchandise,  including  gro- 
ceries, dry  goods,  boots  and  shoes,  wagons, 
harness,  etc.  His  strict  attention  to  his  busi 
ness  interests  and  his  unswerving  integrity  havt 
aided  him  in  securing  the  liberal  patronage' 
which  he  now  receives,  and  he  is  ranked  amon< 
the  most  reliable  and  straightforward  busines: 
men  in  Dutchess  county. 

On  March  4,  1880,  Mr.  Emans  was  unitecj 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Laura  T.  Thomas,  whcj 
was   born   in  the  village  of   Fishkill,  and  is  ;' 
graduate  of  the  State  Normal   School  at  Al 
bany,   N.  Y.      Her  father,  E.  V.  B.   Thomas 
who  was  of  Scotch  extraction,  was  a  leadin; 
carriage  manufacturer  of  Fishkill.     Two  chil  '• 
dren  have  come  to  bless  their  union:    Blanche 
A.,  born  March  4,  1880;  and  Alberts.,  boni 
October  2,  1889. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Emans  began  their  domestit 
life  upon  the  farm,  but  in  1891  he  purchasei 
their  present  home,  and   also   his  good  stof', 
property  at  Gayhead.      In  religious  affairs  thej 
take  an  active  interest,  being  consistent  mem  ' 
bers  of  the   Reformed  Dutch  Church,  and  h 
has  served  as  treasurer  of  the  Hopewell  Y.  M 
C.  A.,  and  was  one  of  the  three  members  c 
the  building  committee.      In  politics  he  is  ai 
earnest   Democrat,    for  three  terms  has  bee; 
collector  of   the   town   of   East  Fishkill,  wa 


COMMEMOBATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


815 


town  clerk  fi\  e  years,  and  for  the  same  length 
of  time  was  notary  public,  while  since  1891  he 
has  served  as  postmaster.  He  takes  an  active 
interest  in  all  social  affairs,  being  a  prominent 
member  of  local  clubs  and  like  organizations, 
and  is  one  of  the  valued  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity where  he  is  so  widely  and  favorably 
known. 


ABRAHAM  A.  BOGARDUS,  a  substantial 
and  reliable   agriculturist  of  the  town  of 

East  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  at 
Johnsville,  in  the  same  town,  April  26,  1830, 
and  on  the  paternal  side  comes  of  good  old 
Holland  ancestry.  The  birth  of  his  grand- 
father, Cornelius  Bogardus,  occurred  at  what 
was  then  called  Stonykiln,  in  Fishkill  town, 
and  throughout  life  he  followed  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Roe,  by 
whom  he  had  four  children:  Cornelius,  who 
became  a  car  man  in  New  York  City;  James,  a 
farmer  of  East  Fishkill  town;  William, a  minister 
jof  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  and  Elias,  the 
lather  of  our  subject. 

The  last  named  was  born  in  the  town  of 

Fishkill  August    16,  1784,  was  reared  upon  a 

I^Bi,  and  in  early  life  learned  the  carpenter's 

I^He,    which   he    always    followed.      He    was 

H^^ried  May  3,  18 15,  to  Miss  Hannah  Mont- 

"fort,  whose  birth  took  place  at  Johnsville  Oc- 

r  25.  1791.      Her  family  were  of  French 

.ction.      Ker  father,  Adrian  Montfort,  was 

at  Fishkill  Plains,  in  Fishkill  town,  Sep- 

—  l^ber  6,  1755,  and  was  the  son  of  John  Mont- 

B^fe,  a  native  of  the  same  town.      Upon  their 

■Krriage,  Elias  Bogardus  and  his  wife  located 

in  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  where  they 

ared    their  si.x   children:     Adrian,    who    has 

ways  followed  carpentering  in  that  vicinity; 

hn   C. ,  who  was  a  harness-maker  of  New 

.ork  City,  and  died  there  May  9,  1884;  Lettie 

'^.,  who  married  Henry  Burroughs,  a  farmer 

if  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county; 

)usan  A.;  Abraham  A.;  and   Mary   J.,  wife  of 

\aron  Woodruff,  a  traveling  salesman  of  New 

ork   City.      Before   his   marriage   the   father 

orked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  in  New  York, 

It  subsequently   followed   that   occupation  at 

^hnsville  and  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county.      He 

oted  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  both  himself 

nd  wife  were  sincere  and  faithful  members  of 

he  Reformed  Dutch  Church.     She  was  called 

om  this  life  November  9,  1839,  and  he  passed 

way  August  28,  1853. 


Upon  the  farm  at  Johnsville,  Abraham  A. 
Bogardus  passed  his  childhood,  early  becoming 
familiar  with  the  duties  that  fall  to  the  lot  of 
the  agriculturist,  and,  in  1862,  he  and  his 
brother  Adrian  purchased  their  present  place, 
which  was  known  as  the  "  Horton  farm."  It 
comprises  178  acres  of  fertile  land,  and  to  its 
cultivation  and  improvement  our  subject  has 
devoted  his  time  with  results  so  satisfactory 
that  to-day  he  is  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers 
of  the  community.  In  political  belief  he  is  an 
unswerving  Democrat,  and  for  thirty-three 
years  he  capably  filled  the  office  of  commis- 
sioner of  highways.  By  the  exercise  of  integ- 
rity, industry  and  intelligence,  he  has  become 
a  substantial  and  honored  citizen,  one  who 
stands  high  in  the  estimation  of  his  fellow  men. 
In  religious  faith  the  family  hold  membership 
with  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church. 


OHN  F.  JEWELL,  a  prominent  agricult- 
urist of  the  town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess 
county,  is  a  self-made  man  who  learned  in 
early  years  the  difficult  art  of  making  farming 
pay,  and  has  throughout  his  long  life  been 
putting  his  knowledge  into  successful  practice. 
He  was  born  April  15,  18 16,  in  the  town  of 
Poughkeepsie,  and  his  family  has  long  been 
known  in  the  county,  his  grandfather,  Harmon 
Jewell,  being  an  early  resident.  The  last 
named  had  three  sons:  George,  John  and 
Henry. 

Henry  Jewell,  our  subject's  father,  lived 
to  the  age  of  ninety-six  years.  He  was  a  life- 
long resident  of  the  county,  and  farmed  for 
many  years  in  the  towns  of  Poughkeepsie  and 
Lagrange.  He  was  a  man  of  excellent  habits, 
and  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church. 
In  politics  he  was  in  early  days  a  Democrat, 
but  later  a  Republican,  and  he  took  an  active 
interest  at  times  in  local  affairs,  serving  as 
constable  for  many  years.  He  married  Bet- 
sey Van  Kleeck,  and  had  eight  children:  (i) 
Bernard;  (2)  Maria  (Mrs.  Richard  Grant); 
(3)  Martha  (Mrs.  Jacob  Nelson);  (4)  Cathar- 
ine, who  married  (first)  Casper  Dusenberry, 
and  (second)  John  McNeal;  (5)  Gertrude; 
(6)  Eliza  (Mrs.  Harvey  Grant);  (7)  Henry 
E.,  a  resident  of  Newburg,  and  married  to 
Rachel  Lewis;  and  (8)  John  F.,  our  subject. 
Of  this  family  the  first  and  the  two  youngest 
are  the  only  survivors. 

Our  subject  moved  to  the  town  of  Lagrange 
in  boyhood,  and  his  school  days  were  spent  near 


816 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


I 


Lagrange.  At  an  early  age  he  began  working  for 
farmers  in  that  vicinity,  and  on  attaining  his 
majority  he  went  to  the  town  of  Olive,  Ulster 
county,  and  followed  the  same  employment 
for  four  years.  He  then  took  a  farm  on  shares, 
and  later  bought  one  in  the  town  of  Rosen- 
dale,  where  he  lived  eleven  years.  Returning 
to  Poughkeepsie  he  spent  a  year,  and  in  Sep- 
tember, 1868,  he  purchased  his  present  farm 
near  Rowland,  where  he  has  resided  since 
March,  1869.  Restarted  out  in  life  without 
help  from  his  relatives,  and  his  accumulations 
are  the  result  of  hard  work  and  wise  manage- 
ment. As  a  speculator  he  displays  unusual 
judgment,  and  he  has  dealt  profitably  in  cat- 
tle and  horses  for  many  years. 

Mr.  Jewell  was  married,  January  18,  1838, 
to  Miss  Ann  Eliza  Merrihew,  who  was  born 
December  11,  18 16,  in  the  town  of  Olive, 
Ulster  county,  a  daughter  of  Stephen  and 
Rebecca  (Krum)  Merrihew,  well-known  farm- 
ers of  that  locality.  Two  children  came  of 
this  union:  (i)  Martha,  born  October  6, 
1839,  married  Abram  Hill,  of  Newburg,  and 
has  two  children — Willet  and  Mary  (Mrs. 
Samuel  Brown).  (2)  Andrew,  born  April  2, 
1843,  is  the  proprietor  of  a  livery  and  board- 
ing stable  on  Main  street,  Poughkeepsie.  He 
married  Aurelia  Cookingham.  In  politics  our 
subject  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  been  from  his 
first  vote.  He  is  progressive  in  his  ideas, 
always  ready  to  help  forward  any  worthy 
movement,  and  he  contributes  to  several 
Churches  in  his  neighborhood. 


w 


ILLIAM  HALL  HART,  an  extensive 
fruit  grower  and  farmer  in  the  town  of 
Lagrange,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  there 
March  3,  1853.  He  attended  the  private 
schools  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  later  went  to 
Dartmouth  College,  where  he  was  graduated 
in  1875,  taking  the  degree  of  A.  B.  Return- 
ing to  Lagrange,  he  has  since  given  his  atten- 
tion to  his  farm.  He  has  a  fine  orchard,  and 
makes  a  specialty  of  growing  apples. 

Benjamin  Hall  Hart,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Hempstead,  L.  I.,  February  13, 
181 1,  and  attended  school  at  Richmond,  Va. 
Later  he  went  to  sea  on  account  of  his  health, 
acting  as  mate  on  the  Liverpool  line  for  six 
years.  In  1836  he  was  married  at  Hempstead 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Nichols,  and  the  following 
children  were  born  to  them:  (i)  Mary  Amelia. 
(2)  Edmund  Hall   married   Isabella  M.  How- 


land;  they  live  at  Federal  Point,  Fla.,  and 
have  had  four  children — Theodora,  Adelia, 
Lucy  Eleanor  and  Amy,  the  last  named  hav- 
ing died.  (3)  Walter  Nichols  married  Cor- 
nelia D.  Storm,  and  lived  at  Federal  Point, 
Fla. ;  their  children  are  Mary  Louisa,  Cornelia 
Brinckerhof!  and  Abram  Percival;  W.  N.  Hart 
died  in  1884.  (4)  Ambrose  Burnham,  who 
lives  at  Lake  City,  Fla.  (Walter  and  Ambrose 
each  served  three  years  in  the  Union  army, 
and  each  was  honorably  promoted).  (5)  Lou- 
isa Abigail  married  Edwin  S.  Hubbard,  of  Fed- 
eral Point,  Fla.,  and  had  two  children — Edith 
Louisa  and  Ervin  Stuart.  (6)  Elizabeth  Emily. 
(7)  William  Hall.  In  1839  the  father  of  this 
family  moved  to  the  town  of  Lagrange,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days  farming, 
except  that  he  visited  California  twice,  in  1849 
and  1850,  and  spent  the  winters  after  1867  at 
his  orange  grove  in  Florida.  He  died  in  1875, 
a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  a  stanch 
Republican,  and  an  active  and  respected  citi- 
zen. 

Seth  Hart,  grandfather  of  William  H.,  was 
born  June  21,  1763,  at  Kensington,  Conn., 
was  educated  at  Yale  College,  where  he  was 
graduated  in  1784,  after  which  he  studied  med- 
icine, and  for  a  time  practiced  as  a  physician. 
He  went  in  that  capacity  with  the  surveying 
party  that  laid  out  the  city  of  Cleveland,  Ohio. 
Desiring  to  become  a  clergyman  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church,  he  studied  to  that  end,  and  in 

1 79 1  was  admitted  to  the  order  of  deacons,  in 

1792  to  the  order  of  priests  by  Bishop  Sea- 
bury.  He  became  rector,  consecutively,  of 
St.  John's  Church,  Waterbury;  St.  Paul's, 
Wallingford,  Conn. ;  and  for  twenty-eight  years 
of  St.  George's,  Hempstead,  L.  I.,  at  which 
latter  place  he  also  kept  a  private  school.  He 
died  there  March  16,  1832,  and  his  wife,  who 
in  her  maidenhood  was  Ruth  Hall,  daughter  of 
Hon.  Benjamin  Hall,  of  Cheshire,  Conn., 
passed  away  November  3,  1841.  They  were 
the  parents  of  the  following  children:  (i)  Will- 
iam Henry,  born  January  5,  1790,  married 
(first)  Lydia  Hubbard  Moore,  of  New  York, 
and  (second)  Maria  Graham,  of  Shawangunk, 
N.  Y. ;  he  died  July  28,  1852.  (2)  Ambrose' 
Gustavus,  born  October  13,  1792,  died  Octo- 
ber 15,  1 8 16.  (3)  Hannah  Burnham,  born 
July  16,  1797,  died  in  September,  1798.  (4) 
Henry  William,  born  October  26.  1799,  died 
January  9,  18 13.  (5)  Elizabeth  Anne,  born 
May  9,  1809,  died  December  24,  1840,  mar- 
ried William  J.  Clowes,  of  Hempstead,  L.  I., 


{ 


^^-^^^^-c^^^-f^-i'-xy  y^ .  ^^ cc4y/^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPEICAL  RECORD. 


817 


tnd  their  daughter,  Caroline  Morgan,  makes 
ler  home  with  our  subject  (she  is  well  known 
I.S  an  artist  of  much  talent,  and  has  made 
'ainting  her  life  work).  (6)  Benjamin  Hall. 
-  Edmund  Hall,  born  August  7,  1813,  died 
lugust  22,  1838. 

Matthew  Hart,  the  great-grandfather  of 
ur  subject,  was  born  in  Kensington,  Conn., 
anuary  23,  1737,  and  was  married  November 
5.  1759.  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Hopkins.  He 
ied  in  181 1.  The  following  children  were 
orn  to  him  and  his  wife:  Matthew,  Seth, 
arah,  Elizabeth  (who  married  Dr.  James  Per- 
ival,  by  whom  she  was  mother  of  James  G. 
'ercival,  the  poet),   and  Oliver. 

Matthew  Hart, Sr., great-great-grandfather, 
as  born  in  1690  at  Farmington,  Conn.,  and 
as  married  January  10,  1725,  to  Miss  Sarah 
looker.  He  died  October  30,  1736.  Five 
lildren  were  born:  Ruth,  Mary,  Lois,  Oliver 
id  Matthew. 

Capt.    John   Hart,    the    great-great-great- 
andfather,    was  born   at   Farmington  about 
year  1655.      He  married  Miss  Mary  Moore, 
belonged  to  the  Farmington  train-band,  of 
:h  he  became   lieutenant  and  captain,  be- 
5  holding  other    important    offices    in  the 
inunity.       He  died   November    11,    1714, 
Mrs.  Hart  on  September  19,  1738.     Their 
iren  were  John,    Isaac,    Sarah,    Matthew, 
luel,  Nathaniel  and  Mary. 
John  Hart,   great-great-great-great-grand- 
her,  was  born  in  Braintree,  England.     He 
erne  to  America  and  located  at  Farmington, 
'mn.,  where  one  night  in  1666  his  house  was 
jn  fire  by  the  Indians  and   he  and  all  his 
ily,  with  the   exception  of  the   eldest  son, 
n,  who,    but  eleven  years  old,    was    away 
11  home  caring  for  stock    on    an    outlying 
11,  were  burned  to  death. 
Deacon  Stephen  Hart  was  born  in  1605  in 
laintree,  England,  and  married  (2 )  Margaret, 
tt  widow  of  Arthur  Smith.   About  1632  he  was 
of  the  fifty-four  settlers  of  Cambridge,  Mass. , 
;  was  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  Hart- 
i'  1,  Conn.,  in  1635,  it  being  a  tradition  that 
name  of   Hartford  originated    from  a  ford 
iie  Connecticut   river  which   he  discovered 
'iA  used,  and  which  was  called  Hart's  ford. 
^  was  one  of  the   leading  settlers  of   Farm- 
on,  about   1640,   where  he  died  in    1683. 
Hwas  a  man  of  great  force  and  influence  in 
P'^licaffairs.   Six  children  were  born  to  him  and 
irst  wife:     (i)  Sarah,  married  November 

1644,  to  Thomas  Porter;  (2j  Mary,    mar- 
53 


ried  (first)  to  John  Lee.  (second)  to  Jedediah 
Strong;  (3)  John;  (4)  Steven;  (5)  Mehitabel, 
married  to  John  Cole;  and  (6)  Thomas,  born 
in  1643,  married  to  Ruth  Hawkins. 


ISAAC  BRYAN  (deceased).     Among  the  en- 
terprising  and   prosperous  agriculturists  of 

the  town  of  Northeast,  Dutchess  county,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  held  a  prominent  place, 
maintaining  in  his  day  the  reputation  for  en- 
ergy and  sound  judgment  which  his  father  and 
grandfather  had  established  at  an  earlier  time. 
The  family  is  of  English  origin,  and  the 
earlier  generations  were  residents  of  Newtown, 
Conn.,  where  our  subject's  great-grandfather, 
Alexander  Bryan,  was  born.  A  family  record 
exists  which  was  written  by  him  in  1759.  Ezra 
Bryan,  our  subject's  grandfather,  was  born  at 
Newtown,  November  30,  1740,  and  was  the 
first  of  the  family  to  come  to  Dutchess  county. 
He  became  the  owner  of  a  large  tract  of  land 
in  the  Nine  Partners  territory,  which  since  his 
death  has  been  divided  into  several  good-sized 
farms.  He  was  a  cabinet  maker  by  trade,  and 
engaged  for  a  time  in  the  manufacture  of  cof- 
fins, but  later  invented  a  fanning-mill,  which 
he  manufactured  on  quite  a  large  scale  at  the 
old  farm,  employing  three  or  four  men.  As 
may  be  inferred,  he  was  a  man  of  much  tal- 
ent, noted  for  his  practical  business  ability. 
He  was  a  Quaker  in  religion,  and  his  death 
occurred  while  on  his  way  to  meeting,  July  9, 
1825.  He  was  married  May  21,  1761,  at 
Newtown,  Conn.,  by  David  Judson,  minister, 
to  Sarah  Beck,  who  was  born  April  12,  1738, 
and  died  November  19,  1829,  and  their  re- 
mains now  rest  in  the  family  burial  lot  at 
Shekomeko.  They  had  six  children,  whose 
names  with  dates  of  birth  and  death  are  as 
follows:  Alexander,  March  23,  1762 — Decem- 
ber 14,  1 781;  Eliza,  September  13,  1764 — 
October  9,  1842;  David,  July  18,  1767 — June 
30,  1848;  Isaac,  July  4,  1772 — July  30,  1776; 
Isaac,  August  18,  1776 — June  25,  1854;  and 
Amos,  January  31,  1779- — April  12,  1863. 

Amos  Bryan,  our  subject's  father,  succeed- 
ed to  his  father's  business,  and  carried  on  the 
manufacture  of  fanning-mills,  at  the  same  time 
operating  a  large  farm,  having  inherited  the 
old  homestead  and  bought  in  other  portions  of 
the  estate.  He  was  successful  in  business  and 
prominent  in  public  affairs,  and  his  integrity 
and  ability  won  for  him  the  entire  confidence 
of   the    community.      He   helped    to    settle    a 


818 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


J 


number  of  estates,  was  a  justice  of  the  peace 
for  many  years,  and  in  1840  was  a  member  of 
the  State  Assembly.  He  died  April  12,  1863, 
followed  on  the  24th  of  the  next  month  by  his 
wife,  formerly  Betsey  Finch,  of  Ancram,  to 
whom  he  was  married  October  i,  1804.  Nine 
children  were  born  of  their  union,  whose  names 
with  dates  of  birth  and  death  are  here  given: 
Laura,  October  5,  1805 — May  20,  1831; 
"Ward,  April  12,  1807 — December  14,  1863; 
Eliza  (Mrs.  Henry  Sisson),  March  16,  18 10 — - 
September  3,  1884;  Ezra,  March  4,  1812 — 
March  22,  1876;  Isaac,  August  25,  1815 — Sep- 
tember 14,  1885;  James,  November  27,  1817 
— March  16,  1839;  David,  September  22, 
1 8 19 — now  living;  Mary  (Mrs.  James  Carman), 
December  9,  1822 — November  i,  1853;  and 
Sarah  (Mrs.  James  E.  Mott),  April  10,  1825 — 
April  15,  1872. 

Isaac  Bryan  was  educated  at  Warren, 
Conn.,  and  at  Peekskill-on-the-Hudson,  re- 
ceiving a  good  education  for  the  time,  and  was 
throughout  life  an  intelligent  reader  on  general 
topics.  He  engaged  in  farming  at  the  old 
homestead,  but  in  i860  bought  the  farm  near 
Shekomeko  where  his  family  now  reside.  It 
consists  of  240  acres  of  fine  land,  and  is  said 
to  be  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  town  of 
Northeast.  He  possessed  excellent  business 
judgment,  and  accumulated  a  large  property. 
He  was  a  public-spirited  man,  but  although  he 
was  a  stanch  Republican  and  greatly  interested 
in  the  success  of  his  party,  he  was  no  office 
seeker,  the  only  position  ever  held  by  him  be- 
ing that  of  commissioner  of  highways.  He 
had  been  reared  a  Quaker,  but  in  later  years 
he  attended  the  Pine  Plains  Presbyterian 
Church.  In  1861  he  married  Miss  Mary  Hoff- 
man, daughter  of  Henry  Hoffman,  a  well- 
known  citizen  of  Pine  Plains.  Two  children 
were  born  to  this  union:  Ward,  November 
II,  1863,  and  Edward,  September  4,  1866, 
who  conduct  the  farm.  Edward  received  a 
good  English  education  at  the  Pine  Plains 
Academy,  and  at  twenty  returned  to  the  farm. 
In  1 895  he  was  married    to   Miss  Angle  Smith. 


JG.  DAWSON,  M.  D.,  of  Matteawan.  The 
Dawson  family  originated  in  England,  and 
the  first  to  come  to  the  New  World  was 
William  Dawson,  who,  with  his  wife,  Isabella, 
crossed  the  Atlantic  about  1760.  According  to 
family  tradition  they  were  Friends  or  Quakers, 
and  fied  from  their  native   land  in  order  to  es- 


cape the  persecution  to  which  the  followers  0. 
that  faith  were  then  subjected.      They  settler 
in  Caroline  county,  Maryland,  and   being  iso- 
lated from  the  Friends,  they  united  with  a  nev 
society  called   "  Nicholites,"  after  its  founde. 
and   head,   Joseph   Nichols,    of   Kent  county, 
Delaware.     This  sect  was  spreading   rapidi\ 
in  eastern  Maryland   about  the   time   of  theii 
coming,  but  by  the  end  of  the  century  it  ha( 
merged  into  the  Society  of  Friends.     Williaii 
and  Isabella  Dawson  reared  a  family  of  eleve 
children:     John,     Elizabeth,     William,    Mar 
garet,  Jonas,    Edward,    Elijah,    Elisha,   Shac 
rach,  Frederick  and  Joseph. 

Elijah  Dawson,  the  great-grandfather  ( 
the  gentleman  whose  name  opens  this  biog 
raphy,  was  born  in  Caroline  county.  Mar) 
land,  March  9,  1764.  He  married  Catherin 
Broadway,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Sara 
(Russum)  Broadway,  and  made  his  home  ne£ 
Sandtown,  Kent  county,  Delaware,  where  h 
died  leaving  two  children — Greenbury  an 
Sarah. 

Greenbury  Dawson,  the  grandfather  of  01 
subject,  was  a  native  of  Kent  county,  Deh 
ware,  born  in  April,  1785,  and  engaged  i 
farming  in  the  same  county,  near  Camdei 
In  religious  faith  he  was  a  Friend.  His  deal 
occurred  April  6,  1847,  and  his  wife,  Mai 
Smith,  daughter  of  Major  Thomas  Smith,  die^ 
March  12,  1846.  They  had  six  childrei, 
Catherine,  William,  Thomas,  Willard  H, 
Mary  S.  and  Ezekiel.  None  are  now  liviri 
except  the  last  named,  who  is  a  prominei 
physician  at  Baltimore,  Maryland. 

William  Dawson,  our  subject's  father,  vv 
born  June  24,  18 17,  near  Camden,  Delawar 
and  became   one  of  the  most  successful  agi 
culturists  in  that  region,  accumulating  a  han 
some    competence.       He    possessed    unusu 
force  of  character,  and  was  a  leader  in  loci 
affairs,  and  in  the  Whig  party.    On  Decemb 
29,  1840,   he   married   Elizabeth   G.  Brittin 
ham,  whose  father,  a  prosperous  farmer,  cat 
from  England  about  181  5,  and  settled  in  Kc 
county,    Delaware.      William    Dawson  esta 
lished    his    home    near    Smyrna,     Delawai 
where   he  died,  September  30,    1854,  but  1 
widow  still  resides  there.      Of  their  eight  ch 
dren  our  subject  was   the  youngest.     -Vnn 
and  Sarah  died  in  infancy;  Thomas  G.  is 
dentist    in    California;    Mary  J.    married   I 
John  M.  Smith,  of  Cheswold,  Del. ;  Margare 
married  Johp  M.  Bishop,  a  farmer  of  the  sai 
locality;    William    H.    is    an    agriculturist 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


819 


myrna, 
ith  one 
myrna.       In 
ormal  School 
)mpleting  his 


laryland,   and   Ezekiel   is  a  manufacturer  of 
utter,  at  Newark,  Delaware. 

With  this  introduction  we  may  the  better 
race  the  history  of  our  subject,  who  is  a 
•orthy  representative  of  an  ancestry  noted  for 
bility  and  high  character.  During  his  boy- 
lood  Dr.  Dawson  lived  at  the  old  farm  near 
Del.,  attending  the  local  schools, 
year  in  the  Classical  Academy  at 
1872  he  entered  the  State 
at  Millersville,  Penn.,  and  on 
course  in  1875,  he  engaged  in 
aching  in  the  country  districts.  Deciding 
5on  the  medical  profession  as  a  lifework,  he 
;gan  his  preparation  in  1877,  at  Smyrna, 
ad  in  the  following  year  he  was  enrolled  as  a 
:udent  in  the  Hahnemann  Medical  College  at 
nicago,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
;8o.  Locating  at  Milford,  Del.,  he  practiced 
fccessfully  until  1892,  when,  realizing  the 
rcessity  for  change  and  rest,  he  went  to  New 
^nk  City  for  a  time.  In  February,  1892,  he 
Ktled  at  Matteawan,  where  he  speedily  won  a 
Ij^h  place  in  the  esteem  of  the  people,  both 
£(a  citizen  and  a  practitioner.  He  has  never 
jjned  the  ranks  of  the  happy  Benedicts.  In 
sj  public  questions  he  takes  an  intelligence 
iierest,  and  he  is  active  in  local  affairs.  Po- 
lically  he  is  a  Republican,  and  he  is  now 
g  as  health  officer  of  the  town  of  Fish- 
For  some  time  past  he  has  been  a  mem- 
the  Masonic  order,  and  he  is  also  an 
worker  in  the  American  Institute  of 
pathy. 


„  ^SON  OSTRANDER,  one  of  the  oldest 
A  and    most    highly  respected    citizens   of 
<hkeepsie,    Dutchess  county,    is  a   repre- 
T  lative    of    a    family    which    has  long  been 
piminent  in  this  region. 
The    ancestors    of    our   subject    who    first 
^tesented  this  branch  of  the  family  in  Amer- 
Hwis  Pieter  Pieterson   Ostrander,  who  left 
^fftrdam,    Holland,  on  the  sHip   "  Spotted 
^Hp"  April  16,  1660.      Landing  in  June  fol- 
ding, he  settled  at  Kingston,  N.  Y.,  where, 
'■'tjanuary   19,  1679,  he  was  married  to  Re- 
;i   Traphagen.       Their  son,   Arend,    who 
*»■  baptized  at  Hurley,    N.    Y. ,    October   j, 
•&4,  married  Gertrude  Massen  Van  Bloomen- 
.  daughter  of    Maas    Van    Bloomendahl. 
^  Ostrander,  a  son  of  Arend,  was  baptized 
ilbany,    N.    Y.,   April    11,     1714,    married 
etje  Swartwout,  and  their  son  Cornelius, 


who  became  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
Was  born  July  22,  1742;  he  married,  April  25, 
1764,  Mary  Luyster  Brinkerhoff.  Their  son 
Cornelius,  our  subject's  father,  was  born  at 
Fishkill,  May  22,  1775,  and  was  reared  at  the 
old  farm,  attending  school  in  the  neighborhood 
during  boyhood.  He  learned  the  shoemaker's 
trade,  and  followed  it  for  some  years,  going 
from  one  farm  to  another  in  winter  and  making 
shoes.  His  later  years  were  spent  upon  his 
farm;  he  died  January  17,  1853.  He  married 
Mary  Way,  and  had  eight  children,  of  whom 
only  two  are  now  living:  Alson,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch;  and  Melinda,  who  married 
James  E.  Smith,  of  Fishkill. 

Alson  Ostrander  was  born  at  Fishkill  March 
9,  18 18,  and  spent  his  boyhood  there  attend- 
ing the  public  schools  near  his  home.  At  the 
age  of  fifteen  he  went  to  New  York  City,  and 
found  employment  as  a  clerk  in  the  grocery 
store  of  N.  D.  Hurder.  In  1838  he  returned 
home,  and  remained  with  his  father  (who  then 
lived  near  Freedom  Plains)  until  1840,  when 
he  went  to  Genesee  county,  making  the  jour- 
ney with  a  horse  and  wagon.  There  he 
worked  on  his  brother's  farm  for  three  years, 
and  October  i,  1844,  he  came  to  Pough- 
keepsie,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Until 
1847  he  was  with  Slocum,  Jilson  &  Co.,  in 
their  pin  factory,  the  ruins  of  which  still  stand 
on  Bayeau  street.  Mr.  Ostrander  left  this 
employment  to  become  assistant  postmaster 
at  Poughkeepsie  for  Egbert  B.  Kelley,  with 
whom  he  remained  three  years,  and  so  well 
and  faithfully  did  he  discharge  his  duties  that 
the  two  succeeding  postmasters  found  him  in- 
dispensable. He  was  next  employed  in  the 
county  clerk's  office  during  the  term  of  George 
H.  Tompkins,  and  in  i860  he  became  con- 
nected with  the  firm  of  William  W.  and  James 
Reynolds,  Jr.  (now  Reynolds  &  Cramer),  with 
whom  he  remained  twenty-eight  years,  when 
he  retired  from  active  business.  He  is  a 
man  of  quiet  tastes  and  reserved  manners; 
but  while  he  has  never  sought  prominence,  he 
has  more  than  once  taken  an  influential  part 
in  advancing  measures  which  he  believed  to  be 
beneficial  to  the  public.  He  is  an  ardent 
friend  to  the  temperance  cause;  has  voted  the 
Prohibition  ticket  ever  since  the  organization 
of  the  party,  and  is  now  the  senior  resident 
member  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance.  His 
connection  with  that  body  dates  back  to  1846 
when  he  became  a  member  of  Howard  Divi- 
sion No.  45,  and  when  that  society  gave  up  its 


820 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHWAL  RECORD. 


charter,  Mr.  Ostrander,  with  William  Schrum, 
Judson  D.  Case,  Richard  Brittain,  Lazarus  V. 
Brinck,  Thomas  Piatt,  John  M.  Cable,  Isaac 
Butler,  Dennis  C.  Clemishire,  and  James 
Brower,  took  their  cards  and  joined  Pough- 
keepsie  Division  No.  9,  which  was  instituted 
August  4,  1843. 

On  June  3,  1841,  Mr.  Ostrander  was  mar- 
ried in  Genesee  county  to  Miss  Harriet  Arnold, 
who  died  leaving  one  son,  Alson  B.,  born 
February  2,  1846,  at  Poughkeepsie,  who  was 
a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war  and  is  now  a  resident 
of  New  York  City.  He  was  married  at  Ber- 
gen, N.  Y. ,  to  Hettie  Gifford.  Mr.  Alson 
Ostrander  was  again  married,  this  time  at 
Leon,  N.  Y.,  February  7,  1854,  to  Miss 
Frances  E.  Evarts,  who  was  born  February 
14,  1825,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Renaldo  M.  and 
Eliza  (Morley)  Evarts.  Two  sons  (twins) 
were  born  of  this  union  at  Poughkeepsie,  Feb- 
ruary 7,  1863 — James  Henry  and  Charles 
Melville,  both  of  whom  are  successfully  estab- 
lished in  life,  the  latter  being  now  in  the  in- 
surance business  at  Omaha,  Nebraska. 

James  Henry  Ostrander  has  chosen  to 
remain  in  his  native  city,  where  he  now  con- 
ducts an  extensive  undertaking  and  embalm- 
ing business.  His  early  education  ,was  ob- 
tained in  the  public  schools  of  Poughkeepsie, 
and  on  leaving  the  high  school  he  entered  the 
telegraph  office  as  messenger,  and  later  was 
employed  as  salesman  for  a  New  York  firm, 
and  then  began  to  learn  the  undertaking  busi- 
ness with  Stephen  Merritts,  with  whom  he 
worked  three  years.  In  1888  he  returned 
to  Poughkeepsie  where  he  had  already  won  a 
high  standing  in  business  circles.  He  was 
married  there  June  5,  1888,  to  Miss  Lavinia 
S.  Cluett  (born  November  28,  1864),  daughter 
of  George  W.  and  Lavinia  Cluett,  and  has 
one  son,  Cornelius,  born  January  11,  1892. 
He  is  a  member  of  Poughkeepsie  Lodge  No. 
268,  Chapter  No.  172,  King  Solomon  Council 
No.  31,  Commandery  No.  43,  Mecca  Temple 
A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S. 


BOYD  FAMILY,  THE,  which  has  been 
_^  prominent  in  this  section  for  several  gen- 
erations, originated  in  Scotland,  and  the  head 
of  this  branch  was  among  the  "Scotch  Seced- 
ers  "  who  went  to  the  North  of  Ireland  about 
the  year  1700  to  avoid  the  religious  persecu- 
tions of  the  time  in  his  native  land.  He  set- 
tled  in   County  Down,   but  the  exact  locality 


cannot  now  be  ascertained.  The  coat  of  arml 
found  in  the  possession  of  some  of  his  descend 
ants  is  the  same  as  that  of  the  Kilmarnocl 
Boyd,  and  without  doubt  if  the  record  ba^ 
been  kept  all  could  trace  their  lineage  to  th< 
same  source  in  Scotland.  The  name  of  th 
ancestor  is  not  known,  but  his  family,  as  far  a 
can  be  learned,  consisted  of  five  children 
Samuel,  Robert,   James,  Nathaniel  and  Mary 

Samuel  Boyd  came  to  New  York  Cityearl^ 
in  the  eighteenth  century,  and  finding  th 
country  a  haven  of  rest  from  the  hardships  an 
religious  wars  of  the  Old  World,  he  assiste 
his  brothers  and  sisters  to  come.  They  n 
mained  but  a  short  time  in  New  York  Git 
and  most  of  them  made  their  permanent  hoir 
at  New  Windsor,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.  Wit 
the  exception  of  Samuel  the  brothers  were  a 
married  and  had  large  families,  which  shov 
that  they  were  well  advanced  in  years.  Nf 
thaniel  Boyd  was  born  in  County  Down,  Irf 
land.  He  married  (first)  Margaret  Beck,  (se< 
ond)  Martha  Monsel,  but  whether  the  la 
marriage  took  place  in  Ireland  or  Americ 
there  is  now  no  means  of  knowing,  and  (thin 
Jane  Johnston.  He  settled  in  Little  Britaii 
Orange  county,  where  he  passed  the  remaind' 
of  his  days.  There  were  seven  children  by  tl 
first  marriage,  and  nine  by  the  second. 

John  Boyd,  his  first  son  by  the  first  ma| 
riage,  was  born  in  County  Down,  March  2  I 
1746,  and  came  to  America  with  his  parents 
the  age  of  eight  years,  and  removed  to  Ameni 
Dutchess  county,   from   his  home    in  Orani 
county,  about  1769.      On  August  10,  1769,  !| 
married    Elizabeth   Winager,    who   was   bo  j 
April  3,  1754,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Conr 
Winager,  an  extensive  landholder  of  Dutcht 
county,  and  made  his  home  at  Amenia  where  , 
followed   the  tailor's   trade.      As  he  is  said 
have  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  there  at  t, 
time  of    his    death,    on    August    29,    181 7, 
probably  received   a   portion  of  his  father- 
law's  estate.      His  wife  died  October  5,  182 
He  was  known  as  Capt.   John   Boyd,  and  Is 
name  appears  among  300  others  on  the  "Rf 
of    Honor"    during    the     Revolutionary   w; 
The  records  of  the  State   of  New  York  sh'^ 
him  first  as  a  lieutenant  in  Capt.  Colby  Cha  - 
berlain's  company  in  the  6th  Dutchess  Coui? 
Regiment,    March   20.    1778,    and    later   asf 
captain  in  the  5th  Dutchess  County  Regimit 
under  Col.  William  Humphrey.     Capt.  Boys^ 
name  is  on  the  records  of  the  old  Presbyter  4 
Chu'ch  at  Amenia,  and  he  was  connected  w^ 


VOMMEMORATIVE  BIOQEAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


821 


the  Society  during  the  building  of  the  church 
edifice  in    1796.      He  was    a  man  highly  es- 
teemed and  trusted  by  his  fellow-citizens.      In 
his  time  people  did   not    know  the  meaning  of 
ibills,  checks  and  drafts,  and  they  learned  by 
sad    experience    the    worthlessness    of    Conti- 
nental  bills.      Capt.  Reed   at   one  time  when 
Imaking  a  large  purchase  of  wheat  requested  his 
neighbor,   Lieut.   John    Boyd,   to    bring    from 
Poughkeepsie  a  certain  bag  of  silver  money. 
Mr.    Boyd    brought    it    on    horseback    on  the 
pommel  of  his  saddle,  and  when  he  rode  up  to 
the  store  an  attendant  lifted  it  down,  not  with- 
Dut  some    exertion,   and    carried    it   in.      His 
family  consisted  of   eleven  children,   most  of 
whom   died   in   early  life.      The  two  who  sur- 
i'ived  and  settled  in  Amenia  were  Samuel,  who 
narried  Sarah,  daughter   of   Judge    Ephraim 
r'ayne,    and     Gilbert,    who     married    Abigail 
[Chamberlain;    none  of   their  descendants  are 
low  living  in  Dutchess  county.     The  youngest 
nn,  David  Boyd,    for   forty-six    years  known 
a  prominent  tanner,  was  born  in  Amenia, 
Y. ,   May   21,    1795,    and  remained    in  his 
tive  place,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  years 
his  childhood  passed  in  Little  Britain,  until 
c  was  seventeen  years  of  age.      He  had  the 
sual    advantages    offered    by    the    common 
hools  of  the  day,  of  which  he  was  a  regular  at- 
iidant  until  he  reached  the  age  of  seventeen, 
ie  left  home  in  the  year   181 2  determined  to 
cquaint  himself  with  some  branch  of  industry 
1    which    he    might   become    self-supporting, 
lis  brother  James  was  already  engaged  in  the 
inning  business  in  Brooklyn,  N.Y.,  and  thither 
•avid  directed  his  steps  and  apprenticed  him- 
2lf  to  learn  the  trade.    The  custom  of  drinking 
hich  was  then  so  common  in  all  classes  of  so- 
ty,  especially  in  the  cities,  was  new  to  young 
jyd,  and  being  surrounded  with  temptation 
was  not  long  before  he  deterrhined  to  return 
1   his    quiet    country    home.      His    parents, 
iving  a  just  appreciation  of  his  motives,  ap- 
oved  of  his  resolution  to  look  in  another  di- 
rtion  for  a  chance  to  fit  himself  for  the  tan- 
r's  trade.     While  visiting  some  relatives  in 
ughkeepsie,  he  was  introduced  to  Mr.  John 
try,  a  practical  tanner  of  that  place,  who  had 
tan-yard    on  Washington  street,   near    the 
rner  of  Main,  in   what  is  now  the  center  of 
'-   city.      No  vestige  of   it    remains  to-day. 
ith    Mr.    Gary  he  resumed  his    labors,   ac- 
^^■aring  a  thorough  knov/ledge  of  the   trade, 
^k  d  remained    with   him   several  years   until 
^1  ier  Mr.  Gary  removed  his  business  to  Troy, 


N.  Y.  During  this  time  his  home  was  with 
his  employer's  family,  where  he  met  Mr. 
Gary's  sister-in-law,  Rhoba  Pettis,  who  was 
born  June  i,  1792,  at  Foster,  R.  I.,  and  died 
February  12,  1836.  They  were  married  in 
Troy,  April  27,  18 17,  and  having  now  a  family 
to  provide  for,  Mr.  Boyd  was  desirous  to 
commence  business  for  himself,  and  he  re- 
turned to  Poughkeepsie  to  run  the  same  yard 
where  he  had  learned  the  trade  a  few  years 
previous.  In  1821  he  opened  a  leather 
store  on  Main  street,  in  the  building  now 
owned  by  John  J.  Bahret,  the  clothier,  and 
lately  occupied  by  him.  Here  he  retailed  all 
kinds  of  leather,  employing  his  leisure  in  finish- 
ing such  stock  as  he  could  purchase  in  the 
rough  from  country  tanners.  He  soon  deter- 
mined to  make  a  more  permanent  arrange- 
ment for  carrying  on  business,  and  for  that  pur- 
pose built  himself  a  store  and  tannery,  at 
No.  360  Main  street,  where  he  tanned 
most  of  the  hides,  calf  and  sheep  skins, 
bought  by  him  in  the  Poughkeepsie  mar- 
ket, besides  finishing  calf  and  kipskins, 
picked  up  in  New  York  while  purchasing  his 
stock  of  sole  leather.  He  followed  this  busi- 
ness during  the  remainder  of  his  life,  his  indus- 
try and  integrity  being  rewarded  by  the  acqui- 
sition of  a  considerable  property.  He  lived 
during  the  most  of  this  time  where  South- 
wick's  place  of  business  now  stands;  later  he 
removed  to  the  corner  of  Cannon  and  Hamil- 
ton streets,  where  he  died  May  10,  1851. 

A  just  appreciation  of  the  probable  growth 
of  the  city  induced  him  to  purchase  at  differ- 
ent times  several  acres  of  land  in  the  suburbs 
of  the  town  which  he  disposed  of  atsuchtirpes 
as  he  found  opportunities  for  making  profitable 
sales,  and  he  realized  from  these  investments 
all  and  even  more  than  he  had  at  first  antici- 
pated. He  built  a  more  extensive  tannery,  at 
the  place  known  as  the  Red  Mills.  Years  of 
trial  followed  those  of  prosperity,  and  the 
financial  crisis  of  '36  and  '37  was  a  season  of 
heavy  losses  for  him,  but  it  was  always  a  mat- 
ter of  honest  satisfaction  to  Mr.  Boyd  that  he 
had  been  able  to  meet  his  indebtedness  paying 
one  hundred  cents  on  the  dollar  in  every  case. 
It  was  his  maxim  during  life  to  live  hon- 
estly, and  deal  justly  with  all  men.  He 
continued  in  active  business  until  the  years  of 
his  death,  enjoying  the  regular  routine  of  a 
busy  life  and  the  intercourses  of  those  with 
whom  he  had  so  long  been  associated.  He 
was  a  director  in  the  Bank  of  Poughkeepsie  for 


822 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIOAL  RECORD, 


many  years.  In  religion  he  was  a  Presbyte- 
rian, and  he  aided  in  the  building  of  the  church, 
and  was  one  of  the  substantial  members  and 
trustees.  He  was  a  member  of  "Old  Protec- 
tion No.  i"  Fire  Engine  Company  in  the  year 
1821. 

By  his  first  wife  he  had  three  children, 
Mary  Eliza,  who  married  Abram  Wiltsie;  John 
Gary,  and  Julia  who  married  Alson  Ward. 
His  second  wife  was  Clarissa  Lewis,  who  died 
April  II,  1856,  leaving  no  children.  Accord- 
ing to  his  desire  he  was  succeeded  in  business 
by  his  son  and  son-in-law,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Boyd  &  Wiltsie,  his  plans  for  the  future 
being  well-known  to  them. 

John  G.  Boyd,  the  only  son  of  David  Boyd, 
was  born  February  12,  1825,  at  the  place  now 
known  as  No.  16  Washington  street,  Pough- 
keepsie.  As  a  young  man  he  became  engaged 
with  his  father  in  business,  beginning  as  an  ap- 
prentice. He  had  good  advantages  in  youth, 
and  was  given  a  fine  business  education.  At 
eleven  years  of  age  he  was  sent  to  Dover  to 
study  with  Mr.  Jeliffe,  and  later  he  attended 
Fay's  school  at  New  Paltz.  After  leaving 
school  he  went  into  the  tannery  with  a  view 
of  becoming  acquainted  with  the  trade,  his 
time  being  divided  between  store  and  tan- 
nery. He  succeeded  to  a  share  in  the  bus- 
iness in  his  twenty-eighth  year,  at  his  fa- 
ther's death.  In  the  same  year  he  married 
Phebe  E.  Trowbridge,  daughter  of  Stephen 
B.  Trowbridge  and  Eliza  Conklin.  The  firm 
of  Boyd  &  Wiltsie  continued  in  business  twen- 
ty-five years,  and  the  real-estate  interest  was 
continued  even  after  that  time.  The  old  en- 
terprise is  still  carried  on  by  Messrs.  Dick  & 
Dobb,  Mr.  Dick  having  been  an  employe  for 
many  years.  Previous  to  May,  1853,  he  was 
a  member  of  Howard  Hose  Company,  No.  2. 
For  twenty-nine  years  Mr.  Boyd  was  trustee 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  was  always 
ready  to  do  his  duty.  He  was  connected  with 
the  Poughkeepsie  National  Bank  for  twen- 
ty-two years,  having  held  the  office  of  vice- 
president  for  some  time,  and  that  of  president 
for  two  years,  until  compelled  by  failing  health 
to  decline  a  re-election.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Water  board,  and  trustee  of  Pough- 
keepsie Rural  Cemetery  for  many  years  pre- 
vious to  his  death,  which  occurred  April  6, 
1886.  There  are  not  many  to  be  found 
through  the  conflicts  of  an  active  business  life 
who  have  gained  and  retained  to  the  last  the 
friendship  and  respect  of  all  with  whom  they 


have   come  in  contact.      Mr.   Boyd,   from  ^ 
natural   benevolence    of    disposition,    accom- 
plished this  in   a  remarkable  degree  without 
effort.     A  born  gentleman,  it  was  easy  for  hini 
to  make    and    retain    friendship.      His  kind!) 
nature  was  free  from  restraint  in  all  his  inter- 
course   with    men,    and  he  left    upon  all  the 
impression     of    inherent     modesty    and     true 
affection,     excellent     purpose,     broad     view* 
and    sound    judgment.      He    sought    to    cu 
tivate  the  good  feeling  of  others.      He  love< 
the  bright  and  beautiful  side  of  life  and  woul 
fain  have  others  share  his  joyous  disposition 
Enemies  he  had  none,  for  his  gentle  ways  foi 
bade  their  creation.      He  had  three  children- 
Nathan  T. ,    Henry   S.,  who   died   in   infancy 
and  Frederick  J. 

Nathan  T.  Boyd  was  born  April  17,  1856 
in  his  grandfather's  house  on  Mill  street.  H 
was  educated  in  Poughkeepsie,  his  first  teache 
being  Mrs.  Herrick,  and  later  he  attended  th' 
old  Quaker  School,  Riverview  Academy,  anc 
Bishop's  Select  School.  In  1875  he  went  int( 
the  First  National  Bank  as  bookkeeper,  unde 
Zebulon  Rudd  as  cashier.  After  two  and 
half  years  there,  he  took  a  position  as  book 
keeper  in  the  store  of  Trowbridge  &  Co.,  re 
mained  about  three  years,  when  he  took  ai 
interest  with  George  Dick  in  the  old  leathe 
store.  Later  he  sold  out  his  share  to  Mi 
Dobbs,  and  went  to  Illinois  where  he  was  in 
terested  in  the  Illinois  Central  R.  R.  for  tw 
and  a-half  years.  He  came  back,  practical! 
at  the  request  of  Trowbridge  &  Co.,  and  too 
his  former  place  in  that  firm,  continuing  a 
clerk  until  the  partnership  was  dissolved  Feb 
ruary  i,  1888.  The  firm  then  became  Kirby 
Du  Bois  &  Boyd,  and  continued  until  Februar 
I,  1895,  when  Mr.  Boyd  retired.  Since  tha 
time  he  has  been  engaged  in  business  in  Ne\ 
York  City.  In  1884  he  became  a  member  c 
Phcenix  Hose  Company  No.  i,  and  continue- 
until  October  21,  1889,  serving  as  treasurer  fo 
the  full  term  of  five  years.  He  was  married  0 
October  24,  1889,  to  Miss  Anice  M.  White,  onl 
daughter  of  Charles  D.  White  and  Mary  A 
Haynes,  of  Brinckerhof?,  New  York. 

Frederick  J.  Boyd  was  born  March  \i 
1868,  and  was  educated  at  Bisbee's  Militar 
School,  and  at  the  Eastman  Business  College 
In  1888  he  took  a  position  as  clerk  intheoflfic 
of  Adriance  Piatt  &  Co.,  remaining  about  thre 
years,  and  then  went  to  New  York  City  wit 
the  Consolidated  Kansas  City  Smelting  &  R«l 
fining  Company.      He  was  with  them  for  som  i 


u 


VOMMEMOBATIVE  BIOGRAPSICAL  RECORD. 


828 


ime,  and  then  was  sent  to  St.  Louis  as  its  man- 
ager. He  is  now  the  agent  and  manager  of 
jhe  International  Metal  Company,  at  St.  Louis. 
in  1889  he  joined  the  15th  Separate  Company 
inder  Capt.  B.  Myers,  and  received  his  dis- 
harge  from  the  State  of  New  York  November 
,  1894,  having  filled  the  oi^ce  of  sergeant  be- 
jre  resigning. 


IITRS.  HANNAH  DOUGHTY  (deceased), 
AiL  late  a  resident  of  Webatuck,  town  of 
•over,  Dutchess  county,  was  a  scion  of  an  ex- 
jUent  old  family  who  have  wisely  preserved 
leir  record  through  several  generations.  They 
2came    residents    of    Dartmouth,    Mass.,    in 

532. 

Philip  Sherman  (son  of  Samuel,  a  son  of 
enry,  whose  father  Henry  is  the  first  we  have 
;'  this  name,  and  is  mentioned  as  a  clothier  of 
edham,  England),  was  born  February  10, 
aio,  at  Dedham,  England.  He  came  to  this 
•untry  about  the  year  1632,  and  became  the 

r   Secretary  of   the  State  of   Rhode  Island. 

was  one  of  the  leading  men  of  his  day. 
Janyof  his  descendants  settled  in  Dartmouth, 
Jass. .  one,  whose  name  was  Michael,  was 
Vrn  there  in  17 19;  he  married  Deborah  Briggs 
lly  29,  1740,  and  they  settled  in  Dutchess 
Gunty,  N.  Y. ,  in  the  spring  of  1742.  They 
id  several  children,  among  whom  was  Jere- 

h,  born   March  29,  1743,  and  died   March 

;8i2.  He  married  Elizabeth  Mosher,  by 
vjom  he  had  nine  children.  Among  them  was 
fbn,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

-tof  the  ancestors  of  Mrs.  Hannah  Doughty 

It  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
bhn  Sherman,  her  father,  was  born   May 
1783,  and  acquired  a  good  common-school 
Btion  in  the  town  of  Washington,  where 
ISO  learned  the  trade  of  saddle  and  harness 
mg,  which  he  continued  to  follow  through 
tt  greater  part  of  his  life.      He  was  one  of  the 
piminent  Democrats  of  the  locality,  and  for 
t.iumber  of  years  held  town  offices,  giving  the 
Ut  of  satisfaction. 
On  February  23,  1806,  John  Sherman  was 
rried  to   Mary  Briggs,  daughter  of  Edward 
1  Anna  Briggs,    prosperous  farming  people 
the    town    of   Pawling,    Dutchess   county. 
ht  children  came  to  this  union:     (i)  Eliza- 
o»h,  born  April   3,   1807,  never  married.     (2) 
Anaron,  born  September  28,  1808,  was  a  tan- 
by  trade,  and   in    1828   married   Jane  A. 
ty,  of  Newburgh,  N.  Y.,  by  whom  he  had 


six  children — Evelyn,  Mary,  John,  Andrew, 
Eliza  A.  and  Albert.  (3)  Adaline,  born  Sep- 
tember 30,  1 8 10,  never  married.  (4)  De- 
borah, born  December  17,  1811,  also  remained 
single.  (5)  Catharine,  born  December  13; 
1 81 3,  was  married,  in  1833,  to  Ichabod  Pros- 
ser,  and  now  lives  at  Hampton,  Neb.  (6) 
Phoebe,  born  November  30,  181 5,  bepame  the 
wife  of  Damon  Whaley,  a  wagon  maker  of 
Pawling,  Dutchess  county,  and  to  them  were 
born  four  children — Sherman,  who  remained 
single;  George,  who  married  Jane  Ross;  Fran- 
ces, who  married  William  Shaw,  and  after  his 
death  wedded  Henry  Lenney;  and  Franklin. 
(7)  Albert,  born  July  3,  1817,  was  a  tanner  by 
trade,  and  was  married  September  23,  1837, 
to  Miss  Phoebe  Rider,  by  whom  he  had  five 
children — John,  a  tanner,  who  wedded  Mary 
Smith:  Mary,  who  became  the  wife  of  Rev. 
Henry  Hayter;  Albert;  Addie,  who  married 
Frank  Finger;  and  William,  who  never  mar- 
ried^ (8)  Hannah  was  the  youngest  of  the 
family. 

Mrs.  Doughty  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Dover,  January  27,  1826,  and  died  June  30, 
1896;  she  received  her  primary  education  in 
the  public  schools,  supplementing  same  with  a 
course  in  the  Friends  School  of  Washington 
town,  where  she  graduated  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen years.  Four  years  later  she  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Daniel  Doughty,  a  mechanic 
of  the  town  of  Washington,  who  died  in  1852. 
He  was  a  son  of  Stephen  and  Mary  (Ellis) 
Doughty,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  native  of 
Washington  town,  and  a  wagon  maker  by 
trade.  In  their  family  were  five  children:  Ira, 
who  married  Zillah  Doughty;  Maria;  Mrs. 
Sarah  Smedes;  Daniel;  and  George.  For  over 
forty  years  Mrs.  Doughty  was  successfully  en- 
gaged in  teaching.  She  merited  and  received 
the  esteem  of  the  whole  community,  and  was 
much  beloved  by  every  one  with  whom  she 
came  in  .contact. 


D.AVID  C.    DRISLANE,  one   of  the  ener- 
'  getic    and  influential   citizens  of    Pough- 

keepsie,  Dutchess  county,  is  now  engaged  in 
the  wholesale  and  retail  grocery  and  liquor 
business,  in  which  he  is  meeting  with  a  well- 
deserved  success,  and  owns  the  substantial 
brick  block  which  he  occupies.  He  was  born 
June  7,  1857,  at  Tarrytown,  Westchester 
county,  New  York. 

Cornelius  Drislane,  father  of    our  subject, 


824 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


is  a  native  of  County  Cork,  Ireland,  where 
his  childhood  and  youth  were  passed,  nd  he 
there  learned  the  business  of  florist.  When 
a  young  man  he  came  to  America,  making  his 
first  location  at  Manhattan,  N.  Y. ,  where  he 
followed  his  occupation  and  married  Catherine 
Cummings,  who  was  also  born  in  County 
Cork.  After  remaining  at  Manhattan  a  short 
time,  they  removed  to  Tarrytown,  N.  Y., 
where  for  a  time  he  continued  his  calling,  and 
on  leaving  that  place  he  became  gardener  for 
John  Jacob  Astor,  in  Ulster  county,  N.  Y. , 
near  West  Park,  by  whom  he  was  employed 
some  fifteen  years.  He  then  purchased  a  farm 
in  Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  which  he  operated 
for  ten  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time 
he  returned  to  Tarrytown,  where  he  still 
makes  his  home.  He  is  a  stalwart  Democrat 
in  politics,  and  for  the  past  ten  years  has  been 
trustee  of  Tarrytown;  in  religious  faith  he  is  a 
Roman  Catholic.  His  wife,  who  held  mem- 
bership with  the  same  denomination,  died  in 
1892.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine  chil- 
dren, namely:  William  E.  is  a  groceryman 
of  Albany,  N.  Y. ;  Lena  (deceased)  was  the 
wife  of  Robert  Ludford,  who  conducted  a  gro- 
cery store  at  Sing  Sing,  N.  Y. ;  Lizzie  married 
James  Quinn,  of  Tarrytown;  David  C.  is  next 
in  order  of  birth;  Kate  is  the  wife  of  William 
Fallon,  of  Tarrytown;  Frank  died  while  young; 
Mary  is  the  wife  of  George  Yerks,  an  under- 
taker of  Tarrytown;  John  died  in  infancy;  and 
Cornelius  is  a  groceryman  of  Tarrytown. 

At  the  age  of  two  years  David  C.  Drislane 
accompanied  his  parents  to  the  town  of 
Esopus,  Ulster  county,  where  the  following 
fifteen  years  of  his  life  were  passed  mostly  in 
attendance  at  the  district  schools  of  the  neigh- 
borhood. After  their  removal  to  Orange 
county,  he  continued  his  studies  for  some 
time,  and  for  about  eight  years  assisted  in  the 
cultivation  of  the  farm.  On  leaving  home  he 
went  to  Newburg,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  entered  the 
grocery  store  of  his  brother,  William  E.,  with 
whom  he  remained  for  about  a  year  and  a  half, 
when  he  went  to  Tarrytown,  being  there  em- 
ployed by  a  brother  for  three  years.  He  then 
went  to  Sing  Sing,  and  formed  a  partnership 
with  Robert  Lynford  in  the  grocery  business, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Drislane  &  Lynford, 
which  connection  was  continued  for  a  year  and 
a  half.  Going  to  Peekskill,  N.  Y. ,  he  and  his 
brother,  William  E. ,  carried  on  a  grocery 
store  under  the  style  of  Drislane  Brothers,  and 
in  1882  they  also  started  another  store  in  the 


same  line  at  No.  249  Main  street,  Poughkeej 
sie,  owning  at  the  same  time  an  establishmec 
at  Albany.  This  partnership  lasted  until  188/ 
when  it  was  dissolved,  our  subject  taking  th 
store  at  Poughkeepsie,  and  his  brother  the  on 
at  Albany;  the  one  at  Peekskill  had  previousl 
been  sold. 

In  1885  David  C.  Drislane  was  married  t 
Miss  Matilda  M.  Gregg,  who  was  born  i 
Poughkeepsie,  a  daughter  of  William  Gregf: 
a  contractor.  In  politics  our  subject  is  a  rac 
ical  Democrat,  and  in  religion  a  member  1 
the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  In  1889  \ 
purchased  his  pleasant  residence  at  No.  2i 
Mill  street,  and  a  year  later  bought  his  stoi 
building.  His  fair  dealing  and  systemat 
methods  of  doing  business  have  won  him  tl 
confidence  and  respect  of  all  with  whom  I 
has  had  occasion  to  transact  business.  H 
property  has  been  acquired  through  the  exe 
cise  of  sound  judgment,  good  business  talent 
and  industry. 


JOHN  M.  JULIAN,  M.  D.,  an  eminent  ph 
sician  and  surgeon,  of  the  town  of  Pleasai 
Valley,  Dutchess  county,  is  a  native 
New  Jersey,  born  at  Hoboken,  April  25,  185. 
He  traces  his  ancestry  to  John  M.  Julian  (fc 
great-grandfather),  a  native  of  France,  wf 
spent  his  entire  life  there  engaged  in  the  si 
business,  an  occupation  that  was  followed  1 
many  of  the  family. 

John  Marius  Julian,  the  grandfather  of  o 
subject,  was  born  at  Avignon,  France,  in  176 
and  by  profession  was  a  physician.     He  w 
with  Napoleon  Bonaparte  all  through  his  va) 
ous  wars,  and  was  a  member  of  the  "  grai 
old    guard,"    being  six    feet,  seven    inches 
height;  was  at  Moscow,  Russia,  also  on  "  t 
fatal    field   of    Waterloo,"  and  was    wound 
several  times — in  fact  his  military  career  was 
brilliant  one.    At  its  close  he  came  to  Americ 
locating  in  New  Jersey,  where  his  death   c 
curred  in  1864,  when  he  had  reached  the  pat 
archal  age  of  ninety-eight  years;  he  had  m; 
ried  Maria  Francisco  Eunri,  by  whom  he  h 
fourteen  children:      Maria,  Francisco,  Cece! 
Matilda,  Antoinette,   Adrian,   Jenia,  John  \ 
Thomas,  Felis,  and  four  who  died  in  infanc 
All  have  now  passed  away  with  the  excepti 
of  Adrian,  who,  like  most  of  his  ancestors, 
following  the  silk  business. 

At  Avignon,    France,    February   13,  l8i 
was  born  John  M.  Julian,  Sr. ,  the  father 


L^^^  T^^^^^^^^^^i^^^lJ;^^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


825 


our  subject.  In  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  land  he  obtained  his  literary  education, 
and  with  his  father  began  the  study  of  medi- 
cine. He  was  the  only  child  of  the  family  to 
come  to  the  New  World,  arriving  in  1828,  and 
making  his  home  in  New  Jersey.  Entering  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  New  York 
City,  he  graduated  from  that  institution  with 
the  class  of  '31,  and  became  a  member  of  the 
Medical  Society  of  the  city  and  county  of  New 
York,  also  of  the  State  Medical  Society  of  New 
Jersey.  Shortly  after  his  graduation  he  en- 
tered a  hospital  in  New  York  City,  securing 
much  practical  knowledge  in  his  profession, 
and  in  1838  he  settled  at  Hoboken,  N.  J., 
where  he  successfully  engageil  in  practice  up  to 
his  death.  January  i,  1879.  His  wife,  Cor- 
nelia A.  (Mount)  was  born  in  New  York  City, 
November  22,  181 5,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
John  D.  P.  Mount,  also  a  native  of  that  city, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  banking  business. 
The  Mount  family  was  originally  from  Holland, 
as  were  also  the  maternal  ancestors  of  Mrs. 
Julian,  though  her  mother,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Christian  Stagg,  was  born  in 
America.  In  the  large  family  of  fourteen 
children  born  to  the  parents  of  our  subject 
only  three  reached  adult  age,  namely:  Mary 
B.,  wife  of  Stephen  E.  Brown,  a  lawyer  of 
New  York  City;  John  M. ;  and  Claude  E.,  a 
dentist  and  farmer  of  Flemington,  N.  J.  In 
religious  belief  the  members  of  the  family  have 
either  been  Catholics  or  Episcopalians,  and  in 
politics  the  father  was  a  stalwart  Republican. 
His  widow,  who  is  still  living,  has  now  reached 
the  age  of  eighty  years. 

The    boyhood    days   of   our   subject    were 
passed  at  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  where  he  attended 
the  city  schools  and  the  gymnasium.      At  the 
ige  of  fifteen  he  was  sent  to  Paris,  France,  to 
;he  Polytechnic  Institute,  where  he  remained 
or  two  years  and  a  half,  and  then  began  the 
study  of  medicine  in  that  city,  graduating  in 
1870.     On    the   breaking  out  of  the  Franco- 
Prussian  war,  the  Doctor  served  as  orderly  in 
he  hospital  corps  of  the    105th  Regiment  of 
he  line  for  three  years,  during  which  time  he 
raveled    over    a   great    deal    of  Europe,    and 
lined  mnch  valuable  experience  in  his  chosen 
Tofession,   and  was  honorably   discharged   in 
Mober,  1873.      He  then  took  a  course  of  lect- 
"es  at    Heidelberg,    Germany,    while   the  re- 
lainder  of  the  year  was  spent  at  Bonn,  Prus- 
ia,  and  the  next  year  at  Zurich,  all  of  which 
ime  he  spent  in  the  study  of  medicine,  while 


the  following  two  years  were  spent  in  visiting 
many  hospitals  of  the  Old  World.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1875,  ^16  returned  to  the  United  States, 
and  for  a  time  practiced  at  Hoboken,  N.  J.; 
but  in  1877  he  went  to  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  en- 
tering the  out-door  department  of  the  Long 
Island  College  Hospital,  where  he  graduated. 
On  January  31,  1880,  Dr.  John  M.  Julian 
was  married  to  Miss  Katie  A.  Powderly,  a  na- 
tive of  Dublin,  Ireland,  and  on  the  7th  of  the 
following  October,  they  located  at  Moores 
Mill,  Dutchess  county,  where  he  continued 
practice  until  1892,  in  which  year  he  came  to 
Pleasant  Valley.  Politically,  the  Doctor  has 
always  been  a  Republican;  socially  he  is  a 
member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M.  Asa  physician  he 
enjoys  the  honor  of  being  the  peer  of  any  in 
the  county.  His  life  has  been  characterized 
by  energy,  perseverance  and  labor,  and  to 
these  principles  his  success  is  due.  He  is  prom- 
inently identified  with  the  Dutchess  County 
Medical  Association,  and  with  the  New  York 
State  Medical  Association. 


S\TORM  H.  CONKLIN  for  a  number  of 
_)  years  has  been  prominently  identified  with 
the  business  interests  of  Poughkeepsie.  From 
1 89 1  to  January  i,  1894,  he  was  connected 
with  John  Leeming  in  the  undertaking  busi- 
ness, and  since  has  been  associated  in  the 
same  line  with  Frank  B.  Van  Dyne. 

For  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  the  Conk- 
lin  family  have  been  residents  of  Dutchess 
county,  living  upon  a  farm  at  Van  Wagners, 
in  the  town  of  Hyde  Park,  where  the  father  of 
our  subject,  William  Conklin,  was  born  Janu- 
ary 2,  1800.  He  was  a  son  of  John  and 
Susan  (Storm)  Conklin,  farming  people.  The 
grandfather  was  born  on  August  15,  1762,  and 
his  death  occurred  February  3,  1803.  In 
Poughkeepsie  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
William  Conklin  and  Maria  Mott,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  two  sons,  John,  and 
Storm  H.,  of  this  review.  The  father  was 
reared  to  agricultural  pursuits,  but  later  learned 
the  hatter's  business  with  Tunis  Van  Kleeck, 
of  Poughkeepsie,  and  carried  on  the  manufac- 
ture of  hats  at  Lyons  and  Geneva,  N.  Y.  He 
died  at  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  in  1837. 

The  birth  of  Storm  H.  Conklin  occurred  at 
Sharon,  Conn.,  September  17,  1833,  but  was 
only  five  years  of  age  when  brought  to  Pough- 
keepsie, where  he  began  his  education  and  at- 
tended   the    Lancaster   and    Cornish   schools. 


m 
* 


826 


COMMEMORAnVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


During  his  early  life  he  was  apprenticed  to  J. 
P.  Nelson  to  learn  the  cabinetmaker's  trade, 
and  remained  with  that  gentleman  about 
twenty-eight  years.  He  was  also  employed  in 
the  same  business  with  Nelson,  Seward  &  Mc- 
Gregor and  Charles  F.  McGregor.  However, 
since  i8gi  he  has  engaged  in  his  present  busi- 
ness, being  an  undertaker  and  funeral  director. 
For  twenty  years  he  has  engaged  in  undertak- 
ing, so  that  he  thoroughly  understands  his 
business  in  all  its  details. 

In  1850  Mr.  Conklin  joined  the  Phoenix 
Hose  Company,  with  which  he  has  since  been 
prominently  connected,  serving  as  its  secretary 
and  representative  in  the  Board  of  the  Associ- 
ated Fire  Department  for  twenty-six  years. 
He  is  to-day  the  oldest  active  member  on 
Phoenix's  roll.  He  has  served  on  about  all  the 
important  committees  that  have  had  the  wel- 
fare of  the  company  at  heart,  and  Phoenix 
takes  great  pleasure  in  claiming  him  as  a  mem- 
ber to-day.  For  twenty-eight  years  he  has 
been  an  active  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Poughkeepsie,  being 
the  treasurer  of  the  lodge  for  thirteen  years. 
He  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  men  and  meas- 
ures of  the  Democratic  party,  and  has  served 
as  supervisor  from  the  Fifth  ward,  and  police 
commissioner  under  Mayor  Ellsworth.  His 
success  in  life  is  attributable  to  his  own  in- 
domitable energy,  and  the  close  and  assiduous 
attention  he  has  paid  to  the  minute  portions 
of  his  affairs. 


W  LBERT  F.  BOOTH,  a  prominent  resi- 
J^^  dent  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county, 
and  a  well-known  dealer  in  tea,  coffee  and 
spices,  is  one  of  the  substantial  self-made  men 
of  that  city.  Like  many  other  successful  busi- 
ness men  he  comes  of  an  ancestry  which  had 
been  for  several  generations  devoted  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits. 

His  grandfather,  Daniel  Booth,  a  farmer, 
was  an  early  settler  near  Mooresville,  Dela- 
ware Co.,  N.  Y.  John  H.  Booth,  our  sub- 
ject's father,  was  born  and  reared  at  the  home- 
stead there,  attending  the  district  schools  of 
the  neighborhood.  In  early  manhood  he  lo- 
cated on  Green  Island,  between  Albany  and 
Troy,  where  he  was  engaged  in  gardening  for 
many  years.  His  later  years  were  spent  upon 
a  farm  near  Albany,  where  he  died  in  1880. 
He  was  married  in  Watervliet,  N.  Y. ,  to  Miss 
Sarah  Bigelow,  who  survives  him  and  is  hale 


and  hearty  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight.  They 
were  leading  members  of  the  First  Reformed 
Church  at  Bethlehem.  Six  children  were  born 
to  them:  Oscar,  Albert  F.,  Edward  (deceased), 
Andrew  (now  living  at  the  old  homestead), 
Emma  and  Theresa. 

Albert  F.  Booth  first  saw  the  light  Feb- 
ruary 21,  1 84 1,  on  Green  Island,  where  he 
spent  his  boyhood,  attending  the  schools  of 
Bethlehem.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  went 
to  New  York  City  and  clerked  in  a  store  for 
two  years,  returning  afterward  to  his  father's 
farm.  In  February,  1861,  when  he  was 
twenty  years  old,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Sarah  Bender,  a  daughter  of  Wendel  Bender, 
a  well-known  citizen  of  Bethlehem.  He  pur- 
chased a  farm  for  $8,000,  for  which  he  went 
in  debt,  and  in  four  years  he  cleared  off  the 
obligation  from  the  proceeds  of  the  farm  and 
the  increase  in  value  of  the  land.  His  health 
having  become  impaired  he  sold  the  farm,  and 
for  two  years  did  no  business  except  looking 
after  his  interest  in  a  tea  business,  toward 
which  he  had  advanced  some  money.  In 
1865  he  took  charge  of  a  tea  store  in  Albany 
for  Mr.  Cunningham,  of  Troy,  becoming  well- 
posted  in  the  details  of  its  management,  and 
when  the  store  was  sold  a  year  and  a  half 
later  he  determined  to  establish  a  similar 
enterprise  for  himself.  In  1867  he  came  to 
Poughkeepsie,  and  through  the  influence  of 
Robert  Slee,  located  at  No.  270  Main  street, 
where  he  opened  the  first  tea,  coffee  and  spice 
store  in  the  city.  In  1872  he  moved  to  his 
present  store  at  No.  368  Main  street,  and  for 
twenty-five  years  has  enjoyed  an  extensive 
patronage.  He  conducts  the  business  on  a 
"cash"  principle,  and  his  able  management 
has  brought  him  well-deserved  success. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Booth  have  had  two  children: 
(i)  Wendell,  who  married  a  daughter  of  J.  S. 
Vandorn,  and  is  now  in  the  advertising  com- 
mission business  with  his  father-in-law;  and  (2) 
Satie,  who  died  October  8,  1885,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years.  In  politics  Mr.  Booth  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  having  cast  his  first  vote 
for  Abraham  Lincoln;  socially  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  Triune  Lodge. 


G\EORGE  DAKIN,  one  of  the  most  promi- 
_  '^  nent  agriculturists  and  real-estate  holders 
of  the  town  of  Northeast,  Dutchess  county, 
was  born  February  13,  1817,  at  Mount  Riga 
(Harlem   R.  R.  Station),    town   of  Northeast. 


II 


i^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


827 


,      tei 

III 


n. 


The  Dakins  have  been  among  the  leading 
families  of  that  vicinity  for  several  generations, 
and  are  related  by  marriage  to  a  number  of 
other  old  families.  George  Dakin,  our  sub- 
ject's grandfather,  owned  a  large  farm  at  the 
site  of  the  village  of  Mt.  Riga,  west  of  the 
depot.  He  had  three  children:  Jacob,  our 
subject's  father,  born  in  1775;  Hannah  (Mrs. 
John  Culver),  and  Charity  (Mrs.  Driggs). 

Jacob  Dakin  inherited  this  farm  and  set- 
tled there,  and  afterward  increased  his  poses- 
sions  until  he  was  the  largest  land  holder  in  that 
locality.  His  first  purchase  was  the  Haywood 
farm,  where  the  family  now  lives,  and  later  by 
buying  the  Lucas  Hotchkiss  property,  fore- 
closing on  the  Simon  Dakin  farm  where  the 
Maltby  iron  mine  is,  and  buying  the  Birch  and 
the  Tankery  farms,  he  acquired  in  all  over 
1,800  acres.  He  was  a  man  of  unusual  ability 
and  wide  information,  an  independent  thinker 
and  a  strong  believer  in  the  doctrines  of  the 
Universalist  Church.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Whig,  and  took  an  active  and  influential  part 
in  local  affairs.  He  married  Miss  Olive  Clark, 
a  descendant  of  one  of  the  oldest  faniilies,  and 
daughter  of  Elijah  Clark.  He  died  July  9, 
1836,  followed  four  years  later  by  his  wife. 
They  had  eleven  children:  Harriet,  Orville, 
Joshua,  Maria,  Mary  Ann,  Myron,  De  Witt  C, 
Emeline,  George,  Cornelia  and  Caroline. 

George  Dakin  has  always  lived  upon  his 
present  farm,  having  inherited  200  acres  from 
his  father.  He  has,  however,  added  to  this 
nucleus  until  he  owns  520  acres,  and  he  is 
known  as  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and 
successful  managers.  He  was  married  Sep- 
tember 22,  1847,  to  Eliza  M.  Kelsey,  daugh- 
ir  of  William  Kelsey,  a  well-known  resident 
of  Salisbury,  Conn.,  and  a  representative  of 
me  of  the  leading  families  there.  Six  children 
were  born  of  this  union,  whose  names  and  dates 
of  birth  are  as  follows:  William,  July  23, 
1848;  George,  January  18,  1850,  deceased, 
rwho  married  Fannie  Bishop;  Julia,  December 
1852,  the  wife  of  Alexander  Griffin;  John 
May  I,  1856;  Carrie  D.,  May  21,  1861, 
the  wife  of  Oliver  Burr;  and  Jennie,  January 
18,  1867,  the  wife  of  Peter  McGill,  whose 
farm  adjoins  the  homestead  on  the  north. 

William  Dakin,  the  eldest  son,  is  now 
onducting  the  entire  tract  of  520  acres,  hav- 
ng  assumed  the  responsibility  on  his  own  ac- 
ount  about  fifteen  years  ago.  Previous  to 
hat  he  had  spent  ten  years  in  clerking  in  a 
tore  at  Mt.  Riga,  five  for  his  father  and  five 


for  W.  B.  Gray.  He  has  been  very  success- 
ful in  his  management  of  the  farm,  which  is 
next  to  the  largest  in  the  town.  He  married 
Miss  Jennie  Pulver,  daughter  of  Jacob  Pulver, 
but  has  no  children.  Although  he  has  never 
cared  for  office,  he  is  at  times  active  in  the 
local  work  of  the  Republican  party.  He  and 
his  wife  attend  the  Methodist  Church  at  Mill- 
erton,  and  he  has  taken  a  generous  interest  in 
many  important  movements  for  the  good  of 
the  community. 


T  HERON  H.  CALDWELL.  At  the  time 
of  the  French  Crusade,  the  great-grand- 
father of  our  subject  was  driven  out  of  France 
on  account  of  his  religious  views,  and  went  to 
the  north  of  Ireland,  where  he  was  married. 
Later  he  came  to  America.  The  grandfather 
was  among  the  first  settlers  of  Poughkeepsie, 
where  he  worked  as  a  chair  maker  for  many 
years. 

There  the  father  of  our  subject,  George  B. 
Caldwell,  was  born,  and  in  the  common 
schools  he  received  his  education.  He  learned 
the  tailor's  trade  with  George  Mead,  and  be- 
came the  first  merchant  tailor  in  the  city  who 
kept  cloth  on  hand.  His  store  was  located  at 
No.  289  Main  street,  where  he  conducted  busi- 
ness many  years,  and  in  i860  moved  to  the 
store  now  occupied  by  J.  B.  Flagler.  There 
he  engaged  in  the  jewelry  business  with  his 
son,  Edward  O.,  who  had  learned  the  trade 
with  Van  Keuren  Brothers.  In  Poughkeepsie 
Mr.  Caldwell  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss 
Eliza  M.  Coffin,  daughter  of  Robert  Coffin, 
Esq.,  and  both  were  called  from  this  earth  in 
1886.  In  their  family  were  five  children, 
namely:  Helen,  deceased;  Edward  O.;  Fred- 
erick, deceased;  Theron  H. ;  and  Malcolm,  de- 
ceased. The  father  served  as  internal  reve- 
nue collector,  and  took  quite  an  active  part  in 
political  affairs,  first  voting  with  the  Whig 
and  later  witli  the  Republican  party,  but  he 
would  never  accept  public  office.  He  was  cap- 
tain of  the  Davy  Crockett  Hook  &  Ladder 
Company,  belonged  to  the  Masonic  Order,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 
Physically  he  was  well  developed,  and  was 
known  as  the  straightest  built  man  in  the  city. 

Thereon  H.  Caldwell  first  opened  his  eyes 
to  the  light  of  day  April  24,  1854,  at  Pough- 
keepsie, in  the  same  house  on  Main  street 
which  is  still  his  home.  Like  most  boys  he 
spent  his  childhood   in   attending  school   and 


828 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


engaging  in  youthful  sports.  After  pursuing 
his  studies  for  a  short  time  in  the  public 
schools,  he  entered  a  boarding  school  at  Fish- 
kill,  N.  Y. ,  and  later  was  a  student  in  the 
Friends  Boarding  School  at  Oswego,  N.  Y. 
On  laying  aside  his  text  books,  he  worked 
for  two  years  in  a  carriage  shop  at  Amenia, 
and  the  following  year  was  spent  at  the 
same  occupation  at  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutch- 
ess county.  He  next  clerked  in  a  grocery 
and  feed  store  at  New  Haven,  Conn.,  after 
which  he  returned  to  Poughkeepsie  and  learned 
the  printer's  trade  with  Piatt  &  Piatt,  for 
whom  he  worked  for  five  years.  The  follow- 
ing two  years  he  cond'jcted  a  printing  office 
for  George  D.  Eighmie,  and  then  opened  one 
for  himself  at  No.  363  Main  street  in  1862. 
Two  years  later,  however,  he  went  to  Pitts- 
burg, Penn.,  where  for  the  same  length  of 
time  he  filled  different  positions  on  the 
Western  Division  of  the  Pennsylvania  railroad. 

In  1866  Mr.  Caldwell  returned  to  Pough- 
keepsie, and  again  engaged  in  the  printing 
business,  being  first  located  at  No.  5  Academy 
street,  but  later  removed  to  No.  16,  where  he 
increased  his  plant.  He  formed  a  partnership 
with  A.  H.  Hasbrouck,  now  foreman  for  A.  V. 
Haight,  and  the  present  firm  is  composed  of 
our  subject  and  William  G.  Hansman.  For  a 
year  and  a  half  they  have  published  The  Search 
Light,  and  also  have  a  large  trade  in  the  job 
department,  and  are  now  working  on  a  contract 
for  the  Imperial  Pattern  Company.  Their 
work  is  all  first-class,  giving  general  satisfac- 
tion, and  they  are  doing  an  extensive  business. 

Mr.  Caldwell  was  married  in  Poughkeepsie 
to  Annie  M.  Bolton,  daughter  of  John  Bolton, 
and  she  died  in  1886,  leaving  three  children: 
Eleanor,  Albert  and  Edna.  Mr.  Caldwell  was 
again  married  at  Hyde  Park,  Dutchess  county, 
his  second  union  being  with  Alice  Kelley, 
daughter  of  George  Kelley.  Politically,  Mr. 
Caldwell  affiliates  with  the  Republican  party, 
is  a  member  of  the  O.  H.  Bootlr  and  Veteran 
Fire  Companies,  and  religiously  he  is  an  Epis- 
copalian. Courteous,  genial,  well  informed, 
alert  and  enterprising,  he  stands  to-day  one  of 
the  leading  representative  men  of  Poughkeep- 
sie— a  man  who  is  a  power  in   his  community. 


MON.  JOSIAH  SUTHERLAND  wasarep- 
resentative  of  that  rare  element  in  mod- 
ern life,  which,  although  an  invaluable  part  of 
it,  yet  rests  upon  a  basis  of  something  ideal 


and  philosophical.  In  a  worldly  sense  he  cer- 
tainly made  h^s  mark,  becoming  one  of  the 
foremost  lawyers  and  prominent  judges  of  New 
York  City.  Whenever  he  came  in  contact 
with  men  of  note,  not  only  was  he  valued  as 
an  equal  of  practical  strength  and  resources, 
but  also  as  one  whose  integrity  was  beyond 
question. 

The  Judge  was  born  in  the  village  of  Ban- 
gall,  Dutchess  county,  June  12,  1806,  and  was 
the  son  of  Josiah  and  Abigal  (Duncan)  Suther- 
land, who  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  all 
now  deceased:  Walter,  Sarah,  Mary,  Han- 
nah, Josiah  and  Birch.  The  father  was  a  na- 
tive of  the  town  of  Stanford,  where  his  father 
had  located  at  an  early  day  on  coming  from- 
Scotland — his  native  land — to  America.  Ifti 
that  town  the  son  carried  on  farming  until  his 
death.  He  had  served  as  colonel  in  the  war  of 
1 812,  was  a  strong  Democrat  in  politics,  and  a 
Baptist  in  religious  belief. 

The  boyhood  days  of  Judge  Sutherland 
were  passed  at  Bangall,  and  he  prepared  for 
college  in  New  York  City  under  the  guidance 
of  Judge  Parker's  father.  After  his  graduation 
from  Union  College  in  1826,  he  studied  law 
for  a  year  in  the  office  of  Samuel  G.  Hunting-s 
ton,  at  Waterford,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  but 
finished  his  studies  in  the  office  of  Bushnell  & 
Stebbins,  at  Hudson,  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.', 
Shortly  after  his  admission  to  the  bar  in  1829, 
he  went  to  South  Carolina  on  account  of  il 
health,  and  there  remained  for  a  year.  Re- 
turning north,  he  entered  into  partnership,  a 
Johnstown,  N.  Y.,  with  Robert  H.  Morris,  j 
former  mayor  and  recorder  of  New  York  City 

In  1831  Mr.  Sutherland  was  appointed  dis 
trict  attorney  of  Columbia  county,  which  oifio' 
he  continued    to  fill   for   about  fifteen   years 
and   in  1856  he  was  elected   to   Congress  t 
represent     the     Thirty-second    Congressiona 
District,  having  run  against  Judge  Coles.     I 
1838  he  had  removed  to  Hudson  City,  N.  Y. 
where  he  occupied  the  office  of  the  late  An' 
brose   L.  Jordan,  who   had   removed  to  Nc 
York   City,  where  in    the   spring   of    1S51  Mi 
Sutherland  also  located,  there  forming  a  par 
nership  with  Judge  Morrell.      He  was  electe 
judge  of  the  supreme  court   in  1857  to  fill 
vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  Judge  Whi 
ing,  and  held  that  position  for  six  years.     Cj 
the  resignation  of  Charles  O'Connor  from  tl' 
office   of  United  States  District  Attorney,  1 
was  tendered    that    position  by  President  B  ■ 
chanan,  but  declined  it.     In  the  fall  of  186! 


i 


COMMEMORATIVE    BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


829 


he  was  re-elected  to  the  supreme  court  without 
opposition,  and  continued  to  fill  the  position 
on  the  bench  for  the  full  term  of  seven  years. 

By  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  the  Judge 
was  appointed  one  of  the  three  commissioners 
to  decide  a  certain  claim  against  the  City  of 
Xew  York,  and  though  millions  of  dollars  were 
involved,  so  impartial  were  all  his  decisions, 
that  all  parties  felt  satisfied  with  their  correct- 
ness. In  1872  he  was  elected  city  judge  of 
New  York.  He  retired  from  the  bench  on  the 
1st  of  January,  1879,  carrying  with  him  not 
only  the  respect  of  the  entire  legal  fraternity, 
but  an  enviable  reputation  as  a  jurist.  One 
of  the  most  extraordinary  events  was  the  meet- 
ing of  the  New  York  bench  and  bar  to  express 
their  regret  at  the  retirement  of  the  Hon. 
Josiah  Sutherland  from  the  bench,  which  he 
had  occupied  with  distinguished  rectitude  and 
simplicity  of  character  for  over  twenty  years 
of  a  busy  and  honored  life.  Few  men  have 
lived  to  experience  such  a  vocation  as  this 
from  the  most  critical  and  scrutinizing  of  pro- 
fessional and  judicial  contemporaries. 

That  a  man  born  and  bred  in  country  life 
could  go  to  New  York  City  when  there  was  on 
his  arrival,  already  in  existence,  strongly  in- 
trenched, a  rmg  of  corrupt  political  tricksters, 
surrounded  by  an  outer  ring  of  a  corrupt  and 
powerful  system  almost  irresistible,  and  win 
and  occupy  one  of  the  highest  seats  of  justice, 
was  a  credit  to  the  better  sense  and  intelligence 
f  the  people.  That  a  judge  could  in  all  these 
,ears  sit  in  calm  rectitude  and  severe  and  in- 
flexible justice  when  almost  all  else  was  cor- 
rupt and  partial,  is  a  wonder  in  our  day.  The 
honor  of  Judge  Sutherland  was  never  assailed. 
Enemies  may  have  ridiculed  him,  and  even 
friends  criticised  his  ways,  but  no  man  ever 
hinted  at  anything  dishonorable  or  unjust  in 
his  character  as  a  man  or  judge.  The  consti- 
tutional limit  of  seventy  years,  as  the  end  of 
judicial  service,  cut  him  off,  as  it  did  Spencer 
and  Chancellor  Kent,  in  the  full  maturity  of  in- 
tellectual capacity,  at  the  threshold  of  the 
beauties  of  an  honorable  and  venerable  old 
age,  but  we  can  still  point  to  his  record  with 
pride.  Frcm  the  time  of  his  retirement  from 
the  bench  until  his  death  he  resided  in  New 
York  City.      He  died  May  25,   1887. 

At  Johnstown,    N.  Y.,  was  celebrated  the 

marriage  of  Judge  Sutherland  and  Miss  Jane, 

oungest    daughter   of    Dr.    John    McClellan. 

^he   was    born   in  the  Manor  of    Livingston, 

February    22,    181 1,    and  died   February   22, 


» 


1876.  To  them  were  born  fourteen  children, 
of  whom  two  are  now  living — Robert  and  Mrs. 
Sarah  A.  Eddy. 

The  birth  of  Robert  Sutherland  occurred 
at  Hudson,  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  11, 
1838,  and  there  his  early  school  days  were 
passed.  He  attended  the  Naval  Academy  at 
Annapolis,  Md.,  and  when  the  Civil  war  broke 
out  he  was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln  to 
the  position  of  ist  Lieutenant,  i8th  U.  S.  I., 
in  which  he  served  for  three  years,  when  he 
was  discharged  on  account  of  physical  disa- 
bility. In  New  York  City  in  1866,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lucy  A.  Mills,  a 
native  of  Ireland,  and  to  them  were  born  four 
daughters:  Jane  Douglas,  who  is  now  the  wife 
of  Rev.  D.  S.  Hamilton,  rector  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  atPaterson,  N.  J. ;  Florence,  deceased; 
Sarah  E.  and  Blanche.  For  the  past  twenty 
years  Mr.  Sutherland  has  lived  retired  in  the 
town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess  county,  where  he 
is  surrounded  by  a  host  of  warm  friends  and 
acquaintances. 


IJILLIAM  H.  TANNER,  M.  D.,  a 
m/m.  worthy  representative  of  the  farming 
interests  of  the  town  of  Amenia,  Dutchess 
county,  is  a  native  of  same,  born  September 
12,  1836.  The  family  had  long  been  estab- 
lished there,  his  great-grandfather,  James 
Tanner,  being  one  of  its  earliest  residents. 

William  Tanner,  the  grandfather,  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Dover,  January  9,  1786,  was 
brought  up  on  a  farm,  and  received  the  edu- 
cation afforded  by  the  district  schools.  He 
was  an  agriculturist,  and  spent  the  latter  part 
of  his  life  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  where  he 
died  in  1856.  In  religious  belief  he  was  a 
Baptist.  He  was  married  March  13,  1806, 
to  Mary  Uhl,  who  was  born  December  29, 
1786,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  three 
children:  James  U.,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject; Mary  Eighmy,  who  was  born  May  4, 
1 8 14,  and  wedded  Abram  White;  and  Cath- 
erine E.,  who  was  born  May  8,  1824,  and 
married  Swift  Nase. 

James  Uhl  Tanner,  also  a  native  of  the 
town  of  Dover,  was  born  April  22,  1807,  there 
secured  his  elementary  education,  and  con- 
tinued his  studies  at  the  Nine  Partners  Board- 
ing School,  in  the  town  of  Washington,  Dutch- 
ess county.  He  was  married  December  4, 
1 83 1,  to  Miss  Rhoda  Ann  Hubbell,  who  was 
born  May   31,     1814,    and  was  a  daughter  of 


u 


880 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


I 


Cushnian  and  Tamma  Hubbell.  Their  family 
consisted  of  tfiree  children:  James  H.,  born 
November  25,  1835,  died  February  10,  1837; 
William  H.,  of  this  sketch;  and  Annie  Maria, 
who  was  born  August   5,    1842,   and  married 

5.  H.  Hedges.  About  1840  the  father  re- 
moved to  the  town  of  Amenia,  building  the 
present  residence  of  our  subject,  and  there  en- 
gaged in  farming  up  to  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred July  28,  1886.  He  was  one  of  the 
most  wide-awake  and  progressive  farmers  of 
the  locality,  and  met  with  a  well-deserved  suc- 
cess in  his  vocation.  In  early  life  he  was 
identified  with  the  Whig  party,  and  later  was 
a  Republican.  His  strict  integrity  and  kindly 
nature  endeared  him  to  all  his  associates,  and 
for  many  years  his  hospitable  home  was  a 
place  dear  to  many,  both  young  and  old,  by 
reason  of  the  kindly  welcome  extended  to 
them  by  him  and  his  faithful  helpmeet.  He 
lived  upon  the  farm,  where  he  died,  for  over 
fifty  years. 

The  early  life  of  Dr.  Tanner  was  spent 
after  the  manner  of  most  farmers'  sons,  com- 
paratively uneventful,  and  after  attending  the 
district  schools  for  a  time,  he  pursued  his  stud- 
ies at  the  Amenia  Seminary,  at  the  Loweville 
Academy,  in  Lewis  county,  N.  Y. ,  at  the  Sus- 
quehanna Seminary,  in  Binghamton,  N.  Y., 
and  at  the  Oxford  Academy,  of  Chenango 
county,  this  State.  He  then  entered  the  medi- 
cal department  of  the  University  of  New  York, 
where  he  graduated  in  i860.  After  Fort 
Sumter  was  fired  upon,  the  Doctor  laid  aside 
personal  interest,  and  in  1861  joined  the  47th 
N.  Y.  V.  I.,  as  assistant-surgeon.  In  the  fol- 
lowing year  he  was  promoted  surgeon,  and 
served  with  the  rank  of  major  of  cavalry  until 
hostilities  ceased,  when  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged and  returned  home. 

On  April  26,  1866,  Dr.  Tanner  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Achsa  York,  of  Chenango  county, 
N.  Y. ,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  three 
children,  as  follows:  (i)  James  E.,  of  Cole- 
man Station,  Dutchess  county,  born  December 

6,  1868,  was  married  June  20,  1889,  to  Emma 
Gridley  Lewis,  and  they  have  three  children: 
Lewis  W.,  born  May  19,  1890;  Margaret,  born 
October  16,  1892;  and  Frederick,  born  Octo- 
ber 29,  1895.  (2)  Frederick,  born  January 
24,  [871,  died  June  14,  1875.  (3)  Mary 
Mabel,  born  January  i,  1874,  was  married 
December  27,  1890,  to  Louis  M.  Allerton,  and 
they  have  one  son,  James  K.,  born  November 
5.   1892. 


After  his  marriage.  Dr.  Tanner  removed  to 
Louisiana,  where  for  two  years  he  engaged  in 
cotton  raising,  but  in  1868  returned  to  the 
home  farm,  which  he  has  since  operated  with 
good  success.  He  is  also  engaged  in  the  milk 
business,  which  he  finds  to  be  a  profitable 
source  of  income.  Fraternally  he  is  connected 
with  Shekomeko  Lodge  No.  458,  F.  &  A.  M., 
at  Washington  Hollow,  Dutchess  county.  A 
man  of  strong  individuality,  whose  influence 
has  been  directed  toward  the  good,  the  true 
and  the  beautiful,  this  honored  veteran  of  the 
Civil  war  well  merits  representation  in  this 
volume. 


l^f  ^^^    J- 


MARTIN    AND    JAMES    H. 

MARTIN.      The  head   of  the  Martin 

family  which  has  been  prominently  identified 
with  the  history  of  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutch- 
ess county,  for  many  years,  was  Agrippa. Mar- 
tin, who  came  from  England  when  a  young 
man,  and  became  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Dover.  His  son  James  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation and  an  adherent  of  the  Quaker  faith. 
He  married  Sarah  Kelley,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Kelley,  of  Poughkeepsie,  a  seafaring  man,  and 
had  four  children:  Wing,  mentioned  below; 
John,  who  never  married;  Phoebe  A.  (Mrs. 
Joseph  Haviland),  and  Ruth  A.  (Mrs.  Samuel 
Hallack). 

Wing  Martin  was  born  in  1798,  and  on  at- 
taining manhood's  estate  engaged  in  farming 
and  in  brick  manufacturing.  He  possessed 
decided  mechanical  ability,  and  was  an  excel- 
lent business  man,  his  enterprises  meeting  with 
success.  Some  of  the  oldest  houses  in  the 
town  of  Dover  were  built  of  brick  from  his 
kiln.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican,  and  in 
religion  a  Quaker.  His  first  wife  was  Hannah 
Whitley,  and  his  second  was  her  sister  Eliza- 
beth, both  daughters  of  Joseph  Whitley. 
Three  children  were  born  of  the  first  marriage: 
John  J.,  James  H.,  and  Ann  E.,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  eighteen. 

John  J.  Martin  was  born  in  1824,  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  schools  of  his  na- 
tive town.  Until  he  was  twenty-eight  years 
old  he  assisted  his  father,  and  he  then  became 
the  owner  of  a  part  of  the  farm  which  has  been 
in  the  possession  of  the  family  since  1776.  He  • 
cared  nothing  for  politics,  preferring  a  quiet 
life.  He  married  Miss  Lydia  Haviland,  daugh-  ' 
ter  of  Isaac  Haviland,  and  had  one  son — Win<; 
J.  Martin,  who  was   born   at  the   old  home- 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


831 


stead  May  20,  1850,  was  educated  at  the  acad- 
emies in  that  vicinity,  and  then  engaged  in 
farming.  He  has  been  twice  married,  first  in 
1 87 1,  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Tabor,  daughter  of  a 
well-known  farmer  of  Dover,  John  Tabor,  and 
his  wife,  Cordelia  Ross.  Three  children  were 
born  of  this  union;  Anne  T. ,  born  in  1871; 
Sarah  E.,  born  in  1875;  and  Mary  D.,  who 
died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Martin's  wife  died  in 
1875,  and  in  1884  he  married  Miss  Catherine 
C.  Corey,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Elizabeth 
Corey,  prominent  residents  of  Port  Jervis, 
Pennsylvania.  Both  daughters  are  at  home. 
They  are  accomplished  young  ladies;  Anne  T. 
was  for  a  time  in  attendance  at  a  school  in 
Brooklyn,  and  one  at  Stanford,  and  Sarah  E. 
was  for  a  time  at  the  same  school  at  the  latter 
place.  Their  main  education,  however,  was 
received  at  home  under  a  governess. 

After  his  marriage,  in  1871,  Mr.  Martin 
settled  on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides, 
which  is  a  fine  tract  of  108  acres.  In  1895  he 
erected  here  a  fine  house,  and  has  a  modern 
home.  The  main  part  of  the  old  house  was 
one  of  the  oldest  houses  built  in  the  locality, 
being  upward  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five 
years  old.  In  addition  to  the  farm  on  which 
he  resides,  Mr.  Wing  Martin  is  the  possessor 
of  another  farm  comprising  234  acres  located 
three  miles  south  of  his  present  home.  In  ad- 
tion  to  general  farming,  Mr.  Martin  carries 
a  dairy  business,  keeping  fifty  cows.  In 
^litics  he  is  a  Republican. 

Isaac  Haviland,  the  father  of  Mrs.  John  J. 
artin,  was  a  prosperous  farmer  of  the  town 
[Pawling.  He  married  Miss  Lydia  Weever, 
id  had  nine  children:  (i)  Joseph  was  married 
Tour  times,  first  to  Hannah  Martin,  by  whom 
he  had  one  son — James  M.,  deceased;  his  sec- 
ond wife  was  Sarah  G.  Griffin,  and  they  had 
one  daughter,  Mary,  who  married  the  late  Noal 
/Tompkins,  and  has  two  children;  by  the  third 
ie,  Lydia  Oakley,  and  by  the  fourth,  Lydia 
iviland,  there  were  no  offspring.  (2)  Dan- 
married  Lillias  Akin,  and  seven  children 
^re  born — Lydia,  Lillie,  Lillias,  Joseph,  Jon- 
tian  (who  married  Angeline  Hungerford), 
jiniel  J.,  and  Abigail  (the  wife  of  Philip  Hav- 
ildj.  (3)  Isaac  married  Maria  Swift,  but 
no  children.  (4)  Jacob  married  Elizabeth 
love,  and  had  one  daughter — Minnie,  now 
Morris.  (5)  Abraham  married  Ann  Bow- 
lish,  and  had  one  child — Nellie,  who  married 
William  Well.  (6)  Alexander  married  Judith 
Griffin,   and   had  two  children — Phoebe,   now 


Mrs.  Elmer  Gildersleeve,  and  Lydia,  who  died 
in  youth.  (7)  Lydia  married  John  J.  Martin. 
(8)  Charlotte  married  Alfred  Moore.  (9)  Sarah 
never  married.  Charlotte  Moore  had  four 
children:  Lydia  married  Daniel  Willits,  and 
has  three  children — Lottie,  Hannah  and  Amy; 
Ruth  married  Peter  A.  Skidmore,  and  has  had 
four  children — Libbie,  Susie,  Jessie  and  Alfred, 
of  whom,  the  last  named  is  the  only  one  living; 
Susan  is  at  home;  Alfred  H.  married  Phoebe 
Willits,  and  has  had  three  children — Herman, 
Willits  and  Daniel. 

Joseph  Whitley,  the  father-in-law  of  Wing 
Martin,  was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Dover, 
and  became  a  prominent  farmer  there.  He 
owned  a  number  of  slaves,  whom  he  freed,  but 
they  refused  to  leave  the  place,  and  he  volun- 
tarily paid  them  wages.  He  married,  and  had 
five  children:  Phoebe,  who  died  at  an  early 
age;  Hiram,  who  married  Mary  Preston;  Eliza- 
beth and  Hannah,  mentioned  above;  and  Jo- 
seph J.,  who  married  Jane  Ross. 

James  H.  Martin,  the  second  son  of  Wing 
Martin,  was  born  in  1833,  and  was  educated  in 
Amenia  Seminary,  and  at  Gaylordsville.  After 
graduation  he  engaged  in  farming  with  his  fa- 
ther, and  is  now  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  of 
124  acres,  and  2,000  acres  of  timber  land. 
He  also  owns  a  house  and  ten  lots  in  Oakland, 
Cal.  He  married  Miss  Sarah  H.  Stevens, 
daughter  of  David  W.  Stevens,  a  leading 
farmer  of  the  town  of  Dover,  and  a  deacon  in 
the  Baptist  Church.  They  have  two  children: 
( i)  Eugene  H.,  born  in  1857,  was  educated  at 
Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  and  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y., 
and  is  now  a  prosperous  farmer.  He  married 
Miss  Jennie  Jones,  daughter  of  John  C.  and 
Mary  E.  (Murton)  Jones,  of  Port  Washington, 
N.  Y.  Her  father  is  a  successful  music  teacher. 
They  have  four  children:  Bessie  A.,  born  in 
1885;  Jennie  S.,  1887;  James  B.,  1890,  and 
Franklin  E. ,  1893.  (2)  Annie  Martin  was 
born  in  1859,  and,  like  her  brother,  was  edu- 
cated at  Grand  Rapids  and  at  Poughkeepsie. 
She  married  Theo  Buckingham,  a  merchant  of 
Dover,  and  son  of  Harvey  and  Eliza  (Ross) 
Buckingham.     They  have  no  children. 

Mrs.  James  H.  Martin  is  a  member  of  the 
well-known  Stevens  family  cf  the  town  of 
Dover.  Her  grandfather,  Thomas  Stevens, 
kept  an  inn  at  South  Dover  in  the  early  days. 
He  married  Sarah  Howard,  and  had  seven 
children:  Samuel  was  married  three  times; 
Edward  married  Amanda  Hunt;  William  mar- 
ried Hannah  Hunt;  Phoebe  was  the  wife  of  a 


882 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mr.  Holloway;  Sallie  died  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen; Thomas  did  not  marry;  and  David,  who 
was  born  in  Dover  in  1798  and  became  a 
farmer  there,  married  (iirst)  Miss  Nancy  Ged- 
dings,  and  (second)  Mrs.  Lydia  A.  Camp.  His 
first  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Hon.  Gamahel 
Geddings,  a  prominent  farjner  of  Dover,  and 
his  wife,  Eunice  Barns.  There  were  seven 
children  by  the  first  marriage:  Orin,  who 
married  Ann  Wheeler;  Eliza,  Mrs.  Alice  Ged- 
dings; Baldwin,  who  married  Julia  Dutcher; 
Hiram  (i),  who  died  in  childhood;  Mary,  Mrs. 
Emery  Cole;  Sarah  H.,  Mrs.  Martin;  and 
Hiram  (2),  who  married  Ann  E.  Camp. 


w 


fl'RIAH  TEATOR,  who  in  his  lifetime  was 
one  of  the  most  prominent  agriculturists 
of  the  town  of  Milan,  Dutchess  county,  resid- 
ing near  Cokertown,  was  a  native  of  that  town, 
born  March  26,  1825. 

The  first  of  the  name  in  this  country  came 
from  Holland,  and  passed  some  years  in  Dutch- 
ess county,  settling  later  in  Columbia  county, 
where  Philip  Teator,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
was  probably  born.  He  spent  the  most  of  his 
life  there,  following  farming,  but  died  in 
Dutchess  county.  He  married  Miss  Friese, 
and  reared  a  family  of  six  children,  of  whom 
our  subject's  father  was  the  eldest;  Frederick 
J.  and  Robert  were  farmers  in  Wayne  county, 
N.  Y. ;  Catherine  married  Zachariah  Pulver,  a 
farmer  in  Colunibia  county;  Maria  married 
Philip  Coon,  a  shoemaker  in  Milan.  Of  this 
family  the  only  survivors  are  the  two  younger 
daughters. 

Jacob  P.  Teator,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Gallatin,  Columbia  coun- 
ty, and  grew  to  manhood  at  the  old  farm 
there,  learning  the  shoemaker's  trade.  For 
many  years  he  was  a  farmer  in  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, and  died  upon  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Red 
Hook,  where  he  had  been  one  of  the  leading 
men  in  local  affairs,  commissioner  of  highways, 
and  an  active  supporter  of  the  Democratic 
party.  His  wife  was  Catherine  Plass,  a  de- 
scendant of  an  old  Holland  family,  and  daugh- 
ter of  Philip  Plass,  a  well-known  farmer  of  the 
town  of  Red  Hook.  Their  first  home  was  on 
a  farm  in  the  town  of  Milan,  where  they  reared 
a  family  of  seven  children,  our  subject  being 
the  eldest;  Margaret  A.  is  the  widow  of  Philip 
R.  Boice,  formerly  a  farmer;  John  N.  is  a  car- 
penter in  the  town  of  Red  Hook;  Mary  is  the 
widow  of  Nicholas  Holsapple,  a  farmer  in  the 


town  of  Milan;  Robert  is  a  farmer  in  Red 
Hook;  Catherine  is  unmarried;  and  Freemao 
is  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Red  Hook. 

Mr.  Teator  enjoyed  the  usual  advantages  of 
a  country  boy,  and  attended  the  district 
schools  of  Milan  and  Red  Hook.  In  1853  he 
married  Miss  Emeline  Boice,  a  descendant  of 
another  Holland  family,  and  daughter  of  Sim- 
eon Boice,  a  leading  farmer  of  Red  Hook. 
For  two  years  after  their  marriage  the  young 
couple  lived  upon  a  farm  in  the  same  locality, 
but  for  forty  years  thereafter  they  resided  upon 
the  present  farm  of  312  acres,  which  is  de- 
voted to  general  farming,  and  is  one  of  the 
finest  estates  in  the  vicinity.  Eight  children 
were  born  to  them:  Oliver  is  a  farmer  in  the 
town  of  Red  Hook;  Douglas  A.  and  Frederick 
J.  are  farmers  in  the  town  of  Milan;  Warren  is 
employed  in  a  factory  in  Columbia  county; 
John  S.  is  at  home;  Mary  A.  married  Sylvanus 
Coon;  Kate  is  the  wife  of  Stewart  Teator;  and 
Esther  married  Sylvester  Palmeteer.  The 
Teator  family  have  been  connected  with  the 
Lutheran  Church  for  generations,  and  the 
present  representatives  are  among  its  most 
active  supporters  in  this  locality. 

Politically  Mr.  Teator  was  a  Democrat  and 
an  influential  one.  He  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace  for  twelve  years;  in  1878  was  elected 
township  supervisor,  and  a  vacancy  occurring 
in  1885,  he  was  appointed  to  the  same  office, 
for  which  his  well-proved  ability  so  well  fitted 
him  that  he  was  re-elected  for  each  succeeding 
term  afterward.  He  died  June  27,  1896,  and 
was  buried  in  the  Lutheran  cemetery  at  Red 
Hook. 


LESLIE    A.    SUTTON,  M.    D.,  a    leading 
young  physician  and  surgeon  of  the  town 

of  East  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  was  born 
June  10,  1866,  upon  the  farm  at  Louisville, 
St.  Lawrence  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  where  his  grandfa- 
ther, Benjamin  Sutton,  had  located  when  a 
young  man,  the  locality  at  that  time  being  an 
unbroken  wilderness.  The  latter  was  a  native 
of  England,  and  on  landing  in  this  country  at 
once  went  to  St.  Lawrence  county,  where  the 
remainder  of  his  life  was  passed  in  clearing, 
developing  and  improving  his  farm,  which  was 
covered  with  a  dense  forest. 

By  his  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  Brunt. 
Benjamin  Sutton  had  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  (i)  Henry  is  a  fruit  farmer 
of  Minneapolis,  Kans.      (2)  George  L.  received: 


i 


oO  ,^,y^r:t^^A/X 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPBIGAL  RECORD. 


838 


his  education  atCastleton,  Vt. ,  after  which  he 
entered  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surf;eon, 
New  York  City,  where  he  graduated  in  i860, 
and  was  then  a  surgeon  in  the  army  for  four 
years;  on  leaving  the  service  he  came  to  the 
town  of  East  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  up  to 
his  death,  in  the  spring  of  1889.  (3)  Benjamin 
was  a  farmer  and  drover  in  Louisville,  St. 
Lawrence  county.  (4)  William  was  a  promi- 
nent lawyer  of  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  where  his 
death  occurred;  he  faithfully  served  through- 
out the  Civil  war,  and  filled  many  official  posi- 
tions, including  that  of  circuit  judge.  (5) 
Franklin  J.  (the  father  of  our  subject)  was 
next  in  order  of  birth.  (6)  Sarah  married  Dan- 
iel Smith,  a  carpenter  and  ship-builder.  (7) 
Webster  laid  down  his  life  on  the  altar  of  his 
country  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion. 

Upon  the  old  homestead  Franklin  J.  Sutton 
was  born,  and  was  engaged  in  its  operation 
until  thirty-eight  years  of  age,  when  he  turned 
his  attention  to  the  cream  and  milk  business, 
having  five  creameries,  and  doing  an  extensive 
business,  which  proved  very  profitable.  In 
politics  he  was  an  ardent  Republican.  He 
married  Miss  Clarissa  Shoen,  also  a  native  of 
Louisville,  St.  Lawrence  county,  and  the 
daughter  of  Sheppard  Shoen,  who  was  born  in 
Scotland,  and  was  there  married.  To  this 
union  were  born  eight  children,  as  follows: 
Franklin  J.,  a  farmer  in  St.  Lawrence  county; 
Guy  H.,  who  is  engaged  in  mining  in  Colorado; 
Sarah  P. ,  who  became  the  wife  of  Rolf  Wells, 
a  fruit  grower  of  California,  and  died  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1884;  Lillian  E.,  the  wife  of  Herbert 
Bell,  a  carpenter  and  builder  of  Louisville,  N. 
Y. ;  Leslie  A.,  our  subject;  George  L.,  a  farm- 
er in  Louisville,  N.  Y. ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Nelson  Tucker,  a  carpenter  and  builder;  and 
Jennie,  widow  of  Anson  Wager,  who  was  a 
merchant  of  Louisville.  The  mother  of  this 
family  is  still  living.  The  father  passed  from 
earth  in  1884. 

Dr.  Sutton  spent  his  boyhood  upon  the 
home  farm,  attending  the  district  schools  until 
fifteen  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he  entered 
the  Massena  Academy,  where  he  graduated 
with  the  class  of  1883.  The  following  two 
years  were  passed  at  the  Ogdensburg  Free 
Academy,  and  in  April,  1886,  he  began  the 
study  of  medicine  with  his  uncle.  Dr.  George 
I-.  Sutton,  in  the  town  of  East  Fishkill,  Dutch- 
ess county.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  became 
student  in    the    College    of    Physicians  and 


Surgeons,  New  York  City,  but  after  a  year  he 
entered  the  medical  department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  the  City  of  New  York,  graduating 
March  4,  1889.  After  receiving  his  degree  he 
came  to  East  Fishkill  town,  where  he  has  since 
been  successfully  engaged  in  practice. 

On  March  26,  1890,  Dr.  Sutton  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Lillian  E.  Emans,  a  sister  of  Storm 
Emans,  and  they  have  one  child,  Leslie  Emans, 
who  was  born  May  i,  1893.  The  Doctor  stands 
in  the  front  rank  of  the  medical  fraternity  of 
Dutchess  county,  is  one  of  the  examining  sur- 
geons of  the  United  States  Pension  Office,  and 
for  six  years  has  been  health  officer  of  East 
Fishkill  town.  In  social  as  well  as  in  profes- 
sional circles  he  stands  high,  and  he  has  many 
friends  throughout  the  community.  Like  his 
father,  his  ballot  is  cast  in  support  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  the   Republican  party. 


W  LVA  SHELLEY,  a  wealthy  and  public- 
,/*^  spirited  citizen,  whose  beautiful  estate 
near  Rock  City,  Dutchess  county,  is  one  of  the 
finest  in  that  vicinity,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Milan,  Dutchess  county,  March  27,  1852. 

His  family  originated  in  Holland,  his  great- 
great-grandfather  having  come  from  that  coun- 
try in  Colonial  times.  His  great-grandfather, 
Samuel  Shelley,  was  born  in  America  and  was 
an  early  settler  in  Westchester  county,  where 
his  descendants  have  since  held  a  prominent 
place.  His  son,  Joseph  Shelley,  our  subject's 
grandfather,  although  a  Quaker  in  faith,  served 
as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Most 
of  his  life  was  spent  in  Westchester  county, 
where  he  followed  the  shoemaker's  trade,  but 
he  died  in  Columbia  county.  He  married  Miss 
Cole,  by  whom  he  had  five  children:  Sarah, 
who  married  a  farmer  in  Columbia  county; 
Louisa,  the  wife  of  a  carpenter  in  the  same 
county;  Benjamin,  our  subject's  father;  Henry, 
who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  and  is  now 
a  farmer  in  Kansas;  and  John  W.,  who  lost 
his  life  in  defense  of  the  Union. 

Benjamin  Shelley  was  born  at  the  old 
homestead  in  Westchester  county  in  1834,  but 
in  early  manhood  came  to  Dutchess  county 
and  married  Miss  Phcebe  Ireland,  daughter  of 
Isaac  Ireland,  a  well-known  farmer  of  the  town 
of  Clinton.  Her  ancestors  were  also  from 
Holland  originally.  After  their  marriage  they 
settled  upon  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Milan, 
where  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives 
exemplifying  in  their  daily  conduct  the  simple 


834 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


faith  of  the  Quakers,  but  not  uniting  with  any 
Church.  Mr.  Shelley  was  a  firm  supporter  of 
the  principles  of  the  Republican  party,  but 
was  not  interested  in  partisan  work.  He  died 
March  lo,  1893,  his  wife  passing  away  in  1855. 
They  had  three  sons:  Isaac,  George  and  Alva, 
all  of  whom  settled  upon  farms  in  the  town  of 
Milan,  and  two  daughters— Phoebe  and  Arme- 
na,  who  died  in  childhood. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in 
the  district  schools  near  his  father's  home,  and 
has  always  been  identified  with  the  interests  of 
his  native  town.  He  lives  upon  a  farm  of  270 
acres  situated  some  three  miles  from  Rock 
City,  and  has  built  there  the  finest  dwelling 
house  to  be  found  in  Milan  township.  His 
holdings  in  real  estate  are  extensive  in  Dutch- 
ess county  and  elsewhere;  in  fact,  he  does  not 
know  e.xactly  how  much  he  does  own,  but  esti- 
mates it  roughly  at  "about  1500  acres."  His 
fortune  is  largely  invested  in  mortgages  and 
similar  securities,  and  he  ranks  as  the  wealthi- 
est man  in  the  town.  He  is  one  of  the  promi- 
nent Republicans  of  his  locality,  and  is  a  gen- 
erous contributor  to  every  measure  for  local 
improvement  and  to  religious  and  philanthropic 
movements,  giving  freely  to  all  of  the  Churches 
of  the  neighborhood. 

On  March  13,  1887,  Mr.  Shelley  married 
Miss  Eliza  Carroll,  a  native  of  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, born  March  30,  1870,  and  a  daughter  of 
Michael  and  Adelia  Carroll,  the  former  of 
whom  is  now  deceased,  the  latter  making  her 
home  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shelley.  Three  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shelley: 
Alva,  Phoebe  A.  and  Ruth. 

The  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Shelley  is  a  large 
landowner  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  Dutchess 
county.  The  Carroll  family  is  of  Irish  ex- 
traction. 


JAMES  O.  PINGRY,  M.  D.,  a  well-known 
and  prominent  physician  of  Millbrook, 
Dutchess  county,  was  born  in  the  village  of 
Fishkill,  July  21,  1843.  The  family  is  of  En- 
glish descent,  and  the  Doctor  traces  his  ancestry 
back  for  seven  generations,  as  follows:  John 
F.,  his  father,  born  in  Newburyport,  Mass., 
September  26,  18 18.  John,  his  father,  was 
probably  born  in  the  same  place.  Then  came 
Francis.  Job,  Aaron  and  Moses;  the  Doctor 
makes  the  seventh. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  John  Pin- 
gry,  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  and  came  from 


Massachusetts  to  Fishkill,  where  he  died.  He 
was  a  consistent  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  married  Miss  Little,  and  had  a 
family  of  four  children:  John  F. ;  Julia  M., 
who  died  unmarried;  Mary  E.,  the  wife  of 
Richard  Coffin;  and  Margaret  A.,  who  married 
the  Rev.  Charles  M.  Oakley. 

John  F.  Pingry  grew  to  manhood  in  New- 
buryport, Mass.,  and  was  a  graduate  of  Dart- 
mouth College,  and  also  of  the  Union  Theo- 
logical Seminary  of  New  York.  He  married 
Caroline,  daughter  of  James  Oakley,  and  a 
native  of  New  York  City.  Her  family  was  of 
English  descent.  After  marriage  the  young 
couple  settled  at  Fishkill  village,  where  Mr. 
Pingry  preached  for  four  years.  In  1846  he 
established  a  school  in  that  place  which  he 
superintended  until  1853,  when  he  removed  to 
Newark,  N.  J.,  where  he  was  pastor  of  a 
church  for  seven  years,  and  also  carried  on  a 
school.  He  then  removed  to  Elizabeth,  N.  J., 
where  he  taught  until  his  death,  February  16, 
1894.  His  wife  passed  away  October  4,  1856. 
Their  children  were  five  in  number:  James 
O.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  John,  who 
resides  with  his  brother  James;  Frank  K.  is  a 
civil  engineer,  and  lives  in  Elizabeth,  N.  J.; 
Julia  married  Charles  M.  Schott,  Jr. ;  and 
Mary  E. 

John  F.  Pingry  was  a  prominent  factor  in 
the  history  of  Dutchess  county.  He  had  as 
many  as  one  hundred  students  under  his  in- 
struction at  one  time,  and  these  included  manj 
who  became  influential  citizens  of  the  county. 
He  was  a  man  of  fine  tastes,  high  principles, 
and  consistent  life,  and  was  greatly  respectec 
and  esteemed  in  the  different  communities  ir 
which  he  lived.  He  was  a  Presbyterian  in  hi; 
religious  faith,  and  politically  affiliated  with  the 
Republicans. 

James  O.  Pingry  was  ten  years  old  whei 
his  parents  removed  from  Fishkill  to  Newark 
and  eighteen  when  they  went  to  Elizabeth 
He  was  graduated  from  the  University  of  Nev 
York  in  the  Class  of  '62,  and  then  entered  th' 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  receivin: 
his  diploma  from  that  institution  in  1868.  H 
practiced  in  Bellevue  Hospital  in  New  Yor 
City,  until  November  i,  1870,  at  which  dat 
he  took  up  his  residence  in  Millbrook,  Dutch 
ess  county,  where  he  has  since  made  his  honit 

Dr.  Pingry  was  married  June  28,  1876,  £ 
Millbrook,  to  Ida  L.,  daughter  of  R.  G.  Coffir 
whose  biography  appears  elsewhere  in  th 
volume,  and  ten  children  have  been   born  t 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHIOAL  liECOBB. 


835 


them,  eight  of  whom  are  living,  namely:  Julia, 
hizzie.  Caroline,  John,  Clarence,  Van  Wage- 
nen,  James  O.,  Jr.,  and  Robert.  The  Doctor 
is  a  Republican,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the 
school  board  for  about  four  years.  Socially 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Dutchess  County  Medi- 
cal Society,  and  of  the  Society  of  the  Alumni  of 
Bellevue  Hospital;  he  also  belongs  to  the  Mill- 
brook  Club  of  Millbrook,  and  takes  an  active 
interest  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  welfare 
of  the  community.  He  is  progressive  and  lib- 
eral in  his  views,  and  his  opinions  have  weight 
with  his  fellow  citizens.  As  a  physician  he 
ranks  among  the  best,  and  his  large  practice 
testifies  to  the  confidence  felt  in  his  knowledge 
and  skill.  He  owns  a  handsome  residence 
where  he  and  his  estimable  wife  dispense  a 
most  genial  hospitality  to  their  large  circle  of 
(friends. 


TrOHN    S.    WING.     This   gentleman  is   ac- 

I   credited  with  the  ownership  of  one  of  the 

p    best  farms    in  the    town    of  Washington, 

iDutchess  county,  comprising  165  acres  of  rich 

and  arable  land,  and   he   is  numbered  among 

fhe    most    progressive    and    industrious  agri- 

ulturists  of  the  locality.      His  farm   buildings 

nd  machinery  are   in   keeping    with   the  neat 

lind  thrifty  appearance  of  his  place.      He  was 

l)orn  in    Washington     town,     June  9,     1857, 

lind  is  a  son  of  Thurston  Wing,  a  native  of  the 

town    of  Dover,    Dutchess  county.      His    pa- 

ernal  grandfather,    Jason    Wing,  a  native   of 

-iolland,    after    his   marriage    located    in    the 

own  of  Dover,  where  he  reared  his  family. 

'     On    reaching    manhood  the   father  of  our 

ubject    was    united    in    marriage    with    Ann 

Tripp,   a   native  of  Washington  town,   where 

er   father    was  engaged  in   agricultural  pur- 

lits.     On  a  farm  in  the  same  town  the  young 

ouple  began    their   domestic   life,    and  there 

veie   born    to  them    six    children,     namely: 

fharles,  deceased,  was  a   farmer  of  the  town 

i    Washington,     where    he     wedded     Mary 

ilaroney;  Thurston  J.  married  Hattie  Cutter, 

nd  operates    a    farm    in   Dover   town;  Elias 

lakes  his   home  in  Washington  town;   Mary 

is  the   wife  of  Joseph  Talmadge,  a  farmer 

the  town  of  Lagrange;  John  S.   is  next   in 

■r  of   birth;  and  George   died  in  infancy. 

■1  politics  the  father  of  these  was  a  stanch 

'emocrat,  and  was  called  from  this  life  in  1875. 

hile  his  wife,  who  preceded  him  to  the  other 

^'rld.  died  in  1869. 


The  boyhood  of  our  subject  was  spent 
upon  the  old  home  farm,  assisting  in  its  culti- 
vation and  improvement  during  the  summer 
months,  while  in  the  winter  season  he  at- 
tended the  common  schools  of  the  locality. 
The  lady  who  now  shares  his  name  and  fortune 
was  in  her  maidenhood  Miss  Maggie  Learey,  a 
native  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  and  a  daughter  of 
John  Learey,  a  farmer  of  that  country.  After 
their  marriage  Mr.  Wing  and  his  bride  lived 
for  two  years  and  eight  months  at  Verbank, 
Dutchess  county,  and  in  1890  removed  to  his 
present  farm.  Three  children  have  been  born 
to  them:     George  W.,  Lucy  H.  and  Anna. 

Besides  general  farming,  Mr.  Wing  is  also 
engaged  in  the  milk  business,  and  sells  that 
product  quite  extensively  to  the  Wassaic 
Condensary.  He  is  an  earnest  supporter  of 
Democratic  principles;  is  public  spirited  and 
progressive,  and  contributes  his  share  to  im- 
provements of  various  kinds  in  the  community. 


JAMES  V.  BENSON.  The  splendid  farm 
owned  by  this  gentleman  in  the  town  of 
Dover,  Dutchess  county,  is  a  standing 
monument  to  his  industry,  perseverance  and 
good  management.  It  is  pleasantly  situated 
on  one  of  the  picturesque  hills  near  the  village 
of  Dover  Plains,  and  invariably  attracts  the 
eyes  as  being  under  the  supervision  of  a 
thorough  and  skillful  agriculturist,  and  a  man 
of  otherwise  good  business  qualifications. 

His  grandfather,  Samuel  Benson,  was  a 
native  of  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, where  he  received  a  good  common-school 
education,  and  always  followed  the  occupation 
of  farming  there.  He  was  there  married,  and 
became  the  father  of  six  children:  Phila,  who 
wedded  Preserved  Cooper;  Jemima;  Paltire; 
Joshua,  who  married  Amanda  Hopkins;  Sam- 
uel and  John. 

Samuel  Benson,  Jr.,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  also  born  in  the  town  of  Dover,  and 
like  his  ancestors  had  a  common-school  educa- 
tion and  followed  farming  throughout  his  life. 
He  wedded  Miss  Sallie  Knapp,  of  Danbury, 
Conn.,  and  in  their  family  were  the  following 
children:  Joseph  married  Helen  Hall;  Samuel 
married  Ruth  Wheeler;  John  married  Marga- 
ret Irish;  James  V. ;  Joshua  married  Susan 
Tappin;  Darius  married  Polly  J.  Dutcher; 
Charles  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years; 
Ebenezer  married  Emily  Deuel;  Sallie  J. 
married    Elias    Irish;    Ada    married    John   D. 


836 


COMMEMOBA  TIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Dutcher;    and     Harriet     married    Van     Ness 
Dutcher. 

The  birth  of  Mr.  Benson,  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  record,  occurred  in  the  town  of 
Dover,  Dutchess  county,  April  20,  1823,  and 
in  the  village  of  Dover  Plains  he  received  a 
good  common-school  education.  After  his 
graduation  he  took  up  the  pursuit  of  farming, 
to  which  he  had  been  reared,  and  has  since 
given  most  of  his  time  and  attention  to  that 
occupation.  He  is  a  man  of  more  than  ordi- 
nary business  ability,  and  is  at  present  one  of 
the  stockholders  and  directors  of  the  Dover 
Plains  National  Bank.  He  has  always  taken 
a  deep  interest  in  political  affairs,  favoring  the 
Democratic  party  with  his  support,  but  has 
never  aspired  to  public  office,  perferring  the 
quiet  life  which  he  has  always  led,  though  he 
has  often  been  urged  to  accept  official  posi- 
tions. He  is  an  earnest  Christian  gentleman, 
having  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  who 
know  him. 

Mr.  Benson  has  been  twice  married,  his 
first  union  being  with  Miss  Mariette  Hufcut, 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Hufcut,  who  were 
prosperous  farmers  of  Denmark,  Lewis  Co., 
N.  Y.  They  became  the  parents  of  seven 
children:  Clark  H.,  who  married  Nina  Oxley; 
George  V.,  who  wedded  Carrie  Fry;  Martha 
A.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years;  Mary, 
who  became  the  wife  of  James  Bird;  Carrie 
and  Sarah,  who  died  in  infancy;  and  Hattie. 
In  1872,  the  mother  of  these  children  died, 
and  two  years  later  Mr.  Benson  married  a  sis- 
ter of  his  former  wife,  Miss  Caroline  Hufcut, 
by  whom  he  has  one  son,  Horatio  S.,  who  was 
born  December  24,  1874,  and  since  complet- 
ing his  education  in  Dover  Plains,  has  en- 
gaged in  teaching  school  in  one  of  the  district 
schools  of  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county. 

The  family  to  which  Mrs.  Benson  belongs 
have  also  been  prominent  agriculturists  of 
Dutchess  county.  Her  grandfather,  George 
Hufcut,  Was  a  native  of  Dover  town,  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  school  of  Dover 
Plains,  where  he  also  studied  law.  He  prac- 
ticed to  some  extent  in  connection  with  farm- 
ing, but  gave  most  of  his  time  to  the  latter  pur- 
suit. He  married  Miss  Hannah  Benson,  of 
Dover  Plains,  and  to  them  were  born  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Martha  married  William 
Howard;  John  B.  was  the  second  in  order  of 
birth;  George  B.  married  Sallie  Dennis;  Obed 
was  also  married;  Shedrish  married  Susan 
Tiifper.cy;  Henry  first   married  a  Miss  Dixon, 


and,  after  her  death,  Eliza  Wheeler;  William 
married  Pattie  Preston;  Perry  married  Sarah 
Schammerhorn;  Jane  married  Aaron  Benson; 
Caroline  first  married  Myron  Knickerbocker, 
and,  for  her  second  husband,  Samuel  Edward; 
and  Betsy  married  Andrew  Pitcher. 

John  B.  Hufcut,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Ben- 
son, was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutch- 
ess county,  where  he  attended  school,  and  like 
his  father,  followed  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing. In  early  life  he  married  Miss  Mary  Simp- 
son, daughter  of  Ambrose  and  Elizabeth 
Simpson,  prosperous  farmers  of  Dover  Plains, 
and  to  them  were  born  seven  children:  Am- 
brose, who  married  Lurinna  Wilson;  Henry, 
who  married  Elizabeth  Butterworth;  George, 
who  wedded  Melvina  Barnum;  Delia,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Samuel  Worm;  Martha,  who 
remained  single;  Mariette,  the  first  wife  of  our 
subject;  and  Caroline,  the  present  Mrs.  Ben- 
son. 


SAMUEL  P.  TEN  BROECK,  a  prominent 
,^_i  agriculturist  of  the  town  of  Wappinger. 
Dutchess  county,  and  a  descendant  of  one  of 
the  oldest  and  most  distinguished  families  of 
that  locality,  was  born  March  20,  1839,  in  the 
town  of  Livingston,  Columbia  county,  N.  Y. 
His  father,  the  late  Samuel  Ten  Broeck,  was 
also  a  native  of  Columbia  county,  and  passed 
his  early  years  there,  removing  to  the  town  of 
Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county,  when  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  only  six  years  old. 

Mr.  Ten  Broeck  has  spent  most  of  his 
years  in  Dutchess  county.  On  October  25, 
1876,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Adeline  Montfort,  and  settled  upon  the  farm 
near  New  Hackensack  where  she  was  born. 
Her  family  has  been  prominent  in  this  region 
for  several  generations,  her  ancestors  being 
among  the  earliest  settlers.  Her  grandfather 
was  a  leading  farmer  in  the  town  of  Fishkill, 
and  her  father,  the  late  John  Montfort,  fol- 
lowed the  same  pursuit.  He  married  Miss 
Martha  Emmons,  a  member  of  another  well- 
known  family  and  daughter  of  Cornelius  Em- 
mons, a  prosperous  agriculturist  of  the  same 
locality.  They  established  their  home  at  the 
farm  now  occupied  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ten- 
Broeck,  and  reared  a  family  of  four  children: 
Catherine,  deceased;  Adeline,  Mrs.  Ten  Broeck; 
Gertrude,  now  residing  in  Chicago;  and  John 
Jacob,  deceased.  Mr.  Montfort  was  never 
I  active  in  political  life,   but  he   was  a  supporter 


COMMEMORATIVE   BIOOBAPHICAL   RECORD. 


837 


of  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  and 
was  influential  in  local  movements  of  various 
kinds. 

Our  subject  has  resided  at  this  farm  since 
1877,  and  is  considered  one  of  the  successful 
farmers  of  the  vicinity.  He  has  no  specialty, 
his  114  acres  being  devoted  to  general  crops. 
Mrs.  Ten  Broeck  is  an  Episcopalian,  but  they 
attend  the  Reformed  Church.  Their  four 
children — Catherine,  Samuel  M.,  Charles  and 
Walter  L. — are  all  at  home.  In  politics,  Mr. 
Ten  Broeck,  like  his  ancestors  before  him,  ad- 
heres to  the  Democratic  faith. 


COLLINS  SHELDON,  a  leading  lawyer  of 
Millerton,  and  an  ex-surrogate  of  Dutchess 
county,  was  born  Jnly  26,  1839,  in  Copake, 
Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  Sheldon  family  is 
of  English  origin,  but  on  the  maternal  side  the 
ancestry  is  Irish.  Agrippa  Sheldon,  our  sub- 
ject's great-grandfather,  was  born  in  South 
Dover,  Dutchess  county,  and  was  a  blacksmith 
there  for  many  years. 

Gideon  Sheldon,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
was  born  at  South  Dover,  and  lived  there  un- 
[til  he  was  about  twenty-five  years  old,  when 
|he  moved  to  Copake,  and  purchased  a  farm  of 
!200  acres  on  which  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  He  was  a  man  of  note  in  that  local- 
ity, a  Whig  in  politics,  and  for  a  number  of 
years  was  a  justice  of  the  peace.  He  died  in 
1835,  his  wife,  Lydia  Lake,  surviving  him  un- 
til 1850.  They  had  nine  children:  Henry; 
Isaiah;  Eliza,  wife  of  Thomas  Trafford;  Daniel; 
Emma,  wife  of  Jacob  Vosburgh;  James;  and 
three  who  died  in  childhood. 

Henry  Sheldon,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
jWas  born  at  the  old  homestead  in  South  Dover, 
July  23,  1812,  but  his  life  was  passed  mainly  at 
Popake.      He  inherited  his  father's  farm,  and 
was   largely  engaged    in  cattle  raising,   being 
loted  for  his  excellent  judgment  in  this  line. 
He  was  a  man  of  fine  natural  ability,  possess- 
ing an  unusually  good  memory,  and  his  strong 
iind  positive  nature  made  him  a  leader  in  the 
community.    In  early  life  he  was  a  Whig,  and 
'ater  a  Republican,  but  he  never  sought  political 
-ition  (or  himself.     He  was  greatly  interested 
'i    educational  work  and  in    the    temperance 
fnovement.    taking  advanced  ground   in  both, 
nd  he  was  an  active  and  generous  supporter  of 
he    Methodist    Church.      He    married    Selina 
'k,   daughter  of    Lot  Cook,  a    well-known 
liixen  of  Amenia.      His  death  occurred  in  De- 


cember, T865,  his  wife  surviving  him  until 
1892.  Of  their  nine  children  all  were  care- 
fully educated  to  fill  honorable  positions  in  life. 
They  are:  Eveline,  living  at  Brooklyn;  Col- 
lins; Wilson,  a  farmer  at  Hillsdale,  N.  Y. ; 
Allen,  a  farmer  and  speculator  at  the  same 
place;  Miranda,  who  married  Chester  Dayton, 
of  Northampton,  Mass.;  Otis,  a  farmer  of 
Copake;  Franklin,  living  at  Glens  Falls,  N.  Y. ; 
Frances,  living  at  Northampton;  and  George, 
a  resident  of  New  Briton,  Connecticut. 

Collins  Sheldon  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Copake  for  some  years,  and  in  1 860  was  a 
student  at  the  Hudson  River  Institute  at 
Claverack.  He  then  took  the  regular  course 
in  the  Albany  Law  School,  graduating  May 
23,  1 862,  and  after  some  months  of  preparatory 
work  in  the  office  of  Maynard,  Wright  & 
Moore,  he  went  to  Millerton  and  opened  an 
office  of  his  own,  February  23,  1863.  Since 
that  time  he  has  been  successfully  engaged  in 
practice,  making  no  specialty  of  any  particular 
branch,  although  his  business  consists  mainly 
of  the  settlement  of  estates,  in  which  he  has 
gained  a  high  reputation.  In  1864  he  was 
elected  clerk  of  the  town  of  Northeast,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1877  was  chosen  surrogate  of 
Dutchess  county,  taking  office  January  i,  1878, 
and  serving  for  six  years  with  entire  satisfac- 
tion to  the  public.  He  was  offered  a  re- 
nomination,  but  declined  it.  He  has  taken  a 
leading  part  in  various  local  movements,  es- 
pecially those  which  relate  to  educational 
affairs,  and  was  a  town  trustee  at  the  time  of 
the  building  of  the  Union  Free  School  house, 
and  was  a  trustee  of  Millerton  Academy. 
Possessing  keen  perceptions  and  strong  con- 
victions, he  is  a  forcible  and  pungent  speaker, 
and  a  most  positive  man. 

In  June,  1867,  Mr.  Sheldon  was  married 
to  Miss  Maria  Pulver,  daughter  of  Henry  Pul- 
ver,  a  prominent  resident  of  Stanford,  and  has 
two  children — Harriet,  who  is  at  home,  and  is 
a  graduate  of  Mrs.  Gynn's  Seminary  in  Pough- 
keepsie,  and  Wallace  A.,  a  graduate  of  the 
Albany  Law  School,  who  is  now  in  practice 
with  his  father,  under  the  firm  name  of  C.  & 
W.  A.  Sheldon. 


^\DWARD  JEFFERSON   HALL,   M.   D., 

of  Moores  Mill,  Dutchess  county,  a  rising 

young  physician  whose  abilities  are  already 
winning  recognition,  is  a  descendant  of  an  old 
English  family,  being  of  the   seventh  genera- 


888 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tion  in  the  direct  line  from  Col.  Harry  Hall, 
who  came  from  England  about  1690,  and  set- 
tled in  Connecticut.  By  his  activity  during 
Queen  Anne's  War  he  gained  the  name  of 
"  Harry,  the  Indian  Killer,"  and  is  so  men- 
tioned in  history  His  son,  Ichabod  Hall, 
settled  in  Enfield,  Conn.,  and  was  married 
May  31,  1730,  to  Lois  Kibbie,  of  that  place. 
Their  son,  Ebenezer  Hall,  moved  to  Massa- 
chusetts, and  died  there  in  1817.  His  son. 
Gen.  Isaac  Hall,  married  Vashti  Johnson,  of 
New  Marlboro,  Mass.,  and  moved  to  Pompey, 
N.  Y.,  in  1797.  Their  son,  Johnson  Hall,  was 
born  at  Sheffield,  Mass.,  January  6,  1794,  and 
became  a  hardware  merchant  at  Syracuse, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  died  October  27,  1870.  He 
was  known  as  Judge  Hall.  He  was  married 
in  i8i6to  Polly  Andrews,  and  their  son,  John- 
son LaFayette  Hall,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  at  La  Fayette,  N.  Y.,  September  16, 
1825.  He  obtained  a  district-school  educa- 
tion, and  then  went  into  the  hardware  business 
with  his  father,  but  later  engaged  in  forwarding 
freight  on  the  canal,  owning  a  fleet  of  boats 
at  Oswego.  He  is  now  an  expert  accountant 
at  Syracuse.  On  August  22,  1848,  he  was 
married  in  that  city  to  Marcelia  Wood,  daugh- 
ter of  Noah  and  Pauline  (Holmes)  Wood. 
Her  father  was  a  well-known  business  man  at 
Buffalo  and  Chicago.  Mrs.  Hall  died  Decem- 
ber 6,  1890,  leaving  three  children,  viz.:  (i) 
Florence  Elizabeth,  born  June  4,  1849,  mar- 
ried Henry  Cory,  of  New  York  City,  and  has 
one  daughter — Florence  Pauline.  (2)  Irene 
Virginia,  born  April  17,  1853,  married  John 
Clark  Howe,  of  St.  Louis,  and  has  one  child — 
Guy  La  Fayette. 

E.  J.  Hall,  the  third  and  youngest  member 
of  this  family,  wasborn  at  Oswego,  N.Y. ,  March 
6,  1855, and  after  attending  the  public  schools 
of  that  city  for  some  years  he  studied  at  St. 
John's  Military  School  in  Manlius,  N.  Y.  He 
then  entered  the  business  world,  spending  five 
years  with  the  St.  Paul's  Harvester  Works  at 
St.  Paul,  Minn.,  six  years  in  a  drug  store  at 
Syracuse,  and  twelve  years  in  a  hardware  store 
at  St.  Louis,  Mo.  During  this  time  the  desire 
to  follow  his  present  profession  became  too 
strong  to  be  overcome  by  his  unpromising  cir- 
cumstances, and  he  began  his  preparation  by 
private  study.  Three  years  of  reading  fitted 
him  to  undertake  practical  work  in  anatomy 
with  profit,  and  he  spent  two  years  in  dissect- 
ing at  night  at  St.  Louis  Medical  College.  To 
this    preliminary    work     he    added    three    full 


years  of  study  at  the  Homeopathic  College  of 
Missouri,  graduating  in  the  spring  of  1894. 
April  17,  1895,  h^  passed  the  Regent's  exami- 
nation in  this  State,  and  December  16, 1895,  he 
located  at  Moores  Mill,  purchasing  the  prac- 
tice of  Dr.  Warren  C.  McFarland.  He  is  the 
fourth  physician  to  occupy  his  present  residence 
in  Moores  Mill. 

Dr.'  Hall  was  married  at  St.  Louis  to  Miss 
Ellen  Frances  Cooper,  daughter  of  the  late 
William  Fenimore  Cooper,  who  was  formerly 
a  well-known  hosier  at  Watertown,  N.  Y. ,  and 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  en- 
listed in  the  looth  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  and  lost  his 
life  in  the  Union  cause. 


J  HYATT  LYKE,  D.  D.  S.,  a  leading  den- 
tist of  the  town  of  Millerton,  Dutchess 
county,  was  born  September  9,  1864,  in 
Copake,  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  is  a  son  oi 
John  Lyke,  now  a  prominent  resident  of  Pough- 
keepsie,  who  retired  from  business  some  years 
ago,  and  his  academic  education  was  obtained 
there,  with  the  exception  of  two  years  at  Wil- 
bur, Mass.  During  the  last  year  of  his  course 
in  the  Poughkeepsie  high  school  he  left,  only 
a  month  or  two  before  the  graduation  day,  tc 
begin  the  study  of  dentistry  in  the  office  of  Dr. 
Mills,  and,  after  seven  months  of  preparation, 
he  entered  the  New  York  College  of  Dentistry. 
After  one  year  there  he  went  to  the  Philadel- 
phia Dental  College,  where  he  also  remainec 
a  year  and  was  graduated,  the  youngest  mem- 
ber of  the  class. 

Immediately  after  his  graduation  he  begar 
the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Pine  Plains 
succeeding  Dr.  Seaman.  He  remained  thert 
several  years,  and  enjoyed  a  lucrative  practice 
but  seeing  an  opportunity  for  more  rapid  ad- 
vancement and  a  larger  business,  he  moved  tc 
Millerton,  in  May,  1891,  taking  the  practice 
of  Dr.  C.  I.  Bailey.  He  has  been  more  thar 
ordinarily  successful,  his  practice  including 
many  of  the  best  people  of  Millerton  and  vicin 
ity,  and  extending  for  some  distance  up  anc 
down  the  Harlem  railroad.  He  was  marriec 
in  1889  to  Miss  Georgia  Rowe,  daughter  0 
Clinton  Rowe,  a  well-known  resident  of  Pirn 
Plains,  and  has  had  two  children — Clinton  an( 
Stewart. 

While  he  is  an  earnest  advocate  of  local  im  , 
provement,  and  a  stanch  believer  in  the  princi 
pies  of  the    Republican  party,  the  Doctor  ha 
never  taken  an  active  part  in  public   affairs 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


839 


He  is  much  interested  in  the  breeding  of  the 
English  greyhound,  and  owns  two  famous  speci- 
mens—  •'Southern  Rhymes"  and  "  Bestwood 
Daisy. "  The  former  has  won  ten  first  prizes 
in  England  and  seven  in  this  country — three 
in  the  challenge  class  and  four  in  the  open 
class.  He  has  defeated  the  "  Gem  of  the  Sea- 
son," owned  in  Toronto,  Canada,  the  winner 
:  of  175  first  prizes,  and  without  doubt  is  the 
I  best  of  his  breed  to-day  in  America.  "  Best- 
wood  Daisy"  is  the  winner  of  fifty-one  first 
premiums  in  this  country  and  is  the  best  of 
three  well-known  dogs,  "Southern  Beauty" 
and  "  Spinaway  "  being  the  other  members  of 
the  trio. 


HENRY  M.  SWIFT,  a  highly  esteemed 
resident  of  the  town  of  Union  vale,  Dutch- 
ess county,  residing  near  Verbank,  is  a  man 
of  liberal  education  who,  preferring  a  country 
life  to  the  more  exciting  scenes  of  a  profes- 
sional career,  has  devoted  his  time  to  agricult- 
ural pursuits. 

He  is  a  descendant  of  William  Swift,  a  na- 
tive of  the  County  of  Essex,  England,  who 
came  to  Boston  during  the  immigration  of  1 630- 
163 1.  On  his  arrival  in  Massachusetts,  he  lo- 
cated at  Watertown,  but  he  sold  his  posses- 
sions there  in  1637,  and  removed  to  Sandwich, 
Mass.,  on  the  Cape,  purchasing  the  largest 
farm  in  that  vicinity,  which  is  still  in  the  pos- 
session of  his  lineal  descendants.  He  had  three 
'children:  William  (2).  Hannah  and  Esther. 
William  Swift  (2)  was  born  in  England,  and 
|Came  to  this  country  with  his  father.  He 
tmarried,  and  became  the  father  of  eleven  chil- 
idren:  Hannah,  William,  Jireh,  Josiah,  Tem- 
perance, Esther,  Dinah,  Ephraim,  Samuel, 
Ruth  and  Mary.  Ephraim  was  born  at  the 
lold  homestead  in  Sandwich,  Mass.,  June  6, 
I1656,  and  became  a  carpenter  and  cooper  by 
pccupation.  He  died  in  January,  1742.  Their 
seven  children  were:  Elizabeth,  Joham,  Sam- 
uel, Ephraim,  Sarah,  Hannah  and  Moses. 
Samuel  Swift  was  born  at  Sandwich  April  9, 
1686,  and  died  in  December,  1757.  By  trade 
he  was  a  carpenter  and  blacksmith.  He  was 
Tiarried  December  24,  17 12,  at  Falmouth, 
Mass.,  to  Miss  Ruth  Hatcfi  and  they  reared  a 
family  of  nine  children:  Ephraim,  Manassa, 
fudah,  Reuben,  Moses,  Mary,  Joanna,  Joan 
ind  Lydia.  Judah  Swift,  the  great-grand- 
iather  of  our  subject,  was  born  September  3, 
i7'6,  at  the  old  home  on   Cape  Cod,    and   in 


1769  came  to  Dutchess  county,  with  his  wife, 
Elizabeth  Morton,  of  Falmouth,  Mass.,  to 
whom  he  was  wedded  December  14,  1738. 
They  were  accompanied  by  their  children,  and 
made  the  journey  with  an  ox-team.  Mr. 
Swift  settled  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  purchas- 
ing first  the  property  now  known  as  the  Bar- 
low farm,  but  later  he  exchanged  it  for  a  larg- 
er tract,  now  owned  by  N.  W.  Smith.  At  the 
time  of  his  death,  January  17,  1807,  he  was 
one  of  the  most  extensive  land  holders  of 
Dutchess  county,  owning  1800  acres.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  a  Tory.  His  wife  died  in  1802  at 
the  age  of  eighty-two.  They  had  eight  chil- 
dren: Lois,  Samuel,  Nathaniel,  Moses,  Re- 
becca, Seth,  Elizabeth  and  Moses  (2). 

Samuel  Swift  went  west,  and  bought  the 
land  where  the  city  of  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  now 
stands.  Elizabeth  married  (first)  Sam  Jarvis, 
and  (second)  a  Mr.  Hawkins.  Seth  Swift,  our 
subject's  grandfather,  was  born  at  Falmouth, 
Mass.,  March  16,  1757,  and  on  arriving  at 
manhood's  estate  he  engaged  in  farming  upon 
a  portion  of  his  father's  property.  In  1782  he 
married  Mary  Wells,  by  whom  he  had  six 
children:  Henry,  who  married  Rebecca  War- 
ner; Moses,  who  married  Hannah  Payne;  E. 
Morton,  our  subject's  father;  Thomas,  who 
married  Emma  Gront;  Ann,  the  wife  of  William 
T.  Hobson;  and  Maria,  Mrs.  Allen  Cline. 

E.  Morton  Swift,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  in  1790,  and 
after  acquiring  a  common-school  education  in 
the  local  schools  studied  law.  engaging  in  the 
practice  of  the  profession  at  Poughkeepsie  and 
Dover  Plains.  He  married  Miss  Belinda  Bar- 
low, daughter  of  Thomas  Barlow,  a  well-known 
farmer  of  Amenia.  Our  subject  was  the  eldest 
of  seven  children,  the  names  of  the  others  with 
datesof  birth  being  as  follows:  Ann,  December 
18,  1814;  Rebecca,  February  28,  1818;  Maria, 
July  4,  1820;  Harriet,  November  13,  1822; 
Amie,  December  13,  1825;  and  Mary,  August 
25,  1829.  The  father  passed  to  his  eternal 
rest  May  10,  1859,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine. 

Capt.  Swift  first  saw  the  light  July  17, 
1 8 10,  at  the  old  farm  in  Amenia.  His  literary 
education  was  completed  by  a  course  at  Union 
College,  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  and  he  then 
studied  law,  but  he  never  practiced  his  pro- 
fession. He  is  one  of  the  prosperous  agri- 
culturists of  his  locality,  and  is  prominent  in 
local  affairs.  Although  he  has  not  aspired  to 
office  for  himself,  he  has  always  been  influen- 
tial in  political  movements  in  his  section,  as  is 


840 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


well  shown  by  fhe  history  of  the  nomination  of 
Killian  Miller  for  Congress.  During  the  Civil 
war  our  subject  was  appointed  on  the  staff  of 
General  Clark,  the  Commissary  General  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  with  the  rank  of  Cav- 
alry Captain,  and  tie  still  has  in  his  possession 
the  original  commission  signed  by  Edwin  M. 
Stanton  and  President  Abraham  Lincoln. 
Capt.  Swift  enlisted  April  14,  1862,  and 
served  until  1864.  He  reported  for  his  first 
duty  at  the  White  House.  He  participated  in 
many  engagements,  and  his  reminiscences  of 
the  war  are  very  interesting.  At  the  time  of 
the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks  he  was  at  the  White 
House,  where  he  met  Gen.  Clark,  and  was 
ordered  to  the  scene  of  battle,  and  after 
remaining  there  one  week  he  joined  the  forces 
on  the  Potomac. 

In  1834  Capt.  Swift  was  married  to  Miss 
Sarah  Coffin,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Magda- 
line  (Bently)  CofSn,  and  they  have  had  six 
children:  (i)  Belinda,  born  January  22,  1836, 
died  in  infancy.  (2)  Robert,  born  June  16, 
1837,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of 
Amenia  township,  and  is  now  a  trusted  employe 
of  the  Harlem  R.  R.  He  married  Miss  Mag- 
gie Elliot,  and  has  two  children:  Samuel  E. 
and  Sarah.  (4)  Morton;  born  April  14,  1840, 
received  a  common-school  education,  and  is 
now  engaged  in  the  postal  service.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Francesca  Cooke,  and  has  three 
children:  Lucy,  Belinda  and  Harriet.  (4) 
Henry  and  (5)  Jane  have  never  married. 


HARVEY  J.   FRENCH,  a  prominent  and 
successful  merchant  tailor  of  Poughkeep- 

sie,  Dutchess  connty,  is  a  native  of  New  York 
State,  born  in  the  city  of  Albany,  August 
12,   1862. 

The  family  of  which  our  subject  is  a  mem- 
ber is  of  English  origin,  and  his  grandfather, 
Samuel  French,  was  a  merchant  tailor  in  Lon- 
don, England,  during  the  early  part  of  the 
present  century,  and  died  there.  He  had  but 
one  child,  Samuel  (the  father  of  our  subject), 
who  was  born  in  1825,  learned  of  his  father 
the  trade  of  tailor  in  the  Mother  Country,  and 
in  1857  came  to  the  United  States,  settling  in 
Albany,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  commenced  business 
as  a  merchant  tailor,  continuing  in  that  line 
some  thirty-five  years,  or  until  1892,  when  he 
retired  from  active  work,  and  now  makes  his 
home  in  Syracuse,  N.  Y.  In  England  he  had 
married  Miss  Ann  Barnett,  who  survives  him, 


and  nine  children  (all  living)  were  born  of  this 
union,  to  wit:  Samuel  H.,  a  merchant  tailor 
in  Albany,  N.  Y. ;  Kate,  the  wife  of  Dr.  W. 
H.  Todd,  of  Dobbs  Ferry,  N.  Y. ;  Annie,  wife 
of  George  Barnhart,  of  Columbus,  Ohio;  Mabel, 
the  wife  of  Fred  L.  Geer,  a  well-known  mer- 
chant of  Albany;  Harvey  J.,  our  subject;  Har- 
riet, the  wife  of  T.  Rockwood  Cutler,  a  prom- 
inent afchitect  in  New  York  City;  Grace,  the 
wife  of  Frederick  Hemming,  a  merchant  of 
Syracuse,  N.  Y. ;  Bertha,  at  home;  and  Clar- 
ence, living  in  Syracuse. 

Harvey  J.  French,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  passed  his  boyhood  in  Albany,  at 
the  public  schools  of  which  city  he  received  his 
primary  education,  later  attending  All  Saints 
Cathedral  school,  an  institution  conducted  un- 
der the  auspices  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and 
presided  over  by  Bishop  Doane.  From  that 
school  Mr.  French  was  graduated,  and  he  then 
entered  his  father's  place  of  business  as  an  ap- 
prentice to  the  tailoring  trade,  making  him- 
self a  thorough  master  of  the  business,  espe- 
cially in  the  cutting  department.  Later  he 
graduated  from  a  "cutting  school"  in  New 
York  City,  and  then  opened  out  a  tailoring  es- 
tablishment in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  which  he  con- 
ducted some  six  years;  but  owing  to  impaired 
health  was  compelled  to  abandon  work  and 
recuperate  for  a  year.  His  health  being  re- 
established, he  took  charge  of  the  custom  de- 
partment of  Julius  Saul's  tailoring  business  in 
Troy,  N.  Y.,  the  largest  of  the  kind  in  that 
city. 

In  March,  1892,  Mr.  French  came  to 
Poughkeepsie,  where  he  accepted  the  position 
of  cutter  for  Peter  B.  Hayt  &  Co.,  which  he 
filled  two  years,  at  the  end  of  that  time  resign- 
ing to  engage  in  a  similar  capacity  with  M. 
Swartz.  In  the  winter  of  1895  he  commenced 
his  present  successfully-conducted  business  on 
the  corner  of  Main  and  Garden  streets,  and  in 
the  face  of  strong  competition  has  advanced 
rapidly  to  the  position  of  one  of  the  leading 
merchant  tailors  of  the  city.  He  employs 
only  skilled  workmen,  which  fact,  togethei 
with  his  genial  good  nature  and  painstaking 
methods,  as  well  as  determination  to  please 
his  patrons  at  whatever  cost  of  time  anc 
trouble,  have  secured  for  him,  and  retain,  i 
liberal  portionof  the  best  business  of  the  county. 

In  Albany,  New  York,  in  June,  1883,  Mr 
French  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ma_\ 
W.  Nichols,  daughter  of  Charles  C.  Nichols,  ; 
prominent  architect  of  that  city,  and  to  then 


I 


vVudal^ 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


841 


have  been  born  three  children  :  Clifford, 
Harold,  and  Harvey,  Jr.  While  a  resident  of 
Albany  our  subject  was  a  member  of  Company 
A,  N.  G.  N.  Y. ,  Albany  Zouave  Cadets.  After  a 
I  service  of  six  years  Mr.  French  applied  for  and 
received  an  honorable  discharge;  he  then  joined 
the  Old  Guard  of  Company  A,  a  leading  social 
organization  of  that  city,  which  numbers 
among  its  members  nearly  all  the  prominent 
professional  and  business  men  of  the  city.  In 
Poughkeepsie  he  is  a  member  of  Armor  Lodge, 
K.  of  P.,  of  the  Booth  Hose  Co.,  and  of  the 
Century  Bicycle  Club.  He  was  once  elected 
lieutenant  of  the  Nineteenth  Separate  Com- 
pany, N.  Y.  S.  N.  G.,  but  declined  to  accept 
the  honor.  In  religious  faith  he  and" his  wife 
are  members  of  Christ  Episcopal  Church,  of 
Poughkeepsie. 


IRVING  DEYO  LE  ROY,  M.  D.,  a  prom- 
_  inent  physician  and  surgeon  of  Pleasant 
, Valley,  Dutchess  county,  by  his  devotion  to 
ihis  work,  and  the  careful  study  and  diagnosis 
iof  the  various  diseases  that  have  come  under 
his  observation,  has  been  unusually  success- 
ful, and  has  gained  an  enviable  reputation  as 
ja  skilled  practit'oner.  He  belongs  to  a  family 
Hong  prominently  connected  with  the  history 
of  Dutchess  county,  although  his  birth  occurred 
at  Highland,  Ulster   Co.,  N.  Y.,  on   April  i8, 

1859 

The  founder  of  the  family  in  this  country 
was  Frans  LeRoy,  who  was  of  French  Hugue- 
not descent,  the  family  having  emigrated  from 
France  with  the  Huguenots,  and  taken  up 
their  abode  in  Canada.  Frans  settled  at 
Kingston,  N.  Y. ,  about  the  year  1700.  John 
S.,  a  descendant  of  Frans,  settled  in  the  town 
of  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county.  One  of  his  sons, 
Levi,  established  the  town  of  LeRoy  in  the 
western  part  of  the  State,  and  Simeon  became 
a  resident  of  Canada,  while  John  I.  established 
LeRoys  Mills  in  Dutchess  county. 

The  last  named,  who  was  a  great-grand- 
father of  our  subject,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  and  by  his  marriage 
with  Hannah  Westervelt,  of  Holland  origin, 
ne  became  the  father  of  twelve  children, 
among  whom  was  Joseph  LeRoy.  He  was 
porn  in  Fishkill,  N.  Y. ,  in  1801,  and  was 
inited  in  marriage  with  Miss  Clarissa  Traver, 
ilso  a  native  of  Dutchess  county.  They  be- 
?an  their  domestic  life  upon  a  farm  in  the 
own  of  Clinton,  where   were    born  their  six 


children;  one  of  whom,  Abram,  was  the  father 
of  our  subject.  Upon  their  farm  in  the  town 
of  Clinton  the  grandparents  spent  their  remain- 
ing days,-  faithful  and  consistent  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Abram  Leroy,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  August  20,  1829,  in  the  town  of 
Clinton,  Dutchess  county,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood  and  married  Miss  Cornelia  Cooking- 
ham,  who  was  born  there  in  1831,  a  descend- 
ant of  Daniel  Cookingham,  a  native  of  Hol- 
land, who  on  crossing  the  Atlantic  took  up  a 
tract  of  land  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess 
county,  on  which  his  son  Michael  and  grand- 
son Daniel  were  born,  the  last  being  the  father 
of  Mrs.  LeRoy.  After  their  marriage  the  par- 
ents of  our  subject  located  at  Highland,  Ulster 
county,  where  the  father  engaged  in  farming 
and  milling  for  about  ten  years,  when  they  re- 
turned to  LeRoys  Mills.  Besides  the  opera- 
tion of  the  mill,  Abram  LeRoy  also  dealt  in 
grain,  following  those  pursuits  until  his  death, 
August  3,  1870.  In  religious  faith  he  held 
membership  with  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
his  political  support  was  unswervingly  given 
the  Republican  party.  His  widow  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Irving  .D.  Leroy,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  was  the  only  child  of  his  parents, 
who  took  him  to  LeRoys  Mills  when  six  years 
of  age.  After  pursuing  his  studies  for  some 
time  in  the  district  schools  of  the  locality,  at 
the  Poughkeepsie  high  school  and  the  public 
schools  of  Lansing,  Mich.,  he  entered  the 
Hungerford  Collegiate  Institute  at  Adams,  N. 
Y.,  taking  the  regular  college  course  and  grad- 
uating with  the  class  of  '76.  He  was  next  a 
student  in  the  Eastman  Business  College  at 
Poughkeepsie,  and  after  his  graduation  there, 
in  1878,  he  became  bookkeeper  and  cashier 
for  Dobbs  &  Herrick,  of  that  city,  remaining 
with  them  for  a  short  time.  In  1880  he  be- 
gan the  study  of  medicine  in  the  office  of  Dr. 
H.  L.  Cookingham,  of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess 
county,  where  he  remained  for  a  year,  and 
then  entered  the  Albany  Medical  College, 
graduating  March  9,  1883.  The  following 
winter  he  took  a  post-graduate  course  in  the 
New  York  Polyclinic,  being  at  the  time  estab- 
lished in  practice  at  Poughkeepsie.  He  was 
also  a  student  of  Drs.  S.  B.  Ward,  of  Albany, 
N.  Y. ,  and  James  R.  Leaming,  of  New  York 
City.  Since  1884  he  has  followed  his  chosen 
profession  in  Pleasant  Valley,  and  has  built  up 
a   large   and   lucrative  practice.      During    the 


I 


842 


OOMMEMOBAriVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  BECORD. 


years  1870-71  the  Doctor,  then  a  student, 
traveled  quite  extensively  through  the  Western 
States. 

On  April  7,  1886,  Dr.  LeRoy  was  married 
to  Miss  Jennie  Duncan  (a  lady  of  Scotch  ex- 
traction), born  in  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess 
county,  as  was  also  her  father,  John  B.  Dun- 
can, a  merchant  of  that  village.  The  Doctor 
and  his  wife  are  active  workers  in  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  he  is  now  serving  as  one  of 
its  elders.  Dr.  LeRoy  is  a  member  of  the 
Dutchess  County  Medical  Society,  a  founder 
of  the  New  York  State  Medical  Association, 
and  a  permanent  member  of  the  American 
Medical  Association.  He  is  at  present,  and  has 
been  for  many  years,  health  officer  of  his  dis- 
trict, and  is  one  of  the  most  progressive  phy- 
sicians of  the  county,  standing  deservedly  high 
am^ong  his  professional  brethren.  In  politics 
he  is  a  hearty  supporter  of  the  Republican 
party. 


PALVERSON  LEE.  Poughkeepsie,  Dutch- 
ess  county,  numbers  this  able  young  law- 
yer among  her  native  sons,  as  he  first  saw 
the  light  in  that  city  on  the  8th  of  August, 
1870.  His  father,  Lewis  Alverson,  was  born 
there  in  1843,  and  was  a  son  of  Samuel 
and  Caroline  E.  Alverson,  the  former  a 
native  of  Connecticut.  Lewis  was  the  eldest 
in  a  family  of  four  children,  the  others  being: 
Mrs.  Josephine  Woodworth;  Mrs.  Ellen  Smith 
(deceased);  and  Samuel,  who  enlisted  during 
the  Civil  war  in  the  128th  N.  Y.  V.  L,  and 
died  in  a  hospital  in  Louisiana.  The  father  of 
our  subject  obtained  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  also 
learned  the  machinist's  trade,  and  on  reach- 
ing man's  estate  was  united  in  marriage  with 
MaryE.  Lee,  a  daughter  of  Bezaleel  Lee.  He 
departed  this  life  in  1872,  his  wife  surviving 
him  about  a  year. 

Thus  at  the  age  of  three  years  our  sub- 
ject was  left  an  orphan,  and  his  little  baby 
sister  died  at  the  age  of  six  months.  After 
the  death  of  his  mother  Per  Lee  Alverson  was 
taken  to  the  home  of  his  uncle  and  aunt,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Ogden  Lee,  who  still  make  their 
home  in  Poughkeepsie,  where  they  are  held  in 
the  highest  esteem.  By  trade  the  uncle  is  a 
carpenter,  but  is  now  county  canvasser  for  the 
Poughkeepsie  Daily  Eagle. 

During  his  childhood  our  subject  attended 
the   public  schools  of  Poughkeepsie,   and  De- 


cember 3,  1888,  was  graduated  from  the  East- 
man Business  College.  For  one  year  thereafter 
he  studied  law  with  J.  S.  Van  Cleef,  and  then 
entered  the  office  of  C.  W.  H.  Arnold,  with 
whom  he  remained  two  years.  On  being 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1892,  he  at  once  began 
practice,  opening  an  office  at  No.  54  Market 
street.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  realty  law 
and  probate  practice,  and  his  ability  and  in- 
dustry make  his  services  valuable.  In  argu- 
ment he  is  logical  and  eloquent,  and  his  words 
always  carry  weight  with  judge  and  jury,  sel- 
dom failing  to  result  in  victory. 

Mr.  Lee  has  a  large  circle  of  warm  personal 
friends,  the  regard  of  the  entire  legal  profes- 
sion, arid  has  won  the  respect  of  all  with 
whom  business  or  social  relations  have  brought 
him  in  contact.  In  November,  1896,  he  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  on 
the  Republican  ticket. 


WILLIAM   J.   BEARDSLEY,   a  leading 
architect    of    Poughkeepsie,    Dutchess 

county,  and  one  of  the  most  promising  young 
business  men  of  that  localit)',  is  of  English  de- 
scent. His  ancestors  were  early  settlers  in 
Connecticut,  and  his  grandfather,  William  E. 
Beardsley,  was  the  first  of  the  family  to  locate 
in  Dutchess  county.  He  conducted  a  sash  and 
blind  factory  at  the  Upper  Landing,  in  Pough- 
keepsie, and  at  the  time  of  his  death  resided 
upon  a  farm  on  the  inside  road  near  Morgan 
Lake.  He  had  a  family  of  seven  children,  to 
wit:  William  J.  (our  subject's  father),  Abbott, 
Martha  (now  Mrs.  Stephen  Wilkinson),  Han- 
nah (now  Mrs.  Eli  Ranson),  Mary,  Ophelia 
Fanny,  and  Miranda.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Republican,  in  religion  a  Congregationalist. 
He  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years. 

William  J.  Beardsley,  our  subject's  father, 
succeeded  to  his  father's  business  in  Pough- 
keepsie, and  conducted  it  at  the  same  place 
until  1887,  when  he  built  a  factory  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Main  and  Harris  streets,  where  he  car- 
ried on  a  large  milling  business  successfully 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  July  2,  1887. 
He  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  M.  E.  Church.  He  married  Miss 
Louise  McLean,  a  lady  of  Scotch  descent, 
daughter  of  Samuel  McLean,  a  well-known 
resident  of  Poughkeepsie,  who  conducted  a 
store  and,  later,  a  commission  business  in  that 
city.  Three  sons  were  born  of  this  union: 
Charles,    William    J. ,  and   Ralph  (deceased). 


■^SUS^ 


,    N 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


848 


On  the  death  of  the  father  the  business  was 
continued  by  his  son  Charles  until  February 
14.  1 89 1,  when  the  property  was  destroyed  by 
fire.  Since  that  time  Charles  Beardsley  has 
been  in  the  employ  of  the  government  as  a  rail- 
way mail  clerk. 

William  J.  Beardsley,  our  subject,  fol- 
lowed his  father's  occupation,  and  made  him- 
self thoroughly  acquainted  with  all  branches 
of  interior  building  work,  until  his  father's 
death,  when  he  discontinued  the  sash  and 
blind  business,  and  proceeded  with  architect- 
ural work,  for  which  he  had  a  natural  talent. 
He  had  had  practical  instruction  and  experi- 
ence in  the  art  of  building  in  different  places 
throughout  the  country,  and,  being  thus 
thoroughly  versed  and  schooled  in  architecture, 
decided  to  locate  in  Poughkeepsie  for  the 
practice  of  that  profession.  He  has  one  of 
the  largest  architectural  offices  in  the  city,  lo- 
cated at  No.  42  Market  street,  and  equipped 
with  all  necessary  devices,  together  with  a 
corps  of  competent  assistants. 

Up  to  the  present  time  Mr.  Beardsley  has 
shown  great  talent  in  his  chosen  calling,  hav- 
ing built  many  of  the  fine  residences  through- 
out the  counties  of  Dutchess  and  Ulster,  and 
throughout  the  Hudson  River  Valley — some  of 
the  best  people  in  the  above  named  counties 
being  among  his  clients.  Mr.  Beardsley  is 
prominent  in  the  fire  department  of  Pough- 
keepsie as  a  member  of  the  Crockett  Hook 
and  Ladder  Co.,  and  he  also  affiliates  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Uniform  Rank,  and 
and  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity. 


jTrAMES  E.  BALDWIN,  a  prominent  agri- 
JJ  culturist  of  the  town  of  Pawling,  Dutchess 
county,  is  well-known  as  a  business  man, 
having  spent  a  number  of  years  as  a  success- 
ful speculator  previous  to  settling  down  to  his 
present  calling.  He  was  born  July  13,  1829, 
in  the  town  of  Patterson,  Putnam  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  his  early  education  was  acquired  in  the 
schools  of  that  town.  He  made  his  entrance 
into  the  business  arena  as  a  speculator  at  an 
aarly  age,  and  after  a  time  went  to  New  York 
City,  where  his  abilities  had  wider  scope.  In 
1874  he  purchased  the  farm  in  the  town  of 
Pawling,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
Dn  November  5,  1884,  he  married  Miss  Fan- 
lie  Townsend,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Kent,  Putnam  county,  in  1865,  but  was  edu- 
:ated   in   Pawling.     To  this  union,  one  child. 


Susie,  was  born  November  27,  1885.  Mrs. 
Baldwin's  father,  John  Townsend,  was  born  in 
1824,  in  the  town  of  Kent,  Putnam  county, 
and  passed  his  early  life  there.  He  married 
(first)  Anna  M.  Luddington,  and  (second) 
Sarah  Dykeman  (Mrs.  Baldwin's  mother),  who 
was  born  in  Patterson,  Putnam  county,  in 
1827.  Both  parents  are  now  living  at  Bound- 
brook,  New  Jersey. 

Mr.  Baldwin's  great-grandfather,  James 
Baldwin,  was  born  in  Cheshire,  England,  in 
1700,  of  parents  v/ho  traced  their  ancestry  to 
old  English  stock.  He  came  to  America  in 
1730,  and  settled  in  Carmel,'  Putnam  Co., 
N.  Y. ,  where  he  acquired  a  large  farm  and 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  days  engaged  in 
agriculture  and  dealing  in  cattle.  Successful 
as  he  was  in  the  management  of  his  private 
business,  he  was  an  active  and  able  worker  in 
public  affairs,  and  at  one  time  held  the  office 
of  judge  of  Westchester  county.  His  wife, 
Hannah  Golden,  of  Goldens  Bridge,  N.  Y., 
died  in  1802,  and  he  followed  her  two  years 
later.  They  had  eleven  children,  whose  names 
with  dates  of  birth  are  here  given:  James, 
1734;  Ephraim,  1736;  Phoebe,  1738;  Elisha, 
1740;  Pearce,  1742;  Daniel,  .1744;  Catherine, 
1746;  Elizabeth,  1748;  Henry,  1750;  Hannah, 
1752;  and  James,  1760.  The  members  of  the 
Baldwin  family,  with  but  few  exceptions,  have 
been  Whigs,  and  in  later  times  Republicans, 
and  although  in  the  old  days  they  adhered  to 
the  Baptist  faith,  seme  of  this  generation  are 
Congregationalists. 

James  Baldwin,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
was  born  in  Carmel,  N.  Y. ,  and  aftei  enjoying 
such  educational  opportunities  as  that  locality 
afforded  in  those  days  he  engaged  in  farming, 
having  inherited  Starr  Ridge  farm,  a  portion  of 
his  father's  property.  Although  he  was  deeply 
interested  in  political  questions,  he  never  sought 
or  held  office.  He  married  Miss  Susan  Vail, 
who  was  born  in  1764,  in  the  town  of  Carmel, 
a  daughter  of  Aaron  Vail.  Twelve  children 
were  born  to  them:  Daniel,  Fannie,  Henry, 
Polly,  Aaron,  James,  Dorcas,  Betsy,  Nathan 
Cole,  Susan,  Hannah  Jane  and  Hannah  N. 
The  father  died  in  1827,  the  mother  surviving 
him  four  years.  The  grandfather's  descend- 
ants are  numerous: 

(i)  Daniel,  who  was  born  at  the  old  home 
February  4,  1782,  and  became  a  well-to-do 
farmer  of  the  same  locality,  married  Miss  Field, 
and  had  four  children,  namely:  Henry  F.,  a 
farmer,  married  Jane  Dykeman,  and   had  one 


844 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


child — -Mrs.  Mary  Huston,  who  has  one  son, 
Henry  Huston,  not  married.  (2)  Perry  mar- 
ried Eliza  Nickerson,  and  had  no  children.  (3) 
Laura  married  Isaac  Haviland,  and  had  three 
sons:  Baldwin,  who  died  many  years  since; 
Comfort  Haviland,  living  in  Ohio;  and  Will- 
iam, who  married  Miss  Rogers.  (4)  Phrebe 
married  Lansing  Rodgers,  and  reared  a  large 
family. 

(II)  Fannie,  born  March  2,  1784,  married 
Peter  Dykeman,  and  had  five  children:  (i) 
James  B.,  born  in  1821,  married  Annie  Mabe, 
and  had  eight  children — Nellie,  wife  of  Charles 
Travers;  Willa'rd,  who  married  Jessie  Kelley; 
Annie  B.,  wife  of  Charles  Nichols;  James,  who 
died  young;  Frank,  who  is  now  married;  Mary 
A.,  wife  of  Sam  Cornish;  Peter,  unmarried; 
and  James  H.,  who  died  at  an  early  age.  (2) 
Nathan  C,  born  in  1823,  married  Ruth  Mabe, 
and  has  one  son,  Alex,  who  married  Antoin- 
ette Barns,  and  has  two  sons — Nathan  B.,  who 
married  Miss  Bloomer;  and  Henry,  still  single. 
(3)  Susan,  born  in  1820,  married  J.  Patrick, 
and  has  had  four  children — Mary  and  Sarah, 
at  home;  Fannie,  who  died  in  childhood;  and 
Charles,  who  married  Bessie  Utter,  and  has 
one  daughter,  Susie.  (4)  Ruth,  born  in  1825, 
died  at  an  early  age.  (5)  Sarah,  born  in  1825, 
married  John  Townsend  (Mrs.  Baldwin's  fa- 
ther), who  had  by  his  first  marriage  to  Anna 
M.  Luddington,  four  children — Fred,  who 
married  Lillie  Hopkins;  Hattie,  wife  of  De- 
witt  Burr;  Charles,  who  married  Mary  Sher- 
wood; and  Warren,  who  died  in  infancy.  By 
the  second  union  there  were  two  children — 
Mrs.  Baldwin,  and  her  brother,  George  H., 
unmarried. 

(III)  Henry  Baldwin,  our  subject's  father, 
was  born  September  21,  1787,  at  the  home- 
stead, to  which  he  succeeded  at  his  father's 
death.  His  early  education  was  obtained  in 
the  common  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  and 
and  to  this  he  added  greatly  by  extensive 
travel  in  later  years.  Among  other  trips  taken 
was  one  to  New  Orleans,  made  before  the 
days  of  railroads  and  steamboats,  and  the 
greater  part  of  the  journey  was  made  on  foot. 
He  married  Miss  Pollie  Smith,  a  daughter  of 
Edward  and  Abbie  (Northrup)  Smith.  Her 
father  was  a  well-known  farmer  of  Putnam 
county,  and  a  man  who  was  prominent  in 
public  life,  serving  as  county  judge  and  for 
two  terms  as  a  member  of  the  State  Legisla- 
ture. Seven  children  were  born  of  this  mar- 
riage, their  names,  dates  of  birth,  etc.,  being 


given:  (i)  Susan  E.  (March  17,  1823)  mar- 
ried Isaac  Akin,  but  had  no  children.  (2) 
Hannah  (May,  1826)  married  James  M.  Bald- 
win, and  had  four  children — Burdette,  Elisha. 
Bell  and  Jodia.  (3)  James  E.  (July  13.  1829) 
is  the  subject  proper  of  this  sketch.  (4)  Eliz- 
abeth (June,  1832)  married  Elijah  Budd,  but 
had  no  children.  (5)  Henry  C.  (1834),  a  farmer, 
married  Phoebe  I.  Homan,  and  had  four  chil-, 
dren — Jerome  V.  and  Herbert,  who  are  not 
married;  Edward  S.,  who  married  Sarah 
Beecher;  and  Mary,  who  is  at  home.  (6) 
Josephine  (March,  1838)  married  Alex  Homan, 
and  had  three  children — Charles,  who  married; 
and  Henry  and  Clara,  who  are  single.  (7) 
Sarah  J.  (June,  1843)  married  Isaac  Akin, 
but  has  no  children. 

(IV)  Pollie,  born  December  23,  1798,  was 
married  in  18 12  to  James  Townsend,  and  had 
eleven  children — Aaron,  18 13;  Caroline,  1815; 
Fannie,  1818;  Henry,  1820;  Betsey,  1822; 
Susan  and  Elizabeth,  twins,  1824,  who  lived 
less  than  one  year;  Sarah,  1826;  Mary,  1830; 
Jane,   1832;   and  James,  1835. 

(V)  Aaron,  born  January  13.  1791,  was 
killed  in  the   war  of   1812   (he  never  married). 

(VI)  James,  born  April  4,  1793,  married 
Cornelia  Luddington,  and  had  seven  children. 

(VII)  Dorcas,  born  December  28,  1795. 
was  married  in  1839,  to  Peter  Whitney,  but 
had  no  children. 

(VIII)  Betsey,  born  February  11,  1798, 
married  Allen  Light,  born  in  1805,  and  had 
five  children — Mary  D.,  March  22,  1834;  Fan- 
nie E.,  1835,  who  married  Charles  Barber, 
the  eldest  of  twenty-one  children  of  one  father 
and  mother;  Flora  E.,  1837,  wife  of  William 
Pugsley;  Susan  E.,  1839,  wife  of  Loren  Wil- 
cox;  and  Allen  D.,  August,   1841. 

(IX)  Nathan  Cole  spent  his  boyhood  at 
Starr  Ridge  farm,  where  he  was  bori)  May  27, 
1800.  He  engaged  in  farming  in  the  town  of 
Kent,  Putnam  county,  owning  about  300  acres 
of  land;  but  while  he  was  recognized  as  a 
leading  agriculturist,  he  was  not  especiallj 
prominent  in  political  affairs,  and,  preferring 
to  exert  his  influence  as  a  citizen  in  a  quiet 
way,  he  refused  all  invitations  to  run  for  office. 
Strong  and  athletic,  physically,  and  gifted  with 
an  active  mind,  and  the  retentive  memory  foi 
which  his  family  is  noted,  he  held  an  intfuen- 
tial  position  in  the  community.  His  reading 
was  extensive,  his  knowledge  of  the  Scripture; 
being  unusually  thorough,  and  he  was  a  Bap 
tist    in    religious    faith.       He    married    Eliza. 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


845 


daughter  of  John  Smith,  of  the  town  of  Kent, 
Putnam  county,  and  had  five  children,  (i) 
Sarah  Ann,  December  23,  1826,  died  at  the 
ap;e  of  thirteen.  (2)  Peter  W.  is  mentioned 
more  fully  below.  (3)  L.  Nathan,  February 
II,  1838,  fell  from  a  wall  when  he  was  five 
years  old,  dislodging  a  stone  which  fell  upon 
him  and  killed  him.  (4)  William  R.,  May  24, 
1 84 1,  a  farmer  and  a  lawyer  at  Boundbrook, 
N.  J.,  married  Hattie  Young.  (5)  Dorcas 
Elivia,  March  2,  1843,  died  at  six  years  of  age. 

(X)  Susan,  born  December  29,  1802,  mar- 
ried David  Russell,  and  had  four  children — 
Baldwin  married  Miss  Smith;  Robert  married 
Miss  Holmes;  Louisa,  wife  of  Caleb  Smalley; 
md  Henry,  unmarried. 

(XI)  Hannah  Jane,  born  in  1804,  died  in 
1806. 

(XH)  Hannah  N.,  born  April  11,  1807, 
Tiarried  Jacob  Sunderland,  who  was  murdered. 

Peter  W.  Baldwin,  son  of  Nathan  C. 
(Baldwin,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Kent,  Put- 
iiam  county.  May  13,  1830,  and  on  attaining 
o  manhood's  estate  he  engaged  in  agriculture, 
ater  in  cattle  dealing,  which  he  has  now  fol- 
owed  successfully  for  about  twenty  years,  his 
ipeciality  being  the  buying  of  milch  cows  for 
he  local  trade.  Until  i860  he  lived  in  his 
lative  township,  and  he  then  moved  to  Nor- 
vich,  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  spent 
en  years.  In  1870  he  purchased  the  Aiken 
'aber  farm  of  307  acres  in  the  town  of  Pawi- 
ng, now  one  of  the  best  estates  in  Dutchess 
ounty.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  dairying, 
jDd  raises  Holstein  stock  exclusively,  his  herd 
If  ninety-three  being  the  largest  in  the  locality. 
lie  also  keeps  eight  horses.  Fond  of  reading, 
|e  is  well  posted  upon  the  questions  of  the 
lay,  and  as  he  is  of  an  analytical  turn  of  mind 
e  does  his  own  thinking.  He  is  not  an  office 
older,  but  takes  keen  interest  in  the  political 
ontests  of  the  time,  supporting  Republican 
rinciples.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
-hurch  of  Towners.  In  1854  he  married 
'liss  Nancy  Wells,  daughter  of  Jonathan 
Veils,  a  leading  citizen  of  Norwich,  N.  Y. , 
nd  a  prominent  Republican.  Two  children 
ere  born  of  this  union:  Lucy  E.  and  Wells 
oth  of  whom  are  at  home. 


EUBEN  VINCENT  (deceased)  was  long 
connected  with  the  farming  and  industrial 
rests  of  the  town  of  Unionvale,  Dutchess 
oty,    there    operating   the    old   homestead 


farm  from  1802  up  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
and  also  conducting  a  blacksmith  shop.  He 
was  born  in  what  was  then  the  town  of  Beek- 
man,  but  is  now  Unionvale,  on  August  15, 
1768,  and  in  its  common  schools  received  his 
education.  He  was  a  valued  and  reliable  citi- 
zen, one  who  had  the  confidence  and  respect 
of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 

His  grandfather,  Michael  Vincent,  was  a 
native  of  Westchester  county,  N.  Y. ,  where 
he  was  reared  and  educated,  and  as  a  life  work 
chose  the  vocation  of  farming.  In  his  family 
were  five  sons,  namely:  Michael,  Levi,  Leon- 
ard, Richard  and  Philip. 

Levi  Vincent,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Unionvale,  Dutchess 
county,  and  here  obtained  his  education,  and 
later  followed  farming.  He  married  Miss 
Sarah  Hoxie,  and  to  them  were  born  seven 
children;  Reuben,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review;  Levi,  who  married  Evaline  Snivens; 
Samuel;  Elizabeth,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Samuel  Carey;  Mrs.  Annie  Jennings;  Hannah 
and  Tabitha. 

Reuben  Vincent  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Deborah  Bowerman,  daughter  of 
Ichabod  and  Jane  (Richmond)  Bowerman,  who 
were  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  whose 
names  and  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows :  Thomas, 
May  22,  1758;  Lydia,  January  15,  1762; 
Phebe,  September  9,  1763;  Mary,  June  30, 
1765;  Ichabod,  September  2,  1767;  Jonathan, 
August  10,  1769;  Deborah,  January  8,  1771; 
Stephen,  October  22,  1773;  Gideon,  June  29, 
1775;  Israel,  August  21,  1777;  Judah,  July  16, 
1779;  and  Nancy,  November  27,  1780.  The 
oldest  of  these  children — Thomas  Bowerman — 
married  Sarah  Vincent,  a  sister  of  our  subject. 

Twelve  children  also  blessed  the  union  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vincent,  namely:  (i)  Pauline, 
born  August  22,  1791,  married  George  Darling, 
a  tanner  and  currier,  of  Connecticut,  and  they 
had  three  children — Jane;  Phcebe  A.;  and 
Deborah,  deceased.  (2)  Elizabeth,  born  July 
9,  1793,  married  Stewart  Christy,  a  farmer, 
and  they  had  five  children — Reuben;  William; 
John;  Gideon,  who  wedded  Mary  Cunningham; 
and  Mrs.  Jane  Burlingham.  (3)  Hoxie,  born 
March  24,  1795,  married  Abigail  Stone,  and 
they  had  five  children — Reuben,  Mrs.  Antoin- 
ette Sheldon,  Philo,  John  and  Henry.  (4) 
Jane  was  born  February  24,  1797.  (5)  Levi, 
born  February  16,  1799,  wedded  Miss  Mary 
Vale,  and  had  nine  children — Phcebe;  Isaac; 
Deborah;  Gideon,  who  married  Ophelia  Lodre; 


846 


COMMEMORATIVE  SIOOBAPHIOAL  RECORD 


Levina;  Piatt;  Albert;  Chester;  and  Mary  J. 
George  Vincent,  the  son  of  Gideon  and  Ophelia 
(Lodre)  Vincent,  married  Miss  Ella  Matteson, 
by  whom  he  has  a  daughter,  Edna,  born  in 
1883.  (6)  Gideon  was  born  December  13, 
1800.  (7)  Lydia  was  born  November  12, 
1802.  (8)  Mary,  born  May  25,  1805,  wedded 
Cyrus  Perkins,  and  had  six  children — Charles, 
Delila,  Jane,  Elizabeth,  and  Hoxie  and  Edwin, 
both  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  (9)  Margaret, 
Korn  May  3,  1807,  married  Seth  Barmore, 
and  had  three  children — Deborah,  Elizabeth 
and  Abigail.  (10)  Piatt  was  born  February 
8,  1809.  (11)  Phebe  A.  was  born  February 
28,  181 1.  (12)  Thomas,  born  January  11, 
1817,  died  at  the  age  of  two  years. 


S^MITH  D.  HARRIS.  Like  many  other 
jj  residents  within  the  bounds  of  Dutchess 
county,  who  started  out  in  life  with  naught  save 
an  abundance  of  determination  and  an  inde- 
fatigable industry,  combined  with  a  strong  and 
healthy  constitution,  and  who  have  succeeded 
through  their  own  deligence,  energy  and  econ- 
omy, is  to  be  classified  the  gentleman  whose 
name  here  appears.' 

Smith  Harris,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ,  where  for  many 
years  he  conducted  a  grocery  business,  the  lat- 
ter part  of  his  life,  however,  being  devoted  to 
shoemaking.  As  an  unswerving  Democrat,  he 
was  very  active  in  political  matters,  while  in 
social  life  he  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity.  In  New  York  City  he  married  Miss 
Eliza  Mealy,  and  they  both  departed  this  life 
in   1879. 

Smith  D.  Harris,  our  subject,  was  born 
August  8,  1 84 1,  on  Pine  street,  Poughkeepsie, 
N.  Y. ,  the  schools  of  which  city  he  attended 
until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age.  Being  now 
prepared  for  life  work,  he  set  out  for  the  town 
of  Stanford,  Dutchess  county,  where  he  se- 
cured employment  on  the  farm  of  Paul  Upton, 
and  continued  thereon  some  sixteen  years, 
having  the  entire  management  of  the  place 
after  his  employer's  death.  In  1873,  at 
Schultzville,  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  Mr.  Har- 
ris wedded  Mary  H.  Doughty,  a  daughter  of 
Oliver  Doughty,  and  three  children  bless  their 
union:  Mrs.  Leonora  Murch,  Paul  D.  and 
Laura.  The  mother  of  these  died  July  28, 
1896. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harris 
located  upon  their  present  farm  in  the  town  of 


Clinton,  known  as  "The  Maples",  and  have 
since  made  that  place  their  home.  After  rent- 
ing the  land  for  one  year,  Mr.  Harris  purchased 
the  same  for  $7,000,  giving  his  personal  note 
for  it,  and  went  steadily  to  work  to  clear  it 
from  all  encumbrance.  He  has  not  only  paid 
off  the  amount,  but  has  another  fine  farm  in 
the  town  of  Stanford,  known  as  "  Lake  Side." 
The  improvements  upon  the  places  are  of  a 
neat  and  substantial  character,  and  bear  wit- 
ness to  the  fact  that  the  owner  thoroughly 
understands  his  business,  and  that  he  is  indus- 
trious and  enterprising.  He  is  an  earnest, 
Christian  gentleman,  a  faithful  member  of  the 
Friends  Church,  and  an  active  worker  in  the 
Endeavor  Society.  He  uses  his  right  of  fran- 
chise in  support  of  the  men  and  measures  of 
the  Prohibition  party;  is  an  earnest  advocate 
of  moral  reform  and  the  utter  overthrow  of  the 
liquor  traffic,  which  he  considers  the  chief  bar- 
rier to  the  advancement  of  Church  work. 


'^^FILLIAM  W.  HAXTUN.  The  subject  of 
Mjl.  this  sketch  is  one  of  the  leading  citizens 
of  the  town  of  Beekman,  Dutchess  county, 
where  he  is  successfully  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  where  his  birth  occurred  on  March 
19,  1829.  His  great-grandfather,  who  was  a 
resident  of  Greene  county,  N.  Y. ,  was  killed 
by  the  Indians,  being  attacked  while  repairing 
the  roof  of  his  mill.  The  rest  of  the  family, 
with  the  exception  of  one  son,  then  removed 
to  the  town  of'  Beekman,  Dutchess  county, 
where  they  were  numbered  among  the  early 
settlers.  They  located  in  the  eastern  part  of 
the  town,  where  they  at  first  leased  land  of  the 
Beekmans,  but  later  purchased  property.  The 
great-grandmother  was  buried  there. 

Jeremiah  Haxtun,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  a  native  of  Greene  county,  and 
after  the  death  of  his  father  became  the  main- 
stay of  the  family.  In  the  town  of  Pawling, 
Dutchess  county,  was  celebrated  his  marriage 
with  Rhoda  Akin,  a  native  of  that  town,  and 
they  began  their  domestic  life  upon  a  farm  a 
mile  east  of  Gardner  Hollow  in  the  town  of 
Beekman,  where  they  were  living  at  the  time 
of  the  Revolutionary  war.  Their  family  in- 
cluded the  following  children:  Benjamin, 
William,  Louisa,  Emily  and  Rhoda. 

The  birth  of  Benjamin  Haxtun,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  occurred  in  the  town  of  Beek- 
man, where  his  father  always  carried  on  farm-j 
ing,  and  there  his  boyhood  days  were  passed  in 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


847 


assisting  in  the  work  of  the  farm,  and  in  at- 
tending the  district  schools.  He  was  married 
in  that  town  to  Almira  Vanderburg,  daughter 
of  Colonel  Vanderburg,  and  after  her  death  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  Wooley, 
daughter  of  William  and  granddaughter  of 
Joseph  Wooley.  Two  children  graced  the  sec- 
ond union — William  W.,  of  this  review;  and 
Almira,  who  died  in  infancy.  The  father  al- 
ways continued  to  reside  upon  the  old  home 
farm  at  Gardner  Hollow,  there  dying  in  Octo- 
ber, 1857,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  while  his 
wife  passed  away  in  1870.  An  influential  and 
popular  man,  he  represented  his  district  for 
two  terms  in  the  General  Assembly. 

After  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  boys, 
William  W.  Haxtun  spent  his  early  life  at 
Gardner  Hollow,  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  and 
received  his  primary  education  in  the  district 
schools.  Later,  for  four  years  and  one  term, 
he  attended  the  old  Amenia  Seminary,  after 
vvhich  he  was  a  student  in  the  Dutchess  Coun- 
ty Academy  on  South  Hamilton  street,  Pough- 
'keepsie,  but  on  account  of  ill  health  was 
iobliged  to  give  up  his  studies  and  return  home, 
fn  the  town  of  Beekman  he  wedded  Miss 
Maria  De  Long,  whose  birth  occurred  there, 
ind  they  have  become  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
liren — Benjamin,  now  of  Stormville,  Dutchess 
county,  who  married  Dorothea  Storm,  by 
whom  he  has  a  daughter,  Maria;  and  Will- 
am,  Jr. 

In    1873  Mr.    Haxtun  left    the  old  home- 

itead,  and  for  the  past  fifteen  years  has  re- 

ided   near  Green  Haven,  in   Beekman  town, 

yhere  he  is  engaged  in   farming.     He  is  very 

.ond  of  travel,  and  has  visited  many  points  of 

Interest  in  the  West.      In  politics  he  is  a  stanch 

•Republican,  and  has  taken  a   prominent  part 

n  public  affairs,  representing  Beekman  on  the 

»oard  of  supervisors  for  two  terms.      For  three 

ears  he  was  president  of  the  Dutchess  County 

vgricultural  Society,  treasurer  for  seven  years, 

nd  had    charge   of    the    ladies  hall   for  four 

ears. 


BENJAMIN  HOWELL  (deceased).  Among 
_'  the  representatives  of  the  Pine  Tree 
■tate,  who  traveling  westward  have  estab- 
Ished  homes  in  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y. ,  none 
re  more  worthy  of  mention  in  a  work  of  this 
haracter,  devoted  to  the  biographies  of  the  best 
itizens,  than  the  gentleman  whose  name  in- 
■'^duces  this  review.   He  was  born  in  Portland, 


Maine,  May  29,  1818,  and  was  a  son  of  Ben- 
jamin Howell,  whose  birth  occurred  in  1784, 
on  Cape  Elizabeth,  which  now  forms  a  part  of 
the  city  of  Portland.  The  grandfather,  Isaac 
Howell,  was  a  native  of  the  same  place,  and 
was  descended  from  English  ancestors,  who,  on 
crossing  the  Atlantic  to  America,  took  up  their 
residence  in  Portland.  There  he  was  reared, 
and  for  many  years  was  identified  with  the 
business  interests  of  the  city  as  a  clothing  mer- 
chant. When  the  colonists,  no  longer  able  to 
bear  the  tyrannical  oppression  of  the  mother 
country,  fought  for  independence,  he  was 
numbered  among  the  valiant  troops  that  fol- 
lowed the  leadership  of  George  Washington. 
All  his  life  was  passed  in  Portland,  and  both  he 
and  his  wife  were  connected  with  the  Baptist 
Church  of  that  city.  They  became  the  par- 
ents of  four  children:  John,  who  was  a  grocer 
of  Portland,  Maine;  George,  who  followed  the 
sea;  Benjamin;  and  a  daughter  of  whom  no 
specific  record  can  be  found. 

Benjamin  Howell  was  reared  in  Portland, 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  was  the  ar- 
chitect and  builder  of  his  own  home.  He 
married  Rebecca  Dyer,  a  native  of  that  city, 
and  a  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Dyer,  and  after 
his  marriage  established  a  home  in  Portland, 
while  as  a  means  of  livelihood  he  followed  the 
sea.  He  died  of  yellow  fever  in  the  West 
Indies  in  1828,  and  his  wife  passed  away  in 
February,  1835.  They  had  six  children: 
Emily,  who  died  unmarried;  Harriet,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Joseph  Russell,  a  carriage 
maker;  Rebecca,  who  married  Samuel  Chester, 
a  clothier;  Mary,  who  died  unmarried;  John, 
who  became  a  minister  of  Christ  Church;  and 
Benjamin. 

The  subject  of  this  review  spent  his  early 
boyhood  in  the  city  of  his  birth,  and  at  the  age 
of  fifteen  started  out  in  life  for  himself,  going 
to  New  York  City,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
milk  business,  which  he  followed  for  ten  years. 
In  1845  he  wedded  Mary  Lamoree,  who  was 
born  in  Dutchess  county,  and  is  a  sister  of 
George  Lamoree.  In  the  spring  of  1845  they 
removed  to  the  farm  on  which  Mr.  Howell 
ever  afterward  made  his  home.  They  had  five 
children:  Harrison,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
three  years;  Walter,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  nine  years;  George  W.,  a  farmer  of  Pleas- 
ant Valley  town;  Augustus  C,  an  agricultur- 
ist; and  Emily  C. ,  wife  of  James  T.  Budd,  who 
is  a  farmer  of  Pleasant  Valley  town.  The 
mother  of  this  family  was  called  to  the  home 


848 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


beyond  in  April,  1888,  and  many  friends 
mourned  tiie  loss  of  her  whom  they  had  so 
deeply  respected.  The  father  has  died  during 
the  preparation  of  this  book. 

Mr.  Howell  gave  his  attention  to  agricult- 
ural pursuits  after  coming  to  Dutchess  county, 
and  was  at  the  time  of  his  death  the  owner  of 
lOl  acres  of  valuable  land,  which  is  highly  cul- 
tivated and  improved.  He  never  held  office, 
but  faithfully  performed  his  duties  of  citizen- 
ship, and  was  one  of  the  supporters  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church.  He  was  a  self-made  man,  starting 
out  in  life  empty-handed,  and  steadily  worked 
his  way  upward,  overcoming  all  obstacles  and 
difficulties  that  barred  his  progress  to  success. 


C\APTAIN  JOHN  H.  BRINCKERHOFF, 
_/  one  of  the  best-known  men  along  the  Hud- 
son river,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Fishkill, 
Dutchess  county,  November  24,  1827,  a  son 
of  Henry  I.  and  Freelove  (Serene)  Brincker- 
hoff,  who  were  both  also  born  in  the  town  of 
Fishkill.  The  father,  who  followed  agricult- 
ural pursuits,  died  July  4,  1852,  the  mother 
passing  away  December  26,  1891,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety-five  years.  They  were 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  three  of  whom 
are  yet  living:     Abram,  John  H.  and  Eliza. 

When  our  subject  was  eleven  years  old  his 
parents  moved  to  Esopus,  Ulster  county, 
where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  boyhood  days, 
attending  the  common  schools.  At  the  age  of 
twenty  years,  on  account  of  the  failing  health 
of  his  father,  the  management  of  the  farm  de- 
volved upon  our  subject,  and  he  remained 
there  until  he  was  twenty-four  years  old,  at 
which  time  he  was  married  at  Esopus  to  Miss 
Angeline  Terpenning,  who  was  born  there  in 
1 83 1,  and  died  in  1880,  leaving  no  issue. 
After  marriage  he  moved  to  Highland,  Ulster 
county,  and  bought  some  property,  including  a 
mill  at  Esopus,  which  he  operated  for  some 
time,  at  the  same  time  carrying  on  factories  at 
Highland  and  Pine  Bush,  Orange  county. 
After  continuing  in  the  milling  business  some 
twenty  years  he  bought  the  "J.  C.  Doughty," 
a  ferry  boat  plying  between  Highland  and 
Poughkeepsie,  of  which  he  was  captain  for 
four  years.  In  1883  he  bought,  from  Thomas 
Cornell,  the  "Mary  Powell,"  the  fastest  pas- 
senger steamer  on  the  river  in  those  days,  and 
later  he  sold  an  interest  in  this  vessel  to  Capt. 
Anderson  and  Capt.  Wicks.  In  1878  Capt. 
Brinckerhoff  purchased  the  interests  of  Thomas 


Doughty,  Augustus  Doughty  and  Capt.  I.  E. 
Wicks  in  the  Poughkeepsie  Transportation 
Co.,  in  1888  buying  the  interest  of  Homer 
Ramsdell,  in  same  company,  and  becoming 
president  of  the  company,  which  at  that  time 
owned  the  steamers  "John  L.  Hasbrouck" 
and  "Andrew  Harda,"  which  latter  our  sub- 
ject rebuilt,  renaming  her  the  "P.  D.  Le- 
fever. "  By  1888  the  Captain  had  also  built 
the  river  boats:  "Gracie,"  "Gypsy"  and 
"Queen  City,"  and  also  the  ferry  "J.  H. 
Brinckerhoff."  He  has  accomplished  a  great 
deal  for  the  transportation  facilities  of  Pough- 
keepsie, doing  all  his  freighting  business  there. 
By  purchase  he  has  become  the  owner  pf  the 
entire  dockage  on  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
between  Lewisburg  and  Highland,  also  much 
dockage  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  and 
altogether  he  is  a  large  owner  of  property  at 
various  places. 

From  its  earliest  inception  the  Captain  has 
taken  a  lively  interest  in  the  Poughkeepsie 
Electric  Light  &  Power  Co.,  and  is  the  heaviest 
stockholder  in  same;  is  also  a  stockholder  in, 
and  treasurer  of,  the  Delamater  Carriage  Co., 
at  Poughkeepsie.  His  comfortable  home  on 
Hamilton  street,  Poughkeepsie,  he  has  rebuilt 
and  much  improved  and  beautified.  Capt. 
Brinckerhoff  is  a  member  of  Trinity  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 


IRA  E.   WILBUR,  a  well-known  and  hon- 
ored  citizen  of  Amenia,  Dutchess  county, 

has  here  spent  almost  his  entire  life.  His 
grandfather,  David  Wilbur,  who  was  born  in 
Rhode  Island  in  1770,  was  brought  to  Amenia 
the  following  year,  and  throughout  life  he  there 
followed  the  trade  of  a  tanner,  dying  in  1852. 
Rutledge  Wilbur,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
is  a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  born  at  South 
Dover,  on  August  29,  1809,  and  there  acquired 
his  education  in  the  district  schools.  For  a 
time  he  made  his  home  in  Sharon,  Conn.,  but 
about  1834  came  to  Amenia,  and  six  years 
later  was  appointed  superintendent  of  contract 
work  in  Capt.  Weed's,  Palmer's  and  Gridiey's 
mines,  with  which  he  was  connected  for  about 
fifty  years.  Politically  he  is  a  pronounced 
Republican.  In  1833  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Betsey  A.  White,  whose  death 
occurred  November  2,  1879,  and  to  them  were 
born  six  children:  Albert  B.,  born  in  1834, 
ex-superintendent  of  the  schools  of  Middletown, 
N.  Y. ;  Electa  C,  deceased;  Sarah  B.,  born  in 


w^^ 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


849 


1840;  Charles  R.,  deceased;  and  Ira  E.  and 
Ida  E. ,  twins,  the  latter  being  now  deceased. 
The  educational  advantages  afforded  our 
subject  were  those  of  the  public  schools  and 
the  Amenia  Seminary.  Later,  for  the  long 
period  of  twenty-two  years  and  three  months 
he  was  secretary  of  the  Barnum-Richardson 
Mining  Company  or  the  Amenia  Mining  Com- 
pany, since  which  time  he  has  been  variously 
employed,  being  in  the  carpet  business  at 
Brooklyn  and  the  publishing  business  at  Chi- 
cago. Subsequently  he  purchased  land  in 
Florida,  230  miles  south  of  Jacksonville,  where 
ne  engaged  in  raising  oranges  and  lemons, 
md  also  pineapples.  He  holds  a  patent  on 
:he  Berkshire  cough  syrup,  which  he  manu- 
iactured  at  Amenia. 

I  In  that  village  Mr.  Wilbur  led  to  the  mar- 
'•iage  altar  Mrs.  Anna  (Wickes)  Wakeman, 
vidow  of  James  M.  Wakeman,  by  whom  she 
las  one  son^Raymond;  and  by  her  marriage 
vith  our  subject  she  is  the  mother  of  a  daughter 
—Bessie.  The  family  is  greatly  esteemed  in  the 
community,  as  representing  the  best  type  of 
|ts  moral  and  social  element.  Mr.  Wilbur  is 
|)rominently  identified  with  the  Masonic  fra- 
ernity,  has  been  a  member  of  Amenia  Lodge 
^o.  672,  F.  &  A.  M.,  since  1869,  in  which  for 
ix  years  Ke  served  as  master,  and  is  also  con- 
lected  with  the  chapter  and  commandery  at 
Coughkeepsie,  New  York. 


^TOUTENBURGH.— The  ancestor  of  this 
^  family,  the  first  of  the  name  in  this  coun- 
ry,  was  Pieter  Stoutenburgh,  who  settled  in 
lew  Amsterdam.*  The  date  of  his  arrival 
oes  not  appear,  but  it  was  probably  before 
649.  He  was  a  schoolmaster,  and  therefore 
man  of  education;  and  his  family  was  of 
Dod  standing,  as  indicated  by  their  marriage 
onnections  and  the  offices  they  held  in  the 
ity  and  colony.  He  had  a  house  and  a  large 
lEirden  on  the  east  side  of  Broadway,  just 
orth  of  Wall  street,  as  mentioned  on  old  rec- 
rds  and  shown  on  the  early  maps.  He  mar- 
ed  25  July,  1649,  Aefje  (Eve)  Van  Tienhoven 
1  near  relative,  perhaps  sister,  of  Cornells 
an  Tienhoven,  the  secretary  and  treasurer  of 
le  Colony),  by  whom  he  had  nine  children. 
iy  a  note  on  the  list  of  members  of  the  Dutch 
ihurch   it   appears   that    Pieter  Stoutenburgh 

*It  has  been  S'^metimes   stated   that  the  first  Jacobus  Stouten- 
ri^h.  of  Dutchess  coutity,  was  a  native  of  Holland;  whereas  records, 
■':■"  accessible,  show  that  he  was  of  the  third  generation. 
56 


"  Obyt  den  9  Mart.   1698-9,"  aged  eighty-six 
years. 

Tobias  Stoutenburgh,  the  sixth  child  of 
Peter,  was  baptized  i8th  January,  1660,  his 
sponsor  being  Judith  Stuyvesant.  He  lived 
all  his  life  in  New  York,  where  he  married  2 
July,  1684,  Anneke  (or  Anna)  Van  Rollegom, 
who  was  baptized  15  July,  1665,  daughter  of 
Jan  Joosten  Van  Rollegom,  from  Haerlem, 
Holland.  She  was  one  of  a  large  family;  but 
when  her  brother.  Jacobus,  died  intestate,  his 
three  sisters,  Mary,  Anna  and  Gertrude,  were 
his  only  heirs,  to  be  referred  to  later,  as  he  left 
estates  in  Dutchess  county.  Tobias  and  Anna 
had  twelve  children,  all  baptized  in  the  Dutch 
Church,  New  York,  and  several  left  descend- 
ants; but  only  the  line  of  Jacobus,  the  sixth 
child,  will  be  followed  in  this  account.  The 
codicil  to  the  will  of  Tobias  Stoutenburgh  is 
dated  29  December,  171  5,  and  it  was  proved 
15  January,  1716.  His  widow  survived  him 
many  years. 

Jacobus  Stoutenburgh,  the  sixth  child  of 
Tobias  and  Anna,  was  baptized  7  June,  1696, 
his  sponsors  being  Jacobus  Van  Rollegom  and 
Jannetje  Van  Feurden,  wife  of  Evert  Byvanck. 
He  married  in  New  York  25  May,  17 17,  Mar- 
garet, daughter  of  William  Teller,  of  Teller's 
Point,  Westchester  county,  and  Rachel  Kier- 
stede;  the  latter  being  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Hans 
Kierstede  by  Sarah,  daughter  of  Rollof  Jansen 
and  the  celebrated  Anneke  Jans.  The  por- 
traits of  Jacobus  and  Margaret  were  painted  by 
a  good  artist,  about  the  time  of  their  marriage. 
They  are  on  "panel,"  and  are  now  treasured 
by  their  descendant,  Mrs.  Eugene  Wells  (Mary 
Teller),  of  Rhinebeck.  Jacobus  and  Margaret 
had  nine  children:  Tobias,  baptized,  New 
York,  12  February,  171 8,  married  Catharine 
Van  Vleck;  Rachel,  baptized.  New  York,  16 
March,  1720,  died  young;  William,  baptized. 
New  York,  3  June,  1722,  married  Maria  Van- 
Vleck;  Anna,  baptized.  New  York  1 1  Novem- 
ber, 1724,  married  James  Van  Vleck;  Jacobus 
married  Josina  Teller;  John,  baptized,  Philips- 
burg,  29  March,  1729,  married  Catharine 
Teller;  Peter  married  Rachel  Van  Steenburgh; 
Margaret,  baptized,  Philipsburg,  14  April, 
1734,  married  John  Teller;  Luke,  baptized, 
Phillipsburg,  5  June,  1736,  married  (first)  Ra- 
chel Teller,  and  (second)  Mary  (Van  Vleck) 
Minthorne. 

From  the  above  it  will  be  seen  that  Jaco- 
bus removed,  sometime  after  his  marriage,  to 
the  Manor  of  Philipsburg,  Westchester  county, 


850 


CO}r}fR}fORA  TTVE  BWORAPHICAL  RECOhD. 


near  liis  wife's  relatives.  In  a  deed,  as  late  as 
1741,  he  is  called  of  that  place  "shopkeeper," 
and  he  must  have  been  successful  in  that  call- 
ing. In  a  deed  of  1742,  he  is  called  "of  the 
county  of  Dutchess,"  and  that  is  doubtless  the 
date  of  his  removal.  What  led  to  this  change 
of  residence  may  now  be  briefly  stated:  The 
celebrated  "  Nine  Partners  Patent,"  in  Dutch- 
ess county,  was  granted  27  May,  1697,  to  Col. 
Caleb  Heathcote,  Augustine  Graham,  James 
Emmot,  Col.  Henry  Filkin,  David  Jamison, 
Hendrick  Ten  Eyck,  John  Aertson,  William 
Creed  and  Jarvis  Marshall.  Nearly  all  these 
men  held  some  office,  high  or  low,  in  the  col- 
ony. By  the  Civil  List  of  the  Provjnce  of  New 
York,  it  appears  that  in  1693  Jarvis  Marshall 
was  "  Doorkeeper  and  Messenger  of  ye  Coun- 
cil," at  a  salary  of  £2,0  a  year.  This  grant 
was  an  extensive  one,  now  including  the 
greater  part  of  seven  townships.  In  1699  sur- 
veys were  made,  and  the  lands  divided  among 
the  partners,  or  then  owners.  That  part  of 
the  patent  bounded  on  the  west  by  the  Hudson 
river  was  divided  into  ' '  the  Nine  Water  Lots. " 
These  lots  varied  from  thirty  to  thirty-two 
chains  in  width,  and  ran  back  about  four  and 
a  half  miles  "  into  the  woods."  Lot  No.  9,  at 
the  north  end,  fell  to  Jarvis  Marshall,  who 
also  had  "  Great  Lots"  Nos.  1,15,  24,  and  35, 
in  the  interior.  He  had  already  sold  one-half 
his  interest  in  the  patent  to  Jacobus  Van  Roll- 
egom,  and,  in  1700,  he  sold  the  other  half  to 
John  Crooke,  of  New  York,  merchant.  Van- 
Rollegom  died  before  1722,  intestate,  as  before 
stated,  and  his  estate  fell  to  his  three  sisters: 
Mary,  wife  of  Henry  Kermer  (or  Carmer), 
Anne  Stoutenburgh,  widow,  and  Gertrude, 
widow  of  Bartholomew  Le  Roux.  The  latter 
•was  mother  of  Charles  Le  Roux,  goldsmith,  in 
New  York,  whose  name  so  often  appears  as 
one  of  the  attorneys  for  the  proprietors  of  the 
Nine  Partners  Patent. 

By  a  deed,  25  August,  1722,  Anne  Stouten- 
burgh sold  her  interest  to  her  son  Jacobus,  for 
£6^.  Subsequently,  by  a  number  of  convey- 
ances. Jacobus  Stoutenburgh  seems,  by  1743, 
to  have  become  the  owner  of  all,  or  nearly  all, 
the  share  that  fell  to  Jarvis  Marshall.  It  was 
twenty  years  from  the  date  of  his  first  pur- 
chase before  Jacobus  Stoutenburgh  removed 
to  what  is  now  the  town  of  Hyde  Park;  as  in 
1 74 1  he  was  still  "  of  Philipsburgh."  His  first 
house,  probably  the  one  named  in  old  abstracts 
of  title  as  "built  in  1723,"  was  of  stone  and 
Jogs,  and  stood  a  short   distance  south  of  the 


present  village,  near  a  spring,  where  some  re 
mains  of  it  are  still  to  be  seen.  It  is  probabb 
that  it  was  built  for  the  use  of  the  men  wh( 
cleared  the  land,  and  for  his  occasional  stop 
ping  place.  The  wood  cut  doubtless  fount 
a  ready  market  in  New  York,  when  coal  wa; 
yet  unknown;  and  some  years  would  naturalh 
be  spent  in  thus  clearing  the  land.  Very  likeh 
he  did  .not  remove  his  family  until  he  built  thi 
stone  mansion  which  stood  until  1864,  west  0 
the  post  road,  near  the  "Lower  Corners.' 
It  was  a  fine  house  for  that  day,  the  roomi 
being  spacious,  and  the  paneling  and  wood 
work  handsomely  finished. 

During  the  remainder  of  his  lifetime  h( 
was  engaged  in  disposing  of  a  part  of  his  lands, 
and  in  settling  his  children  on  homesteat 
farms;  and  he  also  deeded  to  them  other  lands 
He  was  called  upon  to  take  some  part  in  pub 
lie  affairs,  and  was  for  some  time  County 
Judge.  In  the  deed  to  his  son,  Luke,  he  re 
serves  the  well-known  "Stoutenburgh  Bury- 
ing-ground  "  as  a  burial  place  for  his  family 
forever.  The  will  of  Jacobus  Stoutenburgh  i; 
dated  24  January,  1770,  and  it  was  proved  ic 
December,  1772.  He  gives  his  eldest  sot 
Tobias,  ' '  besides  what  I  have  given  him, "  £  25, 
and  a  silver  teapot.  As  he-has  given  his  daugh- 
ter Annatje  a  silver  teapot  of  the  value  of  £  14, 
he  gives  "  one  now  in  my  family  "  to  Margaret, 
and  orders  one  for  each  of  the  five  youngei 
sons;  desiring  if  any  of  his  children  should  die 
leaving  a  daughter  Margaret,  such  teapol 
should  descend  to  her.  His  wife,  Margaret, 
is  to  enjoy  all  his  estate,  rents,  etc.,  for  life, 
with  remainder  to  the  seven  younger  children. 
This  will  is  recorded  in  New  York. 

The  account  which  follows,  of  his  descend- 
ants, is  founded  on  a  "Family  Tree,"  anc 
papers  now  in  the  possession  of  Dr.  James  L 
Prichard,  with  the  assistance  of  Church  record: 
where  available.  It  is  believed  to  be  correct 
as  far  as  it  goes;  but  the  order  of  births  ii 
some  families,  where  dates  are  wanting,  is  un 
certain;  and  there  may  be  omissions,  for  whicl 
the  "tree"  must  be  held  responsible. 

Tobias  Stoutenburgh,  son  of  Jacobus,  mar 
ried  in  New  York,  6  July,  1745,  Catharine 
daughter  of  Abraham  Van  Vleck,  and  Mari: 
Kip,  baptized  in  New  York,  30  November 
171 8.  To  him  his  father  gave  a  farm  lying  Oi 
the  river  front  of  the  Ninth  Water  Lot.  It  i 
probable  that  the  large  house  that  stood  unt 
about  i860,  opposite  the  present  railway  sla 
tion,  was  his  residence.     This  house  was  oc 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


851 


upied  at  the  beginning  of  this  century  by  his 
on-in-law,  Richard  DeCantillon,  who  carried 
m  here  a  mercantile  and  shipping  business; 
ending  cargoes  as  far  as  the  West  Indies,  to 
le  exchanged  for  sugar,  molasses  and  rum. 
•"evv  particulars  of  this  eldest  son  seem  to  have 
ome  down  to  this  day.  Children:  Margaret, 
laptized.  New  York,  30  March,  1746;  married 
acob  Schryver,  and  had  Jane,  and  Sarah,  who 
narried  her  cousin,  Tobias  S.  De  Cantillon. 
ibraham,  who  left  two  children,  Tobias  and 
(lary.  Mary  married  in  1770  Richard  De- 
;;antiIlon,  and  had  Tobias  S.  (married  Sarah 
Schryver),  Richard,  Catherine  (married  Patrick 
I.  Collins),  and  Maria  (married  Capt.  Hum- 
ihrey  Wood).  Jacobus  T. ,  who  died  after 
807.  Tobias  Stoutenburgh  was  commissioned 
olonel  of  the  4th  Regiment,  Dutchess  county, 
7  October,  1775. 

William  Stoutenburgh,  a  son  of  Jacobus, 
eceived  from  his  father  a  homestead  farm  of 
irge  extent,  lying  on  both  sides  of  the  Creek 
oad,  and  taking  in  the  whole  breadth  of  the 
linth  Water  Lot.  On  this  he  built  a  large  stone 
jouse,  which  isstill  standing,  and  in  a  good  state 
If  preservation,  a  short  distance  south  of  Union 
[orners,  wijh  the   date,   1765,  cut  in   a  stone 

1  the  front.  He  married  in  New  York,  5 
jly^  1753-  Maria,  daughter  of  Abraham  Van- 
leck  and  Maria  Kip;  baptized  in  New  York, 
>  July,  1725.     Children:     James,  who  died 

i8©7,  married   three   times;  Abraham  W. , 

arried    Margaret  Van    Vleck;   William   W. , 

ed  1829,  married  Elizabeth  Conklin;  Tobias 

.. ,   married   Mary  Hill;  Mary    W.,    married 

arrnon    Van   Benschoten,    and     had    Mary, 

25   October,   1789,  and   Catharine,  bap- 

3    December,  1797;  John   W.,  baptized! 

jiiLjhkeepsie,    22    September,     1765;    Isaac, 

iirn  17  December,  1767,  married  Elsie  Schry- 

'tr;  Henry,  born   22   June,   1770,  died  early. 

James  Stoutenburgh,  son  of  William,  owned 
;  farm  on  a  road  now  closed,  northeast  of 
'aion  Corners.  He  was  married  three  times, 
tst  31  December,  1782,  to  Mary  Moss;  and 
Id:  Polly,  married  James  Culver.  Mar- 
fret.  He  married  a  second.  30  December, 
190,  Hannah  Marshall,  and  had  Richard, 
Irn  9  July,  1791  (married,  and  had  Richard 
ad  John  T.    B.);   Hannah   ("Nancy"),  born 

2  August,  1792;  Herman;  Marshall,  died  in 
lughkeepsie,  19  August,  1849,  aged  fifty- 
S/en,  leaving  children.  He  married  (third) 
Cmfort  Bell,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Eliza- 
bth,  married  John  Hendricks.     In  his  will,  19 


May,  proved  25  June,  1807,  he  names  wife 
Comfort,  and  all  the  above  children.  "The 
widow  Comfort  Stoutenburgh"  survived  her 
husband  many  years,  residing  on  the  home- 
stead. 

Abraham  W.  Stoutenburgh,  son  of  William, 
married  Margaret,  daughterof  James  Van  Vleck 
and  Anna  Stoutenburgh.  Children:  James; 
Margaret,  married  Tunis,  son  of  William  W. 
Stoutenburgh;  William,  born  23  March,  1783; 
Ann;  Harmon;  Elizabeth,  born  7  March,  1789; 
Catharine,  Maria,  born  5  September,  1790; 
Abraham,  born  25  August,  1791;  Mary,  born 
10  December,  1797.  Abraham  W.  Stouten- 
burgh lived  in  the  town  of  Clinton.  On  May 
I,  1795,  Ebenezer  Mott,  of  Stanford,  and 
Mary,  his  wife,  conveyed  21 1  acres  in  Clinton 
to  Abraham  Stoutenburgh,  of  Clinton,  and  Mar- 
garet, his  wife,  "it  being  the  homestead  farm 
their  mother,  Ann  Van  Vleck,  possessed  and 
resided  on  at  the  time  of  her  decease." 

William  W.  Stoutenburgh,  son  of  William, 
died  19  August,  1829,  aged  seventy  years.  He 
had  from  his  father  a  farm  and  mills  a  mile 
east  of  Union  Corners.  He  married  28  Janu- 
ary, 1783,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Isaac  Conk- 
lin and  Catalyntje  Van  Benschoten,  born  14 
May,  1766,  died  7  November,  1835.  Children: 
William  W. ,  Jr.,  married  Maria  De  Groff,  and 
left  a  family.  Isaac,  born  12  February,  1786, 
not  married.  Catalyntje,  born  22  December, 
1789.  Maria,  born  9  January,  1792,  died  28 
May,  1884,  aged  ninety-two,  married  John  E. 
De  Groff,  who  died  20  September,  1846,  aged 
fifty-nine.  Jacob  Van  Benschoten,  born  25 
June,  1794,  died  18  May,  1879,  married  Hes- 
ter Travis,  who  died  14  May,  1883,  aged 
eighty-five.  Tunis  married  Margaret,  daugh- 
ter, of  Abraham  W.  Stoutenburgh.  Sarah, 
born  13  May,  1798,  married — Mosher,  and  re- 
moved to  "  the  West,"  died  in  fall  of  1848. 
Susan  C. ,  born  29  May,  1800,  died  23  June, 
1889,  married  John  A.  De  Groff,  who  died  2 
February,  1876,  in  his  eighty-first  year.  Ann 
Eliza,  born  1804,  died  29  November,  1822, 
aged  eighteen  years,  three  months.  Henry, 
killed  in  1 841,  by  beii;g  thrown  from  a  wagon; 
not  married.  Elias  Van  Benschoten,  born 
14  March,  1810;  married  11  March,  1835, 
Huldah  Swartwout. 

Tobias  W.  Stoutenburgh,  son  of  William, 
had  the  north  part  of  the  homestead  of  his 
father,  121  acres,  at  Union  Corners,  and  other 
lands.  In  1820  he  advertised  this  property  for 
sale.      He  sold   not  long  after  and  removed. 


852 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


with  a  part  of  his  family,  to  Phelps,  Ontario 
Co.,N.  Y.  He  married  Mary  Hill.  Children: 
Barbara,  born  29  June,  1792,  married  James 
Hall,  of  Stanford.  George,  of  New  York, 
married  three  times.  William,  of  New  York, 
married  and  left  a  family.  Mary  Van  Vleck 
("Maria"),  born  4  November,  1797,  never 
married.  Abraham,  removed  to  Texas,  never 
married.  John  T. ,  born  21  September,  1799, 
married  Mary  Van  Wagner,  3  December, 
1823.  Sarah,  born  19  September,  1801,  mar- 
ried Peter  Reese.  Isaac  married  Miss  Reese. 
Jane  married  Benjamin  Prichard,  son  of  James 
Prichard.  Cornelia  Mott  removed  to  Phelps, 
Ontario  county,  had  six  children.  Eliphalet, 
born  15  October,  181 1  (living,  1897),  of 
Phelps,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  married  Clemen- 
tine Knapp,  and  has  a  family. 

Isaac  Stoutenburgh,  son  of  William,  was 
born  17  December,  1767,  and  baptized  at 
Poughkeepsie  14  February,  1768;  his  sponsors 
being  Johannes  Eman  and  Catharina  Van  Deu- 
sen,  widow  of  his  uncle  Isaac  Van  Vleck.  He 
inherited  the  homestead  of  his  father,  with  the 
stone  house  before  mentioned.  He  was  a 
prominent  man  in  his  day,  in  town  and  Church 
affairs.  He  died  1  November,  1859,  aged 
ninety-two.  He  married  29  September,  1791, 
Elsie,  daughter  of  John  P.  Schryver  and  Elea- 
nor Van  Benschoten,  baptized  at  Rhinebeck, 
15  August,  1773,  died  6  July,  1845,  aged 
seventy-two.  Children:  William  I.,  born  5 
September,  1792,  died  21  September,  1859, 
unmarried.  John  Schryver,  born  7  November, 
1794,  died  15  March,  1874,  married  Maria, 
daughter  of  John  Albertson,  who  died  22  Sep- 
tember, 1865,  in  her  sixty-fifth  year,  and  had 
John  Albert,  counsellor  at  law,  of  Hyde  Park 
and  New  York,  born  6  September,  1820,  died 
II  April,  1887;  James  De  Cantillon,  counsel- 
lor at  law  (now  of  Washington,  D.  C);  Susan 
Caroline,  died  1864,  aged  thirty-five,  married 
Col.  Orrin  Travis;  Willet  E.  (now  of  Wash- 
ington); Walter  H.  (also  of  Washington); 
Isaac,  died  1841,  aged  three  years;  and  Mary, 
married  Abram  Hyatt,  of  Sing  Sing.  Cathar- 
ine De  Cantillon,  born  25  May,  1797,  died  13 
May,  1858,  unmarried.  Richard  De  Cantillon 
(twin),  born  25  May,  1797,  died  24  May,  1875, 
married  (first)  Eliza  Sophia  Sleight,  of  Fishkill, 
and  (second)  Eliza,  daughter  of  Alexander  Mc- 
Clellan.  By  the  latter  he  had  Isaac,  of  San 
Francisco,  deceased;  George  Washington,  of 
Chicago,  died  1884;  and  Catharine  Eliza,  who 
married  Edgar  Van  Kleeck,  of   Poughkeepsie. 


R.  D.  C.  Stoutenburgh  was  long  a  merchant  in 
Poughkeepsie.  Eleanor,  born  20  December, 
1800,  died  25  September,  1876;  married  Rich- 
ard Lewis  Prichard,  son  of  James  Prichard,  and 
Cornelia  Mott,  born  i  August,  1804,  died  22, 
November,  1882.  His  commission  as  captain 
in  the  84th  Regiment  was  signed  by  Gov. 
Marcy,  5  August,  1837.  Richard  L.  and 
Eleanor  Prichard  had  three  children:  Isaac  De- 
Cantillon  Prichard,  late  one  of  the  Associate 
Judges  of  Dutchess  county,  who  died  9  Feb- 
ruary, 1894;  James  L.  Prichard,  M.  D.  ,  of 
Hyde  Park,  and  Elsie  Cornelia  Prichard. 
James  C.  died  20  June,  181  5,  aged  thirteen. 
Tobias  I.,  born  29  January,  i8o6,  died  25  Oc- 
tober, 1888;  married  Maria,  daughter  of  Isaac 
Albertson,  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Pleasant 
Valley.  Children:  Sarah  C.  married  Albert 
J.  Budd,  and  Mary  married  Dr.  Merritt 
Dutcher,  of  Owego,  N.   Y.      Mary  Elsie,  born 

17  July,  1809,  died  16  January,  1833;  married 
Jacob  T.  Sleight.  Henry  Cuyler,  born  i  Au- 
gust, 1 812,  living  1897,  of  Poughkeepsie;  mar- 
ried Amelia,  sister  of  Col.  Orrin  Travis,  and 
has  Mary,  Edward,  Walter,  Juliet,  Anne  and 
Henry.  Caroline,  born  23  June,  181 5,  died 
20  June,  1829,  aged  fourteen.  William  I., 
son  of  Isaac  Stoutenburgh,  served  in  the  war 
of  18 1 2,  being  then  about  twenty  years  of 
age.  For  his  services  he  had  a  pension,  in 
later  years,  and  a  grant  of  land.  A  home- 
made blanket  with  the  date  "  18 12  "  woven  in 
it,  and  which  he  had  with  him  at  Harlem 
Heights,  is  still  preserved  by  a  niece. 

Anna  Stoutenburgh,  daughter  of  Jacobus, 
married  June,  1755,  Jacobus  (Jamesi  Van- 
Vleck,  son  of  Abraham  Van  Vleck,  of  New 
York,  and    Maria  Kip,    baptized   in  New  York 

18  September,  1720.  She  inherited  lands  in 
the  town  of  Clinton,  near  her  brother  Peter, 
and  died  there  before  1795,  leaving  two  chil- 
dren, viz.:  Mary,  wife  of  Ebenezer  Mott,  of 
Stanford,  Margaret,  wife  of  Abraham,  son  of 
the  first  William  Stoutenburgh.  The  husband 
of  Anna  died  before  1772.  "  Ebenezer  Mott, 
Esq."  died  January  9,  181 3,  aged  sixty-two. 
Mary,  his  wife,  died  December  2,  1840,  aged 
eighty-two. 

Jacobus  Stoutenburgh,  Jr. ,  son  of  Jacobus, 
married  23  June,  1764.  Josina,  daughter  of 
John  Teller,  of  Teller's  Point,  and  Aeltje 
(Alida)  Vermilye.  He  lived  in  the  stone  house 
at  the  Lower  Corners,  which  he  inherited,  to- 
gether with  a  considerable  farm  adjoining,  j 
At  the  close  of  the  Revolution   he   purchased 


COMMEMORATIVE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


858 


the    confiscated    estate    of    Christian    Bergh, 
which  joined  his  own  on  the  south,  and  which 
Mr.  Bergh  had  intended  for  the  portion  of   his 
daughter.  Maria  Barbara,  wife  of  Martin  Dob, 
who  built   the  stone  house,  still  standing,  east 
of  the  road.      Children:     James   I.  (Captain), 
born     February    i,     1767,     married     (first)     3 
March,  1793,  Catharine  E.,  daughter  of  Rich- 
ard Snediker,  of  Spacken  Kill,  in  the  town  of 
PoLighkeepsie,  who  died  4  August,   1815,  aged 
forty;    and   (second),    15    April,    1824,    Sarah 
Patchen.      He  inherited  part  of  the  late  Bergh 
estate,  and  built   the   first    part   of   the    house 
afterward   the  residence  of  the  late  Daniel  S. 
Miller;   but  soon  sold   the  property.      He  was 
an  active  man,  and  made  many  changes  during 
his  life.      Alida,  born  19  April,   1769;  married, 
first,    13   October,    1794,   Dr.    Hiram    Walker 
i(who  settled    at   Hyde  Park,  but   died   early), 
[and,   second,   Walton    Street,    of    Coxsackie. 
rijaret,  born  26   December,   1771;  married, 
,  John  L.,  son  of  Luke  Stoutenburgh,  and, 
iid,  John  I.  Teller,  son  of  John  Teller  and 
L,'aret  Stoutenburgh.     John  I.,  baptized  24 
,    1774,    died    18    March,     1822;  married 
barah     Griffin,    of    Lyme,    Conn.,    and    had 
Margaret,  born  1797,  died  6  March,  1802,  and 
ih     Catharine,    born    8     February,     1807, 
:    14    March,    1888;    married    William    B. 
t,  of  Rhinebeck.      The  homestead  of  John 
toutenburgh  was    on    the   east  side    of  the 
1,  at   the  Lower  Corners,  on  the   property 
owned  by  Mrs.  Calista  Jones.     The  house 
d  until  after  1850.      Luke  L.  born  28  Jan- 
1779;     married    Elizabeth    Catharine, 
_,'hter  of  Anthony  A.  Hoffman    and   Eliza- 
:i  Snediker,  and  niece  of  his  brother  James' 
Aife.       They    had,     Josina,     married    Storm 
■  •sdell,    of  Coxsackie;    Walton   Street,  of 
sackie,  who  died  about  1872;   Edgar,  died 
I'j  July,    181 1,    aged  one  year   four  months; 
^'    hard    Anthony,    born    August,     1816,    and 
tland     Augustus,     born     January,      1820. 
wuke  I.  Stoutenburgh   lived  in  the   house  late 
he  residence  of  his  father.      In  later  years  this 
)ecame  the  property  of  John   I.  Teller;  and 
'*  r  having  had  several   owners,  and  a-  long 
)f  tenants,  was  finally  destroyed  by  an  in- 
liary  fire,  on  the  night  of  August  6,   1864. 
11  for  some  years  it  formed   a   picturesque 
uin. 

John  Stoutenburgh,  son  of  the  first  Ja- 
obus,  married  by  license  dated  25  November, 
773,  Catharine,  daughter  of  John  Teller 
nd  Aeltje   Vermilye,   who  died    27    August, 


1805,  in  her  seven-sixth  year.  They  had  no 
children.  He  had  from  his  father,  besides 
other  property,  valuable  mill  privileges  on 
Crumelbow  creek.  He  was  one  of  the  chief 
founders  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of 
Hyde  Park,  and  one  of  its  first  officers.  He 
died  at  Hyde  Park,  21  February,  1808,  in  his 
seventy-ninth  year.  In  his  will,  dated  3  Jan- 
uary, 1807,  after  directing  a  wall  five  feet 
high  to  be  built  around  the  family  burying 
ground  (it  still  stands),  and  freeing  his  slaves, 
to  whom  he  gave  legacies,  he  distributed  a 
considerable  estate  among  his  heirs,  who  were 
his  surviving  sister,  Margaret  Teller,  and  his 
nephews  and  nieces. 

Peter  Stoutenburgh,  son  of  the  first 
Jacobus,  was  settled  on  a  tract  of  land  (it  is 
said  1,600  acres)  in  "Great  Lot  No.  i,"  in 
the  northwestern  part  of  the  town  of  Clinton. 
He  married  Rachel  Van  Steenburgh.  Chil- 
dren: James  P.,  married  and  had  John, 
James  P.,  Jr. ,  Joseph,  Mary,  Rachel,  Margaret 
and  Sarah.  Tobias  P.,  baptized,  Pough- 
^eepsie,  17  November,  1765.  William  P., 
married  5  June,  1803,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Maj.  John  Pawling,  and  had  Alfred  and  Julia. 
Peter  P.,  who  married  and  had  William  T., 
Peter  P.,  Margaret,  Maria  Affie,  Catharine 
and  Sarah.      Luke  P.     Benjamin.     Rachel  P. 

Margaret  married   ■ Row,  and  had  Mark, 

Catharine,  Margaret,  Rachel,  and  "  W.  P. 
Row,"  who  married  Rachel,  daughter  of 
James  L.  Stoutenburgh.  John,  born  22  Oc- 
tober,  1768,  baptized,  Poughkeepsie. 

Margaret  Stoutenburgh,  daughter  of  the 
first  Jacobus,  married  8  October,  1764,  John 
Teller,  born  1741,  son  of  John  Teller  and 
Aeltje  Vermilye.  Children,  all  baptized  at 
Poughkeepsie:  John  I.,  born  16  November, 
1765,  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Jacobus 
Stoutenburgh,  Jr.,  and  widow  of  John  L. 
Stoutenburgh;  had  a  son,  the  late  William 
Teller,  of  Rhinebeck,  father  of  Mrs.  Eugene 
Wells.  James,  born  2  July,  1768,  married, 
and  had  John,  Morris  and  Margaret.  Tobias, 
born    27    January,     1772,    died     19    October, 

1854,  of  Red  Hook;  married  Paulina , 

and  had  B.  Franklin,  Monroe  and  Margaret. 
William,  born  29  December,  1775,  married, 
and  had  Jacobus  and  Tobias.  Most  of  the 
family  of  John  Teller  and  Aeltje  Vermilye 
came  early  to  what  is  now  the  town  of  Hyde 
Park.  Their  chief  residence  was  at  "  Teller's 
Hill,"  on  the  '•  Fourth  Water  Lot,"  where 
the   large   mansion  of  the  family  stood   until 


854 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1830.  Of  the  brothers,  James  died  without 
issue;  Luke  left  a  large  family,  and  John  mar- 
ried as  above  stated;  while  Dr.  Abraham 
Teller,  who  died  in  1803,  aged  fifty-nine,  was, 
perhaps,  about  the  earliest  settled  physician 
in  the  neighborhood. 

Luke  Stoutenburgh,  youngest  son  of  the  first 
Jacobus,  married,  first,  2  August,  1762,  Rachel, 
daughter  of  John  Teller  and  Aeltje  Vermilye, 
by  whom  he  had  eight  children.  He  married, 
second,  24  November,  1782,  Mary  Van  Vleck, 
widow  of  Henry  Minthorne,  who  survived  him. 
To  Luke  he  gave  that  portion  of  his  estate 
lying  between  the  lands  given  to  Tobias  and 
William;  the  creek  bounding  it  on  the  north, 
while  on  the  south  were  the  lands  of  Jacobus, 
Jr.  An  abstract  of  title  says  this  deed  of  gift 
was  made  in  1758, and  confirmed  by  will.  Luke 
died  before  1789,  and  in  1791  his  farm  was 
divided  by  commissioners  into  forty-two  lots, 
and  apportioned  among  the  heirs;  two  lots, 
comprising  the  mansion  and  its  environs,  being 
left  undivided.  It  was  this  division,  and  the 
establishment  of  a  Church  that  decided  thesit^ 
of  the  village,  now  Hyde  Park;  some  of  the 
smaller  lots  being  soon  disposed  of.  Luke 
lived  in  the  stone  house  built  by  him,  or  his 
father,  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  at  the  end  of  an 
avenue  of  cherry  trees  leading  from  the  Post 
road.  Some  say  Jacobus,  himself,  lived  in 
this  house  in  his  later  years.  The  avenue 
became  a  thoroughfare  to  the  "Upper",  or 
"DeCantillon's  Landing;"  the  road  curving 
around  the  north  side  of  the  house  and  thence 
down  the  hill;  and  in  1791  lots  were  laid  out 
along  it.  It  is  now  known  as  Market  street. 
The  house  was  fully  equal  to  the  one  at  the 
Lower  Corners,  and  perhaps  a  little  larger.  It 
was  visible  from  the  river,  and  in  1777  the 
British  vessels,  passing  up  to  burn  Kingston, 
fired  on  it.  Several  cannon  balls  were  after- 
ward found,  and  are  still  preserved  in  the 
town.  In  1872  this  house,  long  in  a  neglected 
condition,  was  taken  down  in  order  to  straighten 
the  road. 

Luke  Stoutenburgh  and  Rachel  Teller  had: 
James  L. ,  died  16  December,  1831,  aged  sixty- 
seven  years,  eight  months,  nineteen  days;  mar- 
ried Sarah  Morris,  who  died  15  March,  1846, 
aged  seventy-one  years,  nine  months,  eleven 
days.  John  L. ,  baptized  i  February,  1767, 
died  I  December,  1794;  married  Margaret, 
daughter  of  Jacobus  Stoutenburgh,  Jr. ;  had 
one  child,  John,  died  15  September,  1797, 
aged  three  years;  and  his  widow  married  John 


I.  Teller.  Luke  L.,  born  28  January,  1770; 
never  married.  Tobias  L. ,  born  2  September, 
1772;  died  March  27,  1846;  married  Esther 
Rogers.  William  L. ,  born  10  September, 
1775,  died  in  Brooklyn  22  January,  1864; 
married  Mary  Juliet  Dutton.      Peter  L.,  born 

,  married  Pamela ,  removed  to  New 

York.  Margaret,  born  27  February,  1779, 
died    28  August,    1835,   married   18    January, 

1797,  Richard  Teller,  son  of  Luke  Teller,  and 
Sarah  Snediker,  born  28  July,  1775;  and  had 
Catharine,  Eleanor  and  Margaret,  all  died  un- 
married, and  the  late  Col.  Richard  Teller  (born 
1822)  of  New  York.  Eleanor  married  Samuel 
Van  Vleck,  of  Pittston,  Rensselaer,  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  had  Mary  and  Catharine. 

James  L.  Stoutenburgh,  son  of  Luke, 
owned  the  farm  lying  north  of  the  road,  and 
next  east  of  Union  Corners.  He  and  his  wife, 
Sarah  Morris,  had  eleven  children,  as  follows 
(Bible  record):  Catharine,  born  2  December, 
1793.  Rachel  I.,  born  29  May,  1796;  married 
W.    P.    Row.      Margaret    I.,    born   28    April, 

1798.  John,  born  29  April,  1800,  died  15 
December  1800.  Eleanor  C,  born  21  Feb- 
ruary, 1802.  William  I.,  born  12  June,  1804. 
Tobias  M.,  born  2  August,  1806,  died  in 
Poughkeepsie,  23  October,  1884,  married 
(first)  Mary  L.  Van  Wagner,  who  died  20  Au- 
gust, 1845,  aged  thirty-five;  and  (second) 
Serena  Velie,  who  survived  him.  He  had  a 
large  collection  of  family  documents,  parch- 
ments and  papers,  which  he  left  to  a  nephew, 
son  of  the  Rev.  Luke.  Sarah  Mary  Juliet, 
born  14  August,  1808.  Richard  T.,  born  21 
December,  18 10.  James,  born  18  October, 
1812;  died  young.  Luke,  born  29  December, 
181 5;  the  Rev.  Luke  I.  Stoutenburgh,  of 
Schooley's  Mountain,  N.  J.,  who  died  in  Wash- 
ton,  D.  C,   13  March,   1891,  leaving  a  family, 

Tobias  L.  Stoutenburgh,  son  of  Luke,  be- 
came the  owner  of  the  homestead  of  his  fa- 
ther, and  lived  there  until  his  removal  to  New 
York.  He  represented  his  district  in  the  Leg- 
islature, in  1807-8.  In  18 1 3  he  built  the  first 
store  in  the  village,  on  the  corner  of  Albany 
and  Market  streets,  and  conducted  business 
there,  as  a  merchant,  for  several  years.  About 
1830  he  removed  to  New  York,  where  he  be- 
came a  "public  weigher  and  measurer, "  and 
continued  to  reside  there,  until  his  death.  He 
married  28  November,  1812,  Esther,  daughter 
of  Capt.  Jeremiah  Rogers  and  Mary  Jones. 
Capt.  Rogers  [for  whose  ancestry  refer  to  the 
N.  Y.  Genealogical  and    Biographical  Record, 


COMMEMOBATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


855 


18S4-18S5]  owned  the  estate,  on  the  Post  road, 
next  south  of  Teller's  Hill,  where  he  died  in 
18 10,  and  is  buried,  with  several  of  his  family, 
on  the  place.  Mrs.  Esther  Stoutenburgh  died 
in  New  York  28  July,  1842,  aged  sixty-two. 
Children:  Elizabeth,  born  20  November, 
18(3,  died  II  August,  1893;  married  8  Febru- 
ary, 1837,  Richard  Aurelius  Tebault,  of  South 
Carolina,  and  had  two  children,  who  died  young. 
Mary,  born  9  April,  18 15,  died  i  June,  1865; 
not  married.  Edmund  Jones  married  Mary 
Lowry,  who  died  16  December,  1847,  aged 
thirty;  no  surviving  issue.  Margaret  died  9 
September,  1844,  aged  twenty-six;  married 
Thomas  Rudd  Lowry,  of  New  York.  Cornelia 
[ones,  born  6  April,  1821,  died  9  July,  1848; 
married  J.  Warren  Rogers. 

William  L.  Stoutenburgh,  son  of  Luke, 
ived  many  years  on  the  Post  road,  just  north 
jf  the  village,  and  near  the  Stoutenburgh  bury- 
ng  ground;  but  removed  to  New  York,  and 
pngaged  in  business.      He  married  1 1  October, 

i8o7,   Mary   Juliet,   daughter  of    Capt.   Titus 
)utton,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution.      She  died 
n  Staten  Island,  24  November,  1861.      Chil- 
3ren:     William  Tobias,  died  in  New  York,  28 
October,    1884.    aged    seventy-three,    leaving 
our  children.      He  was  twice  married.     Mary 
ilizabeth    died    i    June,   1891,    aged   seventy- 
line;  married  Rev.  Robert  A.  Quin  (of  the  Re- 
ornied   Dutch   Church),  chaplain  of  the  Sail- 
ers'  Snug   Harbor,  Staten   Island,  and  had  a 
ilamily.      Peter    Augustus,    M.    D.,    settled    at 
'er  Bay,  L.  I.;  he  died  of  blood  poisoning, 
:ht  from  a  sick   horse.      Thomas  DeWitt, 
1  23  March,  1818,  died  12  November,  1855. 
I,  born  23  February,  1820,  died  29  March, 
5 ;  married  Edwin  Sturges.      Richard  Tel- 

c:,  born  20  May,  1822;  married .     Ferdi- 

uiju!  Vanderveer,  baptized  27  March,  1824. 
^Iartha  Catharine,  baptized  30  March,  1826, 
lied  10  October,  1844. 

Peter  L.  Stoutenburgh,  son  of  Luke,  had, 
hy  Pamela,  his  wife:     Wright,  Joseph,  Mary, 
larah,  David,  Jacob,  Samuel  and  James. 


jUTARTIN  W.  PAINE,  a  leading  business 
,  ULL  man  of  Millerton,  Dutchess  county,  the 
hroprietor  of  the  well-known  feed  store  and  of 
'  he  Benedict  Mills,  was  born  in  the  same  lo- 

ality  June  12,   1841,  in  the  house  now  occu- 

lied  by  Mr.  Hotchkiss.     His  father,  Piatt  A. 

'aine,  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  citizens 


of  the  town    of    Northeast,    and  a   farmer  by 
occupation. 

Mr.  Paine's  early  life  was  that  of  the  aver- 
age country  boy,  his  time  being  spent  in  the 
healthful  exercise  of  "doing  up  the  chores," 
and  in  attending  the  district  schools  of  Spen- 
cers Corners  and  Millerton.  After  leaving 
school  he  remained  with  his  father  for  a  year, 
and  then  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count, spending  four  years  near  Boston  Cor- 
ners and  five  on  the  Paine  farm,  just  below 
the  old  family  homestead.  In  1870  he  pur- 
chased the  Benedict  Mills,  which  he  has  ever 
since  conducted,  together  with  a  small  farm 
adjoining  them.  He  has  done  a  large  custom 
business  in  milling,  and  dealt  extensively  in 
flour,  and  in  1893  opened  a  flour  and  feed 
store  in  Millerton,  which  is  the  principal  estab- 
lishment of  the  kind  in  that  vicinity.  His  en- 
prises  have  all  been  successful,  and  he  has  ac- 
cumulated a  fine  property. 

Notwithstanding  the  close  attention  re- 
quired by  his  business,  Mr.  Paine  has  found 
time  for  reading,  and  is  well  informed  upon 
the  questions  of  the  day.  Politically,  he  is  a 
strong  Republican,  but  he  does  not  take  an 
active  share  in  party  work,  although  in  many 
progressive  movements  in  his  neighborhood  he 
has  been  among  the  chief  promoters.  He 
married  Miss  Emily  Eggleston,  daughter  of 
Nicholas  D.  Eggleston,  and  both  are  promi- 
nent members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  They  have  had  three  children:  Berk- 
ley, a  resident  of  Buchanan,  Va. ;  Grace  A., 
who  married  D.  C.  Dakin,  of  Millerton;  and 
Fred  L. ,  an  enterprising  young  blacksmith  in 
Millerton. 


HIRAM      GEDDINGS     STEVENS     (de- 
ceased).     The  subject   of    this   memoir, 

formerly  a  prominent  agriculturist  of  the  town 
of  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  was  a  worthy  rep- 
resentative of  two  of  the  oldest  and  best-known 
families. 

His  father,  the  late  Hon.  David  W. 
Stevens,  was  a  man  of  fine  ability  and  wide 
influence.  His  first  wife,  our  subject's  mother, 
was  Nancy  A.  Geddings,  daughter  of  Hon. 
Gamaliel  B.  Geddings,  of  Sherman,  Conn., 
and  for  some  years  after  their  marriage  he  re- 
sided at  her  father's  farm  there,  taking  mean- 
time a  leading  part  in  local  affairs.  In  1846 
he  represented  that  district  in  the  Legislature 
of  Connecticut.      Later  he  moved  to  a  farm  in 


856 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOaBAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


South  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  and  identified 
himself  with  the  best  interests  of  that  locahty, 
helping  in  many  public  movements,  and  espe- 
cially in  the  work  of  building  up  the  Bap- 
tist Church  of  South  Dover.  Mrs.  Nancy 
Stevens  died  at  Palmyra,  Ohio,  March  i8, 
1858,  and  April  18,  i860,  he  married  Mrs 
Lydia  Ann  Camp,  a  lady  of  exemplary  Chris- 
tian character,  the  widow  of  the  late  William 
T.  Camp,  and  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Philo- 
mela Geddings.  She  survives  him  and  resides 
in  South  Dover,  where  his  death  occurred  No- 
vember 16,  1868.  There  were  the  following 
children  by  the  first  marriage,  whose  dates  of 
birth  are  given:  Orrin,  1821,  who  married 
Phoebe  A.  Wheeler;  Eunice,  1823,  Mrs.  Jona- 
than A.  Geddings;  Hiram,  1826,  who  died  in 
1833;  Gamaliel,  1829,  who  married  Julia 
Dutcher;  Frances,  1832,  Mrs.  Emery  Cole; 
Sarah,  1834,  Mrs.  James  H.  Martin;  Hiram 
G.,  May  29,  1839,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

The  Geddings  family  is  well  known  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  United  States,  its  members 
playing  an  honorable  and  often  a  distinguished 
part  in  their  various  lines  of  life.  Hon.  Gam- 
aliel Baldwin  Geddings,  our  subject's  maternal 
grandfather,  was  born  at  Sherman,  Conn.,  Oc- 
tober 6,  1 766.  He  was  an  extensive  land 
holder  in  the  Geddings  district,  and  possessed 
great  political  influence,  serving  as  constable 
and  justice  of  the  peace  for  about  twenty  years, 
and  as  a  member  of  the  Legislature  in  1805, 
1812  and  181 3.  On  November  24,  1790,  he 
married  Miss  Tabitha  Eunice  Barnes,  daugh- 
ter of  Stephen  and  Ann  (Phinney)  Barnes. 
They  had  five  children:  Harriet,  born  Sep- 
tember 9,  1 791,  died  in  Palmyra,  Ohio,  March 
8,  1876;  Solomon,  born  October  5,  1793,  died 
in  1838;  Hiram,  born  September  14,  1795, 
married  Miss  Rebecca  Geddings;  Nancy  A., 
born  May  30,  1798,  was  the  mother  of  our 
subject;  and  Sally  M.,  born  February  23,  1800, 
married  David  W.  Stevens.  Gamaliel  B.  Ged- 
dings removed  to  Palmyra,  Ohio,  in  1845,  and 
died  there  at  an  advanced  age. 

Mr.  Stevens  was  born  at  the  old  homestead 
in  South  Dover,  and  in  his  youth  received  an 
excellent  education.  He  was  married  March 
3.  1863,  to  Miss  Ann  Elizabeth  Camp,  daugh- 
ter of  William  T.  and  Lydia  A.  (Geddings) 
Camp,  and  settled  upon  a  farm  near  Wings 
Station,  where  he  lived  a  peaceful  and  happy 
life  until  death  called  him  February  21,  1893. 
Three  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stevens:       Florence    Bell,     July    26,     1864; 


Thomas  Howard,  January  9,  1873,  and  Nan- 
nie May,  November  19,  1874,  now  the  wife  of 
George  Tabor,  of  South  Dover.  The  elder 
daughter,  Florence,  died  May  25,  1871,  at  the 
age  of  seven,  and  her  death  was  deeply  felt  by 
the  entire  family,  but  especially  by  her  father, 
who  was  led  by  it  to  seek  consolation  in  com- 
munion with  the  only  Friend  who  can  bring 
lasting  peace  to  the  afflicted,  and  although  he 
never  made  a  public  profession  of  faith  he  be- 
came a  consistent  follower  of  Christ,  and  took 
the  Golden  Rule  for  the  law  of  his  life.  His 
stern  integrity,  which  commanded  the  respect 
of  all  who  knew  him,  was  combined  with  a 
kindly  sympathy'  for  others  that  won  the 
affectionate  regard  of  his  more  intimate  ac- 
quaintances, and  his  death  was  mourned 
throughout  the  community.  His  son,  Thomas 
H.  Stevens,  is  one  of  the  most  intelligent 
young  men  of  South  Dover,  and  is  already 
noted  for  possessing  the  admirable  character- 
istics of  his  ancestry. 


SjMITH  J.  SACKETT  is  one  of  the  most 
,^  prosperous  and  successful  farmers  of  the 
town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess  county,  owning 
300  acres  of  valuable  land  there.  He  is  num- 
bered among  the  self-made  men  of  the  county, 
his  accumulations  being  the  result  of  his  own 
industry,  obtained  by  self-denial  and  economy, 
and  the  exercise  of  a  naturally  good  judgment, 
both  in  regard  to  agricultural  pursuits  and 
business  matters.  Stanford  town  has  always 
been  the  field  of  his  operations,  and  the  cen- 
ter of  his  hopes  and  interests,  for  since  his 
birth,  which  occurred  March  19,  1844,  he  has 
there  made  his  home. 

His  father,  Leonard  Sackett,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Stanford,  September  7,  1797.  In 
the  schools  of  the  neighborhood  of  his  boy- 
hood home  he  obtained  his  education,  and  he 
remained  upon  the  home  farm  until  his  mar- 
riage. He  married  Ruth  Gildersleeve,  a  na- 
tive of  the  town  of  Clinton,  Dutchess  county, 
and  they  had  the  following  children:  Joel, 
born  June  29,  1828,  is  now  deceased;  Cor- 
delia, born  April  28,  1830,  is  the  wife  of  Elias 
Thompson,  of  Pine  Plains,  Dutchess  county; 
Eunice  was  born  March  8,  1832;  Jane  Eliza- 
beth, born  August  10,  1834,  has  passed  away; 
Hiram  L.  was  born  August  15,  1837;  Emily, 
born  August  13.  1839,  is  the  wife  of  Theron 
Knickerbocker;  Sarah  M.,  born  February  17, 
1842,  is  also  deceased;  Smith  J.  is  next  in  or- 


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COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPUICAL  RECORD. 


857 


der  of  birth,  and  Henr}',  born  in  December, 
1847,  has  departed  this  life.  The  father's 
death  occurred  May  17, 1866,  that  of  the  mother 
on  July  25,  1878.  Most  of  their  married  life 
was  passed  on  a  farm  near  Stissing,  Dutchess 
county,  which  Mr.  Sackett  operated.  With 
the  Baptist  Church  of  Bangall  they  held  mem- 
bership, and  in  his  political  views  the  father 
was  first  a  Whig,  later  a  Republican. 

The  education  of  Smith  J.  Sackett  was 
such  as  the  district  schools  of  the  town  of 
Stanford  afforded,  and  on  reaching  his  major- 
ity he  left  his  parental  roof,  starting  out  in  life 
with  no  capital.  For  some  time  he  operated 
farms  on  shares,  but  in  1880,  in  connec- 
tion with  his  brother  Henry,  he  purchased 
his  present  farm,  and  the  following  year  bought 
another.  With  him,  his  brother  Hiram  and 
sister  Eunice  find  a  pleasant  home. 

Mr.  Sackett  has  never  taken  an  active  part 
in  politics,  although  keeping  himself  well  in- 
formed on  matters  of  general  interest,  and  uni- 
formly votes  the  straight  Republican  ticket. 
To  enterprises  calculated  for  the  general  wel- 
fare of  the  people  around  him  he  has  ever 
been  a  cheerful  and  liberal  contributor. 


SAMUEL  LYNCH.  This  capitalist  is  living 
at  his  ease  in  Pleasant  Valley  village, 
Dutchess  county,  his  only  occupation  being 
the  care  of  the  property  he  in  his  younger  days 
accumulated  by  untiring  industry  and  judicious 
economy. 

Mr.  Lynch  was  born  September  18,  1823, 
in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess  county, 
and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Camp- 
bell) Lynch,  both  natives  of  Ireland,  where 
they  married.  On  leaving  the  Emerald  Isle 
they  sailed  for  Nova  Scotia,  where  the  father 

I  was  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  for  about  a 
year,  and  then  removed  to  Long  Island,  there 
following  farming  during  the  next  three  years. 

'  Removing  thence  to  Dutchess  county,  he  be- 
came a  resident  of  the  town  of  Pleasant  Val- 
ley, where  during  the  remainder  of  his  life  he 
devoted  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
He  died  about  1880,  his  wife  several  years  be- 
fore. They  were  earnest  and  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 

[in  his  political  affiliations  Mr  Lynch  was  a 
stanch  Whig  and  Republican.  They  had  the 
following  children:  Martha  married  Henry 
Phillips,  a  tanner  of  Dutchess  county;  Samuel 

Ies  next;  Betsy  Jane  became   the   wife   of 


Silas  Ward,  a  shoemaker;  Leah  married  a 
Mr.  Gardiner,  a  merchant;  Margaret  wedded 
Ebenezer  Whitney,  a  carpenter;  Harriet  mar- 
ried John  Delany,  a  car  conductor;  Hanna  be- 
came the  wife  of  a  Mr.  Gardiner,  a  milkman; 
Alexander  went  to  California  when  young,  and 
nothing  is  known  of  him;  and  George  was  a 
carpenter  and  wheelwright. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  received  the 
education  common  to  farmer's  sons,  his  boy- 
hood being  passed  in  the  town  of  Pleasant 
Valley,  but  after  his  school  days  were  over  he 
went  to  Unionvale,  where  he  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade  with  Joseph  Wait,  by  whom  he 
was  employed  for  about  six  years.  He  then 
began  business  for  himself  in  the  town  of 
Pleasant  Valley,  but  in  1849  went  to  New 
York  City,  where  for  forty  years  he  was 
engaged  in  contracting  and  building  with  good 
success,  erecting  many  houses  in  that  city. 
On  laying  aside  business  cares  he  returned  to 
Pleasant  Valley,  where,  since  1889,  he  has 
lived  retired,  having  accumulated  sufficiently 
of  this  world's  goods  to  enable  him  to  pass  his 
remaining  days  in  ease,  surrounded  by  the 
comforts  of  life,  and  enjoying  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  his  fellow  men  in  the  highest 
degree. 

In  1852  Mr.  Lynch  was  married  to  Miss 
Anna  M.  Wyles,  who  was  born  and  reared  in 
Philadelphia,  Penn.,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  Shaw  Wyles.  Four  children  blessed 
this  union:  Clara;  Anna,  wife  of  George  E. 
Stuart,  of  New  York  City;  Frank,  a  resident  of 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.;  and  Emma.  Mr.  Lynch  is 
a  true-hearted  man,  an  earnest  believer  in  the 
doctrines  of  Christianity,  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  are  faithful  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Politically  he  is  a  stanch  Republican, 
and  in  1895  was  elected  supervisor,  serving  one 
year.  He  is  a  public-spirited,  enterprising 
man,  and  in  all  matters  tending  to  benefit  the 
people  of  his  community,  morally,  socially  or 
financially,  he  has  ever  been  an  earnest  and 
cheerful  worker. 


ARCUS  D.  MARCY,  a  prominent  resi- 
4P1L  dent  of  Dover  Plains.  Dutchess  county, 
who  was  for  many  years  a  valued  employe  on 
the  Harlem  railroad,  was  born  March  29, 
1848,  in  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county. 
He  took  advantage  of  the  educational  oppor- 
tunities afforded  by  the  schools  of  his  native 
place,  and  in  early  manhood  entered  the  serv- 


858 


OOMMEMORAFIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


I 


ice  of  the  railroad  company,  and  remained 
twenty-five  years  working  first  as  a  brakeman 
and  afterward  as  a  conductor.  In  the  latter  po- 
sition he  was  unusually  successful,  a  fact  which 
speaks  well  for  his  tact,  and  intelligence. 
Realizing  the  value  of  a  clear  brain,  he  is  a 
firm  opponent  of  intemperance,  and  for  fifteen 
years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  order  of 
Good  Templars.  He  married  Miss  Hattie 
A.  Fero,  daughter  of  John  and  Adelaide  Fero, 
and   has  one  daughter,  Bertha,    born  in    1886. 

His  ancestors  have  been  agriculturists  in 
the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county,  for  sev- 
eral generations.  His  grandfather,  Moses 
Marcy,  was  a  native  of  the  town,  and  followed 
farming  all  his  life.  He  and  his  wife,  Susan 
Cutler,  reared  a  family  of  eight  children: 
Rogers  went  to  Michigan,  made  a  home  in  the 
forest,  and  became  well-to-do;  George;  Robey 
married  Fred  Summers;  Abbie  married  Brigg 
Tanner;  Hannah  was  the  wife  of  Seneca 
White;  Lucretia  never  married;  Moses  married 
Fannie  Addis;  and  Mary  married  Orisey  Wol- 
sey,  and  had  one  son,  Moses  Wolsey. 

Moses  Marcy,  our  subject's  father,  was  a 
native  of  Dover  Plains,  where  he  was  educated 
and  later  engaged  in  farming  and  in  the  butch- 
er's trade.  His  wife,  Fannie  Addis,  was  a  na- 
tive of  New  Preston,  Conn.  They  had  seven 
children:  Oliver  W.,  who  married  Alvira 
Halleck;  Griffin  C,  who  married  Jane  Sher- 
wood; Andrew  A.,  who  never  married;  Gar- 
wood G.,  who  married  Caroline  Summers;  Al- 
vin  B.,  who  married  first,  Emma  Lee;  Mar- 
cus D.,  our  subject;  and  Samantha  A.,  the 
wife  of  John  Bristow. 

Mrs.  Marcy's  ancestors  dn  both  sides  were 
early  settlers  in  Dutchess  county.  A  great- 
great-grandfather,  Israel  Chapman,  was  a 
farmer  in  the  town  of  Dover,  where  he  and 
his  wife  Esther  reared  a  family  of  three  chil- 
dren: (i)  John;  (2)  William,  who  married 
Rachel  Cherrytree;  and  (3)  Nathan.  John 
Chapman,  Mrs.  Marcy's  great-grandfather, 
was  a  lifelong  resident  of  the  town  of  Dover, 
where  he  followed  the  shoemaker's  trade.  He 
married  Catherine  Briggs,  of  Connecticut,  and 
had  four  children:  Ann,  Mrs.  Bishop  Smith; 
Sallie  A.,  Mrs.  William  H.  Fero;  Harry,  who 
married  Pollie  Gregory;  and  Richard,  who  mar- 
ried Sarah  Wheeler.  Sallie  A. ,  Mrs.  Marcy's 
grandmother,  was  born  in  South  Dovej,  in 
1807,  and  married'  Mr.  Fero,  November  8, 
1827.  He  was  a  farmer  in  Dover  town,  and 
a  son  of  Jacob   Fero,    a  well-to-do   farmer  of 


Columbia  county.  Five  children  were  born  of 
this  union;  Hattie,  Mrs.  Jerry  Waldron; 
Oscar,  who  married  (first)  Mary  Anson,  and 
(second)  Christina  Wilcox;  John,  Mrs.  Marcy's 
father;  Akin,  whose  wife's  name  is  not  known; 
and  William,  who  died  in  infancy.  John  Fero 
was  born  in  South  Dover  in  1838,  and  in  early 
manhood  engaged  in  farming,  but  later  was 
employed  for  twenty  years  as  a  conductor  on 
the  Harlem  railroad.  He  now  lives  a  retired 
life.  He  and  his  brother  Oscar  both  enlisted 
at  Poughkeepsie  during  the  Civil  war  in  Com- 
pany E,  150th  N.  Y.  V.  I.  Although  he  takes 
an  active  interest  in  public  affairs  he  has  never 
aspired  to  office.  He  belongs  to  the  Masonic 
Lodge  No.  666,  of  Dover,  and  also  to  the  or- 
der of  Good  Templars  Lodge  No.  433.  He 
married  Miss  Adelaide  Leonard,  and  had  four 
children:  (i)  Jennie,  born  in  1859,  married 
Edward  Davis,  and  has  had  three  children: 
May,  born  in  1886;  Bessie,  in  1890;  and  John, 
who  died  in  infancy.  (2)  Hattie,  born  in  1862, 
wife  of  our  subject.  (3)  \Villiam,  mentioned  be- 
low.     (4)  Ida,  born   in  1869,  died  in  infancy. 

Mrs.  John  Fero,  Mrs.  Marcy's  mother,  is 
of  English  descent,  her  grandparents,  Enoch 
and  Elsie  Leonard,  cousins,  having  come  from 
the  mother  country  to  settle  in  Dutchess  coun- 
ty. Her  grandfather  was  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of  1812.  Their  three  children  were:  Joshua; 
William,  who  never  married;  and  Maria,  Mrs. 
Joseph  Worden.  Joshua  Leonard,  Mrs.  Fero's 
father,  was  born  in  Dutchess  county  in  18 10, 
and  after  attendmg  the  schools  of  that  time, 
engaged  in  farming  in  the  town  of  Pawling. 
In  1862  he  enlisted  in  Company  E,  150th 
N.  Y.  V.  I.,  and  died  in  the  service  in  1864. 
His  wife  was  Miss  Eliza  Olivet,  daughter  of 
James  Olivet,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Pawling  1 
town,  and  his  wife  Mary.  Three  children' 
were  born  to  them:  Mary  Ann,  who  died  in* 
infancy;  William;  and  Adelaide,  Mrs.  Fero. 

William  Fero,  the  third  child  and  first  som 
of  John  and  Adelaide  Fero,  was  born  in  1865, 
and  is  now  an  engirreer  on  the  Harlem  railroad. 
He  married  Minnie  Rider,  by  whom  he  has 
had  four  children:  Addie,  born  in  1875,  died 
young;  Ida,  born  in  1885;  John,  born  in  1890; 
and  William,  in  1893.  ^^^s.  William  Fero  is 
a  descendant  of  one  of  the  old  families  of 
Bangall,  and  her  grandfather,  Thompson  Rider, 
was  a  native  of  that  place.  He  was  a  carpen- 
ter by  trade,  and  was  an  active  member  of  the 
Masonic  Lodge  of  Bangall.  His  first  wife, 
Sarah  Bailey,  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Bailey, 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


859 


a  well-known  resident  of  that  village,  and  his 
second  wife  was  a  Miss  Davis.  There  were 
five  children  by  the  first  marriage,  (i)  Emma 
married  George  Tompkins,  a  carpenter,  and 
had  six  children:  Annie,  George,  Jennie,  and 
three  others  whose  names  are  not  known. 
(2)  Landon  died  in  the  army.  (3)  David,  a 
carpenter  by  trade,  married  Miss  Eliza  Piatt, 
and  had  one  son,  Harry.  (4)  Legrand  died  at 
the  age  of  twenty-two.  Albert,  Mrs.  Fero's 
father,  was  born  at  Bangall,  in  1843,  and 
after  receiving  a  common-school  education  in 
his  native  village,  he  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade,  which  he  followed  for  many  years.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  His 
wife,  Sarah  Sackett,  was  a  daughter  of  George 
and  Rachel  Sackett,  and  her  father  was  a 
leading  farmer  in  the  town  of  Washington. 
Eleven  children  were  born  of  this  union: 
Emma  married  Harry  Hardstay,  and  has  had 
four  children;  Anna  is  at  home;  Lillie  married 
George  Coolman,  and  has  had  one  daughter, 
Anna;  Agnes  is  not  married;  Minnie  married 
Mr.  Fero;  Josie  died  in  infancy;  and  Bert, 
Charles,  John,  William  and  Albert  are  not 
married. 


MARTHA    T.    WING.     Among   the    suc- 
cessful  agriculturists    of     the    town     of 
A'ling,  Dutchess  county.  Miss  Martha  Wing 
noted    for    her   scientific    and    progressive 
uiagement.     A    constant    reader    of    agri- 
icultural  journals,  as  well  as  general  literature, 
!she  keeps  well  informed  on  the  latest  and  best 
methods  in  all  branches  of  her  work,  and  her 
'  rm  shows   the    results  of  her    practical    in- 
stigations.     She   is  especially  interested  in 
iiorticulture. 

The  Wing  family  has  long  been  prominent 

111    the    town    of    Pawling.     Jedediah    Wing, 

Miss    Wing's    great -great-grand  father,     came 

from  Rhode  Island  at  an  early  period  and  set- 

i  upon  a  farm    north  of  Quaker  Hill.      He 

s  a  man  of  quiet  tastes  and  a  leading  mem- 

r  of   the    Society   of    Friends.     Their  son, 

iJihu,     Miss    Wing's    great-grandfather,    was 

!  millwright  by  trade,  and   lived  upon    a  farm 

~t  of  the  old   Friends  meeting  house.      He 

Mill  his  wife,  Keziah  Wing,  reared  a  family  of 

Msiht  children:     Abigail,  Sybil,  Phoebe,  Eliza- 

th.  Sarah,  Lydia,  Keziah  and  Abrarn. 

Abram  Wing  was  only  seven  years  of  age 
hen  his  father  died.  He  became  a  farmer, 
eating  about  one-half  mile  south  of  the  pres- 


ent homestead,  and  was  very  successful,  own- 
ing about  500  acres  of  land  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  was  prominent  in  local  affairs,  al- 
though not  especially  active,  and  was  always 
interested  in  religious  progress.  He  married 
Rose  Irish,  who  was  born  July  4,  1789,  and 
had  four  sons:  Elihu,  born  August  20,  1806; 
Charles,  April  6.  1808;  Daniel,  September  23, 
i8og;  and  David  I.,  March  22,  181 1.  Abram 
Wing  died  in  1846,  but  his  widow  survived  him 
many  years,  passing  to  her  rest  in  1888.  Of 
the  sons,  Elihu  and  Daniel  spent  their  lives  at 
the  old  home  farm.  They  never  married. 
Charles  married  Eliza  Deuel,  and  had  three 
children:  Sarah  H.,  Abram  D.  and  Elihu  S. 
David  I.,  Miss  Wing's  father,  lived  at  the 
old  home  until  his  marriage  to  Mary  Irish, 
daughter  of  David  Irish,  when  he  settled  upon 
the  present  homestead,  which  contains  120 
acres.  Thrifty  and  successful  in  business,  he 
was  also  active  as  a  citizen  and  as  a  member 
of  the  Friends  Society.  Like  the  majority  of 
his  family,  he  was  a  Republican  and  took  much 
interest  in  the  success  of  his  party.  He  died 
November  27,  1888,  and  his  wife  followed  him 
September  25,  1893.  They  had  four  children: 
Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Edward  Rider,  of  Peach 
Pond;  Martha  T. ,  our  subject;  Phcebe,  who 
married  Edward  Henry  Wilco.x,  of  Pawling; 
and  Carrie,  who    died  in  1894. 


OBERT  CASS,  a  prominent  educator, 
whose  professional  work  has  covered  a 
period  of  over  a  quarter  of  a  century,  is  a 
leading  resident  of  the  town  of  Pawling,  Dutch- 
ess county.  A  nTan  of  fine  culture  and  liter- 
ary ability,  he  has  found  time  aside  from  the 
exacting  duties  of  the  school  room  to  use  his 
pen  effectively,  and  as  a  correspondent  of  the 
American  Agriculttirist ,  the  Poughkeepsie 
Eagle,  the  New  Milford  Gazette,  and  other 
papers,  he  has  dune  valuable  work.  He  comes 
of  a  brainy,  energetic  family.  His  grandfather, 
Richard  Cass,  was  one  of  four  brothers  who 
came  from  the  central  part  of  Scotland  and 
settled  in  different  parts  of  the  United  -States: 
one  in  Ohio,  two  in  Illinois,  and  one  in  Mich- 
igan, the  latter  being  the  father  of  Gen.  Lewis 
Cass,  so  well  known  in  military  and  political 
affairs. 

Allen  Cass,  our  subject's  father,  was  born 
in  1806,  near  Xenia,  Ohio,  and  in  early  man- 
hood engaged  in  his  father's  occupation  of 
farming,   at    Danville,    111.,   where    he    owned 


I 


860 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


200  acres  of  land.  He  was  influential  in  local 
affairs,  and  a  personal  friend  of  Abraham 
Lincoln,  and  more  than  once  was  a  juror 
-where  Lincoln  was  conducting  cases  at  the 
bar.  Politically,  he  was  a  Whig  until  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Republican  party,  to  which 
he  at  once  gave  his  allegiance.  He  was  a 
leading  member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  He 
married  Miss  Martha  Payton,  a  descendant  of 
one  of  the  first  families  of  Virginia,  whose  fa- 
ther, Valentine  Payton,  was  a  pioneer  settler  at 
Danville.  Eleven  children  were  born  to  them: 
William  Henry,  John  Milton,  Elisha,  Alpheus, 
Charles,  Willis  Allen,  Robert,  Mary  Frances, 
Lucy,  Margaret  and  Caroline. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  at 
Danville,  111.,  April  23,  1845,  and  was  edu- 
cated mainly  in  the  high  school  at  Homer,  111., 
under  H.  A.  CofTeen,  now  a  member  of  Con- 
gress from  Colorado.  After  leaving  school  he 
engaged  in  teaching,  following  the  profession 
successfully  in  the  school  at  Sherman,  Conn., 
the  Farmont  school  at  Danville,  111.,  and  in 
the  schools  at  Pawling,  Dutchess  Co.  N.  Y. 
He  is  actively  interested  in  all  that  tends  to 
promote  the  welfare  of  the  community,  and 
takes  a  leading  part  in  Church  work,  having 
served  as  Sunday-school  superintendent  for 
twenty  years. 

Mr.  Cass  married  a  member  of  one  of  the 
most  highly  respected  families  of  this  section, 
Miss  Emma  G.  Chamberlain,  and  has  two 
daughters,  Carrie  Belle  and  Lillie  May. 

George  H.  Chamberlain,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Cass,  was  born  in  1820,  in  Kent,  Conn., 
where  his  ancestors  had  made  their  home  for 
several  generations.  His-  father,  Harvey 
Chamberlain,  and  grandfather  Chamberlain, 
were  farmers  there.  Harvey  Chamberlain 
was  extremely  popular,  and  held  various  offices 
in  his  town,  including  that  of  selectman.  In 
his  political  affiliations  he  was  a  Democrat. 
He  died  in  18 — ,  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Polly  Morgan,  passed  away  in  her 
fifty-third  year.  They  had  six  children: 
George  H. ;  John,  deceased;  Helen,  wife  of 
Daniel  Vincent;  Flora  (Mrs.  Sterling,  of  Sha- 
ron, Conn.);  Mary,  wife  of  Smith  Stewart,  of 
Kent,  Conn. ;  and  Emeline  (Mrs.  Frederick 
Bull). 

George  H.  Chamberlain  was  educated  in 
the  district  school  near  his  birth  place  and  in 
a  select  school  at  Milton,  Conn.  Possessing 
more  than  average  mental  ability,  he  made 
good   use  of  these  opportunities,  and  in  later 


years  kept  well  abreast  with  the  times  by  his 
reading.  He  taught  for  three  or  four  seasons 
after  leaving  school,  but  engaged  in  farming 
after  his  marriage,  in  1843,  to  Miss  Mary 
Ann  Tompkins,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Tomp- 
a  leading  citizen  of  Kent,  Conn.  Their 
first  home  was  on  a  farm  about  a  mile 
below  the  old  homestead,  but  after  four  years 
he  purchased  another  piece  of  land  in  the 
same  neighborhood,  where  they  spent  about  ■ 
five  years.  He  then  sold  that  farm,  and  in 
1857  moved  to  a  tract  of  land  which  he  had 
previously  bought  near  Cerro  Gordo,  111. ;  but 
two  years  later  he  returned  to  his  native  State, 
and  lived  for  two  years  at  New  Milford.  In 
1 869  he  purchased  the  Sherman  Howard  farm, 
in  the  town  of  Pawling,  Dutchess  county, 
containing  125  acres,  where  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  He  had  excellent  judg- 
ment, and  was  successful  in  business  and  influ- 
ential as  a  citizen,  although  he  invariably  de- 
clined to  become  a  candidate  for  office  when 
urged  to  do  so  by  his  fellow  workers  in  the 
Democratic  party. 

Mrs.  Cass  was  the  only  child  of  her  parents. 
Her  mother's  family,  which  like  the  Chamber- 
lains, was  of  English  origin,  was  prominent  in 
East  Kent,  Conn.,  from  early  times.  Her 
maternal  great-grandfather,  Philip  Tompkins, 
was  a  cooper  by  trade,  and  her  grandfather, 
Benjamin  Tompkins,  was  an  extensive  agri- 
culturist, and  a  man  of  note  in  local  politics. 
He  married  Ophelia  Blakesle}',  and  had  six 
children:  Augustus  E. ;  Mary  Ann;  Emeline 
(Mrs.  Luke  Putnam);  Laura  (Mrs.  Peter 
Riley);  Martha,  who  married  Rufus  Lovell,  of 
Washington,  Conn.;  and  Eber  W.  Of  this 
family  only  one  is  now  living. 


MK  LEXANDER  R.  BECKER,  a  prominent 
^^  contractor  and  agriculturist  of  the  town 
of  Red  Hook,  Dulchess  county,  is  a  native  of 
the  county,  born  at  Rock  City  September  13, 
1828.  His  father.  Christian  Becker,  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Red  Hook  October  16,  1800, 
and  there  received  a  common-school  education. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmithing,  at 
which  he  worked  in  connection  with  farming. 
In  Red  Hook,  on  November  14,  1824,  was 
celebrated  his  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth 
Near,  who  was  born  June  22,  1802,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  four  children,  namely: 
Mary  A.,  who  became  the  wife  of  Myron  A. 
Badgley;  Juliet,   who  married   John  T.  Stall; 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


861 


William  H.,  who  married  Catherine  Sagendorf; 
and  Alexander  R.,  of  this  review. 

In  the  place  of  his  nativity  our  subject  at- 
tended the  public  schools,  where  he  acquired 
a  fair  education,  and  after  leaving  school  he 
learned  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith  with  his  fa- 
ther; but  as  this  was  not  to  his  taste,  he  went 
to  Elizaville,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  for  a  time  en- 
gaged in  merchandising.  Disposing  of  his 
business  there,  he  next  conducted  a  store  in 
New  York  City.  He  was  also  engaged  in  the 
brewing  business  at  Brooklyn,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Becker  &  Foster,  and  for  some  time 
ran  a  brewery  at  Albany,  N.  Y.  He  was  next 
employed  as  freight  agent  for  a  line  of  steam- 
ers on  the  Hudson,  and  later  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  contracting  in  New  York  City.  Since 
returning  to  Dutchess  county  he  has  made  his 
home  in  the  town  of  Red  Hook,  where  he  suc- 
cessfully carries  on  contracting  and  farming. 
He  wins  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  with 
whom  he  comes  in  contact,  and  occupies  a 
leading  position  among  the  influential  citizens 
of  the  community. 

Mr.  Becker  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Celinda  Mull,  a  daughter  of  Captain  Mull, 
a  hay  merchant  of  New  York  City,  who  is  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Mull  &  Lawton.  In 
1893  Mr.  Becker  was  called  to  mourn  the  loss 
of  his  estimable  wife. 

Mary  Ann  Becker,  the  sister  of  our  subject, 
was  born  at  Rock  City,  August  30,  1831,  was 
there  educated  and  married  Myron  A.  Badgley, 
son  of  Squire  and  Hannah  (Wing)  Badgley. 
By  occupation  Myron  Badgley  was  a  farmer. 
He  was  three  times  married,  his  first  union 
being  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Near.  He  next 
wedded  Miss  Becker,  by  whom  he  had  one 
daughter — Minnie  L.  For  his  third  wife  he 
chose  Miss  Sarah  Haines,  and  to  them  was 
born  a  daughter— Lizzie  E.,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred October  28,  1868.  She  is  now  the  wife 
of  Willard  E.  Link,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren— Ethel  and  Roy  C. 

Minnie  L.  Badgley,  the  niece  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  June  15,  1863,  in  the  town  of 
Milan,  Dutchess  county,  attended  the  schools 
of  the  locality,  and  was  united  in  marriage 
with  William  Augustus  Lown,  who  was  born 
at  Madalin,  Dutchess  county,  November  9, 
1863,  and  is  the  son  of  Richard  and  Hannah 
(Grunther)  Lown.  of  Barryto.vn,  N.  Y.  Their 
marriage  was  celebrated  Jime  27,  1886,  and 
jrevious  to  that  time  Mr.  Lown  had  followed 
the  trade  of  a   mason  for  several  years,  but  is 


now  engaged  in  farming  in  the  town  of  Red 
Hook.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lown  have  become  the 
parents  of  three  children:  Alexander  R.,  born 
April  10,  1887;  Florence,  who  was  born  May 
25,  1891,  and  died  in  infancy;  and  Bertram  E., 
born  December  19,  1894. 


JOHN  W.  HOFFMAN  (deceased)  was  for 
many  years  prominently  connected  with 
the  history  of  Dutchess  county.  His  birth 
occurred  in  the  town  of  Red  Hook,  March  10, 
1826,  where  the  family  is  numbered  among 
the  very  oldest  and  most  substantial  in  the 
locality,  being  among  the  pioneers.  His 
father,  George  C.  Hoffman,  was  a  farmer  and 
butcher  of  Red  Hook.  On  June  7,  1807,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Lydia  Beekman, 
and  after  her  death  wedded  Maria  Waldorf. 
By  the  second  union  were  born  twelve  chil- 
dren: Gitty  Elizabeth,  born  January  15, 
1809;  Rebecca  M.,  born  February  25,  1812; 
Helen  S. ,  born  January  23,  1814;  Sarah  A., 
born  May  7,  18 17;  Lydia  C,  born  April  6, 
1819;  Benjamin  B.,  born  March  15,  1821; 
Margarie  L.,  born  April  4,  1823;  John  W. ,  of 
this  review;  George  L.,  born  September  11, 
1829;  Edward  M.,  born  January  5,  1831; 
J.  Robert,  born  August  9,  1833;  and  Regina  E. 

The  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were 
spent  mostly  after  the  manner  of  farmers' 
sons,  and  when  he  had  attained  a  sufficient 
age  he  entered  the  public  schools  of  Red 
Hook,  where  his  education  was  acquired. 
When  he  had  arrived  at  years  of  maturity  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Lydia  S.  Man- 
ning, daughter  of  John  and  Margaret  (Raffen- 
burgh)  Manning.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Man- 
ning, her  mother  was  again  married,  becoming 
the  wife  of  Thomas  Welsh,  who  died  Seplem- 
ter  31,  1841.  In  her  family  were  nine  chil- 
dren: J.  Manning,  born  in  1781;  Margaret, 
born  July  10,  1788;  Elizabeth  J.,  born  Octo- 
ber 27,  1805;  Sarah  R. ,  born  October  14, 
1807;  Sophia,  born  February  21,  181 1;  Mary 
M.,  born  October  9,  1813;  John  A.,  born  May 
7,  1822;  Martin  H.,  born  June  18,  1827;  and 
Lydia  S.,  born  February  18,  1830. 

The  maternal  grandmother  of  Mrs.  Hoff- 
man, who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Jennie 
McGregor,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  while 
quite  young,  in  1773,  came  to  the  United 
States.  Having  the  welfare  of  the  people  at 
heart,  she  joined  the  force  of  nurses  who  were 
at  that  time  caring  for  the  wounded  soldiers  of 


862 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD 


the  Revolutionary  war,  and  while  serving  in 
that  capacity  she  met  and  fell  in  love  with  a 
handsome  lieutenant  who  was  wounded  and 
brought  to  the  hospital  for  treatment.  The 
name  of  this  officer  was  Peter  Raffenburgh, 
who  was  born  June  17,  1746.  They  were  af- 
terward married  and  became  the  parents  of 
five  children,  among  whom  was  Margaret,  the 
mother  of  Mrs.  Hoffman. 

In  early  life  Mr.  Hoffman  spent  most  of  his 
time  in  freighting  on  the  Hudson,  where  he 
owned  two  steamers — the  "  R.  Donaldson  "  and 
the  "Clifton" — which  he  commanded.  During 
the  Civil  war  the  United  States  Government 
wanted  the  R.  ' '  Donaldson  "  to  fit  out  as  a  war 
vessel.  The  purchase  being  completed,  he  was 
on  his  way  to  New  York  City  to  make  the  nec- 
essary transfer,  when  he  received  word  that 
the  steamer  had  run  ashore  in  a  fog,  and  was 
burned.  The  financial  loss  was  very  heavy. 
He  then  turned  his  attention  to  the  hotel  busi- 
ness at  Barrytown,  Dutchess  county,  which 
proved  very  successful.  He  also  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  tobacco  at  Red  Hook  for 
some  time. 

Eleven  children  graced  the  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hoffman,  namely:  Orison  G.,  born 
October  25,  1854;  Elizabeth  H.,  born  October 
2,  1856;  William  M. ,  born  May  31,  1858; 
Allen  H.,  born  January  19,  1861;  George  E., 
born  January  14,  1863;  Horace  A.,  born  Oc- 
tober 23,  1864;  C.  Otis  and  Otto,  twins,  born 
November  14,  1866;  Robert  M.,  born  June  29, 
1868;  Maggie  J.,  born  May  5,  1872;  and  Hat- 
tie  C,  born  August  27,  1873.  The  youngest 
son,  Robert  M.  Hoffman,  was  born  in  Red 
Hook,  and  in  1881  entered  the  De  Garmo  In- 
stitute of  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county,  which 
school  has  since  been  removed  to  Fishkill-on- 
Hudson.  He  later  attended  the  Holbrook 
Military  Academy  at  Sing  Sing,  N.  Y.,  and  in 
1888,  became  a  student  at  Yale  College,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1 89 1 . 
After  his  graduation  he  went  to  Chicago,  111., 
where  for  a  few  years  he  practiced  mechanical 
engineering. 

On  December  26,  1883,  the  earthly  career 
of  Mr.  Hoffman  was  ended,  his  death  being 
deeply  regretted  by  many  warm  friends  as  well 
as  his  sorrowing  family.  His  personal  integ- 
rity both  in  public  and  private  life,  was  of  the 
highest  order,  and  both  he  and  his  estimable 
wife  enjoyed  the  friendship  and  acquaintance 
of  a  large  number  of  the  best  people  of  Red 
Hook  and  vicinity. 


J.' 


RTHUR  H.  BOLLES.  Although  the 
JP^  subject  of  this  sketch  has  resided  at 
Pawling,  Dutchess  county,  but  a  few  years,  he 
has  won  an  enviable  position  in  business  cir- 
cles, the  trade  of  his  marble  and  stone  cut- 
ting establishment  extending  beyond  the  limits 
of  his  immediate  locality  into  Putnam  county, 
N.  Y. ,  and  Fairfield  and  Litchfield  counties. 
Conn.  He  is  a  native  of  the  last-named  coun- 
ty, having  first  seen  the  light  at  New  Preston, 
November  1 1,  1857.  and  two  previous  genera- 
tions have  been  prominent  there  in  the  same 
line  of  business.  His  grandfather,  Reuben 
Bolles,  was  born  in  Colebrook,  Conn.,  in  1790, 
but  about  181 3  went  to  New  Preston  and 
learned  the  trade  of  engraving  marble  and 
granite,  which  he  followed  for  sixty  years,  or 
until  his  death,  February  i,  1874.  He  be- 
came one  of  the  principal  marble  dealers  of 
that  region,  owning  a  quarry  of  what  is  known 
as  New  Preston  marble,  much  in  demand 
for  cemeteries.  A  man  of  great  energy,  his 
activities  were  not  confined  to  the  manage- 
ment of  his  business,  as  he  took  an  active 
share  in  the  work  of  the  Democratic  party,  and 
held  numerous  official  positions.  In  religious 
faith  he  was  a  Congregationalist.  He  married 
a  native  of  New  Preston,  Miss  Amanda  Meeker, 
and  had  seven  children,  four  sons — George  W., 
Noble,  Henry  N.  and  Andrew  J.,  all  of  whom 
engaged  in  the  stone  and  marble  trade — and 
three  daughters — Caroline,  who  married  Will- 
iam Dowler;  Maria,  the  wife  of  Henry  Peck; 
and  Jeanette,  who  married  Julius  A.  Glover, 
of  New  Preston. 

Henry  M.  Bolles,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  at  New  Preston,  in  1825,  and  since  1843 
has  carried  on  at  the  same  place  his  extensive 
marble  works,  now  the  only  establishment  of 
the  kind  in  the  neighborhood.  His  trade 
covers  a  radius  of  forty  or  fifty  miles,  and  he  is 
one  of  the  substantial  business  men  of  the  town. 
He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  and  in  politics  has  always  been,  in- 
fluential as  a  Democrat,  holding  the  office  of 
assessor  and  justice  of  the  peace  for  many 
years.  His  partner  in  life  was  Miss  Sophia 
Kinney,  daughter  of  Gilbert  Kinney,  a  well- 
known  resident  of  New  Preston,  and  they 
have  had  three  children,  of  whom,  our  subject, 
the  youngest,  is  the  only  survivor.  Edward 
H.  died  in  infancy,  and  William  in  his  boy- 
hood. 

Arthur  H.  Bolles  was  educated  in  the  Con- 
necticut Literary  Institute  at  Suffield,    where 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPEICAL  RECORD. 


86;j 


he  received  excellent  training  with  the  view  of 
pursuing  a  more  advanced  course;  but  at  the  age 
of  nineteen  he  left  school  to  engage  in  busi- 
ness. His  first  employment  was  as  a  travel- 
ing salesman,  and  in  this  work  he  was  very 
successful,  handling  some  large  contracts  in 
various  localities,  and  superintending  their 
completion.  After  eight  years  with  his  father, 
he  spent  six  years  with  firms  in  Springfield  and 
Hartford  and  then  returned  to  New  Preston, 
where  he  remained  two  years.  In  1891  he 
went  to  Pawling,  purchasing  the  business 
formerly  owned  by  George  W.  Turner.  This 
was  an  old  and  well-known  enterprise,  estab- 
lished about  thirty-five  years  ago,  and  Mr. 
Bolles  has  enlarged  the  plant  and  increased 
his  trade  greatly.  He  makes  a  specialty  of 
granite  work.  Like  all  of  his  family,  he  is 
public-spirited  and  loyal  to  the  best  interests 
of  his  town;  he  attends  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  takes  a  generous  interest  in  all  pro- 
gressive movements.  In  politics  he  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat, but  has  not  sought  office  or  taken  a 
prominent  part  in  political  strife. 

Mr.  Bolles  was  united  in  matrimony  with 
Miss  Christina  Richards,  daughter  of  James 
Richards,  of  London,  England,  but  no  chil- 
dren have  blessed  their  union. 


ISAAC     VERMILYEA      BILLINGS     (de- 
ceased).      In  the   intensified   energy  of  the 

successful  man  fighting  the  evtry-day  battle  of 
existence  there  is  but  little  to  attract  the  idle 
observer,  but  to  the  mind  fully  awake  to  the 
realities  of  life  and  their  meaning,  there  are 
noble  lessons  to  be  learned  from  the  history  of 
a  man  who  without  other  aid  than  a  clear 
head,  a  strong  arm,  and  a  true  heart,  conquers 
adversity,  and  while  securing  an  honorable 
competency  leaves  to  his  family  the  priceless 
memory  of  a  good  name. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir,  formerly  a 
prominent  resident  of  Billings,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, was  a  grandson  of  one  of  the  earliest  set- 
tlers of  the  town  of  Lagrange — John  Billings, 
who  was  a  tanner  and  shoemaker  by  trade  in 
early  life,  and  later  became  well  known  as  an 
auctioneer.  He  was  a  Whig  in  politics,  and  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  at  Lagrangeville. 
His  wife.  Rachel  Jay,  was  a  native  of  Hud- 
son, N.  Y.,  and  they  had  four  children:  Isaac, 
who  lived  in  Lagrange;  Daniel,  our  subject's 
father;  Rachel  (Mrs.  Thurston),  and  Fannie 
(Mrs.  Paul  Durando). 


Daniel  Billings  resided  during  his  entire  life 
in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  receiving  his  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  and,  later,  followed 
the  occupation  of  farming.  He  became  a  Re- 
publican in  politics  when  the  war  issues  caused 
the  formation  of  new  party  lines.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Vermilyea,  and  had  four  children,  of 
whom  the  subject  of  our  sketch  was  the  eld- 
est: (2)  Sarah  Ann  married  Hubbard  Col- 
well,  and  died  leaving  three  children — Chaun- 
cey  P.,  Elizabeth  and  Elvena.  (3)  John  D. 
is  now  deceased.  (4)  Catherine  (deceased) 
was  formerly  the  wife  of  Samuel  Colwell. 

The  late  Isaac  V.  Billings  was  born  Sep- 
tember 28,  1 8 16,  in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  and 
spent  his  boyhood  at  the  old  farm  attending 
the  district  schools  and  assisting  in  the  work 
at  home.  He  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade 
with  Edgar  Hawkins,  at  Oswego  Village, 
Dutchess  county,  and  followed  it  at  Billings 
during  the  most  of  his  life.  In  early  life  he 
was  a  Democrat  in  politics;  but  the  temperance 
reform  seemed  to  him  one  of  the  vital  issues 
of  the  day,  and  he  became  one  of  the  first 
Prohibitionists  in  his  town.  He  was  a  sup- 
porter of  the  M.  E.  Church  at  Lagrangeville 
for  many  years  previous  to  his  death,  which 
occurred  April  19,  1825.  On  October  30, 
i860,  he  was  married  at  Billings  to  Miss  Susan 
Storm,  who  survives  him.  No  children  were 
born  of  their  union. 

Mrs.  Billings  is  a  member  of  one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  substantial  families.  Her 
great-grandfather,  Derrick  Storm,  was  a  na- 
tive of  the  town  of  Fishkill,  and  became  a 
farmer  in  Pleasant  Valley,  where  his  son  Peter, 
Mrs.  Billings' grandfather,  was  born  and  passed 
his  entire  life,  engaging  in  agriculture  as  an  oc- 
cupation. He  married  Catalina  Van  Dyck, 
and  had  six  children:  John  P.,  who  married 
Miss   Mott;   Margaret   (Mrs.    Peter   Le  Roy), 


Lena.    James,    Polly, 
whom  are  now  living. 


and    Francis,    none    of 
James  Storm,  the  fa- 


ther of  Mrs.  Billings,  was  born  at  the  home- 
stead in  Pleasant  Valley,  and  grew  to  manhood 
there.  He  married  Miss  Johanna  Van  Voor- 
hees,  daughter  of  John  Van  Voorhees,  a  lead- 
ing resident  of  Pleasant  Valley,  and  for  four 
years  after  his  marriage  he  lived  upon  a  farm 
in  that  locality.  He  then  sold  his  property 
and  moved  to  Alburg,  Grand  Isle  Co.,  Vt., 
where  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits  for 
many  years;  but  his  last  years  were  spent  in 
his  native  county,  in  the  town  of  Lagrange. 
He  was  a  Whig  in  politics,  and  he  and  his  wife 


864 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


were  Presbyterians  in  religious  faith.  They 
had  nine  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Billings  was 
the  youngest:  (i)  Caroline  (deceased)  mar- 
ried Benjamin  Marvin,  and  had  three  children 
—Albert,  Sarah  E.  and  Mary  E.  (2)  John 
(deceased)  married  Mary  E.  Conger.  (3) 
Peter  (deceased)  married  Lucinda  Palmer,  and 
had  two  children — Solon  and  Caroline.  (4) 
Henry  (deceased)  married  Abigail  Smith,  and 
had  five  children — James,  Mary  Jane,  Helen 
(deceased),  Henry  and  Minerva.  (5)  Cather- 
ine has  never  married.  (6)  James,  Jr. ,  a  res- 
ident of  Stockbridge,  Wis.,  married  Emily 
Prentiss,  and  has  three  children — Helen,  David 
H.  and  Frederick  P.  (7)  Helen  (deceased) 
never  married.  (8)  David  (deceased)  mar- 
ried Jennie  Dates. 


MS  LBERT  CARTER  SMITH  (deceased). 
,/*^  Among  those  who  have  been  prominently 
identified  with  the  agricultural  interests  of 
the  town  of  Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  and 
whose  perseverance  and  industry  gained  for 
him  not  only  a  foothold  in  the  world,  but  made 
him  one  of  the  largest  land  holders  in  the  lo- 
cality, was  the  subject  of  this  review.  He  be- 
longs to  that  class  of  men  peculiar  to  this  Re- 
public— the  self-made  men — and  his  property 
was  due  not  to  any  lucky  speculation,  to  any 
inheritance,  or  to  any  gift,  but  to  his  own  con- 
tinual struggles,  and  his  indomitable  pluck  un- 
der adversity. 

Phineas  Smith,  his  grandfather,  was  a  lead- 
ing physician  and  resident  of  Litchfield  county, 
Conn.,  where  his  death  occurred  at  the  age  of 
forty  years.  He  married  Miss  Clemens,  and  to 
them  were  born  four  children,  all  now  de- 
ceased: Whiting,  Eleazer,  Lorentz  and 
Phineas. 

Lorentz,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  at  Mt.  Tom,  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  June 
29,  1789,  and  in  the  schools  of  that  county 
received  his  education.  As  a  young  man  he 
worked  in  a  woolen-mill,  which  is  still  stand- 
ing on  the  old  home  farm,  becoming  a  weaver 
and  spinner,  and  at  the  age  of  thirty  years 
went  to  Livingston  Manor,  Columbia  Co.,  N. 
Y. ,  where  he  engaged  in  that  business  until 
1826,  at  which  time  he  returned  to  the  town  of 
Amenia,  having  purchased  the  place  contain- 
ing the  mill  in  which  he  had  worked  in  his 
younger  days.  His  return  dated  from  Febru- 
ary 22,  1826,  and  until  1840  he  manufactured 
woolen  cloth  and  flannels.      He  also  conducted 


his  farm  of  100  acres  until  his  death,  July  18, 
1864.  At  Amenia  he  had  married  Miss  Sally 
Fields,  a  daughter  of  Jesse  Fields,  a  carpen- 
ter and  builder.  Four  children  graced  this 
union:  (i)  Albert  Carter,  of  this  sketch;  (2) 
George  G.,  of  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess 
county,  who  first  married  Charity  Miller,  by 
whom  he  had  four  children — Hewitt,  Mary, 
Lawrence  and  Carrie — and  for  his  second  wife 
he  wedded  Nellie  Haynes,  and  by  this  union 
has  one  son — George.  (3)  Louisa,  who  is  the 
widow  of  Nathaniel  Hewitt  (he  died  December 
11',  1865),  by  whom  she  had  four  children — 
Mary,  wife  of  Mr.  Colburn;  Albertina,  wife  of 
Herbert  Fowler;  and  Emma  and  Sarah,  both 
deceased  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Hewitt  resides  on 
the  home  farm,  where  she  was  born  in  1829; 
and  (4)  Julia  Ann,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two 
years.     The  mother  of  this  family  died  in  1 848. 

Albert  Carter  Smith  was  born  at  Livingston 
Manor,  Columbia  county,  April  4,  1820,  but 
his  early  life  was  passed  mainly  in  the  town  of 
Amenia,  where  he  attended  the  district  schools, 
and  was  employed  in  the  woolen-mill  of  his 
father  as  long  as  it  was  conducted.  Ever  an 
industrious,  energetic  man,  he  steadily  in- 
creased his  estate  until  he  became  the  owner 
of  one  thousand  acres  of  valuable  land  in 
Amenia,  Stanford  and  Washington  town,  all 
of  which  property  was  acquired  after  he  had 
attained  his  fortieth  year. 

Politically  Mr.  Smith  was  an  adherent  of 
Jeffersonian  Derftocracy,  but  cared  nothing  for 
public  office.  He  stood  in  his  mature  years — 
a  strong  man — strong  in  the  consciousness  of 
a  well-spent  life,  strong  to  plan  and  perform, 
strong  in  his  credit  and  in  his  good  name,  and 
for  the  younger  generation  a  worthy  example 
to  imitate,  as  illustrating  that  success  in  life 
that  may  be  attained  by  industry  and  persever- 
ance.     His  death  occurred  October  5,  1896. 


IRVING  FRALEIGH.  The  subject  of  this 
__  biography  is  one  of  the  honored  sons  of 
Dutchess  county,  and  a  prominent  resident  of 
the  town  of  Red  Hook,  where  his  birth  took 
place  February  4,  1837.  He  began  life  with 
a  definite  purpose  in  view,  worked  faithfully, 
honestly,  and  with  a  will  for  its  accomplish- 
ment, and  has  now  gained  a  comfortable  com- 
petence. 

Our  subject  is  descended  from  Putnam  and 
Elizabeth  (Felder)  Fraleigh,  whose  name  ap- 
pears in  the  records  of  the  German  Reformed 


i 


ALBERT    C.    SMITH. 


COMMEMORATIVE   BIOORAPHICAL   RECORD. 


865 


Church  for  the  first  time  July  9,  1780,  when 
their  son  Johannes  was  baptized.  The  names, 
and  dates  of  the  baptism,  of  three  of  their 
other  children  are  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  April 
12,  1782;  George,  September  3,  1784;  and 
Phillippus,  December  3,  1786.  They  also 
had  another  son  and  daughter,  Peter  and  Han- 
nah. 

The  primary  education  of  our  subject  was 
obtained  in  the  district  schools  of  the  town  of 
Red  Hook,  and  the  knowledge  there  acquired 
was  supplemented  by  a  course  in  the  Hartwick 
Seminary.  After  completing  his  studies  there 
he  followed  farming  until  twenty-six  years  of 
age,  when  he  engaged  in  freighting  between 
Barrytovvn  and  New  York  City,  under  the  firm 
name  of  P.  L.  Tyler  &  Co.,  which,  later,  was 
dissolved,  and  the  firm  of  Carnwright  & 
Fraleigh  was  organized.  The  name  was 
changed  to  Carnwright,  Fraleigh  &  Company; 
but  the  firm  subsequently  assumed  the  former 
style,  which  they  retained  as  long  as  the  busi- 
ness was  conducted.  Mr.  Fraleigh  was  also 
engaged  in  the  milling  business  with  a  Mr. 
Curtis  under  the  firm  style  of  Curtis  &  Fra- 
leigh, which  connection  was  continued  some 
six  years,  or  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Curtis. 
Our  subject  then  purchased  the  latter's  inter- 
est, and  for  two  years  conducted  the  Oriole 
Mills  at  Rock  City,  after  which  he  bought  of 
Charles  White  a  one-half  interest  in  the  Red 
Hook  Mills,  which,  together  with  the  Oriole 
mil's,  were  conducted  under  the  firm  name  of 
Irving,  Fraleigh  &  Co. ,  Sheridan  Shook  own- 
ing an  interest.  They  now  operate  both  mills, 
which  they  have  greatly  enlarged  and  im- 
proved, and  are  also  engaged  in  the  distillery 
business.  Mr.  Fraleigh  conducts  a  fine  stock 
farm  situated  a  short  distance  from  the  village 
of  Red  Hook,  which  is  one  of  the  model  farms 
of  the  county  and  a  source  of  great  pleasure 
and  pride  to  him.  He  is  a  thorough  business 
man,  upright  and  honorable  in  all  his  dealings, 
and  well  deserves  the  success  that  has  come  to 
him. 

On  December  9,  1862,  Mr.  Fraleigh  was 
married  to  Miss  A.  I.  Cookingham,  daughter 
of  Andrew  Cookingham,  of  the  town  of  Rhine- 
beck,  Dutchess  county,  and  two  children  have 
been  born  to  them:  Sheridan,  born  Novem- 
ber II,  1868,  died  July  24,  1876,  and  Irving, 
born  October  17,  1877.  In  politics  Mr.  Fra- 
leigh is  a  Democrat. 

Peter  H.  Fraleigh,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born   September  2,  181 3,  in  the  town  of 

56 


Red  Hook,  and  January  28,  1835,  he  married 
Miss  Lydia  C.  Shook,  who  was  born  July  31, 
1815,  and  died  August  5,  1885.  Our  subject 
is  their  only  child.  The  father  was  called 
from  earth  February  10,  1893.  He  had  been 
a  lifelong  agriculturist,  and  the  farm  upon 
which  he  passed  his  entire  married  life  is  now 
owned  by  his  son. 


WILLIAM  CARROLL,  a  leading  business 
man  of  Rhinebeck,  a  manufacturer  of 

furniture  and  the  proprietor  of  the  oldest  un- 
dertaking establishment  in  Dutchess  county, 
was  born  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  August  25,  1821. 
John  Carroll,  his  father,  married  Mary 
Hauver,  of  Dutchess  county,  and  had  three 
children:  Christian  Hauver,  Mary  Hauver, 
and  William,  of  whom,  the  two  sons  lived  to 
adult  age.  The  father  died  in  Ulster  county 
when  our  subject  was  an  infant,  and  the 
mother  removed  to  Dutchess  county,  and  lived 
for  some  years  in  the  town  of  Cinton,  near  the 
slate  quarry.  Here  our  subject  attended  the 
district  school  until  the  age  of  twelve  years, 
when  his  mother  removed  to  Rhinebeck.  After 
four  years  in  the  schools  there,  he  began  clerk- 
ing for  Quick  &  Traver,  and  at  nineteen  went 
to  Poughkeepsie  to  learn  the  cabinetmaker's 
trade  with  John  De  Pue.  He  remained  in  that 
city  four  or  five  years,  working  for  Taylor  & 
Nelson  after  his  apprenticeship  ended,  and 
then  returned  to  Rhinebeck.  September  i, 
1844,  he  opened  a  cabinet-making  shop  two 
doors  below  his  present  location,  but  after  the 
fire  of  1862,  he  bought  a  lot  and  erected  the 
three-story  brick  building  which  he  has  occu- 
pied since  that  time.  As  his  business  de- 
veloped, undertaking  and  the  manufacture  of 
furniture  became  leading  features,  and  in  the 
former  line  he  is  now  the  oldest  worker  in  the 
county.  He  has  probably  buried  more  people 
than  any  two  of  his  fellow  craftsmen.  His 
store  is  one  of  the  most  complete  in  northern 
Dutchess  county.  A  careful,  conservative 
manager,  Mr.  Carroll's  enterprises  have  always 
been  successful, and  his  advice  is  valued  in  busi- 
ness circles  and  in  local  affairs.  He  was  one 
of  the  incorporators  of  the  Rhinebeck  Savings 
Bank,  and  has  always  been  a  trustee  in  that 
institution. 

In  1845,  Mr.  Carroll  married  Miss  Olevia 
Van  Tassell,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  old 
families  of  the  town  of  Fishkill,  born  March 
27,  1829,  and  has  had  five  children,  of  whom, 


866 


COMMEMOBATrVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


three  are  living:  (i)  Henry  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three;  (2)  Arthur  died  in  infancy;  (3) 
J uHa  married  Dr.  Banker,  of  Elizabeth,  N.  J.; 
(4)  William  R.,  now  in  partnership  with  his 
father,  married  Amelia  Davis,  of  Stone  Kidge, 
Ulster  county,  and  has  three  children — Grace, 
William  H.  and  Jessie;  and  (5)  Harriet  is  the 
widow  of  the  late  Dr.  Allen,  of  Columbus,  Ohio. 
Although  he  is  a  firm  believer  in  Republic- 
an principles  Mr.  Carroll  is  an  independent 
voter  in  local  politics.  He  has  never  sought 
office,  his  attention  being  devoted  to.  his  busi- 
ness, but  he  has  served  as  trustee  of  the  vil- 
lage, and  is  always  ready  to  forward  any 
measure  for  local  inprovement.  He  and  his 
wife  are  leading  members  of  the  M.E.  Church, 
with  which  he  united  fifty-five  years  ago,  and 
has  been  for  most  of  that  time  an  official.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M. 


WILLIAM    A.     TRIPP,  the    well-known 
forwarding    and    freighting    merchant, 

of  Rhinebeck,  successor  to  the  old  New  York 
State  Co.,  established  in  1812,  is  descended 
from  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Dutchess 
county,  his  ancestors  having  come  from  Eng- 
land at  an  early  period.  His  grandfather, 
Timothy  Tripp,  was  born  in  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, but  moved  to  Otsego  county  in  his  later 
years,  and  engaged  in  farming  there  during  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  He  married  Miss  White, 
and  reared  a  family  of  seven  children:  John, 
Alfred,  Silas,  William,  Eunice,  Hannah  and 
Ruby,  and  by  a  second  wife  he  had  another 
son,  Briggs. 

Alfred  Tripp,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  in  1807,  on  the  present  site  of  Millbrook 
station,  in  the  town  of  Washington,  and  about 
1840  engaged  in  a  general  merchandise  busi- 
ness at  Oak  Hill,  Greene  county,  which  he 
carried  on  until  a  short  time  before  his  death. 
He  was  also  a  stockholder  in  one  of  the  found- 
ries at  that  place,  and  was  one  of  the  leading 
business  men  of  the  locality.  His  first  wife 
was  a  Miss  Hopson,  by  whom  he  had  one 
daughter — Mary  Ellen,  and  his  second  wife  was 
Maria  Utter,  daughter  of  James  Utter,  a  prom- 
inent resident  of  Oak  Hill.  Eleven  children 
were  born  of  this  union:  Elizabeth  (deceased); 
Alice  (deceased);  James,  captain  of  the  barge 
"  Enterprise  "  and  a  resident  of  Schultzville; 
Amanda  (deceased);  Delia  (deceased);  Will- 
iam A.,  our  subject;  Helen,  who  lives  at  Oak 


Hill;    Edward   (deceased);  and    Isaac,    Hattie 
and  Carrie,   who  are   all    living  at  Oak  Hill. 

Mr.  Tripp  firstsaw  the  light  May  18,  1851, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  district  and 
select  schools  of  his  native  town.  His  advan- 
tages in  this  respect  were  quite  good;  he  has 
since  been  a  constant  reader,  and  his  informa- 
tion is  varied  and  extensive.  At  nineteen  he 
entered  his  father's  store  as  clerk,  and  re- 
mained two  years,  and  April  i,  1872,  came  to 
Rhinebeck  as  clerk  for  Capt.  J.  H.  Baldwin, 
who  then  owned  the  freighting  and  commis- 
sion business  which  had  been  founded  by  the 
New  York  State  Company  sixty  years  before, 
and  continued  without  interruption.  Capt. 
Baldwin  sold  it  in  1875  to  the  Cornell  Steam- 
boat Co.,  who  disposed  of  it  March  i,  1876, 
to  Hoffman  &  Pitcher.  This  firm  continued 
the  business  until  March  i,  1884,  when  it  was 
purchased  by  Hoffman,  Tripp  &  Co.  On 
April  I,  1895,  Mr.  Tripp  bought  out  his  part- 
ners, and  has  since  been  the  sole  proprietor  of 
the  business,  and  the  barge  "Enterprise." 
He  is  also  engaged  in  the  coal  business  and  has, 
perhaps,  the  largest  aggregate  trade  in  that 
locality.  In  all  his  enterprises  Mr.  Tripp  has 
displayed  excellent  judgment,  and  he  is  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  most  reliable  young  busi- 
ness men  of  the  town. 

In  politics  he  is  a  strong  Republican,  as 
was  his  father  before  him,  and  he  has  been  a 
leading  worker  in  local  politics,  serving  as  a 
member  of  the  Republican  County  Committee 
for  several  years,  and  he  has  served  also  on  the 
Town  Committee.  He  was  at  one  time  the 
party  candidate  for  supervisor.  He  belongs  to 
the  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  is  master  of  the  Rhine- 
beck Lodge  No.  432,  and  he  holds  the  office  of 
master  of  finance  in  the  K.  of  P. ,  Rhinebeck 
Lodge  No.  345. 


ICHAEL  A.  MULDOWNEY.  Every- 
_  _  where  in  our  land  are  men  who  have 
worked  their  own  way  from  humble  beginning; 
to  leadership  in  commerce,  the  great  product 
ive  industries,  the  management  of  financial 
affairs,  and  in  controlling  the  veins  and  ar 
teries  of  the  traffic  and  exchanges  of  thf 
country.  It  is  one  of  the  glories  of  our  natior 
that  it  is  so.  Prominent  among  the  self-madt 
men  of  Poughkeepsie  is  the  subject  of  thi 
sketch. 

Mr.    Muldowney    was    born    at    Madison 
Morris  Co.,  N.   J.,  September  15,  1850.      Hi 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


867 


father,  Edward  Muldowney,  was  a  native  of 
Ireland,  and  came  to  America  when  about 
twenty-six  years  old,  locating  on  a  farm  in 
New  Jersey.  He  was  married  to  Anna  Tier- 
ney,  also  a  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  and 
they  began  their  domestic  life  upon  a  farm, 
where  their  six  children  were  born:  Michael, 
of  this  review;  Mary,  widow  of  Frederick  Mil- 
ler, an  engineer,  who  was  killed  on  the  rail- 
road; Martin,  who  located  in  the  West;  Ed- 
ward, a  resident  of  New  York  City;  John,  who 
died  in  infancy;  and  Joseph,  who  is  engaged 
in  the  grocery  business  in  Albany,  N.  Y.  The 
father  always  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  died  in  Poughkeepsie.  His  political  sup- 
port was  given  the  Democratic  party,  and  he 
and  his  wife  were  devout  members  of  the  Ro- 
man Catholic  Church.-  Her  death  occurred 
in  New  York  City. 

The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  passed 
at  Madison,  N.  J.,  until  thirteen  years  of  age, 
during  which  time  he  attended  the  public 
schools,  and  then  went  to  New  York  City, 
where  he  secured  the  position  of  check  clerk  in 
the  "Hoffman  House,"  remaining  there  for 
three  years.  Going  to  Newark,  N.  J.,  he 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade  with  Reeve, 
Howard  &  Battin,  at  No.  8  Walnut  street.  At 
the  end  of  three  years,  however,  he  returned 
to  New  York  City,  where  he  followed  that  occu- 
pation in  various  shops  until  coming  to  Pough- 
keepsie in  1876.  Entering  into  the  grocery 
business  with  his  brother  Joseph,  at  No.  54 
Union  street,  that  partnership  was  continued 
for  five  years,  when  our  subject  assumed  com- 
plete charge.  In  the  winter  of  1885-6  he 
erected  his  present  brick  block  at  the  corner 
of  Union  and  John  streets,  Nos.  47  and  49  John 
street,  and  50  Union  street.  After  its  comple- 
tion he  there  removed  his  stock  of  groceries, 
and  now  does  a  large  and  paying  retail  busi- 
ness; he  also  resides  in  the  building. 

On  November  8,  1871,  Mr.  Muldowney  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Driscoll,  a  native  of 
New  York  City,  and  a  daughter  of  John  Dris- 
coll, a  sailor,  who  was  born  in  Ireland.  Their 
family  circle  now  includes  ten  children;  one 
died  in  infancy.  The  others  are  all  at  home, 
namely:  Mary,  Joseph,  Edward,  Jennie, 
John,  Frank,  Hugh,  Winnie,  Rosamond  and 
William. 

Following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father,  Mr. 
Muldowney  casts  his  ballot  in  support  cf  the 
Democratic  party,  and  has  been  twice  elected 
jlderman  of  the  Second  ward  of  Poughkeepsie, 


the  last  time  in  1892,  being  president  of  the 
council  that  term.  He  has  been  quite  success- 
ful in  his  business  undertakings,  and  is  now  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trade  and  the  Busi- 
ness Men's  Association.  He  is  one  of  the  most 
public-spirited  and  progressive  men  of  the  city, 
and  he  and  his  wife  are  faithful  members  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church. 


/pILBERT  FOWLER,  one  of  the  most 
\^  prominent  and  prosperous  agriculturists 
of  the  town  of  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county, 
was  born  October  15,  1840,  in  the  town  of 
Clinton,  where  at  least  three  previous  genera- 
tions of  the  family  had  lived. 

His  first  American  ancestor  came  from 
England  at  an  early  date,  and  his  grandfather, 
Gilbert  Fowler,  was  born  in  Dutchess  county, 
and  became  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Clinton, 
but  later  in  life  he  moved  to  Illinois,  where 
his  death  occurred.  He  married  Miss  Powell, 
a  native  of  Clinton,  and  Teared  a  family  of 
seven  children:  Gilbert,  our  subject's  father; 
Weeden,  a  merchant  and  truckman  in  New 
York  City;  James,  a  cooper  in  the  town  of 
Hyde  Park;  Amond,  a  resident  of  New  York 
City;  Derinda,  who  married  Dr.  Braidy,  of 
Little  Rock,  111.;  Anna,  who  married  Jesse 
Braidy,  of  Illinois;  and  Mary,  the  wife  of 
Henry  Abbey,  a  wagon  maker  in  Little  Rock. 

Gilbert  Fowler  (2),  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, grew  to  manhood  in  the  town  of  Clin- 
ton, and  married  Hannah  Frost,  a  lady  of 
English  descent,  and  a  daughter  of  William 
Frost,  a  well-known  farmer  there.  Shortly 
after  his  marriage  he  took  his  young  wife  to 
New  York  City  and  engaged  in  the  trucking 
business,  but  he  did  not  live  long,  his  death 
occurring  before  the  birth  of  our  subject.  His 
wife  survived  him  many  years;  dying  in    1894. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  reared  in 
the  town  of  Clinton,  and  October  31,  1867, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Amanda  De- 
Wint,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  early  French 
settlers,  and  daughter  of  George  De  Wint,  a 
leading  farmer  of  Rhinebeck.  The  first  year 
after  his  marriage  they  went  to  Illinois,  where 
Mr.  Fowler  farmed  for  a  year;  but  in  1868  he 
returned,  and  has  since  been  contented  with 
the  fertile  fields  and  picturesque  scenes  of  his 
native  county.  He  first  purchased  a  farm  of 
118  acres,  where  he  lived  until  1889,  when  he 
bought  the  Pultz  farm  of  103  acres  near  Rhine- 


868 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


beck,  all  of  which  he  devotes  to  general  farm- 
ing. Mrs.  Fowler  died  July  23,  1892,  leaving 
four  children  bereft  of  her  loving  care:  Emory, 
Jesse,  Gilbert  and  Edna  Mae,  all  of  whom  are 
at  home.  Two  others  had  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  Fowler's  ancestors  on  .both  sides  were 
Quakers  in  faith,  but  he  and  his  lamented  wife 
had  united  with  the  Lutheran  Church. 

In  politics  our  subject  is  a  Republican,  and 
while  he  is  no  politician  he  takes  an  influential 
part  in  local  affairs,  befriending  every  progress- 
ive movement. 


FETER  M.  CORNELL.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  born  on  his  present  home- 
stead in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  Dutchess 
county,  November  20,  181 5,  and  is  the  son  of 
Isaac  and  Elizabeth  (Hoffman)  Cornell. 

Isaac  Cornell  was  born  at  Bushwick,  Long 
Island,  and  at  the  age  of  three  years  was 
brought  by  his  parents  to  Lagrange.  Here  he 
grew  to  manhood,  r^^ceiving  his  education  in 
the  district  schools.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Hoffman,  who  was  a  native  of  the  town  of 
Poughkeepsie,  and  the  following  children  were 
born:  Peter  M.,  our  subject;  William  A., 
Margaret,  Mary,  and  Elizabeth,  all  deceased; 
Isabella;  and  Frederick,  living  in  Kansas.  Mr. 
Cornell  died  in  Lagrange  in  1875,  and  his  wife 
in  1878. 

Peter  Cornell,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  town  of 
Lagrange.  He  married  Miss  Marcia  Messarole, 
and  to  them  were  born  the  following  children: 
Cornelius,  Margaret,  Eliza,  Jane,  Sarah  and 
Isaac,  all  of  whom  are  deceased.  Mr.  Cornell 
was  of  French  ancestors,  who  were  exiled  from 
France  at  the  revocation  of  the  Edict  of 
Nantes.  They  went  to  Bavaria,  and  from  there 
came  to  America.  Mr.  Cornell  died  on  his 
farm  in  Lagrange. 

Peter  M.  Cornell,  our  subject,  remained 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Lagrange  with  his 
father,  and  in  his  youth  went  to  the  district 
schools.  He  has  devoted  all  his  time  to  farm- 
ing. At  one  time  he  was  justice  of  the  peace 
of  Lagrange.      He  has  never  married. 

William  A.,  brother  of  our  subject,  married 
Miss  Helen  Wickoff,  and  had  four  children: 
Isaac,  William,  Elizabeth,  and  Jacob  W. 
Frederick,  another  brother,  married  Miss  Alice 
Barnes,  and  three  children  were  born  to  them: 
Edward,  Ann,  and  Peter  M. 


rOBERT  HUTCHISON,  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative farmers  of  Lagrange,  was  born 


in  Perthshire,  Scotland,  July  24,  1857,  and 
remained  there  during  his  boyhood,  receiving 
his  education  in  the  parish  schools.  He  served 
a  three-years'  apprenticeship  at  the  carpenter's 
trade  in  Enochdhu,  Scotland,  and  then  worked 
in  Glasgow  for  four  years,  and  at  Newcastle- 
upon-Tyne  for  three  and  a  half  years. 

In  1882  our  subject  emigrated  to  America 
and  located  in  New  York  City,  where  he  fol- 
lowed his  trade  for  nine  years.  In  1891  he 
moved  to  the  town  of  Lagrange  and  bought  his 
present  farm,  on  which  he  has  since  lived.  He 
was  married  in  New  York  City  May  1 1,  1887, 
to  Miss  Maggie  J.  Forbes,  a  native  of  Wap- 
pingers  Falls.  Mr.  Hutchison  owes  his  pres- 
ent prosperous  condition  to  his  own  enterprise 
and  energy.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church 
at  New  Hackensack. 

Robert  Hutchison,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Fifeshire,  Scotland,  where  he  is 
still  living  on  the  farm,  pursuing  the  occupa- 
tion he  has  always  followed.  He  married  Miss 
Jeannette  Petrie,  by  whom  he  had  three  chil- 
dren, namely:  Elsie,  Robert  and  George. 
James  Hutchison,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
was  born  in  Fifeshire  also,  where  he  followed 
farming. 


JrOHN  SELLECK  LANDON,  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial farmers  of  Dutchess  county,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  Dutchess 
county,  April  25,  1843.  As  a  boy  he  attended 
the  district  schools  of  his  native  town  and,  later, 
the  Irving  Institute  at  Tarrytown,  N.  Y. ,  and 
Bisbee's  school  at  Poughkeepsie.  He  remained 
upon  the  farm  with  his  father  until  his  mar- 
riage, in  Poughkeepsie,  to  Miss  Jane  Ken- 
worthy,  a  daughter  of  Richard  Kenworthy. 
Of  this  union  one  child  was  born,  Edith,  now 
the  wife  of  John  Townsend. 

Mr.  Landon  farmed  for  seven  years  after 
his  marriage,  and  then  followed  the  milling 
business  at  Manchester  Bridge,  Lagrange  town, 
for  nine  years.  In  1890  he  bought  his  present 
farm,  to  which  he  has  since  devoted  his  time 
and  attention.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Farm- 
ers Alliance,  is  a  stanch  Democrat,  and  has 
held  the  office  of  town  auditor  for  several  years. 

James  H.  Landon,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie, 
June  23,  1814.    He  attended  school  there  andf 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


869 


later,  in  Lagrange,  and  at  the  Willets  Boarding 
School  in  the  town  of  Washington.  He  re- 
mained on  the  farm  with  his  father  until  the 
death  of  the  latter,  and  has  lived  at  his  pres- 
ent residence  for  thirty-seven  years.  He  was 
married  January  19,  1842,  to  Jane  A.,  daugh- 
ter of  Reuben  Tanner.  Of  this  union  the  fol- 
lowing children  were  born:  John  Selleck,  our 
subject;  Mary  T.,  born  February  5,  1848, 
married  Galen  Overocker,  and  they  had  two 
children,  Daniel  W. ,  born  August  13,  1883, 
and  Mary,  born  October  23,  1884.  Mrs. 
Overocker  died  November  8,  1884.  Mr.  Lan- 
don  was  assessor  of  the  town  of  Lagrange  for 
many  years,  and  also  held  the  office  of  town 
auditor,  being  elected  on  the  Democratic 
ticket.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Landon  celebrated  their 
golden  wedding  January  19,  1892,  and  are  as 
bright  and  lively  as  many  people  twenty  years 
younger. 

Joel  Landon,  the  grandfather  of  John  Sel- 
leck, was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  born  July 
22,  1 77 1,  married  Deborah  Selleck  (born  Oc- 
tober 3,  1773),  May  30,  1 81 2,  and  their  chil- 
dren were:  John  S.,  born  March  30,  18 13, 
died  December  16,  1837;  ^^^  James  H.,  men- 
tioned above.  Joel  Landon  died  August  23, 
1839,  and  his  wife,  Deborah,  October  10,  1871. 


^ILLIAM  J.  WELLING,  a  substantial 
farmer  of  the  town  of  Washington, 
Dutchess  county,  was  born  in  that  locality, 
March  22,  1833.  The  first  person  bearing  the 
name  of  Welling  in  this  country  came  from 
Wales  and  settled  in  Dutchess  county.  From 
him  descended  Thomas,  the  great-grandfather 
of  our  subject,  who  was  born  probably  in 
Pleasant  Valley. 

William,  his  son,  was  also  born  there,  and 
his  son,  James  M.,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
•  was  born  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  January  19, 
1807.  Thomas  Welling  married  a  Miss  Ger- 
mond,  and  they  settled  in  what  was  then  a 
wilderness,  where  five  children  were  born  to 
them.  Of  these,  William  married  Elizabeth 
Marshall,  and  settled  on  a  farm.  Two  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them — James  M.  and  Caro- 
line C.  The  latter  married  William  C.  Smith, 
a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Northeast,  and  is  now 
deceased.  William  Welling  was  a  stanch 
Democrat. 

James  M.  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  mar- 
ried Susan  Vail.  She  was  born  in  Unionvale, 
and  was  the  daughter   of  Joseph   and    Mary 


Vail,  the  former  a  farmer  and  a  son  of  Israel 
Vail.  The  Vails  are  among  the  oldest  fami- 
lies in  Dutchess  county.  For  some  time  after 
his  marriage  our  subject's  father  ran  on  the 
Hudson  river  as  captain  of  the  steamer  ' '  Ga- 
zelle," and  subsequently  for  several  years  was 
a  stock  salesman  in  New  York  City.  Later  in 
life  he  spent  his  time  upon  his  farm,  where  he 
died  July  31,  1882.  His  wife  died  September 
23,  1886.  He  was  a  Democrat  and  held  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  some  years. 
In  their  religious  belief  the  family  have  all 
been  Presbyterians.  To  James  M.  Welling 
and  his  wife  four  children  were  born,  namely: 
Caroline  C,  who  married  Mark  H.  Wheeler, 
a  farmer  in  Lagrange;  William  J.,  our  subject; 
Edgar  P.,  who  died  in  the  Civil  war;  and 
Frances  E. ,  deceased. 

When  our  subject  was  nine  years  old  he 
went  with  his  parents  to  Poughkeepsie,  where 
they  made  their  home  while  the  father  was  , 
engaged  in  steamboating.  There  he  attended 
the  city  schools  for  some  years,  and  in  1846, 
the  family  went  back  to  their  farm  in  the  town 
of  Washington.  William  completed  his  edu- 
cation in  the  Richmondville  school  in  Scho- 
harie county,  N.  Y.,  and  for  a  while  taught 
school  in  the  neighborhood  of  his  old  home. 
He  then  took  up  farming,  at  which  he  has  been 
engaged  ever  since.  He  owns  a  fine  place  of 
200  acres  which  is  highly  cultivated,  and  car- 
ries on  general  farming,  in  which  he  has  been 
very  successful.  Although  a  man  of  agreeable 
manners  and  excellent  character,  and  standing 
high  in  his  community,  Mr.  Welling  has  never 
married.  He  is  a  Republican  and  a  strong 
temperance  advocate,  and  does  all  in  his 
power  for  the  good  of  his  fellow-men. 


MILES  K.  LEWIS.  There  can  be  found 
_  _  no  biographies  more  interesting  to  read 
than  those  of  the  industrious  and  enterprising, 
who  have  risen  from  a  state  of  comparative 
poverty  to  a  position  of  affluence.  Prominent 
among  the  men  of  Dutchess  county  who  have 
thus  laboriously  toiled  onward  and  upward, 
is  the  individual  of  whom  this  sketch  is  written. 
He  is  now  a  successful  business  man  of  Was- 
saic,  where  for  over  thirty  years  he  has  con- 
ducted a  general  store. 

Mr.  Lewis  was  born  at  Sharon,  Conn., 
August  15,  1842,  and  traces  his  ancestry  back 
to  Benjamin  Lewis,  who  came  from  England 
with  two  brothers  and  located  at  Wallingford, 


870 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


I 


Conn.,  being  one  of  forty  families  who  laid 
out  that  town.  His  name  appears  on  the 
Congregational  Church  records  in  1677.      He 

married  Miss  Hannah  ,  and  their  son 

James  wedded  a  Miss  Judson,  by  whom  he  had 
four  children — James,  John,  David  and  Eph- 
raim,  the  eldest  of  whom  married  a  Miss  Sher- 
man, and  their  son  Ephraim  was  the  father  of 
Birdseye,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject. 

Birdseye  Lewis  was  born  at  Huntington, 
Conn.,  February  20,  1750,  and  died  Novem- 
ber 27,  1822.  On  November  11,  1773,  he 
married  Miss  Jerusha  Thompson,  whose  death 
occurred  June  8,  1821.  Their  son,  Cyrus 
Lewis,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
born  at  Trumbull,  Conn.,  November  15,  1778, 
and  on  November  28,  1809,  wedded  Alice 
Hawley,  who  was  born  October  29,  1793,  and 
died  May  26,  1861.  He  departed  this  life 
August  25,  1861. 

Miles  B.  Lewis,  the  father,  was  also  a 
native  of  Trumbull,  Conn.,  where  he  secured 
his  education  in  the  district  schools,  and  served 
an  apprenticeship  to  the  blacksmith's  trade, 
which  he  followed  some  forty  years  at  Sharon, 
Conn.  At  Milford,  in  that  State,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Maria  Kelsey, 
daughter  of  Horace  Kelsey,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  four  children,  namely:  William 
S. ,  of  Chicago,  111.;  Miles  Kelsey,  of  this 
sketch;  Eliza  (deceased);  and  Charles,  of  Car- 
pentersville,  111.  The  parents  were  good 
Christian  people,  very  earnest  workers  in  the 
Methodist  Church,  and  were  held  in  the  highest 
regard.  The  father's  death  occurred  in  April, 
1892;  the  widowed  mother  now  finds  a  pleas- 
ant home  with  our  subject. 

Miles  K.  Lewis  passed  his  boyhood  at 
Sharon,  Conn.,  attending  the  public  schools, 
and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years  left  the  parental 
roof,  coming  to  Amenia,  Dutchess  county, 
where  he  clerked  for  George  Co'nklin  in  a  gen- 
eral merchandise  store  until  the  spring  of  1862. 
He  was  then  in  the  employ  of  Seward,  Vail  & 
Haight,  merchant  tailors,  as  bookkeeper  and 
cashier. 

Filled  with  patriotic  ardor,  Mr.  Lewis  en- 
listed, in  September,  1862,  in  Company  A, 
150th  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
regimental  band  until  mustered  out  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  in  June,  1865.  Returning  to  Dutch- 
ess county,  he  was  engaged  in  clerking  in  Dover 
until  January,  1866,  when  he  opened  his  pres- 
ent general  store  at  Wassaic.  In  1894  he  ad- 
mitted J.   G.    Doyle   to   a  partnership   in  the 


business.  For  fifteen  years  he  was  also  con- 
nected with  the  New  York  Condensed  Milk 
Factory  at  Wassaic  as  bookkeeper  and  super- 
intendent, and  was  administrator  of  the  Grid- 
ley  estate  for  seven  years.  In  all  his  dealing 
he  is  straightforward  and  honorable,  and  is 
justly  entitled  to  the  high  regard  in  which  he 
is  held  by  all. 

At  Amenia,  on  October  24,  1867,  Mr.  Lewis 
wedded  Miss  Julia  C.  Reed,  daughter  of  Les- 
ter and  Margaret  Reed,  and  to  them  have  been 
born  four  children:  Emma  Gridley,  who  mar- 
ried E.  J.  Tanner,  and  has  three  children — 
Lewis,  Margaret  and  Frederick;  Nina,  wife  of 
Albert  Hicks,  of  Wassaic;  Alice  and  Roland. 
Socially,  Mr.  Lewis  affiliates  with  Dover  Plains 
Lodge  No.  666,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which  he  be- 
came a  member  in  1867;  and  of  J.  M.  Gregory 
Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Sharon,  Conn.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  choir  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Amenia,  as  he  takes  great  delight  in 
music;  in  politics  he  is  an  ardent  Republican. 


tOBERT  H.  TITUS,  one  of  the  substan- 
^  tial  farmers  of  Dutchess  county,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Lagrange,  August  5,  1835. 
He  spent  his  boyhood  in  the  place  of  his  birth, 
and  attended  the  public  schools  and  the  Nine 
Partners  Boarding  School,  in  the  town  of 
Washington. 

At  the  early  age  of  ten  years  he  went  to 
work  in  his  father's  woolen-factory,  and  after 
the  latter's  death  he  continued  the  business 
with  his  brothers  until  1891,  when  he  sold  out 
his  interest  to  his  brother  Henry,  and  has 
since  devoted  his  time  to  farming.  He  was 
married  in  1864  to  Miss  Frances  Sweet,  a 
daughter  of  Nehemiah  and  Millie  Sweet,  of 
Poughkeepsie.  Of  this  marriage  were  born 
the  following  children:  Mary  Annette,  Fran- 
ces Adele,  Helen  Lossing  and  Warner  Hatch. 
Mr.  Titus  built  his  present  beautiful  residence 
in  the  spring  of  1864. 

Elias  Titus,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Washington,  where  he  received 
his  education.  He  was  married  in  the  town 
of  Pine  Plains  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Hoag,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Robert  Hoag,  a  farmer  of  that  town,  and 
the  following  children  were  born:  Frances  mar- 
ried James  E.  Sleight,  and  four  children  were 
born  (both  parents  are  deceased) ;  Robert  Hoag, 
our  subject;  Richard,  deceased;  Henry  lives  in 
Poughkeepsie;  Sarah  resides  in  Lagrange; 
Caroline  Alida.      Mr.  Titus  was  living  at  La- 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPEIGAL  RECORD. 


871 


grange  at  the  time  of  his  marriage,  where  he 
was  running  the  woolen-factory  with  his  father 
and  brothers.  He  continued  in  that  business 
from  1828  until  the  time  of  his  death  in  1881. 
In  the  early  days  the  goods  were  shipped  by 
boat  in  summer  and  overland  in  winter.  As  a 
business  man  he  kept  out  of  politics,  and  was 
a  member  of  the  Quaker  Church.  His  wife 
died  in  1838  or  1840. 

John  Titus,  the  grandfather,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Washington.  He  was  married 
three  times,  the  grandmother  of  our  subject 
being  his  third  wife.  He  was  known  as 
"  Squire  Titus,"  and  ran  a  factory  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  woolen  cloth. 

The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  town  of  Wash- 
ington.    The  family  came  from  Long  Island. 


TrOHN  R.  THOMPSON.      Success  in  any  line 
J    of  occupation,  in  any  avenue  of  business, 

is  not  a  matter  of  spontaneity,  but  is  the 
legitimate  offspring  of  subjective  efiort  in  the 
proper  utilization  of  the  means  at  hand,  the 
improvement  of  opportunity  and  the  exercise 
of  the  highest  function  made  possible  by  the 
specific  ability  in  any  case.  In  view  of  this 
condition,  the  study  of  biography  becomes  val- 
uable, and  its  lessons  of  practical  use.  Mr. 
Thompson  to-day  stands  at  the  head  of  several 
important  enterprises,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
enterprising  and  successful  business  men  of 
Dutchess  county,  making  his  home  in  Amenia. 

In  the  town  of  Amenia,  our  subject  was 
born  July  8,  1851,  and  he  is  a  son  of  Robert 
R.  and  Catherine  (Sanford)  Thompson,  the 
latter  of  whom  died  in  1892.  His  father  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess  county, 
December  15,  181 5,  a  son  of  James  Thomp- 
son and  a  grandson  of  Elias  Thompson,  also 
residents  of  Dutchess  county.  For  forty  years 
the  father  has  been  engaged  in  the  insur- 
ance business  at  Smithfield,  and  he  is  a  highly 
respected  citizen.  Our  subject  is  the  third  in 
i  family  of  four  children,  the  others  being: 
Ellen  C,  wife  of  William  J.  Clanney,  of 
Amenia;  George  (deceased);  and  Edward  B., 
who  is  engaged  in  the  poultry  business  in  the 
town  of  Amenia. 

The  early  life  of  John  R.  Thompson  was 
)assed  upon  a  farm  at  Smithfield,  and  in  at- 
■Bnding  the  district  schools  of  the  neighbor- 
bood.  On  leaving  the  parental  roof  in  1874 
he  took  charge  of  a  general  store   at  Sheko- 


meko,  Dutchess  county,  and  was  also  operator, 
station  agent  and  postmaster  for  a  year.  He 
then  engaged  in  the  insurance  business  with 
his  father  at  Smithfield,  town  of  Amenia,  for 
some  seven  years,  on  the  expiration  of  which 
time  he  there  turned  his  attention  to  agricult- 
ural pursuits,  and  also  owned  a  large  farm  in 
Nebraska,  but  never  resided  thereon.  While 
purchasing  a  windmill  for  the  latter  place,  he 
became  interested  in  the  windmill  business,  and 
since  that  time  has  engaged  in  selling  those 
machines  all  through  the  State;  he  also  erected 
the  largest  windmill  plant  in  the  world,  located 
at  Chatham,  Columbia  Co.,  New  York. 

Until  1885  Mr.  Thompson  continued  to  en- 
gage in  agricultural  pursuits  at  Smithfield,  and 
then  removed  to  the  village  of  Amenia,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  Together  with  B.  H. 
Fry,  Charles  Walsh,  A.  M.  Card,  of  Sharon, 
Conn. ,  and  M.  K.  Lewis,  of  Wassaic,  he  as- 
sisted in  the  incorporation  of  the  Amenia 
Water  Co. ,  in  1881,  and,  with  Mr.  Lewis,  also 
owns  the  Wassiac  water  works,  being  now  the 
efficient  superintendent  of  both  water  works, 
as  well  as  the  one  at  Pine  Plains.  In  1885  .he 
entered  the  steam-heating  business,  and,  in 
advancing  his  individual  prosperity,  he  has 
materially  promoted  the  welfare  of  his  county 
and  State. 

In  the  town  of  Amenia,  October  11,  1877, 
Mr.  Thompson  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  F. 
Bertine,  daughter  of  Robert  Bertine,  of 
Amenia,  and  they  have  three  children:  Katie, 
John  R.  and  Annie  Frances.  For  over  twenty 
years  Mr.  Thompson  has  been  prominently 
identified  with  Amenia  Lodge  No.  672,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  and  he  also  holds  membership  in  the 
Royal  Arcanum  at  Wassaic.  Like  his  father, 
he  is  an  ardent  Democrat,  and  is  one  of  the 
leading  and  representative  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity. 


DE  WITT  C.  AYRES,  a  progressive  and 
'  successful  young  agriculturist  of  the  town 

of    Rhinebeck,    Dutchess    county,     was    born 
February  12,  i860,  in  Clinton  Hollow. 

His  grandfather  Ayres  came  from  England 
and  located  upon  a  farm  in  Dutchess  county, 
where  he  spent  his  remaining  years.  Jo- 
seph Ayres,  our  subject's  father,  was  born 
in  Oxford,  England,  and  was  nineteen  years 
old  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  this 
country.  He  married  Margaret  Marquet,  a 
native  of  the  town  of  Rhinebeck,  and  located 


4 


872 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPBICAL  RECORD. 


I 


in  Clinton  Hollow,  where  he  followed  the 
butcher's  trade  for  some  years.  In  1879  he 
moved  to  the  farm  which  is  now  owned  by  our 
subject,  and  here  he  carried  on  his  trade  in 
connection  with  farming.  His  wife  died  in 
1878,  and  ten  years  later  he,  too,  departed 
this  life.  They  had  four  children:  Charles, 
who  died  in  1888;  De  Witt  C,  our  subject; 
George  D.,  a  farmer  in  Rhinebeck,  and  one 
who  died  in  infancy. 

De  Witt  Ayres  was  trained  in  youth  to  the 
habits  of  industry  upon  which  his  success  is 
based,  and  for  a  short  time  he  followed  the 
butcher's  trade  successfully.  On  November 
2,  1882,  he  married  Miss  Lelia  Mills,  a  lady 
of  English  descent,  the  daughter  of  William 
Mills,  a  well-known  blacksmith  of  Red  Hook. 
After  their  marriage  they  settled  upon  the 
farm  near  Rhinebeck,  where  they  have  since 
remained.  They  have  two  children,  Elsie 
and  Ruth. 

Mr.  Ayres  devotes  his  one  hundred  acres 
of  land  to  general  farming,  and  is  regarded  as 
one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  judicious  of 
the  young  men  of  his  locality.  In  politics  he 
follows  the  faith  of  his  father  and  is  a  stanch 
Republican. 


fOHN  H.  BOICE,  one  of  the  active,  prom- 
inent and  most  enterprising  citizens  of 
'  Dutchess  county,  is  at  present  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  fruit  growing  in  the  town 
of  Red  Hook.  His  birth  occurred  June  16, 
1850,  on  a  farm  in  Milan  town,  Dutchess 
county,  where  his  father,  William  Boice,  and 
his  grandfather,  Henry  I.  Boice,  were  also 
born.  The  latter  was  a  son  of  John  Boice, 
who  was  of  Holland  origin,  and  is  supposed  to 
have  been  born  in  this  country.  After  his 
marriage  with  Miss  Lown,  Henry  I.  Boice  be- 
gan his  domestic  life  upon  the  old  family 
homestead,  where  his  three  children  were  born, 
one  son  and  two  daughters;  but  William  was 
the  only  one  who  reached  years  of  maturity. 
To  the  cultivation  of  that  farm  the  grandfather 
gave  his  time  and  attention  up  to  his  death. 

On  reaching  manhood  the  father  of  our 
subject  was  united  in  marriage  with  Catherine 
C.  Pultz,  a  native  of  the  town  of  Rhinebeck, 
Dutchess  county,  and  a  daughter  of  David 
Pultz,  a  farmer,  who  was  of  Holland  lineage. 
On  the  old  homestead  in  Milan  town,  they  be- 
gan house-keeping,  and  there  remained  until 
1869,  when  the  father  purchased  the  farm  on 


which  our  subject  now  resides,  there  continu- 
ing to  make  his  home  until  his  death  in  1881, 
while  his  wife  also  died  there  on  July  12,  1895. 
He  was  identified  with  the  Republican  party. 
The  family  circle  included  three  children — 
Elmer  A.,  a  retired  farmer,  who  now  makes  his 
home  in  the  village  of  Red  Hook;  Ida  C,  wife 
of  Henry  Finger,  an  agriculturist  of  Columbia 
county,  N.  Y. ;  and  John  H. 

John  H.  Boice,  of  this  review,  obtained  his 
elementary  education  in  the  district  schools 
near  his  home,  but  completed  his  literary 
training  at  Rhinebeck,  and  was  a  resident  of 
the  town  of  Milan  until  nineteen  years  of  age. 
Being  reared  a  farmer's  boy,  he  has  followed 
this  vocation  through  life,  and  since  1869  has 
lived  upon  his  present  farm,  where  in  1882  he 
erected  a  beautiful  residence.  He  has  109 
acres  of  fertile  and  productive  land,  where  he 
has  been  engaged  in  general  farming,  though 
he  makes  a  specialty  of  fruit  raising.  He  is  a 
progressive,  scientific  farmer,  who  thoroughly 
understands  his  business,  and  thus  secures  the 
best  results  from  his  labors. 

On  May  8,  1872,  Mr.  Boice  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  E.  Hoffman,  a  daughter  of  Theo- 
dore Hoffman,  and  sister  of  T.  A.  Hoffman, 
the  present  county  clerk  of  Dutchess  county. 
They  have  one  child,  William  H.,  who  was 
born  March  22,  1874.  They  are  surrounded 
by  many  warm  friends,  whom  they  delight  to 
entertain,  and  have  the  esteem  and  confidence 
of  all  who  know  them.  Politically,  Mr.  Boice 
affiliates  with  the  Republican  party,  and  main- 
tains his  principles  in  this  regard  with  the  same 
steadfastness  which  has  characterized  him  in  all 
the  relations  of  life. 


IRVING  HAPEMAN,   a  reliable  and  intelli- 
gent  young  agriculturist  of  the  town  of  Red 

Hook,  Dutchess  county,  is  the  owner  of  a  fine 
farm  of  eighty-seven  acres  of  highly  productive 
and  fertile  land,  which  he  has  by  industry  and 
good  management,  with  its  attendant  hard 
labor,  brought  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
and  his  stock  are  of  the  best  grades.  His  up- 
rightness, integrity  and  public-spiritedness 
have  won  him  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his 
neighbors,  and  he  is  classed  among  the  most 
respected  representative  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity. 

Philip  Hapeman,  his  grandfather,  was  a 
native  of  the  town  of  Red  Hook,  where  he 
conducted  a  farm  throughout  life,  and  by  his 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPEICAL  RECORD. 


878 


marriage  with  Catherine  PhilHps  had  six  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Nicholas  Hapeman,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  one.  His  birth  also  oc- 
curred in  the  town  of  Red  Hook,  where  he  re- 
ceived a  common-school  education,  and  like 
his  father  he  also  turned  his  attention  to  ag- 
ricultural pursuits.  He  married  Miss  Lucy  N. 
Straut,  daughter  of  Anthony  Straut,  by  whom 
he  had  four  children:  Estella,  wife  of  Will- 
ard  Rowe;  Jerleau;  Irving  and  Mary. 

In  1890  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Irving  Hapeman  and  Miss  Cordelia  A.  Stevens, 
who  was  born  in  Claverack,  N.  Y.,  and  was 
there  educated.  Her  paternal  grandfather, 
William  Stevens,  was  a  native  of  Hollowville, 
Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y,  and  while  serving  in  the 
war  of  1812  was  killed.  He  married  Cather- 
ine Stickle,  and  to  them  were  born  two  chil- 
dren— William  A.  and  Jane  E.  The  former 
was  also  born  in  Hollowville,  Columbia  coun- 
ty, and  after  completing  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  he  worked  upon  a  farm  until 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion  in  1861, 
when  he  joined  the  Union  forces,  though  at 
that  time  only  sixteen  years  old.  All  through 
that  struggle  he  served  as  a  private,  and  at  its 
close  received  an  honorable  discharge.  After 
his  return  home,  Mr.  Stevens  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Hannah  Elizabeth  Mor- 
rison, daughter  of  William  E.  and  Samantha 
Morrison,  and  they  now  have  a  family  of  nine 
children:  Cordelia  A.,  William  A. ,  Annie  A., 
Fannie  A.,  Henry  A.,  Charles  A.,  Herbert  A., 
Frank  A.  and  Milo  A.  The  father,  who  is  an 
agriculturist,  is  now  engaged  in  the  cultivation 
of  land  in  Claverack,  Columbia  county. 


ISAAC  P.  CONKLIN,  one  of  the  wealthy 
farmers  of  the  town  of  Washington,  Dutch- 
ess county,  was  born  in  Chestnut  Ridge  in  that 
town,  April  i,  1820.  The  Conklin  family  is 
of  Scotch  descent,  and  many  of  its  members 
are  old  residents  of  Dutchess  county. 

Charles  Conklin,  great-grandfather  of  Isaac 
P. ,  was  a  Quaker  preacher  and  lived  in  West- 
ester  county,   where  his  son    Timothy  was 
rn.     The  latter  married  Mary  Tamer,  a  na- 
e  of  the  same  county,  and  settled  in  Wash- 
gton  town,  Dutchess  county,  where  thirteen 
hildren    were    born,    of   whom  the   following 
"record  is  given:     David  was  a  miller  in  Little 
Rest,  town  of  Washington;  Hiram  was  a  sea- 
faring man;   Timothy  was  a   farmer  in  West- 
chester county;  Tristam   (deceased)  farmed  for 


a  while  in  the  town  of  Washington,  but  later 
went  to  New  York  City,  finally  to  Westches- 
ter county;  James  was  a  farmer  in  Westchester 
county;  Merritt  was  a  physician  in  Washington 
town;  Nathaniel  was  father  of  subject;  Charles 
died  in  infancy;  Hannah  married  a  Mr.  Titus, 
and  they  removed  to  New  York  City  and  after- 
Wc^rd  to  Ohio,  where  they  died;  Ruth  and 
Sarah  died  unmarried;  two  others  died  in 
childhood. 

Nathaniel  Conklin  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Washington,  and  there  spent  his  entire  life. 
He  was  a  Republican  in  his  political  views, 
and  served  as  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  in 
other  local  official  positions.  He  died  in  1887. 
He  married  Susan  Edmunds,  a  native  of  the 
town  of  Dover,  daughter  of  Canada  Edmunds, 
a  farmer,  whose  family  were  of  old  Holland 
stock.  The  young  couple  located  on  Chestnut 
Ridge,  where  they  carried  on  farming  and 
reared  a  family  of  nine  children.  These  were: 
Benjamin  is  a  farmer  in  Washington  town; 
Tamer  married  George  Sullivan,  a  farmer  also 
of  that  town;  Timothy  was  a  farmer  in  the 
town  of  Washington;  Phcebe  married  Mosher 
Sherman,  a  miller  in  Little  Rest;  Isaac  P.;  El- 
mira  married  Uriah  Simmons,  a  farmer  in 
Stanford;  Nathaniel  went  to  Dakota  and  car- 
ried on  farming  there;  Hannah  is  unmarried; 
Sarah  is  the  wife  of  Andrew  P.  Hammond,  a 
farmer  in  Washington  town. 

Isaac  P.  Conklin  worked  at  Denning  for 
several  years  after  arriving  at  manhood,  and 
then  began  buying  and  selling  farm  and  other 
property,  in  which  business  he  has  made  good 
profits  and  has  become  a  wealthy  man.  He  is 
full  of  enterprise,  possesses  keen  judgment  and 
great  sagacity,  and  has  carved  his  own  way  to 
success.  Although  arrived  at  an  age  when 
most  men  give  over  active  life,  he  shows  no 
signs  of  relaxing  his  efforts,  and  keeps  abreast 
of  the  times  with  a  vigor  and  interest  which  a 
younger  man  might  envy.  He  is  genial  in  his 
nature,  a  good  convers;itionalist  and  very  com- 
panionable, drawing  about  him  a  large  circle 
of  friends  who  appreciate  his  many  good  qual- 
ities. 

In  February,  i860,  Mr.  Conklin  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Fannie  J.,  daughter  of  David 
Winans,  and  a  native  of  the  town  of  Stanford. 
Five  children  have  been  born  to  them,  of  whom. 
George  and  Nathan,  the  eldest  two,  died  in 
childhood;  the  others  are:  Susan,  who  mar- 
ried Virgil  Winans;  Augusta  (deceased)  and 
Jennie.      Mr.  Conklin  owns  a  fine  farm  of  336 


I 


874 


COMMEMOBATTVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


I 


acres  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  Dutchess  county. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  but  he  has  never 
been  an  office-seeker. 


EvDWARD  COUSE.  One  of  the  active, 
'I  prominent    and    enterprising    citizens    of 

the  town  of  Red  Hook,  is  the  gentleman 
whose  name  introduces  this  sketch,  who  is  at 
present  engaged  in  general  farming  and  fruit 
raising.  He  made  his  first  appearance  upon 
the  stage  of  life  beneath  the  roof  of  his  par- 
ents, Jacob  and  Susan  (Robison)  Couse,  in  the 
town  of  Milan,  Dutchess  county. 

His  paternal  grandfather,  Henry  J.  Couse, 
was  a  prominent  farmer  in  the  town  of  Milan, 
and  there  married  Miss  Sarah  Lynn,  by  whom 
he  had  seven  children,  namely:  Hannah,  who 
became  the  wife  of  a  Mr.  Wolcott;  Betsy,  who 
married  Peter  Stickle;  Mary;  Jacob,  the  father 
of  our  subject;  Henry,  who  wedded  Kittie 
Near;  John,  who  married  Miss  Kilmer,  and  Ed- 
ward. To  the  parents  of  our  subject  were 
born  six  children:  Sarena  first  became  the 
wife  of  John  Teator,  and  after  his  death 
married  Charles  Miller;  Henry  wedded  Rachel 
Hood;  Elizabeth  married  John  Haines;  Charles; 
Sarah  was  united  in  marriage  with  Emery 
Coon;  and  Edward  completes  the  family. 

Upon  his  father's  farm  our  subject  was 
reared  and  early  taught  those  habits  of  industry 
which  have  had  such  an  important  bearing 
upon  his  entire  life.  He  obtained  his  educa- 
tion in  the  district  school,  in  the  meantime  as- 
sisting his  father  in  such  work  as  his  age  and 
strength  would  permit.  He  became  interested 
in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  now  operates  a 
fine  farm  of  123  acres  of  land,  which  he  pur- 
chased in  1889,  it  being  then  known  as  the 
Benner  farm.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  fruit 
raising,  and  has  been  quite  successful.  He  has 
made  good  use  of  his  opportunities,  has  pros- 
pered from  year  to  year,  has  conducted  all 
business  matters  carefully  and  capably,  and  in 
all  his  acts  displays  an  aptitude  for  success- 
ful management. 

Mr.  Couse  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Kittie  Feller,  daughter  of  Henry  A.  and 
Catherine  (Snyder)  Feller,  who  were  farming 
people  of  the  town  of  Milan,  and  the  parents 
of  the  following  children:  Alice,  wife  of 
Wriget  Kilmer;  Mary,  wife  of  Charles  False; 
Sylvester,  who  married  Grace  Levenworth; 
Seward;  Hattie,  wife  of  Henry  Burns;  Kittie; 


Henry,  who  married  Annie  Bathrick;  and 
Annie,  wife  of  John  Smith.  The  maternal 
grandfather  of  Mrs.  Couse,  Philip  Snyder,  was 
the  only  child  of  Isaac  and  Catherine  Snyder. 
He  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Christina 
Near,  of  the  town  of  Red  Hook,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  two  daughters — Catherine, 
the  mother  of  Mrs.  Couse;  and  Elizabeth,  who 
married  Isaac  Fulton. 


JOSEPH  BATES,  a  general  farmer  and  ex- 
stock-dealer,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Washington,  Dutchess  county,  July  11, 
1822.  His  father,  Joseph  Bates,  was  born  in 
Nantucket,  R.  I.,  and  moved  to  Dutchess 
county,  where  he  married  Miss  Lydia  Dicker- 
son,  who  was  a  native  of  North  Salem,  Mass. 
They  settled  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Wash- 
ington, and  reared  a  family  of  twelve  children, 
five  ol  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  others 
were:  Joseph,  our  subject;  George,  a  farmer 
in  Missouri;  John,  a  farmer  of  this  town  atone 
time,  is  deceased;  Stephen  died  in  1894; 
Henry  was  a  farmer  in  Saginaw,  Mich.,  where 
he  died;  Mary  married  William  Lovelace,  a 
farmer  in  the  town  of  Dover;  Ruth  became  the 
wife  of  Isaac  Lovelace,  a  mason  by  trade. 
Mr.  Bates  farmed  all  his  life,  and  died  about 
1863.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  His 
wife  died  about  1879. 

John  Bates,  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Rhode  Island.  He  married  a  Miss 
Hill,  and  they  reared  a  family  of  twelve  chil- 
dren. 

Joseph  Bates,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
grew  to  manhood  in  the  town  of  Washington, 
worked  by  the  day  for  various  farmers,  saved 
his  money  and  gradually  invested  it  in  land, 
until  to-day  he  has  one  of  the  largest  farms  in 
the  town.  In  1844  he  married  Miss  Sarah 
Smith,  a  native  of  the  town  of  Washington, 
and  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Smith,  who  was  a 
farmer  of  that  town.  He  married  Miss  Susan 
Marshall.  In  1852  Mr.  Bates  bought  his  pres- 
ent farm,  on  which  they  have  reared  their  two 
children:  Charles,  who  married  Louise  Ruger, 
and  lives  with  his  parents;  Josephine,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Townsend  Coles,  a  farmer  in 
Lagrange,  where  she  died  in  April,  1881.  Mr. 
Bates  has  a  large  farm  of  300  or  400  acres, 
which  is  planted  principally  in  potatoes,  he  be- 
ing the  largest  producer  of  that  vegetable  in 
Dutchess    county.      He  also    formerly    bought 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


875 


and  sold  stock.  He  is  a  Democrat,  and  a  self- 
made  man,  and  has  acquired  his  money  by  hard 
work  and  good  management.  He  enjoys  the 
esteem  of  all  who  know  him. 


JUDSON  A.  DENTON,  a  representative 
farmer  of  the  town  of  Beekman,  Dutchess 
-  county,  is  actively  engaged  in  his  profitable 
occupation  on  his  homestead,  where  he  has  re- 
sided since  the  spring  of  1888,  and  where  his 
energetic  labors  have  met  with  due  reward. 
His  childhood  was  also  spent  upon  the  same 
farm,  his  birth  taking  place  at  his  present  resi- 
dence February  8,  1853.  His  grandfather, 
Solomon  Denton,  was  the  founder  of  the  fam- 
ily in  this  country,  and  for  many  years  followed 
agricultural  pursuits  in  the  town  of  Pawling, 
Dutchess  county.  His  wife  lived  to  the  ad- 
.anccd  age  of  ninety-three  years. 

Amos  Denton,   the  father  of  our  subject, 

vas  born  in  Pawling  town,  October   13,  1808, 

ind    there    spent  his  boyhood  days  attending 

Ihe  district  schools.      He  remained   upon  the 

pome  farm  until  thirty  years  of  age,  when  he 

'led    Mary    Seaman,    daughter  of    Sutton 

man,   and   then   removed   to  the   town   of 

Last  Fishkill,  where  he   conducted  a  general 

jtore  for  two  years.      On  selling  out,  he  went 

:est  to  hunt  up  a  location,  but  finally  decided 

3  remain  in  his  native  county,  purchasing  the 

Id  Benjamin  Smith  farm   in    Beekman  town, 

pen  which  he  made  his  home  up  to  the   time 

f  his  death,    which  occurred    November  13, 

887.      His    wife    departed    this    life     in     the 

jfing  of  1885.      Seven  children  were  born   to 

lem:     Edgar,    who    is  superintendent    of    a 

ivision  of  the  stock  yards  of  Chicago;  Emily 

.,  who  is  the  widow  of  Leonard  Townsend, 

Sd  is  now  a  resident  of  Unionvale  town; 
nelia,  deceased  wife  of  Jonathan  Spencer; 
dson  Amos,  of  this  sketch;  Frederick  S..  of 
aten  Island;  Weston  Eugene,  of  New  York 
)ity;  and  Sarah  M.,  who  died  in  infancy.  In 
itlitical  sentiment  the  father  was  first  a  Whig, 
i|nd  later  a  supporter  of  the  Republican  party, 
'bile  religously  he  was  a  devout  member  of 
.(le  Baptist  Church  at  Beekman,  for  many 
».'';ars  serving  as  a  deacon.  He  was  a  highly 
•Vspected  citizen,  and  forever  twenty  years  he 
Kiciently  filled  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace. 
>i  The  education  of  our  subject  was  such  as 
Ifle  district  schools  of  the  town  of  Beekman 
J^  orded,  and  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years  he  be- 
4f  n  working  as  a  farm   hand   for   neighbors, 


being  employed  in  this  way  for  four  seasons. 
When  seventeen  years  of  age  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Alice  M.  Wiley,  daughter 
of  George  Wiley,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  four  children:  George  W.,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Gertrude  L. ;  Eliza  A.,  who  married 
Austin  Bierce,  Jr.;  and  George  Weston.  The 
wife  and  mother  was  called  to  her  final  rest 
on  August  24,  1880.  In  1882,  Mr.  Denton 
was  married  in  the  town  of  Unionvale,  the 
lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Ella  F.  Bierce, 
daughter  of  Austin  Bierce,  and  to  them  was 
born  a  daughter — Louie  J.,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

After  his  first  marriage,  Mr.  Denton  oper- 
ated a  farm  on  shares,  and  also  engaged  in 
teaming  for  the  furnace  company.  For  five 
or  six  years  he  engaged  in  butchering,  and  for 
the  same  length  of  time  lived  upon  a  farm  in 
Unionvale  town;  but  in  the  spring  of  1888  he 
purchased  his  present  fine  farm  in  Beekman 
town,  to  the  cultivation  and  improvement  of 
which  he  has  since  devoted  his  attention.  In 
the  fall  of  1895  he  also  engaged  in  the  coal 
business  in  the  same  town.  He  is  a  stalwart 
Republican  in  politics,  and  since  the  spring  of 
1889  has  acceptably  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace.  He  is  an  honorable,  upright  citizen, 
who  gains  and  retains  the  confidence  and  es- 
teem of  those  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 


JOHN  C.  BARRINGE'R,  a  leading  agricult- 
urist of  the  town  of  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess 
county,  is  a  direct  descendant  of  the  pio- 
neer who,  according  to  tradition,  suggested 
the  name  for  that  town. 

Our  subject's  great-grandfather  Barringer 
came  to  that  vicinity  from  Germany  in  com- 
pany with  Col.  Beekman,  and  the  story  goes 
that  as  they  were  talking  about  naming  the 
town  Mr.  Barringer  said:  "  Colonel,  you  name 
it;  or,  since  we  both  came  from  the  Rhine  and 
your  name  is  Beekman,  call  it  Rhinebeekman, 
or  Rhinebeck."  George  Barringer,  our  sub- 
ject's grandfather,  was  a  lifelong  resident  of 
the  town.  He  married  Miss  Ackert,  and  had 
two  children — Julia,  who  married  Stephen 
Champlain,  of  Kingston,  and  Ephraim,  our 
subject's  father.  By  a  second  wife  he  had 
four  children:  Catherine,  Maria,  Elizabeth,  and 
Elias,  who  married  Miss  Shoemaker  and  set- 
tled on  a  farm  near  the  village  of  Rhinebeck. 
They  had  three  children:  Jeremiah,  Mary  and 
Elizabeth. 


I 


876 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Ephraim  Barringer  grew  to  manhood  at 
the  old  homestead,  and  married  Alice  F.  Cham- 
plain,  who  was  born  in  Hudson,  N.  Y. ,  Sep- 
tember 2  1,  1 82 1,  but  came  here  with  her  par- 
ents when  only  one  year  old.  Her  lather, 
Joseph  Champlain,  was  a  native  of  Connecti- 
cut. After  his  marriage  Ephraim  Barringer 
bought  the  family  estate,  which  he  farmed 
during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Five  children 
were  born  to  him  and  his  wife:  Florence,  who 
married  Rev.  Keyser,  a  Methodist  minister  in 
Westchester  county;  Catherine;  Frances;  John 
C.  our  subject;  and  Martha  P.,  who  died 
February  3,  1872.  The  mother  of  this  family 
is  dead,  and  of  the  father's  death  we  take  the 
following  account  from  the  Eagle,  under  date 
of  January  20,  1892:  "Ephraim  Barringer 
died  at  his  home  in  Rhinebeck  on  Saturday, 
January  2,  1892.  He  was  born  there  October 
12,  181 1,  on  a  place  obtained  by  his  grand- 
father from  the  English  King.  Mr.  Barringer 
belonged  to  one  of  the  oldest  families  in  Rhine- 
beck,  his  grandfathei*and  Col.  Beekman  hav- 
ing named  the  town." 

John  C.  Barringer  was  born  September  i, 
1856,  and  has  always  lived  upon  the  old  farm. 
Under  a  survey  made  in  1834  the  portion  now 
in  his  possession  contained  eighty-eight  and  a 
half  acres,  but  it  is  certain  that  it  contains 
more  than  that.  He  is  a  general  farmer,  and 
is  considered  one  of  the  most  progressive  and 
successful  managers  in  the  neighborhood. 

On  March  18,  1882,  he  married  Miss  Rosa 
De  Wint,  a  daughter  of  George  De  Wint,  a 
well-known  resident  of  Rhinebeck.  They  have 
no  children.  The  Barringers  have  always  been 
Lutherans,  but  our  subject  and  his  wife  now 
contribute  to  the  M.  E.  Church.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Republican,  as  was  his  father  also  in 
later  years,  and  although  he  is  no  office-seeker, 
there  are  few  among  the  younger  men  in  the 
vicinity  who  have  more  influence  than  John  C. 
Barringer. 


OBERT  HURD.  Among  the  enterpris- 
ing and  prosperous  young  business  men 
of  the  town  of  Pawling,  Dutchess  county,  the 
well-known  commission  merchant  and  cattle 
dealer  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch  may 
well  be  regarded  as  a  leader.  His  shrewd 
judgment  and  untiring  energy  have  already  won 
him  wide  recognition  in  business  circles. 

He  was  born  October  5,  1869,  on  the  Hurd 
homestead,  formerly  the  Campbell  homestead, 


in  Pawling  town,  and  is  related  to  several  of 
the  oldest  families.  On  the  paternal  side,  his 
great-grandfather  Hurd  came  from  Scotland 
at  an  early  period  to  settle  in  the  town  of 
Pawling,  where  he  followed  agriculture,  as  did 
also  his  son,  Benjamin  D.  Hurd,  our  subject's 
grandfather,  who  vvas  born  in  that  town. 
Hurd's  Corners  was  named  in  honor  of  the 
family,  and  Benjamin  Hurd  was  a  prominent 
man  of  that  locality,  a  leading  supporter  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  of  the 
Whig  party.  He  was  not,  however,  an  office- 
seeker,  although  he  was  justice  of  the  peace 
for  many  years.  Both  he  and  his  wife,  Mary 
Campbell,  are  dead.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Jeremiah  Campbell,  who  was  prominent  in  his 
time  in  religious  and  civil  affairs  in  Dutchess 
county,  and  her  grandfather  Campbell  was  an 
officer  in  charge  of  the  British  forces  at  the 
battle  of  White  Plains,  where  he  met  his 
death.  Of  the  seven  children  of  this  marriage 
all  lived  to  adult  age:  Harriet  married  Leon- 
ard Hall,  of  Po'quag;  William  T.  was  a  mer- 
chant for  many  years  at. Hurd's  Corners,  and 
died  there;  Archibald  never  engaged  in  busi- 
ness, as  he  was  not  strong,  and  his  death 
occurred  in  Cuba;  Edgar  L  is  mentioned  below; 
Mary,  deceased,  married  Thomas  Brill,  of 
Po'quag;  Stacia  married  Groe  Dodge,  of  Pawl- 
ing; and  Julia  G.  married  James  Longhead,  of 
the  same  place. 

Edgar  I.  Hurd,   our   subject's  father,  was 
born  at  Hurd's  Corners,  and  in  early  manhood 
engaged  in    mercantile    business    in    Pawling. 
Later  he  purchased  the   old   Campbell   home- 
stead and  settled  here  at  farming,  establishing 
at  the  same  time  a  commission  business  in  all 
kinds  of  country  produce,  which   he    has  con- 
ducted successfully  for  forty  years.      His  goods 
are  shipped  to  New  York  City,  and  he  has  sold 
large    quantities    on    the    present    site  of   the 
Grand    Central    Depot  and  Madison  Garden. 
He  is  accounted  a  shrewd   business   man,  anc 
his  property  has  been  accumulated  through  hi; 
own  good   management.      He   and   his   famih 
are  Episcopalians  in  religion,  and,  politically 
he  is  a  Democrat,  but  has  not  been  very  active 
in  party  work,  although  he  has  held  most  0 
the  minor  offices  in  the  town  and  has  served  a; 
supervisor    and    highway    commissioner.     H( 
married  Caroline  A.  Howard,  a  descendant  0 
one  of  the  old   families  of  the  county,  and  ; 
daughter  of  James  Howard,  of  Pawling.     Fivt 
children    were    born    of    this    union — James 
William,  deceased;   Jay;  Robert;    and    Lucy 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


877 


who  married  Dr.  Arthur  Degaris,  a  leading 
dentist  of  Millbrook,  N.  Y.  The  three  surviv- 
ing sons  are  all  at  home  and  engaged  in  busi- 
ness with  their  father,  a  partnership  having 
been  formed  in  1889. 

Robert  Hurd  was   educated   in  the  district 
school  near  his  home  and  in  the  select  schools 
of  Dover  and  Pawling.      His  remarkable  busi- 
ness abilities  were  displayed    at   an  early  age, 
and  at  fifteen   he  went   into  partnership  with 
Mr.  Smith  in  the  cattle  business,  and  going  to 
western    New  York    they    bought    225    head, 
which  they  drove  east,  selling  along  the  route 
and  closing  out  the  lot  at  Pawling.    This  busi- 
ness  he  has  continued   ever  since,  buying  in 
Buffalo  to  supply  the   demand   in  his  vicinity 
for  milch  cows.      In   addition   to   his  work  in 
this  line  he   is  active   in  the  business  of  the 
firm.      His    success   in  his  various  enterprises 
nay  be  attributed    to    a    rare  combination  of 
jonservatism  in  judgment  and  energy  in  action. 
These  characteristics  are  shown  also  in  public 
iffairs,   making  him   a  valued   worker  in  the 
democratic  party.      He  has  been  a  delegate  to 
nany  State,  county  and   district   conventions, 
ind  in    1896  he  was  elected   commissioner  of 
lighways,  being  the  only  successful  candidate 
m  his  ticket  that  year.     That   his   excellent 
)usiness  judgment   is  appreciated  may  be  still 
arther  seen  by  his  appointment,  by  Judge  Bar- 
lard  in  1895,  as   receiver  for  the  Akindole  es- 
ate,  and  his  friends  may  well  feel  justified  in 
heir  high  hopes  for  his  future. 


PATRICK  WHALEN,  a  prominent  resident 
of    Dover    Plains,    Dutchess  county,    has 

keen  for  many  years  a  successful  stock  dealer, 
lUt  is  now  enjoying  a  well-earned  leisure  at  his 

beautiful  home  in  the  mountains.  It  is  situ- 
ted  in  a  picturesque  ravine  on  the  spot  known 
s  the  Stone  Church,  from  its  resemblance  to  a 
hurch  door,  a  point  greatly  admired  by  tour- 
its  and  often  visited  by  picnic  parties  from  the 
nrrounding  country. 

Mr.  Whalen  is  of  Irish  birth,  and  his  family 
as  long  held  a  leading  place  in  County  Lim- 
rick,  Ireland.  Hisgrandfather,  John  Whalen, 
ras  a  well-educated  man,  and  a  farmer  by  oc- 
Bpation.  He  married  Catherine  Burk,  and 
kd  seven  children:  Jeremiah,  our  subject's 
ither;  Johanna,  the  wife  of  Edward  Quinn; 
'atrick,  who  married  Mary  O'Donnel;  Cather- 
le,  the  wife  of  Dennis  O'Brien;  John,  who 
ever   married;  Bridget,    Mrs.   William  Shee- 


han;  and  Maggie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen. 

Jeremiah  Whalen  was  born  in  1792,  and  re- 
ceived an  excellent  education  in  his  youth. 
He  became  a  well-known  agitator  for  the  lib- 
eration of  his  native  land  from  the  British  yoke, 
being  a  valued  co-worker  with  Daniel  O'Con- 
nell,  and  serving  two  terms  as  a  member  of 
Parliament.  For  some  years  he  was  engaged 
in  farming  in  Ireland,  and  also  took  contracts 
for  the  working  of  the  highways,  subletting 
them  and  keeping  a  number  of  men  constantly 
employed.  He  married  Miss  Catherine  Heffer- 
aman,  daughter  of  John  Hefferaman,  a  farmer 
in  County  Limerick,  and  had  twelve  children: 
Catherine  died  at  the  age  of  three;  Mary;  John, 
born  in  1827,  married  Mary  Alanixe;  Patrick, 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Jeremiah  D.  married 
Bridget  Grace;  Dennis  married  (first)  Hanora 
Morone,  and  (second)  Delia  Hogan;  Michael 
died  at  the  age  of  twelve;  William  married 
Ellen  McCoid;  James  married  Johanna  Morris- 
see;  Thomas  died  at  five  years  of  age;  and 
Stephen  and  David  died  in  early  childhood. 
All  of  these  children  were  born  at  the  old 
homestead  in  County  Limerick,  and  in  1847 
the  family  came  to  America,  settling  first  in 
New  York  City,  and  later  upon  a  farm  in  Dutch- 
ess county,  near"  Dover  Plains. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  1830,  and  was 
given  the  best  educational  opportunities  that 
his  native  parish  afforded.  On  his  arrival  in 
this  country  he  found  employment  upon  the 
Harlem  railroad,  which  had  then  been  recently 
surveyed,  receiving  five  shillingsper  day  forhis 
work,  and  paying  three  shillings  per  day  for 
board.  He  remembers  well  the  first  train 
which  passed  over  the  road.  After  a  year  and 
a  half  at  this  work  he  engaged  in  farm  labor 
with  a  farmer  in  Dover,  and  later  became  a 
stock  dealer.  In  this  business  he  was  very 
successful,  his  trade  extending  over  several 
States,  and  he  bought  and  sold  some  of  the 
finest  cattle  ever  shipped  from  Dover.  At  one 
time  he  owned  a  farm  of  235  acres  in  that 
town,  but  he  disposed  of  it,  and  his  present 
farm  contains  only  seventy-five  acres.  He  has 
taken  an  active  interest  in  politics,  has  been 
assessor  for  five  years,  and  has  held  other 
town  offices  including  that  of  road  commis- 
sioner. As  a  devout  Catholic  he  did  much  to 
establish  that  Church  in  Dover  Plains,  and  in 
1858  subscribed  $50.00  toward  the  building  of 
their  edifice.  He  was  married  in  1857  to  Miss 
Selina  Deviney,  and  has  had  four  children,  of 


I 


878 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD 


whom  two  are  living:  (i)  Catherine  A.,  born 
in  1862,  is  at  home.     (2)  WilHam  D.,  born  in 

1863,  died  in  infancy.     (3)  Thomas,  born  in 

1864,  married  Miss  Mamie  Doyle,  and  has  one 
child — Selina,  born  June  16,  1893.  (4)  Jere- 
miah, born  in  1866,  died  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
Whalen  is  a  native  of  Walworth,  County  Lon- 
donderry, Ireland,  and  was  born  in  1835. 
She  received  her  education  at  her  native  place, 
and  in  1851  came  to  Dover  Plains,  where  she 
met  and  married  our  subject.  Her  grandfa- 
ther, Thomas  Deviney,  was  born  in  Glasgow, 
Scotland,  where  he  was  for  many  years  a  well- 
known  machinist.  He  married  Miss  Jennie 
Livingston,  by  whom  he  had  five  children: 
Jennie,  who  married  John  Berrisford,  Mar- 
garet, Sarah,  Thomas,  who  married  Ann  Craig, 
and  William,  Mrs.  Whalen's  father,  who  was 
born  in  County  Londonderry,  Ireland.  He 
was  a  cattle  buyer  by  occupation,  and  was 
quite  prominent  in  Masonic  circles,  being  a 
Master  Mason.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Mary 
Malia,  daughter  of  John  and  Mollie  Malia,  of 
Walworth,  Ireland,  and  his  second  was  Miss 
Hannah  McCornica.  Seven  children  were 
born  of  the  first  marriage :  Jennie,  Eliza  and  Isa- 
bella, whose  husbands'  names  are  not  known; 
Mary,  who  married  (first)  David  Begley, 
and  (second)  William  Bleekley;  Selina,  Mrs. 
Whalen;  William,  who  married  Elizabeth  Mc- 
Golrich;  and  David,  who  married  Martha 
Scott.  There  were  two  children  by  the  second 
marriage:  Thomas,  who  married  Martha 
Shaw,  and  Margaret,  the  wife  of  Mr.  McNari- 
land. 


OSBORN  ROBINSON,  a  general  farmer 
and  dealer  in  dairy  products,  was  born  in 
Putnam  county,  N.  Y.,  December  3,  1820. 
He  grew  up  in  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess 
county,  where  in  1848,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Wealthy  Mott,  who,  too,  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Stanford.  Her  father,  Jonathan  Mott,  was 
also  a  native  of  Stanford,  and  married  Miss  Ar- 
menia Walters,  whose  birth  took  place  in  the 
town  of  Milan.  These  children  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mott:  Benjamin,  Nelson,  Sarah, 
Betsy  A.,  and  Armenia. 

Mr.  Robinson  worked  on  various  farms  in 
Washington  town,  and  in  1871  bought  the 
farm  on  which  he  now  resides.  The  following 
children  were  born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife: 
Martha,  who  married  Milo  Dickerman,  a  milk 
dealer  of  Chicago;  Stephen   is   on   the   home 


place;  George  married  Miss  Kitty  Reynoldson 
and  lives  in  Chicago;  Phoebe  is  at  home;  John 
works  on  the  farm;  Carrie  became  the  wife  of 
Edward  D.  Smith.  Our  subject  has  a  farm 
of  320  acres,  and  owns  forty-six  head  of  cattle, 
fifty-one  sheep  and  nine  horses.  He  deals 
extensively  in  milk  and  has  a  model  dairy, 
with  all  the  modern  improvements.  He  is  a 
Republican  and  has  held,  among  other  offices 
of  the  town,  that  of  postmaster.  He  is  a 
well-known  farmer  in  the  community,  and  is 
respected  by  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  con- 
tact. _ 

Stephen  Robinson,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  Putnam  county,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood.  He  married  Miss  Hattie 
Kelley,  who  was  born  in  Putnam  county,  and 
who  was  a  daughter  of  Seth  Kelley.  Mr. 
Robinson  and  his  wife  located  on  a  farm  in 
Putnam  county,  and  the  following  children 
were  born  to  them:  Chapel,  a  farmer  in  Stan- 
ford; Kelley,  a  retired  citizen  of  Stanford; 
Osborn  is  our  subject;  Ennis,  who  was  a  farmer 
of  Stanford,  died  about  the  year  1870;  Jarvis, 
a  farmer;  Robert,  a  farmer  in  the  town  of 
Poughkeepsie;  William,  following  the  same 
occupation  in  Stanford;  Nathaniel,  deceased; 
Emily  married  Walter  Winans,  a  farmer  in 
Amenia,  and  is  deceased;  Zilla  became  the 
wife  of  Charles  Barrett,  who  is  deceased;  Ada 
married  Henry  Thompson,  who  was  a  farmer 
in  the  town  of  Stanford;  Priscilla  (unmarried); 
Catherine,  the  wife  of  Isaac  Sincerbox,  a  farmer 
of  Sharon,  Conn.  Mr.  Robinson  was  a  Whig 
and  later  a  Republican.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church.  His  death  occurred 
in  1870. 

Chapel  Robinson,  the  grandfather,  was 
born  in  Putnam  county,  where  he  married, 
settled  on  a  farm  and  reared  a  large  family  of 
children. 


WILLIAM    H.    ALLEN,    a   wide-awake 
and  industrious  farmer  of  the  town  of 

Clinton,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  upon  the 
old  family  homestead  in  that  township,  No- 
vember 27,  1856.  The  town  of  Pleasant  \'al- 
ley,  Dutchess  county,  was  the  birthplace  of 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  William  Henry 
Allen,  who  served  as  captain  of  the  State  mili- 
tia, and  in  later  life  engaged  in  the  cultivation 
and  improvement  of  a  farm  in  the  town  ol 
Clinton.  He  married  Sarah  Marshall,  and  tc 
them  were  born  five  children,  all  of  whom  ha\  c 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


879 


now  passed  away,  namely:     William  Henry, 
Catherine.  Julia,  Henry  and  James  D. 

The  last-named,  who  was  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Clinton  in 
1 8 10,  and  on  reaching  manhood  wedded  Mary 
Clapp,  daughter  of  James  Clapp,  the  ceremony 
being  performed  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Val- 
ley. Their  family  circle  included  four  chil- 
dren: Julia,  wife  of  Marshall  Herrick;  Will- 
iam H.;  Mary  Emily,  wife  of  Elmer  Van- 
Vliet,  of  Hudson,  N.  Y. ;  and  James  C.  The 
father  continued  to  operate  the  old  family 
homestead  until  his  death;  politically,  he  was 
one  of  the  warmest  adherents  of  the  Republic- 
an party. 

William  H.  Allen  grew  to  man's  estate 
upon  his  father's  farm  in  the  town  of  Clinton, 
attending  the  school  of  the  neighborhood,  and 
supplemented  the  knowledge  thus  acquired  by 
a  course  in  the  Poughkeepsie  Military  Institute. 
When  his  schools  days  were  over  he  continued 
to  follow  the  pursuit  to  which  he  had  been 
reared,  and  for  four  years  after  his  marriage 
had  the  care  and  management  of  the  old  home- 
stead. He  then  removed  to  his  present  farm, 
whose  neat  and  thrifty  appearance  indicates 
his  progressive  spirit  and  industrious  habits. 

In  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 
county,  Mr.  Allen  married  Susan  Barnes,  a 
daughter  of  David  Barnes,  and  to  them  was 
born  a  daughter,  Annette  E.  For  his  second 
wife  he  wedded  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley, 
Miss  Cora  A.  Van  De  Water,  a  daughter  of 
William  Van  De  Water.  Two  children  bless 
their  union:  James  Henry,  born  February  6, 
1893;  and  William  Marshall,  born  January  3, 

1895- 

Mr.  Allen  uses  his  elective  franchise  in  sup- 
port of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Republic- 
an party,  but  takes  no  very  active  part  in  po- 
litical affairs.  His  energy  and  industry  are 
overbial,  and  he  is  numbered  among  the  men 
ho  have  been  instrumental  in  promoting  the 
ogress  and  prosperity  of  his  town  and  county. 


E.PHRAIM  HERRICK,  the  genial  and  pop- 
'  ular  proprietor  of  "The  Rhinebeck,"  one 
;  the  best  and  most  pleasant  hotels  along  the 
Hudson,  was  born  May   17,  1848,  on  the  old 
inily  homestead  in  the  town  of  Milan,  Dutch- 
^  county,  a  son  of  Ephraim   Herrick.      His 
irimary  education  was  received  in  the  district 
>chools,  and  he  later  pursued  his  studies  in  the 


Rhinebeck  Academy,  thus  obtaining  a  practical 
education,  which  well  fitted  him  for  the  duties 
of  life.  After  laying  aside  his  text  books  he 
operated  the  home  farm  until  the  death  of  his 
father,  which  occurred  in  1868,  having  charge 
of  that  place  for  twenty-four  years,  as  he  con- 
tinued its  cultivation  for  some  time  later. 

For  twelve  years  Mr.  Herrick  then  super- 
intended the  Dutchess  County  Gold  farm, 
owned  by  Dr.  Martin  G.  Freligh,  which  was 
sold  during  that  time  for  a  large  sum.  In  the 
fall  of  1888  he  purchased  his  present  hotel  at 
Rhinecliff,  which  he  has  conducted  very  suc- 
cessfully since,  and  the  place  well  merits  the 
liberal  patronage  accorded  it.  The  house  is 
well  fitted  up,  is  convenient  and  comfortable, 
and  the  cuisine  is  unexceptionable. 

In  1872  our  subject  was  joined  in  wedlock 
with  Henrietta  Hermance,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Hermance,  of  Salt  Point,  in  the  town  of  Clin- 
ton, Dutchess  county.  Our  subject  is  a  stanch 
adherent  of  the  principles  formulated  by  the 
Democratic  party,  and  is  one  of  the  most  pro- 
gressive and  public-spirited  men  of  the  com- 
munity, where  he  is  widely  and  favorably 
known. 


)AILEY  WHEELER,  a  well-known  and 
prominent  citizen  of  the  town  of  Dover, 
belongs  to  a  family  that  has  long  been  con- 
nected with  the  history  of  Dutchess  county. 
He  is  the  son  of  Henry,  and  grandson  of  John 
B.  Wheeler,  an  account  of  whom  is  given  in 
the  sketch  of  Perry  Wheeler. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  occurred  May  3, 
1825,  in  the  town  of  Dover,  and  his  education 
was  received  at  South  Dover.  After  leaving 
school,  he  engaged  in  farming  for  about  forty 
years,  and  then  turned  his  attention  to  specu- 
lating in  tobacco,  cattle  and  stock  generally, 
with  good  success.  Although  he  takes  no 
active  part  in  political  affairs,  his  ballot  is  al- 
ways cast  in  support  of  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  he  ever  faithfully  dis- 
charges his  duties  of  citizenship. 

In  i860  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Wheeler  and  Miss  Juliet  Hungerford, 
daughter  of  Delazon  and  Hannah  Hungerford, 
of  Connecticut,  and  two  children  came  to 
bless  their'  union,  a  son  and  daughter.  George 
B.,  the  former,  was  born  in  Dover  township, 
in  1866,  and  obtained  an  excellent  education 
in  Eastman  Business  College,  and  in  1887  ^t 
Fort  Edward.      The  six  months  following  his 


I 


880 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


I 


graduation  were  spent  in  California,  and  on  his 
return  to  the  East  he  was  for  two  years  em- 
ployed in  the  ' '  Plaza  Hotel  "  of  New  York  City. 
He  was  then  offered  the  position  of  teller  in  the 
Plaza  Bank  of  that  city,  where  he  is  now  located. 
The  daughter,  Nellie  A.,  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Dover,  in  1869,'  and  attended  school  at 
Poughkeepsie.  She  is  now  the  wife  of  William 
S.  McKean,  a  wholesale  confectioner  of  Al- 
toona,  Penn.,  and  has  one  child,  William 
Wheeler,  born  April  2,  1894. 

Thomas  Hungerford,  the  maternal  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Wheeler,  was  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, and  by  his  marriage  with  Miss  Diana 
Hungerford  was  the  father  of  six  children, 
(i)  Harriet  married  George  Shove,  by  whom 
she  has  three  children;  Eliza,  Henry  and  Ed- 
ward. (2)  Edwin  married  Susan  Geddings, 
and  had  five  children:  Martin,  who  married 
Julia  Jackson;  Phoebe,  who  married  Charles 
Hine;  George,  who  married  Emily  Babcock; 
Lewis,  who  married  Elizabeth  Treat;  and 
Anna,  who  married  John  Duncan.  (3)  Emily 
married  Carlisle  Smith,  and  was  the  mother 
of  four  children:  Clark;  Susan,  wife  of  Asa 
Camp;  Harriet,  who  died  in  infancy;  and 
Oliver.  (4)  Thomas  married  Rachel  Smith, 
and  they  had  six  children:  Mills,  who  was 
three  times  married,  his  first  wife  being  Allie 
Hendricks,  his  second  a  Miss  Cable,  and  the 
third  Mary  Stewart;  Sophia,  who  married 
Edward  Teedwell;  Ophelia,  who  married  Dan- 
iel Mallory;  Jay,  who  married  Sarah  Hoag; 
Neilson,  who  married  Lucy  Durfey;  and  Allen, 
who  died  unmarried.  (5)  Orin  married 
Wealthy  White,  and  had  two  children:  Fran- 
cis and  Charles.  (6)  Hannah  is  the  mother 
of  Mrs.  Wheeler. 

Hannah  Hungerford  was  born  in  Connecti- 
cut, and  married  Delazon  Hungerford,  a  farmer, 
who  though  bearing  the  same  name  was  no 
relative.  They  became  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  (i)  Angeline,  born  in  1832,  married 
Jonathan  Haviland,  and  has  four  children: 
Elsie,  wife  of  Abram  Henley;  Lillian;  Lottie, 
wife  of  George  Rice;  and  Walter.  (2}  Watson, 
born  in  1835,  died  in  infancy.  (3)  Juliet,  born 
in  1838,  is  the  wife  of  our  s'jbject.  (4)  Sarah, 
born  in  1841,  married  George  W.  Squires,  and 
has  four  children:  Robert,  who  married 
Jennie  Stevens;  Lewis,  Walter  and  Bell.  (5) 
Beach,  born  in  1844,  married  Fannie  Hoag, 
and  has  three  children:  Nettie,  wife  of  Frank 
Cable;  May  and  Eva.  (6)  Mary,  born  in 
1848,  wedded   Lafayette  Joyce,    and   has  one 


son,  Howard.  (7)  Frederick,  born  in  1852, 
married  Lucinda  Sprague,  and  has  three  chil- 
dren:    Ward,  Bessie  and  Grace. 


^E  WITT  C.  KETTERER,  the  well- 
known  proprietor  of  the  ' '  Ketterer  Hotel " 
at  Pine  Plains,  Dutchess  county,  was  born 
March  7,  1858,  in  the  town  of  Milan. 

The  family  originated  in  Baden,  Germany, 
where  his  grandfather,  F.  Ketterer,  passed  his 
entire  life.  Of  his  two  sons,  Charles,  our  sub- 
ject's father,  was  the  first  of  the  family  to 
come  to  America.  Charles  Ketterer  was  born 
January  3,  1828,  and  received  a  good  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  his  native  land,  where  a 
strict  compulsory  system  prevails,  and  after- 
ward learned  and  followed  the  weaver's  trade. 
In  1853  he  emigrated  to  this  country,  locating 
first  at  Milan,  in  Dutchess  county,  and  later  in 
the  town  of  Clinton.  He  married  Margaretha 
Dorothy  Mindline,  also  a  native  of  Germany, 
who  came  to  Dutchess  county  in  the  same 
year  on  account  of  ill  health.  Being  thrifty 
and  energetic,  Charles  Ketterer  made  rapid 
progress  in  business,  and  before  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war  had  bought  a  farm  in  the  town 
of  Clinton.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  the  128th 
N.  Y.  V.  I.,  and  served  as  a  private  until  the 
Rebellion  ended,  taking  part  in  the  Red  River 
campaign  and  in  the  operations  in  the  Shenan- 
doah Valley,  and  although  he  was  in  all  the 
principal  engagements  in  which  his  regiment 
participated  he  was  not  injured  in  any  way. 
On  his  return  home  in  1865,  he  removed  to 
Pine  Plains  and  opened  a  barber  shop,  the 
first  in  the  town,  having  learned  the  business 
by  shaving  his  comrades  in  the  army  and  tak- 
ing a  one  month's  course  of  instruction  in  New 
York  City.  For  seven  years  he  followed  this 
trade  successfully  at  various  locations  in  the 
town,  and,  in  1872,  exchanged  the  business  for 
the  hotel  now  owned  by  his  heirs.  He  owned 
this  property  until  his  death  which  occurred 
December  28,  1888.  He  was  the  first  to  in- 
troduce beer  into  the  village,  ale  having  been 
the  only  drink  known  previously.  A  self-made 
man  and  a  hard  worker,  he  was  also  generous, 
and  public-spirited,  showing  a  hearty  interest 
in  the  improvement  of  the  village.  He  was  an 
enthusiastic  Republican,  and  one  of  the  lead- 
ing members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  with 
which  he  had  been  connected  from  early  child- 
hood. 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BI00RAP3ICAL  RECORD. 


881 


De  Witt  C.  Ketterer  was  the  only  child  of 
his  parents,  and  after  attending  the  district 
school  at  Pine  Plains  until  the  age  of  fourteen 
he  took  charge  of  his  father's  barber-shop  on 
his  own  responsibility.  He  possesses  good 
natural  abilities,  and  with  due  preparation 
would  have  been  successful  in  almost  any 
undertaking.  His  early  limitations  in  educa- 
tion have  been  largely  made  good  by  an  exten- 
sive course  of  reading  upon  general  subjects. 
After  following  the  barber's  trade  for  seven 
years  he  and  his  father,  in  1879,  exchanged 
work,  and  he  took  the  hotel  which  he  has  now 
conducted  for  seventeen  years,  making  exten- 
sive improvements  and  keeping  well  in  ad- 
vance of  any  competitors.  He  is  prominent 
in  local  affairs,  an  earnest  advocate  of  progress- 
ive movements,  and  in  politics  he  is  an  Inde- 
pendent. On  January  6,  1891,  he  married 
Miss  Jennie  M.  Boice,  daughter  of  John  Boice, 
of  Ancram,  Columbia  county,  New  York. 


JAMES  NEWMAN.  In  this  free  land  of  ours 
many  of  the  inhabitants  are  of  foreign 
birth,  who  have  come  here  for  the  purpose 
of  securing  homes,  and  these  valuable  addi- 
tions to  the  native  population  have,  by  their 
industry,  economy  and  honest  methods,  be- 
came essential  factors  in  the  growth  and  pros- 
perity of  the  country.  They  furnish  not  only 
needed  workmen,  skilled  and  unskilled,  but 
enterprising  merchants,  manufacturers,  artists 
="1^  apt  dealers  upon  our  marts  of  trade. 

Mr.  Newman  is  a  native  of  Germany,  born 
n  New  Bavaria,  July  23,  1845.  His  father, 
jeorge  M.  Newman,  was  a  hotel  keeper  and 
groceryman  at  Herxheim  by  Landau,  ifi  the 
Rhine  Pfaltz,  and  in  1854  came  to  America, 
ivhere  he  died  two  years  later.  He  was  a 
nan  of  wealth,  had  traveled  extensively  in 
France,  and  had  also  visited  Africa.  By 
lis  marriage  with  Vermika  Seither,  who  died 
n  Bavaria,  he  had  four  children:  Frederick, 
ames,  Caroline  and  George,  all  now  deceased 
vith  the  exception  of  our  subject. 

At  the  age  of  fifteen  years  James  New- 
nan  left  his  native  land,  crossing  the  At- 
antic  to  America  to  hunt  up  his  brothers, 
■ne  of  whom  he  found  in  New  York  City, 
nd  the  other  in  St.  Louis.  At  the  former 
lace  he  bound  himself  out  to  learn  cigar 
laking  with  John  Paul  Ohrt,  at  No.  113 
Vest   Broadway,    where    he    remained    about 

ne    year.       When    the    war    broke    out    he 
57 


enlisted  in  the  Anderson  Zouaves,  but  was 
prevented  from  going  to  the  front  by  Mr. 
Ohrt,  as  he  was  not  yet  of  age.  He  then  ran 
away,  coming  to  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess 
county,  where  he  soon  afterward  enlisted  in 
the  150th  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  under  Capt.  Gilder- 
sleeve,  and  was  with  that  regiment  until  mus- 
tered out  at  Poughkeepsie  in  1865.  He  now 
holds  membership  with  John  M.  Gregory  Post 
No.  59,  G.  A.  R.,  Department  of  Connecticut, 
of  which  he  has  served  as  commander,  and 
also  belongs  to  the  Officers  Association  of  the 
1 50th  Regiment,  at  Poughkeepsie,  as  he  had 
attained  the  rank  of  corporal. 

After  gallantly  aiding  his  adopted  country 
in  her  struggle  to  preserve  the  Union  until  he 
saw  the  flag  once  more  float  over  a  united 
nation,  Mr.  Newman  came  to  Amenia,  living 
with  Henry  Tripp,  his  former  employer,  for  a 
year,  after  which  he  worked  for  A.  B.  Rice 
for  the  same  length  of  time,  and  subsequently 
was  employed  at  the  "Amenia  House"  by 
Morgan  Tripp  for  a  year.  Since  that  time  he 
has  successfully  engaged  in  the  cigar  business 
for  himself  at  Amenia,  and  is  at  the  head  of  a 
large  and  constantly  increasing  trade. 

At  Poughkeepsie,  December  20.  1868,  Mr. 
Newman  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  E. 
Gaul,  a  native  of  New  York  City,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Gaul,  a  blacksmith  of  Amenia. 
They  have  four  children:  Charles  H.,  who 
married  Carrie  Why  land;  Carrie  E. ;  Mary;  and 
James  Arthur.  In  his  political  views,  Mr. 
Newman  is  a  Republican;  socially  he  is  a 
member  of  Amenia  Lodge  No.  672,  F.  & 
A.  M. 


w 


AVID  HANNA.  Quite  a  number  of  the 
leading  and  prominent  citizens  of  Dutch- 
ess county  are  of  alien  birth,  and  have  trans- 
ported to  this  land  of  plenty  the  thrifty  habits 
of  their  native  country.  Among  these  there 
are  none  better  known,  or  more  widely  re- 
spected, than  the  gentleman  whose  name  ap- 
pears at  the  beginning  of  this  sketch. 

Our  subject  was  a  native  of  Mayhaland, 
,  County  Londonderry,  Ireland,  where  his 
father,  Samuel  Hanna,  was  also  born,  reared 
and  educated.  The  latter  was  a  farmer,  but 
also  engaged  in  the  operation  of  a  flax  and 
grist  mill  at  that  place.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Matilda  Fargerson,  and  to  them 
were  born  thirteen  children,  namely:  Jane, 
who    became    the    wife    of    James    Sergent; 


882 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Thomas,  who  married  Margaret  Hutchinson; 
James  and  John,  who  died  in  infancy;  Isabella, 
who  became  the  wife  of  James  Hutchinson; 
Nancy,  who  married  William  Hanna;  John 
(2),  who  remained  single;  Robert,  who  wedded 
Matilda  Dixon;  Eliza,  who  died  in  girlhood; 
Peggy,  who  died  in  infancy:  David,  who  mar- 
ried Eliza  Hutchinson;  Sarah,  who  married  a 
Mr.  Livingston;  and  Alex. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  David 
Hanna  attended  the  schools  of  his  native  land, 
and  assisted  his  father  in  the  work  of  the  mills. 
On  March  15,  1852,  was  celebrated  his  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Eliza  Hutchinson,  a  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Abella  (Greer)  Hutchinson, 
who  lived  upon  a  farm  in  County  London- 
derry. Her  father  was  one  of  the  seven  chil- 
dren born  to  Robert  and  Nancy  (Patterson) 
Hutchinson,  who  were  also  agriculturists  of  the 
same  locality,  the  others  being  John,  William, 
James,  Bettie,  Alex  and  Thomas. 

In  1852,  Mr.  Hanna,  with  his  bride,  sailed 
from  the  Emerald  Isle  for  the  New  World,' 
and  made  their  first  location  at  Paterson, 
N.  J.,  where  they  remained  for  some  time. 
On  leaving  that  city,  they  went  to  New  York, 
and  for  forty-three  years  our  subject  was  in 
the  employ  of  the  Harlem  railroad,  being  fire- 
man for  seven  years  and  five  months,  and  was 
then  given  a  position  as  watchman,  which  he 
held  until  his  resignation  a  short  time  ago, 
owing  to  his  age.  His  long  continued  service 
well  indicates  his  faithful  discharge  of  duty, 
and  the  implicit  confidence  which  his  employ- 
ers placed  in  him. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hanna  became  the  parents 
of  seven  children,  of  whom,  Arabella  is  the 
eldest.  Samuel,  who  is  a  conductor  on  the 
Harlem  railroad,  married  Minnie  McLassen, 
and  they  have  one  child,  Herbert  J.  Matilda 
is  now  deceased.  John  married  Miss  Ada 
Preston,  by  whom  he  has  one  daughter,  Julia; 
he  is  a  prominent  Republican,  and  in  1894 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly, and  has  also  filled  the  position  of  super- 
visor of  Poughkeepsie  for  three  terms.  David 
wedded  Mary  Hutchinson,  and  is  also  a  con- 
ductor on  the  Harlem  railroad.  Dorly  is  now 
deceased.      Lizzie  A.  completes  the  family. 


TrOHN  D.  BARNUM,  now  living  retired  at 
Amenia  Union,  Dutchess  county,  was  for 
many  years  one  of  the  most  energetic  and 

wide-awake  business  men  of  Dutchess  county, 


J 


where  his  entire  life  has  been  passed,  his  birth 
having  occurred  August  7,  1834,  at  South 
Amenia,  in  the  house  now  owned  by  Franklin 
Cline. 

Andrew  Barnum,  his  father,  was  born  at 
Danbury,  Conn.,  January  3,  1790,  and  was 
the  son  of  Daniel  Barnum,  a  chairmaker  of 
Bethel,  Conn.  Here  Andrew  attended  school. 
On  reaching  years  of  maturity  he  engaged  in 
farming  and  lime-burning  at  Ridgefield,  that 
State.  He  married  Miss  Sally  Chapman,  who 
was  born  at  Redding,  Conn.,  February  8,  1792, 
a  daughter  of  Phineas  Chapman,  and  died  in 
July,  1852.  Eight  children  were  born  of  this 
union,  whose  names  and  dates  of  birth  are  as 
follows:  Milo,  February  29,  1816;  Joshua, 
September  15,  1818;  Daniel,  September  27, 
1820;  Lucinda,  September  2,  1823;  Sarah, 
November  28,  1825;  Mary,  July  3,  1828;  An- 
drew, August  27,  1829;  and  John  D.,  August 
7,  1834.  All  are  now  deceased  with  the  ex- 
ception of  our  subject,  and  Mary,  the  wife  of 
Daniel  Sharpsteen,  of  Battle  Creek,  Michigan. 

In  1830  the  father  removed  to  the  town  of 
Amenia,  purchasing  the  place  at  South  Amenia 
now  occupied  by  Franklin  Cline,  and  there 
conducted  a  flouring-mill.  In  1839  he  sold  to 
Philo  Cline,  giving  possession  the  following 
year,  and  then  went  to  Cortland  county,  N. 
Y. ,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  of  300  acres, 
which  he  continued  to  cultivate  for  ten  years. 
On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  returned 
to  Amenia  Union,  and  there  lived  retired  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  December  31,  1869. 
He  was  again  married,  his  second  union  being  ■ 
D.ecember  S,  1852,  with  Mrs.  Eliza  Stevens, 
who  was  born  April  12,  1801,  and  died  April 
10,  1870.  In  politics  he  was  first  a  Whig, 
later  a  Republican. 

The  early  education  of  our  subject  was  ob- 
tained in  Cortlandville  Academy,  and  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  years  he  started  out  in  life  for 
himself,  being  engaged  in  the  pump  business 
with  his  brother  at  Danboro,  Penn.,  for  two 
years.  The  following  summer  he  spent  at  Lit- 
tle York,  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  while  the  win- 
ter was  passed  by  him  in  the  village  of  Cort- 
land. He  was  then  employed  in  selling  tin 
for  Cicero  Beach,  of  Kent,  Conn.,  for  a  year. 

Subsequently,  Mr.  Barnum,  with  his  brother 
Andrew,  established  the  firm  of  Barnum  & 
Co.,  and  engaged  in  the  stationery  business, 
traveling  by  wagon  with  paper  supplies,  and 
gathering  material  for  the  manufacture  of  paper. 
This  they  continued  from  1853  until  the  death 


» 


OOMMEMOBATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


883 


of  Andrew  in  1865,  after  which  our  subject 
conducted  the  business  alone  until  1885,  run- 
ning five  peddlino;  wagons  on  the  road  as  far 
east  as  Hartford,  Conn.,  west  to  Oneonta, 
N.  Y.,  north  to  Utica,  N.  Y. ,  and  south  to 
Bridgeport,  Conn.  He  was  also  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  cigars  at  Amenia  Union,  which 
he  sold  to  the  retail  trade  from  his  wagons, 
a  business  he  continued  to  carry  on  after  he 
had  stopped  the  paper  trade.  Later  he  went 
on  the  road  for  Morgan  L.  Potts,  to  whom  he 
had  sold  out,  and  while  thus  employed  he,  in 
1 89 1,  contracted  gangrene,  which  grew  rapidly 
worse,  and  resulted  in  his  losing  both  legs. 
Since  that  time  he  has  necessarily  led  a  retired 
life. 

Mr.  Barnum   was  first  married  September 
;i,   1857,  to  Anna  J.   Stevens,    who   was  born 
[October   12,    1840,   and  was  the  daughter  of 
his  stepmother.     She  died  September  18,  1866, 
eaving  one  son,  William   S. ,  now  of  Tarry- 
own,  N.  Y.,  who  was  born  November  23,  1859, 
ind  married  Caroline  Andrews.     At  Livingston 
Vlanor,  N.  Y..  September   2,    1868,   Mr.    Bar- 
ium was  again  married,  this  time  to  Harriet 
^nn   Potts,  who   was  born   August    11,  1833, 
md  they  have  two  children:     J.  Edmund,  who 
vas  born  November  20,  1869,  and  is  now  with 
he    Wagner    Palace   Car    Co.,  in   New  York 
ity.  and  John  Dibble,  Jr.,  born  July  21,  1871. 
n  political  sentiment,  Mr.  Barnum  has  always 
leen  an  ardent  Republican,  and  he  is  devoted 
the  best  interests  of  his  town  and  county, 
eing  numbered  among  the  most  public-spirited 
nd  progressive  citizens  of  the  community. 


RANK  E.  BURNETT,  one  of  the  leading 
business  men  of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess 
)unty,  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Bur- 
ett  Bros.,  is  a  descendant  of  a  family  which 
as  long  been  prominent  in  that  place. 

His  father,  Stephen  R.  Burnett,  was  born 
lere  in  the  year  1829,  and  from  that  time  to 
»e  present  has  had  his  residence  there.  Early 
life  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  fol- 
(wed  it  successfully  for  some  years,  and  in 
I65  he  engaged  in  the  furniture  and  under- 
king  business,  conducting  it  with  increasing 
adeand  profit  until  1886,  when  he  transferred 
to  his  two  sons.  He  is  a  man  who  stands 
gh  in  the  esteem  of  the  community,  and  al- 
lough  he  has  never  sought  public  office  he 
ields  an  influence  in  a  quiet  way  in  every  pro- 
lessive  movement.      He  was  a  charter  mem- 


ber of  Christian  Lodge  No.  379,  I.  O.  O.  P., 
organized  January  28,  1874,  and  he  is  now  a 
Past  Grand  of  the  Lodge  and  Past  Deputy 
Grand  Master  of  the  District  of  Dutchess.  He 
was  married  in  1853  to  Miss  Sarah  Eighmy,  a 
daughter  of  George  Eighmy,  a  prominent  resi- 
dent of  Rhinebeck.  The  two  children  of  this 
union  are  Frank  E.,  our  subject,  born  April 
27,  1855,  and  William  E. ,  born  March  12, 
i860.  Both  were  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  their  native  place,  and  after  com- 
pleting the  course  Frank  E.  Burnett  entered 
the  employ  of  his  father  and  learned  the  de- 
tails of  the  business.  The  younger  brother  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  business  for  different 
parties  until  the  time  of  the  father's  retirement 
from  active  life.  Under  the  able  management 
of  the  two  the  firm  has  maintained  its  prestige, 
and  its  growing  business  gives  evidence  of  their 
energy  and  judgment. 

On  October  30,  1879,  Frank  E.  Bur- 
nett married  Miss  Estella  C.  Lasher,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  Lasher,  a  well-known  citizen  of 
Madalin.  William  E.  Burnett  is  also  married, 
his  wife  being  formerly  Miss  Ella  Hermance,  a 
daughter  of  Edward  Hermance,  of  Red  Hook. 
Neither  couple  have  had  any  children. 

Our  subject  takes  an  active  part  in  local 
affairs,  giving  his  influence  to  all  movements 
which  promise  to  aid  the  community.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-one,  he  became  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F. ,  Christian  Lodge  No.  379,  and  is 
a  Past  Grand  and  Past  District  Deputy  Grand 
Master  of  the  order.  He  is  also  one  of  the 
charter  members  of  Shiloh  Encampment  No. 
68,  and  has  the  distinction  of  being  Past  Chief 
Patriarch,  and  was  District  Deputy  Grand  Pa- 
triarch for  the  year  1896. 


FRANK  E.  BIRDSALL,  one  of  the  reliable 
and  progressive  young  farmers  and  rep- 
resentative men  of  the  town  of  Clinton,  Dutch- 
ess county,  is  actively  engaged  in  general 
farming  upon  the  place  which  he  purchased  in 
the  spring  of  1895.  A  native  of  Dutchess 
county,  he  was  born  August  6,  1867,  in  the 
town  where  he  still  resides. 

On  coming  to  America  the  founders  of  the 
family  first  located  in  Westchester  county,  N. 
Y.,  whence  they  removed  to  Orange  county, 
where  Solomon  Birdsall,  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  located  on  a  farm  granted  by 
King  George  of  England  to  Mr.  Lepton,  from 
whom    the     great-grandfather    purchased    it. 


884 


COMMEMOBA  TIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1 


There  Solomon  spent  his  entire  Hfe  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  and  was  a  faithful  member 
of  the  Society  of  Friends.  He  was  married  in 
Ulster  county,  N.  Y.,  to  Phcebe  Young,  and 
to  them  were  born  seven  children,  Abram  Y. 
Birdsall,  the  father  of  our  subject,  being  third 
in  order  of  birth.  He  was  born  March  19, 
18 — ,  at  Leptondale,  Orange  Co.,  and  there 
on  a  farm  his  boyhood  days  were  passed. 
After  attending  the  district  schools  for  a  time 
he  entered  Union  Springs  Boarding  School  in 
New  York  State,  and  was  then  a  student  in  the 
Friends  Boarding  School  at  Providence,  R.  I. 
After  graduating  from  the  Eastman  Business 
College,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  he  secured  a 
position  as  bookkeeper  in  New  York  City,  and 
later  was  a  commission  merchant.  For  fifteen 
years  he  carried  on  the  feed  business,  but  is 
now  living  upon  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Wash- 
ington, Dutchess  county,  and  devotes  his  time 
to  its  cultivation. 

In  that  township  he  married  Elizabeth 
Haight,  a  daughter  of  Lewis  Haight,  and  two 
children  graced  their  union:  Frank  E.  and 
Gertrude.  The  parents  both  hold  member- 
ship with  the  Friends  Church,  and  the  father 
always  casts  his  ballot  with  the  Republican 
party. 

The  childhood  of  Frank  E.  Birdsall  was 
spent  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ,  until  he  was  seven 
years  of  age,  when  he  accompanied  his  par- 
ents to  Orange  county,  where  the  following 
sixteen  years  were  passed.  He  secured  an 
excellent  education  in  the  district  schools,  at 
the  Union  Springs  Boarding  School,  and  com- 
pleted his  literary  training  with  an  academic 
course  in  the  New  Paltz  Normal.  For  four 
years  he  remained  upon  his  father's  farm  at 
Millbrook,  Dutchess  county,  thus  becoming 
familiar  with  farm  life  in  all  its  details.  His 
practical  knowledge  of  agriculture,  combined 
with  his  sound  judgment  and  good  business 
ability,  no  doubt  wins  him  success  in  his  chosen 
calling,  and  we  predict  for  him  a  brilliant 
future. 

On  October  16,  1894,  in  the  town  of  Clin- 
ton, Mr.  Birdsall  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Mary  G.  Griffen,  daughter  of  William  D. 
Griffen.  In  his  political  affiliations  he  is  an 
inflexible  adherent  of  the  doctrines  and  prin- 
ciples of  the  Republican  party,  and  he  is  an 
earnest  member  of  the  Friends  Church.  He 
enjoys  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  neigh- 
bors, and,  with  his  excellent  wife,  is  a  valued 
addition  to  the  society  of  the  township. 


WILLIAM  J.  BROOKS,  one  of  the  promi- 
nent  and  reliable  business  men  of  Hi- 

bernia,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  in  Ancram, 
Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.,  August  19,  1861.  His 
father,  who  was  born  in  England,  in  1831, 
bore  the  name  of  Henry  Brooks,  and  was  the 
youngest  of  the  six  children  that  comprised  the 
family  of  John  and  Mary  (Ross)  Brooks,  the 
former  also  a  native  of  England,  and  the  latter 
the  daughter  of  Alexander  Ross,  of  Pough- 
keepsie. 

When  Henry  Brooks  was  about  eight  years 
of  age,  his  father  brought  the  family  to  Amer- 
ica and  located  in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ,  where 
he  established  himself  in  business.  After  com- 
pleting his  education  in  the  schools  of  that  city, 
Henry  Brooks  took  up  farming,  and  was  also 
employed  as  watchman  at  the  Livingston 
Rolling  Mill  in  Poughkeepsie,  in  1870.  At 
Millbrook,  Dutchess  county,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Rachel  Butts,  a  daughter  of 
James  Butts,  and  five  children  were  born  to 
them:  Lydia,  who  was  born  August  19,  1856, 
and  is  the  wife  of  Jay  White,  of  Wassaic, 
N.  Y. ;  William  J.  comes  next;  Amy,  wife  of 
George  Siegler,  of  Ancram,  N.  Y. ;  Fred;  Susie, 
wife  of  Thomas  McCarthy;  and  Eddie.  For 
many  years  the  father  has  now  made  his  home 
at  Ancram,  Columbia  county,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits.  His  religious 
views  are"  those  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and 
in  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Republican. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  obtained 
in  the  schools  of  Ancram  and  Poughkeepsie, 
and  on  laying  aside  his  text  books  to  take  up 
the  more  arduous  duties  of  life,  he  was  first  en- 
gaged either  in  farming  on  the  old  homestead 
or  being  employed  by  others.  In  1890,  how- 
ever, he  came  to  Hibernia,  Dutchess  county, 
where  he  purchased  land  and  erected  his  pres- 
ent house  and  store.  He  at  once  began  the 
coal  and  livery  business,  but  February,  i,  1895, 
he  opened  his  general  store,  where  he  carries  a 
complete  assortment  of  general  merchandise 
such  as  can  be  found  in  a  first-class  store  of  the 
kind.  He  is  a  wide-awake,  energetic  business 
man,  honorable  in  all  his  dealings,  thus  win- 
ning the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  with 
whom  he  comes  in  contact,  either  in  a  business 
or  social  way. 

On  June  12,  1889,  in  Troy,  N.  Y. ,  Mr. 
Brooks  married  Miss  Cora  B.  Duncan,  daugh- 
ter of  Cyrus  Duncan,  of  the  town  of  Washint;- 
ton,  Dutchess  count}',  and  to  them  was  born  a 
son,  Henry.      Mr.  Brooks  is  a  warm  advocate 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


885 


of  Republican  principles,  although  he  has  very 
little  time  to  devote  to  politics,  and  he  is  a 
consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 


JrAMES  REYNOLDS.  Among  Poughkeep- 
j  sie's  most  active  and  progressive  business 
men  of  to-day  is  the  subject  of  this  brief 
review,  whose  successful  career  of  twenty-five 
years  in  business  in  that  city  has  been  such  as 
to  recommend  him  for  the  presidency  of  one  of 
the  leading  and  substantial  business  interests  of 
Poughkeepsie — James  Reynolds  Elevator  Com- 
pany. 

Mr.  Reynolds  was  born  at  Poughkeepsie, 
Dutchess  county,  June  7,  1858.  He  attended 
school  in  his  native  city,  and  in  1873  was 
graduated  from  Riverview  Military  Academy. 
After  his  graduation  he  at  once  began  his  busi- 
ness career  as  a  clerk  in  the  wholesale  grain 
and  feed  store  of  Reynolds  &  Co.,  which  was 
located  oposite  the  depot  of  the  Hudson  River 
railroad.  He  remained  with  this  firm  thirteen 
years,  then  purchased  a  retail  business  in  the 
same  line,  the  location  of  which  was  in  Union 
street.  Under  the  judicious  management  and 
popularity  of  Mr.  Reynolds  the  business  in- 
creased so  that  more  room  was  required,  and 
in  November,  1888,  he  purchased  the  Parker 
mill  and  the  surrounding  property,  and  con- 
verted the  mill  into  a  complete  grain  elevator. 
Large  and  commodious  warehouses  were 
erected  in  connection  with  the  elevator,  and 
largely  increased  switching  facilities  added;  and 
also  another  retail  store  opened  on  Main  street. 
This  business  so  increased  that  in  February, 
1896,  it  was  incorporated  under  the  name 
of  James  Reynolds  Elevator  Company,  and 
has  so  continued  to  the  present,  our  subject 
being  the  president  of  the  company.  The  other 
lofficers  are:  George  E.  Cramer,  of  Reynolds 
T&  Cramer,  vice-president,  and  Willard  C.  Vail, 
secretary.  The  main  office,  elevator  and 
warehouse  are  on  the  corner  of  North  and 
Garden  streets,  and  the  retail  stores  at  Nos. 
226  and  228  Union  street,  and  No.  17  Cath- 
erine street.  The  company  does  an  extensive 
business  in  flour,  feed,  grain,  hay,  straw,  salt 
and  fertilizers;  also  in  poultry,  kennel  and  bee- 
keepers' supplies. 

Mr.  Reynolds  is  not   only  one  of   the  sub- 
istantial  business  men  of  Poughkeepsie,  but  one 
the  popular  and  esteemed  citizens. 


w 


ILLIAM    B.    DINSMORE  (deceased). 


family  of  whom  we  have  any  record  was  John 
Dinsmoor,  who  went  from  Scotland  to  Ireland 
in  the  seventeenth  century,  having  run  away 
from  home  at  the  age  of  seventeen  because 
his  father  had  compelled  him,  as  the  second 
son,  to  hold  the  stirrup  while  his  elder  brother 
mounted  a  horse.  Unwilling  to  submit  to 
such  an  indignity,  he  sought  a  new  home 
in  County  Antrim,  Ireland,  where  he  lived 
to  the  age  of  ninety-nine  years,  and  was  dis- 
tinguished for  his  piety.  His  son  John  (2) 
married,  and  had  two  children,  Robert,  born  in 
1692,  and  Elizabeth. 

America  was  then  receiving  many  emi- 
grants of  the  hardy  Scotch-Irish  race,  and 
leaving  his  little  family,  John  Dinsmoor  sailed 
across  the  Atlantic,  landing  at  a  fort  at  the 
islands  known  as  "the  Gorges,"  off  the  coast 
of  Maine.  There  he  began  to  build  a  house, 
but  while  shingling  it  he  was  captured  by  the 
Indians.  By  making  himself  useful  to  the 
chief  he  gained  his  favor;  but  the  other  mem- 
bers of  the  tribe  were  not  so  well  disposed, 
and  one  day,  in  the  absence  of  the  chief,  the 
captive  was  accused  of  holding  a  conference 
with  some  Englishmen  on  the  coast,  and  was 
condemned  to  die  by  fire.  He  had  already 
been  bound  to  a  tree,  and  the  brush  was  piled 
about  him,  when  his  friend,  the  chief,  returned 
and  commanded  his  torturers  to  cease  their 
preparations  until  an  investigation  of  the 
charge  could  be  made,  as  he  said  there  would 
certainly  be  tracks  found  in  the  sand  if  the 
alleged  conference  had  been  held  upon  the 
shore.  None  were  discovered  by  a  careful 
search,  and  Dinsmoor  was  accordingly  released. 
Later  the  tribe  left  that  part  of  the  country, 
and  on  coming  to  a  stream  which  crossed  their 
line  of  march  the  chief  entered  his  canoe;  but 
as  Dinsmore  was  about  to  push  it  off  and  step 
into  the  stern  the  chief  told  him  that  he  must 
go  no  further.  John  pleaded  that  the  Indians 
would  kill  him  if  he  lost  the  chief's  protection, 
but  the  latter  said:  "No,  you  much  honest 
man,  John.  You  walk  to  Boston,"  and  giv- 
ing him  some  nuts  and  bear's  grease  he  told 
him  where  he  could  conceal  himself  in  a  cave 
until  the  rest  of  the  Indians  had  crossed  the 
river.  His  parting  words  were:  "Indian 
and  French  have  all  this  country.  You  walk 
to  Boston,  take  English  canoe  and  walk  to 
your  own  country:  you  much  -honest  man, 
John."     Dinsmoor  found  the  cave,  and  waited 


886 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


there  for  three  days  watching  tribe  after  tribe 
pass  until  all  were  gone.  He  then  started  to 
make  his  way  to  "the  Gorges,"  but  nearly 
perished  from  hunger,  and  would  have  suc- 
cumbed had  it  not  been  for  some  cranberries 
which  he  found  in  a  swamp.  He  reached  the 
fort  in  safety,  and  then  took  passage  by  sea  to 
Boston.  From  there  he  went  to  Rockingham 
county,  N.  H.,  where  a  colony  of  Scotch- 
Irish  had  settled  in  Nutfield  township,  now 
Derry.  Here  he  found  old  friends  from 
Londonderry,  Ireland,  and  either  through 
sympathy  for  his  sufferings,  or  as  an  induce- 
ment for  him  to  stay  there,  the  proprietors  of 
the  settlement  deeded  to  him  and  his  heirs 
sixty  acres  of  land  in  Jee.  As  he  was  a  mason 
by  trade,  he  built  a  stone  house  for  himself  and 
sent  for  his  family.  After  their  arrival  in 
1730  he  divided  the  farm  between  the  two 
children,  both  of  whom  were  married  and  had 
families,  and  he  and  his  wife  lived  in  the  stone 
house  with  his  son-in-law.  This  house  was 
a  noted  point  between  Derry  and  Windham, 
and  until  recently  the  location  of  the  front 
door  stone  was  marked  by  an  early  apple  tree 
in  the  garden  of  P.  D.  Scott,  generally  known 
as  the  Hopkins  place.  John  Dinsmoor,  or 
"Daddy  Dinsmoor,"  as  he  was  called,  died  in 
1741. 

His  son  Robert  brought  to  America  his 
wife,  Margaret  Orr,  and  four  children,  and 
lived  upon  what  is  now  known  as  the  Barnet 
field,  the  westerly  field  south  of  the  brook 
near  the  Scott  house,  and  by  the  railroad.  It 
is  near  or  was  a  part  of  the  land  given  to  John 
Dinsmoor.  The  house  stood  on  the  top  of 
the  hill  a  few  rods  west  of  an  old  cellar,  about 
fifteen  rods  north  of  the  railroad,  and  some 
forty  rods  west  of  the  old  highway,  now  dis- 
continued. Soon  after  the  death  of  his  father 
he  moved  to  a  farm  in  Windham,  N.  H., 
which  has  ever  since  been  in  the  possession  of 
some  of  his  descendants,  and  is  now  the  resi- 
dence of  Edwin  O.  Dinsmoor.  The  dwelling 
house  is  on  or  near  the  site  selected  by  Robert 
on  a  fine  swell  of  land,  and  commands  a  wide 
view  to  the  east  and  south.  The  town  records 
of  Windham  show  that  he  was  prominent  in 
local  affairs.  He  was  one  of  three  commis- 
sioners appointed  to  organize  the  town,  March 
8,  1742,  and  was  elected  a  selectman  on  that 
day.  The  next  year  he  served  on  the  com- 
mittee on  lawsuits,  formed  presumably  to  pro- 
tect the  actual  settlers  from  claims  made  by 
patentees  of  the  Crown.      In    1744-45-46-47 


and  50  he  was  moderator  at  the  annual  town 
meetings,  which  as  is  well  said  in  the  "  History 
of  Windham,  N.  Y. ,"  from  which  these  histo- 
rical facts  have  been  taken,  "not  only  indi- 
cates his  urbanity  of  manners,  his  knowledge 
of  parliamentary  law  and  his  tact  in  governing 
men,  but  also  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  citi- 
zens." He  died  of  fever  and  ague  October 
14,  1 75 1,  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years.  His 
widow  survived  him  until  June  2,  1752.  Of 
their  four  sons,  Samuel  died  November  12, 
1753,  aged  twenty.  The  estate  was  divided 
by  lot  among  the  other  three,  John,  the  eldest, 
drawing  the  land  north  of  the  homestead, 
comprising  the  farms  lately  occupied  by  John 
and  Daniel  Kelly.  Robert,  the  second  son, 
drew  the  homestead,  and  William,  the  west 
portion  lying  south  and  west  of  "Jenny's 
Hill  "  and  extending  to  Cobbett's  pond. 

John  Dinsmoor  married  Martha,  daughter 
of  Justice  James  McKeen,  of  Londonderry, 
and  passed  his  life  at  Windham,  where  he  held 
many  prominent  official  positions,  having  been 
town  clerk,  moderator  of  the  town  meeting,  se- 
lectman, justice  of  peace,  delegate  to  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress  at  Exeter  in  1775,  and  elder  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  had  thirteen 
children,  of  whom,  the  youngest,  William,  was 
born  at  Windham  in  1767.  As  a  young  man 
of  twenty  years  he  went  to  Charlestown, 
Mass.,  and  engaged  in  mercantile  business. 
He  wedded  Catherine  H.,  daughter  of  Gavin 
Brown,  an  Englishman,  who  resided  in  State 
street,  Boston,  on  the  north  side,  at  the  point 
now  occupied  by  the  Merchants  Bank.  At 
the  time  of  the  Boston  Massacre  the  family, 
hearing  the  firing  in  the  streets,  fled  from  the 
house  and  did  not  return  for  two  days,  when, 
to  their  surprise  they  found  it  just  as  they  had 
left  it,  which  speaks  well  for  the  honesty  of 
the  citizens  of  that  town.  Mrs.  Dinsmoor 
died  at  Boston  in  1830,  and  her  husband  fol- 
lowed her  six  years  later.  They  had  three 
children:  Catherine,  born  in  1805,  died  in 
1857,  who  married  Charles  E.  Bowers,  of  the 
Adams  Express  Co.;  Eliza,  born  in  1807, 
died  in  1827;  and  William  B. 

The  late  William  B.  Dinsmore  was  born 
in  Boston  in  18 10,  and  was  sent  in  boyhood  to 
Pinkerton  Academy,  at  Derry,  N.  H.  After 
completing  his  course  there  he  returned  home, 
but  his  father  discovered,  on  testing  his  ac- 
quirements, that  he  was  a  very  poor  penman, 
and  knowing  the  importance  of  a  good  hand- 
writing to  a  business  man  he  selected  a  good 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


887 


teacher  of  penmanship,  with  whom  the  young 
man  gained  unusual  proficiency  in  the  art.    In 
this  painstaking  attention  to  detail  on  the  part 
of    both   father  and  son   may  be   found    the 
secret  of  their  success,    and   the   quality  was 
constantly    shown  in   William   B.  Dinsmore's 
work    in    the    Adams    Express    Company,    to 
which  the  best  part  of  his  life   was  given.      It 
would  not  be  possible  to  give  the   history  of 
one   without  outlining  that  of    the   other,   so 
closely   are   they    identified.      In    1840    when 
i  Mr.  Alvin  Adams,   of  Boston,   established  an 
I  express   business  over  the  Norwich  line  from 
'  Boston  to  New  York,    Mr.  Dinsmore  was  em- 
i  ployed  as  bookkeeper,   and   soon   afterward  a 
[partnership  was  formed   between   them   under 
the    name  of  Adams   &  Co.      Mr.    Dinsmore 
went  to  New  York  to  look  after  the  firm's  in- 
terest, and  his  innate  conservatism  and  caution 
is  evidenced  by  his  statement  to   his  host  at 
the  "  United  States"  hotel,  that  he  was  by  no 
means  sure  of  the  success  of  the  enterprise. 
In  1842  and  1843  the  amount   of  business  jus- 
tified an  extension  of  the  company's  lines,  and 
Philadelphia,     Baltimore,     Washington      and 
Pittsburg  were  included   in   the    service,    and 
other  parties  entered  the  company  as  proprie- 
tors.     In  a  few  years  they  covered  every  rail- 
way in   the   Southern   States,  and  had    made 
rapid  progress  in  the  West,  and  July  i,  1854, 
the  Adams  Express  Co.,  a  joint-stock  associa- 
tion, was   organized  with  Mr.  Adams  as  presi- 
dent,   and    Mr.    Dinsmore    as  treasurer,    the 
headquarters    being    located    at     New    York. 
The  business  continued  to  prosper;   but  a  few 
years  later  the   difficulties  between  the  North 
and  South  made  it  necessary  to  sell  the  South- 
ern lines  to  the  stockholders  in  that   section. 
When  the  disagreements  culminated  in  war, 
the  Adams  Express  Company  rose  to  the  oc- 
casion,  and    their    agents    accompanied    the 
Union   armies,  establishing  their  offices  wher- 
ever   the  tenls  were  pitched,  thus  giving  the 
poldiers    an    opportunity    to    send    or   receive 
money  or    packages.     Over   five    millions    of 
noney  parcels  were  forwarded   from  the  sol- 
Jiers  to  their  families  or   friends   without   the 
OSS  of  a  dollar.      The  agents   were    so  active 
and  zealous  in  the  discharge  of   their    duties 
that   they    often   transgressed    military    rules; 
md  it  is  said  that  at  the   surrender  of  Vicks- 
>urg  the  Adams  Express    agent,  in    his   desire 
to  secure  a  good  location,  rushed   forward  to 
Ml  unoccupied  house,  and  was   about  to  raise 
the  company's  flag,  when  Gen.  Grant  rode  up 


and  said  in  his  quiet  way,  and  with  a  charac- 
teristic twinkle  of  the  eye,  "  Will  you  do  me 
the  favor  to  allow  me  to  hoist  my  flag  first.-"' 

The  Adams  Express  Company  now  tra- 
verses 72, 162  miles  of  railway,  and  has  agen- 
cies at  all  places  on  the  various  lines,  and  as 
the  authorized  agent  of  the  United  States 
Treasury  it  has  safely  transported  thousands  of 
millions  of  its  treasures  and  securities.  In 
1856  Mr.  Dinsmore  became  president  of  the 
company,  and  for  many  years  he  remained  at 
his  post  in  New  York  City,  never  permitting 
himself  to  engage  in  any  enterprise  which 
would  divert  his  attention  from  the  company's 
interests;  and  this  devotion  was  an  acknowl- 
edged factor  in  the  rapid  growth  of  the  busi- 
ness. His  sound,  conservative  judgment  led 
him  to  firmly  oppose  any  precarious  invest- 
ments, and  carried  the  company  through  the 
financial  storms  of  thirty  years  with  less  loss 
than  has  been  sustained  under  the  same  con- 
ditions by  any  other  large  corporation.  His 
integrity  was  unquestioned,  and  united  with 
his  force  of  character,  wealth  and  ability, 
placed  him  among  the  leading  business  men  of 
the  time.     His  death  was  widely  deplored. 

On  October  19,  1S42,  Mr.  Dinsmore  was 
married  to  Miss  Augusta  M.  Snow,  of  Brews- 
ter, Mass.,  and  had  two  sons:  William  B.,  Jr., 
born  in  1844,  and  Clarence  Gray,  born  in 
1847.  In  ordinary  conversation  he  was  some- 
what reserved  in  manner,  but  among  friends 
he  was  always  frank,  and  genial,  and  his  re- 
marks overflowed  with  "mother  wit."  As  a 
correspondent  he  was  noted  for  chirm  of 
style  and  inexhaustible  humor.  His  beautiful 
country  seat  on  the  Hudson,  at  Staatsburg, 
was  the  scene  of  unbounded  hospitality,  for 
although  naturally  economical  he  always  lived 
in  accordance  with  his  circumstances,  and 
made  wise  use  of  his  wealth  instead  of  hoard- 
ing it  unduly.  He  had  a  generous  heart,  and 
his  assistance  was  freely  given  to  many  an  un- 
fortunate, although  his  quiet  benefactions  were 
never  heralded  to  the  world. 


CHARLES  EDWARD  FREDERICK 
_'  SCHUBERT,  a  wealthy  retired  manufac- 
turer residing  at  Glenham,  Dutchess  county, 
has  held  for  many  years  a  leading  place  among 
the  modern  artists  in  tapestries,  and  to  his  fine 
taste  and  rare  executive  ability  much  credit  is 
due   for  the  advance  of  this  branch  of  art  in 


888 


COMldEMORATTVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


different  manufacturing  centers  both  in  Europe 
and  America. 

Mr.  Schubert  was  born  in  Berlin,  Germany, 
January  30,  1817,  the  only  child  of  Charles 
and  Dorothea  (Fisher)  Schubert.  The  father 
was  the  proprietor  of  a  livery  stable  there,  and 
also  ran  a  line  of  stages.  During  the  reign  of 
Frederick  William  he  was  drafted  in  the  Prus- 
sian army,  and  served  some  forty  months  un- 
der Blucher,  and  on  June  18,  181 5,  at  the 
battle  of  Waterloo,  he  was  struck  in  the  fore- 
head by  a  spent  shot,  in  consequence  of  which 
he  became  blind  shortly  afterward. 

Charles  E.  F.  Schubert,  our  subject,  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Berlin,  and  in  1830  entered  the  Academy  of 
Fine  Arts  under  Prof.  Schadouw,  remaining 
four  years,  and  graduating  in  1834.  He  then 
entered  the  factory  of  Louis  Fonobert&Truck- 
ner,  India  rubber  manufacturers,  as  a  designer, 
and  remained  with  them  in  that  capacity,  and 
also  as  a  manager,  for  seven  years.  During 
this  time  Mr.  Truckner,  the  junior  member  of 
the  firm,  invented  the  Mosaic  tapestry,  and  in 
1 84 1  sold  the  patent  and  machinery  to  a 
French  firm,  Louis  Vaison  &  Porait,  and  the 
plant  was  removed  to  Paris,  Mr.  Schubert  be- 
ing appointed  as  foreman  and  designer.  He 
continued  in  their  employ  until  1847,  when  the 
breaking  out  of  the  revolution  in  February, 
1848,  brought  the  industry  to  a  standstill, 
which  they  never  afterward  resumed.  In  con- 
sequence Mr.  Schubert  found  himself  in  the 
market  for  employment,  and  was  engaged  by 
Recillafd  Roussel  &  Clioquil,  one  of  the  then 
largest  carpet-manufacturing  firms  in  France, 
at  Tourcoing,  Department  du  Nord,  on  the 
borders  of  Belgium.  Here  he  remained  from 
1847  to  185 1,  and  then  accepted  a  situation 
with  the  firm  of  John  Crossley  &  Son,  Halifax, 
Yorkshire,  England,  where  he  remained  as 
chief  designer  in  the  tapestry  and  Brussels 
department  from  1851.  until  1870.  In  1855 
he  had  the  honor  to  represent  his  firm  at  the 
Universal  Exposition  held  at  Paris,  and  ob- 
tained the  second  prize,  a  silver  medal,  as  a 
colorist  and  designer,  which  medal  is  still  in 
his  possession;  on  one  side  is  a  bust  of  Napo- 
leon III,  and  on  the  other  are  the  coats  of  arms 
of  all  nations  competing  at  the  Exposition. 
This  firm  of  John  Crossley  &  Son  went  into 
the  manufacturing  of  mosaic  tapestry,  in  con- 
nection with  their  other  manufacturing,  after 
Mr.  Schubert  became  their  manager,  is  he 
alone  understood  the  manufacture  of  this  par- 


ticular branch.  One  of  the  directors  of  this 
company,  by  name  John  Leach,  gave  in  his 
will  a  great  collection  of  these  mosaics  (which 
had  been  manufactured  under  the  supervision 
of  Mr.  Schubert)  to  the  museum  at  Clare  Hall 
in  Halifax,  England,  where  they  are  still  on 
exhibition  to  the  public. 

Prior  to  1870  the  well-known  carpet  manu- 
facturer, Michael  Protzen  &  Son,  of  Berlin, 
Prussia,  had  bought  their  printed  yarns  at  J. 
Crossley  &  Sons;  but  during  that  year,  they 
decided  to  print  their  own  carpet  yarns,  and 
secured  the  services  of  Mr.  Schubert  as  their 
superintendent  and  general  manager.  Conse- 
quently, he  again  removed  to  Berlin,  and  from 
that  time  date  the  first  printed  yarns  manu- 
factured in  Prussia.  Mr.  Schubert  remained 
with  this  mill  three  years,  filling  his  term  of 
contract,  and  then  proceeded  to  Kiddermins- 
ter, Worcestershire,  England,  under  a  three- 
years'  contract  with  John  Brinton  &  Co.,  as 
superintendent,  to  establish  a  tapestry  de- 
partment. In  1876,  when  his  engagement 
with  the  latter  firm  came  to  a  close,  he  re- 
ceived a  proposal  from  the  agent  of  A.  T. 
Stewart,  of  New  York,  to  superintend  their 
carpet  department  at  their  mills  in  Glenham, 
Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  accepted  the  propo- 
sition and  conducted  the  department  with 
marked  success  until  the  year  1889,  covering 
a  period  of  fifteen  years,  when  he  resigned. 
In  1890  Mr.  Schubert  began  on  his  own  ac- 
count to  manufacture  mosaic  tapestry,  mats, 
labels  and  banners,  and  followed  the  business 
for  the  three  years,  when  owing  to  the  de- 
pressed financial  state  of  the  country  he  fore- 
saw that  he  was  not  warranted  in  continuing, 
and  accordingly  he  closed  his  factory.  In 
politics  he  is  an  Independent. 

In  1843  our  subject  was  married  to  an  old 
schoolmate  of  his.  Miss  Wilhelmina  Berner. 
whose  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  Prussian 
army,  and  who  was  in  the  siege  before  Paris 
in  1 8 14,  also  in  Waterloo  with  Blucher  in 
1 81 5.  They  were  wedded  in  Paris  in  the 
Protestant  Chapel.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schubert 
have  had  ten  children,  three  of  whom  died  in 
childhood,  the  remaining  seven  being  as  fol- 
lows: (i)  Charles  Eugene,  a  merchant  in 
Manchester,  England,  married  Emma  Tank- 
ard, and  has  one  child — May.  (2)  Emil 
Heliodore,  who  is  a  designer  and  lives  at  Mat- 
teawan,  married  Mary  Ann  Bingley,  daughter 
of  Richard  Bingley,  of  Leeds,  Yorkshire, 
England;  they  have  two  children — Edith  and 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  BEGOBD. 


889 


Ethel.  (3)  Ernest  Walter  is  in  the  hotel 
business  at  Poughkeepsie.  (4)  William  Albert 
is  with  his  brother  in  Poughkeepsie.  (5)  Kate 
Louisa  lives  at  home.  (6)  Louis  Hector  is  a 
clergyman  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  University 
Chapel,  Chapel  Hill,  N.  C.  (7)  Edith  Jane 
married  Edward  A.  Underbill,  of  Glenham. 
In  their  religious  belief  the  family  are  Epis- 
copalians. 

In  1889,  after  Mr.  Schubert  resigned  the 
superintendency  of  the  carpet  mill  of  A.  T. 
Stewart  &  Co. ,  he  felt  a  desire  to  visit  the 
scenes  of  his  former  activities  in  Europe.  In 
company  with  his  daughter,  Edith  Jane  (then 
unmarried),  he  left  New  York  July  4,  1889,  on 
one  of  the  Cunard  steamers,  and  arrived  in 
Liverpool  after  a  voyage  of  nine  days.  They 
immediately  went  from  there  to  Manchester, 
where  they  remained  with  his  son  for  a  fort- 
night, from  there  visiting  Leeds,  Bradford, 
Blackpool,  Brixton  and  Matlock,  the  famous 
watering  place  in  Derbyshire;  from  Manchester 
they  went  to  London,  and  from  London  to 
Calais,  France,  and  thence  to  Tourcoing,  where 
they  remained  a  few  days  before  going  to  Paris, 
at  which  city  they  attended  the  World's  Fair, 
and  then  visited  other  points  of  interest  in 
France.  After  a  sojourn  of  three  months, 
they  returned  by  way  of  London  and  Liver- 
pool, taking  passage  via  the  Cunard  Line  again 
to  New  York.  Although  Mr.  Schubert  is  in 
his  eightieth  year,  he  is  still  hale  and  hearty, 
possessing  a  clear  mind  and  steady  hand.  His 
favorite  pastime  is  making  designs  for  industrial 
purposes,  being  solicited  by  carpet  manufac- 
turers in  different  parts  of  the  country  for  his 
handiwork.  He  is  a  man  of  unusual  vigor  for 
bis  years. 

IJALTER  A.  SHERMAN,  one  of  the 
MM  prosperous  and  enterprising  agricultur- 
ists of  the  town  of  Amenia,  Dutchess  county, 
was  born  on  the  old  homestead  at  Amenia 
Union,  May  27,  1861,  and  can  trace  his  ances- 
try back  to  Henry  Sherman,  who  died  in  Eng- 
land in  1589.  Of  his  five  children,  Henry, 
the  eldest,  removed  from  the  county  of  Suf- 
■folk  to  Dedham,  in  the  county  of  Essex,  Eng- 
land, where  his  death  occurred  in  1610.  He 
married  Susan  Hills,  and  of  their  twelve  chil- 
dren, Samuel,  the  second,  was  born  in  1537, 
and  died  at  Dedham,  in  161  5. 

Hon.  Philip  Sherman,  the  youngest  of  the 
seven  children  of  Samuel,  was  born  at  Ded- 
liam,  February  5,  1610,  and  in    1634  he  emi- 


grated to  Roxbury,  Mass.,  being  the  founder 
of  the  family  in  this  country.  With  Roger 
Williams  and  others,  he  helped  to  purchase 
Rhode  Island,  March  24,  1638,  and  when  the 
government  was  established  July  i,  1639,  Mr. 
Coddington  became  governor,  with  Philip  Sher- 
man as  secretary.  His  death  occurred  at 
Portsmouth,  R.  I.,  in  1687.  By  his  marriage 
with  Miss  Sarah  Odding,  he  had  thirteen  chil- 
dren, John  being  the  eighth  in  the  order  of 
birth. 

John  Sherman  was  born  at  Portsmouth, 
R.  I.,  in  1644,  and  by  occupation  was  a  black- 
smith and  farmer,  living  on  land  inherited 
from  his  father  at  South  Dartmouth,  Mass., 
where  he  died  in  1734.  He  wedded  Sarah 
Spooner,  and  to  them  were  born  eight  children. 
Philip  Sherman,  the  eldest,  followed  farming 
upon  the  old  homestead  at  Dartmouth,  Mass., 
and  there  his  death  occurred  in  1740.  His 
son,  Jabez  Sherman,  born  October  3,  1704, 
at  one  time  served  as  lieutenant  in  the 
navy  of  Great  Britain,  but  most  of  his  life 
was  passed  at  South  Dartmouth,  where  he 
died  in  1774.  Of  his  eleven  children,  Benja- 
min Sherman,  the  fifth,  was  born  February  3, 
1736,  at  Dartmouth,  and  during  his  boyhood 
attended  the  common  schools.  He  was  the 
first  of  the  family  to  come  to  Dutchess  county, 
N.  Y. ,  arriving  at  Pawling  in  1764,  where  he 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  building  the 
Hicksite  meeting  house.  He  then  returned  to 
Dartmouth,  Mass.,  for  his  wife,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Deborah  Dilnoe,  and  he  later 
engaged  in  farming  and  wagon  making  at  Pawl- 
ing, where  he  died  in  1805.  In  his  family  of 
eleven  children,  Shadrach  Sherman  was  the 
seventh  in  order  of  birth.  He  was  born  at 
Dover  Plains,  Dutchess  county,  in  1769,  and 
by  occupation  was  a  farmer  and  drover.  He 
became  quite  a  prominent  and  influential  man 
of  the  county,  serving  as  a  member  of  the 
General  Assembly  in  181 1.  His  death  oc- 
curred December  11,  1812.  He  married  Dia- 
dama  Howland,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  eight  children:  Amy,  David,  Howland,  Al- 
fred, Benjamin  E.,  Richard  H.,  Walter  and 
Shadrach. 

Walter  Sherman,  the  next  to  the  youngest 
in  the  above  named  family,  was  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject.  He  was  born  February 
21,  1806,  at  Dover  Plains,  and  there  remained 
until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he 
removed  to  Amenia  Union,  where  he  carried 
on  merchandising  for  some  time,  and  also  en- 


890 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHWAL  RECORD. 


I 


gaged  in  farming  and  stock  dealing.  He  was 
very  successful  in  his  undertakings,  becoming 
quite  well-to-do,  and  his  property  was  all  the 
result  of  his  own  unaided  efforts.  He  took  an 
active  part  in  political  affairs,  in  early  life  sup- 
porting the  Whig  party,  later  becoming  an 
ardent  Republican,  and  he  served  as  a  member 
of  the  General  Assembly  in  1845  and  1847. 
He  departed  this  life  March  11,  1880.  At 
Amenia,  August  31,  1834,  he  married  Miss 
Cornelia  Allerton,  and  to  them  three  children 
were  born:  Mary,  who  was  born  June  8,  1835, 
and  died  December  29,  1868;  David  H.,  the 
father  of  our  subject;  and  Samuel  W.,  born 
September  20,  1844. 

David  H.  Sherman  was  born  on  the  old 
homestead  at  Amenia  Union,  June  25,  1837, 
began  his  education  in  the  district  schools  of 
the  neighborhood,  and  completed  his  literary 
training  at  the  old  Nine  Partners  Boarding 
School,  in  the  town  of  Washington,  Dutchess 
county.  Subsequently  he  went  to  Newark,  N. 
Y. ,  where  he  engaged  in  clerking  for  a  time, 
and  was  there  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Cecelia  Mayer,  by  whom  he  has  five  children: 
Walter  Alfred,  whose  name  opens  this  sketch, 
being  the  fourth  in  the  order  of  birth.  Re- 
turning to  Amenia,  the  father  here  engaged  in 
farming,  but  later  removed  to  Jersey  City,  N. 
J.,  in  the  interests  of  the  Central  Stock  Yard 
and  Transit  Co.,  of  which  he  is  treasurer  and 
general  manager.  Like  his  father,  he  also 
supports  the  Republican  party. 

Walter  A.  Sherman  spent  his  boyhood  days 
in  Amenia  Union,  attending  the  schools'  of 
Amenia,  later  supplementing  the  knowledge 
there  acquired  by  a  course  in  a  private  school 
in  New  York  City.  He  has  always  been  con- 
nected with  his  father  in  business,  and  now 
has  charge  of  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  his  sec- 
tion of  Dutchess  county,  located  in  the  town 
of  Amenia.  At  South  Amenia,  he  was  married 
September  27,  1882.  to  Miss  Maria  E.  Cline, 
daughter  of  Albert  Cline,  and  five  children 
grace  their  union:  Agnes  C,  Walter  C,  Helen 
M.,  May  N.  and  Howland  N. 

Since  casting  his  first  vote,  Mr.  Sherman 
has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  political 
affairs,  supporting  the  principles  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  for  two  terms  he  has  been 
called  upon  to  service  as  supervisor  of  his  town- 
ship. Socially,  he  is  connected  with  Amenia 
Lodge  No.  672,  F.  &A.  M.  He  is  of  a  genial 
disposition  and  affable  manners,  and  is  a  keen 
and  sagacious  business  man. 


CLINTON  J.  ROCKEFELLER.  Among 
_'  the  active  farmers  and  stock  dealers  of 
the  town  of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess  county,  the 
gentleman  whose  name  stands  at  the  begin- 
ning of  this  sketch  holds  a  prominent  place. 
His  birthplace  was  in  the  town  of  German- 
town,  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  and  the  date 
thereof  October  1,  1839.  He  is  of  Holland 
lineage,  and  for  many  generations  the  family 
have  resided  in  Columbia  county,  where  the 
grandfather,  Philip  S.  Rockefeller,  was  born, 
and  in  that  county  the  birth  of  the  father, 
Philip  P.  Rockefeller,  occurred.  In  his  native 
county  the  latter  grew  to  manhood  and  mar- 
ried Catherine  Elmondorf,  who  was  born  in 
Albany  county,  N.  Y. ,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  Elmondorf,  who  was  also  of  Holland 
descent.  Mr.  Rockefeller  took  his  bride  to 
his  home  in  Columbia  county,  where  they 
reared  their  four  children:  Edmond,  who 
died  at  Rochester,  N.  Y. ;  Harmond,  who  held 
official  positions  under  President  Lincoln,  and 
is  now  a  prominent  resident  of  Texas;  Clinton 
J.,  of  this  review,  and  Anna,  who  is  married 
and  makes  her  home  in  Columbia  county.  On 
his  farm  there  the  father  died  about  1841,  and 
his  wife  survived  him  until  1874,  when  she, 
too,  was  called  to  her  final  rest.  He  affiliated 
with  the  Whig  party. 

The  early  days  of  our  subject  were  spent 
upon  the  home  farm,  which  he  assisted  in  op- 
erating, and  attended  the  district  schools  of 
the  neighborhood.  He  completed  his  educa- 
tion, however,  under  the  direction  of  General 
De  Peyster,  and  on  laying  aside  his  books 
worked  as  a  printer  for  two  years  in  Albany, 
N.  Y.  Later  he  carried  on  a  photograph  gal- 
lery in  New  York,  but  in  1861  he  came  to 
the  town  of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess  county,  and 
located  upon  the  farm  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. Besides  general  farming  he  also  turns 
his  attention  to  buying  and  selling  live  stock, 
which  he  ships  to  New  York  City,  and  finds 
this  a  profitable  source  of  income.  He  also 
ships  fruit  to  European  markets. 

In  1 87 1  Mr.  Rockefeller  was  married,  the 
lady  of  his  choice  being  Catherine  Dederick,  of 
Dutchess  county,  a  daughter  of  John  Dederick, 
who  is  engaged  in  farming.  To  them  were 
born  three  children:  Carrie;  Romer,  who  is 
married,  and  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
in  Red  Hook  township,  and  one  child  that  died 
at  the  age  of  thirteen  years. 

Mr.  Rockefeller  is  one  of  the  leading  and 
influential    Republicans    of    the    town    whose 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


891 


opinions  are  invariably  held  in  respect,  and  in 
1888  he  was  first  elected  supervisor  of  Red 
Hook.  With  the  exception  of  two  years, 
when  he  withdrew  his  name,  he  has  since 
filled  that  position  with  credit  to  himself  and 
to  the  satisfaction  of  his  constituents.  He  is 
a  man  of  sound  judgment,  upright  and  honor- 
able in  all  his  dealings,  and  has  the  well  wishes 
of  all. 


'T-ALTER  G.  STORM,  a  farmer  of  the 
J^lt  town  of  East  Fishkill,  and  one  of  the 
representative  citizens  of  Dutchess  county, 
comes  from  one  of  its  oldest  and  most  highly 
respected  families.  He  first  opened  his  eyes 
to  the  light  in  that  town,  April  8,  1854,  and 
there  his  grandfather,  Garret  Storm,  was  also 
born,  and  upon  a  farm  reared  his  family  of  six 
children,  namely:  John  P.,  the  father  of  our 
subject;  Isaac,  who  was  an  agriculturalist  of 
East  Fishkill  town;  Garret,  a  coal  dealer  of 
Matteawan,  Dutchess  county;  Eliza,  who  mar- 
ried John  S.  Emans;  Catherine,  who  married 
Edmund  Luyster,  a  farmer  and  cattle  dealer 
of  East  Fishkill  town,  who  is  now  deceased; 
and  Charles  T.,  who  was  a  merchant  of  Pough- 
keepsie.  Throughout  his  life  the  grandfather 
always  followed  the  occupation  of  farming. 

John  P.  Storm  was  born  in  East  Fishkill 
township,  January  i,  1826,  there  grew  to  man- 
hood and  married  Miss  Sarah  R.  Hasbrouck, 
a  native  of  the  same  place,  and  the  daughter 
of  Francis  Hasbrouck,  who  was  a  merchant  of 
East  Fishkill.  Upon  their  marriage  they  lo- 
cated upon  a  farm  in  their  native  township, 
where  their  two  children  were  born — Walter 
G.,  of  this  sketch;  and  Jennie  E. ,  now  the 
wife  of  Du  Bois  Bartow,  a  farmer  of  East  Fish- 
kill township.  The  father  is  still  living,  and  is 
engaged  in  the  operation  of  his  land.  His  po- 
litical support  is  ever  given  the  men  and  meas- 
ures of  the  Democratic  party. 

On  the  home  farm  in  the  town  of  East 
Fishkill,  Mr.  Storm,  whose  name  introduces 
this  review,  remained  until  he  reached  ma- 
turity, and  in  1887  he  was  married,  the  lady  of 
his  choice  being  Miss  Bessie  C.  Cooper,  who 
was  born  in  Putnam  county,  N.  Y.,  but  was 
reared  at  Matteawan,  Dutchess  county.  Her 
father,  James  Cooper,  was  a  hatter  by  trade. 
Two  children  grace  their  union — John  C.  and 
W.  Bartow. 

With  his  bride,  Mr.  Storm  migrated  to 
North  Dakota,  where  for  six  years  they  resided 


upon  a  farm;  but  in  1892  they  returned  east, 
and  have  since  been  residents  of  East  Fishkill 
town.  Their  fine  farm  of  100  acres  is  highly 
cultivated  and  improved,  and  to  general  farm- 
ing Mr.  Storm  devotes  his  time  and  attention 
exclusively.  They  are  true  Christians,  mem- 
bers of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  in  politics 
he  is  an  earnest  supporter  of  the  Democratic 
party.  An  energetic  and  reliable  citizen,  he 
has  fully  established  himself  in  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  the  people,  and  is  ready  to  se- 
spond  to  calls  made  upon  him  to  promote  the 
interests  of  his  town  and  county. 


THOMAS  J.  CUNNINGHAM.  But  few 
young  men  have  as  enviable  a  reputa- 
tion for  enterprise  and  business  acumen  as  the 
subject  of  this  biography,  a  prosperous  pro- 
duce dealer  at  Matteawan,  Dutchess  county. 
He  was  born  October  9,  1866,  at  Peekskill, 
Westchester  county,  N.  Y.,  and  is  a  descend- 
ant of  a  Scotch  family  that  located  in  West- 
chester county  at  an  early  day. 

His  grandfather  Cunningham  was  a  farmer 
there,  and  the  late  Edward  H.  Cunningham, 
our  subject's  father,  was  born  there  and  passed 
his  life  in  the  same  locality,  engaged  in  the 
business  of  stove  molding.  He  was  an  expert 
in  his  line,  and  for  many  years  was  superin- 
tendent of  the  Peekskill  Stove  Company.  In 
later  life  he  retired  to  a  farm  to  end  his  days  in 
the  peaceful  occupation  of  agriculture,  his 
death  occurring  in  1886.  His  wife.  Miss 
Phoebe  A.  Sutton,  a  member  of  one  of  the  old 
pioneer  families  of  Westchester  county,  died 
in  1870.  She  was  born  in  Peekskill,  where  her 
father,  a  gas  manufacturer,  was  a  leading  citi- 
zen. Our  subject  was  the  youngest  in  a  fam- 
ily of  nine  children,  the  others  being:  Letitia, 
deceased;  John,  a  resident  of  Peekskill;  Louisa, 
Mrs.  Charles  H.  Hall,  of  Croton  Landing; 
James,  who  resides  in  New  York  City;  Ada, 
lately  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Frank  Norton, 
of  Croton  Landing:  Dirlin,  the  sixth  in  order 
of  birth;  George,  a  resident  of  Arkansas  City, 
Kans. ;  and  Fannie,  deceased.  Both  parents 
were  devout  and  consistent  members  of  the 
M.  E.  Church,  and  were  held  in  high  esteem 
among  their  associates. 

The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  spent  in 
his  native  town,  his  education  being  mainly 
acquired  in  the  local  schools.  In  1884  he 
went  to  Matteawan  and  after  a  short  course  of 
study  in  the  schools  there,  engaged  in  business 


892 


COMMEMOBAnVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


at  the  corner  of  Fountain  and  Leonard  streets 
as  a  wholesale  and  retail  dealer  in  ilour,  feed, 
grain,  baled  hay,  straw,  and  similar  commod- 
ities. Starting  practically  without  capital  of 
his  own,  he  has  made  his  way  to  success,  and  is 
recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  business  men 
of  the  town.  His  present  extensive  trade  is 
still  on  the  increase,  and  he  devotes  his  atten- 
tion to  it,  paying  but  little  heed  to  politics. 
On  June  3,  1896,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Jen- 
nie McCallin,  an  attractive  young  lady,  the 
daughter  of  F.  McCallin,  a  well-known  citizen 
of  Fishkill  Landing. 


WILLIAM  J.  WOOD,  a  prominent  mason 
of    Dover    Plains,    Dutchess    county, 

whose  skillful  work  in  his  chosen  calling  has 
given  him  more  than  a  local  reputation,  is  one 
of  the  rising  young  business  men  of  that  place. 

His  family  originated  in  Scotland,  where 
his  grandfather,  Thomas  Wood,  was  born  and 
educated.  He  came  to  America  in  early  man- 
hood and  settled  in  Dutchess  county,  and  he 
and  his  wife.  Amy  Elliot,  reared  a  family  of 
three  children:  John,  who  married  (firstj  Miss 
Carlo, and  (second)  Miss  Lottie  Thomas;  Lettie, 
who  married  Amos  Jenkins;  and  William,  our 
subject's  father,  who  was  born  in  1832,  and 
received  a  common-school  education  in  the 
town  of  Dover.  He  then  learned  the  shoe- 
maker's trade,  which  he  followed  for  many 
year.  He  was  also  interested  in  quarrying  in 
the  same  town,  and  as  an  energfetic  business 
man  took  an  influential  part  in  local  affairs. 
His  first  wife  was  Miss  Helen  Birch,  daughter 
of  Ethel  and  Gettie  (Knickerbocker)  Birch. 
Of  the  two  children  of  this  marriage  our  sub- 
ject was  the  younger.  The  elder,  Lettie  D., 
born  in  1861,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty.  Mrs. 
Wood  died  in  1869,  and  our  subject's  father 
formed  a  second  matrimonial  union,  this  time 
with  Mrs.  Mary  Allen,  who  died  in  1890, 
leaving  no  children. 

William  J.  Wood  was  born  in  1863,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
town  of  Dover.  He  learned  the  mason's 
trade,  and  has  now  been  successfully  engaged 
in  it  for  seven  years,  his  business  extending  to 
all  the  neighboring  towns.  Politically  he  has 
always  favored  the  Republican  party,  but  he 
has  not  been  an  aspirant  for  public  office.  In 
1883  he  married  Miss  Emma  Brown,  and  they 
have  had  two  children:  Lettia  A.,  born  in 
1888,  and  David  B.,  born  in  1891. 


Mrs.  Wood's  father,  George  H.  Brown, 
was  born  and  reared  in  Dover  Plains,  and  after- 
ward became  a  prominent  farmer  of  that  vi- 
cinity. In  1 86 1  he  enlisted  at  Poughkeepsie 
in  the  150th  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  and  served  through- 
out the  war,  taking  part  in  many  important 
battles  and  gaining  a  commission.  He  mar- 
ried Rachel  Ostrander,  and  had  nine  children: 
Maggie,  who  married  Egbert  Morey,  and  has 
one  child — Mabel;  (2)  William,  who  married 
Martha  Vincent,  and  has  two  children — Allen 
and  Frank;  (3)  Emma,  Mrs.  Wood;  (4)  Lo- 
theria,  who  married  William  Dennis,  and  has 
three  children — Hazel,  Louis,  and  one  whose 
name  is  not  given;  (5)  Elizabeth,  who  married 
George  Root,  and  has  one  child — Nellie.  The 
four  remaining  children,  Charles,  George,  My- 
ron and  John,  are  not  married.  Rachel 
Ostrander,  Mrs.  Wood's  mother,  was  born  and 
educated  in  Amenia.  Her  father,  Jacob  Os- 
trander, was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Milan,  and 
received  his  education  there,  engaging  after- 
ward in  agriculture.  He  married,  and  reared  a 
family  of  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Wood's 
mother  was  the  youngest.  The  others  are: 
James;  Mary,  Mrs.  Adam  Waldron;  Lottie, 
Mrs.  Royal  Halleck;  Carrie.  Mrs.  George 
Murphy;  Kittie,  and  Amy. 


THOMAS  G.  ALDRIDGE,  of  the  firm  of 
Aldridge  &  Covert,  leading  merchants  at 

Dutchess  Junction,  Dutchess  county,  is  one  of 
the  self-made  business  men,  whose  ability  and 
enterprise  have  done  so  much  to  build  up  the' 
trade  of  their  respective  communities. 

His  grandfather,  Daniel  Aldridge,  a  man 
highly  esteemed  in  his  day,  married  Jane  Ed- 
wards, and  had  four  children:  (i)  Thomas, 
who  married,  and  had  eight  children — Benja- 
min, William  H.,  Thomas,  Jr.,  Aaron  E., 
Theresa  J.,  Alfraetta,  George  L.  and  Ger- 
trude. (2;  William,  our  subject's  father.  (3) 
Edward.      (4)   Ella. 

William  Aldridge  was  a  native  of  Orang 
county;  he  married  Jeannette  Simpson,  by 
whom  he  had  seven  children:  Edward  L. 
(deceased),  Lemuel  E.,  Ella  A.,  Jennie  (de- 
ceased), Thomas  G.,  Charles  and  William  S. 
During  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Aldridge  enlisted  in 
the  United  States  service  for  three  years.  Be- 
fore he  left  Albany  on  his  way  to  the  front  his 
wife  died,  leaving  the  little  family  bereft  of  the 
care  of  both  parents.  At  the  expiration  of  his 
first  term  the  father  re-enlisted,  and  served  un- 


COMMEMORATIVE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


893 


til  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  returned 
home  and  resumed  his  business  of  brick-mak- 
ing, in  which  he  was  very  successful,  being  a 
thorough  master  of  all  branches  of  the  trade. 
He  died  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  in  1878. 

Thomas  G.  Aldridge  was  born  December 
12,  1853,  at  Dutchess  Junction,  N.  Y. ,  and 
has  made  his  own  waj'  in  life  from  the  time  of 
his  mother's  death,  when  he  was  only  twelve 
years  old.  He  secured  employment  upon  a 
schooner  which  was  engaged  in  the  brick  car- 
rying trade  between  Dutchess  Junction  and 
New  York  City.  After  three  years  at  this 
work  he  made  a  practical  study  of  steam  en- 
gineering, and  at  eighteen  was  put  in  charge 
of  a  brick  plant  at  Dutchess  Junction.  He 
held  this  position  until  1892,  when  he  formed 
his  present  partnership  and  engaged  in  the  gro- 
cery and  meat  business,  of  which  he  has  made 
a  success.  On  December  8,  1880,  he  married 
Miss  Alida  Covert,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and 
Catherine  (Jones)  Covert;  their  only  child  died 
in  infancy. 

Mr.  Aldridge  is  not  a  politician  in  the  strict 
sense  of  the  word,  but  he  takes  a  patriotic  in- 
terest in  public  affairs,  and  is  an  earnest  sup- 
porter of  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party. 


EWAN  BRYANT,  of  Bryant  Bros.,  proprie- 
'J  tors  of  the  "Standard  House,"  Fishkill, 

Dutchess  county,  is  one  of  the  most  enterpris- 
ing young  business  men  of  that  vicinity.  He 
is  of  English  descent,  the  old  home  of  his 
family  being  in  Gloucestershire,  England, 
where  his  great-grandfather,  Richard  Bryant, 
and  his  grandfather,  Jonathan  Bryant,  were 
born  and  spent  their  lives  in  the  hatter's  busi- 
ness. His  father,  Samuel  Bryant,  was  also 
born  in  England,  and  previous  to  coming  to 
America  in  1855,  learned  the  same  trade.  He 
is  now  a  resident  of  Matteawan. 

Evan  Bryant  was  born  in  Brewster,  Put- 
nam county,  July  14,  1863,  and  was  but  two 
years  old  when  his  parents  moved  to  Matte- 
awan, where  he  grew  to  manhood,  attending 
the  public  schools.  He  also  acquired  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  hatter's  trade,  and  for  fourteen 
years  followed  it  there  and  in  different  places 
in  Connecticut,  Massachusetts  and  Canada. 
On  November  13,  1894,  he  established  his 
present  hotel  and  saloon  business  at  Fishkill, 
in  partnership  with  his  brother  Edward. 
Neither  is  married.     They  take  great  interest 


in  public  questions,  and  while  they  are  stead- 
fast supporters  of  the  Republican  party  so  far 
as  national  issues  are  concerned,  Mr.  Bryant 
is  not  bound  by  partisan  ties  in  local  affairs, 
voting  for  men  and  measures  which,  in  his 
judgment,  will  advance  the  best  interests  of 
the  community. 


#p.\EORGE  S.  AUCOCK  is  one  of  the  repre- 
%^  sentative  and  prominent  merchants  of  Red 
Hook,  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y. ,  where  his 
birth  occurred  in  1862.  His  educational  priv- 
ileges were  quite  good,  he  having  been  able  to 
attend  the  De  Garmo  Institute,  Rhinebeck,  N. 
Y.  In  1889  he  established  his  present  general 
store  in  the  village  of  Red  Hook,  which  sprang 
at  once  into  public  favor,  and  he  is  now  at  the 
head  of  a  large  and  constantly  increasing  busi- 
ness. In  1886  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Mary  Vosburgh,  a  daughter  of  WardVos- 
burgh,  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  the  town 
of  Ancram,  Columbia  county,  N.  Y. ,  and 
they  have  become  the  parents  of  one  child, 
Bessie,  born  in  1888. 

Robert  Stephenson,  the  great-grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Snaith,  Yorkshire, 
England,  where  he  was  educated,  and  when 
quite  a  young  man  began  dealing  in  live  stock. 
Later,  in  connection  with  this,  he  also  en- 
gaged in  the  butcher's  business  at  Ihat  place. 
He  wedded  Miss  Watson,  of  Scotland,  and  to 
them  were  born  five  children:  William,  who 
for  his  second  wife  married  a  Miss  Collins; 
Sarah,  Mrs.  Anna  Oxenforth;  Jane;  and  Eliza, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Charles  Bean.  The 
second  child,  Sarah  Stephenson,  was  born  in 
1804,  at  Snaith,  of  which  place  the  oiher 
children  were  also  natives,  and  in  the  common 
schools  there  she  received  her  education.  She 
married  William  Aucock,  a  son  of  Jonathan 
Aucock,  of  Snaith,  Yorkshire.  At  that  place 
the  son  engaged  in  carpentering  most  of  his 
life,  and  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  in  his  native 
land.  Eleven  children  were  born  to  William 
Aucock  and  his  worthy  wife,  namely,  Eliza- 
beth, who  became  the  wife  of  Henry  Siberan; 
Christina,  who  wedd'id  Jeremiah  Needham; 
Jonathan,  who  married  Ann  Morgan;  John  and 
Robert,  who  died  in  infancy;  William,  the 
father  of  our  subject;  Robert,  who  married 
Catherine  Martin;  Eleanor,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Joseph  Green;  Sarah,  who,  after  the 
death  of   her  first  husband,  Thomas  Hanpson, 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


became  the  wife  of  a  Mr.  Jones;  and  George 
and  John,  who  were  also  married.  The  mother 
of  these  children  died  in  England  in  1881. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
Snaith  in  1831,  and  after  completing  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  he  learned  the  art 
of  fancy  gardening  and  plant  culture  on  the  es- 
tates of  the  Campbells,  in  Sheffield,  England, 
where  he  was  employed  for  some  time.  Like 
his  ancestors,  he  became  a  member  of  the  Odd 
Fellows  Society  of  his  native  place,  and  stood 
quite  high  in  the  order.  In  1855  he  emigrated 
to  the  United  States,  making  his  first  location 
on  Hunters  Island,  where  he  remained  for 
about  two  months,  and  then  went  to  Toronto, 
Canada.  At  the  end  of  ten  months,  however, 
he  returned  to  the  States,  locating  this  time  at 
Annandale,  Dutchess  county,  where  the  follow- 
ing two  years  "ere  passed.  After  a  year  spent 
at  Newark,  N.  J.,  he  came  again  to  Dutchess 
county,  and  has  now  made  his  home  in  the 
town  of  Red  Hook  for  thirty-seven  years,  be- 
ing employed  there  on  the  estate  of  the  Tymp- 
sons.  He  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss 
Eliza  Cooper,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Anna 
Cooper,  of  New  York  City.  They  became  the 
parents  of  four  children:  Mary,  born  in  1859; 
George  S.,  of  this  sketch;  Sarah,  born  in  1865, 
and  William  C. ,  born  in  1868.  The  third 
child  of  this  family,  Sarah,  is  now  the  wife  of 
Charles  Burnea,  son  of  Charles  E.  and  Mary 
Burnea, -of  Philadelphia,  where  the  son  is  en- 
gaged as  a  decorator  and  designer.  Two 
children  grace  this  union — Marie  Gerard,  born 
in  1891,  and  William  A.,  born  in  1894. 

On  his  mother's  side,  our  subject  is  also 
descended  from  English  ancestry,  his  great- 
grandfather, Robert  Cooper,  being  born  in 
England,  and  there  married.  In  his  family 
were  the  following  children:  Joseph,  James, 
Robert,  Mary,  Eliza,  Sarah,  Betsy  and  Nancy. 
Of  these,  Robert  Cooper,  Jr. ,  was  born  in 
Manchester,  England,  whence  he  removed  to 
the  North  of  Ireland,  and  there  engaged  in 
farming.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  More- 
head,  a  daughter  of  John  Morehead,  of  En- 
gland, and  to  them  were  born  the  following 
children:  Mattie,  who  was  three  times  mar- 
ried, her  first  husband  being  James  Lawrence, 
the  second,  Claudius  Dord,  and  the  third  Rob- 
ert Dunlap;  James,  who  wedded  Mary  Liddle; 
Joseph,  who  married  a  Miss  Cooper;  Robert, 
who  remained  single;  Mary,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Pierson  Hyde;  and  Eliza,  the  mother 
of  our  subject. 


C^HARLES  REDAVATS.  proprietor  of  a 
_'  boarding  and  training  stable  at  Green 
Haven,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Beekman, 
March  29,  1833,  and  is  the  son  of  John  J. 
Redavats,  a  native  of  Italy,  who  left  home  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  years,  coming  to  America, 
where  he  enlisted  in  the  United  States  navy. 
For  a  number  of  years  he  was  on  a  man-of- 
war,  and  after  leaving  the  service  came  to 
Beekman  town,  Dutchess  county,  locating  at 
Green  Haven,  where  he  followed  the  carpen- 
ter's trade  for  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Here 
he  married  Miss  Ann  Clarkson,  a  daughter  of 
Charles  Clarkson,  and  to  them  were  born  four 
children:  Mary  Jane,  who  wedded  Aldest 
Terwilliger,  but  both  are  now  deceased; 
George,  deceased;  Charles,  of  this  sketch;  and 
Joseph,  of  Danbury,  Conn.  The  father  was 
hrst  a  Whig  in  politics,  but  joined  the  Repub- 
lican party  on  its  organization,  with  which  he 
continued  to  affiliate  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  sixty 
years  of  age.  His  wife  departed  this  life  at  the 
age  of  sixty-five  years. 

The  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were 
passed  at  Green  Haven,  he  living  with  W.  B. 
Sheldon  for  seven  years  in  order  to  pay  for 
two  acres  of  land  on  which  his  father  had 
erected  a  house,  and  later  worked  for  George 
B.  Foote  for  five  years.  In  the  town  of  Beek- 
man, he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Jane  Grif- 
fen,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  six  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  William,  who  was  a  con- 
ductor on  a  construction  train  on  the  New 
England  railroad,  was  killed  by  accident; 
Theodore  died  at  the  age  of  five  years;  Charles 
died  at  the  age  of  two  years;  Clara  is  the  wife 
of  William  E.  Williams,  by  whom  she  has  two 
children,  Charles  and  Leland;  Frank  is  in  the 
office  of  the  Old  Colony  Line  railroad,  at  Bos- 
ton, Mass. ;  and  Jennie. 

For  six  years  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Re- 
davats made  his  home  near  Rahway,  N.  J. ,  be- 
ing superintendent  of  the  farm  and  stable  of 
George  F.  Fellows,  and  then  returned  to 
Beekman  township,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
horse  business  at  the  stock  farm  belonging  to 
Merritt  &  Allerton  for  four  years.  After  their 
failure  he  remained  with  their  successors  for 
one  year,  and  then  purchased  his  present 
place  and  went  into  business  for  himself.  He 
conducts  a  good  boarding  and  training  stable, 
and  is  now  at  the  head  of  a  large  and  con- 
stantly increasing  business.  Like  his  father 
was,  he  is   an  ardent    Republican   in  politics, 


UOMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


895 


and  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  success  of 
his  party.  He  is  numbered  among  the  best 
citizens  of  the  community,  and  is  a  wide- 
awake, energetic  business  man  and  the  archi- 
tect of  his  own  fortune. 


CRAWFORD  C.  MacNEIL,  of  Matteawan, 
_  a  leading  wholesale  and  retail  dealer  in 
confectionery  and  ice  cream,  and  proprietor  of 
a  popular  restaurant  on  Union  street,  is  a 
descendant  of  the  famous  Scottish  Clan  Mac- 
Neil,  one  of  his  ancestors  in  the  direct  line 
being  Sir  John  MacNeil. 

Crawford  C.  MacNeil  was  born  at  Red 
Hook,  Dutchess  county,  May  30,  1844,  the 
son  of  Hector  and  Jane  (Craig)  MacNeil. 
They  had  nine  children:  Jane,  John,  Kate, 
Agnes,  Crawford  C,  Serena,  Hector,  Robert 
and  Charles. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  near  his  early  home,  and  on  the  re- 
moval of  the  family  to  Poughkeepsie  in  1850, 
he  entered  the  employ  of  Smith  Bros.,  con- 
fectioners and  caterers,  remaining  until  1873, 
when  he  opened  a  similar  establishment  of  his 
own.  He  was  burned  out  during  the  first 
year,  and  in  the  spring  of  1874  he  removed  to 
Matteawan  and  again  started  in  business,  this 
time  in  a  small  way.  As  success  rewarded  his 
efforts,  he  gradually  enlarged  and  improved  his 
establishment  until  it  is  now  one  of  the  most 
complete  of  its  kind  in  the  county.  Mr.  Mac- 
Neil has  an  inventive  turn  of  mind,  and  is  the 
originator  of  that  far-famed  drink,  ice-cream 
soda  water.  He  introduced  it  to  the  public 
while  he  was  with  the  Smith  Bros,  and  the 
beverage  soon  became  a  favorite  in  all  parts 
of  the  country.  He  has  also  originated  a 
number  of  new  popular  styles  of  candy,  in- 
cluding the  American  mi.\ed  candy,  for  which 
there  has  been  a  large  demand.  His  present 
prosperity  is  well  deserved  as  it  is  based  upon 
bis  own  industry  and  judicious  management. 

Mr.  MacNeil  married  Miss  Alice  Trow, 
daughter  of  William  and  Jane  Trow,  of  Pough- 
keepsie, and  they  have  one  son.  They  are 
prominent  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Matteawan,  and  take  a  generous  interest  in 
all  progressive  movements  in  the  locality. 
.Although  he  is  a  Republican  in  principle,  Mr. 
MacNeil  has  never  taken  any  part  in  political 
■work  or  aspired  to  office.  He  is  active  in 
many  non-political  enterprises,  however,  and 
is  a  member  of  Poughkeepsie  Lodge  No.  266, 


F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Hudson  River  Lodge,  K.  of 
P. ,  and  of  the  Nineteenth  Separate  Company 
of  Poughkeepsie,  in  which  he  won  an  elegant 
gold  medal  presented  by  the  State  for  long 
and  faithful  service,  the  records  placing  him 
twentieth  in  rank  among  13,000  men.  He  has 
also  been  a  member  of  the  National  Guard  for 
thirty-four  years,  and  was  in  the  volunteer 
service  during  the  Civil  war. 


IJ'ILLIAM  C.  CRAMER.  The  subject 
of  this  personal  history  is  a  resident  of 
the  town  of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess  county, 
where  he  is  successfully  carrying  on  a  boot  and 
shoe  store,  and  is  well  esteemed  as  a  man  of 
industry  and  enterprise,  besides  being  a  worthy 
citizen  and  having  to  his  credit  an  unblemished 
war  record.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Red 
Hook,  May  1 1,  1844,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  A. 
and  Catherine  (Waldorf)  Cramer,  who  were 
the  parents  of  five  children,  the  others  being: 
Balinda,  John  V.  R. ,  George  H.  and  James. 
The  father  was  a  son  of  George  Cramer,  and 
was  a  prosperous  farmer  and  carpenter  of  Red 
Hook. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
John  Waldorf,  was  born  and  educated  in  Red 
Hook  town,  where  he  later  followed  the  occu- 
pation of  a  farmer,  owning  and  conducting  the 
large  and  well-stocked  farm  which  had  be- 
longed to  his  father,  who  had  erected  the  com- 
modious and  substantial  stone  house  that  is  still 
standing.  The  place  comprised  500  acres  of 
valuable  land,  and  thereon  John  Waldorf  reared 
his  family  of  seven  children,  namely:  David, 
Christopher,  John,  William,  Catherine,  Maria 
and  Betsey.  In  that  old  house  Mrs.  Cramer 
was  born  and  spent  her  early  girlhood,  being 
educated  at  the  schools  of  the  neighborhood. 

In  his  boyhood  William  C.  Cramer  also 
drew  his  education  from  the  common  schools 
of  the  town  of  Red  Hook,  and  on  laying  aside 
his  te.xt  books  assisted  in  the  cultivation  and 
improvement  of  the  home  farm  until  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  Civil  war  in  1861,  when  he  en- 
listed in  the  91st  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  and  remained  in 
the  service  until  after  the  surrender  of  Gen. 
Lee  at  Appomatox.  He  participated  in  vari- 
ous engagements,  and  signalized  himself  by 
bravery  and  fidelity  to  duty,  receiving  the  ap- 
proval of  his  officers  and  the  warm  friendship 
of  his  comrades.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he 
went  to  the  oil  fields  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
remained  for  some  time,  and  then  conducted  a 


I 


896 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


general  trucking  business  in  New  York  City  for 
a  while.  After  disposing  of  that,  however,  he 
returned  to  Red  Hook. 

On  August  28,  1868,  was  celebrated  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Cramer  and  Miss  Isabella  D. 
Barringer,  daughter  of  Robert  Barringer,  of 
Red  Hook,  and  to  them  was  born  a  daughter, 
Ida  L.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six  years. 
After  his  marriage,  our  subject  learned  the 
cooper's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  until  1888, 
when  he  established  his  present  boot  and  shoe 
business  at  Red  Hook,  and  this  venture  has 
proved  very  successful. 

Mr.  Cramer  is  quite  prominently  identified 
with  the  Odd  Fellows  Society,  belonging  to 
Christian  Lodge,  in  which  he  has  served  as 
past  grand  and  passed  through  all  the  chairs; 
is  also  a  member  of  Jazar  Encampment,  of 
Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county;  and  the  Odd 
Fellows  Mutual  Benefit  Association.  He  now 
affiliates  with  Armstrong  Post,  G.  A.  R. ,  of 
Rhinebeck,  but  was  formerly  a  member  of 
Ward  B.  Bennett  Post,  of  Tarrytown,  West- 
chester Co.,  N.  Y.  He  is  a  public-spirited, 
progressive  man,  and  takes  an  active  interest 
in  the  welfare  of  his  town  and  county. 


HENRY  D.  CYPHER,  who  is  engaged  in 
general  farming  at   Poughquag,  town  of 

Beekman,  Dutchess  county,  is  looked  upon  as 
a  useful  and  honorable  citizen,  who  has  the 
best  interests  of  the  county  at  heart,  and  does 
all  in  his  power  to  advance  its  welfare.  Of 
Holland  ancestry,  his  birth  occurred  at  Pough- 
quag, December  18,  1836,  and  there  almost 
his  entire  life  has  been  passed. 

Thomas  Cypher,  his  grandfather,  was  a 
native  of  Westchester  county,  and  when  a 
young  man  came  to  Beekman  town,  locating 
on  Clapp  Hill,  where  he  engaged  in  farming 
on  rented  land.  His  political  support  was 
given  the  Whig  party.  He  wedded  Mary 
Hillaker,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children,  all 
now  deceased:  John,  Deborah,  Thomas, 
David,  William,  Mary  and  one  daughter,  who 
died  in  childhood. 

On  Clapp  Hill,  William  Cypher,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  1806,  and  in  the 
common  schools  of  Beekman  town  he  secured 
his  education.  When  he  had  reached  matur- 
ity he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Emily 
Armstrong,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  after 
which  he  purchased  a  small  farm  at  Pough- 
quag, which   he  operated   for  one    year,    and 


then  removed  to  the  town  of  Pawling,  Dutch- 
ess county,  where  he  followed  the  same  occu- 
pation until  called  from  this  life  February  2, 
1849.  Like  his  father  he  was  a  Whig  in 
politics.  In  his  family  were  these  children: 
Henry  D.,  of  this  sketch;  George  and  Elisha, 
deceased;  and  two  sons,  who  died  in  infancy. 

The  early  school  days  of  Henry  D.  Cypher 
were  passed  at  Poughquag,  and  after  the  death 
of  his  father  he,  with  the  other  members  of  the 
family,  returned  to  that  place,  being  at  the 
time  thirteen  years  of  age.  In  1851  he  began 
clerking  for  James  A.  Vanderburg,  at  Pough- 
quag, which  position  he  held  for  one  year,  and 
in  1853  went  to  New  York  City,  where  he  was 
employed  in  a  grocery  store  for  the  same 
length  of  time.  Returning  to  his  native  place, 
he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  with  Henry 
Armstrong,  which  he  followed  for  eight  years. 

In  the  town  of  Beekman,  July  i,  1863, 
was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Cypher 
and  Miss  Maria  Noxon,  daughter  of  Elmer  R. 
Noxon,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  four 
children:  Lavert,  of  Brooklyn,  who  married 
Mr.  Devine,  by  whom  she  has  one  daughter; 
George;  Emily,  wife  of  Fred  Coleman,  of 
Dover  town,  Dutchess  county,  by  whom  she 
has  two  children — Delmer  Clayton  and  Ann 
Dutcher;  and  Robert. 

Until  1 87 1  Mr.  Cypher  carried  on  agricult- 
ural pursuits  in  the  western  part  of  the  town 
of  Beekman,  after  which  he  removed  to  his 
present  farm  at  Poughquag,  which  was  cleared 
by  Mrs.  Cypher's  great-grandfather  Noxon, 
and  has  since  devoted  his  attention  to  its  culti- 
vation and  improvement.  His  ballot  is  cast  in 
support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  has  been  assessor  of  his 
town,  and  is  still  acceptably  filling  the  offices 
of  commissioner  of  highways  and  justice  of 
the  peace.  His  career  has  been  one  of  the 
strictest  integrity  and  honor. 


CHARLES  F.  WANZER,  a  wealthy  busi- 
_  ness  man  of  Matteawan,  Dutchess  county, 
and  the  proprietor  of  one  of  the  oldest  grocer- 
ies in  that  town,  was  born  January  29,  1828, 
on  the  "Wheelocke  Farm"  near  Garrison, 
Putnam  Co.,  N.  Y.  His  grandfather,  Abraham 
Wanzer,  married  Lydia  Beers,  and  their  son, 
Floyd,  our  subject's  father,  was  a  well-known 
farmer  of  Putnam  county.  He  married  Jane 
Foster,  daughter  of  Joseph  Foster,  a  soldier  of, 
the  Revolutionary  war,  and  had  five  childreni. 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


897 


of  whom  the  first  two  died  in  infancy.  The 
others  are  Charles  F.,  EHzabeth  and  CoHsta 
Jane. 

Charles  F.  Wanzer  attended  the  district 
schools  near  his  home  during  boyhood,  and 
spent  much  of  his  time  in  working  upon  his 
father's  farm.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he 
left  home  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world, 
and  coming  to  Matteawan  he  worked  for  sev- 
eral years  at  various  employments,  as  oppor- 
tunity favored  him.  In  1854  he  became  a 
clerk  in  the  grocery  store  then  belonging  to 
Jacob  Palmer,  and  after  the  death  of  the  latter 
in  1856  he  conducted  the  business  for  his  widow 
for  one  year.  He  then  purchased  the  store, 
and  for  thirty-eight  years  has  continued  the 
business  at  the  old  location.  His  success  is  a 
result  of  untiring  industry,  and  although  he  is 
an  ardent  Republican,  he  has  invariably  de- 
clined when  urged  to  accept  nomination  for 
office,  because  he  could  not  see  his  way  clear 
to  attend  to  his  own  affairs  and  at  the  same 
time  meet  satisfactorily  the  demands  which 
official  position  would  bring.  He  is  interested 
in  various  lines  of  business,  having  a  large 
amount  of  money  invested  in  real  estate  in  the 
village,  and  he  has  been  for  many  years  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trade  and  the  Mer- 
chants Protective  Association.  He  is  also  a 
stockholder  in  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Fishkill  Landing.  Being  an  enthusiastic  hunter, 
Mr.  Wanzer  spends  considerable  time  during 
the  duck-shooting  season  in  hunting  this  most 
palatable  fowl.  He  is  an  unerring  marksman, 
md  woe  betide  the  unlucky  bird  upon  which 
le  sets  his  "weather  eye,"  for  its  doom  is 
sealed. 


113)  OBERT  JOHNSTON.  Among  the  most 
EL  prominent  of  the  early  residents  of  Lake 
klahopac,  Putnam  county,  was  Robert  John- 
ton,  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this 
ketch.  He  came  to  this  country  from  Ireland 
n  early  manhood,  and  engaged  in  mercantile 
(usiness,  first  in  New  York  City,  and  later  in 
'utnam  county,  where  he  became  a  leader  in 
lolitical  as  well  as  in  commercial  circles.  He 
/as  an  influential  Democrat,  and  served  as 
ounty  judge,  member  of  the  State  Senate, 
nd  member  of  the  Council  of  Appointment 
nd  Revision.  He  was  married  after  coming 
J  the  United  States,  and  reared  a  family  of 
ix  children:  One  son,  William  H.  Johnston 
jur  subject's  father), and  five  daughters,  one 

58 


of  whom  became  the  grandmother  of  Chaun- 
cey  M.  Depew. 

William  H.  Johnston  followed  farming  and 
spent  his  life  at  Lake  Mahopac,  his  native 
place.  Like  his  father,  he  was  an  active  and 
influential  worker  in  the  Democratic  party, 
and  he  held  the  offices  of  sheriff  and  surrogate 
of  Putnam  county.  His  death  occurred  in 
1828,  but  his  wife,  Susan  Van  Wyck,  lived  to 
the  age  of  ninety-eight  years,  passing  to  her 
eternal  reward  in  1885;  she  was  born  in  the 
town  of  East  Fishkill.  Dutchess  county,  in  the 
house  now  occupied  by  our  subject,  the  old 
home  of  her  family.  Her  grandfather,  Will- 
iam Van  Wyck,  a  native  of  Dutchess  county, 
was  a  farmer  there.  He  had  four  sons:  Will- 
iam, a  politician  of  note,  and  a  Congressman 
from  his  district,  was  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
first  in  his  native  place  and  later  in  Virginia; 
Theodorus  is  mentioned  below;  Samuel  was  a 
lawyer  in  New  York  City;  and  John  followed 
farming  near  the  old  home.  Theodorus  Van- 
Wyck  (Mrs.  Johnston's  father)  married  Miss 
Young,  of  Westchester  county,  N.  Y.,  and 
settled  at  the  homestead,  where  they  reared  a 
family  of  six  children:  Two  sons — Theodorus 
and  William — who  both  followed  agriculture 
in  their  native  town,  and  four  daughters — Mar- 
tha, Susan,  Sarah  and  Ann. 

Robert  Johnston,  our  subject,  was  born  at 
Lake  Mahopac,  November  24,  1824,  the  second 
of  the  three  children  of  his  parents,  and  is 
now  the  only  surviving  member  of  the  family. 
The  eldest,  Sarah,  never  married,  and  the 
youngest  died  in  infancy.  When  Robert  was 
five  years  old  he  came  to  his  mother's  old 
home,  and  has  lived  there  ever  since.  He 
owns  an  estate  of  about  300  acres,  and  is  en- 
gaged in  general  farming,  also  giving  consider- 
able attention  to  horticulture.  An  intelligent, 
progressive  man,  he  is  highly  esteemed  among 
his  neighbors.  In  politics  he  was  originally  a 
Whig,  voting  for  Henry  Clay,  and  on  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Republican  party  he  gave  it 
his  allegiance. 


E*\DWARD  L.  RYMPH,  a  retired  farmer 
^  and  fruit  raiser  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutch- 
ess county,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Hyde 
Park,  Dutchess  county,  March  29,  1831. 

James  Rymph,  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Holland,  came  to  America  when 
a  young  man  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Hyde 
Park,  where  he  built  his  own  house  in  the  wil- 


898 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


derness,  married,  and  reared  a  family  of  sev- 
eral children.  John  Rymph,  one  of  these, 
was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  boated  on  the 
Hudson  river.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Wynche  Hasbrouck,  who  was  born 
in  Ulster  county,  in  the  town  of  New  Paltz, 
October  21,  1787.  They  were  married  Feb- 
ruary 1 1,  1808.  She  was  a  descendant  of  the 
old  Hasbrouck  family  of  New  Paltz.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Rymph  settled  down  on  the  farm,  and 
the  following  children  were  born  to  them: 
Mariah,  born  November  4,  1808,  married 
Abram  S.  Du  Bois,  a  farmer  in  the  town  of 
Lloyd,  Ulster  county;  James,  born  May  28, 
1 8 10,  was  a  farmer  in  Dutchess  county;  Mar- 
garet, born  May  28,  1812,  married  Benjamin 
L.  Hasbrouck,  a  farmer  of  Ulster  county; 
Sarah,  born  October  i,  18 14,  married  Joseph 
Chambers,  of  Ulster  county;  William  H.,  born 
October  4,  18 16,  was  a  farmer  in  the  town  of 
Clinton;  Rachel  B.,  born  April  12,  1819,  mar- 
ried John  V.  Schryver,  a  farmer  of  Hyde  Park; 
John,  Jr.,  born  June  19,  1822,  was  a  farmer; 
George,  born  April  7,  1824,  followed  farming 
in  Ulster  county;  David  H.,  born  July  22, 
1827,  is  still  living,  unmarried;  Susan  A.,  born 
September  20,  1829,  died  unmarried;  Edward 
L.  is  our  subject.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rymph  were 
members  of  the  Reformed  Church.  He  died 
on  the  old  farm. 

Edward  L.  Rymph  remained  on  the  old 
homestead  during  his  early  life,  and  attended 
the  district  schools.  In  i860  he  married  Miss 
Jane  E.  Palmer,  who  was  born  in  Clintondale, 
Ulster  county.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Harvey 
Palmer,  a  farmer  and  merchant  of  the  same 
place,  who  came  of  English  ancestors.  Three 
children  were  born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife: 
Henry  L.  and  Edwin  H.  (twins),  and  Mary  E. 
Henry  L.  married  Miss  Smalley,  and  is  farm- 
ing in  Poughkeepsie;  Edwin  H.  died  in  infancy; 
Mary  E.  married  Carl  C.  Todd,  a  farmer  in 
the  town  of  Hyde  Park.  Shortly  after  his 
marriage  our  subject  went  to  Poughkeepsie, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  photograph  business 
for  some  time.  Mrs.  Rymph  died  March  24, 
1864,  and  our  subject  went  to  the  South  and 
was  with  the  construction  corps  in  the  Civil 
war,  building  bridges,  etc.,  for  one  year.  He 
then  returned  and  bought  a  farm  in  New  Paltz, 
on  which  he  lived  for  two  years,  and  then  sold 
it.  Coming  to  Dutchess  county,  he  lived  in 
Poughkeepsie  for  a  year,  later  moving  to  Hyde 
Park  and  residing  there  for  four  years.  In  the 
spring  of   1875    Mr.  Rymph   came   to   Pough- 


keepsie again,  erected  three  fine  buildings  and 
has  since  resided  here. 

On  October  24,  1866,  our  subject  married 
Miss  Martha  A.  Roosa,  who  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Rochester,  Ulster  county,  January  9, 
1838.  Her  first  husband  was  George  Kelder, 
by  whom  she  had  one  child,  Simon  J.,  who 
married  Miss  Jennie  Sutton,  of  Newburgh. 
Jacob  B.  Roosa,  Mrs.  Rymph's  father,  was 
born  in  Rochester,  April  27,  1810,  and  was 
married  to  Miss  Nancy  Anderson,  of  the  same 
place.  Two  children  were  born  to  them: 
Elizabeth,  November  27,  1831,  married  James 
J.  Shurter,  a  farmer  in  Rochester;  and  Martha 
A.,  the  wife  of  our  subject.  Mr.  Roosa  was  a 
Democrat,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  members 
of  the  Methodist  Church.  He  died  in  1874, 
his  wife  in  1844.  Simon  Roosa,  the  grand- 
father, was  born  on  the  homestead  in  Roches- 
ter, and  followed  farming.  He  was  in  the  war 
of  181 2.  The  great-grandfather,  Jacob  Roosa, 
was  the  original  settler  on  the  farm  in  Roches- 
ter. He  came  of  Holland  stock.  James  An- 
derson, the  maternal  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Rymph,  was  a  farmer  in  Rochester,  and  mar- 
ried Miss  Martha  Merrit,  of  Marlborough. 
The  Andersons  were  of  English  ancestry. 

Our  subject  and  his  second  wife  had  one 
child,  William,  born  February  18,  1876,  and 
died  in  April,  1876.  Mr.  Rymph  has  a  farm 
of  sixty-five  acres  on  which  he  formerly  raised 
fruit,  but  he  is  now  living  a  retired  life.  In 
politics  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Republican 
party.  He  and  his  wife  both  attend  the  Meth- 
odist Church.  Mr.  Rymph  is  an  energetic 
citizen,  and  has  identified  himself  with  many 
progressive  movements. 


^\DWARD  ENGLEHARDT.     The  subject 

of    this    sketch   was  born   in  the  city  of 

Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  December  16,  ! 
1 86 1.  He  attended  school  for  a  time  at  Lex- 
ington, Greene  county,  and  at  the  Eastman  [ 
Night  School,  but  his  opportunities  were  lim-; 
ited,  and  most  of  his  education  was  acquired  by  i 
private  study.  He  has  always  been  a  constant' 
reader  and  is  a  well-informed  young  man. 

Our  subject's  first  employment  was  with 
Alexander  Ross  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years. 
One  day  when  coming  through  the  railroadi 
yards  he  was  run  over  and  lost  his  right  1< 
Upon  his  recovery  he  again  worked  for  Mr. 
Ross,  remaining  with  him  until  nineteen  years 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


899 


old.  He  then  secured  the  position  of  flagman 
on  the  Hudson  River  railroad,  which  he  re- 
tained for  five  months,  and  then  went  to  work 
at  Poughkeepsie  making  boxes.  He  kept  at 
that  for  a  year,  and  then  learned  the  coopering 
trade,  working  for  Atto  Faust,  for  whom  he 
worked  as  a  journeymen  until  1885.  He  next 
went  into  the  saloon  business  for  a  year,  but 
returned  to  his  trade  and  was  employed  by 
James  Buckhurst  until  1891,  when  he  went  to 
Sing  Sing  as  a  keeper,  being  appointed  to  that 
position  by  Governor  Flower.  He  resigned 
July  22,  1892,  and  came  to  Poughkeepsie  and 
again  worked  for  Mr.  Buckhurst.  In  the  fall 
of  1893  he  was  elected  supervisor  of  the  First 
ward  for  two  years.  He  was  chairman  of  the 
printer's  committee,  member  of  the  committee 
on  coroners  and  accounts  and  on  committee 
on  public  institutions  in  the  session  of  1894. 
He  held  other  positions  of  trust  and  responsi- 
bility. He  was  janitor  of  the  board  of  sup- 
plies for  one  session,  and  has  filled  the  office  of 
county  sealer  for  two  successive  terms.  He 
has  taken  an  active  part  in  politics,  and  is  a 
leader  among  the  people  of  his  v/ard. 

In  March,  1880,  Mr.  Englehardt  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Rosanna  Kirby,  of  Poughkeepsie, 
and  the  following  children  were  born  to  them: 
Carrie  died  at  the  age  of  three  years;  Lucy, 
Elizabeth,  George,  Augusta,  Gertrude,  Ed- 
mond.  Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Cath- 
olic Benevolent  Legion  and,  with  his  wife,  is  a 
member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

Christian  Englehardt,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Denmark  in  18 14,  and  came  to 
America  and  engaged  for  a  time  in  the 
cooper  business  in  New  York  City,  then  went 
to  Albany.  He  came  to  Poughkeepsie  upward 
of  fifty  years  ago,  and  worked  as  journeyman 
cooper  for  Sleight  &  Paulding,  who  started 
their  shop  in  1847,  ^^^  with  whom  he  has 
been  ever  since.  He  was  married  in  Germany, 
and  the  following  children  were  born  to  them: 
Charles,  living  in  Elizabeth,  N.  J.;  Martha, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Mathew  Benhordt,  of 
Poughkeepsie;  Henry  lives  in  Prattsville;  Mary 
married  Jacob  Benhordt;  Christian  resides  in 
Poughkeepsie;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
Adams,  of  Poughkeepsie;  Alma  married  John 
Decker,  and  lives  in  Poughkeepsie;  William, 
who  lives  in  Poughkeepsie;  Abram;  George,  de- 
ceased; and  Edward.  Christian  Englehardt  is 
one  of  the  oldest  citizens  of  Poughkeepsie.  He 
is  a  Democrat,  and  a  member  of  the  German 
Lutheran  Church. 


JfACOB  SCHRAUTH,  a  retired  merchant  of 
Poughkeepsie  and  one  of  its  most  popular 
German  citizens,  was  born  at  Kreuznach, 
in  the  Rhine  Province,  April  18,  1834,  a  son 
of  John  and  Margaret  (Wcyell)  Schrauth,  the 
former  of  whom  was  also  born  in  Kreuznach, 
the  latter  in  Waluff  on  the  Rhine,  Prussia. 

John  Schrauth,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  hotel-keeper  at  Kreuznach,  of 
which  place  he  was  a  native.  He  married, 
and  to  the  union  was  born  a  large  family  of 
children.  Their  son,  John,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  also  a  hotel-keeper,  and  in  connec- 
tion with  it  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farm- 
er. In  1816,  for  his  second  wife,  he  married, 
Margaret  Wcyell,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  eight  children,  as  follows:  Jacob,  Laura, 
Kate,  Minnie,  Julia,  Louis,  Eliza  and  Benia. 
Of  these,  Louis  is  a  resident  of  Boston,  and 
Eliza  is  the  widow  of  Conrad  Lembke,  former- 
ly a  saloon-keeper  in  Highland.  Our  subject's 
parents  spent  their  entire  lives  in  their  native 
land,  where  the  father  died  in  ,1875  ^"d  the 
mother  in  1885.  They  were  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church. 

Jacob  Schrauth  lived  in  his  native  town 
until  twenty  years  of  age,  during  which  time 
he  learned  the  cooper's  trade.  In  1854  he 
came  to  America,  landing  in  New  York  City 
where  he  remained  three  years,  and  there 
learned  the  trade  of  a  baker.  In  1857  he 
came  to  Poughkeepsie,  and  for  six  years  was 
employed  as  a  baker  by  Robert  High,  the  three 
following  years  working  for  P.  S.  Rowland. 
In  1866  Mr.  Schrauth  went  into  business  for 
himself,  renting  a  building  at  No.  153  Main 
street.  In  the  following  two  years  he  made 
many  improvements  in  the  place  and  expanded 
his  business  by  the  introduction  of  ice-cream, 
confectionery,  etc.,  carrying  on  two  stores 
with  all  modern  improvements,  doing,  in  fact, 
an  extensive  trade.  On  May  i,  1897,  his 
sons  Edward  L.  and  William  H.  purchased 
the  business  of  their  father,  forming  a  co-part- 
nership under  the  name  of  J.  Schrauth's  Sons. 
Being,  brought  up  under  their  father's  careful 
training,  they  are  well  fitted  to  succeed  him, 
and  a  successful  future  is  predicted  for  them, 
especially  if  they  follow  in  the  footsteps  of 
their  predecessor,  who  is  known  to  be  an  en- 
terprising, progressive  man,  keeping  abreast 
of  the  times.thoroughly  understanding  his  busi- 
ness, courteous  and  obliging,  and  not  only  se- 
curing the  best  class  of  customers,  but  know- 
ing how  to  retain  them. 


900 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


In  i860  Jacob  Schrauth  was  married  to 
Miss  Kate  Schneider,  who  was  born  at  Kaiser- 
slautern,  Bavaria,  Germany,  and  seven  chil- 
dren have  blessed  this  union:  Charles,  en- 
gaged in  the  confectionery  business  at  Union- 
hill,  N.  Y. ;  one  who  died  in  infancy;  Minnie, 
who  married  William  H.  Frank,  a  brewer  at 
Poughkeepsie;  Edward  L. ,  of  the  firm  of  J. 
Schrauth's  Sons;  Kate,  married  to  William 
La  Paugh,  of  the  firm  of  La  Paugh  &  Son,  in 
Poughkeepsie;  William  H.,  of  the  firm  of  J. 
Schrauth's  Sons,  and  Cora,  at  home.  Charles 
married  Barbara  Seifts,  an  orphan,  and  they 
had  three  children — Charles,  Katie  and  Louis; 
Edward  L.  married  Josephine  C.  Beigle, 
daughter  of  the  late  Leonard  Beigle;  William 
H.  wedded  Matilda  Seeholtzer,  daughter  of 
Berthold  Seeholtzer,  and  they  have  one  child 
— Edna.  Edward  L.  and  William  H.  are 
both  members  of  Fallkill  Lodge  No.  297,  I.  O. 
O.  P.,  and  the  former  is  also  identified  with 
the  PhcEnix  Hose  Co.,  Poughkeepsie. 

Our  subject  and  his  amiable  wife  are  con- 
sistent members  of  the  German  Lutheran 
Church,  in  the  work  of  which  they  are  always 
ready  to  assist.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  for  two  years  was  a  member 
of  the  board  of  water  works  of  Poughkeepsie. 
Like  most  Germans,  he  is  a  lover  of  music, 
and  for  twelve  years  was  president  of  the  Ger- 
man Singing  Society.  He  is  a  member  of 
Adler  Lodge  No.  388,  I.  O.  O.  F. 


DAVID  V.  HAGGERTY,  the  leading  florist 
of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  was 
born  in  that  city  August  3,  1867,  and  although 
still  a  young  man  has  shown  more  than  average 
business  ability,  which  has  enabled  him  to 
push  forward  the  enterprise  begun  by  his 
father  to  a  wonderful  degree  of  success. 

The  Haggerty  family  is  of  Irish  descent. 
The  father  of  our  subject,  James  Haggerty, 
was  born  in  Brooksborough,  Ireland.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  that  place  also,  where 
he  carried  on  farming  or  gardening.  He  had 
a  family  of  six  children,  as  follows:  James; 
William,  a  farmer  in  Rhinebeck;  Thomas,  a 
florist  in  New  York  City;  Jennie  and  Sarah, 
deceased;  Mary,  living  in  New  York  City. 
The  family  came  to  the  United  States  and  set- 
tled in  Rhinebeck,  where  the  father  died. 

James  Haggerty  had  but  meagre  advan- 
tages for  an  education  in  his  native  country, 
but  after  coming  to  America  he  improved  every 


opportunity  to  store  his  mind  with  useful 
knowledge.  He  was  naturally  gifted  with  a 
fine  intellect,  and  was  a  great  reader  of  all 
kinds  of  literature,  but  more  especially  of  such 
as  bore  upon  the  vocation  he  adopted,  that  of 
a  florist.  During  his  life  he  kept  well-posted 
on  all  topics  relating  to  this  branch  of  garden- 
ing, and  was  among  the  most  progressive  men 
in  his  business. 

Mr.  Haggerty's  first  employment  was  on 
the  Ellerslie  farm,  which  is  now  owned  by 
Governor  Morton,  where  he  worked  for  Mr. 
James.  He  then  went  to  Newburgh  and  was 
in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Bridgman,  who  subse- 
quently placed  him  in  his  large  florist  estab- 
lishment in  New  York  City.  There  he  remained 
until  removing  to  Poughkeepsie  and  going 
into  business  for  himself.  He  first  built  a 
small  greenhouse  just  south  of  the  old  reser- 
voir on  South  Clinton  street,  which  was  the 
first  of  the  kind  in  the  city.  From  there  he 
moved  to  No.  181  Main  street,  where  he  built 
a  greenhouse  and  also  carried  on  a  seed  store, 
then  bought  the  property  at  No.  381  on  the 
same  street,  and  erected  the  large  and  commo- 
dious building  which  he  afterward  occupied. 
In  1867  he  bought  the  T.  H.  Leggett  property 
of  ten  acres  near  Poughkeepsie,  to  which  he 
added  from  time  to  time  until  it  comprised 
thirty  acres.  On  this  he  built  an  extensive 
greenhouse  covering  two  acres,  the  largest 
probably  in  the  county,  and  here  carried  on  a 
most  flourishing  business  until  his  death,  which 
event  took  place  December  17,  1881.  He  was 
a  man  of  great  energy  and  unflagging  industry. 
He  waE  successful  in  almost  everything  he  at- 
tempted, and  accumulated  a  comfortable  for- 
tune. In  his  political  views  he  was  a  Repub- 
lican, but  never  took  an  active  interest  in  public 
affairs  other  than  that  which  every  good  citizen 
should.  Both  he  and  his  wife  belonged  to  the 
Methodist  Church,  and  were  members  of  the 
choir.  He  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  most 
prominent  members  of  the  New  York  Horti- 
cultural Society,  and  served  one  term  as  its 
president.  In  all  the  relations  of  life  he  was 
generous,  kind  and  helpful,  and  stood  high  both 
among  his  associates  in  business  and  in  social 
circles.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Rebecca  Vail 
Hyde,  daughter  of  Liberty  Hyde,  of  Pleasant 
Valley.  Five  children  were  born  of  this  union: 
William,  deceased;  John,  David  Vail,  Susanna 
and  Margaret. 

David  V.  Haggerty  obtained   his  education 
in  the  Poughkeepsie  schools,  and  then  went  to. 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


901 


Washington,  Conn.,  where  he  studied  the 
florist's  business.  He  left  school  in  1885  in 
the  last  year  of  his  course,  and  the  following 
year  took  charge  of  the  property  for  his  mother 
until  he  became  of  age  in  1889,  when  he  and 
his  brother  John  bought  the  entire  property 
with  the  exception  of  his  mother's  interest,  she 
remaining  a  member  of  the  firm,  which  is 
known  as  R.  \'.  Haggerty  &  Sons.  Our  sub- 
ject has  taken  the  active  management  of  the 
business,  which  has  steadily  increased.  He  has 
become  one  of  the  largest  producers  in  the 
county,  and  the  greenhouses  are  the  largest  in 
the  State.  He  has  inherited  much  of  his  fa- 
ther's ability  and  persistence,  and  is  fully  as 
progressive  and  interested  in  his  work.  He 
keeps  abreast  of  the  times  in  all  discoveries 
and  experiments  in  his  line,  and  by  his  fair 
methods  of  dealing  and  courteous  manners  to 
all  has  drawn  about  him  a  Ijrge  number  of 
steady  customers  as  well  as  many  personal 
friends.  Like  his  father  was,  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican and  a  Methodist,  and  is  prominent  in  both 
these  organizations.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
order  of  St.  John,  and  for  eight  or  nine  years 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Davy  Crockett  Hook 
and  Ladder  Company.  In  1889,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Isabella,  daughter  of  Frank  Rob- 
son,  and  three  children  have  been  born  to 
them:  Gladys,  James  Donald  and  John 
Francis. 


BRAM  V.  V.  HAIGHT,  the  able  secre- 
tary of  the  Poughkeepsie  Transportation 
Co. ,  and  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  county 
seat  (Dutchess  county),  was  born  August  24, 
1842,  in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county, 
on  an  estate  which  had  been  in  the  possession 
of  his  family  for  many  years.  His  ancestors 
came  from  Connecticut  af  an  early  period, 
locating  in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  where  his 
grandfather,  Joseph  Haight,  was  a  prominent 
farmer.  He  married  Hannah  Dudley,  a  mem- 
ber of  an  old  and  highly  esteemed  family  of 
that  vicinity,  and  had  four  children:  Eliza- 
beth, who  married  Henry  Van  Voorhis;  Min- 
erva, who  married  Thomas  Burrows;  Corne- 
lius J.,  our  subject's  father;  and  Hannah,  the 
wife  of  Peter  Burchen,  who  was  for  some  time 
the  principal  of  Dutchess  County  Academy. 

Cornelius  J.  Haight  was  born  June  22, 
1817,  at  the  old  homestead,  five  miles  from 
the  village  of  Fishkill,  and  lived  there  until  he 
was  thirty-three  years  old,  when  he  went  to 


Buffalo  and  engaged  in  the  commission  busi- 
ness on  the  dock,  dealing  in  flour,  "grain  and 
other  commodities,  his  firm  being  known  as 
Ward  &  Haight.  In  1857  he  returned  to 
Poughkeepsie  and  engaged  in  the  wholesale 
flour  trade,  continuing  iri  same  line  for  several 
years.  Later  he  took  charge  of  the  interests 
of  the  Manhattan  Iron  Co.,  first  in  Pawling 
and  then  at  Sharon  Station,  in  which  latter 
place  he  remained  until  his  retirement  from 
active  business  in  1883.  Since  that  time  he 
has  made  his  home  in  Poughkeepsie.  He  is  a 
well-read  man,  notwithstanding  the  cares  and 
distractions  of  his  years  of  successful  business 
life.  He  is  a  leading  member  of  the  First  Re- 
formed Church,  and  is  held  in  high  regard 
among  all  classes  for  his  sterling  character- 
istics. Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  his 
active  interest  in  party  affairs  has  caused  him 
to  be  chosen  to  public  office  at  different  times. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Van  Vorhis,  a  descend- 
ant of  a  pioneer  family  of  the  town  of  Fish- 
kill, and  a  daughter  of  Abram  Van  Vorhis,  a 
leading  resident  there.  They  had  five  sons: 
Henry  E. ,  who  resides  at  Sharon ;  Abram  V.  V. , 
our  subject;  Joseph  F.,  assistant  cashier  of  the 
Pawling  Bank;  Lewis,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
two  years;  and  Edward  S.,  the  assistant  post- 
master at  Poughkeepsie,  and  who  for  two  years 
previous  to  receiving  that  appointment  was 
city  treasurer. 

Abram  V.  V.  Haight  received  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  his  native  district, 
graduating  in  1856  from  school  No.  10.  When 
he  was  examined  for  admission  to  the  high 
school,  only  twenty-seven  out  of  a  class  of 
fifty  passed  the  examination.  He  possesses 
fine  natural  abilities,  and  has  kept  well-in- 
formed upon  a  wide  range  of  subjects.  His 
first  employment  was  with  his  father  in  Pough- 
keepsie, but  at  the  age  of  twenty  he  went  to 
New  York  City,  where  for  over  a  year  he  was 
clerk  in  a  commission  house.  In  1863  he  en- 
listed in  the  U.  S.  Navy,  and  served  "before 
the  mast  "  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Return- 
ing to  Poughkeepsie,  he  was  employed  as  a 
clerk  for  seven  years  by  Carpenter  &  Bro. , 
and  for  one  year  was  clerk  of  the  "Morgan 
House."  In  1871  he  engaged  in  the  freighting 
business  with  Doughty,  Cornell  &  Co.,  at  the 
Upper  Dock,  but  on  the  consolidation  of  the 
Upper  and  Main  street  docks  in  1874,  he 
took  the  position  of  head  bookkeeper  for  the 
Poughkeepsie  Transportation  Co.  In  1880  he 
was  elected  secretary  of  the  company,  in  which 


I 


902 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he  had  become  a  shareholder,  and  has  dis- 
charged his  duties  with  energy  and  judgment, 
his  success  winning  for  him  a  high  standing 
among  the  business  men  of  the  city. 

On  December  i,  1875,  Mr.  Haight  married 
Miss  Ida  T.  Paulding,  a  daughter  of  William 
Cooper,  formerly  a  leading  cooper  of  Pough- 
keepsie.  Three  sons  were  born  of  this  union: 
Burton  C. ,  who  died  at  eighteen  years  of  age; 
Harry  Lown,  and  Abraham  Van  Vorhis,  Jr. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haight  attend  the  First  Re- 
formed Church,  and  contribute  to  the  support 
of  various  worthy  movements  in  the  commu- 
nity. On  State  and  National  issues  Mr. 
Haight  votes  the  Republican  ticket,  but  in 
local  affairs  he  gives  his  influence  and  his  bal- 
lot to  the  best  man.  He  served  as  police 
commissioner  under  Mayor  Rowley,  and  has 
been  urged  to  accept  the  nomination  for  mayor 
on  two  different  occasions.  Socially,  he  be- 
longs to  the  Veteran  Firemen's  Association 
and  to  the  F.  &  A.  M.,  Poughkeepsie  Lodge 
No.  266. 


SELWYN  A.  RUSSELL,  M.  D.  This 
well-known  and  popular  physician  was 
born  in  Jay,  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.,  February  12, 
185 1,  and  attended  the  district  and  private 
schools  of  that  town.  In  1874  he  went  to 
Albany  and  began  the  study  of  medicine, 
graduating  with  the  class  of  1877. 

After  graduating  Dr.  Russell  was  ap- 
pointed resident  physician  of  the  Albany  Hos- 
pital, and  remained  there  until  1879,  when  he 
accepted  a  position  on  the  medical  stafT  at  the 
State  Hospital  at  Utica,  holding  that  position 
until  1883,  at  which  time  he  resigned  and 
went  to  Europe  for  the  purpose  of  completing 
his  medical  education.  He  spent  one  winter 
in  London  and  one  in  Vienna,  where  he  had 
a  great  deal  of  practical  experience.  He  re- 
mained in  Vienna  until  the  spring  of  1884,  and 
then  returned  to  Albany  and  began  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  there  in  partnership  with 
Samuel  B.  Ward,  a  prominent  physician,  with 
whom  he  practiced  until  1888,  when  our  sub- 
ject, in  connection  with  his  medical  work, 
made  a  tour  of  the  world,  sailing  from  New 
York  in  February,  around  Cape  Horn,  arriv- 
ing at  San  Francisco  in  June.  Thence  he 
went  to  China  and  Japan,  returning  to  Albany 
in   1889. 

On  April  25,  1889,  Dr.  Russell  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Lucy  H.  Harris,  a  daugh- 


ter of  the  Hon.  Hamilton  Harris,  the  promi- 
nent politician  and  lawyer.  After  his  marriage, 
the  Doctor  continued  his  practice  in  Albany 
until  1891,  when  he  accepted  a  position  in  the 
Hudson  River  State  Hospital  at  Pough- 
keepsie, where  he  remained  until  April,  1894, 
at  which  time  he  resigned  on  account  of  ill 
health,  and  has  since  been  occupied  with  a 
general  practice.  Previous  to  his  trip  around 
the  world  Dr.  Russell  was  the  attending  phy- 
sician of  St.  Peter's  Hospital,  and  an  in- 
structor in  physical  diagnosis  in  the  Albany 
Medical  College.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Russell  have 
two  children,  Selwyn,  born  in  1890,  and 
Hamilton  H.,  born  in  1893.  Fraternally  our 
subject  is  a  Mason. 

G.  B.  Russell,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Essex  county,  January  2,  1822,  and 
grew  to  manhood  on  the  old  home  place. 
He  married  Miss  Charlotte  Fisher,  whose 
birth  took  place  in  Beekmantown,  Clinton  Co., 
N.  Y.,  October  11,  1821.  After  their  mar- 
riage the  couple  settled  on  a  farm  in  Essex 
county,  and  the  following  children  were  born 
to  them:  Marcus,  who  is  a  resident  of  Balti- 
more and  a  manufacturer  of  iron  ware ;  Selwyn, 
our  subject;  Lottie  became  the  wife  of  Frank 
Bruce,  of  Jay,  who  was  a  painter,  and  she 
died  in  1880;  John  is  a  school  teacher  at  Spar- 
tanburg, S.  C.  In  early  life  Mr.  Russell  was  a 
farmer  and  later  became  an  iron  maker  at  Jay. 
He  was  a  Republican  and  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  took 
an  active  part.  He  died  in  1883.  Mrs.  Rus- 
sell died  in  1867. 

Sidney  Russell,  the  grandfather,  was  also 
born  in  Essex  county,  where  he  grew  up  and 
was  married.  They  had  a  family  of  eight 
children.  He  remained  on  his  farm  in  Essex 
county,  where  his  death  occurred.  Dr.  Rus- 
sell's maternal  grandfather  was  a  farmer. 
Both  sides  of  the  family  were  of  English  de- 
scent. 


HORATIO  N.  BAIN,   the  well-known  and 
popular  hotel  proprietor  in  Poughkeepsie, 

Dutchess  county,  was  born  in  Chatham,  Colum- 
bia Co.,  N.  Y.,  December  20,  1857,  where  h& 
lived  until  he  was  seven  years  old.  He  first 
went  to  school  at  Palmyra,  N.  Y. ,  then  at 
Brewster,  N.  Y. ,  later  at  Dover  Plains,  Dutch- 
ess county,  and  for  a  time  at  the  Connecticut 
Literary  Institute,  Suffield,  Conn.,  and  then  top 
a  select  school. 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


903 


Upon  finishing  his  education  Mr.  Bain  re- 
mained at  home  until  the  death  of  his  parents, 
after  which  he  continued  his  father's  hotel 
business  until  the  lease  expired  of  the  "  Pough- 
keepsie  Hotel."  In  1884  he  leased  the  "Nel- 
son House,"  a  fine,  large,  brick  building,  capa- 
ble of  accommodating  about  two  hundred  peo- 
ple, and  considered  the  best  hotel  in  Pough- 
keepsie.  In  connection  with  the  "Nelson 
House"  Mr.  Bain  has  a  half-interest  in  the 
Palatine  Hotel"  at  Newburg,  N.  Y. ,  which 
is  considered  the  finest  hotel  on  the  Hudson, 
and  which  will  accommodate  some  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  guests.  His  eldest 
brother,  Francis  N.  Bain,  is  connected  with 
him  at  the  "  Palatine"  under  the  firm  name  of 
H.  N.  Bain  &  Co.  Besides  his  interest  in  the 
two  most  popular  hotels  of  the  Hudson  Valley, 
Mr.  Bain  is  largely  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock  raising,  having  two  farms  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  county,  where  he  is  successfully 
breeding  high-class  road  and  carriage  horses, 
having  exhibited  his  young  stock  at  the  Na- 
tional Horse  Show  at  Madison  Square  Garden 
for  three  years  past  with  marked  success. 

Mr.  Bain  was  united  in  marriage  July  20, 
1882,  with  Miss  Carrie  Belding,  who  is  a  na- 
tive of  Dover  Plains,  a  daughter  of  David  L. 
Belding,  a  farmer  and  stock  dealer,  and  for 
several  years  president  of  the  Dover  Plains 
Bank.  Our  subject  is  a  Republican,  and  a 
public-spirited  man.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  the  Amrita  Club,  of  Pough- 
keepsie. 

Milton  Bain  (the  father  of  our  subject),  who 
was  born  in  Columbia  county,  married  Miss 
Charlotte  N.  Nash,  also  a  native  of  Columbia 
county.  After  their  marriage  they  located  at 
Chatham,  where  three  children  were  born  to 
them:  Francis  N.,  now  one  of  the  proprietors 
of  the  "Palatine  Hotel,"  at  Newburgh;  Hora- 
tio, our  subject;  and  F.  R.,  a  real-estate  dealer 
in  Poughkeepsie.  Milton  Bain  was  landlord 
of  the  "  Stanwix  Hall  Hotel."  at  Chatham,  for 
twelve  or  fourteen  years,  and  sold  out  to  take 
charge  of  a  hotel  in  Palmyra,  Wayne  Co.,  N. 
Y. ,  later  going  to  Brewster,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
conducted  the  "Brewster  House,"  and  then  to 
Dover  Plains,  continuing  in  the  same  business, 
at  the  "  Dover  Plains  Hotel"  for  about  twelve 
years.  In  1878  Mr.  Bain  came  to  Poughkeep- 
sie and  became  proprietor  of  the  "  Poughkeep- 
sie Hotel,"  which  he  carried  on  until  his  death, 
in  1880;  his  wife  had  passed  away  one  year 
previously.     In  politics  Mr.  Bain  was  a  Repub- 


lican, and  at  one  time  held  the  office  of  assessor 
of  the  county,  and  of  deputy  sheriff.  The 
Bain  family  is  of  Scotch  descent. 

Alfred  Nash,  the  maternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Columbia  county, 
where  he  practiced  law.  His  father,  Francis 
Nash,  was  a  farmer  in  Columbia  county. 


MELSON  DENTON.     The  branch  of  the 
Denton  family  of  which  the   subject  of 

this  biography  is  a  worthy  representative,  has 
been  prominent  in  the  vicinity  of  Whaley 
Pond,  Dutchess  county,  for  several  genera- 
tions. The  first  of  the  name  to  locate  there 
was  his  great-grandfather,  Solomon  Denton, 
who  came  from  Nova  Scotia  at  a  very  early 
period.  The  tract  of  365  acres  which  he  ac- 
quired has  never  been  alienated  from  the  fam- 
ily, and  in  its  entirety  is  now  in  the  possession 
of  George  F.  Denton,  a  brother  of  our  sub- 
ject. Solomon  Denton's  son,  Solomon,  and 
grandson,  Solomon  B.,  our  subject's  father, 
each  in  turn  cultivated  this  estate,  and  were 
among  the  leading  farmers  of  the  locality. 
The  members  of  this  family  have  never  taken 
a  very  active  part  in  public  affairs,  although 
they  have  been  interested  in  the  questions  of 
their  time  and  have  been  regular  voters,  being 
Whigs  in  the  early  days  and  Republicans  since 
the  war  issues  arose.  In  their  business  man- 
agement they  were  all  thrifty  and  successful, 
and  they  have  been  active  in  religious  work  as 
members  of  the  Second  Baptist  Church  of 
Pawling. 

Solomon  the  second,  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, and  wife  had  six  children,  namely:  Sam- 
uel, Amos,  Josiah,  Pattie  (Mrs.  Wright),  Abram 
and  Solomon  B.  Solomon  B.  Denton  died 
September  20,  1885,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five 
years,  eight  months  and  nine  days.  He  was  a 
deacon  in  the  Baptist  Church  for  about  forty 
years,  and  no  man  in  that  vicinity  was  more 
highly  esteemed.  His  wife  was  Harriet  Lud- 
dington,  a  daughter  of  Frederick  Luddington, 
a  leading  citizen  of  Ludingtonville,  Putnam 
Co.,  N.  Y.  Six  children  were  born  to  them, 
of  whom  our  subject  is  the  eldest.  The 
others  were :  Augustus,  now  deceased ;  George, 
a  hatter  at  Danbury,  Conn. ;  Cecelia,  who  mar- 
ried Theodore  Purdy,  a  carpenter  of  the  same 
place;  Emma,  the  wife  of  William  F.  Purdy, 
an  engineer  of  East  Orange,  N.  J. ;  and  Carrie, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  four  years. 

Nelson  Denton  was  born  at  the  old  home- 


904 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


stead  near  Whaley  Pond,  May  26,  1845,  ^nd 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  district  No.  9, 
Pawling  town,  and  in  the  old  Poughkeepsie 
Academy.  After  completing  his  studies  he  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  business  at  Ludington- 
ville  in  1864,  forming  a  partnership  with 
Joshua  Grifiiith  under  the  firm  name  of  Denton 
&  Griffith.  They  continued  some  time,  when 
Mr.  Denton  sold  his  interest  and  bought  a 
feed  mill  at  Ludingtonville,  which  he  con- 
ducted for  three  years.  Disposing  of  this  he 
followed  agricultural  pursuits  for  two  years  in 
Putnam  county,  N.  Y. ,  with  his  father-in-law, 
James  Robinson,  but  later  went  to  Danbury 
and  was  with  H.  A.  Addis  &  Son  for  a  year 
and  a  half.  He  then  purchased  a  store  at 
Pecksville,  Dutchess  county,  and  after  three 
years  rented  another  store  where  he  spent 
two  years;  but  in  1887  he  erected  his  present 
convenient  store  building,  where  he  has  a  trade 
in  general  merchandise  such  as  is  enjoyed  by 
few  country  stores  in  southeastern  Dutchess 
county.  As  a  business  man  he  has  been  very 
successful,  and  is  one  of  the  principal  property 
holders  in  that  section. 

On  August  3,  1 87 1,  Mr.  Denton  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Albertine  Robinson, 
who  was  born  September  2,  1853,  the  daugh- 
ter of  a  prominent  farmer  of  Putnam  county. 
They  have  had  two  children — Frederick  S  , 
born  March  11,  1872;  and  Grace  L. ,  born 
December  27,  1882,  both  of  whom  are  at 
home. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Denton  is  a  Republican, 
but  he  has  not  given  much  attention  to  party 
work.  He  is  public-spirited,  however,  thor- 
oughly loyal  to  the  best  interests  of  his  locality, 
and  he  is  a  leading  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  at  Ludingtonville. 


i  ARTIN  LASHER,  proprietor  of  a  first- 
class  hotel  pleasantly  situated  at  Upper 
Red  Hook,  Dutchess  county,  is  a  man  of  much 
experience  and  a  good  knowledge  of  business, 
and  is  conducting  his"  present  enterprise  with 
marked  success,  winning  popularity  as  a  host 
who  understands  well  how  to  cater  to  the 
wants  of  the  public. 

Mr.  Lasher  was  born  in  1822,  at  Cler- 
mont, Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  where  the  birth 
of  his  father,  Jonas  Lasher,  also  occurred. 
There  the  latter  was  educated  and  followed  the 
occupation  of  farming.  He  wedded  Miss  Bar- 
bara Sagendorph,  and  to  them  were  born  nine 


children:  George,  who  married  a  Miss  Bar- 
ringer;  Margaret,  wife  of  Stephen  Lasher; 
Mary,  wife  of  Peter  Fraleigh;  Henr3',  who 
wedded  Miss  Proper;  Helen,  wife  of  Edward 
Coon;  Martin,- of  this  sketch;  Augustus;  Cath- 
erine, wife  of  John  Morgan;  and  John. 

In  the  common  schools  of  Clermont,  Mar- 
tin Lasher  acquired  a  practical  education, 
which  would  fit  him  for  the  responsible  duties 
of  life,  and  began  his  business  career  as  a 
farmer,  following  that  occupation  until  1850, 
when  he  opened  a  hotel  at  Red  Hook,  Dutch- 
ess county,  which  he  continued  to  carry  on 
until  1873.  At  that  time  he  came  to  Upper 
Red  Hook,  where  he  purchased  the  buildings 
in  which  he  now  conducts  a  hotel  with  good 
success.  He  is  a  good  citizen,  an  obliging 
landlord,  and  has  the  respect  of  all  with  whom 
he  comes  in  contact. 

Mr.  Lasher  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Mary  Proper,  daughter  of  Jonas  and 
Eliza  (Ten  Broeck)  Proper,  and  four  children 
bless  their  union:  Fannie,  Lida,  Maggie  and 
Grace.  Mrs.  Lasher's  parents  were  also  natives 
of  Columbia  county,  where  the  father  followed 
farming.  In  their  family  were  seven  children, 
namely:  Leonard,  who  wedded  a  Miss  Hoff- 
man; Mary,  honored  wife  of  our  subject; 
Samuel,  Edward,  Philip  and  Walter,  all  of 
whom  died  at  an  early  age;  and  Sarah,  who 
became  the  wife  of  a  Mr.  Miller. 


IK  NSON  A.  PLASS,  an  enterprising  and 
jP!^  successful  business  man  of  Red  Hook, 
Dutchess  county,  and  the  proprietor  of  a  well- 
known  meat  market  there,  was  born  in  Cler- 
mont, Columbia  county,  in  1850. 

Philip  H.  Plass,  his  father,  was  born  and 
reared  in  the  same  locality,  engaging  in  farm- 
ing as  he  grew  to  manhood.  Later  he  became 
the  captain  of  a  barge  on  the  Hudson  river, 
and  followed  boating  for  many  years.  He 
married  Miss  Catherine  Stall,  a  daughter  of 
William  Stall,  a  prominent  resident  of  Cler- 
mont, and  reared  a  family  of  five  children: 
William,  Anson,  Hermon,  Mary  E.  and 
Elizabeth. 

Our  subject  received  his  early  education  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  place,  and  for  a  time 
was  a  farmer,  and  then  followed  his  father's 
example  and  engaged  in  boating  upon  the 
Hudson.  At  the  age  of  twenty-six  years  he 
learned  the  butcher's  trade  with  Peter  Rifen- 
burgh,  of  Madalin,  and   started  in  business  for 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOMAPIIICAL  RECORD. 


905 


himself  at  Clermont,  continuing  successfully  for 
a  number  of  years.  Later  he  moved  to  Red 
Hook,  and  established  a  first-class  business 
there,  his  ability  and  energy  gaining  for  him 
the  esteem  of  all  classes.  In  1874  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Hannah  C.  Rifen- 
burgh,  a  well-known  resident  of  Clermont. 
Seven  children  were  born  of  this  union:  Mary 
E.,  Fannie,  Maud,  Ina,  Wilbur,  Homer,  and 
Foster. 


E^UGENE  FOX  is  numbered  among  the 
'I  prominent  and  progressive  young  men  of 

the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ellen  Benson, 
who  was  born  in  1879,  and  belongs  to  a  family 
whose  identification  with  the  interests  of  Dutch- 
ess county  dates  back  several  generations. 
Her  great-great-grandfather,  Jacob  Benson, 
was  born  in  Amenia,  where  he  was  reared  and 
educated,  and  as  a  life  work  followed  farming. 
He  married  Miss  Lydia  Thompson,  and  they 
had  six  children:  Benjamin,  who  for  his  sec- 
ond wife,  married  Deborah  Mackam;  David, 
the  great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Fox;  Jacob,  who 
married  Martha  Smith;  Lydia,  who  married 
Daniel  Darling ;  Susan,  who  married  John 
Benson  ;  and  Hannah,  who  married  Peter 
Hunt. 

David  Benson,  an  agriculturist,  was  also 
born  at  Amenia,  and  wedded  Miss  Susan 
Sprague,  of  Vermont.  To  them  were  born 
seven  children:  Jefferson;  Joseph;  Lansing, 
who  married  Rachel  Patchin  ;  William  and 
Jacob,  who  remained  single;  David,  who  mar- 
ried Julia  Cook;  and  Mary,  who  wedded  Eg- 
bert Watts.  Jefferson,  the  oldest  son,  was 
born,  reared  and  educated  in  Amenia,  Dutch- 
ess county,  and  turned  his  attention  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  By  his  marriage  with  Miss 
Fannie  Glenn,  he  had  five  children:  Jacob, 
who  married  Ruth  White;  Manassa,  who  never 
married;  Eliza,  who  became  the  wife  of  Charles 
Davis;  Phcebe,  who  married  Phil  Watts;  and 
Sylvia,  who  remained  single. 

Joseph  Benson,  the  second  son,  was  the 
grandfather  of  Mrs.  Fox.  He  was  also  a  na- 
tive of  Amenia,  and  after  his  common-school 
education  was  completed  followed  the  pursuit 
to  which  he  had  been  reared — that  of  farm- 
ing. He  married  Miss  Helen  Gillet,  daugh- 
ter of  Richard  and  Mercy  Gillet,  agricultur- 
ists of  the  town  of  Dover.  Five  children 
graced  this  union,     (i)  Silas  and  (2)  Charles 


never  married.  (3)  Susan,  who  was  born  and 
educated  in  Amenia,  married  Albert  Watts,  a 
mason  of  Dover,  and  they  have  five  children: 
Frances,  who  married  Frank  Silver,  and  has 
four  children,  Walter,  Mary,  Ethel  and  Mabel; 
Ellen,  who  married  Shed  I3ates,  and  has  three 
children,  Carrie,  Ellen  and  Wealthy;  Carrie, 
who  married  Piatt  Reynolds,  and  has  two 
children,  Charles  and  Fred;  Annie,  who  is 
single;  and  Charles,  who  married  Miss  Ford, 
and  has  one  child,  Mary.  (4)  Eleanor,  who 
was  also  born  and  educated  at  Amenia,  mar- 
ried Edwin  Nightingale,  a  stone  cutter  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  they  have  three  children:  John, 
who  married  Sadie  Bates;  Walter;  and  Helen. 
(5)  Edwin,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Fox,  completes 
the  family. 

Edwin  Benson  was  born  in  Amenia,  in 
1840,  and  obtained  a  common-school  educa- 
tion there.  When  a  young  man  he  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Harlem  railroad,  with  which 
he  has  been  connected  the  greater  part  of  his 
life.  He  is  a  prominent  citizen,  and  has  held  a 
number  of  minor  offices.  He  was  married  to 
Miss  Adaline  Powers,  and  they  became  the 
parentsof  two  children:  David,  who  was  born 
in  1862,  and  married  Henrietta  Benson,  by 
Nvhom  he  has  one  son,  Herbert;  and  Ellen,  the 
wife  of  Eugene  Fox. 

John  Powers,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Ed- 
win Benson,  and  son  of  Joseph  Powers,  was  a 
farmer  of  the  town  of  Amenia,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty. By  his  marriage  with  Miss  Clara  Smith, 
he  had  one  son,  Gaylord,  who  was  born  and 
educated  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  where  he  also 
followed  farming  throughout  life.  He  married 
Miss  Abigail  Watts,  a  daughter  of  David  Watts, 
also  an  agriculturist  of  Amenia  town,  and  seven 
children  were  born  to  them.  (1)  William,  a 
native  of  Amenia,  learned  the  machinist's  trade, 
at  which  he  worked  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  married  Miss  Delia  Gordon.  (2)  Charles, 
a  farmer,  wedded  Miss  Mary  Storms,  and  they 
had  six  children — Gusta,  who  married  Ben- 
jamin Milton;  Irving;  Edwin;  Flora;  William 
and  Arthur.  (3)  George  never  married.  (4) 
John  married  Miss  Josephine  Vice,  and  to  them 
was  born  a  daughter — Sylvia.  (5)  Emma 
married  Edwin  Davis,  a  machinist  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  they  had  seven  children — Edward; 
Edna,  who  married  Albert  Norton,  and  has  two 
children,  Mabel  and  Sarah;  Ella;  Carrie; 
Frank;  Lillie  and  Chester.  (6)  Mary  wedded 
James  Wheeler,  a  farmer  and  carpenter,  and  to 
them  were  born  three  children,  who  died  when 


906 


COMMEMORAnVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


young — C.  Edwin,  William  and  John.  (7) 
Adaline,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Fox,  completes 
the  family. 


JOHN  MITCHELL,  the  well-known  black- 
smith and  manufacturer  of  carriages  and 
wagons,  at  Fishkill  village,  Dutchess 
county,  is  one  of  the  most  respected  and  in- 
fluential residents  of  that  place,  his  public 
spirit  and  efficiency  as  a  citizen  being  no  less 
marked  than  his  ability  in  business.  He  was 
born  October  29,  1821,  in  New  York  City, 
where  he  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools.  In  1840  he  came  to  Dutchess 
county  and  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade, 
and  later  opened  a  shop  at  Fishkill  which  he 
conducted  for  several  years.  In  1844  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  Webb,  daughter  of  Henry 
Webb,  a  prominent  resident  of  Fishkill,  and 
established  his  home  there.  On  the  breaking 
out  of  the  "Gold  Fever,"  in  1849,  he  went 
to  California  to  seek  his  fortune,  and  made  a 
large  amount  of  money  in  a  short  time.  At 
first  he  worked  at  his  trade  for  $12  per  day, 
but  soon  went  into  business  for  himself  and 
cleared  on  the  average  $50  daily  for  months. 
Sickness  compelled  him  to  return  home  in 
1 85 1,  and  he  then  purchased  the  property 
which  he  has  since  occupied  as  a  wagon  and 
blacksmith  shop. 

His  high  character  and  reputation  for  good 
judgment  have  given  him  the  confidence  of  his 
fellow  citizens  to  a  gratifying  degree.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  has  held  several 
township  offices,  including  those  of  commis- 
sioner, town  clerk  for  eight  years,  collector 
for  two  years,  and  member  of  the  Board  of 
Excise  for  eighteen  years.  He  has  served  on 
the  Board  of  Education  for  thirty  years.  In  1 890 
Mrs.  Mitchell  died  of  pneumonia,  after  nearly 
half  a  century  of  wedded  life.  Of  their  seven 
children,  the  first  two,  Emerett  and  Mary 
Frances,  are  deceased.  The  survivors  are 
Frederick,  Walter,  Laura,  Bertha  and  John, 
Jr.  The  family  has  always  been  identified 
with  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  Fishkill, 
and  various  members  have  taken  active  part 
in  helpful  movements  in  the  community. 


MRS.  MARGARET  TOFFEY  CRAFT. 
_  _  The  homestead  of  the  Toffey  family  on 
Quaker  Hill,  near  the  famous  "  Mizzentop 
Hotel,"  is  one  of  the  beautiful  country  estates 


for  which  Dutchess  county  is  noted,  being 
situated  in  one  of  the  most  picturesque  spots 
in  this  favored  locality.  John  Toffey,  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  Mrs.  Craft,  was 
the  first  of  the  name  to  occupy  the  farm,  his 
last  years  being  spent  there  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  was  a  native  of  Long  Island 
and  received  his  education  there,  but  in  early 
manhood  settled  in  Putnam  county,  N.  Y. , 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
hats  for  many  years.  He  was  married  there 
to  Miss  Fowler,  who  died  a  few  years  later, 
leaving  no  children.  His  second  wife  was 
Miss  Abigail  Aiken,  and  to  them  five  chil- 
dren were  born,  of  whom  the  youngest  was 
Daniel,  Mrs.  Craft's  father.  Of  the  others, 
Hewlit  married  (first)  Miss  Howland,  and  (sec- 
ond) Miss  Scofield;  Aiken  married  Ann  Aiken; 
John  married  Esther  Aiken;  and  George  mar- 
ried Catherine  Vandeburgh. 

Hon.  Daniel  Toffey  was  born  at  the  home- 
stead and  attended  the  common  schools  of  the 
town  of  Pawling  during  his  boyhood.  He  began 
farming  at  an  early  age,  and  later  became  a 
speculator  in  cattle  for  the  New  York  City 
markets.  In  local  politics  his  influence  was 
marked,  first  as  a  Whig  and  afterward  as  a 
Republican,  and  he  held  numerous  town  offices, 
and  served  one  term  in  the  State  Legislature. 
He  married  Miss  Betsy  HoUaway,  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Olive  (Aiken)  Hollaway,  her  father 
being  one  of  the  prominent  farmers  of  Hurd's 
Corners,  Dutchess  county. 

Mrs.  Craft  was  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  six 
children.  Born  in  1810,  she  was  reared  at  the 
old  home,  enjoying  the  educational  opportuni- 
ties afforded  by  the  neighboring  schools.  She 
married  James  Craft,  a  prominent  merchant  of 
Pawling,  Dutchess  county,  and  in  their  family 
are  three  children:  Mary,  born  in  1834,  is  at 
home;  Lydia,  born  in  1836,  married  Dr. 
Charles  Taylor;  and  Anna,  born  in  1839,  is 
the  wife  of  Aiken  Thomas. 

Of  the  younger  children  of  Daniel  Toffey 
(2),  George,    born    in    i8ii,    became    a   well- 
known   farmer   and   speculator.      He   and   his 
wife,  formerly  Miss  Mary  Cook,  reared  a  fam-    I 
ily  of  five  children,  all  of  whom   married,  as    I 
follows:  Daniel — Miss  Adaline  Wilson;  Geor;;       ' 
— Miss  Bessie   Rodger;  John — Miss  Elizabelli 
Sip;  William — Miss  Emma  Sip;  and   Mary — 
William  B.  Wheeler.   (3)  Ransom,  born  in  1 8 — ,, 
and  (4)  Elizabeth,  born  in  18 — ,  both  deceased^ 
were  never  married.      (5)  Olive,  born  in  i8264i:j 
at  the  old  homestead,  was  educated  in  Pough- 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


907 


keepsie.  She  married  John  L.  Worden,  then 
a  midshipman  in  the  United  States  navy,  who 
rose  by  frequent  promotions  from  that  humble 
position  to  the  rank  of  admiral,  and  distin- 
guished himself  during  the  Civil  war  by  his 
ability  and  courage.  He  was  born  in  1818,  at 
Sing  Sing,  and  is  now  on  the  retired  list  with 
full  pay,  but  unfortunately,  through  old  age 
and  over-anxiety,  he  has  lost  his  mental  bal- 
ance. He  is  the  only  surviving  admiral  of  all 
the  gallant  group  that  served  so  nobly  in  the 
Civil  war.  Two  sons  and  two  daughters  were 
born  to  him.  The  eldest,  John  Lorimer  Wor- 
den, Jr.,  was  born  in  Washington,  D.  C. ,  and 
was  educated  at  West  Point,  receiving  a  com- 
mission as  lieutenant,  and  was  in  command  of 
troops  at  Sackett's  Harbor,  where  his  death 
occurred.  He  married  Miss  Annie  Edison, 
but  left  no  children.  Daniel  T.  Worden  was 
born  and  educated  in  New  York  City,  and  is 
now  engaged  in  business  there  as  a  broker. 
He  married  Miss  Emily  Neilson,  of  Philadel- 
phia, and  has  one  daughter,  Florence.  Of 
Admiral  Worden's  daughters,  Grace  is  at 
home,  and  Olivia  married  Lieut.  Theron  Bus- 
by, of  the  United  States  navy,  a  Southerner  by 
birth,  and  has  four  children:  Daniel,  Gaston, 
Olive  and  Grace.  (6)  Daniel  Toffey,  Jr.,  Mrs. 
Craft's  youngest  brother,  was  born  on  Quaker 
Hill,  in  1828,  and  after  completing  his  studies 
in  the  local  schools  engaged  in  mercantile 
business  in  New  York  City.  He  married  Miss 
Annie  Robinson,  and  has  no  children. 


TrOHN  J.  SPAULDING,  a  leading  agricultur- 
J    ist  of  the  town  of  Pawling,  Dutchess  coun- 

ty,  residing  near  Quaker  Hill,  is  a  man 
whose  quiet  influence  had  always  tended  to 
promote  the  progress  of  that  locality.  Born 
in  that  town  in  1837,  and  educated  in  the  com- 
non  schools  there,  he  has  chosen  to  make  it 
lis  permanent  home,  and  has  been  engaged  in 
lis  present  calling  since  early  manhood.  He 
married  Miss  Phoebe  J.  Light,  and  has  had 
three  children:  Henry,  born  in  1881,  and 
Warren,  born  in  1889,  are  at  home;  and  an 
)nly  daughter,  Agnes,  born  in  1886,  died  at  an 
;arly  age. 

The  Spaulding  family  has  been  identified 
vith  Dutchess  county  for  several  generations, 
^bram  Spaulding,  our  subject's  grandfather, 
vas  born  and  reared  in  the  town  of  Dover,  and 
ater  engaged  in  farming  there.  He  and  his 
vife,  Elizabeth,  reared  a  family  of  five  children: 


Uriah,  who  never  married;  John,  our  subject's 
father;  Sallie,  wife  of  Sanford  Hoag;  Lydia, 
wife  of  Warren  Kerry;  and  Ann,  who  remained 
single. 

John  Spaulding  first  saw  the  light  at  the 
old  homestead  in  the  town  of  Dover,  and  after 
enjoying  the  usual  educational  privileges  of  a 
country  boy,  he  made  farming  his  occupation. 
He  married  Miss  Marilla  Elsworth,  daughter 
of  Piatt  Elsworth,  and  had  thirteen  children: 
George,  who  is  not  married ;  Jane,  wife  of  James 
Evans;  John  J.,  our  subject;  Frank,  who  married 
Minerva  Beers;  Harrison,  who  married  Lizzie 
Donehew;  Abram,  who  died  in  childhood;  Will- 
iam, who  married  Mary  Miller;  Nathaniel,  who 
married  Helen  Osborne;  Uriah,  unmarried; 
Mary  A.,  wifeof  Albert  Redney;  Sarah,  deceas- 
ed; Warren,  who  is  single;  and  Myron,  who 
married  Juliette  Light. 

Mrs.  Spaulding's  paternal  grandfather,  John 
Light,  was  a  native  of  Putnam  county,  N.  Y., 
and  was  educated  there,  following  afterward 
the  business  of  farming.  He  married,  and  had 
three  children:  Mosman;  Henry,  who  married 
Jane  Ferris;  and  Jeremiah.  Mosman  Light, 
Mrs.  Spaulding's  father,  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Kent,  Putnam  county,  and  received  his  ed- 
ucation in  the  common  schools  of  the  town. 
He  also  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
married  Miss  Sallie  Ferris,  daughter  of  John* 
Ferris,  a  well-known  farmer  of  Putnam  county, 
and  his  wife,  Phcebe.  Eight  children  were 
born  to  this  marriage:  William,  who  married 
Mary  J.  Russell;  John,  who  married  Emily 
Smalley;  Susan,  wife  of  Enos  Adams;  Joseph, 
who  married  Phoebe  Lee;  Lansing,  unmarried; 
Mrs.  Phcebe  Spaulding;  George,  deceased, 
who  never  married;  and  Charles,  who  married 
Laura  Roscoe. 


ILLIAM  B.  HUTTON,  a  well-known 
\!\H  business  man  of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess 
county,  is  a  native  of  that  town,  his  ancestors 
having  been  for  many  years  engaged  there  in 
mercantile  pursuits. 

The  late  Jacob  R.  Hutton,  his  grandfather, 
was  born  there  in  18 16,  and  early  in  life  be- 
came a  merchant,  dealing  in  general  merchan- 
dise, boots  and  shoes  and  similar  commodities, 
his  store  being  located  on  East  Market  street. 
He  continued  the  business  until  1876,  when  he 
moved  to  Poughkeepsie  and  entered  the  employ 
of  Howes  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of  shoes.  He 
remained  with  them  in  a  position  of  trust  until 


908 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


his  death,  in  1890,  after  an  exemplary  and  re- 
hgious  life  of  seventy-eight  years.  He  was 
married  at  the  age  of  eighteen  to  Miss  Lydia 
C.  Hoffman,  of  Red  Hook,  and  reared  a  fam- 
ily of  four  children:  William  E. ,  our  sub- 
ject's father;  Nicholas  R. ,  who  was  married  in 
1865,  to   Miss    Mary   Hobbs;   Fannie  E.,  who 

married  John  ■ — ,  of  Red  Hook,  in  1863; 

and  Elizabeth  H.,  who  married  Campbell  B. 
Hicks  in  1875. 

William  E.  Hutton  was  born  March  12, 
1841,  and  after  graduating  from  the  Upper 
Red  Hook  Academy  he  entered  his  father's 
store  as  a  clerk,  and  soon  became  a  partner. 
On  the  dissolution  of  the  partnership,  in  1876, 
he  established  a  general  drug  business  at  the 
same  location,  and  conducted  it  until  1892, 
when  he  disposed  of  it  to  Claude  E.  Hicks, 
who  sold  it  to  Walter  Van  Steenburgh,  the 
present  proprietor.  He  married  Miss  Emeline 
C.  Dunham,  of  Catskill,  N.  Y.,  in  March,  1864, 
and  has  had  six  children:  William  B.,  born 
September  26,  1866;  Grace  M.,  September  27, 
1869;  Frank  B.,  September  29,  1872;  Emma, 
October  4,  1874;  Mary,  in  January,  1876;  and 
J.  H.,  in  January,  1876.  The  two  younger 
daughters,  Emma  and  Mary,  died  in  infancy. 

William  B.  Hutton,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  attended  the  Upper  Red  Hook 
■Academy  for  some  time,  and  then  entered  St. 
Stephen's  College  at  Annandale,  graduating 
from    the  classical  course  in    1888.      In  1890 

he  was  graduated   from   the Medical 

College  at  Albany,  and  soon  after  entered  his 
father's  drug  store  as  prescription  clerk,  re- 
maining until  the  disposal  of  the  business,  in 
1892.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  engaged 
in  the  stationery  and  news  business,  with  a 
constantly  growing  trade.  He  was  married 
March  23,  1890,  to  Miss  Ida  Yager,  of  Sauger- 
ties,  their  union  being  blessed  with  one  child, 
Anna  C.  Hutton.  A  quiet  gentleman,  of  schol- 
arly tastes,  Mr.  Hutton  holds  the  friendship  of 
an  exclusive  circle  of  intimates,  and  the  esteem 
of  the  entire  community. 


JOHN  O.  WIXOM,  of  the  well-known  firm 
of  Wixom  &  Townsend,  of  Matteawan, 
Dutchess  county,  is  one  of  the  substantial 
young  business  men  of  that  town.  He  is  a  de- 
scendant of  one  of  the  old  families  of  Putnam 
county,  N.  Y. ,  and  was  born  there  in  the  town 
of  Kent,  November  2,  1862.  His  great-grand- 
father   was    Elijah    Wixom,    whose    son    Eli- 


jah (2)  married  Hannah  Robinson.  Their 
son,  Cnarles,  our  subject's  father,  was  a  farm- 
er by  occupation.  He  married  Miriam  Bar- 
rett, a  daughter  of  Knowlton  and  Fanetta 
(Hazleton)  Barrett,  and  had  seven  children, 
two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  others  are 
Elijah  K.,  Edwin  C,  Russell  B.,  John  O.  and 
Cynthia  F.  The  father  is  dead,  but  the  moth- 
er is  still  living. 

John  O.  Wixom  attended  the  public  schools 
near  his  home  during  his  boyhood,  and  worked 
in  the  meantime  upon  the  farm.  At  the  age 
of  sixteen  he  began  his  business  career  as  a 
clerk  in  R.  R.  Meade's  general  store  at  Pecks- 
ville,  Dutchess  county,  and  after  a  year  and  a 
half  there  he  entered  the  employ  of  S.  G.  &  J. 
T.  Smith,  of  Fishkill  and  Matteawan,  and  re- 
mained with  them  for  eleven  years.  January 
I,  1890,  he  purchased  the  interest  of  P.  D. 
Holmes  in  the  grocery  firm  of  Holmes  &  Town- 
send,  forming  the  present  partnership.  They 
carried  a  full  line  of  groceries,  and  in  the  lat- 
ter part  of  1895  they  added  to  this  a  well- 
stocked  meat  market,  their  expanding  trade 
fully  justifying  them  in  the  venture.  The 
business  interests  of  Mr.  Wixom  have  occu- 
pied his  attention  too  closely  for  him  to  take 
an  active  part  in  public  affairs,  but  he  is  thor- 
oughly loyal  to  his  town,  and  is  an  ardent  sup- 
porter of  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party.  He  married  Miss  Jennie  Haight,  daugh- 
ter of  Theodorus  Haight,  a  well-known  farmer, 
and  his  wife,  Deborah  Lockwood,  and  they 
have  one  daughter,  Ruth  A.  They  are  lead- 
ing members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  at  Mattea- 
wan, and  take  a  generous  interest  in  its  work. 
Mr.  Wixom  is  also  a  member  of  Beacon  Lodge 
No.  283,  F.  &  A.  M. 


JOHN  L.  WHITE,  the  well-known  iiorist 
of  Pawling,  Dutchess  county,  is  one  of  the 
most  enterprising  business  men,  and,  be- 
ginning his  career  as  a  general  farmer,  he  has 
developed  a  profitable  and  pleasing  specialty. 
He  was  born  in  1834,  in  Glenham,  Dutchess 
county,  and  passed  his  youth  there,  his  edu- 
cation being  acquired  in  the  public  schools. 
He  married  Miss  Lucy  A.  Turner,  daughter 
of  Stephen  Turner,  a  leading  agriculturist 
of  the  town  of  Pawling,  and  his  wife,  Sarah 
Eastwood.  Of  the  three  children  of  this 
union,  the  first  two,  Sarah  and  Ezra,  de- 
ceased, never  married.  George  the  only 
surviving  son,  is   the    proprietor  of  a  printing 


VOMMEMOBATIVB  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


909 


office  at  Pawling.  He  is  a  member  of  Patter- 
son Lodge  No.  17-3,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  now  holds 
the  office  of  secretary.  His  wife,  formerly 
Miss  Alpha  Mosier,  is  a  daughter  of  Milton  and 
Mary  (Brown)  Mosier,  well-known  farmers  of 
the  town  of  Pawling,  and  has  one  son,  Clif- 
ton J. 

The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  Jos- 
eph White,  was  born  and  reared  at  Johnsville, 
N.  Y. ,  and  became  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
He  and  his  wife,  Sarah,  had  several  children, 
among  whom  was  a  son,  Philip,  our  subject's 
grandfather,  who  was  born  in  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, and  passed  his  life  here,  engaging  in  the 
business  of  clock  making  and  in  agriculture, 
which  he  followed  for  many  years.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  mar- 
ried, and  reared  a  family  of  six  children: 
Amsey,  who  married  Miss  West;  Joseph;  John, 
who  married  Polly  Werden;  Eli,  our  subject's 
father;  Warren,  who  married  Polly  Turner; 
and  Lucy  A.,  deceased,  who  never  married. 

Eli  White  was  a  native  of  the  town  of 
Pawling,  and  the  schools  of  that  locality  af- 
forded him  his  only  educational  advantages. 
He  became  a  painter  by  occupation.  His  wife 
was  Miss  Elizabeth  Canif  Hagaman,  daughter 
of  David  Canif,  and  they  had  three  children, 
of  whom  our  subject  was  the  youngest.  Emma 
never  married,  and  Cornelia  married  Kent 
Henyon,  and  had  five  children — Leona,  who 
is  now  married;  Coleman,  who  married  Annie 
Merritt;  William,  who  married  Hattie  Loeucs; 
Chester  and  Grace,  unmarried. 

Mrs.  White  is  descended  from  a  patriotic 
family,  her  father  having  served  in  the  war  of 
1812,  and  her  grandfather,  Stephen  Turner, 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  The  latter  followed 
agriculture  as  an  occupation.  He  and  his 
wife,  Amie,  reared  a  family  of  six  children: 
John;  Caleb,  who  never  married;  Stephen, 
Mrs.  White's  father;  Sarah,  wife  of  Elijah 
Eastwood;  Rhoda,  wife  of  James  Eastwood; 
md  Maria,  wife  of  Robert  Brockway. 

Stephen  Turner  was  born  in  1793,  in  the 
:own  of  Pawling,  Dutchess  county,  and  grew 
to  manhood  there.  His  gallant  service  in  the 
war  of  18 1 2  entitled  him  to  a  pension,  and  he 
plso  drew  160  acres  of  land  which  he  cultivated 
n  his  later  years.  He  married  Miss  Sarah 
Eastwood,  daughter  of  George  and  Rachel 
Eastwood.  Her  father  was  a  well-known 
chool  teacher.  Mrs.  White  was  one  of  eleven 
hildren,  who  all  married  as  follows:  Alexan- 
ler — Miss  Margaret  Brent;  Caleb — Miss  Cath- 


erine Morse;  Lyman — Miss  Pattie  Daiken; 
Lydia — John  Werdon  ;  Henry — Miss  Cath- 
erine Lent;  Ferman — Miss  Charlotte  Turner; 
Robert — Miss  Charlotte  Fairchild;  Peter — 
Miss  Eliza  Bullard;  Lucy  A. — John  White; 
Emma  J. — Gilbert  Bullard;  and  Bennett — Miss 
Ann  Eliza  Washburn. 


/^\EORGE  FRANKLIN  LEE,  the  genial 
\^  and  enterprising  proprietor  of  the  "Lee 
House,"  at  Pawling,  Dutchess  county,  has 
made  that  well-known  hotel  one  of  the  best 
houses  of  its  class  in  that  locality.  Energetic 
in  action  and  sound  in  business  judgment,  his 
success  is  a  natural  result  of  his  practical  and 
effective  management. 

His  family  is  of  English  origin,  and  several 
generations  have  made  their  home  in  Litchfield 
county.  Conn.,  where  George  Lee,  our  sub- 
ject's grandfather,  was  born.  He  passed  his 
life  there  as  a  farmer.  To  him  and  his  wife 
were  born  six  children:  Ward,  the  eldest; 
Jane,  who  married  George  Ferris  and  moved 
to  Wisconsin;  Sarah,  wife  of  Charles  Travis, 
of  Yates  county,  N.  Y. ;  Louisa,  wife  of  George 
Travis,  of  Penn  Yan,  N.  Y. ;  Emma,  wife  of 
George  Wickam,  of  Havana,  Schuyler  Co., 
N.  Y. ;  and  Egbert,  our  subject's  father,  who  was 
born  at  the  old  home,  in  Litchfield  county.  Conn. 
Egbert  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  and, 
coming  to  Dutchess  county  in  early  manhood, 
followed  that  business  in  the  town  of  Dover, 
and  later  in  Clang  Hollow,  town  of  Unionvale, 
where  he  located  about  1852.  In  1865  he  re- 
turned to  Dover  and  worked  for  three  years, 
and  in  1874  gave  up  his  trade  to  go  into  the 
hotel  business  at  the  old  "  Fowler  House,"  in 
Hyde  Park,  in  partnership  with  our  subject. 
He  remained  there  two  years,  and  then  moved 
to  Poughkeepsie  and  bought  a  saloon  and  liv- 
ery stable,  which  he  sold  two  years  later, 
when  he  moved  to  Pawling  to  spend  his  re- 
maining years,  his  death  occurring  there  about 
1881.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and  took  a  great 
interest  in  local  politics,  serving  as  supervisor 
and  collector  in  the  town  of  Dover,  and  as  col- 
lector in  the  town  of  Unionvale.  A  man  of 
generous  disposition  and  much  public  spirit, 
he  had  many  friends,  while  in  business  circles 
he  was  regarded  as  a  shrewd  and  successful 
manager  of  his  varied  enterprises,  and  he  cer- 
tainly was  one  of  the  best  blacksmiths  in  the 
county.  During  the  war  he  worked  in  the 
South  on  a  Mississippi  river  boat,  for  a  man 


910 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD 


named  Bostwick.  He  married  Abbie  Jane 
Cary,  and  seven  children  were  born  to  the 
union:  Egbert  M.,  a  blacksmith,  formerly  of 
the  town  of  Amenia,  later  of  Waterbury,  Conn. ; 
George  F. ,  our  subject;  Janie,  who  married 
(first)  William  Wright,  (second)  Charles  Villin- 
ger,  and  (third)  George  Geddings,  who  is  in  the 
United  States  mail  service;  Sarah  Ann,  de- 
ceased, formerly  the  wife  of  Myron  Wickam; 
Maryette,  deceased,  who  married  William  R. 
Lee;  Martha;  and  Perry,  a  painter,  of  Amenia. 
The  Carey  family  have  been  residents  of  Litch- 
field county,  Conn.,  for  many  years. 

George  F.  Lee  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Dover,  December  19,  1848,  and  his  education 
was  mainly  acquired  in  the  district  schools  of 
Unionvale,  which  he  attended  until  he  was 
about  eighteen  years  old.  He  had  learned  the 
blacksmith's  trade  in  the  meantime,  and  after 
leaving  school  conducted  a  shop  on  Chestnut 
Ridge  for  two  years,  when  he  sold  out  and 
went  to  Dover  Plains  to  work  at  the  trade  with 
Matthew  Borden.  A  year  later  he  entered  the 
employ  of  Milton  Bain,  then  the  proprietor  of 
the  "  Dover  House,"  and,  after  one  year  with 
him,  he  spent  about  a  year  and  a  half  as  clerk  for 
Jud  Landing,  just  across  the  street.  The  next 
three  years  he  spent  at  Falls  Village,  Conn., 
as  clerk  for  Ezra  Dudley,  and  Mr.  Lee  then 
purchased  a  saloon  and  put  in  billiard  tables, 
the  first  that  had  ever  been  brought  to  the 
town.  He  remained  there  some  time,  boarding 
with  Mr.  Dudley,  and  then  sold  the  business 
and  went  to  Hyde  Park,  where  he  rented  the 
old  "Fowler  House  "  of  J.  T.  Stoughtenburgh, 
and  conducted  it  for  three  years,  his  father  be- 
ing a  partner  for  a  time,  as  has  been  stated. 
On  selling  out  this  business  to  J.  W.  Hinkley, 
of  the  News,  Mr.  Lee  went  to  Poughkeepsie, 
and  for  one  year  ran  a  restaurant  under  the 
old  "Poughkeepsie  House,"  and  a  livery 
stable  in  the  rear,  but  in  1878  he  sold  these 
enterprises  and  moved  to  Pawling.  There  he 
rented  a  bar  room  of  George  Norton,  which 
he  conducted  for  three  years,  and  then  he 
bought  the  "Travelers'  House"  and  spent  eight 
years  in  managing  it,  with  Henry  Wheeler  as 
partner  for  one  year,  and  H.  C.  Brooks  for 
another.  During  this  time  Mr.  Lee  had  es- 
tablished the  first  bottling  works  ever  opened 
in  Pawling,  and  when  the  building  was  burned 
in  1 889  he  determined  to  erect  a  hotel  upon  the 
same  site,  and  accordingly  the  "Lee  House" 
was  completed  in  the  following  3'ear.  With 
the  exception  of  one  year  when  the  hotel  was 


rented   to    Mr.    Gardner,    he  has   managed   it 
himself,  meeting  with  marked  success. 

Politically,  Mr.  Lee  has  always  been  a 
Democrat,  and  gives  active  support  to  the 
party  in  his  locality.  He  has  been  a  member 
of  the  county  committee  for  five  years,  and 
has  held  the  office  of  school  trustee  for  three 
years.  In  1890  he  was  elected  supervisor 
for  oneterm,  and  in  1893  was  chosen,  for  a 
term,  highway  commissioner.  La  local  affairs 
of  a  non-political  sort  he  is  active  also,  and  he 
belongs  to  Patterson  Lodge  No.  173,  I.O.O.F. , 
of  Pawling.  He  has  a  pleasant  home  in 
Pawling,  his  family  not  residing  in  the  hotel. 
His  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1873, 
was  formerly  Miss  Mary  A.  Beden,  whose 
father,  Henry  Beden,  was  a  well-known  citi- 
zen of  Falls' Village,  Conn.  Two  sons  were 
born  of  this  union — Henry  A.  and  Philo  B. 


PHILIP  H.  STICKLE.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  has  been  for  some  years  prom- 
inent among  the  farmers  of  Dutchess  county, 
having  a  fine  estate  pleasantly  located  in  the 
town  of  Red  Hook,  it  being  one  of  the  best- 
appointed  homesteads  in  the  locality,  and  on 
account  of  his  strict  integrity  and  high  charac- 
ter, he  is  numbered  among  its  most  valued 
citizens. 

John  F.  Stickle,  his  paternal  grandfather, 
was  a  native  of  Red  Hook  town,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  farming  during  his  manhood,  and 
he  there  married  Hannah  Fraleigh.  Their  son, 
Peter  Stickle,  was  the  father  of  our  subject. 
He  was  also  born  in  Red  Hook  town,  where  on 
reaching  a  sufficient  age  he  attended  the  dis- 
trict schools,  and  as  a  means  of  livelihood  he 
followed  farming.  By  his  marriage  with  Miss 
Sarah  Feller,  he  had  two  sons:  John  W.,  who 
married  a  Mrs.  Shook;  and  Philip  H.,  of  this 
review. 

Our  subject  was  born  upon  the  old  Stickle 
homestead  in  the  town  of  Red  Hook,  which 
has  now  been  in  the  possession  of  the  family 
for  over  a  century  and  a  half.  His  school  days 
being  over,  he  took  up  the  occupation  which 
his  ancestors  had  followed,  and  now  owns  the 
old  farm,  which  comprises  250  acres  of  valu- 
able land.  Although  a  general  farmer,  he 
makes  a  specialty  of  fruit  culture,  having  upoii 
his  place  fine  varieties  of  peaches,  grapes,  ap- 
ples, currants,  etc. 

As  a  companion  and  helpmeet  on  life's  jour- 
ney,   Mr.    Stickle  chose  Miss  Nellie  R.    Ring, . 


COMMEMORATIVE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


911 


and  by  their  marriage  they  have  two  children: 
Alva  R.,  born  July  5,  1868;  and  Frank  W., 
born  March,  1873.  Moses  Ring,  Mrs.  Stickle's 
father,  was  a  son  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
Ring,  the  latter  of  New  York  City,  and  in  his 
family  were  six  children,  namely:  Elizabeth, 
who  became  the  wife  of  George  Fellows;  Nel- 
lie R.,  the  wife  of  our  subject;  Eugene,  who 
first  wedded  Sarah  Hunt,  and,  after  her  death, 
Emma  Hunt;  Alonzo,  who  married  Balinda 
Cramer;  John,  who  married  Lizzie  Reins- 
burgh,  and,  after  her  death,  Mary  Dolle;  and 
George  Lewis. 

Mr.  Stickle  takes  quite  an  active  interest  in 
politics,  believing  in  the  principles  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  and  to  these  gives  his  honest 
support.  He  has  been  quite  prominent  in  local 
affairs,  officiating  as  supervisor  of  Red  Hook 
town,  and  as  excise  commissioner.  Socially, 
he  is  connected  with  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  and  religiously  holds  member- 
ship with  the  Lutheran  Church.  His  industry 
and  enterprise  have  secured  for  him  an  envia- 
ble position  among  the  progressive  and  well- 
to-do  farmers  of  the  town  of  Red  Hook. 


JOHN  W.  BUTTS,  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent and  successful  business  men  of  the 
town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess  county,  was 
born  May  19,  1835,  upon  the  farm  where  he 
now  resides,  which  has  been  for  several  gener- 
ations the  home  of  the  Butts  family. 

William  Butts,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  in  Stanford,  November  15,  1808,  a  son 
of  Moses  Butts,  and  died  there  May  28,  1882, 
having  been  engaged  all  his  life  in  farming. 
He  attended  the  Christian  Church,  and  was  an 
exemplary  citizen,  holding  the  high  regard  of 
all  who  knew  him.  He  belonged  to  the  Ma- 
sonic order,  and  was  buried  with  their  impres- 
sive ritual.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat. 
On  June  3,  1831,  he  was  married  to  his  first 
wife.  Miss  Eliza  J.  Truesdale,  and  their  chil- 
dren were:  William,  born  March  4,  1832,  now 
a  resident  of  Valley  Falls.  Kans. ;  John  W. ,  our 
subject;  Walter  D.,  born  July  19,  1839,  mar- 
ried Catherine  Humphrey,  and  died  on  Octo- 
ber 22,  1870,  followed  August  16,  next  year, 
by  his  wife;  and  Eliza  Jane,  born  July  19, 
1839,  died  September  28,  1839.  On  January 
23,  1840.  Mr.  Butts  married  for  his  second 
wife  Miss  Deborah  Case,  a  daughter  of  Nathan 
Case.  She  was  born  December  21,  1802,  and 
died  February  6,  1892. 


John  W.  Butts,  our  subject,  attended  a 
district  school  near  Cold  Spring  during  boy- 
hood, and  laid  the  foundation  for  a  good  prac- 
tical education  which  his  native  ability  and 
habits  of  observation  have  enabled  him  to  ac- 
quire. He  has  always  lived  upon  the  old 
homestead,  having  assisted  his  father  until  the 
latter's  death.  March  21,  1 861,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Tamma  Humphrey,  a  descendant 
of  one  of  the  old  families  of  the  town  of  Stan- 
ford, her  great-grandfather  Humphrey  having 
settled  there  in  the  eighteentH  century.  Her 
grandfather,  James  Humphrey,  a  farmer  there, 
married  Abigail  Canfield,  and  had  eight  chil- 
dren: Nathan,  John,  Henry,  William,  Asahel, 
Ira,  Dama  and  Tamma,  of  whom,  Ira  is  now 
the  only  survivor.  William  Humphrey,  Mrs. 
Butt's  father,  was  born  in  1804,  and  died  in 
1882.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  but  in 
later  years  followed  farming  in  Stanford  until 
his  retirement  from  active  business,  when  he 
moved  to  Bangall.  He  married  Eliza  Johnson, 
of  New  Paltz,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  early 
Huguenot  settlers  of  Ulster  county,  and  had 
three  children:  Charles  H.,  a  merchant  of 
Bangall;  Abbie  J.,  Mrs.  Walter  Adsit;  and 
Tamma,  Mrs.  Butts.  Three  children  were 
born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife:  (i)  Ella 
Jane,  July  17,  1862,  was  married  June  i, 
1887,  to  Elmer  G.  Story,  of  Bay  Side,  L.  I. 
(now  in  the  Custom  House  in  New  York  City), 
and  has  two  children — Ethel  B.  and  Ernest  D. 
(2)  Mary,  February  24,  1864,  was  married 
December  16,  1891,  to  Lincoln  Husted,  of 
Stanford,  and  has  one  child,  Lee  J.  (3)  Will- 
iam H.,  July  21,  1 868,  now  a  farmer  near  the 
homestead,  was  married  December  7,  1892, 
to  Adelaide  Deyo,  and  has  one  son,  John 
W.,  Jr. 

The  farm  belonging  to  Mr.  Butts  is  one  of 
the  largest  in  the  county,  comprising  350  acres 
of  choice  land,  which  is  kept  in  fine  order 
under  his  energetic  and  judicious  management. 
Within  the  past  few  years  he  has  erected  a 
handsome  mansion  and  farm  buildings  of  mod- 
ern plan.  For  twenty  years  he  has  been  ex- 
tensively engaged  in  the  commission  and 
freighting  business,  dealing  in  farm  produce. 
His  known  responsibility  and  high  reputation 
for  fair  dealing  have  brought  him  a  large 
patronage,  the  greater  part  of  the  produce  of 
the  town  being  handled  by  him,  as  the  farm- 
ers prefer  to  sell  to  him  rather  than  to 
strangers  there  or  in  New  York.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  takes  an  active  and 


912 


COMMEMOBA  TIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


influential  part  in  all  local  affairs.  He  has 
been  commissioner  of  highways,  town  super- 
visor for  three  terms,  and  for  the  last  twenty- 
three  years  he  has  been  postmaster  at  Mc- 
Intyre. 


.^.,^ILLIAM  DOLAN,  an  energetic  and  ef- 
mW  ficient  employe  of  the  Harlem  Division, 
New  York  Central  &  Hudson  River  R.  R., 
was  born  September  19,  1862,  in  the  town  of 
Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  that  locality.  His 
father,  John  Dolan,  is  a  prominent  agricultur- 
ist there,  and  until  the  age  of  twenty-nine  our 
subject  worked  upon  the  farm,  but  in  1891  he 
entered  the  service  of  the  railroad  company  as 
brakeman,  and  still  holds  that  position.  In 
1 891  he  was  married  to  Miss  Bridget  Callnan, 
daughter  of  Michael  and  Bridget  Callnan,  of 
Carconlish,  County  Limerick,  Ireland,  and  they 
have  a  pleasant  home  in  Dover  Plains,  bright- 
ened by  the  merry  voices  of  three  children: 
William  A.,  born  in  1891;  Rebecca,  in  1893; 
and  John  E.,  in  1895. 

The  Dolan  family  is  of  Irish  origin,  the  old 
home  being  in  County  Roscommon.  Thomas 
Dolan,  our  subject's  grandfather,  was  a  life- 
long resident  there,  and  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing for  many  years.  He  and  his  wife  had  five 
children:  Thomas,  who  married  Bridget  Car- 
rol; John,  our  subject's  father;  and  three 
daughters,  Bridget,  Anna  and  Mary,  who  never 
married.  John  Dolan  was  born  in  18 12,  and 
received  a  good  education  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  county.  He  assisted  his  father,  learn- 
ing the  details  of  farm  work,  and  on  attaining 
his  majority  in  1833,  came  to  America  in  search 
of  wider  opportunities.  About  a  year  after  his 
arrival  he  settled  in  South  Amenia,  Dutchess 
county,  and  purchased  the  farm  where  he  now 
resides  at  the  good  old  age  of  eighty-four.  He 
married  Miss  Rebecca  Kelley,  a  native  of 
County  Roscommon,  Ireland,  and  daughter  of 
Charles  and  Anna  Kelley.  Eleven  children 
were  born  of  this  marriage:  Thomas,  who 
died  in  Memphis,  Tenn. ;  John,  who  married 
Maggie  Lary;  Charles,  who  married  Ellen 
Powers;  James,  who  married  Kate  Kelley; 
William,  our  subject;  Edward,  unmarried; 
Maggie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty  years; 
Rebecca,  living  at  home;  Eliza,  who  died  in 
infancy;  Annie,  the  wife  of  Lawrence  Dahoney; 
and  Eliza  (2)  who  is  at  home. 

Mrs.  Dolan's  father,  Michael  Callnan,  was 


a  farmer  at  Carconlish,  Ireland,  where  the  an- 
cestors of  her  mother,  Bridget  Murnan,  also 
had  their  home.  Cue  Murnan,  her  grand- 
father, was  born  and  educated  there,  and 
was  a  laborer  during  the  greater  part  of  his 
life.  His  wife's  name  is  unknown,  but  their 
seven  children  were:  Cue,  who  married  Miss 
Geary;  Patrick;  John;  Margaret,  who  mar- 
ried a  Mr.  Geary;  Mary,  Mrs.  Pat  Roach; 
Kate,  Mrs.  Michael  Welch;  and  Bridget,  Mrs. 
Dolan's  mother.  Michael  and  Bridget  Call- 
nan had  live  children,  of  whom,  Mrs.  Dolan 
was  the  youngest.  The  others  are  Michael, 
who  married  Johanna  Shine;  John,  who  is  not 
married;  Kate,  Mrs.  Thomas  Kelley;  and  Mary, 
Mrs.  John  Welch. 


OvEORGE  PEATTIE,  an  enterprising  and 
_  '  prosperous  business  citizen  of  Fishkill-on- 
Hudson,  Dutchess  county,  is  a  member  of  the 
well-known  firm  of  Peattie  Brothers,  who  are 
manufacturers  of  sleighs  and  carriages,  deal- 
ers in  harness  and  fittings,  proprietors  of  an 
extensive  livery  stable,  and  large  holders  of 
real  estate.  It  would  be  difficult  to  find  a 
firm  which  has  covered  so  varied  a  field  of 
effort  with  such  uniform  success.  He  was 
born  in  New  York  City  June  11,  1852.  His 
father  (the  late  George  Peattie)  was  born  in 
1 8 14  at  St.  Andrews,  Fifeshire,  Scotland,  and 
at  one  time  owned  the  land  on  the  corner  of 
West  Broadway  and  Hudson  street.  New 
York  City,  now  occupied  by  H.  K.  Thurber  & 
Co.,  and  carried  on  the  blacksmith's  trade 
there.  Later  he  moved  to  Cold  Spring,  N.  Y., 
and  in  October,  1855,  he  came  to  Fishkill-on- 
Hudson.  He  met  his  death  June  22,  1881, 
at  the  Hudson  River  Depot,  in  New  York  City, 
a  trunk  falling  upon  him.  His  wife  was  a  lady 
of  Irish  blood.  Miss  Ann  McCormick,  by  whom 
he  had  six  children:  James,  William  H., 
George,  Charles,  Robert  and  Margaret  A. 

After  acquiring  a  good  English  education  in 
in  the  schools  of  Fishkill,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  went  to  New 
York  City,  and  spent  three  years  with  N.  H. 
Gray,  of  No.  27  Wooster  street,  learning  the 
wagon  and  sleighmaker's  trade,  and  then  went 
to  Yorkville  and  worked  two  years  with  W.  H. 
Dunns,  a  manufacturer  of  coach  bodies.-  In 
1 87 1  he  and  his  brothers,  James  and  William, 
built  a  wagon  and  sleigh  factory  in  Fishkill,  at 
the  corner  of  Main  and  Cedar  streets,  and  two. 
years  later   added   to   it   the   livery    business.; 

i 
I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


QIS 


Both  enterprises  were  carried  on  successfully 
until  February  8,  1895,  when  the  entire  plant 
was  destroyed  by  fire.  Nothing  daunted,  the 
firm  resumed  business  in  a  shed  at  their  pres- 
ent location,  and  proceeded  to  build  their 
handsome  new  repository  and  livery  stable, 
I  covering  loox  150  feet  of  space.  They  have 
also  been  extensively  engaged  in  the  building 
of  houses  and  business  blocks,  and  have  done 
much  to  improve  and  develop  the  town.  Since 
1875  they  have  erected  forty-one  detached 
dwelling  houses,  which  they  rent,  and  in  1892 
they  built  the  Peattie  Block,  a  brick  structure 
three  stories  high,  containing  eight  flats  and 
three  stores,  all  fitted  up  according  to  modern 
ideas  of  comfort  and  convenience.  On  Sep- 
tember 1,  1894,  they  opened  to  the  public  the 
Academy  of  Music,  another  large  building 
costing  $35,000,  which  is  managed  by  Clark  & 
Peattie.  The  latter  is  William  Peattie,  who, 
in  addition  to  his  care  of  the  interests  of  the 
firm,  is  a  director  in  one  of  the  banks,  and  for 
fifteen  years  past  has  been  auditor  of  the  town. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  prominent  in 
local  affairs,  and  a  valued  adviser  in  the  Dem- 
ocratic party.  In  the  spring  of  1894  he  was 
a  candidate  for  the  office  of  president  of  the 
jvillage,  but  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority, 
land  for  the  past  year  he  has  been  a  member 
of  the  board  of  education.  Mr.  Peattie  mar- 
ried Miss  Bridget  Meeley,  daughter  of  Patrick 
Meeley,  and  has  had  ten  children:  Mary, 
Charles,  Lauretta,  Edward,  Maggie,  Hugh, 
Celia,  Lenna,  Ruth,  and  Alice,  of  whom,  all 
but  Lenna  and  Ruth  are  living.  The  family 
are  leading  members  of  St.  Joseph's  Roman 
Catholic  Church.  Mr.  Peattie  belongs  to  the 
Order  of  Foresters  and  to  the  Catholic  Benev- 

Im  RNOUT  CANNON   (deceased).     To  the 
■S^  artistic   taste  and  faithful  workmanship 
)f  the  late  Arnout  Cannon,  a  prominent  con- 
tor  and  builder  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 
:nty,   the    "Queen   City    of    the   Hudson" 
s    many   of  her   most   notable  structures, 
ring  the  forty -six  years  of  his  active  busi- 
.3  life  there,  he  erected  public  buildings  and 
private  residences  which  will  long  remain   as 
iiuments  of  his  skill,  among  which  may  be 
cially  mentioned  the  Home  for  the  Friend- 
Mr.    Cannon   was   born    July    13,   1805,  in 

New  York  City,  and  there  learned  the  trade  of 
59 


a  mechanic.  In  1836  he  came  to  Poughkeep- 
sie and  engaged  in  the  building  business,  in 
which  he  continued  until  his  death,  September 
12,  1882.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity.  Lodge  No.  266,  Poughkeepsie,  and 
held  a  leading  place  in  many  of  the  progressive 
movements  of  the  day  in  his  locality.  In  New 
York  City  he  was  married  to  Miss  Naomi  Chil- 
son,  a  native  of  Orange  county,  N.  Y. ,  born 
June  II,  1 81 2,  and  eight  children  came  of  this 
union:  Hester  (deceased);  George  W. ,  a  re- 
tired business  man  of  Poughkeepsie;  Charles 
H.,  a  well-known  carpenter  there;  Arnout,  Jr., 
our  subject;  William  H.,  a  resident  of  Chi- 
cago; Maria,  widow  of  James  Gifford;  Corne- 
lius L. ,  a  leading  contractor  and  builder  of 
Poughkeepsie;  and  Emma  Kate,  the  wife  of 
Charles  E.  Schon.  The  mother  of  this  fam- 
ily is  still  living  in  Poughkeepsie. 

Arnout  Cannon,  Jr.,  was  born  August  3, 
1839,  in  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  after 
acquiring  an  education  in  the  public  schools 
and  the  Dutchess  County  Academy,  he  at  the 
age  of  fifteen  began  to  learn  his  father's  trade, 
spending  four  years  with  him.  He  then  went 
to  New  York  City,  where  for  two  years  he 
was  in  the  office  of  Frederick  Diaper,  studying 
architecture;  in  the  spring  of  1862  he  returned 
to  his  native  place  and  established  himself  in 
business  as  an  architect  in  an  office  at  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Catherine  streets.  In 
August  of  the  same  year  he  enlisted  in  the 
128th  N.  Y.  V.  I.  and  served  in  that  regiment 
until  after  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson;  he  also 
took  part  in  the  siege  of  Mobile.  He  was 
usually  assigned  to  duty  as  an  engineer,  and 
among  other  works  on  which  he  was  engaged 
was  the  dam  on  the  Red  river.  In  1863  he 
was  transferred  to  the  command  of  some 
colored  troops  who  fought  so  nobly  in  that 
campaign,  and  became  second  lieutenant,  first 
lieutenant,  captain,  and  lieutenant-colonel  of 
the  gallant  Ninety-seventh  U.  S.  Col.  Inf. 
On  receiving  his  discharge  in  April,  1865,  he 
returned  to  resume  work  as  an  architect,  and 
has  been    in  active  business  ever   since.      In 

1893  Walter  Scofield   became   his  partner;  in 

1894  Percival  Lloyd  entered  the  firm,  and 
since  Mr.  Scofield's  retirement  in  April,  1895, 
the  firm  has  been  known  as  Cannon  &  Lloyd. 
Mr.  Cannon  is  in  the  front  rank  in  his  profes- 
sion, and  has  executed  with  marked  ability 
some  very  important  commissions.  Among 
his  largest  buildings  are  the  Vassar  Brothers' 
Home  for  Aged   Men,   the   Vassar  Brothers' 


914 


COMMESrORATrVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Institute,  the  Vassar  Brothers'  Library,  the 
Masonic  Temple,  and  the  Nelson  House 
Annex. 

In  February,  1862,  Mr.  Cannon  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Ann  E.  Davis,  who  died  leaving 
three  children:  Ida  Frances,  Howard  and 
Grace.  In  1879  he  was  married  to  Miss  Emily 
J.  Pelton,  by  whom  he  has  one  son,  Pelton. 
With  his  war  record  it  may  be  supposed  that 
Mr.  Cannon  is  an  enthusiastic  G.  A.  R.  man. 
He  belongs  to  D.  B.  Sleight  Post,  Poughkeep- 
sie,  and  to  the  military  order  of  the  Loyal 
Legion.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  I.  O. 
O.  F. ,  Fallkill  Lodge,  and  Poughkeepsie  Lodge 
No.  266,  F.  &  A.  M. 


JOSEPH  H.  MULCOX,  the  well-known  con- 
tractor and  builder,  holds  a  leading  place 
among  the  enterprising  and  prominent  men 
of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  materially 
aiding  the  developm.ent  and  progress  of  the 
municipality.  He  is  a  native  of  that  city,  hav- 
ing been  born  there  July  17,  1834,  and  he  is  a 
son  of  Joseph  Mulcox,  who  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  December 
16,  1802. 

Benjamin  Mulcox,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  England, 
and  after  coming  to  this  country  was  for  many 
years  engaged  in  farming  and  cheese  making 
in  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.  In  his  family  were 
two  sons,  Benjamin  and  Joseph.  By  occupa- 
tion the  latter  was  a  truckman  of  Poughkeep- 
sie, and  in  politics  he  was  an  ardent  Republic- 
an. He  married  Miss  Cornelia  Kipp,  who 
was  born  in  Dutchess  county,  of  Holland  line- 
age, and  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Kipp,  an 
agriculturist.  She  departed  this  life  in  1892, 
and  January  3,  1893,  her  husband  was  also 
called  to  his  long  home. 

Joseph  H.  Mulcox,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  is  the  third  in  order  of  birth  in  the 
family  of  nine  children  born  to  Joseph  and 
Cornelia  Mulcox,  the  others  being  as  follows: 
Theodore,  formerly  an  extensive  contractor 
and  builder  of  Poughkeepsie,  died  in  1880; 
Mathias  was  a  carpenter,  member  of  the  firm 
of  Mulcox  Brothers  of  that  city;  George,  who 
was  a  commission  merchant  of  New  York,  died 
in  1893;  Sylvester  is  a  policeman  6f  Jersey 
City,  N.  J.;  Frederick  is  a  carpenter  of 
Poughkeepsie;  Benjamin  died  in  infancy;  Celia 
A.  is  married,  and  lives  in  Poughkeepsie;  and 
Mary  E.  died  in   1859  at  the  age   of  twenty- 


four  years.  Our  subject  spent  his  boyhood 
days  in  Pougiikeepsie  midst  play,  work  and 
study,  land  March  i,  1853,  began  learning  the 
carpenter's  trade  with  James  S.  Post,  for  whom 
he  worked  seventeen  years.  He  then  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  brothers  under  the 
name  of  Mulcox  Brothers,  this  connection  last- 
ing five  years,  since  when  our  subject  has  en- 
gaged in  contracting  for  himself,  arid  has 
erected  many  fine  dwelling  houses.  He  spec- 
ulates in  real  estate  to  a  considerable  extent, 
erecting  buildings  for  himself  which  he  sells  to 
advantage. 

In  1858,  Mr.  Mulcox  was  married  to  Miss 
Rachel  Van  Kureon,  who  was  born  at  Came- 
lot,  Dutchess  county,  daughter  of  Mathew  and 
Margaret  Van  Kureon,  the  former  of  whom, 
who  was  of  Holland  extraction,  was  engaged 
in  the  boating  business.  One  child,  Frank, 
deceased  in  infancy,  was  born  of  our  subject 
and  his  wife.  Politically  Mr.  Mulcox  alSliales 
with  the  Republican  party,  giving  full  adher- 
ence to  the  principles  and  doctrines  of  its  plat- 
forms. He  is  public-spirited  and  enterprising, 
taking  an  active  interest  in  the  welfare  and  ad- 
vancement of  his  native  city  and  county,  and 
is  prominently  identified  with  their  improve- 
ment. 


WILLIAM    H.    S.    BRINKERHOFF,  a 
well-known  builder   and  contractor  of 

Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  was  born  in 
December,  1861,  at  Bedford,  Ohio,  and  is  the 
son  of  Benjamin  F.  Brinkerhoff,  who  was  a 
native  of  Poughkeepsie. 

Benjamin  F.  Brinkerhoff  was  a  mason  by 
trade,  which  calling  he  followed  in  various 
places,  being  at  different  times  a  resident  of 
Newburg,  Kingston  and  Poughkeepsie,  in  this 
State,  and  in  other  cities  in  Massachusetts  and 
Ohio.  He  is  now  engaged  as  an  agent  for 
William  B.  King,  in  introducing  a  patent 
plastering,  and  has  been  fairly  successful  in 
business  matters.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Sarah  E. ,  a  daughter  of  Eli  Sutcliff,  a  well- 
known  grocer  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  four  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them:  William  H.  S.; 
John  S.,  living  in  Staten  Island;  Eli  (de- 
ceased); and  Herbert  D.,  also  living  in  Staten' 
Island.  The  father  is  a  stanch  Republican 
and  an  active  worker  in  his  party.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Ma- 
sonic order. 

William  H.    S.    Brinkerhoff   obtained  the 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


915 


most  of  his  education  at  Lowell,  Mass.,  where 
he  attended  school  until  sixteen  years  of  age. 
Soon  afterward  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  car- 
penter with  Arnout  Cannon,  and  for  some  two 
years  was  employed  in  sash  and  door  making, 
learning  all  branches  of  that  business.  In  1888 
Mr.  Brinkerhoff  began  business  for  himself,  hav- 
ing for  a  short  time  a  partner.  He  now  conducts 
the  business  alone,  and  employs  from  three  to 
eight  men,  and  finds  plenty  to  do,  his  reputa- 
tion as  a  skillful,  reliable  workman,  and  a  man 
who  is  honest  and  upright  in  his  dealings,  be- 
ing well-established  in  the  community.  He  is 
self-made,  well  posted  on  all  topics  of  the  day, 
and  by  his  industry  and  energy  is  on  the  high 
road  to  financial  success. 

On  December  6,  1883,  Mr.  Brinkerhoff 
was  married  to  Miss  Isabella,  daughter  of  John 
Bodden.  She  died  November  11,  1892,  leav- 
ing one  child,  Roy  \V.  Mr.  Brinkerhoff's  sec- 
ond marriage  took  place  December  25,  1894, 
when  he  was  united  to  Miss  Mary  Bigel,  of 
Poughkeepsie.  In  politics  Mr.  Brinkerhoff  is 
an  ardent  Republican;  socially  he  belongs  to 
Triumph  Lodge,  K.  of  P.,  at  Poughkeepsie. 
He  attends  the  Episcopal  Church,  to  which  he 
is  a  liberal  contributor,  and  as  a  citizen  is 
public-spirited  and  progressive.  He  is  the 
youngest  builder  and  contractor  in  the  city, 
and  has  shown  great  business  ability.  Mr. 
Brinkerhoff  is  much  interested  in  military  mat- 
ters, and  for  twelve  years  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Nineteenth  Separate  Company,  in 
which  for  nine  years  he  was  a  non-commis- 
sioned officer,  going  in  as  a  private  and  rising 
0  the  rank  of  quartermaster  sergeant. 


E^RANKLIN  S.  EASTMEAD,  senior  mem- 
E  ber  of  the  firm  of  Eastmead  Bros.,  fead- 
ng  tobacconists  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ,  is  one 
)f  the  best-known  residents  of  that  city,  his 
nterest  in  social,  religious,  educational  and 
x)litical  affairs  making  him  an  active  worker 
a  many  organizations.  He  is  a  native  of 
*oughkeepsie,  born  May  21,  1856,  and  is  of 
Snglish  descent,  the  ancient  home  of  his  fam- 
ly  being  at  Wotton-Under-Edge,  a  suburb  of 
-ondon,  England. 

His  paternal  grandparents  were  born  at 
bat  place,  and  spent  many  years  of  their  mar- 
led life  there,  later  coming  to  America,  and 
Piling  at  Poughkeepsie,  where  the  grandfa- 
t,  Thomas  Eastmead,  followed  the  mason's 
de.    He  built  the  print  works  at  Wappingers 


Falls,  and  the  old  edifice  known  as  Christ's 
church,  in  Poughkeepsie,  which  occupied  the 
present  site  of  the  State  Armory  at  the  corner 
of  Market  and  Church  streets.  The  family 
had  always  been  members  of  the  Church  of 
England,  and  after  coming  to  this  country  he 
adhered  to  the  Episcopal  Church.  He  had 
five  sons,  all  of  whom  were  born  in  England 
and  accompanied  him  to  America:  James  died 
in  early  manhood  in  New  York  City,  and  was 
buried  at  Poughkeepsie;  Charles  is  mentioned 
more  fully  farther  on;  Horatio  was  an  engraver 
and  lithographer  in  New  York  City,  and  died 
there;  John  was  a  musician  and  composer  of 
sacred  music;  and  Joseph  was  a  mason  in  New 
York  City. 

Charles  Eastmead,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  about  thirty  years  old  when  he  came 
to  America.  Although  he  learned  the  mason's 
trade  in  the  old  country  he  did  not  follow  it 
here,  but  engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  busi- 
ness on  Main  street,  Poughkeepsie.  Being 
burned  out  at  that  location,  he  moved  his 
business  up  town  where  he  carried  it  on  suc- 
cessfully for  many  years,  making  a  specialty 
of  handling  the  Burt  shoes.  Disposing  of  his 
establishment,  he  spent  a  year  in  England, 
and  on  his  return  to  Poughkeepsie  in  1866 
engaged  in  the  tobacco  and  tea  business  at  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Washington  streets,  where 
Eastmead  Bros,  now  conduct  their  business. 
As  a  stanch  Republican,  he  was  active  in  the 
service  of  his  party,  and  was  once  elected 
from  the  Third  ward  to  the  board  of  aldermen. 
He  was  an  exempt  member  of  the  Cataract 
Fire  Company.  His  death  occurred  in  1882; 
his  wife,  formerly  Miss  Jeannette  B.  Smith, 
survives  him.  She  was  fjorn  in  Pittenweem, 
Fifenshire,  Scotland,  and  is  a  sister  of  Will- 
iam W.  Smith,  of  Smith  Bros.  Our  subject 
is  the  eldest  of  five  children,  the  others  being: 
Florin  (deceased),  who  married  Frank  L. 
Scofield  ;  Elmer  E.,  head  bookkeeper  for 
Adriance  Piatt  &  Co.,  Mower  and  Reaper 
Works;  Charles  M.,  in  partnership  with  our 
subject;   and  Annie  M.,  who   died    in  infancy. 

Franklin  S.  Eastmead  has  always  had  his 
residence  in  the  city  of  his  birth,  and  after 
learning  the  details  of  the  drug  business  with 
Brown,  Doty  &  Co.,  he  became  a  prescription 
clerk,  following  the  occupation  fourteen  years, 
first  with  Charles  S.  Bowne,  and  later  with 
Mr.  Doty.  On  the  death  of  his  father  he  en- 
gaged in  his  present  business  under  the  firm 
name    of  Franklin    S.    Eastmead  &    Co.,  the 


I 


916 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


name  of  Eastmead  Bros,  having  been  adopted 
in  1892.  In  1885  Mr.  Eastman  married  Miss 
Annie  L.  Gillen,  a  lady  of  Scotch-Irish  descent, 
and  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Gillen,  a  well-known 
citizen  of  Poughkeepsie.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren: Hazel  Belle  and  Herbert  Andrew.  Po- 
litically Mr.  Eastman  is  a  Republican,  and  he 
belongs  to  the  following  organizations:  The 
R.  A.,  No.  391;  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Fallkill  Lodge, 
in  which  he  is  past  grand;  Siloam  Encamp- 
ment No.  36,  and  Canton  Dilks  No.  19,  of 
which  he  is  now  past  captain.  He  is  first 
lieutenant  of  the  15th  Separate  Co. ;  lieutenant 
of  Poughkeepsie  Bicycle  Club;  active  exempt 
member  of  Davy  Crockett  Hook  &  Ladder 
Fire  Company;  honorary  member  of  the 
Young  America  Hose  Company,  No.  6;  and  a 
member  of  the  Apokeepsing  Boat  Club,  the 
League  of  American  Wheelmen,  and  the  Cen- 
tury Road  Club  of  America.  He  also  repre- 
sents the  Sixth  ward  in  the  common  council  of 
the  city. 


M^ENRY  CLIFFORD,  an  honored  and  es- 
[   teemed  citizen  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess 

county,  passed  to  his  rest  February  3,  1893. 
He  was  a  native  of  England,  born  at  Bristol, 
December  1 1,  1840,  and  was  the  son  of  James 
and  Sarah  (Wolfe)  Clifford,  in  whose  family 
were  three  children:  Henry,  Joseph  and 
Sarah,  all  now  deceased.  The  birth  of  the 
father  also  occurred  at  Bristol,  and  when  our 
subject  was  ten  years  of  age  he  brought  his 
family  to  America,  locating  at  Poughkeepsie, 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade  of  blacksmithing 
until  his  removal  to  Vermont.  There  he  spent 
his  remaining  days. 

The  early  education  of  Henry  Clifford  was 
secured  in  the  schools  of  Poughkeepsie,  where, 
later,  he  engaged  as  a  stationary  engineer,  for 
thirteen  years  being  employed  by  the  city  water 
works.  While  fi.xing  some  steam  pipes  at  the 
Hudson  River  State  Hospital  he  was  injured 
by  falling  from  a  step-ladder,  which  caused  his 
death  a  week  later.  His  death  was  widely 
and  deeply  mourned,  for  he  had  the  respect  of 
all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  an  earnest  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican party;  socially  he  was  identified  with  the 
Masonic  order;  religiously  he  was  a  faithful 
member  of  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church. 

In  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie,  on  May  20, 
1869,  Mr.  Clifford  was  married  to  Miss  Annie 
Mellor,  also  a  native  of  England,  and  to  them 


were  born  two  children:  Jennie  Clarkson,  now 
the  wife  of  Harry  M.  Rupley;  and  Harry  Wolfe 
(deceased).  Mrs.  Clifford's  father,  William 
Mellor,  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  in 
which  country  he  married  Ellen  Hanson,  by 
whom  he  had  four  children:  Annie  C. ;  Han- 
son, superintendent  of  the  freight  depot  of  the 
Hudson  River  railroad  at  Poughkeepsie;  Jen- 
nie; and  Ellen  (deceased).  For  forty-five  years 
the  father  has  been  a  resident  of  Poughkeep- 
sie, where  he  has  always  engaged  in  general 
labor. 


JrOSEPH  THEODORE  LAMB,  M.  D.,  a 
prominent  and  leading  physician  and  sur- 
geon of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county, 
was  born  in  New  York  City,  July  9,  1834,  and 
is  of  Irish  descent. 

John  Lamb,  his  paternal  grandfather,  was 
a  merchant  in  Ireland,  where  he  spent  his  en- 
tire life.  In  1798,  in  County  Monaghan,  Ire- 
land, Francis  Lamb,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born,  and  in  18 14  he  came  to  America, 
arriving  at  New  York,  securing  on  the  day  he 
landed  employment  in  a  shoe  factory  in  that 
city.  Later  he  engaged  quite  extensively  in 
the  grocery  business,  so  that  his  last  days  were 
spent  in  retirement,  and  he  left  his  family  a 
handsome  property.  In  course  of  time  he  sent 
for  his  mother,  brothers  and  sisters — seven  in 
number — who  joined  him  in  New  York  City. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  was  there 
married  to  Ann  Quin,  and  to  them  were  born 
fourteen  children,  six  of  whom  are  still  living. 
The  father  died  in  October,  1861.  He  and  his 
family  were  devout  members  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church. 

The  early  education  of  our  subject  was  ob- 
tained in  the  private  classical  institute  of  John 
Young,  in  New  York  City,  and  he  completed 
his  literary  studies  with  the  French  Pensionate, 
an  academy  conducted  by  the  Christian  Broth- 
ers. He  then  taught  for  a  time  in  the  Jesuit 
College  in  Sixteenth  street,  New  York,  and  in 
that  city  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Bedford  for 
three  years.  Entering  Bellevue  Hospital  he 
attended  three  courses  of  lectures  there,  was 
graduated  in  1867,  and  at  once  began  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  New  York  City. 
His  business  so  rapidly  increased,  and  he  de- 
voted himself  so  untiring]}'  to  his  work,  that  he 
became  broken  down  in  health,  and  was  forced 
to  leave  the  city.  Removing  to  Hudson.  N. 
Y. ,  he   continued  practicing  there  until  1880. 


I 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


917 


when  he  came  to  Poughkeepsie,  where  he  es- 
tablished an  office,  and  has  secured  a  liberal  pat- 
ronage; he  is  now  serving  as  alms-house  physi- 
cian. The  Doctor  holds  membership  with  the 
Alumni  Association  of  Bellevue  Hospital,  and 
the  Dutchess  County  Medical  Society.  He  is 
a  close  and  thorough  student,  and  his  investi- 
gations into  the  science  of  medicine,  and  his 
skillful  application  of  the  knowledge  he  has 
thereby  obtained,  have  won  him  a  place  in  the 
foremost  ranks  of  the  medical  fraternity. 

In  New  York  City,  Dr.  Lamb  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Catherine  Gibney,  and  to 
them  were  born  five  children,  as  follows: 
Francis,  a  member  of  the  Jesuit  Order,  of 
Woodstock,  Md. ;  James  A.,  an  attorney  in 
New  York  City;  Charles  V.,  also  a  member  of 
the  Jesuit  Order,  located  at  Grand  Coteau, 
La. ;  Mary;  and  Edward,  a  graduate  of  St. 
John's  College.  The  family  are  all  members 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  and  in  politics 
the  Doctor  is  an  ardent  Democrat. 


IrSAAC  S.  HEWLETT,  a  representative 
,  farmer  residing  in  the  town  of  Pleasant 
\  alley,  is  a  man  whose  sound  common  sense 
and  vigorous,  able  management  of  his  affairs 
have  been  important  factors  in  leading  him  to 
success,  and  with  his  undoubted  integrity  have 
\  en  him  an  honorable  position  among  his 
.cUowmen.  He  is  a  native  of  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, born  in  the  town  of  Hyde  Park,  November 
27,  1822. 

His  paternal  grandfather  was  born  in  Hol- 
land, and  after  coming  to  the  New  World  was 
married  and  located  on  a  farm  in  Westchester 
county,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  reared  a  family  of 
several  children,  among  whom  was  Samuel 
Hewlett,  the  father  of  our  subject.  The  lat- 
ter's  birth  occurred  in  Westchester  county, 
where  he  married  Charlotte  Kipp,  and  for  some 
time  operated  a  farm  there.  At  length  he  de- 
cided to  come  to  Dutchess  county,  and  his 
wife  made  the  trip  on  horseback,  carrying  her 
baby  in  her  arms.  They  first  located  on  a 
farm  in  the  town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  in  the 
midst  of  the  wilderness,  but  later  removed  to 
the  town  of  Hyde  Park,  where  the  father  car- 
ried on  farming  until  his  death  in  1825.  The 
mother  passed  away  in  1866.  In  the  family 
were  ten  children,  namely:    William,  a  farmer 

;  of  Hyde  Park  town,  who  died  at  Poughkeepsie; 
Elizabeth,  widow  of  Johnson  Baker,  a  farmer 

,  of  the  town  of  Hyde  Park;  Hiram,  deceased. 


who  was  also  an  agriculturist  of  the  same 
town;  Phcebe,  who  is  the  widow  of  Stephen 
D.  Briggs,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Pleasant 
Valley,  and  now  makes  her  home  in  Hyde 
Park;  Hannah,  who  became  the  wife  of  George 
Holmes,  a  farmer  of  Pleasant  Valley  town,  but 
both  are  now  deceased;  James,  deceased,  who 
was  a  farmer  of  Hyde  Park;  Caleb  C. ,  de- 
ceased, who  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  in 
the  West;  Zyprah,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Isaac  Wood,  a  farmer,  merchant  and  railroad 
man,  and  both  are  now  deceased;  John  K.,  de- 
ceased, who  engaged  in  merchandising  in  Hyde 
Park;  and  Isaac  S.,  of  this  sketch. 

The  last-named  spent  his  boyhood  days  in 
Hyde  Park,  and  when  large  enough  began 
working  for  neighboring  farmers.  He  grew  to 
be  an  active,  ambitious  young  man,  and  early 
established  a  home  of  his  own.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1845  to  Letitia  Halstead,  a  native  of 
the  town  of  Beekman,  Dutchess  county,  and  a 
daughter  of  David  Halstead,  an  agriculturist. 
After  their  marriage  they  lived  for  about  eight 
years  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Hyde  Park, 
which  Mr.  Hewlett  then  sold,  and  in  1854  lo- 
cated on  his  present  fine  farm  of  105  acres. 
Two  children  were  born  to  them,  namely: 
Samuel  D.,  a  farmer  of  Pleasant  Valley  town; 
and  W.  Irwin,  who  for  several  years  operated 
a  farm,  but  is  now  engaged  in  the  milk  business 
in  Poughkeepsie. 

To  general  farming  Mr.  Hewlett  now  de- 
votes his  attention,  and  the  well-cultivated 
fields  indicate  to  the  passerby  the  thrift  and 
enterprise  of  the  owner,  who  is  numbered 
among  the  most  progressive  agriculturists  of 
the  locality.  His  first  ballot  was  cast  for  the 
Whig  party,  but  since  its  organization  he 
has  been  a  stalwart  Republican,  and  always 
takes  an  active  part  in  politics.  Mrs.  Hewlett 
is  a  Hicksite  Quaker,  and  her  husband,  though 
not  a  member,  gives  liberally  toward  the  sup- 
port of  the  Church. 


EMMERY  COLE,  a  prominent  business  man 
'I  of  the  town  of  Pawling,  Dutchess  county, 

is  the  founder  of  the  village  at  Coles  Mills, 
and  the  proprietor  of  the  manufacturing  estab- 
lishments there.  A  man  of  great  energy  and 
fine  mechanical  ability,  he  has  been  unusually 
successful  in  the  varied  business  enterprises, 
and  has  contributed  largely  to  the  develop- 
ment of  that  locality. 

He  is  of  English   descent  on  the   paternal 


( 


918 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


side,  and  was  born  April  19,  181 1,  in  the  town 
of  Wilton,  Fairfield  Co..  Conn.  His  great- 
grandfather, Alexander  Cole,  was  a  soldier  of 
the  Revolutionary  war,  and  was  with  Wash- 
ington at  the  time  New  York  was  taken  by  the 
British  forces.  His  grandfather,  Thomas  Cole, 
was  a  lifelong  resident  of  Wilton,  where  he 
owned  a  farm  and  sawmill,  and  took  a  leading 
part  in  local  affairs.  He  was  probably  a  Pres- 
byterian in  religious  faith.  He  and  his  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Riggs,  are  dead. 
They  reared  a  family  of  seven  children,  whose 
names  with  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows: 
Thomas,  October  22,  1780,  was  a  farmer 
at  the  old  homestead;  Ira.  February  10,  1782, 
lived  near  Binghamton,  N.  Y. ;  Timothy,  Au- 
gust 28,  1784;  Sally,  February  9,  1788,  mar- 
ried David  Nichols;  Curtis,  May  10,  1790, 
lived  in  Stepney,  Fairfield  Co.,  Conn.;  Sam- 
uel, October  22,  1791,  was  a  resident  of  Wil- 
ton; and  Sherman,  June  4,  1804,  lived  at 
Norwalk,  Conn.,  and  had  a  large  fan^ily  of 
children,  several  of  whom  became  prominent 
in  different  lines  of  effort.  Timothy  Cole,  our 
subject's  father,  was  a  farmer  and  wagon 
maker  by  occupation.  He  married  Eliza 
Sterling,  a  daughter  of  Thaddeus  Sterling, 
a  leading  resident  of  Wilton,  and  soon  after- 
ward removed  to  Southeast,  Putnam  coun- 
ty, where  he  carried  on  his  trade  success- 
;  fully,  employing  his  brothers  in  his  shop. 
He  and  his  wife  attended  the  services  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  our  sub- 
ject is  also  an  adherent,  and  they  were  highly 
esteemed  in  the  neighborhood.  Of  their  nine 
children  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  eld- 
est, the  names  of  the  others  being  as  fol- 
lows: George,  born  in  18 13,  was  a  wagon 
maker;  Mary,  181 5,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty; 
Sally,  1817,  was  the  second  wife  of  Warren 
Collamour,  of  Saratoga,  N.  Y. ;  Jane,  1819, 
married  Charles  Marsh,  and  died  in  Rockford, 
111.;  Eliza  Ann,  1821,  was  the  first  wife  of 
Warren  Collamour;  Minerva  died  in  childhood; 
Angeline  is  still  living;  and  Edwin  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Chestnut  Ridge. 

Our  subject's  early  education  was  limited 
to  an  attendance  at  the  district  schools  near 
his  home,  and  to  one  year  in  a  select  school. 
He  began  to  learn  the  wagon  maker's  trade 
with  his  father  when  very  young,  and  worked 
for  him  until  the  age  of  twenty-one.  He 
then  started  in  busiiiess  for  himself  at  Amenia, 
taking  the  shop  of  John  A.  Allen  on  shares, 
the  profits  being  equally  divided.      He  did  all 


branches    of    the    work    except    ironing    the] 
wagons,  and  soon  built  up   a  fine  trade,  em- 
ploying two  or  three  men  after  the  first  year. 
His  work   being  of  the  most  substantial  and| 
satisfactory  kind,  it  acquired  a  high  reputation] 
during  the  eleven  years  of  his  stay  at  Amenia, 
his  trade  extending  to  Poughkeepsie.      In  Sep)- 1 
tember,  1842,  he  moved  to  Pawling,  and  built 
the  gristmill  and  wagon  shop  at  Coles   Mills,j 
and  established  his  present  extensive  business,,] 
which    affords    employment    to  about    fifteen 
men.      He  built  all  the  houses  at  Coles  Mills," 
including  the    "Chapman    House,"   and   still 
owns  three  or  four  of  them.      He  ran'a  placer 
mill  for  some  time,  and  indeed  has  been  en- 
gaged in   a   number  of    business    ventures,  in 
which  he   has  been  uniformly  successful,  and 
his  eighty-five  years  do  not  seem  to  diminish 
his    spirit    of    enterprise.      Politically    he    has 
always  been  a  Republican,  and  in  local  affairs 
is  a  steadfast  friend  to  progress. 

On  May  10,  1841,  Mr.  Cole  was  united  in 
the  bonds  of  matrimony  with  Mary  Ann  Sut- 
ton, who  was  born  March  11,  18 19,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Gabriel  Sutton.  Four  children  were 
born  to  them,  whose  names  with  dates  of  birth 
areas  follows:  George  E.,  December,  1843, 
is  a  successful  business  man  of  Bethel,  Conn. ; 
Francis  Eugene,  September  19,  1848,  is  in 
partnership  with  his  father,  and  is  married  to 
Helen  Wanzer;  Edward  Charles,  July  20, 
1850,  is  a  traveling  salesman  for  a  carriage 
firm  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ;  and  Mary  Eliza,  May 
I,  1856,  married  (first)  August  Penley,  and 
(second)  Myron  Andrews.  The  mother  of  this 
family  died  June  23,  1856,  and  Mr.  Cole  subse- 
quently was  married  to  Mary  Frances  Stevens, 
a  member  of  one  of  the  oldest  families  of 
South  Dover.  They  have  three  children:  Al- 
bert Stevens,  born  May  21,  1863,  is  a  carriage 
maker  by  trade;  William  Wallace,  September 
15,  1864,  is  a  traveling  salesman  for  a  mil- 
linery firm  in  St.  Louis;  and  Elida  Belle,  Jan- 
uary 27,   1870,,  is  at  home. 

Mrs.  Cole's  father,  David  W.  Stevens,  was 
one  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  South 
Dover,  a  leading  farmer  and  one  of  the  foun- 
ders and  chief  supporters  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
He  was  active  in  political  affairs  also,  and 
served  one  term  as  a  member  of  the  State  As- 
sembly. He  married  Nancy  A.  Giddings,  a 
daughter  of  Gamaliel  Giddings,  and  a  cousin 
of  Joshua  R.  Giddings,  who  was  for  many 
years  United  States  Senator  from  Ohio.  Seven 
children  were  born  to  them,  their  names  with 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  REGOBD. 


919 


dates  of  birth  being  as  follows:  Orrin  S.,  May 
4,  1 82 1,  is  a  prominent  resident  of  Ravenna, 
Ohio;  Emma  Eliza,  March  30,  1823,  married 
Alien  Giddings,  of  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.; 
Hiram  G.,  April  9,  1826,  was  killed  by  a 
horse  August  8,  1833;  Gamaliel  B.,  March  13, 
1829;  Mary  Frances.  April  3,  1832;  Sarah  H. , 
November  12,  1834,  married  James  Moolen, 
of  South  Dover;  and  Hiram  G.,  May  29,  1839, 
died  in  South  Dover. 


VIRTUS  H.  CORNELIUS,  an  enterpris- 
ing and  prosperous  agriculturist  of  the 
town  of  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county,  was 
born  January  5,  1853,  in  the  town  of  Milan, 
where  his  ancestors  have  been  farmers  for 
several  generations,  the  family  having  come 
originally  from  Holland. 

His  grandfather  was  born  at  the  old  home- 
stead in  Milan,  and  married  a  Miss  Cooking- 
ham,  also  a  native  of  that  town.  They  had 
the  following  children:  Jephthah,  our  sub- 
ject's father;  Alfred,  a  farmer  in  the  town  of 
Stanford;  Peter,  a  farmer;  Owen,  a  farmer  in 
Iowa;  Emily,  a  resident  of  Stanford,  who 
married  (first)  Nelson  Almendorf,  and  fsecond) 
David  Nicholas  (both  now  deceased);  Mary  B., 
who  married  (^ first )  Ambrose  Smith,  and  (second) 
Jacob  Fowler,  of  Clinton  Corners;  Phoebe  L., 
the  wife  of  Elbert  Fowler,  a  farmer;  and 
Thirzah  R.,  the  wife  of  George  Marshall,  also 
farmer.  ' 
Jephthah  Cornelius,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  1829.  He  married  Eliza 
Ann  Haines,  a  daughter  of  William  Haines,  a 
prominent  farmer  of  Milan,  and  reared  a  family 
of  six  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the 
eldest.  Alva  N.  is  a  farmer  in  Otsego  county; 
Lavilla  is  a  physician  in  Hyde  Park;  Clark  J. 
is  a  farmer  in  Schoharie  county;  and  Milton  W. 
and  Emma  are  at  home.  The  mother  of  this 
family  died  October  i,  1886,  but  the  father 
still  survives,  remaining  on  the  old  farm 
pn  Milan.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  while  he 
as  never  been  a  party  worker,  he  has  always 
ken  a  keen  interest  in  political  questions. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  in 
he  town  of  Milan,  and  December  18,  1878, 
.t  the  age  of  twenty-six,  he  married  Eudora 
loise,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  old  Dutch 
'amilies  of  that  locality.  Her  great-grand- 
ather,  John  I.  Boise,  her  grandfather,  Henry 
[.  Boise,  and  her  father,  George  A.  Boise, 
were  all  farmers  there.     For  a  year  after  their 


marriage  Mr.  Cornelius  and  his  wife  lived  on  a 
farm  in  their  native  town,  and  then  they 
moved  to  the  town  of  Rhinebeck.  They  lived 
for  eight  years  on  their  first  farm  there,  and  in 
1886  moved  to  their  present  home  near  Rhine- 
beck. They  have  had  five  children:  Harry, 
Vernie,  Raymond,  and  two  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

Mr.  Cornelius  is  one  of  the  representative 
farmers  of  his  vicinity,  conducting  his  seventy- 
three  acres,  which  are  devoted  to  general 
farming,  in  a  model  manner.  Politically,  he 
is  a  Republican,  and  takes  a  generous  interest 
in  all  matters  of  public  concern.  He  and  his 
wife  contribute  to  the  support  of  the  Christian 
Church. 


c 


CHRISTIAN  ALLENDORF  (deceased)  had 


'  long  been  identified  with  the  interests  of 
the  town  of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess  county,  where 
he  was  born  June  16,  18 19,  and  where  he  had 
spent  his  entire  life.  His  father.  Christian 
Allendorf,  Sr..  who  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
on  crossing  the  Atlantic  to  this  country,  came 
direct  to  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y. ,  where  he 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  for  a  number 
of  years,  but  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life 
upon  a  farm  which  he  owned  in  the  town  of 
Red  Hook.  He  was  twice  married,  his  first 
union  being  with  a  Miss  Fraleigh,  by  whom  he 
had  four  children:  Philip,  who  married  Eliza- 
beth Stickle;  Henry  C,  who  married  a  Miss 
Fraleigh;  William,  who  married  Miss  Stickle; 
and  Maria,  who  became  the  wife  of  Daniel 
Faults.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  the 
father  wedded  Miss  Margaret  Cole,  and  to  them 
were  born  two  children:  Elizabeth,  who  mar- 
ried Daniel  C.  Ferine;  and  Christian,  of  this 
review. 

Christian  Allendorf  developed  into  man- 
hood amid  the  scenes  of  his  native  town,  re- 
ceiving his  education  in  the  district  schools  of 
the  neighborhood.  He  had  quite  an  eventful 
life.  For  many  years  he  was  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  at  Upper  Red  Hook,  and 
filled  many  public  offices  in  the  town.  For 
some  time  before  his  death  he  had  a  contract 
for  carrying  the  United  States  mail  from  the 
depot  to  the  post  office  at  Upper  Red  Hook,  a 
distance  of  about  three  miles,  and,  although 
he  was  seventy-seven  years  old  at  the  time,  he 
attended  to  the  business  with  promptness  and 
dispatch.  He  had  the  respect  of  all,  both 
young  and  old,  rich  and  poor,  and  in  his  de- 


920 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


dining  days  he  enjoyed  the  reward  of  a  well- 
ordered  life,  in  which  he  had  been  faithful  to 
the  trusts  reposed  in  him. 

On  reaching  manhood  Mr.  AUendorf  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ellen  Lown,  and 
five  children  were  born  of  this  union:  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  Philip  AUendorf;  Eugene,  who 
married  Anna  Smith;  John;  Caroline;  and 
one  who  died  in  infancy.  For  his  second  wife 
our  subject  married  Mrs.  Permelia  Wheeler, 
■widow  of  Samuel  Wheeler.  Her  father,  Philip 
Feller,  was  a  prominent  farmer  of  Columbia 
county,  N.  Y.  He  was  three  times  married, 
his  first  wife  being  Hannah  Hapeman,  his  sec- 
ond Catherine  Miller,  and  the  third  Mary 
Ringsdorf,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  AUendorf,  who 
was  a  native  of  Columbia  county.  Eight  chil- 
dren were  born  of  the  third  union,  namely: 
Mary  became  the  wife  of  Randall  Judd;  Lu- 
cinda  wedded  Ephraim  Wheeler;  Philip  mar- 
ried Cornelia  Pulver;  Andrew  married  (first) 
Mary  Hayner,  (second)  Catherine  Allen,  and 
his  third  wife  is  unknown;  Marilla  became 
the  wife  of  John  Stearns;  William  married 
Susan  Allen,  and,  after  her  death,  Miss  Groves; 
Permelia  became  the  wife  of  our  subject;  and 
John  remained  single. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  AUen- 
dorf, John  Ringsdorf,  was  a  native  of  the  Fa- 
therland, and  on  emigrating  to  the  New  World 
located  in  Columbia  county,  N.-  Y.,  where  he 
married  Miss  Mary  I^asher,  and  to  them  were 
born  six  children:  Mary,  the  mother  of  Mrs. 
AUendorf;  Catherine,  who  married  Jeremiah 
Cronk;  Christiana,  who  wedded  John  Finger; 
Elizabeth,  who  became  the  wife  of  Baltis 
Wheeler;  Andrew,  who  never  married;  and 
Simon  (or  Simeon),  who  married  Elizabeth 
Coon. 


D' 


R.  CHAS.  H.  PERKINS.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch,  one  of  the  successful 
young  business  men  of  Dutchess  county,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Poughkeepsie,  said  coun- 
ty, April  27,  1865,  and  is  one  of  a  family  of 
five  children  born  to  Alexander  W.  and  Elsie 
A.  (Kay)  Perkins,  whose  homestead  was  situ- 
ated on  the  old  Post  road,  about  three  miles 
south  of  Poughkeepsie.  Their  five  children 
were  as  follows:  Amelia,  wife  of  Joseph 
Doughty,  of  Salt  Point,  Dutchess  county;  Ed- 
ward E.,  of  whom  sketch  is  elsewhere  in  this 
volume;  Charles  H.,  our  subject;  Warren  J., 
residing  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ,  and  Lena  E.   The 


mother  of  these  children  died  some  years  ago, 
and  the  father,  having  left  the  old  homestead, 
makes  his  home  in  Brooklyn,  New  York. 

Charles  H.,  our  subject,  spent  his  boyhood 
on  the  old  farm  and  attended  the  common  school 
at  the  old  Spackenkill  school  house  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, and  then  for  four  years  was  a  pupil  in 
Poughkeepsie  at  the  old  Pelham  Institute  and 
Poughkeepsie  Military  Academy.  In  1 882  he  be- 
came an  apprentice,  with  the  then  well-known 
jewelry  firm  of  Myers  &  Marble,  of  Poughkeep- 
sie, to  learn  the  trade  of  watch  making,  and 
after  three  years  of  careful  application  with 
them,  in  which  he  mastered  the  business,  he 
became  the  general  watchmaker  and  engraver 
for  the  firm  of  Quintard  Bros.,  in  the  same 
city,  and  continued  in  said  capacity  for  three 
years.  While  with  them  he  was  offered,  by 
the  Non-Magnetic  Watch  Co.  of  America,  a 
position  as  their  traveling  expert  and  demon- 
strator, his  business  being  to  introduce  their 
non-magnetic  watch  throughout  the  United 
States.  He  traveled  throughout  the  Union 
showing  and  explaining  the  watch  for  about  a 
year,  when  he  was  offered  the  position  of 
chief  time  inspector  for  the  Chicago  &  North- 
western railroad  and  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island 
&  Pacific  railroad.  His  duties  were  to  in- 
spect and  superintend  changes  each  month  on 
all  the  railroad  watches  and  clocks,  thus 
traveling  over  both  roads.  This  position  he 
filled  for  two  years,  giving  eminent  satisfaction 
to  the  managers  of  both  roads.  While  thus 
employed  he  become  an  intimate  friend  of  Gen- 
eral Superintendent  Tyler  of  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern  railroad,  and  with  him  pur- 
chased some  real  estate  at  Montrose,  a  subur- 
ban town  of  Chicago,  on  the  Chicago  &  North- 
western railroad.  The  then  approaching 
World's  Fair  in  Chicago  rapidly  increased  the 
value  of  suburban  property,  and  by  the  sale  of 
his  recent  purchases  Dr.  Perkins  made  valu- 
able profits.  Just  previous  to  this  he  had  as- 
sociated himself,  as  partner,  with  C.  S.  Durfee 
&  Co.,  jewelers  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  and  thus 
continued  three  years.  At  the  end  of  this 
time,  owing  to  close  application  to  his  work  at 
the  bench,  his  ej-es  began  failing,  and  on  the 
advice  of  his  physician  he  entered  the  Chicago 
Ophthalmic  Hospital  for  treatment.  While 
here  he  became  deeply  interested  in  the  study 
of  optics  and  the  optical  profession,  and  selling 
his  jewelry  business  he  at  once  took  up  the 
study  of  the  eye,  ear  and  throat  at  said  hos- 
pital, and  was  graduated  therefrom  in  1892. 


fce^^ti;^:^;:? 


h 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


921 


After  finishing  his  studies  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Lydia  Stark  Day,  daughter 
of  John  and  Katherine  M.  (Stark)  Day,  of 
Tunkhannock,  Penn.,  whom  he  had  met  while 
she  was  a  student  at  Vassar  College.  Mrs. 
Perkins  is  a  direct  descendant  from  old  Gen. 
Stark  of  Revolutionary  fame,  and  her  grand- 
father, Samuel  Stark,  of  Tunkhannock,  was 
one  of  the  most  prominent  and  wealthy  citi- 
zens of  Wyoming  county. 

After  his  marriage  Dr.  Perkins  came  back 
to  Dutchess  county,  and  forming  a  partnership 
with  his  half  brother,  J.  A.  Perkins,  opened  a 
jewelry  and  optical  business  at  292^  Main 
street,  paying  especial  attention  to  the  optical 
branch  of  the  business.  Their  business  rapidly 
increasing  necessitated  larger  quarters,  and  the 
same  year  (1892)  they  removed  to  their  com- 
modious store  at  322  Main  street,  where  under 
the  name  of  Perkins  &  Company  their  business 
has  since  been  conducted.  As  general  jewel- 
ers and  manufacturing  opticians  their  business 
ranks  among  the  foremost  in  the  county,  and 
their  fully  equipped  plant  for  grinding  compli- 
cated lenses  is,  without  doubt,  the  finest  along 
the  Hudson  river;  the  skill  evinced  in  this 
line  of  work  has  caused  that  branch  of  the 
business  to  grow  to  such  an  extent  that  up-  to 
1896  they  had  examined  the  eyes  and  fitted 
glasses  for  over  ten  thousand  people.  Among 
the  cases  that  have  come  to  him  for  examination 
and  treatment  have  been  many  that  others  had 
pronounced  hopeless,  and  that  yet  owing  to  his 
skill  have  been  either  entirely  cured  or  greatly  re- 
lieved. Cases  of  epilepsy  have  been  cured  by  the 
careful  and  proper  fitting  of  glasses.  In  con- 
nection with  his  study  of  optics  Dr.  Perkins 
began  the  study  of  general  medicine,  and  for 
several  years  devoted  his  leisure  moments  to 
advancing  himself  in  that  science,  and  by  the 
advice  of  some  of  his  medical  friends  he  took 
the  requisite  examination  at  a  medical  college, 
passing  with  a  grade  of  ninety  percent.,  being 
considerably  above  the  average,  and  securing 
the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  He  has 
since  become  a  registered  M.  D.  in  several 
States.  But  not  for  a  moment  has  Dr.  Perkins 
relinquished  his  study  of  optometry,  but  in- 
stead has  been  greatly  aided  therein  by  his 
added  knowledge  of  the  human  system,  and  to 
still  further  perfect  himself  in  this  branch  he 
frequently  attends  the  New  York  Opthalmic 
Hospital,  and  assists  in  operations  there.  Dr. 
Perkins  has  also  prepared  and  placed  on  the 
market    a  wash    for  sore  and  inflamed  eyes, 


known  as  "Dr.  Perkins' Antiseptic  Eyewater," 
which  is  wonderfully  effective  in  the  cure  of 
Catarrhal  Conjunctivitis,  commonly  known  as 
"Pink  Eye." 

Dr.  Perkins  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Ar- 
canum, and  is  vice-chancellor  of  Triumph 
Lodge,  K.  of  P.,  of  Poughkeepsie,  besides 
belonging  to  several  optical  and  medical  socie- 
ties. Dr.  Perkins  and  his  estimable  wife  oc- 
cupy a  prominent  place  in  Poughkeepsie's 
social  circle,  and  at  their  modern  and  commo- 
dious home,  which  they  have  purchased  on 
South  Hamilton  street,  they  are  always  pleased 
to  entertain  their  many  friends. 


ROOKS  VERMILYEA,  a  most  highly  re- 
spected citizen  of  the  town  of  Unionvale, 
is  numbered  among  the  elderly  residents  of  the 
community,  and  is  held  in  that  reverence  and 
esteem  which  is  accorded  those  whose  lives 
have  been  characterized  by  integrity  and  use- 
fulness. A  native  of  Dutchess  county, 'he  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Beekman,  in  181 1,  and 
has  here  passed  his  entire  life. 

His  father,  Isaac  G.  Vermilyea,  was  born 
in  what  was  then  Beekman  town,  but  is  now 
Lagrange,  in  July,  1768,  and  after  the  comple- 
tion of   his  education  engaged   in  agricultural 

pursuits.      He  married  Miss  Catherine , 

whose  birth  occurred  on  the  4th  of  July,  1776 — 
the  day  so  dear  to  the  hearts  of  the  American 
people,  when  they  announced  to  the  world 
their  independence. 

Nine  children  were  born  to  the  parents  of 
our  subject:  (i)  Elizabeth,  born  October  23, 
1794,  married  Daniel  Billings,  a  shoemaker, 
and  they  had  four  children — Isaac,  John,  Sarah 
and  Catherine.  (2)  Jane,  born  March  2,  1796, 
married  Alex  Homan,  a  farmer,  and  they  had 
two  children  —  Alexander  and  PhcEbe.  (3) 
Peter,  born  September  25,  1797,  in  the  town 
of  Beekman,  followed  farming  as  a  life  work, 
and  married  Miss  Van  Nostran,  by  whom 
he  had  two  sons — George  and  John.  (4) 
Maria,  born  April  7,  1799,  married  EnT)ch  G. 
Dorland,  a  farmer,  and  they  had  four  children 
— ^Gilbert,  Catherine,  Vermilyea  and  Samuel. 
(5)  Gerardus,  born  in  the  town  of  Beekman, 
January  26,  1801,  engaged  in  farming,  but  was 
a  shoemaker  by  trade;  he  married  Miss  Van- 
Nostran,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children — 
Cromwell,  Isaac,  Oscar,  Walter,  Calle  (who 
married  Irving  Vermilyea),  Jane,  Minnie  and 
Catherine.     The    father    of    these  children  is 


922 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


still  living  in  Lagrange  town,  Dutchess  county, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-five  years,  and 
is  quite  active.  (6)  John  K.,  born  September 
i6,  1802,  was  educated  at  both  Williams  and 
Yale  Colleges,  later  studied  medicine  and  en- 
gaged in  its  practice  in  the  town  of  East  Fish- 
kill,  near  Hopewell  Junction.  He  had  four 
children  by  his  first  wife — Dupertrain,  Gerar- 
dus,  Anna  R.  and  Lucy.  (7)  Caroline,  born 
January  29,  1804,  died  when  young.  (8) 
Brooks,  of  this  sketch,  was  born  February  27, 
i8ii.  (9)  Valentine,  born  April  4,  18 18,  at- 
tended the  New  York  Medical  College,  and, 
after  his  graduation,  engaged  in  practice  in 
Illinois.      He  married   a   Miss   Davis. 

The  primary  education  of  Brooks  Vermil- 
yea  was  obtained  in  the  district  schools  near 
his  early  home,  and  he  was,  later,  a  student  in 
a  boarding  school.  By  trade  he  is  a  weaver, 
at  which  he  worked  for  a  time,  but  his  atten- 
tion has  been  principally  given  to  agricultural 
pursuits.  On  attaining  to  man's  estate  he  was 
united  'in  marriage  with  Miss  Charity  Shear, 
whose  death  occurred  in  1851;  she  left  three 
children,  all  of  whom  were  born,  reared  and 
educated  in  Lagrange  town,  Dutchess  county: 
( I )  Addison,  born  in  1 84 1 ,  follows  farming.  (2) 
Irving,  born  in  1843,  engaged  in  the  sam.e  pur- 
suit at  Low  Point.  He  married  CallieVermil- 
yea,  a  cousin,  and  they  have  one  son,  Horatio 
S.  (3)  Abram,  born  iu  1848,  also  carries  on 
farming.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife. 
Brooks  Vermilyea  was  again  married,  his 
second  union  being  with  Miss  Lydia  A.  Donald- 
son, who  was  born  August  19,  1827,  and  died 
in    1893. 


WILLIAM  T.  PHILLIPS,  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful    agriculturists    of   this  section, 

owning  a  large  farm  near  Red  Hook,  Dutchess 
county,  is  descended  from  a  family  which  is 
noted  for  those  practical  qualities  of  thrift  and 
industry  which  distinguish  the  tillers  of  the  soil. 
His  grandfather,  Jacob  Phillips,  was  a 
farmer  in  Columbia  county  in  his  early  man- 
hood, but  shortly  after  his  marriage  he  and  his 
wife  moved  to  Dutchess  county  and  settled 
upon  a  farm  there.  Their  son,  Theodore 
Phillips,  our  subject's  father,  was  born  in  Co- 
lumbia county,  September  25,  1845,  and  was 
only  one  year  old  when  he  was  brought  to 
Dutchess  county,  where  he  passed  his  life.  He 
became  a  prosperous  agriculturist,  raising  grain, 
hay,  and  live  stock,  and  in  1878  he  purchased 


from  Gilbert  Fraleigh  a  farm  containing  228 
acres  of  fine  land,  well-stocked,  which  his  en- 
ergy and  enterprise  enabled  him  to  improve 
greatly.  Politically  he  was  an  ardent  believer 
in  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party. 

He  was  married  (first)  to  Rachel  Link,  and 
(second)  to  Matilda  Coon,  daughter  of  William 
Coon,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Milan.  Two 
children  were  born  to  the  second  union:  Will- 
iam T.  and  Merrick.  The  mother  of  these 
passed  to  her  eternal  rest  in  1885;  the  fa- 
ther survived  her  ten  years,  breathing  his  last 
in  1895. 

William  T.  Phillips  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Milan,  Dutchess  county,  and  received  excel- 
lent educational  advantages  in  youth,  attending 
Hartwick  Seminary.  He  was  initiated  into  the 
details  of  farm  work  under  his  father's  able 
guidance,  and  remained  at  the  homestead,  to 
which  he  succeeded  in  1895.  He  married  Miss 
Edna  Case,  daughter  of  Socatell  Case,  a  well- 
known  farmer  of  the  town  of  Milan,  Dutchess 
county.      They  have  no  children. 


^\DGAR    VINCENT,    formerly    the    popu- 

lar  proprietor  of  the    "Vincent  House," 

Madalin,  belongs  to  one  of  the  very  oldest 
families  of  Dutchess  county.  He  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Washington,  April  19,  1832,  and 
there  the  birth  of  his  father,  Moriorty  Vincent, 
also  occurred.  The  latter  married  Phoebe 
Fowler,  of  Columbia  county,  N.  Y. ,  after 
which  they  located  upon  a  farm  in  Washing- 
ton town,  where  their  entire  married  life  was 
passed.  Their  household  included  ten  chil- 
dren: Ruth,  wife  of  Dr.  Holden;  Israel,  a  re- 
tired farmer  living  at  Morse,  111.;  Washington, 
George  and  Franklin,  all  now  deceased;  Theo- 
dore, a  school  teacher,  of  New  Jersey;  Edgar, 
of  this  sketch;  Moriorty,  deceased;  Philo,  a 
carriage  manufacturer,  of  Danbury,  Conn. ;  and 
Benjamin,  who  died  while  young.  The  father, 
who  was  an  ardent  Republican  in  politics, 
served  as  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Washing- 
ton, and  was  one  of  the  successful  farmers  and 
stock  raisers  of  the  locality. 

The  childhood  and  youth  of  our  subject 
was  passed  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads, 
and  he  remained  upon  the  home  farm  until 
thirty-eight  years  of  age.  In  1870  he  removed 
to  Annandale,  Dutchess  county,  where  for  two 
years  he  carried  on  a  grocery  store  and  hotel. 
For  nine  years  he  then  kept  a  saloon  at  Barry- 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPEICAL  RECORD. 


923 


town,  after  which  he  went  to  Tivoli,  there  pur- 
chasing the  "  Fanners  Hotel,"  which  he  con- 
ducted for  ten  years  and  which  he  still  owns. 
On  the  expiration  of  that  time,  however,  he 
bought  the  hotel  at  Madalin,  which  is  now 
known  as  the  "Vincent  House,"  which  he 
has  since  sold.  The  interests  and  comforts  of 
his  guests  were  always  carefully  looked  after, 
and  he  is  one  of  the  best-known  business  men 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  county. 

In  1875  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Vincent  and  Miss  Estella  Sagendorf,  who 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Red  Hook,  where  her 
father,  Robert  Sagendorf,  engaged  in  farming, 
and  they  now  have  three  children:  Lula, 
George  and  Hazel.  Although  Mr.  Vincent  is 
a  strong  Republican  in  politics,  he  prefers  to 
vote  independently  at  local  elections,  support- 
ing the  man  whom  he  thinks  best  able  to  fill 
the  position.  His  personal  integrity,  both  in 
public  and  private  life,  is  of  the  highest  order, 
and  he  has  the  respect  of  all  with  whom  he 
comes  in  contact. 


E 


^\DMUND  UE  WITTMUEFORD,  a  prom- 


nent  resident  of  Hopewell  Junction,  and 
one  of  Dutchess  county's  most  intelligent  and 
progressive  citizens,  is  descended  from  a  fam- 
ily which  has  long  been  identified  with  the 
development  of  this  section. 

He  is  a  great-great-grandson  of  Capt.  David 
Mulford,  who  came  from  Long  Island  in  1776, 
and  purchased  a  tract  of  land  at  Staatsburg. 
He  left  a  large  family.  One  son.  Job,  re- 
mained on  the  farm,  and  died  and  was  buried 
there  with  his  father.  He  left  one  son,  David, 
and  one  daughter,  Margaret,  who  married  Dr. 
Hunting  Sherrill.  David  married  Margaret 
Van  Hoevenberg,  and  left  ten  children.  His 
eldest  son,  David  Henry,  remained  on  part  of 
the  original  farm  purchased  by  Capt.  David 
Mulford,  and  died  there,  and  was  buried  in 
Poughkeepsie  cemetery.  He  was  the  founder 
of  Staatsburg,  and  when  the  Hudson  River 
railroad  was  built  he  gave  the  land  for  the  sta- 
tion, and  built  the  first  store  and  hotel.  He 
opened  the  road  and  built  the  docks  and  st  re- 
bouses  at  both  Staatsburg  and  Hyde  Park,  and 
was  among  the  first  to  build  ice-houses,  and 
gather  ice  from  the  river. 

Possessing  an  unusually  able  and  active 
intellect,  he  was  influential  in  varied  lines  of 
effort,  and  was  several  times  elected  supervisor 
of  the  town  of  Hyde  Park,   and  twice  to  the 


Assembly.  His  first  wife,  Caroline  Balding 
(Van  Wagner),  died  leaving  two  sons,  Edmund 
De  Witt  and  Francis  Henry.  He  afterward 
married  Cynthia  Van  Benschoten,  by  whom  he 
had  one  daughter,  Harriet  Vanderbilt. 


S\AMUEL  K.  RUPLEY,  the  well-known  su- 
^  perintendent  of  the  Western  Union  Tele- 
graph Co.,  and  Hudson  River  Co.,  at  Pough- 
keepsie, Dutchess  county,  was  born  in  the  city 
of  Lancaster,  Penn.,  July  17,   1843. 

After  going  through  the  public  schools  of 
Lancaster,  our  subject  learned  telegraphy  in 
the  office  of  the  National  Ohio  Telegraph  Co. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen  years  he  came  to  Pough- 
keepsie and  was  employed  as  operator  at  the 
depot  of  the  Hudson  River  Co.,  and  remained 
with  same  until  1862,  when  he  joined  Co.  F, 
150th  N.  Y.  S.  V.  I.,  and  was  appomted  Col. 
Ketcham's  orderly.  In  1863  he  was  detailed 
as  operator  in  the  United  States  military  serv- 
ice, where  he  remained  until  July.  1865,  when 
he  was  mustered  out.  He  was  connected  with 
the  Second  Army  Corps,  headquarters  with 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  After  the  war  Mr. 
Rupley  returned  to  Poughkeepsie  and  was  ap- 
pointed manager  of  the  Hudson  River  R.  R. 
Telegraph  Co.,  and  also  took  charge  of  the 
Western  Union  Telegraph  office  in  the  city  of 
Poughkeepsie.  In  1890  he  was  made  superin- 
tendent of  the  New  York  Central  and  Hudson 
River  Telegraph  offices,  whose  wires  run  from 
New  York  City  to  Buffalo.  He  also  has 
charge  of  the  Western  Union  interests  of  the 
P.  R.  &  N.  E.,  Newburgh,  Dutchess  &  Co- 
lumbia, and  Poughkeepsie  &  Eastern  railways. 
In  1882  the  Poughkeepsie  Telephone  Co.  was 
organized  by  Mr.  Piatt,  H.  Innis.  N.  Taylor, 
Henry  Frost  and  Mr.  Rupley.  It  was  finally 
merged  into  the  Hudson  River  Telephone  Co., 
and  our  subject  is  manager  of  its  interests  in 
Poughkeepsie. 

Mr.  Rupley  was  married  in  that  city  Au- 
gust 30,  1865,  to  Miss  Jane  E.  Shurter,  a 
daughter  of  Isaac  H.  Shurter,  and  the  follow- 
ing children  were  born:  Harry  Mortimer  mar- 
ried Jennie  Clifford,  and  they  have  one  child — 
Clifford;  Mary  C.  married  Albert  E.  Schwartz, 
and  they  have  one  child — John  R. ;  Grace  died 
in  the  spring  of  1895;  and  Howard  R.  Mr. 
Rupley  is  a  Republican,  and  was  commissioner 
of  the  city  alms  house  for  twelve  years.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Poughkeepsie  Commandery  of 


924 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  Masonic  order,  find  of  the  Royal  Arcanum. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy 
Comforter,  in  which  he  is  a  trustee. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Samuel  Rupley, 
was  born  in  Lancaster,  Penn.,  where  he  at- 
tended school.  He  was  one  of  the  early  engi- 
neers of  the  Pennsylvania  Central  R.  R.  His 
wife  was  a  Miss  Mary  Martha  Kendig,  who 
died  in  June,  1892.  He  died  in  1856.  Two 
of  their  seven  children  besides  our  subject  are 
now  living.  Rev.  E.  E.  Rupley,  of  Esprey, 
Penn.,  and  Nellie  M.  Rupley,  of  Lancaster, 
Penn.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  also 
born  in  Lancaster,  and  was  of  English  and 
German  ancestry. 


ILLIAM  E.  TRAVER,  the  genial  and 
popular  proprietor  of  the  "  Traver 
House,"  at  New  Hamburg,  Dutchess  county, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Hyde  Park,  March  31, 
1864. 

The  family,  originally  from  Holland,  is  one 
of  the  oldest  in  Dutchess  county.  William 
Traver,  our  subject's  grandfather,  was  born  in 
this  country,  probably  in  the  town  of  Union- 
vale,  and  became  an  influential  and  prosperous 
citizen.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  was  also  en- 
gaged in  speculating,  and  took  an  active  and 
generous  interest  in  the  Methodist  Church  of 
his  locality.  His  son,  James  L.  Traver,  our 
subject's  father,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Pleas- 
ant Valley  in  1834,  and  still  resides  upon  his 
farm  in  Hyde  Park.  He  married  Miss  Phoebe 
Jane  Laird,  a  lady  of  Scotch  descent,  and 
daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (Leak)  Laird.  Her 
father  was  at  one  time  a  teamster  in  Pleasant 
Valley,  and,  later,  a  farmer  in  Hyde  Park.  The 
Lairds  and  the  Travers  are  all  Democrats  in 
politics,  and  are  among  the  most  progressive 
and  public-spirited  members  of  the  community. 
William  E.  Traver  is  the  elder  of  two  chil- 
dren, his  brother  Irving  being  still  at  home. 
After  a  boyhood  spent  upon  the  farm,  Mr.  Tra- 
ver, at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  was  appointed 
jailer  under  C.  W.  Belding,  and  served  in  that 
capacity  for  three  years.  In  1889  he  engaged 
in  the  laundry  business  at  No.  14  Washington 
street,  Poughkeepsie,  and  after  nearly  two 
years  there  he  purchased  the  "Perrine  House," 
at  New  Hamburg,  which  he  has  since  con- 
ducted as  the  "  Traver  House,"  his  active  and 
business-like  management  bringing  him  a  grati- 
fying degree  of  success. 

On  June  17,  1890,  he  was  married  to  Miss 


Evadna  Robman,  a  native  of  New  York  City, 
and  a  daughter  of  Thomson  Robman.  This 
family  is  of  English  origin.  Mr.  Traver  is  a 
Democrat  in  political  faith,  but  has  never 
sought  official  preferment.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  Poughkeepsie  Lodge 
No.  275. 


THOMAS  W.  JAYCOX  (deceased).      The 
subject  of  this  sketch   was  born   in  the 

town  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  De- 
cember 17,  1826,  and  was  the  son  of  Chris- 
topher Jaycox. 

Our  subject  was  reared  upon  the  farm  of 
his  father,  and  on  December  17,  1850,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Sarah  M.  Rose,  who  was  born 
in  Hyde  Park.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Abrarn 
Rose,  and  lived  in  Hyde  Park  until  sixteen 
years  old,  when  her  parents  bought  a  farm 
in  the  town  of  Clinton,  where  she  resided  until 
her  marriage.  Mr.  Rose  was  born  in  Ulster 
county,  September  12,  1802,  and  married  Miss 
Eliza  Van  Wagener,  who  was  born  in  the 
same  county,  February  20,  1805,  a  daughter 
of  Minard  Van  Wagener,  also  a  native  of  Ul- 
ster county.  They  reared  the  following  chil- 
dren: Lewis  H.,  a  school  teacher,  who  was 
a  colonel  in  the  Civil  war,  and  died  in  Louisi- 
ana in  1865;  John  M.  was  a  moulder  by 
trade;  during  the  gold  fever  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia, and  nothing  more  was  heard  of  him; 
William  G.,  and  George  H.,  twins  (the  former 
died  in  infancy,  George  lives  in  Waterbury, 
Conn.);  Sarah  M.,  Mrs.  Jaycox;  Daniel  V.  W. 
died  young;  Innis  E.  lives  in  Oregon.  The 
grandfather  of  Mrs.  Jaycox  was  named  John, 
and  was  of  Holland  descent. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jaycox  settled  on  the  old 
homestead  after  their  marriage,  where  they 
lived  until  1859,  when  he  bought  the  present 
farm,  and  resided  there  until  his  death,  which 
took  place  December  21,  1887.  Five  chil- 
dren were  born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife, 
namely:  Thomas  W.  is  a  civil  engineer  in 
Leadville,  Colo.;  Mary  R.  died  April  30.  i860; 
Clinton  is  on  the  home  farm;  Anna  E.  mar- 
ried I.  T.  N.  Harcourt,  a  grocer  in  Wapping- 
ers  Falls;  Cora  I.  became  the  wife  of  Elmore 
L.  Pryor,  an  engraver  at  Wappingers  Falls. 
Mr.  Jaycox  had  100  acres,  on  which  he  did 
general  farming.  He  was  a  Republican  and  a 
prominent  man  in  politics,  and  held  the  offices 
of  Internal  Revenue  collector,  and  supervisor 
for  two  terms.      He  was   a  progressive  citizen 


COMMEMORATIVE   BIOOBAPHICAL   RECORD. 


925 


and  took  an  active  part  in  public  affairs,  hold- 
ing at  one  time  the  office  of  president  and 
treasurer  of  the  Dutchess  County  Agricultural 
Society. 

Christopher  Jaycox  was  born  in  Pough- 
keepsie,  where  he  married  Miss  Antoinette 
Van  Dyne  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Poughkeepsie 
town,  where  the  following  children  were  born: 
James  W.  is  a  farmer  and  boatman;  Hannah  J. 
married  William  Luckey,  a  hotel  keeper  in 
Wappingers  Falls;  Thomas  W.  is  our  subject; 
Eliphalet  is  living  retired  at  Sandwich,  111. ; 
Mary  G.  died  young. 

Thomas  W.  Jaycox,  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Holland.  He  was 
one  of  three  brothers  who  came  to  America 
and  settled  in  Dutchess  county.  One  of  the 
boys  died,  and  another  disappeared. 


J  A.  PERKINS,  of  the  well-known  firm  of 
Perkins  &  Co.,  jewelers  and  opticians, 
Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  was  born 
in  that  county,  November  4,  1841,  a  son  of 
Alexander  \V.  and  Rebecca  M.  (Akerley)  Per- 
kins. 

His  early  life  was  passed  on  a  farm  with 
the  usual  advantages  in  the  way  of  schools  and 
work.  He  acquired  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  town,  and  supple- 
mented the  knowledge  there  obtained  by  at- 
tendance at  the  Dutchess  County  Academy,  in 
Poughkeepsie.  After  leaving  school  he  en- 
tered the  arena  of  business  by  accepting  a  po- 
sition as  clerk  in  a  store.  For  five  years  he 
was  connected  with  the  freight  depot  of  the 
New  York  Central  railroad,  and,  later,  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  Poughkeepsie  &  East- 
ern railroad,  with  which  he  remained  two 
years  as  general  passenger  agent,  after  which 
he  was  made  superintendent  and  general  man- 
ager. In  this  capacity,  through  all  the  changes 
and  vicissitudes  of  the  road,  he  served  for 
eighteen  years,  his  long  term  of  service  being 
the  best  of  all  testimonials  for  the  faithful  dis- 
charge of  his  duties.  In  1891  he  resigned, 
and  for  a  short  time  engaged  in  the  ice  busi- 
ness with  his  brother,  Stephen  A.,  in  which  he 
was  very  successful;  but  he  now  entered  a  co- 
partnership with  his  brother,  Charles  H.  Per- 
kins, in  the  general  jewelry  business,  and  the 
manufacturing  of  optical  supplies.  They 
have  met  with  success  far  beyond  all  ex- 
pectations, and  have  rapidly  advanced  to  the 
front  rank.     The  pleasant  reception  given  their 


customers  at  their  modern  store  at  No.  322 
Main  street,  Poughkeepsie,  has  secured  them 
an  extensive  and  lucrative  trade  among  the 
wealthiest  citizens  along  the  Hudson  river. 
Careful  attention  to  the  filling  of  orders,  and 
the  superior  work  given,  has  brought  its  reward 
in  the  satisfaction  to  and  the  good  will  of  the 
public. 

In  1865  Mr.  Perkins  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Anna  A.  Morey,  a  daughter  of 
George  and  Rachel  Morey,  of  Poughkeepsie. 
They  have  become  the  parents  of  two  children: 
Fred  V.,  of  Chicago,  and  Grace  T. ,  wife  of 
Edward  Quintard,  of  Poughkeepsie.  Socially, 
our  subject  and  his  wife  occupy  an  enviable 
position,  and  in  their  charming  home  their 
friends  ever  find  a  hospitable  welcome.  Mr. 
Perkins  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
of  Triune  Lodge,  Poughkeepsie.  As  a  pub- 
lic-spirited, progressive  citizen,  he  is  the  peer 
of  any  man  in  the  county. 


OBERT  SANDERS.  The  subject  of 
3t  this  sketch  is  a  native  of  Poughkeepsie, 
Dutchess  county,  born  April  3,  1847.  He 
went  to  the  city  schools,  and  later  attended  the 
Dutchess  County  Academy. 

On  July  22,  1862,  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
years,  Mr.  Sanders  enlisted  in  Company  D, 
128th  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  with  which  he  remained  all 
through  the  war.  He  was  wounded  while 
serving  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  In  1865 
he  was  honorably  discharged  and  returned  to 
Poughkeepsie  and  finished  his  educati^^n,  after 
which  he  went  into  the  trucking  business,  in 
which  he  continued  twenty-one  years.  In  con- 
nection with  this  occupation  he  also  for  a  time 
engaged  in  scalping  railroad  tickets.  He  re- 
mained in  business  until  rheumatism  com- 
pelled him  to  give  it  up,  and,  since  1887,  he 
has  lived  retired  from  active  life. 

In  1867  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
married  to  Miss  Amelia  Elsworth,  who  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Pawling,  Dutchess 
county.  Her  parents  were  Buhl  and  Sarah 
Elsworth,  farmers,  who  came  of  Holland  an- 
cestors. One  daughter,  Sarah  E.,  was  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sanders,  and  died  at  the  age 
of  two  years.  In  politics  Mr.  Sanders  is  a 
Republican,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A. 
R.  and  of  the  K.  of  P.  He  and  his  wife  at- 
tend the  Baptist  Church  to  the  support  of 
which  he  is  a  liberal  contributor.  Mr.  Sand- 
ers owns  considerable  real  estate,  having  five 


926 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOQBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


houses  and  lots  on  Washington  street,  and 
store  property  on  Main  street  in  Poughkeepsie, 
and  also  140  acres  of  land  in  Florida,  on 
which  there  is  a  well-cultivated  orange  grove. 
He  is  a  self-made  man,  and  has  achieved  suc- 
cess by  hard  work  and  perseverance. 

Simon  Sanders,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Ireland,  where  he  learned  the 
stone  mason's  trade,  which  he  followed  after 
coming  to  America.  He  married,  in  Canada, 
Miss  Mary  Marian,  also  a  naiive  of  Ireland, 
and  they  came  to  Poughkeepsie  where  Mr. 
Sanders  followed  his  trade.  The  following 
children  were  born  to  them:  James,  a  machin- 
ist, vCho  was  an  engineer  for  the  Standard  Oil 
Company  in  New  Orleans,  where  he  died; 
John,  who  was  captain  of  the  police  in  New 
York  City,  where  he  died  in  1889;  Robert, 
our  subject;  and  Simon,  who  is  a  blacksmith 
in  New  Jersey.  The  father  of  these  died 
about  1852,  and  the  mother  departed  this  life 
in    1885. 


JOHN  M.  DORLAND  is  one  of  the  ablest 
lawyers  practicing  at  the  Poughkeepsie  bar, 
being  possessed  of  a  mind  which  enables 
him  to  at  once  discover  the  points  in  a  case. 
A  man  of  sound  judgment,  he  manages  his 
cases  with  masterly  skill  and  tact.  He  is  a 
logical  reasoner,  and  has  a  ready  command  of 
the  English  language.  He  claims  Matteawan, 
Dutchess  county,  as  his  native  city,  the  date 
of  his  birth  being  June   30,  1846. 

Mr.  Borland  remained  in  Matteawan,  at- 
tending school  until  twelve  years  of  age,  at 
which  time  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Poughkeepsie,  where  he  pursued  his  studies 
in  the  high  school  and  the  Dutchess  County 
Academy,  completing  his  education  at  the 
Eastman  Business  College,  where  he  graduat- 
ed in  the  class  of  '66.  He  was  then  employed 
for  two  years  in  the  surrogate's  office,  after 
which  he  was  engaged  in  tlie  livery  business 
until  1870,  when  he  entered  the  law  office  of 
Dorland  &  Williams,  with  whom  ne  remained 
for  about  two  years.  On  the  expiration  of 
that  time  he  again  held  a  position  in  the  sur- 
rogate's office,  where  he  was  employed  until 
January  i,  1877.  In  September,  1878,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  and  has  since  successfully 
practiced  law  in  Poughkeepsie. 

On  September  5,  1875,  Mr.  Dorland  was 
married  to  Miss  Phoebe  J.  Robinson,  a  native 
of  Fishkill,  and  a  daughter  of  John  H.  and  Jane 


Robinson,  the  former  of  whom  was  of  Irish 
extraction,  and  by  occupation  a  general  farmer. 
In  religious  belief  our  subject  and  his  wife  are 
Methodists  and  are  identified  with  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  Politically,  Mr.  Dor- 
land votes  the  straight  Republican  ticket.  His 
powers  as  an  advocate  have  been  demonstrated 
by  his  success  on  many  occasions;  he  is  an  able 
lawyer  of  large  and  varied  experience  in  all  the 
courts.  Thoroughness  characterizes  all  his 
efforts,  and  he  conducts  his  business  with  a 
strict  regard  to  a  high  standard  of  professional 
ethics. 


w 


ILLIAM  HENRY  WHITE.  The  fam- 
Hl'Ml  ily  to  which  ^he  subject  of  this  sketch 
belongs  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  town  of 
Pawling,  Dutchess  county,  his  great-great- 
grandfather, Joseph  White,  having  settled  in 
the  southwestern  part  of  the  town  before  the 
Revolutionary  war,  upon  a  tract  of  land  which 
he  cleared  and  cultivated.  This  land  has  ever 
since  been  in  the  possession  of  the  descend- 
ants, and  is  now  owned  by  Warren  White. 
Joshua,  son  of  Joseph  White,  was  a  prominent 
resident  of  Pawling  town,  holding  various 
offices,  including  that  of  supervisor,  and  he 
for  many  years  was  a  justice  of  the  peace. 
Sewell,  another  son  of  Joseph  White,  and  our 
subject's  great-grandfather,  was  born  there  in 
1 78 1,  and,  as  did  his  father,  he  followed  agri- 
culture throughout  his  life.  He  died  in  1859, 
and  his  remains  are  buried  at  Ludingtonville. 
He  married  Sallie  Lounsbury,  and  had  seven 
children,  of  whom  John  B.,  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  the  eldest.  (2)  Eli  lived  and 
died  in  the  town  of  Pawling;  (3)  Joseph  R. 
moved  to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  made  his 
permanent  home;  (4)  Amzy  lived  at  Bluffton, 
Wells  Co.,  Ind. ;  (5)  Warren  occupies  the  old 
homestead;  and  (6)  Lucy  died  at  the  age  of 
twelve  years.  In  politics  the  male  members 
of  the  family  have  always  been  Whigs  and  Re- 
publicans; and  in  their  religious  views  they 
have  inclined  toward  the  Methodist  form  of 
worship. 

John  B.  White  was  born  at  the  old  farm  in 
1809,  and  although  his  educational  advantages 
were  not  of  the  best,  his  fine  natural  ability 
made  up  for  that  to  a  great  extent,  and  his 
judgment,  in  business  affairs  and  other  matters, 
was  much  sought  by  his  associates.  -His  farm 
was  not  large,  but  he  was  regarded  as  an  ex- 
cellent manager.    Political  office  had  no  charms 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


927 


for  him,  although  his  hij^h  standing  in  the  coiii- 
munity  would  have  insured  his  success  as  a 
candidate.  He  married  Mary  P.  Worden,  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  Stephen  Worden,  a  leading 
physician  of  his  day  in  that  locality.  Of  their 
eight  children  our  subject's  father,  Sewell 
White,  was  the  eldest.  (2)  Stephen  died  in 
1886;  (3)  Sarah  Ann  married  Timothy  Flan- 
nelly;  (4)  Elizabeth  married  Russell  Ballard; 
(5)  Joshua  left  home,  and  his  present  location 
is  not  known  (he  probably  died  in  Anderson- 
ville  prison  during  the  Civil  war);  (6)  Abigail 
married  William  Peck;  (7)  Maria  married 
George  Ballard;  and  (8)  Esther  became  the 
wife  of  Samuel  Humphrey.  The  father  died 
in  1888,  in  his  eightieth  year,  the  mother  sur- 
viving him  only  two  years. 

Sewell  White  was  born  September  2,  1834, 
at  the  old  home  farm,  and  he  was  given  fair 
educational  advantages  in  the  district  schools  at 
Reynoldsville,  although,  with  his  mental  gifts, 
he  could  have  done  justice  to  better  opportu- 
nities. His  later  reading  has  been  extensive 
and  thorough,  thus  making  good  many  early 
limitations.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  was 
apprenticed  to  C.  H.  DeGraff,  of  Patterson, 
N.  Y. ,  to  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade,  and 
after  three  years  there,  he  worked  two  and  a 
half  years  for  Matthew  Worden,  of  Dover 
Plains.  He  then  entered  the  service  of  the 
Harlem  Railroad  Co.,  spending  twelve  years 
in  the  repair  shops  at  Dover  Plains,  with  the 
exception  of  two  years  as  conductor  of  a 
freight  train.  After  severing  his  connection 
with  the  railroad  he  engaged  in  blacksmithing 
on  his  own  account,  opening  a  shop  in  Pawling 
about  1870,  and  he  followed  the  trade  at  dif- 
ferent locations  in  the  town  until  1888,  when 
the  firm  of  White  &  Ragan  was  formed,  and 
their  present  successful  business  as  wagon 
makers  and  blacksmiths  was  established.  Their 
new  shop,  which  was  built  in  1892,  is  one  of 
the  largest  in  that  part  of  the  county,  and 
their  trade  extends  through  a  large  territory. 
Mr.  White  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church, 
and  has  always  shown  much  public  spirit.  ■  He 
takes  an  active  interest  in  the  success  of  the 
Democratic  party,  and  has  been  town  sealer, 
town  clerk,  road  commissioner  and  justice  of 
the  peace.  As  a  self-made  man,  his  reputa- 
tion in  the  business  world  is  an  enviable  one, 
while  his  able  discharge  of  every  duty  as  a 
public  official  has  been  no  less  creditable  to 
him.  He  married  Miss  Nancy  Amy,  daughter 
of  Gilbert  Amy,  a  leading  citizen   of  Union- 


vale,  and  had  three  children:  (1)  William 
Henry;  (2)  Sarah,  who  married  George  T. 
Chapman,  of  Pawling,  and  has  four  children — 
Mary,  Cordelia,  Grace  and  George;  and  (3) 
Cora,  who  is  at  home. 

William  Henry  White,  one  of  the  success- 
ful business  men  of  Pawling,  holds  the  respon- 
sible position  of  assistant  purchasing  agent  for 
the  N.  Y.  &  N.  H.  R.  R.  He  was  born  at 
Dover  Plains,  N.  Y.,  September  20,  1855; 
educated  at  the  private  school  of  George  N. 
Perry,  and  at  the  public  schools.  He  learned 
the  blacksmith's  trade  with  his  father,  and  after 
serving  his  time  he  took  up  the  business  of 
telegraphing;  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Housa- 
tonic  I^ailroad  Co.  at  New  Milford,  for  a  period 
of  eight  years  as  agent  and  telegrapher,  be- 
coming during  this  time  a  shorthand  writer  and 
machine  operator.  In  1885  he  was  appointed 
trainmaster  of  the  Housatonic  railroad,  which 
position  he  resigned  in  1887  to  accept  his  pres- 
ent one. 

Our  subject  married  Mary  Augusta  Senior, 
daughter  of  Joseph  D.  Senior  and  Adelia  E. 
Wright,  and  their  children  are:  Grace  Dale, 
Clifford  Sewell,  Daisy  Edith,  Jessie  13ishop 
and  Ruth  Marion.  Joseph  Dale  Senior  was 
born  in  Danbury  in  1830,  son  of  William 
Senior,  who  came  from  Dorsetshire,  England, 
in  1830.  The  family  of  Adelia  E.  Wright 
(Mrs.  White's  mother)  is  connected  with  the 
early  history  of  New  England,  originating  (to 
present  knowledge)  with  John  Shaw  and 'his 
wife  Martha  (Knovvles),  1744,  different  mem- 
bers having  been  of  the  towns  of  Washington, 
Kent,  Hartford,  Haddam,  New  Milford,  and 
Danbury,  Conn.  The  family  is  connected  with 
the  old  Beecher  and  Ward  families  of  Litch- 
field county,  Connecticut. 


JAMES  B.  HAIGHT,  a  prominent  agricult- 
urist and  miller  of  Bangall,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, was  born  July  23,  1837,  in  the  town  of 
Stanford.  His  family  has  for  many  years  held 
a  leading  place  in  that  vicinity.  His  ancestral 
history  is  given  in  the  biography  of  James 
Haight. 

The  late  Leonard  Haight,  our  subject's  fa- 
ther, passed  his  life  in  the  town  of  Stanford, 
attending  its  schools  in  youth,  and,  later,  en- 
gaging in  farming.  He  was  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  but  was  not  active  in  party  work.  He 
married  Miss  Phoebe  Griffin,  and  had  six  chil- 
dren,  of  whom   our  subject   is  the  youngest. 


928 


OOMMEMOBAFIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Of  the  others— Margaret,  George,  Hannah, 
John  and  WilHam — the  only  survivor  is  Han- 
nah, who  is  now  Mrs.  Simon  Losee. 

James  B.  Haight  was  reared  upon  a  farm, 
enjoying  the  educational  advantages  of  the 
neighboring  schools.  At  the  age  of  thirty-five 
he  left  the  farm  to  engage  in  milling  at  Ban- 
gall,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  owns 
and  operates  grist,  saw  and  cider  mills,  and 
also  manages  the  old  homestead.  Possessing 
unusual  business  ability  and  energy,  which  will 
push  to  a  successful  termination  any  undertak- 
ing, he  stands  high  in  the  esteem  of  his  asso- 
ciates. He  married  Miss  Susan  Hart,  a  daugh- 
ter of  R.  Hart,  one  of  Stanford's  leading  resi- 
dents, and  has  two  children — William  J.,  and 
Pboebe,  now  the  wife  of  Charles  Hicks.  In 
politics  Mr.  Haight  is  a  Democrat. 


FREDERICK   C.   WHITE,   a  well-known 
citizen  of  Pawling,  Dutchess  county,  now 

in  the  employ  of  the  Harlem  Railroad  Co.,  is 
one  of  those  men  whose  quiet  and  constant  at- 
tention to  the  ' '  duty  which  lies  nearest  "  makes 
their  lives  pass  without  extraordinary  incident. 
For  some  years  he  followed  the  carpenter's 
trade  in  Canaan,  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y. ,  pre- 
vious to  entering  upon  his  present  business. 
He  married  Miss  Cornelia  Brusie  Traver,  who 
was  born  and  reared  in  the  town  of  Northeast, 
Dutchess  county,  receiving  her  education  in 
the  common  schools  there.  Of  their  two  chil- 
dren, the  elder,  Wilbur  White,  was  born  in 
1858,  at  Sharon.  Conn.,  and,  after  securing 
his  education  in  the  schools  of  that  town, 
learned  the  business  of  painting  and  paper 
hanging.  He  and  his  wife,  formerly  Mjss  Kate 
Northrup,  have  one  child,  Raymond,  born  in 
1 88 1.  Estella  White,  our  subject's  younger 
child,  was  born  in  1863,  in  Millerton,  N.  Y., 
where  she  attended  school.  She  married  Fred 
Fletcher,  a  painter  at  Patterson,  N.  Y. ,  and 
has  three  children:  Harold,  born  in  1886; 
Clarence,  born  in  1889;  and  Leon,  born  in 
1896. 

Mrs.  Cornelia  B.  White's  ancestors  were 
early  residents  at  Ancram,  Columbia  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  where  her  grandfather,  Charles  Traver, 
was  born.  His  education  was  obtained  in  the 
local  schools,  and  later  he  engaged  in  agricult- 
ure there,  passing  his  life  in  that  pursuit.  He 
was  a  private  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  A 
family  of  six  children  was  born  to  him  and  his 
wife  Elizabeth,  all  of  whom  lived  to  adult  age 


and  married  as  follows:  Hiram — Eliza  Brusie; 
John — Salina  Summers;  Freeman — Sarah  Col- 
by; James — Betsy  Race;  Elizabeth — William 
Cannam;  and  Polly — Ebenezer  Guernsey. 

Hiram   Traver,    Mrs.  White's   father,   was 
born    in  Ancram   in    1805,   and  the   common 
schools  of  that  town  furnished  him  his  educa- 
tional opportunities.      Engaging  in  early  man- 
hood in  farming,  he   followed  that  occupation 
all  his  life,  and,  for  twenty  years,  he  also  car- 
ried the  mail  from  Sharon  to  Cornwall,  Conn., 
and  from   Poughkeepsie   to   New  Paltz,  N.  Y. 
His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Nicholas  and  Lo- 
retta  (Egleston)  Brusie,   her  father  being  the 
well-known  wagon  maker  of  Boston  Corners, 
N.  Y.      Mrs.  White  was  born  in  1838,  the  sec- 
ond of  a  family  of  four  children — Charles,  Cor- 
nelia, Mary   and  Alva.     The   eldest,  Charles, 
was  born   in   1836,  in   Sharon,  Conn.,  studied 
in   the   public  schools  there,  and   learned  the 
carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed  the  greater 
part  of  his  life.      Shortly  after  the  breaking  out 
of  the  Civil  war  he   enlisted  in  the  19th  2d  C. 
V.  H.  A.,  as  a   corporal,  and  served  through- 
out the  war  with  honor,  being  mustered  out,  in 
1865,  as  a  lieutenant.      He  received  a  wound 
in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness.      He  married 
Miss  Susan  Kellog,  and  has  had  four  children: 
Julia,  wife  of  Eugene  Halleck;  Frederick,  who 
married  Paulina  Halleck;   Fannie,  wife  of  John 
Piatt;  and  William,  who  is  not  married.     Of  | 
the  two  younger  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hi-j 
ram  Traver,  Mary  Brusie  was  born  in  1840,  at' 
Dover  Furnace,  married  Sanford  Palmer,  and 
had   two  children:     (i)   Emma,  who   married 
William  Root,  and  has  three  children — May, 
Claude   and   Bertha;    (2)  Dora,  who   married 
Fred  Calkins,  and  has  four  children— Charles, 
Emma,    Eugene    and    LeRoy.       Alva    Brusie 
Traver  was  born  in  1855,  at    Sharon,  Conn., 
and,  after   attending  the  public  schools   there 
for  some   years,  studied   music,  and  is  now  a 
professor  in  that  art  at  Central  Valley,  Orange 
Co.,  N.  Y.      He  married  Miss  Adelaide  Strick- 
land, and  has  had  two   children — Levern  and 
Carl,  both  at  home. 


JR  BEL  SMITH,  one  of  the  substantial  agri-  I 
.^^  culturists  of  the  town  of  Pawling,  Dutch- 
ess county,  is  a  descendant  of  an  old  and  pa- 
triotic family  of  Westchester  county,  N.  Y. 
His  grandfather,  Richard  Smith,  was  born  in  1 
North  Castle,  and  followed  agriculture  there. 
He  did  good  service  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHWAL  RECORD. 


929 


and,  as  the  locality  in  which  he  lived  was  the 
scene  of  much  disturbance,  many  memories 
of  that  trying  period  are  connected  with  his 
farm.  On  one  occasion  a  man  was  shot  in  his 
house,  and  the  blood  stains  can  still  be  seen 
upon  the  floor.  He  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth 
Miller,  reared  a  family  of  seven  children: 
Jacob,  Richard,  Isaac,  Benjamin,  Sophia,  Het- 
tie  and  Phoebe. 

Jacob  Smith,  our  subject's  father,  was  born 
and  educated  at  North  Castle,  and  he  gave  evi- 
dence of  his  patriotism,  by  serving  as  a  soldier 
in  the  war  of  1812.  By  occupation  he  was  a 
farmer  and  shoemaker.  He  married  Miss 
Betsy  Carpenter,  and  had  ten  children,  of 
whom  our  subject  was  the  '  youngest.  The 
others  all  lived  to  adult  age,  and  married  as 
follows:  Ruth — Hiram  Lewis;  Esther  A. — 
Merritt  Saris;  Abigail — Chauncy  Hall;  Morris 
C. — Charlotte  Foster;  Mary — William  Wright; 
Deborah  L. — John  Griffin;  Richard — Mary 
Peck;  Sarah  S. — Griffin  Hunter;  and  Eleanor 
— Edward  Simmonds. 

Our  subject  was  born  March  5,  1831;  he 
was  reared  at  the  old  homestead  at  North  Cas- 
tle, and  attended  the  public  schools  of  that 
town.  He  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  and 
followed  it  there  for  several  years,  but,  in  1 860, 
he  moved  to  the  town  of  Pawling,  and  he  has 
since  devoted  his  attention  to  farming.  He 
married  Miss  Ann  Maria  Odell,  and  has  had 
five  children:  (i)  Benson  was  born  at  Mount 
Pleasant,  Westchester  county,  in  1854,  and, 
after  receiving  a  common-school  education,  en- 
gaged in  farming,  but  later  became  interested 
in  shirt  manufacturing.  He  and  his  wife,  for- 
merly Miss  M.  Frances  Reynolds,  have  four 
children — Herbert;  Belle  (Mrs.  Watson  Bal- 
lard); Lilly  M.,  and  Wilby;  of  these,  the  first 
and  the  last  two  are  not  married.  (2)  Elnora, 
born  in  1856,  married  Casper  Davis,  a  wheel- 
wright, of  Connecticut,  and  has  five  children 
— Maude,  Delia,  Edna,  Abel  and  Casper,  all 
at  home.  (3)  Lemuel,  born  in  i860,  married 
Miss  Alice  Carrey,  but  has  no  children.  (4) 
Ida,  born  in  1863,  is  at  home.  (5)  Grace, 
born  in  1870,  married  Riley  Peck,  and  has 
three  children — Arthur,  Everett  L.  and  Odell. 

The  wife  of  our  subject  is  also  descended 
from  a  well-known  Westchester  family.  Her 
grandfather,  Benjamin  Odell,  was  born  there, 
and  lived  and  died  there,  following  in  his 
mature  years  the  occupations  of  farming  and 
blacksmithing.  He  married,  and  had  seven 
children:      Jacob,  Isaac,    Benjamin,    Clinton, 

60 


Rosette,  Mary  and  Lackey.  Jacob  Odell, 
Mrs.  Smith's  father,  was  also  a  native  of 
Westchester  county,  and  on  completing  his 
common-school  course  there  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  blacksmithing  at  Mount  Pleasant.  He 
married  (first)  Miss  Taner,  and  (second)  Miss 
Jane  Lint,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Maria  Lint. 
Seven  children  were  born  of  the  second  union: 
Abram  married  Esther  Angevine;  Peter  mar- 
ried Lutetia  Yearkes;  William  married  Charity 
Nodine;  Jackson  married  Mary  Buckhaupt; 
Julia  A.  is  not  married;  Ann  Maria  is  now 
Mrs.  Smith;  and  Benjamin  married  Martha 
Whitney. 


C^\EORGE  J.  LEE,  a  prosperous  farmer  of 
pi  the  town  of  Unionvale,  Dutchess  county, 
is  a  representative  of  the  well-known  Lee 
family,  who  long  made  their  home  in  the  town 
of  Washington,  Dutchess  county.  His  grand- 
father, Samuel  Lee,  was  there  born,  reared 
and  educated.  He  learned  the  trade  of  a 
mason,  which  he  followed  throughout  life,  and 
was  an  expert  workman.  In  Unionvale  there  is 
a  house  still  standing,  now  over  one  hundred 
years  old,  which  was  erected  by  him.  ,  He 
married  Miss  Pattie  Haight,  by  whom  he  had 
nine  children:  John,  the  father  of  our  subject; 
Frederick,  who  wedded  Margaret  Crouse; 
James;  Joseph;  Herman;  Moses;  Isaac,  who 
married  Mary  Lee;  George;  and  Phoebe  A., 
who  became  the  wife  of  Talmadge  Sutherland. 
The  birth  of  John  Lee  occurred  in  the 
town  of  Washington,  in  1805.  He  received  a 
common-school  education,  and  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade.  Many  of  the  finest  resi- 
dences of  Dutchess  county  are  the  work  of 
his  hands.  His  vote  was  cast  in  support  of 
the  principles  of  the  Whig  party,  but  he  cared 
nothing  for  political  preferment.  He  married 
Miss  Ann  Wilbur,  daughter  of  Enoch  Wilbur, 
a  farmer  of  Washington  town,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  four  children,  namely: 
(i)  Enoch  H.,  who  after  the  completion  of  his 
education,  engaged  in  painting  in  Washington 
town.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion  he  enlisted  in  the  44th  N.  Y.  V.  I., 
and  was,  later,  transferred  to  the  146th  regi- 
ment; he  was  killed  in  the  last  battle  of  the 
war,  at  the  time  of  Lee's  surrender.  (2) 
Brownell  W. ,  the  second  son,  learned  the 
wheelwright's  trade,  at  which  he  has  since 
been  employed,  having  a  shop  at  Arlington, 


980 


COHMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPIIWAL  RECORD. 


N.  Y.  He  also  served  in  the  Civil  war,  be- 
coming a  member  of  the  6ist  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  and 
on  his  re-enlistment  joined  the  66th  New  York 
Cavalry,  with  which  he  served  until  hostilities 
had  ceased,  when  he  was  mustered  out  with 
the  rank  of  sergeant.  At  one  time  he  was 
confined  in  Libby  prison  and  endured  all  the 
privations  and  hardships  of  army  life.  He 
married  Miss  Jane  Owen,  by  whom  he  has 
ten  children — George;  Ida,  wife  of  Clinton 
Kerry;  Eva;  Harvey;  Weston;  John;  Mabel; 
Oneta;  Myron;  and  Louis,  who  died  in  infancy. 
(3)  Our  subject  is  next  in  order  of  birth.  (4) 
Elizabeth,  the  only  daughter,  died  at  the  age 
of  five  years. 

George  J.  Lee,  of  this  review,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Washington,  in  1847,  and  there 
obtained  a  common-school  education.  In  early 
life  he  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  which  he 
followed  only  to  a  limited  extent,  giving  his  at- 
tention principally  to  his  farming  interests. 
In  1896  he  purchased  the  Caroline  Congdon 
farm  in  Union  vale  town,  which  comprises  223 
acres  of  fine  land,  and  is  now  engaged  in  its 
cultivation  and  improvement.  He  is  an  enter- 
prising and  progressive  agriculturist,  thoroughly 
understanding  his  business,  and  well  deserves 
the  success  which  has  come  to  him.  He  is  a 
valued  citizen  of  the  community,  one  who  has 
the  esteem  and  confidence  of  those  with  whom 
he  comes  in  contact. 

In  1875  Mr.  Lee  was  married  to  Miss  Car- 
rie Jones,  whose  birth  occurred  in  the  town  of 
Clinton,  Dutchess  county,  June  6,  1854,  and 
whose  education  was  obtained  in  Broome 
county,  N.  Y.  They  have  an  interesting  fam- 
ily of  three  children:  Enoch  J.,  born  Janu- 
ary 19,  1880;  Estella,  born  June  28,  1883, 
and  Minnie  A.,  born  August  21,  1892. 

The  paternal  great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Lee 
spent  his  entire  life  in  Columbia  county,  N.  Y. , 
and  reared  his  six  children,  namely:  Hugh; 
Mary;  Margaret;  John;  Thomas,  who  married 
Jane  Allen;  and  William,  who  married  Abigail. 
Hugh  Jones,  the  eldest  of  the  children,  and 
the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Lee,  was  a  native  of 
Columbia  county,  and  throughout  life  followed 
the  occupation  of  farming.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Matilda  Burrows,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Benjamin  Burrows,  and  to  them  were 
born  children  as  follows: 

(i)  Sarah  M.  Jones  was  born  in  Columbia 
county  in  1829,  but  was  educated  in  Dutchess 
county,  where  her  parents  had  removed  when 
she  was  quite  young.     She  became  the  wife  of 


George  Morey,  a  native  of  the  town  of  Clin- 
ton, Dutchess  county.  However,  most  of  his 
life  was  devoted  to  farming  in  Washington 
town.  He  was  the  son  of  Joseph  Morey,  who 
was  born  and  reared  in  the  town  of  Clinton, 
and  was  also  a  farmer  by  occupation.  By  his 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Winslow,  Joseph 
Morey  had  six  children:  Benjamin,  who  mar- 
ried Jane  Burhans;  Edmond,  who  died  when 
young;  George;  Jane  A. ;  Margaret;  and  Eliz- 
abeth. The  eldest  daughter,  Jane  A.,  mar- 
ried Robert  Buck,  and  they  have  two  children: 
Elizabeth,  who  married  Godfrey  Wolven,  and 
they  have  two  children:  Lottie,  wife  of  Paul 
Burger,  and  Annie;  and  George,  the  only  son 
of  Mrs.  Jane  Buck.  Three  children  were  born 
to  George  and  Sarah  M.  (Jones)  Morey,  as  fol- 
lows: (a)  Robert,  who  was  born  and  educated  in 
Washington  town,  and  during  his  youth  learned 
the  blacksmith  trade,  at  which  he  has  since 
worked.  For  his  first  wife  he  married  Delia 
Bishop,  and  they  had  one  child,  Georgiana, 
who  wedded  Amos  Thorn,  a  carpenter,  and  to 
them  has  been  born  a  son,  Harry.  After  the 
death  of  his  first  wife,  Robert  Morey  was  joined 
in  wedlock  with  Minnie  Clement,  and  they 
have  two  children:  Oakley  and  Allerton.  (b) 
Egbert  Morey  was  also  born,  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  Washington  town,  and  follows  the 
pursuit  of  blacksmithing.  He  married  Ella 
Travis,  and  they  have  one  son,  Chester,  (c) 
Annie  Morey,  the  only  daughter,  died  at  the 
age  of  eight  years.  The  family  are  widely  and 
favorably  known  throughout  the  community 
where  they  make  their  homes,  and  have  the  re- 
gard of  all  who  know  them. 

(2)  Darius  was  a  native  of  Columbia  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  a  carpenter  by  trade.  He  married 
Miss  Jane  Gallagher,  and  had  four  children: 
Ida;   Charles;  Mrs.  Viola  Horn;   and  Elry. 

(3)  Michael  Jones  is  the  father  of  Mrs.  Lee. 
He  was  born  in  Columbia  county,  but  acquired 
his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  Dutch- 
ess county,  and  throughout  life  has  been  em- 
ployed at  the  mason's  trade.  He  wedded  Miss 
Adaline  Gildersleeve,  daughter  of  Alfred  Gilder- 
sleeve,  a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Pleasant  Val- 
ley, Dutchess  county,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  Lemuel,  a 
machinist  of  Oneonta,  N.  Y.,  who  is  married 
and  has  three  children,  Lillie,  Dora  and  Effie; 
Carrie,  the  wife  of  our  subject;  Emma,  wife 
of  Augustus  West  (an  employe  on  the  Albany 
&  Susquehanna  railroad),  by  whom  she  has 
two  sons — Herbert  and  Harry;  George;   Hugh; 


GOMMEMOKATIVE  BIOOBAPUWAL  RECORD. 


931 


Paul;  John;  Laura;   Harry;  and  one  who  died 
at  the  age  of  two  years. 

(4)  David  Jones,  a  native  of  Columbia 
county,  carried  on  farming.  He  married  Het- 
tie  Davis,  and  in  their  family  were  five  chil- 
dren: Annie,  who  married  Irving  Jones;  Mary, 
who  wedded  Byron  Robinson;  Dora;  Alfrette, 
who  married  William  Robinson;  and  Alice, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Arthur  Haight. 

(5)  Diana  Jones  married  Cornelius  Morris, 
and  had  two  children:  William,  who  married 
Annie  Shaw;  and  Annie,  who  married  William 
Martin.  (6)  Elizabeth  married  Walter  Stew- 
art, and  had  three  children:  Mrs.  Mary  Hop- 
kins; Harry;  and  Zadie.  (7)  Lydia  married 
Orlando  Monroe,  and  had  three  children: 
Frank  O. ;  Elizabeth,  who  married  Hiram 
Tripp;  and  Clark,  who  married  a  Miss  Hor- 
ton.  (8)  Josiah  Jones,  an  agriculturist,  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Horn,  and  has  one  son,  Will- 
iam. (9)  Mary  Jones  wedded  William  Cham- 
berlain, and  had  two  children:  Willis  and 
Hugh.  (10)  Alonzo  Jones  died  when  young. 
(11)  Louisa  Jones  married  Henry  Briggs,  by 
whom  she  had  one  child,  Orlando.  (12) 
Rodger  T.  Jones,  the  youngest  of  the  family, 
married  Diana  Davis,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren: Judson  and  Eva. 


GEORGE  INNIS,  a  son  of  Aaron  Innis, 
mention  of  whom  is  made  in  the  sketch 
of  a  son,  Aaron,  elsewhere  in  this  volume, 
where  will  also  be  found  the  ancestral  history 
of  the  family,  is  a  representative  manufacturer 
of  Dutchess  county,  born  in  Poughkeepsie, 
where  his  early  life  was  spent  and  where  he 
received  his  education. 

In  1842  our  subject  became  associated 
with  Gifford  &  Sherman  in  the  dye-wood 
business,  in  which  he  has  continued  ever  since. 
That  year  the  style  of  the  firm  became  Gifford, 
Sherman  &  Innis,  and  so  continued  until  the 
death  of  Mr.  Sherman  in  1858;  the  firm  name 
stood  as  formerly  until  1884,  when  it  was  Innis 
&  Co.  Our  subject  has  been  one  of  the  lead- 
ers in  all  matters  relating  to' public  improve- 
ment, and  among  other  projects  he  contributed 
a  large  sum  of  money  for  the  construction  of 
the  Poughkeepsie  &  Eastern  R.  R.,  which  he 
was  instrumental  in  getting  through  Pough- 
keepsie. Mr.  Innis  was  elected  president  of 
the  old  village  of  Poughkeepsie  in  the  "  5®'s," 
was  mayor  of  the  city  for  three  terms  of  two 
years  each,  during  the  Civil  war,  and  has  held 


the  office  of  village  trustee  and  supervisor. 
He  has  always  been  a  stanch  Republican  in 
politics,  and  was  a  Presidential  elector  at  the 
first  election  of  General  Grant.  Religiously 
he  is  a  member  of  the  First  Reformed  Church, 
to  which  he  is  a  liberal  contributor.  In  1855 
he  was  married  in  New  Paltz,  Ulster  county, 
to  Anna  Bevier,  daughter  of  Levi  Hasbrouck, 
and  two  children  were  born  to  them:  (i) 
Martha,  who  married  William  H.  Young,  a 
lawyer  in  New  York  City,  living  on  Prof.  S.  F. 
B.  Morse's  place;  they  have  two  children — 
Annette  Innis,  and  Innis.  (2)  Hasbrouck,  of 
the  firm  of  Innis  &  Co.  Our  subject  is  a  com- 
petent business  man,  social  in  nature  and  well- 
liked  by  everyone. 


JOHN  McGLASSON,  the  able  superintend- 
ent of  the  Poughkeepsie  (Dutchess  county) 

Rural  Cemetery,  has  made  that  place  one 
of  the  most  admirably  managed  burial  grounds 
to  be  found  along  the  Hudson  river,  his  suc- 
cess fully  justifying  the  confidence  reposed  in 
him  by  the  officers  of  the  association. 

The  ancient  home  of  his  family  was  in 
Dumfriesshire,  Scotland.  His  grandfather  Mc- 
Glasson  was  a  native  of  that  locality,  and  fol- 
lowed the  business  of  quarrying,  in  which  he 
lost  his  life.  He  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Elliott, 
had  three  children:  Robert,  our  subject's  fa- 
ther; Jane,  who  married  Jacob  Read,  of  An- 
nan, and  Jessie,  who  married  Mr.  Wilkinson. 

Robert  McGlasson  was  born  in  July,  1818, 
and  was  a  mere  boy  when  his  father's  death 
occurred.  He  became  a  miller  by  occupation, 
and  in  1848  came  to  the  United  States,  lo- 
cating first  in  Stanford,  Conn.,  where  he  was 
foreman  of  the  spice  mills  for  some  time. 
Later  he  moved  to  the  town  of  Lewisboro, 
Westchester  Co. ,  N.  Y. ,  and  spent  six  or  seven 
years  conducting  a  flourmill,  but  about  1857 
he  disposed  of  this  business  and  removed  to 
Dover,  Dutchess  county,  where  he  ran  the 
Hancut  Mills  on  shares  for  many  years.  With 
the  exception  of  two  or  three  years  at  Little 
Rest,  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  passed  there. 
Possessing  good  natural  abilities,  he  was  suc- 
cessful in  business,  and  was  regarded  as  one  of 
the  substantial  citizens  of  the  town.  He  was 
a  Presbyterian  in  religion,  and  in  politics  was 
a  Democrat,  voting  for  Pierce,  but  later  was  a 
Republican,  though  liberal  in  his  views.  His 
wife  was   Mary  Irving,  daughter  of  John  and 


COMMEMOUATIVE  BIOGRAPUWAL  liKCOliD 


Jeannette  (Thompson)  Irving,  and  they  had 
six  children,  viz.:  Jeannette  T.,  who  married 
S.  B.  Shaw,  a  farmer  of  Fairfax  Court  House, 
Va. ;  John,  our  subject;  Thomas  Irving,  now 
the  owner  of  an  undertaking  establishment 
and  paint  shop  in  Matteawan;  Elizabeth  Elliott, 
the  wife  of  Robert  J.  Shadbolt,  a  lawyer  of 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  Robert  A.,  a  railway  con- 
ductor, residing  in  Harlem;  and  Minerva  I., 
the  wife  of  Samuel  R.  Hanna. 

John  McGlasson  was  born  September  i, 
1843,  at  the  old  home.  The  family  settled  in 
Dutchess  county  during  his  boyhood,  and  his 
education  was  obtained  mainly  in  the  district 
schools  of  Dover  Plains  before  the  age  of  fif- 
teen years,  although  after  he  was  twenty-one 
he  attended  night  school  in  New  York  City, 
at  Cooper  Union  and  in  the  grammar  schools. 
While  his  early  advantages  were  not  as  liberal 
as  might  have  been  desired,  he  has  done  much 
to  offset  this  by  reading  and  private  study,  and 
is  well-posted  upon  current  topics.  At  the 
age  of  fourteen  he  left  home  and  spent  two 
years  working  for  the  father  of  W.  T. 
Ketcham,  and  two  summers  with  the  father  of 
George  W.  Perry.  He  began  to  learn  the 
marble-cutter's  trade,  when  he  was  seventeen, 
serving  an  apprenticeship  of  four  years  with 
Charles  Smith,  and  then  worked  for  him  two 
and  a  half  years  longer.  He  went  to  New 
York  and  remained  seven  years,  and  in  1870, 
he  established  a  marble  yard  at  Pawling,  and 
continued  it  until  1882,  when  he  went  to 
Poughkeepsie  as  foreman  for  Richard  Gra- 
ham. He  worked  seven  years  for  him,  and 
one  year  for  Mrs.  Graham.  In  December, 
i88g,  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  respon- 
sible position,  being  one  of  twenty-eight  appli- 
cants. He  is  now  one  of  the  leading  workers 
in  his  line,  and  his  management  of  the 
grounds  with  the  force  of  from  twenty  to 
twenty-four  men  is  beyond  criticism. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Ollivia  Hurd, 
daughter  of  William  and  Laura  Hurd,  of 
Pawling.  Her  father  was  formerly  a  well- 
known  merchant  at  Hurd's  Corners.  Four 
children  were  born  of  this  union :  Minnie 
Reed,  Maud  Campbell,  Mable  Irving  and  Will- 
iam T.,  all  of  whom  are  at  home. 

Mr.  McGlasson  sympathizes  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  in  national  issues,  but  is  inclined 
to  be  independent  in  local  politics.  He  at- 
tends the  M.  £.  Church  and  contributes  to  its 
support,  and  to  the  advancement  of  other 
worthy  causes,  and  he  is  a  member  of  Triune 


Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Poughkeepsie  Chapter 
No.  173,  Poughkeepsie  Commandery  No.  43 
and  to  the  Royal  Arcanum. 


JOHN  LYKE  is  now  retired  from  the  active 
labors  of  life,  and  occupies  a  comfortable 
home  in  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  fl 
He  is  a  native  of  the  vicinity  of  Johnstown,  Co-"^! 
lumbia  Co.,    N.  Y. ,   where  his  father,  George  ^ 
Lyke,  was  born.     There  the  latter  spent  his 
boyhood  days,  and  on  reaching  maturity  was 
united    in   marriage   with   Anna   Scofield,    by 
whom   he    had    two    children,    Margaret    and 
John,  but  the  sister  and  parents  of  our  subject 
are  all  now  deceased.   The  father  was  a  farmer 
of  Columbia  county,  and  was  the  son  of  John 
Lyke,  who  was  of  German  ancestry,  and  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  that   county  where  he 
carried  on  agricultural  pursuits. 

Our  subject  spent  his  early  years  near 
Johnstown,  N.  Y.,  in  the  usual  manner  of 
farmer  lads,  until  fourteen,  when  he  went  to 
Copake  and  completed  his  education.  From 
the  age  of  twelve  years  until  he  reached  his 
majority  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand,  but  at 
that  time  entered  a  store  at  Ancram,  where  he 
clerked  for  a  year  and  a  half.  He  next  se- 
cured a  position  in  a  store  at  Sheffield,  N.  Y., 
and  later  was  employed  in  a  hotel  at  New 
York  City.  He  then  began  the  show  business 
with  G.  F.  Bailey  &  Co.,  and  afterward  was 
with  Van  Ambergh  &  Co.  for  sixteen  years, 
during  which  time  he  purchased  an  interest  in 
the  firm.  On  selling  out  he  traveled  for  a  few 
years  with  the  London  Show,  and  has  visited 
nearly  every  town  of  any  size  east  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi river. 

On  giving  up  that  life,  Mr.  Lyke  returned 
to  Copake,  N.  Y.,  where  he  lived  retired  un- 
til coming  to  Poughkeepsie  in  1882,  in  order 
to  educate  his  sons.  At  the  former  place  he 
was  married  in  1 861,  to  Sarah  Sweet,  a 
daughter  of  Rowland  Sweet,  and  their  family 
includes  three  sons:  J.  Hyatt,  a  dentist  of 
Millerton,  N.  Y. ,  wedded  Georgiana  Rowe, 
and  has  two  children,  Clinton  and  Stewart; 
Fred  S.,  a  stenographer,  married  Hattie  Will- 
iams, by  whom  he  has  a  son,  Fred;  and  John 
J.  belongs  to  the  hospital  corps  of  the  United 
States  Army  and  is  stationed  at  Washington. 
For  about  fourteen  years  our  subject  has  made 
his  home  in  Poughkeepsie,  during  which  time 
he  has  gained  many  warm  friends  and  is  held  ; 
in  the  highest  regard  by  all  who  know  him.. 


COMMEMORATIVE  DIOGBAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


He  was  identified  with  the  Masonic  fraternity 
in  New  York  City,  belonging  to  Polar  Star 
Lodge;  he  is  now  a  faithful  member  of  Trin- 
ity Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Pough- 
keepsie. 


CHARLES  E.  VAN  KLEECK,  a  prosperous 
farmer  and  representative  citizen  of  Pough- 
keepsie,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Beekman, 
Dutchess  county,  January  14,  1843.  He 
worked  on  his  father's  farm  and  attended  school 
during  his  youth. 

On  November  17,  1869,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Kate  B.  Rogers,  who  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Beekman  August  4,  1842,  and  they 
settled  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Wappinger, 
where  they  remained  for  three  years,  and  in 
1873  moved  to  Poughkeepsie.  After  living 
here  a  year  they  moved  to  their  present  farm, 
where  they  have  reared  their  two  children, 
Mary  E.  and  Robert  M.  Mr.  Van  Kleeck  has 
a  farm  of  eighty-seven  acres  in  the  town  of 
Fishkill,  and  twenty  acres  in  Poughkeepsie. 
He  is  a  Republican,  a  public-spirited  citizen, 
and,  with  his  wife,  is  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church. 

James  W.  Rogers,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Van- 
Kleeck,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Beekman, 
where  he  married  Miss  Mary  Besley,  a  native 
of  Fishkill,  and  there  were  born  to  them  the 
following  children:  Helen  A.,  John  A.,  Mar- 
garet, Kate  B.,  Charlotte,  Phoebe,  Mary  E. , 
Walter,  Henry,  George  and  James.  John 
A.  and  Walter  are  farmers  in  Dutchess  county. 
The  others,  with  the  exception  of  our  subject's 
wife,  are  deceased.  Mr.  Rogers  died  January 
29,  1884,  and  his  wife  November  22,  1888. 
Micah  Rogers,  the  grandfather,  was  also  born  in 
Beekman. 

Robert  M.  Van  Kleeck,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie 
August  10,  1804.  He  grew  up  there,  and  in 
early  life  learned  the  harness  and  saddle  mak- 
ing business  of  David  B.  Lent.  He  married 
Hannah  Rogers,  the  daughter  of  John  Rogers, 
a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Beekman.  After  their 
marriage,  the  parents  of  our  subject  located 
in  Beekmanville,  where  he  carried  on  the  busi- 
ness of  making  harness,  trunks,  saddles,  etc. 
One  child,  our  subject,  was  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Van  Kleeck.  In  1843  they  bought  a 
farm  in  Fishkill,  to  which  they  moved  and  car- 
ried on  farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
October  4,  1872,  his  wife  dying  November  19, 


1874.  He  was  a  Republican,  and  both  were 
members  of  Christ  Church.  The  Rogers 
family  was  of  English  ancestry.  Hezekiah, 
the  grandfather,  was  a  tanner  and  currier  in 
the  town  of  Beekman.  John,  the  father  of 
Mrs.  Van  Kleeck,  married  Mary  Skidmore, 
a  native  of  Beekman,  where  they  settled  and 
reared  the  following  family:  Phoebe,  Ruth, 
Stephen,  Laban,  James,  Judith,  Gilbert, 
Mariah  and  Hannah. 

John  M.  Van  Kleeck,  the  paternal  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Poughkeep- 
sie beptember  15,  1776.  His  father,  Myndert 
Van  Kleeck,  was  born  in  Dutchess  county, 
and  died  there  December  17,  1799.  He  was 
a  direct  descendant  of  Baltus  Van  Kleeck, 
who  came  from  Holland.  John  M.  married 
Miss  Eliza  Noxon,  the  daughter  of  Bartholo- 
mew Noxon,  a  physician,  for  whom  Noxon 
street  was  named.  John  settled  in  Pough- 
keepsie, where  he  carried  on  a  general  store 
on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Academy  streets. 
He  also  did  a  shipping  business  between  Pough- 
keepsie and  New  York  City.  He  was  the 
father  of  these  children:  Robert  M.,  father 
of  our  subject;  George  M.,  a  dry-goods  mer- 
chant of  Poughkeepsie;  Edgar  M.  was  in  early 
life  a  merchant  in  Poughkeepsie,  and  later  re- 
tired; Hester  F.  died  unmarried.  The  old 
folks  were  members  of  Christ  Church. 


BAVID  F.  PHILLIPS,  one  of  the  ener- 
'  getic  and  progressive  farmers  of  the  town 

of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess  county,  where  he  has 
resided  since  1861,  is  now  devoting  his  atten- 
tion to  the  improvement  and  cultivation  of  his 
land  with  most  excellent  results.  He  is  hon- 
ored and  respected  by  the  entire  community, 
who  look  upon  him  as  one  of  the  most  wide- 
awake farmers  and  model  citizens. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
David  F.  Feller,  was  a  native  of  Columbia 
county,  where  his  education  was  obtained  in 
the  common  schools,  and  he  there  followed  the 
vocation  of  farming  throughout  life.  By  his 
marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Mink,  of  the 
same  county,  he  had  six  children:  William, 
Ezra,  Lena,  Helen,  Jane  and  Emma  Eliza. 
The  last  named,  Emma  Eliza,  was  born  and 
educated  in  Pleasant  Vale,  Columbia  county, 
and  became  the  wife  of  Abraham  Henry  Phil- 
lips, a  native  of  Columbia  county,  N.  Y., 
where  he  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 


934 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOOliAPUICAL  RECORD. 


and  followed  the  occupation  of  farming.  By 
this  union  were  born  seven  children,  namely: 
Romelia  married  Rennselaer  Moore;  David  F. 
is  next  in  the  order  of  birth;  William  H. 
wedded  Mary  McClure;  Martha  is  unmarried; 
George  A.  married  Daisy  M.  De  Forest; 
Elizabeth  became  the  wife  of  William  Wol- 
cott;  and  Alice  died  at  the  age  of  four  years. 
The  brothers  and  sisters  of  Abraham  Henry 
Phillips,  father  of  our  subject,  were:  Anthony, 
who  married  Catherine  Lasher;  Nicholas,  who 
married  Catherine  Feller;  Jacob,  who  also 
wedded  a  Miss  Feller;  John,  who  married 
Elmira  Decker;  Catherine,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Edward  Teator;  and  Elizabeth,  who 
married  Philip  Hapeman. 

Mr.  Phillips,  of  this  review,  is  also  a  native 
of  Columbia  county,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  1845,  but  when  quite  young  his  parents  re- 
moved west,  locating  in  Michigan,  where  he 
attended  the  public  schools  and  there  acquired 
a  fair  education.  He  followed  agricultural 
pursuits  in  that  State  until  1861,  when  he 
returned  east,  and  has  since  made  his  home  in 
the  town  of  Red  Hook,  Dutchess  county.  In 
1879,  he  married  Mrs.  Lottie  De  Forest, 
widow  of  Harry  C.  De  Forest,  by  whom  she 
had  three  children:  Augustus  R. ,  born  in 
1852;  Daisy  M.,  born  in  1868;  and  Wallace, 
born  in  1876.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  have 
one  daughter — Ruby  L. ,  born  September  6, 
1880. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Phillips, 
William  Carter,  married  Miss  Charlotte  Ear- 
ner, daughter  of  Douglass  and  Elizabeth 
Earner,  of  New  Brunswick,  and  to  them  were 
born  two  children:  William,  the  father  of 
Mrs.  Phillips;  and  Elizabeth,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Samuel  Montgomery.  William  Carter, 
Jr.,  was  born  and  educated  in  New  Brunswick, 
where  he  later  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
cigars.  He  married  Miss  Maria  B.  White- 
man,  and  to  them  were  born  three  daughters: 
Julia  W. ,  wife  of  James  H.  Cortelyou;  Josie, 
wife  of  John  P.  Shafer,  of  Red  Hook;  and 
Lottie,  wife  of  our  subject.  Her  maternal 
grandfather,  John  P.  Whiteman,  was  a  prom- 
inent farmer  of  the  town  of  Red  Hook,  Dutch- 
ess county,  and  there  married  Miss  Annie 
Shook,  daughter  of  John  Shook,  of  the  same 
town.  By  this  union  seven  children  were 
born,  of  whom,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Phillips 
was  the  eldest.  She  was  followed  by  Eliza 
A.,  who  became  the  wife  of  Robert  Leete; 
Jane  L.,  who   married  John  Lambert;  Sarah 


M.,  who  wedded  George  Deipignac;  Sophia 
F. ;  Aaron  W. ;  and  John,  who  died  at  an 
early  age. 


FRANK  TEATS,    one  of  the  reliable   and 
progressive    young    men    of    Red    Hook, 

Dutchess  county,  is  connected  with  the  firm  of 
Curtis  &  Benner,  hardware  merchants.  He  is 
a  son  of  Electrice  Teats,  a  prosperous  farmer 
of  the  town  of  Red  Hook,  where  our  subject 
received  his  literary  education.  He  is  a  nat- 
ural musician,  the  master  of  many  different 
kinds  of  instruments,  and  is  also  quite  a  vocal- 
ist, being  at  the  present  time  a  member  of  the 
choir  of  the  Methodist  Church  of  Red  Hook. 
On  April  16,  1894,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Anna  Traver,  also  a  native  of  Red 
Hook,  where  she  obtained  a  good  education, 
and  one  child,  Elmer,  blesses  this  union. 

Edgar  Traver,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Teats,  born  in  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county, 
March  20,  1829,  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools  of  the  neighborhood,  and  received  his 
early  training  as  a  farmer  at  that  place.  He 
continued  to  follow  that  vocation,  in  connec- 
tion with  stock  raising,  throughout  life,  and 
was  quite  a  prominent  man  in  the  community, 
serving  as  assessor  and  supervisor  of  Red  Hook 
town  for  many  years.  He  was  twice  married, 
his  first  union  being  with  Anna  M.  Snyder, 
and  for  his  second  wife  he  married  Catherine 
Benedict.  He  became  the  father  of  two  sons: 
Arthur  and  Ransom.  The  former's  birth  oc- 
curred at  Rhinebeck,  January  12,  1851,  and, 
after  completing  his  studies  in  the  common  | 
schools  of  the  locality,  he  took  up  the  occupa- 
tion of  farming,  and  now  conducts  the  old  Tra- 
ver farm  at  Red  Hook.  He  occupies  the  old 
homestead  of  his  father,  a  substantial  brick  | 
structure,  over  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  old. 
He  married  Miss  Martha  Westfall,  whose  father  I 
was  a  native  of  Canada,  and  to  them  havej 
been  born  three  children:  Mabel,  born  June 
20,  1884;  Edna,  born  April  26,  1886;  and 
Edgar,  born  February  i,  1887. 

Ransom  Traver,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Teats, 
was  born  at  Rhinebeck,  September  21,  1852, 
and  his  education  was  such  as  the  common 
schools  of  the  locality  afforded.  On  starting  ' 
out  in  life  for  himself  he  learned  the  drug 
business  in  the  village  of  Rhinebeck,  which  he 
there  followed  for  a  few  years,  and  then  estab-  , 
lished  a  drug  store  at  Red  Hook,  conducting 
the  same  very  successfully  for    many   years, 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHIGAL  RECORD. 


985 


On  disposing  of  his  business  there  he  removed 
to  W'atertown,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  now  resides. 
The  lady  who  now  shares  his  name  and  for- 
tunes was  in  her  maidenhood  Miss  Edith  Hoff- 
man, daughter  of  B.  B.  Hoffman,  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  National  Bank  of  Red  Hook.  They 
are  the  parents  of  four  children,  namely:  Will- 
iam, born  December  28,  1870;  Herbert,  born 
June  2,  1872;  Addie,  born  March  26,  1875; 
and  Anna,  born  September  15,  1876. 


MYRON  BARLOW  (deceased)  is  remem- 
bered    by  the    people    of    the    town    of 

Unionvale  as  a  most  valued  and  highly  re- 
spected citizen.  A  native  of  Dutchess  county, 
he  was  born  in  the  town  of  Stanford  in  1808, 
and  was  the  son  of  Braman  and  Mary  (Engla- 
sol)  Barlow.  Thomas  Barlow,  his  paternal 
grandfather,  passed  his  entire  life  in  Dutchess 
county,  following  the  occupation  of  farming 
during  his  mature  years.  He  married  a  Miss 
Braman,  and  to  them  were  born  two  sons — 
Braman  and  James. 

The  birth  of  Braman  Barlow  occurred  in 
Stanford  township,  and  in  the  common  schools 
he  secured  his  education.  Like  his  father,  he 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  he  died 
on  his  farm  in  the  town  of  Stanford.  In  his 
family  were  four  children:  James  never  mar- 
ried; Cyrus,  who  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  married  Minerva  Welling,  and  had  three 
children — Myron,  who  married  John  Crokite; 
Caroline,  who  married  Benjamin  Palmer;  and 
Frances,  who  married  Dr.  Thorn.  Myron, 
of  this  review,  is  next  in  order  of  birth.  Maria 
became  the  wife  of  James  Germain,  and  had 
nine  children — Edward;  Tahnadge;  Cyrus,  who 
married  Viola  Hicks;  Mary;  Sarah;  Elizabeth; 
Frances,  who  married  William  Creede;  Nettie, 
who  married  Robert  Halstead;  and  Julia,  who 
married  Isaac  Winance. 

The  educational  privileges  of  our  subject 
were  such  as  the  public  schools  of  Stanford 
afforded  at  an  early  day,  and  as  a  life  work  he 
also  followed  the  vocation  of  farming,  to  which 
he  had  been  reared,  and  with  which  he  was 
familiar.  He  was  a  straightforward,  reliable 
man,  courteous,  genial,  alert  and  enterprising, 
and  his  actions  during  life  were  such  as  to  dis- 
tinctively entitle  him  to  a  place  in  a  publica- 
tion of  this  character.  Socially  he  affiliated 
with  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

Mr.  Barlow  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss    Martha   Van    Vlack,    who   was  born   in 


Pleasant  Valley  township,  Dutchess  county,  in 
1834,  and  there  received  a  good  common- 
school  education.  Seven  children  blessed  their 
union,  namely:  (i)  Emerson  is  by  profession 
a  dentist,  but  is  also  engaged  in  the  brokerage 
business  in  Poughkeepsie  and  Kingston,  N.  Y. 
He  married  Eugenie  Du  Bois,  and  they  have 
one  daughter,  Susie.  Like  his  father  he  is 
identified  with  the  Masonic  order.  (2)  Alfred 
is  a  buyer  of  stock  for  the  Union  Stock  Yards 
of  Chicago,  111.  (3)  Myron  married  Miss  Jennie 
Carpenter,  and  is  now  engaged  in  the  furniture 
business  in  Poughkeepsie.  (4)  Alice  married 
Frederick  Hall,  a  carpenter  of  Patterson,  Put- 
nam Co.,  N.  Y. ,  and  they  have  three  children, 
Anna,  Myron  and  Clayton.  (5)  Jennie  is  follow- 
ing the  profession  of  teaching  in  Lagrange 
town,  Dutchess  county.  (6)  George  turns  his  at- 
tention to  agricultural  pursuits.  (7)  Etta,  who 
completes  the  family,  is  a  teacher  of  New 
Hamburg,  Dutchess  county.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  the  two  youngest  children,  whose 
births  occurred  in  the  town  of  Unionvale,  all 
were  born  in  Stanford  town.  They  were  pro- 
vided with  good  educational  privileges,  and 
have  become  intelligent  and  useful  citizens  of 
the  various  communities  where  they  make 
their  homes. 

Andrew  Van  Vlack,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Barlow,  was  a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  and 
a  farmer  by  occupation.  By  his  marriage  with 
Catherine  Jewell  he  had  seven  children:  Al- 
fred, the  father  of  Mrs.  Barlow;  Abraham, 
who  married  Phcebe  Devine;  Cornelia,  who 
married  John  Stewart ;  Martha,  who  married 
Cornelius  Ingraham;  Eliza,  who  married 
Nicholas  McMann;  Catherine,  who  married 
Jonathan  Devine;  and  Reuben,  who  married 
Catherine  Johnson. 

Alfred  Van  Vlack  was  born  in  18 14,  in  the 
town  of  Pleasant  Valley,  where  he  was  edu- 
cated and  learned  the  milling  business,  which 
he  successfully  followed  throughout  life,  pur- 
chasing and  conducting  a  mill  in  Unionvale 
town.  He  was  a  stalwart  Democrat  in  poli- 
tics and  quite  an  active  politician,  but  never 
cared  for  the  honors  or  emoluments  of  public 
office,  while  socially  he  was  connected  with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He 
was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Mary  Foster, 
daughter  of  Martha  (Welling)  P'oster.  Five 
children  were  born  of  this  union,  as  follows: 
Amelia  married  Lewis  Ward,  by  whom  she 
had  a  daughter — Minnie.  Martha  is  the  sec- 
ond   of   the    family.      Jennie    married   Henry 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Burton,  and  has  two  children — Estella,  now 
the  wife  of  Edward  Van  Keiiren;  and  Lewis, 
who  married  Hattie  Duncan.  Mary  wedded 
Benjamin  Van  Wyck.      Louisa  died  in  infancy. 


iTH  EORGE  NAGENGAST  was  born  in  Pough- 
X^i  l<eepsie,  Dutchess  county,  June  lo,  1852, 
and  has  already  resided  in  that  city  forty-five 
years.  His  father,  Charles  Nagengast,  was 
born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  in  1825,  and  came 
to  America  in  1840.  He  first  settled  at 
Honesdale,  Penn.,  from  there  went  to  Albany 
and  soon  after  found  his  way  to  Poughkeepsie. 

Charles  Nagengast  was  a  teamster  by  oc- 
cupation, hauling  ore  for  the  blasting  furnaces 
where  he  was  also  foreman  for  many  years. 
In  the  later  years  of  his  life  he  was  in  the 
saloon  business.  He  married  Mary  Hanline, 
and  they  had  children  as  follows:  George; 
Caroline  married  Lindsley  Downer;  Charles  is 
in  business  in  Poughkeepsie;  Elizabeth  Louisa 
married  Frederick  Bart;  John  Schwartz.  The 
mother  of  this  family  was  a  woman  of  strong 
character  and  a  large  fund  of  common  sense. 
She  died  June  18,  1873,  the  father  surviving 
her  until  1889. 

George  Nagengast  had  but  a  limited  educa- 
tion as  he  was  only  about  eleven  years  old 
when  he  went  to  work  in  the  cigar  shop  of 
Joseph  Bayard,  which  a  week  afterward 
changed  owners,  John  Schwartz  taking  pos- 
session of  the  business.  He  remained  in  this 
connection  for  nineteen  years,  lacking  one 
month,  and  until  March  25,  1881,  when  he 
went  into  the  butchering  business.  In  this, 
however,  he  remained  only  a  few  weeks,  and 
then  again  took  up  the  work  of  his  trade,  this 
time  with  Stephen  Stafford.  He  afterward 
ran  a  factory  for  Eastmead  &  Lewis,  and  on 
October  2,  1881,  he  began  keeping  hotel  in 
what  is  now  the  "  Hudson  River  House."  He 
remodeled  the  building,  and  conducted  the 
business  for  six  years  and  eleven  months. 
Later  he  bought  out  the  store  of  Mrs.  Conger 
at  43  5  Main  street,  and  ran  it  for  a  little  over  five 
years.  On  November  i,  1894,  he  purchased 
his  present  stand,  and  has  since  been  car- 
rying on  a  prosperous  business.  He  is  a  care- 
ful, conservative  man  in  financial  matters,  and 
has  invested  his  money  in  real  estate,  owning 
some  valuable  property  in  Poughkeepsie.  Mr. 
Nagengast  was  married  November  2,  1878, 
to  Miss  Caroline,  daughter  of  William  and 
Adeline   (Martin)   Swartout,  and   two  children 


have  been  born  to  them:     Arminta  and  Lillie 
May. 

Mr.  Nagengast  is  a  Republican,  but  has 
never  been  very  active  in  political  affairs.  He 
does  not  belong  to  any  fraternities,  but  joined 
the  Niagara  Company,  No.  2,  when  eighteen 
years  old,  four  years  later  joining  the  O.  H. 
Booth  Company,  but  returning  after  eight 
years  to  his  first  company,  of  which  he  is  now 
treasurer.  .  He  is  a  public-spirited  citizen, 
and  is  always  ready  to  assist  in  all  worthy 
enterprises. 


D 


ENNIS  WHALEN.  a  well-known  retired 
agriculturist  of  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutch- 
ess county,  now  residing  at  Dover  Plains,  was 
born  in  1835  •"  ^he  parish  of  Kilteely,  County 
Limerick,  Ireland.  His  family  has  been  prom- 
inent there  for  many  generations,  and  his 
father,  the  late  Jeremiah  Whalen,  was  one  of 
the  leaders  of  his  day  in  the  struggle  for  the 
liberty  of  his  country,  and  was  twice  elected  to 
Parliament.  In  185 1  the  family  immigrated 
to  the  United  States  and  settled  at  Dover 
Plains.  Patrick  Whalen,  one  of  our  subject's 
brothers,  resides  there,  and  his  biography  con- 
tains a  history  of  this  highly  esteemed  family. 

Mr.  Whalen  attended  the  schools  of  his 
native  parish  in  boyhood,  but  on  coming  to 
this  country  he  at  once  sought  employment. 
The  Harlem  railroad  was  then  in  process  of 
constructionr  and  for  some  time  he  worked 
upon  it.  He  then  spent  ten  years  on  a  farm, 
and  in  1869  he  bought  a  farm  of  157  acres  at 
what  is  known  as  Illert  Hills,  and  cultivated 
this  while  working  at  times  for  the  railroad 
company.  In  1873  he  was  appointed  baggage 
master  and  switch  man  at  Dover  Plains,  and 
held  those  positions  until  1894,  when  an  acci- 
dent disabled  him  for  active  business,  although 
he  is  not  at  present  confined  to  his  bed.  He 
sold  his  farm  in  1893  to  S.  R.  Hanna.  and 
took  a  pleasure  trip  to  the  old  country,  visit- 
ing all  parts  of  the  Emerald  Isle  and  gathering 
a  marvelous  fund  of  information. 

In  1858  Mr.  Whalen  married  his  first  wife, 
Hanora  Marona,  by  whom  he  had  three  chil- 
dren: Mary  E.,  born  in  1859;  Catherine  F. 
in  i860;  and  Sebastian  F.  in  1866.  His  first 
wife  died  August  11,  1891,  and  Mr.  Whalen 
married  Miss  Delia  F.  Hogan,  a  native  of 
County  Limerick,  Ireland.  Her  father,  Will- 
iam Hogan,  was  a  gardener  by  trade,  and  was 
one  of  five  children,  the  others  being  John, 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


987 


Dennis,  Mary  (Mrs.  James  Rahilly),  and  Cath- 
erine. He  married  Margaret  Lyncii,  who  was 
also  a  member  of  a  family  of  five.  James 
Lynch  married  Bridget  Sherye;  Patrick  mar- 
ried Ellen  Sherye;  Catherine  was  the  wife  of 
William  Murphy;  and  Mary  married  James 
Ryan.  Mrs.  Whalen  was  the  youngest  of  the 
five  children  of  William  and  Margaret  Hogan. 
Mary  married  John  O'Shea;  Catherine  is  at 
home;  Margaret  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen; 
and  Patrick  is  at  home. 


M 


rENRY  BOLENBAKER.  There  is  prob- 
JflL  ably  not  a  finer  farm  in  all  its  appoint- 
ments in  the  town  of  Red  Hook  than  the  one 
owned  by  the  subject  of  this  history,  who  is 
still  a  young  man,  and  of  whom,  on  account  of 
his  enterprise  and  industry,  great  things,  are 
expected  in  the  future.  The  residence  is  in 
keeping  with  the  taste  and  means  of  the  pro- 
prietor, and  the  whole  place  forms  a  picture 
which  invariably  attracts  the  admiration  of 
the  passing  traveler. 

Peter  P.  Bolenbaker,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  is  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  of 
Red  Hook  town,  and  on  reaching  man's  estate 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth 
Traver,  who  is  one  of  the  nine  children  of 
Henry  H.  Traver  and  wife,  also  agriculturists. 
This  worthy  couple  became  the  parents  of 
five  children,  namely:  Daniel,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Martha,  who  became  the  wife  of  The- 
odore Traver;  Sarah,  who  remained  single; 
Henry  J.,  of  this  review;  and  Luella  C. ,  who 
also  remained  single. 

In  1886  Mr.  Bolenbaker,  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  notice,  was  married  to  Miss 
Emma  E.  Fraleigh,  a  native  of  the  town  of 
Clermont,  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  she 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  One 
child  blesses  this  union — Roger  Fraleigh. 

Peter  P.  Fraleigh,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Bol- 
enbaker, was  born  in  the  town  of  Clermont, 
Columbia  county,  and  in  the  district  schools 
of  the  neighborhood  he  obtained  his  educa- 
tion. As  a  lifework  he  also  followed  farming. 
Early  in  life  he  was  joined  in  wedlock  with 
Miss  Mary  Lasher,  daughter  of  Jonas  Lasher, 
of  Clermont  town,  and  to  them  were  born  the 
following  children:  Peter  F.  married  Jennie 
Saulpaugh;  Jonas  L.  married  Margaret  Gard- 
ner; Helen  married  Montgomery  Finger;  Will- 
iam H.  married  Addie  Van  Horn;  Barbara  mar- 

61 


ried  Charles  Moore;  Margaret  married  Willis 
Hermance;  Emma  E.  is  next  in  order  of  birth; 
Edward  W.  married  Kittie  Francis;  and  Mar- 
tin and  Mary  both  died  in  infancy. 


WILLIAM    AUGUSTUS    MOSHER,    a 
prominent  agriculturist  of  the  town  of 

Fishkill,  Dutchess  county,  is  well  known  along 
the  Hudson,  having  spent  many  years  in  the 
transportation  business  before  settling  down  to 
the  quieter  life  of  a  tiller  of  the  soil. 

His  family  is  of  English  origin,  and  his 
great-grandfather,  William  Mosher.  crossed 
the  Atlantic  as  a  soldier  in  the  British  army 
during  the  Revolutionary  war,  but  on  landing 
he  deserted  and  joined  the  forces  under  Gen. 
Washington,  serving  as  a  captain  throughout 
the  struggle.  His  son,  Amos,  married  Jane 
Rhinehart,  and  their  son  Miles,  our  subject's 
father,  was  born  at  Breakneck,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, and  became  a  boatman  on  the  Hudson, 
being  engaged  in  carrying  brick  between  Fish- 
kill  Landing  and  New  York  City,  until  his 
death.  He  married  Louisa  Smith,  a  native  of 
Dutchess  county,  daughter  of  Elijah  and  Mar- 
garet Smith,  and  is  still  living.  Of  their  eight 
children,  the  youngest,  Frances,  died  in  child- 
hood, and  the  others  are:  William  Augustus, 
Amos,  Margaret  Jane,  Annie,  Ida,  Henry  and 
Charles. 

William  A.  Mosher  was  born  at  Burnsville, 
Dutchess  county,  in  1841,  and,  after  acquiring 
a  common-school  education,  left  home  to  take 
a  place  on  a  boat  with  Capt.  Virgil  Coleman, 
who  carried  coal  from  Rondout  to  Fishkill 
Landing.  He  remained  with  him  two  years, 
then  spent  three  seasons  on  a  brick  boat  run- 
ding  from  Fishkill  Landing  to  New  York  City, 
passing  the  winters  at  home.  In  1861  he 
went  to  Long  Island  and  worked  on  a  farm  for 
his  uncle,  Charles  Mosher,  and  on  returning 
spent  four  months  as  fireman  on  the  steamer 
"  Rip  Van  Winkle."  In  1862  he  served  on 
the  government  transport,  "Gen.  Meigs, "  for 
several  months,  carrying  troops  and  provisions 
for  the  army  between  New  York  City  and 
southern  ports;  he  also  enlisted  in  Company 
E,  19th  N.  Y.  S.  M.,  and  was  sent  to  Balti- 
more, Fort  Delaware  and  Havre  de  Grace, 
receiving  his  discharge  at  Newburgh,  N.  Y. ,  on 
the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment— one 
hundred  days.  He  then  went  on  a  canal  boat 
with  Capt.  Daniel  Howell,  and  on  leaving  him 


988 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


worked  in  the  Fishkill  Landing  Machine  Shop 
for  a  year,  when  he  took  another  place  upon  a 
government  transport  running  from  St.  Louis 
to  DuVall's  Bluff,  Memphis,  Cairo  and  New 
Orleans.  He  was  on  this  boat  at  Du  Vall's 
Bluff  when  the  news  of  Lincoln's  assassination 
reached  him.  On  his  return  home  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Hannah  Hickman,  daughter 
of  William  and  Martha  (Purdy)  Hickman,  and 
granddaughter  of  Michael  and  Rachel  Hick- 
man. On  the  maternal  side,  her  grandparents 
were  Francis  and  Mary  (Shaw)  Purdy.  Six 
children  were  born  of  this  union:  Amos,  Ida, 
George,  Matthew,  Nettie  and  Blanche. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Mosher  worked  for 
two  years  in  the  Fishkill  Landing  Machine 
Shops  as  a  blacksmith  and  machinist,  and  two 
years  on  the  Newburgh  and  Fishkill  ferry  as 
fireman,  and  then  went  to  Kansas  and  spent 
five  years  in  farming.  On  returning  to  the 
East  he  worked  on  the  construction  of  the 
N.  Y.  &  N.  E.  R.  R.,  aboard  a  mud  scow, 
and,  while  thus  employed,  saved  from  drown- 
ing two  men,  named  John  Cook  and  a  Mr. 
Mitchell.  His  next  employment  was  on  the 
ferryboats  "  City  of  Newburgh"  and  "  Fish- 
kill-on-the-Hudson,"  as  engineer,  but  after 
three  years  he  gave  up  this  work  to  take  charge 
of  the  brickyard  of  William  H.  Aldrich,  where 
he  remained  six  years.  He  then  purchased 
his  present  farm  of  270  acres,  which  is  bounded 
by  the  lands  of  William  H.  Cary,  George  Ire- 
land, Alfred  Miller,  James  Daniels  and  Reuben 
Knapp.  His  main  crops  are  hay  and  grain, 
but  he  gives  considerable  attention  to  horti- 
culture, having  many  grape  vines  and  a  num- 
ber of  apple  and  peach  trees,  with  other  fruits. 
Part  of  his  land  is  as  yet  uncleared,  and  he 
sells  a  large  amount  of  wood  and  hewn  timber. 
His  son  George  assists  in  the  management  of 
this  estate.  In  politics  Mr.  Mosher  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  he  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 


I^UGENE  WELLS,  one  of  the  leading  citi- 
zens of  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county,  now 
living  in  retirement  amid  the  charming  sur- 
roundings of  that  picturesque  locality,  was  born 
at  Hudson,  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.,  January  17, 

1839- 

Isaac  Wells,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  1770,  and  among  his  family  of 
children  was  Richard  I.  Wells,  Eugene's  father, 
who  was  born  at  Coxsackie,  Greene  Co.,  N.  Y., 
September  25,  1795.      Richard  I.  Wells  was  a 


prominent  lawyer  of  New  York  City,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  well-known  firm  of  Wells  &  Bush- 
nell,  and  was  a  man  of  great  mental  ability 
and  sound  judgment.  From  his  office  were  grad- 
uated some  students  who  afterward  achieved 
distinction  at  the  bar.  In  early  years  he  was 
a  Whig  and  later  a  Republican,  but  he  was  never 
active  in  politics.  He  was  an  intimate  friend 
of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  and  was  prominently 
identified  with  the  landed  interests  of  Chicago, 
111.,  owning  at  one  time  a  large  amount  of  real 
estate  there.  Wells  street  in  Chicago  was 
named  in  his  honor.  On  September  28,  1819, 
he  was  married  to  Ann  Maria  Olcott,  daugh- 
ter of  Josiah  Olcott,  a  prominent  citizen 
of  Hudson,  and  had  ten  children:  Anna,  the 
widow  of  Claudius  L.  Monell,  who  was,  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  chief  justice  of  the  Superior 
Court  of  the  City  of  New  York;  Mary,  who 
married  Charles  Roome,  president  of  the  Con- 
solidated Gas  Co.,  of  New  York;  Caroline 
(deceased);  John  H.  (deceased);  Richard  (de- 
ceased) ;  Ophelia,  who  married  Rev.  Henry  Dar- 
ling, late  president  of  Hamilton  College;  Fred- 
erick J.,  who  died  in  infancy;  Thomas  O.,  a 
resident  of  New  York  City;  Frances  M.  (de- 
ceased), formerly  the  wife  of  Isaac  M.  Collins, 
of  Hudson,  who  is  now  the  surrogate  of  Colum- 
bia county;  and  Eugene,  our  subject.  After 
many  years  of  successful  practice,  Mr.  Wells, 
in  1837,  retired  to  Hudson,  where  he  passed] 
his  declining  years.  His  death  occurred  there  | 
March  11,  1863.  He  and  his  wife  were  always] 
leaders  in  the  various  philanthropic  rnovementsj 
of  the  Church. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  made  choice  of  j 
the  medical  profession,  and  studied  for  two| 
years  with  the  late  Dr.  H.  B.  Sands,  of  New! 
York  City,  but  was  compelled  to  abandon  hisj 
books  on  account  of  what  is  called  double! 
astigmatism.  Since  1865  he  has  resided  at! 
Rhinebeck,  where  he  has  identified  himself! 
with  the  best  interests  of  the  community,  anc 
has  won  the  esteem  of  all  classes.  He  hasi 
been  a  director  of  the  First  National  Bank  fori 
many  years,  and  has  held  the  office  of  president| 
of  the  village. 

On  May  31,  1865,  he  married  Miss  Mary] 
Thorn  Teller,  daughter  of  William  T.  and! 
Eliza  Thorn  Teller  and  granddaughter  of  Will- 
iam Teller.  They  have  one  daughter — Carolinej 
Thorn  Wells.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wells  attend  thej 
Reformed  Church  at  Rhinebeck,  and  have] 
always  been  among  the  leaders  in  the  most! 
exclusive  social  circles  of  that  town. 


COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGBAPHIOAL  RECORD. 


939 


FRANK  TALLADAY.  the  well-known  host 
_  of  the  "Talladay  House,"  at  Dover 
Plains,  Dutchess  county,  is  one  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  that  pleasant  village. 

His  family  has  been  identified  with  the 
town  of  Dover  for  many  years,  and  his  father, 
Neilson  Talladay,  was  a  native  of  the  town, 
and,  on  finishing  his  education  in  the  local 
schools,  he  engaged  in  business  as  a  carpenter, 
following  that  trade  throughout  his  active  life. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  war  in  Company 
E,  150th  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  and  took  part  in  many 
important  engagements.  For  some  time  he 
served  as  hospital  steward  at  Baltimore,  Md. 
He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Colby,  daughter  of 
a  leading  farmer  of  the  town  of  Dover,  and  had 
five  children,  of  whom  our  subject  was  the 
youngest.  The  others  are:  Phoebe  (who  has 
not  married);  Janette  (Mrs.  C.  F.  Segelken); 
Mary  (Mrs.  John  H.  Smith);  and  Elizabeth 
(Mrs.  Archilas  Birch). 

Frank  Talladay  was  born  April  i,  1859,  in 
Dover  Plains,  Dutchess  county.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  schools  of  that  village,  and  on 
completing  his  course  of  study,  he  engaged  in 
business  as  a  butcher  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
After  four  years  in  this  enterprise,  he  moved  to 
Naugatuck,  Conn.,  where  he  was  for  some 
time  connected  with  a  rubber  manufacturing 
concern.  Later  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile 
business  at  Dover,  and  in  1893  he  rented  the 
hotel  now  known  as  the  "Talladay  House"  at 
Dover  Plains,  which  he  has  since  conducted  in 
a  manner  to  gain  and  keep  the  patronage  of 
the  public.  In  1889  he  married  Miss  Mary 
Humeston,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Abbie 
Humeston,  of  Dover  Plains,  and  they  have  one 
child — ^Frank  W.,  born  in  February,  1895. 

Mr.  Talladay  is  a  member  of  the  Sons  of 
Veterans,  of  Dover,  and  he  has  always  taken 
great  interest  in  politics,  identifying  himself 
with  the  Republican  party.  He  has  held  sev- 
eral public  offices.  In  1 891,  he  was  elected 
constable  of  Dover  town,  and  served  three 
terms. 


|p,RIFFIN  COOKINGHAM,  one  of  the 
%^  leaders  among  the  substantial  and  pros- 
perous agriculturists  of  the  town  of  Rhinebeck, 
Dutchess  county,  was  born  May  6,  1835,  upon 
the  estate  where  he  now  resides,  and  which 
has  been  in  the  possession  of  his  family  since 
the  days  of  his  grandfather,  Frederick  Cook- 
ingham,  who  was  born,  probably,  in  Germany, 


but  settled  in  Rhmebeck  when  a  young  man. 
He  married  and  reared  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren: John  F. ,  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Hyde 
Park;  Andrew,  a  farmer  in  Rhinebeck;  Will- 
iam, our  subject's  father;  Rebecca,  who  mar- 
ried Andrew  Pultz,  a  farmer  of  Rhinebeck; 
Omie,  who  married  Frederick  Pultz,  a  farmer 
in  Columbia  county;  Rennie,  the  wife  of  David 
Marquet,  a  farmer  in  the  town  of  Rhinebeck; 
and  a  datighter  who  married  Michael  Pultz, 
who  was  also  a  farmer  there. 

William  Cookingham,  our  subject's  father, 
was  born  in  1802,  and  always  lived  at  the  old 
farm,  coming  into  possession  of  a  portion  of 
it  on  the  death  of  his  parents.  He  married 
Catherine  Traver,  daughter  of  Solomon  Traver, 
a  farmer  in  the  same  locality,  and  had  children 
as  follows:  Elizabeth  (deceased);  Emeline,  a 
widow;  Julia,  who  never  married;  Frederick,  a 
retired  farmer  of  Rhinebeck;  Griffin,  our  sub- 
ject; Henry,  a  resident  of  Hyde  Park;  Charles, 
who  lives  in  Rhinebeck;  and  James  (deceased). 
The  parents  of  this  family  are  both  deceased, 
the  father  dying  in  1875.  Both  were  devout 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Our  subject  grew  to  manhood  at  the  old 
homestead,  and  in  1856  was  married  to 
Eleanor  Westfall,  a  native  of  Nassau,  Rens- 
selaer Co.,  N.  Y. ,  and  daughter  of  Jacob  West- 
fall,  a  farmer,  who  in  his  later  years  moved  to 
Dutchess  county.  For  some  years  after  his 
marriage  Mr.  Cookingham  and  his  wife  lived 
on  a  farm  near  his  birthplace,  but  in  1877 
he  returned  to  the  old  homestead  as  owner  of 
182  acres,  a  fine  farm  which  he  devotes  to 
general  crops.  He  and  his  wife  united  with 
the  Reformed  Church  many  years  ago,  and 
were  among  its  leading  members.  Mrs.  Cook- 
ingham died  April  17,  1894,  leaving  two  chil- 
dren: Edward,  now  a  farmer,  and  married  to 
Maria  Schultz;  and  Eleanor,  who  is  at  home. 
The  first  two  children  died — Rachel  in  child- 
hood and  William  J.  in  1892.  In  politics  Mr. 
Cookingham,  like  his  father  in  later  years, 
supports  the  Republican  party.  He  is  one  of 
the  active  workers  in  all  local  improvements, 
being  especially  interested  in  educational  af- 
fairs, and  has  served  as  school  trustee  for  thir- 
teen years. 

JOHN  McKEVITT,  an  energetic  and  indus- 
trious farmer  of  the  town  of  Unionvale, 
Dutchess  county,  was  born  in  County  Louth, 
Ireland,  and  is  the  grandson  of  Patrick  Mc- 
Kevitt,  also  a  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  and 


940 


OOMMEMORATIVE  BIOOBAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  farmer  and  weaver  by  occupation.  He 
wedded  Miss  Mary  Cunningham,  and  to  them 
were  born  seven  children:  Thomas,  who  mar- 
ried a  Miss  Leonard;  Brien,  who  studied  for 
the  priesthood  and  had  charge  of  a  parish  in 
his  native  land;  Hugh,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject; Henry,  who  died  when  young;  Owen, 
who  died  unmarried;  Mrs.  Mary  Duffey;  and 
Mrs.  Catharine  Myers. 

The  birth  of  Hugh  McKevitt  also  occurred 
in  County  Louth,  Ireland,  and  there  he  was 
educated  and  engaged  in  weaving  and  farming. 
He  married  Miss  Ann  Riley,  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  (Cassidy)  Riley,  farming  people 
of  that  country,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  seven  children,  as  follows:  (i)  Patrick  spent 
his  entire  life  on  the  Emerald  Isle,  where  he 
followed  farming  and  droving.  By  his  mar- 
riage with  Ann  McBride,  he  had  eight  children 
— Mary,  Hugh,  John,  Patrick  (deceased), 
Peter,  Catherine,  Alice  (deceased)  and  O'Brien. 
(2)  Brien  remained  single,  conducting  a  bakery 
in  Ireland.  (3)  Henry  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1852,  locating  in  New  York  City, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  liquor  business.  He 
married  Miss  Rose  McLaughlin,  and  they  have 
seven  children — Hugh,  Joseph,  Annie,  Henry, 
Rose,  Mary  and  John.  (4)  Mary  became  the 
wife  of  James  McCarty.  (5)  John,  of  this 
sketch,  is  next  in  order  of  birth.  (6)  Cather- 
ine married  Thomas  McDermott,  and  has  four 
children — Annie,  Hugh,  Mary  and  William. 
(7)  Alice  married  a  Mr.  Mooney,  and  has  two 
children — William  and  Mary. 

John  McKevitt,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  acquired  his  education  in  the  place  of 
his  nativity,  and  there  followed  farming  until 
coming  to  the  New  World  in  1854,  at  which 
time  he  located  on  Long  Island;  after  a  year 
passed  there  he  came  to  Dutchess  county, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  is  a  valued 
and  esteemed  citizen  of  the  community,  and  a 
credit  to  the  land  that  gave  him  birth.  He 
uses  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  Democratic  party, 
but  he  has  never  aspired  to  public  office. 

Mr.  McKevitt  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Catherine  Newman,  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Mary  (Carrey)  Newman,  farming  people 
of  West  Meath,  Ireland.  Of  their  union  have 
been  born  four  children,  namely:  Thomas  J., 
Annie,  Mary  R.  and  Catherine.  The  family  is 
one  of  prominence,  holding  a  high  position  in 
the  social  circles  of  the  locality  where  they 
make  their  homes. 


'^||T'INFIELD  B.  HINMAN  comes  of  al 
Mlm.  good  family,  which  was  of  English  origin, 
but  for  several  generations  has  been  located  inj 
Connecticut.  His  grandfather,  Abner  Hinman^j 
was  born  at  Southbury,  New  Haven  county, 
and  passed  his  life  there  upon  a  farm,  where 
he  and  his  wife  reared  to  adult  age  a  family  of 
seven  children:  (i)  Esther  married  JohnsonI 
Tuttle,  a  farmer  in  Southbury,  who  died  in 
1876.  (2)  Sidney  went  to  Ithaca,  N.  Y. ,  anc 
later  to  the  vicinity  of  Detroit,  Mich.,  where 
he  settled  in  what  was  then  an  unbroken  wil- 
derness, and  at  his  death,  in  1880,  he  was  a 
prosperous  agriculturist.  (3)  Preston,  who  is 
not  married,  followed  shoemaking  at  South- 
bury, later  in  Oxford,  his  present  home.  (4) 
Gennett  married  Smith  Hine,  of  Bridgeport, 
and  both  are  now  deceased.  (5)  Polly  mar- 
ried Smith  Downe,  a  carpenter,  and  both  are 
deceased.  (6)  Horace  is  mentioned  more  fully 
below.    (7)  Roswell  (deceased)  was  a  mechanic. 

Horace  Hinman,  our  subject's  father,  who 
is  now  living  in  retirement,  was  born  in  South- 
bury, Conn.,  and  married  a  native  of  that 
place,  Mary  Hughes,  a  lady  of  Scotch  descent. 
They  first  settled  in  Southbury  and  later  in 
Oxford,  Conn.,  Mr.  Hinman  following  the  shoe- 
maker's trade.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
and  he  and  his  wife  are  both  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  M.  E.  Church.  They  had  four 
children  as  follows:  (i)  Sarah  married  H.  B. 
Folly,  a  wholesale  merchant  of  Danbury, 
Conn. ;  (2)  Fannie  and  (3)  Delia  are  deceased; 
and  (4)  Winfield  B. 

We  will  now  return  to  the  subject  proper 
of  this  sketch,  who  was  born  at  Oxford,  Conn., 
October  30,  1863.  He  attended  school  there 
for  some  years,  but  as  has  been  said  he  began 
at  twelve  to  support  himself  by  his  own  labor. 
At  sixteen  he  left  home  to  work  on  a  farm  at 
Newtown,  Conn.,  where  he  spent  two  years. 
He  then  went  to  Southbury,  where  he  was 
similarly  employed  for  three  years,  and  also 
rented  a  farm  of  300  acres  which  he  conducted 
for  a  time.  Two  years  upon  a  rented  farm 
near  Liverpool,  N.  Y. ,  followed,  after  which 
he  went  to  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  as  shipping  clerk 
for  the  Butler  Manfg.  Co.  After  one  year 
there  he  spent  a  short  time  in  Philadelphia, 
before  going  to  Danbury,  Conn.,  to  take 
charge  of  a  wholesale  provision  store,  which, 
he  managed  successfully  for  three  years.  There- 
he  learned  all  the  details  of  the  business,  and 
having  at  last  found  a  congenial  pursuit  which 
promised  good  financial   returns  he  has  since. 


COMMEMORATIVE   BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


941 


/continued  it.  In  January,  1891,  he  became 
manager  of  a  retail  produce  business  at  Matte- 
awan,  which  he  purchased  at  the  end  of  three 
months.  His  success  was  extraordinary.  Be- 
ginning with  a  cash  capital  of  $26  he  increased 
his  trade  until  he  had  three  stores — one  on 
Main  street,  Matteawan;  one  at  Fishkill  Land- 
ing, and  one  at  Cold  Spring;  employing  in  all 
nine  men.  The 'business  included  a  retail 
grocery  and  meat  trade  with  a  wholesale  trade 
in  sausages. 

On  April  4,  1883,  Mr.  Hinman  was  married 
to  Miss  Lizzie  Loomis,  daughter  of  K.  H. 
Loomis,  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  and  three  chil- 
dren have  blessed  their  home:  Harlow;  and 
two  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Hinman  has 
been  interested  in  public  affairs,  local  and  Na- 
tional. In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  as 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  he  takes 
a  helpful  part  in  religious  and  philanthropic 
effort.      He  is  also  a  member  of  the  K.  of  P. 


l^lflCHOLAS     VAN    WAGNER,     farmer, 
post   office    Billings,    Dutchess    county, 
New  York. 


WILLIAM  H.   FIERO,   a  most  reliable 
and  faithful  engineer  on  the   Harlem 

railroad,  whose  fidelity  to  every  duty  has  com- 
mended him  most  highly  to  his  employers,  is 
a  resident  of  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess 
county.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Union- 
vale,  Dutchess  county,  March  24,   1865. 

William  H.  Fiero,  his  grandfather,  was  a 
native  of  Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.,  born  August  i, 
1808,  and  on  November  8,  1827,  married  Sal- 
lie  Ann  Chapman,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Katherine  Chapman,  born  September  5,  1807, 
at  Dover,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.  Their  chil- 
dren   were:     Jonathan    A.,    born    August    3, 


1833;  Oscar,  born  August  21,  1836;  John, 
born  July  9,  1838;  Hattie  A.,  born  April  28, 
1 84 1,  died  December  25,  1871;  and  William 
H.,  born  April  7,  1846,  died  May  9,  of  the 
same  year.    . 

John  Fiero,  the  father  of  our  subject,  an 
undertaker  by  occupation,  is  a  native  of  Dover, 
Dutchess  county,  and,  on  growing  to  man- 
hood, he  was  married  to  Adelaide  F.  Leon- 
ard, a  native  of  the  town  of  Pawling,  Dutchess 
county,  born  April  28,  1841,  and  the  marriage 
was  blessed  by  the  following  children:  (i) 
Jennie  S.,  born  November  5,  1859,  in  the 
town  of  Union,  Penn.,  married  in  August,  1882, 
Edward  Davis,  of  Danbury,  Conn. ,  and  their 
children  are — Ida  May,  born  March  6,  1886; 
Bessie  F.,  born  February  26,  1890;  and  John, 
born  June  26,  1893,  died  on  December  6, 
1895,  in  Albany,  N.  Y.  Of  these  children, 
Ida  May  and  Bessie  F.  were  born  at  Danbury, 
Conn.,  and  John  in  New  York  City.  The 
mother  of  these  died  at  Dover,  July  9,  1895. 
(2)  Hattie  A.,  born  July  7,  1862,  in  the  town 
of  Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  married  March 
29,  1882,  Marcus  D.  Marcy,  and  they  have 
one  child.  Bertha  F.,  born  July  29,  1885,  at 
Dover,  Dutchess  county.  (3)  William  H., 
our  subject.  (4)  Ida  A.,  born  January  24, 
1869,  in  the  town  of  Dover,  died  May  4,  1870, 
in  the  town  of  Amenia. 

Our  subject's  marriage  to  Miss  Minnie 
Rider,  who  was  born  at  Bangall,  Dutchess 
county,  March  8,  1863,  was  blessed  with  the 
following  children:  Ida  A.,  born  June  3, 
1884;  Addie,  born  May  20,  1885,  died  March 
12,  1894;  John,  born  November  24,  1889;  and 
William  S.,  born  January  14,  1893.  The 
father  of  these  is  one  of  the  progressive  and 
enterprising  citizens  of  Dutchess  county,  and 
the  several  members  of  the  family  possess 
qualities  that  endear  them  to  a  large  circle  of 
friends. 


M/         $         ^ 

IK         f         <^ 

^cs 

/> 

•^.^ 

-2vr4^ 

INDEX. 


PAGE 

Abel,  Dwight 499 

Abel,  Mrs.  Esther  O 400 

Abel,  John  U 400 

Abel.  Orlin  B 674 

Abel,  William  W 499 

Ackerman  Family 533 

Ackerman,  Jacob  S 533 

Ackert,  David  E 128 

Ackert,  Dr.  W.  E 257 

Adriance  Families 115,  253,  361 

Adriance,  John  E 116 

Adriance,  John  P 115 

Adriance,  Peter 297 

Adriance,  William 253 

Akin,  Albert  J 322 

Akin  Families 66,  322,  371,  373 

Akin,  Miss  Mary  J 372 

Albro  Family 415 

Albro,  William  C 415 

Alden  Family 291 

Alden,  HenryA 290 

Alden,  Mary  M 292 

Aldridge,  Thomas  G 892 

Allen,  Nicholas 663 

Allen,  William  H 878 

Allendorf,  Alfred 331 

Allendorf.C 919 

Allendorf,  Mrs.  Catherine  A 332 

Ailing,  J.  Sackett 458 

Allison  Family 487 

Allison,  Henry  E.,  M.  D 228 

Ambler  Families 330,399 

Ambler,  John  P 399 

Ambler,  Samuel  H 330 

Anderson,  A.  Butler 683 

Anderson  Family 683 

Anderson.  John  P 710 

Anderson,  Peter 710 

Andrews,  Mrs.  A.B 248 

Andrews,  Charles  C 468 

Angell,  George  H 643 

Angei;.  Milton  H.,  M.  D 207 

Anthony  Family 701 

Anthony,  Theodore 701 

Armstrong,  William  C 645 

Arnold,  Charles  W.  H 62 

Arras.  Charles  W 133 

Arras,  Mrs.  Emma  A 133 

Atwater,  Edward  S 59 

Atwater  Family. 59 

Atwater.  John  P..  M.  D 59 

Aucock.  George  S 893 

Austin  Family 490 

Ayres.  DeWittC 871 

Badeau,  W.H 177 

Badgley  Family 414 

Badgley.  William  E 414 

Bahret,  Jacob 397 

Bahret.  John  J 397 

Bain,  Ferdinand  R 116 


PAGE 

Bain,  Horatio  N 902 

Baker.  Benjamin  N.,  M.  D 236 

Baker,  Charles  E 574 

Baker  Families 574,  812 

Baker,  Lewis 107 

Baker,  Lewis,  Jr 108 

Baker,  Morris 800 

Baker,  William 565 

Baker,  William  W 812 

Baldwin  F'amily 843 

Baldwin,  James  E 843 

Baldwin,  Peter  W 845 

Barculo,  Judge  Seward 7 

Baright,  Daniel  S 681 

Baright,  Elijah 682 

Baright,  Samuel  C 286 

Barker,  Henry  M 623 

Barlow,  James  R 627 

Barlow.  Mrs.  Martha 935 

Barlow.  Myron 936 

Barmore,  Clark  C 521 

Barmore,  Edward 521 

Barmore  Family 708 

Barmore,  James 708 

Barnard,  Hon.  Joseph  F 1 

Barnes,  David  T 679 

Barnes,  Edwin,  M.  D 568 

Barnes  Families 568,  679 

Barnes,  Mrs.  Mary  E 678 

Barnes,  Oliver  S 678 

Barnes,  Oliver  Weldon 305 

Barnum,  Andrew 882 

Barnum,JohnD , 882 

Barrett  Family 625 

Barrett,  E.  Lathrop 487 

Barrett,  John  R 807 

Barrett,  Oliver 526 

Barringer,  John  C 875 

Bartholomew,  Ralph  A 762 

Bartlett  Family 711 

Bartlett.  Sanford  J 711 

Bartlett,  William  H 639 

Barton,  Anthony  H 734 

Barton.  Artemas  S  539 

Barton  Families 539,  592 

Barton,  Lewis  B 592 

Bartow,  Elizabeth  D 775 

Bartow,  Moncure 775 

Bates,  Joseph 874 

Baumann,  Chas.  G 266 

Bayley,  Guy  C,  M.  D 125 

Beardsley.  William  J 842 

Becker.  Alex.  R 860 

Beckwith,  Nathan 767 

Beckwith,  William  S 766 

Bedell,  William 284 

Bedford,  Edward  H 311 

Bedford  Family 311 

Bedford,  John  Bevier 312 

Beecher,  Hiram  T 726 

Beers,  Darwin 680 


PAGE 

Belding,  George  T 361 

Belding,  Mrs.  George  T 361 

Benedict,  Julius 396 

Benson  Families 835,  905 

Benson,  Franklin  DePeyster...  524 

Benson,  James  V 835 

Benson,  Joseph  H 524 

Benson,  J'oshua 247 

Benson,  Zadie  J 247 

Berry,  Elias  W. 717 

Berry  Family 717 

Bevier  Family 312 

Bevier,  Henry  B 275 

Billings,  Isaac  V 863 

Billings,  Mrs.  Susan 863 

Bird  Family 468 

Bird,  J.  Sterling,  M.  D 70 

Bird.  Mrs.  Ruhamer  W.  P 468 

Bird,  Virgil 468 

Birdsall,  Frank  E 883 

Bisbee  Family 28 

Bisbee,  Joseph  B 29 

Bisbee,  Otis 28 

Bishop,  Alexander,  Jr 807 

Bishop  Family 391 

Bishop,  Noah  L 433 

Blair.  James 755 

Bliss  Families 85,  189 

Bliss,  William  A.,  M.  D 85 

Bodden.  William 686 

Bodenstein.  Henry 645 

Bodenstein.  John  G 796 

Bogardus,  Abraham  A 815 

Bogle,  William 191 

Boice,  John  H 872 

Boice,  Nelson  L 176 

Bolenbaker,  Henry 937 

Bolin,  Gains  C 116 

Bolles,  Arthur  H 862 

Bonney,  Hon.  Alfred 26 

Bonney  Family 26 

Bontecou  Family 264 

Bontecou,  George  H 264 

Booth,  Albert  F 826 

Booth,  Oliver  H 44 

Booth.  William  F 45 

Borden,  Perry 537 

Bostwick  Family 290 

Bostwick,  Frederic 495 

Bostwick.  William 289 

Bowne,  Charles  E 80 

Bowne,  Frederick 81 

Boyce,  Charles  E 811 

Boyd  Family 820 

Boyd,  Nathan  T 822 

Braman,  Edward 406 

Braman  Family 406 

Braman,  H.V.V 407 

Brett,  Abraham 699 

Brett,  Albert  V 599 

Brett  Family 334 


944 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

Brett,  Harvey 334 

Brevoort,  Benjamin  H 178 

Brevoort,  Thomas  J 178 

Brewster  Family 427 

Brewster,  William  A 427 

Briggs,  Anthony 192 

Briggs,  Davis  W 193 

Briggs,  George  G 788 

Briggs,  George  H 788 

Briggs,  Mrs.  Hannah 19'2 

Briggs,  Hiram  H 541 

Briggs,  Homer  E 193 

Briggs,  Stephen  D 541 

Brin,  Aiken  T 219 

Brinckerhoff,  Capt.  John  H 848 

Brinckerhoff, William  E 691 

Brinkerhoff,  William  H.  S 914 

Brooks,  John  1 123 

Brooks,  Mrs.  J.  J 124 

Brooks,  Norman  J 124 

Brooks,  William  J 884 

Brown,  Douglass 724 

Brown,  Edwin 465 

Brown  Family 656 

Brown.  Frank  D 724 

Brown,  George 576 

Brown,  Samuel  Holmes 656 

Brown,  Samuel  H.,  M.  D 245 

Brown,  Sebastian 465 

Brown,  William  J 175 

Brundage,  Alton 56 

Brundage,  Capt.  Charles  W 56 

Brush  Family 770 

Bryan,  David 496 

Bryan  Families 496, 817 

Bryan,  Isaac 817 

Bryan,  Mrs.  Mary 818 

Bryant,  Albert  R 809 

Bryant,  Evan 893 

Bryant,  Samuel 547 

Buckingham,  Charles  H 393 

Buckmgham  Family 393 

Buckley  Family. 460 

Buckley,  Miles 460 

Budd,  Albert  J 757 

Budd  Families 273, 529 

Budd,  Joel  N 529 

Budd,  Mrs.  Mary  J 530 

Budd,  Underhill 272 

Budd,  William  D 420 

Bullis,  J.  N 445 

Burgess,  James  D 285 

Bnrhans,  Peter 195 

Burnett,  Frank  E 883 

Burnett,  Stephen  R 883 

Burroughs  Family 677 

Burroughs,  Frank 677 

Bushnell,  Edwin  L 773 

Butler,  Edmond 752 

Butler  Family 505 

Butler,  Robert  D 505 

Butts,  Allison 83 

Butts  Family 83 

Butts,  John  W 911 

Butts,  Richard  S 734 

Butts,  Thomas 733 

Caldwell,  Theron  H 827 

Campbell,  Mrs.  Emeline  C 537 

Campbell,  Henry  L 536 

Campbell,  John 659 

Cannon,  Arnout 913 

Cannon,  Arnout,  Jr 913 

Cannon,  Cornelius  L 218 

Cannon,  George  W 258 


PAGE 

Card,  Col vin 35 

Card,  Edson 544 

Card,  Silas  E 544 

Care,  Charles  A 649 

Carey  Family 770 

Carey,  William  J 623 

Carman,  Leonard  L 395 

Carman,  Lewis 395 

Carpenter  Families 21,  210 

(Carpenter,  Hon.  Isaac  S  21 

Carjienter,  J.  Du  Bois 211 

Carpenter,  William  J 777 

Carroll,  James 790 

Carroll,  William 866 

Cary,  Mary 406 

Gary,  Richard  B 405 

Case,  Mrs.  Hannah  M 797 

Case,  Willis  Haviland 796 

Cashin,  Matthew  J 614 

Cass,  Robert 859 

Chaffee  Family 171 

Chaffee,  James  Stuart 171 

Chaiiman  Family 118 

Chapman,  George  B.,  M.  D 117 

Chapman,  George  T 513 

Chapman,  Hiram  W 513 

Chapman,  Mrs.  Jane  M 391 

Chase,  Mrs.  Augusta  H 342 

Chase,  Enos  J 342 

Chase  Family 89 

Chase,  George  W 89 

Chase,  Lewis  H   813 

Chatterton,  Henry 634 

Clapp,  Clinton  W 664 

iX^lapp  F'amily 664 

Clark,  Carrie  D 567 

Clark,  Edgar 567 

Clark,  Edward  Lee 721 

Clark,  Elizabeth 567 

Clark  Families 567,  775 

Clark,  Henry 776 

Clark,  Hiram 775 

Clark,  John  W 776 

Clifford,  Mrs.  Annie 916 

Clifford,  Henry 916 

Cline,  Albert 729 

Cline,  Charles  A 494 

Cline  Family 729 

Cline,  Franklin 729 

Codding,  George  H.,  M.  D 142 

Coffin  Family 193 

Coffin,  Hezekiah  R 92 

Coffin,  Robert 92 

Coffin,  Robert  G 124 

Coffin,  Tristram 193 

Coffin,  Valentine 194 

Cole,  Judge  Andrew  380 

Cole,  Charles  N 611 

Cole.  David   210 

Cole,  Mrs.  David 210 

Cole,  Emery 917 

Cole,  Mortimer  B 611 

Coleman,  Amasa  D 325 

Coleman,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 325 

Coleman,  Joseph  D 728 

Collier  Family 681 

Collin,  Eli  H 307 

Collingwood,  James  138 

Collingwood,  Mrs.  Mary  E 138 

Collins  Families 637,  572 

Collins,  Rev.  Joshua 422 

Collins,  Martin  W 572 

Col  well,  Charles  M 388 

Colwell,  David  E 542 

Colwell  Family 388 


PAGE 

Colwell,  Frank  W 543 

Conklin,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 227 

Conklin  Families 825,  873 

Conklin,  George  W 227 

Conklin,  Isaac  P 873 

Conklin,  John  H 632 

Conklin,  J.  Mulford 531 

Conklin,  Storm  H 825 

Conklin,  William  J.,  M.  D Ill 

Conover,  Evritt 753 

Conover,  Peter 763 

Conroy,  Rev.  Edward  J 328 

Cook  Families 101,  667 

Cook,  James  Hervey 101 

Cookingham,  Griffin 939 

Cooper,  Gilbert 732 

Cooper,  John 733 

Cooper,  Tunis 732 

Corbin,  Albert  W 452 

Corbin.AsaB 376 

Corbin  Family 452 

Corbin,  Mrs.  1 487 

Corbin,  Isaac 487 

Corcoran,  John 310 

Cornelius,  Virtus  H 919 

Cornell,  Adrian  M 415 

Cornell,  Isaac  M.,  M.  D 229 

Cornell,  Peter  M 868 

Cornwell,  Azariah 727 

Cornwell,  Frederick  J 459 

Cossum,  Charles  F 46 

Cotter,  John 98 

Cotter,  John  H.,  M.  D 98 

Couse,  Edward 874 

Cowl,  James 616 

Cowl,  Orlando  J 616 

Cox,  John  H 741 

Craft,  Eugene  S  214 

Craft,  Mrs.  Margaret 906 

Craig  Family 432 

Craig,  RufusS 432 

Cramer  Family 141,  200 

Cramer,  George  E 200 

Cramer,  George  H 450 

Cramer,  William  C 895 

Crapser,  Abram  B 397 

Crapser  Family 397 

Crary  P'amily 54 

Crary,  Rev.  Robert  F.,  D.  D '    54 

Cronk  Family 501 

Cronk,  George  W 501 

Cronk,  Sarah  E.  (Mrs.  Forshay). .  502 

Crummey,  Edward 138 

Crummey,  Safford  A 139 

Cruse,  Thomas  K.,  M.  D 403 

Culver,  Ambrose  M 579 

Culver  Families 579,  686,  590 

Culver,  Walter  B 590 

Cunley,  Court  B 377 

Cunningham,  Thomas  J 891 

Curtis,  Herbert  1 695 

Cutler,  Charles  G 769 

Cutler  Family 769 

Cutler,  Theron 719 

Cypher,  Henry  D 896 

Dakin,  George 826 

Dakin,  William 827 

Dalrymple,  William  E 725 

Dana  Family 351 

Davies  Family 95 

Davies,  William  Augustus 95 

Davis,  Charles 235 

Davis,  Charles  H.,  Jr 650 

Davis,  John 236 


INDEX. 


945 


PAGE 

Davis,  Orville  L 784 

Davis,  Willard  H 198 

Davis,  William  L 198 

Dawson  Family 818 

Dawson,  J.  G.,  M.  D 818 

Dean  Family 566 

Dean,  James  E 288 

Dean,  Willis 566 

Dedrick,  William  J 668 

De  Garmo,  David  S 114 

De  Garmo,  James  M 686 

De  Garmo,  Smith  L 114 

De  Lacey  Family 119 

De  Lacey,  William  L 119 

Delamater,  Eliphaz 738 

Dennis  Families 447 

Denton,  Abram  A 723 

Denton,  Amos 875 

Denton  Families 723,  903 

Denton,  Judson  A 875 

Denton,  Nelson 903 

De  Peyster,  Gen.  J.  Watts 144 

Deuel  Family 722 

Deuel,  Isaac  N 428 

Deuel,  Phcenix  N 722 

Deuel,  Stephen  T 428 

Devine  Family 464 

Devine,  Wright 464 

Diamond,  Hugh 776 

Diamond,  William  H 776 

Dibble,  Warren  S 596 

Dickhaut,  Rev.  Benjamin  E 42 

Dickinson,  Jonathan 668 

Dinsmore,  C.  Gray 887 

Dinsmore,  William  B  885 

Dodge,  Mrs.  Anna  E 453 

Dolan,  William ._ 912 

Donald,  Mrs.  Jessie  F. . .' 14 

Donald,  John 14 

Dorland,  Cyrenus  P ; .  99 

Dorland  Family 99 

Dorland,  John  M 926 

Doty,  A.  -M 309 

Doty,  Egbert 805 

Doughty,  Charles 321 

Doughty  Family 321 

Doughty,  George  T ■  199 

Doughty,  Mrs.  Hannah 823 

Doughty,  Mrs.  Mary  E 321 

Doughty,  Miss  Phebe  J 199 

Doyle,  John  G 642 

Draper,  George  W 460 

Draper,  John  H 460 

Drislane,  David  C 823 

Du  Bois  Families 129,  607,  673 

Du  Bois,  Garret 673 

Du  Bois,  John  C 607 

Dudley,  Alexander  H 559 

Dudley  Families 97,  559 

Dudley,  James  H 97 

Du  Mond,  Edward  B 39 

Du  Mond  Family 39 

Duncan,  Charles  H 612 

Duncan  Family 296 

Duncan,  John  B 612 

Duncan,  John  G 296 

Dutcher,  Allen  H 626 

Dutcher  Families .  1 9,23,626,654,662,802 

Dutcher,  George  W 802 

Dutcher,  James  E 19 

Dutcher,  John 654 

Dutcher,  Hon.  John  B 23 

Dutcher,  J.  Van  Ness 503 

Dutcher,  Joshua 503 

Dutcher,  Luzerne 763 


PAGE 

Dutcher,  Mrs.  May  Losee 718 

Dutcher,  Mrs.  Sarah  A 226 

Eastman,  Hon.  Harvey  G.,  LL.D  12 

Eastmead,  Franklin  S 915 

Eaton,  Lewis  F 605 

Edmond,  Frank  M 558 

Elsworth,  Edward 43 

Elting,  Capt.  Luther 218 

Emans,  Albert  S 814 

Emans  Family 31 

Emans,  Hon.  Storm 31 

Embley,  Thomas  W.,  M.  D 237 

Emerson,  Thomas 792 

Englehardt,  Edward 898 

English,  Dr.  James  R 441 

Eno  Family 94 

Eno,  Frank 94 

Ensign  Family 485 

Ensign,  John  H 485 

EsseTstyn,  George 57 

Faust,  Frederick  A.,  M.  D 764 

Faust,  Dr.  John 791 

Feierabend,  Louis '327 

Feller,  Nathan 746 

Fendel,  Martin 393 

Feroe  Family  481 

Feroe,  George 481 

Feroe,  Jacob  H 628 

Ferris,  Elmore 613 

Ferris  Families 66,  374,  613 

Field,  Joseph 223 

Field,  Mrs.  T.  R 223 

Fiero,  William  H 941 

Finch,  James 668 

Fink,JohnH 727 

Flannery,  John 596 

Fletcher,  Charles  L.,  M.  D 402 

Fletcher  Family 402 

Flint,  Charles  A 455 

Flint  Family 455 

Foote,  George  Benton,  Sr 443 

Foote,  Mrs.  Mary  F 443 

Forster,  Robert 141 

Forster,  Mrs.  Robert 141 

Fowler,  Benjamin  M 256 

Fowler,  Charles  E 385 

Fowler,  Gilbert 867 

Fox,  Eugene 906 

Fraleigh,  Geo.  W 486 

Fraleigh,  Irving 864 

Fraleigh,  John  A 486 

Fredrick  Family 536 

Fredrick,  John  B 535 

French,  Harvey  J 840 

Frost,  Joseph  G 367 

Fry,  Benjamin  H 461 

Funk,  Peter  W 497 

Gaines,  Clement  C 652 

Gallup,  C.H 249 

Gardner  Family 709 

Gardner,  Charles  C 446 

Garratt,  Jonathan  M 343 

Genung,  Adrian 555 

Genung,  Isaac  S 689 

Genung,  Lewis  W 665 

Germond,  Mrs.  Ella 196 

Germond  Family 708 

Germond,  Franklin 708 

Germond,  Isaac 196 

Gerow,  Elizabeth  H.,  M.  D 197 

Giddings,  George  W 538 

Giddings,  Jackson 537 


PAGE 

Giddings,  John  H 538 

Gidley  Family 507 

Gilbert,  Burton 87 

Gilbert,  Mrs.  Thalia  M 88 

Gildersleeve,  Elmer  D 104 

Gildersleeve  Family 104 

Gildersleeve,  Col.  Henry  A 106 

Gildersleve,  Isaac  B 774 

Gildersleve,  Rita  A 774 

Godinez,  Jose  Manuel 215 

GoUenbeck,  John 490 

Goodell,  Tames  F.,  M.  D 93 

Goring,  Hon.  Edward  M . .  562 

Goring,  John  M 635 

Goring,  Thomson  E 553 

Graham  Family 730 

Graham,  Le  Grand 648 

Gray,  Hon.  Augustus  B 204 

Greene,  Robert  M 451 

Gregory  Family 516 

Griffen,  Charles  H 743 

Griffen,  Cornelius  W 593 

Griffen,  Jacob 608 

Griffen,  Timothy  S 593 

Griggs,  James  C 56 

Guernsey,  Judge  D.W 84 

Guernsey  family 197 

Guernsey,  Stephen  G 197 

Hackett,  John 137 

Hadden  Family 264 

Hadden,  James  M 254 

Haggerty,  David  V 900 

Haight,  Abram  V.  V 901 

Haight,  Andreas  V 308 

Haight,  Arvis  699 

Haight,  Dr.  Charles 623 

Haight,  Clement 575 

Haight,  Cornelius  J 901 

Haight,  Emily  R 320 

Haight,  Emmer  J 706 

Haight  Families 369,  510 

Haight,  Frances 320 

Haight,  Franklin  L... 368 

Haight,  Henry  W 702 

Haight,  Isaac 575 

Haight,  Isaac,  Jr 320 

Haight,  James  B 927 

Haight,  James  H 610 

Haight,  J.  Cornelius 369 

Haight,  J.  Haviland 523 

Haight,  Sherman  N 316 

Haight,Wm.  H.(Poughkeepsie).  768 

Haight,  Wm.  H.  (Fishkill) 702 

Haines  Family 587 

Hall,  Alfred  E 444 

Hall,  Alfred  P 623 

Hall,  Edward  J.,  M.  D 837 

Hall  Families 522,  666 

Hall,  Israel 508 

Hall,  John  J 522 

Hall,  Leonard  D 508 

Hall,  Piatt  V 522 

Hall,  Mrs.  PrisciUa 666 

Hall,  William 666 

Halsted,  George  S 764 

Halsted,  Mrs.  Julia 91 

Halsted,  Nehemiah 91 

Ham,  Eugene 583 

Ham  Family. 683 

Hammond,  Benjamin 546 

Hammond  Family 466 

Hammond,  John  L 466 

Hanna,  David 881 

Hanna  Family 25 


946 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

Hanna,  Hon.  John  A 25 

Hapeman,  Irving 872 

Harcourt,  Joseph  D 359 

Harcourt,  Mrs.  Mary  E 359 

Harris  Family 510 

Harris,  Smith  D 846 

Hart  Family 816 

Hart,  William  H; 816 

Hasbrook,  Charles  F 171 

Haskin,  Albert  R 37 

Haskins,  Alex 496 

Haskins,  John  M 496 

Hastings,  Samuel 761 

Haubennestel,  Maj.  William. . . .  214 

Haupt,  John 263 

Havens,  Edward  E 557 

Havens,  William  E 545 

Haviland,  Barclay 96 

Haviland,  Isaac 113 

Haviland,  Mrs.  Maria  Ann 114 

Hawley,  Cyrus  F 609 

Haxtun,  William  W 846 

Hayes,  Mrs.  Ann  A 431 

Hayt,  Peter  B 243 

Heaney,  Charles  S 808 

Hebard,  Newton 304 

Hedges,  Lewis  D 375 

Hedges,  Mrs.  Mary 375 

Heermance  Family 224 

Heermance,  Martin 224 

Hendricks,  Allan  B 90 

Hendricks,  Edmund  L 234 

Hendricks,  Magdalene  A 234 

Herrick,  Charles  B 143 

Herrick,  Ephraim 879 

Herrick  Families 674,  756 

Herrick,  Frank    492 

Herrick,  James 674 

Herrick,  John  A 492 

Herrick,  Marshall 174 

Herrick,  Timothy  484 

Herrick,  William 755 

Hewlett,  Isaac  S 917 

Hicks,  Campbell  N 655 

Hicks,  Edward  S 632 

Hicks  Family 632 

Hicks,  Samuel  S   632 

Hicks,  Willard  W 438 

Hignell,  James  H 545 

Hinman,  Winfield  B 940 

Hiserodt  Family 781 

Hoag,  Arabella 364 

Hoag,  Arthur  F.,  M.  D 226 

Hoag,  Charles  W 520 

Hoag  Family 520 

Hoag,  Mrs.  Laura  B 520 

Hoag,  Philip 364 

Hoag,  William  P 226 

Hochstadter,  Ernest 282 

Hoffman  Family 571 

Hoffman,  Frank 269 

Hoffman,  Henry 571 

Hoffman,  John  W   861 

Hoffman,  Mrs.  Lydia 861 

Hoffman,  Mrs.  Mary  A 572 

Hoffman,  Nicholas 268 

Hoffman,  Theodore  A 37 

Holdridge,  Augustus 507 

Holdridge  Family 507 

Holmes,  Oilman  D 547 

Holmes,  Henry  A 71 

Holmes,  Wheeler  C 535 

Holmes,  William  C 535 

Hopkins,  Benjamin 69 

Hopkins,  Charles  A 110 


PAGE 

Hopkins  Families 69,  110 

Hopkins,  John 483 

Hopkins,  William  H.,  M.  D 483 

Horton,  Richard  C 562 

Horton,  Theodore  S 803 

Hotchkiss  Family 684 

Hotchkiss,  Frank  A 684 

Howard,  Beverly  W 493 

Howard  Families 517,  699 

Howard,  John  D 517 

Howard,  Sherman 699 

Howard,  Silas 502 

Howell,  Benjamin 847 

Howell,  Eugene  N 489 

Howell,  Frank 262 

Howell,  George  W 717 

Howland,  Anna  C,  M.  D 131 

Hufcut  Family 179 

Hufcut,  George  441 

Hufcut,  Horace  D 179 

Hufcut,  Mrs.  Jennie 441 

Hughes  Family 618 

Hughes,  George 576 

Hughes,  Miles 618 

Hull,  Walter  C 109 

Humeston  Families 435,  786 

Humeston,  Geo.  E 785 

Humeston,  John  J 435 

Humeston,  Merritt 785 

Humphrey,  Abram  S 299 

Humphrey  Family 299 

Humphrey,  John  V 314 

Hungerford,  Abner  G 444 

Hungerford,  Robert  J 630 

Huntington,  George,  M.  D: 139 

Hupfel,AdolphG 564 

Hurd  Family 876 

Hurd,  Robert 876 

Husted,  Dewitt  C 642 

Husted,  George  L 482 

Husted,  Jackson 482 

Hustis  Family 58 

Hustis,  Henry  H 58 

Hutchison,  Robert 868 

Hutton,  Willliam  B 907 

Ingraham,  George  W 61 

I  ngraham,  Thomas 61 

Innis,  Aaron 88 

Innis  Family 88 

Innis,  George 931 

Ireland,  Mrs.  Elmira  A 418 

Ireland,  Stephen  H 417 

Irish,  Abraham  W 387 

Irish  Family 303 

Jaycox  Family 705 

Jaycox,  Mrs.  Sarah  M 924 

Jaycox,  Thomas  W 924 

Jaycox,  William  H 705 

Jenks,  Horace 758 

Jewell,  John  F 815 

Johnston  Family 43 

Johnston,  Mrs.  Mary  Adams 368 

Johnston,  Robert 897 

Jordan,  Josephus  D 509 

Jordan,  William  B 509 

iuckett,  Edwin 194 

uckett,  George  B 194 

Judson,  Thomas  S 551 

Julian,  John  M.,  M.  D 824 

Kampf,  Louis  E 676 

Kelder,  Simon  J 268 

Kelly  Family 797 


PAGE 

Kelly,  Rev.  Terrence  F . .  324 

Kelly,  Timothy  G 797 

Kelsey,  Rev.  Edward  D 189 

Kerley,  James 514 

Kerley,  James  R 514 

Ketcham,  Andrew  J 18 

Ketcham  Family 18 

Ketcham,  George  W 419 

Ketcham,  Hon.  John  H 64 

Ketcham,  John  M 419 

Ketcham,  Mrs.  Mary  E 662 

Ketcham,  Richard  P 662 

Ketterer,  Charles 880 

Ketterer,  DeWitt  C  880 

Kidder,  George  W 280 

Kimlin,  Mrs.  Mary 199 

Kimlin,  William  R 198 

Kinney  Family 713 

Kinney,  George  B 713 

Kirby,  Clark 221 

Kirby,  Frances 221 

Kirchner,  Charles 317 

Klady,  Mrs.  Lena 528 

Klady,  Philip 528 

Kline,  Mrs.  Joseph 641 

Kline,  Joseph 641 

Knapp,  DavidA.,  M.  D 121 

Knapp  Families 121,  467 

Knickerbocker,  Edwin 731 

Knickerbocker,  Henry 566 

Knickerbocker,  Henry  B 566 

Koch,  August 279 

La  Due  Family 690 

La  Due,  John  N 690 

Lamb,  Joseph  T.,  M.  D 916 

Lambert,  Addie  H 419 

Lambert,  John  H 418 

Lamoree  Family 688 

Lamoree,  George 688 

Landon,  Edmund  N 644 

Landon  Family 730 

Landon,  John  S 868 

Lane,  Charles  E.,  M.  D 184 

Lansing  Family 34 

Lansing,  Wellington  C 34 

Lasher,  Almira  J 261 

Lasher,  Frank  P 720 

Lasher,  Martin 904 

Lasher,  Warren  P 260 

Latson,  Frank,  D.  D.  S 255 

Latson,  Henry 255 

Lawson,  Casper 703 

Lawson  Family 703 

Lawson,  Robert  P 598 

Leach,  Alonzo  M 377 

Leach  Family 372 

Leach,  Lillius  C 373 

Leach,  Martin, 373 

Lee,  P.  Alverson 842 

Lee,  Darius 230 

Lee,  George  F 909 

Lee,  George  J 929 

Lee,  Mrs.  Mary 442 

Lee,  Ward 443 

Lee,  William  Morgan 230 

Leith,  Col.  Samuel,  Sr 348 

Le  Roy  Family 841 

Le  Roy,  Irving  D.,M.D 841 

Lewis,  Miles  K 869 

Link,  John  W 803 

Livingston  Family 144 

Lock  wood,  George 356 

Lovelace,  James  H 743 

Lown,  Frank  B 592 


INDEX. 


947 


PAGE 

Luckey,  Charles  P 36 

Luckey  Family 36 

Lumb,  Charles  L 252 

Lumb,  George  W 252 

Lyke,  J.  Hyatt,  D.  D.  S 838 

Lyke,  John 932 

Lynch,  James 251 

Lynch,  M.J 278 

Lynch,  Samuel 867 

Lyon,  Asahel  A 602 

Lyon,  AsahelD 602 

Lyon,  Leonard 686 

McCarty  Family 47 

McCarty,  James  C 47 

McGlasson,  John 931 

McGlasson,  Robert 931 

McGrath,  Rev.  John  J 352 

McKevitt,  John 939 

McWhinnie,  Thomas 170 

MacNeil,  Crawford  C 895 

Mabie,  Hiram 641 

Mahony,  Rev.  Dr.  Cornelius  V. .  257 

Manning,  Edward  B 366 

Manning  Family 366 

Mansfield,  Samuel 38 

Marcy  family 858 

Marcy,  Marcus  D 857 

Marill,  Joaquira,  M.  D 75 

Marquet,  John  F 242 

Marshall  Families 585,  738,  766 

Marshall,  Henry  S 486 

Marshall,  James  A 738 

Marshall,  John  A 585 

Marshall,  Theron  R 765 

Marshall,  William  W 686 

Marshall,  Willet  J 782 

Martin,  Hon.  Augustus 390 

Martin,  Col.  Claudius  G 746 

Martin,  Elizabeth  B 191 

Martin  Family 390 

Martin  Family,  Joseph 190 

Martin,  James  H 831 

Martin,  Joseph  190 

Martin,  Miss  Serena 391 

Martin,  Wing  J 830 

Massonneau,  Robert  L 784 

Matteawan  State  Hospital 229 

Matthews,  Robert 647 

Mead  Family 422 

Mead,  Frank  P 805 

Mead,  Dr.  Isaac  N 422 

Mead,  James  V 661 

Mead,  Jeremiah 767 

Mead,  Morris 768 

Merritt,  Douglas 620 

Merwin.  Mrs.  E.  M.  C 346 

Merwin,  William  J 345 

Millard,  Miss  H.D 242 

Millard,  Howard  C 798 

Millard,  John 242 

Millard,  Miss  L.  D 242 

Millard,  William  B 168 

Miller  Bros 404 

Miller,  George  N.,  M.  D 223 

Miller,  Peter 267 

Miller,  Philip 405 

Miller,  Valentine  M 406 

Mitchell,  John 906 

Moith,  August  T 672 

Moith,  J.  Edgar,  M.  D 672 

Monahan,  Margaret  B 448 

Monahan,  Thomas 448 

Monfort,  John  A 758 

Monks,  Daniel  H 559 


PAGE 

Montfort,  Peter  V.  W 441 

Moore,  Alfred  H • 612 

Moore,  David  V 748 

Moore  Families 748 

Moore,  Mrs.  William  R 166 

Moore,  William  R 166 

More,  Charles  C •. . . .  779 

Morehouse,  Henry  S 722 

Morehouse,  Julius  S 722 

Morey,  Edmond  A 669 

Morey  Families 483,  569 

Morey,  Leonard  L 482 

Morey,  Mrs.  Sarah 930 

Morgan,  Charles  B 454 

Morgan  Family 455 

Morgan,  George 132 

Morgan,  Julia  A 132 

Morton  Family 10 

Morton,  Hon.  Levi  P 9 

Mosher,  William  A 937 

Mott,  Morgan  L 326 

Mott,  Morgan  L.,  Jr 327 

Moul  Family 721 

Moul,  Julius  M 721 

Mulcox,  Joseph  H 914 

Muldowney,  Michael  A 866 

Mulford,  Edmund  D 923 

Munger,  Capt.  James  E 100 

Myer,  Polhemus  W 570 

Myers  Family 610 

Myers,  John  Francis 610 

Mygatt  Family 747 

Mygatt,  Henry 747 

Nagengast,  George 936 

Nelson,  Mrs.  Cornelia  M 41 

Nelson,  Homer  Augustus 8 

Nelson,  Mrs.  Jeannette 401 

Nelson,  John  P 40 

Nelson,  Col.  Joseph 41 

Nelson,  Sarah  C 353 

Nelson,  Thomas  Henry 353 

Newman,  James 881 

Nichols,  Thomas  G 600 

Nilan,  Rev.  James,  D.  D 238 

Norton  P'amily 650 

Norton,  George  S 650 

Noxon  Family 707 

Noxon,  Mrs.  Matilda  V 425 

O'Brien,  Thomas 583 

Odell,  Casper  L 81 

Odell,  Edward 661 

Odell  Families 29, 81 

Odell,  Joseph  E.,  M.  A 29 

Odell,  Samuel  D 570 

Odell,  Wright  B 740 

O'Farrell,  John  V 635 

Orton,  John  H 695 

Ostrander,  Alson 819 

Ostrander  Family 819 

Ostrander,  James  H 820 

Otis,  John  C,  M.  D 79 

Owen,  George  W 292 

Paine  Family 624 

Paine,  James  Russell 624 

Paine,  Martin  W 855 

Paine,  Piatt  N 625 

Palmer,  Abiah  W 401 

Parker,  Edward  Hazen 32 

Parker,  Nathaniel 813 

Parker,  William  H 617 

Parks,  George  E 477 

Parmele,  Jcihn  H 765 


PAGE 

Parmele,  William 765 

Parmenter,  Emil 551 

Pawling  Family 86 

Payne,  George  C 618 

Payne,  Samuel 618 

Peacock,  Arthur  S 629 

Pearce,  Benoni 34 

Pearce  Family 63 

Pearce.  Henry,  M.  D 63 

Pearce,  Jeremiah  S 34 

Pease,  Mrs.  Cornelia 239 

Pease,  Edwin  R 239 

PeattieBros 912 

Peattie,  George 912 

Peet  Family 342 

Pells,  Michael 678 

Pendleton  Family 205 

Perkins,  Dr.  Charles  H 920 

Perkins,  Cyrus 673 

Perkins,  Edward  E 620 

Perkins,  J.  A 925 

Perkins,  Mrs.  Sarah 673 

Perkins,  Stephen  A 329 

Petillon,  Ludwig 136 

Phesay,  George  F 804 

Phillips,  David  F 933 

Phillips,  Joseph  W 689 

Phillips,  Hon.  Samuel  K 196 

Phillips,  William  T 922 

Pierce,  Isaac 663 

Pierce,  Leonard  V 663 

Pilgrim,  Charles  W.,  M.  D 181 

Pinckney,  James  L 694 

Pinckney,  Lewis 266 

Pinckney,  Perry 694 

Pingry  Family 834 

Pingry,  James  O.,  M.  D 834 

Plass,  Anson  A 904 

Piatt,  Edmund  P 78 

Piatt,  Isaac 76 

Piatt,  Hon.  John  1 77 

Piatt,  William  B 367 

Platto,  William 383 

Porteous  Family 122 

Porteous,  James  G.,  M.  D 122 

Poucher,  J.  Wilson,  M.  D 220 

Powell  Family 736 

Powell,  Horace  R.,  M.  D 736 

Powers,  John 905 

Pralatowski,  Wladyslawa  J 675 

Pratt,  John  M   606 

Pratt,  Peter 606 

Pray  Family 616 

Pray,  Hamilton 515 

Preston,  Ebenezer  A 631 

Preston,  Ebenezer  J 631 

Preston  Family / 26 

Prichard,  James  L.,  M.  D 862 

Pultz  Family 733 

Pultz,  Hiram  A 733 

Pultz,  M.  T.,  M.  D 238 

Pulver  Families 468,  502,  751 

Pul ver,  Herman 751 

Pulver,  John  W 502 

Putnam  Family 504 

Putnam,  John  W 604 

Pye,  Mrs.  Amelia  S 295 

Pye,  Francis  B 295 

Rapalje  Family  130 

Rapalje,  Lawrence  C -. 125 

Raub,  Mrs.  E.  S 141 

Record  Family 429 

Record,  William 429 

Redavats,  Charles 894 


948 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

Redman,  John 440 

Reed  Family 360 

Reed,  Thomas 360 

Reynolds  Families 108,  772 

Reynolds,  James 885 

Reynolds,  Justus  P 772 

Reynolds,  Warren 742 

Reynolds,  William  T 108 

Rickes,  Valentine 658 

Rider,  Albert  L 445 

Rider,  John  P 164 

Rikert  Family 640 

Rikert,  R.  Raymond 640 

Roberts,  Charles  H 350 

Robinson,  Chappell 476 

Robinson,  Dr.  Francis  M 247 

Robinson,  Jarvis  C 719 

Robinson,  Osborn 878 

Robinson,  Reuben  J 735 

Robinson,  Stephen 476 

Rockefeller,  Clinton  J 890 

Rockwell,  Arthur  V 436 

Rockwell,  Ralph 436 

Roe,  Mrs.  Amanda  A 773 

Roe,  John 700 

Roe,  William  B. 773 

Roe,  William  P 700 

Roger,  George 655 

Rogers,  Charles  D 684 

Rogers,  D.W 778 

Rogers,  Mrs.  Margaret 475 

Rogers,  Patrick 475 

Rogers,  Philip  Clayton 204 

Roosevelt  Family 63 

Roosevelt,  James 63 

Rosa,  Frederic  L 480 

Rosa,  HymanB 480 

Ross,  Duncan 444 

Ross  Family 793 

Ross,  Mrs.  Mary  H 444 

Round,  Charles  1 175 

Rowe  Family .- 698 

Rowe,  Julius  0 698 

Roy,  James  437 

Roy,  William  K 437 

Rozell  Family 271 

Rozell,  Joseph  B 718 

Rudd  Family 172 

Rudd,  Zebulon 172 

Rundall,  David 638 

Rundall  Family 637 

Rundall,  Henry 638 

Rupley,  Samuel  K 923 

Russell,  Benjamin  H 787 

Russell  Families 787,  794 

Russell,  James  H 794 

Russell,  Selwyn  A.,  M.  D 902 

Rymph,  Edward  L 897 

Rymph  Family 490 

Rymph,  George  W 490 

Sackett,  Nathan  C 724 

Sackett,  Samuel  H 724 

Sackett,  Smith  J. 856 

Sadlier,  James  Edgar,  M.  D 315 

Sanders,  Robert 925 

Sanford  Family 241 

Sanford,  Robert 240 

Sargent  Family 564 

Sargent,  Winthrop 563 

Schafer,  Louis 478 

Schlegel,  George 297 

Schlude,  George 298 

Schouten,  Richard  A 615 

Schrauth,  Jacob 899 


PAGE 

Schryver,  John  T 431 

Schryver,  Matth'ew  V.  B 431 

Schubert,  Charles  E.  F 887 

Schultz,  John  R 615 

Schwartz,  John 782 

Scofield  Family 526 

Scofield,  Miles 626 

Scofield,  Stephen 279 

Scutt,  John 276 

Seaman,  Thomas  H 393 

Segelken,  Charles  F 421 

Seger,  Charles  E.,  M.  D 53 

Seger  Family 53 

Sencerbaugh,  John  G 682 

Sencerbaugh,  W.  P 683 

Seward,  Hon.  James  A 347 

Seward,  Mrs.  Mary  B 348 

Sexton  Family 408 

Shaw,  George  R , 760 

Sheaff,  Edmund  H 549 

Shear,  Mrs.  Catherine  L 604 

Shear,  John  Cornell 503 

Sheedy,  Daniel  M.,  M.  D 131 

Sheldon,  Mrs.  Augusta  B 385 

Sheldon,  Collins 837 

Sheldon  Families 244,  837 

Sheldon,  Jeremiah 248 

Sheldon,  William  H 384 

-Sheldon,  Wilson  B 244 

Shelley,  Alva 833 

Sherman,  Charles 356 

Sherman  Families 823,  889 

Sherman,  Mrs.  Mary  A 356 

Sherman,  Mrs.  Rhoda  L 794 

Sherman.  Walter  A 889 

SherriU  Family 216 

SherriU,  Isaac  W 216 

Sherwood,  Chajles  D 129 

Shook,  Sheridan , 120 

Shook,  William  A 450 

Shurter,  Charles  H 476 

Sickley,  John  C 381 

Sievers,  George 599 

Simmons,  Charles  A 627 

Simmons,  Edward  W 336 

Simmons  Family 336 

Simmons,  James  B.,  D.  D 337 

Skidmore  Family 706 

Skidmore,  Peter  A 704 

Slee,  Samuel 283 

Sleight,  Alexander  W 607 

Sleight,  Benjamin  A 294 

Sleight  Family 607 

Slocum,  Charles  H 454 

Slocum,  Hiram 464 

Smith,  Abel ■ 928 

Smith,  Albert  C 864 

Smith,  Gen.  Alfred  B 16 

Smith,  Andrew  C 606 

Smith,  Cassius  M.  C 166 

Smith,  Charles  E 629 

Smith,  Charles  Hoag 783 

Smith,  Edward  M 600 

Smith  Families 281,  600,  621 

Smith,  Frances 783 

Smith,  George  C 596 

Smith,  George  W 629 

Smith,  John  H.,  Jr 621 

Smith,  John  T 364 

Smith,  Lewis 621 

Smith,  M.J 18 

Smith,  Myron 281 

Smith,  Nathan 463 

Smith,  Nathan  W 492 

Smith,  Nathaniel 801 


PAGE 

Smith,  Oliver  Kees 808 

Smith,  Silas  G 354 

.Smith,  W.Wallace 11 

Snyder,  Burton  A 259 

Snyder,  Mrs.  Gertrude  M 260 

Spaight,  John  W 168 

Spaulding,  John  J 907 

Spross,  Elias 588 

Squires  Family 219 

Stephens,  Charles  A 646 

Stephens,  John 646 

Stevens,  Hiram  G 855 

Stevens,  Thomas  H 856 

Stevenson,  George 670 

Stickle,  Philip  H 910 

Stockholm,  Aaron  A 691 

Stockholm,  A.  B 173 

Storm,  Mrs.  Carrie .345 

Storm,  Charles  A 320 

Storm,  Mrs.  Charles  A 321 

Storm  Families 135,  296,  4,56 

Storm,  George 344 

Storm,  Joseph  H 134 

Storm,  Thomas  1 295 

Storm,  Walter  G 891 

Storm,  William  J 456 

Storm,  Wilson  B 542 

Stoutenburgh  Family  849 

Stowe,  Charles  N 788 

Stowe,  Mrs.  C.  N 788 

Straight  Family. 341 

Streit,  Lewis  F 140 

Streit,  Mrs.  Rebecca  M 141 

Strever,  Adam  A 781 

Strever  Families 572, 580 

Strever,  Frederick  H 580 

Strever,  Rachel  T 681 

Strobel,  Mrs.  Christina 402 

Strobel,  Wendel 402 

Strong,  Walter  D.O.  K.,  M.  D...  62 

Stuart,  Robert  J  684 

Sturges,  Ebenezer  H 667 

Sunderland,  Joseph.... 686 

Sutcliffe,  Eli 312 

Sutcliffe,  John 312 

Sutherland,  Hon.  Josiah 828 

Sutherland,  Robert 829 

Sutton,  Edwin 640 

Sutton,  Leslie  A.,  M.  D 832 

Sutton,  Mary  D 640 

Sweet,  Pedro.  665 

Swift  Families 462,  839 

Swift,  George  H 462 

Swift,  Henry  M 839 

Swift,  Isaac 498 

Swift,  James  D 693 

Swift,  James  H 217 

Swift,  Jane 840 

Swift,  John  M 217 

Swift,  Richard  T 693 

Taber  Families 208,  212 

Taber,  George  K 212 

Taber,  Thomas 112 

Taber,  Walter  F 112 

Taber,  William  H 208 

Tabor  Family 789 

Tabor,  Gilbert 789 

Tabor,  Myron  P 790 

Talbot,  Benjamin  M 549 

Talladay,  Frank 939 

Tallman  Family 48 

Tallman,  John  F 51 

Tallman,  Hon.  John  P.  H 48 

Tanner,  Samuel  J 800 

Tanner,  William  H.,  M.  D 829 


INDEX. 


949 


PAGE 

Taylor,  Mrs.  Catherine  E 167 

Taylor,  Henry  J 379 

Taylor,  H.  Pauline 67 

Teal,  John  D 715 

Teator,  Uriah 832 

Teats,  Frank 934 

Teats,  Mrs.  Frank 934 

Ten  Broeck  Family 560 

Ten  Broeck,  Capt.  Samuel 661 

Ten  Broeck,  Samuel  P 836 

Ten  Broeck,  Waiter  L 560 

Terwilliger  Family 560 

Terwilliger,  Silas 550 

Tetamore  Family 222 

Tetamore,  Frank  L.  R.,  M.  D.. .  222 

Thomas  Family 749 

Thomas,  Robert  M 730 

Thomas,  Walter  B 749 

Thompson,  Mrs.  Caroline  B 21 

Thompson,  Hon.  Edward  H 332 

Thompson  Family 332 

Thompson,  Hon.  John  20 

Thompson,  John  R 871 

Thompson,  Robert  R  206 

Thomson,  William 261 

Tiedje,  Henry 294 

Tiel,  Arthur  R.,  M.  D 648 

Tiel  Family 648 

Tiemeyer,  John  H 5.54 

Timoney,  Francis 697 

Titus,  Cleveland  H 426 

Titus  Families 426,  512 

Titus,  Mrs.  Harriet 358 

Titus,  Richard 358 

Titus,  Robert  H 870 

Titus,  Willet 512 

Tobey,  Arthur  G 600 

Toffev  Family 906 

Toffey,  John 431 

Tompkins,  E.  Lakin 548 

Tompkins  Families 52,  714 

Tompkins,  Franklin  C 714 

Tompkins,  Mrs.  Helen  E 53 

Tompkins,  Mrs.  Jane 511 

Tompkins,  Lewis 52 

Tompkins,  William 511 

Townsend,  Charles 760 

Townsend  Family 759 

Townsend,  Jacob  S 759 

Trafford,  William 68] 

Traver,  Edwin 700 

Traver  Families 696,  700,  725 

Traver,  Herbert  L 440 

Traver,  John  A 696 

Traver,  .Mrs.  Mary  J 439 

Traver,  William  E.  (Rhinebeck).  725 
Traver,  William  E.  (New  Ham- 
burg   924 

Treen,  B.  F   565 

Tripp,  Alfred  N 69 

Tripp,  Mrs.  Carrie  E.  B 69 

Tripp,  Charles  H.,  M.  D 712 

Tripp,  D.C.,  M.  D  :«0 

Tripp  Families 4:^0,  641,  712 

Tripp,  James  B 810 

Tripp,  Leonard  1 641 

Tripp,  .Smiten  Vincent 68 

Tripp,  William  A 866 

Tripp,  William  S 430 

Trowbridge  Family 588 

Trowbridge,  George  A 588 

Trowbridge,  John 250 

Trowbridge,  N.  Conklin 251 

Trowbridge,  Stephen  B 251 

TuthiU,  Robert  K.,  M.  D 72 


PAGE 

Underbill,  Anthony,  M.  D 46 

Underbill,  Edward  A 643 

Underbill,  George 46 

Underbill,  Dr.  Joshua  B 46 

Vail,  Edwin  G 610 

Vail  Families 425,  692,  706 

Vail,  George  1 706 

Vail,  Joseph  1 799 

Vail,  Morgan  L 692 

Vail,  J.  Watson 376 

Vail,  Willard  C 314 

Valentine  Family 744 

Valentine,  Richard  L 744 

Van  Benschoten  Family 707 

Van  Benschoten,  Henry 518 

Van  Benschoten,  Mrs.  Mary  J  .. .  518 

Van  Cleef  Family 15 

Van  Cleef,  James  S 15 

Van  Cott,  Samuel 379 

Van  De  Bogart,  Daniel 594 

Van  De  Bogart  Family 594 

Van  De  Burgh,  Hexton 346 

Vanderburgh,  Edgar  M 424 

Vanderburgh  Family 424 

Vander  Burgh,  Col.  James 66 

Van  De  Water,  George 691 

Van  De  Water,  William 590 

Van  Dyne,  Frank  B 388 

Van  Etten,  Cornelius  S.,  M.  D.. .  604 

Van  Etten  Family 604 

VanGieson,  Rev.  Acmon  P.,  D.D.  60 

Van  Gieson  Family 60 

Van  Kleeck,  Baltus  B 389 

Van  Kleeck,  Charles  E 933 

Van  Kleeck,  Charles  S 277 

Van  Kleeck,  Cornelia 287 

Van  Kleeck  Family 277 

Van  Kleeck,  Frank 389 

Van  Kleeck,  James  E 697 

Van  Kleeck,  John  H 346 

Van  Kleeck,  Leonard  B 287 

Van  Nostrand,  Francis  S 778 

Van  Tassell,  John  L 527 

Van  Tassell,  J.  Wesley 527 

Van  Vliet,  Benson 411 

Van  Vliet  Family 408 

Van  Voorhees  Family 378 

Van  Wagner,  Benjamin 763 

Van  Wagner,  Mrs.  Cornelia  B.. .  258 

Van  Wagner,  Egbert 268 

Van  Wagner  Family 739 

Van  Wagner,  Gilbert  E 739 

Van  Wagner,  Millard 763 

Van  Wagner,  Nicholas 941 

Van  Wev,  Alfred 478 

Van  Wey,  .Mrs.  Alfred   478 

\'an  Wyck,  Benjamin  W 666 

Van  Wyck,  Charles  J 466 

Van  Wyck,  Cornelius  R SSfi 

Van  Wyck,  David  Barnes 319 

Van  Wyck,  Duryee 634 

Van  Wyck  Families 

318,  466,  529,  532,  566 

Van  Wyck,  Henry  D 232 

Van  Wyck,  James 392 

Van  Wyck,  John 118 

Van  Wyck,  Mrs.  Phcebe  C 382 

Van  Wyck,  Mrs.  Sarah 118 

Van  Wyck,  Stephen  C 528 

Van  Wyck,  T.  De  Witt 632 

Van  Wyck,  Theodorus 392 

Varian,  Isaac  L   134 

Varick,  Mrs.  Isabel 231 

Varick,  Richard  A.,  M.  D 231 


PAGE 

Velie  Family 440 

Vermilyea,  Addison 922 

Vermilyea,  Brooks 921 

Ver  Planck  Family ]28 

Ver  Planck,  Robert  N 128 

Verplanck,  Mrs.  Samuel 387 

Vincent,  Edgar  (Madalin) 922 

Vincent,  Edgar  (deceased) 300 

Vincent  Family 671 

Vincent,  George 670 

Vincent,  Isaac,  Sr 300 

Vincent,  Mrs.  M.  Ella 261 

Vincent,  Obed  W 261 

Vincent,  Phebe  A 846 

Vincent,  Reuben 845 

Wait,  John  G 368 

Waite,  James  E 270 

Waite,  Joseph 270 

Walcott  Family 112 

Waldo,  John  B 811 

Waller,  Mrs.  E 246 

Waller,  Homer 245 

Walsh,  Charles 33 

Wanzer,  Charles  F 896 

Wanzer  Family 301 

Wanzer,  Jedediah  I 301 

Ward,  David  B.,  M.  D 779 

Ward  Family 364 

Warhurst,  George,  Sr 601 

Washburn,  Daniel 136 

Washburn  Family 136 

Watkins,  Mrs.  Mary  M 358 

Watts  Family 145 

Weeks  Family 24 

Weeks,  Mrs.  Harriet  S 25 

Weeks,  James  Henry 24 

Welling,  William  J 869 

Wellman  Family 185 

Wellman,  George  M.,  M.  D 185 

Wells,  Eugene 938 

Weston,  Rev.  John  B.,  D.  D . . . .  416 

Weston,  Weldon  F 6*3 

Weston,  Wilbur  H 634 

Whalen,  Dennis 936 

Whalen,  Patrick 877 

Wheaton,  Mrs.  Caroline  T 6 

Wheaton,  Judge  Charles 4 

Wheaton,  Homer 5 

Wheeler,  Bailey • 879 

Wheeler,  Corydon 323 

Wheeler,  Mrs.  Charlotte  P 74 

Wheeler  Family 73 

Wheeler,  Rev.  Francis  B.,  D.  D.  73 

Wheeler,  Henry 793 

Wheeler,  Mulford 269 

Wheeler,  Obed    806 

Wheeler,  Perry 793 

Wheeler,  Theodore 806 

White,  Benjamin  K 756 

White  Family 201 

White,  Frederick  C 928 

White,  Henry  D.,  M.  D 209 

White,  Howell,  M.  D 201 

White,  John  B     926 

White,  John  L 908 

White,  William  A 780 

White,  William  H 926 

Whitehouse,  J.0 488 

Wilber  Family, 530 

Wilbur,  D.W 662 

Wilbur  Families 489,  662 

Wilbur,  Frank  B 489 

Wilbur,  IraE 848 

Wiley,  Alfred  S 745 


950 


INDEX. 


I'AGE 

Wiley,  Reuben 225 

Wilkinson,  Col.  Robert  F 180 

^Williams,  George  H.,  M.  D 183 

Williams,  George  H 14 

Williams,  James  L 46 

Williams,  John 653 

Williamson,  Phebe  T.,  M.  D  . . ..  287 

Willson  Families 434,  582 

Willson,  George  T 434 

Willson,  Israel  R 582 

Wilson,  John  P.,  M.  D 182 

Wiltse,  Alonzo  S 598 

Winans  Family 602 

Winans,  Joel  S 602 

Winans,  Walter  H 604 

Winans,  Virgil  G 461 

Winchester,  Milo  F 669 

Wing,  Ebbe  P 340 

Wing,  Emery 217 


PAGE 

Wing  Family 340 

Wing,  John  S 836 

Wing,  Jackson  S 341 

Wing,  Martha  T 869 

Wing,  Obed 300 

Wing,  Phoebe  A 300 

Wing,  Sheldon 344 

Wixora,  JohnO 908 

Wolcott,  Charles  M 386 

Wood,  Capt.  Isaac  H -326 

Wood,  James  M 702 

Wood,  Lewis  E 126 

Wood,  William  J 892 

Woodin,  Daniel  T 592 

Woodin,  Egbert 481 

XVoodin,  Mrs.  Mary  J 591 

Woodin,  Solomon 482 

Wormsley,  Frederick 311  | 


PAGE 

Worrall,  Henry 676 

Wright,  Abram 235 

Wright,  Charles  W 660 

Wright  Family 716 

Wright,  Isaac  W 498 

Wright,  James  H 498 

Wright,  John  G 687 

Wright,  Lewis  H 687 

Wright,  Thomas 716 

Wvmbs  Family 39 

Wymbs,  Luke  D 39 

Yeomans,  H.   J 479 

Yeomans,  Mrs.  Mary  J 479 

Young,  Clarence  E 806 

Young,  Henry  L 225 

Young,  Louis 619 

Young,  Mrs.  Louis 620 


* 


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Commemorative  biographical 
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